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124,087 | 2c685649a64ddde8be01e7a2f56c1d77b6f244b8 | Another day, another fight about reclining seats on a U.S. airline flight. In the third serious airline legroom incident in two weeks, an angry passenger caused yet another flight to divert Monday night. Delta Air Lines Flight 2370 from New York's LaGuardia Airport to West Palm Beach, Florida, was rerouted to Jacksonville, Florida. A passenger became irate about the traveler in front of her trying to recline her seat, a fellow passenger told CNN affiliate WPTV. "This woman who was sitting next to me knitting actually just tried reclining her seat back," passenger Aaron Klipin said. "The woman behind her started screaming and swearing and then a flight attendant came over and that just exacerbated what was going on and then she demanded that the flight land." Delta confirmed the diversion. "Delta flight 2370 from New York-LaGuardia to West Palm Beach was re-routed to Jacksonville International Airport due to a passenger disruption," Delta said in a statement. "Out of an abundance of caution, the Captain elected to divert to the closest airport." Local law enforcement removed the passenger and the flight continued to West Palm Beach, Delta said. It's been a tense couple of weeks for passengers on both sides of the right-to-recline debate. Another reportedly irate passenger caused a flight from Miami to Paris to divert to Boston on August 27 after someone allegedly tried to recline in front of him. Paris resident Edmund Alexandre, 60, was charged in U.S. federal court August 28 with interfering with an airline flight crew. Interfering with flight crew members is a violation of federal law and carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. (The passenger's name has also been spelled "Edmond" Alexandre in court documents.) A United Airlines flight from Newark, New Jersey, to Denver was diverted on August 24 after two passengers argued over one passenger's use of a "Knee Defender," a device that blocks reclining. Should the Knee Defender be banned? Water was thrown and the passengers, both 48, were removed from the flight in Chicago, according to a federal law enforcement source, speaking on background. The passengers were not arrested. It seems at least one of the passengers was not completely satisfied with the extra space in the Economy Plus section where they were seated, which provides United passengers up to 5 inches of extra legroom compared with standard coach seats. Aviation blogger Benet Wilson is surprised there haven't been more incidents in the air as travelers face long security checkpoint lines at more crowded airports as well as less space and fewer amenities on planes. "As airlines try and squeeze as many seats into economy as possible, that decreases seat pitch which can be uncomfortable for someone like me, who is 5'3"," wrote Wilson via e-mail. "But imagine being a foot taller squeezed into that same space. It doesn't help that the (Federal Aviation Administration) doesn't have an official rule on using (seat-blocking devices), instead deferring to passengers and airlines. So I feel the situation will get worse before it gets better." The core problem is definitely the airlines packing too many seats too close together into a tight space, said veteran flight attendant Heather Poole, author of "Cruising Attitude: Tales of Crashpads, Crew Drama, and Crazy Passengers at 35,000 Feet." "That said, this doesn't give anyone the right to act childish," Poole wrote via e-mail. "To react in such a way that the crew feels the need to divert a flight to have a passenger removed is a really big deal." What do you think of this recent spate of airline seat recline incidents? Please share in the comments section below. | Delta Air Lines flight diverted after seat recline issue .
Airline passengers who recline their seats are facing blowback in the air .
It's the third diversion over seat reclining in two weeks . |
11,287 | 201b42351fbce28a960b76449fabb4f44c94f53f | By . Simeon Gholam . Follow @@SimGholam . Algeria's historic progression to the last-16 of the World Cup was somewhat marred on Thursday night, as riots broke out on the streets of Marseille. Vahid Halilhodzic's side went up against Russia in what was effectively a knockout game from Group H, and a 1-1 draw secured their passage to the second round for the first time in their history. Russia had taken the lead through a sixth-minute Alexander Kokorin header, but the African side wrestled their way back into the match, equalising on the hour through Islam Slimani. Riots: Algeria fans causing problems on the streets of Marseille following their World Cup win . Hysteria: Things get heated after Algeria's qualification for the last-16 . Historic: They will play Germany in the second round of the competition . Riding high: Two fans sitting atop a street sign as the riot continues beneath them . Waving flag: It is the first time in history that Algeria have made it past the World Cup group stage . Unfortunately, the it led to the rather unsavoury scenes in the French city, which has a huge Algerian population. The result meant that, after four attempts, they finally made it out of the World Cup group stage, which is an even more impressive feat considering they failed to even score in South Africa four years ago - only managing to get a point off a woeful England side (also managed by Capello). Algeria will now play Germany in the last-16, where they will look to gain revenge for the infamous controversy surrounding their exit in 1982 - when West Germany and Austria played out a 1-0 victory to ensure that both teams would qualify. Triumph: The night started as a celebration but things quickly started to get out of hand . National pride: There is a vast Algerian population in the southern city . On patrol: French police out in force on the streets of Marseille . Fire starter: French police taking positions to try and calm things down . | Algeria secured qualification to the second round of World Cup on Thursday .
But the victory was marred by riots on the streets of Marseille in France, where there is a large Algerian population .
1-1 draw with Russia left them second in Group H on four points .
First time in their history they have made it out of the group stage . |
145,015 | 478fc876a39cd9a4b7ec1ed070037b447b6be2c8 | Brazil's win over Colombia was an ill-tempered affair and was notable for both teams trying to stop the other side’s No 10. Neymar and James Rodriguez were both targeted. You could see the teams almost using a ‘rotational fouling’ tactic. Players would put in a tackle on the star man and then let somebody else make the next one. By taking it in turns, it becomes less obvious to the referee when players accumulate fouls. Attacked: Neymar (left) and James Rodriguez were consistently fouled by opposition players . Tough: Rodriguez is tackled by Fernandinho, who marshaled him for the entire game on Friday . Out of action: Brazil's team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said Neymar will be out for four-to-six weeks . VIDEO We'll cope with Neymar loss - Bernard . Brazil's game against Colombia set the tournament record for fouls with 54, with Neymar and James Rodriguez coming in for rough treatment. Neymar in particular was the victims of ‘rotational fouling’ - where players take it in turns to foul the opposition. It worked a treat too, none of the culprits were booked. And Colombia weren’t the only ones to target Neymar - Chile shared tackling duties over 90 minutes in their last 16 tie. NEYMAR v Colombia NEYMAR v Chile15mins Guarin 4mins Aranguiz27mins Sanchez 27mins Silva42mins Zuniga 29mins Vidal63mins Cuadrado 40mins Silva . It’s not a common tactic, but it would not be unusual for teams to have that in their locker. With somebody like Neymar, it becomes easier to get away with cumulative fouls because he pops up all over the pitch. A defender can be more physical, knowing it’s unlikely that they will come into contact with Neymar again soon. In that quarter-final the referee seemed to have left his cards at home. Because of that leniency, we have been denied the chance to watch the brilliance of Neymar. Rodriguez came in for similar treatment and took more evasive action than Neymar, who looked to stay on his feet. I wondered how long it would take for Fernandinho to get booked, but the card never came. Instead it was Rodriguez himself who was cautioned after just one foul. Referees have a duty to protect players. They seem to be more lenient in this tournament and so it has become possible to stop the stars with clever tactical fouling. Rotation: Players from both sides seemed to take it in turns to foul the number 10s . Appeals: Rodriguez asks for a free-kick after clashing with Fernandinho during the first half . VIDEO Willian ready to fill Neymar's boots . | Neymar and Rodriguez were targeted in a 'rotational fouling' tactic .
Easier to get away with cumlative fouls on Neymar as he pops up everywhere on the field so players can rotate the fouling .
Rodriguez fouled consistently but was booked after only one indiscretion . |
96,929 | 08bc68c1a8bb8f5f234c600aa941cb4b3ecec0d4 | A 'sadistic' asylum seeker who forced his former girlfriend to witness him stabbing her sister and her friend to death after she refused to take him back has been jailed for life. Afghan national Ahmad Otak laughed and spat on 17-year-old Kimberley Frank’s body after stabbing her 15 times at her home in Yorkshire while her sister Elisa watched helplessly. He then tied his ex-partner up with electrical flex and lured her friend Samantha Sykes, 18, to Kimberley’s flat in Wakefield, where he stabbed the teenager repeatedly before slitting her throat. 'Sadistic': Afghan asylum-seeker Ahmad Otak will serve a minimum of 34 years for the murders of Kimberley Frank and Samantha Sykes . Teenage victims: Samantha Sykes (left), 18, and Kimberley Frank (right), 17, were stabbed repeatedly by Afghan national Ahmad Otak at Kimberley's Wakefield flat . Otak, who admitted two counts of murder at a previous hearing at Leeds Crown Court, was ordered to serve a minimum of 34 years in jail by a judge who described the 21-year-old as an 'inadequate, controlling man', who 'out of childish jealousy and vicious spite murdered two women in cold blood'. Leeds Crown Court was told how Otak abducted his ex-girlfriend Elisa, 19, after killing the two women, using Miss Sykes' car to drive to Dover in a failed bid to flee to France. His plan was foiled when a fellow refugee managed to raise the alarm. After being arrested the murderer claimed he was aided in the killing by Elisa Frank, who he had planned to marry. Leeds Crown Court was told that Elisa had met Otak in a children's home after he arrived in the UK from Afghanistan in 2007, claiming he was 16 years old. The pair had an on-off relationship and had planned to marry in 2011, but when Otak became more controlling Miss Frank called off the wedding, the court heard. Prosecutor Richard Mansell QC said: 'He said that even if she didn't marry him she could not leave him. He told her that he would go crazy and would kill people.' 'He said that...she could not leave him. He told her that he would go crazy and kill people' Prosecutor Richard Mansell QC . He later claimed he was joking but . later threatened to kill Elisa, her friends and members of family - . including his eventual victims Samantha Sykes and Miss Frank's sister . Kimberley. 'He told her that if she stayed with him she would be saving lives,' Mr Mansell said. On one occasion after Elisa had . shouted at Otak he produced a knife and told her that if she screamed he . would sew her mouth shut. Mr.Mansell . said Elisa was too frightened to report what had happened to the police . but Samantha Sykes, 18, was not and reported Otak to the UK Border . Agency as an illegal immigrant and contacted police, but no action was . taken because Elisa declined to make a statement. In . September last year she finally decided to leave him for good but . relented when he threatened to throw acid in her face and petrol bomb . her mother's house. On one occasion Otak said he had prepared 'kill list' of 12 people he believed were trying to split the couple up. 'Horrific': Otak, left, stabbed Kimberley Frank (right with her sister Elisa Frank) to death at her home in Wakefield while her sister watched helplessly . In March this year Elisa Frank moved out of the flat they shared in Wakefield, West Yorks. On . March 9th after she demanded her belongings back from Otak, he went and . bought a carving knife and went to Kimberley's flat in Barden Road, . Wakefield, where she was with Elisa, who had again refused to go back to . Otak. All three were in . the hallway when Otak suddenly attacked Kimberley. 'He stabbed and . slashed her repeatedly with the knife in a frenzied attack,' said . Mr.Mansell. She had 15 wounds, the court heard including a massive stab wound to the neck. Scene: The bodies of murdered teenagers Kimberley Frank and Samantha Sykes were found at Miss Frank's flat in Wakefield . After . the killing Otak ordered Elisa to sit down and claimed she had made him . do it and if she had gone back to him it would not have happened. Otak took Miss Sykes car after he killed her and drove to to Dover in a bid to flee to France . Mr.Mansell said: 'At one point he stood over Kimberley's body, laughed, licked blood from the knife and spat on her. 'He . then told Elisa he was going to kill more people and made her send . several text messages to Samantha Sykes, asking her to come to the . flat.' He then tied Elisa . up with electrical flex. When Samantha arrived at the flat Otak let her . in and then attacked her, stabbing and slashing her repeatedly. After . the killings Otak took his ex-girlfriend and drove to Dover in Miss . Sykes' car in a bid to flee to France, but was arrested when an Iranian . illegal immigrant who was trying to get out of the UK helped Elisa get . free after she told him her story as they tried to board a lorry. After . his arrest Otak claimed he had carried out the killings for Elisa . 'whose plan it was', telling police 'she forced me to do this thing. She . said "kill my sister and friend".' He said he killed Samantha because she was a model and he was jealous of her. Mr.Jonathan . Turner QC, defending said that although the 'horror of his actions can . not be explained' he said they were the actions of a man not in full . control of his own mind. Jailing Otak for 34 years, less 241 days spent in custody, Mr.Justice Coulson told him it was an 'horrific case'. | Ahmad Otak spat on 17-year-old Kimberley Frank's body after stabbing her to death in front of her sister Elisa Frank, 19, in Wakefield, Yorkshire .
He then lured his ex-girlfriend's friend Samantha Sykes, 18, to Kimberley's flat where he stabbed the teenager repeatedly before slitting her throat .
The 21-year-old had previously threatened to kill Elisa Frank's friends and members of her family after she left her 'controlling' partner, a court heard .
Otak, 21, murdered the two women 'out of childish jealousy and vicious spite' a judge at Leeds Crown Court said .
He will serve at least 34 years in prison after admitting two counts of murder . |
249,553 | cef855c91bbca887f12af6b639d6a5898fb17e33 | (CNN) -- The body of a million-dollar lottery winner will be exhumed for additional testing after toxicology results revealed the Illinois man died of cyanide poisoning, a judge ruled Friday. Urooj Khan won the prize in June on a scratch-off ticket. The next month, he was dead. Investigators initially ruled Khan's cause of death natural. But after being prompted by a relative, the Cook County medical examiner's office revisited the case and found a lethal amount of cyanide in Khan's system. "That ... led us to issue an amended death certificate that (established) cyanide toxicity as the cause of death, and the manner of death as homicide," Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Steve Cina said Monday. Authorities are hoping to use the exhumation to determine how the cyanide entered Khan's system. The exhumation is expected to occur Thursday, CNN affiliate WGN reported. No arrests have been made in the case. "We are investigating it as a murder, and we're working closely with the medical examiner's office," Chicago police spokeswoman Melissa Stratton said Monday. Related: The problems with winning the lottery . Khan, 46, planned to use his winnings to pay his mortgage and bills, make a donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and invest more in his dry cleaning businesses. The check, which amounted after taxes to about $425,000, was issued July 19, according to CNN affiliate WGN, but Khan never got to spend it. The next night, Khan came home, ate dinner and went to bed, according to an internal police department document obtained by the Chicago Tribune. His family later heard him screaming and took him to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, the paper reported, citing the document. Chicago police haven't offered details, including a possible motive, about what they call an "ongoing investigation." Talking briefly with CNN affiliate WBBM and the Tribune, Khan's widow described her husband as kind and exemplary. Jimmy Goreel, who runs the 7-Eleven where the winning lottery ticket was sold, offered similarly glowing comments about Khan. "I would never think that anybody ... would hurt him," Goreel told WGN. "(He was a) nice person, very hopeful and gentle (and) very hard-working." Related: Woman pleads not guilty in death of lottery winner . CNN's Greg Botelho and Chandler Friedman contributed to this report. | Investigator want to know how cyanide entered Urooj Khan's system .
He died a day after receiving winnings from $1 million scratch-off ticket in Illinois .
Cause of death has been ruled a homicide .
No arrests made . |
112,984 | 1dcf46498e99a208f4db64e5aa28c216adeb897f | When Billy Joel managed to persuade supermodel Christie Brinkley to come back to his New York apartment for the first time, he tried to act cool. Secretly, the teenager inside him was screaming 'Yes', but when he got to the building which overlooked Central Park, he was confronted with a problem part of him wished his friends could have seen. For as he opened the door, a 19-year-old Elle Macpherson was already stood there, waiting for him. A new biography by Fred Schruers reveals that Brinkley left the pair that night, but she ended up marrying The Piano Man in 1985, and would inspire his album 'An Innocent Man'. Scroll down for video . Billy Joel met supermodel Christie Brinkley (left) during a trip to St. Barts in 1983 following the split from his first wife Elizabeth Weber. However Elle Macpherson was also vying for his attention at the time . The first night Joel managed to bring Brinkley back to his New York apartment, a 19-year-old Elle Macpherson (pictured left in 1985 and right in 1990) was already waiting for him . The events that unfolded have been released as part of the serialization of a new biography by Fred Schruers. According to Page Six, it involves 100 hours of interviews before Joel decided against persuing the project. In 'Billy Joel: The Definitive Biography,' the singer lays bare his history of suicide attempts, his tumultuous marriages — including one to supermodel Brinkley — and how he's now trying to keep his life together. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee travelled to the Caribbean island of St. Barts after he split with his first wife Elizabeth Weber in 1982. It was there, while playing in a piano bar, that he met Elle Macpherson, then just 19, and Christie Brinkley, 28. The pair were standing alongside him with the then undiscovered Whitney Houston. All of them at the time were trying to woo Joel for his attention. Inspiration: Weber inspired three singles, but Christie Brinkley, who Joel married in 1985 inspired all of An Innocent Man . Brinkley, who starred in Joel's music video for Uptown Girl, told Schurers that Whitney was telling him 'I can sing', while Macpherson 'draped herself on the piano like Michelle Pfeiffer [in The Fabulous Baker Boys].' When they returned to New York, Brinkley and Macpherson competed. Joel said that he 'felt like a teenager again' as he dated the pair at the same time. The first time Brinkley went home with Joel, the child inside him from Hicksville, Long Island was screaming 'Yes', but when he saw Mcpherson inside, the other side of said: 'Even as part of me thought, "Oh, God, no," another part of me was going, "If my friends could see me now." ' Brinkley who didn't seem phased by the situation left, but she was the one Joel loved. They married in 1985, and they conceived their daughter, Alexa Ray, on their wedding night. Tops: Billy Joel, who has sold more than 150 million records worldwide, found his love life and career dogged by drinking and depression . Rough waters: Joel said in the book that he fell in love when he first met Elizabeth Weber, who cheated on her husband Jon Small, with Joel, before leaving both . Joel met his first wife, Elizabeth Weber, in 1970 and was smitten from the start. 'She wasn’t like a lot of the other girls I knew at that time who had taken home ec and cooking classes,' he recounted. 'She was intelligent and not afraid to speak her mind, but could also be seductive.' Joel began a relationship with her, in spite of the fact that Weber was married to Jon Small, the drummer of Joel's short-lived duo Attila, with whom she had a young son named Sean. When Small uncovered the infidelity, Weber split, leaving both him and Joel. While her husband was left alone, it was Joel who took her disappearance the hardest. One day, Joel took a fatal dose of the anesthetic Nembutal and phoned Small to apologize. 'The next thing I remember, I woke up in the hospital and learned that they had pumped my stomach,' he told Schruers. It was Small who saved Joel's life, rushing to Joel's mother's Long Island home, finding Joel lying on the floor and getting him medical attention. Another suicide attempt ended with Joel checking into a mental health center, where he found himself surrounded by others who were not as lucky. Third time: Joel reportedly picked up Katie Lee in a hotel lobby when she was a college student, before the two married in 2004 . 'The people I was locked up with were never going to be able to overcome their problems, whereas mine were all self-made. I can fix this, I thought.' Weber returned, to Joel this time, not Small, and began to manage the songwriter's career, which began to take off even as he medicated his depression with a steady stream of alcohol. Though friends found Weber controlling and brusque, Joel was enchanted, writing singles such as 'She's Got A Way' and 'She’s Always a Woman' for her. Joel describes the relationship now as a transaction. He says when he debuted 'Just the Way You Are' for her on her birthday, she asked him deadpan 'Do I get the publishing, too?' The relationship entangled Weber's brother Frank in the finances as well, and years after she and Joel finally divorced, the songwriter found Frank had siphoned $30million out of his fortune. Striking: Joel said he took Lee to a performance of his own musical during one of their first dates, though she didn't know who the fading songwriting star was then . 'I hooked up with the Borgias!' said Joel. 'What a family to pick.' Shortly after things ended with Weber in 1982, Joel was vacationing and met his second wife during an unreal encounter on the Caribbean island of Saint Bart's. Brinkley was asked to star in the music video for Uptown Girl, leading to the pair growing closer together. In 1985, Brinkley and Joel married and he dedicated the album an 'An Innocent Man' to her, though the declaration proved to be questionable in later years of their relationship. Touring constantly to make up for his past financial struggles, Joel became worn down by a life on the road and strained the marriage. One night in 1993, after a concert at Nassau Coliseum, rather than go home to Brinkley, Joel booked a hotel. A band member told Brinkley that Joel was unfaithful that night, a claim Joel denies but one that led to his eventual split with her. 'Christie likes to joke that the end of the marriage spelled the end of my songwriting career,' Joel said, but it became a reality, as the next two decades saw him write and record very little. Instead, he drank and spiraled into depression. He had three car accidents between 2002 and 2004, which he once blamed on 911 and denied the involvement of alcohol. His romantic partner at the time was Katie Lee, who was in college when he flirted with her in the lobby of the Peninsula Hotel. According to an interview in the New York Times, one of their first nights out was to Joel's own Broadway musical, Movin' Out. The two married in 2004, when Lee was 23 and Joel was 55, moving into a $4million penthouse in Tribeca together. While the relationship didn't spur Joel to new songwriting endeavors as it had with his past two wives, but it did eventually unravel just the same. Joel was in and out of rehab, but at Lee's insistence went back on tour, often playing shows with Elton John. Lee herself became a fixture in the art scene. One day Joel saw a photo of her dancing with another man at a gallery showing at Art Basel Miami, though she rebuffs any accusations of an affair. Joel could not handle his jealousy, and Lee seemed uninterested in couples counseling that he suggested. 'I realized, it’s not going to happen,' Joel said, and told her 'We’re over. Just don’t send me messages, don’t leave me cute little phone calls, don’t tease me, don’t f--- with me, just end it.' 'I’m an old man now, a vulnerable man. Don’t do that to an old guy.’ The pair divorced in 2009. It now seems the man once described by music critic Robert Christgau as a 'force of nature and bad taste' has cut back on his time in the spotlight. Though he released an album of classical compositions in 2001 and in spite of still touring arenas, Joel hasn't released studio music for a solid two decades. His drinking and depression have still not been resolved, at least according to the man himself, who in spite of numerous trips to rehab says he still has the occasional drink. He's somewhat humbled from his days of dating supermodels, and is living with a girlfriend, 33 and a former hedge fund manager, but he says he remains a romantic. 'You can have all the money in the world, you can have mansions, you can have properties, you can have yachts, you can have limousines, you can have motorcycles,' he told Schruers. If you don't have love, 'it doesn’t mean a goddamn thing.' | New biography reveals how supermodels were vying for Joel's affections .
Singer met pair in St. Barts after splitting from wife Elizabeth Weber in 1982 .
They cowed over him in a piano bar alongside Whitney Houston .
Back in New York, he started dating the models and 'felt like a teenager'
One night he managed to persuade Brinkley to come back to his apartment .
When he opened the door, Macpherson, then 19, was standing there .
Brinkley left the pair that night, but ended up marrying Joel in 1984 . |
193,024 | 85ebc127dfc6fed6b3a71b2bd153f1e3d257edf3 | Shocking photographs have emerged of a cannibal by the name of Mad Dog eating the flesh of a lynched Muslim man for the second time in as many weeks. In one, 'Mad Dog' - real name Ouandja Magloire - cuts a portion of meat from the body of a murdered Muslim lying burning on a roundabout in the capital of the Central African Republic, with the body of another a few yards away. Another photograph shows him licking a . bloodied knife as he stands over a body, wearing the same T-shirt he . was pictured in during the previous act of cannibalism. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . A man who goes by the name of Mad Dog cuts off a portion of a burning body to eat, as the bodies of two lynched Muslim men are burned in a street in Bangui, Central African Republic . 'Mad Dog' licks blood off a knife, as a crowd prepares to burn the body of a lynched Muslim man in Bangui . The horrific images were taken in Bangui on Sunday. According to The Associated Press, . the men were killed by residents of the Sango neighbourhood in revenge . for the lynching of a taxi driver from Sango a day earlier. Two other Muslim passers-by escaped to the protection of French and African peacekeeping forces. The agency understands that Magloire didn't take part in the killings, but turned up in the aftermath. According to its source, he is the only person in the Central African Republic known to be carrying out acts of cannibalism. Meanwhile . Catherine Samba-Panza, 59, was elected mayor of the Central African Republic and used her first speech to appeal to both Christians and . Muslims to stop the fighting. Speaking to the Christian self-defence militia known as 'anti-balaka' (anti-machete), Samba-Panza said: 'Show your support for my nomination by giving the strong signal of laying down your weapons. She . issued a similar appeal to the members of mostly Muslim rebel group . Seleka, telling them: 'Stop the suffering of the people. 'Starting today, I am the president of all Central Africans, without exclusion. Men carry the body of a lynched Muslim man through a street in Bangui, Central African Republic, on Sunday . A French soldier looks on as the body of one of the lynched Muslim men burns . 'The top priority is to stop people's suffering, to restore security and the authority of the state across the country.' Samba-Panza, who is the former mayor Bangui - where Mad Dog's attacks have taken place - is a Christian but did not campaign on religious grounds. In another development the European Union today agreed to send up to 1,000 troops to the region to help restore order. The mission, which will deploy in and around the capital and last up to six months, is expected to involve a force numbering between 400 and 1,000. The troops will help back 1,600 French soldiers and the African Union's MISCA force, which currently has 4,400 troops on the ground. International donors also pledged $496 million (£302 million) in aid to the country this year. Earlier in the month horrific footage emerged from Bangui of Magloire eating the leg of a Muslim who, according to the BBC, was hauled from a bus, battered and then stabbed before being set on fire. Horrific: Ouandja Magloire - who also calls himself 'Mad Dog' - is seen eating the leg of a Muslim slaughtered by a rampaging Christian mob in the Central African Republic . In the aftermath of the incident, Magloire grabbed hold of his leg and then began to devour it. Magloire told a BBC reporter at the time that his action was . revenge for the murders of his pregnant wife, his sister-in-law and her . baby. He claimed that Muslims were responsible and he was angry with them. 'They broke down the door and cut my baby in half. I promised I would get my revenge,' he said. ‘Mad Dog’ spotted his victim on a minibus and followed him after deciding he looked Muslim. He gathered a crowd of about 20 Christian youths who forced the bus driver to stop and dragged him from the bus. Without emotion he told the BBC: 'I poured petrol over him. I burned him. I ate his leg, right down the white bone.' Witnesses did not intervene but recorded the footage on mobile phones, including the act of cannibalism. A video shows his cheeks bulging as he consumes the flesh. Witness . Jean-Sylvestre Tchya told news agency AFP: 'One of the individuals took . hold of an arm and went and bought some bread and starting chewing on . the flesh, along with his bread. 'The scene made many people vomit, and some cried out in horror.' Another witness, Alain Gbabobou, said he watched a man wrap the head up and proclaim that he would 'feast on it'. Violence: People throw stones at a car transporting two children of an ex-Seleka colonel at the 'UN crossroad' on Sunday in Bangui . Men brandish machets and knives to threaten Muslim people in Bangui . According . to The Sunday Telegraph, this may not have been an isolated incident, . with a source speaking of more than one person being eaten. An aid worker told the paper: 'They were taking machetes to people and burning the bodies and eating . them.' Samba-Panza's election comes 10 . months after the Seleka rebels overthrew the country's government and . installed their leader, Michel Djotodia, as the majority-Christian . country's first Muslim president. But . Djotodia proved powerless to control his fighters, and many went on a . rampage of killing, rape and looting targeting the Christian majority. Some . Christian communities responded by forming self-defence militias and . attacking Muslims. Both sides are accused by rights watchdogs of major . abuses, and the United Nations has warned of a potential inter-religious . genocide. Djotodia stood down under international pressure on January 10. Shocking: A man ate the leg of a Muslim in the Central African Republic's capital, Bengui (pictured), in revenge for the murders of his pregnant wife, his sister-in-law and her baby . So far it has claimed around 1,000 lives, with the reports of cannibalism bringing to mind the macabre tales associated with Jean Bedel Bokassa, who ruled the CAR with an iron fist between 1966 and 1979. He was regarded by many as a brutal dictator and was accused of eating human flesh, incorporating it in meals for visiting officials and feeding slain opponents to animals. He died in 1996 and received a posthumous pardon in 2010. Some Christian fighters believe that human flesh makes them invincible and put chunks inside amulets that they wear. | WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT .
Mad Dog is pictured cutting meat from a body and licking a bloodied knife .
Two Muslims were lynched and burned in Bangui in a revenge attack .
Mad Dog - real name Ouandja Magloire - didn't take part in the killings .
He turned up afterwards and carried out his grisly act in front of a crowd .
Sectarian violence has been rife recently in the Central African Republic .
Catherine Samba-Panza, former Bangui mayor, has been elected president .
She used her first speech to ask Muslims and Christians to stop fighting .
EU has agreed a joint mission to send up to 1,000 troops to the country . |
50,505 | 8ee665bf33f3c6250975180423f02473e2b38b89 | By . Bianca London . PUBLISHED: . 07:42 EST, 8 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:42 EST, 8 August 2013 . A young woman has told how she lost seven stone in a year - after she was humiliated at a dress fitting for a sumptuous Asian wedding. Emma Monaghan, 27, tipped the scales at 18st 5lbs thanks to a diet of fast food, crisps and chocolate. But after she was left red-faced at a special dress fitting for a friend's wedding she joined her local Slimming World group and ditched her unhealthy diet. Super slimmer: Emma Monaghan from Mount Vernon, Glasgow, Scotland went from 19 stone to just 10 after a humiliating experience at a dress fitters for a friend's wedding . The mother-of-one has since gone from a size 22 to a size 12 in just 12 months and now weighs just 11st 5lbs. Emma, from Garrowhill in Glasgow, said: 'I was going to an Asian wedding and I had to get measured for an outfit which was basically a long dress and trousers. 'The women were measuring me and they said "that can't be right". They couldn't believe I was that size. I was mortified.' Emma had previously lost three stone in three months with Slimming World before she fell pregnant with daughter Faith, who is now two, and decided to quit. Emma then started to binge on a diet of sugary cereals, crisps, biscuits and ate up to five takeaways every week. She never did any exercise and admits that she refused to walk even the shortest distances, choosing to take the car instead. How she was: Emma tipped the scales at 18st 5lbs thanks to a diet of fast food, crisps and chocolate. But after she was left red-faced at a special dress fitting for a friend's Asian wedding which shocked her into weight loss . As her weight increased, Emma found it had a damaging effect on her social life. Emma said: 'My mum used to tell me takeaways were a waste of money and unhealthy but I didn't care. 'I became lethargic and I didn't do any exercise whatsoever. 'I used to take the car everywhere and at the supermarket I would try to park as close to the door as possible. 'If someone invited me on a night out I would try to avoid going because I knew all the "skinny" girls would be there so I would make up excuses. 'I didn't want to go anywhere being that size, I had no confidence. 'My daughter was nine months old and she had started crawling. Old routine: She never did any exercise and admits that she refused to walk even the shortest distances, choosing to take the car instead and would eat up to five takeaways a week . 'I decided I couldn't go on any longer. I decided to go back not just for my sake but also my daughter's sake. I wanted to be healthier and also to be a role model for her.' After her embarrassing dress-fitting experience, Emma was shocked into action and she returned to the group in a bid to get rid of her excess weight once and for all. She swapped crisps and chocolate for fruit and yoghurt and quickly began to reap the benefits. For the first six months, Emma lost weight simply by following her eating plan but now attends boot camp and the gym three times a week. She added: 'Now I'll walk to the shops with the buggy rather than take the car. She decided to go on a diet for her daughter's sake; she wanted to be healthier and to be a positive role model . 'I always wanted to be able to run but I never could. I went to the gym and built it up. 'Now I can easily run for 20 minutes. My friends and family think it is amazing that I have gone from one extreme to another in such a short amount of time.' Other members of the group were so impressed by her transformation that they named her Woman of the Year, Miss Slinky and the Greatest Loser. Emma became so passionate about her weight loss that she is now inspiring others to slim down - after becoming a consultant with Slimming World. She said: 'I decided to become a consultant because I have been there and done it. 'I know how hard it is to lose weight and how much my life has turned around since I did. 'I even got a new career out of it. It has given me a whole new life and the health benefits are incredible. It's a new beginning for me.' New beginning: Emma says her weight loss has changed her life and she was even named the group's Greatest Loser and Miss Slinky for her impressive efforts . | Emma Monaghan, 27, from Glasgow, used to weigh 18st 5lbs .
Lived on a diet of crisps, chocolate and fast food .
Was mortified at dress fitting for a friend's wedding .
Embarked on healthy eating regime plus weekly boot camp sessions .
Dropped from size 22 to size 12 in 12 months .
Now weighs 11st 5lb . |
55,681 | 9dd885774ad80108f4b80a33e09e6a8ddaa62c9b | By . Simon Jones . Newcastle midfielder Moussa Sissoko is due to hold talks with manager Alan Pardew over his future. Sissoko represented France at the World Cup in Brazil and scored in their 5-2 victory over Switzerland. But his future on Tyneside remains unclear and he will hold discussions with Pardew in the coming days. Crunch: Newcastle midfielder Moussa Sissoko (right) is due to hold talks with manager Alan Pardew . Unclear: The French midfielder's future on Tyneside remains unclear ahead of the talks . Meanwhile, Pardew has added Monaco striker Emmanuel Riviere to his list of potential targets. He already maintains an interest in Lyon forward Alexandre Lacazette and midfielder Clement Grenier, as well as Montpellier winger Remy Cabella. Interest: Newcastle manager Pardew has added Monaco striker Emmanuel Riviere to his list of targets . | Sissoko will discuss whether or not he stays on Tyneside with Pardew .
The midfielder represented France at the World Cup in Brazil .
Pardew has added Monaco striker Emmanuel Riviere to potential targets . |
126,443 | 2f6b597bc557e2bbffd61fd6d9ad8cd56637afe4 | By . Allan Hall . Good luck: The Shamballa bracelet (pictured) is used by Buddhists and Hindus for meditation and as a sign of good luck in the Western world . A good luck bracelet worn by Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher throughout his racing career has been found in the snow where he suffered his catastrophic ski accident three weeks ago. The Shamballa wooden bead bracelet was found at the accident site by mountain rescue workers and has now been placed by the racing driver’s hospital bed. Schumacher, 45, has remained in an artificial coma at the University Hospital in Grenoble, France, since his accident at the ski resort of Meribel on December 29. He has since undergone two operations in an attempt to reduce the swelling on his brain. Bracelets such as his, worn by Buddhists and Hindus, were historically used to aid meditation, and have become a symbol of good luck in the West. The find comes as fears grow in Schumacher’s homeland that he might never be woken from the coma. A number of German publications quoted neurological experts voicing concerns the injuries he suffered were far worse than the media were led to believe. But a statement from his manager said his family had the utmost faith in the medical team treating him, and anything about his condition that did not emanate from those doctors was pure speculation. ‘Michael’s family is very satisfied with the work of the team of doctors treating him and trusts them absolutely,’ said manager Sabine Kehm. ‘Michael’s condition is stable.’ Schumacher’s wife Corinne, 44, visits him every day and there are no plans yet to awaken him. But the prolonged coma is fuelling concerns that his injuries were so severe that he has not recovered anywhere near enough to be brought out of it. Returned: The piece of jewellery, found by mountain rescue workers at the scene of his crash, is now by the Formula 1 champion's beside in Grenoble hospital where he remains in an artificial coma . The coma means that oxygen to his brain is reduced, so that it works less and is better placed to recover from the injuries sustained during a low-speed ski accident. Patients put in such comas are usually brought out of them after a week or two. Neurosurgeon Andreas Zieger, of the University Clinic for neurosurgery in Oldenburg, told Germany’s Focus magazine: ‘There may have been complications. We should not speculate here. 'Ultimately we are talking about life and death. A coma can in theory be maintained for a lifetime. It won’t hurt the human brain.’ | Shamballa wooden bead bracelet found by mountain rescue workers .
Now placed beside hospital bed where he remains in artificial coma .
Buddhist and Hindu jewellery used in meditation and as sign of good luck . |
124,849 | 2d5f957514bb43e2c96cf30eee34b997dd810222 | By . Keith Gladdis . PUBLISHED: . 04:02 EST, 29 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 19:14 EST, 29 April 2012 . Top spot: Kirsty Bertarelli (then Roper) as Miss Uk in 1988 tops the rich list of women . More women than ever before are included on the list of Britain’s wealthiest people. In a week that saw the country slip into a double-dip recession, the list also shows the super-rich are defying the economic gloom, with a rise in the number of billionaires. The 1,000 biggest fortunes in the UK now total £414.26billion, up 4.7 per cent on last year, according to the Sunday Times Rich List 2012. It beats the previous high of £412.85billion set in 2008, months before the financial crash that has left millions of ordinary families struggling to make ends meet. The list features 77 billionaires, compared with just 53 in 2010. It also features a record 108 women, up from 105 last year. Ex-model Kirsty Bertarelli is the richest woman in the UK, thanks to the £7.4billion fortune she shares with her Swiss-born husband Ernesto – whose family made its money in pharmaceuticals. The couple are sixth in the overall rich list. Mother of three Mrs Bertarelli, 40, was formerly Kirsty Roper, a singer from Staffordshire who was crowned Miss UK in 1988. Now a songwriter, she wrote the No.1 hit Black Coffee for the girl band All Saints. Charlene de Carvalho, 57, the only daughter of brewing giant Freddy Heineken, is the next richest woman, sharing a £5.49billion fortune with her husband Michel. Lady Green, wife of Sir Philip Green, slips from third to fourth with £3.3billion after the couple’s Arcadia retail group, which includes Topshop, saw profits fall by 38 per cent. Second and third: Charlene de Carvalho (right) and Kirsten Rausing take the second and third spots respectively of the richest women in the world . The Queen is the 32nd richest woman and . 262nd overall with a personal wealth of £310million. Topping the overall . rankings, with an estimated £12.7billion, is steel magnate Lakshmi . Mittal, 61, whose family have led the list since 2005. Despite his fortune falling by 27 per cent in the past year, he just stays ahead of Uzbek metals magnate and Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov on £12.3billion. Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich, 45, came in third with £9.5billion, down £800million on last year. The wealthiest UK-born man is the Duke of Westminster, 60, in seventh place with £7.35billion thanks to his London property empire. Among other UK-born billionaires, . diamond retailer Laurence Graff’s wealth soared by £1.3billion to . £3.3billion, while inventor Sir James Dyson’s fortune swelled to . £2.65billion, up by £1.2billion. Steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal (left) is number one on the Rich List followed by Alisher Usmanov (right) Loaded: Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich (left) and Indian billionaire Gopi Hinduja (right) JCB owner Sir Anthony Bamford, 66, leapt from 36th to 20th on the list with £3.15billion, up by £1.5billion. Andrey Andreev, 38, the London-based Russian businessman who founded the online dating site Badoo, is a new entrant in the list worth £500 million. Joanna Shields, the European vice-president of Facebook, is expected to add to her wealth when the business floats. Top of the list of the wealthiest people under 30 is Thomas Persson, 25, whose family clothing chain H&M means he and his brother Karl-Johan are valued at £700 million, while Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe is in eighth place with a personal fortune of £54 million. Singer Adele is worth £20 million, making her the wealthiest young musician. No money worries: Billionaires Kirsty Bertarelli (left) and Gerald Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster (right) Topshop mogul Sir Philip Green and his wife have lost almost a quarter of their personal fortune over the past 12 months. The couple - who recently spent an . estimated £6 million on a celebrity-studded beach party to celebrate Sir . Philip's 60th birthday - are today worth £3.3 billion, down from £4.2 . billion, the Daily Telegraph reports. Sir . Philip ranked at number 13 in last year's Sunday Times Rich List, but . in the latest update of the nation's richest people he is placed at 17. The Green's clothing-store empire . includes the well-known high street brands Miss Selfridge, Dorothy . Perkins, Evans, Wallis, BHS, Topshop and Topman. Overall . profits in parent company Arcadia fell 38 per cent in 2010-11, which . Sir Philip blamed at the time on an unseasonably warm autumn that had . dented sales of winter clothing. The . revelations of Sir Philip's drop in fortune comes after the magnate . celebrated his birthday in Mexico last month in typically flamboyant . style and with no expense spared. Philip Green, owner of Topshop, with daughter Chloe. Green allegedly spent an estimated £6 million on a celebrity-studded beach party to celebrate his 60th birthday . | There are more billionaires than ever despite economic downturn .
A record 108 women feature on the list, seven of which are billionaires .
Holding onto the top spot is steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal .
British billionaires, including Laurence Graff and Sir Richard Branson, have enjoyed increases in their fortunes . |
196,744 | 8a9ad10b086b770b1fce5fba5537f08e7209ec54 | The couple whose proposal was photographed by a bystander in a St. Paul, Minnesota, park in a widely-shared Instagram photograph last week have come forward and revealed themselves. Luke Peterson told MyFox9 that before he asked Stephanie Yarian to marry him in Rice Park last Thursday, the pair went out for both dinner and dancing. 'My plan was to drive by there and then kind of have her be the one to think about like "Yeah, we should go check out those lights" and "Oh, sure we could do that,"' he told the television station. Bystander Joy Son happened to be in Rice Park when Peterson's proposal took place. Scroll down for video . The happy couple: Joy Son took this photograph showing Luke Peterson proposing to Stephanie Yarian while at Rice Park in St. Paul, Minnesota, last week . Special moment: Stephanie Yarian and Luke Peterson (seen together left) got engaged last week in Rice Park . Joy Son (right) was also in the park when she took the photograph of the couple's proposal before posting it online . Son told MyFox9 someone pointed out the proposal to her while she was photographing park adornments. She told the television station 'I tried to zoom in to snap a picture but by then it was too late and I ended up taking a picture of them after they stood up. 'I was pretty bummed that I didn't get a picture of them and quickly got over it until I was scrolling through my camera roll at a restaurant we went to afterwards and found a picture of them!" She wrote of the photograph on Instagram 'I was so busy trying to take a photo of the tree lights, I didn’t see that I actually captured a proposal! I’d love the chance to share this with the couple and would appreciate any help! This was at Rice Park in St. Paul on 12/18/14 around 10:00pm.' As of this writing, the photo has been liked over 2,400 times on Son's profile and received 186 comments. Yarian revealed she was the woman in the picture in the Instagram photo's comments section after a pal mentioned a Star Tribune story about the picture, MyFox9 reported. Countdown: Stephanie Yarian and her fiance Luke Peterson are planning nuptials for late June . 'It had our picture and it was like "Mystery couple" and I was like "Oh my gosh." I was like "Abby this is me!"' Yarian said in an interview with Fox31. 'It was really cool, I mean the picture is beautiful and I just think it captures everything in that moment and it's really fun to look back on it and see it,' she also said. The couple crossed paths as University of Northwestern in St. Paul students, though Peterson has since graduated from Minnesota State University-Mankato, MyFox9 reported. Yarian is still at the University of Northwestern. Peterson told MyFox9 'I was like "Well, if we just posted that on Facebook, probably wouldn't have had nearly as much interest in it, like - like it does now, but the anonymity of it, I think.' The couple is planning nuptials for late June, according to Fox31. | Bystander Joy Son took a photograph of the moment a man proposed to his girlfriend in St. Paul's Rice Park .
Son shared the photograph on Instagram and asked for help in finding the couple .
Stephanie Yaurian revealed she was the woman photographed by writing in in the comments section on Instagram .
Her boyfriend Luke Peterson proposed after the pair went out for both dinner and dancing . |
25,010 | 46dd5525632745691f1e6afaae286529875bedde | (CNN) -- World number one Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the Paris Masters with a shoulder injury. The 24-year-old moved into the last eight of the competition on Thursday with a three-set over fellow Serbian Viktor Troicki but said he was not fit enough to face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Friday's scheduled quarterfinal. Djokovic has been struggling with shoulder and back injuries since winning the U.S. Open in September, and was forced to withdraw from the Shanghai Masters as he missed the ATP Tour's Asian leg. "Sadly I have to inform you that I have withdrawn from the tournament," he said on his official website on Friday, raising doubts that he will be fit to play in the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London this month. "I have pushed myself to the limit by playing, and after the match yesterday my shoulder got worse. "For this reason, I have to put my health first and withdraw even though my urges as a professional player are making me want to play until the last drop of energy. "I am very sorry for all of you who bought tickets and wanted to come and watch me play. My season has been long and tiring, I played all of my matches at my highest level, and now my body is aching for recovery. Hoping for your understanding and support." Earlier in the week Djokovic rejected claims that he had played in Paris just to collect a year-end $1.6 million bonus check for finishing top of the rankings, saying they were "ridiculous." The tournament lost another big attraction in quarterfinal action Friday as second seed Andy Murray crashed out to Czech Tomas Berdych. Murray was bidding to extend his unbeaten streak to 19 matches, but was beaten 4-6 7-6 6-4 by sixth seed Berdych, who will be joining him at the ATP Tour Finals in London later this month. Berdych leveled with superb play in the second set tiebreak and a crucial break in the ninth game of the decider left him to serve out for victory and his third win in four matches with Scot Murray. His reward is a semifinal clash against Roger Federer after the third seed saw off Juan Monaco of Argentina 6-3 7-5. It was the 800th win of the Swiss maestro's remarkable career and was wrapped up in just under 90 minutes at the Bercy Arena. Tsonga will play John Isner of the United States for a place in the final after he upset fourth seed David Ferrer of Spain 6-3 3-6 6-3 in the final quarterfinal of an eventful day in the French capital. | Novak Djokovic pulls out of the Paris Masters with a shoulder injury .
