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15,028 | 2aad89aa55e14069639395dee77a4507b381de39 | (CNN) -- A Massachusetts woman was found guilty Wednesday in the first-degree murder of her pregnant friend, whom she bludgeoned and strangled before cutting the baby from the victim's womb. Julie Corey, who was 35 at the time of the crime, was convicted in Worcester Superior Court in the 2009 slaying of Darlene Haynes, 23, in Worcester. Corey is to to be sentenced on Tuesday and faces a maximum sentence of life without parole, prosecutors said. As the verdict was read, Corey cried and placed her hands over her face. Haynes' body was found in her apartment on July 27, 2009. She was eight months pregnant at the time of her death. Days after the murder, Haynes' baby was found with Corey in New Hampshire. DNA evidence and a fingerprint on a bottle at the crime scene tied Corey to the killing, the district attorney's office said. According to trial testimony, Corey tried to pass the baby off as her own to family and friends, the statement said. The child now lives with her father, the statement said. "It's probably the most horrific case this office has seen," Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. said. "This woman was killed for her baby." Corey's lawyers argued that police failed to follow up on leads, including Haynes' ex-boyfriend. They suggested that the ex-boyfriend had given the baby to Corey and her former boyfriend, Alex Dion, according to CNN affiliate WCVB. Dion denied this in court testimony. Calls to Corey's attorney were not returned. At the time, Worcester police said Haynes told people she gave birth at an undisclosed Massachusetts hospital. "When the woman (Corey) appeared with the newborn baby girl in Worcester ... the suspicions of a number of this woman's acquaintances were piqued," police said. "In the aftermath of the discovery of Ms. Haynes' body and the information that her fetus was missing was reported in the media, several of these acquaintances advised detectives of their suspicions." | Body of Darlene Haynes, 23, was found in her home in Worcester, Massachusetts .
Prosecutors: Julie Corey strangled her before cutting baby from her womb .
As the verdict was read, Corey cried and placed her hands over her face . |
141,201 | 42986dc0132012b6150eb6066fdc1047d57fbf29 | By . James Nye . PUBLISHED: . 01:12 EST, 18 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:18 EST, 18 November 2012 . Linked arm-in-arm, Paula Broadwell and her husband Scott were seen together yesterday evening for the first time since the news broke of her affair with shamed former CIA Director David Petraeus. Arriving at her brother's home in the Mount Pleasant suburb of Washington D.C. in a black SUV, the two put on what was a clear show of solidarity as they marched from the garage to the back door of the $2.3 million property. Since the scandalous revelations surrounding his wife first surfaced just over a week ago, Scott Broadwell has been conspicuous for his absence and his appearance last night indicates that he is standing by the West Point Graduate. Paula Broadwell arrives back at her brother's Washington D.C. home with husband Scott . Looking stern and taking the lead from her husband, the Paula Broadwell did not speak to the gathered news reporters as she marched into her sibling's home. Presumably, the pair had been out that evening, possibly at dinner and it is not clear when Scott arrived at the home or when Paula herself left. Indeed, this is the first time that Paula has been seen since Tuesday evening, when she was photographed wearing a hot pink top in the kitchen of her brother's home. She has been holed up there since returning from what was supposed to be a romantic get-away with Scott to celebrate her 40th birthday - which was curtailed when news of the Petraeus affair broke over one week ago. Paula Broadwell and her husband Scott parked their car in the garage at her brother's Washington D.C. home and then entered in through the back yard entrance . Friends and family of the pair told . reporters in the wake of the affair revelations that the Broadwell's had . built a happy home in Charlotte, North Carolina, where they live with . their two sons, Lucien 6, and Landon, 4. The radiologist works at a hospital . in the southern city and the 43-year-old and his wife 'love . to do Crossfit, run, ski and surf together.' according to a biography of Paula Broadwell published by the University of Denver, . In . January, while promoting her now fated biography of David Petraeus, . Paula Broadwell told the Charlotte Observer that she met Scott in . Germany and described them both as 'adventure junkies.' At . an alumni event for the University of Denver in October, Broadwell said . it was 'very difficult to start a family' when the two of them were on . active duty. 1841 Park Road in Washington D.C.'s affluent Mount Pleasant suburb is where Paula Broadwell and her husband Scott are now staying . Photographers and news crews stake out the back of the Mount Pleasant home where Paula Broadwell and her husband Scott returned to tonight . 'We had decided before we got married that every other move would be the other person’s choice, since we are both very career-oriented,' said Paula Broadwell at the event. according to the Daily Beast . 'And he chose Colorado, he chose Denver.' They moved into their $800,000 two-story brick home in Charlotte's Dilworth suburb in 2009 and Scott became an employee of Charlotte Radiology at the same time. In the January interview with the Charlotte Observer Broadwell said that when she was abroad with Petraeus in Afghanistan, Scott and her mother took care of their two sons. Scott Broadwell and his wife have also been involved in a number of groups that work to benefit veterans of the armed forces. Since the affair broke, their home has been empty and visible on the driveway is power-washed writing, which reads in a flourishing font: ‘Dad loves Mom.’ Paula Broadwell's affair with . Petraeus was exposed after she sent a series of messages to Florida . socialite Jill Kelly, apparently warning her off her lover. The messages, which have been described as 'kind of cat-fight stuff', had been sent anonymously to an account shared by Mrs Kelley and her husband, but FBI investigators traced them to Broadwell. Deception: Paula Broadwell is married to a . radiologist, Scott Broadwell (left), and they have two young sons . together, while Petraeus has been married to Holly for 38 years. They . have two grown children . Affair: David Petraeus is pictured with Paula Broadwell, his biographer and former mistress . Insult: A photograph in June 2011 shows . Broadwell watching as Petraeus and his wife Holly arrive for a Senate . Select Intelligence Committee hearing on Petraeus' nomination to be . director of the CIA . In one of the . emails from Broadwell to Kelley, she accused the Florida housewife of touching 'him' underneath a table . and another email asked if Kelley's husband was aware of her actions, . according to the Wall Street Journal. In another, the biographer of the . former CIA director was apparently aggressive towards Mrs Kelley, . saying: 'Who do you think you are?' She also accused the socialite, a . Petraeus family friend, of 'parad[ing] around the base', adding: 'You . need to take it down a notch.' Kelley has denied being any more than . friends with Petraeus and released a statement saying: 'We and our . family have been friends with Gen. Petraeus for over five years. 'We respect his family’s privacy and want the same for us and our three children.' Happier times: Paula and Scott Broadwell live in Charlotte, North Carolina and have two young sons . Permanent: A message that was pressure-washed into the driveway remains at Paula Broadwell's home in Charlotte, North Carolina . No one home: The home of Paula and Scott Broadwell in Charlotte has been vacant since the scandal broke . It . also emerged today that Broadwell sent an email anonymously to General . John Allen, who has been accused of swapping thousands of . 'inappropriate' emails with Kelley. It was traced back to Petraeus' mistress and he discussed it with Kelley, it is claimed. In fact the bombshell of the illict . affair that rocked the nation broke when Broadwell and her husband Scott . were enjoying a two-day break at the Middleton Inn in Little . Washington, Virginia. Sources told the Washingtonian.com . that the couple had enjoyed 'strenuous' bike rides, champagne and cozy . dinners since arriving at the luxury inn last Thursday evening - the day . before the scandal hit the news. According . to sources, Dr Broadwell, a radiologist, had arranged for Champagne and . a bouquet of roses for his wife's milestone birthday. The . couple reportedly joined other guests at the Inn for breakfast - but by . the time they returned from a romantic dinner last Friday evening, they . were described to the magazine as 'not being in very good moods'. They . left abruptly last Saturday morning and were allegedly on their way to . D.C. A party had also been planned for Mrs Broadwell's birthday on . Saturday night - but it was cancelled. | Paula Broadwell and her husband Scott were seen arm in arm on Saturday night after returning from an evening out of her brother's $2.3 million home in Washington D.C.
This is the first time the pair have been seen together in public since the news of her affair with former CIA Director David Petraeus broke . |
137,809 | 3e383045063c9452962110d8a25989f921b5aec9 | By . Rob Cooper . PUBLISHED: . 03:29 EST, 16 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:49 EST, 16 July 2013 . Payout: Alan Whittle, 57, who earned £150,000 a year, received £72,000 compensation after resigning from his job . The former chief executive of a scandal-hit hospital who defied repeated calls to quit received a £72,000 pay-off as 'compensation' when he finally resigned. Alan Whittle, 57, who has a £1.7million pension pot, also received £30,000 in cash tax-free in the months before he quit - on top of his £150,000-a-year salary. He ran Basildon Hospital which was slammed by regulators in 2009 for bad nursing standards, dirty wards and a lack of leadership which led to an estimated 400 avoidable deaths a year. Mr Whittle was engulfed in scandal himself when he walked out on his wife of 28 years Tracy and moved into hospital accommodation with his mistress. He presented the mother of his four sons with an 'exotic' bouquet of flowers on their wedding anniversary in September 2007 before walking out on her minutes later so that he could be with Karen Bates, who was a patient safety manager at his hospital. Mr Whittle, who is a former local government accountant, finally quit his post last September and received his £72,000 payoff as 'compensation for loss of office'. Last night hospital bosses claimed they did not know why he received the severance pay and said it was approved by former hospital chairman Sir Peter Dickson. Payouts are usually made to people made redundant or who are asked to resign. However, the hospital maintained Mr Whittle, who was a local authority accountant before working his way up at the hospital, stood down voluntarily. A spokeswoman said: 'This was a decision of the previous chairman so you would need to ask him why it was approved. We have a new board that was not party to this decision, but we understand Mr Whittle resigned.' Details of the payout were included in the hospital's annual report. Mr Whittle, who earned more than Prime . Minister David Cameron, announced he was leaving in January 2012, but . did not go until current boss Clare Panniker took over in September. Her arrival signalled several changes on the board of directors. Scandal hit: Basildon University Hospital was slammed by regulators in 2009 for bad nursing standards, dirty wards and a lack of leadership which led to an estimated 400 avoidable deaths a year . Dozens of patients died needlessly at Basildon Hospital because of appalling standards, a damning report said. Unannounced visits by inspectors from the Care Quality Commission found blood spattered on curtains and chairs in the A&E ward, a catheter bag on the floor, poorly-trained nurses and patients treated on trolleys. A commode was soiled under the seat, nurses were failing to feed frail elderly people and patients had pressure sores. The report slammed bad management at the 'elite' hospital which was designated as a foundation trust. Local MP Jackie Doyle-Price, who has spoken out about the 'utterly complacent' attitude of management at the hospital, said it was a golden handshake for failure. 'Unfortunately we see this all too often in the NHS, when people fail they get a golden handshake,' she said. 'We need to shine a light on some of those payouts. In my view Mr Whittle should have fallen on his sword a lot earlier. 'The board should have held him to account. By 2005 it was clear Basildon Hospital was failing and in 2009 it was criticised by regulators. 'We pay board of directors to act on our behalf and challenge management. They were turning up and taking the money but not asking questions. 'I am pleased that now we have got rid of all that and there is a chance for this hospital to rise again.' Mr Whittle did not respond to requests for a comment at his home in Chafford Hundred, Essex. | Alan Whittle, 57, was boss of Basildon Hospital which was slammed by regulators for bad nursing standards and dirty wards .
The NHS executive received his pay-off despite resigning from his job .
He walked out on his wife of 28 years for a hospital patient safety manager .
MP describes the pay-off as a golden handshake for failure . |
186,265 | 7d41656753fef04810a6cb9134fed9bcf4d19e70 | The 39-degree heat in Fortaleza meant Holland and Mexico were given the World Cup's first official 'cooling break', as fans were seen retreating to the back of the stands to avoid the scorching sun. Referee Pedro Proenca allowed three minutes on the half-hour and 75-minute mark to cool off and take in drinks at Estadio Castelao, while supporters maneuvered their way into pockets of shade. It is worrying, though, with the temperature of Qatar - the controversial hosts of the 2022 tournament - more than capable of reaching in excess of 40 degrees. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Mexico prepare for Holland with their 12th man . Cooling off: The Mexico team were given a three-minute break to take in fluids and cool off during this year's first World Cup 'cooling breaks' Hot: Mexico's Paul Aguilar (right) attempts to cool off with a drink in the 39C heat . Mandatory: During the match referee Pedro Proenca halted play for three minutes on the 30 and 75 minute marks . Water break: Holland take in three minutes to themselves in their game against Mexico . Empty seats: Many fans left their seats in an attempt to avoid the intense heat and scorching sunshine . Time: The water breaks gave Miguel Herrera - still wearing his suit jacket despite the raging heat - three minutes to talk tactics with his players . The temperature in Qatar between May and September can be as low as 30 degrees or as high as 50. It has even been recorded at a worrying 53 degrees before. The area also suffers sandstorms during the dry season. In December and January - should the tournament become a winter World Cup - Qatar can be hit by rain showers, but the temperature will drop between a more modest mid 30s to mid 20s. The three minutes, which also gave Mexico boss Miguel Herrera and Holland manager Louis van Gaal time to talk tactics, were added to stoppage time at the end of the half. As were the three minutes taken in the 75th minute. The breaks would certainly be needed in Qatar, given temperatures can . rise to a worrying 50 degrees. It has been argued that such heat would prove dangerous for both players and supporters. Elsewhere, though, former England and Manchester . United defender Rio Ferdinand joined in, taking to social . media to show off a selfie of himself taking his own drinks break. But one man who the seemed to not be bothered by the heat was Herrera, who kept his suit jacket on throughout as he watched his team concede two goals in as many minutes to crash out. Herrera, the least-paid manager at the World Cup on £125,000-a-year, coped well with the heat since the tournament began, leading Mexico out of a tough Group A at the expense of Croatia and Cameroon. Rio too! Ferdinand took his own drinks break, taking to Twitter to pose with his drink in the sun . Warm? Mexico manager Miguel Herrera kept his jacket on during the clash with the Netherlands in the World Cup last 16 . A little cooler: Louis van Gaal just wore a shirt for the match against Mexico but still felt the heat . | Holland and Mexico have World Cup's first official 'cooling break' under referee Pedro Proenca's orders on the half-hour mark .
Temperature measured at 38.8 degrees in Fortaleza at Estadio Castelao .
Supporters make way to shade at back of stands to avoid sun .
Qatar between May and September likely to reach 40 degrees or more, and has been recorded as high as 53 degrees .
Three-minute breaks get added to stoppage time at end of half .
Holland beat Mexico 2-1 to reach quarter-final or World Cup .
FIFA secretary general stated 2022 World Cup 'will not be in June or July' and could be played over winter . |
80,045 | e2e0324d420b585e48e488ac43bb85e97af379be | A disgraced politician accused of defrauding $200million of government funds used some of the money to buy cars, homes and luxuries for a prostitute with whom he had a son, it is claimed. Mario Zelaya, 46, the former head of the national health service in Honduras, became infatuated with Natalia Ciuffardi, 28, after he met her at a strip club-cum-brothel in Chile. He showered her with gifts and promised to help her leave the Platinum Club brothel in the capital Santiago de Chile, where she was working as a high-class prostitute charging £300 an hour. The Chilean Geisha: Natalia Ciuffardi, 28, was the mistress of Honduran health chief Mario Zelaya, who is alleged to have used money from a $200million fraud to buy her homes and cars . Secret affair: Ciuffardi pictured with Zelaya, former director of the Honduran national health service, who showered her with valuable gifts and eventually fathered a son with her . In custody: Ciuffardi is now facing potential extradition to Honduras after she was implicated in the scam . Eventually Ciuffardi fell pregnant and Zelaya, already a married father-of-three, bought her homes and cars as well as sending her thousands of dollars a month to look after their son. But she is now facing extradition to Honduras after she was implicated in the $200million fraud allegedly orchestrated by Zelaya over the four years he spent in charge of his country's public health system. She maintains her innocence. 'He was very charming and I had no reason to suspect that the money he was giving me was not his own. How am I supposed to know that he had been stealing it?' she was quoted as saying by Central European News. 'I fell in love with him and when I became pregnant it was logical for me to leave and start a new life with the man who I thought I knew.' Chile's courts are due to make a decision this week on whether to extradite Ciuffardi. According to her statements about to the court about her relationship with Zelaya, she first met him while working as a prostitute in 2011. On that first night, she said, he had appeared at the Platinum Club in a group and spotted her when she sat down where he would be able to see her. He soon asked a waiter how he could be with her, she said, and she had sex with him after he agreed to pay about $230. They began an affair, with the wealthy politician treating Ciuffardi to beach holidays and beseeching her to give up her work as a prostitute. She said he would spend one week in every month with her, and that he had apparently been telling his wife, Michelle Alejandra Flores Borjas, 42, and their three children that he was in Chile on business. Police said she continued working as a stripper and prostitute but stopped when she got pregnant, after which Zelaya maintained her with monthly payments of up to $5,000 a month. His generosity did not stop there. As their relationship continued, Cuffiardi is said to have received gifts including two apartments, a house on the beach, two SUV cars, expensive perfumes, watches, clothes and purses. Pro-business: Zelaya got his job at the head of the Honduran health service after a military coup ousted the country's left-wing president Manuel Zelaya - no relation - in 2009 . High-class prostitute: Ciuffardi and Zelaya met while she was working as a hooker at the Platinium club in Santiago de Chile. They began an affair after he paid her about $230 for sex . But in early 2014 it all came to an end when a Honduran court ordered Zelaya arrested on charges of fraud, bribery, abuse of public funds and money laundering. Zelaya fled, but not before warning his girlfriend he may never see her again. 'The first I knew that anything was wrong was when he called me and asked me to forgive him. He said I'll understand him one day,' she said. 'He asked me to always say good things about him to our son. And that he felt sorry for what happened, but we are never ever going to meet again.' Last September Zelaya was finally captured in the southern state of El Paraiso, which borders Nicaragua. Prosecutors discovered more than $7 million worth of assets including mansions, apartments, land and vehicles under Zelaya's control. It was a dramatic fall from grace for Zelaya, who had been a respected doctor and also served for several years in the Honduran army. His rise to power began in 2009 when Honduras's left-wing former president Manuel Zelaya - who is of no relation - was ousted in a coup backed by the U.S. The country's new president, Porfirio Lobo, appointed Zelaya to the top post on the IHSS. Dana Frank, a Honduras specialist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, said that under Lobo crime and corruption mushroomed. 'They just threw the rule of law out the door,' she told the New Orleans Advocate, adding that since the coup the country's leaders have clamped down on civil liberties, including freedom of speech. The wife: Michelle Alejandra Flores Borjas, who is also implicated in Zelaya's alleged embezzlements . Soon after his appointment, Zelaya is alleged to have begun accepting $2million in bribes from a Honduran consulting company, said to be the beginning of a campaign of fraud and embezzlement which took in unjustified purchases, exorbitant contracts, airline tickets, travel and hotel stays. Zelaya left the IHSS, which covers 1.6 million Hondurans, in precarious financial shape after allegedly overpaying companies, some formed by his former IHSS subordinates, according to Honduras's National Anti-Corruption Board. Now Ciuffardi is part of the corruption probe as well. She said the fact that officials in Honduras had not even realised the money was stolen for so long meant that it was also impossible for her to know. She said: 'He told me he would change my life. He promised he would help me leave my job and we would build a home together. I believed him and I fell in love with him.' | Natalia Ciuffardi, 28, met Manuel Zelaya at a brothel in Santiago de Chile .
After he paid her for sex they began an affair lasting nearly three years .
But at the same time, it is claimed, he was defrauding the Honduran NHS .
He bought her homes, cars and clothes and sent her $5,000 a month .
Now she is facing extradition to Honduras for her alleged role in the scam . |
3,873 | 0b2af144f9e780244b846bd0f68771c920292b7f | By . Gemma Mullin . The actor, who has also appeared in The Bill, Holby City, Doctors and Family Affairs, has always denied the allegations . Soap star David Easter has spoken of his relief at being cleared of rape allegations as his lawyer accuses the alleged victim of trying to ‘cash in’ after the Jimmy Savile scandal. The 54-year-old actor, who is the former husband of Loose Woman presenter Denise Welch, was accused of carrying out the assault 17 years ago by a woman now in her 40s. He said today: 'I am relieved that this ordeal is now over and that I have been formally cleared. 'These allegations were always unfounded and I am focused now on my career, which has been understandably very difficult to manage over the last few months.' Mr Easter was questioned by police in May as part of Operation Sapphire after the alleged victim spotted him playing Gil Keane in Emmerdale last December. But officers have now said there is not enough evidence to prosecute. Mr Easter’s lawyers now claim that the woman tried to use Operation Yewtree, which was launched in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal, as a way of ‘cashing in’. Lawyer Julian Lee told The Sun: ‘It was a 17-year-old allegation and the woman in question must have seen him on TV thousands of times during those years but she only waited until the Jimmy Savile bandwagon started and tried to cash in on it. ‘Thankfully it didn’t get anywhere – I hope David can get on with his life now.’ His agent, . Mark Deitch, told MailOnline: ‘It is great news. We are, as is David, . enormously relieved that this has been dropped and that no charges were . brought against him. ‘He can now get on with his career.’ Mr . Deitch was unable to confirm whether the actor would be making a return . to Emmerdale after his last contract with the show ended in December. He added: ‘He left before the allegations came to light when his contract was up at the end of last year.’ The actor, who has also appeared in The Bill, Holby City, Doctors and Family Affairs, has always denied the allegations. The actor is pictured above playing Gil Keane in Emmerdale alongside Gaynor Faye as Megan Macey . Mr Easter (left) married actress Denise Welch (right) in 1985, but the pair divorced three years later . He made his acting debut in the 1979 disco film The Music Machine, before playing Pat Hancock in the soap opera Brookside from 1984 to 1987. Mr Easter married former Coronation street actress Denise Welch in 1985, but they divorced three years later. He now lives with his long-term partner and five-year-old son in Hanwell, west London. | The actor, 54, was accused of historic assault 17 years ago on woman in her 40s .
Alleged victim made claims after seeing him play Gil Keane in Emmerdale .
Questioned by police but it has now been dropped due to a lack of evidence .
Mr Easter spoke of his relief and says the 'allegations were unfounded'
Lawyers claim alleged victim used the Jimmy Savile scandal to try to 'cash in' |
110,595 | 1a8c75e7fae581768f33f5638457faae55288976 | KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- A top Taliban commander has issued a new threat to foreign aid workers, saying that under the insurgent group's new "constitution" they will execute them as spies or hold them in exchange for the release of Taliban fighters. Taliban militants pose with their weapons as they drive their car in Wardak province. (File photo) In an exclusive telephone interview Friday night with CNN, Mohammed Ibrahim Hanafi said the Taliban intelligence wing was actively gathering information on foreign aid workers. "If we get someone, that is how we will deal with it under our new constitution," he said. He added that he was telling "Afghan brothers not to work with NGOs." In the 15-minute interview, arranged by an intermediary for CNN, Hanafi repeated the Taliban's pledge to keep girls out of public schools. "Our law is still the same old law which was in place during our rule in Afghanistan," he said. "Mullah Mohammad Omar was our leader and he is still our head and leader and so we will follow the same law as before." "In my opinion," he added, "Taliban aren't allowing girls to go to schools because Taliban want women to preserve their respect by staying in their homes, not to work as laborers for others." Dozens of crimes across the country, especially acid attacks, have marred the opening of the new school year in Afghanistan. Afghan girls have been burned and scared randomly with acid as punishment for going to school. More than 600 schools did not open this year because of security issues, according to the Afghanistan Education Ministry. Watch what females face in Afghanistan » . The schools that did open, however, remain defiant. Young women admitted to CNN being fearful but also said they are determined to get an education and better their lives. It is a sentiment echoed by their principal, a 35-year veteran of Afghanistan's girls schools. "I am asking those who close schools and throw acid on girls to let the children of this country go to school because it's crime to close the schools, a crime against the children of this country," said Safia Hayat, principal of the Zarghona Girls School in Kabul. Hanafi, meanwhile, went on to discuss possible reconciliation talks with the Afghan government. "I don't think there can be any discussion of peace until the the foreigners leave Afghanistan," he said referring to the presence of coalition troops. While he seemed to confirm that some reconciliation talks were ongoing, Hanafi also said he wondered what kind of peace was possible as long as Afghans are still dying in NATO bombardments. Hanafi described himself as a commander in the southern province of Helmand, but announced a new Taliban offensive in the north was about to begin and that he would be playing a key role there. | Top Taliban commander issues threat to execute foreign aid workers .
Mohammed Ibrahim Hanafi said intelligence wing was gathering information .
Hanafi repeated Taliban's pledge to keep girls out of public schools .
Commander gave exclusive telephone interview Friday night to CNN . |
6,085 | 113ebeb291073680cc8e783a6cb9ce17bbc3bd68 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 10:32 EST, 19 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 11:52 EST, 19 January 2014 . Empty threats: Police say Michael Hamson walked into a Tampa branch of Bank of America with a makeshift fake bomb and slid the teller a note threatening to blow up the place . A Florida man tried to rob a bank on Saturday using a cellphone with a pen taped to it. Michael . Hamson Sr. was arrested after trying to pass off the harmless device as . an explosive at a Bank of America branch in Tampa. Police say the . 59-year-old walked in slid a teller a note that claimed he had a bomb . then lifted his shirt to reveal a container with the phone and pen . strapped to it. The Hillsborough County Sheriff says the teller gave Hamson an undisclosed amount of cash before he dashed out of the bank. He didn't get far, though. According . to WTSP, Hamson hadn't made it out of the parking lot when a security . guard nabbed him and kept him there until police arrived. Deputies on the scene may have found his face familiar. Barely . a week before, on January 10, Hamson had been released from the . Hillsborough County jail on burglary, grand theft and dealing in stolen . property charges. On those unrelated felony charges, Hamson served three months. He's now charged with one count of robbery with a deadly weapon. Nabbed: Hamson made it as far as the parking lot of this Bank of America branch before a security guard nabbed him and police arrived to take hi back to the jail where he'd only just been released following a three month stint on a felony burglary conviction . | Michael Hamson Sr. had recently spent three months in a Tampa, Florida jail following a felony burglary conviction . |
174,055 | 6d401cd1fb5a048b512b1b6d30da2ec32cbcdc3b | Women desperate to have a baby now have access to a national sperm bank. The centre, based at Birmingham Women’s hospital, will be open to both NHS and private patients undergoing fertility treatment. They will be able to choose a donor from an online catalogue which contains detailed information about the male donor’s height, hair colour, ethnicity, career and hobbies. It will charge between £300 and £400 per sample, although some women will be able to get this for free on the NHS if their local area agrees to fund it. The bank – which has received £77,000 of money from the Department of Health – aims to address a national shortage of donors. A new national sperm bank has opened offering single women, gay couples and those left infertile by cancer treatment the chance to conceive . The centre, which is based at Birmingham Women's Hospital, has received £77,000 in funding from the Department of Health and aims to address the national shortage of donors . This has partly been brought about by a growing demand from single women wanting to start a family without a male partner and lesbian couples. But it also includes those whose husbands or boyfriends have undergone cancer treatment rendering them infertile. Some women who want to have a baby using donated sperm have been routinely waiting for up to two years, with many eventually forced to ‘import it’ from donors abroad. And the majority of men are white which has left women from other ethnicities struggling to find a donor. Until now, sperm has been banked locally at fertility clinics, leading to a patchy service and waiting times of up to two years in some areas. This has led to some women going abroad for treatment while others have gone online to find a donor, putting themselves at risk to HIV and other infections. The national sperm bank aims to have recruited donors 1,000 donors within just three years, who will be paid £35 per donation. Dr Sue Avery, the director of the Birmingham Women's Fertility Centre, said: ‘The idea of the campaign is to focus on sperm donation as a tremendously positive thing to do and that the men who do this are very special. Women can browse the sperm bank's database to choose their done. It will cost around £300 to £400 per sample, while some local health authorities will fund treatment . ‘They're helping to build families. ‘We're spending this money to start something that we hope will grow to the point where nobody has to import sperm.’ Figures from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority show that fertility clinics in Britain are increasingly relying on importing sperm from abroad. The numbers of overseas sperm donors registering to provide samples each year has increased from less than 50 in 2005 to just under 200 last year. Meanwhile the number of British men registering fell last year from a peak of 450 to 400. Dr Allan Pacey, the chair of the British Fertility Society said: ‘We are importing as a nation more and more sperm from overseas, without being xenophobic it kind of just doesn't feel right, it's a problem that's not going away. ‘Also I think there will always be some patients who, with regards to sperm donors, will want an individual that is more closely related to them in culture and language and outlook.’ | Centre at Birmingham Women's Hospital open to NHS and private patients .
Will charge £300-£400 per sample, though some local authorities will fund it .
Bank has received £77,000 from the Department of Health and aims to address a national shortage of donors .
Brought about due to growing demand from single women, gay couples, and those left infertile through cancer treatment . |
239,217 | c1b509a5596770ef5b2b3f142cded0238577f3c3 | MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (CNN) -- Investigators trying to figure out what caused Wednesday's massive bridge collapse are focusing on the southern end of the span, which "behaved differently" as it fell, the National Transportation Safety Board said Friday. The NTSB says one part of the bridge shifted 50 feet as it fell, while other sections collapsed in place. The NTSB, which is investigating the disaster that killed at least five people and injured dozens, is also hoping another video provided by the Army Corps of Engineers will provide new images of the collapse. What's getting investigators' attention is the way the southern part of the bridge fell in a video they've already examined -- recorded by a security camera near the bridge's north end -- and the way the section settled after the collapse. "It appears that it has shifted approximately 50 feet to the east and when we compare that to what we've seen in the rest of the bridge -- the rest of the bridge appears to have collapsed in place, " said NTSB Chairman Mark Rosenker, who is leading a 19-member team charged with determining the cause of the accident. "We're going to take a look at any unique design factors that could have created that shift...for whatever reason." It's not the answer to the mystery of why the bridge fell, but a step forward, Rosenker said. The NTSB will also examine three more videos provided by the Army Corps of Engineers, one of which may show another view of the bridge falling, Rosenker said. Investigators aren't optimistic the other two will show anything because they weren't pointed at the bridge. On Thursday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters notified state transportation departments to immediately inspect all bridges of the same design as the one that collapsed Wednesday on Interstate 35W into the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. Brian Turmail, spokesman for the Transportation Department, said there are about 750 bridges across the country that have similar steel deck truss designs. Turmail said the measure is being taken "out of extreme caution." Two reports published since 2001 have pointed to structural problems with the Interstate 35W bridge, but both reports determined the bridge was safe despite deficiencies. See which states have most troubled bridges » . "The bridge's deck truss system has not experienced fatigue cracking, but it has many poor fatigue details on the main truss and the floor truss system," said a report conducted for the Minnesota Department of Transportation in 2001. The 40-year-old bridge is of a type known as deck steel truss. It has three parts: a deck, superstructure and substructure. The deck is made of concrete and rebar, the superstructure is made of steel and the substructure is made of steel and concrete footing, according to Rosenker. The executive summary of the 2001 Minnesota Department of Transportation report -- undertaken by the University of Minnesota's Department of Civil Engineering -- points to fatigue problems with the bridge's approach span, the segments that connect the main span of the bridge to land. However, the report said, "Fatigue cracking is not expected during the remaining useful life of the bridge." Watch the bridge collapse » . In 2005, the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Bridge Inventory database concluded the bridge was "structurally deficient." Minnesota Department of Transportation bridge engineer Dan Dorgan said the term "structurally deficient" is a Federal Highway Administration rating. Inspectors rate sections of the bridge on a 1 to 9 scale, with 9 being in excellent condition, he said. "A structurally deficient condition is a bridge that would have a rating of 4 either in the deck, the superstructure or the substructure," he said. "Any one of those in condition 4 or less is considered structurally deficient." But, he noted, out of 13,000 state and local bridges in Minnesota that are 20 feet and more in span, 1,160 of them -- 8 percent of the state's bridges -- are considered structurally deficient. Tom Everett of the Federal Highway Administration's National Bridge Inspection Program said the structurally deficient rating was a "programatic classification rather than an indication of safety." "It does not indicate a bridge is dangerous or that that bridge must be replaced," he said. The Minnesota bridge was deemed structurally deficient in 1990, Dorgan said, "due to corrosion of the bearings, so they were not able to move as freely as designed." Later, inspectors found corrosion of steel around joints in the bridge and fatigue cracks in the approach spans. Those problems were repaired in the 1990s. "Recent inspections in 2005 and 2006 found no evidence of cracking or growth in the existing cracks in the tab well that have been there since the day the bridge was built," he said. Dorgan also cited an in-depth study of the bridge's fatigue potential conducted from 2004 to 2007 that recommended two alternatives for the bridge's future -- to add steel plates to reinforce critical parts of the bridge or to conduct thorough inspections of the wells inside the box to determine whether there were cracks. "We chose the inspection route, and began in May," he said, adding that officials intended to replace the bridge about 2020. "We had the bridge partially inspected and were going to complete that this fall after construction was done." During a Wednesday news conference, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty described the bridge deficiencies as "minor" and said the state was told that the bridge's deck might need to be rehabilitated or replaced in 2020 or later. View photos from the disaster » . "It was last inspected both in 2005 and 2006. There were no structural deficiencies identified according to [the Minnesota Department of Transportation]," Pawlenty said. Most bridges are inspected every two years and receive ratings based on the conditions of various components, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. In addition to "structurally deficient," another bridge classification is "functionally obsolete," according to the Federal Highway Administration. A bridge is tagged structurally deficient when significant bridge elements have deteriorated and the bridge's load-carrying capacity is reduced, according to the highway administration. A bridge is dubbed functionally obsolete when the bridge does not meet current design standards. Neither label indicates a bridge is unsafe for travel, the highway administration said. As of 2003, there were about 160,570 bridges deemed structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers. The number represented 27.1 percent of the nation's bridges. The American Society of Civil Engineers also reported that the number of bridge deficiencies had steadily declined from 34.6 percent in 1992 to 27.1 percent in 2003. E-mail to a friend . | NEW: NTSB says one section of bridge shifted 50 feet as it fell .
The rest of the bridge appears to have fallen in place .
Investigators to examine video that may show another view of the collapse . |
242,781 | c63bf6893a67d575706c85bcc147167a88ddeacb | By . Alex Horlock . PUBLISHED: . 03:55 EST, 2 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 06:27 EST, 2 October 2012 . It started as a ‘tussle,’ just a ‘skirmish,’ but at some point, Raul Barrera simply ‘lost it’. ‘You know, I just saw this blood, so much at the time,’ he added. The chilling confession of the man dubbed the Lower East Side girlfriend-butcher was played publicly for the first time at Barrera’s pre-sentencing hearing in Manhattan Supreme Court. The 33-year-old fashion publicist admitted to stabbing his beautiful girlfriend Sarah Coit, 23, some 30 times in her Clinton Street apartment last year. Slain: Raul Barrera left Lacoste sales manager Sarah Coit, pictured, bleeding in her bedroom after a 'skirmish' got 'out of control' Such were the extent of the injuries, that Miss Coit was found disembowelled and her head had almost been removed from her body. The blade of one of the knives used was still embedded in her skull. ‘I don’t know. I lost it,’ Barrera is heard mumbling to a police officer and a prosecutor just five hours after the brutal slaying of the young Lacoste sales manager. Barrera said the pair had begun arguing before the ‘tussle’ began and ‘things got out of control’. He said: ‘Then we started arguing a little bit. Got into a tussle and there was this silver cart thing next to the edge of the kitchen counter and we must have knocked it down and we must have knocked it down and all the cutlery, the knives were in the…they just all fell to the ground and then we fell to the ground. ‘And I was on top of her. Then my hand just got a cut and it was bleeding a lot profusely and I just…things got out of control.’ After stabbing Miss Coit repeatedly, he then admitted to dragging her, as she lay dying, from her living room into her bedroom before flinging his coat on her, according to the New York Post. Rather than calling the emergency services, he phoned his parents, sister and his son to ‘apologise,’ changed out of his blood-soaked clothes and left the New York apartment to hail a cab. Confession: Raul Barrera (centre) admitted to stabbing his girlfriend after they began to 'tussle' following an argument . Brutal: Miss Coit was nearly decapitated and the blade of one of the knives used by Barrera was still in her skull when police found her . All the while his girlfriend lay bleeding out in her bedroom. When asked by the prosecutor whether he thought to call 911, Barrera simply answered: ‘No.’ At no point in the interview did Barrera ask what condition Coit was in, but he did note that her condition was ‘really bad’ at the point of leaving the flat. He was then asked why he did not call an ambulance. ‘I was just afraid, panicked, scared,’ he explained of not calling an ambulance. ‘I just, I didn’t know what to expect.’ Last week Barrera pleaded guilty to Coit’s murder. Manhatten Supreme Court Justice Richard Carruthers presided over that plea as well as the two-day pre-sentencing hearing that concluded on Monday. Barrera will find out the sentence for his crime on October 29, and is expected to receive anything from 15 years to life in prison. The killer is hoping his mental state and his guilty plea will earn him a lesser sentence. Last week, Miss Coit’s father, Lynde Coit, laid bare his grief at the loss of his daughter as he testified in court. In an emotional testimony, the millionaire lawyer from Greenwich, said: ‘When I identified Sarah's body in the basement of the morgue, her injuries, the look on her face, the terror, will haunt me for the rest of my life and haunt the rest of her family.' Haunted: Miss Coit's (left) father, Lynde (right), identified the mutilated body of his once-beautiful daughter in the morgue and said the terror in her face will 'haunt me for the rest of my life' Mr Coit described how he had travelled to New York, expecting to share a meal with his daughter at her favourite pizza restaurant, according to The New York Post. He read aloud his final text to his daughter - 'Love you,' which he sent as he set off for the city.But she had already been dead for eight hours and what he saw when he arrived in New York was Miss Coit's once-beautiful face criss-crossed by gashes in the city morgue, her perfect teeth grimacing in pain. Prosecutor Matthew Bogdanos told Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Carruthers, who will decide Barrera's fate, that the killer murdered the young marketer with 'breathtaking viciousness.' He also described how neighbours awoke to her screams but heart-wrenchingly couldn't work out where to send police, according to The New York Post. Cold blooded: Barrera left the apartment, with Miss Coit bleeding on her bedroom floor, and hailed a cab to leave the scene . 'There were so many soul-shattering screams that half-a-dozen New Yorkers got out of their beds at 2.30 in the morning,' Bogdanos said. 'These neighbors roamed their hallways, calling, "Where are you? Where are you?" Miss Coit was living in a tenement apartment in the lower Manhattan neighbourhood and the proximity of the houses to each other left neighbours thinking her blood-curdling screams were coming from the building next door. As such, Barrera was lacerating the young woman for 35 minutes before police finally knocked on the right apartment, eventually finding her breathing her last breathes in a puddle of blood, with bent and broken knives littering the floor. Prosecutors are expected to ask for the maximum sentence - 25 years to life. But defence attorney Paul Feinman is likely to argue that Barrera deserves a reduced sentence because of mental health issues. | Raul Barrera's taped confession of killing Sarah Coit, 23, details 'skirmish' that 'got out of control'
Miss Coit was found still breathing in a pool of blood after being stabbed some 30 times .
Barerra is hoping for reduced sentence based on guilty plea and mental health problems . |
63,274 | b3b612c966b6c04624cbdd1ba0a4a0b38f990462 | Researchers at Monash University, in collaboration with their spin out company Amaero, have created the world’s first 3D-printed jet engine, possibly revolutionising the design and cost of aerospace materials . Amaero is already working with six tier-one air space companies, however, with the unit currently on display at Avalon International Air show, the engine is also capturing the attention of commercial outfitters like Boeing and Airbus. David Lyster, Monash University Manger of Major Collaborations, told The Daily Mail Australia it’s a ‘very exciting time’ with overwhelming interest in the prototype and the possible capabilities of 3D printing. Scroll down for video . Breakthrough: The 3D printer attracted interest of major manufacturers while on display at the Avalon International Air show in Melbourne, Australia. Scientists call it additive manufacturing but to you and I, its 3D laser printing. Most people are aware of how plastic printers work, the printer head runs back and forth dribbling plastic ink along the page, for metal printing it’s a whole different ball game. Engineers start with a bed of fine powder which is laid down in a very thin base (40 micrometers). Once there is a uniform layer, a laser is used to melt the powder where they want to form a solid part of the structure. From there it’s only several thousand more layers of powder to go down before the product is complete. Dirty work: The 3D printing process involves layers of very fine powder before a laser is used to form the solid structure . Project leader and visionary, Professor Xinhua Wu, says most jet engines are very complex, taking up to 6-24 months to produce. ‘The benefit of 3D printing is we can cut down the manufacture time of those components to 1-2 weeks,’ says Professor Wu. ‘Simple or complex- 3D printing doesn’t care, it produces it in the same time’ Final product: Professor Xinhua Wu(pictured above) with the 3D printing innovation . Although Amaero are the owners of the biggest 3D printer in the world they say its unlikely the device would be used to print whole planes as it’s ideally suited to ‘highly complex and high value adding components.’ For this reason Dr Lyster can't see 3D printing is replace mass produced products. Dr Lyster told the Daily Mail Australia manufacturing turn around for smaller components will significantly reduce as process’ that once took up to 13 different manufacturing steps and 5-6 months to complete could be produced in as little as three stages and only five days. A laser meticulously melts away at each layer to produce the printed engine . Not only do we ‘improve functioning and decrease manufacturing cost,’ there is a huge reduction in waste as around 99-100% of the powder used ends up being used in the final product, unlike metal which ‘often ends up on the workshop floor,’ says Dr Lyster. ‘People are only just getting around the flexibility 3D printing provides,’ Dr Lyster says. The research team set up spin off company Amaero two years ago, with a federal grant from Commercialisation Australia, to allow the manufacturing on Australian shores. Lyster says the company’s relationship with multiple tier one air space companies has bought them to the forefront of strategic innovation, with the next challenge to establish Amearo as a world leader in 3D printing. “A number of our companies really believe we can do what we are doing better than anyone else,” Dr Lyster told the Daily Mail Australia. Researchers watch on as the printer produces several thousand layers to create aerospace components . The sky is NOT the limit with Lyster’s sights set on entering the biomedical science sphere. Amaero is currently working with Australian and Chinese hospitals and staff looking for new and innovative ways of incorporating 3D printing into the medical world. ‘Demand for product development is so high Amaero is going to have to look at expanding,’ says Lyster. He says now Amaero has comfortably made a mark in the aero industry he is very keen to start working with Australian manufacturers to expand into different industries like biomedical. ‘Our challenge now is engaging with the Australian community and exite them about the capabilities of the technology.' | Monash University have 3D printed the first ever jet engine .
The technology is attracting interest from commercial buyers .
Engineers hope to break into the biomedical technologies .
Amaero is quickly establishing itself as a world leader in 3D printing . |
56,286 | 9f8277d273f4142693caa60791dcd0d2a136c1a8 | By . Rob Cooper . Last updated at 4:18 PM on 2nd December 2011 . A paramedic has been suspended after he was seen inhaling laughing gas while on duty and driving a Vauxhall Vectra emergency vehicle. Nigel Moore, who had worked for the East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust for 26 years, was seen with one hand on the Entonox laughing gas and the other on the steering wheel. He was unsteady on his feet, had slurred speech and appeared intoxicated after he got out of the Vectra, a disciplinary hearing was told. The gas contains 50 per cent oxygen and 50 per cent nitrus oxide and is administered for pain relief. Nigel Moore, who had worked for the ambulance service for 26 years, was seen with one hand on the laughing gas and the other on the steering wheel. A report by the Health Professionals . Council Conduct and Competence Committee said: 'As the registrant left . the ambulance station, in a Vauxhall Vectra East Midlands Ambulance . Service (EMAS) Fast Response Vehicle, he was observed holding an Entonox . demand valve in his mouth with one hand, and the other on the steering . wheel.' As a team leader he was responsible . for managing junior staff, responding to emergency calls and managing . vehicle and equipment problems. Based at Heath Ambulance station near Nottingham, he was later stood down from his duties and was suspended from the Trust. He admitted to using Entonox on September 9 last year, but asked to be given a second chance. The report from the panel said Mr . Moore had been abusing Entonox for a few months, since the beginning of . May 2010. However, said it was not frequent, and it had been brought . about by depression, stress and work pressures. Panel chair Derek Adrian-Harris said: . 'This was not a one-off event. On his own admission the Registrant had . been abusing Entonox for a period of up to five months. 'There is sufficient evidence before . the panel to determine that the registrant has addressed the issues or . shown insight into his behaviour. 'The registrant was in a position of . trust which he abused by using the Entonox, and set a very poor example . to his junior colleagues. He has brought the profession into disrepute. 'There was a real risk that patients could have been put at risk, given the condition in which the registrant was found.' Mr Moore, who was not at the hearing in London, was given a 12-month suspension. | Nigel Moore seen with one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the laughing gas .