Djokovic earned a $1.6 million bonus after winning his opening match of the tournament .
Second seed Andy Murray beaten in quarterfinals by Tomas Berdych .
Roger Federer clocks up 800th career win as he dispatches Juan Monaco . |
69,140 | c40db871ac4146ed220ef5d7f8f4ba574967a4b8 | Javier Hernandez could be in line for his first start for Real Madrid on Tuesday night against Elche having made an instant impact in the Spanish capital after his move from Manchester United. It did not go unnoticed in Spain at the weekend that as Real managed to score eight goals against Deportivo La Coruna, Karim Benzema failed to register. ‘Chicharito’ climbed off the bench to score two of the goal of the season contenders late in the second half and now Carlo Ancelotti is under pressure to pick the Mexican. Ancelotti defended Benzema after the game, saying that he looked at more than the names of the goalscorers. Javier Hernandez scored twice against Deportivo La Coruna at the weekend and could start on Tuesday . Hernandez trains alongside Isco and Marcelo Vieira ahead of the game with Elche on Tuesday . Hernandez has become an instant hero at Real Madrid after scoring twice against Deportivo . ‘He played well in Riazor even though he didn't score; I look at things beyond that,’ he said. But he is expected to leave Benzema out of his staring line-up as Real look to get their second win in the space of four days. It may still be that young attacking midfielder Isco is the man who benefits from Benzema being rested and that Hernandez has to content himself with another place on the bench but whatever happens his two goals have immediately earned him a place in the affections of Real Madrid supporters – especially those who jeered and whistled the France striker at every turn in the club’s last home game in the Champions League against Basle. In truth, Hernandez’s spectacular showing against Deportivo owed much to the way the game had gone with weak opposition long since having thrown in the towel when he made his entrance. Hernandez scored two stunning goals against Deportivo and has impressed since his arrival in Madrid . Hernandez celebrates his goal with team-mates James Rodriguez and Cristiano Ronaldo . Hernandez came on in place of Karim Benzema . He will find far more space late in games in La Liga – especially against team who have already accepted heavy defeat against Real before he makes his entrance. Strikers never like to be taken off at the end of games because they know there are rich pickings as the clock ticks down and the gaps in tired defences begin to appear. After years of struggling to find space in the Premier League that will come as a welcomed change. And ‘welcome change’ is the way many Madrid supporters see the ‘Little Pea’s’ arrival at the Bernabeu. The theory put forward last summer by Benzema’s defenders in the Spanish capital was that he would respond badly to competition and so a replacement for Gonzalo Higuain was never bought. But his credit has run dry since then and the competition is now up and running. Hernandez has gone from contesting a place in the starting line-up with Radamel Falcao, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie at United to trying to oust Benzema at the Bernabeu. Saturday's spectacular double has given him the perfect launch pad for a far more prosperous career in Spain than he enjoyed at Old Trafford. Like our Manchester United Facebook page. | Javier Hernandez came off the bench to score twice against Deportivo La Coruna .
Real Madrid beat Deportivo La Coruna 8-2 but Karim Benzema failed to score .
Carlo Ancelotti could start Javier Hernandez against Elche . |
259,917 | dc8a6c18a2093a6f5c0a77dd551a120e62aaf7b4 | Sportsmail brings you the second column from Formula One star Nico Rosberg. The Mercedes driver looks back at his victory in Australia and ahead to this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix. My victory at the Australian Grand Prix was a special moment for the team. For us all to be together – and I was with my fiancée Vivian, too – it was great. But we didn't really celebrate too much because it should only be the beginning. We swiftly turned our attention and focus to the next race here in Malaysia, which shows that maturity is a huge strength within the team. In fact 'mature' is probably the best word to describe us at the moment. We have grown as a team and our time will come very, very soon where we will be winning more races – already to have success is a huge thing for us. Cheer we go: Nico Rosberg celebrates his victory at the Australian Grand Prix, and right, with fiancée Vivian . All smiles: Rosberg and his Mercedes team pose for a celebratory picture following the Australian Grand Prix . After the race, I went to Bali on holiday with my fiancée and some friends, which was very nice, but throughout the trip, I remained in close contact with the team because there was so much that we learned from Melbourne, and subsequently there was so much information to go through – even while I was on holiday! Despite winning by almost 25 seconds, my victory in Australia was not as straightforward as it appeared. There were various issues that we had to deal with. The tyres, for example, were right on the edge of being too cold, so I had to keep the pace up all the time to ensure they stayed at the right temperature. Of course, pre-season testing had gone well so we expected to look good in Australia, but to have such an advantage was still a surprise. Understandably, I was very happy with that. Getting the job done: Rosberg leads the drivers' standings after romping to victory at the Australian Grand Prix . I'll drink to that: Rosberg toasts with Daniel Ricciardo - the Red Bull man was later disqualified from the race . In Melbourne, we had the fastest car, but we must be careful because Malaysia is a totally different story, so we must keep an open mind. However, it is possible that we can do really well here, too. Daniel Ricciardo was disqualified from . the Australian Grand Prix. I don't wish to comment on the details because I don't have all the information, but it was definitely a big pity . because he is Australian and to have an Aussie on the podium was a great . thing for the home crowd. There have been lots of comments about the new sound of Formula One. The thing with this sport is that we always tend to focus on the negatives, but there are so many more positives this year. The power units are much more contemporary and fuel efficient. The pack has also been shuffled around so there isn't always the same winner and that is very good for Formula One. I can understand people's views about the noise. It isn't the same as with the V8 engines, but let's focus on the positives. We are going to have some good racing for sure, and the cars are really exciting to drive and watch, from what I saw after the race. We shouldn’t rush into anything but take our time and see how things unfold over the next races. I have been in Kuala Lumpur since Sunday. Petronas are the team's biggest partner, so I have been representing them and doing a lot of PR. We have done a lot of interesting things, like diving with sharks for instance, and it is great to do different activities, but the main thing is the Malaysian people are backing us and they are really enthusiastic about our team which is excellent to see. Before and after: The Mercedes driver spent time at an aquarium in Malaysia where he dived with sharks . It has obviously been a very difficult week for Malaysia with the focus on the tragic events of flight MH370, and my thoughts and sympathies go to all the families and friends who have been affected. I only hope that, with the race this weekend, we can help to focus a more positive light on Malaysia and its wonderful people. The Malaysian Grand Prix is one of the toughest on the calendar because of the intense heat and humidity, so you have to be very fit. I try and acclimatise to the conditions by staying outside as much as possible and doing sport outdoors. It is vital to stay hydrated, too. In fact, I am drinking right now because during the race I can sweat up to four litres which is massive and probably double the amount of a regular race. The race will be very demanding. By the end of the grand prix, your concentration levels will not be as high as they were at the beginning nor my fitness which will have reduced, too. No hard feelings: Lewis Hamilton (left) and Rosberg shake hands after last year's Malaysian Grand Prix . At last year's Malaysian Grand Prix, I was asked to 'hold station' behind my team-mate Lewis Hamilton, but I don't want to go into that because it is history. What I can say is that this year we will give you some exciting racing because that is what Mercedes is here to do. We want to entertain and put on a good show. At the same time there will be circumstances where we as drivers have to put the team first, and they have already been discussed so everything is clear. Closed chapter: Rosberg says his incident with Hamilton at last year's race has been consigned to history . Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga title earlier this week which is an amazing achievement. I am very happy about it. They were rewarded with the Laureus Team of the Year award on Wednesday night which was great to see because they fully deserve it. I was at the ceremony because it was held here in Kuala Lumpur, and I am an ambassador, so it was nice to be there. We face Manchester United in the Champions League next week which could be very exciting. United aren't at the top of their game at the moment so hopefully we will beat them, and I am confident that we can. Ambassador: Rosberg with future wife Vivien at this week's Laureus Awards in Kuala Lumpur . Nico Rosberg's fee for his column . will be donated to the Grand Prix Mechanics’ Charitable Trust, which is . dedicated to providing help to former and current Formula One mechanics . and their families, putting F1 mechanics throughout the world in touch . with each other and raising funds to help in times of need. You can . follow Rosberg on Twitter @nico_rosberg and MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS @MercedesAMGF1. | My Mercedes team didn’t really celebrate winning the Australian Grand Prix .
Victory in Melbourne wasn’t as straightforward as it seemed .
It’s a big pity Daniel Ricciardo got disqualified in season opener .
The Malaysian Grand Prix is one of the toughest races because of the humidity. I sweat up to four litres - double a regular race .
I’m confident Bayern Munich will beat United in the Champions League . |
50,024 | 8d73b0ff9c6200be61f95b8284d87a611a691b95 | By . Emma Innes . PUBLISHED: . 11:14 EST, 27 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:52 EST, 28 February 2013 . Fidgeting, snoring, passing wind and hogging the duvet - the list of things that couples argue about in bed is endless. More than a quarter of British couples spend so much time bickering between the sheets that they are losing an average of 90 minutes sleep each week, new research suggests. The problem is so big that the sleep loss builds up to three full days of missed sleep during a year. A quarter of British couples spend so much time bickering in bed that they lose 90 minutes sleep each week . The research by hotel chain Travelodge also revealed that couples in Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow are the worst bedtime bickerers – in Birmingham couples lose as much as three hours and 20 minutes sleep a week because of arguments. The survey of 2,000 British couples also discovered that 26 per cent argue in bed at least three times a week and that each squabble lasts about 30 minutes. The biggest cause of the arguments is fidgeting, with a fifth of Britons reporting that their partner regularly interrupts their sleep with restlessness and twitchy movements. Fidgeting . Snoring . Different body temperate . Hogging the duvet . Not being in the mood for sex . Passing wind in bed . Partner keeping the light on . Watching TV while partner wants to sleep . The time couples go to bed . Allowing children or a pet to share the bed . The second most common cause of . fights is snoring – 16 per cent of couples stated that they argue about . it - and men were revealed to be the worst offenders. The survey also found that couples . argue about incompatible body temperatures, duvet hogging, not being in . the mood for sex, passing wind, allowing pets into the bed and leaving . the light on. Corinne Sweet, relationship psychologist, said: ‘Bedtime bickering is a serious issue that needs to be addressed immediately. ‘Ignoring the issue will result in regular bursts of poor quality of sleep, increased stress levels and loss of immunity. ‘So serious is this problem that over an average relationship period of twenty years, British couples could lose two months sleep which does not make for long term bliss.’ She added: ‘My advice is that bickering couples should make time and have an open and honest discussion with their partner about their annoying sleeping habits. ‘It is only by having a frank conversation can they really work through the issues and identify a workable solution.’ | More than a quarter of British couples argue in bed three times a week, each argument lasts 30 minutes .
Arguments are caused by fidgeting, snoring, hogging the duvet and not being in the mood for sex .
Worst bickerers are in Birmingham and Manchester . |
272,742 | ed3d389374db36ffefb2a8458be3986d0663c453 | While most expectant moms fret over decorating the nursery in the weeks leading up to their baby's delivery, Sharon Savino had a more pressing matter on her mind - the egg-sized tumor growing in her heart. The 26-year-old Long Island, New York resident noticed something was wrong when she developed a cough before Christmas. When she coughed up blood, she went to the emergency room near her home and doctors first diagnosed her with bronchitis - saying they didn't know what caused the blood. But when the bleeding happened again, she went to an obstetrician who found the dangerous egg-sized tumor. Risky procedure: Sharon Savino was 27 weeks pregnant when she underwent open-heart surgery to remove an egg-sized tumor. Pictured above with newborn son Maximus . Signs: Savino, of Long Island, New York, noticed something was wrong when she started coughing up blood around Christmas . While the tumor was not malignant, because of its size it had the potential to cause organ damage, a stroke or even sudden death. So doctors at Stony Brook University Hospital had a choice: either perform open heart surgery while Savino was still carrying the child, or perform a c-section pre-term and wait for the mom to heal before addressing the tumor. In the end, doctors decided that the situation was too risky and on January 17, at 27 weeks pregnant, Savino underwent open-heart surgery. The dangers with performing open-heart surgery on a pregnant woman is that the heart-lung bypass machine can impair blood flow to the fetus. The stress of the surgery can also cause the patient to go into premature labor. Operating on a pregnant woman is so rare, doctors only found 17 other cases. While patients usually spend about 45 minutes on the hearty-lung machine and about 25 to 30 minutes with their heart stopped during surgery, they cut those times in half for Savino and her unborn baby. 'For Sharon, we were able to reduce that to 18 minutes on the machine with her heart arrested for only 12 minutes,' Dr James Taylor told the New York Daily News. Tayor says Savino was a model patient who kept stress under control throughout the process. She says the weight of the surgery didn't hit her until she was just about to go into the operating room. 'Then it hit me, and I started crying. My mom was there, she started crying. I guess it wasn't real to me before then,' she said. Doctors at Stony Brook University Hospital decided the tumor was too dangerous to wait until after Savino's c-section so they operated while she was pregnant . Healthy boy: Savino gave birth to her son on April 2. Pictured above with partner Russell Daniels . The surgery went off without a hitch and Ms Savino remained in the hospital for a week after surgery while she was monitored for signs of preterm labor. She spent the remaining two months at home before giving birth to baby Maximus on April 2. Savino and partner Russell Daniels, 27, now have three children together including Maximus' older brother and sister Russell, 4, and Shallyssa, 2. 'I thought, "I can't believe I made it,"' Savino said. 'He's healthy, and I'm still going.' | Sharon Savino sought medical attention after she started coughing up blood around Christmas this year .
Doctors discovered that the pregnant woman had a tumor that would cause organ damage, stroke or even death if left untreated .
They decided to perform open-heart surgery on Savino even though she was 27 weeks pregnant with son Maximus .
After the successful surgery, Savino spent a week in the hospital while she was monitored for signs of pre-term labor .
Savino gave birth to a healthy 7 pound, 3 ounce boy on April 2 . |
151,299 | 4fa07cf30380e75104f9dc6cc573b5d0407fe616 | By . Chloe Thomas . PUBLISHED: . 18:15 EST, 20 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:56 EST, 21 November 2012 . AS a former prima ballerina, she is only too aware of the importance of limbering up for a performance. And it seems old habits die hard for Darcey Bussell – even when the production in question is nothing more than a leisurely stroll with the dogs. As the 43-year-old walked on Wimbledon Common in London with her spaniel-poodle crossbreeds Lolli and Pop, she struck a number of poses reminiscent of her ballet days. And stretch... Strictly Come dancing judge Darcey Bussell appeared to be pulling some poses reminiscent of her Ballet dancing hey day, right, as she walked her two dogs Lolli and Pop out on Wimbledon Common . Wearing black high-heeled wellington boots and a bright jacket, the Strictly Come Dancing judge raised her left arm above her head in a half-hearted echo of one of her stage poses. She then swapped arms and repeated the motion, before rolling her head back in a circular movement. The former Royal Ballet principal dancer retired in 2007, but made a comeback when she performed at the closing ceremony for the Olympics earlier this year. She has also replaced singer Alesha Dixon on the judging panel of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. The mother of two has admitted missing the limelight since her retirement, saying: ‘I came out of career and I finished at the top. ‘Just like an athlete, it’s such an adrenaline rush and when you step aside, of course there’s something missing. It’s hard when you’ve spent most of your life being a perfectionist in an art form.’ New judge: Darcey Bussell, second left, stands next to her fellow Strictly Come Dancing judges after replacing Alesha Dixon on the show . A prima ballerina: Darcy Bussell, pictured as Sylvia with Jonathan Cope as Aminta in a production of Sylvia at the Royal Opera House in 2004, retired in 2007 . | Former prima ballerina Darcey Bussell was out for a stroll with her spaniel-poodle crossbreeds Lolli and Pop on Wimbledon Common .
The dancer, now 43, appeared to be practicing her ballet poses despite retiring in 2007 . |
234,238 | bb3d34d2b63ed59baf4f38878a345de5fe67df82 | (CNN) -- Manchester City moved three points clear at the top of the English Premier League with a convincing 3-0 home win over sixth-placed Liverpool on Tuesday. Goals from Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and a James Milner penalty put City ahead of second-placed local rivals Manchester United, who visit Newcastle on Wednesday. Roberto Mancini's men survived the second-half dismissal of Gareth Barry in the 73rd minute, and even added to their tally as Martin Skrtel pulled down Toure and Milner converted from the spot. It completed a miserable evening for Liverpool, who were missing striker Luis Suarez after club officials confirmed before the match they would not appeal his eight-match ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra. Liverpool decide against Suarez appeal . City suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at Sunderland on Sunday, but went ahead after just 10 minutes as Argentina star Aguero beat Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina with a dipping shot he might have saved. Liverpool pressed hard for an equalizer, but fell further behind on 33 minutes as the excellent Toure headed home David Silva's corner at the near post. Reds manager Kenny Dalglish introduced Steven Gerrard and Craig Bellamy from the bench in the second half, but it was to no avail as City continued to control the match even when a man light. City captain Vincent Kompany said his team had shown great character after the Sunderland defeat. "It was massive for us, we didn't deserve to lose against Sunderland but we were incredibly efficient today," Kompany told Sky Sports. In Tuesday's other games, third-placed Tottenham Hotspur beat West Bromwich Albion 1-0 while Sunderland continued to impress under new manager Martin O'Neill with a 4-1 win at struggling Wigan. Tottenham moved to within three points of United after striker Jermain Defoe scored the only goal on 63 minutes at White Hart Lane. Sunderland won for the fourth time in six games since O'Neill took charge, moving up to 10th in the table. | English leaders Manchester City beat Liverpool 3-0 at Etihad Stadium despite red card .
Tuesday's win puts Roberto Mancini's side three points clear of Manchester United .
Third-placed Tottenham keep pace with leaders after a 1-0 home win over WBA .
Sunderland revival under Martin O'Neill continues with 4-1 victory at lowly Wigan . |
121,126 | 28928848a22b02baeb93fef29806664f77573a53 | By . Rick Dewsbury . PUBLISHED: . 11:51 EST, 24 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:51 EST, 24 August 2012 . Most people would send valuable items by recorded delivery at the very least. While anyone posting a rare piece of art worth thousands of pounds by one of the world's greatest painters would almost certainly go to great lengths for it to be protected. But one Norwegian museum's attempt to save money has come back to haunt them after the had a Rembrandt etching sent in the post - only for it to get lost. The Soli Brug Gallery in Greaaker, about 50 miles south of Oslo, bought from a British dealer a copy of Rembrandt's 'Lieven Willemsz, van Coppenol, Writing-Master' for an exhibition. Missing: Rembrandt's Lieven Willemsz, van Coppenol, Writing-Master etching which a Norwegian gallery bought a copy of for $8,500 only for it to be lost in the post . They wanted to save money on courier and insurance costs of it coming from the UK - and chose for it to be delivered in the post. But everything did not go to plan. And as days past by without the work arriving through the letter box it became clear that the virtually irreplaceable had been lost. 'Using a courier or special insurance is quite expensive so we have used regular mail until now,' Ole Derje, the gallery's chairman said. 'It is worth around 40,000 to 50,000 crowns ($6,900-$8,600) and the postal service is offering us compensation of 500-1,000 crowns.' Derje said his gallery, which is displaying works by Dürer, Rembrandt, Goya, Munch and Dali, received notice to pick up the package but when he went to collect it, it was nowhere to be found. Derje declined to name the seller, citing confidentiality concerns. The Soli Brug Gallery in Greaaker near Oslo, that refused to pay for couriers for the rare Rembrandt is bought from Britain. It was then lost in the post . 'We are sorry that this has happened; . we have advised him to use a more appropriate form of mail when sending . items that are worth as much as this with the appropriate insurance . connected,' said Hilde . Rembrandt was a dutch painter and etcher who is considered to be one of the greatest painters in European art. His works include the The Storm on the Sea of Galilee, 1633, and The Abduction of Europa, 1632. The Dutch artists Night Watch is valued at a staggering $305,000,000. While in 2009, his 'Portrait of a Man' sold for $36m at Christies in London. Master: An early self-portrait of Rembrandt and right, a later portrait of the great Dutch master . If the lost etching was stolen in the . post, it will join a register of missing pieces of work that stands at . an incredible £1bn, according according to the Art Loss Register. The organisation claims that there are 350,000 stolen works of art in the world. It is not clear what would happen to the picture if somebody found it in the post but it would be hard for them to sell it legally without attracting the attention of the authorities. A model stands by Rembrandt's portrait of an unknown man, painted in 1658, hangs in Christie's auction house where it was priced at £25m . Value: A Christie's employee displays Rembrandt's 'A man in a gorget and cap' in 2010 before it sold for £8.5m . Experts say such works often 'go underground' where they trade for just five to 10 per cent of their true value. Johannes Vermeer's The Concert - valued at $500m is thought to be the most highly valued stolen work of art in the world. Vincent van Gogh's Poppy Flowers has still not surfaced since it was stolen from the Mahmoud Khalil Museum in Cairo, Egypt, in 2010. It is valued at $55m. | Norwegian gallery wanted to save money by having artwork sent in the post .
£5,500k etching disappeared in the mail and now there's no sign of it . |
117,075 | 2323d6d1a50fd95148e1cd029a299961315d0b0e | By . Ashley Collman . and Snejana Farberov . The Florida mom accused of murdering her two teen children was 'without a doubt' insane at the time of the slayings, a psychologist testified Monday. However, prosecutors argue that 53-year-old Julie Schenecker knew what she was doing when she shot dead daughter Calyx, 16, and son Beau, 13, in January 2011 - and has simply convinced everyone into believing she's crazy. On Monday, psychologist Dr Eldra Soloman testified for the defense as they seek to acquit Schenecker by proving she's mentally ill. Scroll down for video . Crazy: A psychologist and psychiatrist testified in the trial of Julie Schenecker on Monday, the 53-year-old Florida mom accused of shooting dead her two teen children in 2011. They both agreed that she was insane at the time of the slayings. Pictured Monday in court . After spending 20 hours with Schenecker, and reviewing the accused's medical history, Dr Soloman diagnosed her as bi-polar with psychotic features. 'I think without a doubt that she was insane at the time of the shooting and during the week prior to the shooting,' Dr Solomon told the jury. 'Even psychopaths don't kill their own children.' 'They may be able to kill other people's children, but sane people have it wired in their DNA to protect their children,' she added. Dr Soloman says Schenecker developed severe mental illness after being molested at the age of seven and started to think about suicide when she was just 12 years old. Didn't know it was wrong: Psychologist Dr Eldra Soloman testified Monday saying sane people don't kill their children and that Schenecker believed she was helping them by bringing them to heaven with her . Six months before the killings, Schenecker went off her medications, resulting in a 'downward spiral' which ended with Calyx and Beau's deaths. Around that time, Schenecker started behaving bizarely, telling her therapist that she wanted to get pregnant at the age of 49 so she could immediately give the child up for adoption. Dr Soloman believes Schenecker wanted to commit suicide, but didn't want to leave her children motherless - fearing that her daughter was becoming bi-polar and that her son would be molested just like her. So she decided to kill herself and take 'her children with her to heaven' in order to protect them from the evils of the world. After shooting dead her two children, Schenecker took several pills which put her to sleep - but did not prove lethal. Failed plan: Schenecker planned to kill herself after shooting dead kids Calyx, 16 (left), and Beau, 13 (right). But the prescription pills she took didn't prove fatal and simply put her to sleep. Her husband was deployed in the Middle East at the time. The two have since divorced . Schenecker's husband and the father of her children, Army Col Parker Schenecker, was deployed in the Middle East at the time and the two have since divorced. When she woke up the next morning, Dr Soloman says Schenecker was very upset. 'She said she was very angry at herself because she failed,' Solomon said. 'She was very upset because she didn't succeed at killing herself.' Forensic psychiatrist Dr Michael Maher also testified and agrees that Schenecker was legally insane at the time of the shootings. 'My conclusion is she knew what she was doing ... but she did not know it was wrong. She believed she was protecting her children from something that was terribly horrible; she believed she was going to stay with her children and bring them with her to heaven, and it was a part of her necessary duty as a mother to do this,' Dr Maher said. However, the prosecution has been arguing that the slayings were premeditated, and not the result of a mental breakdown. Julie Schenecker talks with attorney Jennifer Spradley on Tuesday, May 6, 2014 . The jury previously heard recordings of Schenecker telling detectives that her teens were mean and that she hoped they were dead just hours after their bodies were found. 'I just topped over. The last straw,' Schenecker said in the interview, 'My daughter, the 16-year-old, is mouthy. She calls me names.' She told the detective that she had long thought about suicide. 'I feel horrible. I just feel horrible,' she said. 'But I've been thinking about doing this for a long time.' Later, the detective asked her where her kids were. She said that Calyx was in her bed where she had placed her after the shooting, and that Beau was in the family's minivan where she had shot him. 'I hope they're dead,' Schenecker said to police Detective Gary Sandel. 'What do you think?' 'They're dead,' Det Sandel replied. Julie Schenecker is led out of the courtroom on May 9, 2014 . Tampa Police officer Fred Arnold testified that Schenecker's mood was 'jovial' the day of her arrest. 'She wasn't sad or anything like that,' Arnold said. 'She wanted me to give her my gun so she could finish the job.' Schenecker also wrote about her 'disrespectful' children in her journals but Dr Soloman said those were merely 'ramblings'. Schenecker is facing two counts of first-degree murder and has plead not guilty by reason of insanity. If convicted, she will face a life prison sentence without parole; prosecutors declined to seek the death penalty. If acquitted by reason of insanity, the mother would be committed to a hospital until she is no longer a danger to herself or others. | Julie Schenecker, 53, is currently facing two counts of first-degree murder for shooting dead her two children in January 2011 .
A psychologist and psychiatrist testified for the defense on Monday, and both believe the Florida mom was legally insane at the time of the slayings .
Schenecker's lawyers are currently trying to acquit the mother by proving she was mentally ill .
Psychologist Dr Edna Soloman says Schenecker tried to commit suicide after the shootings, but failed . |
96,697 | 087171b2930969831bde0816f296981f4be8b280 | The thick pea-soupers that hung over British cities until the 1950s live on in the memory of those who experienced the life threatening smogs. But a new collection of photographs featuring Pittsburgh in the 1940s and 1950s show people living in the American industrial city suffered just as badly. Pollution was once so bad in Pittsburgh that it could block out the midday sun. The scale of the problem is revealed in pictures from the Smoke Control Lantern Slide Collection at the archives of the University of Pittsburgh. Danger: Crowds of people in Pittsburgh go about their business with a thick smog visibly filling the air and clouding the tops of surrounding buildings . Daylight: The smog in 1950s Pittsburgh was so thick at times that it could block out the midday sun, but for decades people were unaware of the dangers the thick clouds of coal smoke and industrial pollution posed to people's health in the U.S. city . Danger: Clouds of choking pollution once shrouded the skyscrapers of Pittsburgh before authorities took action by banning the burning of coal in the American city . The problem in Pittsburgh had been a long standing one with Victorian-era British novelist and Londoner Anthony Trollope writing that Pittsburgh was 'without exception is the blackest place which I ever saw'. Despite . his grimy review, the lack of alternative fuels in the 19th century . made introducing smoke controls difficult. Also lots of people thought . that high smoke output was a sign of high productivity and that coal . smoke was good for the lungs and helped crops grow. The photographic collection was put together to highlight the history of the city's smoke control laws which were first passed in 1941, but then delayed by the Second World War leaving residents choking in the fumes for more than a decade longer. Looming: As cars and pedestrians go about their daily business the thick clouds of smog cut down visibility, leaving the view between the city's tall buildings hidden even during the day . Horror: The collection of Pittsburgh smog pictures has been put together by the U.S. city's university to show how bad the problem was and how laws were eventually introduced to restrict the burning of coal to tackle the dangerous problem . Past: The smog which engulfed Pittsburgh for decades was initially thought to be good for crops and a proud symbol of the city's industrial progress and energy . An essay called Pittsburg by James Parton which first appeared in The Atlantic Monthly's January 1868 edition detailed how the problem had been plaguing the city since the 19th century. He described conditions in the city, where 230,000 people lived at the time, by writing 'walking up a long hill to Cliff Street in Pittsburg, and looking over into hell with the lid taken off.' He said: 'The town lies low, as at the bottom of an excavation, just visible through the mingled smoke and mist, and every object in it is black. Smoke, smoke, smoke - everywhere smoke.' Industry: This picture shows a factory chimney spewing out smoke in the city, adding to Pittsburgh's intense air pollution problem which was once so bad the midday sun could be blocked out . Visibility: The Pittsburgh smog hides a huge building even at close range, with the upper floors invisible and the buildings outline blurred by the combination of industrial pollution and coal fire smoke . While air quality in Pittsburgh have improved greatly since the 1950s, the thick pea soupers which can kill young and elderly people, remain a problem in newly industrialised countries. In China last week foreign embassies were warned by a senior official that issuing air pollution readings were illegal and interfering in its internal business. Official forecasts in the Chinese capital Beijing, which is home to 20 million people, often predict light pollution - even when the city is shrouded in haze. Life: Car exhaust fumes added to the Pittsburgh smog which was a problem in the industrialised U.S. city for decades until new laws on burning coal were introduced in the 1950s . Shroud: Industrialisation brought wealth to Pittsburgh, but the resulting smog became to high a price to pay with officials eventually realising action was needed to tackle the longstanding problem . | The pea-souper problem was once so bad that clouds of smoke and pollution would block out the midday sun .
Photographs from the 1950s show just how badly the U.S. city suffered before laws on coal burning were introduced . |
125,976 | 2edaf5e40413ab823936aa459bb8d9c02b065391 | By . Freya Noble . The devastated girlfriend of murdered Sydney student Jamie Gao has flown home to Japan following a memorial service at the weekend. Misaki Takebayashi left the country so she could grieve with family and friends overseas, but not before saying goodbye to her 'baby' in Australia. Along with some close friends who accompanied her, Ms Takebayashi threw flowers into the water at the Cronulla site where Gao's body was found, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. Scroll down for video . Jamie Gao's (left) girlfriend Misaki Takebayashi (kissing Jamie right) has left Australia to be with family at home in Japan . She also released a heart-shaped note into the waves, and paid tribute to her slain lover on social media alongside a photo of a pendant with a photo of her and Mr Gao inside. The couple had been dating for 'a few months' but Gao had apparently been smitten with his girlfriend for some time before they became a couple. Last week Mr Gao's girlfriend told MailOnline she was struggling to cope with the news. She declined to comment in detail, saying it was a 'very hard time' for her. An intimate memorial service was held in Canterbury in Sydney's south-west at the weekend for the 20-year-old. Police allege Mr Gao was murdered on Tuesday May 20 after a high-stakes drug deal went wrong. Ms Takebayashi threw flowers into the water and released a heart-shaped note into the waves where her boyfriend's body was discovered . They say he was wading 'in over his head', and the afternoon ended with the university student being shot twice in the chest, his body wrapped in a blue tarpaulin before being dumped into the ocean off Cronulla. A body found floating off Shelly Beach a week later was formally identified as the 20-year-old student. Mr Gao was reportedly in 'secret talks with police' in the weeks before he was killed, and had allegedly been called to give evidence before the Australian Crime Commission, the country's peak intelligence-gathering agency. Two former police officers have been charged over the murder of UTS business student Jamie Gao . Federal police have publicly denied claims that the UTS Business student, who is thought to have been caught up in a Hong Kong-based Asian organised crime group, was acting as an informant when he delivered $3 million of methamphetamine to former detectives Roger Rogerson and Glen McNamara. Police have alleged that before he was killed last month, he got inside a car with McNamara and Rogerson and was driven to a storage unit nearby. Police claim Mr Gao was killed for his bag's contents just before 2.30pm. Both McNamara and Rogerson were charged over the student's murder, refused bail, and are due to return to court in July. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Misaki Takebayashi threw flowers into ocean where her Jamie Gao's body was found in Cronulla waters .
She had been dating Mr Gao for a few months before his death .
Ms Takebayashi has now flown home to Japan .
A private memorial service was held for the slain student at the weekend .
Mr Gao was murdered on May 20 allegedly after a botched drug deal . |
131,952 | 369e548100d81ae4045fa3e93b01c4afcbc8b70f | Editor's note: Writer and activist Gloria Steinem has been involved in feminist and other social justice movements for more than 40 years. This open letter to the girls of the world is part of the "Girl Rising" project. CNN Films' "Girl Rising" documents extraordinary girls and the power of education to change the world. Watch it June 16 at 9 p.m. ET on CNN. Dear Girls of the World, . Every female human being has a right to give birth to herself. You have the right to be safe in your body, to explore the world with your mind and to be free in your spirit. If human rights like these are denied to you -- whether by family or a stranger, by government or religion -- seek out trustworthy people who share your experience. When unique voices are united in a common cause, they make history. -- Gloria Steinem . More: CNN's "Girl Rising" Write your own open letter to girls of the world . Photos: The girls' stories from "Girl Rising" | Gloria Steinem writes an open letter to girls of the world .
CNN Films' "Girl Rising" premieres June 16 . |
12,562 | 239dc33b2e3252551bf3f609442e1296fcfee9ae | The turrets are made from hand-beaten copper and the fleurs-de-lis finials on the roof have been expertly carved from the finest tulipwood. Clearly no expense has been spared to create this luxury home, designed for a little girl with big dreams – and indulgent parents. For, the ‘Room for a Princess’ is not your average property. It’s actually a children’s playhouse on sale at Harrods – and at £85,000, it costs the same as a real house elsewhere in the country. Scroll down for video . ‘Room for a Princess’: A playhouse fit for a little girl with big dreams – and indulgent parents . The Wendy House that costs as much as a a two-bedroom semi-detached house in Blackburn . Currently available for £85,000 is a two-bedroom semi-detached house in Blackburn, a two-bedroom flat in Plymouth and a three-bedroom cottage in south Lanarkshire. The playhouse is designed as a dressing-up room and has been made by Northamptonshire-based firm The Master Wishmakers. It took a team of six craftsmen ten weeks. The floor is decorated with marquetry, painstakingly put together using American walnut, maple and oak . The playhouse’s main structure is tulipwood – a lightweight wood from North America – but the floor is decorated with marquetry, painstakingly put together using American walnut, maple and oak. Inside, there’s a heavy satin curtain with gold braiding. Harrods says the dressing room has attracted numerous expressions of interest from clients in the Middle East, as well as celebrities and royals, since going on sale a month ago, although it refused to say how many – if any – have actually been sold. Once you get inside the playhouse, there’s a heavy satin curtain with gold braiding to protect your privacy . Nino Rosella, of The Master Wishmakers, said: ‘We specialise in the outrageous and the fantastical. ‘Nothing is too unusual for us to take a stab at making – as long as it’s scientifically possible, we’ll build it. And we guarantee never to make the same item more than once. ‘We have built three-storey treehouses which are insulated, with heating, running water and one even had a cinema room.’ The company’s most ambitious project to date is Challis Island, a pirate-themed Caribbean island with a lagoon nestling in a lake within 60 acres of English countryside. The manufacturers Master Wishmakers guarantee never to make the same item more than once . What would you rather spend your £85,000 on – a Wendy house from Harrods or a two-bedroom semi-detached house in Blackburn? Harrods (above) says the play room has attracted numerous expressions of interest from clients in the Middle East, as well as celebrities and royals . | The playhouse is designed as a dressing-up room for a child .
The whole thing took a team of six craftsmen ten weeks to complete .
It is painstakingly put together using American walnut, maple and oak .
Makers guarantee never to make the same item more than once . |
248,378 | cd5e96e6ce6b11467aebee12b0334270af64230c | EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, California (CNN) -- Space shuttle Atlantis landed Sunday at Edwards Air Force Base after rainy weather in Florida precluded a landing at Kennedy Space Center. The space shuttle Atlantis touches down at Edwards AFB on Sunday. The shuttle touched down at 8:39 a.m. PT at Edwards, about 100 miles north of Los Angeles, California. Within seven to 10 days, the shuttle will be transported from California to Florida on the back of a modified 747 jumbo jet, NASA said in a statement. Atlantis' next flight is scheduled for November. Rainy weather postponed the shuttle landing both Friday and Saturday. NASA had said that Atlantis conceivably could have remained in space until Monday, but wanted to land the shuttle Sunday. Watch Atlantis land at Edwards Air Force Base » . Weather conditions in Florida were better Sunday than Saturday, NASA officials said, but atmospheric conditions were still too unstable for a landing at Kennedy. It was the 53rd time the shuttle has landed at Edwards, NASA officials said. In the early days of the space shuttle program, Edwards was its primary landing site. Shuttles have landed 70 times at Kennedy Space Center, NASA said, and once at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico. Atlantis launched May 11 for NASA's final repair visit to the Hubble Space Telescope. Shuttle astronauts conducted five spacewalks during the mission to perform routine repairs and replace key instruments, in what has been called one of the most ambitious space repair efforts ever attempted. Hubble was released back into orbit Tuesday morning. The telescope was rejuvenated with instruments designed to improve its capabilities by as much as 70 times, while extending its lifetime through at least 2014, according to the NASA statement. "This is not the end of the story but the beginning of another chapter of discovery by Hubble," Ed Weiler, associate administrator for science at NASA headquarters, said in the statement. "Hubble will be more powerful than ever, continue to surprise, enlighten and inspire us all, and pave the way for the next generation of observatories." Hubble, which has been in space for nearly two decades, can capture clear images that telescopes on Earth cannot, partly because it does not have to gaze through murky atmospheres. CNN's John Couwels and Alan Duke contributed to this report. | NEW: Repair mission means "another chapter of discovery by Hubble," official says .
Shuttle lands smoothly at 8:39 a.m. PT at Edwards AFB in California .
Bad weather scuttled scheduled landing attempts in Florida on Friday and Saturday .
Atlantis launched May 11 for NASA's final repair visit to the Hubble Space Telescope . |
68,381 | c1e8e640e5622062616e923599a94872afde5a11 | By . Beth Stebner . PUBLISHED: . 21:18 EST, 21 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 22:03 EST, 21 July 2012 . She’s already the most hated mother in America, and now she’s been misidentified as the person responsible for running down two women outside an Ohio library. Casey Anthony was pictured as the suspect who mowed down two women outside the Bellaire Public Library in western Ohio by a local NBC station. RadarOnline.com reported that WTOV9 originally posted a picture of Casey in court wearing a grey suit, accusing her of hitting the two women on Friday afternoon. By Saturday, the picture had been switched out for the station's logo. One year on: Casey was sensationally acquitted . by a jury last July 5, left, and walked free from jail just over a week . later, right. She was mistakenly identified by an Ohio news station of hitting two women in her car . Mistaken identity: An NBC affiliate in Ohio reported that Casey Anthony was identified as the driver who ran down two women outside the Bellaire Public Library in Ohio . WTOV-9 said that local police were not releasing names of any of the women involved, nor their conditions. Locals flocked to the comment . sections with their own speculations. One wrote: ‘She has been spotted . in Ohio and most recently in Bellaire. Mail is being delivered to a . Casey Anthony on Monroe Street. Wonder if she ran them over, or if . someone tried to rid the world of a baby killer.’ RadarOnline.com notes that the station replaced the picture of Casey with their station logo early Saturday morning. Casey was sensationally acquitted of murdering her daughter Caylee after a highly-publicised trial last July. Anthony is now living in an . undisclosed location in Florida serving probation for an unrelated . conviction, which Baez said ends on August 21. In his book, Presumed Guilty, Casey Anthony: The Inside Story, her attorney Jose Baez also divulges aspects of the Anthony family’s private lives that were not examined during the trial. The lawyer accuses George Anthony of abusing his daughter, and speculates that George could have murdered 2-year-old Caylee to hide evidence of abuse. Accused: Casey Anthony's lawyer accused her father George, left, of sexually assaulting her, and speculates that he killed Casey's daughter Caylee to cover up the abuse . Troubled past: Casey Anthony, centre, pictured July 7th, 2011, says she was frequently molested by her father and told her lawyer that she feared he was Caylee's father . The lawyer accused George of killing the toddler to hide evidence of abuse. Baez first made the shocking allegation at the trial’s opening statements, saying that George killed Caylee, disposed of the girl’s remains, and then lied about it to authorities. Casey confided in Baez that she was worried her father might have fathered Caylee, because he had sex with her around the time she had become pregnant. DNA tests later revealed that George was not the father. George, through a family attorney, denied ever abusing Casey. However, Casey and her father have reportedly been estranged since October 14, 2008, the day, CF 13 News notes, that he testified against her, leading to the grand jury indicting her for murder.He testified in the trial: ‘I would have done anything I could to save my granddaughter.’ Casey Anthony's defense attorney: Jose Baez gestures as he speaks about his just-published book Presumed Guilty, Casey Anthony: The Inside Story almost a year to the day she was acquitted . Someone in the Anthony house . conducted several suicide-related searches on the family computer, . including ‘fool-proof suffocation’ and ‘venturing into the pro-suicide . pit’ on the day little Caylee Anthony vanished, Casey Anthony’s defence . attorney Jose Baez said. The . attorney revealed that the searches were conducted around an hour after . Casey’s father George Anthony said she left the home. While . last year’s trial famously revealed that the family computer also had . searches for ‘chloroform,’ the suicide searches were not revealed, Baez . said, because they were discovered after the fact. He told Good Morning America: ‘I have . a hard time believing that law enforcement wouldn’t check the internet . history of the day that the child went missing. That would have been . bombshell evidence in the trial if it had come out.’ Jose Baez, Casey Anthony's defense lawyer, has written a tell-all book about the case . Prosecutors claimed Anthony . suffocated Caylee with duct tape so she could spend time with her . boyfriend and be free for Orlando's nightlife. Baez said during the trial - repeated . again in his book - that Caylee accidentally drowned in a family . swimming pool and that her father, George Anthony, hid the body. Baez . also claimed George Anthony sexually abused his daughter. George Anthony denied both . allegations, and there was little brought up about them during the . trial. Baez said the defence wasn't required to put on any such evidence . because proving the case is the prosecution's burden, not the other way . around. George Anthony tried to commit . suicide in January 2009, and was found in a Daytona Beach hotel after . overdosing on prescription drugs. A five-page suicide note was also . discovered at the hotel. Baez told GMA that it was hard to . determine who in the Anthony family conducted what searches on January . 16, 2008, but said it was possible to infer who searched what, based on . the terms searched. For instance, one of the terms . searched was ‘foolproof suffocation.’ Baez noted that the terms were . spelled incorrectly, and that George struggled with good spelling. He wrote in his book: ‘By looking at . the websites being researched, all concerned with suicide and death, it . certainly appears that the one who felt the blame was a guilt-ridden . George Anthony.’ In his book, Baez also lashes out at . several entities - calling the media a 'monster', the police 'careless' and the prosecution 'scheming and ruthless'. He wrote: 'This was not real life, it was the media's Casey Anthony . reality show, a show that depended on name-calling and controversy for . television ratings.' Evidence and testimony showed that Casey was a habitual liar, even making up fake friends and pretending . every day to go to a job she didn't have at Universal Studios. Baez was asked whether . Anthony's lies surrounding her daughter's disappearance might be . indicative that she was guilty. Counsel: Defence attorney Jose Baez talks to . Casey Anthony during her trial when the jury heard her father say . her car smelled of human decomposition. Baez revealed in his book he also thought he could smell a dead body . Innocent: Mystery surrounds the cause of Caylee Anthony's death after her mother was acquitted of her murder one year ago today . 'I don't think the lies are . indicative of innocence or guilt,' he said. 'The lies were there long . before Caylee passed away.' In the book, he says Anthony had built a . 'fantasy world,' and her lies weren't evidence of guilt but signs of . someone with 'serious mental health issues.' Baez said one piece of prosecution . evidence he was most concerned about was that police cadaver dogs had . indicated a body may have been in the trunk of Anthony's car at one . point and also that a body may have been in the backyard. None was . discovered in the backyard and there was nothing but rotting bags of . trash in the trunk. But, he said, people - and jurors - believe in dogs. 'That concerned me a little bit. Most people really think dogs can do magic,' Baez said. He also strongly considered early in the case whether she should plead guilty to . a lesser charge to avoid the death penalty if convicted of murdering . her two-year-old daughter Caylee, but Anthony adamantly insisted she had . nothing to do with the toddler's death. New Look: The last time the public saw Casey was when this video was released in October. She is said to be living in Palm Beach, Florida . 'Found': West Palm Beach, Florida, where Casey Anthony is reported to be staying with a friend . | News station posted picture of Anthony with report, but did not name her .