Team leader, who had 26 years experience, is suspended for one year . |
286,485 | ff33e71e267afaeac179928deaa3147b0e2f4f0e | New York (CNN) -- No "potential human remains" have been found in the Manhattan location where a 9/11 aircraft part was recently discovered, New York's chief medical examiner said Wednesday. The announcement followed an inspection at 51 Park Place, where a piece of one of the planes in the September 11, 2001, terror attack was found Friday. It was removed Wednesday. The piece was wedged in an 18-inch space behind the building, the site of the controversial Islamic community center known by its critics as the "ground zero mosque." The office said soil-sifting operations have been completed at the site, where the 5-foot-long, 4-foot-wide, and 17-inch-deep part was found. A Boeing Company technician confirmed that the piece is a support structure from a trailing edge flap on the wing of a Boeing 767 like the ones that were flown into the World Trade Center. Police officers hoisted the 255-pound piece out of the location with a pulley and loaded it onto a truck bound for a police property facility in Brooklyn. One police official described the mood at the scene as "eerie." Some of the personnel there responded to the attack. "It's a piece of history and we tried to preserve it as best we could," said Police Deputy Chief William Aubry. "It brought back a lot of memories." | A Boeing Company technician confirms the piece is from a Boeing 767 .
It was found behind the site of a controversial Muslim community center .
The piece was taken to a property facility in Brooklyn . |
52,471 | 94adb274fc4f71d9c97296be1e9ae45961882c2d | By . Leon Watson . PUBLISHED: . 13:30 EST, 22 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:44 EST, 23 December 2013 . Expensive garb: Baroness Frances D'Souza seen in the Queens Robing Room following her introduction into the House Of Lords . Wigs, ceremonial outfits and their accessories for peers and their staff at Westminster have cost taxpayers a staggering £57,000, it was revealed today. Crossbench peer Baroness D'Souza of Wychwood alone has had £8,234 spent on her outfits since being elected to the job in September 2011. The public purse also stumped up thousands for small items like a wig for Clerk of the Parliaments . David Beamish which had a £2,045 price tag, The Sun reported. His court coat and . waistcoat cost another £2,625, a Freedom of Information request in covering the last three years revealed. There was a £5,200 bill for uniform for Black Rod, Lieutenant General David Leakey, and £8,472 was spent on 37 uniforms for doorkeepers. In the House of Commons, a separate Freedom of Information request revealed a wig bag for the Deputy Serjeant at Arms cost £45.83p and two jabots for the assistant, which cost £116.66p. Nine pairs of stockings for the Serjeant at Arms cost £262,63p. Last year, the Serjeant's assistant was also given a pair of breeches that cost £1,075 and a coat and waistcoat that came in at £3,050. The Speaker John Bercow himself was kitted out with a robe that cost £1,130, a pair of breeches for his assistant cost £1,075 with a bill of £3,050 for a coat and waistcoat. The assistant was also provided with three pairs of gloves, two white, one black, four shirts, a skirt, a wig bag, two lace cuffs, a shoe buckle, two jabots, seven collar studs, a court coat and one tailcoat and skirt. In total, that cost £3,496. Robert Oxley, from the Taxpayers' Alliance, told MailOnline: 'We appreciate the tradition of the House of Lords, but just don't think it should cost a fortune. 'The peers need to reduce their finery and fancy tayloring and ensure preserving tradition doesn't cost so much. 'Given the age of the House of Lords, a second hand robe will hardly go amiss for a year.' Fancy tayloring: Black Rod is a senior officer in the House of Lords David Leakey (left) and the House of Commons speaker John Bercow (right) The Queen, accompanied by her husband Prince Philip, faces a mass of Lords in the House of Lords . | Public purse stumped up thousands for small items like a £2,045 wig .
There was a £5,200 bill for uniform for Black Rod David Leakey .
In the Commons, figures reveal nine pairs of stockings cost £262,63p . |
144,703 | 47265b3a67f8e1bf31ec2bfda094eed3a34ddb6e | Frankie Gavin plans to bring a world title to Birmingham after revealing the chance to fight in his hometown was key in his decision to join Eddie Hearn's Matchroom stable. Former world amateur champion Gavin was unveiled as Hearn's latest signing on Tuesday, joining fellow Brummies Kal and Gamal Yafai, Matthew Macklin and Sam Eggington in Hearn's stable. The 29-year-old welterweight, who has only boxed twice in the Second City in 22 professional fights so far, admitted the chance to win world honours in Birmingham was a deciding factor. Frankie Gavin stands in front of a Matchroom billboard at a press conference in Birmingham on Tuesday . Gavin (right) has joined Eddie Hearn's Matchroom stable and his first fight will be on Kell Brook's undercard . 'Birmingham was the inkling behind it as well as getting more fights,' he said. 'I'm from Birmingham and I should be fighting in Birmingham. Not just the midlands, Birmingham specifically. I should be fighting here.' Gavin, who parted company with previous promoter Frank Warren last week, added: 'I'm not a bad ticket seller and I believe I should be headlining bills. Birmingham-born Gavin (right) in action against Michael Lomax at York Hall, London . Eddie Hearn tweeted to welcome his new recruit to the Matchroom stable on Tuesday . 'I make my debut for Matchroom on Kell Brook's undercard in March and my second fight will be top of the bill in Birmingham in May. 'When Eddie mentioned Birmingham for my second fight I thought he meant just being on the card but actually I'm headlining it and that shows you the plans they have for me. 'I'll fight for the WBA intercontinental title in March to get my ranking even higher with that body then I'll fight for the European title in May. Once I've won that it's time to go for world titles.' | Frankie Gavin was unveiled as Eddie Hearn's latest signing on Tuesday .
Birmingham-born Gavin now plans to bring a world title to his home town .
Gavin admits that the chance to box in Birmingham swayed his decision .
'He will make his debut for Matchroom on Kell Brook's undercard in March . |
130,554 | 34d795928614fc437d6d8c4bd9a39a2e84cca482 | New procedure: A study found that gently scratching the lining of the womb before IVF greatly increased the odds of pregnancy (picture posed by model) A simple scratch could double a woman’s chances of having an IVF baby, doctors believe. A study found that gently scratching the lining of the womb before IVF greatly increased the odds of pregnancy, cutting the financial and emotional cost of repeated treatment. IVF costs between £3,000 and £15,000 a course, but just one in four of the 50,000 women who have it each year have a baby. The technique, called endometrial scratching, involves using an instrument similar to a coffee-stirrer to make four scratches on the lining of the womb. It costs around £300 and only takes a few minutes. Doctors believe a fledgling embryo may find it easier to nestle in the furrows. It is also possible that the scratches release hormones that make the womb stickier and so the embryo finds it easier to implant. Sir Robert Edwards – the IVF pioneer behind the birth of Louise Brown, the world’s first test-tube baby – was a firm believer in the technique. The practice fell out of favour as fertility treatment became more technical but some doctors feel it is time to bring it back. Clinics around the world are researching it, and Britain’s first proper trial of the technique has just finished. Scroll down for video . During the IVF process, eggs are removed from the ovaries and fertilised with sperm in the laboratory . The latest study, at Ankara University in Turkey, involved 114 women aged under 40 who had tried IVF without success at least twice. Some 38 per cent of those given endometrial scratching with IVF became pregnant, compared with 20 per cent of those given IVF alone, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s conference in Honolulu heard. A cheap form of IVF using baking soda is to be tested in Britain next month. It costs a third of the price of standard treatment as it does not involve expensive drugs and equipment. In conventional IVF, the embryo is grown with a mixture of nutrients in a large incubator with expensive carbon dioxide pumped through. But scientists from Colorado University in the US found the same effect using citric acid and sodium bicarbonate – baking soda. This enables the embryo to be grown in a smaller incubator, the size of a shoe box. The technique, called simplified culture system (SCS), resulted in the birth of 18 healthy babies in Belgium, with an overall success rate of about 34 per cent. In the trial next month, 50 British women under 37 will pay £1,000 to undergo the procedure – as opposed to at least £3,000 for standard IVF. Dr Geeta Nargund of the Walking Egg Foundation, which is overseeing the trial, said funding for IVF in the UK is ‘very limited’ and that SCS could ‘end the current postcode lottery because more cycles could be offered within the existing NHS budget constraints’. Charles Kingsland, of the Hewitt Fertility Centre at Liverpool Women’s Hospital, said data on the technique is ‘quite encouraging’, but clear evidence of its benefits are needed before all fertility doctors are advised to use it. Professor Kingsland said: ‘It’s a very technically easy thing for a suitably trained gynaecologist to do. ‘It’s not the most pleasant thing … We advocate that the woman has a paracetamol before she comes in. ‘After a cup of tea, the vast majority of women will be able to drive home.’ The consultant gynaecologist, who was mentored by Sir Robert, said: ‘When we were putting embryos back … he said, “Make a little scratch when you put them in”. And we thought, “That’s not right, you should be putting them in very, very delicately and carefully”, and it’s turned full circle now.’ He added that the procedure ‘would be brilliant if it did work’. Nick Raine-Fenning, of Nottingham University’s Nurture fertility unit, said studies have had mixed results. But, on balance, successes outweigh the failures. ‘It is possible that only a certain sub-group of patients may see an increase in pregnancy and birth rates and that the benefit is restricted to those with previous unsuccessful attempts at IVF,’ he said. Dr Raine-Fenning added that there is some scepticism about the practice because ‘we remain uncertain of the underlying mechanism’. | Innovative technique, called endometrial scratching, costs around £300 .
Study found those who tried it almost doubled their chance of pregnancy .
Procedure could save women who repeatedly try IVF thousands of pounds .
In separate study scientists find new cheap IVF method...using baking soda . |
45,294 | 7faebbbf9e08ecb3f4e2beaf81b4ba00c213684f | (CNN) -- A killer whale killed a trainer Wednesday afternoon at SeaWorld's Shamu Stadium in Orlando, Florida, a public information officer for the Orange County Sheriff's Office said. The 40-year-old woman, identified by sheriff's spokesman Jim Solomons as Dawn Brancheau, was in the whale holding area about 2 p.m. when "she apparently slipped or fell into the tank and was fatally injured by one of the whales," he said. But a witness told CNN affiliate WKMG-TV that the whale approached the glass side of the 35-foot-deep tank at Shamu Stadium, jumped up and grabbed the trainer by the waist, shaking her so violently that her shoe came off. WKMG: Killer whale kills trainer . A SeaWorld employee who asked not to be identified confirmed the description of the attack and added that the whale involved is named Tillikum. SeaWorld uses "Shamu" as a stage name for any of the male or female orcas in its shows. "One of our most experienced animal trainers drowned" in the accident, said Dan Brown, vice president and general manager of SeaWorld Orlando. He said an investigation will be carried out. "We'll make our findings known in due course," he said. "We've never in the history of our parks experienced an incident like this. All standard operating procedures will be reviewed." He would not elaborate. "Please bear with us; we've just lost a member of our family," he said. The incident occurred after a show called "Dine with Shamu," said Paula Gillespie, who attended with her daughter. "During the show everything was perfectly fine," she said. Afterward, "we went down to look at his full body underneath the isolation tank," she said. "Everything seemed calm and OK. The trainer was laying down on him and kissing his nose and rubbing him." But the scene changed quickly, she said. "Within five minutes, she was down in the tank and we saw all the thrashing and the bubbles and him pushing her with his nose," she said. "It was just so, so traumatic." Within moments, sirens went off and SeaWorld employees asked her to leave the building, she said. A woman who had watched the whales perform before the incident said the trainers were having difficulties getting the whales to perform. "They weren't following the instructions," Lori Miller said on "Larry King Live." "And the senior trainer actually came out onto the stage to let the crowd know ... that the whales decided they were having more fun splashing each than splashing the crowd." A patron who did not witness the event said the park refunded her entry fee, although a spokeswoman said the park remained open. Guest David Dalton told CNN affiliate WFTV, "All of a sudden, out of nowhere, two of the bigger whales just kind of flipped out, going as fast as they could in the water." Jeffrey Ventre, a former SeaWorld trainer, described Brancheau as "a great trainer" and Tillikum as "a great animal" who has sired 13 offspring. "He's huge, he's impressive; people just see him and they go 'Wow!' He's a money stream as well." Fred Felleman, a marine consultant in Seattle, Washington, said keeping the social animals in what amounts to isolation is bound to cause problems. "The fact is we don't have the facilities to adequately accommodate not only the physical needs, the psychological and social needs of these animals," he told CNN affiliate KIRO-TV. "We respect lions and wolves and wild dogs as fantastic things, but we don't go run into the Serengeti and try to jump on their back." iReport: Photo taken moments before Sea World incident . Jack Hanna, director emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio, said he knew Brancheau and that she would want her work to continue. "What happened is something that happens; it happens in our line of work," he said. "They are dangerous animals; they're wild animals." He added that he hopes SeaWorld continues with the work it does with killer whales. But a spokesman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals called the death "a tragedy that didn't have to happen." Jaime Zalac said the organization had called on SeaWorld "to stop confining oceangoing mammals to an area that to them is like the size of a bathtub, and we have also been asking the park to stop forcing the animals to perform silly tricks over and over again. It's not surprising when these huge, smart animals lash out." In 2006, a trainer at the adventure park was hospitalized after a killer whale grabbed him and twice held him underwater during a show at Shamu Stadium. In 1999, Tillikum was blamed for the death of a 27-year-old man whose body was found floating on his back in a tank at SeaWorld, the apparent victim of a whale's "horseplay," authorities said then. The Orange County Sheriff's Office said the man apparently hid in the park until after it closed and then climbed into the tank. The 11,000-pound, 22-foot-long whale was "not accustomed to people being in his tank" and "wouldn't have realized he was dealing with a very fragile human being," Solomons said at the time. "He may have been a victim of what a whale would call horseplay, just playing around," Solomons said. CNN's John Couwels and Brian Todd contributed to this story. | Victim identified as Dawn Brancheau, 40 .
Death occurred at Orlando, Florida, attraction .
Animal involved in previous deadly incident .
"Please bear with us; we've just lost a member of our family," SeaWorld VP says . |
63,098 | b3401ac51d89d8a790865341ac245b3ac7e32085 | By . Damien Gayle . Facebook is the worst social networking site for internet trolling, and bullying is now more prevalent online than anywhere else, a study has suggested. Some 87 per cent of teenagers who reported cyber abuse said they were targeted on Mark Zuckerberg’s site, while around one-fifth of youngsters were picked on by Twitter trolls, the report showed. Those most frequently victimised were 19-year-old boys. Bullying: Facebook is the worst social networking site for internet trolling, and bullying is now more prevalent online than anywhere else, a study has suggested . According to the report, 49 per cent of those targeted by bullies were victimised off-line, while 65 per cent of teenagers were subjected to abuse in cyberspace. Only 37 per cent of those who had experienced trolling ever reported it to the social network where it took place, the report found. Emma-Jane Cross, CEO and founder of the charity BeatBullying, said many young people were suffering in silence. 'Bullying both on and off-line continues to be a serious problem for a huge number of teenagers and we cannot ignore its often devastating and tragic effects,' she said. 'We work with hundreds of young people being cyber-bullied or trolled so badly that it can lead to depression, truancy, self-harm, or even force them to contemplate or attempt suicide.' Media psychologist Arthur Cassidy said online bullying could have a 'massive impact' on older male teenagers. 'Suicide rates are particularly high amongst this demographic, so it’s worrying to hear that teenagers on the whole are choosing to deal with internet abuse themselves rather than speaking to parents or teachers for help,' he said. Who is affected? The survey says 19 year old boys are the worst hit . 'Whilst some might expect girls to be more vulnerable online, this study shows that older boys are more at risk from trolling and cyber-bullying. 'Many boys feel under pressure to demonstrate their bravado, particularly on the web, but this attitude and male deficiency in coping strategies can make them more vulnerable and open to trolling.' The study, for internet site knowthenet.org.uk, found a number of social networking sites had become 'popular forums' for trolls. Some 13 per cent of the 13 to 19-year-olds consulted claimed they were targeted on BlackBerry Messenger, 8 per cent said they were picked on by trolls on Bebo and 4 per cent said they were victimised on Whatsapp. Researchers also looking at where most trolling was done - with Facebook the most dangerous place to visit online . Fewer than one in five (17 per cent) teens said their first reaction would be to tell a parent and only 1 per cent of those surveyed said their initial response would be to inform a teacher. Around 34 per cent of those who were picked on by trolls said their experiences lasted more than a month. Knowthenet, which released the study, has now launched a 'trolling hub' offering advice on how to deal with online bullying. This can be found at www.knowthenet.org.uk/trolling. Opinium Research consulted more than 2,000 teenagers for the study. | Leading social network used to target teenagers in 87 per cent of reported cases of cyber-bullying .
Around one-fifth of youngsters were picked on by trolls on Twitter, according to a report .
The most frequently victimised were 19-year-old males . |
169,696 | 679a2ef294cbac09280b8ded684ca93de9c43826 | By . Tara Brady . PUBLISHED: . 06:06 EST, 30 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 09:09 EST, 30 January 2014 . The Apprentice winner Stella English is believed to be 'seriously concerned' for her safety after receiving death threats, it has been claimed. A friend of the 34-year-old, who lives in Kent, said she has been 'left distraught' by a man who is stalking her with threatening phone-calls. The friend said: 'She is very emotional and is seriously concerned for her safety. Apprentice winner Stella English is believed to be 'concerned' for her safety after receiving death threats . Stella English pictured last night has had to call police after receiving 'death threats' 'She has spoken to the police twice about the matter.' Last night Miss English told The Mirror said she was too upset to talk about the threats. The businesswoman was left heartbroken after splitting from the father of her children last year. In an interview earlier this month she revealed she was devastated by the relationship breakdown and having to raise her two sons alone. The mother-of-two said it was always her 'worst nightmare' to be a single parent to Edward, 7, and Frank, 5. She said: 'When you get married you think that’s it forever and I was brought up by my mum on her own and it was my worst nightmare to be a single parent. 'I couldn’t think of anything worse and you think I’ll do everything to avoid that but of course it happens.' She recently split with radio DJ Toby Anstis after two months of dating. Miss English quit her £100,000-a-year job with Alan Sugar and was involved in an employment tribunal last year which she lost. Last night Miss English said she was too upset to talk about the incident which police are investigating . She claimed she was forced to resign from the job after winning the 2010 series because it was 'not a role of substance'. Lord . Sugar launched a scathing attack on Miss English after she lost the . constructive dismissal claim saying 'she picked the wrong person'. The . multi-millionaire heralded the tribunal’s decision as a victory against . Britain’s compensation culture, and vowed to begin a personal crusade . against ‘ambulance-chasing lawyers’. He . branded her a ‘money-grabber’ and a ‘chancer’, claiming she had . launched a sham case against him in the hope he would pay out to avoid . an embarrassing confrontation in court. He . warned that disgruntled employees had been allowed to use the tribunal . system to effectively blackmail small businesses into settling claims. He added: ‘This case was a . sham and a total abuse of a tribunal system which is there to protect . employees who have been mistreated. Distraught: Last night Miss English said she was too upset to talk about the threats . 'It is not there to aid those chancing their arm at landing a big payday. ‘I hope that other companies will learn from this example and also fight off derisory claims.’ On . her first day at work she claimed she was told: ‘The cameras have . stopped rolling now… Welcome to the real world, there is no job.’ Miss . English said she felt ostracised while she worked at Viglen, which . supplies IT equipment to schools, universities and hospitals. Far from being mentored by Lord Sugar, she said she only saw him five times while she worked there. Miss . English told the tribunal that when she asked Lord Sugar for feedback, . he replied: ‘The feedback is: “Nice girl, don’t do a lot”.’ During a confrontation over her role, she claimed Lord Sugar told her: ‘I’ve met my obligations to you. ‘I did it for the BBC and the integrity of the show and a bit of my own PR and a bit of yours too. But the fact is that I don’t give a s***.’ Lord Sugar denied her claims and the . East London employment tribunal dismissed Miss English’s case, saying . there was no evidence to support her allegation that she was unfairly . treated. Miss English (right) quit her £100,000-a-year job with Alan Sugar (left) and was involved in an employment tribunal . last year which she lost . Chris Bates and Stella English who were the finalists in the 2010 series of The Apprentice . Contestants in the show were warned Lord Sugar would not be their line manager and that they would rarely see him, the three-strong panel ruled. She also said the pressure of taking on Lord Sugar resulted in the break down of her marriage to Ray, a plumber. At one point she was even forced to sign on the dole and was photographed at the Job Centre inSittingbourne, Kent, last October. Before winning The Apprentice, Miss English was a bank trader earning £85,000 a year. Last year she said: 'I can't work. As soon as an employer realises who I am I don't hear back. Police have confirmed they are investigating in a relation to an incident against Miss English. There is no suggestion that Lord Sugar is involved in the dispute which is being investigated by police. A Kent police spokeswoman said: 'Officers are looking into a report of a dispute. 'Kent Police was called just after 10am on January 23.' Stella English was known on The Apprentice as the 'ice maiden' due to her cool demeanour . Stella English was known on The Apprentice as the 'ice maiden' due to her cool demeanour, but wept when she found out she had won a £100,000 contract with Lord Sugar. The mother-of-two had given up her job in banking after progressing in the sixth series of the BBC show but stressed that all the hard work had been worth it when she beat 15 others to win the talent search. She was tearful as she thanked Lord Sugar for offering her a job, having been described by the peer as 'well-liked and determined to get on with whatever you're asked to do'. The 34-year-old, who left school with no qualifications, said on the BBC after winning that the challenge had been 'convincing other people'. In the interview, conducted in the back of a chauffeur-driven car, she said: 'I'm so excited about the future. It's all been worth it. All the blood, sweat and tears. I've got through to the end and I'm just so happy.' Months later, the cracks were starting to appear however when she started work at IT firm Viglen, a position she ended up stepping down from before then joining television set-top box company YouView. Lord Sugar had praised Miss English on the show for showing determination, noting her background and the fact she had fought to educate herself. Miss English was brought up by relatives on a council estate and then worked her way up the career ladder to an £82,500-a-year job in a Japanese investment bank before applying to take part in The Apprentice. From left Laura Moore, Melissa Cohen, Paloma Vivanco, Liz Locke, Stella English (centre) , Joy Stefanicki, Sandeesh Samra, Joanna Riley, . | Stella English is believed to be 'seriously concerned' for her safety .
Friend of the 34-year-old said a man has made threatening phone-calls .
Last night Miss English said she was too upset to talk about the threats .
Kent Police have confirmed they are investigating incident . |
208,066 | 996170aab45dc5546501bdc1f9e3be0ace4a309f | WASHINGTON (CNN) -- North Korea has begun fueling its long-range rocket, according to a senior U.S. military official. A satellite image shows a rocket sitting on its launch pad in the northeast of the country. The fueling signals that the country could be in the final stages of what North Korea has said will be the launch of a satellite into space as early as this weekend, the senior U.S. military official said Wednesday. Other U.S. military officials said the top portion of the rocket was put on very recently, but satellite imagery shows a shroud over the stage preventing a direct view of what it looks like. The officials said the payload appears to have a "bulbous" cover, which could indicate that there is a satellite loaded on it. Such a cover protects a satellite from damage in flight. Although the sources did not know for sure what the payload is, they said there is no reason to doubt that it is a satellite, as indicated by North Korea. Pyongyang has said it will launch the rocket between April 4 and April 8. Pentagon officials worry less about the payload and more about the launch itself, saying that any kind of launch will give the North Koreans valuable information about improving their ballistic missile program. The United States believes that the North Koreans have the technology to hit Alaska or Hawaii with a missile and that the country is working on advancing that technology so it could hit the west coast of the United States. | Nation could be in the final stages of launch, which could come this weekend .
Sources say "bulbous" shroud atop rocket could indicate satellite aboard .
Pentagon worries launch of any kind will help nation develop missile program . |
12,172 | 2284caf5f6c79ca00730e9e86629e017380e6d0e | By . Reuters . A U.S. appeals court on Friday upheld a federal occupational safety agency's finding against SeaWorld Entertainment Inc following the workplace death of one of its killer whale trainers.By a vote of two to one, the three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit held that SeaWorld had violated its duties as an employer by exposing trainers to 'recognized hazards' when working with killer whales. The ruling means the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) can require SeaWorld to limit the interactions trainers have with killer whales.The federal agency had fined the company $75,000, a sum later reduced to $12,000, after trainer Dawn Brancheau died in February 2010. She drowned after being pulled underwater by Tilikum, a 12,000-pound (5,400-kg) bull orca at the SeaWorld site in Orlando, Florida. Killer whale: Dawn Brancheau was drowned when an orca named Tilikum dragged her underwater during a show . OSHA, which is part of the U.S. Department of Labor, had told SeaWorld it could resolve the problem by requiring trainers to be protected by physical barriers or by adopting other abatement measures. SeaWorld, which operates 11 parks around the United States, said in a statement that it already has introduced new safety procedures, including removing trainers from the water during shows. Even after the court's ruling, 'there will still be human interactions and performances with killer whales,' the statement said. The company said it had yet to decide on whether to appeal the decision. The Labor Department said in a statement that courts have 'consistently upheld our position that killer whales pose a danger to employees who are not adequately protected.' New rules: Sea World San Diego President John Reilly testifies about a bill by Assemblyman Richard Bloom that would set new guidelines for treatment of killer whales in captivity before the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee on Tuesday, April 8, 2014 . Known danger: The whale Tilikum had been involved in two other deaths when trainer Dawn Brancheau was dragged underwater by him during a show . Human-orca interaction has long been filled with controversy, revisited last year with the release of the movie Blackfish about Brancheau's death and Tilikum's career as an entertainer and stud for other captive whales. SeaWorld has criticized the film as 'inaccurate and misleading.' Rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) welcomed the court decision. Jared Goodman, the group's director of animal law, said it 'brings to an end the days of trainers standing and riding on orcas for human amusement.' SeaWorld had appealed over the federal agency's application of federal safety law to an unusual workplace situation it had not regulated before. The appeals court concluded that OSHA did not overstep its authority in bringing the action against SeaWorld. Documentary: The 2013 film Blackfish blames attacks and deaths of SeaWorld trainers on the mistreatment of the animals, increasing their aggression . 'Statements by SeaWorld managers do not indicate that SeaWorld's safety protocols and training made the killer whales safe; rather, they demonstrate SeaWorld's recognition that the killer whales interacting with trainers are dangerous,' Judge Judith Rogers wrote on behalf of the court. She played down SeaWorld's concerns about the impact on its operations, saying that improved safety 'does not change the essential nature of the business.' Judge Brett Kavanaugh wrote a dissenting opinion noting that people who work in dangerous fields in the sports and entertainment context are aware of the risks. OSHA has 'departed from tradition and stormed headlong into a new regulatory arena,' he said. | A court upheld a finding by the federal occupational safety agency that SeaWorld violated its duties as an employer .
The appeals court found that SeaWorld Inc exposed trainers to 'recognized hazards' when working with killer whales .
The agency had fined the company $75,000 after trainer Dawn Brancheau was drowned by killer whale Tilikum .
The release of Blackfish, a documentary about Tilikum and Brancheau's death, brought new criticism on the sea parks .
SeaWorld has criticized the film as 'inaccurate and misleading' |
75,580 | d6549d151afec69089aa2e588d670a82874aaed4 | Police on horseback raise levels of public trust and engagement with officers, according to a new study. A report suggests that when deployed on community patrols, officers on horseback appear more visible to the public than those on foot. But, the number of mounted units across the UK has fallen from 17 to 12 in the three years prior to 2013, with some forces closing them in response to Government austerity measures. A report commissioned by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) suggests that when deployed on community patrols, units on horseback (stock image) appear more visible to the public than officers on foot . The report by the University of Oxford and think-tank Rand Europe was commissioned by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). It is based on a study of mounted patrols in areas of Gloucester and south London, which suggested that officers on horseback had six times as many interactions with the public as police on foot. Co-author Ben Bradford, from the University of Oxford’s Centre for Criminology, said: ‘After an initial period of surveying in each of the areas in February 2014, mounted community patrols took place in three of them in March.' A second round of surveying took place in April. ‘Early results reveal a measurable value and impact of mounted police in neighbourhood settings,' continued Mr Bradford. ‘People who have recently seen mounted patrols tend to have higher levels of trust and confidence in police.’ The study also claimed that mounted police have a ‘unique capacity’ when policing disorder, football crowds and public events such as Glastonbury Festival. Here, a police officer on horseback watches over Bayern Munich and Manchester United fans before a football game in April this year . The report said that the 12 mounted police units in the UK - including one for all of Scotland - have 271 officers, 103 staff and 247 horses. This represents a cut of nearly a quarter of national mounted capacity since the beginning of 2012. The study also claimed that mounted police have a ‘unique capacity’ when policing disorder, football crowds and public events such as Glastonbury Festival. Researchers estimate that the cost of keeping mounted units is between £15,500 and £22,000 a year more than the basic cost of employing a regular officer. Gloucestershire Deputy Chief Constable Rod Hansen, the ACPO’s lead for mounted policing, said: ‘It does not feel right to lose such a historic and versatile capability due to short term financial challenges without fully understanding how sadly it would be missed. ‘That doesn’t mean to say there aren’t more cost effective ways of delivering mounted policing, and this academic research will help sign post those alternatives.’ Law enforces in America have used crime-prediction software similar to that seen in the film Minority report, starring Tom Cruise (pictured) When police in the Minority Report film predicted who would commit crimes and stopped them before they did it, it was considered so futuristic, the film was set in 2054. But last year, law enforcers in two American states used crime-prediction software to predict which freed prisoners are most likely to commit murder, and supervised them accordingly. Instead of relying on parole officers to decide how much supervision inmates will need on the outside by looking at their records, the new system used a computer algorithm to decide for them. The Minority Report-style software is already being used in Baltimore and Philadelphia to predict future murderers. It has been developed by Professor Richard Berk, a criminologist at the University of Pennsylvania, who believes it will reduce the murder rate and those of other crimes. Professor Berk says his algorithm could be used to help set bail amounts and also decide sentences in the future. It could also be modified to predict lesser crimes. | Report found that units on horseback encourage public engagement .
It was commissioned by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO)
Study claims that mounted police have a ‘unique capacity’ when policing disorder, football crowds and public events such as Glastonbury Festival .
The number of units has fallen from 17 to 12 in three years prior to 2013 . |
43,711 | 7b4590a7fab8b52b25fdc950f9a69ccf8c1a8f13 | (CNN) -- If you had tried to visit Winslow Homer when he was alive, you would have been greeted by a warning sign proclaiming "Snakes! Snakes! Mice!" on the path to his studio on Prouts Neck, a peninsula in Scarborough, Maine. While Peter Paul Rubens entertained dignitaries at home in Antwerp, Belgium, and Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera were famous for welcoming Nelson Rockefeller, Leon Trotsky and other guests to their homes in Mexico City, Homer and other artists were considerably less accommodating. We can only wonder what the notoriously private Homer and Andrew Wyeth would say about their studios in Maine and Pennsylvania being opened to visitors for the first time this year. If you've been admiring your favorite painter's work in a museum, you've only been seeing part of the picture. For the full view, you must visit the artist's home and studio. There you'll see where and how he lived and worked; what she saw when she looked out her window. Whether carefully decorated or intentionally uncluttered, artists' homes and studios show us who they were at the core. "Everything in her house reflects Frida's taste and personality," says Hilda Trujillo Soto, director of the Museo Frida Kahlo in Mexico City. "It is like a piece of art, decorated entirely by Frida ... her personal universe." Here are six destinations where you can explore the personal universes of several renowned artists. 6 spots for architecture lovers . Winslow Homer Studio, Maine . Homer's "Snakes! Snakes! Mice!" sign was the artist's way of scaring away the "rusticators" -- city folk who summered in this private enclave 12 miles south of Portland, Maine. Expect a warmer welcome when the Winslow Homer Studio opens to the public September 25 after a six-year restoration overseen by the Portland Museum of Art. Homer lived and worked at Prouts Neck from 1883 until his death in 1910, completing paintings such as "Cannon Rock" and "The Gulf Stream." He left his mark on the place in countless ways, including traces of graffiti on the walls and his signature scratched into the window glass. At the Portland Museum of Art, the companion exhibition "Weatherbeaten: Winslow Homer and Maine" (September 22-December 30) showcases Homer's paintings of the area. A Local Excursion Pass offers discounted admission to area attractions including scenic ferry cruises on Casco Bay Lines, the Portland Observatory and the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow House. 8 religious wonders in the United States . Andrew and N.C. Wyeth Homes and Studios, Pennsylvania . Like the quiet beauty of his paintings, Andrew Wyeth's studio in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, puts visitors in a meditative mood. The intensely private artist didn't share this space with many people, but after his death in 2009, his wife, Betsy James Wyeth, gave the simple white former schoolhouse building to the Brandywine River Museum. It opened for docent-led tours in July. Andrew Wyeth painted here from 1940 until 2008, and the tools of his trade remain much as he might have placed them: brushes, sketches, even the eggs and pigments he used to mix the tempera for paintings such as "Roasted Chestnuts" and "Adam" are now in the museum's collection. The studio of N.C. Wyeth, Andrew's father, has a different feeling. Built with earnings from his illustrations for the 1911 Scribner's edition of "Treasure Island," N.C. Wyeth's studio is filled with props he used in his robust illustrations, including a birch bark canoe and a wooden horse on which models posed for Western pictures. The Brandywine Valley, which extends from southeastern Pennsylvania to Delaware, retains much of the rural character that so appealed to the Wyeths. White Clay Creek Reserve in Pennsylvania and Brandywine Creek State Park in Delaware are pretty places for nature walks, day-hikes, canoeing and horseback riding. Georgia O'Keeffe Home and Studio, New Mexico . It took more than 10 years for Georgia O'Keeffe to convince the local Catholic diocese to sell her a crumbling hacienda in Abiquiu, New Mexico, overlooking the Chama River Valley. Abiquiu's cottonwood trees inspired her, the fertile soil and abundant garden pleased her and the views captivated her. O'Keeffe finally prevailed in 1945 and, after a complete renovation supervised by her friend Maria Chabot, she moved to Abiquiu in 1949 and stayed until 1984. Located about 55 miles from Santa Fe, the Georgia O'Keeffe Home and Studio is managed by the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe. Guided tours (reservations required) are conducted from March through November. Separately, her former home at Ghost Ranch, now an educational retreat center, offers tours of the vistas she painted. "Georgia O'Keeffe and the Faraway: Nature and Image," through May 5, 2013, at the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, features her paintings from Ghost Ranch. Find your own artistic inspiration on a scenic drive through New Mexico. Nearby areas of natural beauty and historic interest are the Puye Cliff Dwellings, Pecos National Historic Park, Bandelier National Monument (still recovering from fire and floods in 2011) and the Native American pueblos and villages throughout the state. Cézanne and Monet homes and studios, France . Aix-en-Provence in southern France is Paul Cézanne's town. Brimming with relaxed charm, it almost begs you to pick up a paintbrush -- and many visitors do. Most also visit Cézanne's picture-perfect atelier. Built in 1901 and surrounded by leafy grounds, the sparsely furnished studio is where Cézanne worked late in his life. Nearby are the Cézanne family's Jas de Bouffan estate and the Bibémus quarries, both of which feature in his paintings. (The men pictured in Cézanne's "Card Players" series were workers on the estate.) The Aix-en-Provence Office of Tourism offers guided tours of the three sites and a map for self-guided Cézanne tours of the city. Aix itself is a place to exhale, while wandering in the Old Town, beneath the arching trees of the Cours Mirabeau, or through one of the city's famed outdoor markets. Giverny in northern France belongs to Claude Monet. The "father of Impressionism" lived and worked there from 1883 to 1926, after spying the town from the door of a train as he traveled from Vernon to Gasny. His house, built in 1890, is spacious and prettily furnished. (When Monet was alive, it also would have been very noisy, with his eight children running around.) Among the highlights indoors is his collection of Japanese prints by masters such as Hokusai and Hiroshige. Outdoors, of course, are Monet's legendary gardens and the ponds dotted with water lilies and spanned by a Japanese bridge. Just 45 minutes by train from Paris, Giverny is a day-trip destination, but it's also a gateway to medieval Rouen with its magnificent cathedral and ties to Joan of Arc, and to other sites in Normandy, such as Omaha Beach and Mont Saint Michel. Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera Homes and Studios, Mexico . Frida Kahlo's singular vision is evident everywhere in Casa Azul, her home and studio in Mexico City's Coyoácan district. Born in the house in 1907, she lived there most of her life and died there in 1954. No place was more significant to her. "Almost all of her paintings include an element, a corner or a piece of her house," says museum director Hilda Trujillo Soto. "Even the plants she had in her house are painted in her paintings." Kahlo's books and her collections of Mexican folk art and religious healing charms, or ex-votos, are cherished mementos of her life there. Kahlo was less attached to the San Ángel home and studio her husband, Diego Rivera, commissioned architect Juan O'Gorman to design for them in 1931-32. Yet Rivera loved the place, and it is where he died in 1957. Its two Functionalist style buildings connected by an exterior catwalk were restored to their original design in the 1990s based on photos taken by Frida's father in 1932. They featured as a location in the 2002 film "Frida." (Casa Azul was recreated in a studio for the movie.) Today they comprise the Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo. For an excursion from Mexico City, try one of Frida and Diego's favorites, a visit to the first century A.D. city of Teotihuacan. Rubens House, Belgium . Peter Paul Rubens was not your typical starving artist. Born into a well-connected family in 1577, at age 32 Rubens was named court painter to Archduke Albrecht who ruled much of modern-day Belgium at the time. His artistic style reflected optimism after a period of war and hardship, and his charismatic personality won him influential admirers and special privileges, such as permission to employ an unlimited number of assistants in his glorious 17th-century baroque home and studio in Antwerp. It is Rubens' work we see in masterpieces such as "The Raising of the Cross" in Antwerp's Cathedral of Our Lady, but he had help executing his vision. How else could he have made the 2,500-plus paintings attributed to him? The process becomes clear inside his atelier, the vast workspace where assistants painted sections of individual works following sketches and notes Rubens provided. Meanwhile, Rubens himself might have strolled along the gallery overlooking the atelier, probably accompanied by an illustrious client. Rubens' influence is everywhere in Antwerp. On the modern side, Antwerp is a fashion capital, a major world diamond center and a fantastic shopping city. Come 2013, it will also be home to the Red Star Line Museum, a maritime and immigration museum in the Het Eilandje revitalized harbor district. Do you have a favorite artist whose home or studio you'd like to visit? Please share your recommendations in the comments below. | Artist Winslow Homer's home and studio in Maine will open to visitors in September .
N.C. Wyeth's studio holds a birch bark canoe, a wooden horse and other props .
Much of Frida Kahlo's home and studio in Mexico City is reflected in her art .
The 17th-century baroque home and studio of Peter-Paul Rubens is open to visitors in Antwerp . |
251,802 | d1e8dc08f0972ee587acf4aa61d078ae70d76a35 | By . Rebecca Evans . Heap of junk mail: Rebecca George, 44, got so fed up with the deluge of menus, flyers and leaflets that she spent a year collecting them all . It is the bane of modern life - accounting for half of all post delivered. But, as these startling pictures show, the deluge of junk mail arriving through our letterbox each year is truly astonishing. Tired of the unwanted mail dropping on her door mat and going straight into the recycling box each day, one mother decided to conduct an experiment by saving it all. Rebecca George collected every takeaway menu, leaflet and sales letter she received during a 12 month period, only to find to her horror that it covered the entirety of her 15ft-long hallway. The 44-year-old graphic designer, from Hackney, east London, received an astounding 1,027 items, which is more than three every day. Mother-of-three Mrs George said: ‘I was so sick of the mail we were getting I decided to experiment, and see how it stacked up. She said: ‘I had no real concept of exactly how much it was, but just knew that I seemed to spend every day clearing up the growing mess. Now I can see that it actually covers the entire hallway. It’s ridiculous.’ Last year, Royal Mail delivered 3.3billion ‘unaddressed letters’ - the vast majority of which go instantly in the bin - but Mrs George found the worst offenders to be bank and credit card companies. Mrs George, who is married to Andrew, a journalist, added: ‘It was a combination of Royal Mail delivered junk mail and flyers put through by hand. ‘The worst offenders were banks and credit card companies offering loans and cards. Estate agents desperately trying to get me to sell my house were another regular feature. ‘I still get mail for someone that lived in the house more than 15 years ago - despite returning it on a number of occasions. But flyers from local businesses are another thing entirely. ‘Cab firms seem to be unable to drop off just one card and insist on putting three or four at a time through the door and the men delivering pizza takeaway adverts seem to operate round the clock.’ The estimated cost of junk mail disposal to the taxpayer is estimated at being well in excess of £50million, but since Royal Mail last year scrapped a ban on delivering no more than three unaddressed letters per household, per week, the number could be far higher. Unimpressed: Mrs George, of Hackney, east London, said the worst culprits were credit card firms and banks, along with local businesses posting flyers by hand . Mike Jones, of the Local Government Association’s environment board, stated recently that Royal Mail should work to reduce junk post. He said: ‘Most people don’t appreciate being bombarded with junk mail on a daily basis. ‘Not only is it a nuisance to have to pick up and throw away, but it adds thousands of tons to the amount of waste councils have to collect. ‘Huge progress in recycling in recent years has meant that most of this will avoid being sent to landfill. Project: Tired of the unwanted mail dropping on her door mat and going straight into the recycling box each day, Mrs George decided to conduct an experiment by saving it all . ‘But Royal Mail and its direct marketing clients need to do more to reduce the deluge of junk mail landing on people’s doorsteps and make sure people are aware of their right to opt out of having unsolicited mail delivered to their homes.’ 'Cab firms seem to be unable to drop off just one card and insist on putting three or four at a time through the door' Rebecca George . Out of the 54million items of post delivered by Royal Mail each day, 27million are now junk mail - an increase of 200million in the past year. Earlier this year, the head of Royal Mail, Moya Greene, defended the huge amount of ‘marketing mail’, saying it had contributed to the company’s profits, together with an increase in the price of stamps. Miss Greene said that postmen should still treat junk mail with ‘utter respect’, as it had generated £1.1billion for the company. | Rebecca George collected every takeaway menu, leaflet and sales letter .
44-year-old graphic designer received more than three items every day .
Worst culprits were credit card firms and banks, mother of three says . |
250,409 | d0122ab78a956a6e9d8dd6a7fc39c078b1ef2dab | (CNN) -- The son of Suriname's president is facing drug charges in New York federal court. Panamanian authorities detained Dino Bouterse at Tocumen International Airport outside Panama City and handed him over to U.S. authorities, the Central American nation's foreign ministry said Friday. A federal grand jury indictment alleges that Bouterse, 40, "caused a suitcase containing 10 kilograms of cocaine to be transported from Suriname into the Caribbean" in July. Bouterse brandished an anti-tank weapon during the alleged trafficking operation, prosecutors said in a statement Friday. He faces weapons and drug trafficking conspiracy charges that carry a maximum sentence of life in prison, prosecutors said. In a statement Friday, Suriname's foreign ministry acknowledged Bouterse's detention but said the reasons for it were unclear. He is the son of Desi Bouterse, a former military strongman who was elected president of the South American nation in 2010. CNN did not get an immediate response Saturday to messages left for an attorney believed to represent Bouterse. CNN's Chris Kokenes contributed to this report. | Dino Bouterse faces federal drug and weapons charges in New York .
Panamanian authorities arrest him, hand him over to U.S. officials .
Boutserse is the son of Suriname's president . |
53,118 | 96acdf79b891d1cecec948f33e41fbddb2275e4a | Britain's Prince Harry made no mention of his recent Las Vegas shenanigans when he spoke at a charity awards dinner in London on Monday. At least, not directly. The 27-year-old prince spoke at the annual awards gala of the British charity WellChild, which helps seriously ill children and their families throughout the United Kingdom. Harry, who is patron of the charity, said he is always humbled by the inspirational stories of the winners and finds it difficult to describe how remarkable they are. "But never one to be shy in coming forward, I give it a go," Harry said. After a few nervous giggles in the audience, Harry laughed, and the whole room then laughed with him. UK tabloid prints naked Prince Harry pictures . It was nearly two weeks ago that pictures emerged of the prince partying naked in a Las Vegas hotel suite. First published on celebrity gossip website TMZ, the pictures soon made their way to newspapers and news sites around the world. Buckingham Palace confirmed the photos were of the prince and said they were taken while he was on a private holiday before resuming his military duties. He is a captain in the British Army. Harry knows he is no stranger to controversy, having landed in hot water with scandals in the past. But Monday night he was back to the business of being a royal, wearing a crisp blue suit, listening intently to the speeches on stage and being gracious to the hosts and honorees. There was one joke at Harry's expense that appeared to go unnoticed, however: As Harry presented awards to two of the charity's "Most Inspirational" children, the loudspeakers played the song "The Bare Necessities" from Disney's "The Jungle Book." A tale of two brothers: Harry vs. William . | Prince speaks at the annual awards gala of the British charity WellChild .
Recently, pictures emerged of the prince partying naked in a Las Vegas hotel .
Harry's speech makes indirect reference to the pictures . |
12,558 | 239bf740da1fe8decf7593a4be385d16d5156633 | Locked up: Tim Haries has been jailed for six months after being found guilty of defacing a portrait of the Queen at Westminster Abbey . A Fathers4Justice campaigner vowed to go on hunger strike today as he was sentenced to six months in prison for defacing a portrait of the Queen with paint in Westminster Abbey. Tim Haries, 42, who told jurors he vandalised the picture to highlight the 'social justice issue of our time', had denied a charge of causing criminal damage of more than £5,000 but was found guilty at London’s Southwark Crown Court last month. The father-of-two smuggled a can of purple spray paint into the Abbey on June 13 last year before writing the word 'help' on the painting, which is worth £160,000. Recorder of Westminster Judge Alistair McCreath told him: 'This was a deliberate and planned causing of damage to a valuable item of property on public display, carried out as a publicity exercise.' During chaotic scenes inside the court, Haries' supporters shouted 'shame on you' and 'disgusting' during the judge's remarks. At one point Judge McCreath threatened to clear the public gallery if the disturbance did not stop. The judge said the sentence must acknowledge Haries’ distress and unhappiness, but have regard to the case’s aggravating features, and to a degree deter others. Jurors heard how Haries shouted 'fathers for justice' as he scrawled the graffiti on the large oil painting before being tackled to the ground by steward Peter Crook. He told Mr Crook: 'Sorry mate, I’ve got nothing against the Queen,' before telling a police officer who arrived at the scene that he was 'guilty as charged'. Photographs of the incident were posted on a Fathers4Justice Facebook page. Haries decided to represent himself towards the end of his trial and directly addressed jurors, telling them he carried out the act as a protest against the 'social catastrophe' of fathers not being allowed access to their children. He said that, while he had nothing . against the Queen personally, he targeted her portrait because of her . symbolic role as head of the justice system. Haries, . of Doncaster, later said he 'would not hesitate to petition the Queen . again by peaceful protest on behalf of my children and the millions of . children separated from their fathers by the British Government'. Vandalism: The portrait, left, was hanging in Westminster . Abbey when it was defaced by Tim Haries who scrawled the word Help in purple paint, right, in this image posted on the Fathers4Justic Facebook page . The portrait by artist Ralph Heimans was cordoned off by a rope in the Abbey’s Chapter House as part of a wider exhibition to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The 11ft by 9ft painting was bought by Westminster Abbey for £160,000 after being on display in the artist’s native Australia. Repairing the damage cost £9,204, the court was told, with insurers paying £4,000 and an excess of £5,000. The . oil on canvas depicts the Queen in the sacrarium of Westminster Abbey, . also known as the Coronation Theatre, standing at the centre circle of . the Cosmati pavement, on the spot where she was crowned. The . judge said he was in no position to come to any informed conclusions . about why the Family Court ultimately denied Haries access to his . children - other than to observe that in the system of family justice, . the needs and interests of the children were paramount. 'I . accept that your separation from your daughters for a period of four . years caused you real anguish. I also accept that you felt that the . legal processes by which you tried to have contact with them had failed . you. 'But I do not accept that the means that you chose to adopt to make your protest were in any way justified. 'This was, in reality, a choice you made, not a sudden ill-considered act under immediate provocation.' Support: Tim Haries was jailed for six months at Southwark Crown Court today where he was joined by supporters from the campaign goup Fathers4Justice . Haries had prepared by buying a can of spray paint and taking it into the Abbey, the judge said. 'You caused damage to the painting, disappointment to those who had come to see it, cost to the Abbey and their insurance in putting it right, and almost certainly some degree of offence to many people who would regard an attack on a portrait of the monarch as unacceptable. 'I am satisfied that your assertion that you intended to do no more than cause damage which could be easily repaired is simply not true. 'I have no doubt that you intended to do as much damage as you could, and it was only the intervention of Mr Crook that limited the damage to the extent that it was possible to repair the painting at a cost less than £10,000.' The judge said the opportunity to have close access to works of art was greatly valued by many people. 'Those who act as you did put that opportunity at risk. It would be a sad day when works of art can only be viewed from a distance or from behind barriers.' Haries had about 20 supporters in court for the hearing and there were shouts directed towards the judicial bench at the end of 'disgusting', 'shame on you' and 'Fathers4Justice'. There was also a shout of 'how about justice?' during the judge’s sentencing remarks and he threatened to have the court cleared before two supporters gave undertakings not to make further interruptions. Costly: Artist Ralph Heimans with his painting: The Coronation Theatre; Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll - worth £160,000 - which was defaced by Fathers4Justice campaigner Tim Haries . After the hearing the group said in a press release issued to journalists that Haries had begun a hunger strike after being sent to prison, in protest at the 'politically motivated' sentence. It read: 'He will continue his hunger strike until his case is reopened and he is reunited with his daughters.' In the statement, Haries wrote: 'I hereby declare that the judge’s decision to ignore the Probation Service’s recommendation of a community service order and replace it with a custodial sentence leaves me with no alternative than to enter an immediate hunger strike. 'I consider that as the custodial sentence is well outside of the Probation Service recommendations, this can only be a political motivated decision. I therefore now regard myself as a political prisoner. 'My only crime is to fight to see my two daughters whom I love dearly, after being ordered to abandon them by the family courts. 'My children and I have done nothing to warrant such treatment by the courts and our Government.' He revealed he had made a final application to the Family Courts to be reunited with his children and added: 'My fast will continue until this application is granted. 'Until this application is granted I will accept nothing but water, no food, sugar, glucose, vitamins, supplements etc. I hereby insist that any medical examinations are conducted by an external and independent doctor.' | Tim Haries, 42, was guilty of criminal damage of more than £5,000 .
Haries, of Doncaster, said in a statement he was a 'political prisoner'
Father of two vowed to go on hunger strike while he is in jail .
He told the court he vandalised the painting to highlight 'social justice issue'
His supporters heckled the judge at Southwark Crown Court .
Court proceedings were temporarily halted due to shouts from the public .
Activist wrote the word 'help' on the painting worth £160,000 . |
89,214 | fd33b23faa95858613d74b0530da40a4a2877b07 | Rappers and police are famed for never seeing eye to eye. So when police in the Midlands interrupted a rapper and his crew while filming a music video, things got pretty heated. Leicester-based rapper KY and his crew were on location when two police officers approached them and started questioning them about being on 'private property'. The cameras that were capturing the music video continue to roll as moments later a disagreement begins. And KY decides the time is right to flex his creative juices and deliver a freestyle rap which will belittle the long arm of the law. Unimpressed when one of the officers calls him a 'friend', the rapper he insists 'we are far from friends' and adds: 'we're enemies if anything.' Freestyle: KY began his freestyle rapping after a disagreement with police over his new music video shoot . Contrast: KY (left) in full flow as he constructs his freestyle rap in front of two bemused police officers (right) But once the initial tension is distilled, the rapper launches into his freestyle tirade which includes the line: 'They're trying to stop and pull up at my video shoot, but it's cool because they're nothing but dudes, they got bullied in school, that's why they're trying to be rude.' The police can be seen laughing nervously in the background before driving off in their car. It seems they did not appreciate KY's freestyle rap demonstration. Not a police fan: KY looks irritated by the presence of the police as he raps during his freestyle . | Leicester-based rapper KY unleashes scathing freestyle rap on police .
KY on police: 'they got bullied in school that's why they're trying to be rude'
Police leave area and drive off midway through his freestyle rap . |
115,534 | 2114c316572fc7ccf2d86cf201dbfca0790acae6 | (CNN) -- Wednesday night's debate showcased a Mitt Romney resisting his worst debating weaknesses and playing solidly to his strengths. Barack Obama? This time, he couldn't overcome a weakness he has shown before, a tendency to distance himself from the audience, and this kept him from connecting and making a good showing. But both have a track record of debates showcasing their strengths and weaknesses, and they are both good debaters. This is only the first of three performances. Many of their old habits emerged again, both good and bad. They will need to study their take-home lessons. Let's begin with Romney. Three of of Romney's debating strengths are being smooth and knowledgeable and having excellent first-line answers to questions. Wednesday night? Opinion: Romney was hungry, Obama was flat . Check. Check. And check. Listen, Mitt Romney can handle these debates. He was strong in all areas Wednesday night. And y'all shouldn't be surprised that he performed so well. For him to falter, the moderator is going to have to do a much better job than Jim Lehrer. Poor, steamrolled Jim Lehrer. Romney talked over him so often that I swear one time I saw Lehrer slumping behind his desk while he meekly gazed up at Romney and muttered, "Excuse me, I believe you have my stapler." Romney has potential weaknesses: This smoothness has sometimes gotten in his way, which is how he got the "Slick Mitt" moniker. But he corrected the potential error and instead had a solid, conversational manner in the debate. He was believable. Romney's other potential weakness is where he shined the most. In the Republican primaries, Romney wasn't a great debater when he was trailing in the polls. But not Wednesday night. He debated to win instead of "not to lose" (which is what Obama did). Romney put Obama on the defensive and kept him there all night defending his policies. Romney stuck to his theme of too much government overstretch during the Obama administration, whether on energy subsidies, health care, taxes or increasing the deficit. He kept the debate on the economy and jobs while flatly stating that it was overreach of federal government power that was what has inhibited our economy from recovering. And he made the point well. Opinion: Romney shakes up the race . As for Obama, one strength is that he is solid at picking a theme and sticking with it. Wednesday night was no different. But what a difference four years makes. Against John McCain in 2008, Obama focused on the economy as his theme and hammered away at George W. Bush and McCain. This time, Obama clearly presented his theme. The problem was that the new premise lacked bite. What was it? That Romney has no specific plan. Obama mentioned this time and time again: taxes, deficit reduction, entitlements, regulations to Wall Street and health care. Romney has not specified the details of how he will govern in all these important areas. The problem was that Obama needed to couple that theme with something else. Just stating it over and over is hardly a scathing indictment. And it failed to put Romney on the defensive. Reasoning is another strength Obama has shown in previous debates, but he was unable to use it in any significant way. Near the beginning of the debate, he mentioned that arithmetic proved Romney's plans unworkable. While I thought this was an excellent point, it should have been much more forceful. Which brings us to Obama's weaknesses: I wrote two days ago that his detachment was one weakness, that he can appear dispassionate and distancing to the audience. Unfortunately for the president, he didn't correct this. In fact, it was worse. Indeed, this was probably his poorest showing at trying to connect with the American people. Being emotionless can work either for or against you. For Obama, with a troubled economy, it works against the president. If our economy isn't fully recovered and we're in hard times, our president should at least show more empathy. Offer strong examples to show that he understands. Couple that with Obama's failure to tie Romney to anything related to the famous 47% comment, and I'd call it a glaring error in the debate. Opinion: It wasn't just Romney who won . You know it's bad when at the end of the debate, uber-wealthy Mitt Romney seems like he cares more about the middle class and even the lower class than the sitting Democratic president of the United States. Both candidates get almost two weeks off before their next debate. Here's what they each need to do in the meantime in their preparation. Obama needs to find a much more effective way to pin Romney down to a specific policy. Although he is correct that some of Romney's numbers simply don't add up, Obama must do a better job of wrestling the details out of him. He simply has to put Romney on the defensive more often and provide arguments (and passion) that will resonate with voters. He can't let opportunities slip by to tie Romney to the 47% comment or even to the old policies of George W.Bush. This will be no easy task, since Romney was able to fend off most criticisms with ease in his many Republican primary debates. Obama will need to stick to one subject over a series of exchanges. If he doesn't, Romney will be like Teflon, and nothing Obama says will stick to him in these debates. And the president should utilize the backward-step-pivot-forward technique as often as possible. Since Romney will continue to put him on the defensive (and this is guaranteed), Obama must turn potential flaws into strengths. It's easy enough to predict Romney's attacks. Now, the president must figure out rhetorically how to turn those criticisms into benefits. Opinion: Romney wasn't stellar, but Obama fell short . And for goodness sake, Obama, show more energy and passion. Speak with conviction. For Romney: Steady as she goes. He needs to keep debating precisely like Wednesday night. It wasn't a fluke, and he can prove it. Romney was assertive (compared with Obama's passivity). And it worked. But there's a fine line between assertiveness and aggression. Romney was assertive in this debate without being aggressive. If he decides that his bullying technique of the moderator was effective (it worked Wednesday night, but I wouldn't push my luck if I were him), then he risks alienating voters. The same is true with his demeanor toward the president. Romney can lose more votes than he can gain in future debates if he comes across as rude or mean, an impression many had of McCain four years ago. He must stay on the offense. But don't overdo it. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Todd Graham. | Todd Graham: Romney played to his strengths, Obama to his weaknesses in debate .
He says Romney aced keeping "smooth" from turning "slick"
Obama's lack of passion kept him from connecting with voters; he missed chances to hit back .
Graham: Obama needs to heat up, pin Romney down; Romney must keep aggression in check . |
126,551 | 2f8e8cdfcdbaac5986c993f9697df96062657fff | (CNN) -- Anti-government demonstrations broke out Friday in Syria after weekly Muslim prayers, with activists reporting at least 34 deaths amid clashes between security forces and protesters. The Syria Human Rights Information Link told CNN that at least 11 people died in the western industrial city of Homs when security forces fired at crowds. For two months, Syria has been torn by street protests against political repression and a fierce security crackdown against demonstrators. The government's tough and violent actions toward marchers and its thousands of mass arrests have drawn widespread criticism. Demonstrations erupted after Friday prayers in Syrian cities, as they have for weeks. The United States has imposed sanctions on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and other senior officials. On Thursday, President Barack Obama singled out Syria for criticism during his speech on the Middle East. A rights activist in Homs described thick black smoke hanging over the city as thousands of demonstrators took to the streets demanding al-Assad's ouster. According to the rights activist, the demonstrators gathered from several neighborhoods around Homs. The demonstrators chanted slogans calling for the release of political detainees and demanded freedom, equality and fundamental reforms, the activist said. As the crowd grew, security forces fired shots in the air and tried to disperse the gathering. When people refused to leave, security forces fired at the throngs, killing some and wounding others, the rights activist said. Despite the eruption of violence, demonstrators remained in the streets and chanted for the downfall of the regime. The Syrian Human Rights Information Link also said 13 died in Maarat al-Numan southwest of Aleppo. Two people were killed in the western city of Deir Alzour. At least one person was killed in the turbulent southern city of Daraa, and another died in Sanamen outside Daraa. One each died in the western coastal city of Latakia, the Damascus suburb of Darya and the western city of Hama. An additional three people died in the violence, but it was not immediately clear where, the rights group said. For the first time in about 25 days, the residents of Daraa heard the call for Friday prayers over mosques' speakers, according to activist Abdullah Abazeed. Previously, all mosques, shops, schools and other businesses had been closed and a strict curfew imposed due to the military siege in the town. But an activist there said the call to prayers was "simply a show by the Syrian government to make it seem everything is OK and back to normal." He said security forces surrounded four mosques Friday, but many residents shunned mosques in favor of praying in public squares. Arrests and attacks on civilian homes have continued, according to the activist. There were small protests in Daraa after Friday prayers, but no large demonstrations, he said. An eyewitness said demonstrators in the Damascus suburb of Qaboon marched toward the town's Grand Mosque, a demonstration that started with 800 people and grew to 3,000. As the group approached the mosque, a heavy security presence surrounded the demonstrators. Security personnel fired tear gas into the crowd and arrested protesters, the eyewitness said. Purported videos of protests surfaced on the Internet. The gatherings were said to be in Damascus, Homs, the city of Hama in the west and Abu Kamal in the far east of the country near Iraq. Demonstrators have blamed Syrian security for the violence, but the government has repeatedly pointed to unspecified "armed groups" for instigating the violence. The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency on Friday said that "armed groups exploited gatherings of citizens in Idlib and the outskirts of Homs" and "opened fire on civilians and police forces, which resulted in a number of deaths and injuries." It said there were no confrontations or interference by security forces in other locations, where scores of people gathered in several provinces after Friday prayers and "mostly" dispersed after they chanted for freedom. Meanwhile, the U.N. refugee agency said Friday that people have been crossing into Lebanon from a turbulent Syrian region where violence has erupted recently. About 1,400 people have entered the Wadi Khaled and Tall Biri regions of Lebanon over the past week from the Syrian town of Tal Kalakh, the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said. The number is "in addition to those that have crossed since late April. Local authorities estimate that around 4,000 Syrians have crossed to Lebanon," the agency said in a written statement. "Many of those who have crossed the border recently have come without any belongings, having fled what they say was heavy military bombardment of Tal Kalakh and surrounding areas," it said. "Most have found shelter with relatives or host families, and some are residing temporarily in a school in Tall Biri." Clashes between citizens and security forces have been reported for days in embattled Tal Kalakh, and witnesses there are reporting a strong security presence despite claims from the government of a troop pullout. In his address Thursday, Obama said Syrians have displayed "courage in demanding a transition to democracy" but the regime "has chosen the path of murder and the mass arrests of its citizens." "President Assad now has a choice: He can lead that transition, or get out of the way," Obama said. "The Syrian government must stop shooting demonstrators and allow peaceful protests, release political prisoners and stop unjust arrests, allow human rights monitors to have access to cities like Daraa and start a serious dialogue to advance a democratic transition. Otherwise, President Assad and his regime will continue to be challenged from within and isolated abroad." Despite the international outcry against Syria, al-Assad does have support from Venezuela's president. Syria is "the victim of a fascist onslaught," Chavez said Friday via Twitter. Chavez, a leftist president who has aligned himself with countries hostile to the United States, said that he spoke on Friday to al-Assad, whom he called a "brother." "God help Syria," Chavez tweeted. The grass-roots demonstrations began in and around Daraa in mid-March and have spread to other cities such as Homs, Banias, Douma and Latakia. Most recently, there has been unrest in Tal Kalakh. A few dozen people have been killed recently in the town near the Lebanese border, human rights activists said. The Syrian state-run news agency Thursday quoted a military source as saying that army units started withdrawing from the town "after accomplishing their mission of ending the state of security disorder caused by outlawed armed groups." "Life in the city is gradually going back to normal," the source was quoted as saying. But CNN spoke to one activist who said that "army tanks pulled out of Tal Kalakh but continue to maintain their siege of the city." Another witness said the military remains in the city center and in the suburbs and security forces are making arrests. As for the Syrian refugees filtering into Lebanon, that country's prime minister, Saad Hariri, asked the government's High Relief Committee last week to supervise and coordinate the work with the refugees. The U.N. refugee agency has helped distribute mattresses, blankets and food. "The proactive role taken by the Lebanese authorities to ensure that new arrivals are assisted is encouraging," the U.N. agency said. "Most of the people who have crossed the border in recent weeks are women and children," it said. "In addition to their immediate need for food, shelter and medical help, they also need psycho-social support. The latter is being addressed by the Ministry of Social Affairs." The agency said it has "established a field presence in the north, working closely with the ministry to assess and provide needed protection interventions." CNN's Arwa Damon, Nada Husseini, Salma Abdelaziz, Hamdi Alkhshali and Joe Sterling contributed to this report. | State-run media reports "armed groups exploited gatherings" and casualties ensued .
Clashes are reported in western city of Homs; at least 11 are dead there .
People are killed elsewhere, including Daraa, Maarat al-Numan and Latakia .
Marchers walk toward the Grand Mosque in a Damascus suburb . |
4,402 | 0cb575df1782efe0c4f4031b635300164f71d217 | Roger Federer finally appeared on court in Lille in a major boost for Switzerland ahead of their Davis Cup final against France starting Friday. Federer hadn't trained since his withdraw from Sunday's ATP World Tour Finals in London, where he told the crowd he wasn't 'match fit' to take on Novak Djokovic. The world No 2 was unable to recover from his epic three-set semi-final win against his Swiss team-mate Stanislas Wawrinka the night before in which he saved four match points before claiming victory in a tie-break. Roger Federer hits the court in Lille where Switzerland will take on France in the Davis Cup final . Federer hadn't hit a ball since his semi-final victory over fellow Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka in London . But the 17-time major winner, for whom the Davis Cup title is a notable absentee on his long list of achievements, was well enough to hit-up for the first time since then on the clay courts of the Pierre-Mauroy de Villeneuve-d'Ascq stadium. Federer appeared in good spirits, smiling throughout a hit-up which lasted about 30 minutes with the Swiss No 4 Michael Lammer after forgoing an earlier designated slot in the early afternoon. Wawrinka and the remainder of the Swiss team trained for about two hours in the afternoon with team coach Ivo Warner and captain Severin Luthi. Federer shakes hands with Swiss coach Ivo Werner at the Pierre-Mauroy de Villeneuve-d'Ascq stadium . Federer is yet to confirm if he will be fit to take on the first singles rubbers in Lille on Friday . Federer is yet to confirm whether he will take his place in the opening singles matches on Friday against a team including Richard Gasquet, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Julien Benneteau and Gael Monfils. But if he gives Luthi the nod he will be certain to line up for either the first or second singles match with Wawrinka, the current world No 4, taking the other slot. 'I'm making some progress,' he said on Tuesday. 'But I know I don't have a month ahead of me to get better. I need to get better quickly. I'm trying whatever I can.' Swiss captain Severin Luthi (left) arrives on court with Federer for an evening training session . Federer chose not to attend an afternoon session with the rest of his team-mates . World No 2 Federer hit up with Swiss No 4 player Michael Lammer (right) While the French side has admirable depth, the Swiss rankings drop off significantly after their top two with Marco Chiudinelli world No 212 and Lammer ranked 508th. Federer and Wawrinka trained separately despite insisting during a team press conference together on Tuesday that their differences, arrising from Federer's wife Mirka calling Wawrinka a 'crybaby' from the stands on Saturday, had been resolved. 'We had a conversation after the match,' Federer told reporters after the pair reportedly had a 10-minute spat in a gym after the match. 'Everything is totally relaxed.' Wawrinka added: 'It has become a big deal but for us, it's nothing. It took us five minutes to talk about that.' Federer (left) laughs during a press conference on Tuesday with Wawrinka (right) Wawrinka trained in the afternoon in the absence of Federer after the pair clashed on Saturday . Wawrinka is fit to take on the French on Friday and hopes Federer lines up alongside him . Wawrinka gestures towards Federer's supporters on Saturday . Federer's wife Mirka is alleged to have called Wawrinka a 'cry baby' before a point was played . Federer (centre) and Wawrinka (second right) both insist they have put their clash behind them . VIDEO Swiss spat not our concern - Tsonga . | Roger Federer returned to the training court on Wednesday evening .
The Swiss world No 2 clashed with team-mate Stanislas Wawrinka during and after their ATP World Tour Finals semi over comments from his wife .
Federer and Wawrinka trained separately in Lille, where they'll face France .
Federer hadn't hit a ball since his tie-break win over Wawrinka in London .
He's yet to confirm if he'll be fit to play in first singles rubbers on Friday . |
49,553 | 8c0a3fc0f59108488ea323279e486a8793673a1c | By . John Hall for MailOnline . Incredible footage has emerged showing Israel's Iron Dome air defence system simultaneously shooting down 15 rockets fired by Palestinian militants. The video clip, which was uploaded to YouTube by the pro-Israel group 'Sin', was filmed in an unknown location close to the Israeli border with Gaza. It is believed that the militants who fired the rockets were attempting to beat the Iron Dome by launching multiple missiles in one short burst in the hope that at least one may make it through. Iron Dome has been regularly called into use during the recent seven-week-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict, intercepting roughly 90 per cent of the hundreds of rockets fired by Gaza-based militants - the vast majority of them aimed at densely populated areas of southern Israel. Scroll down for video . Incredible: All 15 of the potentially deadly Qassam rockets are seen breaking up in mid-air as they are struck by missiles fired by the high-tech Israeli air defence system . Aerial attack: The defense missiles streak towards their targets . Threat: Multiple Qassam rockets emerge on the Israeli skyline. The video clip, which was uploaded to YouTube by the pro-Israel group 'Sin', was filmed in an unknown location close to the Israeli border with Gaza . The video clip begins with a scene of panic as Israeli citizens run for shelter while the terrifying sound of air raid sirens rings out in the air. Several seconds later the familiar sight of multiple Qassam rockets emerge on the skyline - fired from inside Gaza by Palestinian militants affiliated with the Islamic organisation Hamas. As the rockets enter air space directly above the amateur filmmaker - who appears to have used a mobile phone to shoot the footage - the explosive sound of reactive Iron Dome interceptor missiles being launched can be heard. Within seconds all 15 of the potentially deadly Qassam rockets are seen breaking up in mid-air as they are struck by missiles fired by the high-tech Israeli air defence system. Fear: The video clip begins with a scene of panic as Israeli citizens run for shelter while the terrifying sound of air raid sirens rings out in the air . Strike: As the rockets enter air space directly above the amateur filmmaker the sound of reactive Iron Dome interceptor missiles being launched can be heard. The deadly rockets are destroyed within seconds, breaking up into white puffs of smoke mid-air . Up close: The Qassam rockets (pictured) fired by Gaza-based fighters are basic steel artillery shells developed and deployed in 2001 by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades - the military arm of Hamas . The Iron Dome has been used by Israel . since 2011, having originally been developed to protect Israel from . rockets fired by Lebanon's Hezbollah Islamist group. During the 2006 Second Lebanon War, approximately 4,000 Hezbollah-fired rockets landed in northern Israel - including on Haifa, the country's third largest city. These rockets killed 44 Israeli citizens and forced a further 250,000 to flee their homes. Partly funded by the U.S., Iron Dome was finally declared operational and initially deployed on 27 March 2011 near Beersheba. Within days the system was forced to contend with the first rockets fired from within the Gaza Strip by Hamas-affiliated militants. Designed to shoot down short range rockets and artillery shells from the air from distances of 2.5 to 43 miles, the Iron Dome has since had to contend with thousands of rockets fired from the Palestinian territory, with the Israeli military estimating a success rate of roughly 90 per cent. Destroyed: Although the Iron Dome intercepts about 90 per cent of the rockets, those that do penetrate the system often strike densely populated areas, causing extensive property damage . Direct hit: Militants typically fire several missiles in quick succession, in the hope that the barrage will confuse or overload the Iron Dome and at least one rocket will make it through and strike an Israeli property . The Qassam rockets fired by Gaza-based fighters are basic steel artillery shells developed and deployed in 2001 by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades - the military arm of Hamas. In contrast to the highly expensive weapons used by many armed groups, the materials used in a Qassam rocket rarely cost more than £500 - allowing them to be produced and deployed quickly. During the recent Israeli-Palestinian conflict it is been estimated that rockets have been fired from Gaza into southern Israel roughly every hour. Militants typically fire several missiles in quick succession, in the hope that the barrage will confuse or overload the Iron Dome and at least one rocket will make it through. Although the Iron Dome intercepts about 90 per cent of the rockets, those that do penetrate the system often strike densely populated areas, causing extensive property damage. | Rockets fired by Hamas-linked militants in Gaza were blasted out the sky .
Defence system destroyed all 15 deadly rockets within seconds of launch .
Militants likely to have been trying to confuse Iron Dome with quick barrage .
Israel's Iron Dome intercepts roughly 90% of rockets fired from within Gaza . |
140,083 | 411ea4f7775db6865431bb53d6838c472f28f4d9 | By . Simon Jones for the Daily Mail . Reading are showing interest in Nottingham Forest defender Jack Hobbs. The 26-year-old only joined in January from Hull City. Another Forest defender Danny Collins, 34, is wanted by Huddersfield Town. Wanted: Bolton's Chung-Yong Lee breaks away from Nottingham Forest's Jack Hobbs (right) Hobbs started in Forest's 2-1 victory over Bournemouth on Tuesday evening. Forest first-team coach Brian Eastick backed Britt Assombalonga to have a fine season after his individual performance. A £5million summer signing from Peterborough, Assombalonga, headed home an Andy Reid cross after 66 minutes to cancel out Callum Wilson's toe-poked 58th minute opener after a defensive mix-up. And in an unlikely turnaround, fellow new boy Matty Fryatt nicked the three points for the away side with 20 minutes left when he rose highest to send a Jack Hunt cross past Lee Camp. Assambalonga, 21, has now bagged three league goals since linking up with Stuart Pearce and Eastick believes his forward line will continue to torment defences. Eastick said: 'All the strikers will be very important in the hunt for promotion and will give each other good competition. 'It will be for other people to judge if Britt was worth every penny. We like to think he will be a good investment and think he will improve.' Shoulder to shoulder: Bournemouth's Tommy Elphick (left) and Forest's Britt Assombalonga battle for the ball . | Reading are interested in signing Jack Hobbs from Nottingham Forest .
The defender moved to the East Midlands from Hull in January .
Huddersfield are interested in Forest's veteran defender Danny Collins . |
34,199 | 612f1dddc44980ac7dc14c92e84a360239c0af84 | Seoul, South Korea (CNN) -- A few months ago, most South Koreans would have laughed at a question that now looms large in their minds: "Will there be a second Korean War?" Living for decades through missile launches, naval skirmishes and nuclear tests conducted by their troublesome neighbor North Korea, South Koreans learned to brush things aside and move on with their daily lives. Pyongyang became more like a bothersome brother than an enemy nation -- especially to a younger generation that had never seen battles fought at home. But that changed instantly on November 23, after North Korea's shelling of Yeonpyeong Island killed four South Koreans. Grainy security camera footage showing people fleeing for their lives sent chills down people's backs. It showed them that North Korea remains an immense -- and nearby -- threat. The country was on high-alert as the South Korean military pursued a live-fire drill Monday near the same waters where the November attack took place. Gearing up to evacuate or hide in bunkers, islanders hoped for the best, but worried the conflict could swiftly spiral out of control. They said that the drills needed to happen, but noted that the timing might lead to another attack. "Of course, it's better not to do them," said Paek Soon-nyeo, 84, as she headed toward what would be the last ferry out of the island before the drills. After the drills ended Monday, residents anxiously waited to see what would happen at a time when North Korea's next step was anyone's guess. Is war a possibility? Few people shrugged off the idea. The shelling of the Yeonpyeong Island was a wake-up call for people here, who realized they don't have the slightest clue of what to do if North Korea were to attack the country. What used to be a widely ignored practice was viewed in a different light. Average Seoul citizens took cover in subway stations and descended downstairs in office buildings in a simulated air-raid on that day. "We actually don't participate very well, because nothing happened between North Korea and South Korea. But recently it has happened, so it's very serious for us to think about these kinds of events," said Chung Woo-sub, a university student who ducked into the subway station. In the minds of the younger South Koreans like Chung, dramatic images of North and South Korean leaders shaking hands in Pyongyang are fresher than old tales of war-torn memories. But recent developments on the peninsula might have changed that. | The younger generation has not seen Pyongyang as a significant threat .
The shelling on Yeonpyeong Island changes that .
Island residents worry that the conflict could swiftly spiral out of control .
"It's very serious for us to think about these kinds of events," one student says . |
152,687 | 515120298ee254a719e0f260cfa950d45d65fc17 | Rafael Benitez is considering rescuing Fernando Torres again and taking him to Napoli, with AC Milan willing to let the on-loan striker leave in the January window. Torres, 30, has scored just once in 11 games for AC Milan with his time at the Serie A club beginning to mimic his desperately poor start at Chelsea. Benitez would need assurances from Torres that he was willing to be committed for the remaining months of the season and buckle down at Napoli. Fernando Torres (right) has scored just once in 11 games for AC Milan after his move from Chelsea . Torres moved to Milan on a two-year loan deal after a frustrating spell at Stamford Bridge . Napoli boss Rafael Benitez may bring Torres to the Stadio San Paolo on an initial six-month deal . But Napoli need a back-up striker for Gonzalo Higuain and Torres will be available on a free transfer – despite having been worth £50m when he joined Chelsea almost four years ago. Torres is on a two-year loan from Chelsea to AC Milan but is not expected back at Stamford Bridge and Milan have come to the conclusion that the striker is not going to fit in at the San Siro. Napoli would consider taking him for an initial six months. Benitez signed Torres for £26m at Liverpool and was his manager during his golden period at the club, during which he scored 81 goals in 142 appearances. Napoli are short of back-up for first choice striker Gonzalo Higuain and Torres could do a job . He then managed him at Chelsea for six months in 2013, during which Torres produced some of his better form for the club, scoring 16 goals in 44 games, including the first in their victory in the Europa League Cup final win against Benfica. Napoli are currently fifth in Serie A and are in the last 32 of the Europa League. Benitez lured Torres away from Atletico Madrid to sign a £26m with Liverpool in 2007 . | AC Milan are willing to let Fernando Torres leave in January .
Torres has scored just once in seven starts for the Italian side .
The Spanish striker is currently on a two-year loan from Chelsea .
Napoli need a back-up striker for Gonzalo Higuain .
Torres will be available on a free transfer .
Napoli are currently fifth in Serie A . |
81,512 | e6f15b6fc4260be63cbc392612b5adaa7bcb18ad | (CNN) -- Alex Ferguson has spent half a lifetime pacing touchlines pointing at his watch, but the boot might be on the other foot if his new lectures overrun at Harvard Business School (HBS). The Boston-based school announced Friday that the former Manchester United manager has agreed to take up a teaching role on a new program called "The Business of Entertainment, Media and Sports." Ferguson retired last May after claiming a 13th English Premier League title with United -- the 49th and final trophy of an illustrious 39-year career in football management. The 72-year old has already lectured at Harvard, but will take up "a long-term teaching position" next month. "I'm delighted to have the opportunity and privilege to contribute to such a respected center of excellence," Ferguson said in a statement released by the University. "The time I have already spent at Harvard has been a stimulating experience and I look forward to developing my relationship and activities with the students, faculty and friends of the Harvard Business School community." Ferguson has previously participated in several classes with HBS professor Anita Elberse and has also collaborated with her on an analysis of his management methods. "We look forward to welcoming Sir Alex Ferguson on the HBS campus to share his remarkable leadership journey, and contribute to our Executive Education participants' ability to make a profound difference in the world," Elberse said. | Former Manchester United boss to teach business execs at Harvard Business School .
Ferguson will take up teaching post in May .
The 72-year-old is the most successful British football of all time winning 49 trophies . |
135,322 | 3b0bc23060f67f44f6e81c3d05444b6bde513ec0 | By . Anthony Hay . Follow @@Anthony_Hay . Liverpool star Raheem Sterling is continuing to soak up the rays in Jamaica before he has to step up preparations for next season's Premier League campaign. The 19-year-old, who was born in Jamaica, revealed on his official Instagram account that he was in the popular tourist destination of Ocho Rios. Sterling decided to jet off after he returned from Brazil following England's early group stage exit at the World Cup. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Raheem Sterling looking very relaxed on holiday in Jamaica . Jet setter: Raheem Sterling looks happy while on holiday in Jamaica . Valuable experience: Sterling learned a lot from his time at the World Cup . The winger is set to join back up with the rest of Liverpool's squad later this month in order to start preparations for his side's first game of the season against Southampton on August 16. Sterling believes playing in the World Cup will have a positive impact on the rest of his career - despite the Three Lions' premature elimination. 'For any young person to be involved in such a big tournament is obviously a great experience and it was no different for myself,' Sterling told LoopJamaica.com. 'It was a good feeling to get out there on the pitch and show the world what I could do really. 'Obviously on a team performance [level], we are disappointed with how the tournament went. We would have liked to be in the tournament up until now and all the way to the final, but that was not the case. 'It was a learning curve for me - an experience I am willing to learn from. Hopefully we build from this World Cup experience and go even further in the next four years.' Friends reunited: Sterling poses alongside his mates in Jamaica . The former Queens Park Rangers starlet is also hoping Liverpool can improve on last season's highly impressive campaign - where they finished second to Manchester City. 'Last season we did really well as a team. This season we will just go in the same as we did last year and take it step by step, week in week out,' added Sterling. 'Hopefully we can do well as a team and a collective. We will be going out there on a positive note and hopefully we can do what we know we can do.' Runners up: Liverpool finished behind Manchester City in the Premier League title race . | Liverpool ace Sterling is relaxing on holiday after returning from Brazil .
The teenager reveals that he is in the Jamaican resort of Ocho Rios .
Sterling believes Liverpool can compete for the Premier League title . |
172,739 | 6b8f05a922356e69711d245a39a5c4b31caec309 | LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- A man suspected of killing his grandmother and setting her body on fire was returned to Los Angeles, California, after being arrested in Mexico, authorities said Wednesday. Joseph Ettima, 25, is suspected of murdering his grandmother and burning her body. Joseph Elias George Ettima, 25, was arrested in the Mexican state of Chiapas on Monday, said Bert Tapia, supervisory deputy for the U.S. Marshal's Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force. He was brought back to Los Angeles late Tuesday night. "He was homeless," Tapia said. "Didn't have much with him, didn't have any identification." Ettima initially claimed to be from Belize, Tapia said. When authorities were unable to verify that, he then said he was Nigerian. But officials were able to determine he was actually from California, where he was sought in the January 19 death of his 69-year-old grandmother, Emma Hardwick-Street, in the Orange County town of Los Alamitos. After allegedly killing Hardwick-Street, authorities believe Ettima set fire to her body and house to cover up the crime before fleeing. "The crime is particularly heinous in that two young children were in the home at the time of the murder and witnessed the event," according to a U.S. Marshal's statement. Two of Hardwick-Street's grandchildren, ages 8 and 3, were present at the time of her slaying, according to Los Alamitos police. The 8-year-old was Ettima's younger brother, according to the U.S. Marshals wanted poster on Ettima. Police are not releasing how Hardwick-Street died, said Los Alamitos Police Capt. Bruce McAlpine. CNN affiliate KTLA reported she was stabbed. Twelve people were initially displaced by the fire in Hardwick-Street's apartment building, police said. According to the U.S. Marshals' wanted poster on Ettima, the suspect's 8-year-old brother witnessed the slaying. A 3-year-old girl was also present, according to the Orange County Register. Authorities said Ettima had recently been paroled from prison and had "a long criminal history of violence with weapons." The history includes robbery, weapons possession, manufacturing of weapons and indecent exposure, according to a February statement from U.S. Marshals. Los Alamitos police asked the U.S. Marshals task force for assistance the day after Hardwick-Street was killed, and the federal authorities put Ettima on their 15 Most Wanted fugitives list in February. U.S. Marshals, working with Los Alamitos police and Mexican authorities, were able to match Ettima's description to that of the man in custody in Mexico, authorities said. In addition to the homicide charge, Ettima was wanted on charges of robbery, arson, child endangerment and parole violation. "Ettima has a long history of violence, and his latest crime demonstrates a callous disregard for human life that is unimaginable," said John F. Clark, director of the U.S. Marshals Service, in the Wednesday statement. "Capturing him was one of our highest priorities." Ettima's arrest "is the first step in bringing justice to the victim and those affected by this brutal crime," said Los Alamitos Police Chief Todd Mattern. "Ettima's capture provides a sense of security to the community and brings closure to the victim's family." Nearly 110,000 fugitive felons were apprehended last year by U.S. Marshals task forces, nine of them from the agency's 15 Most Wanted List, the statement said. Four were arrested in Mexico. | Joseph Elias George Ettima, 25, was arrested by authorities in Mexico .
Ettima is accused of killing his 69-year-old grandmother and then burning her body .
Two children witnessed the slaying in January in Los Alamitos, California .
Los Alamitos Police Chief says the capture provides a "sense of security" |
105,275 | 13c5950330ac629681cbd26a04e079bd4f794b7d | (CNN) -- Kenny Dalglish's name is synonymous with Liverpool, one of England's most successful football teams, but after a disappointing second spell in charge as manager he has been sacked by the club's American owners. Liverpool confirmed Wednesday Dalglish has been relieved of his duties by Fenway Sports Group, headed by John W. Henry, who also owns baseball's Boston Red Sox. Dalglish won the English League Cup in February but despite huge outlay on players before the start of this season, his side struggled in the Premier League, finishing in eighth place -- their worst return for 18 years. A statement on the club's official website read: "Fenway Sports Group (FSG) and Liverpool Football Club announced that Kenny Dalglish is to leave his post today as manager after having his contract terminated. CNN blog: Why Liverpool must sack Kenny Dalglish . "After a careful and deliberative review of the season, the club came to the decision that a change was appropriate. It is not a decision that was reached lightly or hastily. "The search for a new manager will begin immediately." Liverpool's 2011-12 campaign was punctuated by controversy. Striker Luis Suarez was handed an eight-game ban by the English Football Association for racially abusing Manchester United's French defender Patrice Evra. Dalglish and Liverpool's players wore t-shirts in support of the Uruguayan, who maintained his innocence, but the club were forced to apologize when the striker refused to shake Evra's hand before Liverpool's game at Old Trafford in February. The Scot's relationship with the media became increasingly fractious and he walked out of several post-match interviews towards the end of the season. Liverpool narrowly failed to secure a cup double earlier this month, losing 2-1 in the FA Cup final at Wembley by Chelsea, and then lost the final game of the season at Swansea. Despite his sacking, Dalglish said it had been an "honor and a privilege" to manage the club again. He said: "Of course I am disappointed with results in the league, but I would not have swapped the Carling Cup win for anything as I know how much it meant to our fans and the club to be back winning trophies. FA Cup success primes Chelsea for Champions League final . "Whilst I am obviously disappointed to be leaving the football club, I can say that the matter has been handled by the owners and all concerned in an honorable, respectful and dignified way and reflects on the quality of the people involved and their continued desire to move the football club forward in the same way as when they arrived here. "I would like to thank all of the staff at the club for their effort and loyalty. I said when first approached about coming back as manager that I would always be of help if I can at any time and that offer remains the same. "Finally, I want to put on record my heartfelt gratitude to Liverpool's fans, who have always given me and the club their unwavering support. Without them neither the club nor I would have achieved anything." Dalglish first joined Liverpool as a player in 1977, winning six league titles and three European Cups. He became player manager in 1985 and led the club to a league and FA Cup double in his first season. Two more league championships followed before he resigned in 1991, two years after the Hillsborough disaster in which 96 Liverpool fans were killed at an FA Cup semifinal. He returned as an ambassador in 2009 and helped coach Liverpool's young players. He was appointed manager for the second time when the club removed Roy Hodgson, now the England manager, in January 2011. Dalglish oversaw an sharp upturn in fortunes as he led Liverpool away from the lower reaches of the Premier League, eventually finishing sixth, having spent big on striker Andy Carroll in January. Several more players arrived in expensive deals over the summer but have failed to make their mark at Anfield. Winger Stewart Downing, signed for a reported $31 million, failed to score or provide an assist in 36 Premier League games -- but has still been named in England's squad for Euro 2012. Liverpool's owner John Henry said: "Kenny will always be more than a championship-winning manager, more than a championship-winning star player. "He is in many ways the heart and soul of the club. He personifies everything that is good about Liverpool Football Club. He has always put the club and its supporters first. Kenny will always be a part of the family at Anfield. "Our job now is to identify and recruit the right person to take this club forward and build on the strong foundations put in place during the last 18 months." | Kenny Dalglish has been sacked as manager of Premier League club Liverpool .