Later corrected mistake, and replaced image of Anthony with station logo . |
181,310 | 76b932876b0d47db9e0a888e818feb28cacfd570 | By . Darren Boyle . Controversial wannabe model Josie Cunningham has shocked the public and hit a new low after selling four ringside seats to the birth of her third child. The baby, who she initially planned to abort to appear on Big Brother, is due to be born in October at her home in Leeds. But this morning, the wannabe-model announced to her 27,000 Twitter fans that the four tickets to the home birth had sold out in just 14 minutes - netting her £30,000. Scroll down for video . Josie Cunningham, pictured, had originally planned to sell footage of the birth of her third child on DVDs through a nationwide chain of pound shops but she later revealed to her fans on Twitter the deal had fallen through . Now, she has told her followers on Twitter that she has sold four tickets to fans who will have ringside seats . Three of the four tickets were purchased by journalists while the fourth is believed to have been bought by somebody described as 'a super-fan'. Two were sold for £10,000 each while the other two sold for £5,000 each. Ms Cunningham said all tickets include travel and accommodation while the more expensive ones will allow the ticket holder to film the birth and take photos. On social media, reaction to the latest publicity stunt has been almost universally negative with commentators criticising her decision to make money from the birth of her child. One Twitter user,posed the question that it was the British public who shared the blame for her fame as they have made Ms Cunningham 'a viable commodity'. However, Ms Cunningham has suggested that some of the cash from the event could be used to reimburse the NHS for the cost of her controversial breast enhancement surgery. Ms Cunningham, 23, from Leeds, became a household name when she admitted undergoing £4,800 worth of breast enhancement surgery paid by the NHS to increase her bust from a 32A to 36DD. She claimed she needed the surgery because she had been bullied since the age of 14 for being flat chested. Later it emerged that she received Botox on the NHS over a 'sweat problem'. Commentators on Twitter were particularly critical of Ms Cunningham's latest moneymaking idea . Ms Cunningham's most controversial outburst came when she publicly considered aborting the son she is due to give birth to in October because the pregnancy prevented her from appearing on Channel 5's Big Brother. The mother-of-two later she she was receiving negative attention on public transport and asked the council to provide her with a £6,000-a-year taxi to take her children to school. Eventually Leeds City Council decided to axe the service which prompted Ms Cunningham to Tweet: ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones but taxpayers will always fund me.’ Later she said: 'If the council think I’m getting a bus, they can think again.' Now she is hoping to make £40,000 from the birth of her third child by allowing four fans to witness the event. In the aftermath of the school taxi controversy, Cunningham claimed the taxpayer would always fund her . Initially, Ms Cunningham had planned to cash in on the birth of her son by selling DVDs of the event through a chain of pound shops. Ms Cunningham has even involved herself in the debate surrounding the death of Peaches Geldof. She accused the daughter of former Boomtown Rat Bob and Paula Yates of being a bad mother. She told her Twitter followers: 'Really irritates me that the same trolls sending me s**t since the abortion story are STILL defending peaches!! (sic)' Ms Cunningham said she was going to take to Twitter tonight at 9pm in order to allow her fans to ask her questions directly on any subject. However, during previous question and answer sessions, the heavily pregnant model received some serious abuse. Ms Cunningham, pictured, said she will be on Twitter at 9pm this evening to answer questions from her fans . | Wannabe model Josie Cunningham has sold four ringside seats to the birth .
The 23-year-old from Leeds is expecting her third child in October .
Three journalists and one 'super fan' have paid up to £10,000 for the tickets .
Cunningham earlier said she wanted to abort the baby to appear on TV show .
Later she wanted to sell DVDs of the event through a chain of pound shops . |
78,265 | dde239475c2de273df92f978137b5f47e53b1f73 | (CNN) -- Crime fiction fans know the name Parker, a single-named anti-hero of the 1960s. As a character, he's a career criminal, hired gun and professional thief, a pulp-fiction prince of America's seedy underworld. He's relentless and menacing with steely good looks. Imagine a hard-boiled Don Draper with a gun. Parker made his debut in 1962 in Richard Stark's "The Hunter." But Stark was a pseudonym of legendary author Donald Westlake, who continued writing about Parker's criminal exploits in more than two dozen books until his death in 2008. The character has long enjoyed cult classic status and found varying success on the big screen, portrayed by actors including Lee Marvin and Mel Gibson. More recently, Parker has found new life in a series of imaginative and stylish graphic novels from Eisner Award-winning artist and writer Darwyn Cooke. Comic fans recognize Cooke from his past success in the superhero genre, putting his own creative spin on icons like Batman, Catwoman, The Spirit and Watchmen. In re-imagining Parker -- starting with "The Hunter" in 2009, followed by "The Outfit" and now "The Score" -- Cooke has stayed incredibly faithful to Westlake's original novels. He describes his adaptations as being like noir movies on paper. In "The Score," Cooke works in a lean palette of black, white and gold. His bold pen strokes, moody washes of color, and lean prose help the action pop off the page. Once again, Parker has become a hit critically and financially. Cooke is already working on a fourth graphic novel, with a fifth planned. CNN caught up with the artist and author as he prepared to debut "The Score" for fans at Comic-Con in San Diego. We spoke to him at his home in Nova Scotia by phone. The following is an edited transcript: . CNN: What drew you to Parker originally? Darwyn Cooke: I've always been a big fan of crime fiction. When I was young I started reading a lot of the classics like Raymond Chandler, James M. Cain, Dashiell Hammett, Cornell Woolrich -- I could go on and on. At that time the Parker novels were out of print, but I happened to see the Lee Marvin film "Point Blank," which is one of my favorite movies, and realized later that it came from the Parker books. So I started haunting secondhand book shops and picking up the Parker novels and just completely fell in love with them. I thought they were the perfect crime novels, at least for me. So it's been kind of a 30-year love affair with the books. CNN: Describe how you put "The Score" together. Cooke: The first thing I do is create a working script out of a copy of the novel. I read "The Score" six or seven times, and as I'm passing through it, I'm making notes, highlighting scenes, maybe breaking a chapter down, writing down a visual cue, cutting out things that are extraneous. Then I sit down and start laying it out visually. I'm able to follow the novel very much like a script. I never type a script for Parker. I end up handwriting in pencil onto the art board right out of the novel. At that point, I start combing over it again. I'll start playing with scenes, maybe if I shuffle the order I get a more unexpected result. The process leading up to me sitting down at the art board can be as long as a year. Then I sit down at the table and it's about a four-month process. When I work on Parker, that's all I do. I just immerse myself in it. CNN: How did you adapt your style for the Parker novels? Cooke: I felt there was a certain fit there. I definitely did go out of my way to make what I was doing to complement the material. When Donald Westlake wrote the books, he did so under a pen name, Richard Stark. The name really describes the approach and the style of prose. So I took that as my cue. I tried to strip out a lot of things you would see in my more mainstream work, a lot of the details, the line work; I tried to break it down more into shapes and blocks of color. I didn't want to do black and white, but I knew full color was very expensive and wouldn't have been appropriate. I thought a one color approach was the perfect way to go. It allows you to get that black and white, film noir feeling from the images, but you have enough color there to give them some depth, sparkle and life that it wouldn't have otherwise. I really try to create it in the spirit it was written. CNN: This is your third Parker adaptation. Have you changed your approach over the series? Cooke: I'm trying to stay open to different ways to tell the story but remain incredibly faithful to the novels while I do it. There is some room for visual interpretation, but it's a balancing act. In "The Score" one of the main characters is Parker's pal, Grofield. In the novel, Donald describes him as an actor who always hears music in his head. Grofield hears background music to whatever it is he's doing, he's always dramatizing what he's doing. I picked up on that and all the scenes with Grofield start out like movie scenes featuring the kind of music he's hearing in his head as they go about this crime. Someone else will speak and the bubble pops and then we're into the reality of the situation. It's a great cue every time that Grofield comes on stage in the book. When we see the musical notes, the reader knows, OK, we're in Grofield's head now. It's something you can carry forward. CNN: What was it like to work with author Donald Westlake? Cooke: We had a pleasant communication together through e-mail. He was really generous with his time with me. In order for the project to go forward, he had to approve it. He really didn't at first. I think he eventually saw that we weren't interested in taking Parker and doing what we wanted with him. We were very interested in having him show us what he thought this could be or should be and taking it from there. At that point he definitely started to get more excited about it. The thing that really sold it, he asked me a few questions about how I planned to write it. I e-mailed back, "I don't plan on writing anything if I can help it. I plan on using your words wherever possible. That's the reason I'm going to do the stories in the year they were written, so that I don't have to rewrite your stories to accommodate cell phones or all the other things that have happened in the world. I want your words on the page." I think he really appreciated that. Of course I wish he had lived to see this, because I think he would have been delighted. I know his family has been very happy about all of this. We're really proud of the books and what they're doing for Donald's legacy. Read an excerpt from "Parker: The Score." | Richard Stark's one-named hero Parker was the star of two dozen crime-fiction books .
Darwyn Cooke has taken up Parker's exploits in a new series of graphic novels .
Cooke will debut his newest book, "The Score," at San Diego Comic-Con this week . |
113,976 | 1f0dc2bfff26a3b2467b90d9f8901a0cdcd49ca3 | (CNN) -- A woman accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter and dumping her body in Galveston Bay in Texas has pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence in the case. Kimberly Dawn Trenor is scheduled to go on trial for murder next week in the death of her daughter. But Kimberly Dawn Trenor, 20, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder charge, her lawyer said Wednesday. Trenor and her husband, Royce Clyde Zeigler II, 25, both were charged with tampering with evidence and capital murder in the case of Riley Ann Sawyer, whose body was found in a large blue plastic container on an uninhabited island in Galveston Bay, Texas, in October 2007. The charge of tampering with evidence accused the couple of concealing the child's remains. Trenor was arraigned Tuesday in Galveston, Texas, said her lawyer, Tom Stickler. Jury selection for her trial on the capital murder charge begins Wednesday. The trial will begin in earnest on January 27, he said. The jury also will sentence Trenor on the evidence tampering charge, which carries a penalty of two to 20 years in prison, The Houston Chronicle reported. Zeigler, who is being tried separately, has not been formally arraigned, Stickler said. Both remain in jail. The Houston Chronicle reported bail had been set at $850,000 each. Riley Ann's case garnered national headlines after a fisherman found her body on the island in the bay. Authorities were unsure of her identity, and police dubbed her "Baby Grace." Police distributed composite sketches of the girl nationwide, and Sheryl Sawyers, the girl's paternal grandmother, contacted police from her Ohio home to say the drawing resembled her granddaughter. DNA testing confirmed the child's identity. According to an affidavit, Trenor told police Riley had been beaten and thrown across a room and that her head was held underwater before she died on July 24, 2007. She said the couple hid the girl's body in a storage shed for one to two months before they put it in the plastic container and dumped it into the bay. A medical examiner said Riley's skull was fractured in three places, injuries that would have been fatal. A cross has since been erected on the island where the child was found, which was named Riley's Island in her honor, the Houston Chronicle reported. Trenor moved to Texas from Ohio with the girl in May 2007 to be with Zeigler, whom Trenor had met on the Internet. While in custody, Trenor gave birth this summer to another child, who is now in the care of relatives, Stickler said. | Kimberly Dawn Trenor pleads guilty to tampering with evidence .
She faces capital murder trial in death of child known as 'Baby Grace'
Child's body was found in plastic container on island in Galveston Bay . |
12,570 | 23a1be9f9f63a0381e63643f87a825d8ef73cde0 | (CNN) -- After a deadly earthquake and tsunami struck Japan last Friday, response team members from ShelterBox were on the ground within 24 hours. The organization, founded by 2008 CNN Hero Tom Henderson, provides emergency shelter and lifesaving supplies to families affected by disasters. These essentials come in a large, green box that shares the organization's name. With an initial 600 ShelterBoxes en route to thousands of survivors in northern Japan, Henderson's group is doing whatever it can to help a country in crisis. Henderson spoke with CNN's Allie Torgan about nuclear fears and his group's ongoing efforts in Japan. CNN: How did you mobilize your team into action when you heard about the earthquake? Tom Henderson: Within minutes, we were moving. We look at our resources, what we've got available, where our teams are around the world and how quickly we can get people on the ground. We're fortunate that we've got boxes positioned in different parts of the world and we've got our response team members around the world. Within an hour, we were looking at our people going, "Go jump on an airplane, group together in Tokyo, and let's get this thing moving." We had our first people on the ground within 24 hours. There are boxes leaving every day in different numbers. We've got people monitoring our team on the ground minute by minute. CNN: How are fears of nuclear catastrophe affecting ground operations? Henderson: Every disaster's unusual, this particularly so because of the nuclear problem that's unfolding. We're monitoring it hour by hour, and we've got some world experts advising us on what's happening. We don't want to put people in harm's way. We have to take advice from the experts and, of course, there's an exclusion zone, so we're not operating in that exclusion zone. Unfortunately, that exclusion zone does encompass a lot of the most-devastated areas. But there's other work that's going on, more assessments that are being done and operational things we put in place. Of course, working with the local community, we want to find out (who are) the most needy people. CNN: Reports are out saying that millions of households throughout Japan have no access to safe drinking water. How will ShelterBox address this and other needs? Henderson: Clean water is becoming a problem, as will food very shortly. In every one of our boxes, we have what we call a family life straw. It's a water-cleaning device, and it will clean enough water for 10 people for 12 months. You simply pour the dirty water in. It's a mechanical device -- a filter system that has very clever silver chloride filters and iodine -- and it gives out clean water. That's included in every one of our boxes. As a situation unfolds and the detail comes back, we coordinate with the local community and find out exactly what is useful. There's always different (items) in the boxes. The box itself is usually useful. The tent, which is now universally known as one of the best aid tents in the world, is designed to keep people warm when it's cold and cool when it's hot. And (there are) state-of-the-art blankets because it's very cold. CNN: You and your teams have been working nonstop for the last week. What keeps you going? Henderson: What keeps us going is very simple. It is that desperate need to help people as quickly as we can. And that's infectious in our organization. There are over a million people in our tents now in over 60 countries around the world in the most difficult conditions. We don't need any motivation -- the motivation is needy people. We rest between disasters. For more information, visit the ShelterBox website at www.shelterbox.org. | ShelterBox, a disaster relief organization, responded quickly to the catastrophe in Japan .
The group delivered emergency shelter and lifesaving supplies to thousands of survivors .
ShelterBox was founded by 2008 CNN Hero Tom Henderson .
Tsunami aid and relief: How you can help . |
131,211 | 35ad76e5df1fb77258e2f3578b3b8b475161f8da | By . Anthony Bond . PUBLISHED: . 14:39 EST, 28 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:47 EST, 29 May 2013 . A fast-food restaurant manager has been taken to court and fined - for dropping a cigarette butt down a drain. Dave Jode, 29, nipped outside for a smoke during his shift at a Burger King in Truro, Cornwall. But he was spotted dropping his cigarette into a storm drain by officers from Cornwall Council. Furious: Dave Jode, 29, a restaurant manager for Burger King has been taken to court and fined - for dropping a cigarette butt down a drain. This is a file picture of a Burger King . Mr Jode refused to pay a £50 fixed penalty notice and the case eventually ended up in Truro Magistrates Court where he was fined £100 for littering. Mr Jode was also ordered to pay £100 towards the council’s legal bill - which ran to a total of £666. Speaking afterwards Mr Jode, of Threemilestone, Cornwall, said he will not pay his fine because the prosecution was 'ridiculous'. He said: 'How are you supposed to know that putting a butt down a drain isillegal? 'It is a ridiculous penalty for someone who picks rubbish up all the time. Isweep the streets here myself.' Brian Keast, one of the council officials from the public health and protection department, who witnessed the littering, said: . 'Mr Jode was arrogant. It took a police officer and PCSO to deal with thesituation. 'Littering is a crime, albeit low level, but it is a serious problem.' Burger King said it was looking into the incident on October 26 last year. | Dave Jode nipped outside for a smoke during his shift at a Burger King in Truro, Cornwall .
But he was spotted dropping his cigarette into a storm drain by officers from Cornwall Council .
29-year-old was sent to magistrates' court and fined £100 for littering . |
125,988 | 2edd6860ddb17b3bf98fb16fdccdc83620aafaf0 | Chat and messaging apps could be the downfall of Facebook, experts claimed today. The huge rise of apps such as Whatsapp, Kik and Wechat among teens could cause major problems for Facebook, they say. The key is teenagers - who say apps are 'blowing up' among their friends, rather than Mark Zuckerberg's established networking giant. Teenagers are increasingly turning to chat apps to share pictures, researchers say - and it could spell trouble for Facebook . Combining elements of text messaging and . social networking, the apps allow photos, music and video to be easily shared. Waterloo, Ontario-based Kik has racked up 40 million users since launching in 2010. Silicon Valley entrants in the race . include Whatsapp, funded by Sequoia Capital, and MessageMe, launched . earlier this month by a group of viral game makers. MessageMe has received seed-stage . funding from True Ventures and First Round Capital, among others, and . claimed 1 million downloads in its first week. Meanwhile, Asian companies are producing some of the fastest-growing apps in history. Tencent's WeChat boasts 400 million . users - far more than Twitter, by way of comparison - while LINE and . KakaoTalk claim 120 million and 80 million users, respectively. The apps even offer similar features, allowing users to create personal profiles, build networks of friends and share photos, videos and music. That might sound precisely like Facebook, but hundreds of millions of tech-savvy young people have instead turned to a wave of smartphone-based messaging apps that are now sweeping across North America, Asia and Europe. The hot apps include Kik and Whatsapp, both products of North American startups, as well as Kakao Inc's KakaoTalk, NHN Corp's LINE and Tencent Holdings Ltd's WeChat, which have blossomed in Asian markets. Combining elements of text messaging and social networking, the apps provide a quick-fire way for smartphone users to trade everything from brief texts to flirtatious pictures to YouTube clips — bypassing both the SMS plans offered by wireless carriers and established social networks originally designed as websites. Facebook Inc, with 1 billion users, remains by far the world's most popular website, and its stepped-up focus on mobile has made it the most-used smartphone app as well. Still, across Silicon Valley, investors and industry insiders say there is a possibility that the messaging apps could threaten Facebook's dominance over the next few years. The larger ones are even starting to emerge as full-blown 'platforms' that can support third-party applications such as games. To be sure, many of those who are using the new messaging apps remain on Facebook, indicating there is little immediate sign of the giant social media company losing its lock on the market. And at a press event this week, the company will unveil news relating to Android, the world's most popular smartphone operating system, which could include a new version of Android with deeper integration of Facebook messaging tools - or possibly even a Facebook-branded phone. But the firms that can take over the messaging world should be able to make some big inroads, investors say. 'True interactions are conversational in nature,' says Rich Miner, a partner at Google Ventures who invested in San Francisco-based MessageMe, a new entrant in the messaging market. The WhatsApp app, which bypasses traditional social networks and allows teens to chat directly with each other, even sharing pictures, music and video . 'More people text and make phone calls than get on to social networks. If one company dominates the replacement of that traffic, then by definition that's very big.' Facebook spokespeople declined to comment for this article, citing this Thursday's planned announcement. Facebook's big challenge is reeling back users like Jacob Robinson, a 15-year old high school student in Newcastle upon Tyne in the U.K., who said the Kik messaging app 'blew up' among his friends about six months ago. It has remained the most-used app on his Android phone because it is the easiest way for him to send different kinds of multimedia for free, which he estimated he does about 200 times a day. Robinson said he trades snapshots of his homework with friends while they stay up late studying for their exams — or not. 'We also stay up in bed with our phone all night, just on YouTube searching for funny videos, then you quickly share it with your friends,' he added. 'It's easy. You can flip in and out of Kik.' Facebook 'has really started to lose its edge over here,' said Robinson, who found his interactions on Facebook less interesting than his real-time chats. Waterloo, Ontario-based Kik has racked up 40 million users since launching in 2010. Silicon Valley entrants in the race include Whatsapp, funded by Sequoia Capital, and MessageMe, launched earlier this month by a group of viral game makers. MessageMe has received seed-stage funding from True Ventures and First Round Capital, among others, and claimed 1 million downloads in its first week. Meanwhile, Asian companies are producing some of the fastest-growing apps in history. Tencent's WeChat boasts 400 million users - far more than Twitter, by way of comparison - while LINE and KakaoTalk claim 120 million and 80 million users, respectively. Both have laid the groundwork to expand into the U.S. market. The growth in the messaging apps reflect the dramatic shift in Internet usage in recent years, as Web visits via desktop computers have stagnated while smartphone ownership and app downloads have skyrocketed. Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has publicly called Facebook a 'mobile company' to emphasize the company's priorities. Waterloo, Ontario-based Kik has racked up 40 million users since launching in 2010 . Last year, he splashed $1 billion for photo-sharing app Instagram, which has remained red hot, while Facebook also launched its own Messenger app, offering a suite of smartphone communication tools. Still, Facebook has also been forced to play defense. Earlier this year, the company cut off its data integration with a young startup called Snapchat and then mimicked its feature with a new messaging tool called Poke, which sends messages that self-destruct. It has also shut off its integration with messaging apps like MessageMe and Voxer. At the same time, Facebook has also hired graphic artists to draw emoticons and graphics for Messenger that emulate features of the wildly popular Asian apps like LINE, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Path limits the number of people you can friend . Dave Morin, an early Facebook . employee who left to found the 'private' social network Path in 2010, . said he recognized last summer the critical role of messaging functions . in smartphone apps, and quickly began working to incorporate them. Since . Path released a new version of its app earlier this month, the number . of Path's daily users has risen 15 percent, which Morin attributed to . the new messaging features. 'What's . the number one reason why people have this thing?' said Morin, holding . up his iPhone. 'It's to call, to text, to communicate.' Messaging, Morin added, is 'the basis for the mobile social network.' Launched in November of 2010, Path has grown to include over five million people sharing life with close friends and family all over the world. The company is headquartered in downtown San Francisco. However, unlike Facebook and Twitter, Path is billed as an intensely private experience aimed at your real friends. There’s a 150-friend limit on the service, although most never reach that.The upside is that it seems to be used a lot more — there is none of the worry of your boss seeing your terrible holiday photos, and the gorgeous-looking app is also simple to use. 'People have this deep desire to remember things, to remember their lives. 'It’s a source of real happiness for people,' founder Dave Morin told the Evening Standard. 'It’s the participation of your friends and family in the story that’s exciting.' While established social networks move to incorporate messaging features, the new-wave messaging apps are looking to grow into social networking platforms that support a variety of features and enable innovations from outside developers. 'The tried and true approach for a social network is first you build a network, then you build apps on your own, then you open it up to third party developers,' said Charles Hudson, a partner at early stage venture capital firm SoftTech VC. The moves mirror Facebook's younger days, when its user growth and revenues were boosted by game publishers like Zynga Inc, which made popular games like FarmVille for the Facebook platform. In the South Korean market, for instance, eight of the top ten highest grossing Android apps are games built on top of KakaoTalk. Tencent announced in November that it would introduce a mobile wallet feature enabling payment for goods with WeChat. And Tencent also makes money in China by using the app's location data to displaying nearby merchants' deals to potential customers. If the messaging apps reach a certain scale, they could form networks that rival Facebook's 'social graph,' the network of user connections and activities that enable highly targeted delivery of content and advertising. 'The folks on your address book are very different from your Facebook friends and your LinkedIn contacts, and that's a natural place for a very powerful graph to be created,' said Jim Goetz, a partner at Sequoia Capital. Teens are increasingly turning to apps rather than traditional social networks . Ted Livingston, the 25-year old chief executive of Kik, said he developed the capability for his service to support external features in November, and he plans to open the platform to outside developers in the near future. Livingston said Kik and Whatsapp were 'in a race to see who's the first to build a platform.' Whatsapp, which has been the most widely downloaded communication app for both iOS and Android in recent months, according to analysis firm App Annie, has been profitable by selling subscriptions to its service for $1 a year. Although it has remained mum about its platform plans, the company has been rumored to be in talks with Asian game publishers about hosting games, according to news reports in South Korea. Goetz declined to address the reports, saying only that because it relied on a subscription business model, Whatsapp did not need to sell games or ads to make money. Still, he said, the Whatsapp team 'spends a lot of time thinking about the developer community.' | Experts say teenagers are increasingly turning to messaging apps instead of Facebook .
Comes as Facebook expected to unveil its own version of Google's Android software and handset on Thursday with improved messaging capabilities . |
122,091 | 29d2b375ceca39466e78e05b62628f0a167f2d98 | But Ukip says story is 'more shocking than BBC's headline suggest' The prime minister of Romania has admitted there is a problem with citizens of his country coming to Britain and committing crimes. Victor Ponta said Roma gypsies, in particular, posed a 'huge challenge' to law enforcement by begging and stealing mobile phones. He said he supported Britain's moves to tighten up access to benefits for Romanian and Bulgarian immigrants. Warning: Romania's Prime Minister Victor Ponta has admitted there is a problem . with citizens of his country coming to Britain and committing crimes . Romanian migrants in Park Lane, one of Central London's most prestigious roads. Benefit restrictions are likely to deter Romanian migrants from coming to Britain, a poll has found . Mr Ponta told BBC2's Newsnight: 'I am . very aware that Romanian citizens have committed, not serious crime, but . some of them – Romanians but also representatives of the Roma minority – . they are doing the small criminality, begging, stealing cellular . phones. 'I think that first of all we have to . co-operate. Our police and law enforcement agencies should keep . co-operating very well. On the other hand it is a huge challenge and a . big concern for my government to implement the strategies for . integration of the Roma communities.' Referring to David Cameron's pledge to . tighten benefits legislation to make it harder for migrants to claim, . Mr Ponta said it seemed 'very fair'. He added: 'That would be very fair from the British point of view, I would support this. 'All we ask is not to have . discrimination, all the legislation which applies to a German citizen or . a French citizen should apply also to a Romanian or a Bulgarian.' His comments came as the BBC was . accused of playing down the results of its own immigration survey, which . found evidence that more than 100,000 Romanians and Bulgarians may come . to Britain next year. Seven in ten of the Romanians who are thinking about moving to live in Britain would reconsider in the light of the new system . The Newsnight poll of working-age . migrants in the two Eastern European countries led to headlines across . the BBC's output yesterday declaring there would not be a huge influx . into the UK when EU restrictions end on January 1. But critics said an analysis of the . results showed large numbers were making firm plans to come, and accused . the BBC of concocting 'nothing-to-see-here headlines'. The poll quoted figures of 1 per cent of Romanians and 4 per cent of Bulgarians 'actively considering work in the UK'. 'It looks to me that the BBC is engaging, with its headlining of this story, not in reporting the facts, but in influencing the debate' Ukip leader Nigel Farage . But the MigrationWatchUK think-tank . said the small percentages represented 150,000 Romanians and 200,000 . Bulgarians. A separate question asking who was making 'concrete plans' suggested figures of 61,000 Romanians and 58,000 Bulgarians. Arrivals on that scale would blow a . hole in ministers' efforts to cut net migration to tens of thousands by . the end of the Parliament. Sir Andrew Green, MigrationWatch UK chairman, . said: 'This is a stunning survey, which the BBC has rather desperately . tried to play down. The percentages look small, but when multiplied by . the size of the workforce they produce large numbers.' UKIP leader Nigel Farage said: 'The . BBC has concocted their astonishing 'nothing-to-see-here' headlines out . of a series of follow-up questions. If you convert their stated . percentages into real figures, the story is a good deal more shocking . than the BBC's headlines suggest. 'The BBC is engaging, with its headlining of this story, not in reporting the facts, but in influencing the debate.' Tory MP Philip Hollobone accused the BBC of 'spinning' the results of the poll. But a BBC spokesman said: 'We have . not spun these figures in any way. Our reporting is in line with our . usual editorial guidelines on polls, where it is important to give . audiences the details of sample size. 'We have been clear in our reporting that the surveys are a snapshot of opinion and that people's intentions may change.' | BBC Newsnight poll found one in 12 Romanians would consider the UK .
Also found 13.6 per .
cent of Bulgarians may come here this year or next .
Many have started looking for work and a place to live, survey says .
But Ukip says story is 'more shocking than BBC's headline suggest' |
30,230 | 55e58ab407b6aff9a9433abb156d64562ffcbab1 | Mark Palios and his wife Nicola have become the new owners of League Two's Tranmere Rovers. The takeover - as reported by Sportsmail's Charles Sale earlier this month - sees Mark, a former FA chief executive and midfielder who made 249 league appearances for Rovers, replace Peter Johnson after the pair reached an agreement. The shift means Mark will act as executive chairman and Nicola as vice-chairman, while Johnson will remain a shareholder, director and an honorary president. CLICK HERE to start picking your Fantasy Football team NOW! There's £60,000 in prices including £1,000 up for grabs EVERY WEEK! New era: Mark and Nicola Palios are the new owners of League Two Tranmere . Put your shirt on them: The Palioses have an 'unusual mix' of football and business knowledge . Tunnel vision: The husband-and-wife team are looking to get Tranmere back up the Football League pyramid . Regular: Mark is a former Football Association chief executive and made 249 league appearances for Rovers . New owners: Mark and Nicola are 'the safe pair of hands to ensure the club's future' on Merseyside . The former Football Association chief executive resigned from his post in early August 2004 following media revelations about his relationship with FA secretary, Faria Alam - the same secretary that went on to have an affair with England manager Sven Goran Eriksson. At the time, Palios said: ‘I am very sad that I feel this is necessary. It has been a privilege to be chief executive of the Football Association but with privilege comes the burden of responsibility.’ He added: ‘Personally, I do not accept that I have been guilty of any wrongdoing.’ 'I have been looking for a safe pair of hands to ensure the club's future,' Johnson, who took control of the club in 1987, told Tranmere's official website. 'In Mark and Nicola I have found that. As a local lad who played for the club, and a former chief executive of the FA with a successful commercial track record, Mark is uniquely placed to help lead Tranmere to a bright future. 'Nicola is an accomplished lawyer and businesswoman. 'Between them, they have the passion and the experience to take the club forward and I am looking forward to working on the board with them. 'Finding this mix of football and business skills is highly unusual.' Tranmere drew their first game of the season 1-1 against York City, after the Birkenhead outfit suffered relegation last year. Mark added: 'There is a big job to be done to get the club back in the higher divisions and get the facilities back up to scratch. 'In the coming weeks and months we will share with you our plans on how we intend to make it happen.' Handshake: Former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson and Mark together in London in March 2004 . New season: Max Power and Rovers are battling to get out of League Two are they were relegated last year . | Mark and Nicola Palios take controlling interest in Tranmere Rovers after reaching agreement with former owner Peter Johnson .
Mark resigned as Football Association chief executive in early August 2004 after it was revealed he had a relationship with FA secretary Faria Alam .
Alam also had affair with former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson .
Liverpool-born Mark made 249 league appearances as a Tranmere midfielder .
Johnson: 'I have been looking for a safe pair of hands to ensure the club's future (and) in Mark and Nicola, I have found that'
Sportsmail reported Palios' imminent takeover almost two weeks ago . |
108,713 | 182f6cf3d57d688b3ae4bd3b0fefe5822f2e6798 | This is said to be the world's most expensive Starbucks coffee featuring 60 espresso shots and costing $55 (£33). The Sexagintuple Vanilla Bean Mocha Frappuccino, which measures in at 128 ounces was ordered at a Starbucks in Texas, and is thought to hold the title of the company's most expensive drink ever. The drink was bought by a customer only known as Andrew, who posted a picture of the giant coffee and the receipt on Twitter. The Sexagintuple Vanilla Bean Mocha Frappucino, which is said to be the world's most expensive Starbucks drink . But even though the Frappuccino cost over $50, Andrew paid nothing for it as he is a gold member of the Starbucks loyalty programme. The programme allows gold members to claim a free drink after every 12 that they buy, with apparently no stipulations on a limit. This meant he was allowed to make the coffee as big as possible and knowing they wouldn't have a cup big enough, he even took his own glass with him to the shop. Despite the almost $55 price tag, the customer, only known as Andrew, got the drink for free due to his loyalty membership . The drink topples last year's record, which saw a man purchase a 48-shot frappuccino, costing $47. Andrew told the Consumerist: 'It took a few minutes to figure out all the math, but in the end, it took about 55 shots to get us over the $50 line, and we just rounded it up to 60 to make it easy.' 'I gotta say, it was delicious.' However, he did concede he was unable to drink it all in one go. A Frappuccino is an iced blended coffee, with the name being trademarked by Starbucks. | The coffee has 60 Starbucks espresso shots and comes in a 128 ounce glass .
Was ordered by a customer, only known as Andrew, at an outlet in Texas .
Has called the drink the 'Sexagintuple Vanilla Bean Mocha Frappuccino'
Even though it cost $55, he paid nothing due to his loyalty membership . |
100,747 | 0dcec946414cceef999691219d6c201fccdc7915 | (CNN) -- A celebrity gossip Web site has caught Maria Shriver a third time apparently violating California's law against using a cell phone while driving. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says "swift action" will be taken on wife Maria Shriver's driving "violations." Web site TMZ posted a 17-second video Tuesday showing the California first lady apparently speaking into a cell phone while turning a corner in Brentwood in a black SUV. She puts the phone down part way through the video, but it's not clear whether she did so because she had finished her conversation or because she noticed cameras following her. The site also photographed Shriver allegedly chatting while driving on Sunday and on June 12. Shriver's husband, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, last year supported and signed into law a ban on using handheld communication devices while driving. Enforcement of the ban began July 1, 2008; it carries a $20 fine for a first violation; $50 for each subsequent offense. A similar law banning texting while driving took effect January 1 this year. Watch Shriver driving while on her cell phone . By the end of September, the California Highway Patrol had issued tickets for about 150,000 cell phone infractions, said Chris Cochran, spokesman for the California Office of Traffic Safety. No one keeps track of infractions cited by county and local departments, he said. See where laws limit cell phone use in cars » . Shriver has not been cited. In Los Angeles County, where Brentwood is, the Superior Court has set the cost at about $93 for the first ticket and $201 for the next one, meaning Shriver would owe at least $300 in fines and court fees had she been caught by police, CNN affiliate KTLA-TV reported. On Tuesday, Schwarzenegger sent a Twitter message to TMZ editor Harvey Levin: "Thanks for bringing her violations to my attention. There's going to be swift action." What that action might entail was not specified. Shriver on Wednesday issued an apology: . "I'm sorry," she said in a statement. "I will be donating my favorite old cell phone to my Women's Conference partner Verizon through their HopeLine program that helps domestic violence shelters. I invite anyone else who wants to recycle their old phone to join me. That's my version of swift action with a higher purpose." The traffic office referred questions about Shriver to the governor's office, which declined to comment. "We don't really think that hand-held bans have a whole lot of impact," said Jonathan Adkins, spokesman for the Governors Highway Safety Association in Washington. The association urges drivers not to use phones, including hands-free devices, while driving, but does not support laws banning them, he said. The attention to Shriver "alludes to a bigger problem, and that's the fact that everybody does it," Adkins said. "Not only are public officials doing it, but we have to educate the highway safety community. ... Cops frequently are on their cell phones when they drive. "The Shriver case really underscores the scope of the problem. We have a lot of educating to do." Shriver's most recent alleged violations come on the heels of AAA Northern California's "Heads Up Driving Week," during which the auto club urged motorists to get in the habit of driving without distractions such as cell phones, fast food and tuning the stereo. "We hope that by driving distraction-free for a week, people can pick up the habit for life," AAA spokesman Matt Skryja said in a news release. Seven states and the District of Columbia ban all handheld cell phone use by drivers. Several other states allow localities to set their own limits on cell phone use. | NEW: Shriver apologizes and says she will donate her cell phone to charity .
California Highway Patrol issues 150,000 cell phone tickets in first year .
Gossip site catches Shriver apparently violating cell phone law; she's not cited .
California first lady's gaffes point to bigger problem, safety advocate says . |
201,508 | 90e8acd661b3292a940444b3956924101686df4c | Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- A Michael Jackson duet with Akon recorded in 2007 will be released Monday morning as the first official single from the late pop star's next album, Epic Records announced Friday. "Michael," Jackson's first album of new music in nine years, also includes duets with rapper 50 Cent and rocker Lenny Kravitz, according to Epic. It will be released on December 14. "Hold My Hand" featuring Akon was chosen to be the first single because the estate found a handwritten note from Jackson that indicated his desire that it be the first single on his next project, the company said. The song is familiar to Jackson fans because an unfinished version of the song leaked onto the Internet in 2008, but Akon returned to the studio to complete a new version, Epic said. "The world was not ready to hear 'Hold My Hand' when it leaked a couple years ago," Akon said. "We were devastated about it." The song is now in "its final state," Akon said. "It has become an incredible, beautiful, anthemic song," he said. "I'm so proud to have had the chance to work with Michael, one of my all-time idols." The song will be unveiled on www.michaeljackson.com at 12:01 a.m. ET Monday and then will be available for purchase by digital download, the company said. The 10-track album will mostly include "songs that Michael worked on recently. There are also earlier compelling tracks," Epic said. It includes "Breaking News," a song streamed online last week as a preview. While Epic did not list the producers involved, it did provide a track list for the album: . 1. Hold My Hand (Duet with Akon) 2. Hollywood Tonight . 3. Keep Your Head Up . 4. (I Like) The Way You Love Me . 5. Monster (Featuring 50 Cent) 6. Best Of Joy . 7. Breaking News . 8. (I Can't Make It) Another Day (Featuring Lenny Kravitz) 9. Behind The Mask . 10. Much Too Soon . | Jackson's duet with Akon "Hold My Hand" is the first single out Monday .
The song, recorded in 2007, was leaked unfinished in 2008 .
Akon returned to the studio to finish the song .
The full album will be released December 14 . |
108,309 | 17aaff58931b69f6bbd80903370ac9c6b8e5d8c1 | By . Chris Brooke . Three family members suspected of murdering a toddler have escaped justice because police can’t prove who was to blame, an inquest heard yesterday. Summer Rogers-Ratcliffe was found collapsed in her cot with ‘catastrophic’ head injuries and died in hospital hours later. Medical experts concluded that the 21-month-old girl received the fatal ‘blunt force trauma’ injuries close to the time at which she was found dying. Tragic: Summer Rogers-Ratcliffe was 21 months when she died of a blunt force head injury that caused her brain to bleed in February 2012. But two-and-a-half years later, no one has been charged with her death . Family: The court heard Summer, pictured with mother Victoria Rogers, came from a loving family who had no contact with social services . Her injuries were ‘inflicted by a third party’ and not the result of an accident, the inquest heard. Police . arrested Summer’s mother Victoria Rogers, 27, stepfather Craig Sharp, . 34, and grandmother Susan Rogers, 58, on suspicion of murder because all . three spent time being ‘responsible’ for the toddler during the period . when experts said she must have been battered. None of them could offer an explanation for the shocking injuries or recall an accident that could be to blame. But . coroner Oliver Longstaff was told that senior lawyers from the Crown . Prosecution Service decided there was insufficient evidence for a . ‘realistic prospect of a conviction’ and refused to charge any of the . three suspects. Summer was a healthy and happy girl from a ‘loving family’, the Bradford inquest was told. Her parents separated shortly after her birth in May 2010. Miss . Rogers, an ancillary nurse, began a new relationship with Mr Sharp, a . tyre garage manager, in October that year and they were living together . at the time of Summer’s death in February 2012. Detective . Constable Richard Peckett of West Yorkshire Police said there was ‘no . history of violence or abusive behaviour in the family and no social . services involvement’. Mystery: Summer's mother Victoria Rogers (right) was arrested on suspicion of murder after medical records showed her injuries could not have been inflicted by accident but was later released without charge . Confusion: Her stepfather Craig Sharpe (pictured with Summer) was also arrested and then released because the CPS could not determine who had been looking after the 21-month-old toddler . Summer’s father Joss Ratcliffe, 25, a plumber, was still involved in her care. Police took statements from Summer’s relatives and medical experts compiled a series of reports into the injuries she suffered. The inquest heard Miss Rogers told police she had gone into Summer’s bedroom at 5.30am before leaving for work. The . little girl said ‘bot, bot’ and Miss Rogers gave her a bottle of milk . to drink in her cot. She then left the house in Dewsbury at around 6am, . leaving Mr Sharp in charge. DC Peckett said Miss Rogers’ account was . that there was ‘interaction between Summer and herself’, which indicated . the child was fit and well at that point. Mr Sharp was briefly ‘in the house on his own’ but is not known to have gone into Summer’s bedroom. At 7.40am, grandmother Susan Rogers arrived at the house to take over babysitting duties. Investigation: Details of the incident that led to Summer's death are now emerging in a five-day inquest in Bradford, which her mother (pictured right with Summer) and other family members are attending . The . inquest was told Summer was ‘checked on’ 10 minutes later in her bed . and it wasn’t until 8.30am that Mrs Rogers realised something was wrong. The . retired nurse found Summer was ‘not breathing and her head was floppy’. She immediately started CPR and phoned relatives for help. When . paramedics arrived at the house at 8.54am, Summer was not breathing but . had a pulse. She was rushed to hospital but died early the next day. Forensic . pathologist Dr Mathew Lyall, who carried out a post mortem, said Summer . suffered bleeding and swelling on the brain, and had bruises on her . scalp – the classic ‘triad’ of injuries ‘strongly associated with . non-accidental infantile head injuries’. Dr . Lyall said the fatal head injury was ‘caused by a third party’ and was . not the result of a trivial impact. The pathologist said he didn’t know . if Summer had been struck with an object or against a wall. And the number of injuries to the head indicated ‘more than one application of force’ to Summer’s scalp, he said. DC . Peckett said a file was sent to the CPS but no one would be charged . with any offence in relation to Summer’s death unless fresh evidence . came to light. He agreed . with the coroner’s suggestion that the ‘sticking point’ preventing a . prosecution was establishing how the fatal injury had been caused and . ‘who was responsible’. Summer’s parents and other relatives are due to give evidence later in the week. The hearing continues. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Summer Rogers-Ratcliffe died of a blunt force injury to the head in 2012 .
Mother, stepfather and grandmother all arrested on suspicion of murder .
CPS did not charge any of them as 'it was not clear who was caring for Summer at the time', the inquest continues . |
1,541 | 0470f82e0ce6da7ac719c38a5b0db1890bc11351 | By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 01:30 EST, 23 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:30 EST, 23 November 2013 . A North Carolina newspaper deliveryman picked up a teddy bear on a rural road, only to have authorities tell him later a bomb had been stuffed inside. Anthony Cannon, who works for The Shelby Star, said on Friday that he spotted the booby-trapped toy before dawn on Thursday along his route near Lattimore, a tiny town about 50 miles west of Charlotte. Later, he circled back to pick it up. 'I thought it was real unusual to be sitting in the middle of the road,' Mr Cannon, 42, said. 'It was pitch-black out there. When I picked the bear up some sort of container fell out.' Scroll down for video . A newspaper delivery man found this teddy bear (stock image) by the side of a North Carolina road on his round - and later discovered an IED packed inside . Not realizing he was holding an . improvised explosive device, Cannon left the bear and put the . cylindrical item in his car for the 20-minute drive back to Shelby. He . drove to his cousin's home, where he examined what he had found more . closely in the light. He says it was a small, liquid-filed bottle covered with tape with some wires coming out of it. Suspecting what he was holding might be dangerous, Cannon set the device down on the porch and dialed 911. Among those who responded was a bomb squad from the larger nearby city of Gastonia. 'Within about two minutes of walking up, they said it was an IED and cleared us out of the house,' Cannon said. Cleveland County Sheriff Alan Norman said Cannon was very lucky. Though he said he couldn't speak to the construction of the device or how it could be set off, the sheriff said it was capable of causing serious damage. 'It could have caused personal injury had the device activated,' Norman said. Anthony Cannon put the bear in his car and drove it to his cousin's home in Shelby (pictured) where he made the shocking discovery . The bomb was deactivated and sent to a lab. Federal investigators are inspecting the device, looking for clues as to who made it. Another bomb was discovered in the same area six months ago. In 2009, authorities discovered two homemade bombs several days apart in Shelby. None of those cases has been solved. Cannon said he and other local residents are concerned that whoever is making the bombs will eventually hurt someone. Even though he could have been seriously injured or killed, Cannon said he is happy he picked the bear up out of the road. 'If a kid had walked down the road and seen that bear, I'm pretty sure they would have picked it up,' he said. | Anthony Cannon said on Friday that he spotted the booby-trapped toy before dawn .
on Thursday along his route near Lattimore, west of Charlotte .
He put it in his car and brought it to his cousin's house to examine more closely .
When he saw the liquid and wires, Mr Cannon dialed 911 - and the bomb squad were soon on the scene to evacuate the family . |
49,977 | 8d56fc85cdb36bbb46beecd2ae3cf29a4cbffa42 | A wife-killing double rapist has been caught begging and claiming to be homeless, despite being given a free council flat after his release from prison. Stuart Durkin, branded a 'beast' by a judge, begs on the streets of London even though he lives in a £400,000 taxpayer-funded flat and claims benefits. Durkin lives in trendy St John's Wood, north London, and claims £70 incapacity benefit a week, raking in £25,480 over the last seven years after breaking his hip in 2008. Wife-killing double rapist Stuart Durkin begs on the streets of London and claims to be homeless despite living in a taxpayer-funded £400,000 flat in north London . He was caught pestering people for change outside a Tesco near Paddington Station, telling the Sun on Sunday that he was made homeless when his girlfriend left him. He said: 'I've got a sofa to stay on sometimes but I need money for food. I can't get any benefits.' However, back at his one-bedroom flat, which could be rented privately for up to £1,500 a month, Durkin admitted he had a roof over his head in an area where around 4,400 families are waiting for social housing. The 53-year-old, originally from Leeds, still complained: 'It's a wreck. There was a flood two years ago and the council still hasn't redecorated.' Durkin was jailed in 1984 for the manslaughter of his Swedish wife, receiving a six-year sentence. But he was back in the UK by 1988, when he was jailed for 12 years for breaking into a bedsit and raping a woman. Durkin, 53, lives in a flat in this building in St John's Wood, north London, but still claims he is homeless . Durkin, pictured poking his head out of his window, was jailed for the manslaughter of his wife in the 1980s and went on to rape two other women . After serving half of his sentence, Durkin was released and he moved to Rome, where he became known as 'The King' among fellow beggars. He was jailed once again for the rape and attempted murder of a German tourist to the Italian city, but was extradited to the UK in 2004 to serve the remainder of his sentence. Durkin was freed in 2007, when he was given the free council flat. The serial criminal was back in court again in 2012 after having sex with unsuspecting women at the Occupy London camp at Finsbury Park, north London. He was jailed for 24 weeks after admitting failing to comply with sex offender notification requirements. At the Old Bailey sentencing, Recorder Nigel Peters QC said: 'What's clear is that you are someone who has a history of violent offences and sexual offences and are clearly somebody who is considered at the highest risk end of involvement in offences involving sexual matters and violence.' | Stuart Durkin begs and claims to be homeless but lives in free council flat .