The Scot leaves after an 18-month second spell in charge of the club .
Liverpool won the League Cup this year but finished 8th in Premier League .
Dalglish is a club legend having won titles as both a player and a manager . |
136,855 | 3d09bad9f9fdda1609050b6294a330bba7fbd479 | England twice surrendered the initiative and ultimately had to settle for a draw in their Under 20 international with Canada at Bournemouth on Wednesday night. Aidy Bothroyd's team twice led in the contest, firstly through Arsenal's Chuba Akpom and then, with only five minutes left at the Goldsands Stadium, through local boy Baily Cargill. But Canada had an answer to the Young Lions, equalising initially through Michael Petrasso shortly after half-time and then claiming a share of the spoils in stoppage time through Jordan Hamilton. Chuba Akpom celebrates after giving England U20 an early lead in their draw with Canada at Bournemouth . Arsenal frontman Akpom fires home England's opener at the Goldsands Stadium but they settled for a draw . Bournemouth player Baily Cargill celebrates after scoring England's second with just five minutes left . Canada's Jordan Hamilton (centre) is congratulated following his late leveller in the Under 20 international . The result meant England remain unbeaten under Boothroyd but there will be slight disappointment that they couldn't hang on. Since the former Watford manager was appointed, England have beaten Romania 6-0 and won a Four Nations tournament also involving Germany, Holland and Turkey last month. Boothroyd named a mixture of establish youth internationals and debutants, one of whom was Bournemouth defender Cargill, who understandably received a warm welcome from the near-7,000 crowd. The visiting Canucks gave England an early fright when Manny Aparicio darted through the England back line, only to fire off a tame shot that presented no problem for Exeter keeper Christy Pym. England's Paul Digby holds off the challenge of Canada's Sadi Jalali during the Bournemouth friendly . England's captain Lewis Baker controls the ball under pressure from Dylan Carreiro . Aidy Boothroyd preserved his unbeaten start as Under 20 manager but had to settle for a draw . England soon found their stride and took the lead on the quarter-hour. Captain Lewis Baker's cross was only partially cleared to his Chelsea team-mate John Swift on the edge of the box. He lined up to shoot but feinted and returned it to Baker, whose cross was headed home by Akpom. The Arsenal frontman saw a couple of other chances go begging before half-time as England continued to press, including a header that flashed inches wide of the post. Despite a defensive reshuffle to compensate for the loss of Liverpool's Lloyd Jones to injury, England continued to press after the break and Southampton man Harrison Reed forced a finger-tip save from Marco Carducci. But Canada left the hosts stunned when QPR winger Petrasso ran half the length of the field to fire home and equalise on 48 minutes. Kwame Thomas shields the ball from Jordan Hamilton during the 2-2 draw at the Goldsands Stadium . England's goalscorer Chuba Akpom holds off the challenge of Marco Bustos during the game . The two teams line up for the national anthems in front of a 7,000-strong crowd at Bournemouth . Boothroyd, who had fielded an attack-minded 4-3-3 formation, further strengthened his forward line by introducing Josh Murphy, Jordon Ibe, James Wilson and Kwame Thomas in the second half. But in the end it was Cargill, a defender, who restored their lead with a thumping header just five minutes from the end. It looked as though England would claim a deserved victory but, in stoppage time, Pym failed to collect a free-kick from Hanson Boakal and Hamilton was left to fire into an empty net. England have a quick opportunity to make amends when they travel to Coimbra to take on Portugal on Monday. England (4-3-3): Christy Pym (Exeter City); Shay Facey (Manchester City), Lloyd Jones (Liverpool), Baily Cargill (Bournemouth), Matt Targett (Southampton); Paul Digby (Barnsley), Lewis Baker (c, Chelsea), Josh Harrop (Manchester United); Matt Grimes (Exeter City), Chuba Akpom (Arsenal), John Swift (Rotherham United, on loan from Chelsea) Substitutes: Dominic Ball (Tottenham Hotspur) for Facey 23; Kortney Hause (Gillingham, on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers) for Jones 45; Harrison Reed (Southampton) for Targett 46; Josh Murphy (Norwich City) for Baker 61; Jordon Ibe (Derby County, on loan from Liverpool) for Swift 61; James Wilson (Manchester United) for Akpom 61; Kwame Thomas (Derby County) for Harrop 61 . Substitutes not used: Christian Walton (GK, Brighton & Hove Albion), Joe Wildsmith (GK, Sheffield Wednesday) Scorers: Akpom 15; Cargill 85 . Head coach: Aidy Boothroyd . Canada (4-1-4-1): Marco Carducci; Jordan Haynes, Luca Gasparotto, Alexander Comsia, Sam Adekugbe (c); Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare; Manny Aparicio, Kianz Froese, Dylan Carreiro, Michael Petrasso; Sadi Jalali . Substitutes: Marco Bustos for Aparicio 75; Jordan Hamilton for Jalali 75, Louis Beland-Goyett for Froese 83, Hanson Boakal for Adekugbe 90, Rares Serban for Carreiro . Substitutes not used: Nolan Wirth, Marko Aleksic . Scorers: Petrasso 48; Hamilton 90 . Head coach: Rob Gale . Referee: Simon Hooper (England) Attendance: 6,986 . | England and Canada played out a 2-2 draw in Bournemouth friendly .
Arsenal striker Chuba Akpom gave England a first-half lead .
Canada equalised through Michael Petrasso shortly after break .
Local lad Baily Cargill looked to have given England the victory late on .
But Jordan Hamilton equalised for Canucks in injury time .
Aidy Boothroyd remains unbeaten as Under 20 coach . |
55,567 | 9d84ceaed82b3bb50654cd274017b529e2f6e1df | New York (CNN) -- A city official married the first couple in New York City to wed under the state's new law allowing same-sex marriage Sunday. Phyllis Siegal, 76, and Connie Kopelov, 84, were married in a chapel at the city clerk's office as a crowd of onlookers cheered. The two, of New York, have been together for 23 years. Kopelov left the clerk's office in a wheelchair, but used a walker to approach reporters. "Your cheers are wonderful," Siegal told well-wishers outside the office. She told reporters the experience was "just so amazing. It's the only way I can describe it." Hundreds of same-sex couples heard the news Friday that they made the cut in the marriage lottery that New York state instituted for Sunday, the day that the state's Marriage Equality Act took effect. "These are two independent people who are joining together because they can see and they can feel how much better their lives will be," city clerk Michael McSweeney said as he married Siegal and Kopelov. "We are grateful that they are allowing us to share this truly momentous ceremony with them." The New York City clerk's office has been flooded with more than 2,600 requests for marriage licenses since the wording on the online application was changed from "Groom and Bride" to "Spouse A and Spouse B." The office could handle less than a third of those requests -- gay or straight -- on Sunday, according to a press statement the city released earlier in the week. The lottery was set up to allocate 764 slots for couples who want to obtain marriage licenses and/or be married at city clerk's offices on Sunday. Buffalo residents Kitty Lambert and Cheryle Rudd claim to be the first couple married in the state. The two exchanged vows at 12:01 a.m. Sunday in Niagara Falls, according to CNN affiliate WGRZ. Couples began lining up outside the clerk's office in New York City before the ceremonies began Sunday. Some women wore wedding gowns, while some men wore suits or tuxedos. If all 764 weddings actually take place on Sunday, it will set a one-day record for the city. "Marriage equality is alive and well in every borough of New York City right now," said Christine Quinn, speaker of the New York City Council, who is also gay. She said watching the weddings "sent a chill up my spine." Marcos Chaljub and Freddy Zambrano were married after Siegal and Kopelov. The two tearfully said their vows as friends hovered and snapped pictures. "You're married!" one declared as celebratory hugs were exchanged afterward. Chaljub and Zambrano conducted last-minute preparations Saturday for their wedding, picking up bouquets of wildflowers for their bridesmaids and champagne for a family brunch afterward. The couple has been together for five years. "I have certain people in my life, they're not totally OK with it, but they accept it, and just the fact they respect us because of that, it's really the most that I can ask for," Chaljub told CNN's Susan Candiotti. The two have been wearing rings for five years, and said they don't plan to exchange new ones. "We're just going to polish them up and exchange them again," Chaljub said. As with many weddings, there were some comical moments. Chaljub momentarily forgot which finger to put Zambrano's ring on. "Is it this one?" he asked. Asked whether he took Michael Elasser, 56, as his spouse, 60-year-old Douglas Robinson responded, "You bet your life I do!" The couple's two adopted sons, ages 25 and 22, attended the ceremony. "This is one of the great things about America, this diversity," Robinson said. "I'm so proud to be an American today, but I'm particularly proud to be a New Yorker." New York Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum of Beit Simchat Torah congregation, who has lobbied for legalizing same-sex marriage, set up a station for couples desiring a religious ceremony after the civil one. New York legalized same-sex marriage in June. The Marriage Equality Act was a priority for Gov. Andrew Cuomo after winning election in November. The law was passed under a Republican-led Senate after days of delays and negotiations between the two parties. Quinn announced that a drawing will take place Monday to award a honeymoon package to one newly-married couple in each borough. The package will include two nights in a Manhattan hotel; dinners; tickets to a museum, the Empire State Buidling, a Broadway show and Cirque du Soleil; and Macy's gift certificates. However, opponents of the new law were planning to gather Sunday afternoon at rallies organized by the National Organization for Marriage in New York, Albany, Rochester and Buffalo. A handful of protesters were outside the city clerk's office in Manhattan Sunday morning. Quinn told CNN that New York is the place where the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) movement was born, and a place the world looks to. "All eyes are upon it, and I believe it is going to help propel this movement forward faster than any of the other states have," Quinn said. Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont and New Hampshire also allow same-sex marriage, as does the District of Columbia. CNN's Jesse Solomon and Steve Kastenbaum contributed to this report. | NEW: Opponents of the new law will hold rallies in several cities .
NEW: Buffalo residents claim to be the first couple married in the state .
City council speaker: "All eyes are upon" New York .
Phyllis Siegal, 76, and Connie Kopelov, 84, are the first couple in NYC to wed . |
116,112 | 21df70fe07c4d461f8f2d7b493c6eba1f0b1056d | By . Janine Yaqoob . PUBLISHED: . 07:59 EST, 30 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:22 EST, 1 December 2012 . A Subway shop was turned into a drive-thru after a car smashed through its front doors. The 4X4 ploughed into the busy cafe in the middle of the afternoon trapping a customer against a wall. A woman was inside the Subway when the BMW X3 crashed through the shop front just before 3.30pm yesterday. Miraculously, she escaped with only minor injuries. A BMW 4x4 crashed into a Subway shop window in Aberdare yesterday. One woman was taken to hospital with minor injuries after the incident . In a hurry? The car ploughed through the glass frontage and straight into the Subway restaurant . The car was left wedged in the middle of the fast food outlet in Aberdare, South Wales for a number of hours while police carried out investigations, . Onlooker Richard Jones, 34, said it was 'a miracle' no one was seriously hurt in the afternoon smash. Mr Jones said: 'There was a massive bang. I turned around and saw the car sticking out the front of the shop. 'I love a foot long subway sandwich but I’m glad I wasn’t in there when it happened. Crowds gathered at the scene of the crash, which is thought to have been an accident . Drive-thru: Staff and diners scattered as the car suddenly ploughed into the store . Shock: The footage shows tables and chairs overturned as a staff member emerges from behind the counter to try and establish what has happened . Aftermath: One woman was taken to hospital but her injuries were not thought to be serious . Lucky escape: A couple eating at a table by the window leaped from their chairs when they realised the car was heading straight towards them . 'It’s a miracle no one inside was seriously hurt.' Crowds of shoppers gathered around the destroyed shop front, which was covered in shattered glass and brickwork. Officers closed the busy street off for more than two hours while they removed the car and cleared the debris. South Wales Police say the woman was taken to hospital for a check up after the crash but her injuries are not thought to be serious. Three other vehicles were damaged in the incident, which is thought to have been an accident. Police have yet to make any arrests. A South Wales Police spokesman said: 'An incident was reported to us when a vehicle went into a shop on Victoria Square, Aberdare. 'One woman was trapped inside the store. We are still investigating the incident. 'The driver of the vehicle stopped at the scene and is helping police with inquiries.' Subway said in a statement: 'Our first concern is to make sure that anyone injured is looked after. 'This is now a police matter.' Close shave: The car narrowly avoided hitting this pedestrian as it left the road and mounted the kerb outside the Subway branch . | BMW X3 crashed into busy Subway shop in Aberdare, South Wales .
Woman customer who was trapped against a wall escapes with minor injuries . |
158,903 | 596fb27211f06eecf8029e232ea210b754fa9b1c | (RollingStone.com) -- Canada's broadcast regulator, the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission, has put pressure on the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council to reconsider its decision to ban Dire Straits' 1985 hit "Money for Nothing" from Canadian airwaves for including an anti-gay slur. The CRTC received more then 250 complaints about the CBSC's decision to remove the song, which is a long-established staple of rock radio stations. Many of the complaints were understandably confused about the distinction between the two organizations: The CRTC is a federal watchdog agency and the CBSC is a non-government industry group set up by private broadcasters to set ethical standards. RollingStone.com: This week in photos . Confusion about the authority of the CBSC has led to uncertainty about how to enforce the ruling among many Canadian radio stations. The CBSC's regional panel had only sanctioned the station in St. John's, Newfoundland where the original complaint about the song originated. The CRTC has sent a letter urging the CBSC to more thoughtfully examine the artistic intent of the Dire Straits tune, taking into account that it has been played countless times over the past 25 years. See the original article at RollingStone.com . Copyright © 2010 Rolling Stone. | Canadian Federal Watchdog urging council to reconsider ban of Dire Straits song .
1985 hit "Money for Nothing" banned from airwaves for including anti-gay slur .
CRTC received more then 250 complaints about the CBSC's decision . |
37,176 | 695e64a73b6ee4553edbffc71a564613bc16c743 | By . Associated Press . and Daily Mail Reporter . A former San Antonio rapper has been executed for murdering a recording studio owner in a bloody robbery. Ray Jasper was injected with a lethal dose of pentobarbital Wednesday for the November 1998 stabbing death of 33-year-old David Alejandro. He was officially pronounced dead at 6:31pm, after addressing his daughter in his last statement. 'To my family, we are one. To my beautiful daughter, the . best thing that ever happened to me. I love you endlessly. I am . you and you are me forever,' Jasper wrote in his last words, according to a statement released by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Put to death: Jasper (left) was put to death today for the 1998 murder of recording studio owner David Alejandro (right) No one from either his family of the victim's was present to witness the execution. Alejandro's family decided to spend the evening together in San Antonio instead. Jasper had acknowledged he slit Alejandro's throat to steal equipment from the San Antonio studio during a recording session, but insisted it was his two accomplices' more than 25 stab wounds that killed the studio owner. Co-defendant's Steve Russell and Douglas Williams were spared the death sentence and are currently serving life sentences. Jasper's execution was the third in Texas this year. Another is set for next week before the state begins using a new batch of pentobarbital obtained through a different pharmacy. The injection came after lawyers for Jasper, who was black, argued a black potential juror at Jasper's San Antonio trial in 2000 was questioned and disqualified improperly because of race. Jasper's execution Wednesday night follows the publishing of an essay he wrote on the American judicial and penitentiary systems that was posted on Gawker. Gawker initially reached out to all death row inmates with scheduled executions this year back in December 2013, and Jasper decided to respond. His original essay was published on the site in January, and they republished it two weeks before his death. Not there: Alejandro's parents Minnie and Eddie Alejandro decided not to attend the execution today, and instead spent the evening together in San Antonio . In the letter published March 4, Jasper reflected on his perceived flaws of the justice system - and even compared prisoners to slaves. 'Under the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution all prisoners in America are considered slaves,' he wrote. 'We look at slavery like its [sic] a thing of the past, but you can go to any penitentiary in this nation and you will see slavery [...]People need to know that when they sit on trial juries and sentence people to prison time that they are sentencing them to slavery.' Jasper's indictment described his experience of race and the judicial system, even citing the words of deceased rapper Tupac Shakur. 'When I walked into prison at 19 years old, I said to myself "Damn, I have never seen so many black dudes in my life,"' he said. 'I mean, it looked like I went to Africa. I couldn't believe it. The lyrics of 2Pac echoed in my head, "The penitentiary is packed/ and its filled with blacks."' Referring to young African Americans, Jasper writes that in order to overcome inequalities they 'have to be exposed to something new' and ignore rap stars like Jay-Z and Rick Ross. 'Their minds have to be challenged, not dulled, he says. 'They know the history of the Crips & Bloods, but they can't tell you who Garvey or Robeson is. They can quote Drake & Lil Wayne but they can't tell you what Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton has done.' Jasper also said that jail sentences given to first-time offenders are a form of 'oppression.' 'There are guys walking around with 200 year sentences and they're not even 30 years old,' he said. 'Its [sic] outrageous. Giving a first time felon a sentence beyond their life span is pure oppression.' Jasper's letter even alleged that heavy sentences may be delivered as a result of the prison-industrial complex. 'The other side of the coin is there are those in the corporate world making money off prisoners, so the longer they're in prison, the more money is being made,' he said. 'It's not about crime & punishment, it's about crime & profit.' | Ray Jasper was convicted of murdering recording studio owner David Alejandro in a 1998 robbery .
His execution comes two weeks after Gawker re-published his essay condemning the American justice system .
In the letter, Jasper compared the penitentiary system to slavery . |
72,864 | cea07e19ea27af99e30e4355b51f764ab2b46a76 | (CNN) -- A Vietnam War veteran killed in an Iraq roadside bombing this week has become the oldest American service member to be killed in either Iraq or Afghan combat, the Pentagon has confirmed. Maj. Steven Hutchison died in a roadside bomb attack last Sunday near Basra, Iraq. Maj. Steven Hutchison -- a 60-year-old soldier from Scottsdale, Arizona -- died Sunday in the southern Iraqi city of Basra after a bomb went off near his vehicle in the region. Hutchison spanned two war eras. He enlisted in the Army at 19 and served in Vietnam, according to a news report on CNN affiliate KNXV-TV. Hutchison wanted to serve again after the September 11 attacks, but his wife opposed that. His wife died of breast cancer in 2006, and Hutchison was "devastated," his brother Richard Hutchison told KNXV. Steve Hutchison jogged, got into great physical shape and returned to Army active duty at age 57 in Afghanistan and then Iraq. He had been assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas. "He's been a soldier his whole life," Richard Hutchison said. | Maj. Steven Hutchison, age 60, killed by roadside bomb .
Hutchison joined Army at age 19, served in Vietnam .
Major returned to active duty at age 57 . |
131,150 | 35987cdb38f90c6a9a738af16ac45a73b98cfa63 | By . Leon Watson . Madagascar's unique wildlife is under threat from an invasion of toxic toads, scientists have warned. Researchers say the island's native species face an 'ecological disaster' caused by the arrival of Asian common toads. Snakes feeding on the toads are especially at risk of poisoning, as are iconic Madagascan species such as lemurs and endemic birds. Threat: Asian common toads, which are believed to have arrived in Madagascar on shipping containers, are poisonous to reptiles and animals if eaten . It is thought the amphibians were transported to the African island in shipping containers from south-east Asia. Scientists say Madagascar could suffer a repeat of what happened in Australia when a relative of the poisonous amphibian, the cane toad, was introduced to control pests in 1935. They proceeded to devastate native animal populations and have spread across much of the country, defying attempts to eradicate them. The toads now number in their millions there. The World Wildlife Fund says around 95 per cent of Madagascar's reptiles and 92 per cent of its mammals exist nowhere else on Earth. In a letter to Nature magazine, 11 researchers warned that Asian common toads, or Duttaphrynus melanostictus, were spotted near Toamasina, Madagascar's largest seaport. Ring tailed lemurs, which are found only on Madagascar, are already an endangered species, but now face an invasion of toxic frogs . Around 95 per cent of Madagascar's reptiles and 92 per cent of its mammals exist nowhere else on Earth . The females can lay 40,000 eggs a month and it is feared they will take advantage of the 'ideal resources and climate' to establish themselves. Jonathan Kolby, a wildlife health researcher at James Cook University in Australia, and his colleagues wrote: 'Time is short, so we are issuing an urgent call to the conservation community and governments to prevent an ecological disaster.' A relative of the Asian common toad, the cane toad, was introduced to Australia in 1935 and devastated wildlife there . He told Nature that iconic Madagascan species such as the cat-like fossa, lemurs and endemic birds could be threatened, because they are likely to eat the venomous toads. More than 50 species of endemic snake - including the ground boa - are also in jeopardy. The toads could also contaminate drinking water and transmit parasites to humans. The potential catastrophe is not just restricted to Madagascar, said Mr Kolby. 'There is now a high dispersal risk of these toads spreading from Madagascar to other Indian Ocean islands such as the Mascarene Islands, Comoros and Seychelles,' he said. The 11 co-signatories of the letter are calling for an urgent hunting programme to wipe out the toads before they take hold - including draining ponds to stop their breeding. | Scientists fear Asian common toads could decimate island's wildlife .
Snakes feeding on the toads are especially at risk of poisoning .
Iconic species such as lemurs and endemic birds are also in danger .
95% of Madagascar's reptiles and 92% of its mammals are unique .
It is thought the toads arrived on the island in shipping containers .
Australia's wildlife was devastated by a relative after it arrived in 1935 . |
15,821 | 2cec1cb536cc73c0f3c44c6c04178371fc9b3630 | (CNN) -- Three years after the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell," the now-defunct law prohibiting gay men, lesbians and bisexuals from serving openly in the armed forces, many Americans might not know that a significant form of discrimination still exists: The U.S. military bans transgender people. Military recruiters are required to turn down attempts by transgender Americans to enlist. If, after joining the military, service members are discovered to be transgender, they are fired. No other federal agency operates this way. Because of the Pentagon's ban, an estimated 15,500 transgender people serving in the military have to hide and lie about who they are. This has devastating consequences for them, and makes it impossible to access medically necessary health care without risking discharge. Careers are ruined, and the military wastes resources training competent service members and then firing them when their gender identity is discovered. That's just what happened to Landon Wilson, a transgender man who served as a Navy cryptologist in Afghanistan last year. Landon was so good at his job that his superiors put him up for a promotion. But in the course of preparing the paperwork, a colleague discovered that Landon was born a girl, so he was sent home and ushered out of the Navy. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced three months ago that he is open to reviewing the ban, and the White House expressed support. However, since Hagel's announcement, no progress has been made toward a resolution, and some observers have questioned whether the military could include transgender personnel without difficulty. Transgender ex-Navy SEAL: Here's a question for you . To answer that question, a commission of leading legal, military and medical experts, including the U.S. Army's former chief medical officer, has completed a study on how to implement inclusive policy. The commission, which I co-chair, conducted an analysis of foreign military forces, as well as U.S. military experiences of previously excluded populations. Our research indicates that allowing transgender personnel to serve will be neither burdensome nor complex. We found that as with any policy change, the implementation of an inclusive approach should be handled in a thoughtful and deliberate manner. That said, we found that the administrative and regulatory changes needed to implement inclusive policy are minimal, and that strong leadership will be sufficient for avoiding any potential problems. Before implementing the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell," the Pentagon created an internal working group that took a year to formulate advice about how to repeal the ban. Its guidance was based on extensive research, including a survey it administered to 400,000 service members. Additionally, the military commissioned the RAND Corporation to complete a simultaneous study on the same implementation questions the internal Pentagon working group was considering. While the working group and the RAND report produced useful recommendations, the snail's pace approach to implementation was based on the need to build political support, not by any complexities involved in lifting the ban. Because "don't ask, don't tell" was a congressional statute, the administration had to persuade a bipartisan coalition in Congress to support repeal, and the extensive research on implementation helped those efforts. But eliminating the restrictions on transgender service members—and embracing them as equal and respected members of our nation's armed forces—does not require the repeal of any law. Since the ban can be lifted without waiting for Congress, there is no reason for delay: The Obama administration should immediately announce a moratorium on firing transgender service members, and begin implementing a policy of inclusion. President Obama has made it clear that when Congress will not help him solve the nation's problems, he can and will take executive action to get meaningful work done. Lifting the military's transgender ban is a win-win opportunity because the policy will strengthen both the armed forces and our democracy. | Shannon Minter: "Don't ask, don't tell" gone, but military still bans transgender people .
Minter: 15,500 transgender people in the military must hide or they will get kicked out .
Minter: Careers are ruined; talent and training lost. Policy change would not be difficult .
Minter: Obama could end the firing of transgender service members and drop the ban . |
96,186 | 07b12ea1e249c0f45fd2150f427a499e152ed55f | Lynn mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy, who claims over-age Guatemalan immigrants are using schools . The mayor of a city in Massachusetts has claimed that some illegal immigrants who have entered from Guatemala and are enrolled in public schools have greying hair and more wrinkles than her. Judith Flanagan Kennedy, mayor of Lynn, said that many attending the schools are not children, but federal government will not allow officials to verify their ages. One of the students was revealed to be 35 years old, while others are clearly much older than 21 - the oldest at which you are entitled to attend public schools in Massachusetts - Ms Kennedy said. 'One of the things that we did notice when we were processing some of these students coming in was that they were adults,' she told CNS News at a press conference. 'There were people with greying temples,' she added. 'There were people with more wrinkles than I have around their eyes.' Most of the immigrants coming into the schools from Guatemala were claiming to be between 14 and 18 years old, but the schools have no way of officially verifying their real ages. Ms Kennedy says they have been told by the Department of Justice that they cannot, and with the number of Guatemalan students almost doubling from 2012-13 to the last academic year, she warned that this could lead to an increase in taxes, in order to pay for their education. In 2013-14, 101 Guatemalans enrolled at Lynn's public schools, compared with 56 the previous year. Public schools are required by law to enrol all children - no matter their immigration status. A child, according to federal law, is someone for whom State education is provided and is within the age limits. In Massachusetts, that is between 3 and 21 years old. Thurgood Marshall Middle School in Lynn, Massachusetts, around 10 miles north of Boston . Ms Kennedy said that despite there being no official way to tell if these alien students are in fact adults, it can be very easy to tell. 'Every once in a while, we’ll be able to determine that someone is well above the age at which they would be entitled to an education in the Lynn Public Schools,' she said. 'For example, if a student does not show up for a few days of classes, we will send our truant officers out to find out what’s going on at that home.' She told of how officials turned up at the door of one 'boy' who had repeatedly been missing school, only to be told by a woman who answered that he was 35 years old. The Department of Justice stated to public schools back in May: 'You must ensure that you do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin, and that students are not barred from enrolling in public schools at the elementary and secondary level on the basis of their own citizenship or immigration status of that of their parents or guardians.' Lynn is around 10 miles north of Boston, and is the ninth biggest city in Massachusetts. The district is home to 26 schools. | Lynn, Massachusetts mayor, Judith Flanagan Kennedy, made the claims .
One of the Guatemalan students was revealed to be 35 years old .
Number of Guatemalan students enrolling in Lynn's schools has doubled .
They are claiming to be 14-18, but many believed to be much older .
Officials cannot verify their ages as Department of Justice forbids it .
Public schools legally required to enrol children of any immigration status . |
147,374 | 4a8a5a5a1e5fcac08603dedd86fd23bda8e61691 | Harlequins stay top of Pool 2 despite this narrow defeat but have Leinster for company now after this thrilling battle in a freezing Dublin. Mike Brown and Danny Care inspired a stirring second-half fightback from Quins, who came from 11-3 down to lead 13-11 with little over 10 minutes to play. An Ian Madigan penalty proved decisive in the end, with the match marred by a late punch-up and a somewhat strange yellow card for Charlie Matthews, for bringing his hand close to the eyes of Dominic Ryan during the scuffle, despite officials saying they were not sure he was eye-gouging. Leinster scrum half Isaac Boss dives over for the home side's opening try at Aviva Stadium . Harlequins and England number nine Danny Care eyes up a gap during a tight first half in Dublin . Leinster inside centre Ian Madigan fires out a pass as Harlequins centre Matt Hooper looks to make a tackle . Quins host Wasps in round five in January and a win there will take them close to the knockout stages, since their final pool match is against hapless Castres. They will rue a disallowed try and six points spurned by rookie kicker Tim Swiel. Making only his fifth senior appearance for Harlequins, Swiel badly mishit a second-minute penalty. That brought the first roars from Leinster supporters but the visitors steamed into the contest. Quins took two quick lineouts inside the first five minutes, determined to keep the ball in play and run the legs off the three-time champions on their home pitch. Harlequins full back Mike Brown makes a strong carry into the Leinster defence . Madigan eventually kicked Leinster in front after 25 minutes but they kept applying pressure like a tourniquet and were rewarded with a try — only their fourth in Europe this season – when Isaac Boss slid over in the 32nd minute. A quick pick-up from Jamie Heaslip off an attacking scrum close to the Quins line allowed him to pop a pass to Boss, who had an unimpeded dart to the line. Madigan missed the conversion but, within two minutes, Swiel spurned another easy chance to open the Harlequins account. Having to start without former All Black Nick Evans in the No 10 shirt looked as damaging as losing Chris Robshaw given their team-mates’ failure to string together coherent attacks in the first half. Leinster lock Devin Toner is stopped in his tracks by the twin tackle of Will Collier (left) and George Lowe . In Care and Brown, though, Conor O’Shea had two proven Test-quality backs in his arsenal and they combined for a marvellous try two minutes after the restart, Care’s delicate chip behind the Leinster defence caught by the on-rushing Brown. But incredibly, referee Romain Poite judged that Harlequins had knocked on earlier in the move, despite video evidence suggesting the ball had been touched by a Leinster hand. Harlequins refused to feel downhearted and won a thumping scrum penalty in the 46th minute, with Swiel finally landing a kick at goal. Harlequins veteran Nick Easter carries into the Leinster defence as Jimmy Gopperth (right) watches on . Quins minced their opponents with two huge scrums and from the second they won a penalty to set in train the move that ended with a legitimate Brown try, with Swiel converting. The Leinster cause was further weakened by a silly penalty given away by Leinster lock Devin Toner for tackling Clifford without the ball. Swiel swept over the line to score and put his team ahead with 15 minutes remaining. Leinster survived a 25-metre scrum in the 70th minute and broke quickly forward, the attack ending with Harlequins going offside and a penalty scored by Madigan to nose Leinster back ahead. Then came the scuffle but, more importantly, Leinster won the penalty and somehow held on. | Ian Madigan kicks three crucial penalties for Leinster .
Isaac Boss score the home side's only try .
Mike Brown replied with a try for Harlequins .
Quins remain top of Pool Two ahead of Leinster on points differnce . |
138,725 | 3f68c8fcd891133a84e220419bf590c676fae52f | By . Louise Boyle . A socialite has been charged with defrauding millions of dollars from the trust fund of a 92-year-old close friend who suffers from dementia. Nancy Tsai, 66, a former darling of the Toronto charity circuit where she was known as a 'Glitter Girl', was arrested last week in Florida for allegedly scamming money from Helga Marston, who has been her friend for 40 years. Tsai, the ex-wife of the late billionaire investor Gerald Tsai, is accused of using her ailing friend's riches to buy a $2.3million beachfront penthouse condo, a $170,000 Bentley, a $28,000 private jet day-trip from Florida to Canada and a $7,000 dinner at Cafe L'Europe in Palm Beach. Nancy Tsai, 66, a charity socialite, has been charged with defrauding millions of dollars from her 92-year-old friend's trust fund in Palm Beach, Florida . Tsai, the founder of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, was Martson's trustee and had power of attorney. Tsai's daughter E. Sarah Paul was the beneficiary of Marston’s most recent will. Tsai was pictured in 2009 with Ms Martson at a lavish charity ball in Palm Beach, Florida, according to the New York Social Diary. Police told the New York Post that Tsai was having an affair with Dennis Melchior who was the broker of the trust until he lost his job at UBS last year. Melchior denied any wrongdoing and said that Ms Marston, who has 'zero mental capacity' and lives in a nursing home, benefited from the money being spent. Tsai was arrested on April 22 at her beachfront home. After nine hours in custody, she was released on $30,000 bond. Ms Tsai rose to prominence in the 1980s when she was part of a group of women in Toronto who threw over-the-top charity fundraisers using their husbands' extreme wealth. Helga Marston (pictured right) with Nancy Tsai (left) and friend Stephen Lindsay at a lavish charity bash in Palm Beach, Florida in 2009. Tsai was arrested last week after she allegedly scammed millions from Ms Marston . According to one Canadian social columnist, fashion designer Valentino even attended a lavish party at Nancy's home in 1986. Nancy Paul met her first husband, real estate mogul Vincent Paul, when she was an air hostess on Air Canada in 1966. Mr Paul died in 1996. She then went on to marry billionaire investor Gerald Tsai but the couple divorced in 2006. Mr Tsai died two years later. MailOnline was awaiting a comment from Tsai's attorney. Ms Tsai allegedly spent $7,000 on a meal at Cafe L'Europe in Palm Beach, Florida using money from her elderly friend's trust fund . | Nancy Tsai, 66, a former darling of the Toronto charity circuit where she was known as a 'Glitter Girl', was arrested last week .
The ex-wife of late billionaire Gerald Tsai, is accused of using her friend's riches to buy a $7,000 dinner at Cafe .
L'Europe in Palm Beach .
Tsai was known as a 'Glitter Girl' of Toronto society in the 1980s and once hosted a party attended by fashion designer Valentino . |
256,201 | d7a26e867236e3dac9df7ccbd210417fad163590 | Washington (CNN) -- Senate Republicans mounted a counter-attack Sunday against ratifying a new nuclear arms treaty with Russia this year, trying to put off a vote that Democrats say they will win if it is held. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky led the way, telling CNN's "State of the Union" that members of his party need more time to consider the START accord. "I've decided I cannot support the treaty," McConnell said in his first outright rejection of ratifying the treaty during the current lame-duck session of Congress. The treaty would resume mutual inspections of U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals, while limiting both nations to 1,550 warheads and 700 launchers each. On Sunday, Democrats rejected a Republican amendment to the treaty's preamble that would have added a reference to tactical nuclear weapons, which are not covered by the pact. Republican senators are "uneasy" about the treaty, and trying to get a vote before Christmas was not the best way to "get the support of people like me," McConnell said. His unequivocal stance increased the GOP's public opposition to ratification, which would require at least 10 GOP senators to vote with the Democrats to reach the two-thirds majority of 67 needed. The Democratic caucus has 58 members, but one of them, Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, is preparing for prostate cancer surgery Monday and is expected to miss the rest of the current lame-duck session that expires January 4. If the vote gets put off to the new Congress, as Republicans want, the number of GOP votes needed for ratification rises to at least 14 because the Democrats will have a diminished majority of 53 seats. McConnell's comments prompted a response from his Democratic counterpart, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, who issued a statement saying he was "deeply disappointed" at McConnell's opposition to the treaty. Reid's statement noted that "respected Republican leaders" including former President George H.W. Bush and several former secretaries of state, as well as the current military leadership all called for ratification. In addition, Reid's statement said, the proposed treaty has been available since May and the Obama administration has answered questions from senators and taken steps to address concerns. For example, the administration has committed to increased spending on modernizing the U.S. nuclear arsenal at the request of Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Arizona, who had been leading the GOP opposition to the treaty. "I know many senators, including my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, who share the belief that this treaty is too critical to our national security to delay, and I look forward to strong bipartisan support to pass this treaty before we end this session of Congress," Reid's statement concluded. Later Sunday, Reid filed a cloture motion -- a necessary procedural step to end debate and set up a vote. "After months of consideration and five days of open and robust debate, it is time to move forward on a treaty that will help reverse nuclear proliferation and make it harder for terrorists to get their hands on a nuclear weapon. Every day we delay is another day we do not have inspectors on the ground in Russia monitoring their nuclear arsenal," he said in a statement. Democratic Sen. John Kerry, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, predicted Sunday that Democrats have the necessary support for ratification and that the vote would occur in the coming days. "I believe it will pass, and I believe there will be a vote," Kerry said on the ABC program "This Week." However, the ranking Republican on the Senate panel, Richard Lugar of Indiana, said he was uncertain that the vote would occur before the lame-duck session expires. "Several Republicans will support it, and I join the chairman (Kerry) in believing that there are the votes there," said Lugar, who backs ratification. "The problem is really getting to that final vote." Lugar noted that the Senate still needs to debate Republican amendments to the treaty. Any change in the language or substance of the pact would require reopening negotiations with Russia, effectively killing the agreement. So far, Democrats have defeated the two Republican amendments proposed -- Sunday's attempt to add a reference to tactical nuclear weapons, and a Saturday bid by Sen. John McCain of Arizona to remove from the preamble language recognizing a relationship between offensive and defensive weapons. In both cases, however, Democrats were at least seven votes shy of the 67 they will need to ratify the treaty. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, on Sunday continued questioning the language cited in the failed McCain amendment, telling the CBS program "Face the Nation" that it could undermine future development of U.S. missile defense systems. According to Graham, Russia could object to continuing U.S. development of missile defense capability as a violation of the treaty and withdraw from it. Kyl, appearing on "FOX News Sunday," also challenged the language in the preamble, which he said changes the past U.S. stance by linking offensive and defensive weapons. "In the last arms control treaty with Russia in 2002 we absolutely separated the two issues," Kyl said. Now, he said, the Democrats were insisting the treaty can't be changed. If that's the case, Kyl said, "we're just a rubber stamp for the administration and the Russians, the administration that for the first time wasn't willing to stand up to the Russians and say, 'You're not going to implicate our missile defenses.' " However, Democratic Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, labeled the missile defense concern a "straw man" argument without substance. The nation's top military leaders say "there is no restriction, no limitations whatsoever" on missile defense in the treaty, Levin said. Lugar also challenged some of the GOP arguments, saying the resumed inspections under the new treaty were essential for verifying compliance by Russia. In addition, the treaty represents new opportunities to engage with Russia on important issues in the continuing evolution of relations between the countries after the Cold War era, he noted. "To throw away all of those opportunities simply because some feel the Russians are no longer relevant or we should just simply build whatever we want to quite apart from the Russians seems to me is an illogical stance, but we're hearing a lot of that," Lugar said on the ABC program. Democrats argued that the Senate has plenty of time to consider further Republican amendments and debate the treaty before the new Congress gets sworn in during the first week of January. Previous arms control treaties have taken a similar amount of time to debate, Levin noted on the CBS program. The Senate is expected to go into a closed session Monday afternoon to discuss classified information related to the treaty. On Saturday, President Barack Obama sent letters to McConnell and Reid expressing his support for the accord. "The New START treaty places no limitations on the development or deployment of our missile defense programs," Obama wrote. CNN's Gabriella Schwarz contributed to this report. | Senate Democrats defeat a second Republican amendment .
The Senate Republican leader says he opposes the treaty if the vote occurs now .
Wait until a new Congress convenes in January to debate it, McConnell says .
The treaty resumes inspections and limits nuclear arsenals of both nations . |
75,197 | d53215711f63046ab2cbb000508a9061d086049c | (CNN) -- Champions League winners Barcelona have signed Chilean star Alexis Sanchez from Serie A Udinese on a five-year deal. Barcelona confirmed Thursday on their website that they had been successful in their pursuit of the 22-year-old, who had been linked to a number of other top European clubs. Sanchez has cost the Spanish champions €26 million ($38.2m) but could pay an additional €11.5 ($16.5m) depending on appearances. He will be the first Chilean to play for the Catalan giants and gave clear indications that he wanted to join them in preference to other clubs. "He has been strongly committed to playing for Barca," the statement said. Sanchez will have medical before being officially presented at the Nou Camp Monday. Sanchez, who was voted best player in Serie A last season with 12 goals in 31 games, is Barcelona's first major signing of the close season transfer window. In another major signing Thursday, Portuguese giants Benfica completed the signing of Spain's World Cup winning defender Joan Capdevila from Villarreal. The 33-year-old left-back has been signed as a replacement for Portugal international Fabio Coentrao, who departed Lisbon for Real Madrid earlier this month. Capdevila played every match of Spain's successful campaign in South Africa and the former Atletico Madrid full-back has signed a two-year deal at the Estadio de Luz. The one-time Deportivo la Coruna player has represented Spain on 57 occasions and was also part of Luis Aragones' victorious Euro 2008 squad. Elsewhere, Dutch coach Ronald Koeman returned to football Thursday after agreeing to take the reigns at Dutch first division club Feyenoord. The 48-year-old has been out of the sport since leaving AZ Alkmaar in December 2009 and signed a one-year deal with the Rotterdam side. As a player, Koeman won the 1988 European Championships with Netherlands and the European Cup with both Barcelona and PSV. He also spent two years with Feyenoord between 1995-97. Former Feyenoord coach Mario Been left the club after a disappointing season yielded a 10th place finish in the league and saw the one-time European champions humiliated 10-0 by PSV Eindhoven last October. Koeman has previously had spells in charge of Ajax, Benfica, PSV and Valencia. | Alexis Sanchez joins Barcelona from Serie A Udinese in big money deal .
Sanchez was voted Serie A best player of the year last season .
Joan Capdevila goes to Benfica from Villarreal on a two-year deal .
Ronald Koeman has returned to football as the new coach of Dutch side Feyenoord . |
105,110 | 13955cf259c94b7d811862806c019da5246bb0df | By . Candace Sutton . PUBLISHED: . 19:06 EST, 5 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 22:20 EST, 5 March 2014 . Hallucinating, suicidal and sometimes unable to speak with her family, Schapelle Corby appears to be spinning out of control as her parole term derails under serious threats she be returned to Indonesian prison. The 36-year-old's joy at being freed from Kerobokan prison appears to have turned to despair, with one episode of self harm with a knife and a whole day spent locked in the toilet, her brother-in-law Wayan Widyartha told The Age. Indonesian authorities are expected to decide 'within days' as to whether they will revoke Corby's parole and place her back in jail. 'Hallucinating' and suicidal Schapelle Corby has spun out of control as her parole term derails and Indonesia threatens the 36-year-old drug smuggler with a return to prison . Mr Widyartha, who is Corby's parole guarantor, has begged journalists camped outside his house to ease up as grim-faced Indonesian officials - backed by a strident national media - appear set on cutting short the drug smuggler's hard won freedom. An Indonesian newspaper and TV station are demanding she be immediately returned to custody for affronting the nation with sister Mercedes' claims the 4.2kg of cannabis Corby was caught with had been planted by Indonesian officials. Channel Seven, which broadcast Mercedes' assertion about Schapelle's innocence, is also under investigation, with the Indonesian government saying the network paid the Corby family's bills in the luxury Villa Sentosa Seminyak. One justice official has claimed Mercedes Corby had not told them the truth about Channel Seven paying for the family's stay at a luxury villa. Corby's staunch supporters have also entered the fray, releasing a video on YouTube entitled The Houding of Schapelle Corby. Using Channel 9 footage of Schapelle shot over the fence of the Widyartha compound, the video shows her disquiet when she realises she is being watched and filmed. The clip was released by the Expendable Project, which has vigorously campaigned for Schapelle's innocence, trolling those who question it on social media. Mr Widyartha said his 'mentally ill' and heavily medicated sister-in-law, who had to leave the premises for meetings with her parole officer, hallucinated about being followed wherever she went. 'It's like an illusion,' he said. 'She's still seeing people [crowding her]. She's still traumatised. 'She's mentally ill. We sometimes can't speak to her. She stayed in the toilet for the whole day, she's still on heavy medication . . . for depression.' Freedom gone sour: Schapelle Corby's moments of joy following her release have turned to fear that Indonesian authorities may revoke her parole and incracerate her again . In a reversal of his wife, Mercedes' denial about reports of Schapelle's episode with a knife, Mr Widyartha admitted Corby had attempted to self harm on Monday night in front of Bali Justice Office corrections chief Sunar Angus, saying it was because of the stress she was under. When Mr Angus and a parole officer went to the house, Schapelle Corby grabbed a knife and threatened to kill herself, reportedly saying about the constant media pack: 'What, are they waiting for me to kill myself?' The family has now consulted a Balinese psychiatrist and an online psychologist. Meanwhile, calls for the revocation of Corby's parole are growing louder, with two local media outlets urging action in the wake of last Sunday's programme about Corby on Channel Seven. On Tuesday, Indonesian Justice Minister Amir Syamsuddin strongly suggested Corby may be sent back to jail. 'There is a probability that her parole will be reconsidered,' he told the Indonesian newspaper, Kompas, adding that if Corby’s parole was revoked it was her family’s fault and that he was under increasing political and domestic pressure following Mercedes' TV interview. Indonesian network Metro TV has published a story which called for the immediate revocation of parole and suggested Indonesia was waiting for its government to take 'tough action'. The online newspaper Media Indonesia claimed Mercedes Corby had 'ridiculed' Indonesian 'law and sovereignty' by suggesting in her interview Schapelle was innocent of smuggling the cannabis in the boogy board bag and had been 'the victim in a set up' by Indonesian officials. Corby was sentenced to 20 years in . prison in 2005 for smuggling 4.1 kilograms of marijuana into Bali, . hidden in a boogie board bag. Jubilation after Corby's release (above) has evaporated as brother-in-law Wayan Widyartha admits a 'heavily medicated' Schapelle locked herself in a toilet for an entire day with her anxiety and depression . Corby's jump for joy (above) following her release has now given way to a suicide attempt, confirmed her her sister Merecdes's husband, Wayan, who is also Schapelle's parole guarantor . Her sentence was reduced after earning remissions for good behaviour, . along with a five-year cut following an appeal for clemency. She was released under strict parole conditions on February 10 and ordered to stay in Indonesia until 2017. Indonesian justice officials warned Corby not to make any claims of innocence while on parole which might cause 'unease' in the nation. Sunar Angus now says he has evidence the Seven network paid for the Corby's three week luxury resort stay, and that Mercedes had told him 'there was no payment'. In . the Seven documentary Corby was shown being whisked away from jail in a van and . later swimming in the surf before enjoying a meal with her family. While she did not give an . interview, Mercedes told how her younger sister had been broken by her time in jail. The clip also showed Schapelle arriving at the Seminyak villa. She . was seen jumping up and down with excitement before a male voice is . heard saying, ‘You can take that thing off,’ referring to the scarf . across her face that perplexed viewers across Australia. By all reports, the excitement and high spirits in the Corby camp in Bali have now disappeared. Little more than three weeks after her release (above) Schapelle may have her hard won freedom cut short, as Indonesian authorities decide 'within days' about whether to return her to jail . | Claims 'mentally ill' Schapelle Corby locked herself in the toilet for a day .
Indonesian politicians and media calling for 36-year-old's return to prison .
Mercedes' claims cannabis was Indonesian 'ridiculed' nation's sovereignty .
Schapelle 'hallucinating' about being followed wherever she goes .
Brother-in-law says Schapelle medicated and often unable to speak .
Little sympathy as decision on revocation of Corby's parole 'within days' |
277,959 | f4159155e01ba126fb66d5c211022ee26383c5f5 | A dog found frozen to the ground in Ecorse, Michigan, last Tuesday is lucky to be alive but may yet loose a leg or two due to her owner's cruelty . Elsa, a 10-year-old chow mix, was rushed to Healthy Paws Medical Center after a Good Samaritan spotted the poor animal suffering in freezing conditions and called for help. According to rescuers from the local animal shelter it took them 30 minutes to free Elsa from the icy ground. Elsa was rushed to Healthy Paws Medical Center after a Good Samaritan spotted the poor animal suffering in freezing conditions and called for help . The 10-year-old chow mix, who was found frozen to the ground last Tuesday, is lucky to be alive but may yet loose a leg or two due to her owner's cruelty . 'They had to pour warm water on her. Her two legs were frozen. The side of her face and her side, she was literally laying [sic] frozen to the ground,' Patricia Trevino of the River Rouge Animal Shelter told FOX 2. The temperature was five degrees with a windchill of -10 on Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. when the rescuers arrived, but they don't know how long the animal was left outside. Elsa's owners had cruelly wrapped her leash around her which had prevented her from being able to reach either food, water or shelter. 'The dog was incoherent, was not responsive. She didn't start crying until the water was poured on her,' said Trevino. Elsa suffered frost bite to her ears and feet, with her toes were frozen together so that they bleed when she tried to walk on them after she had been revived . Elsa suffered frost bite to her ears and feet, with her toes were frozen together so that they bleed when she tried to walk on them after she had been revived. According to Trevino, Elsa isn't out of the woods just yet and could lose a leg or two. FOX 2 reports that the veterinarian who had been working to save Elsa was too overwhelmed to speak on camera about what the dog had suffered. Healthy Paws are taking donations over the phone as they battle to save Else. 'It's going to pay her bill so she can be treated and stay here as long as she needs to stay until she recovers,' said Trevino. The dog's owners have been charged with cruelty and are due to appear in court. | Elsa was rushed to Healthy Paws Medical Center after a Good Samaritan spotted the poor animal suffering in freezing conditions and called for help .
The 10-year-old chow mix, who was found frozen to the ground last Tuesday, is lucky to be alive but may yet loose a leg or two .
Elsa suffered frost bite to her ears and feet, with her toes were frozen together so that they bleed when she tried to walk afterwards .
'Her two legs were frozen. The side of her face and her side, she was literally laying [sic] frozen to the ground,' said one of the rescuers . |
95,630 | 06e85f74455c0aa34def39081aa86a2a8c641e7a | Angry David Cameron has accused Ed Miliband of resorting to childish taunts about his posh background – as he described Labour as 'a complete shower'. The Prime Minister said Mr Miliband's 'personal abuse' did not bother him and insisted he was 'proud' of his privileged background. At last week's Labour conference, Mr Miliband accused the PM of being a 'PR man' for the rich. He said Mr Cameron only stood up for 'Conservative supporting, gold mining, luxury hotel owning, Putin award winning, Russian oligarchs'. But Mr Cameron said: 'There is quite an interesting difference - my argument about Ed Miliband is that he has not got a plan. That is substance. As far as I can see from his speech, he just had personal abuse. Well after nine years of being party leader, I can cope with personal abuse. It doesn't seem very grown-up.' Scroll down for video . David Cameron, at the Tory conference in Birmingham, told party supporters that Labour were a 'complete shower' Mr Cameron made clear the next election would be a direct choice between him and Ed Miliband . Mr Cameron, who was in the conference hall to watch George Osborne's speech, insisted he did not live a 'totally rarefied existence' He added: 'But at the end of the day, the election will be decided upon who has got the best plan, who is going to take the country forward. It is not about where I went to school.' Mr Cameron, 47, speaking to the Sun newspaper insisted he did not live a 'totally rarefied existence' – but said he was not going to pretend he was not posh. He said: 'You can't change who you are, and I am not going to change who I am. 'I can't change the school I went to, or the upbringing I had, or the parents I have - and nor would I want to.' Mr Cameron's anger with the Labour Party came to the surface at a fringe event at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham last night. The PM, speaking to party activists, said the Labour Party was so poor it would be embarrassing not to beat them in May's general election. He said: 'We saw last week what we are up against, and I have to say, after that Labour leader's speech, after that Labour conference, if we, the Conservative Party, cannot defeat that complete shower of an opposition we don't deserve to be in politics.' The remarks echo Tony Blair's final conference speech as Labour leader, in which he said of the Tories: 'If we can't take this lot apart in the next few years we shouldn't be in the business of politics at all.' Ed Miliband's tried a similar tactic in his 2012 conference address, in which he asked: 'Have you ever seen a more incompetent, hopeless, out-of-touch, U-turning, pledge-breaking, make-it-up-as-you-go-along, back-of-the-envelope, miserable shower than this Prime Minister and this government?' Mr Cameron said 'personal insults' about his background did not bother him. But the Tory Party has targeted Ed Miliband as Labour's weak link . Labour leader Ed Miliband resorted to digs about Mr Cameron's background because he didn't have a 'plan' for the economy, Mr Cameron said . In his interview with the Sun, Mr Cameron said there were bits about him voters 'absolutely hate', but insisted not everyone was against him. He said: 'I think people have got to know me a bit. 'I am sure there are bits they like, bits they don't like.' But hae added: 'When I go round the country, you obviously get some good reactions you get some bad reactions. 'But generally people have a sense that the government is trying to do something, trying to sort things out.' He added: 'A lot of people shout 'Stick at it.' That is probably what I hear more than anything else.' | David Cameron says he is 'proud' of his posh background despite attacks .
The PM dismisses Labour leader Ed Miliband's 'personal abuse' as immature .
Claimed insults showed Labour did not have a 'plan' to deal with economy .
He said: 'If we can't defeat that shower we don't deserve to be in politics' |
134,399 | 39cca5365753f652c45edd4f8b31b9fc224724e4 | By . Sophie Jane Evans . PUBLISHED: . 05:06 EST, 12 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 05:54 EST, 12 March 2014 . Fulfilling his dreams: Jake Stoneking, 19, from West linn, Oregon, drew up a 17-strong bucket list after diagnosed with medulloblastoma in 2009 . A terminally-ill teenager has named visiting a strip club as the number one priority on his bucket list. Jake Stoneking, 19, from West Linn, Oregon, drew up the document of things he wishes to do before he dies after being diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer in 2009. It includes hunting a wild bear, getting a tattoo and watching a UFC fight. But the number one thing Jake wanted to do was visit topless bar, Jiggles, in Tualatin. And luckily for him, the club is one of the few in America that do not serve alcohol and therefore, allow under-21s into the premises. Now, the teenager has checked the wish off his list - as well as four other items, including taking a ride in a helicopter and shooting a pistol. After Jake's visit, Jiggles general manager, Brian, told the New York Daily News: 'I am beyond flattered and I hope that he had an amazing time.' He added that he wished he had known about the teenager's plans beforehand so he could have planned something special. 'I would have definitely tried to make sure that his experience there for a bucket list was a step-up from a normal experience for a customer coming off the street.' Jake, who used to be a 140lb wrestler with 'six-pack abs', was diagnosed with medulloblastoma at the age of 14 after suffering from a number of agonising headaches. He underwent 12-hour surgery on the tumour in his cerebullum - the brain centre for balance and coordination - followed by months of radiation and chemotherapy. Scroll down for video . Wish: The teenager has put visiting strip club Jiggles (pictured) in Tualatin, Oregon, as top of his bucket list . Getting there: He has checked the wish off his list - as well as four other items, including shooting a pistol . During the treatment, his weight dropped to just 104lb and he had to relearn how to walk and eat. 'He had a tumour removed about the size of a golf ball,' his father, Todd Stoneking, told ABC News. 'It pretty much took him down to nothing.' Medulloblastoma is a type of brain tumour that mainly affects children. It develops in the cerebellum - the part of the brain that controls muscle coordination and balance - but may spread to other parts of the brain. Symptoms can include headaches, sickness, sight problems, slurred speech, neck stiffness and balance problems. The tumour is more common in boys than girls - and makes up about 20 per cent of all childhood brain tumours. Source: Macmillan . Following months of gruelling treatment, Jake and his family were told his tumour had gone - only for it to return last month. This time, the teenager was told his cancer was terminal - and he may have only three months left to live. 'We thought it was gone. They did scans every three months for a year to make sure it was gone,' said Mr Stoneking. We found out in February it was back.' He added that his son's tumour now stretches from his brain to the bottom of his spinal cord, where his nerves are 'matted' with cancer. But despite his fate, Jake has taken his illness in his stride - and is quickly checking off items on his bucket list with the help of friends, family and kind-hearted strangers. The 17-strong list includes laughing until he cries, getting 'Stoneking' tattooed on his back and holding a fundraising event. 'He put stuff on there that he knows can happen,' said Mr Stoneking. Treatment: Jake is pictured in hospital after underoing 12-hour surgery on the tumour in his cerebullum. He has now been told his cancer is terminal - and he may have only three months left to live . 'We know the time is coming. But he's doing pretty good and we can still do a lot of things.' He added: 'He is an awesome kid. And I'm not just saying that because he's mine - there is something about him, his infectious smile.' Jake is taking experimental chemotherapy drugs in a bid to buy himself an extra year while completing his bucket list. Dream flight: But despite his fate, Jake has taken his illness in his stride - and is quickly checking off items on his bucket list with the help of friends and family. Above, the teenager fulfills his wish to ride in a helicopter . | Jake Stoneking, 19, from Oregon, diagnosed with medulloblastoma in 2009 .
Last month, he was told cancer is terminal - and he has three months to live .
Teenager put visiting strip bar, Jiggles, as number one priority on bucket list .
Club is one of small number in America to allow under-21s into the premises .
Also listed visiting hunting wild bear, getting tattoo and watching UFC fight . |
47,546 | 86140b61ed6d0855ec335514c20e42c0df0dbc7b | The Department of Homeland Security will grant temporary protected status to people from the three West African countries most affected by Ebola who are currently residing in the United States, department officials said on Thursday. People from Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone in the United States as of Thursday may apply for protection from deportation, as well as for work permits, for 18 months, said a Department of Homeland Security official. After 18 months, the Secretary of Homeland Security will assess whether the protection should be extended, based on the level of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. Health workers from Guinea's Red Cross are pictured carring the body of a victim of the Ebola virus in Momo Kanedou in Guinea this week . The move is a response to the Ebola epidemic, which has claimed more than 5,000 lives, mostly in the three West African countries. In order to prevent a mass migration from West Africa to the United States, nationals from these countries who arrive after Thursday will not be eligible for protected status. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officials estimate that 8,000 people will be eligible to apply. 'The Ebola response in the United States has been front and center in the United States government at high levels,' said a Department of Homeland Security official. 'This designation has been part of that constant monitoring, reevaluation and reassessment of the appropriate response.' The United States reserves temporary protected status for people from countries experiencing conditions deemed too dangerous to return to, such as Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. Unlike other recipients, protected people from West Africa will not be allowed to travel home and then return to the United States, in order to prevent the disease from spreading. Nationals from the three countries must undergo a background check in order to receive protected status. Those with a criminal history will not be approved, said the Homeland Security official. | The U.S. reserves temporary protected status for people from countries experiencing conditions deemed too dangerous .
People from Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone in the U.S. as of Thursday may apply for protection from deportation, as well as for work permits .
People who arrive after Thursday will not be eligible . |
13,649 | 26b0a56d21b098f521802ac09cbbf629fc1c64b8 | Everton have completed the signing of Chelsea winger Christian Atsu on a season-long loan deal. The 22-year-old revealed that he had passed his medical on Wednesday evening and posted an image of himself meeting manager Roberto Martinez. The club then confirmed that a deal had been finalised to make Atsu the Toffees' fifth signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Romelu Lukaku, Gareth Barry, Muhamed Besic and Brendan Galloway. VIDEO Scroll down for 'Roberto Martinez: Everton need to sign a few more players' Done deal: Everton have announced the signing of Chelsea winger Christian Atsu on a season-long loan deal . New boy: Atsu (right) shakes hands with Roberto Martinez (left) after completing his Everton medical . True blue: Atsu poses in his new shirt after obtaining a work permit for his temporary switch to Goodison Park . On the move: Chelsea and Ghana winger Atsu has joined Everton on a season-long loan deal . Atsu, who spent last season on loan at Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem, told evertontv: 'I'm very happy to be joining Everton because it's a great club, which likes to play football, and it's a great pleasure to be here. 'Playing in the Premier League has always been a dream for me and I have achieved that dream. 'This is the biggest level for me to play at. I know that it's a very competitive league and I believe with hard work we're going to be successful this season.' Martinez added: 'He's a player who fits in with the culture and the way we want to play. He's a very gifted technical footballer and he's got the right personality and character to fit in with the group, which is vital. 'He will excite fans because he brings something completely different and a different way of playing to what we've got in the squad. 'He's a left-footed player who loves taking people on and he's got a really good understanding of the game for such a young man. 'He also brings extra competition in a position in which we felt we needed a player full of desire and hunger, who really wants to make things happen in the final third of the pitch.' Busy: Everton boss Roberto Martinez is still keen to sign another striker before the transfer window closes . New boy: Atsu will join midfielder Muhamed Besic among the new recruits at Goodison Park this summer . | Atsu will spend the 2014-15 campaign on loan at Goodison Park .
He posted a picture of himself and Martinez on Twitter after passing his medical on Wednesday .
Martinez believes Atsu will add another dimension to his side's attack .
The Spaniard hopes to sign another striker before the transfer window shuts . |
188,598 | 803f7f0f2fbf82befbcc91cf31d3d6cfa748ea89 | (CNN) -- The man is strapped onto a gurney and restrained, yet he is singing, making faces and twitching. "You know where you're at?" a paramedic asks him, but Freddy Sharp can't answer. He was, he explained later, off in his own world after overdosing on synthetic drugs known as "bath salts." "I'd never experienced anything like that," Sharp told CNN's Don Lemon. "It really actually scared me pretty bad." KDVR: Colorado 'Bath Salts' ban signed into law . He said he was hallucinating about being in a mental hospital and being possessed by Jason Voorhees, the character from the "Friday the 13th" movies. "I just felt all kinds of crazy," said Sharp, now 27, of Tennessee, who says he hasn't used bath salts in months. "It felt so evil. It felt like the darkest, evilest thing imaginable." The drug made national headlines recently after a horrific crime in Miami, where a naked man chewed the face off a homeless man in what has been called a zombie-like attack. Video footage captured by surveillance cameras on the nearby Miami Herald building shows the 18-minute attack, which ended when police shot and killed a man identified as Rudy Eugene, 31. The footage shows a man walking along a sidewalk and stopping in a shaded area created by the tramway bridge. He apparently attacks the victim, dragging him out from the shade, stripping the victim's clothes off and beating him as the victim kicks his legs in an apparent attempt to fight back. He then spends several minutes crouched over the victim. "The guy just kept eating the other guy, like ripping his skin," witness Larry Vega told CNN affiliate WSVN. Police told CNN affiliate WPLG that when officers arrived and told him to stop, the man growled like an animal and continued eating the victim's face. Overheard on CNN.com: Are we all 'zombies'? Authorities said they suspected the attacker was under the influence of bath salts. The victim is in critical condition at a Miami hospital. Not the same substance used to scent your bathwater, bath salts contain amphetamine-like chemicals such as methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) and are sold as "cocaine substitutes" or "synthetic LSD." Its effects include paranoia, hallucinations, convulsions and psychotic episodes. Why 'bath salts' are dangerous . "This is a terrible drug because it takes a combination of methamphetamine, and the paranoia and the aggressiveness, and LSD, the hallucinations, and PCP, the extreme paranoia that you get, combines it into one, and has unpredictable effects on human behavior," Paul Adams, an emergency room doctor in Miami, told CNN. The drug remains legal in some states, although many others have taken steps to ban the substances. But sometimes, when one chemical used in bath salts is banned, another chemical is substituted to skirt the law, said attorney Alex Manning. "People are making this stuff out of household products, stuff that's in their kitchens," she said. It can take "five or six grown men" to restrain a bath salts user, she said. "It's PCP on crack." And cases are on the rise, Adams said. Police in Panama City, Florida, said last year they had seen two violent incidents linked to use of bath salts. In one, a woman allegedly tried to behead her 71-year-old mother; in the second, a man on bath salts used his teeth to tear up the back seat of a patrol car. Sharp said he never felt the urge to "eat anybody's flesh" while under the influence of bath salts, but noted, "You feel like you're 10 feet tall and bulletproof, and you actually do not feel any pain." He said he himself "just got paranoid." But he said his overdose -- was a turning point, describing it as "Fear. Darkness. It felt like impending doom was coming down on me ... I felt like I was about to bust loose and actually hurt somebody." He recalled trying to calm himself unsuccessfully. "I felt like if I lost that control, anything could happen," he said. The experience, he said, was the worst of his life. And coming off the drug was also difficult, he said. Besides the withdrawal, "whenever it comes out of you, you can smell it in your hair. It's so nasty." He described the smell as a "unclean, nasty, unkempt, chemically-type smell." Asked what he would say to other users, Sharp said, "The only thing I can say to them is that if you value your life, you'll stop it and you won't do it anymore, because it will destroy your life. It will destroy your family. It will destroy everything." CNN's Brad Lendon, Deb Feyerick and Ann Curley contributed to this report. | A former bath salts user says his overdose was the worst experience of his life .
"You feel like you're 10 feet tall and bulletproof," Freddy Sharp says .
"Bath salts" are in the spotlight after a grisly recent crime in Miami . |
149,654 | 4d807b809481fae5c8d22c7d5084317cd5dc26a8 | Crown Princess Mary was left 'shaken up' after talking about the harsh reality of child marriage and female genital mutilation during an emotional visit to Ethiopia. During the official three-day humanitarian visit last week, the Danish Royal visited a refugee camp in Gambella and spoke with locals in the Afar region - one of the hottest places on earth. The mother of four was met by a group of ethnic Afar men performing a welcome dance when she arrived in the region in her United Nations four wheel drive. Scroll down for video . Crown Princess Mary of Denmark spent three days in Ethiopia on an official United Nations humanitarian visit last week . The Danish Royal spoke to villagers in Afar about the reality of female genital mutilation and child marriages in the African nation . With the Danish Minister for Trade and Development Cooperation, Mogens Jensen, by her side Princess Mary spoke to brightly dressed villagers about the reality of female genital mutilation and child marriages in the African nation. 'You do get shaken up by the knowledge that such a practice still exists but we have to think beyond judging it,' Crown Princess Mary told TV2 Denmark. In the Afar region, newborn babies or young girls have their clitoris cut off with a traditional knife before the opening is sewn closed so only a small hole remains. Princess Mary listened intently as mothers shared stories of their daughters suffering infections and complications from the procedure, which the United Nations condemns as a violation of human rights. She also visited a refugee camp known as 'Tierkidi' in Gambella. The mother of four met and spoke with refugees during her visit to a camp known as 'Tierkidi' in Gambella . The 42-year-old future Queen looked at ease laughing with children living at the refugee camp as she battled the harsh heat . Princess Mary met with brightly dressed leaders and women in a local community near Afambo . The 42-year-old opted to help with the workload at the refugee camp as locals watched on . Local children were delighted with Princess Mary's visit and flocked around her at every chance . Princess Mary listened intently as mothers shared stories of their daughters suffering omplications from the genital mutilation procedure . The 42-year-old future Queen took the time to visit 91-year-old Australian doctor Catherine Hamlin and the patients at Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital during her three day visit. Dr Hamlin, who has lived in Africa for 55 years, embraced Australian-born Mary as she toured the hospital speaking with patients, staff and even visiting a baby girl born on the day she arrived. The philanthropist has made it her mission to cure the women who suffer from obstetric fistula, a condition endured from obstructed labour. 'Mary was taken on a tour of the main ward and she was able to meet staff and patients,' Lucy Perry, CEO of Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia in Australia, said. 'She didn’t stand back from them, she went right up to the patient’s bedside and was engaging with them. 'It was a major thrill for staff to meet royalty from Europe.' The Danish Minister for Trade and Development Cooperation, Mogens Jensen (right), took part in the visit with Princess Mary . Last week's visit to Ethiopia was the second and longest trip for Princess Mary, who is a United Nations patron . Princess Mary toured the refugee camp with the help of local children, some of which were carry water cans . The future Queen of Denmark got her hands dirty helping to plant trees at the refugee camp . Princess Mary then joined Dr Hamlin for tea in her cottage on the hospital grounds. 'Mary bought Catherine a set of Danish tea cups, which is so spot on for Catherine,' Ms Perry said. 'They mainly talked about eradicating obstetric fistula in Ethiopia once and for all.' While obstetric fistula was eradicated in the western world in the 1920s, many developing countries still have hundreds of thousands of women who suffer from the injury, which is a hole in the bladder or bowel, that requires surgery. Dr Hamlin established the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital and the Hamlin College of Midwives in the 1950s, and then expanded the operations to five other hospitals. Last week's visit to Ethiopia was the second and longest trip for Princess Mary. The future Queen took the time to visit 91-year-old Australian doctor Catherine Hamlin and the patients at Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital . Princess Mary and Trade Minister, Mogens Jensen, spent three days touring Ethiopia for the United Nations . Princess Mary looked delighted as she watched refugees perform inside a tin shed . There were smiles all-round when Princess Mary arrived and spent time with the children . The mother of four watched how things were done inside the refugee camp known as 'Tierkidi' The 42-year-old looked calm despite the region of Afar being one of the hottest in the world . | Princess Mary spent three days in Ethiopia on an official United Nations humanitarian visit last week .
Danish Royal visited a refugee camp and spoke with locals in the Afar region - one of the hottest places on earth .
Mother of four listened intently as locals shared their experiences of child marriage and female genital mutilation .
Princess Mary also visited 91-year-old Australian doctor Catherine Hamlin at her hospital . |
31,360 | 5926ff983bd52cbcc5a4461fe87bb9f9e03fbbb2 | Michael Schumacher's son Mick showed racing skill runs in the family as he secured a podium finish in the German Kart Championship. The 15-year-old came second behind rival David Beckmann in the competition's finale in Genk, Belgium. He was also runner-up in the World Junior Championship in France last month. Mick Schmacher (left) clutches his second-place trophy won at the German Kart Championship . A young Mick Schumacher (right) with famous dad Michael at the Monaco Grand Prix . Mick's promised this is 'only the beginning of his racing career' and success on the track comes as his 45-year-old father recovers from a life-threatening skiing accident last December. The seven-time Formula One world champion suffered serious head injuries and spent six months in a coma after his crash in the French Alps. Mick said: 'Of course I am proud of such an important result. But it is also clear that it is my goal to be world champion. This is only the beginning of my career.' Michael Schumacher (left) and his son Mick both started their racing career in karting . Mick Schumacher gleefully holds his trophy as he follows in his father's footsteps . Karting was where it all began for Michael Schumacher and he couldn't resist jumping in again . Michael had a similar start to his legendary racing career - starting to race at a young age after his father built him his first kart when he was just four years old . The racing legend won the German Kart Champion title aged 15 and went on to break numerous records on his way to claiming seven world titles and staking his claim to be one of the sport's most successful drivers ever. The German won back-to-back titles with Benetton in the mid-nineties before winning five successive championships with Ferrari to cement his place in history. | Mick Schumacher came second in the German Kart Championship .
Follows the same result in last month's World Junior Championship .
The 15-year-old vows: 'This is only the beginning of my racing career'
Comes as his legendary dad Michael Schumacher recovers from a life-threatening skiing accident . |
182,150 | 77d4c204471e8e210a020eaae2c2090ca28bbde8 | Sir Alex Ferguson has compared the beginning of Louis van Gaal's Old Trafford reign to his own troubled start at Manchester United and backed the Dutchman to turn the club around. Van Gaal has lost three of his opening eight games in charge after spending more than £150million on new players to overhaul a squad largely built by Ferguson. The Scot took three-and-a-half years to win his first trophy at United after the board refused to bow to pressure to sack him, and he is in no doubt that Van Gaal will receive the same support now even though his predecessor David Moyes was axed after just 10 months in charge. VIDEO Scroll down to watch A look back over Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United career . Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson chats with presenter Jim Rosenthal on MUTV . Ferguson reflects on his life after leaving Old Trafford in an exclusive interview with United's TV channel . Louis van Gaal needs to be given time to succeed at United, according to former manager Ferguson . Radamel Falcao celebrates scoring his side's winner against Everton to send United into the top four . David Moyes was given just 10 months in charge at Old Trafford before being sacked . W Liverpool 0 Man United 1 . W Man United 2 Leicester 0 . D Aston Vila 3 Man United 3 . D Man United 3 Tottenham 3 . L Man United 0 Wimbledon 1 . W Man United 1 QPR 0 . D Norwich 0 Man United 0 . L Oxford 0 Man United 2 . P8 W3 D3 L2 . W Man United 2 Everton 1 . W Man United 2 West Ham 1 . L Leicester 5 Man Unitd 3 . W Man United 4 QPR 0 . D Burnley 0 Man United 0 . L MK Dons 4 Man United 0 (League Cup) D Sunderland 1 Man United 1 . L Man United 1 Swansea 2 . P8 W3 D2 L3 . 'He's not been getting the results that are expected but when I came to the club I didn't get the results I expected myself at the beginning,' Ferguson told MUTV. 'What we needed then was Sir Bobby Charlton, Martin Edwards and the board to stick by me and we had a great spell after that. 'Once I got settled into the club, everything was fine. Louis is going through that same process and there's no doubt in my mind that he will sort it out.' Ferguson (right) watches his United side lose their first game against Oxford United back in 1986 . Robin van Persie (facing forward) is congratulated by his team-mates after netting against West Ham . Ferguson discusses everything from United's summer signings to his relationship with Van Gaal with MUTV . Park Ji-sung is introduced as a club ambassador by Ferguson at Old Trafford - his last appearance at the club . Ferguson says Van Gaal (left, at a press conference in 2009) has not sough him out for advice . Ferguson revealed that Van Gaal has not sought him out for advice since taking over in the summer, adding: 'There's no ongoing dialogue. He comes into my office sometimes after the game, into the lounge, and we have a chat. 'But it's not a matter of picking up a phone or anything like that. He's a very capable person with a strong mentality. He's a strong leader. He knows where I am if he ever did need me but there has not been any need for him to phone me.' The 72-year-old played a prominent role in appointing Moyes and was then criticised for being too high profile at United games, casting a shadow over his successor as he struggled to get to grips with the magnitude of the job. Ferguson watches the final day of the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles with Europe captain Paul McGinley (right) Ferguson spoke to the European team before the Ryder Cup about performing when favourites to win . The 72-year-old gives a speech at the Nordic Business Forum in Helsinki, Finland, last week . Asked if he is annoyed at how that has been portrayed, he said: 'There's a bit of that. I haven't been to every game, obviously. I've missed a couple this season already but I've been to a few of them and I continue to do that. 'The way I've always been and I did it as a manager, I'm actually quite stone-faced watching a game. I don't try to show any emotions unless we score. I always celebrate a goal, even now as a director I still celebrate a goal. You're always conscious maybe the cameras are on you and this is happening quite a lot. 'I got annoyed when we lost to Liverpool last year. I didn't enjoy that. I don't like losing to Liverpool and Manchester City last year, because they are your biggest rivals and the ones you always strive to defeat and are always in our way. Particularly Liverpool of course.' Ferguson, watching United take on Stoke last season, says he is 'stone-faced' when in the stands . Steven Gerrard celebrates in Liverpool's 3-0 win at Old Trafford last season, a result which annoyed Ferguson . The breakup of Ferguson's squad, in particular the £16m sale of Danny Welbeck to Arsenal, and spending on headline signings like Angel di Maria and Radamel Falcao has raised concerns that United have betrayed their roots of bringing young players through their academy. Ferguson's old No 2 Mike Phelan even suggested that Welbeck's departure was a sign that the club's 'identity has been broken'. But Ferguson backed Van Gaal's restructuring and praised the new manager for giving the likes of Tyler Blackett, Paddy McNair, Jesse Lingard and James Wilson an opportunity in the Premier League. 'What has pleased me about Louis is he's given seven young kids their debuts this year which falls into line with the history of our club, there's no question about that,' he added. 'I think that's exactly what Louis van Gaal believes in too. I think the greatest example is how he produced at Ajax to win the European Cup with all players created by Ajax themselves. Edwin van der Sar was in goal, Edgar Davids, Patrick Kluivert. Some fantastic players - all produced by the club. Van Gaal has given youngster Tyler Blackett (left) opportunities to play first-team football this season . Academy product Paddy McNair (right, in action against Everton) has also featured in the first team today . 'Obviously Louis has made a lot of changes and I was thinking about that actually. Maybe he's doing the right and correct thing, to clear the decks and build his own team, because he's got the experience and the coaching ability to do that. And he's got the reputation to do that. I think the way he's approached is, I think, brilliant. 'It's the rebuilding of the team and they brought in some good quality. It was really important because you need quality at Manchester United, you need the best players. 'I think when you can identify ability like that needed by Manchester United, they have the resources to do that. They are fees I never quite equalled but nonetheless they were needing quite a big injection this year. '(Ander) Herrera played against us three years ago for Bilbao in the Europa League. He's a talented young player and we scouted him quite a lot at that time. Obviously I think they tried to get him last year but it fell through for some reason or another. He's athletic, quite aggressive actually for a lad who has not got a great frame and he's quite slim but he's quite aggressive and he gets around the pitch. Van Gaal allowed Danny Welbeck to leave Old Trafford for Arsenal in a £16m deadline day deal . Ferguson admits United attempted to sign Luke Shaw (right) when he was just 16 before landing him for £30m . 'The signing of (Luke) Shaw was the one we tried to get when he was 16 years of age. They wouldn't sell him to us but they always said we'd be first to know if they ever did. Of course, Ed Woodward has carried that through and we got him for, I think it was £30m. He's a talented boy, a good footballer who likes to get forward all the time. '(Marcos) Rojo, the Argentinian boy, I watched him at the World Cup, I thought he did really well for them and I think he's capable of playing either left side as a wing-back if you like or as a centre-back. 'Daley Blind is one of those common-sense footballers that make up a team. He's probably a version of Darren Fletcher of a few years ago, that type of player. He's a good professional with common sense to his game. He keeps it simple and protects the defenders and the attacking midfield players in his role. 'The big one is Falcao who we're all waiting to see. Obviously, he has fantastic goalscoring ability. He had his injury so getting him on loan is the right thing to do.' | Sir Alex Ferguson has backed Louis van Gaal to get Manchester United back on track after a difficult start to the season .
The former Red Devils boss says the Dutchman deserves time at the club .
Ferguson didn't win a trophy for three-and-a-half years at Old Trafford .
But David Moyes was given just 10 months before being sacked .
Van Gaal is building his own team after spending over £150m on players .
Ferguson says he speaks with Van Gaal but there is 'no ongoing dialogue' |
230,184 | b612664bba09093fe0f3522593e422a6dff43d59 | A young couple jailed for burglarizing Miley Cyrus and stealing her $100,000 sports car have said they were inspired by the notorious Bling Ring. Aspiring models Naomi Charles, 21 and boyfriend Tylor Scott, 19, both pleaded guilty to breaking and entering the singer’s home on May 30 this year. It has now emerged that just like the infamous teen gang, the young woman was the leader of the two, and the lure of fame the trigger. Bling ringed: Aspiring models Naomi Charles, 21, and boyfriend Tylor Scott, 19, burglarized Miley Cyrus home in Studio City, LA in May, stealing jewellery and her $100,000 car, after being inspired by the Bling Ring gang . Crime: The couple scaled a fence to enter singer Miley Cyrus' home and stole jewellery, purses, clothing and her $100,000 Maserati . Charles and Scott scaled a fence and entered the We Can’t Stop singer’s home in Studio City, LA, while she was on tour and stole an unknown amount of jewellery, clothing and purses, as well as her 2014 Maserati Quattroporte. Miley Cyrus’ assistant reported the burglary the following day after noticing items out of place in the home. The car was found a few days later in Simi Valley, 45 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles, LAPD said at the time. Charles, a Los Angeles resident, and Scott, from Arizona, were arrested on June 5 in North Hollywood, after being recognised from the surveillance video of the theft – just like the infamous Bling Ring members. The Bling Ring was a group of seven teens and young adults based around Calabasas, California who burglarized the homes of several stars, including Paris Hilton, Orlando Bloom, Megan Fox, Rachel Bilson, Ashley Tisdale and Lindsay Lohan, in the late noughties. Bonnie and Clyde: The thieving two appears to have been in a relationship, posing images of them kissing on social media . Inspiration: Charles told police the couple were inspired by the infamous Bling Ring, a group of teen burglars whose story was brought to the big screen in 2013, starring Emma Watson and Katie Chang . Hot wheels: The couple also stole Miley's $100,000 Maserati, which was found abandoned 45 miles from Los Angeles a few days after the burglary . Talk to the hand: Miley, pictured in concert during her Bangerz Tour in Mexico City on Friday, have yet to comment on the guilty verdicts . Last year, the Bling Ring story was turned into . a movie directed by Sofia Coppola and starring Emma Watson as the best . known of the bunch – Alexis Neiers. After . pleading guilty in 2009, Ms Neiers went on to star in a reality-tv show . about her life, in effect, gaining minor fame as a result of her . crimes, something which may have inspired Charles. Before . committing the burglary, Charles shared photos of expensive cars and . wads of cash on Twitter, with the caption: ‘Life goals.’ The ‘fitness model’ also posted on social media that she wished she ‘was like Miley’. The Bonnie and Clyde-couple both pleaded guilty to guilty to felony residential burglary on Monday, September 22, telling police of their inspiration, TMZ reports. Charles was sentenced to one year in county jail and four years probation, while Scott, who has a previous criminal record, was given a harsher sentence. Scott, . who also pled guilty to felony grand theft and admitted to bringing a . firearm to the burglary, was sentenced to five years in state prison. Miley Cyrus, who is currently on her South American leg of her Bangerz Tour, have not made any comments on the verdicts, instead posting snaps of herself in bed and on stage on her Instagram. | Naomi Charles, 21, and Tylor Scott, 19, burglarized Miley Cyrus LA home .
Couple stole jewellery, clothing and purses as well as a $100,000 Maserati .
Told police they were inspired by fame-crazed teen burglars The Bling Ring . |
166,445 | 633d47fc0ff6715ac17e33c353ea3cdfd8c2f853 | By . Becky Evans . PUBLISHED: . 08:08 EST, 7 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:14 EST, 7 March 2013 . A shameless yob who starred in a BBC Panorama documentary about Britain's toughest council estate has been given his second ASBO after waging a new campaign of terror against locals. Jess Volkert, 21, angered millions of viewers by swaggering around the streets in a grey tracksuit during the programme and bragging about his life of crime and coming from the 'gutter.' Police hauled him back before the courts - just a month after being released from a young offenders institute - after locals on the Shadsworth estate in Blackburn, Lancashire, filed a string of complaints. Scroll down for video . Yob: Jess Volkert gained notoriety when he featured on the BBC Panorama programme about Britain's toughest council estates and was filmed bragging about breaking the terms of his ASBO . Shameless: Volkert, 21, has now been banned from going on the Shadsworth estate in Blackburn under the terms of the latest ASBO . They claimed he had subjected them to a campaign of intimidation, harassment and vandalism. He has now been barred from going into Shadsworth estate or the nearby the . Delph Estate and parts of the Queens Park area in Blackburn. He also faces up to five . years jail if he is caught being drunk in a public place and acting or . inciting others to act anti-socially in the Blackburn and Darwen areas. Volkert achieved nationwide infamy last summer when he was featured . as one of the main hoodlums terrorising locals in Panorama's . controversial edition called Trouble On The Estate. He was filmed repeatedly defying the terms . of his first ASBO and terrorising local shopkeeper Tarsem Singh. As a friend smoked cannabis in front of the . cameras, Volkert boasted of the ASBO and told programme makers: 'They . want us to sort ourselves out but we're from the gutter so f*** 'em. I'll be back inside by the end of the week.' At the time the programme was filmed Mr Singh said he had barred . Volkert at least ten times but he kept returning to the shop, stealing chocolate bars and saying there was . nothing he could do about it. Local police said Volkert had been a 'persistent nuisance' and applied for the second ASBO after trying to reason with him. Volkert was released only last month after he was locked up for breaching the terms of his first anti-social behaviour order. Two years ago he was brought before the courts after waging a racist two-year 'reign of terror' against Mr Singh, who runs a grocery store on the estate. Last month he posted pictures on his Facebook page apearing to show his former cell at a young offender institute brimming with household goodies and accompanied by the message: 'This is ma new cell, smashed it in 5 month hahahaa!!!!!!!' Jobless Volkert became notorious on his . estate in 2010 after he led a gang of yobs which targeted Mr Singh's shop, Rothesay Road, Shadsworth, and hurled racist abuse at him. In . 2011 Volkert pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment and was . jailed for 12 weeks and ordered to abide by the terms of the ASBO. Mr Singh said he did not want to leave his shop because he was frightened of being assaulted. Gutter: Volkert gained local infamy by appearing in the documentary called Trouble On The Estate . Terrorised: Tarsem Singh, who runs the spar on the Shadsworth estate, said he was too scared to leave his shop at one stage for fear of being assaulted by Volkert . 'I feel . vulnerable and intimidated in my own place of work,' said Mr Singh. 'He . finds it amusing to give me racist abuse and intimidate my customers. 'I . feel that if he is not stopped from terrorising me I will be forced to . leave my shop by his malicious behaviour. Since I took over the Spar he . has constantly molested me and my staff, showing disregard for customers . and staff alike.' PC Mike Kearns community beat manager for the area said: 'Volkert has caused many problems for residents and has made life very difficult for local people. 'This ASBO should send a positive message to the public that the police and courts will not accept this sort of behaviour. 'People should be able to go to their local park or shop without being subject to this kind of disgraceful and unacceptable behaviour. Barred: Volkert has now been banned from the Shadsworth Estate in Blackburn, pictured . Locked up: Volkert posted pictures on Facebook of what appears to be his room at the young offenders institution. He was released in January after breaching the terms of his first ASBO . 'We've tried to work with him but his behaviour has continued to cause problems for people and I hope this order will go some way in reassuring the community that action has been taken. Any breaches of the ASBO will be dealt with robustly.' Volkert's latest ASBO comes shortly after he was released from another jail term in January for breaching the first order. He also had previous convictions for assaulting his own father, smashing up a house and beating up his girlfriend's ex-partner. A Lancashire Police spokesman said: 'Volkert had been responsible for repeated problems in the Shadsworth area. 'Police received regular complaints from local residents about his behaviour including intimidation, harassment, threats of violence and damage to property. 'ASBO's are just one tactic we use to tackle the concerns of anti-social behaviour highlighted by members of the community.' | Jess Volkert, 21, featured on the BBC Panorama programme last summer .
He angered viewers by bragging about his ASBO on Shadsworth estate .
Has now been banned from estate under new ASBO after terrorising locals .