He killed his Swedish wife in the 1980s and raped two other women .
Durkin was given taxpayer-funded flat on his release from prison in 2007 .
£400,000 one-bedroom property is in trendy St John's Wood, north London .
Rapist has claimed more than £25,000 in benefits since leaving jail . |
121,889 | 2991a99b9b5b7ca9fd087a07b629ef74c0e225a4 | This is the miracle baby who saved his mother’s life - by destroying a cancerous tumour that was growing in her womb. Doctors feared for Nicola Weller’s life when they discovered a tumour in her womb after she had complained about a swelling under her ribs. She was referred for a hospital scan 12 weeks later prior to an operation to remove it, but when they carried out the scan, doctors made the most startling discovery. Nicola Weller's life was saved by her son Brandon as the pregnancy hormones in her body when she was carrying him destroyed a cancerous tumour in her womb . Mrs Weller, 29, was unknowingly seven weeks pregnant - despite using the contraceptive coil - and the pregnancy hormones had causes the tumour to disintegrate. Mrs Weller, a recruitment specialist, said: ‘It was absolutely unbelievable. I hadn’t planned to get pregnant and I’d had the contraceptive coil fitted. ‘So getting pregnant was a miracle in itself - but to find that my unborn baby had caused this tumour to disappear was a further miracle. All that was left on the scan was a few blobs of blood floating around. There was no other sign of it. ‘My baby ended up saving my life. Without him I may not have been here today.’ Mrs Weller first discovered the swelling under her rib in September 2009. She went to see her GP who referred her to Bridport Community Hospital in Dorset for a scan. Doctors told her there was a tumour growing around her womb and she needed an operation to remove it. Mrs Weller, 29, went to hospital to have the tumour removed but before the operation she had a scan which revealed that she was seven weeks pregnant and the tumour had disappeared . Mrs Weller, who has a daughter Alisha, eight, said: ‘I was absolutely devastated. My world just fell apart. My daughter was four years old, and I was being told that I was facing cancer. It was terrifying to think that I may leave her without a mum.’ In January 2010 she went to Dorset County Hospital to have the tumour removed, but before she was taken down for her operation, she had another scan. And it was then that the doctors made a remarkable discovery. She said: ‘I waited as the nurse tried to locate the tumour on the scanner, and then she suddenly went out the room. She came back in a few minutes later with another three radiologists.’ The medical team then broke the news to her that the tumour had disappeared. She said: ‘I couldn’t take it in. I’d . come into hospital for an operation to remove the tumour, yet now I was . being told that it had gone. Mrs Weller required no further treatment for the cancer and Brandon was born in September 2010 none the worse for his experience . ‘The doctors couldn’t believe it either. Everyone was amazed. One radiologist said he’d never seen it before. The second one said he’d seen one case, after medication, and the other said he’d seen it once before, where pregnancy hormones had caused a tumour to disappear.’ They then broke the news to Mrs Weller that she was seven weeks pregnant. The pregnancy hormones had caused her tumour to disappear. She said: ‘I was stunned to find out I was expecting a baby - but even more stunned to hear that this baby had caused my tumour to disappear. It was like he had been sent from above to save my life.’ The doctors carried out a biopsy on the small residue that was left from the tumour and found that it was in the early stages of cancer. She added: ‘We’ve had family members who have battled with cancer and there hasn’t been a happy ending. To me, cancer has always meant chemotherapy treatment and losing people you love. It never occurred to me that a tumour could literally disappear overnight.’ Doctors at Dorset County Hospital said they had only once before seen a womb tumour be destroyed by pregnancy hormones. There is still no sign of the tumour returning . Mrs Weller was monitored closely during her pregnancy and she was scanned regularly in case the tumour did come back. Her pregnancy went smoothly and her baby son Brandon arrived in September 2010, weighing a healthy 7Ib 8oz. Mrs Weller, who lives with husband Russell, 29, who runs a scaffolding company, in Bridport, Dorset, said: ‘It was a relief when he was born, and it was lovely to meet and hold my wonderful son who had saved me. He was delivered with his right arm pointing forwards so we nicknamed him Superman. ‘And he really is a Superman, after saving my life.’ So far there has been no sign of the tumour returning, and Mrs Weller is enjoying on being a mum. She said: ‘I hadn’t planned another baby, but I’m so glad I did. The tumour was in the early stages of cancer, so it was life-threatening. I’ve never heard of a baby destroying a tumour before - but I’m very glad that Brandon did. ‘One day when he’s old enough to understand I’ll tell him how he saved his mummy’s life. Alisha understands what has happened and she’s very grateful to him too. She dotes on her little brother.’ | Nicola Weller went to hospital for surgery to remove a tumour from her womb - before she had the operation a scan revealed she was pregnant .
She was shocked as she had had the contraceptive coil fitted .
Doctors discovered the pregnancy hormones had caused the tumour to disintegrate meaning she did not require any treatment for it .
Baby Brandon was born completely healthy in September 2010 .
There is still no sign of the tumour returning . |
40,836 | 73282b6040459d299f35068bf26c78b0b824472a | Confessed: Darwin Jackson, 16, pictured much younger on his MySpace profile, allegedly shot dead his mother . A 16-year-old Bronx teenager told police that he was responsible for the death of his mother, hours after her body was found discarded in a plastic container on a nearby street, police sources said. Sources told the New York Post that Darwin Jackson confessed to shooting dead his mother, Tihesha Savage, 34, after the two of them got into a dispute about his curfew. Her remains were discovered early Wednesday morning in a grey bin on Macombs Road in the Mt Eden neighbourhood of the Bronx. She had been shot in the back of the head, officials said. Ms Savage’s remains were found by the building’s superintendent this morning; at first officials were unsure of who committed the heinous crime. Jackson later told investigators that the woman was his mother, but only confessed to the crime after NYPD officers took him in for questioning, the Wall Street Journal reported. It is unclear if Jackson had an attorney; he was arrested twice this year for marijuana possession. He was charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter, and criminal weapon possession. Scroll down for video . Grisly find: A building superintendent discovered the remains of Tihesha Savage, 34, in a grey plastic bin Wednesday morning . Horrific discovery: NYPD officers roped off the crime scene during the investigation . Police sources told the New York Daily News that there is surveillance video showing Jackson dragging his mother’s body across the street from their apartment and into the plastic bin. There was a trail of blood beginning at their apartment. Neighbours told the Wall Street Journal that in addition to Darwin, she also had a young daughter, aged seven, who was asking about her whereabouts when she was being led away by police while carrying a teddy bear. ‘Her daughter just stopped me and said “Where’s my mommy?”’ said neighbour Kevin McCorkle, who told the newspaper that he sometimes babysits for the two. Taken away: The remains of Ms Savage are loaded into a medical examiner's van by NYPD officers . Shaken: Residents of the Bronx neighbourhood look on as her body is driven away in the white van . Another neighbour told NBC New York: ‘She was a good mother. You always see her taking her daughter to the park, to the school.’ Ms Savage had been a long-time resident of the Bronx, having lived there for several years. A source told the New York Post that NYPD officials had responded to a call for help from Ms Savage once before, in 2011, for a domestic disturbance. However, no charges were filed in that altercation. View more videos at: http://nbcnewyork.com. | Darwin Jackson, 16, allegedly shot dead his mother, Tihesha Savage, following argument .
Dragged her body out to street and dumped in a grey bin, sources said .
Savage also had daughter, 7 .
Jackson charged with mother's murder; surveillance video shows him allegedly dragging mother's body out to street . |
134,565 | 3a08c9f532b645b58ed9a6989741e3f9aa32cc07 | (CNN) -- Country music star Mindy McCready was found dead Sunday at her home in Arkansas from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, the local sheriff's office said in a statement. She was 37. Deputies from the Cleburne County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a report of gunshots fired Sunday afternoon and found McCready's body on the front porch, the statement read. McCready leaves behind two boys, one of whom is 10 months old. The infant's father, record producer David Wilson, died of an apparent suicide last month. The singer struggled with addiction and mental illness, often publicly. She appeared in an episode of "Celebrity Rehab" three years ago with Dr. Drew Pinsky, who said he contacted her last month after her boyfriend's death. "When I heard she was struggling, I did reach out to her and urged her to go to take care of herself, get in a facility if she felt she needed," said Pinsky, who hosts his own program on CNN's sister network HLN. "Her biggest fear was the stigma of doing so and what people would think if she, God forbid, took care of herself. And this to me is the most distressing part of this story. She is a lovely woman, we have lost her, and it didn't have to go down like this." McCready burst onto the music scene in 1996 with her debut album "10,000 Angels," and the chart-topping hit "Guys Do It All the Time." In the past few years, McCready waged a public battle for custody of her elder son, Zander. She took the boy from her mother, who had custody, and fled with him to her home in Arkansas, saying she had concerns over his safety. McCready fights for custody of her son . A judge ordered authorities to pick up the boy, who was 5 at the time, and days later authorities found McCready hiding with Zander in a closet at her home. Country music stars expressed their condolences Sunday on hearing news of McCready's death. "I grew up listening to Mindy McCready ... so sad for her family tonight. Many prayers are going out to them," tweeted singer Carrie Underwood. "It breaks my heart what addiction continues to take from this life," singer Wynonna Judd wrote in a series of tweets. "Addiction is a disEASE & not a character flaw. When the pain becomes too much, it causes people to want that pain to stop. This is just so unbelieveable & so sad." A year ago, McCready posted excerpts of a book she said was upcoming about her life. She acknowledged a difficult upbringing, personal problems and the challenges she faced turning her life around. "I haven't had a hit in almost a decade," she wrote in January 2012 on her official fan website. "I've spent my fortune, tarnished my public view and made myself the brunt of punch line after punch line. I've been beaten, sued, robbed, arrested, jailed, and evicted. But I'm still here. With a handful of people that I know and trust, a revived determination, and both middle fingers up in the air, I'm ready. I've been here before. I'm a fighter. I'm down, but I'll never be out." CNN's Elwyn Lopez contributed to this report. | Mindy McCready is found dead at her home in Arkansas .
The gunshot wound appears to be self-inflicted, sheriff's office says .
She had long struggled with addiction and mental illness .
McCready burst onto the scene in 1996 with her album "10,000 Angels" |
74,594 | d37769e0fe8392d66e9b54d63ac93c162b6cc693 | Ashton Carter, the former second-in-command at the Pentagon, appears to be the top choice to replace outgoing Secretary Chuck Hagel. Barring any last minute complications, Ash Carter will be President Barack Obama's choice as the new Secretary of Defense, several U.S. administration officials told CNN. An administration official had said that Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, a former General Counsel at the Pentagon, was also still on the list of possibilities, but on Tuesday morning, sources said Johnson was no longer being considered. The prospect of an additional confirmation hearing for Johnson's replacement if he were to move to the Pentagon as the Senate switches to Republican control would have been problematic for the White House. Related: Was Hagel doomed from the start? Hagel announced his resignation last week, but has said he will stay on until his successor is confirmed by the Senate. Carter, who served as Deputy Defense Secretary under both Leon Panetta and Hagel, would bring a wide range of experience to a department confronting multiple crises in the Middle East and preparing to enter a new phase in Afghanistan as the NATO combat mission ends. Carter's ability to hit the ground running from his past experience at the Pentagon, in addition to the respect many senior military leaders have for him are seen as major benefits to winning confirmation should Obama nominate him. "His career has sort of prepared him perfectly for this kind of a moment," says Michael O'Hanlon, a defense industry analyst at the Brookings Institution. In addition to a broad understanding of the Pentagon bureaucracy, Carter is seen as a master of managing large budgets, a premium in the present era of continued belt tightening on Capitol Hill, as well as an expert on weapons acquisitions. Related: White House struggles to find Hagel successor . He also has a firm grasp on understanding the trends and technology of warfare in the future. "On paper and in terms of his resume and preparation you probably couldn't do much better," O'Hanlon said. But Carter does lack certain experience shared by Hagel, Panetta had and many other secretaries - first--hand military experience. Carter has extensive experience at the Pentagon and in academia, but he was never actually in the military. "You can always find things that you would have loved in a hundred year life span to have seen everyone do before they take this job, but realistically he has accomplished about as much as you could ask," O'Hanlon said. Whoever is ultimately selected may not have much opportunity to make a mark at the Pentagon. They'll likely have less than two years likely on the job after confirmation. The next defense secretary will confront the specter of another possible round of automatic budget cuts known as sequestration to navigate with Congress, along with a White House known by some for micromanaging foreign and defense policy. While Carter was always seen likely on Obama's short-list of candidates, his name gained prominence following the withdrawals from consideration by former Pentagon official Michele Flournoy and Sen. Jack Reed that they not be considered for the post. Carter, who does not have a background as a political operative, is believed to be open to returning to the Pentagon, and would likely generate a smooth confirmation process officials tell CNN. He was previously a professor at Harvard's Kennedy School, and was recently listed as a senior executive at the Markle Foundation. | Sources said Tuesday that DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson is no longer considered .
The White House has struggled to find a successor for Chuck Hagel as Defense Secretary .
The new frontrunner is Ashton Carter, a former Pentagon official with years of DOD experience . |
142,796 | 44add1eae9f55aa257b5050a0fe0c000452fd281 | (CNN) -- A passerby pushed a would-be suicide jumper off a bridge in southern China because he was angry at the jumper's "selfish activity," Chinese media reported Saturday. It happened Thursday in the city of Guangzhou as Chen Fuchao threatened to jump off Haizhu Bridge, China's Xinhua news agency reported. The bridge has gained a "macabre" reputation with 11 jumpers having thrown themselves off the bridge since the start of April, Xinhua said. Traffic was held up for nearly five hours and a crowd gathered as Chen sat on the bridge, threatening to jump, Xinhua reported. Chen wanted to kill himself because he had 2 million yuan ($294,000) in debt after a failed construction project, Xinhua reported. Lian Jiansheng, 66, who was passing by the bridge, offered to talk Chen down, Xinhua said. Police refused, but Lian broke through the police cordon and climbed to where Chen was sitting. Lian greeted Chen with a handshake, then pushed him off the bridge, Xinhua said. Chen fell 26 feet (8 meters) onto a partially-inflated emergency air cushion, damaging his spine and elbow in the fall, Xinhua said. He is now recovering in a hospital. A photographer documented the sequence of events. The photographs show Lian, dressed in a T-shirt, shorts and socks, saluting to the crowd after pushing Chen off. "I pushed him off because jumpers like Chen are very selfish. Their action violates a lot of public interest," Lian told Xinhua. "They do not really dare to kill themselves. Instead, they just want to raise the relevant government authorities' attention to their appeals." Police took Lian away after the incident, Xinhua said. It did not say whether he would face any charges. | Happened in Guangzhou as Chen Fuchao threatened to jump off Haizhu Bridge .
Bridge has "macabre" reputation with 11 jumpers since April .
Chen wanted to kill himself because he had a $294,000 debt .
A man, 66, greeted Chen with a handshake then pushed him off the bridge . |
48,347 | 8875141ea7bb1ce9a3a56ce5f3cb9d678ccc175c | Tom Ince has moved a step closer to following in his father’s footsteps after Inter Milan set up contract talks with him in London. Inter president Erick Thohir confirmed he was heading to England, and Sportsmail understands he will hold talks with 22-year-old Ince’s agent during his stay in London. The England Under 21 forward would cost Inter as little as £155,000 in compensation after he ran down his contract at Blackpool. Like father, like son: Tom Ince could be set to follow in his father's footsteps by joining Inter Milan . Move abroad: Paul Ince joined Inter Milan in 1995 and spent two seasons playing for the Italian giants . Meanwhile, the San Siro club have distanced themselves from reports linking them with Patrice Evra. Claims over the weekend suggested the Italian side had drawn up a contract offer for the Manchester United left back. No go: Inter have distance themselves from reports linking them with Manchester United left Patrice Evra . | Tom Ince set to follow in father's footsteps with move to Inter Milan .
Italian giants set up contract talks with wideman in London .
Ince has been on loan at Crystal Palace from Championship side Blackpool . |
195,890 | 898a16f74915115bfeb4327b3fa8f24e09050bad | The U.S. government is relinquishing its control of the Internet's address system in a shift that may raise questions about the future direction of online innovation and communications. The decision announced Friday begins a long-planned transition affecting the stewardship of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN. That's a not-for-profit agency launched in 1998 by the Commerce Department to govern the system that assigns website addresses and directs Internet traffic. The department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration, or NTIA, hopes to end its oversight of ICANN's Internet Assigned Numbers Authority by the time its contract expires in September 2015. Hand over: The U.S. government will no longer run ICANN after September 2015 . The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority administers the technology that keeps computers connected to the Web and steers Internet traffic. Proposals for a new ICANN stewardship will be accepted beginning next week at a conference in Singapore. Although it's too early to tell how future oversight will be handled, the U.S. government appears determined to hand over the reins to an entity without political entanglements. 'We will not accept a proposal that replaces the NTAI's role with a government-led or intergovernmental solution,' Lawrence Strickling, assistant secretary at the Commerce Department, told reporters. That statement may ease concerns that oversight of ICANN will be turned over to International Telecommunications Union, which is part of the United Nations. Although other countries have had a say in how the Internet works, the U.S. government retained veto power over ICANN. That role has fueled recurring debates about whether the U.S. government exerts too much influence over technology that plays such a pivotal role in society and the economy. The concerns about the United States' role in ICANN have intensified during the past nine months amid a series of media leaks from former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. The disclosures have revealed that government spy programs have been vacuuming up emails and other personal data off of Internet services for at least the past six years as part of the country's anti-terrorism efforts. Strickling said the 'timing is right' for the Commerce Department to start to phase out of ICANN. Non-government: Lawrence Strickland, assistant secretary at the Commerce Department, says proposals from government organizations will not be accepted . Some Internet groups contend the U.S. government should remain in a supervisory position to prevent leaders in other countries with a history of suppressing free speech from trying to manipulate ICANN in a way that censors online communications. 'Without the U.S. government providing an effective backstop to ICANN's original operating principles, there would be no mechanism in place to stop foreign governments from interfering with ICANN's operations,' Daniel Castro, senior analyst for the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, wrote in a Friday blog post. The U.S. government appears to be trying to dictate the agenda for the upcoming changing of the guard at ICANN, said Greg Shatan, a New York attorney specializing in Internet issues for the law firm of Reed Smith. In the process, the U.S. could make it more difficult for other countries seizing upon the Snowden revelations to gain greater control over the agency. U.S. leaders 'didn't like the way the wind is blowing, so they are trying to move the fan to blow the wind in a different direction,' Shatan said. Fadi Chehade, ICANN's president, took a diplomatic stance to the looming shift in power. 'All stakeholders deserve a voice in the management and governance of this global resource as equal partners,' he said. | The National Telecommunications and Information Administration will end its oversight of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
ICANN administers the technology that keeps computers connected to the Web and .
steers Internet traffic .
Proposals for a new ICANN stewardship will be accepted beginning next week at a conference in Singapore .
Proposals from government organizations will not be accepted . |
63,219 | b38e54924c6b01ca547a5cf684fb08c18ecf9ade | A father who co-wrote a book with his son about how the boy visited heaven after a car wreck was telling the truth, his family has said - even though the youngster has now denied the tale. Alex Malarkey, now 16, was in a coma for two months and left paralyzed after the wreck in 2004, but when he awoke, he claimed an angel had lifted him up to heaven where he met Jesus and Satan. With his father, Kevin Malarkey, he wrote best-selling book 'The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven' in 2010 - but this week, Alex claimed the whole story was a lie. But Kevin's family said that is not the . 'Kevin has always told the truth,' his mother Joan told DailyMail.com on Friday. 'He told the truth and he did the right thing. He's not sure why Alex is saying these things now.' Scroll down for video . Truth or fiction? Alex Malarkey, left, co-wrote a book with his father Kevin, right, recounting how he saw heaven after being in a car crash. He has now denied the story - but Kevin's family said he has always told the truth . 'Lies': Alex Malarkey, pictured in 2009, was just six when he was in the crash and he remains paralyzed . Kevin Malarkey, who is recently divorced from Alex's mother Beth, has not publicly commented on Alex's claims, but Joan Malarkey said 'he has a lot of support' from relatives and friends. He published a second book last summer, 'A Beautiful Defeat'. The reaction comes after Alex claimed his story was nothing more than fiction. The book describes heaven thus: . 'When I arrived in heaven, I was inside the gate. The gate was really tall, and it was white. It was very shiny, and it looked like it had scales like a fish. I was in the inner heaven and everything was brighter and more intense on the inside of the gate. It was perfect. Perfect is my favorite word for describing heaven.' Alex also describes in the book how he floated above the scene of his crash and talked to Jesus while firefighters extricated his body from the wreckage. In an open letter addressed to 'Sellers, buyers and marketers' on Pulpit and Pen, Alex wrote: 'I did not die. I did not go to heaven.' 'I said I went to heaven because I thought it would get me attention,' he wrote. 'When I made the claims that I did, I had never read the Bible. People have profited from lies, and continue to.' Adding that only the Bible describes what heaven is like, he said that people 'should read the Bible, which is enough. The Bible is the only source of truth. Anything written by man cannot be infallible.' Alex is still severely disabled and is cared for by his mother at home in Ohio. They live together in Huntsville with his three siblings. Kevin Malarkey lives in Columbus, Ohio. Beth Malarkey has said that Alex does not receive any money from the novel, which made the New York Times Bestsellers List in 2010. Long before Alex made his statement, Beth Malarkey had claimed on her blog that the book was made up and that when she approached the publishers, they did nothing. Controversial tale: Alex's mother Beth, left, says he does not receive any money from the sales of the book . Home life: Alex is able to stand with the help of a brace and has been taken on runs by his mother, right . 'There are many who are scamming and using the Word of God to do it,' she wrote last April. 'It is both puzzling and painful to watch the book The Boy who Came Back from Heaven to not only continue to sell, but to continue, for the most part, to not be questioned.' She even claimed that when Alex told a pastor that the book was made up, the man told him the publication was 'blessing' to people and to stay quiet. She added: 'The ones making money from the book are NOT the ones staying up through the night, struggling for their breath, or were they the ones at six years old, waking up unable to move or breathe and in a strange place after last remember seeing a car coming right at the car he was riding in'. Many Christian publishers are now announcing that they will stop selling the book. One of the book's stockists, The Lifeway Christian Bookstore, told Pulpit and Pen that it plans to remove the book from its shelves and send back its current stock. Before: Alex, pictured before the accident, was in a coma for two months after the crash when he was six . Full-time care: Alex's mother Beth, right, said none of the profits from the book have gone to Alex's care . In a statement, its director of communications, Martin King, said: 'LifeWay was informed this week that Alex Malarkey has retracted his testimony about visiting heaven as told in the book 'The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven.' Malarkey said he wrote the book because he thought it would get him 'attention'; it became a best seller . 'Therefore, we are returning to the publisher the few copies we have in our Stores.' The book is one of three 'real-life' tales of paradise on sale at Christian book stores - 90 Minutes in Heaven and Heaven is for Real are the others. The Malarkeys' book has been a popular read in Christian book stores and had a 4.3 rating on Amazon. It became part of a popular genre of books known as 'heavenly tourism'. Another young boy's tale of going to heaven, Colton Burpo from Nebraska has recently been made into the movie Heaven is For Real. The publishers description on the book reads: 'In 2004, Kevin Malarkey and his six-year-old son, Alex, suffered an horrific car accident. The impact from the crash paralyzed Alex–and medically speaking, it was unlikely that he could survive. 'I think Alex has gone to be with Jesus,' a friend told the stricken dad. 'But two months later, Alex awoke from a coma with an incredible story to share. Of events at the accident scene and in the hospital while he was unconscious. Of the angels that took him through the gates of heaven itself. Of the unearthly music that sounded just 'terrible' to a six-year-old. And, most amazing of all . . . Of meeting and talking to Jesus. 'The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven' is the true story of an ordinary boy's most extraordinary journey. As you see heaven and earth through Alex's eyes, you'll come away with new insights on miracles, life beyond this world, and the power of a father's love.' | Alex Malarkey said he visited heaven and met Jesus while in a coma for two months at age six following a car crash in 2004 .
He then wrote the best-selling book with his father Kevin, who is recently separated from Alex's mother .
Now Alex has written an open letter to publishers saying he made it all up .
His mother says Alex receives no money from the sale of the book .
But Kevin Malarkey's family say they stand by him, saying: 'Kevin has always told the truth. He's not sure why Alex is saying this' |
201,869 | 9157c80958c155857447412de6d476e4f3a8a38c | (CNN) -- The police department in Keene, New Hampshire, wants to identify and prosecute the people who threw objects at police, overturned a car, set fires and engaged in other "riotous behavior" Saturday and Sunday at the city's annual Pumpkin Festival, the city government said Monday. The fire department treated 30 people for injuries, mostly those hit by thrown objects, law enforcement authorities said at a news conference. Full bottles and cans of alcohol and even billiard balls were hurled through the air, police said. People shouted expletives at officers, started fires in the road and flipped over a vehicle, Keene Police Chief Kenneth Meola said. Crowds were so hostile that firefighters had trouble reaching the injured, he said. Eighty-four people were arrested over the weekend, Meola said, and more arrests are expected. Police said high school and college students used social media to spread word about the event, held near Keene State College. The school's president, Anne Huot said some outside the community had billed the event "as a destination for destructive and raucous behavior." Steven French, 18, who was visiting from Haverhill, Massachusetts, described the chaotic scene to the local paper, The Keene Sentinel, as "wicked." "It's just like a rush. You're revolting from the cops," he told the paper Saturday night. "It's a blast to do things that you're not supposed to do." Students could be expelled . Many of the suspects are from other New England colleges and the schools will trade information in an attempt to locate the suspects, Huot told reporters. Besides being charged with crimes, Keene State students could be expelled if they participated, she said. Police said they'll use social media in trying to locate and identify suspects. Meola said the problem started about 1 p.m. Saturday when police tried to break up an unruly crowd of about 1,000 people at the festival. Police in riot gear used tear gas and pepper spray to to disperse the group. A second group of about the same size also started throwing objects at police, he said. The groups eventually moved to another spot where they were partially contained, Meola said. Some of the suspects spilled over onto the campus and damaged property there, he said. "This went on for approximately eight hours," he said. "The potential for somebody being seriously injured or killed was there," said Col. Robert Quinn of the New Hampshire State Police. Police used about 100 pepper balls and finally ran out, Meola said. Officers then resorted to "sponge rounds," which he said were "similar to an extended baton kind of stroke." Police had problems last year . Keene police called in backup from the New Hampshire State Police and other nearby police forces. Most of the injured were students. "I got hit with a Jack Daniel's (whiskey) bottle, like across the face," Keene State student Roger Creekmore told WMUR. The disturbances started early Saturday afternoon. Bonfires burned into the early hours of Sunday morning on city streets that were littered with broken beer and liquor bottles, video from CNN affiliate WMUR showed. Police reported problems at last year's pumpkin festival, but not to this extent, Meola said. The Sentinel reported 140 arrests last year. "This wasn't like a party we had to go break up," he said. "This was out in the public. Nobody organized it. It happened on its own." Because of the arrests and injuries at past festivals, the community held forums in recent years -- inviting police and emergency room doctors as well as residents -- to explore ways to mitigate the violence, vandalism and littering that come with the celebration. Town to discuss festival future . Keene Mayor Kendall W. Lane said public forums will be held in December to discuss the future of the Pumpkin Festival. This was the 24th consecutive year it's been held. Huot said she was encouraged to see many students come out voluntarily Sunday morning to help clean up the debris from the disturbance. The pumpkin festival is a source of pride for the community of 23,000 people about 80 miles northwest of Boston. Last year, the event set a world record with 30,581 lit jack-o'-lanterns, according to the festival's website. "It's ridiculous. It's not Pumpkin Fest," Jacob Gowans, another Keene State student, told WMUR. "We're supposed to have a fun weekend. This is stupid." CNN's Joe Sutton, Jackie Castillo and Ed Payne contributed to this report . | City officials in Keene, New Hampshire, say at least 30 hurt in melee .
Police want to find people who threw rocks, bottles .
Police will seek suspects through social media .
Disturbance broke out at the city's annual pumpkin festival . |
28,697 | 5178f10fc55f5309aaef8cde91e0446b08046008 | (CNN) -- On Monday afternoon, something called Kidz Bop was trending on Twitter. I had never heard of it, but was instantly amused by the word "Bop." You see, when I was a kid, Nana lived with us at home in Arizona and she used to wield a giant cardboard wrapping paper roll that we affectionately called her Bopper. When our Great Dane, Shane, would annoy her, she'd promptly try to beat the crap out of him. And he loved it. But Kidz Bop appeared to be far less amusing than Nana's cardboard bludgeoning stick. As one Twitterererer put it: "Kidz Bop can go die in a hole." Whatever this Kidz Bop was people weren't happy, and I quickly pieced together from the cascade of angry tweets that it was a compilation children's music series that had just aired a rather annoying commercial on Nickelodeon for its new upcoming release, "Kidz Bop 22." Which suggests, perhaps, that somewhere in America there's a parent who owns the other 21 disks and is slowly being talked off a ledge. "Ma'am, it's going to be OK. We brought you some Zeppelin." The Kidz Bop people tout their CDs as "today's biggest hits sung by kids for kids," and this particular volume contains remakes of 16 pop songs that I've absolutely never heard. Sure, you may say I'm old and unhip and completely out of touch, but, really, I just spend a lot of time watching "Matlock." Anyway, one song in particular on the new album that seemed to be immediately tugging at the gag reflex of most people on Twitter was the Kidz Bop remake of "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen who, in 2007, finished third on "Canadian Idol." Which is exactly the same as "American Idol," except all the contestants have to sing while riding a moose. The chorus of Jepsen's song goes: "Hey, I just met you. And this is crazy. But here's my number. So call me, maybe." Moral: "Hey kids ... talk to strangers!" Now, while I totally understand people finding this song annoying, especially sung by children, I have to admit that, sadly, it's also catchy as hell. And much better than my standard pickup line: "So, you ride Greyhound often?" A while back, Justin Bieber actually praised "Call Me Maybe" on Twitter, which instantly made it popular, spawning video lip dub remakes by everyone from Katy Perry to the Harvard baseball team. And now it's immortalized on "Kidz Bop 22." You're welcome. The Kidz Bop music series is targeted to children aged 5 to 12, and, according to its website, has sold more than 11 million CDs. But I was curious as to just how "safe" they were making these songs. Thus, I went all the way back to the beginning, the original Kidz Bop, and decided to examine their remake of Ricky Martin's "Livin' La Vida Loca." I figured it would be a good test subject since, so far as I can tell, the song is basically about being drugged and taken advantage of by a sexy Latin hooker. Which, coincidentally, is also No. 32 on my bucket list. So, I purchased the Kidz Bop version off iTunes and found that, at least for this one song, not a single lyric had been changed: . "Woke up in New York City in a funky cheap hotel/ . She took my heart and she took my money/ . She must've slipped me a sleepin' pill." See? This is why I have a dog. Because I have no idea how to explain "Livin' La Vida Loca" to a child. "Look, sweetheart, it's complicated. So your mom and I rented you "Deuce Bigalow." Close enough. Hey, at least I actually know "Livin' La Vida Loca." At the moment, all of my co-workers are making fun of me for just now learning about "Call Me Maybe." And I couldn't be more proud. So, if you need me, I'll be at my desk listening to Zeppelin. Or maybe watching "Matlock." | In this week's "Apparently This Matters," Jarrett Bellini takes on Kidz Bop .
The kiddie music series was trending on Twitter after an ad aired on Nickelodeon .
What's new? Kids now warble Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe"
In summation: Kidz Bop is no "Houses of the Holy" |
219,813 | a88715cc2939ab5c4e53a7d7d02ab93f743d7057 | By . Simon Tomlinson . PUBLISHED: . 04:17 EST, 11 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 08:42 EST, 11 February 2014 . The captain of a replica 18th-century ship that sank in Superstorm Sandy made a reckless decision to sail the HMS Bounty into the hurricane's well-forecast path, the National Transportation Safety Board reported Monday. The three-masted wooden sailing ship sank about 125 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras in October 2012 as Sandy churned up the Atlantic seaboard. The newly released NTSB report said Captain Robin Walbridge's 'reckless decision' to sail into the storm subjected the aging vessel and its inexperienced crew to conditions they couldn't surmount. One member of the HMS Bounty's 16-person crew died and Walbridge was never found after the sinking off North Carolina's Outer Banks, an ocean expanse with a history of shipwrecks. Doomed: The shipwrecked HMS Bounty after it was sunk by Superstorm Sandy, a disaster which has been officially blamed on the captain in a report by the National Transportation Safety Board . All at sea: The newly released NTSB report said Captain Robin Walbridge's 'reckless decision' to sail into the storm subjected the aging vessel and its inexperienced crew to conditions they couldn't surmount . Three other crew members aboard the vessel - built for the 1962 film Mutiny on the Bounty starring Marlon Brando - were seriously injured. 'Although this wooden ship was modelled after an 18th century vessel, the captain had access to 21st century hurricane modeling tools that predicted the path and severity of Hurricane Sandy,' NTSB Chairman Deborah AP Hersman said in a statement. 'The Bounty's crew was put into an extraordinarily hazardous situation through decisions that by any measure didn't prioritize safety.' Superstorm Sandy was one of the most destructive storms in U.S. history. Although it had weakened to a post-tropical cyclone when it made landfall in New Jersey, its enormous size pushed a catastrophic storm surge toward much of the heavily populated East Coast. 'Put crew in put into an extraordinarily hazardous situation': Captain Robin Walbridge (pictured) was never found after the sinking off North Carolina's Outer Banks, an ocean expanse with a history of shipwrecks . In the path of destruction: The three-masted wooden sailing ship sank about 125 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras in October 2012 as Sandy churned up the Atlantic seaboard . Besides Mutiny on the Bounty, the ship was featured in several other films over the years, including one of the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movies. When not in use by moviemakers, the ship was a pierside attraction for visitors in ports and also served as an educational ship that taught people how to sail. The 108-foot-long ship set sail from New London, Conn., for St. Petersburg, Fla. on October 25, 2012, a day after Sandy reached hurricane strength. The plan was for the Bounty to arrive in St Petersburg for a November 10 event. But early in the morning of October 29, 2012, the ship sank after taking on more than 10 feet of water. Crew members had to swim for their lives in the dark when the ship overturned. 'It was an end to a voyage that should not have been attempted. To set sail into an approaching hurricane introduced needless risk,' the NTSB report says. Struggle: A footage still shows one of the crew of the Bounty being rescued from a life raft by the Coast Guard after the vessel sank after the captain went against forecasters' advice and sailed into the storm . Dramatic: An image taken inside the helicopter shows the moment crew members were saved from the ship . During testimony last February at a Coast Guard hearing in Portsmouth, Va., surviving crew members repeatedly said Walbridge believed a ship was safer at sea in a storm than in port. Before sailing, Walbridge told nervous crew that his plan was to sail the Bounty on a southeasterly course and let the hurricane pass southwest of it. But as the ship headed south, the path of the storm changed and began heading west. Walbridge, too, decided to head west - directly into Sandy's path. 'It is possible that the captain may have focused too narrowly on the position of the storm's eye instead of on Sandy 's total expanse,' said the NTSB report, noting storm winds spanned more than 1,000 miles in diameter, and that the Bounty was heading into an area already under tropical storm warnings. 'Still, the captain seemed to believe that he could outrace the storm,' the NTSB report added. It said Walbridge had hoped winds around the storm system would push the vessel southwest toward Florida, but that he and senior crew seemingly failed to anticipate the effect prolonged exposure to the storm would have on the wooden vessel. Aging: The report also noted that while the Bounty took on water even in good sailing conditions, the captain gave no order to ensure the ship's pumps were fully working even though rough seas were expected . Hollywood star: The ship was built for the 1962 film Mutiny on the Bounty starring Marlon Brando . While the NTSB report details numerous events leading to the sinking, it places the bulk of the blame on Walbridge. Among other things, it noted that while the Bounty took on water even in good sailing conditions, he gave no order to ensure the ship's pumps were fully working before leaving Connecticut even though rough seas were expected. Some wood rot also had been recently discovered on the ship, the NTSB said. The report also says the ship's parent organization showed a lack of effective safety oversight. The HMS Bounty Organization is facing a $70 million lawsuit in Long Island, N.Y., from the mother of deceased crewmember Claudene Christian, 42. The lawsuit claims negligence, saying the vessel wasn't seaworthy and that Walbridge shouldn't have taken it out to sea. The Bounty's former engineer, Christopher Barksdale, is also suing the East Setauket, N.Y.-based Bounty organization and its owner for an unspecified amount. During the 2013 Coast Guard hearing, the owner of the HMS Bounty, Robert Hansen, declined to testify by invoking his Fifth Amendment right to be protected from incriminating himself. An email to Hansen's attorneys wasn't immediately returned late Monday. | Two died when aging wooden vessel built for Marlon Brando's 1962 film sunk off North Carolina in October 2012 .
Captain Robin Walbridge made 'reckless decision' to sail into storm's path .
He 'seemed to believe that he could outrace the storm', safety board rules .
Ship took on water even in good conditions and wood rot had been found . |
233,315 | ba0eb94d524b3f99b83968cc0363b13f2ad12916 | PUBLISHED: . 06:59 EST, 18 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:56 EST, 18 February 2013 . A raunchy restaurant in Japan is using scantly-clad female robots instead of real life women to dance for its customers. Revellers pay 23,000 Yen (£25) a time to enjoy the adult entertainment provided by the 'fembots' at the venue. The statuesque 12ft machines are controlled by women wearing an equally small amount of clothes at the bizarre Robot Restaurant in Tokyo's Shinjuku Kabukicho red light district. Scroll down for video . Scantily-clad: Robot Restaurant uses statuesque machines instead of real life women to dance for customers . Adult entrainment: The robots are controlled by real-life woman inside a dining room covered by neon lights . Long awaited: The restaurant, which serves alcoholic drinks and tea, was three years under construction . Customers can also jump onto a robot's lap and have a go at controlling the machine themselves. The strange entertainment attracts men and women from a wide age range, who can enjoy the bikini-wearing robots with a tea or alcoholic drink. The venue cost a reported 10 million yen (£70 million) to build. The robots are based on the character Valkyrie from the video game Soul Calibur. The unusual sight should come as no surprise however, with Japan responsible for more than 50 per cent of the world's robot production. In the driving seat: Customers can also have a go at jumping onto a robot's lap and grabbing the controls . Attraction: The eatery also boasts a nightly cabaret, with girls riding around on motorbikes and in a tank . Strange but true: The restaurant in Japan's capital appears to be extremely popular with punters . The restaurant also boasts a nightly cabaret that include girls dancing, marching, riding around on motorbikes and in a tank. Adding to the hallucinatory experience are the eye-popping LEDs and neon lights, which cover every inch of the dining room. To advertise the new endeavour, the Amazonian robots were recently paraded around the streets of the country's capital. The restaurant serves sushi as well as alcoholic drinks and tea. Its doors opened last summer after three years under construction. Spreading the word: The new endeavor was advertised with a parade through the capital . Eye-popping: LED screens and neon lights cover every inch of the red light district venue . | Scantily-clad robots patrol the dining area at bizarre Tokyo restaurant .
Machines controlled by woman wearing equally small amounts of clothes .
Men and women of a wide age range attracted to red light district venue . |
260,377 | dd2ddcafd37df08b24f9d3d824e67288096609e7 | By . Gerri Peev . PUBLISHED: . 10:58 EST, 12 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:41 EST, 13 June 2013 . Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg admitted his party had failed women for 20 years . A humiliated Nick Clegg last night admitted he failed to respond vigorously enough to a series of sexual harassment complaints about his party’s former chief executive. The Deputy Prime Minister ‘made mistakes’ over the allegations against Lord Rennard, according to a highly critical report into attitudes to women among senior Liberal Democrats. Mr Clegg conceded that ‘women had been let down’ after the independent report said he should have ‘asked more questions’ when the claims – which Lord Rennard denies – arose five years ago. There were several missed chances to hold an investigation, the report added.The inquiry into the wider culture of the Liberal Democrats spanning two decades was launched after the Rennard claims surfaced earlier this year. Aside from the complaints by four women against the peer, witnesses reported 32 other sexual harassment and discrimination incidents – including one where a male parliamentarian had made inappropiate advances to a very young male worker. City fund manager Helena Morrissey – who wrote the report – yesterday admitted she was ‘shocked’ at the party’s failure to live up to its ideals of equality and liberty, adding: ‘You have got to practise what you preach’. Mrs Morrissey, who found evidence of ‘low level sexism’, said: ‘Mistakes were definitely made. They were made by Nick Clegg, Danny Alexander and Jo Swinson. 'You can make a mistake and learn from them, it’s different from setting out to mislead or to do something wrong.’ But she added: ‘I am not exonerating Nick Clegg.’ A formal inquiry should have immediately been launched by Mr Clegg into the allegations of improper conduct involving Lord Rennard when they were raised by women in 2008, she said. Mr Clegg said the report made ‘sobering reading’ and said there was ‘no excuse’ for what had happened over 20 years in the party’s corridors of power. Lord Rennard has strenuously denied acting inappropriately towards women during his time as Lib Dem chief executive . A formal inquiry was triggered by the allegations surrounding Lord Rennard, pictured (left) after a meeting in Bangkok in 2010 and (right) at this year’s parliamentary pancake race . He added that it illustrated that . ‘stretching over a 20-year period a series of mistakes were made which . left a number of women feeling seriously let down and for that there is . absolutely no excuse whatsoever’. Mrs Morrissey also singled out Liberal Democrat ministers Jo Swinson and . Danny Alexander for adopting an ‘informal’ approach to the complaints . which was ‘ultimately not sufficient’. The inquiry was triggered by the allegations surrounding Lord Rennard . but it was widened to include how the party dealt with other complaints . of sexism and harassment. It spanned complaints from up to 20 years ago. Mrs Morrissey said it . would not be fair however to hold the party to the same standards for . events of decades ago that are expected today. Her report said former leader Charles Kennedy’s ‘relatively relaxed . management style’, compared to his predecessor Lord Ashdown’s, . ‘contributed to Chris Rennard’s power base’. Businesswoman Helena Morrissey said Mr Clegg should have ordered a formal inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment against Lord Rennard . Paul Burstow, the party’s chief whip at the time, was also told of the claims about Lord Rennard in 2008. But the allegations did not surface publicly until this year, when Channel 4 interviewed two alleged victims. At the time, the party denied that Mr Clegg had any knowledge of specific allegations about Lord Rennard. He was also quick to criticise the ‘self appointed detectives’ of the . media as newspapers also investigated the potential scandal. Mrs Morrissey said there had been ‘no malicious attempt’ to cover up the . claims but that the way they dealt with them had been ‘haphazard’. The . Deputy Prime Minister had not launched a formal inquiry because he . believed the alleged victims had not requested one and wanted to keep . their anonymity, she said. Mr Clegg told the inquiry: ‘The natural course of action had been to . challenge Chris [Lord Rennard] in respect of the allegations and this . was duly done. He then denied any wrongdoing and the affair was dropped . since none of the complainants wished to …substantiate their . allegation.’ Mrs Morrissey admitted she was ‘shocked’ by some of the complaints, such . as one Lib Dem councillor aggressively cornering a female staff member. Mrs Morrissey criticised the ‘tendency for the party to try to “handle” complaints rather than to fully and properly investigate them in a . timely, professional manner.’ Scotland Yard is investigating allegations against the peer – who has denied any wrongdoing. Lord Rennard declined to comment. Mr Clegg said he would implement all the recommendations made in Miss . Morrissey’s report ‘without delay’ and had asked her to check on . progress in 12 months. He admitted the party had to do more, adding: ‘We must be a party where . even a hint of sexism is taken seriously; where every allegation of . harassment is dealt with properly; and where there can be no fear that . power or position can be abused.’ Tim Farron, the party president, said the ‘warts and all’ report made ‘uncomfortable reading’. Mr Farron last night told Channel 4 News that he did not think any of . the ministers involved should resign over their failures as the party . now had a ‘gold standard’ for how to handle future complaints. Mrs Morrissey, chief executive of Newton Investment Management and a . mother of nine, said she nearly ‘threw in the towel’ on the inquiry when . she took one look at the LibDems’ labyrinthine structure. Her report called for a stronger anti-bullying strategy and a dedicated . office to deal with complaints. Activists should also be made to take . diversity courses to make them aware of any prejudices, she added. Several Lib Dem activists told Channel 4 News in February that Lord Rennard had made unwanted advances – claims that he denied. Although the alleged incidents happened years ago, the complainants came . forward after becoming concerned that he was involved in a candidate . training event this year. Mrs Morrissey’s report did not detail the specific allegations about Lord Rennard because they are being investigated by police. | Dozens of witnesses tell independent inquiry of chaotic way party was run .
Report was ordered after allegations were made against Lord Rennard .