Previously admitted racially aggravated harassment of local shopkeeper . |
163,026 | 5ecf6952af8c987d009b245d4c33a8bce21b2d09 | (CNN) -- Popular Japanese racer Kamui Kobayashi is back in Formula One with the Caterham team -- and fan power has helped him return to the grid. After losing his drive with the Sauber team at the end of 2012, Kobayashi turned to crowdfunding and asked fans to donate cash in an online campaign to help him pay for a seat in F1. The 27-year-old explained on the "Support Kamui" website that he was too late to find a drive ahead of the 2013 season but pledged: "I will save all the money for 2014." Patience has paid off as Kobayashi and Swedish rookie Marcus Eriksson have been named as Caterham's race drivers for the looming 2014 season. "I want to give special thanks to all the fans who have made donations to Kamui Support," Kobayashi said. "Their donations and gestures gave me extra strength to come back fighting and I am very pleased that the money they raised not only helped me but will now go to helping Caterham progress this year. "Every single one of you who helped with Kamui Support will race with me in 2014 and that makes me very proud. "It's a great feeling to be back as an F1 race driver." Kobayashi made his F1 debut with the Toyota team in 2009 before joining the Sauber team, with whom he won his maiden podium in F1 at the 2012 Japanese Grand Prix. He quickly gained a cult status in F1 because of his attacking driving style on track and his quirky lifestyle off track. During his Sauber days Kobayashi, who is the son of a sushi chef from Amagasaki, claimed that he did not have a home but lived out of suitcase travelling the world. Caterham have chosen the ice cool Swede Ericsson to partner Kobayashi. The 23-year-old impressed with his performances in last season's GP2 Series, the official feeder championship for young drivers aspiring to race F1's global stage. "This is a very proud day for me and everyone who has helped make my F1 dream come true," said Ericsson. "It's obviously great for Sweden that we'll have a Swedish driver back on the grid in 2014. This is what I've been working for since I first started racing karts back when I was nine years old, and now I know I'm ready for the step up to F1. "Caterham is a young team and together we can take on the challenges the new rules will present in 2014 - learning together and continuing to develop as the season progresses." The 22 drivers on the grid must grapple with major changes in the 2014 season, which begins in Australia on 16 March. With a reconfigured engine and chassis to consider, as well as new fuel and weight limits, F1 teams will be working flat out to get their cars ready for testing which begins in Spain next week. McLaren will be the first team to launch its new-look 2014 car in an online presentation Friday with Ferrari set to follow on Saturday. | Kamui Kobayashi returns to Formula One with the Caterham team in 2014 .
The popular Japanese racer raised funds from fans to help pay for his drive .
"Every single one of you will race with me in 2014," he tells fans .
Sweden's Marcus Eriksson will make his F1 debut with Caterham in 2014 . |
206,920 | 97ecae275e244f095a64203ae9da960e03ac0794 | By . Thomas Durante . Last updated at 10:47 PM on 10th January 2012 . The desperate battle to save a brutally beaten boy's life was recounted in graphic testimony today by doctors who tried in vain to revive him in a Michigan hospital. Brandon Hayes, 25, stands accused of mercilessly beating Dominick Calhoun over a period of four days, before leaving the 4-year-old to die on the floor of his bedroom. Hayes has been charged with torture, murder and child abuse in the boy's death. A life cut short: Police say Dominick Calhoun, 4, died after several days of beatings at the hands of his mother's boyfriend, Brandon Hayes . Police have said that Hayes flew into a . rage after Dominick wet himself while sitting on the couch in his . mother's apartment in April 2010. The Detroit Free Press reported that several medical professionals were brought in yesterday to testify about the day Dominick was brought in. Cecilia Gingell, a nurse practitioner at Hurley Medical Center said that a doctor opened up the boy's skull to relieve pressure caused by his swelling brain, but it wasn't enough to save him. She said: '[His brain] spilled outside. We could not help.' The doctor who performed that operation, Dr Jawad Shah, also testified Monday at Hayes' murder trial, saying there was 'no hope' that the boy would pull through. Suspect: Hayes, 25, has been charged in young Dominick's beating death, which is believed to have stemmed from the four-year-old wetting his pants . Fighting back tears, Dr Shah described the boy’s injuries as 'horrendous.' Another doctor who examined the boy that day described his death as ‘the worst case I’ve seen.' Dr Gregory Dale Casey said: 'I don't think he had even an inch [on his body] that was not bruised, including the soles of his feet.' Dr Casey added: ‘I can't count how many old and new bruises we found. It was from his scalp to the soles of his feet.' Cops claim Hayes beat Dominick over a four-day period the weekend, slamming the boy into a wall several times, punching him in the genitals and burning his hand. Grieving: Dominick's grandfather Rick Calhoun, left, called police after he found the boy in his mother's apartment, brutally beaten and unconscious . History of abuse: Dominick's mother, Corrine Baker, who pleaded guilty in August to second-degree murder for not protecting her son against Hayes' alleged abuse, is expected to testify against her former boyfriend . Family members were at the boy’s bedside as doctors shut down life support on April 12, 2010. Also testifying yesterday was the boy’s grandfather, Rick Calhoun, who said he found a badly-bruised Dominick moaning on the floor of his bedroom and called police. The boy's mother, Corrine Baker, pleaded guilty in August to second-degree murder charges for not protecting her son against Hayes' alleged abuse. She is expected to testify against her former boyfriend. Hayes’ lawyer James Piazza has argued that his client is plagued by hallucinations, but a psychiatric evaluation found that he was competent to stand trial. Tragedy: The death of four-year-old Dominick Calhoun was described by one doctor as 'the worst case I've ever seen' | Brandon Hayes, 25, charged with murder and torture of Dominick Calhoun .
Police said boyfriend became enraged after youngster wet himself while sitting on couch . |
49,090 | 8aa6dabf392179fd6ae636d8c3c4c04c903dc55e | Two daycare owners have been arrested after one allegedly repeatedly beat a three-year-old girl, eventually killing her, while the other watched and did nothing. Savannah Cross died on Tuesday after she was left to languish in the care of strangers after her mother, a stripper, had not picked her up from the in-house daycare in Phoenix, Arizona since Thanksgiving. Ryan Reed, 27, told police he repeatedly hit, kicked and grabbed the girl at the home, while Allison Clement, 28, failed to report the abuse or seek medical aid, police spokesman Sgt. Trent Crump said. 'Abuse': Ryan Reed, left, allegedly repeatedly beat a toddler in his care while Allison Clement watched . On Monday night, Reed stomped on the child's stomach while she was on the ground and she curled up and spent the rest of the night in that position, the Arizona Republic reported. Throughout the night, Reed heard Savannah groaning but only called authorities at 7am on Tuesday when he found her unresponsive, police said. She died on the way to hospital. Crump added that Savannah's injuries were so severe that it will take further investigations to discover what killed her. Investigators found the girl was covered in bruises on both side of her body. They were at different stages of healing, suggesting long-term abuse, Maricopa County Superior Courts documents noted. Victim: Savannah Cross, 3, died after Reed allegedly stomped on her stomach following months of abuse . She had been in the care of Reed and Clement since July. Her 27-year-old mother, Ashley, returned sporadically to visit the child and pay the couple, Crump said. The girl's father said he had also left his daughter as he suffered from post traumatic stress disorder and feared he might hurt her - but he had no idea she was being left at the strangers' home. Stephen Cross, a former marine who lives in Colorado, said Savannah's mother told him the child was only with babysitters when she went to work. 'If I would have known that she was being left with complete . strangers for weeks on end, I would have been down there in a skinny . minute to get my daughter,' he told CBS5. Abandoned: Savannah's mother Ashley, left, had not collected her from the daycare since Thanksgiving, while her father, Stephen, right, could not care for her as he suffers from post traumatic stress disorder . Innocent: Other relatives said they were unaware Savannah had been left at the daycare for weeks on end . The girl's grandmother, Cathy Cross, . added: 'You don't drop your kids at daycare and never come back except . to pay them. What is that, paid abandonment? What is that?' Family friend Frank Warneka told ABC15 he lived with Savannah and Ashley until a month ago, but knew the . woman often did not pay her childcare bill. 'They [Reed and Clements] sent a note home to Ashley saying she owned them $1,200,' he said. 'I called them and said Ashley . doesn't live here anymore and that they should call CPS because it isn't . their responsibility to take care of Savannah. 'I think Ashley thought she loved Savannah, but I don't think she knows how to love anything.' Regrets: Cross, pictured with Savannah as a baby, said he wished he had known she needed him . Scene: The couple advertised their 'babysitting' service on Craigslist and had two children of their own . Ashley has not been charged but Crump said more charges may be filed after the medical examiner's office reports back to police. 'If there is any of these injuries that may . have been long term or extended than we might hold somebody else . responsible,' he said. It is believed the couple advertised their daycare services on Craigslist. A child-care facility only needs a license if it is caring for four more children other than their own. Investigators found three children and two belonging to the couple at the home. The children have been taken into the custody of Child Protective Services. | Ryan Reed 'stomped on Savannah Cross' stomach while she was in his care'
He 'ignored her groans throughout the night' and she died the next day .
He 'previously beat her as fellow daycare owner looked on and did nothing'
Girl's mother had not picked up her daughter since Thanksgiving . |
178,326 | 72e34b331fe3420ecb424b32014238f65a79a970 | LA Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant laid into his team-mates with a series of expletive-laden rants as he compared them to toilet paper during a practice session on Thursday. The Lakers have endured a torrid start to their season, losing 16 of their 22 NBA games, and Bryant appeared to lose his temper as he criticised the players for being soft. The 36-year-old has missed most of the team's sessions this season as the coach bids to keep the veteran fresh for games. Kobe Bryant laid into his 'soft' team-mates at a practice session on Thursday . Bryant described his team-mates as soft during a series of expletive-laden rants . Bryant also had some choice words for LA Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak . The LA Lakers have endured a difficult start tot eh NBA season, losing 16 out of 22 games . But on Thursday Bryant returned to practice for the the first this month as the team contested a heated five-on-five scrimmage. 'You motherf****** are soft like Charmin (toilet paper brand),' Bryant was reported to have yelled by ESPN's Arash Markazi. 'God damn, is this the type of s*** that's going on in these practices? Now I see why we've lost 20 f****** games. We're soft like Charmin. We're soft like s***.' The 36-year-old shooting guard sits out most training sessions so he can remain fresh for games . After the session Bryant said that his ranting was just his way of motivating his team-mates during practice . Toilet paper brand Charmin responded to Bryant's rant about his team-mates with this funny Tweet . After the session Bryant had some choice words for general manager Mitch Kupchak. 'I'm supposed to practice and get better, Mitch. I'm supposed to practice and get better. These motherf****** ain't doing s*** for me.' Afterwards Bryant played down his rant as nothing more than a way of increasing intensity during practice and motivating his team-mates. 'I was just being myself,' Bryant said. 'I don't know if it helps them, but it obviously raises the intensity level.' | LA Lakers have endured a tough start to the season, losing 16 of 22 games .
Kobe Bryant criticised his team-mates for being soft during practice .
The 36-year-old compared the players to toilet paper in an expletive rant . |
12,378 | 2313ab152f13871d04518c85c22286bc515c8d5c | By . Mark Bryans, Press Association . Sam Allardyce is aiming to break West Ham's losing streak over Crystal Palace - but is expecting a tough challenge from a side still likely to play the 'Tony Pulis' way. Former manager Pulis left Selhurt Park less than 48 hours before the start of the new Barclays Premier League season, with Keith Millen taking charge of Saturday's narrow 2-1 defeat at Arsenal. With the furore surrounding Malky Mackay's ongoing wranglings with former club Cardiff, the Scot will no longer be filling the vacancy. Hoodoo: West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is all too aware of his team's recent poor form against Saturday's opponents Crystal Palace. The Eagles are unbeaten since 2003 in fixtures between the sides . Still in charge: Keith Millen is once again likely to take charge of Crystal Palace for the match at Selhurst Park . That means Millen is once again likely to be in charge of first-team affairs for the visit of West Ham - with the Eagles having won four of the last six meetings and remaining unbeaten in the fixture since 2003. But Allardyce, who is struggling with early season injuries and suspension to his defensive line, is hopeful of overcoming their recent south London hoodoo. 'I think they have some better players than last season but they very much stick to the same type of structural organisation,' he said. 'We didn't beat them last year and it will be just as difficult, if not more so, with the players they've brought in. 'The new players have lots of Premier League experience and from that point of view we'll have a tough job. 'There's still lots of excitement around the ground and the stadium, the players know their position now, they know what their job is. At the start of last season they found it difficult to cope with the league, but Tony Pulis came in and structured it accordingly. Defeated: Palace lost their opening match 2-1 against Arsenal, despite Brede Hangeland's headed opener . Late agony: West Ham lost out to a stoppage time Tottenham goal in their opening fixture . 'It'll be a tight game. I don't think there'll be many goals in it, but hopefully it'll be as entertaining as it possibly can be.' The Hammers slipped to two 1-0 defeats at the hands of Palace last season and went on to finish two places lower than the Eagles' final position of 11th. With debutants Aaron Cresswell and Cheikhou Kouyate impressing in the last-gasp defeat to Tottenham last week, Allardyce could hand either Enner Valencia or Diafra Sakho their first starts for the club on Saturday. But, after bolstering his attacking options over the summer, it is in defence where Allardyce will be weakened - with James Collins banned and James Tomkins, Joey O'Brien and Carl Jenkinson unlikely to be completely match fit. First start? Summer signing Enner Valencia could make his first appearance in the West Ham starting XI . New boy: Diafra Sakho could also be handed his first start for West Ham at Selhurst Park . Republic of Ireland international O'Brien is hoping the managerial uncertainty can see the Hammers turn the tables this season. 'Palace did a number on us twice last year, so we want to get one back,' he said. 'In that first year in the Premier League you might wonder what to expect from them, but now everyone knows their players and the situations they create. We know what to expect this year. 'I don't know whether the managerial situation there will affect the players. I watched their game against Arsenal last week and they played really well - they were unlucky to lose the game, so it's a home game for them, their fans will be up for the first home game of the season and we'll have to play at our best.' Revenge: Joey O'Brien is determined to get back at Palace following two losses to them last season . | Crystal Palace have won four of their last six meetings with West Ham .
The two teams meet at Selhurst Park on Saturday .
Allardyce is expecting a tough challenge from side that play 'Tony Pulis' way .
Keith Millen again expected to take charge for Palace .
Hammers beaten late on by Tottenham in their opening game .
Palace also suffered late heartbreak, against Arsenal . |
96,999 | 08d4007c874d1381e20198dbd0d0940ca89e91af | (CNN) -- The Obama administration is considering shifting lethal drone operations run by the Central Intelligence Agency over to the military, U.S. officials tell CNN. The proposal is under "serious consideration," one U.S. official said. The official said no final decision has been made, and that there is no specific time frame in place, but that the change is being considered "due to a desire for greater transparency in who is being targeted." By law, the military is not able to act covertly the way the CIA can, and it must answer to Congress. The Daily Beast website first reported on the potential shift. The military would operate and fly the drones, an administration official told CNN, but targeting would still be done jointly by various agencies. The shift would happen over time. "It won't happen overnight," the U.S. official said, adding that operations in some countries would transfer to U.S. military control before other nations. "Yemen is an example of one of the first programs that could shift," the official tells CNN, while shifting the responsibility for the program that operates in Pakistan "would be much further out." CIA Director John Brennan has expressed a desire to move the intelligence agency back to traditional intelligence-collecting. "The CIA should not be doing traditional military activities and operations," Brennan said at his confirmation hearing. | Moving drone operations to the military from the CIA is under discussion, U.S. officials say .
Change is being considered "due to a desire for greater transparency," official says .
"The CIA should not be doing traditional military activities and operations," director has said . |
162,668 | 5e4fe473fb3e5bca786c73165610e3a3416f7567 | By . Martin Robinson . PUBLISHED: . 07:41 EST, 1 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:57 EST, 1 June 2012 . It is the machine that helped wipe horse-drawn carriages from the streets of London. And now, 102 years on from its heyday, one of the capital's original motorised black cabs is ready to hit the road again after years wasting away in a British barn. The incredibly-rare French-made Panhard-Levassor motor, one of only hundreds made for Britain, was picking up London's upper classes in 1910, and is now up for auction. Toot toot! This incredibly rare original London black cab from 1910 has emerged from a barn in Gloucestershire where it has been languishing for 15 years . Piece of history: The black cab was in its heyday 100 years ago and still retains its taxi meter and includes switches in the back so the passengers could tell the driver which way to go . With its original taxi meter, and century-old intercom system, it has not been seen widely since 1955, when it appeared alongside star Moira Shearer in the 1955 flick ‘The Man Who Loved Red Heads’. The car, which has a top speed of 40mph, has been kept in a barn near Wotton-Under-Edge in Gloucestershire for the last 15 years. Now, it could fetch more than £20,000. Richard Edmonds, whose saleroom is selling the car, said: 'Panhard-Levassor was a quality French manufacturer. Off the road: The 102-year-old cab in the barn at Gloucestershire, and it has now been beautifully restored and prepared for sale . History: A newspaper article about the car being bought 60 years ago. It has been in the same family ever since . 'They were the original black cabs and took over from horse drawn . carriages. I expect most of them have been destroyed and we don’t know . how many are left. The first London black cab - a horse and coach - appeared in the 17th Century, named after the French term hacquenée, which means literally 'ambling nag'. In 1625 there were as few as 20, operating out of pub yards. Until 1831 anyone, generally, could drive one until The London Hackney Carriage Act was passed, and the Met took over licensing the trade. Then 60 years later fixed fares ended when the taximeter was invented and added, allowing drivers to charge for each trip individually. It also led to the name 'taxi'. The first motorised version came towards the end of the 19th century, and was electrically powered. Around a decade later petrol cars took over but they were from all over the world and different shapes and sizes. It was only in the 1930s that the cabs had to be British and the last horse and coach taxi disappeared in 1947. 'This is in great condition with the original leather interior and it . still has its meter. There is also a mechanism for the passengers to . tell the driver which way to go. 'It has a 16 horsepower . engine with a three speed gearbox and would have gone about 30 or 40mph. 'It has wooden wheels with early pneumatic tyres and has paraffin powered lights on the front and back. 'It became a minor celebrity in its own right and made public appearances and appeared in films. 'I’m sure there will be a lot of interest at the sale.' The French firm made 1,400 of the cars, with 800 right-hand drive versions being exported to the UK. It is not known how many are left today. Its history with the family that now owns it began when a Reverend Martin Atkinson saw it by chance in Liverpool, where it was due to be exported to America, and bought it in the 1950s. It has remained in the family ever since. The auction will be held at The Castle Combe race circuit, Chippenham, Wilts, on June 30. Long gone: In the past London was filled with carriages like this one, but motorised vehicles spelled the end for them . | The 102-year-old cab is up for sale and could fetch more than £20,000 .
It was kept in a Gloucestershire barn and has now been completely refurbished .
This car was used in the 1955 flick ‘The Man Who Loved Red Heads’ and has not been seen in public since . |
137,810 | 3e38931a007abadf439dd14cf48f0e05a146fc60 | (CNN) -- A year to the day after racially abusing an opponent, John Terry stepped out as Chelsea captain wearing an anti-racism armband -- only for the Blues to suffer their first Champions League defeat since winning the trophy in May. Terry wore the band as part of a week of action organized by the group 'Football Against Racism in Europe (Fare)', which has asked all club captains in European competition to help its campaign. The 31-year-old is currently serving a domestic ban after being found guilty of racial abuse against Anton Ferdinand by the English FA -- but his suspension does not apply to European football, where Chelsea were subjected to a torrid time by Shakhtar Donetsk. Read: Terry waives FA racism appeal . Unbeaten over the last 11 months, the Ukrainian champions won 2-1 after Alex Teixeira gave the hosts the perfect start with a goal after three minutes as the ball ricocheted off Terry into his path. Shakhtar would have added to their lead but for some fine goalkeeping from Petr Cech and had to wait until the 52nd minute before Fernandinho rewarded their dominance with a deserved second goal. Late on, Oscar became the third Brazilian to score in the European tie but his close-range strike was too little too late as Chelsea lost their first Champions League game since going down 3-1 in Italy against Napoli in February. "Perhaps it was one of our best games in recent times," Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu told the official website of European body UEFA. "And I have to say that this Chelsea side are stronger than the one that won the Champions League last season. That makes our victory even more important." Chelsea stay second in Group E after two-time winners Juventus could only draw 1-1 at the Danish home of tournament new boys Nordsjaelland. Elsewhere, Barcelona and Manchester United both came from behind as they struggled to beat less fancied opposition despite boasting home advantage. Deprived of some key personnel in defense, Barca were stunned when Scottish visitors Celtic took the lead through Giorgios Samaras' deflected header -- only for Andres Iniesta to draw the four-time champions level just before the break with a fine goal. After outstanding Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster thought he had done enough to repel the home side's best efforts, Barcelona secured their 100th Champions League win when Jordi Alba found the net four minutes into stoppage time to secure a 2-1 win. In England, Manchester United were equally surprised as Brazil's Alan gave Portugal's Braga a two-goal lead within 20 minutes inside a shocked Old Trafford. Mexican striker Javier Hernandez made the most of a rare start as he reduced the deficit shortly moments later, before wrapping up the win 15 minutes from time after Jonny Evans had scrambled home an equaliser shortly after the hour. "It's been the story of our season at home -- start badly, lose goals and have to fight back to rescue games," said United coach Alex Ferguson after the 3-2 victory. "Some of our football was fantastic but conceding so many goals is a concern." Elsewhere, Spartak Moscow won their first match and points in Group G, beating Portuguese side Benfica 2-1 in Russia to trail Barca by six points and Celtic by just one. Spaniards Valencia were the biggest winners of the night, winning 3-0 in Belarus to bring home side Bate Borisov -- who stunned Bayern Munich 3-1 in their last European game -- back down to earth. Meanwhile, the Germans, who were beaten runners-up on home soil against Chelsea in the final in May, rebounded in solid if unconvincing fashion when winning 1-0 at French side Lille. Galatasaray could not profit from playing against a CFR Cluj side reduced to ten men for over an hour as the Turks conceded an own goal and missed a penalty before equalizing late on to draw 1-1. | Shakhtar Donetsk inflict first Champions League defeat on Chelsea since the English side's triumph in May .
John Terry sports anti-racism armband a year to the day after abusing Anton Ferdinand .
Barcelona and Manchester United come from behind to win at home against Celtic and Braga .
Bayern Munich return to winning ways as last year's runners-up rebound from shock defeat in Belarus . |
46,989 | 8459f92f2ea626d957befa444fa361d60ae8fbfc | (CNN) -- From a distance, Russia is looking awfully good the last few days. First, we learned that members of the art group Pussy Riot would be released from prison under a new amnesty, then that the Arctic 30, a group of Greenpeace activists who spent two months in Russian jails, would be free to go. And finally, President Vladimir Putin announced he would pardon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the country's best-known and longest-serving political prisoner. Inside the country, things look a little different. A majority of the people facing the largest political trial in more than half a century, stemming from a May 6, 2012, anti-Putin protest, will remain behind bars, as will Khodorkovsky's business partner, friend and co-defendant, Platon Lebedev. Sending different messages to the international and domestic audiences is precisely the point of Putin's latest maneuverings and of many of his policies generally. In an effort to make sure that the Olympic Games in Sochi in February go off smoothly, Putin is showing a friendly face to the West, demonstrating that he has heard the criticism directed at him. To the audience at home, the message is, protest and disobedience will be punished harshly. The stability of a democratic society depends in large part on its courts being perceived as just. Dictatorships, on the other hand, need their judicial systems to inspire fear. Nothing inspires fear like the arbitrary, selective application of laws. Consider the Bolotnaya case, in which 27 people have been charged in connection with a protest that ended in violence -- mostly police violence -- last year. Because they face a variety of charges, only eight will be amnestied, and the rest will remain under arrest. But there is no discernible difference among the defendants in this case -- all the charges against them appear unproven and unprovable. This is the very definition of the arbitrary application of laws. To be frightening, punishment must also be harsh. Four of the Bolotnaya case defendants were released December 19. One of them has lost his eyesight in the time he spent in jail; the others merely -- merely -- lost a year and a half of their lives, when they could not see their families or work to support them. At best, as punishment for taking part in a peaceful protest, they have had their careers interrupted and have run up back-breaking debt; at worst, they have sustained irreparable damage to their health. And they are the lucky ones. The two members of Pussy Riot are lucky to get out of jail about two months before their time would have been up. They have spent more than 650 days in jail -- more than a third of each of their children's lives -- as punishment for 40 seconds of lip-syncing in a church. At least one of them, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, has been subjected to physical violence, sleep deprivation and chronic undernourishment. Both have sustained long and debilitating hunger strikes. Tolokonnikova said that when she tried to speak out about conditions of her custody, prison officials threatened to beat her. Prison officials denied the allegations. But they've had it easy compared to former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who once dared challenge Putin on the subject of corruption. For this, and for his general refusal to be subjugated, he spent more than 10 years behind bars. During this time, Khodorkovsky refused, on principle, to discuss the conditions in which he was held, because they were no worse than that which hundreds of thousands of Russia's other convicts faced, but the details that have emerged are harrowing. More or less every time Khodorkovsky gave an interview or published a piece of his own writing -- and he refused to be silenced in jail -- he was confined to punitive solitary. Other than that, he has faced the standard fate of a Russian convicted felon: His life's work has been ruined by the state, his children have grown up without him, and his parents have faced old age and life-threatening illness without him. For Putin, punishment -- no matter how harsh -- is not complete if it does not include humiliation. Over the years, he consistently said that he would not pardon Khodorkovsky unless Khodorkovsky admitted his guilt. On December 19 he stated that Khodorkovsky had appealed for clemency, and Putin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, added that the appeal included an admission of guilt. Khodorkovsky himself, speaking from Germany, has said that "the issue of admission of guilt was not raised" in the discussion. But that did not stop Putin from using the occasion of his release to communicate yet again to the Russian people that not only will he punish his enemies -- he will not stop until they are finally subjugated. There is reason to believe that Khodorkovsky was forced to accept emigration as a condition of being released from prison. It would behoove the international community — including the 18 countries whose now-amnestied citizens were kidnapped in international waters in September and thrown into Russian jails for two months -- the Greenpeace activists — to pay attention to the message Putin is sending. His mercy is heavily conditional, while his fury is severe -- and his disregard for legality, close to complete. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Masha Gessen. | Vladimir Putin pardoned Mikhail Khodorkovsky ahead of the 2014 Olympics .
Masha Gessen: President is just putting on a friendly face for the West .
She says the message to Russians is protest and disobedience will be punished .
Gessen: Khodorkovsky, Pussy Riot members are freed, but many innocents still in prison . |
183,369 | 79848b23e7ec29d982e75bfd38c47f44b72e02cf | Connacht prop Nathan White will miss Ireland's autumn Test series after rupturing a tendon in his upper arm in training with Joe Schmidt's squad. The New Zealand-born tighthead faces surgery next week and could now be sidelined for as long as four months. The 33-year-old was lined up for his international debut against South Arica next weekend. His absence further drains Ireland's already stretched front-row resources. Connacht prop Nathan White will be out of Ireland's autumn internationals after suffering an arm injury . The former Leinster front-rower had been expected to understudy Mike Ross across the autumn series, with Marty Moore already out for three months after shoulder surgery. Now head coach Schmidt and Ireland will be pinning hopes on Leinster's experienced front-rower Ross recovering from groin trouble as expected to shore up Ireland's scrum. Leinster's 34-year-old scrum cornerstone Ross is expected to return to full training next week. With White the latest star to lengthen Ireland's injury glut, his return gains even greater importance. The big-scrummaging Springboks would have looked to take on Ireland's set-piece even if the Aviva Stadium hosts were at full strength up front next weekend. White's absence, allied to Moore's shoulder surgery, leaves Ireland short of experience at tighthead for the South Africa clash. White could be out of action for four months as he is due for surgery on a ruptured tendon in his arm . Schmidt had admitted he promoted White into the squad for his potential debut on the strength of his lengthy top-level club career, expecting the 33-year-old to handle Test intensity better than several promising but young and raw prospects. Now the former Leinster coach must draw on Connacht's versatile front-rower Rodney Ah You and Munster's Stephen Archer as potential understudies to Ross. Former schoolteacher Schmidt should at least be able to call on Jack McGrath at loosehead prop as he aims to step up his return from injury, offsetting somewhat Cian Healy's long-term absence. Ireland will still be shorn of at least 15 stars for the visit of Heyneke Meyer's Springboks, however, before entertaining Georgia and then Australia across the three-Test Guinness series. | Nathan White was set for Ireland debut against South Africa in November .
Prop faces surgery after rupturing a tendon in his upper arm .
White's injury is the latest for coach Joe Schmidt who will be without at least 15 stars across the three-Test Guinness series . |
87,658 | f8b83b2c926754882b83bb54d6dd2f04bbdb12ec | A 21-year-old has told how he was left paralysed after suffering a simple bout of tonsillitis. Jack Kelly, from Coventry, developed a rare nerve disease, called Miller Fisher syndrome, which was triggered by the tonsillitis. It left him with blurred vision, unable to walk and confined to the stroke unit of his local hospital. Jack Kelly, 21, from Coventry, was paralysed and unable to see for more than a week after a bout of tonsillitis triggered a rare nerve disease called Miller Fisher syndrome . Now, the Fitness First employee has recovered and is competing in gruelling Tough Guy competitions. Mr Kelly told MailOnline: ‘It’s given me a real appreciation for life. You never know what is around the corner and what will happen. ‘While it was a horrible experience, I was lucky in a way as I now know how much I have.’ Mr Kelly was 18-years-old and a student at the University of Plymouth when he fell ill. A week after recovering from tonsillitis he returned from the gym and noticed he was struggling to walk normally up a flight of stairs. He dismissed the problem assuming it was a result of his muscles being tired from his workout. Mr Kelly spent a week in Derriford Hospital's stroke unit (pictured) after developing double vision, poor muscle coordination and weakness. Doctors were so worried they offered him a visit from the hospital's pastor . Mr Kelly had intensive physiotherapy to help him walk again and has made such a good recovery that he is now taking part in Tough Guy challenges (pictured) which involve completing long assault courses . However, as the day progressed his legs became progressively weaker and he began to suffer double vision. Mr Kelly had previously suffered from migraines so thought he might be getting another one. He hoped he would be able to sleep it off and so went to bed. During the night, he got much worse and when he tried to get out of bed in the morning he collapsed. He had to be carried to an emergency GP appointment by his housemates and the doctor immediately sent him to Derriford Hospital where he was admitted and diagnosed with Miller Fisher syndrome. Mr Kelly said: 'It's given me a real appreciation for life. You never know what is around the corner and what will happen. While it was a horrible experience, I was lucky in a way as I now know how much I have' During his illness, Mr Kelly was dependent upon a wheelchair as his legs were to weak to support him. He says the experience was awful as he had no idea what was happening to his body . He said: ‘You never think about getting out of bed in the morning – you just take for granted that your feet will take your weight – so it was a shock not to be able to do that. ‘I was in a total panic – I had no idea what was happening.’ He added: ‘I was worried about my mum and dad – I didn’t know what to say to them. They were worried sick.’ Miller Fisher syndrome is a rare, acquired nerve disease that is a variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome. It causes abnormal muscle coordination and paralysis of the eye muscles. It can also cause general muscle weakness and breathing problems. Mr Kelly (left, with his mother, Linda, and friend, Luke) said while he was ill he was concerned about his parents because they were 'worried sick' about his health . Mr Kelly said he decided to take part in the Tough Guy competitions as he wanted to prove he had fully recovered and that he didn't need 'nannying'. He says after his illness he had been 'wrapped in cotton wool' Symptoms often develop after a viral illness and most patients start to recover within two to four weeks. Mr Kelly’s condition continued to deteriorate while he was in hospital and he says that at one point the hospital staff asked him if he would like a visit from the pastor. He said: ‘I had no idea what was going on – I didn’t know how bad it was going to get. ‘When they offered a visit from the pastor, that was the worst.’ Mr Kelly spent a week in the stroke unit during which time he received intensive physiotherapy in an attempt to help him walk again. He said: ‘I was easily the youngest person in the stroke unit – it’s not a pleasant place. Mr Kelly said: 'I am very lucky. Many people who have the ability to walk, or to see, taken away don't get it back. I appreciate things so much more now - you don't realise how lucky you are until these things are taken away' ‘A lot of the people there were much worse than me – that kept me going as I could see that my situation could be much worse.’ After a week and a half in hospital, Mr Kelly was able to walk again with support and he was released from hospital to continue his recovery at home. He said: ‘I am very, very lucky. Many people who have the ability to walk, or to see properly, taken away don’t get it back. ‘I appreciate things so much more now – you don’t realise how lucky you are until these things are taken away.’ Mr Kelly will take part in his next Tough Guy competition in January and he will be raising money for Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital . Since his recovery, Mr Kelly has taken part in Tough Guy competitions which involve completing long assault courses which are littered with obstacles such as fire, electric cables, barbed wire and half-flooded tunnels. He said: ‘I was wrapped in cotton wool after being in hospital so I wanted to prove that I had come through it. ‘I wanted to prove to everyone that I didn’t need nannying – my parents told me not to do it but I decided to give it a go anyway.’ Mr Kelly will take part in his next Tough Guy event on January 26 to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital. To support him visit www.justgiving.com/mean2014 . Miller Fisher syndrome is a rare, acquired nerve disease that is a variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome. The condition is characterised by abnormal muscle coordination and paralysis of the eye muscles. Symptoms often develop after a viral illness and can also include general muscle weakness and breathing difficulties. Most people with the condition recover well and recovery normally begins within two to four weeks of the onset of symptoms. Some people are left with some degree of disability and about three per cent of patients suffer a relapse. Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke . | Jack Kelly developed Miller Fisher syndrome a week after having tonsillitis .
He spent a week and a half in his local hospital's stroke unit .
After intensive physiotherapy he regained the ability to walk .
He is now fully recovered and is taking part in Tough Guy assault courses . |
134,686 | 3a2f78a8920b7fbcc49f511990a3c8291417950b | (CNN)Bali's most renowned dishes, made rich by the heavy use of local herbs and spices, are traditionally eaten during the colorful Hindu ceremonies that punctuate life on the Indonesian island. Dining out is a relatively recent development in Bali -- a few generations ago people may have grabbed takeaway from warungs (small shops and restaurants) but generally did not go out to eat. These days though, plenty of classic dishes are served everywhere from tiny warungs through to high-end restaurants, making it easy for travelers to savor the flavors of real Balinese cuisine. Babi guling (suckling pig) Pork dishes are relatively hard to find across the mostly Muslim Indonesian archipelago, but Bali's famed suckling pig makes any roaming traveler's wait worthwhile. While strictly speaking a suckling pig should still be feeding on its mother's milk, in Bali the pigs used in this popular dish can weigh about 70 kilograms (150 pounds). They are rubbed with turmeric then stuffed with a "base gede," or spice paste, which usually includes a combination of coriander seeds, lemongrass, Asian lime leaves and salam leaves, chillies, black pepper, garlic, red shallots, ginger and kencur (lesser galangal). The pig is roasted on a spit over coconut husks or wood to tender perfection. When ordering a plate, expect sliced meat, a few pieces of satay, caramelized crackling and more obscure parts, like crispy intestines -- this is nose-to-tail dining at its most traditional. While warungs serve the dish right across the island, Ibu Oka's in Ubud (Jalan Suweta/Tegal Sari No. 2) is the most renowned place to try it and is the choice of Bali-based U.S. pastry chef Will Goldfarb, of Mejekawi and Room 4 Dessert. "They don't need the press, but I hate the haters," he says. Richard Millar, director of cuisine at W Retreat, suggests Pak Malen Warung in Seminyak (Sunset Road). "The skin is served crispy and the meat is always tender -- they also offer a special that is served with rice and spicy soup which is delicious." Lawar . Lawar is a crunch-tender mix of vegetables, grated coconut meat and minced meat mixed with various heady herbs and spices, and often fresh blood -- every village has its own version. While it's the usual accompaniment to babi guling, lawar can stand as a dish in its own right -- lawar nangka, or young jackfruit lawar, is an example. Mamasan and Sarong chef Will Meyrick recommends the nasi lawar campur at Warung Lawar Sapi Odah (Pantai Segara, Sanur). "This place is always packed," Meyrick says, adding that the variety of dishes accompanying the lawar are excellent. "The serapah sapi, which is a mixture of shredded vegetables, velvety offal, thick blood and coconut milk, is just a winner. Don't be off put by the inclusion of blood, it is a part of every meat dish adding flavor, freshness and texture." Bebek betutu (slow cooked duck) Another ceremonial dish, bebek betutu needs to be cooked for so long that you'll have to order it a day in advance. Chef Penny Williams from Bali Asli (Jalan Raya Gelumpang, Gelumpang, Amlapura) explains that the duck is first rubbed with tamarind puree and salt to purify any "ducky" aromas and tenderize the meat. This is then washed off and the bird (chicken is often used instead) is stuffed with eggs, cassava leaves and bumbu rajeng, a spice mix specifically created for this dish. It's then wrapped in "upeh", or betel nut husks, and slow cooked until the meat falls off the bone. "There are variations, as upeh can be difficult to find and expensive at times -- banana leaves can also be used," says Williams. While Bali Asli occasionally makes the chicken version, a good spot to sample the succulent duck dish is at German chef Heinz van Holzen's long-running Bumbu Bali (Jalan Pratama, Tanjung Benoa). Sate lembat . Bali's take on satay, the classic meat-on-a-stick dish found across the Indonesian archipelago, is minced meat pounded in a mortar and pestle with young grated coconut and a bumbu, or spice mixture, that varies according to region. It may be similar to the pastes used in babi guling or bebek betutu but perhaps with cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, tamarind or cumin seeds also making an appearance. The seasoned meat is shaped around a split bamboo skewer and quickly barbecued, often while hand-fanned, over hot coals. Forget the peanut sauce found elsewhere, sate in Bali is accompanied with shrimp paste-based sambal "matah", meaning raw or alive. Sate is a popular street food dish so it can be found at any busy market, but a higher-end option is the Alila Uluwatu's Warung (Jalan Belimbing Sari, Banjar Tambiyak, Desa Pecatu), where the sate lilit ikan is served on aromatic lemongrass skewers. Ikan bakar (grilled fish) Jimbaran-style . While not a particularly authentic Balinese dish, tucking into ikan bakar (grilled fish) seaside in Jimbaran Bay as the sun sets, toes flexing in the sand as candles flicker to life, is a quintessential Bali dining experience. Merah Putih, chef Wayan Mustika, suggests heading to Lia Cafe, reputed to be the very first ikan bakar warung in Jimbaran, on the beach -- these days it can be found amid a cluster of warungs off Jalan Pemelisan. Here Nyoman Gasim makes a superlative ikan bakar using kakap merah (red snapper) over wood charcoal with "the most amazing sauce which he refuses to give the recipe for," Mustika says. The basic ingredient of the special sauce is chillies, though it's not spicy as it's balanced with lots of tomato amid other fresh "secret" additions, he adds. Be siap sambal matah (chicken in 'raw' sambal) Eelke Plasmeijer from Locavore (Jalan Dewi Sita, Ubud) nominates be siap sambal matah as his favorite dish: it's shredded chicken in a raw sambal of shallots, lemongrass, ginger torch, chillies, coconut oil, shrimp paste, salt and lime leaves. Most warungs offering nasi campur (rice with mixed dishes) will have it among their dishes of the day, but Locavore's restaurant manager's mother makes the version he likes best for their staff meals. "I can't get enough of it! It is a dish you won't find anywhere in Indonesia other than Bali and cooked properly it's not to be missed," he says. "People can always come and join our staff meal if they like." Samantha Brown has been living and working in Southeast Asia since 1997and these days manages online regional guide Travelfish.org. | Originally eaten only during Hindu ceremonies, these Balinese dishes can now be found in tiny local cafes and high-end restaurants .
Every village has its own version of Lawar, a mix of vegetables, grated coconut meat, minced meat and fresh blood .
Tucking into ikan bakar (grilled fish) seaside in Jimbaran Bay is a quintessential Bali dining experience . |
115,655 | 21410a1c1cf4c8812bb111eceb17b1e3f02dca85 | (The Frisky) -- There's no question that I find Don Draper sexy. If I lived in "Mad Men" land for a day, I would totally make out with him on his Sterling-Cooper purchased desk. In real life? Not so much. At least not anymore. Don Draper of "Mad Men" is a complicated man underneath a confident exterior, columnist warns. What makes Don Draper so drool-worthy on screen does not translate in real life. Actually, certain things do translate -- tall, dark and handsome is still tall, dark, and handsome in the real world. But that aloof, secretive, and calculating personality that seduces his onscreen paramours and the show's viewers? Not easy to live with. Don Draper is written as an extremely complicated and deeply flawed man who does some awful things, like cheating repeatedly on his wife, Betty, and using information he gleans from her therapist to manipulate her. But the reasons and motivations behind his repulsive actions are slowly being revealed with each new episode. As with any TV show or movie, we itch to know what possesses someone to do the things he does, and we expect that writers as glorious as the ones behind "Mad Men" will eventually lead us to deep understanding of who Don Draper is and how he will evolve into a better man. In real life, such life-changing revelations don't always come. I dated a Don Draper-type for years. There were superficial similarities, like that they both worked in similar industries (just decades apart) and had a knack for always being "on." Guys like Don Draper are great at their jobs for a multitude of reasons, but one of them is that they present themselves as calm, collected, and unmoved by the opinions and emotions of others. In a business situation this comes across as professional, confident, and reassuring to the client that the task at hand will be accomplished flawlessly. In a real-life romantic relationship, the refusal or inability to "turn it off" can be frustrating and painful for the other person involved. At the same time, being one of the few who is able to get past the facade feels powerful. When you're in love, having that power only makes you feel even more special. The Frisky: 10 things women don't understand about men . There are reasons why Draper's wall is so high and impenetrable. Knowing those reasons -- or at least some of them -- makes viewers sympathetic to him. There's an abused boy beneath that tough exterior! A man with secrets so big, he has to hide behind a wall all of the time. Betty Draper may not know Don's secrets, but they do share a bond he doesn't have with other people. The women he cheats with? They don't know him at all and they don't have the ability or even the interest in seeing something deeper like Betty does. They're not threatening to his persona, but she is. These are, of course, just excuses for his bad behavior that should never fly in real life. My ex had his own reasons for presenting a facade, for not letting anyone get too close, for acting like a jerk; some he shared, some I figured out, but all made me want to stay with him. The Frisky: Could you get past hearing "I don't love you anymore?" I don't know if my Draper-esque ex cheated -- though I suspect he did -- but I do think he broke up with me because I was a threat. I saw something deeper that was fragile but wonderful, and I wanted more of it. It was enough to make me overlook the shallowness of his outward persona. Similarly, Don Draper gives viewers plenty to love and root for, like his support of Peggy Olson, his disinterest in Pete Campbell's brown-nosing, his delivery of that Kodak pitch in the first season, and the punch he landed on Jimmy Barrett's jaw. Like Tony Soprano before him, the behavior that would be massively unacceptable in real life is sometimes dwarfed by his acts of kindness, loyalty, and strength. The Frisky: When did you know it was over? That's why I (and I think lots of other women) mostly love -- and sometimes hate -- Don Draper. This season -- which started August 16 -- I'm sure we'll see more cracks in Don Draper's facade, and it should be compelling and exciting to watch. But in real life, with a real Don Draper, I could only do so much. I made as many cracks as I could, but they repaired themselves and I wasn't able to get close enough to try again. In retrospect, thank God. That's why I'll give my attention to Don Draper once a week, from the comfort of my couch, but never again in real life. TM & © 2009 TMV, Inc. | All Rights Reserved . | Columnist describes Draper of "Mad Men" as fun to watch but not date .
An inability to "turn it off" in romantic moments is frustrating, columnist says .
Women who know the deepness of a Don Draper man are a threat, she writes .
"Mad Men" fan says Draper's misbehavior is covered up by his kind acts . |
172,341 | 6b096a0145d5e15b1572e39df8c6ed9862a2663f | By . Cindy Tran for Daily Mail Australia . Police have charged a man with attempted murder after another man fell 30 metres from a high rise apartment balcony on Sunday morning. The 36-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday afternoon after Phillip Koklas was found with serious injuries after allegedly falling from the fifth balcony of a building in Upper Roma Street in Brisbane city of Queensland. The 28-year-old is believed to have broken 'almost every bone in his body' and remains in a serious condition at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. The Mango Street man was charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, and grievous bodily harm, two counts of burglary and four counts of deprivation of liberty. Scroll down for video . Phillip Koklas (pictured), 28, was taken to hospital and remains in critical condition after he allegedly fell from an apartment balcony in Brisbane's CBD on Sunday morning . The father of the balcony fall victim, Peter Koklas last saw his son when he went to breakfast on Sunday morning but less than two hours later, Phillip was in intensive care. Peter Koklas told Nine News: 'The hospital called to say that Phillip was in a coma - had fallen from a building. I was just shocked, I didn't know what to think,' his father said. 'I think he gets along with people, he's not one to go looking for trouble. 'I just want to appeal to members of the public - if anybody saw or heard anything or knows anything, if they could just come forward and tell the police.' Nine News reports that Mr Koklas has a fractured skull, swelling on the brain and almost every bone in his body is broken and doctors have said that his entire face will need to be reconstructed. Emergency crews were called to a unit complex at an Upper Roma Street address where a man was found with serious injuries after plunging from a high rise balcony . Emergency crews were called to a unit complex at an Upper Roma Street address where a man was found with serious injuries after plummeting from a high rise balcony. A spokeswoman from Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital told Daily Mail Australia that Mr Koklas is still in hospital and remains in a serious condition. The man is due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday. Police are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Balcony fall victim Phillip Koklas (right) with his father Peter . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | A 36-year-old man is charged with attempted murder after a 28-year-old man fell from a Brisbane apartment balcony on Sunday morning .
Phillip Koklas was taken to Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital and remains in critical condition .
Mr Koklas is believed to have broken 'almost every bone in his body'
The man is due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday . |
267,344 | e63ebdedf5c3de538862ca801fdef18df01bb4bd | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 07:04 EST, 20 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:39 EST, 20 August 2013 . Two Asian women accused of working in a brothel controlled by alleged 'Pimp Daddy' William Thomas have had their cases dismissed due to lack of evidence. Jung Lee, 28, and Rei Spain, 38 were accused of selling sex from the house on East 50th Street in Manhattan's Midtown. But their case was thrown out by the Manhattan Supreme Court after prosecutors were unable to link the women to a sum of cash recovered from the premises. The pimp next door? Brooklyn stroller dad of four Will Thomas lived a . double life as a doting father and the alleged mastermind behind . Manhattan brothels . Thomas, 42, who is charged with . running an Asian prostitute ring, was known around his Brooklyn . neighborhood as a doting father-of-four. The former IT expert, allegedly set up websites that sold sex with Asian women for $300 an hour. The two women were arrested in an undercover sting last October when they offered sexual services to a cop posing as a punter. According to court papers, Lee told the officer that she gave 'Girlfriend Experience' which means sex without a condom. When . the cop asked for a Japanese girl Rei Spain replied, '(They) don’t do . full service, only massage and “happy ending” for $100 plus $40 tip,' according to court papers. Jung Lee, 28, and Rei Spain, 38 were accused of selling sex from the house on East 50th Street in Manhattan's Midtown . Available for hire: The E4A website provided photographs of escorts in various outfits . Thomas is charged with running brothels in the Financial District, midtown and Hells Kitchen, court records show. Websites E4AKorea.com and E4ANY.com have now been taken down but advertised for the 'authentic girlfriend experience' A . source said Thomas married his second wife, half-Korean beauty So . Young, who apparently had the connections he needed for his business . venture. They had a daughter, now three, but divorced in March, a source told the New York Post. Thomas . was arrested and charged with promoting prostitution after an . undercover cop posed as a customer who wanted to have sex with an Asian . woman. He connected with . Thomas on websites www.E4AKorea.com and www.E4ANYC.com. The 42-year-old . was arrested on October 11 and posted $10,000 bail two days later. Websites E4AKorea.com and E4ANY.com have now been taken down but advertised for the 'authentic girlfriend experience' Hookers are shown posing topless and in lingerie on his website, for services at his brothels. The . undercover officer kept in touch with Thomas by email and text and . 'became a member of the E4AKorea private men’s club', prosecutors said . in court. Neighbors said he . had been living quietly in an apartment in Fort Greene with his . one-year-old son, the boy's mother and his three-year-old daughter from a . previous marriage. 'There was nothing suspicious or anything,' one neighbor said. Another resident said he 'is a nice guy, very friendly, always says hello.' The 11th-grader added: 'My dad is the upcoming story on nbc news if anyone wants to watch... 'Pretty . surreal to hear your dad’s name on the news in connection to a massive . prostitution ring bust. had to happen eventually i guess.' His last comment suggests he already knew something about the allegations or the arrest. | Jung Lee, 28, and Rei Spain, 38, were arrested in undercover sting .
They were accused of selling sex from a house in Manhattan's Midtown .
But prosecutors were unable to link them to cash found at the address .
'Pimp Daddy' William Thomas, 42, accused of running string of brothels .
Father-of-four allegedly set up two websites offering sex with Asian women . |
7,715 | 15d8a4baa15d96e768b9647fdb1860a42e1abbc5 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Mechanics have created the world's longest Mini Cooper limousine - and it is almost as long as a double-decker bus. The 27ft six-wheeler British classic began life as a humble Mini Cooper S before being flown to Las Vegas for a £65,000 makeover. Specialists cut chopped the car in half and added an extra 16ft of space. Scroll down for video . A regular Mini Cooper S was given a £65,000 makeover when it was turned into a 27ft limousine . The six-wheeler vehicle is believed to be the longest Mini Cooper limousine in the world . The black and white limo seats six people . in ultimate luxury, and according to owner Kamran Akram it has become . his company's biggest head turner. Mr Akram, who owns Krystal Limousines, in Coventry, West Midlands, said: 'People, and especially children, go crazy for the car every time it drives past them in public - they take pictures, come over for a chat and get really excited. Length: 27ft . Engine: Standard 1.6litre Cooper S engine . Top speed: 100mph . Weight: Estimated there tonnes . Cost of hire: £200 per hour . 'As far as I'm aware it's the world's longest Mini limo - and that's something we're extremely proud of. 'It's certainly an eye-catching car and a lot of people are now choosing it for special occasions over the more common limos. 'And no wonder because it's absolutely bizarre - the Italian Job gone mad.' The businessman, 40, came up with the idea of the Mini limo after discovering a bespoke modification garage in the U.S. And after insisting the adapted car must represent the UK, he settled on the iconic 1960s Mini. Mr Akram shipped the factory version Mini Cooper S over to Las Vegas, where mechanics took to building the bizarre car. It can comfortably fit six people in the back and owner Kamran Akram said it is hired for proms and weddings . One of Krystal Limousines' drivers shows off the luxury interior that includes a champagne fridge . It is also kitted out with a disco ball, TVs and DVDs, blacked out windows and neon lights . They . also transformed the interior into a luxury lair for revellers - . including disco ball, champagne fridge, TVs and DVD players, neon . lights, blacked out windows and state-of-the-art music system. It is kitted out with leather interior and curved seating, which face a fully-stocked alcoholic bar to get the night started. Despite being the size of three Minis, the car can still reach speeds of more than 100mph. Mr Akram said: 'There really isn't anything else like it around. When we were designing it there really wasn't any other car we'd choose. 'The Mini is a British classic - it is recognised around the world. Now we have the longest one on the planet.' The four-year-old limo comes with its very own chauffeur to carry passengers anywhere they wish. Mr Akram said customers are 'choosing it for special occasions over the more common limos.' | A regular Mini Cooper S was given a £65,000 specialist makeover .
It was cut in half in Las Vegas and an extra 16ft of space was added .
The 27ft six-wheeler has interior disco ball, champagne fridge, TVs and DVD players, neon .
lights and blacked out windows .
Owner Kamran Akram said it is like 'the Italian Job gone mad' |
51,420 | 918e657392a1c28f0adedd25d8a708a163c2546c | (CNN) -- Argentina's Supreme Court ruled Tuesday it is unconstitutional to punish an adult for private use of marijuana as long as it doesn't harm anyone else. A recent poll showed 29 percent of Americans believe the best way to deal with marijuana is to legalize it. The unanimous ruling makes Argentina the second Latin American country in the past four days to allow personal use of a formerly illegal drug. The case in question involved five young men who were arrested for having a few marijuana cigarettes in their pockets. Supreme Court Justice Carlos Fayt, who at one time supported laws that make personal use of marijuana illegal, told the state-run Telam news agency that "reality" changed his mind. Argentina's action came amid growing momentum in Latin America toward decriminalization of possessing small amounts of certain drugs. Mexico enacted a law Friday that decriminalizes possessing low quantities of most drugs, including marijuana, heroin, cocaine and LSD. Earlier this year, a Brazilian appeals court ruled that possession of drugs for personal use is not illegal. Analysts see the shift in attitude as recognition that current methods in the war on drugs are not working. "It seems quite clear that drug policy based primarily on interdiction and enforcement has failed," said Robert Pastor, a Latin America national security adviser for President Jimmy Carter in the late 1970s. "Therefore, it's natural for people to stand back and ask, 'Is there a better way?' " Pastor noted that some recent research has shown that handling drug use as a health challenge and focusing on treatment may be more efficient. "What Argentina and Mexico are doing in many ways is blazing a new path," Pastor said. Peter Hakim, president of the Inter-American Dialogue policy institute in Washington, sees a trend at work. "It's all part of a harm-reduction approach," Hakim said, noting that policymakers are shifting away from getting rid of drugs and toward figuring out how to reduce harm to users and society. Mexico has been considering decriminalization for several years, particularly under the administration of former President Vicente Fox, who held office from 2000-2006. But efforts by the Mexican congress toward decriminalization met with strong resistance from the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush. "Mexico tried it under Fox and the U.S. got so snippety that they had to back down," Hakim said. President Obama's inauguration in January may have changed the calculus, analysts said. The Mexican congress passed the measure in April and President Felipe Calderon quietly signed it into law. In a visit to the United States, Fox said in May a new approach is needed. "I believe it's time to open the debate over legalizing drugs," he told CNN. "It must be done in conjunction with the United States, but it is time to open the debate." Earlier this year, Fox's predecessor and two other former leaders of Latin American nations also called for the decriminalization of marijuana for personal use and a change in strategy in the war on drugs. The three ex-presidents were members of the 17-nation Latin American Commission on Drugs and Democracy, which issued its recommendations in February after studying the issue for a year. "The problem is that current policies are based on prejudices and fears and not on results," former Colombian President Cesar Gaviria said at a news conference in which the commission's recommendations were presented. Former President Fernando Henrique Cardoso of Brazil said the group called for only the decriminalization of marijuana and not other illicit drugs because "you have to start somewhere." Fox's predecessor, Ernesto Zedillo, was president of Mexico from 1994 to 2000. Gaviria was president of Colombia from 1990 to 1994. And Cardoso led Brazil from 1995 to 2002. In his swing through the United States, Fox said any change in drug laws must be accompanied by an education campaign in schools and homes. And because the United States is a large consumer of marijuana that comes from Latin America, any steps toward legalization must be supported in Washington, he said. Gaviria had said in February that the time was right to start a debate on the subject because of the new administration in Washington. "In many states in the United States, as is the case in California, they have begun to change federal policies with regard to tolerating marijuana for therapeutic purposes. And in Washington there's some consensus that the current policy is failing," Gaviria said. The Inter-American Dialogue's Hakim said one recent poll showed that 29 percent of Americans think the best way to deal with marijuana is to legalize it. Pastor, the former Carter official, wondered whether anyone in Washington is paying attention. "The question," he said Tuesday, "is whether the United States will be open to this new path." | NEW: Argentina court: It's unconstitutional to punish adult for private use of marijuana .
Justice tells state-run news agency "reality" changed his mind .
Mexico enacted law that decriminalizes possessing low quantities of most drugs . |
51,695 | 925bd1061739104db1d3a5437793cc46d4b4073f | James Bond is known for blowing up, crashing or otherwise destroying the cars Q branch spend years carefully engineering for him. But 007 will have to take care of his new Aston Martin - as the British sportscar brand has only built 10 of a new model designed exclusively for his latest film,Spectre. The car, called the DB10, was unveiled this morning at the launch party of the movie, which will be Daniel Craig's fourth as the legendary spy. The manufacturer is being as tight-lipped as MI5 about the specifications of the car, which will not go on sale and will only be driven by Bond. They say the vehicle is a 'nod to future designs' and they are keeping the machine as far away as possible from rival firms who they fear may try to copy its sleek design. Film producers and crew have also yet to reveal what gadgets the car will have, following the famous ejector seats, rocket launchers and even built-in defibrillators of previous models. Scroll down for videos . Aston Martin have created 10 custom-built DB10s for the new Bond film, Spectre, it was announced today. The car will not be mass produced . Only 10 of the cars have been built especially for the film and developers are keeping details secret for fear other companies will copy it. Producers are even keeping tight-lipped about what gadgets - the trademark of Bond cars - the vehicle will have . The car was developed by Aston Martin and Sam Mendes, the director of the latest Bond film, who unveiled the machine this morning . The car was made at Aston Martin's Gaydon headquarters and celebrates 50 years since James Bond first drove an Aston Martin in Goldfinger . Aston Martin say they worked closely with Bond director Sam Mendes to create 'the ultimate car for the world's most famous spy'. It is the 50th anniversary of Bond's use of an Aston Martin, which started in the film Goldfinger when Sean Connery drove the iconic DB5. The firm's CEO Dr Andy Palmer said: 'In the same year that we celebrate our 50-year relationship with 007, it seems doubly fitting that today we unveiled this wonderful new sports car created especially for James Bond. 'It is great news for this company and for everyone around the world that loves to see Bond at the wheel of an Aston Martin. I'm incredibly proud of everyone in the team at Gaydon who have brought this special project from concept to reality.' Bond drove Aston Martins in the 1960s, with Connery the first to get behind the wheel of one of the sportscars, followed by George Lazenby, who used a DBS in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, in which the car featured in the famous final scene where Bond's newly-married wife, the Countess Tracy di Vicenzo played by Diana Rigg, is shot through the windscreen. Aston Martins were then reprised in the late 1980s, when Timothy Dalton drove a V8 Vantage Volante in the film, The Living Daylights. The car was shown off at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, west of London today at the launch of the new film, due out next year . Daniel Craig - who has driven Aston Martins in each of his three previous films - will drive the car in the latest movie, directed by Sam Mendes . Craig (centre) will be joined by (left to right) Naomie Harris, Lea Seydoux, Monica Bellucci and Christoph Waltz in the new blockbuster . The car was produced to celebrate 50 years since Bond first drove an Aston Martin, the classic DB5 used by Sean Connery in Goldfinger . The classic DB5 then briefly featured in scenes in the 1990s films GoldenEye and Tomorrow Never Dies before, in 2002, Piers Brosnan drove a V12 Vanquish which featured a high-tech 'cloaking device' which made the vehicle virtually invisible in Die Another Day. Daniel Craig has driven Aston Martins in his three previous outings as Bond; a DB5 and a DBS V12 in Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace and a DB5 in Skyfall. Spectre, which is due for general release on 6 November 2015, will feature Oscar-winning star Christoph Waltz, Moriarty actor Andrew Scott, Italian star Monica Bellucci and French actress Lea Seydoux alongside Craig. The film is named after the shadowy terrorist organisation created by Bond author Ian Fleming which first appeared in his novel Thunderball. Locations for the new film will include London, Mexico City, Rome, Morocco's Tangier and Erfoud, as well as Solden in Austria, which promises to see Bond returning to the ski slopes. 'All of them are amazing places. I'm very excited to be going to these locations over seven months, which is how long we'll be shooting,' said Mendes. Announcing the production today, film-makers said of the plot: 'A cryptic message from Bond's past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organisation. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind Spectre.' Aston Martin is not the only brand to appear in the new film; Bollinger, Heineken, Jaguar Land Rover, Omega, Sony Electronics, and Sony Mobile will also feature. Bond took to driving other sportscars in the 1970s and 1980s. Piers Brosnan, pictured with a Vanquish ahead of the film Die Another Day, reprised them in the 1990s . The car used in Die Another Day was packed with Bond's trademark gadgets, including a 'cloaking device' which made it invisible . Daniel Craig has driven Aston Martins in each of his three previous outings as Bond, including this V12 Coupe in Quantum of Solace . A gadget in the car even saved the character's life in Casino Royale when he used a defibrillator fitted to the dashboard after being poisoned . | Aston Martin is celebrating 50 years since James Bond first drove one of their cars in the 1960s film Goldfinger .
The company have built 10 of a new custom-made 'DB10' model for the new film, Spectre, launched today .
The model will not go on sale in dealerships and the 10 used in the film will be the only ones produced .
Director Sam Mendes worked alongside the car's designers and developers to make sure it suited the film's needs .
Sportscar firm are not revealing the specifications or details of the car, which they say is a 'nod to the future' |
60,728 | ac95cf9a85ca49ffcb7ae8b43f114b059995bb98 | (CNN)The Obama administration has consistently supported measures aimed at reforming mandatory minimum prison sentencing for nonviolent drug offenders. But President Barack Obama's recent decision to commute the prison sentences of only eight federal inmates -- incarcerated for drug crimes -- has left advocates wanting more. The forgiveness of a crime after a sentence is served or the reduction of a sentence currently being served is one of the few presidential powers widely unchecked by Congress or the courts. Commutations are traditionally issued in the weeks leading up to the holidays. The eight offenders granted commutations this year (here is the full list from the White House) were all serving lengthy sentences, half of them life sentences, for drug offenses related to crack cocaine and methamphetamine. Although this was the same number of commutations granted in 2013, many expected the number to be much greater given the Justice Department's April announcement of a new prison reform initiative aimed at making it easier for the administration to pardon or reduce sentences of non-violent offenders. "Well, it's a start, albeit a disappointingly small one," said Julie Stewart of Families Against Mandatory Minimums. "Given the administration's pronouncement that it wants to grant more clemencies, I was surprised they granted the exact same number of commutations as last December." The initiative launched by the Obama administration and outside advocacy groups earlier this year was touted as a way to "quickly and effectively identify" inmates serving mandatory minimum sentences that have since been characterized as "out-of-date" and inappropriate, according to a statement made by Deputy Attorney General James Cole in May. Cole said the President's decision to grant clemency to these eight individuals "sustains his commitment to bring fairness to our criminal justice system. While all eight were properly held accountable for their criminal actions, their punishments did not fit their crimes, and sentencing laws and policies have since been updated to ensure more fairness for low-level offenders." But the Clemency Report, an advocacy group dedicated to making executive clemency work on the federal level, called the number of commutes "disgraceful in an era of mass imprisonment," according to a statement posted to their website. The advocacy group pointed out that no marijuana, powder cocaine or LSD offenders had their sentences shortened despite the fact that an estimated 2,000 federal inmates qualify for commutation consideration under the administration's new criteria. This new policy dictates offenders must be low-level, nonviolent and without a significant criminal history. They also must have served at least 10 years of their sentence and have demonstrated good conduct in prison, with no history of violence before or during their incarceration. One federal inmate who clearly meets the Justice Department criteria for commutation is Timothy Tyler, sentenced to two life sentences without the possibility of parole for conspiracy to possess LSD with the intent to distribute. He has spent more than 20 years in prison but has been clinging to the hope he will someday be free as a result of the Justice Department's initiative and the absence of a violent past. Timothy's sister, Carrie, who has dedicated her life to tirelessly efforting her brother's release, believes that the lack of commutations this year does not indicate a reluctance on Obama's part to follow through with prison reforms. But it is evidence of the bureaucracy-induced backlog caused by the amount of applications for qualified inmates, she believes. RELATED: Man hopes new sentencing rules will get him out . Obama has received 15,646 petitions for commutation since 2009 and, with the addition of the eight granted this year, has granted a total of 21. That's more than the number granted by Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan at the same stage in their presidencies. "One of [the pardoned prisoners] is Tim's friend and he put his petition in two years ago," Carrie Tyler said. "Tim's petition has not been submitted. It will be in the beginning of the year. It has taken them over a year to do his petition." She is still hopeful her brother's name will be on the list of those released some day in the near future. "I believe more will come in the future. I think he [the President] will keep his promise," Carrie Tyler. Stewart, of Families Against Mandatory Minimums, which has been working on Timothy Tyler's release, also remains optimistic. "I think the new pardon attorney, Deborah Leff, is genuinely interested in finding deserving candidates," she said of the new head of the Office of the Pardon Attorney, long been seen as the "Office of No." | President Barack Obama recently commuted the sentences of eight federal drug offenders .
The Obama administration has consistently supported mandatory minimum sentence reforms .
Advocates say they are disappointed with the low number of commutations by Obama . |
229,621 | b557bf89fa2d58bb3ba7637b36863d72726782d4 | By . Liz Hull . Horsemeat found in beef burgers manufactured for British supermarkets was imported from Poland, it emerged last night. Tests have revealed that ‘raw material’ supplied to an Irish processing plant, which made burgers for Tesco, Aldi, Lidl and Iceland, contained as much as 20 per cent horse DNA, the Irish Government said. Around 10million beef burgers have been withdrawn from sale by supermarkets, and other smaller retailers in the UK, since the scandal, which centred around the Silvercrest factory, in County Monaghan, broke earlier this month. Closing in: The source is now thought to be an unnamed factory belonging to ABP Food Group in Poznan, Poland . Customers and food standards experts were left reeling after tests by the Foods Safety Authority of Ireland revealed burgers supplied to Tesco – Britain’s biggest supermarket chain - contained 29.1 per cent horse DNA. Burger King also stopped using Silvercrest’s products, although there was no horsemeat found in burgers sold by the fast food chain. Simon Coveney, the Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, said the latest tests were a ‘major breakthrough’ in their investigation to identify the source of the contaminated products. He had initially suggested imported ingredients from Spain and the Netherlands were to blame, but yesterday revealed the ‘likely’ source was an unnamed factory in the eastern European country. Mr Coveney said the raw material was made from ‘low value’ cuts of meat. International: The diverse origins of British meat highlight the need for control over the food supply chain . Scandal: Burgers supplied to Tesco and other major outlets contained up to 29.1 per cent horse DNA . ‘It’s fat cuts, trims, de-sinewed meats,’ Mr Coveney said. ‘There was equine DNA, which is horsemeat, in the product. ‘There is no evidence to suggest that anyone knowingly imported product that had horse DNA in it, but clearly that is what happened.’ The minister said the ABP Food Group, which owns the plant, had now agreed to source meat only from the UK and Ireland and to introduce regular DNA testing of meat at Silvercrest and its sister factory, Dalepak Hambleton, north Yorkshire. However, the firm, which denied the contaminated meat had come from the company’s plant in Poznan, Poland, refused to say whether it was permitted to use the Polish ingredient in Tesco’s burgers. Supermarkets: A number of prominent chains sold products originating from a Polish factory . Food safety experts say horse DNA poses no health risks to consumers, but the discovery has raised concerns about the food supply chain and the ability to trace meat ingredients. Tesco welcomed the Irish government's . announcement, saying: 'The findings announced by the minister correlate . with the results of our own investigations at the plant.' But Burger King, which switched suppliers . when news of the scandal first broke, said it would be seeking further . reassurance that products for their beef patties were sourced in the . British Isles. 'Despite these findings, we take this matter very seriously,' a spokesman said. 'We . remain committed to identifying suppliers that can produce 100 per cent . pure Irish and British beef products for us that meet our high quality . standards.' | Patties supplied to Aldi, Lidl and Iceland contained up to 20% horse DNA .
Raw meat delivered to Tesco contained as much as 29.1% horsemeat .
Burger King also stopped using products supplied by the Irish firm . |
286,261 | feec09433e81ea6db0d47e5ab61316d3db6761ee | Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- A protest march against U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan, led by former cricket star turned politician Imran Khan, came to a halt on Sunday when authorities blocked access to the demonstration's final destination in the tribal region, officials told CNN. Authorities used steel shipping containers and security forces to seal off the road entering South Waziristan, where protesters had planned to hold a rally on Sunday, local government official Shahid Ullah said. When confronted with the roadblock, Khan directed protesters to turn back, saying the march had achieved its goal of drawing attention to the controversial U.S. drone strikes. Khan has been a fierce critic of U.S. policy in Pakistan and the use of drone strikes, calling them a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and a strategy that fuels militant anger towards Washington. "We will not cause any trouble if the government doesn't want us to enter South Waziristan," Khan told reporters. "We just want to direct the attention of the entire world to these illegal and immoral drone attacks in Waziristan that have left many innocent people dead." In recent years Washington has sharply stepped up the use of drone attacks in Pakistan's mostly ungoverned tribal region, widely believed to be a safe haven for militant groups fueling the insurgency in Afghanistan. U.S. officials say the drone strikes are an effective strategy against militant groups and insist civilian casualties are rare. The anti-drone march set out in a convoy of more than 100 vehicles from the capital, Islamabad, on Saturday and reached the border of South Waziristan on Sunday afternoon, where it was turned back. The U.S.-based anti-war group Code Pink was part of the procession. Throughout the journey the pink-clad peace activists regularly chanted anti-drone slogans in Pakistan's native language of Urdu. "Stop them! Stop them! Stop the drone attacks," the protesters shouted in Urdu. Pakistani authorities had earlier warned that the demonstration would not be allowed to enter South Waziristan for security reasons. "The situation in the tribal areas is comparatively good but not suitable for any gathering there," Tashfeen Khan, a government official, said on Saturday. Journalist Aamir Iqbal contributed to this report. | Authorities block road into South Waziristan, ending protest march .
Leader says the march still achieved its goal of drawing attention to drone strikes .
Officials say demonstrators were kept out of South Waziristan for security reasons .
March was led by former cricket star turned politician Imran Khan . |
154,566 | 53bdb4d45a9eac8ef923bed210f89584c2f10156 | By . Simon Tomlinson . PUBLISHED: . 11:38 EST, 7 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:40 EST, 7 January 2013 . They may look cute and cuddly, but these puppies will soon be helping to bring down the toughest criminals in Britain. They are being trained by West . Midlands Police as specialist search dogs hunting for weapons, drugs, . cash, stolen items or explosives and the evidence they will uncover is . often crucial in securing convictions. The Springer spaniels - three boys and . six girls - were born on December 8 into the 'O' litter and are named . Odem, Orville, Osca, Oreo, Olivia, Olympia, Oriel, Oxo and Oasis. Ruff justice: These nine springer spaniel puppies are being trained by West Midlands Police to become the next breed of sniffer dogs . Pet patrol: The Springer spaniels - three boys and six girls - were born on December 8 into the 'O' litter and are named Odem, Orville, Osca, Oreo, Olivia, Olympia, Oriel, Oxo and Oasis . West Midlands Police asked Twitter users to name the new recruits by using the hashtag £nameourpups. Breed scheme manager Dave Raymond, said: 'Clearly a few Baggies fans entered as Odemwingie was tweeted in a few times and I don't think Opium is appropriate for a police dog. 'It's the first time we've turned to our Twitter followers for help naming our puppies and it's proved hugely successful. 'The pups are 20 days old now; their eyes are open and they're starting to get a bit more adventurous. In the next few days we'll be weaning them on milk away from mum Grace and also introducing a few rags and toys for them to play with. 'We'll keep everyone updated on the pups' progress with regular photos and videos.' Canine cops: Breed scheme manager Dave Raymond cuddles one of the pups (left), while another of the breed tries a police helmet out for size (right) Turning to the web: Mr Arnett asked Twitter users to come up with the names of the new brood . The force runs the largest, most . successful police dog breed scheme in the UK with more than 80 per cent . of all dogs going through the training programme becoming operational. Any that don't make the grade are sold as working dogs or given to good homes. Mr Raymond said: 'Brood bitches are selected for their exemplary search skills, stability, responsiveness and temperament. 'They have blood and eye tests to make sure they don't pass on any hereditary conditions.' New recruits: The pups were born to mother Grace and father Tom, a five-year-old explosives search specialist . Mother Grace was born into the breed scheme in August 2009. This is her second litter and, in line with Kennel Club guidelines, she'll have no more than four in her lifetime and only one in any 12-month period. In between, she enjoys life at home with volunteers as a family pet. O Litter's dad is West Midlands Police Dog Tom, a five-year-old explosives search specialist. | Nine dogs are the newest recruits in West .
Midlands Police force .
They are being trained to hunt for weapons, cash and explosives . |
156,372 | 5626ce19f70cf1a56ef7e39d5a18fb8f56ce8cab | A couple who were allegedly dragged out of a toilet cubicle of a pub and pepper sprayed after refusing to stop having sex have appeared in court. Lee Hopps, 30 and Hayley McClory, 23, appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court charged with resisting arrest and a public order offence at Stanley Jefferson public house in Bishop Auckland. Both denied the charges, which followed an incident in which they were reportedly dragged naked from the cubicle of the Wetherspoons pub in front of fellow drinkers, at about 8.30pm on January 28. Lee Hopps and Hayley McCory appeared at court charged with a public order offence after allegedly being caught having sex in the toilets of a Wetherspoons pub and pepper sprayed after refusing to stop . McClory also denied a further charge of assaulting a police officer but pleaded guilty to the criminal damage of a police custody blanket when she was detained. Blair Martin, prosecuting, told the court: 'A barman at the Wetherspoons was aware of some activity in the female toilets in the upstairs part of the bar. 'He goes upstairs to hear noises coming from one of the cubicles. 'Police attended because they would not come out and police had to force entry into the cubicle. The court heard a barman became aware of 'activity' in the female toilets upstairs in the Stanley Jefferson . Lee Hopps and Hayley McClory are pictured arriving at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court for the hearing . The couple waved to photographers as they left the building and are due back in court on June 10 . 'The male defendant was sprayed and offensive language was used.' Andrew Clinton, representing both defendants, said that the couple accepted they were the ones in the cubicle on the date in question. The couple, both of Bishop Auckland, deny the public order offence of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause fear or unlawful violence. Both were bailed to return to court on June 10. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Couple allegedly caught having sex in pub cubicle and refused to come out .
Police dragged pair out before using pepper spray, it was claimed .
Lee Hopps, 30, and Hayley McClory, 23, appeared at court and denied a public order offence and resisting arrest following the incident in January .
Pair accept they were couple in cubicle of Stanley Jefferson public house .
McClory denies assaulting a police officer but admitted damaging blanket . |
16,593 | 2f0e64b4a983b4d6063c541bbe99743b8224e144 | A model whose bottom came second in Brazil's Miss BumBum beauty contest has revealed the terrible harm plastic surgery wreaked on her body. Andressa Urach, 27, spent a month in intensive care and feared she would lose her leg after fillers 'rotted' her muscles and had to be removed, triggering a life-threatening infection. These photos show the shocking extent of the damage to one of the most controversial TV presenters in Brazil - a nation which has overtaken the U.S. to become the cosmetic surgery capital of the world. WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT . Terrible toll: Brazilian TV presenter Andressa Urach, a runner up in Brazil's Miss BumBum competition, has revealed the terrible damage wreaked on her body by plastic surgery after wounds in her thigh were infected . Taped up: The presenter spent a month in intensive care and reportedly feared she would lose her leg . Miss Urach, who once made hotly-contested claims that she slept with footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, has reportedly undergone at least nine cosmetic procedures in the past five years. They were said to have included a nose job, a bioplasty facial 'correction', jaw reduction, breast enlargement, liposuction and even vaginal lip reduction. Most important of all was her prized rear. It won her the runner-up title in the 2012 Miss BumBum contest, which aims to find Brazil's most attractive bottom. She reportedly had injections of two filers, hydrogel and PMMA, to make it larger and more plump. But in July she began complaining of discomfort and had 400ml of hydrogel drained from each of her upper thighs. She told Brazil's R7 website at the time: 'The hydrogel was not absorbed by my body and started to harm me. Damage: The sobering, graphic photos show gaping holes in Miss Urach's thighs, all in the name of beauty . The 27-year-old suffered from septic shock after wounds from a procedure last July became infected . As Miss Urach lay in hospital, her mother Marisete De Favari asked her 220,000 Twitter followers to pray . 'Now I've discovered that the PMMA is sticking to my muscles and causing the tissue to rot. Despite the operation, she continued to be in pain and in November she was taken to the Conceicao Hospital in Porto Alegre with an advanced infection of her left leg. She underwent two unsuccessful drainage procedures, according to reports, before suffering from septic shock and being moved to intensive care. At one point her life was in danger and it was claimed her leg could have had to be amputated. Her mother Marisete De Favari logged in to her Twitter account, asking the model's 220,000 followers to pray for her as she remained on the ward in a serious state. 'I would ask for prayers from friends and people who wish for the recovery of my daughter,' she wrote on December 10. 'She's starting to walk, put her foot down and sit. After all this time lying down, she expected it would be painful. She has been taking morphine since entering the hospital, but now they are taking the drugs away from her gradually. The model wrote on December 26: 'My loves, thank you for the affection and chains of prayers' Slow going: The recovery from sepsis acts as a warning to the millions of Brazilians having plastic surgery . 'As she had sepsis, healing will be slow, because it has to happen in a natural way so that it is not subject to a new infection. 'This takes time and she is assisted by doctors all the time. She has had no contact with anyone but the doctors and her mother.' The model added on December 26: 'My loves, thank you for the affection and chains of prayers. God is great and is taking care of me.' Miss Urach hit headlines around the world after claiming she had had an affair with footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, a claim the Real Madrid striker strenuously denied. She said the footballer slept with her in a hotel just 48 hours before a Champions League semi final which his team lost 4-1 to German side Borussia Dortmund. The Portuguese winger, 29, took to his Facebook page to say he was 'deeply outraged.' He accused Andressa of 'pure fiction and forgery' and 'seeking the limelight on my account' and insisted he was at the Madrid hotel where she claimed they made love for a media interview. Miss Urach featured in the Miss BumBum contest in 2012 and claimed she slept with Cristiano Ronaldo . Pain: Miss Urach when her legs began hurting last year (left) and, right, in better spirits in her hospital bed . Brazil overtook the U.S. in 2013 to become the most prolific plastic surgery nation in the world. Almost 1.5million procedures were performed in the South American country - an increase of 600,000 in just two years. These included 226,000 breast enlargements and 64,000 buttock augmentations, a fifth of all those in the world. Brazil has more than 5,000 plastic surgeons who also performed 78,000 facelifts, 77,000 nose jobs and 219 penis enlargements, according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. But the U.S. was still far ahead for the number of non-surgical procedures, such as laser hair removal and chemical peels, with 2.5million to Brazil's 650,000. Fellow Miss BumBum contestant Jessica Lopes, who shared a flat with Ms Urach, said last year: 'Andressa and I would go to the plastic surgeon as if we were going shopping. 'Sometimes we would agree to do some procedure together, we were not afraid. 'We were slaves to beauty.' | WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT .
Andressa Urach, 27, was runner-up in Brazilian rear end beauty contest .
But model was hospitalised after cosmetic gels 'rotted' her muscles .
Wounds got infected after they were removed, causing septic shock .
She has released horror photos taken during her month in intensive care .
Brazil has overtaken U.S. to become most prolific plastic surgery nation . |
14,575 | 2958709b08b37619f8690b712c5794249eafdb17 | The new film "Pandora's Promise" is a love song to nuclear power that claims to be a documentary, but like all good propaganda it omits key parts of the story, overstates the positives and underplays the negatives. Built around the (false) proposition that improved quality of life requires commensurate growth in energy use (a recurring visual theme is a globe that glows brighter and brighter), the movie presents nuclear power as the only plausible solution to global warming. No American utility today would consider building a new nuclear power plant without massive government support. Of 29 power plants on the drawing boards in 2009, only a handful are going forward, with government help, and even those are experiencing delays and cost overruns. No major U.S. environmental group endorses nuclear power as a solution to climate change caused by fossil fuels, but this movie lionizes environmental activists who have become nuclear power enthusiasts, led by Michael Shellenberger and Stewart Brand. Shellenberger notes in the film that he at one time worked for NRDC and other major environmental groups in a consulting role. Their narratives are juxtaposed against unflattering, decades-old clips of veteran anti-nuclear activists like Helen Caldicott, Jane Fonda and Ralph Nader, suggesting that being pro-nuke is modern and hip. One of us, Cavanagh, was among about 50 people who attended a screening at Stanford University, home to the film's science adviser, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Burton Richter. Those in the mostly empty auditorium heard one of the movie's principal funders -- tech entrepreneur Steve Kirsch -- tell the audience beforehand that outspoken climate scientist James Hansen was an inspiration for the film. Kirsch said it was Hansen who first alerted him to the promise of the Integral Fast Reactor, which is an advanced reactor design intended to operate more safely and produce less hazardous waste than today's plants. Hansen certainly would not agree, however, with the film's curt dismissal of the potential contributions of energy efficiency and renewable energy resources to meeting global energy needs. Opinion: Are environmental leaders steering us toward disaster? Integral Fast Reactor and France . The still-unrealized Integral Fast Reactor is the real star of the film, along with the nation of France, whose nuclear generation program is extolled as "one of the most inspiring stories ever" ("the trains are electric powered, they have clean air, and they have the cheapest electricity in Europe"). Nuclear power debates are the only places where you will ever see those at the conservative edge of the political spectrum argue that the United States should reorganize its economy to be more like France. The Clinton administration killed the Integral Fast Reactor in 1994 because of concern over the potential diversion of the plutonium fuel by terrorists and non-nuclear weapon states of concern. Yet the film's closing argument is that a "fourth-generation" reactor modeled on the Integral Fast Reactor will sweep the globe, burning waste created by the first three generations and "solving" the nagging problem of long-term disposal of nuclear waste. The film fails to mention that this would take hundreds to thousands of plutonium-fueled reactors operating over hundreds of years, resulting most likely in an increase in the releases of radioactivity to the environment as a consequence of operations by the Integral Fast Reactor's fuel processing and fabricating facilities. The film invokes Bill Gates as one of many forward-thinking new investors in nuclear innovation, but surely even Gates would recoil from the Integral Fast Reactor's poor economic outlook compared to conventional reactors and the financial risks associated with building just one Integral Fast Reactor, let alone a global fleet of them. The film fails to acknowledge that the flagship fast reactor development efforts in the United States, France, Germany, Japan and Italy all failed, and that fast reactors were abandoned by both the U.S. and Soviet navies, hardly a strong selling point for resurrecting the Integral Fast Reactor program. Director/producer Robert Stone told the Stanford audience that he first sought financial backing from Kirsch about three years ago, which also explains one of the film's dilemmas. It clearly was crafted initially to debunk concerns about Three Mile Island (1979) and Chernobyl (1986), but then the Fukushima nuclear disaster inconveniently intervened (2011). Obviously unable to ignore Fukushima, Stone had one of the narrators visit the site to wield a radiation meter and contend that the reactor accidents should have been far less newsworthy than the earthquake-generated tsunami that caused them. Still, the wrecked reactors are a nagging distraction from the film's upbeat message, with one speaker acknowledging that "this is not just something you can brush away. This was not supposed to happen." Dismissing facts . Meanwhile, the movie contends that anti-nuclear activists have grossly overstated radiation risks, even as it overlooks scientific findings from, for example, the World Health Organization on actual impacts of radiation releases. The film also dismisses energy efficiency in light of the allegedly inherent energy intensity of modern life, perpetuating the decade-old urban myth that a smartphone uses as much electricity as a refrigerator. (Repeated demonstrations show that if you take everything into account, a smartphone and the cloud data it uses only represent 15-20% as much electricity as an average refrigerator.) The film makes an effective case against coal combustion on public health grounds, with credible data on annual premature deaths both globally (3 million) and in the United States (13,000). Yet this indictment promptly and unfairly broadens to cover the full universe of nuclear power skeptics: "To be anti-nuclear is to be in favor of burning fossil fuels," and presumably all these deaths, too. In the final sequence, an ebullient Shellenberger concludes: "This is the beginning of something really beautiful." Cut to that glowing globe of the Earth (without a hint of irony, but remember that these are the same people who chose to include Pandora in the title of a movie promoting nuclear power; readers may recall that Pandora was the figure in Greek mythology who unleashed evil spirits by opening a container that was supposed to be left undisturbed). Join us on Facebook/CNNOpinion. | Natural Resources Defense Council: "Pandora's Promise" a "love song to nuclear power"
NRDC: Film overlooks scientific statistics on radiation impacts .
"Star of the film" is the Integral Fast Reactor, but the movie fails to mention downsides . |
263,719 | e18bf14ee672fc357001a7fbe8ac05edada467b1 | By . Chris Slack . Last updated at 11:00 PM on 23rd November 2011 . If Sonya 'The Black Widow' Thomas opts to have something other than turkey this Thanksgiving, she may be forgiven. That's because the competitive eater has just broken another record - after scoffing 5lbs worth of the bird's meat in just ten minutes. The 5ft 5in 105lb woman claimed the record as part of the Wild Turkey 81 Eating World Championship, held in Times Square, New York, yesterday. Champion! Sonya 'The Black Widow' Thomas shows off her trophy after eating 5lbs of turkey meat in ten minutes to add another competitive food eating record to her collection . No cutlery required: Thomas and her rival Eric Booker, left, tuck into the turkey while showing off their different ways of tackling the challenge . Thomas's victory was made more remarkable as she crushed her nearest rivals - all men - by more than a pound of meat. Her feat saw her collect a cash prize of $1,581 and adding another title to her collection of world records. Speaking after her victory, the 42-year-old told the New York Daily News: 'I left only bone. I’m so happy.' 'I’m not normally a fan of turkey... but their turkey today was . very tasty, moist and warm. That’s why I ate most of the meat.' Thomas, who is from Alexandria, Virginia, and works as a restaurant manager, used a less frenzied technique to eat the bird during the contest. Even though Thomas weighs just 105 lbs, she owns a slew of eating records . In . the zone: Sonya concentrates while scoffing another chicken wing - one . of 183 she managed in 12 minutes - to break her own record in September . While no competitor uses cutlery, Thomas stripped handfuls of meat from the bird and placed the pieces in her mouth while drinking water in between. Asparagus - 5.75lbs deep fried in 10 minutes . Burgers - 7 3/4 pounders in 10 minutes . Cheesecakes - 11lbs in 9 minutes. Chicken nuggets - 80 in 5 minutes . Chicken wings - 183 in 12 minutes . Crabcakes - 46 3oz cakes in 10 minutes . Eggs - 65 hard boiled in 6 minutes, 40 seconds . Fruitcakes - 4lbs, 14oz in 10 minutes . Gyoza - 206 n 10 minutes . Jambalaya - 9lbs of crayfish variety in 10 mins . Lobster - 11.3lbs of meat in 12 minutes . MoonPies - 38 in 8 minutes . Oysters - 46 dozen in 10 minutes . Pizza - 6 extra large pizza slices in 15 minutes . Pulled pork - 23 sandwiches in 10 minutes . Tacos - 43 soft tacos in 11 minutes . Tater tots - 250 tater tots in 5 minutes . Thomas's technique differed vastly from Eric Booker, who claimed second prize in the contest. The 400-pound man, nicknamed 'Badlands', picked up the bird in one hand and gnawed away using a technique more suited to a chicken leg. Booker said of his strategy: 'I just ripped the bird apart and ate the innards. 'I think I ate the wishbone by accident.' Booker, who holds his own world record for eating pumpkin pies, praised his fellow competitor. He added: 'I’m definitely in awe of her abilities, to be so small and eat so . much.' Thomas's success in New York follows several other world records. In September she managed to eat 183 chicken wings in just 12 minutes, breaking her own record. And in July she became the first Female World Hot Dog . Eating Champion by swallowing 40 hot dogs in 10 minutes. She also has records for eating in several . other categories including cheesecakes, crayfish, oysters and jalapenos. And for anyone wondering what Sonya is having this Thursday - she is planning a feast with Korean food. | Sonya 'The Black Widow' Thomas collects $1,581 first prize .