The former chief executive denies any wrongdoing . |
182,081 | 77bfa439c6a147f2568898bdf91e972f171baf52 | Police confirmed today that the skeletal remains found in shallow graves in the Mojave desert are a couple who vanished along with their two sons. The remains were identified as Joseph McStay, 42, and his 45-year-old wife, Summer. The couple and their sons have not been seen since leaving their suburban California home in February 2010. Captain Kevin Lacy, from the coroner's division, told a news conference on Friday they had also found children's remains but a positive ID had not been made. Joseph's father Patrick McStay said he believes the other bones belong to his grandsons Gianni, three, and four-year-old Joseph Jr. The remains of four people were dug up after an off-road biker came across one grave in the remote San Bernardino County, California on Monday. Scroll down for video . Michael McStay, brother of Joseph McStay, speaks at a press conference today after his sibling's remains were confirmed as being found in the Mojave desert . Problems: Mr and Mrs McStay were on the verge of being evicted from their San Clemente apartment, it has been claimed . Mystery: Joseph McStay, his wife Summer and children Gianni and Joseph Jr vanished in 2010 from their suburban Californian home with little clue as to where they had gone . Two sets of bones were found in each . of the two shallow graves, around 3ft deep, off a dirt track, close to . Interstate 5. There are no homes in the area but it is close to the . freeway, police said. Police refused to say which bones were found in which grave. The . bones, which were relatively intact aside from some damage by wild . animals, are believed to have been there for 'an extended period of . time'. A forensic anthropologist working to establish the date of the . deaths. The sheriff's office revealed little today as the investigation remains in the initial stages. Items of clothing and other evidence had been found with the bodies but details were not disclosed. 'It’s not really the outcome we were looking for,' brother Michael McStay told cameras through his tears. 'But it gives us courage to know that they’re together and they’re in a better place.' 'My family appreciates all the support and the love we’ve been shown,' he added. 'They are a loving family and I know that all of America loves the McStays.' Forensic anthropologists and San Bernardino County Sheriff Department officials investigate shallow graves where human remains were found on Monday in a remote area of Southern California's Mojave Desert . Tears: Susan McStay, mother of Joseph McStay, left, and a friend of the victims' family, Emily, sobbed throughout a Friday press conference as police revealed details of the gruesome find . Officials: San Bernardino County Sheriff Edward J. McMahon reveal details of the investigation on Friday as the victims' families looked on . Call off the search: Mr and Mrs McStay's remains were confirmed today after being found in shallow graves off a Californian interstate. The remains of two children were found with them but have not yet been identified . There . have been suggestions that the deaths could be cartel-related after the . bodies were found close to the Mexican border and the family's car . abandoned close to a border crossing in 2010. But on Friday San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon said, 'It’s too early to tell if it’s cartel-related or any other suspects.' The scene is being processed to see if DNA other than the family's is present. On Thursday before he had official confirmation, Patrick McStay told the LA Times: 'I got a cold chill and I knew it was them.' The bones were found on Monday morning between Quarry and Stoddard Wells roads, just north of Victorville. In April this year, the FBI took over the search for the family after they vanished without a trace from their suburban California home. Detectives . with the San Diego County Sheriff's office had said most signs point to the . McStay family crossing the border into Mexico after they were last seen . February 4, 2010. A motorcyclist came across the bones in a shallow grave in the California desert on Monday. Bones belonging to three others were found in graves nearby . Investigators search the scrubland in the remote California desert for more clues about who the remains belong to . Joseph McStay and wife Summer went missing along with his wife and two children in 2010 from their San Diego County home. Bones found today were confirmed as belonging to the couple . The family of Joseph and Summer McStay insist that they did not leave the U.S. with their sons of their own free will. The case - a quiet suburban family inexplicably . vanishing from their Fallbrook home without a word of goodbye - has baffled everyone involved. 'Due to the fact that the family is . believed to be out of the country, and because minor children are . involved, the primary investigative responsibility for the case is being . transferred to the FBI,' Lieutenant Glenn Giannantonio of the sheriff's . department said in a statement in April. Investigators can be seen sifting through sand after skeletal remains were found on Monday . Bones were found in the desert and police are expected to make an announcement later today with further details about who they belong to . Human remains found in the San Bernardino County desert may belong to four members of a San Diego family that has been missing since 2010 . Authorities believed they spotted the . McStay family crossing by foot into Mexico on surveillance camera video . at the San Ysidro customs stop, just south of San Diego, on February 8, . 2010. Their SUV was found abandoned in San Ysidro the same day. The family has no known ties to Mexico. Someone also made online searches about Mexican border crossings days on the family computer days before the McStays vanished. Since they vanished, the family have . not used their cell phones, credit cards or touched the $100,000 in . their bank accounts. When . police searched their house they found a carton of eggs on the counter, . two bowls of popcorn on the futon and two dogs in the backyard, . suggesting the family may have left in a hurry. Their dogs had been left . without food or water. Inside their two-story house detectives found no sign of foul play, just evidence of everyday life. The former home of Joseph McStay and his family in Fallbrook, California. They disappeared from home in February 2010, leaving unfinished popcorn and their family pets behind . The McStay family home was found with food on the counter and the pet dogs abandoned when police went to investigate in 2010 . Joseph McStay went missing with his wife Summer and their children Gianni (left) and Joseph Jr (right) in February 2010 . Are they alive? When they vanished along with their parents, Gianni was four (left) and Joseph Jr was three . Earlier this year, claims in an explosive, self-published book by an amateur sleuth revealed that Mrs McStay sent abusive emails to her husband in which she vowed: 'I will turn on you'. In ‘No Goodbyes: The Mysterious Disappearance of the McStay Family’, former radio show host Rick Baker argues that Joseph and Summer’s marriage was ‘doomed from the start’ and that she may have murdered her husband. Baker made the shocking allegations after conducting dozens of interviews over three years with friends and members of the McStay family. Baker became ‘obsessed’ with the case and has turned up hundreds of text messages and emails he claims have led him to believe that the seemingly-loving wife was living a double life. He told MailOnline in January that the emails depict Summer as ‘sick monster’ who plotted against her husband’s son from a previous marriage because she ‘hated him’. Reached by phone at the time the book was published, Joseph's brother Mike McStay told MailOnline: ‘The family have no comment’. But he has in the past spoken to CNN and condemned Baker's book. Of Baker himself, he said: 'I don't know how he sleeps at night. I suspect he's looking for money. He's a good manipulator and knows how to twist things. He's just trying to sell books.' Mike and Joseph's mother Blake added: 'It was very hard to read all this, very heartbreaking, the accusations. The bottom line for me is this book will bring focus to finding the family.' Possible lead: Police initially thought this family (circled) seen crossing the border into Mexico were the McStays . Odd: The family left their dogs behind in their home as well without food or water, which puzzled investigators . var nbcLP={};nbcLP.aRandomNumber=Math.floor(Math.random()*10000);nbcLP.currentPageLoc=encodeURIComponent(window.location.href);nbcLP.currentSiteLoc=encodeURIComponent(window.location.host);nbcLP.defaultWidth=652;nbcLP.defaultHeight=367;nbcLP.cmsID="232019111";nbcLP.vidPid="mgFLr9B1nrf8";nbcLP.vidSec="news";nbcLP.vidSubSec="local";nbcLP.vidFrame=document.getElementById("nbcLP232019111");nbcLP.vidFrame.style.border="none";nbcLP.vidFrame.width=nbcLP.defaultWidth;nbcLP.vidFrame.height=nbcLP.defaultHeight;nbcLP.vidFrame.scrolling="no";nbcLP.vidFrame.src="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/templates/nbc_partner_player?cmsID="+nbcLP.cmsID+"&videoID="+nbcLP.vidPid+"&width="+nbcLP.defaultWidth+"&height="+nbcLP.defaultHeight+"&sec="+nbcLP.vidSec+"&subsec="+nbcLP.vidSubSec+"&turl="+nbcLP.currentSiteLoc+"&ourl="+nbcLP.currentPageLoc+"&rand="+nbcLP.aRandomNumber; . | The remains of Joseph McStay and wife Summer have been identified, according to the sheriff's office on Friday .
The remains of two children believed to be sons Gianni, 3, and .
Joseph Jr, 4, who disappeared with their parents were also found .
Suggestions of drug cartel involvement played down by police .
No sign of a struggle at family home in 2010 - their cell phones have never been used and $100,000 in bank accounts left untouched . |
116,925 | 22f252911383b9685f73ce46539c9516eb65ef6a | Real Madrid's start to the 2014/15 La Liga season has been far from desirable, with Carlo Ancelotti's men lagging in 14th position after two losses from their first three games. Los Blancos have been under considerable scrutiny from their fans, and leading Spanish newspaper Marca ramped up the pressure on Saturday with their headline, 'Una Finale En Septiembre'. 'A cup final in September', signifying that Madrid's game with Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday evening is a must-win, as Ancelotti fights to save his job at the Bernabeu. 'A final in September'... Marca ramp up the pressure on Carlo Ancelotti in Saturday's paper . Marca report that Ancelotti will make two defensive switches, replacing Pepe with Varane in the centre of defence, and Alvaro Arbeloa returning to right-back. The paper also state that Madrid are 'without room for error', and touch on Cristiano Ronaldo's record of having never scored at Riazor, Deportivo's 'manor'. AS focus on much the same topic, quoting Ancelotti as saying, 'I don't understand so much worry.' Ancelotti continues: 'The pre-season was strange because of the World Cup. There wasn't time for us to practice.' 'The season is long and we will fight to the end in all competitions.' Mundo Deportivo's main story focuses on the other La Liga powerhouses, Barcelona, with the headline 'Total Control'. Much more positive news in that part of Spain, it seems, as Barcelona sit pretty at the top of the league - three matches, three wins, and no goals conceded. The paper report that Barca manager Luis Enrique monitors his players' physical performance daily thanks to a GPS system, and Lionel Messi's nephew Agustin, is already in the Barcelona academy at the age of 6...one to watch? Over in Italy, focus is solely on the San Siro showdown between AC Milan and Juventus on Saturday night. La Gazzetta dello Sport have a headline quote from Carlos Tevez: 'Milan, lets see what you've got', with the words 'Apache fires up the San Siro showdown' below. Tevez goes on to claim that 'My Juve is stronger than a year ago', ahead of the match. Both Juventus and AC Milan are unbeaten this season, and have maximum points. Tuttosport run with the headline, 'Brividi Allegri' - 'Allegri Goosebumps', as the manager prepares for his first big clash in charge at Juventus, against his previous club. The headline is accompanied by the quote, 'I am not afraid. Inzaghi? I started out training small teams'. It seems there is no love lost ahead of this tie... | Marca ramp up the pressure on Carlo Ancelotti in Saturday's paper .
The newspaper claim Real Madrid face 'a cup final in September'
Madrid have lost two of their opening three games in La Liga .
In Italy, focus is on AC Milan vs Juventus, which takes place tonight .
Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri previously managed AC Milan .
The two sides are first and second in Serie A, both with maximum points . |
61,230 | adea797677b26919735a9408ec5335f0ae85b58b | A professional football player trapped in the Qatar for two years over a pay dispute with his club was today finally been granted an exit visa. Zahir Belounis has not been able to leave the Gulf state - which was controversially awarded the 2022 World Cup - and return home to France during the protracted legal wrangling with team El Jaish. The 33-year-old had insisted he was owed unpaid salary dating back to 2010 but while the claims went through the Qatari legal system, Mr Belounis was prevented from leaving the country. Heading home: Zahir Belounis, pictured with his wife and two children, has finally been granted his exit visa after two years in legal limbo and unable to leave Qatar . This is the latest controversy to hit . the Gulf state, which has been accused of exploiting foreign workers, . turning many into modern-day slaves. An . investigation earlier this year found seventy Nepalese builders had . died on construction of World Cup 2022 sites since the start of 2012. 'I feel like a hostage,' Belounis told CNN. 'Life . has become a nightmare for me, my wife and my two small daughters. I . try to be the best daddy I can but after I tuck them in at night, I go . to bed and cry like a baby. 'They killed me inside. I hated myself. I had very dark thoughts.' Controversy: FIFA President Sepp Blatter announces Qatar as the host nation for the FIFA World Cup 2022 . The kafala system mean that all expatriate workers in Qatar and some visitors require someone to sponsor their entry and exit from the country. In some cases when a dispute arises between an worker and employer, the exit visa can be difficult to get hold of. It took the intervention of the French government and relentless international pressure on the Qatari Football Association before Belounis was allowed to return home. The ordeal has brought the married father-of-two close to suicide, he claims. Venue: The Al-Gharafa stadium is pictured in this artists impression in Qatar 2022 World Cup winning bid which has been mired in controversy . The Qatari Football Association has disputed Belounis version of events. It claims he had not taken his case up with the judicial bodies of FIFA and that following its investigation into the allegations, Mr Belounis received all the money he was owed. El Jaish declined comment. Nick McGeehan, a Human Rights Watch lawyer, who has worked with Belounis throughout his case, said there was very little support for non-nationals who were in a contractual dispute. He called on the Qatari government to abandon the exit visa system which can create a situation where foreign workers are trapped in the country. Row: An investigation found that dozens of foreign workers had died since 2012 during the construction of Qatar's World Cup sites . He told CNN: 'It is our understanding that migrant workers often encounter serious difficulties getting exit visas from their employer for a variety of reasons. 'Migrant worker abuses are typically associated with low-paid workers from south Asia.' This case is the latest in a series of negative news stories about the treatment of some foreign workers in Qatar. The Guardian newspaper produced a report . and video alleging that Nepalese workers in Qatar 'face exploitation and . abuses that amount to modern-day slavery'. The Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee said while construction directly related to the World Cup had yet to start it was committed to providing proper treatment for workers. | Zahir Belounis, 33, claimed he was owed a salary from his club El Jaish .
33-year-old has not been able to leave Gulf state since dispute with team .
Married father-of-two threatened hungerstrike and suicide during ordeal .
He was finally allowed to leave after pressure from French government .
Visa system means expat worker must have an exit visa sponsor .
Gulf state has been accused of exploiting foreign workers to build World Cup 2022 sites .
Investigation found seventy Nepalese builders had died since 2012 . |
67,280 | bee1df53604bfe773147848949e082fce44d25e4 | By . Nick Purewal, Press Association . Neil Warnock has revealed Steve Parish sounded him out about returning to Crystal Palace last November before the Eagles appointed Tony Pulis. Warnock is back for a second stint at Palace, after managing the Selhurst Park club between 2007 and 2010. Palace owner Parish missed out on Malky Mackay and Tim Sherwood before settling on appointing Warnock to replace Pulis, who quit on the eve of the season. Warnock said he was 'not bothered' to be Palace's third choice. Offer: Neil Warnock said he was approached about the job before Tony Pulis was appointed last year . 'Before Tony came there was a possibility that he wasn't going to come and we talked then but then he changed his mind and they did fantastically,' said Warnock. 'So Steve has always known that I am available. 'I didn't really have to tell him. 'It's just he just had to go through the candidates like he did. 'He said he never offered it to anybody beforehand and if I'm honest I'm not really bothered or what the betting was. 'I'm just glad that I'm here now and I'm not bothered how many were in front of me.' Warnock said he would only have come out of managerial retirement to help Palace stabilise their Premier League status, admitting he received wife Sharon's approval. Carefree: The former Leeds and QPR manager said he was not bothered about being the Eagles' third choice . The 65-year-old has not worked in football since a stint at Leeds last year, retreating instead to his Cornwall farm. Warnock's first act as Palace boss was to secure a season-long loan deal for Manchester United forward Wilfried Zaha, who returns to the Eagles after failing to make the Old Trafford grade. Zaha left Palace for United in 2013 for £15million - but Warnock rejected suggestions his return is any kind of failure. 'I wasn't really looking to get back into management, but it's not often you get a chance to repay a club that's really helped you, so it's great to have that chance,' said Warnock. Potential: Warnock spoke positively about Wilfried Zaha and said he believes he can do really well at Palace . 'I think there's still a lot more to come from Wilfried. 'When you're a young lad and you go to a big club like Manchester United, you can get lost because there are so many good players. 'People have criticised him for his attitude, but I've never seen that. 'I've always thought his attitude is spot on; if you're willing to spend the time with him he's always willing to learn. 'So I think we'll see a really different Wilfried and hopefully he can have a really good season.' | Neil Warnock says he was approached about managerial role last season .
But Crystal Palace went with Tony Pulis instead .
Warnock managed at Selhurst Park for three years between 2007-10 .
Former QPR boss said he isn't bothered about being third choice . |
150,174 | 4e2934f308fb248fb2d0007a2ffcc46d20837853 | Western Sydney Wanderers have become the first A-League side to win the Asian Champions League, but the win was dampened by dirty tactics with the Sydney side targeted by spitting, headbutting and lasers. After a scoreless game, Tony Popovic's Sydney side won 0-1 on aggregate in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh in just their third year season of football. Bitter losers Al Hilal reacted badly to their loss at fulltime, instigating a raging fight. Enraged Al Hilal forward Nasser Al-Shamrani spat at Wanderers' player Matthew Spiranovic before lunging at him, provoking a brawl between the two sides before they were separated. Scroll down for video . Al Hilal's players (blue) and Australia's Western Sydney Wanderers players (red) argue during the AFC Champions League 2014 football final . It appeared that Nasser Al-Shamrani (in blue, far left) spat at Matthew Spiranovic (in red and white number 13) at the end of the final, after head butting Spiranovic during the five minutes of injury time . Western Sydney Wanderers have become the first A-League side to win the Asian Champions League . Goalkeeper Ante Covic (left) was named player of the tournament. The crowd tried to distract the Wanderers' goalie by flashing lasers at his eyes . Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal side lashed out at the winners, with forward Nasser Al-Shamrani (left) spitting and head butting Wanderers' Matthew Spiranovic . Moments earlier, during the added five minutes of injury time, Al-Shamrani appeared to also deliberately headbutt the Wanderers' defender which was not pulled up by the referee. Throughout the game, Wanderers' goalkeepers Ante Covic had lasers flashed at his eyes in a dirty tactic from fans in the 70,000-person strong crowd. Despite the confrontation, the Wanderers were ecstatic about the victory. 'To come such a long way in the short history of this club and win a title like this ... I'm so proud,' said Wanderers goalkeeper Ante Covic, who was named player of the tournament. 'Tonight is very special and it's not going to be forgotten.' Wanderers' head coach Tony Popovic (left) and his goalkeeper Ante Covic pose for a photo with the AFC Champions League trophy, at the end of the Asian Champions League Final second leg soccer match with a 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal at King Fahd stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia . 'Dreams do come true,' said celebrated coach, Tony Popovic, who had lead the three-year-old side to victory . Wanderers fans light flares as they watch the Asian Champions League final match between Western Sydney Wanders and Al Hilal at Centenary Square in Parramatta . A delighted Popovic said the game was everything you'd expect from a final. 'It was difficult, they're a very good team, they had fantastic support,' the coach said. 'But as I said yesterday, we're an excellent team and we showed over two legs how good we are. 'For me, I am just proud for these players and our club. The first time in the competition, to win it, I think in the future we will really understand how special this run has been and how it was to win this title. 'We don't have the resources or the funds that some of these other teams have, but we have something that money can't buy - the desire to win.' Japanese referee Nishimura Yuichi has been criticised for waving away two penalty decisions either side of halftime. A fan of Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal is carried by security after he fainted when his team lost . Australian's Western Sydney Wanderers's fans cheer at the stadium in Saudi Arabia - including media personality Ian 'Dicko' Dickson (fourth from left in navy shirt) 'We don't have the resources or the funds that some of these other teams have, but we have something that money can't buy - the desire to win,' said coach Popovic of the win . When Antony Golec stretched and found Nawaf Al-Abid rather than the ball, it seemed the roaring crowd would have their penalty. But the decision didn't come, incensing Al-Hilal boss Laurentiu Reghecampf. The referee again kept his whistle quiet on the hour when Covic clearly slid in on Salman Al Faraj. The on-field dramas did not detract from the Wanderers' supporters elation, with around 5000 people crowded into Parramatta's Centenary Square to watch the game and celebrate the club's historic ACL cup win. The square erupted when the Wanderers secured the win, with fans setting off flares– a habit which is proving difficult for Wanderers fans to kick, despite costing the club $5000 each time one is ignited under ACL regulations. 'The Red and Black bloc are out in force at Parramatta Town Hall': fans post pics of the Sydney celebrations . Around 5000 people crowded into Parramatta's Centenary Square to watch the game and celebrate the club's historic ACL cup win. The square erupted when the Wanderers secured the win, with fans setting off flares, waving flags and 'sobbing' out of happiness . The Wanderers' fans are renowned for their loyalty, enthusiasm and dedication to the club . The fans were chanting and beating drums before the game, but all fell silent at the kick-off at King Fahd Stadium and stayed that way for most of the first half, as neither side could find the back of the net. The chanting started building again around sunrise as the match reached its final moments - and a 0-0 draw delivered the trophy to the Wanderers 1-0 on aggregate after their first leg win at home last weekend. Die-hard fan Steve Marvello sobbed as the final whistle blew and the Wanderers became the first ever Australian team to win the ACL. 'This is the most amazing moment in Western Sydney's history,' he told AAP. 'The crowd is going off. Everyone's just being really supportive of the boys. '(Coach Tony) Popovic is awesome.' A photo posted on Twitter of 'a few of the many flares confiscated from Wanderers fans' out at Parramatta . Goalkeeper Ante Covic was the crowd favourite after stopping numerous Al-Hilal chances . Goalkeeper Ante Covic was the crowd favourite after stopping numerous Al-Hilal chances. 'Our goalkeeper was amazing. He was our machine all the way through,' said Marcelo Canales, who was wearing head-to-toe merchandise and waving a team flag. Her family would be at the airport 'for sure' to welcome home the team on Monday, she said. The Western Sydney Wanderers, in just their third season, are one of the A-League's most supported clubs. More than 200 fans expressed interest in heading to the match in Riyadh, but only 14 managed to negotiate Saudi Arabia's strict visa requirements and high travel costs. The Parramatta City Council set up the event in Centenary Square following huge community interest on social media. Lord Mayor Scott Lloyd told AAP the win would strengthen Western Sydney's soccer community. 'I think it's a true indication of what we are out here in the west. We rise to the occasion,' he told AAP. 'We have a lot of talent, a lot of ability and our players really showed it off tonight.' The crowds remained chanting until well past the end of the game and car horns sounded through Parramatta's main streets as they left. The crowds remained chanting until well past the end of the game and car horns sounded through Parramatta's main streets as they left . Lord Mayor Scott Lloyd told AAP the win would strengthen Western Sydney's soccer community . | Western Sydney Wanders have won the Asian Champions League .
The three-year-old side are the first A-League side to ever win ACL cup .
WSW claimed victory over Al Hilal 0-1 on aggregate after scoreless game .
Bitter losers Al Hilal reacted to their loss at fulltime, instigating a fight .
Al Hilal's Nasser Al-Shamrani spat at and headbutted Wanderers' Matthew Spiranovic .
'Dreams do come true,' said celebrated coach Tony Popovic .
Wanderers' goalkeeper Ante Covic has lasers shone in his eyes by crowd .
Explosive celebrations from supporters in Parramatta with flares ignited . |
8,599 | 183e3d317a2ab58345e3cf878a35d8c2c0fb1bd5 | Washington (CNN) -- Is bipartisanship in Washington really dead? Not for a pair of junior senators from different parties who flew to the other side of the world to see whether they could experience across-the-aisle cooperation by living for a week on a deserted island with almost no provisions. Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, and Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, came back to the Capitol from their survivalist adventure in the Marshall Islands last month -- which was shot for an upcoming Discovery channel special -- poking fun at each other like best friends and finishing each others' sentences like brothers. "All of a sudden he thought he was part of the Screen Actors Guild," Flake joshed. "Five o'clock. No more fishing." "20 hour limit to the day," Heinrich deadpanned. They stood for an impromptu session with a small group of reporters Thursday, after stepping off the Senate floor where they had voted, perhaps not surprisingly, opposite one another on a campaign finance bill. They said the idea for the trip was sparked a year ago during a late-night series of floor votes where they compared past trips each had taken to spear fish. "Jeff had his iPad and showed me some pictures of the last trip he did with his kids. Then I started to show him pictures of fish I had speared on various trips," said Heinrich. "He speared bigger fish than I had," Flake said. "So I thought ..." "Hey, there might be some value here," Heinrich interjected, completing Flake's thought. Flake knew what he needed because he has some previous survivalist experience. A year ago, he and his sons spent a week on a similar deserted island. Discovery allowed them to take only three provisions on the sandy atoll but the senators refused to say what they were -- "tune in," they responded in unison. But they had clothes. "That was a nonstarter," Flake said. "We were afraid but not naked." Asked what skill the other person had for which they were grateful, Flake said, "I'm glad Martin's the engineer type. Because I wouldn't have known how to put together a shelter." "He opens coconuts with a machete faster than anyone I've ever seen," Heinrich responded. "That came in handy because that's all we had to drink for a long time," Flake replied. They were asked whether they think the trip will open doors for them to work together in the future, and they seemed upbeat. "I think what's missing most around here is trust, and that's mostly because people don't know each other very well," Heinrich said. "I think you need to know each other before you can figure out where you can work together." Flake said they considered bringing their own GoPro cameras and documenting the trips themselves but then thought Discovery might do a better job. Discovery "convinced us that if this is to have some value in terms of promoting bipartisanship and trust, it's better for people to see and hear the dialogue between us," he explained. Asked whether there were any tensions between the men, Heinrich acknowledged "it was pretty stressful." "This was not a resort experience," he said. "It was competitive," Flake said. | Sen. Jeff Flake and Sen. Martin Heinrich spent a week on a deserted island .
It was a survivalist adventure in the Marshall Islands .
The Discovery channel filmed them for a special .
Flake is a Republican, and Heinrich is a Democrat . |
157,925 | 582bcf6edf2a45b3b0f7c3eaaafe7eef85082c4a | (CNN) -- A web editor in Thailand has been convicted of hosting posts on a website critical of the country's revered monarchy. Chiranuch Premchaiporn was found guilty for allowing content prohibited under Thailand's controversial "lese-majeste" law to stay on Prachatai, an independent online news site, for 20 days before it was deleted. "As a web master you cannot deny your role of policing the content," Judge Kampol Rungrat told her at the trial in Bangkok Wednesday. She was fined 20,000 baht (US$628) and given an eight-month prison sentence -- suspended for a year pending her good behavior. The court cut the original one-year sentence because of her "useful" testimony to the court. Chiranuch had faced 10 charges under the 2007 Computer Crime Act -- which includes lese-majeste offenses -- for statements posted by others on Prachatai between April and November 2008. She could have faced 20 years in jail. "The verdict is acceptable but I cannot say I'm totally satisfied as I'm still being convicted," she told CNN by phone after the verdict. She said she would consult with lawyers before deciding whether to appeal. Meanwhile, a petition signed by 27,000 people proposing a reform of the strict lese-majeste law was this week handed to the Thai parliament. According to The Campaign Committee for the Amendment of Section 112 of the Criminal Code, the petition aims to sponsor a bill to prevent abuse of the current law. Panel calls for overhaul of royal law . International rights groups such as Human Rights Watch believe the law criminalizes the expression of peaceful opinions. "Thailand's lese-majeste laws are being overused and abused," said John Sifton, Asia advocacy director at HRW. "The government's assault on internet service providers sends a chilling message to webmasters and internet companies that they either censor other people's content or face severe penalties." Earlier this month, a 61-year-old man serving a 20-year sentence for lese-majeste and computer offenses died in a prison hospital in Bangkok. Ampon Tangnoppakul, also known as Uncle SMS, was jailed last November for sending text messages with offensive content, the Bangkok Post reported. His death provoked outrage among many in Thailand. According to the Post, hundreds of protesters from the red-shirt movement -- generally loyal to ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra -- placed funeral wreaths, red roses and lilies at the hospital. At the city's criminal court, they tied black ribbons on fences to protest against his jail term. Various banners condemning lese-majeste, or Section 112 of the Criminal Code, were also flown. CNN's Licia Yee and Kocha Olarn contributed to this report. | Chiranuch Premchaiporn found guilty for allowing comments deemed insulting to Thai monarchy .
Court cut the original one-year sentence because of her "useful" testimony to the court .
Thailand's "lese-majeste" law carries strict penalties for being critical of royal family .
Rights groups believe the law prevents peaceful freedom of expression . |
272,238 | eca1e9e42e50d31428c9c7c4a6706a3af0ffc0f4 | A who's who of stars including Britney Spears and Steve Tyler have testified in support of a bill that would curb the freedom of paparazzi to take pictures of celebrities. The Aerosmith frontman plans to attend a legislative hearing in Hawaii on Friday on the bill that bears his name, when the country's Senate Judiciary Committee is due to consider the so-called Steven Tyler Act. More than a dozen celebrities have submitted testimony supporting the bill, including Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, Neil Diamond, Tommy Lee and the Osborne family. Write caption here . The stars say paparazzi have made simple activities like cooking with family and sunbathing elusive luxuries and the bill would give them peace of mind. A publicist for the former 'American Idol' judge told The Associated Press on Thursday that Tyler submitted written testimony supporting the proposal, which would allow people to collect damages from someone who photographs them in an offensive way during their personal or family time. In the same text, the stars said: 'Providing a remedy to the often-egregious acts of the paparazzi is a very notable incentive to purchase property or vacation on the islands. 'Not only would this help the local economy, but it would also help ensure the safety of the general public, which can be threatened by crowds of cameramen or dangerous high-speed car chases.' Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie says he supports the intent of the bill but says it may need to be refined. He says the state attorney general will testify about legal concerns concerning the bill's language. Privacy: More than a dozen celebrities have submitted testimony supporting the bill, including the Osborne family, pictured . Sen. Kalani English, from Maui, says he introduced the bill at the request of Tyler, who owns a multimillion-dollar home in Maui. More than two-thirds of the state's senators have co-sponsored the bill. English says the bill will spur celebrity tourism to the islands, boosting Hawaii's economy.Opponents say the bill could be unconstitutional. Laurie Temple, an attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union, said Thursday the bill would punish freedoms of expression protected by the First Amendment. She said lawmakers should support better enforcement of current stalking laws rather than passing new legislation. The National Press Photographers Association said the bill is 'well-meaning but ill-conceived' and tramples on constitutional rights. The New York-based organization represents numerous national media organizations with its letter, including the Society of Professional Journalists, the Associated Press Media Editors and the American Society of News Editors. Write caption here . Maui home: Sen. Kalani English, from Maui, says he introduced the bill at the request of Tyler, pictured, who owns a multimillion-dollar home in Maui . The Motion Picture Association of America also opposes the bill. Among other objections, the association says the bill could make it harder to police movie piracy, because there's no exemption for law enforcement who might want to take photos or video of people they're investigating. The bill would open up photographers, videographers and distributors to civil lawsuits if they take, sell or disseminate photos or videos of someone during private or family moments 'in a manner that is offensive to a reasonable person.' The bill doesn't specify whether public places, like Hawaii's beaches, would be exempt. The bill says it would apply to people who take photos from boats or anywhere else within ocean waters. English says the bill is not intended to limit beach photos. But he says Tyler has had paparazzi hide in his bushes to take photos of him inside his house. Photos of vacationing stars in swimsuits have long been a fixture in tabloids and celebrity magazines. The state's largest newspaper, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, published an editorial Thursday that called lawmakers who support the bill 'star-struck.' The newspaper said the bill might not affect only journalists. 'It could also make lawbreakers out of anyone taking photographs in public places, be it an ordinary photojournalist or someone with a camera phone,' the editorial said. | Aerosmith frontman Steve Tyler, who has a multi-million dollar home in Maui, plans to attend a legislative hearing in Hawaii on Friday on the bill that bears his name .
The stars say paparazzi have made .
simple activities like cooking with family and sunbathing elusive .
luxuries and the bill would give them peace of mind . |
43,222 | 79e77b8cfd7fd141a68d1b5ac2b6ddb98f353d98 | Sarah Palin's teleprompter did freeze in Iowa on Saturday, the former Alaska governor claimed during a Tuesday night interview in which a Fox News Channel host asked her about her rambling and at times incoherent speech that sent her political stock plummeting. The admission came in a freewheeling television segment with Host Sean Hannity in which she declared war on his fellow host Bill O'Reilly for not taking her and real estate tycoon Donald Trump seriously as politicians. Palin also downplayed reports from days earlier that she was planning to run for president in the first place. 'I was asked by a testy reporter while I was promoting my Sportsman Channel show, "Amazing America with Sarah Palin",' the self-promoting pol told Fox host Sean Hannity. 'I was asked if I were to be interested at all in running for office, maybe the presidency.' 'And it's certainly not newsworthy,' she added with a shrug and an eye roll, 'for me to have answered, "Oh yeah, I'm interested, yeah. Next question?" SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEOS . WHO, ME? Former VP nominee Sarah Palin insisted Tuesday night that she didn't really mean to say she's interested in the presidency – unless Fox host Bill O'Reilly is belittling her (then she's totally IN!) REVISIONIST HISTORY: Sean Hannity (left) asked Palin if her teleprompter malfunctioned on Saturday in Iowa and she said it had, just like during her 2008 acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention – but reporters who witnessed that speech said the prompter worked fine back then . 'The man can only ride you when your back is bent,' Palin said during her rambling speech Saturday in Iowa after the prompter DID freeze, as audience members looked at each other quizzically . Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, made news on Saturday when she flipped through a binder of notes and strung together a series of odd one-liners after her teleprompter went on the fritz at the Iowa Freedom Summit, leaving her audience confused even as some rooted for her. But she defended herself Tuesday night on Fox News. 'Did the teleprompter go down? Did you have trouble with the copy?' Hannity asked her. 'Was there any moment in the speech where you had any difficulty? Because people have been so critical.' Palin insisted that 'I don't read the praise and I don't read the criticism. ... I'm used to teleprompters not working.' 'Remember the GOP acceptance speech back in '08? The teleprompter broke there too. It didn't work, and I kept on going.' That's an exaggeration, according to journalists who were in Minneapolis, Minnesota the night she accepted the role as Arizona Sen. John McCain's running mate that would vault her onto the national stage. 'The teleprompter did not break,' reporter Jonathan Martin, then of Politico, wrote at the time. 'Sarah Palin delivered a powerful speech last night, but she did not "wing it".' 'I was sitting in the press section next to the stage, within easy eyeshot of the teleprompter,' he wrote. 'I frequently looked up at the machine, and there was no serious malfunction. A top convention planner confirms this morning that there were no major problems.' US News & World Report blogger Robert Schlesinger wrote much the same thing: that he was 'was sitting in the press section, (behind Palin and off to her right side). I had a clear view of the TelePrompTer, and read along with her.' In Saturday's Iowa speech, however, she was indeed improvising. (This reporter, sitting above her in the front row of the stage-right balcony, saw the prompter freeze – and stay frozen.) 'The man can only ride you when your back is bent,' she said at one point, as audience members looked at each other quizzically. 'So strengthen it! Then the man can't ride you, America won't get taken for a ride, because so much is at stake.' BEWILDERED: Palin's audience often seemed unsure what to make of her as she babbled and danced from subject to subject making little sense . On Tuesday she lashed out at Bill O'Reilly for treating her and Donald Trump like long-shot candidates – insisting that a cable network perceived to lean right should back her all the way . Addressing the controversy over the virtues of the late Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and the 'American Sniper' film that tells his life story, she shouted: “Screw the left in Hollywood!' And at one point she lashed out at Muslim terrorists in a style all her own. 'What we do is strengthen our military,' she said. 'We respect our troops and let them – our troops as our gatekeepers – we let them tell jihadists, "Uh-uh, this is our house! Get the hell out".' The 35-minute performance was so uneven that Democratic National Committee Communications Director Mo Elleithee issued a two-word statement afterward: 'Thank you!' Palin spoke at the Iowa event alongside a host of others whose names have been floated as potential GOP candidates, including Ted Cruz, Chris Christie and Mike Huckabee. Her position near the end of the lineup indicated that the event's hosts, Citizens United and Iowa Congressman Steve King, hoped the Alaskan would be a showstopper. She nearly stopped the entire show. Palin, a Fox News contributor, took a shot at top-rated host Bill O'Reilly on Tuesday for dismissing her as a third'tier potential candidate, even as she sought to distance herself from any expectation that she might run. FOX & FRENEMIES: Fox host Bill O'Reilly dismissed Palin and Trump on Tuesday as third-tier politicians who merely 'liven up the proceedings' Trump, a multibillionaire real estate tycoon, says he's serious about throwing his hat in the ring this time around, after several previous campaigns where he folded his tent before the process got properly underway . O'Reilly had handicapped the fast-moving Republican primary season two hours earlier, saying that 'Sarah Palin and Donald Trump certainly liven up the proceedings, but they need effective organizations in 50 states and that will be a major challenge for them.' Palin wasn't amused, and lashed out at him for not siding with her and other conservatives. 'Hillary will be running,' she said, referring to Democratic former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, 'and she will be, you know, the knighted candidate on the left and with the media.' 'Knowing what the media is going to do, It's gonna take more than a village to beat Hillary. There needs to be unity, understanding that we have that – conservatives have that strike against us, you know, right off the bat.' She complained about how O'Reilly had been teasing his show all day on Fox, which she labeled 'kind of a quasi- or assumed-conservative outlet,' 'And that would be, "Oh, all these GOP contenders thinking about running for president – like Donald Trump, Sarah Palin." And he names 'em off, he says, "Oh, what a reality show that would be! Yuk, yuk!"' 'Well the left doesn't do that, okay? They, they, they take this serious, because this is war! And hopefully the media, even the quasi-right side of the media, won't be looking at this as some kind of reality show, a joke.' | Former Alaska governor and tea party darling gave a confusing speech on Saturday in Iowa, rambling after her teleprompter froze .
She said Tuesday that her teleprompter broke during her 2008 vice presidential nomination acceptance speech too, 'and I kept on going' – an account disputer by reporters who were there .
Appearing on 'Hannity,' Palin blasted his fellow host Bill O'Reilly for not taking her and real estate tycoon Donald Trump seriously as politicians .
'He says, "Oh, what a reality show that would be! Yuk, yuk!" Well, the left doesn't do that, okay?' she carped .
But she also downplayed news stories saying she was seriously thinking about a White House campaign, blaming 'a testy reporter'
O'Reilly had said Palin and real estate mogul Donald Trump merely 'liven up the proceedings' |
250,276 | cfea459723186624d6782eb648b3eac7d8c2d12f | Vladimir Putin defiantly compared Western powers with Hitler yesterday as he defended his aggressive foreign policy. In a belligerent and provocative state-of-the-nation address, the Russian president accused the West of ‘trying to build a new Iron Curtain’. He claimed Russia was asserting its ‘sovereignty and national pride’ over its dealings with neighbouring Ukraine – and said his country’s survival depended on it. Scroll down for video . In a defiant speech, Russian president Vladimir Putin defended his country's action in Ukraine during his annual state-of-the-nation address at Moscow's Grand Kremlin Palace . With his eyes closed, Russian prime minister Dmitri Medvedev appears to be having a nap during Putin's speech . Hundreds of cabinet ministers, politicians and community leaders gathered to listen to Putin as he outlined his plans for Russia's future . Claiming the West wanted to see a Yugoslav-style ‘collapse and dismemberment’ of Russia, he said: ‘This has not happened. We did not allow it. ‘Hitler also failed when, with his hateful ideas, he was going to destroy Russia, throw us back behind the Urals. Everyone should remember how it ended.’ But while most of his audience looked on adoringly, Russian prime minister Dmitri Medvedev, appeared to use the occasion to have a little snooze. Medvedev, who as a former president, has given state-of-the-nation speeches himself, was also spotted yawning as Putin insisted he would not change course despite the threat of diplomatic isolation. The comparison with the Nazi leader may have been a reference to David Cameron’s own attempt to compare Mr Putin with Hitler earlier this year. They also follow comments by Prince Charles in May, in which he made comparisons between Hitler and the Russian leader while visiting Second World War veterans in Canada – sparking a furious reaction from the Kremlin. A man watches a broadcast of Putin's defiant speech. The Russian leader insisted his country would not change course despite the threat of diplomatic isolation . The speech was broadcast live across Russia. Putin accused the west of 'pure cynicism' over the Ukraine crisis in apparent reference to sanctions against his country . Yesterday Mr Putin used his address to justify Russia’s dealings with Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea – which he described as ‘our Temple Mount’, a reference to the holy site in Jerusalem sacred to both Jews and Muslims. More than 4,300 people have been killed in the conflict with separatists in eastern Ukraine, which the West and the Ukrainian government say is fuelled by Russian arms and money. But Mr Putin insisted that Russia was merely defending its own existence from foreign aggressors and warned: ‘No one will succeed in defeating Russia militarily.’ He added: ‘If for a number of European countries national pride is a long-forgotten term and sovereignty is too much of a luxury, for Russia real state sovereignty is an absolutely indispensable condition of its existence. ‘I want to stress: either we will be sovereign or we will dissolve in the world. And, of course, other nations must understand this as well.’ Mr Putin then raised the spectre of a new Cold War, saying: ‘We will stand up for the diversity of the world. ‘We will deliver truth to people abroad... And we will do this even in those cases when governments of some countries are trying to build around Russia something next to a new Iron Curtain.’ Despite the Kremlin’s stand-off with the West over Ukraine, Mr Putin said Russia would not be drawn into a costly arms race. He said: ‘Our army is modern and battle-worthy. As they say now, it is polite but menacing. We have quite enough power, will and courage to defend our freedom.’ Striking a more liberal note in the speech, he also announced measures to spur the flagging economy, which has been hit by tough Western sanctions over Russia’s actions in Ukraine and is forecast to go into recession next year. He suggested a series of measures including the temporary lifting of tax checks for companies with a clean record and no taxation on offshore money returning to Russia. | A defiant Putin accused opponents of trying to erect a new Iron Curtain .
Russian prime minister Dmitri Medvedev appeared to be having a nap .
Putin justified his country's actions in Crimea and Ukraine .
Vowed not to change course despite the threat of isolation .
Putin also vowed to tackle economic problems gripping Russia . |
229,549 | b53febfa7e70957935b54f0097040edec5ccf93e | By . Mia De Graaf . A group of Morris dancers have been forced to end a 900-year-old procession as they struggle to cope with the magnitude of paperwork involved. The Dolphin Morris Men revived the 12th century event, dating back to 1109, in 1981 and have carried it out every year since. But this Saturday will be the last time they dance 20 miles from Nottingham to Southwell as organisers 'can no longer keep up with the 21st century'. Tradition: The Dolphin Morris Men have danced across 20 miles from Nottingham to Southwell every year in a 900-year-old tradition but can no longer afford to close roads and cope with the magnitude of paperwork . End: The procession, started in 1109, cost £500 this year and took weeks to organise, co-ordinators say . To hold the procession, which snakes through pubs and village greens along the route, the committee have to apply for road closures and buy signs. Added to the remaining costs, they have finally decided it is untenable. Co-ordinator Chris Gigg said: 'What started as a simple procession has become very complicated. The cost associated with this year’s event has been about £500. 'Because of the procession, we have to close off some of the roads, which obviously takes a lot of planning. 'If you’re having road closures, you also have to hire road signs and things like that. The administration and costs involved in organising the event is out of all proportion. 'We’re really disappointed as it has been a fantastic tradition, with people coming together from all over the region. 'Unfortunately the 21st century has caught up with us.' Support: The parade started as a way to raise money to support the church and build the Southwell Minster . Route: 160 Morris dancers will leave Nottingham at 8.30am this Saturday after the Lord Mayor hands over a purse containing 13 shillings and four pence - the amount Nottingham gave to Southwell in 1109 . The Dolphin Morris Men’s Bagman Martin . Morley, 60, said: 'I’ve really enjoyed being part of this ancient . tradition, especially as people from all over come along to take part. 'Unfortunately, increased regulation with road closures and costs has made it very difficult, so we’ve decided to stop doing it this year. 'It’s a shame, but it has just become a bit too much for us.' The Gate to Southwell tradition celebrated the 12th century procession of parishioners to Southwell Minster in order to pay for the upkeep of the cathedral. As the Dolphin Morris Men’s website explains: 'It all started in 1109 when it was decided to build a 'Mother Church' at Southwell - what is now known as Southwell Minster. 'Churches don’t come cheap, so they hit . on a ruse to invite people from all over the Diocese to walk to . Southwell and bring money with them. The walking made it a nice day out, . and the transport costs thus saved could be given to the church. The . perfect plan! Lamenting the magnitude of red tape, co-ordinator Chris Gigg said: 'The 21st century has caught up with us' 'The amount given by each parish varied, according to the wealth and generosity of the parishioners. Nottingham, for example, gave 13 shillings and four pence (about 66p), whereas lowly Stanton gave only 5d (about 2p). The whole lot came to 15 pounds, 18 shillings, seven pence and one farthing. 'In today’s money, just under £16 - the cost of a CD - but in those days, enough to buy a whole steeple, or a good sized nave.' History books show that Morris dancers have been involved in the event from as far back as 1530. On Saturday, more than 160 dancers will process between Nottingham and Southwell. The ceremony begins at 8.30am when Nottingham’s Lord Mayor hands over a purse containing 13 shillings and four pence. Some dancers walking the entire 20 miles and others using cars or minibuses to get between the various meeting points. It ends with a rendezvous at Southwell Minster where the purse containing the ‘Southwell Pence’ is handed over to the clerk. Dolphin Morris Men member Bob Hine, 70, was responsible for re-starting the event 33 years ago and has been part of the procession ever since. He said: 'I’m trying to think of it in a more positive way. 'It’s amazing we’ve kept this going as long as we have. 'It started off as a one-off event so to have carried it on for more than 30 years is fantastic.' Peter Goode, Nottinghamshire County Council's traffic manager, said: 'It will be disappointing to see the loss of a 900 year-old tradition, but there is also a need to recognise the complexity of managing old events safely on today's roads which carry high volumes of fast-moving traffic. 'The County Council has supported this event by waiving charges for making legal orders and approving traffic management, but we do have to ensure that event organisers make their own proper arrangements to ensure the safety of participants and the general public and to minimise disruption. 'The standards for the management of traffic are set by the Department for Transport and apply across all local authority areas and to all similar events nationwide. 'We are happy to work with the event organisers and propose other routes which may reduce their costs by being less dependent on road closures, diversions and traffic restrictions.' | Dolphin Morris Men revived 1109 traditional 20-mile parade in 1981 .
Dancers perform along streets and in pubs from Nottingham to Southwell .
Organisers forced to call end to procession, cannot afford to close roads . |
176,846 | 70eb51e51248781b45bfcad5d4891a058af25f0a | By . Tamara Cohen . and Francesca Infante . and Lucy Osborne . Bailed: Eric Joyce left Belgravia police station without comment this evening after spending 20 hours in police custody. He was bailed to return at a later date in March after being arrested during a fracas in the Houses of Parliament . The predecessor to MP Eric Joyce, who was arrested last night during a fracas in the Houses of Parliament, has branded him 'arrogant' and demanded he resign. A dozen police officers were called to a . fracas at the Sports and Social bar in the Houses of Parliament last . night, where Eric Joyce was at a karaoke night. The MP for Falkirk, who now serves as an independent after he was forced out of the Labour Party, was reportedly wrestled to the ground by officers in front of onlookers and loaded into a police van. Mr Joyce has now been banned from buying or being served alcohol anywhere in the Palace of Westminster. He left Belgravia police station without comment this evening, speaking only to say he had not been charged, after spending 20 hours in police custody. He was bailed to return to a central London police station on a later date in March, the Metropolitan Police said. Police said the MP, who was initially arrested on suspicion of assault, was further arrested while in custody on suspicion of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The 52-year-old former soldier was arrested last February over a brawl at the nearby Strangers’ bar in Parliament where he headbutted Tory MP Stuart Andrew. He pleaded guilty to four counts of common assault and was fined £3,000 by magistrates. A House of Commons spokesman said: 'The . Serjeant at Arms has confirmed that yesterday evening the Member for . Falkirk was detained following a disturbance on the Parliamentary . Estate. Scroll down for video . Eric Joyce is restrained and handcuffed before being taken away by police last night . 'The House authorities take their responsibility for the welfare of . those who work in and visit the Commons estate very seriously. The . authorities promote responsible alcohol use and have policies in place . to encourage staff and Members to consume alcohol accordingly. 'Alcohol-related incidents on the Estate are rare, and the serious incident last night was counter to the policies in place. Dennis Canavan has called for the MP to resign and that the incident was embarrassing . 'Given the Member for Falkirk has previously been found guilty of an . alcohol-related incident on the Parliamentary Estate, the Speakers and . House authorities have agreed that with immediate effect the Member for . Falkirk will be prohibited from purchasing and being served alcoholic . beverages from all Parliamentary facilities. This ban will be indefinite . subject to the outcome of police investigations.' Predecessor Dennis Canavan, today said Mr Joyce he should to 'do the decent thing' and resign his seat immediately. Mr Canavan, 70, speaking at his home . near Stirling, said: 'It's a sad situation. It's sad for Eric Joyce but . it's even sadder for the people of Falkirk. 'For over a year now they have had no effective representation in Parliament and they don't deserve this. 'I . said last year it was time to go for the sake of his constituents and . for his own sake, because obviously he has a serious problem and he . needs help, and he needs to seek help. 'Being a member of parliament can be very stressful at times, and it requires someone who is fit for the job. 'His serial misconduct shows that he is not fit for the job. 'He has brought himself into disrepute, he has brought Parliament into disrepute, and he has brought Falkirk into disrepute. 'He should do the decent thing and go now. 'He is just a huge embarrassment, and is . incapable of doing his job. I am sure the majority of people in Falkirk . and in Scotland would agree with me.' Last night onlookers at the Sports and Social said Mr Joyce brought two officers to the ground and knocked another’s hat off. Police said the MP, who was initially arrested on suspicion of assault, was further arrested while in custody on suspicion of assault occasioning actual bodily harm . Arrest: The 52-year-old former soldier was arrested last February over a brawl at the nearby Strangers¿ bar in Parliament where he headbutted Tory MP Stuart Andrew . It is believed he arrived at the venue earlier in the evening after drinking in a Westminster pub with one of his staff. Initial . reports suggest an altercation began between Mr Joyce and another man, . which was continued outside the bar. Witnesses called the police who . arrived at 10.45pm. They had to call for reinforcements to deal with the incident. Mr Joyce was eventually pinned him to the ground and handcuffed. He was said to have been bundled through the members’ entrance to the Palace of Westminster and driven away. Eric Joyce being escorted by police away from the bar in Parliament last night . One . witness, Robin Lines, 31, a student who was at the bar as a guest of a . friend, told the Mail Mr Joyce had an altercation with another customer . inside the bar. He said . a police officer arrived and spoke to the customer who walked outside . but Mr Joyce followed them both and continued the dispute outside. He . said: ‘I was standing outside having a cigarette and the next thing I . knew Eric was on top of both the man from the pub and the policeman. Everyone was shouting “Come on Eric, get off him”. Then everyone was . told to evacuate through the back entrances by police.’ Police closed the bar and interviewed parliamentary staff who witnessed the incident. A Metropolitan police spokesman said: . ‘Police were called shortly before 10.30 this evening to reports of a . disturbance within a bar within the Houses of Commons. ‘Officers . attended and a man aged in his fifties has been arrested in connection . with the incident, he remains in custody and inquiries continue.’ Tony Grew, a journalist from the PoliticsHome website, told ITV the incident happened during a karaoke night in the bar, which was packed with about 150 people. He said Mr Joyce entered the room 'obviously agitated' and pushed his way forward to the bar. When he followed him out of the bar he saw Mr Joyce on the ground 'wrestling with two police officers'. 'He appeared to have one of the officers in an armlock, he put his arm around the officer's neck, and the other police officer was on top of him,' said Mr Grew. Speaking . at a press conference following the European Council summit in . Brussels, Mr Cameron said he still wanted to introduce 'recall' powers . to allow voters to oust MPs who misbehave. Asked . whether Mr Joyce should be allowed to remain an MP, Mr Cameron said: 'I . haven't been able to follow every aspect of this story, as I've been in . a room with my 27 colleagues. 'But . I do support the recall proposals that were in our manifesto. I still . think it is right, if we can find a way of putting this in place. I . think it's an important idea. 'As for Eric Joyce, I think this is . going to have to be properly looked at and I'm sure that the authorities . both inside and outside of the House are more than capable of doing . that.' One MP last night expressed concern for Mr Joyce’s welfare. Tory . Penny Mordaunt wrote on Twitter: ‘MPs done great stuff for mental . health but must ensure that colleagues who need help get it, esp if they . are now sans party.’ A . parliamentary aide who witnessed the incident described scenes of . ‘mayhem’ as Mr Joyce was ‘dragged’ away by police. She said: ‘The bar . was really busy but everybody pushed outside. Everyone knew what was . going on. ‘Everyone . was just saying is it Joycey, is it Joycey?I saw maybe five or six . officers, the police were so quick, he was pushed to the floor but he . resisted a lot. ‘I saw him dragged off by three police man, there was one on each side of him holding his elbows and another behind him. ‘It was complete mayhem, police had to wrestle him to the floor, there must have been 50 people stood around outside watching. ‘It . was like something you would see outside a very raucous bar or club on a . weekend.’ She said the bar was popular with Commons staffers, . especially on karaoke nights, but did not usually attract MPs. Mr . Joyce resigned from the Labour Party after headbutting Tory rivals Mr . Andrew and Ben Maney in the incident in a Commons bar last February. Inside the Sports and Social Bar at the House of Commons . He also punched Tory councillor Luke . Mackenzie and Labour whip Phillip Wilson while going berserk and abusing . officers. After leaving Mr Andrew with a bloodied nose, Mr Joyce told . police: ‘He deserved it.’ The MP, who accepted he was . ‘hammered’ on red wine during the brawl, launched into a frenzied attack . after shouting that the Strangers’ Bar ‘was full of f****** Tories’. He . walked away from Westminster Magistrates’ Court with a fine and pub . banning order after admitting four counts of common assault. He was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £1,400 to victims after he entered early guilty pleas. Mr . Joyce was also given a 12-month community order – banning him from . entering pubs and licensed premises for three months – and handed a . curfew order from Friday to Sunday. After the hearing, the MP admitted he was lucky to avoid jail and said he was ‘deeply apologetic’. He served in junior government posts and was shadow Northern Ireland minister in 2010. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | MP was held after the brawl at the Sports and Social Club bar .
Bailed to return to a London police station at a later date in March .
Arrested in custody on suspicion of assault occasioning actual bodily harm .
The MP for Falkirk had been attending a karaoke night at the bar .
PM wants 'recall' powers that would allow voters to oust misbehaving MPs .
Mr Joyce now banned from buying alcohol in Palace of Westminster . |
36,329 | 67014dac1155294560e4e33f1f380b842531ce91 | (CNN) -- A seismic shift is taking place in the Greek political system. The series of bailouts and austerity measures implemented during the last two years has led to a fundamental political crisis affecting both the function of government and the standing of key politicians and political parties. Sunday's debate in parliament regarding the latest austerity and bailout package was marked by unprecedented scenes of tension both inside and outside the building. The bill passed but left both historic buildings in central Athens, as well as both major parties of the interim coalition government, in tatters. Yet, it would be a mistake to attribute Sunday's destruction to the austerity measures -- similar events took place in December 2008, well before any talk of a debt crisis had reached Greece. What these events symbolize is the mainstreaming of extremism in Greece and the rejection of the rule of law. Extremism -- both from the far left and from the far right -- is visible throughout the public sphere: it has permeated the political rhetoric; it has polarized social groups against each other; it is present in the everyday discourse of ordinary citizens who single-handedly condemn not only individual politicians but the institutions of representative democracy altogether. What the politics of extreme austerity does is to offer the ideal excuse -- the perfect cover -- for the further breeding of extremism. It looks as if public opinion in Greece can tolerate the continuous and widespread destruction of central Athens, but would not accept any police or state action that would contain those few extremist groups that cause mayhem. The reasons for this self-destructive pattern are historical and cultural. They stem from the long divide between left and right in Greece, which in fact goes back almost one century. Right-wing governments -- either elected or imposed -- dominated Greek politics for much of the 20th century. The army and the police were instrumental in containing communism and suppressing the left, culminating in the 1967-1974 military junta which scarred the Greek psyche. In the minds of many Greeks, police action is associated with the suppression of fundamental civil liberties. However, what many don't see is that Greece has now reached the other extreme, in which the lack of law and order hurts those who need it the most. Widespread tax evasion, which creates huge deficits, hurts pensioners and the working classes. Ongoing strikes and protests hurt commuters, workers and tourists. Greeks have a love-hate relationship with the state -- they have historically depended on it, while always trying to undermine it. The role of the state and of the public sector is usually at the heart of political debates between left and right. Yet, for the first time in recent memory, the political battle lines in Greece are not drawn between left and right, but between the modernizers and the populists existing in most political parties across the spectrum. The modernizers support Greece's position within the eurozone at all costs and favor radical reforms, including a smaller and more efficient role for the public sector. The populists reject the austerity packages arguing that they will eventually lead to a default anyway. The former camp has so far failed to prove that austerity works. However, the latter camp has not offered an alternative. On Sunday night, Greek TV carried two live feeds. The first feed was from inside the parliament building, showing a disconnected political class engaging in their usual micro-political infighting and self-congratulation; the other feed was of ongoing semi-apocalyptic destruction in the streets of Athens. The juxtaposition could not have been more telling. It bore a chilling resemblance to the last days of Germany's Weimar Republic in the 1930s. One thing is certain -- the political system in Greece is changing and the repercussions may well be felt across Europe and the world. Sunday's vote led to the expulsion of 45 MPs from the caucuses of three parties. No political party now holds an absolute majority on its own. In addition to international skepticism, the Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos is facing a power vacuum at the heart of the political system. While unelected, he has a unique opportunity to reframe the political debate and realign the political system utilizing an emerging social movement in support of stability, rationality and reform. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Roman Gerodimos. | For many Greeks, police action is associated with the suppression of civil liberties, says Roman Gerodimos .
Extreme austerity does offers the perfect cover for the further breeding of extremism, he says .
TV feeds from inside and outside parliament 'bore a chilling resemblance to the last days of Germany's Weimar republic in the 1930s'
Gerodimos: The political system in Greece is changing and the repercussions may well be felt across Europe and the world . |
182,180 | 77e2daa9b21a2c71d0718db7524059b3c3fda301 | It is set to be a very different kind of arena show. Rather than One Direction or The Rolling Stones, a Dutch promoter plans to put on a show with drones as the stars. Billed as 'the world’s first drone circus,' it is to be held is to be held in the Netherlands at the Amsterdam Arena. Scroll down for video . Tron-like racetracks will also be set up as human pilots battle each other during the show. Hundreds of drones will be used to create special effects during the performance . For their starring roles, robots equipped with lasers and projectors will be used. Tron-like racetracks will also be set up as human pilots battle each other. 'In this high energy and explosive show, drones will take centre stage to bring a collaboration and fusion of music, video, projections and special effects, the firm behind the project promises. 'AIR allows you to experience a variety of ballet and battles, races and lasers, circus, illusions and most of all magic from hundreds of drones.' The show is scheduled to take place this year with hundreds of drones lined up to fill the venue. The event is being developed in conjunction with the Royal Netherlands Air Force, although a date has not yet been set. “In this high energy and explosive show, drones will take centre stage to bring a collaboration and fusion of music, video, projections and special effects,' the promoters say. 'AIR allows you to experience a variety of ballet and battles, races and lasers, circus, illusions and most of all magic from hundreds of drones,” said the event’s promoter Fjuze in a statement on the site announcing the AIR2015 show. 'Visitors will be immersed into 3D effects instead of standard 2D experience, proving that innovation is sensational and nothing is impossible!' The event is being developed in conjunction with the Royal Netherlands Air Force, although a date has not yet been set for the Amsterdam Arena performance. | Show will features hundreds of drones at Amsterdam Arena .
Gadgets will race and perform to music for fans .
Promoters promise it will be a 'circus for drones' |
40,267 | 71a5049b10cb5c450557dd887037d12f9021f6a3 | U.S. President Barack Obama today struck a landmark deal with China that would see both countries significantly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions over the next three decades. Under the agreement, America pledged to cut between 26 and 28 per cent of the level of its carbon emissions set in 2005 by 2025 as part of the global fight against climate change. But Chinese President Xi Jinping simply said he would aim to cap his country's emissions by 2030 - still an unprecedented move by a nation that has been reluctant to box itself in on global warming. In order to successfully accomplish this, 20 percent of China's energy needs will come from alternative sources, such as solar power and wind energy, by that year, the politician said. Scroll down for video . Deal: U.S. President Barack Obama (left) today struck a landmark deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) that would see both countries reduce their greenhouse gas emissions over the next three decades . Speaking beside Xi in Beijing today, Obama declared: 'This is a major milestone in the U.S.-China relationship. It shows what's possible when we work together on an urgent global challenge.' Despite the agreement, many have called into question the feasibility of the presidents' goals - with Obama's pledge likely to confront tough opposition from ascendant Republicans in Congress. Republicans signaled they would seek to thwart Obama's efforts once the GOP controls the Senate next year, pointing out that the president was saddling future leaders with a tough-to-meet goal. 'This unrealistic plan, that the president would dump on his successor, would ensure higher utility rates and far fewer jobs,' said incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. However, a senior White House official called the deal both 'ambitious and achievable' - with Obama ultimately aiming to 'achieve deep economy-wide reductions on the order of 80% by 2050'. 'Congress may try to stop us, but we believe that with control of Congress changing hands we can proceed with the authority we already have.' the official told CNN. World leaders: Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping making the announcement today . Shaking hands: Under the agreement, made in Beijing today, America pledged to cut between 26 and 28 per cent of the level of its carbon emissions set in 2005 by 2025 as part of the global fight against climate change . 'Milestone': Speaking beside Xi in Beijing today, Obama (pictured) declared: 'This is a major milestone in the U.S.-China relationship. It shows what's possible when we work together on an urgent global challenge' 'This is really the crusade of a narrow group of people who are politically motivated and have made this a cause celebre, but we believe we will be successful.' The official did not say whether Obama would propose legislation or use his executive powers to enact changes without lawmakers. Still, these orders could be changed under a new president. The agreement, which aims to inject fresh momentum into the climate change battle ahead of make-or-break climate talks next year, was unveiled on the last day of Obama's trip to China. Many claimed it reflected both nations' desire to display a united front that could blunt arguments from developing countries that have balked at demands that they get serious about global warming. Global fight: The agreement, which aims to inject fresh momentum into the climate change battle, was unveiled on the last day of Obama's trip to China. Above, cooling towers emit steam in Pottstown, Pennsylvania . Reviewing honor guards: Chinese President Xi Jinping said he would aim to cap his country's emissions by 2030 in an unprecedented move. Above, Xi (second left) and Obama (third left) review guards in Beijing . The U.S.'s target to reduce its emissions of heat-trapping gases by 26 percent to 28 percent by 2025 is a sharp increase from Obama's earlier vow to cut emissions by 17 percent by 2020. However, China, whose emissions are still growing as it builds new coal plants, did not commit to cut emissions by a specific amount. Rather, Xi set a target for China's emission to peak by 2030, or earlier if possible. He also pledged to increase the share of energy that China will derive from sources other than fossil fuels. 'This is, in my view, the most important bilateral climate announcement ever,' said David Sandalow, formerly a top environmental official at the White House and the Energy Department. Ceremony: Despite the agreement, many have called into question the feasibility of the presidents' goals - with Obama's pledge likely to confront tough opposition from ascendant Republicans in Congress . A landmark deal: Republicans signaled they would seek to thwart Obama's efforts once the GOP controls the Senate next year, pointing out that the president was saddling future leaders with a tough-to-meet goal . 'It sends the signal the two largest emitters in the world are working together to address this problem.' Obama's target, expected to serve as the U.S. contribution to a worldwide treaty to be finalized next year in Paris, came months before it had been expected. The U.S. has sought to show aggressive action on climate change in order to spur other nations to offer ambitious contributions, too. For China, the commitment to cap emissions marked a turning point in China's evolution on global warming and its responsibility to deal with the problem. In good spirits: Obama's target, expected to serve as the U.S. contribution to a treaty to be finalized next year in Paris, came months before it had been expected. Above, Obama and Xi smile as children wave flags . China accounts for around 30 percent of global emissions, but has only gotten serious in recent years as the level of emissions has been exacerbated by smothering smog in Beijing's skies. Above, traffic in Beijing . China accounts for around 30 percent of global emissions, but has only gotten serious in recent years as the large-scale impact on health and quality of life in China has come into focus, exacerbated by smothering smog in Beijing's skies. Environmental advocates in the U.S. heralded the announcement as a game-changer that would undermine opposition. If China can get serious about emissions, they said, surely others can, too. Al Gore, former vice president and a leading advocate for limiting climate change, called the announcement 'a major step forward in the global effort to solve the climate crisis'. Rehearsal: Chinese children arrive for a rehearsal for the welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People . He said more will be required — 'including a global agreement from all nations — but these actions demonstrate a serious commitment by the top two global polluters.' Senator Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., who chairs the Senate's environmental panel, added: 'Now there is no longer an excuse for Congress to block action.' | President Obama today struck a landmark deal in climate change battle .
Under deal, U.S. would cut 26-28% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 .
Chinese President Xi Jinping, meanwhile, did not promise to take action .
But he said he would aim to cap emissions by 2050 in remarkable move .
Despite agreement, many have questioned the feasibility of Obama's goal .
Vow will likely confront tough opposition from Republicans in Congress . |
161,832 | 5d425dde88b70cad249b05e93b57462675b41dcd | At its launch event in September, Apple boss Tim Cook said prices for the firm's upcoming watch would start at $349 - but he refused to go into more detail. Now, French website iGen.fr has been told by a 'reliable source' that the stainless steel model will be available from $500, while the gold version will set customers back up to $5,000. And the source also revealed the firm is on track to release its first wearable around Valentine's Day, as per previous rumours - dismissing more recent claims of a spring release. Scroll down for video . French website iGen.fr has been told by a 'reliable source' that the stainless steel model of Apple's Watch will be available from $500, while the gold version (pictured) will set customers back between $4,000 and $5,000 . According to a translation of French tech site, which correctly reported Apple was working on two iPhone 6 models earlier this year: 'After cooking one of our most reliable contacts - which obviously wishes to remain anonymous - we can lift the veil a little on the prices.' But it stressed that it is 'impossible to be absolutely certain of the truth of these indiscretions.' Apple's Watch will be available in three models: Sport, stainless steel and gold. The prices for Apple’s 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K display, bought directly from the UK and US Apple stores differ significantly. In the U.S, the high-end iMac costs $2,503 without state taxes. When state tax for California is added - a state with one of the highest taxes in the country at an average of 9 per cent - the price increases to $2,727.91. In addition to this, California laws state that a recycle fee must be added of $4. This brings the total cost of the order to $2727.91, which converts to £1,704. By comparison, the total price for the iMac in the UK is £1,999 with VAT of £333.17 already included. This is a difference of £295. Within the gold range, users will be able to choose from rose gold and yellow gold, and prices are expected to range between $4,000 and $5,000. This converts to £2,510 and £3,130, but conversions can't be used to determine global prices because Apple typically sets prices on a region-by-region basis. Earlier this week, 9to5Mac reported Angela Ahrendts, Apple's senior vice president of retail and online stores as saying: 'We’re going into the holidays, we’ll go into Chinese New Year, and then we’ve got a new watch launch coming in the spring.' Apple's chief executive Tim Cook unveiled the watch at a launch event in September. He didn't announce exactly when the watch would be available, but said it would go on sale 'early next year.' A 'source close to Apple' told The Information last month that the firm 'would be lucky to ship [the watch] before Valentine's Day'. Chinese New Year falls on 19 February next year, so Ms Ahrendts comments push it at least beyond this date. Despite the range of impressive features unveiled by Mr Cook, there was something he failed to mention: battery life. The telling omission suggests the watch’s battery life will be the Achilles Heel of the device when it eventually does go on sale. The source also revealed Apple is on track to release its first wearable around Valentine's Day, as per previous rumours - dismissing more recent claims of a spring release. Apple's Watch will be available in a Sport model, stainless steel and gold. Within the gold range, users will choose from rose gold (pictured) and yellow gold . Despite reports claiming the watch (pictured with boss Tim Cook) would launch in February, a statement recently suggested it has been delayed until 'spring.' Angela Ahrendts, Apple's senior vice president of retail and online stores said: 'We’ll go into Chinese New Year, and then we’ve got a new watch launch coming' Apple is said to be unhappy with the watch's battery life, and the long lead time before the $349 (£216) product ships could mean the device will be more functional once it's released early next year. Most existing smartwatches on the market, such as Pebble and MetaWatch, tend to last up to a week on a single charge. Built-in is a 'taptic engine' that responds to a subtle vibrations users feel on their wrist for notifications . The watch has a completely new user interface, different from the iPhone, and the 'crown' on the Apple Watch is a dial called the 'digital crown.' Users can turn the crown to zoom in and out on a map, or scroll a list. The crown can also be pressed to take the user back to the home screen. Different areas on the watch face can be customised with taps and swipes, and force touches. The Glances feature shows info users would like to see, similar to Google Now, and is accessed by swiping the screen up from the bottom. Music can also be controlled on an iPhone through the Apple Watch. Built-in is a 'taptic engine' that responds to a subtle vibrations users feel on their wrist for notifications. It understands questions in messages and then offers pre-selected answers, and messages can be dictated to the iPhone. Users can also talk to the watch and send a voice reply, or have it transcribed to them. There is no keyboard on the watch, and messages can only be sent through dictation, or emoji. Siri also is built into the Apple Watch. Apple's Watch will be available in three models: Sport, stainless steel and gold. Within the gold range, users will be able to choose from rose gold and yellow gold, and prices are expected to range between $4,000 and $5,000. The closest Cook came to talking about the battery life for the Watch was saying that users would ‘charge it at night.’ During an interview in Bloomberg Business Week, Apple's senior vice president of operations Jeff WIlliams said: 'We want to make the best product in the world. 'One of our competitors is on their fourth or fifth attempt, but nobody is wearing them.' The company's chief executive added that the Apple Watch ‘can be worn all day, for any occasion,’ but hourly figures were notably absent. A source said Apple is unhappy with the watch's battery life, according to Re/Code. Another source confirmed to the technology site that that the battery life ‘is about a day now.’ Apple's chief executive Tim Cook (pictured) unveiled the watch at a launch event in September. Although he didn't reveal battery life details, Mr Cook did spend some time talking about the Watch's charging system, which combines Apple’s MagSafe technology with inductive charging . The watch has a completely new user interface (left), different from the iPhone, and the 'crown' on the Apple Watch is a dial called the 'digital crown' (right) presented by chief executive Tim Cook . The company's chief executive added the Apple Watch ‘can be worn all day, for any occasion,’ but hourly figures were notably absent. The long lead time before the $349 (£216) product ships could mean the device will be more functional once it's released early next year . A spokesperson for Apple declined to provide battery details to MailOnline and said they will be revealed closer to launch next year. Like many of Apple’s other products, the Apple Watch appears to have a sealed back, which means the battery cannot be replaced. This suggests that the entire $349 (£216) device will have to be replaced, once the battery eventually deteriorates from constant charging and use. Another concern is the launch of the health and activity-tracking apps on the Apple Watch, which will rely on adequate battery life for round-the-clock monitoring. Companies including Fitbit and Withings have health trackers that are designed to be worn at night too, monitoring sleep patterns through movements. However, if the Watch has to be charged at night, vital health signs could be missed . Companies including Fitbit and Withings have health trackers that are designed to be worn at night too, monitoring sleep patterns through movements. However, if the Watch has to be charged at night, vital health signs could be missed by the gadget which Apple says will ‘motivate people to be more active and more healthy.’ Apple did, however, spend some time talking about the Watch's charging system, which combines Apple’s MagSafe technology with inductive charging. Apple’s silence on battery life suggests the company is still working to improve the feature. The success of the device could hang on whether or not it manages to do it in time. | The Apple Watch was unveiled at an event in California earlier this month .
CEO Tim Cook announced prices for the Sport model would start $349 .
And now reports claims the stainless steel version will cost $500 .
High-end gold models are rumoured to be worth between $4,000 and $5,000 .
Initial reports claimed the gadget wouldn't launch until February 2015 .
But a leaked statement suggests this has been pushed back to 'the spring'
A source said that Apple is unhappy with the watch's battery life . |
207,862 | 991e20d5d955f725a3f85661229ca0204493c447 | Cambodia (CNN) -- For Nev Broadis, it's important to act fast when a call comes to rescue a bear cub from the other side of Cambodia. "There's a vulnerable animal in distress up to nine or 10 hours away, so there's a sense of urgency to get there as soon as possible," says Broadis, the regional director of Australian non-profit Free the Bears. "You put emotions on hold and start mobilizing -- readying equipment, cages, everything we might need." Free the Bears has been in Cambodia 17 years and in that time has rescued 182 bears, an average of nearly one a month. Some come from private residences, others from wildlife traffickers or even garment factories. The condition in which they find them "is extremely variable." "We had cubs come in [in August] that were just one week old, and they are now doing very well, considering," he says, referring to twin sun bear cubs nicknamed "Jammy" and "Donut." "Then recently we had one bear arrive in such bad condition that it died as soon as we moved it from the crate and onto the operating table -- even though we had five emergency vets there." Rescuing Number 182 . The bear they raced off to rescue from the Samlaut district near the Thai border in western Cambodia was a five-month-old endangered moon bear. Known by his processing tag as Rescue Number 182, the male cub was in reasonable shape despite being somewhat malnourished and carrying an injury thought to have been inflicted by a snare. "When the hunters came along to check the snare, the mum would have left and the hunters would have taken the bear cub," says Broadis, as he works to pacify the stressed animal with clucking sounds to imitate its absent mother. "But there's no sign of any wound or any blood now. It's healed over very nicely actually." Broadis says most animals arriving at Free the Bears' sanctuary outside the capital Phnom Penh are cubs, some of which were intercepted while being trafficked to so-called "bear farms" in neighboring Vietnam and Laos, where they are caged and their bile extracted in a painful process. Bear bile is a source of Ursodeoxycholic acid, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat everything from gallstones to muscle aches. Excess stock is used in toothpaste and shampoo. It's estimated that 13,000 bears are currently held captive in bear bile farms across Asia. Broadis reckons that would likely have been this young bear's fate. Joint Effort . Although on this occasion Free the Bears fetched the cub, that work more often falls on the shoulders of the country's Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team (WRRT), a counter-trafficking program whose operations are supported by U.S. non-profit Wildlife Alliance. The WRRT, which is comprised of government officials, military police and Wildlife Alliance staff, operates a hotline for members of the public to report the illegal trade in wildlife. It also inspects markets, restaurants and border crossings and runs a network of informants. In the most recent quarter, the WRRT carried out more than 60 operations confiscating hundreds of trafficked animals, among them two moon bears and dozens of macaques. The bears were taken to the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center, a 2,300-hectare government-owned facility south of Phnom Penh, where they joined more than 130 bears currently under Free the Bears' care. WRRT's proactive approach was lauded recently by wildlife monitoring group TRAFFIC in a report that assessed more than a decade of Asia's trade of live bears and of bear parts such as paws, meat and bile. TRAFFIC says Cambodia led 16 other Asian nations in the number of seizures: 190 in total, of which 156 were live bears. By comparison, Russia, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos and India managed just 189 seizures between them. TRAFFIC's data shows more than 2,800 bears were trafficked in Asia between 2000 and 2011, but says the true number was far higher. And it warns that three of the four bears unique to Asia in the Ursidae family -- sun bears, moon bears and sloth bears -- face "illegal and unsustainable hunting for trade." Chris Shepherd, TRAFFIC's regional director for South-East Asia, says the trade "is huge [and] it's threatening the native bear species." The problem is compounded by widespread government inaction. "Enforcement in a number of places, especially in a number of major trade centers, is really lacking, if it exists at all," says Shepherd, adding that the solution lies in large part in better enforcement, education efforts and raising public awareness -- something that non-profits such as Animals Asia and Free the Bears also undertake. "When it comes to bears [Cambodia is] definitely doing more than most -- I mean it's not perfect but it definitely is a model that's getting results," he says. A new home . It was early evening when Broadis and his team arrived back at Phnom Tamao, handing over Rescue Number 182 to Free the Bears' quarantine center manager Kem Sun Heng. Broadis says that on the way out of Samlaut, a place of subsistence farming and red earth roads in the foothills of the Cardamom Mountains, he was struck by the fact that villagers were not surprised to see a bear on the back of a pick-up. That implies trafficking remains common, he says, "and that's sad." Getting Rescue Number 182 back safely after 850 kilometers of appalling roads, on the other hand, was a relief, partly because the team knows "it's one less bear going to its death" at a bear bile facility. "There aren't many moon bears left in the wild; they've been heavily trafficked to neighboring countries and their population has been decimated," he says. "So when we talk about losing an individual, that's important for that particular species too, whether it's a moon bear or a sun bear." As Number 182 was coaxed into his den, the center's two smallest arrivals were snoozing in a nearby room after a meal of milk. Twin sun bear cubs "Jammy" and "Donut" were just days old when villagers' dogs scared off their mother from her nest in Cambodia's remote north-east. Taking care of the endangered bears is a huge challenge not least because while young they remain vulnerable to infections. But under Heng's expert care, and three-hourly feeding sessions, the sisters are getting heavier: they are now eight weeks old and weigh more than four pounds apiece. "They are good," says Heng during one feeding session. "They are growing well, they are healthy, they are eating well and they are very playful." For his part, Number 182 will spend the coming weeks alone in his den undergoing a battery of health checks to ensure he doesn't introduce diseases to the rest of the bear population. Eventually he will be released into a large enclosure with other rescued moon bears. "We've put some branches in there and he's got a hammock and he's got two guys who are going to look after him, so he'll be fine," says Broadis. "The future's looking bright for this little cub." | Rescuers from Free the Bears rescue caged bears across Cambodia .
Many bears will end up in bear bile farms, and subjected to cruel "milking" methods .
Cambodia is leading the way in bear rescues in Asia .
Demand for bear bile in Chinese traditional medicine feeds trade . |
97,197 | 0913ca9f71c7dacdcf6747f9144377703f6f2c89 | Iron Man-style jet packs are becoming the must-have accessory for celebrities looking for the ultimate adrenaline rush. Dubbed the Jetovator, these extreme water toys can throw a passenger 30ft (9 metres) into the sky using powerful thrusters that let you 'fly' across lakes. Leonardo DiCaprio, Nicola Sherzinger and Liam Payne are fans – and now you can own one for $6,975 (£4,288). Scroll down for video . Iron Man-style jet packs have become a firm favourite with celebrities looking for the ultimate adrenaline rush . The device is powered by a 50ft-long (15.2 metre) hose which shoots water jets to propel the rider into the air. The idea for the product came to Northern Californian entrepreneur Rob Innes 20 years ago, but the prototype for the current Jetovator model was only built in 2011. Mr Innes says the experience of riding a Jetovator is a bit like riding a bike, but gives you the 'aerial capabilities of a fighter aircraft'. According to the company, also named Jetovator, a lot of the movement is intuitive with the rider leaning left to right in order to steer the product. Dubbed the Jetovator, the device is powered by a 50ft-long (15.2 metre) hose which shoots jets into water . The idea for the product came to Northern Californian entrepreneur Rob Innes 20 years ago, but the prototype for the current Jetovator model was not built until 2011 . It allows stunts like barrel rolls and backflips, and if you know a few people with the devices, there's always the option of doing some formation Jetovatoring . The gadget has been likened to the thrusters used by comic book superhero Iron Man to fly in the air . Riders can reach heights of up to 30ft (9 metres) and the Jetovator has also been designed to submerge up to 10ft (3 metres) underwater. 'It's very easy to operate and quick to master,' said Mr Innes. 'People don't need to be very athletic or skilled to do it so it's very popular. 'It is much much easier to learn and safer than water skiing, wakeboarding, wind surfing or kitesurfing.' Fisherman, . scientists and state officials in Hawaii are questioning the safety of . the 'Iron Man'-style jetpacks, and are concerned about how they may . affect fish and coral in the state's heavily trafficked tropical waters. The . devices are starting to show up for recreational rental in California, . Florida and Mexico, showing that their prevalence is a growing problem. University . of Hawaii coral scientist Bob Richmond last year officials he was . concerned about the noise the devices make, as fish avoid areas that are . too loud. He's also worried fish and coral larvae could get pumped through some of the equipment the watercraft use and die. Fisherman . Carl Jellings said watercraft already scare fish away from Oahu's bays, . and he worries these new machines will just add to the problem. 'More . and more and more these bays are being run over, taken over by other . activities. The marine life that depend on these places - they're being . displaced,' he said in an interview. Mr Innes says it is as easy as riding a bike, but the gadget gives you the 'aerial capabilities of a fighter aircraft' 'It's very easy to operate and quick to master,' said Mr Innes.'People don't need to be very athletic or skilled' Mr Innes said it is much much easier to learn and safer than water skiing, wakeboarding and wind surfing . Leonardo DiCaprio was spotted testing out a similar device last year while on holiday in Ibiza . It allows stunts like barrel rolls and backflips, and if you know a few people with the devices, there's always the option of doing some formation Jetovatoring. Other similar products on the market include the Jetlev, which can lift a person 30ft (9 metres) high by pumping water from a backpack through a hose connected to a small, unmanned boat. Another contraption called the Flyboard, which looks like a small snowboard attached to a hose, can propel riders 45ft (13.7 metres) in the air. Toys such as the Jetovator are starting to show up for recreational rental in California, Florida and Mexico . Riders can reach heights of up to 30ft (9 metres) and the Jetovator has also been designed to submerge up to 10ft (3 metres) underwater . According to the company, also named Jetovator, a lot of the movement is intuitive with the rider leaning left to right in order to steer the product . | $6,975 (£4,288) Jetovator is powered by a 50ft-long (15.2 metre) hose .
Idea for gadget was dreamt up by Californian Rob Innes 20 years ago .
He says the Jetovator gives you 'aerial capabilities of a fighter aircraft'
The gadget can also submerge you up to 10ft (3 metres) underwater . |
105,804 | 147778a388e2d52e61459c73a36f7d9773d1b88f | (CNN) -- "Sometimes when I go I feel ashamed and go back without defecating. Sometimes I wait until dark to go there so no one can see me. I will be very concerned about Diani, my daughter, going to the bush because it is so far from here. At night it is very dangerous. People get killed. A woman and a boy were killed with knives. One woman I know of has been raped." These are the words of Sandimhia Renato, a young mother from Mozambique. She has to walk 15 minutes every day to find somewhere to go to the toilet. Sandimhia and 1.25 billion other women around the world, find themselves in similar situations every day, where they have no choice but to put themselves at risk of disease, harassment or even violence because they lack access to something as simple as a safe and clean toilet. Today, 19 November, is the first U.N. recognized World Toilet Day. It's easy to dismiss such days, but recognition of the need to address this issue is vital. Read this: Happy World Toilet Day . Access to a safe toilet is one of the most effective ways of reducing death and disease and improving life for millions. Every hour 70 women and girls will needlessly die from diseases directly linked to a lack of an adequate toilet and safe drinking water. In total one and a quarter million men, women and children will die this year from preventable diseases brought about by a lack of access to these basic services. To die for want of a toilet is an outrage that we should not be tolerating. That is why WaterAid, Unilever and the UN partnership organisation, the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council have produced a new report, We Can't Wait, demonstrating the scale and consequences of this problem. Writing in the foreword to the report, UN Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, and Unilever chief executive officer, Paul Polman, state: . "One person in three lacks access to adequate sanitation. The result is widespread death and disease -- especially among children -- and social marginalization. Women are particularly vulnerable. Poor sanitation exposes females to the risk of assault, and when schools cannot provide clean, safe toilets girls' attendance drops." Such words from leaders in diplomacy and in business are hugely welcome. WaterAid has been providing access to sanitation alongside clean drinking water and hygiene promotion since the early 1980s. We have also been banging on the door of governments in both the western and developing world for well over two decades, highlighting the practical steps that could be taken to end this tragedy. Progress has been made. Almost two billion people have gained access to sanitation since 1990. Many governments have made progress towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals that were set in 2000 and are due to achieve many of them by the end of 2015. One of those targets is a commitment to halve the proportion of people lacking access to what is called "improved sanitation." At the current rate of progress, this promise is way off track. In fact, if we carry on as we are, it will take another 12 years to get the job done. Even when this goal is finally reached, one in four people will still not have access to safe sanitation. Universal access is still over 50 years away. Such a delay is not acceptable. What is needed is political will and financing. The business case for doing so is extremely strong. The World Health Organization estimates that every $1 invested in sanitation services returns $5.50. If we halve the proportion of people without access to sanitation, the economic return would be over $54 billion per year. Getting everyone, everywhere access to a toilet would generate over $220 billion a year. World Toilet Day is an opportunity to celebrate the progress that has been made and recognizes how much more needs to be done. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of Barbara Frost. | November 19 is the first U.N. recognized World Toilet Day .
WaterAid chief says over 1 billion people are at risk because they lack access to clean toilets .
"To die for want of a toilet is an outrage that we should not be tolerating," says Barbara Frost .
She says "political will and financing" is needed to address the problem . |
150,028 | 4df6b366f22f7fdf6a6116f814276a8e7cb7ae94 | By . James Nye . Fears are rising for a Washington teen missing since last month after her mother discovered she had written, 'If you're reading this, I'm either missing or dead', in her journal. Angelic Tracy 'Anji' Dean, 17, of Camas simply left her family home on the evening of June 23 leaving behind her wallet, bank cards and glasses and vanished, prompting a search which is now stretching across to Portland. Her mother, Lynda Jorgenson believes her daughter may have become the victim of sex trafficking and revealed that the chilling diary entry meant for her or emergency services was not found until after she disappeared - leaving her convinced Anji knew her kidnapper. Scroll down for video . Missing: Angelic 'Anji' Dean has been missing since June 23 when she walked out of her house in Washington and left behind a series of chilling journal entries and text messages . Home: Anji Dean was last seen at her home in Camus, Washington at around 10pm on the evening of June 23 . Indeed, in the months before Anji vanished she had told her teachers and school councilors that she had gotten into something that she couldn't get out of. And crucially, on the day she vanished, she texted her boyfriend to tell him that she definitely had become involved in something nefarious and that someone was threatening to kill him and her family. The last time anyone saw the Washington teen was when she left her large family home at around 9pm, but police are interested in speaking to a man, described as a 25-34-year-old African American with a goatee, who dropped her off at 4.30pm that day. He was driving a light blue older Volvo and Anji was last seen wearing exercise clothes. Dean's mother discovered her daughter's journal entries which said that she was worried for her own life . Appeal: Lynda Jorgenson, Anji's mother, said the chilling message wasn't found in Anji's journal until after she disappeared . Now, more than two weeks later, Anji's parents are terrified that she is being pushed into the sex trade after seemingly disappearing without a trace. 'We have no idea where she is or who she’s with,' Lynda Jorgensen said to KGW.com. 'She can’t be doing this on her own, so we’re really, really afraid for her. 'It scares the bejesus out of me because she didn't just run off on her own.' Chilling: This is the text message that Anji sent to her boyfriend warning him that an attempt may be made on his life . Described as wearing tight fighting exercise clothes before she vanished, Lynda said that police have also discovered a cellphone that she and her Anji's father did not know their daughter had. 'She only took what she was wearing, which was black running tights, a white razor back tank top and white Nike shoes,' said her mom to NBC. The President of the National Women's Coalition against Violence and Exploitation is now working with the family and detectives on this troubling case. 'I don't believe she left thinking she was running away, I believe after speaking with law enforcement and the detective on the case that we may be dealing with a human trafficking situation here in Clark county,' said NWcave President Michelle Bart. | Angelic Tracy 'Anji' Dean, 17, has been missing from her family home since June 23 .
The Washington teen left behind her ID, bank cards and glasses .
Last seen exiting an older African American man's car .
Parents have discovered their daughter feared she had become involved in something she couldn't get out of .
Left chilling journal entry for parents and told boyfriend in text her life was in danger . |
100,141 | 0d0786eec1dc0fbcd637f6e4b9b136b334682458 | By . Associated Press . and Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 15:40 EST, 1 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:41 EST, 1 December 2013 . Three train employees were killed yesterday when a train derailed and fell 40 feet into a ravine in New Mexico - and authorities still don't know what caused the accident. Police on Sunday identified the three as 38-year-old Donald White, 60-year-old Steven Corse and 50-year-old Ann Thompson. White lived in Silver City, New Mexico, and Corse and Thompson lived in the northern Arizona community of Paulden. No other people were on the train and no one else was hurt. Deadly derailment: Authorities are still investigating what caused the train derailment in New Mexico that killed three people yesterday . State Police spokesman Emmanuel Gutierrez said it's unknown what caused Saturday afternoon's derailment on Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold property near the community of Bayard, about 75 miles northwest of Las Cruces. It's unclear what preceded the derailment. The eight rail cars being pulled by the locomotive weren't forced into the ravine. Instead, they remained either on or near the tracks. At least half of the eight train cars had tilted on their sides, but none of the iron ore being carried by the train had spilled out. Off track: The train fell 40 feet into a ravine in an area about 75 miles northwest of Las Cruces, New Mexico. The three killed were the only people on board and no one else was injured . However, the derailment did cause a diesel fuel leak which the Silver City Fire Department work to contain late Saturday. Photos taken by investigators show the locomotive on its side in the ravine. The train was operated by Southwest Railroad Inc. and was on its way to Santa Rita. Brian Beaty, manager of operators for safety and compliance for the rail company, says the company expects a cause for the derailment to be issued at some point Sunday. | A Southwest Railroad train derailed in Bayard, New Mexico Saturday killing the only three people on board .
Police identified the victims Sunday as railway employees Donald White, 38, Steven Corse, 60, and Ann Thompson, 50 .