Beats nearest rival by more than a pound of meat . |
207,677 | 98e7263b3b5ac26b4c20a25fee6e0df46839d631 | By . Kerry Mcdermott . PUBLISHED: . 06:02 EST, 22 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:09 EST, 25 February 2013 . Wearing a bright coat in a vibrant shade of Republican red, Nancy Reagan greeted onlookers with a cheerful wave on an outing in Los Angeles. The former First Lady and Republican Party icon chose the smart red coat to ward off the winter chill as she enjoyed a visit to Beverly Hills eatery Spago yesterday. Mrs Reagan, 91, who suffered a bone-breaking fall at her California home last year, seemed to be in good spirits as she enjoyed a day out under the protective eyes of Secret Service agents. Outing: Nancy Reagan, who was wrapped up against the winter chill in a brightly coloured coat, greeted onlookers with a friendly wave . The widow of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, who was accompanied by a nurse seen pushing her wheelchair as the party left the upscale restaurant yesterday afternoon, did appear somewhat frail, and faint bruises were visible on her legs. Nonetheless Mrs Reagan, who has spent some 30 years in the public eye, was as elegantly turned out as ever in her cream suit and colourful coat, and smiled and waved at passersby in Beverly Hills. Mrs Reagan's ribs were broken when she fell in April 2012. But less than two months later the indomitable former First Lady entertained then Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney at her house in L.A. Mrs Reagan was soon back on her feet with the help of a cane, but occasionally relies on a wheelchair to get around. Bright: The former First Lady chose a vibrant red coat for a trip to restaurant Spago in Beverly Hills . Stylish: The former First Lady of the United States wore a cream suit underneath her smart red coat . Party loyalty: Mrs Reagan, pictured in London in 1989, has long been a fan of Republican red . This month the California home . Mrs Reagan shared with her late husband for 30 years before Mr . Reagan became president sold for more than $5million. The hilltop hideaway home - where the Gipper spent election night in 1980 and received the concession call from President Jimmy Carter - went for $5.211 million, beating the asking price of $4.99 million.The 4,700-square-foot home sits on two thirds of an acre nestled in the exclusive Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles.The house was given to Reagan in the 1950s by General Electric after the Hollywood actor helped make the TV anthology show 'General Electric Theater' a success. Reagan and his wife Nancy lived in the home for three decades as he transformed himself from a movie star into a politician. | Former First Lady waved to onlookers on an outing in Beverly Hills .
Mrs Reagan wore a smart winter coat in a bright red shade . |
245,785 | ca207c606e6df1155a7317f19d3c9c7979d1042b | By . Emily Allen . PUBLISHED: . 04:20 EST, 20 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:08 EST, 20 July 2012 . Police are to re-open an investigation into the Birmingham pub bombings that killed 21 people nearly 40 years ago, it has been revealed. Detectives will open a cold-case probe into who carried out the suspected IRA attacks in November 1974, which also injured 182 people. In 1991 six men, known as the Birmingham Six, were released from prison after spending 17 years behind bars when their convictions for the bombings were quashed by the Court of Appeal. Blast: The Mulberry Bush pub in Birmingham was completely destroyed in the blast which killed 21 people . Since their release families of the victims have launched dozens of appeals to have the case re-opened. Yesterday, the head of counter terrorism at West Midlands Police said he wants forensic experts to review potential new evidence. Detective . Chief Superintendent Kenny Bell, head of Counter Terrorism at West . Midlands Police, has made the commitment in a letter to the sister of . one of the atrocity. He wrote to Julie Hambleton, 49, . whose sister Maxine was killed in the bombings aged just 18, saying: . 'Forensic science continues to develop. I will ensure that we consult . with a forensic expert to establish how science has advanced and if new . techniques can evidentially assist us with bringing those responsible to . justice.' Review: Detective Chief Superintendent Kenny Bell is tasking officers to review all the old files in the case while right, Julie Hambleton holds a picture of her sister Maxine who was killed in the attack aged just 18 . Not guilty: The Birmingham Six made up of Paddy Joe Hill, Hugh . Callaghan, Richard . McIlkenny, Gerry Hunter, Billy Power and Johnny Walker celebrate outside . the Old Bailey after their release from prison after 17 years . The city's head of counter terrorism is also tasking officers to bring together and look again at all the old files in the case. He . wrote: 'It is important we gather, understand, consolidate and preserve . all relevant material in one central repository. While the scale of . this is a huge undertaking, it will greatly assist with our ability to . assess the relevance of any new evidence. 'It will also give me confidence in providing you with information that is accurate.' Det Chf Supt Bell promised to give the victims' families regular updates on the process of gathering the evidence. West Midlands Police had never officially reopened the case after the Birmingham Six had their convictions quashed. Ruin: The inside of the Mulberry Bush pub after the blast. The IRA have long been suspected of the attack . Paddy Joe Hill, Hugh Callaghan, . Richard McIlkenny, Gerry Hunter, Billy Power and Johnny Walker spent 17 . behind bars before being released. Detectives . last month revealed they are to launch a murder investigation into the Bloody Sunday deaths of . 13 civilians shot dead by British soldiers in Londonderry more than 40 . years ago. The probe will last at least four . years and raises the possibility that former British soldiers – some now . in their 70s and 80s – could stand trial facing criminal charges. Thirty officers will focus on the . actions of UK paratroopers following the findings of the £195million . inquiry by Lord Saville which said none of those killed were armed and . no warning was given before soldiers opened fire. All six men, all Irish, all Catholic, had been drinking in a . pub at New Street station in Birmingham on November 21, 1974 before boarding a train to catch . a ferry to Belfast. Within six minutes, bombs exploded in two pubs on . the station precincts, destroying the Mulberry Bush and the Tavern. Twenty one people were killed and many of the victims were aged between 17 and 25. Warnings were sent but police did not evacuate people in time. The men, all carrying mass cards, were travelling . to the funeral of a friend, an IRA man who had blown himself up whilst . assembling a bomb. They were all Republican sympathisers. In court they claimed . they had confessed only after being beaten by police but the court did . not believe them and so began their long battle for . justice. The Provisional Irish Republican Army . (IRA) has always been widely blamed for the attacks although it has . always denied responsibility. Terrorism: Rescuers pick through the rubble after the explosion which also injured 182 people in 1974 . Det Chief Supt . Bell said of his team's new efforts: 'This task will take some . considerable time, however, I undertake that you will receive updates on . a bimonthly basis.' The written assurances back up what . Mrs Hambleton claims she was told in a meeting with the top officer at the . force's Lloyd House HQ. She . has spearheaded the Justice for the 21 campaign calling for the pub . bombing murders to be reinvestigated - and is now optimistic a . breakthrough could finally be made. She said: 'We've had so many false . dawns before that we are quite cautious, but we're hopeful new evidence . can be uncovered that could lead police to the killers. Memory: Flowers at the memorial stone remembering the 21 victims outside St Phillips Cathedral, Birmingham . 'He said it would take months to centralise the files, bundle them into segments and then be scanned by a small team to enable him to fully answer the questions we have asked him. 'What we want to know is how much physical evidence there was from the bombing itself like clothing for example or debris which might contain DNA evidence. 'If the Stephen Lawrence murder trial came about because of a blood splatter on a jumper, then there must be some evidence from the bombings which can help trace the killers. 'I am encouraged that Mr Bell will get the evidence in one place but there is still a hell of a long way to go before those who are responsible will be brought to justice. 'It is appalling that in a civilised country the mass murder of 21 innocent people has not been investigated and those who committed the atrocity have been allowed to go free. 'Maxine was just 18 when she was killed. She had been accepted to study Law at Leicester University but she never lived to see the letter of acceptance, she would have been 56 this month.' Earlier this year, Birmingham Six member Paddy Hill divulged a list of names to police whom he claimed were responsible for the bombings. Meanwhile, the Justice for the 21 campaign has been backed by MPs and MEPs across the country including Chancellor George Osborne. A petition calling for the bombings to be re-investigated has been signed by more than 2,200 people. | IRA are suspected of the attacks in 1974 which also injured 182 people .
Birmingham Six were freed in 1991 after their convictions were quashed .
Now detectives want forensic experts to review potential new evidence . |
261,759 | df026ba75cc93db3b921f4775813e48b160537eb | Scott Parker covered £20,000 in fines handed out to two young Fulham players by Felix Magath as he felt their punishment was too harsh. The revelation is the latest in a string of bizarre incidents that have come to light in the aftermath of the German manager's sacking from the west London club. The Mirror claim that Magath punished two younger members of Fulham's squad, handing them each a £10,000 fine. Scott Parker paid £20,000 in fines on behalf of two Fulham teenagers who had been unfairly punished . Fulham's captain went to discuss the matter with Magath and said that, although their actions may have deserved punishment, the level of the fines was disproportionately high. Both of the players were thought to be less than £2,000 a week, making the fines, at best, close to 10 per cent of their yearly wage packet. But Magath refused to change his mind on the matter and so the 33-year-old Parker paid the fines himself. Felix Magath had handed out the fines and refused to drop them even after Parker queried the decision . Fulham's owner Shahid Khan sacked Magath after the club's poor start to the season. The Cottagers had taken just one point from their first seven games. Khan expressed regret over having to take such action but said: 'I am doing what I feel is right and needed for Fulham, for today as well as tomorrow.' Former Wales and Fulham defender Kit Symons was installed as his replacement on a temporary basis. Fulham's owner Shahid Khan sacked Magath and replaced him with caretaker boss Kit Symons . | Felix Magath handed out fines totalling £20,000 to young Fulham pair .
Neither player thought to be on more than £2,000 a week .
Scott Parker approached Magath over severity of punishment .
Fulham's captain then paid the fines out of his own pocket . |
123,171 | 2b38e3d462e88932086ebaeebbccf9ab9458da80 | By . Sam Greenhill . On trial: Max Clifford arriving this morning at Southwark Crown Court to hear evidence from a woman who claims he assaulted her in 1966 . A schoolgirl feared she would be raped or murdered when Max Clifford drove her down an alley and lunged at her, a court heard yesterday. The 14-year-old was ‘frozen in fear’ and in a ‘blind panic’ as he allegedly groped at her school uniform and breasts. The celebrity publicist was said to have approached the girl in a Wimpy fast-food bar and lured her into his car, telling her ‘there is something I would like you to see’ that she would ‘really like’. The PR guru allegedly said she could meet her idols, US pop trio The Walker Brothers. But then he told her ‘this is what you’ve got to do’ as he threw himself on top of her, London’s Southwark Crown Court was told. The woman, now a 62-year-old mother of two and the first witness in Clifford’s trial, said she was ‘frozen in fear’ in the alleged 1966 indecent assault in Morden, South London. He denies 11 counts of indecently assaulting seven women aged 14 to 19 between 1966 and 1984. She told the jury she used to go with friends to the Wimpy bar, where Clifford would sit on his own drinking coffee. Another witness described Clifford, then in his early twenties, as an ‘oddball’ who ‘tried to hang out’ with teenagers in the Wimpy. On this occasion, the alleged victim said she went in alone but her friends were not there and Clifford offered her a lift home. The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she refused because she only lived ‘round the corner’, but he said he had something to show her. He was insistent, she said, adding: ‘I gave in. I was just a silly girl and I said yes.’ But instead of taking her home, he drove in ‘totally the wrong direction’, parked in a cul-de-sac under a railway bridge and took out a book of photographs of famous people, she said. She added: ‘He got a book out and he was saying, “Look, there is me with all the stars”.’ Clifford as a young man: Mr Clifford also laughed off suggestions his younger sibling might have borrowed his brothers' cars in 1966 or 67 - saying the PR agent didn't have a licence . Claims: Clifford allegedly offered to give a 14-year-old girl a ride home then groped her . Hearing: The PR guru insists he is innocent of all the indecent assault charges . He showed her pictures of himself with . Sixties bands such as The Beatles and possibly the Rolling Stones, she . said. ‘He said, “Who do you want to meet?” I said I did not want to meet . anyone, I just wanted to go home.’ He then asked her if there was one . particular band she would like to meet and she named The Walker . Brothers. She added: ‘He said, “I can arrange that” and he said, “This . is what you have got to do” and he put my seat back. ‘When my seat was almost horizontal he lunged at me and put his body on mine and he was touching me all over.’ She said he touched her breasts while she was ‘on autopilot’. She . said: ‘I thought at the time that I was going to get raped if I did not . get out of the car, I was just thinking about escaping, about whether . the car door was locked or not.’ She said it was obvious that ‘it was a . sexual thing’ that he wanted her to do. Stars: Clifford showed the girl a photograph of himself with the Walker Brothers, pictured, the court heard . Showbiz: The witness said that Clifford had pictures of himself posing the Beatles . Glamour: Clifford allegedly had photographs of himself posing with the Rolling Stones . Venue: Clifford is alleged to have met the victim at the Wimpy restaurant in Morden, pictured . She said: ‘I did not know at that stage whether I was going to be raped or murdered. ‘If someone starts driving you the wrong way you know you are in trouble.’ WOMAN ONE: One indecent assault in January 1966 . WOMAN TWO: One indecent assault in 1975 . WOMAN THREE: One indecent assault between July 1977 and August 1978 and on three occasions outside that period . WOMAN FOUR: One indecent assault in 1978 . WOMAN FIVE: One indecent assault in 1982 . WOMAN SIX: One indecent assault between January 1982 and December 1984, and another outside that period . WOMAN SEVEN: One indecent assault between January 1983 and December 1984 . Eventually, . she managed to get free and ‘ran all the way home’, she said. She never . told police or her ‘strict’ parents, but says she did tell friends. Under . cross examination by Richard Horwell, QC, she denied ‘jumping on the . bandwagon’, and insisted her claims were ‘100 per cent true’. She . admitted the year of the incident might have been 1967, but denied that . ‘none of this ever happened’ and that Clifford ‘did not have a car’ in . 1966. She could not recall details of the car. The . court heard from four other witnesses, including her ex- husband, who . said she had told them years ago about her ‘bad experience’ with . Clifford. Clifford, in a navy jacket, white shirt and striped tie with grey trousers, listened through a hearing loop from the dock. The . 70-year-old ‘kiss-and-tell’ agent, who has represented music mogul . Simon Cowell and the late reality TV star Jade Goody, denies all charges . in the trial, which is expected to last up to six weeks. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Clifford allegedly met the girl in a branch of Wimpy in south London in 1966 .
He 'offered a lift but drove in the wrong direction and parked in a field'
PR guru then told the teenager she could meet the Walker Brothers and lunged at her, Southwark Crown Court hears .
Alleged victim says Clifford was an 'oddball' for trying to hang out with her .
70-year-old denies 11 charges of indecent assault against seven women . |
222,798 | ac6b2fa6cc5ffec93af62511b61e0e5ef3a0c6ba | High roller: Poker star Phil Ivey netted £7.3million playing cards at Crockfords, one of the oldest private casinos in the world. But the house has refused to pay out . Seated at a private gaming table in a Mayfair casino, Phil Ivey exuded an air of quiet confidence. His transfer of £1 million into the casino’s bank account had been a gesture of goodwill, as much as proof that he meant business. Mr Ivey, one of the best poker players in the world, was joined by a beautiful Oriental female friend, whom he hoped would bring him luck. Perched on a chair overlooking the table, with its neatly stacked rows of chips, decks of cards and dealing shoe, sat the casino’s inspector, notepad in hand. For two nights over the August Bank Holiday at Crockfords, one of the oldest private casinos in the world, the 35-year-old Californian played a relatively simple card game called Punto Banco. The result was a winning streak which resulted in him netting a staggering £7.3 million. So is he now working out how to spend his winnings? Quite the contrary, for Crockfords has refused to pay up, and has called in investigators from Malaysia, where its owner, the gaming corporation Genting, is based. They interviewed staff and pored over hour upon hour of surveillance footage. They even inspected the cards and dealing shoe used in Mr Ivey’s game to try to see if anything untoward had contributed to his mammoth win. But it is believed no sign of any wrongdoing was found. The casino has returned his initial £1 million stake, but lawyers for both sides are now locked in an increasingly bitter dispute over the rest of the money. Strangely, it is not even clear if Mr Ivey has been accused of any wrongdoing. The police are not thought to have been contacted. The casino’s insistence on keeping its hands on the money is all the more curious because Punto Banco, which Ivey chose to play, is a skill-free game in which the gambler plays only against the banker, and seeks simply to get a score as close to nine as possible. This means that, as with a roulette wheel, it is almost impossible for a player to ‘fix’ the outcome. At first, the casino had said it would pay the winnings, warning that the Bank Holiday Monday would stall the payment. What eventually stopped it from handing over the money remains a mystery. It has emerged that the woman who accompanied the gambler has had her membership of another Mayfair casino suspended, although it is not known why. It is now most likely that Mr Ivey and the casino will meet in the High Court to settle the matter once and for all. At loggerheads: The casino has returned Mr Ivey's £1million stake, but lawyers for both sides are now locked in an increasingly bitter dispute . The case offers a tantalising glimpse into the world of high-stakes professional gamblers — one which might almost be taken from the pages of Ian Fleming’s novel Casino Royale. But James Bond was never refused his winnings by a casino — so why would anyone else be? Barry Carter, author of The Mental Game Of Poker, believes that because Mr Ivey is a very wealthy man — he won £10 million in just one Las Vegas poker tournament — he was able to continue to play for so long that he encountered a statistically unusual run of winning hands. Indeed, when he was at Crockfords and betting £50,000 a hand, his losses hit £500,000 before his fortunes changed. ‘I don’t think for one minute that he cheated,’ says Carter. ‘It is almost impossible for him to have an influence in a game of pure chance like Punto Banco. ‘Just because it’s statistically unlikely doesn’t mean you can’t have such a long winning streak — it is the nature of probability. ‘He comes to the attention of casino bosses because he is considered the best poker player in the world, and people wrongly think he may have some edge in other card games, too.’ Mr Carter believes the casino will have to pay the cash at some point, adding that the reason they can delay paying such a large sum is that the industry is not licensed as tightly as some other businesses. Over the years, professional gamblers who have developed some kind of system to boost their odds have been barred from casinos or had a cap imposed on the size of bets they can place. High stakes: Doormen stand at the entrance to Crockfords in Mayfair, London, where Mr Ivey played for two nights over the August Bank Holiday . Card counting is the most common technique, where the punter keeps an eagle eye on the cards that have already been dealt and memorises them, so he knows what remains. He can then make an informed bet on what is going to be dealt next. When Don Johnson, for example, a 49-year-old American professional gambler, arrives at a casino, he strikes fear into the management. He is already barred from two Las Vegas casinos — and in 2010 won more than £4 million from two Atlantic City casinos playing blackjack. Last year, a 12-hour session at another saw him walk away with more than £3 million. (The boss was promptly sacked.) While no one knows what system he uses, he puts his success down to having the cash to keep going when he has suffered setbacks. ‘You also have to understand the maths,’ Mr Johnson has said. ‘I’m not breaking any laws. I’m beating them with my own skills.’ There are those, however, who have relied on cunning to break the law and steal millions of pounds from casinos in cons worthy of the Ocean’s Eleven films. In 2007, two Chinese men and a woman were discovered using miniature cameras woven into a suit sleeve and a handbag to film the croupier dealing at a London casino. The images were beamed to a man holed up in van parked outside, who would freeze each frame to identify the cards on the table. Then, using a radio link, he relayed the details to his accomplices, who were wearing tiny earpieces. The gang were eventually arrested at the Mint casino in Kensington and later jailed. Some attempts to cheat the bank are a little more mundane. In 2009, two men named Mehmet Mersin and Suleyman Arik wore various wigs and false moustaches to visit casinos in London. They relied on a friend watching their poker games to spill his drink or strike up idle chat to divert the attention of the croupier. In that split second, the two men would swap cards between them to produce a stronger hand. Seven times they executed the deft manoeuvre, banking more than £5,000. Mystery: At first, the casino (pictured) had said it would pay Mr Ivey's winnings. What eventually stopped it from handing over the money remains unclear . While it was difficult to spot with the naked eye, the slow-motion playback from the CCTV recordings at the Empire Casino in London’s West End made compelling viewing for security staff. Both men were jailed. Inevitably, casinos have invested millions of pounds on a variety of surveillance techniques to catch cheats. Every roulette and card table has a sensitive microphone recording conversations, while a series of so-called ‘pan-tilt-zoom’ cameras record in high definition every twitch of players, audience and croupiers alike. To prevent cards from being marked, new packs are opened at the start of each business day, and shredded at the end. In a game like Punto Banco, casino inspectors like the one watching Phil Ivey in his private gaming room at Crockfords look out for patterns of low bets followed by a flurry of high bets, suggesting that the punter is somehow in the know about what cards are due to come up. In this game, too, a brilliant mathematical mind can attempt mentally to record what has already been dealt, and place bets based on those odds of the card they need turning up. Criminal gangs may try to secure the services of someone on the inside. A year ago, for example, three Italians were charged with fraud after apparently wearing special contact lenses to read invisible ink on cards marked by a French croupier. In one Cannes casino, the men made more than £50,000 after using the specially treated lenses to see the marks (a cross for a king and a line for an ace). They all denied the accusations. With such sophisticated attempts to break the rules, it is little wonder that casinos harbour a natural suspicion of those who win substantial sums at their tables. And for the same reason, disputes over unpaid winnings do happen, though very rarely. As yet, of course, there is no suggestion that Phil Ivey is guilty of anything other than a lucky streak. But if that is the case, why on earth is he still waiting to see the colour of Crockfords’ money? Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Poker player Phil Ivey won a fortune playing card game Punto Banco .
But casino Crockfords is refusing to pay up and has called in investigators .
Mr Ivey and the casino will meet in the High Court to settle the matter . |
222,230 | abac445aecf06a901e112c75fd54d0732ad59fed | A six-year-old girl was left alone in Bali after her parents were arrested over an alleged £1.6million cocaine smuggling operation on the Indonesian island. Kitty Ponder has been looked after by their maid and gardener since Julian Ponder and Rachel Dougall were detained the day after her birthday. Mr Ponder, 49, and Miss Dougall, 38, face death by firing squad if they are convicted of being part of the alleged drugs ring. Scroll down for video . Torn apart: Rachel Dougall and her husband Julian Ponder have been separated from their daughter Kitty, who remains at their luxury holiday villa . Their daughter may never see them . again if they are taken to the notorious Kerobokan jail to be put on . death row, as happened to two Australians who were part of the infamous . 'Bali Nine' smuggling ring in 2005. The couple are among four Brits accused of being part of an 'international network' attempting to smuggle 4.7 kilograms (11 pounds) of the narcotic on to the holiday island. They are suspected of being the buyers of the cocaine allegedly carried in the suitcase of mother-of-two Lindsay Sandiford, 55. Kitty is now being looked after at Mr . Ponder and Miss Dougall's luxury villa by Dayu Ariani, 33, wife Ketut . Suranchana and their young son, according to The Sun. Terrifying prospect: The couple are likely to be put on death row at Bali's notorious Kerobokan prison, pictured, if found guilty of smuggling cocaine on to the island . Detained: Miss Dougall (left) was arrested after the sting operation Lindsay Sandiford (right) agreed to carry out . Mr Ariani said: 'We were shocked when the police came. 'They came with Mr Julian and . collected a lot of bags and left with the mother and father. We have . been looking after Kitty, who is a sweet girl. 'She thinks her parents are coming . home. We cannot tell her the truth. Nobody from the authorities has . taken any steps to look after the girl.' As the first pictures emerged of the couple on Monday, their friends on the island dismissed the allegations as a 'joke', according to the Daily Telegraph. They said Miss Dougall, from Brighton, was a 'party girl' who had been innocently caught up in a 'bigger game'. Distraught relatives had been calling Bali from Britain worried about the well-being of her daughter. Housewife Mrs Sandiford was initially . the focus of the investigation after she was arrested at Denpasar airport last . week and used in a police sting. She was forced to pose for pictures on . Monday next to packages containing the Class A drug. The . attention has now shifted to Mr Ponder and Miss Dougall, however, who . used to restore antiques together from fashionable homes in Brighton and . west London. Looking strained, Miss Dougall was yesterday pictured wearing an orange prison-issue shirt and shorts outside a police station in Bali. Harsh conditions: Both women are being held at a jail in the Balinese capital . As she was led away at Bali police headquarters, she shouted: ‘It’s a fit-up, get us a decent lawyer. I’m being treated badly.’ Her husband, next to her, shouted: ‘Get us an international lawyer.’ Until . 2008, Mr Ponder ran an antiques restoration business, Pen Productions . Ltd. Their home was a £500,000 apartment overlooking the seafront in . Brighton. He was previously director of a London-based caterers and party organisers, which collapsed with debts of £500,000 in 2004, according to The Times. The pair, who now live in Bali, were arrested after Indonesian police apparently persuaded Mrs Sandiford to take part in a sting operation following the discovery of the drugs inside the lining of her suitcase. Mrs Sandiford, a former legal secretary from Redcar in Cleveland, was arrested at Ngurah Rai airport after she arrived on a flight from Bangkok on May 19. After being interrogated for days, she apparently confessed she had been due to meet Miss Dougall, who had asked her to stay at a hotel in Kuta, southern Bali. 'The reason she co-operated was, we pointed out that if she stayed silent, the whole illegal drug importation attempt would be on her shoulders,' said customs official Made Wijaya. 'Singing like a bird': Lindsay Sandiford being escorted by police for interrogation at Bali police HQ . Distressed: Alleged drug trafficker identified as Lindsay Sandiford in front of the huge pile of cocaine at the Customs Office in Denpasar, Bali . 'Neighbour from hell': Sandiford lived at this £275,000 property which she had rented in Cheltenham . Last Friday police arrested Mr Ponder . moments after Mrs Sandiford had allegedly handed him the drugs disguised as a present in pink wrapping paper. Officers . then arrested Miss Dougall at his apartment in Tabanan, central Bali, which has a swimming pool, playhouse and beautiful views of the mountains. They allegedly found 49kg of cocaine in a bag, along with a Marlboro cigarette packet containing 23kg of the drug, according to The Times. But a friend of the couple described the police's suggestion that they were part of an 'international network' of drug traffickers as 'a joke', adding: 'She [Miss Dougall] is a party girl and I believe that she has been caught up in this somehow. 'I think she has been coerced and wrapped up in a bigger game than she really understood.' Another expat said: 'She always had these fabulous designer clothes on. You'd see her dancing on the tables. She was the life of the party.' Another . Briton, Paul Beales, was arrested a day later at a villa in Kuta, where police allegedly found 3.36g of hash, and an Indian man was also detained. In an interview with The Times, he protested his innocence. 'This is a nightmare. I've got two little girls of four and nine and I have no idea what they are thinking about why their dad hasn't come home. I'm not involved with drugs. I don't know what I'm doing here. I'm scared, of course I am.' 'Conspirators': A younger British woman, centre, and three others suspected of being on hand to receive the drugs were arrested and dressed in prison uniforms with their faces covered by black balaclavas . All the suspects face the prospect of being executed by a firing squad if they are convicted. It emerged that Mrs Sandiford is ‘singing like a bird’ about the drugs syndicate she was allegedly involved with. Police sources said she has spent several days being interrogated by narcotics squad officers. Her nights are spent in a mosquito-plagued cell 10ft long and 8ft wide. A senior officer said: ‘We don’t expect to be making any announcements until at least next week. There is a great deal of work to be done but fortunately the information is flowing from one area very well.’ Paraded: Three Britons and an Indian national were seen dressed in ill-fitting orange outfits and flip-flops after their arrests . On show: The suspect accused of hiding 4.7kg (11lbs) of cocaine in her luggage is led through a custom office in Denpasar, Bali . It is understood Bali police have been in . touch with British officers about Mrs Sandiford’s background after she . claimed she was forced to carry the drugs because her two sons, Lewis, . 23, and Elliot, 21, were threatened. Her elder son was jailed for six . years in 2009 for a series of robberies in London. Last night Miss Dougall’s father Barry, 64, a retired antiques dealer, said: ‘It looks like she is in a lot of trouble out there.’ He was jailed soon after the birth of his daughter and served three-and-a-half years for fraud. He last saw her in Brighton when she was 18. Speaking from his one-bedroom flat in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, he added: ‘I have led a chequered life. But if Rachel ever needed anything I would be there for her.’ Arrests: Sandiford was detained at Denpasar Airport on the paradise island of Bali, Indonesia . Island paradise: Bali was once a haven for drugs but in the past ten years the authorities have cracked down on the importation of narcotics and anyone found with more than a few grams of Class A drugs faces death . Mr Ponder’s ex-wife, Kotkanoke Bradburn, said she was shocked to learn of his arrest. Speaking from her home in Stafford, she said: ‘He was never aggressive and never harmed me in any way.’ She married Mr Ponder in 1989 after she came to England from her native Thailand to study English. They separated after three years. Do you know any of the Bali drug suspects? Contact MailOnline by calling 020 7938 6000. Spectacular: Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit Bali every year for the sublime views . | Kitty Ponder is being looked after by maid and gardener at couple's villa .
Julian Ponder was arrested after housewife Lindsay Sandiford apparently handed him the drugs during a police sting .
Rachel Dougall was arrested at their apartment, where police allegedly found another 49g of cocaine in a bag and 23g in another package .
Briton Paul Beales was detained a day later. He has protested his innocence . |
155,841 | 5573d20f71049c3b369ecf594deef224484cc0d9 | By . James Chapman . With the eyes of the world on Britain, there was mounting anger last night over cynical attempts by union leaders to bring chaos to our borders and transport networks. As thousands of athletes and officials pour into the country on the eve of the Olympics, immigration and customs staff are tomorrow due to walk out at Heathrow Airport – a move which the Government could take court action to stop. And from Friday, workers on London Underground, some of whom have already secured Olympic-linked bonuses of up to £1,000, will start a work-to-rule regime. Work-to-rule: London Underground workers have been instructed to do no more than the minimum required in their contracts from Friday . South West Trains staff, taking visitors to Olympics events in Weymouth, will also work-to-rule during the Games . Similarly, staff on key suburban rail routes to Games sites in London and Weymouth will also begin disruptive action. The moves come as a shocking new analysis reveals the number of working days lost to strikes is escalating dramatically. In 2011, 1,388,000 days were casualties of industrial action – a three-fold increase on the 456,000 in 2009, Labour’s last full year in power. It was the highest figure since 1990, when 1,903,000 days were lost. This morning, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt told Radio 4's Today programme that he was 'very confident' in contingency plans for Thursday's planned strike by border agency staff. 'We need 550 people to maintain a full immigration desk policy at Heathrow which means we can get people through in the shortest possible time and we have 584 shifts now confirmed for Thursday, despite the strike', he told interviewer James Naughtie. He said fears Heathrow would grind to a halt because of the extra passengers attending the Games had so far failed to materialise, and he commended the situation at the hub airport as 'a tremendous success'. On the planned strike, he said: 'For an immigration officer - and I'm sure the vast majority of immigration officers feel this way - Thursday is one of the biggest days in their professional career. 'It is the day when the eyes of the world will be upon them and the welcome we are giving to the rest of the world. "The vast majority of them will want to do a really good job and show what they are capable of.' Last night Conservative MP Dominic Raab said there was growing concern that public sector workers were being called out on the basis of tiny turnouts in strike votes. He said there was a clear case to require unions to secure the support of 50 per cent of balloted members to make industrial action legal. Conservative MP Dominic Raab fears strikes are being called as a result of tiny ballot turnouts . Ministers are now considering taking court action over Public and Commercial Services Union leader Mark Serwotka’s decision to call a 24-hour strike by Heathrow staff. Seven out of eight of members of the PCS did not vote to take industrial action in a ballot of Home Office staff. Mr Hunt told Today that Mr Serwotka 'must be losing confidence that what he's doing represents the majority of his members' after the union leader turned down the BBC's invitation to appear on this morning's programme. The possibility of an injunction to block the strike came following a letter to the union from Home Secretary Theresa May, describing the planned walkout as ‘opportunist and wholly unjustified’. And Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude has told colleagues other senior figures in the union movement had privately expressed dismay that the PCS was targeting the Olympic transport rush. Mr Raab said: ‘Mark Serwotka’s vindictive action is the latest in a wave of reckless strikes, led by a few militants who want to sabotage the economy and humiliate the nation. ‘Too often it is those union bosses shouting the loudest who have the least support from their own members. It is welcome that ministers are looking at reform. But, if the government is going to pick this fight, it must win it decisively.’ The strike action was also condemned by Mr Hunt, who said: ‘Any decision to strike during the Olympics is highly regrettable.’ He insisted contingency plans were in place, but added: ‘There will be slightly longer queues than in recent weeks.’ Yesterday union leaders announced London Underground employees are to stage a ‘work-to-rule’ from Friday in an Olympics-related dispute. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union, which represents thousands of Tube staff, said it was in dispute over implementing an Olympics pay deal as well as the use of casual workers. Axed: PCS action that would have led to huge queues at airport immigration tomorrow has been cancelled . The union has already secured Olympics bonuses of up to £1,000 for drivers, with other members of staff in line for up to £850 for the ‘massive additional pressures’ they will face during the Games. The RMT’s South West Trains members will refuse to do any overtime or work on a ‘rest day’ from Friday until August 12. South West Trains operates many of . the key train lines out of London’s Waterloo, such as trains to Eton for . the rowing, Weymouth for the sailing and Wimbledon for the tennis. Members of Bob Crow's Rail, Maritime and Transport union will refuse to work on rest days during the Games . Workers . insist they are furious they are not getting a bonus for working during . the Games. South West Trains, owned by Stagecoach, dismissed this . claim, insisting workers were given an inflation-busting pay rise of . 4.75 per cent just a few months ago. PCS officials were due to hold talks with senior Home Office officials last night over planned border strike. Military police, Whitehall officials and retired border staff are on standby to prevent chaos at the borders if the strike goes ahead. The PCS said: ‘The problem over the past 18 months has been that there has not been the political will in the Home Office to reach a solution.’ RMT secretary Bob Crow said: ‘While the likes of Jeremy Hunt, and the rest of the Government, are sitting in the well-padded VIP seats in the Olympics Stadium as a nice little bonus, our cleaners on the Tube and DLR, who work round the clock in appalling conditions, are being treated like dirt.’ Howard Collins, London Underground’s chief operating officer, said: ‘We reached agreement with all four unions at the end of May on how we can fairly reward our staff and operate services during the London 2012 Games. The fact that four-fifths of those balloted chose not to vote or voted no to industrial action shows that we have the support of our staff.’ | Immigration and customs staff begin strike on eve of Olympics on Thursday .
Underground and train staff will work-to-rule from Friday .
Government could launch court bid to stop Heathrow strike .
MPs angry industrial action was ordered after tiny union votes .
But it will be alright on the day, Jeremy Hunt tells Today programme . |
134,455 | 39e33e2b99380ef90c94459d4771c7fcb8c17712 | By . Nick Pisa . PUBLISHED: . 14:54 EST, 9 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 04:46 EST, 10 March 2014 . A mother who stabbed to death her three daughters was arrested by police covered in blood as she screamed: 'I've killed them all.' Edlira Dobrusci, 37, was said to be in a confused state and had to be sedated by staff at a local hospital who said she also wounds to her wrists and neck - possibly self inflicted. Officers and paramedics called to the scene spoke of seeing 'rivers of blood' as they tried to help the three girls aged, 13, 10 and 4 but they were all declared dead at the scene. Italian police and Carabinieri Military Scientific Police investigators stand outside the apartment house where three little Albanian sisters were killed in Lecco, Nothern Italy . Neighbours called emergency services after being woken by her blood curdling screams at 6.30am local time in an apartment block at Lecco near Milan, Italy. Police said the woman was separated from her husband and father of the children, and he had left her on Friday to travel back to his native Albania where she was also from. He was traced to a relative's home close to the country's second city Durres and informed of the deaths and was said to have broken down hysterically. A police spokesman said that all three girls, named as Simona, Casey and Lindsey, had suffered multiple stab wounds and they had died in their own bedrooms but all the bodies had been dumped on the mother's bed. Lt Colonel Rocco Italiano, of the paramilitary Carabinieri police, said: 'The whole apartment was covered in blood. There was nothing that could be done for the victims - they were all dead with multiple stab wounds from a kitchen knife. 'The woman herself was also covered in blood and in a very confused state. She kept screaming that she had killed her children. The husband and father of the children had left Italy on Friday and was traced to Albania. A hearse carrying the coffins of three little girls. Officers and paramedics called to the scene spoke of seeing 'rivers of blood' as they tried to help the three girls aged, 13, 10 and 4 but they were all declared dead at the scene . 'They had split up and he was going home to tell his family they were no longer together. They had financial difficulties but that is no excuse for the level of violence on three innocent children.' An ambulance spokesman said: 'The mother was taken to hospital where she was sedated and also treated for wounds to her throat and wrists. It looks like they were self inflicted - she was in such a state. The flat was covered in blood. 'The blood was flowing like a river all across the apartment. It was a shocking sight as the guys involved have children of their own as well. She kept saying her husband had left her and she was in a desperate situation.' Interior minister Angelino Alfano said: 'We will not let whoever committed this terrible crime get away with it.' The woman was being held in custody accused of murder and was expected to appear before an investigating magistrate after confessing to the killings while being questioned by police. | Edlira Dobrusci, 37, also had 'self inflicted' wounds to wrists and neck .
Officers and paramedics called to scene spoke of seeing 'rivers of blood'
Tried to help three girls aged, 13, 10 and 4 but they were all declared dead . |
53,164 | 96d719bce0a8d1deeacd09a496d724a8f94948da | Lionel Messi scored the winner as Barcelona came back twice against Villarreal to win a five-goal thriller at the Camp Nou on Sunday night. For a while it looked as if Real Madrid loanee Denis Cheryshev would derail Barca’s pursuit of the league leaders but, with a little help from Neymar - who also scored - and Luis Suarez - who made two of Barcelona’s three goals - Messi ensured the home side took all three points. Barcelona almost broke the deadlock on 12 minutes when Alves intelligently pulled the ball back for Suarez, who shot first time from the edge of the area only for Sergio Asenjo to fingertip it away for a corner. VIDEO Scroll down for Sportsmail's Big Match Stats: Barcelona 3-2 Villarreal . Lionel Messi (left) runs off in celebration after scoring Barcelona's third goal against Villarreal on Sunday night . Neymar (right) celebrates with team-mate Lionel Messi after equalising just before half-time for Barcelona against Villarreal on Sunday . Rafinha (centre) is congratulated by both Neymar (left) and Messi after scoring Barcelona's second equaliser . Villarreal winger Denis Cheryshev celebrates scoring his side's first goal at the Nou Camp on Sunday night . Villarreal players run to the corner and celebrate scoring their second goal at the Nou Camp on Sunday . BARCELONA (4-3-3): Bravo; Pique, Mascherano, Alba, Alves; Busquets (Mathieu 72), Iniesta, Rafinha (Rakitic 88); Suarez (Pedro 79), Messi, Neymar . Goals: Neymar (45), Rafinha (53), Messi (55) Booking: Rafinha . VILLARREAL (4-4-2): Asenjo; Gaspar, Musacchio, Ruiz, Costa; Pina (Trigueros 77), J Dos Santos (Gomez 85), Cheryshev, Soriano, Vietto, G Dos Santos (Uche 89) Goals: Cheryshev (30), Vietto (52) Bookings: Ruiz, Soriano, J Dos Santos . Cheryshev was already a threat, beating Alves down the Villarreal left only for Gerard Pique to block his cross. Villarreal were coming into the game on a run of 18 matches unbeaten and looked determined to not lose that record at the Camp Nou. For Barcelona, midfielder Rafinha - called up for Ivan Rakitic - had started the game brightly and when Victor Ruiz chopped him down Leo Messi had the chance to test Asenjo but his free-kick was headed out for a corner. Messi then so nearly found Andres Iniesta with a cross to the back post that the midfielder just failed to make contact with. Barca went close again and once more it was Suarez who was denied. Alves’ pass was laid off by Rafinha and the former Liverpool striker’s curling shot went just past Asenjo’s left-hand post. The lively Rafinha continued to pose a threat and, when he was chopped down by Bruno, the midfielder was booked. Barcleona had only conceded nine goals in the league but on the half-hour mark they let in No 10 and it was the Real Madrid loanee who got it. Cheryshev wants to go back to Madrid at the end of the season and he did his chances no harm diverting Mario’s shot past Claudio Bravo after Mascherano’s poor clearance had run straight to the full back. Villarreal, who will face Barcelona twice more in the Copa del Rey semi-finals in the coming weeks, increasingly looked to have the measure of their rivals. But just as it looked as if they would make it to half-time in front, Neymar struck with his 21st goal of the season. Messi played in Rafinha whose shot was parried for the Brazilian to convert the rebound. Cheryshev runs off with his arms aloft in celebration after giving Villarreal the lead after 30 minutes . Lionel Messi looks down to the ground in frustration after Barcelona concede a 30th-minute goal against Villarreal . Villarreal players runs to the corner and embrace one another after their opening goal at the Nou Camp . Luis Suarez (left) tries to take on Villarreal goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo during the first half at the Nou Camp on Sunday . Suarez (left) tries to kick the ball over his own head as Villarreal's Mario Gaspar looks on . The tide however had not turned completely and with Villarreal playing the same swift counter-attacking football in the second half they were soon back in front. Pique hadn’t put a foot wrong all night but lost possession to Giovani dos Santos and he crossed for Luciano Vietto to score. It what was now developing into the one of the games of the season - and Barcelona’s response was almost immediate. Iniesta played Suarez in behind Mario and he crossed for Messi. When the Argentine’s effort was saved Rafinha converted the rebound. Two minutes later Barcelona were ahead and again Suarez was the provider, nudging the ball to Messi on the edge of the area for Barcelona’s top scorer to sweep the home side into the lead. It was his 342nd goal in his last 342 games for the club. Villarreal still wouldn’t lie down and Ruiz scrambled the ball in at the back post only for a linesman’s flag to cut short the visitors’ joy. Barcelona then thought they had won a penalty as Asenjo charged into Neymar as the Brazilian was through on goal. Perhaps judging that he had already gone to ground as he lunged to send the ball past the keeper, the referee did not point to the spot and Suarez just failed to head in at the back post as the attack continued with Neymar down. Now finally in front, Barcelona were not going to let it slip. With Manchester City on the horizon they have found a team spirit that has helped them beat Atletico Madrid twice since the turn of the year and now overcome their toughest test of the season so far at the Nou Camp. And, on top of all that, Messi’s looks back to his imperious best. Messi (left) and Villarreal's Cheryshev (right) compete for the ball during the league match at the Nou Camp . Neymar of Barcelona points to the sky in celebration of his first equaliser for Barcelona at the Nou Camp on Sunday . Barcelona players huddle around Neymar (third right) after the Brazilian scored their first equaliser on Sunday . Dario Vietto (right) places the ball into the net for Villarreal's second goal at Dani Alves of Barcelona (left) looks on . Rafinha (right) lifts the ball over the Villarreal goalkeeper to score Barcelona's second equaliser on Sunday night . Messi (left) is congratulated by his Barcelona team-mates after the Argentine scored his side's third goal . Barcelona boss Luis Enrique gestures to his players during the first half of the encounter at the Nou Camp . | Denis Cheryshev gives visitors Villarreal the lead against the run of play by deflecting in a shot .
Neymar equalises for Barcelona at the Nou Camp just before half-time to calm home crowd down .
Dario Vietto put Villarreal ahead for the second time after 52 minutes at the Nou Camp on Sunday .
Rafinha scored Barcelona's second equaliser just one minute later after Lionel Messi's header is blocked .
Messi scored a brilliant third for Barcelona in the 56th minute at the Nou Camp in an end-to-end match . |
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