Authorities are still investigating what caused the fatal accident . |
5,820 | 108300b33ee61e749d5e57ccf913c4972479d17f | By . Gerri Peev . PUBLISHED: . 19:26 EST, 17 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:26 EST, 17 October 2013 . Alan Milburn called on the Government to slash winter fuel payments and free TV licences . Pensioners must shoulder some of the burden of the spending cuts or their benefits could bankrupt the welfare state, the Government’s social mobility tsar has said. Alan Milburn, a health secretary under Labour, called on the Government to slash universal benefits for over-65s such as free TV licences and winter fuel payments. He said it was ‘unfair’ that better-off pensioners were protected from the impact of the cuts while working families with children were bearing two-thirds of the burden of cutting the deficit. His comments were dismissed as ‘bonkers’ by pensioners’ groups, as well as Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who said: ‘Punishing pensioners isn’t going to help a single child achieve more in life.’ David Cameron’s official spokesman also dismissed the claims, saying: ‘The Prime Minister believes it’s right to make the commitments he’s made to pensioners and to introduce the triple lock which means pensioners will get a 2.7 per cent rise.’ Mr Milburn’s Social Mobility Commission unveiled its report on the state of the nation yesterday. He warned that the burden of cuts had fallen disproportionately on middle-class families, and that for the first time in more than a century there was a risk that the next generation of adults could end up with lower living standards than today’s generation. As a result, Mr Milburn claimed pensioners should shoulder more of the burden. The report highlights that the number of pensioners is rising, their state benefits are going up and the numbers who can fund them are in decline. It said ministers had allowed an ‘inter-generational injustice’ which sees better-off pensioners protected but families with children bearing two-thirds of spending cuts. ‘We do not believe that favouring pensioners over their children and grandchildren will be a sustainable position over the long-term if a meaningful dent is to be made in the UK’s high levels of child poverty and low levels of social mobility,’ it added. Mr Milburn said pensioners should shoulder more of the burden and said their benefits could bankrupt the welfare state (file picture) Nick Clegg said: 'Punishing pensioners isn¿t going to help a single child achieve more in life' Mr Milburn later told the Mail that the Government was simply trying to protect its share of the vote among pensioners. ‘I just don’t think it’s right that you have ordinary hardworking middle-income families who are finding their finances being squeezed and their public finances being cut and, at the same time, wealthy pensioners seeing their benefits not just protected but enhanced,’ he said. ‘I think that is going to be increasingly hard to justify.’ He added that sparing pensioners from being charged the spare room subsidy if they rented homes that were bigger than they needed was also ‘part of the same picture’. ‘Pensioner benefits are rising by 17.5 per cent during the course of this parliament,’ he said. ‘That is equivalent to half of the reductions in expenditure on welfare. ‘I understand politically why a . Government would want to protect pensioners who vote, but you can’t say . you want a fair fiscal deficit reduction and then you don’t do it . fairly.’ Polls showed . wealthy pensioners would be happy to give up their winter fuel . allowances and free TV licences and bus passes, Mr Milburn said, adding . that cutting perks for all but the poorest pensioners – who receive . pension credit – could save £1.4billion a year. ‘Grandparents are more concerned about what is good for their children than themselves. ‘The . decline in social mobility is not just a problem for low-income . families, it’s definitely a problem for middle-income families too. ‘The gap is widening between the wages that people are getting, the prices that they are paying and the fact that their children are finding it hard to get on the housing ladder. ‘That is the reason why Middle England is feeling uncomfortable about the prospects for the next generation.’ | Social mobility tsar wants Government to slash free TV licences for elderly .
Says winter fuel payments should also be cut for over-65s .
Said it was 'unfair' that better-off pensioners were protected from cuts .
Milburn's claims dismissed by Nick Clegg, David Cameron and charities . |
120,099 | 27392a7e968a75edb51a2830761c2c8e72bd657b | (CNN) -- An estimated 125,000 Western lowland gorillas are living in a swamp in equatorial Africa, researchers reported Tuesday, double the number of the endangered primates thought to survive worldwide. Forest clearings draw large numbers of Western lowland gorillas searching for food. "It's pretty astonishing," Hugo Rainey, one of the researchers who conducted the survey for the U.S.-based Wildlife Conservation Society, told CNN Tuesday. The last census on the species, carried out during the 1980s, estimated that there were only 100,000 of the gorillas left worldwide. Since then, the researchers estimated, the numbers had been cut in half. WCS survey teams conducted the research in 2006 and 2007, traveling to the remote Lac Tele Community Reserve in northern Republic of Congo, a vast area of swamp forest. Acting on a tip from hunters who indicated the presence of gorillas, Rainey said that the researchers trekked on foot through mud for three days to the outskirts of Lac Tele, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the nearest road. "When we went there, we found an astonishing amount of gorillas," said Rainey, speaking from the International Primatological Society Congress in Edinburgh, Scotland. Though researchers did spot some gorillas, they based their estimate on the number of gorilla nests found at the site, Rainey said. Each gorilla makes a nest to sleep in at night. "This is the highest-known density of gorillas that's ever been found," Rainey said. Watch a glimpse of gorilla life in African swamp » . Western lowland gorillas are listed as critically endangered, the highest threat category for a species. Their populations are declining rapidly because of hunting and diseases like Ebola hemorrhagic fever, whose symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting and internal and external bleeding. Take a closer look at the Western lowland gorilla » . While the discovery in northern Congo indicates that the gorilla population remains stable in some areas, it is likely that gorillas will remain critically endangered because the threats facing the species are so great, Rainey said. iReport.com: Share photos and video of gorillas in zoos or the wild . "We know very little about Ebola and how it spreads," he said. "We don't even know the animal that spreads it around." The goal now, Rainey said, is to work with the Congolese government and donors to protect the areas in which the gorillas are known to be living. Western lowland gorillas, which are found in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Nigeria as well as the Republic of Congo, are the most numerous and wide-ranging of the four gorilla subspecies, each of which is threatened by extinction, the WCS says. See where the gorillas live » . Illegal hunting and habitat loss have also threatened the Cross River gorillas, found in the highlands of Cameroon and Nigeria. Only about 250 to 300 are estimated to remain in the world, the WCS says. War, habitat loss, poaching and disease are the major threats to the mountain gorillas, made famous by researcher Dian Fossey and the film "Gorillas in the Mist." The mountain gorilla population is starting to recover after decades of conservation work. From a population of around 230 in the 1970s, the mountain gorillas now number around 700, the WCS says. Poaching and war have also threatened populations of Grauer's gorillas in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the former Zaire. The WCS estimates their population to be around 16,000. News of the discovery of the Western lowland gorillas in northern Congo comes the same week as a report that almost 50 percent of the world's primates are in danger of extinction. Watch what gorilla expert thinks of find » . The report, also delivered to the Edinburgh conference, cites habitat loss and hunting as the greatest threats. The situation is especially dire in Asia, where the report says more than 70 percent of monkeys, apes, and other primates are classified as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered. Conservation International and the International Union for Conservation of Nature issued the report. | Researchers feared only around 50,000 Western lowland gorillas left worldwide .
Now 125,000 primates have been discovered in northern Congo .
Population declining rapidly because of hunting and diseases like Ebola .
Expert: This is the highest-known density of gorillas that's ever been found . |
262,907 | e0852e86248219dfce4fd5d2ee5a95cc4b811999 | Every girl wants a gorgeously kissable plump pout, and whatever the size or shape of your lips, it's easier to achieve than you think. Everyone's been talking about Kylie Jenner's full-lipped look recently, which she puts down to 'clever make-up'. So this week I've enlisted the help of top make-up artist Buster Knight, who taught me a quick and easy way to fake fuller-looking lips, using a bit of cosmetic trickery. Here's how we did it: . SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Binky shows you how to achieve Kylie Jenner's full pout with the help of make-up artist Buster Knight (right) STEP 1 – Prep Your Pout . There's no point having a plump pout if your lips are going to be dry and chapped. Keep your lips moisturised by using a good quality lip balm daily – my favourite is the French Pharmacy classic Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm. It offers intensive moisture, keeping lips looking smooth and feeling ultra-hydrated – not to mention its utterly delectable honey scent! STEP 2 – Lined Lips . Firstly, take a lip pencil in a shade slightly warmer than your natural lip colour – I've gone for Clarins Lipliner Pencil in Bay Rose – and frame the outline of your lips to give them dimension and shape. Kylie Jenner revealed recently that her fuller looking lips were down to nothing more than 'clever make-up' Binky sees if she can achieve the same effect . Take the pencil just outside your natural lip line to create a trick of shadow, making your lip shape appear fuller. Once you're happy with the shape you've outlined, gently blend the pencil inwards into your lips with a small brush so the effect remains natural looking. Focus the lipliner on the outer corners of your lips to ensure the centre of your pout looks as full as possible. Feel free to reinforce the line with another layer of pencil after blending until you achieve the desired fullness. STEP 3 – Trick Of Light . Next, apply a very light pink-toned lip pencil – or a cream concealer such as bareMinerals Correcting Concealer in Light 1 – onto the central area of your upper and lower lips, making sure not to go over the lip line you've already applied. This sneaky trick creates the illusion of light and will make your pout look extra plump. Similarly, adding a touch of pearlescent highlighter such as Too Faced Candlelight Softly Illuminating Translucent Powder to your Cupid's bow will further accentuate your pout. STEP 4 – Add Lipstick . Lighter lip colours close to your natural lip shade tend to work better than darker hues when it comes to faking fuller lips – think peachy nudes, pinks and browns. Dior Rouge Dior Nude Lip Blush in Grege, Clarins Rouge Eclat Lipstick in Nude Rose and DHC Premium Lipstick in Petal Pink are three of my favourite lippy options for creating a plumped-up pout. Binky recommends using a concealer in order to create an illusion of light . Using a small lip brush, apply your chosen lip colour onto the lips. Blend the light concealer in the centre outwards slightly – without totally covering it – so it merges seamlessly into your lips. This should result in a natural looking yet gorgeously voluptuous pout! STEP 5 – Get Glossy . Finally, if you want to go all out, there's no better product to add volume to the lips than a plumping gloss. Givenchy Gloss Interdit Ultra-Shiny Plumping Effect Lipgloss in Impertinent Nude provides the perfect shimmering veil to complement your plumper pout, imparting spectacular shine while instantly adding volume to the lips with its expert plumping formulation. What's more, it doesn't leave your lips feeling sticky or gloopy like some glosses can – plus its fruity flavour will leave your pout feeling deliciously kissable as well as looking plumped-up to the max. All the products used to create my plump pout this week are available at Escentual.com. You can really have fun with these tips, trying out different products, shades and textures for a wealth of lip looks. Remember though, make-up exists to enhance the natural beauty you already have – so don't go overboard! Binky says that although you are trying to make your lips look bigger try not to go over board, enhance your natural features rather than get too carried away . BINKY'S BEST: DATE NIGHT LIP COLOURS . Until next time, . Binky xxx . | Kylie Jenner revealed her full lips were down to 'clever make-up'
Binky has enlisted make-up artist Buster Knight to help achieve the look .
Buster shares a variety of tricks to give you a fuller-looking pout .
Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dragon Girl – knock your date dead with this perfect seductive scarlet shade.
Sleek True Colour Lipstick in Peaches and Cream – a gorgeous peachy nude hue. Pair with neat flicks of liquid liner on the eyes for a Bardot-style 60s look.
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6,375 | 1213e2e65649aa2660923f35176599e617e605f1 | (CNN) -- Malawi's decision to reject pop star Madonna's adoption of a local child has reignited global debate about the ethics of international adoption. Author Melissa Fay Greene poses with her family, which includes biological and adopted children. Some international aid groups have praised the decision as best for the child, a 4-year-old girl named Chifundo James. "I think it really highlights the bigger picture that there are so many children living in poverty in Malawi, and while Madonna has good intentions ... children would be better off staying in their own communities whenever possible," said Karen Hansen-Kuhn, policy director for ActionAid USA, a development group that also works in Malawi. "We really need to stay focused on the needs of Malawi and of all the children there," she added. To get another perspective on the situation, CNN also talked with Melissa Fay Greene, an author and mother of five adopted children. Greene, who lives in Atlanta, Georgia, is the mother of four biological children, four children adopted from Ethiopia and one adopted child from Bulgaria. The following is an edited transcript of that conversation: . CNN: What's your initial reaction to the news that Madonna's adoption of a Malawian child has been rejected? Greene: Surprise. ... It was awfully tricky with Madonna's first adoption, when the child turned out to have devoted family members nearby. [The singer's adoption of a Malawian boy was finalized last year.] And if that's true with this child also, it seems a similar sticky situation. That's not the situation for the majority of orphanage children around the world, who don't have caring grandparents or aunts and uncles a short walk or bike ride away. I think it gives people an odd perspective on what international adoption can mean for children who don't have any support network outside the walls of an orphanage. You often hear attacks on international adoption as robbing a child of his or her culture, and that's both true and false. It's true that an internationally adopted child loses the rich background of history and religion and culture and language that the child was born into, but the cruel fact is that most children don't have access to the local, beautiful culture within an orphanage. ... There's a culture in orphanages that children are eager to escape from, and it's a culture of being reared as a group and not being doted upon by parents. For any child, that's the bottom line. The fact is that a human child wants that mommy or daddy or both. We're just wired to want that and to need that. And there's no way an institutional setting can give a human baby what the child needs. It's impossible. So you have to balance priorities. ... I think what some of the human rights group say is absolutely accurate: that international adoption does not begin to solve the problems of the world's orphaned children. It's truly not the answer. ... At the same time, international adoption, even though it doesn't solve the whole problem, it solves a problem for a few. I think it can be a brilliant solution to the problem of adults wanting a child in their lives or wanting more children in their lives and the problem of children who want parents in their lives. CNN: How is it different for a celebrity person seeking an [international] adoption than for yourself? Greene: We don't jet in, take a child and fly out with a child. For an average citizen trying to adopt, it takes most of a year. First of all, you work with a country that already has international adoption regulations in place, so you have a bureaucracy dealing with international adoption. A big part of that is determining that the child is a true orphan, that there is no one who can care for the child. And in the case of our older kids' adoptions, people had to come to court to testify that there was no one to take the children. So you don't run the risk of 'Oh, whoops, there's a grandmother down the street.' ... CNN: There's been some chatter today online questioning why a person wouldn't adopt an orphaned child from their own country. Greene: Within the adoption world, it's a non-issue. There are children all over the world who need families, and some find their children in Philadelphia, and some find their children in Bulgaria, you know? ... It's just outsiders who look on and judge disapprovingly, but then they don't go on to adopt the neighborhood children, right? ... There are many children who need help, and anyone who wants to reach out and adopt a child from foster care or from a Russian orphanage should reach out and do it. CNN: What has the experience been like for your own foster children? Greene: We're a white Jewish family in Atlanta, but Atlanta is a major city for eastern African immigrants. So our children are in touch with the Ethiopian diaspora, and they feel very much a part of that. Atlanta is full of Ethiopian restaurants, markets, festivals. For a while, my kids were playing on weekends with an Ethiopian soccer league. I have an Ethiopian baby sitter who speaks to them only in Amharic so they won't lose their language, and we always have Ethiopian food here. Two years ago, we went back to Ethiopia with the kids and had a big reunion for one of my sons and his extended family ... We just consider ourselves sort of part of this amazing bicontinental family. CNN: The first time you adopted internationally, can you tell me what your ethical considerations were and how you worked through that personally? Greene: Our first adoption was of a boy in rural Bulgaria. An incredibly poor orphanage. The kids were hungry, thirsty, no education. I first met our son, Jesse, when he was 4. He was 4 years old, and he did not know what his own name was ... When he first came, he was just so anxious about food. When he would wake up, he was just shaking, wondering if there was going to be enough food. So I started waking him up with food. He had issues with water. He wasn't sure if there was going to be enough water to drink, so I bought him a little canteen so he could wear his water all of the time. Do I have ethical issues about taking him out of that orphanage? I don't. CNN: Is there anything else you wanted to add? Greene: I admire Madonna. And I don't understand why everyone attacks Madonna. I think that she is in part trying to raise the world's consciousness about the African orphan crisis. You know, 95 percent of the children orphaned by AIDS [globally] are in sub-Saharan Africa. You don't hear world leaders talking about it. Where is the global outrage? ... So, into the breach steps a celebrity. But don't attack her for it, you know. Maybe her methods are not what ours would be, but how many of us are Madonna? But at least she is out there; she's creating a school. Obviously, she's fallen in love with the Malawian children to such an extent she wants to make some of them her own. And I think that it's great. I just don't understand why the world's attacking her. Let other people step forth and do something. At least she's trying. That's my feeling. | Malawian judge rejects Madonna's request to adopt a 4-year-old girl .
Move reignites debate about the ethics of international adoption .
Some aid groups say children are best left in their home countries .
A mother of 5 adopted kids says adoption can be a "brilliant solution" for some . |
250,892 | d0b4379f20b2e88f1c871e258b8492f86713b369 | Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews shows off his recent weight loss in new topless pictures, which he achieved in just a week through intensive detox and workout at a boot camp. The Eton educated star has lost over a stone in total, losing 13lbs in the first three days alone. Spencer, 25, admits he looked at little flabby and out of shape in the 'before' picture taken on arrival in Ibiza, admitting he had 'let himself go' due to the recent turbulence in his love life. Scroll down for video . Spencer lost over a stone (but gained a tan!) in the course of just a week at the boot camp in Ibiza . Spencer dropped the pounds through intense exercise regimes, which he confesses he found hard, combined with a strict diet . The training, which combined cardio with strength training, lasted for 8 hours a day and was over seen by ex-military trainers to insure the intensity never dropped . The character we love to hate on the hit channel 4 reality show, Spencer ended his two year relationship with co-star Louise Thomas in the latest season. As well as seeing her move on with his friend Andy Jordan, Spencer had his emotions further bruised by being rather unceremoniously dumped by Lucy Watson who he had begun to date. He lost more than a stone in weight at No 1 Boot Camp, a diet and fitness retreat which co-star Binky also used to shed unwanted pounds. He says: 'You have to look good in my career and obviously I've been failing miserably in that recently. Spencer claims that his turbulent love life in the most recent season of Made in Chelsea had caused him to become 'beastly' The boot camp involved long walks and runs in the hills of Ibiza as part of the eight hours daily exercise . 'In recent episodes of Made In Chelsea I looked quite beastly, I'd let myself go. 'Being in a relationship for so long, you end up getting lazy, ordering pizzas. 'The . turbulence of falling in and out of love has made it difficult not to . go out a lot and when you're socialising you're drinking - and I've not . been thinking too much about my health and weight. 'There is absolutely no moderation in my life.' Spencer . got back in shape during a punishing week at No 1 Boot Camp where he . cut out the alcohol, ate very little and trained intensively for eight . hours a day. The camp is based in a villa situated in the north-west of the island near to the tranquil resort of Santa Eulalia. The change in his body is obvious, but he admits the process behind this achievement was not easy . Spencer explains: 'It was amazing. The boot camp trainers had me up at the crack of dawn doing punishing work-outs and then in the afternoon we would do four-hour hikes up the hills and coastline of Ibiza. 'It was beautiful and also very tiring, but the end result was great. 'I lost just over a stone in a week. In fact, I lost 13lbs in three days! 'We trained very, very hard and ate very little - it was a brilliant kick-start to get myself back to fitness.' The . camp uses ex-military trainers to really keep the guests motivated, . combined with a diet of low-fat food cooked by Michelin-starred chefs. The stunning surroundings and weather must have made the harsh workouts and diet a little easier . Spencer says he is pleased with the results of the week and the changes to his body, but claims there is room for improvement and he will repeat the boot camp soon . Spencer - now happily settled with his 22-year-old Made In Chelsea co-star Lucy Watson again - admits that when he starts exercising it quickly becomes an addiction. He says: 'There is absolutely no moderation in my life, I'm afraid, but the only real addiction I get is going to the gym. Spencer booked for a week after his Made In Chelsea co-star Binky Felstead,22, lost a stone at the camp's sister site on the North Norfolk coast. Spencer is delighted with his results in his appearance, saying: 'My jawline has started to reappear!' He is enjoying life with his latest . love interest Lucy - and has no regrets about the bitter split with . co-star, 22-year-old Louise. He . says: 'What I learnt from my last relationship is that if you want to . sleep with other people, you should end things because it's not going . anywhere. I should have split with Louise six months ago.' And Spencer isn't finished with his make-over, insisting he can look better. 'I'm . going back to No 1 Boot Camp when we finish the filming of this series . of Made In Chelsea. I need to finish the job and get seriously ripped!' he says. Spencer blames the turbulent nature of the last season for his weight gain . In the latest episode of the new season to air Lucy Watson tells Spencer she's not interested in him, although they are now together . | Spencer Matthews lost over a stone in a week at fitness boot camp in Ibiza .
Claims his turbulent love life in Made in Chelsea left him looking 'beastly'
Exercised for 8 hours a day over seen by ex-military trainers .
Also followed strict diet and lost 13lbs in the first 3 days .
Says he is now addicted to exercise but still has room for improvement . |
265,403 | e3bdf5afa4245781d0fcb6ce82cf1677e3096c3c | A study has found that men who regularly do housework, such as cooking and cleaning (stock image), have less sex than men who don’t bother . You may imagine that a man who is adept at housework would be attractive to woman. But sociologists claim that mopping the kitchen and washing up dishes won’t help men get lucky in the bedroom - with middle-aged women at least. A study has found that men who regularly do housework, such as cooking and cleaning, have less sex than men who don’t bother. Researchers from the Juan March Institute in Madrid studied data based on relationships of 4,561 middle-aged US couples over 20 years, including their sex lives and how they divide household chores. The study, which was published in the journal American Sociological Review, found that home tasks such as cooking and cleaning are traditionally perceived as women’s work – and 80 per cent of housework is still done by females. The results showed that men performed around 55 per cent of 'masculine' tasks such as paying bills and mowing the lawn. While egalitarian marriages tended to be happier, men who did ‘feminine’ tasks had sex less often than those who shunned the iron and oven. In fact, men who divorced themselves from core chores, had sex one and a half times more a month than those who pulled their weight in the home. Overall, couples had sex once a week. Sabino Kornrich, a sociologist at the university, explained that gender stereotypes may linger in the home and could explain the results. ‘What we do in the house is really strongly tied to how people think of themselves as men or women or as masculine or feminine,’ he told Live Science. He explained that women may see men doing ‘feminine’ jobs as less sexually attractive. Alternatively, couples with similar roles may feel more like siblings than lovers, he added. While egalitarian marriages tended to be happier, men who did ‘feminine’ tasks had sex less often than those who shunned the iron and oven. A stock image is pictured . Dr Pepper Schwartz, a sociologist at the University of Washington, who has also written relationship books but was not involved in the study, said: ‘That companionable part of the relationship turns out not to be so sexy.’ She believes that couples who share everything may be such good friends that they don’t need sex to communicate. Constance Gager, a sociologist at Montclair State University in New Jersey cautions that the results may not apply to young couples who grew up in times when gender roles have largely changed. She found the opposite applied – that when tasks are not seen as gender specific, men have more sex when they do more housework and another study has backed up her claims. Men who do more household chores (stock image), are more satisfied in the bedroom than those who stick to ‘manly’ tasks, according to a 2013 study . Men who embrace their 'feminine side' around the house have more satisfaction in the bedroom than those who stick to ‘manly’ chores like cutting the hedge and mowing the lawn, according to a 2013 study. The quality of the sex they had was superior as well if they were prepared to do their share of cooking and cleaning, the scientists found. The research by Cornell University contradicts the Washington study, but it used data on a similar number of families from 2006, arguably showing that attitudes have changed. Professor Sharon Sassler said that using old data has skewed the Washington results because the couples had married in the 1960s and 70s when things were very different. She said: ‘Couples who shared domestic labour had sex at least as often, and were at least as satisfied with the frequency and quality of their sex, as couples where the woman did the bulk of the housework. ‘In fact, these egalitarian partners were ranked slightly higher in all these categories, reporting more frequent sex and greater satisfaction with the frequency and quality of that sex than conventional couples.’ | Researchers from the Juan March Institute in Madrid studied data based on relationships of 4,561 middle-aged US couples .
They found men who do more traditionally 'feminine' chores have less sex .
It suggests that gender stereotypes linger in the home and that women may see men doing ‘feminine’ jobs as less sexually attractive .
But a study looking at younger couples found the opposite is true . |
192,916 | 85c0e241bb3b13ccf11a2c23edd0b889f8bf48dd | Longer lines at airport checkpoints would result from eliminating a nearly $1 billion Behavior Detection Officers program, the head of the Transportation Security Administration told a congressional committee Thursday. The Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques, or SPOT, program trains officers to identify terrorists before they act by looking for passengers showing signs of stress, fear or deception. The Government Accountability Office investigated and said in a report this week there was no proof it works, and urged Congress to cut funding for it. Transportation Security Administration administrator John Pistole defended the program as an essential component of a web of protections. "If we remove one whole layer of security, that being BDOs, who again are the least invasive and are looking for intent rather than items then that gives us an exposure to potential terrorists that we don't currently have," he said. Government report slams TSA program to spot possible terrorists . Behavior Detection Officers also operate a program called Managed Inclusion which evaluates passengers at the checkpoints and allows some to enter the faster Pre-Check lanes. "Defunding the program is not the answer," Pistole said. "There would be fewer passengers going through expedited screening, there would be increased pat downs, there would be longer lines, and more frustration by the traveling public." The union representing TSA officers defended the program. "An imperfect deterrent to terrorist attacks is better than no deterrent at all, " said American Federation of Government Employees National President David Cox, speaking in a conference call after the hearing. "Is it a perfect program? No, but until we have a better program, we shouldn't just trash and burn this program." But some members of the U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee saw the Behavior Detection Officer program as troubling. "We cannot continue to fund programs with the hope that they will work. We must prioritize limited funds for programs that have been proven effective," said Bennie Thompson, D-Mississippi, the committee's ranking Democratic member. House Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, praised the concept of detecting behavior, but worried the current operation may be flawed. "I am concerned that TSA will continue to spin its wheels with this program instead of developing a more effective and efficient approach," he said. The hearing also focused on the recent shooting at Los Angeles International Airport where 23-year-old Paul Ciancia allegedly shot and killed TSA officer Gerardo Hernandez, and injured two others at a security checkpoint. Los Angeles World Airport Police were on site within four minutes and subsequently shot Ciancia. Administrator Pistole said agreements with local law enforcement on response times are being reviewed in wake of the incident. "Under the aviation security program that TSA has with the (330 largest) airports, there is an agreed upon response time which is typically five minutes," he said. "Clearly five minutes was too long in this case and that is something we are looking at as part of our review. " LAX shooting reignites debate over TSA workers' role in security . | Certain TSA officers are trained to spot terrorists before they act .
Government Accountability Office report says there's no proof it works .
Members of Congress expressed concern the program may be flawed . |
104,216 | 127655da5f67a9bb0343818ad34e754b0fc4a328 | By . Stuart Woledge . PUBLISHED: . 11:27 EST, 8 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:13 EST, 9 August 2013 . A family's car was written off and 100 homes were left without power after a mystery explosion sparked an inferno causing flames to come shooting up from underneath the pavement.. The Wakelin family, from Hackbridge in Sutton, were shocked when they returned home to see that their hedge was on fire and their car had been engulfed in flames. The heat was so intense, it also burnt Bradley Wakelin's drive leaving it in tatters. The incident caused a powercut to 107 customers, who were without energy for nearly eight hours. Inferno: Faulty underground cabling caught alight after the explosion causing a powercut to more than 100 properties . Mr Wakelin said: 'My family and I came home to find my vehicle and front hedge on fire with the firefighters putting it out. 'I didn’t know what was going on. I saw the car and the . hedge alight and knew it wasn’t good. 'When . they told me what happened I just couldn’t believe it. I just didn’t . think it could happen. 'My car is written off. My driveway is crumbled . from the heat as well. It was frightening.' Neither he, nor his wife Emma and daughters Kelsie, five, and Keira, nine, were harmed during the incident, but he Mr Wakelin is worried something like this might end up happening again. 'This was caused by a fire in the electrical junction box underneath the ground that had got so fierce that it caught my hedge and car alight,' he said. 'I feel that people of Sutton and the surrounding areas should be made aware of the dangers that are beneath us. 'I want to send a clear message to UK Power Networks to do something about the situation and the dangers it can cause.' Explosion: Firefighters were called to the scene of the incident in New Road, Hackbridge, which engulfed a family's car in flames . Tackling the flames: Firefighters were called to the scene and put the fire out, but Mr Wakelin was shocked at the damage it had caused . Firefighers from Wallington Fire Station were called to the scene at about 5.50pm on Sunday, July 28 and . tackled the blaze using water. A fault on UK Power Networks' electrical equipment beneath the ground was blamed for causing the explosion that led to the fire. Similar incidents in April caused . three explosions underground near Sutton train station, leading to . blackouts in the town centre. The incidents reportedly caused chaos . on the railway, with the departure boards going down. A lift was also . damaged and the pavement where the explosions had been was lifted. Across London, a manhole cover also exploded in . Pimlico. UK . Power Networks, which operates the electrical cables under Sutton, . confirmed it was in talks with Mr Wakelin over compensation for the . damage the fire caused. A . spokeswoman added: 'UK Power Networks engineers worked through the night . to restore power after a fault on the underground electricity network . in the New Road area of Hackbridge interrupted supplies to 107 . customers. 'We appreciate how difficult it is to be without power and are sorry for the inconvenience caused.' The faulty equipment was replaced and power supplies restored by 2.55am the following day. Aftermath: Mr Wakelin's car, which had been parked on his drive, was completely written off by the fire . Burnt out: The engine of the victim's car was damaged beyond repair by the fire . | Family of four return home to see car engulfed in flames and hedge on fire .
Bradley Wakelin's car was written off and his scorched drive left in tatters .
More than 100 homes were without power for nearly eight hours .
It was the fourth underground explosion in Sutton since April .
Electrical firm UK Power Networks is in compensation talks with the family . |
249,605 | cf0a3c0fec11b53b16bf73fff408a89a51537af8 | Convicted: Na Cola Franklin, 32, was found guilty by a jury in Allentown, Pennsylvania on Thursday . The mugshot of the bride-to-be who fatally stabbed her fiancé twice in the heart just hours before they were due to get married has been released two days after she killed her would-be husband. Na Cola Darcel Franklin, 31, appears dishevelled and her eyes were still red by the time she was photographed at the Whitehall Township police station in Pennsylvania following the attack. She has been charged with criminal homicide after twice stabbing Billy Rafael Brewster, 36, after they began arguing in the early hours of Saturday morning, police report. Franklin allegedly attacked Brewster in the apartment they shared with three children in eastern Pennsylvania. Police say they found Brewster bleeding from his chest shortly after 2am Saturday. Lehigh Valley Live reports that Franklin was only stopped after her would-be cousin tackled her, knocked the blood-stained kitchen knife out of her hand and stopped her from stabbing her fiancé. Brewster's cousin Nakia Kali and his wife Monique travelled to Whitehall Township from out of town for the wedding- which was scheduled for 10am Saturday morning- and were staying in the apartment that Brewster and Franklin shared with three children. At the time of the attack, four children were in the apartment but their names, ages, and relationships to the couple remains undisclosed. The Kalis were interviewed by police shortly after the authorities arrived at the scene around 2.19am. Landing: After being stabbed twice in the chest, Brewster crawled to the second floor landing outside of the apartment he shared with Franklin and three children . The couple said that they were out with Brewster and all arrived back to the apartment shortly after midnight. A little while later, the Kalis went into a bedroom and heard an argument begin between Brewster and Franklin after Brewster said that he and Franklin were going to buy food for everyone. When Mr Kali went to see what was going on, he got in between the fighting couple and tried to break up the argument. Mrs Kali only entered the fight when she heard someone scream 'knife'. After seeing blood on the left side of Brewster's chest and her husband standing in between Brewster and the knife-wieldling Franklin, she 'instinctively tackled' the woman in order to stop her from hitting Mr Kali. Once Mrs Kali had tackled Franklin, Mr Kali grabbed the knife from her hands and passed it off to a child, instructing the child to take the knife into the kitchen. During the episode, an injured Brewster crawled to the outdoor landing, which is where police found him when they arrived on the scene. He was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital and was pronounced dead at 3.24am. Family members and the pastor who was scheduled to perform the couple’s wedding at 10am on Saturday morning arrived at the second-floor apartment throughout Sunday. The Allentown Morning Call reports that at Franklin’s video arraignment Saturday, the 31-year-old wept and choked out, 'I did not kill him on purpose.' Scene: The fight took place inside the apartment around 2am on Saturday morning, just eight hours before the couple were due to be married . Seemingly unable to comprehend the murder charge she faces, Franklin also pleaded to the judge, ‘you got to check again.’ The Morning Call reported that the suspect was rocking back and forth and wailing during the hearing. At one point she cried out, ‘I want my family back. I want to go home.’ Neighbour Steve Engel says the pastor who was supposed to perform the ceremony came to the apartment building after being unable to reach the couple, and a number of people who were apparently going to the wedding also showed up throughout the day. Another horrified neighbour, who lives across the hall from the couple, told Lehigh Valley Live that she didn’t think the couple had ‘any issues.’ 'I was really shocked. It made me sick to my stomach,' said Sara Arnold. As the investigation continues, a motive for the killing and the type of knife used has not been disclosed. Franklin is being held in the Lehigh County Prison without bail. | Relatives intervened as Na Cola Franklin, 31, got in a violent fight with fiancé Billy Brewster, 36 .
Brewster's cousin overheard the couple fighting over paying for food for the relatives who travelled to Pennsylvania for their wedding .
Franklin now faces criminal homicide charges for Brewster's death . |
114,004 | 1f16e36539c0fa7f05bf4e3291874d5705fba2c4 | Editor's note: Joseph E. Stiglitz, professor at Columbia University, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2001 for his work on the economics of information and was on the climate change panel that shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008. Stiglitz, a supporter of Barack Obama, was a member and later chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers during the Clinton administration before joining the World Bank as chief economist and senior vice president. He is the co-author with Linda Bilmes of the "Three Trillion Dollar War: The True Costs of the Iraq Conflict." Economist Joseph Stiglitz says federal regulators and executives helped create the Wall Street crisis. NEW YORK (CNN) -- Many seem taken aback by the depth and severity of the current financial turmoil. I was among several economists who saw it coming and warned about the risks. There is ample blame to be shared; but the purpose of parsing out blame is to figure out how to make a recurrence less likely. President Bush famously said, a little while ago, that the problem is simple: Too many houses were built. Yes, but the answer is too simplistic: Why did that happen? One can say the Fed failed twice, both as a regulator and in the conduct of monetary policy. Its flood of liquidity (money made available to borrow at low interest rates) and lax regulations led to a housing bubble. When the bubble broke, the excessively leveraged loans made on the basis of overvalued assets went sour. For all the new-fangled financial instruments, this was just another one of those financial crises based on excess leverage, or borrowing, and a pyramid scheme. The new "innovations" simply hid the extent of systemic leverage and made the risks less transparent; it is these innovations that have made this collapse so much more dramatic than earlier financial crises. But one needs to push further: Why did the Fed fail? First, key regulators like Alan Greenspan didn't really believe in regulation; when the excesses of the financial system were noted, they called for self-regulation -- an oxymoron. Second, the macro-economy was in bad shape with the collapse of the tech bubble. The tax cut of 2001 was not designed to stimulate the economy but to give a largesse to the wealthy -- the group that had been doing so well over the last quarter-century. The coup d'grace was the Iraq War, which contributed to soaring oil prices. Money that used to be spent on American goods now got diverted abroad. The Fed took seriously its responsibility to keep the economy going. It did this by replacing the tech bubble with a new bubble, a housing bubble. Household savings plummeted to zero, to the lowest level since the Great Depression. It managed to sustain the economy, but the way it did it was shortsighted: America was living on borrowed money and borrowed time. Finally, at the center of blame must be the financial institutions themselves. They -- and even more their executives -- had incentives that were not well aligned with the needs of our economy and our society. They were amply rewarded, presumably for managing risk and allocating capital, which was supposed to improve the efficiency of the economy so much that it justified their generous compensation. But they misallocated capital; they mismanaged risk -- they created risk. They did what their incentive structures were designed to do: focusing on short-term profits and encouraging excessive risk-taking. This is not the first crisis in our financial system, not the first time that those who believe in free and unregulated markets have come running to the government for bail-outs. There is a pattern here, one that suggests deep systemic problems -- and a variety of solutions: . 1. We need first to correct incentives for executives, reducing the scope for conflicts of interest and improving shareholder information about dilution in share value as a result of stock options. We should mitigate the incentives for excessive risk-taking and the short-term focus that has so long prevailed, for instance, by requiring bonuses to be paid on the basis of, say, five-year returns, rather than annual returns. 2. Secondly, we need to create a financial product safety commission, to make sure that products bought and sold by banks, pension funds, etc. are safe for "human consumption." Consenting adults should be given great freedom to do whatever they want, but that does not mean they should gamble with other people's money. Some may worry that this may stifle innovation. But that may be a good thing considering the kind of innovation we had -- attempting to subvert accounting and regulations. What we need is more innovation addressing the needs of ordinary Americans, so they can stay in their homes when economic conditions change. 3. We need to create a financial systems stability commission to take an overview of the entire financial system, recognizing the interrelations among the various parts, and to prevent the excessive systemic leveraging that we have just experienced. 4. We need to impose other regulations to improve the safety and soundness of our financial system, such as "speed bumps" to limit borrowing. Historically, rapid expansion of lending has been responsible for a large fraction of crises and this crisis is no exception. 5. We need better consumer protection laws, including laws that prevent predatory lending. 6. We need better competition laws. The financial institutions have been able to prey on consumers through credit cards partly because of the absence of competition. But even more importantly, we should not be in situations where a firm is "too big to fail." If it is that big, it should be broken up. These reforms will not guarantee that we will not have another crisis. The ingenuity of those in the financial markets is impressive. Eventually, they will figure out how to circumvent whatever regulations are imposed. But these reforms will make another crisis of this kind less likely, and, should it occur, make it less severe than it otherwise would be. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writer. | Joseph Stiglitz: Fed pumped too much money, aiding housing bubble .
New-fangled instruments hid overuse of borrowing, Stiglitz says .
Executives followed short-term interests and magnified risks, he says .
Stiglitz: Widespread changes needed to prevent future crises . |
196,985 | 8af43b046fa522b718fba4faa14d0c4b470702fa | New York (CNN) -- The family of late Beatles music icon John Lennon on Wednesday voiced opposition to a controversial process of natural gas drilling known as fracking, . Sean Lennon, who appeared at a press conference in New York with his mother, Yoko Ono, said fracking is "dirty, it's just inherently dirty." "The bottom line is there is a campaign of misinformation to try to tell people that hydraulic fracturing is a clean alternative to coal or other fossil fuels," he said. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is expected to take up the decision on whether to allow fracking, or horizontal hydraulic fracturing, which involves pumping millions of gallons of water and chemicals into shale formations deep beneath the Earth's surface. This process causes the fracturing of the rock and the release of natural gas, but has raised concerns over the potential for chemicals to seep into the drinking water supply. Drought-stricken fracking firms turn to farms' water wells for help . Lennon unveiled a campaign called "Artists Against Fracking" to oppose the expansion of the process while it is under review by New York's Department of Environmental Conservation. The regulatory decision would not require a vote in the state legislature. Lennon's family acquired a farm in upstate New York in the 1970s, and he said he grew concerned about fracking after being invited to a community meeting held by the natural gas industry that was seeking to expand drilling. Those concerns led Lennon to form "Artists Against Fracking," with his mother's help, and to sign up former Beatles Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, as well as actors Mark Ruffalo and Anne Hathaway, among more than 100 other artists. "We just asked friends to call friends and it accelerated from there," Lennon said. "When people who don't know much about it, or are on the fence, when they realize that it's water and air, which is something we all relate to and depend on, most reasonable people want to get on board." A de facto moratorium on horizontal hydraulic fracturing has been in place since 2010 while the state conducts an environmental review of the process, which is widespread in neighboring Pennsylvania, which shares the Marcellus Shale formation with New York. Cornell Engineering Professor Anthony Ingraffea, who appeared at the Artists Against Fracking conference, said industry data show one out of 20 wells leak. "No matter what the industry tells you, their own data ... proves conclusively to any reasonable scientist or engineer that it is impossible to design any well so it will never leak," Ingraffea said. "Wells will leak. Wells do leak. The best and the brightest in that industry have been trying to solve that problem for 100 years." But John Holko, president of Lenape Resources, which operates 237 wells in New York using the older vertical hydraulic method, said he did not believe the figures on well leakage were accurate. "I have not seen data that supports that." The Independent Oil and Gas Association of New York, which advocates for the drilling industry, said fracking had helped reduce U.S. carbon dioxide emissions to their lowest levels since the early 1990s. "Artists who have turned into activists on this issue are being led by those who are more comfortable twisting the facts and taking part in street theater, stunts and gimmicks," said IOGA President Brad Gill. "They are ignoring the prosperity and environmental protection that modern natural gas development is bringing to many other states." The renewed debate over fracking came after press reports that Cuomo was nearing a decision on allowing limited fracking in five counties in southeastern New York, near the Pennsylvania border. But a spokesman for Cuomo said no decision had been reached, and was not expected to come for weeks. Any move would follow the release of a final report by the state Department of Environmental Conservation. "Our review of high-volume hydraulic fracturing is continuing and no decisions have been made," the agency said, noting it was preparing a response to the 80,000 comments received from the public. "Once we review the comments, we will make any necessary changes to the documents. We will most likely release the final documents by the end of the year." According to analysts, the U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005 exempted industry from federal oversight, meaning that all regulatory authority falls to state authorities, rather than the Environmental Protection Agency. It is up to Cuomo to decide whether to proceed with fracking. It will fall upon the Department of Environmental Conservation to issue permits for horizontal hydraulic fracturing. Debate over fracking, quakes gets louder . | Sean Lennon among artists against fracking in New York .
Gov. Andrew Cuomo is expected to take up the decision on whether to allow fracking .
Fracking involves pumping water, chemicals into shale formations to release natural gas . |
26,896 | 4c562c65994b0f81077f6490204bff03698b3711 | By . Richard Alleyne . PUBLISHED: . 19:35 EST, 24 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:00 EST, 24 August 2013 . Jailed: Forrest was told he had 'ignored the cardinal rule of teaching' The schoolgirl lover of jailed teacher Jeremy Forrest has been left ‘devastated’ after she was banned from making contact with him until she reaches adulthood. The girl, who was 15 when she fled to France with Forrest, vowed to wait for him ‘for ever’ when he was jailed in June and has made several attempts to contact him in prison. But now, as part of an ongoing serious case review, it has been decided there should be no contact between the couple until she is at least 18. The ruling was made by a team including social worker Sarah Spain, currently in a relationship with one of the investigating officers in the case, Graeme Pawson. The schoolgirl and the father of Forrest said the link raised questions over her impartiality. The girl is now unlikely to be able to visit, write to or talk to the former maths teacher until his expected release in 2015. Forrest’s father Jim, a retired IT director, said he felt it was inappropriate for the social worker to be making decisions about the case while in her current relationship. Mr Forrest, 60, who lives in Orpington, Kent, added: ‘It would seem fair and proper that a completely impartial and fresh view is taken.’ The ruling has left the girl, now 16, ‘devastated and distraught’ – and Forrest is said to be considering a legal challenge. A source close to the schoolgirl said: ‘She is devastated. She has been in tears and feels it is really unfair as at 16 she is now an adult and feels she should be able to make her own decisions. ‘She is also concerned that her social worker is in a relationship with an investigating officer from the case and thinks it could influence her opinion.’ Forrest, 31, who was married at the time of his affair with the schoolgirl, was jailed for five-and-a-half years after being convicted of abduction at Lewes Crown Court and admitting a further five counts of sexual activity with a child. The maths teacher at Bishop Bell School, Eastbourne, who had prompted an international police hunt after he and the teenager went on the run in France, was said by the judge in the case to have ‘ignored the cardinal rule of teaching’. Forrest, who taught maths at Bishop Bell CofE school in Eastbourne, prompted an international manhunt after he want on the run with the schoolgirl . His behaviour had subjected the girl’s family to ‘appalling distress’ and driven a wedge between the girl and her family, the judge added. The girl wrote to Forrest’s parents to declare her love for their son and apologise for ‘any upset’. She has also written to the governors of Lewes prison, East Sussex, where Forrest began his sentence, and Ashfield, near Bristol, where he is currently detained, to try to get in touch with him and gain visitor rights. All her requests were rejected, however. An East Sussex County Council spokesman said: ‘The conditions which have been put in place are not the decision of any one individual but are the result of a multi-agency approach with involvement at senior management level. ‘Our staff have acted appropriately and have followed strict safeguarding procedures. Our primary concern is, as it has been all along, the safety and well-being of this vulnerable teenager.’ They refused to comment on any relationships the girl’s social worker may have. Lucy Duckworth, of child protection campaign group See Changes, felt the ban was entirely justified. She said: ‘It is extremely sensible and long overdue.’ Forrest’s solicitor, Phil Smith, said: ‘We are exploring all options in relation to this.’ | Ongoing serious case review rules couple can have no more contact .
Girl now unlikely to be able to visit, write or talk to Forrest until his expected release in 2015 .
Forrest said to be considering a legal challenge . |
33,237 | 5e7c09696441c5264410ca598df27868da7236f1 | As president and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post, you would expect Arianna Huffington to be living her life at 100 mph. Not so, she says (although she is often spotted running from event to event gripping multiple smartphones while tweeting at the same time). In fact, Huffington, founder of the Huffington Post Media Group, is on a mission to persuade us all to slow down. She describes herself as a "sleep evangelist," has nap rooms in her offices at the AOL headquarters in New York and tries to start every day with meditation. "I've been meditating for years but now I'm increasingly making it part of my daily routine," she said. In fact, she jokingly says she slept her way to the top. "There is that special glow after a good night's sleep when you feel really in the zone. You feel like 'Bring it on -- you know I can handle anything!'" International Women's Day: Whose words inspire you? For a woman so successful, it is of course a mission with a business opportunity. The Huffington Post has a new "Less Stress More Living" lifestyle section and the company recently launched an iPhone app called "GPS for the Soul," at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. "I am obsessed with stress reduction," said Huffington. "We (The Huffington Post) are now moving into lifestyle and growing our offering in that department, especially at a time when we are recognizing more and more the dangers of stress." Huffington, 62, founded Huffington Post in 2005, and two years ago sold it to AOL for $315 million. She and AOL CEO Tim Armstrong inked the deal during halftime at the Super Bowl. She was listed on Time Magazine's "Time 100" list of the world's 100 most influential people in 2006 and 2011, and among Forbes "100 Most Powerful Women" for the past three years. Huffington Post now has editions in six countries, launched a HuffPost Live streaming network last year and has plans to expand into Japan and Brazil. "I started with wanting to create a site that was incredibly engaging," said Huffington. "And the timing was great, I loved my work, working hard doesn't feel like drudgery. "And then I think we made some really smart moves, the acquisition was an incredibly smart move, moving internationally was really the right moment." Huffington was born in Athens, Greece, (she jokingly calls herself a "Greek peasant girl") and moved to the UK at age 16, winning a place at Cambridge University to study economics. "My mother would tell me from a very young age never to be afraid of failing," she said. "I was absolutely fine taking risks. Trying to get into Cambridge when everybody said you'll never get in, or writing my first book when I was 23. "A lot of things that were likely to fail and many did fail. I mean my first book did well, my second book was rejected by 36 publishers." She has now written 13 books. Her advice? Embrace failure, she said. "You can recognize very often that out of these projects that may not have succeeded themselves that other successes are built." Also on Leading Women: Goodbye 'celluloid ceiling': Female directors take center stage . While at Cambridge, Huffington became president of its prestigious Cambridge Union debating society, but said she initially struggled to be accepted. "I was terrible," she said. "My accent, if you can believe it, was even heavier. In the UK having a foreign accent at the time especially was still seen as really alien. "Learning to debate was definitely on that young Arianna's dream list. "Therefore I was prepared to stay up late, be ridiculed, whatever it took. I was determined to learn to speak." Huffington moved to the United States in 1980, where she found her accent was more easily accepted. "I remember Henry Kissinger saying to me 'don't worry about your accent, in American public life you can never overestimate the advantages of incomprehensibility.' " In more than three decades since moving to the United States, Huffington's influence on public life has grown exponentially. In 2003, she stood against Arnold Schwarzenegger as an independent candidate for governor of California. She rejects political definitions of left and right (although she is widely viewed as a staunch liberal these days), but has plenty of advice for President Barack Obama. "For me the biggest crisis that's not being addressed at the moment in Washington is youth unemployment. "It's the fact that 50% of college graduates either can't get a job or are doing a job for which they wouldn't have needed a college degree. "That's not sustainable. That really goes against the American dream, which is based on the assumption that you work hard, you play by the rules and then you do well." Huffington is divorced with two daughters in their 20s. Her biggest hope for her daughters' generation is that they will feel less pressure. "I think especially as women we need to recognize that feeling pressure is completely self imposed," she said. "We women suffer more than men what I call the obnoxious roommate living in our head, which is that critical voice that constantly judges us, according to which we are never good enough. "One of the advantages of growing older is that you stop looking over your shoulder, you stop feeling that pressure. "My only hope for younger women like my daughters is why not feel that earlier." | Arianna Huffington founded one of the world's most successful media companies, The Huffington Post, in 2005 .
She sold the company to AOL for $315 million two years ago .
She describes herself as a "sleep evangelist" and obsessed with stress reduction . |
194,207 | 8764fc263bd6b59ffb3ef4894f68b263a6c8eb19 | A damning official report claims dishonesty within the U.S. military is so endemic that everyone assumes they are being lied to at all times. The shock report calls on officials to 'urgently confront the corrupting influence of dishonesty' within the army, warning officers have become 'ethically numb'. The situation has become so bad, the executive summary concludes it has 'allowed leaders to espouse lofty professional values while slogging through the mire of dishonesty and deceit'. Dishonesty: The report claims dishonesty is endemic in the army on all levels, discovering personnel expect to not be told the truth at certain points, and accusing officers of becoming 'ethically numb' (Stock picture) The report's executive summary also claims 'much of the deception and dishonesty... is actually encouraged and sanctioned by the military institution'. Report authors Leonard Wong and Stephen J. Gerras say it is often justified one of three ways: 'mission accomplishment', 'supporting the troops' or that the task or reporting requirement is unreasonable or 'dumb'. They go onto note lying and 'adjusting the truth' is so common, military personnel who order a report do not trust its content. The report authors, who interviewed staff at all levels in the army in order to compile the 53-page document, state: 'It appears that a peculiar situation where those requesting the information, and those supplying it know that the information is questionable.' However, they add, personnel are 'happy to go along with the illusion all is well'. Concerns: Former U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel sent a memo to military leaders before he stepped down from his post asking to deal with 'unethical or morally questionable behaviour' The report, created for the Strategic Studies Institute and U.S. Army War College Press, say comes just a week after departing Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel's final words of advice to senior military staff were to sort out 'unethical behaviour', . According to CNN, Hagel wrote: 'The vast majority of our senior leaders are men and women who have earned the special trust and confidence afforded them by the American people. 'However, when senior leaders forfeit this trust through unprofessional, unethical or morally questionable behavior, their actions have an enormously negative effect on the profession.' | Shock 52-page report finds dishonesty at all levels in the U.S. Army .
Warns officers have become 'ethically numb' and urges quick action .
Says leaders 'espouse lofty values' but slog 'through mire of dishonesty'
Finds personnel expect requested information to be 'questionable'
But notes staff are 'happy to go along with the illusion all is well' |
65,870 | bafa4fca20b527e1bf5b09ba9f5ad82d4c4874b1 | (CNN) -- Keith Campbell, the scientist who helped pioneer the birth of Dolly the sheep, the world's first mammal cloned from fully developed adult cells, has died, according to The University of Nottingham. Campbell, 58, died on October 5, according to a university statement released Thursday. His funeral has been scheduled for October 24. The university did not say how he died. Campbell was part of a team at the Roslin Institute near Edinburgh, Scotland, that cloned Dolly in 1996. Her birth made headlines worldwide, capturing the scientific imagination of many while generating intense controversy over the ethics of cloning. While Campbell is not listed in research papers as the principal investigator in papers related to Dolly's cloning, the man who is -- Ian Wilmut -- told The Telegraph newspaper in 2009 that Campbell deserved much of the credit for the feat. He was more recently focused on the use of stem cells and gene transplantation as tools for studying and treating human disease, according to his research profile. Jose Cibelli, a Michigan State University researcher, said Campbell's work has led directly to treatments that will soon be saving lives around the world. "We anticipate that within the next five years, patients suffering from degenerative diseases will be treated -- if not cured -- using technology introduced by Dr. Campbell," the university quoted him as saying. "All these scientific breakthroughs Professor Campbell gave us did not happen by chance; they are the product of years of study, hands-on experimentation and above all, a deep love for science." Dolly died in 2003. Her mounted remains are on display at the National Museum of Scotland. People we've lost in 2012: The lives they lived . | Scientist was credited with much of the work behind Dolly's cloning .
He was a researcher at Scottish institute when the sheep was cloned in 1996 .
The work is leading to therapies that will save lives, a researcher told Campbell's university . |
201,701 | 9124114655452aec2c9e30b53e05ca21ae9c15a3 | By . Liz Hull . PUBLISHED: . 17:54 EST, 9 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 06:22 EST, 10 March 2014 . Kiannah, 2, of Fairwater, Cardiff, keeps saying 'F***' after watching an episode of Peppa Pig in which one of the characters appears to say 'f****** gazelles' Like most little girls her age, Kiannah Cox loves everything to do with Peppa Pig. So her mother, Natalie, 30, thought there was no harm in indulging her daughter by letting her watch the cartoon each day. But when Kiannah, two, began regularly using the F-word she was horrified to learn the tot had picked it up from her favourite Peppa DVD. Miss Cox had bought her daughter the cartoon for Christmas, but it wasn't until Kiannah's older brother sat down to watch the DVD with her last month that she realised the youngster had copied the bad language from the television. In the episode, named End of Term Party, Grandpa Rabbit is telling Daddy Pig about Peppa's school teacher Madame Gazelle, who used to play in a pop group. He says the name of the rock band, which is supposed to be the 'Rocking Gazelles,' but Miss Cox claims it sounds like he is saying the 'F-ing Gazelles.' Last night Miss Cox demanded the DVD be pulled from sale until the mistake could be rectified. 'My childminder came home from shopping with Kiannah one day and told me that had been saying 'F-ing' when she saw Peppa toys in a shop,' Miss Cox said. 'I'm a responsible parent and never swear in front of my kids, so I couldn't understand where it had come from. 'Then, a few days later my boy, Isaac, was watching Peppa with Kiannah and came running down the stairs to tell me he had heard it on her DVD. 'I was shocked. We watched it again and I was mortified. 'We realised she was just copying what she had seen on the television.' Scroll down for video . Astley Baker Davies, creator of Peppa Pig, said any misunderstanding was unintentional . Miss Cox said the DVD was obviously not properly scrutinised before going on sale. 'The damage has been done,' Miss Cox, a mother-of-four, from Cardiff, added. 'I don't really care what Grandpa Rabbit is meant to be saying, to anyone who is watching it sounds like F-ing. Peppa Pig is immensely popular with young children, with the series spawning toys, clothes, DVDs and other commodities . 'It has caused me a lot of embarrassment. Kiannah can only say a handful of words, so it was all the more shocking that one of her first was the F-word. 'You don't expect language like that in a Peppa Pig DVD, it's disgusting. 'Nice things are supposed to come out of children's mouths, not that. 'I've tried not to make a big deal of it and now she knows that it is naughty. But I feel like she is being punished for something that's not her fault. I feel bad because I gave her the DVD to watch but I've had to tell her off because of it.' Miss Cox said that Kiannah, and her twin sister, Ebony, who suffers from cerebral palsy, were both born severely premature, at just 26 weeks, so when she decided to move them into their own bedroom just before Christmas it was a 'big deal.' 'We decided to decorate their room with everything Peppa Pig because it was a big deal them being in a bedroom,' she added. 'Now I just want it all gone, I don't want Peppa, she's got to go.' No-one from Entertainment One was available last night for comment. | Kiannah Cox from Cardiff regularly started using the F-word at the age of 2 .
Her mother Natalie claims that she picked it up from her Peppa Pig DVD .
Creator claims that the girl learned it from misunderstanding a line . |
284,092 | fc113dcc7cda3acd5daff5e6cec2bf4df29e40a4 | Today, April 20, is "420: International Marijuana Day." Festivals and marches are planned around the world. The number 420 reflects the date, but it also represents the term's clandestine origin in the 1970s, brought about by laws that still plague cannabis consumers today. In 1971, a group of high school friends, the "Waldos," invented 420 as a code word for smoking pot. Referring to 4:20 p.m. after school, the friends from San Rafael, California, would meet to smoke marijuana in their secret spot next to a wall -- the origin of their nickname. In the 40 years since, 420 has spread to become an international symbol for using marijuana, and it's a part of the cannabis consumer's vocabulary. Threatened with jail and unemployment, people who use marijuana in most states must hide their activities. In 2011, more than 750,000 people were arrested for marijuana possession and sales in the United States. In 2010, 86% of those charged for possession in New York City were black or Latino. That, even though these groups represent about half the city's population and use marijuana less than whites. But, slowly, support for cannabis regulation is growing. A recent Pew research poll found that 52% of Americans support taxing and regulating marijuana, a historic high. It isn't that more people are using marijuana -- those rates have remained stable -- it's that more people feel they can come out of the closet about their support for marijuana policy reform. Websites like the Marijuana Majority feature statements from celebrities and politicians in favor of marijuana policy reform, across the political spectrum, from Bill Maher to Pat Robertson. No longer a part of a fringe, those who see a better way to regulate marijuana are casting aside the secret codes and openly declaring support. The marijuana flag was waving proudly on Election Day, when Colorado and Washington became the first states where voters approved taxing and regulating marijuana for adult use. Two recently introduced pieces of federal legislation would protect medical marijuana states from federal interference and end federal marijuana prohibition. As can be imagined, the April 20 celebrations across Colorado and Washington, as well as other "marijuana friendly" states like California and Oregon, will be joyful, well attended and burgeoning with cannabis products. It might even feel as if marijuana is already legal -- but it isn't, and, in some states, the need for secret codes is still very much alive. In Oklahoma, manufacturing hash carries a mandatory two-year prison term but can also mean life in prison. Under Louisiana law, a second pot possession conviction is classified as a felony offense, punishable by up to five years in prison. Three-time offenders face up to 20 years in prison. And in Florida, possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana, as well as the cultivation of even a single plant, is a felony offense and punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. What this means, despite Colorado and Washington, is that April 20 brings a chance to stop and reflect on the draconian marijuana laws still threatening so many Americans. In addition to the lives harmed by arrests and incarceration, the economic costs of prohibition are enormous. The war on drugs has cost at least $1 trillion since it was announced in 1971 by President Nixon. The term 420 began as a secret code. But 40 years later, in some states the need for a code has given way to "cannabis pride" and open celebration. In other places, people will smoke or otherwise consume pot in private parties. And for those in prison and jails and for their loved ones, it will be just another sad day. Make this April 20, as the numbers of pro-legalization supporters swell, the day to join the Drug Policy Alliance in promoting the legalization of marijuana for all adults and an end to the war on drugs. | This Saturday, April 20, is "420: International Marijuana Day," with festivals worldwide .
Amanda Reiman: In 1971, high school friends invented 420 as code for smoking pot in secret .
Reiman: It's disgraceful so many people are serving time on marijuana charges .
She says 52% of Americans want new policies; 4/20 a good day to join legalization effort . |
231,777 | b816220c97957e5d2d0d76906046c4bdcea25372 | By . Ap . and Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 20:04 EST, 6 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 14:56 EST, 7 March 2014 . In his immaculate . blue dress uniform, Brig. Gen. Jeffrey A. Sinclair stood ramrod straight . before a judge Thursday and pleaded guilty to three charges that could . send him to prison for up to 15 years. It was a . remarkable admission sure to end the military career of a man once . regarded as a rising star among the U.S. Army's small cadre of trusted . battle commanders. Sinclair, 51, still faces . five other charges stemming from the claims of a female captain nearly . 20 years his junior who says the general twice forced her to perform . oral sex. But by pleading guilty to the lesser charges, Sinclair's . lawyers believe they will strengthen his case at trial by potentially . limiting some of the salacious evidence prosecutors can present. Scroll down for video . Adulterer: General Jeffrey Sinclair pleaded guilty yo committing adultery, which is a crime in the military . The . former deputy commander of the 82nd Airborne could be sentenced to life . in prison if convicted of the sexual assaults. Opening statements were . expected Friday. Asked by judge Col. James . Pohl whether he clearly understood the consequences of his admissions, . the decorated veteran of five combat deployments answered in a clear . voice, with no emotion: 'Yes sir.' Pohl . accepted Sinclair's plea after nearly three hours of often intimate . questions about the married general's flirtations and dalliances with . four women - three military officers and one civilian. Repeatedly, . Sinclair turned to his lawyer before answering, prompting the judge to . say: 'It's important that you tell me the truth as you recall it.' 'You'll get nothing but the truth from me,' the general replied. The . case against Sinclair, believed to be the most senior member of the . U.S. military ever to face trial on sexual assault charges, comes as the . Pentagon grapples with revelations of rampant rape and sexual . misconduct within the ranks. The U.S. Senate on Thursday blocked a bill . that would have stripped senior military commanders of their authority . to prosecute rapes and other serious offenses in the ranks. The bill was . firmly opposed by the Pentagon. The general . pleaded guilty to having improper relationships with two female Army . officers and to committing adultery with a third, the captain who was . his longtime mistress. Adultery is a crime in the military. When . asked by the judge if he was aware of the prohibition against senior . officers having relations with subordinates, Sinclair replied, 'Oh, yes . sir.' Rising star: Sinclair was once considered a rising star amongst military brass. His career is now likely to be over . He then described how the affair began . during a war tour in Iraq when his primary accuser asked if he wanted to . watch a movie. Once they were alone in his quarters, the general said . the young officer made sexual advances that he initially rebuffed. Pohl asked how Sinclair knew the woman wanted to have sex with him. 'Probably when she took her top off, sir,' the general said with a nervous chuckle. Sinclair's . wife of nearly 30 years has remained with him through his legal . troubles and served as a staunch public defender, though she was not in . the courtroom Thursday. The couple has two children. The . general admitted to violating orders by possessing pornography and to . conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman. After he knew he was . under investigation, Sinclair also said he deleted nude photos from a . personal email account sent by a civilian woman with whom he was . childhood friends. Sinclair's lawyer Richard . Scheff has said the plea will strengthen the general's legal position. By admitting guilt on the charges for which there is the strongest . evidence, the married father of two hoped to narrow the focus of the . trial to charges that rely heavily on the testimony and credibility of . his former mistress. Life: Sinclair is a former deputy commander of the 82nd Airborne and could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted of the sexual assaults . In pleading guilty to . possessing a cache of porn on his laptop in Afghanistan, a violation of . orders for soldiers in the socially conservative Muslim country, . Sinclair's defense hopes to limit the ability of prosecutors to use . those graphic images to shock the jury. Prosecutors . also have evidence Sinclair asked two female officers to send nude . photos of themselves to him. By conceding his guilt, the defense lessens . the relevance of the messages they exchanged. The primary accuser is . the only one alleging assault. Scheff said . Sinclair had long offered to plead guilty to the three charges as part . of a plea agreement, but the Army refused to make any deal without an . admission on the alleged assault. 'What . remains of this case really rests on the damaged and tattered . credibility of an individual who's not been truthful, who has lied . before the court, who has given inconsistent statements,' Scheff said . outside the courthouse. 'Frankly, I think it's an embarrassment that . this case will go forward. But it's going forward, and we'll have not . guilty verdicts at the end.' The defense will . present evidence that the female captain lied under oath during a . pretrial hearing in January about her handling of old iPhone containing . messages between her and the general. Lawyers for Sinclair have painted . the woman as a scorned lover who only reported the sexual assault . allegations after the general refused to leave his wife. Stand by your man: Sinclair's wife has stood with him throughout the many allegations of sexual wrongdoing . The . captain testified that on Dec. 9, shortly after what she described as a . contentious meeting with prosecutors, she rediscovered the iPhone . stored in a box at her home that still contained saved text messages and . voicemails from the general. After charging the phone, she testified . she synced it with her computer to save photos before contacting her . attorney. However, a defense expert's . examination suggested the captain powered up the device more than two . weeks before the meeting with prosecutors. The Associated Press generally does not identify those who say they were sexually assaulted. During . a pretrial hearing this week, a top Pentagon lawyer testified that the . lead prosecutor assigned to the case for nearly two years, Lt. Col. William Helixon, had urged that the most serious charges against . Sinclair be dropped after he became convinced the captain had lied to . him about the cellphone. Helixon was overruled by his superiors and . removed from the case last month, after suffering what was described as a . profound moral crisis that led to his being taken to a military . hospital for a mental health evaluation. The . new lead prosecutor, Lt. Col. Robert Stelle, said in court this week he . doesn't care what his predecessor thought about the weakness of the . evidence. It is highly unusual for an officer . of flag rank to face criminal prosecution, with only a handful of cases . in recent decades. Under military law, an officer can only be judged at . trial by those of superior rank. Sinclair's jury is comprised of five major generals. | Sinclair pleaded guilty to having improper relationships with two female Army .
officers .
He also pleaded guilty to adultery for having a sexual relationship with his longtime mistress, an Army captain .
Adultery is a crime under military law .
Sinclair still faces sexual assault charges that could land him in prison for life . |
197,693 | 8bdf3f14c7e7040cc564f63775acd2e319e04752 | Changzhou, China (CNN) -- This is a bustling, modern Chinese city. Shoppers decked out in the last fashions prowl shining new shopping malls. It's about two hours drive from the glamorous metropolis of Shanghai, yet it's fair to say very few people outside of China have heard of it. But now, Changzhou has landed right in the middle of a U.S political firestorm. It's all about jobs: American jobs shipped to China. And it goes all the way to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. In a thriving industrial area on the outskirts of Changzhou is a factory run by Sensata Technologies. It makes sensors for cars. Sensata is controlled by the private equity firm Bain Capital, and that is where Romney comes in. Romney is one of the founders of Bain Capital. And although he left the company years before it bought Sensata, he can't escape the political fallout. Outside the Sensata factory gates, we managed to catch a group of workers on their lunch hour. We talked with them quickly to avoid drawing the attention of company security guards. I asked one worker whether he knows who Mitt Romney is. "No," he said. "You don't know who he is? He's running for president of the United States," I explained. "Really? I don't know," he said. They may not be up to speed on U.S. politics here, but they know a lot about the economy, about how incomes are rising even if it is at the expense of American workers. "It's determined by the market: Jobs go wherever labor is cheaper. It makes sense," one worker said. "Do you like America?" I asked another. "So-so," he said. The American flag flew proudly at the gates of the Sensata plant, but the facility is also a symbol of Chinese economic power. Workers in Freeport, Illinois, say this is where their jobs are going, to factories just like this one in Changzhou. Angry American workers are camping in tents outside the Sensata plant in Freeport, protesting the planned closure of a place where they have worked for decades. The closure in December is set to wipe out 170 jobs. The workers say they suffer while the company profits from cheap Chinese labor. "November 5 is scheduled to be my last day after 33 years," said one despondent employee. On Wednesday, the Rev. Jesse Jackson was one of 16 people arrested and charged with criminal trespass after they marched onto the Sensata property in Freeport. Jackson and the 15 other protesters were quickly released after being served with citations for trespassing. Workers at the Freeport facility have erected posters and placards putting the blame for the shutdown directly on Romney. The Republican candidate has pledged to play hard ball with China during his campaign. Time and again, he's criticized the ruling Communist Party, saying it deliberately keeps China's currency low to gain an advantage in exports. If elected, he says he will declare China a currency manipulator on day one of his presidency, raising the prospect of a trade war. But with an eye on events at Sensata, President Barack Obama has scoffed at Romney's claims of getting tough on China. Back in Changzhou, workers say America's loss is their gain. They say they enjoy good conditions and regular eight-hour shifts. But they won't reveal how much they are paid. "That's a secret," one of them said as others laughed loudly. Among the Chinese workers, we see two Americans. They tell us they are in China on rotation. They say they are fully aware of the controversy over jobs at the company and concede that it is a complicated issue. Right now, they're just happy to be working themselves. "I enjoy my job," one of them said. | Sensata, a subsidiary of Mitt Romney's former company Bain Capital, has a factory in China .
The group is shifting jobs from the United States to the Chinese plant .
Workers there say this is simple economics at work .
One of the employees says he doesn't know who Romney is . |
137,648 | 3e04a84c40c35423c2ac02b231f3c5c4802040bd | (CNN)The new biblical epic from director Ridley Scott, "Exodus: Gods and Kings," has a race problem. We've known since the moment the full cast was announced: nearly every major role in the movie is played by a white actor. What makes it worse for many observers is that, on the flip side, virtually every black actor in the movie is playing a part called "Egyptian thief" or "assassin" or "royal servant" or "Egyptian lower class civilian." In the weeks before "Exodus" opens, on December 12, a number of people, from African-American activists to Jewish journalists, have called for a boycott of the potential blockbuster. "As much as I love a good Bible movie, I'm going to go ahead and boycott this one," wrote Sigal Samuel in the Jewish Daily Forward. "And I invite my fellow Jews to join me." If "Exodus" were a tale set in the antebellum South, such a disparity might be historically justifiable. But this story is set in Egypt (which was part of Africa even back then), with characters of exclusively Middle Eastern origin. According to the Bible, Abraham, and therefore all subsequent Jews, were of Mesopotamian -- that is, Iraqi -- descent. Before we start skewering Scott too thoroughly, we should probably remember that the whitewashing of Bible movies is a well-established tradition. Cecile B. DeMille's "The Ten Commandments" should probably get a pass, as it was made in 1956, before Hollywood was integrated to any substantial degree. But the same cannot be said for this past spring's "Noah," which has an even less diverse cast than "Exodus," and with greater racial implications, seeing as how all of humanity is supposed to have descended from Noah and his entirely white family. Nor should we pretend that this is a modern problem, or one unique to film representations of the Bible and its central characters. Every European painting of a biblical scene, from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance and beyond, depicts a whitewashed Bible. Ridley Scott has attributed the casting of his film to pure marketing concerns: "I can't mount a film of this budget, where I have to rely on tax rebates in Spain, and say that my lead actor is Mohammad so-and-so from such-and-such. I'm just not going to get it financed. So the question doesn't even come up." This is a rationale very much of our time -- including the thinly veiled racism of "Mohammad so-and-so" -- but it fails to account for the long history of the bleached-out Bible, in which Scott's movie simply makes up the most recent chapter. The most obvious error in this sort of casting is the historical one: Inhabitants of ancient Egypt and Israel simply didn't look like Christian Bale or Joel Edgerton. The deeper problem is one of conflating whiteness with heroism and power. Is it so hard to imagine our biblical heroes as being nonwhite? Is it beyond belief that one of the greatest empires in world history had authentically dark skin, rather than being white folks just wearing a ton of makeup? Does God have a prayer in Hollywood? When it comes to the depiction of the Egyptians in "Exodus" in particular, however, there is a more specific issue at play. News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch, not known as an expert on race or history, weighed in with the rhetorical question (which he then proceeded to answer): "Since when are Egyptians not white? All I know are." The race of the ancient Egyptians has been controversial for over two centuries. It is a loaded debate that cannot be understood apart from the historical contexts of the scholars engaged in the conversation. The debate was particularly intense during the abolitionist movement in the United States. At stake were the claims of the pro-slavery faction: that black people were inherently physically and intellectually inferior and, thus, well-suited for slavery. If the ancient Egyptians -- world leaders in architecture, engineering, farming, and literary production, as well as documented slave owners -- were not white, then there was a problem. This project reached its apex in the work of "American School" of anthropology, founded in the first half of the 19th century by Samuel George Morton, which claimed that God had created multiple hierarchically organized races, with Caucasians at the top. This idea was taken one step further by Southern slave owner Josiah Nott, who repeatedly stated "that the Ancient Egyptian race were Caucasians." Nott ominously attributed the inability of Egyptians to recapture power in the Common Era to their mixing with other races. The clear agenda here was to provide a historical basis for American slavery. From the second half of the 20th century onward, anthropologists have largely agreed that ancient Egyptians were indigenous to the Nile region and genetically representative of Northeastern Africa. Egypt has long been a genetic crossroads, because it has long been a political and economic crossroads, since before we have written records. At least one important minority opinion, however, known as "the Black Egyptian hypothesis," emphasizes racial ties between Egypt and sub-Saharan Africa. The theory -- favored by W.E.B. du Bois -- draws upon philology, the writings of historians, and art and architecture to argue that ancient Egypt was a black civilization. How Muslims flipped the script in Hollywood . This controversy over race is something the makers of "Exodus" claim to have thought about. "We cast major actors from different ethnicities to reflect this diversity of culture, from Iranians to Spaniards to Arabs," Scott said. "There are many different theories about the ethnicity of the Egyptian people, and we had a lot of discussions about how to best represent the culture." Despite this discussion, the tableau produced in "Exodus," unfortunately, is the one favored by 19th-century slave traders. In an important sense, however, the entire debate, down to the present, is essentially moot. The categories of modern America were not relevant to the concerns of ancient Egyptians. Modern anthropologists no longer see race as a fundamental biological or natural category of people, but rather as a biocultural category, intermingling genetic and anatomical data with economic, political, and social data. Historically, skin tone was not the key feature by which society was hierarchically structured. Race is a lived experience, of course, but the distinction between slave and free -- a critical one in the ancient world -- was not drawn along modern racial lines. There were more than a few blond-haired, pale-skinned "barbarian" slaves in the Roman empire. In the ancient world it was more important to be free than pale. Still, the image of ancient Egyptians as white has been powerful and destructive. Whitewashing the Bible is problematic both because it is unhistorical and because it reinscribes the dangerous association of whiteness, divine favor and heroism that has plagued modern Christianity. Recognizing the violent and painful history of this idea -- particularly as it pertains to ancient Egypt -- is an important preamble to talking about it. | Critics say the new movie "Exodus" has a "race problem"
The race of the ancient Egyptians has been controversial for more than 200 years .
American slave owners insisted Egyptians were white; historians aren't so sure . |
255,300 | d67711b03b879b784d316d24d0dc53bc0a5742f9 | It started out as an idea by a group of young radicals and evolved into a national icon over the years becoming the beating heart of youths across the country. As the triple j contemplates middle age, Sounds like Teen Spirit, airing on the ABC, looks back on how one small alternative radio station became the finger on the pulse for Australia's youth culture. Bursting onto the air as Double J in 1975 and controversially rebranding as it went national as triple j in the 1990's, it has played a vital role in unearthing new talent and staging major music events while changing the face of Australian music forever. Scroll down for video . A youthful Michael Hutchence playing with INXS at the 2JJJ Youth Refuge Concert at Wanda Beach in 1982 . Comedy duo Adam Spencer (left) and Will Anderson (right) hosted breakfast on triple j for six years . Missy Higgins won Unearthed, a competition for unsigned artists, in 2001 which kick-started her career . Midnight Oil performing at Darling Harbour - Peter Garrett (pictured) said no commercial radio station would play the music that triple j airs . Helen Razor and Mikey Robins hosted a breakfast show in the 1990s on triple j . Adam Spencer knows all too well the importance of triple j within the cultural landscape when he won a stand-up comedy competition run by triple j radio called Raw Comedy in 1996 and started the graveyard shift at the station. 'I was surprised as anyone when I was halfway through my PHD in mathematics in Sydney uni that I found myself doing the midnight radio shifts on triple j,' he said. 'It was obviously not part of a bigger career plan.' Spencer described working the odd hours as hilarious fun. 'You can do really weird and out there talk-back,' he said. 'There was a beautiful eclectic bizarre mix of people at 3 in the morning listening to triple j - I used to absolutely love it and it was a great way to learn the radio skills.' Moving to the more civilised breakfast shift in 1999, Spencer formed a formidable duo with fellow comedian Wil Anderson for six years. 'We just don't talk over the top of each other - you can tell from body language,' he explained . 'A lot of it is non-verbal communication is going on that the listeners don't know about. 'You are just looking at each other and one of you will give a sign of "don't worry I've got this covered" or one will be look at the other as if to say "over to you - I've got nothing".' While Anderson joked that his time at the station was reminiscent of the 60's - 'if you remember your time there - then you weren't really there.' Roy (right) and HG are former hosts on triple j: 'the kiddies liked adults being silly and we were very silly' Hilltop Hoods performing at the One Night Stand in Gippsland, 2009, made it big with triple j's ongoing support . Sammy Collins (left) and Arnold Frolows (right) modelling Double Jay merchandise with the original logo . Spencer thinks the recipe to the station's success was that the listeners outgrow the alternative youthful sound. 'It's that listeners generally get old and move on and think it's just ridiculous music they can't listen to anymore and think the station has turned uncool - which is great because it means it's just constantly appealing to new listeners,' he said. He said the international acts who appeared on the station were blown away by the unique concept. 'They could not get the head around the concept - it was so original they would say "we've just promoted our show around the whole country in one 10 minute slot, that's awesome",' he said. 'Bands in the UK kind of understand it but it is so much cooler than Radio 1 - the idea that it's independent music and most of it local and national bands.' A lot of artists and bands from overseas also greatly benefited from airplay in Australia on triple j. 'There was a period of time where the Dandy Warhols sold more albums in Australia than the United States because - there were just perfect for triple j,' he said . 'One of the reasons a lot of the big bands come to Australia and tour is because they are working off the networks they have built through triple j.' PJ Harvey performing at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney in 2004 . Jono (right) and Dano (left) hosted a Saturday night show before moving to Sunday afternoons and eventually the weekday breakfast shift . But of course there are endless local acts that are forever indebted to the station's unique style. 'Bands like the Hilltop Hoods play to stadiums now filled with 20,000 people - it wouldn't have happened without triple j,' Spencer said. Singer Missy Higgins won triple j's, Unearthed, a competition for unsigned artists, in 2001 which kick-started her career. 'They gave birth to me in a way which is a really weird thing to say,' Missy laughed. Acts were invited to send in cassette tapes with the aim to get the invaluable air time for their original material as part of Unearthed. 'As many as 800 cassettes would arrive the afternoon of the cut off-date - you would literally get an armful of CD's take them home and listen to them,' Spencer said. 'Now 15 years on, that's an independent digital network - the Unearthed community is unbelievable. 'Bands who are heard on Unearthed get picked as support acts for other bands.' Dragon lead singer Marc Hunter performing at a Double Jay outdoor concert in the 1970s . Tom Tilley (left), host of triple j current affair show, Hack, with Palmer United Party leader and mining magnate Clive Palmer (right) Michael Hutchence (centre) with Dano (right) hanging out in the triple j studios in 1995 . Myf Warhurst hosted various different shows on triple j between 2000 and 2007 . Spencer said people forget that the station is a true pioneer in supporting up and coming artists. 'I think people take it for granted because it has been around for a while - if you look at the cultural footprint of it - it's quite amazing what it does,' he said . 'You've only got to stop and listen to what other radio stations play for a few minutes to realise how important it is that we've got a station like triple j to play the music that it does.' He says another appeal is that the station doesn't sit alongside the top-rating FM commercial stations. 'It's consistently rated at five per cent in those markets - that's a million people Australia wide but you wouldn't want triple j rating 12 per cent,' he said. 'You would lose something if the station started playing the sort of stuff that would get that many people.' However, as irony would have it triple j's Hottest 100, that hit the airwaves every Australia Day weekend, is the biggest music poll in the world. Spencer has no doubt that triple j will be alive and well in another 40 years. 'It will out last us all.' Sounds Like Teen Spirit - triple j at 40 airs on Monday January 19 at 8.45pm on ABC . | triple j radio station is celebrating 40 years of being live on air and supporting original up and coming acts .
A group of young radicals started the station, known as Double J, off the main drag at Sydney's King Cross in 1975 .
The station was then controversially rebranded in the 1990s as triple j before the network went national .
Known for unearthing new talent and staging major music events for the youth of Australia .
Sounds Like Teen Spirit - triple j at 40 airs on Monday January 19 at 8.45pm on ABC . |
76,052 | d7b9b3520f319b1af1495dba5b0ec0bcf6dcd180 | Ari Wibowo sheds his skin like a snake every 41 days and must constantly smear his body with moisturiser to stop it hardening and seizing up. The Indonesian teenager has a rare skin condition that doctors in Indonesia have been unable or unwilling to treat and which has left him with an extraordinary appearance. He suffers from Erythroderma, an inflammatory skin disease also known as 'red man syndrome', that causes the skin over almost the entire body to become scaly and flake off. Scroll down for video . Ari Wibowo has a condition called Erythroderma that makes his skin scaly and flake off . Ari has shed his skin every 41 days since he was born 16 years ago. He must soak his body in water every hour - night and day - and smear himself with lotion every three hours to prevent drying out. Photographer Nurcholis Anhari Lubis, 35, has documented the little boy’s condition as part of an essay project and describes the boy's skin condition as ‘scaly like a snake about to shed his skin’. ‘It’s really sad because he was not born normally and has scaly skin all over his body, similar to being severely burnt, from the sole of his feet up to his head,’ Mr Lubis told Daily Mail Australia. ‘If the boy doesn't moisturise or soak his skin in water, his body would shrivel and harden up like a sculpture and he won't be able to move,' Mr Lubis said. 'If he leaves it unattended for too long, he won’t be able to speak because the wrinkles inside his mouth would go hard and it would dry out all his blood in his body.' Mr Lubis said Ari's family were told by doctors at the hospital where he was born that it did not have the resources to treat the condition, and asked them to take the infant away. He and his family now live by a routine of constant washing and dressing his skin with creams. Still, the boy is trying to live a normal life in his village. 'He eats normal food like everyone else and his favourite snacks are instant noodles and crackers,' Mr Lubis said. ‘He had trouble making friends when he was younger and would often go and play with the other kids but most of the time, they would avoid him because he is different to everyone else.' Ari must contantly wash and moisturise his skin to stop it from drying out . Ari has had trouble making friends because he looked different and people feared his condition may be contagious . Photographer Nurcholis Anhari Lubis has documented Ari's life for an essay project . Ari is taking lessons, but is forced to study alone because of ignorance about his condition in the community. ‘No schools are willing to accept him because they fear his skin condition would be contagious to teachers and other students,' Mr Lubis said. Ari also suffers prejudice because of superstitions in his village. Mr Lubis said many people blame Ari's condition on a superstition that if a woman mistreats animals while she is pregnant then it will affect her unborn child. Some people believe Ari's mother ‘tortured a lizard’ she found in the family home when she was pregnant with Ari. ‘I do not believe the myths but in Indonesia, there are still a lot of people who believe this,’ Mr Lubis said. Jakarta-based Mr Lubis spent four days with the little boy and his family. ‘When I approached Ari for a photo shoot, he looked very shy but didn't feel embarrassed and was happy to share his story,’ he said. ‘My interests have been to document lives and the way humans live in their own world, interacting with it and struggling to change it into their own way.' Ari has trouble talking because of the condition and the vision in his right eye is impaired, while the left must be kept moist with constant drops. Ari's condition gives his skin a scaly, snake-like appearance . His routine includes washing his body in water many times a day to keep his skin moist . Ari has trouble talking and has impaired vision in his right eye, while the left eye is constantly treated with drops . Mr Lubis said many people in the village are superstitious about Ari's condition . | Indonesian teenager Ari Wibowo has an skin condition where he sheds his skin every 41 days .
Erythroderma, also known as red man syndrome, causes the skin over most of his body to become scaly and flake off .
The 16-year-old must soak in water every hour and apply lotion every three hours or he will shrivel .
Doctors told Ari's family they do not have the resources to treat him .
Photographer Nurcholis Anhari Lubis documented how the boy lives . |
183,379 | 79896f3299d28467002a89ff057dcde6754f165a | Growing problem: The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has drawn up an action plan in response to worrying obesity rates in the UK (posed by a model) Doctors today demanded a 20 per cent tax on fizzy drinks and a ban on fast-food outlets near schools to tackle Britain’s obesity problem. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has drawn up an action plan in response to the UK’s current status as the fat man of Europe. Among the proposals is an experimental 20 per cent tax on sugary soft drinks, like that in operation in parts of the US, for at least a year. The potential annual yield of £1billion could help fund weight management programmes, the academy said. It added that councils should limit the number of fast food outlets allowed to operate near schools, colleges, leisure centres and other places where children gather. Another recommendation was that hospitals get rid of vending machines selling unhealthy products on their premises. The academy said it is ‘perplexing’ to find canteens in hospitals selling unhealthy dishes, and ‘even more astonishing that in many hospital receptions patients pass by high street fast food franchises or vending machines selling confectionary, drinks and crisps’. New parents, the organisation continues, should be taught by health experts how to feed their children properly, to avoid them getting hooked on sweet or fatty foods while still very young. In addition, NHS staff should routinely talk to overweight patients about their eating and exercise habits at every appointment under a policy of ‘making every contact count’. The academy, which effectively speaks for the entire medical profession, said urgent action is needed from ministers, the NHS, councils and food producers to break the cycle of ‘generation after generation falling victim to obesity-related illnesses and death’. Its report says doctors are ‘united in seeing the epidemic of obesity as the greatest public health crisis facing the UK’. Plans: The academy has come up with a number of recommendations, including that hospitals should get rid of vending machines selling unhealthy products on their premises and that councils should limit the number of fast food outlets near schools . Its members criticised attempts by successive governments to solve the problem as ‘piecemeal and disappointingly ineffective’. The academy proposals follow a year-long inquiry into the country’s spiralling weight crisis. One in four adults in England is obese, and figures are predicted to rise to 60 per cent of men, half of women and a quarter of children by 2050. The academy recommends that the NHS spends at least £300million over the next three years to tackle a serious shortage in weight-management programmes, so more patients can be helped ‘in a supportive and sensitive manner’. Academy chairman Professor Terence Stephenson said the report did not claim to offer a full solution to the obesity epidemic, but ‘it does say we need together to do more, starting right now, before the problem becomes worse and the NHS can no longer cope’. The report claims it contains measures that ‘society as a whole needs to take to prevent the obesity crisis becoming unresolvable’. It adds: ‘Just as the challenges of persuading society that the deeply embedded habit of smoking was against its better interests, changing how we eat and exercise is now a matter of necessity.’ The academy’s guidelines will be announced in full today. | Academy of Medical Royal Colleges called for urgent action to tackle problem .
Proposals include experimental 20 per cent tax on sugary soft drinks .
Also said hospitals should get rid of vending machines selling unhealthy food . |
171,794 | 6a56e4149ff47fe0744991f6de985fc0d47c22ee | By . James Rush . PUBLISHED: . 07:56 EST, 21 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 21:09 EST, 21 February 2013 . A 21-year-old man has been charged in relation to the shooting of an 18-year-old woman, killed the same day her sister sat on stage behind President Barack Obama and listened to him push for gun control legislation. Jim McPherson faces charges of murder, armed violence, unlawful use of a weapon and possession of a controlled substance. He remained in custody yesterday on a $3 million bond. He is due to appear in court again next Tuesday. Arrested: Jim McPherson, 21, has been charged in connection with the murder of Janay McFarlane . Young mother: Janay McFarlane was shot last Friday night. She leaves a three month old son Jayden . Close . sisters: Destini Warren, 14, pictured here with her older sister Janay, . attended a speech on Friday by President Obama were he addressed the . issues of gun crime in Chicago. Janay was shot hours later . Janay McFarlane was shot once in the head last Friday night in North Chicago. McFarlane, the mother of a three-month-old boy, was in the Chicago suburb visiting friends and family. Earlier that day, McFarlane's 14-year-old sister was just feet away from Obama at Chicago's Hyde Park Career Academy, where the president spoke about gun violence. The president discussed the worrying . number of shootings, which have taken place in the city, and the tragic . death of another young girl, Hadiya Pendleton, 15, an honors student who . was murdered in a case of mistaken identity days after performing in . his inauguration. Destini . returned to her family's South Lowe Avenue home on Friday evening with . the president's words still echoing her ears, Pendleton's parents had . also been there to hear his speech. Gun control: Students of the Hyde Park Career Academy attended a speech by the President on gun crime on Friday. Destini Warren was a member of the audience hours before her sister, 18, was shot dead . 'What . happened to Hadiya is not unique, it's not unique to Chicago, it's not . unique to this country. Too many of our children are being taken away . from us.' the President said. 'Last . year there were 443 murders with a firearm on the streets of this city. 65 of those murders were 18 and under that's the equivalent of a . Newtown every four months...These [gun control] proposals deserve a vote . in Congress.' Earlier this week, Destini took to Facebook to . speak of her family's grief as they became the latest Chicago home to . be torn apart by gun violence. Grief: Destini Warren, left, has spoken of her devastation of the loss of her sister Janay McFarlane, right . 'We . have Baby Jayden to remember Janay my sister's last words were "My Baby . ... My Baby . I just wish I cam have her back or at least to say . goodbye, she wrote. 'I need her. I finally figured out that I'm not . dreaming she's actually gone. My whole world is upside down.' The . two sisters excitedly discussed the President's visit in Destini's room . the night before, she was sitting on a bench a short distance from the . President when he spoke. Janay McFarlane was due to graduate in . June and had plans to become a chef. She was due to go prom dress . shopping with her mother . Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Jim McPherson, 21, charged in connection with Janay McFarlane's death .
Mother-of-three shot dead last Friday hours after sister listened to Obama .
McPherson remained in custody yesterday on a $3million bond . |
77,441 | db9009c6a38447701ed43c93f2d06e61dd669c91 | NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania (Reuters) -- Mauritanian police found 1,896 lbs (860 kilograms) of cocaine hidden beneath sacks of rice in a parked minibus in the West African country's biggest drug bust, police said late on Monday. The region has become a major hub for Colombian cocaine being trafficked to highly lucrative markets in Europe, where illegal use of the white powder is a growing problem and street prices are significantly higher than in the United States. Mauritanian authorities made the find while investigating who was behind the smuggling of a previous batch of more than 600 kilograms of cocaine seized after a small plane made an emergency landing at the northern port of Noudhibou in May. "During our investigations we noticed a parked minibus which looked different from other such vehicles even though it had registration plates from this country," Police Commissioner Ely Ould Sneiba, director of the country's anti-drugs office, said. "The investigating judge ordered the police to search the minibus and inside they found 21, 50-kg sacks full of cocaine hidden beneath sacks of rice," he said. The drugs were packed in 761 bricks, each weighing by 1.13 kg. Four people were detained in the operation, including one person from Mauritania and one from Western Sahara, which is claimed by Morocco, itself known as a major source of smuggled hashish. Law enforcement officials say Guinea-Bissau, which adjoins Mauritania's southern neighbor Senegal, is a major hub in a network of sea, land and air routes spanning the Atlantic and much of Africa which are used by Latin American drugs gangs to ferry their valuable contraband to Europe and the Middle East. E-mail to a friend . Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. | Police in Mauritania find nearly 2,000 lbs of cocaine hidden beneath bags of rice .
It was the West African nation's biggest drug bust ever .
The find shows the region has become a distribution hub for Colombian cocaine .
Authorities were investigating another drug case when they found the cocaine . |
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