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Celtic have confirmed Norwegian Ronny Deila as their new manager. The 38-year-old arrived in Glasgow with Chief Executive Peter Lawwell on Thursday night and has signed a 12-month rolling contract to become Neil Lennon’s successor. And following 48 hours of negotiations with Norwegian champions Stromsgodset over compensation Deila was unveiled as the club’s 18th manager at a Parkhead press conference on Friday afternoon. Up for the challenge: Newly-appointed Celtic manager Ronny Deila speaks during a press conference . Smile for the cameras: Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell (left) unveils Deila as the new manager . Facing the media: Deila and Lawwell speak to journalists at a press conference at Celtic Park . As Sportsmail first revealed . Deila originally came to Celtic’s attention as a potential replacement . for Johan Mjallby as Neil Lennon’s number two. After . talks with Henrik Larsson, Roy Keane and Stevie Clarke, however, the . club’s powerbrokers have opted for the man who led Stromsgodset to their . first title in 43 years. It’s . believed Celtic have agreed to pay around £300,000 in compensation to . secure their man and former Scotland and Celtic midfielder John Collins . is expected to to be his assistant manager. 'It . is a magnificent honour to be named the new Manager of Celtic,' said . Deila, 'one of the world’s great football clubs and a club I have such . enormous respect for. I will treasure this opportunity and will give . everything I have to achieve success for Celtic and our wonderful fans. 'I . know what I want for Celtic and our supporters and that is the best of . everything, it is what our fans deserve. I want to deliver the best . attacking, exciting and entertaining football we can play, for the . players to give their best every time they take to the field of and of . course I want my players to work with me to achieve the best results . possible and bring trophies to Celtic. New man in town: Ronny Deila waves to the supporters as he arrives at Celtic Park . New home: Deila makes his way into Celtic Park ahead of his first press conference as the club's manager . Driven in: Deila sits in the back seat of a car as he arrives at Celtic Park . Revealed: A picture of the new Celtic third kit for next season was leaked on Twitter . 'Celtic . is in great shape and the Club has enjoyed real success in recent years . due to the hard work of Neil and his team. I want to carry on this . work and continue to bring happy times to Celtic. I can’t wait to get . started on this journey.' Celtic . Chairman Ian Bankier welcomed the new man saying: 'We are delighted to . have secured Ronny as Celtic Manager. He is a highly regarded individual . and a man who we are confident will bring great success to Celtic. He . is a forward thinking coach and manager with a progressive approach. The Celtic Board will support Ronny fully and in every way and we look . forward to working with him.' Chief . Executive Peter Lawwell secured his man after flying to Norway on . Thursday and said: 'We believe Ronny will prove to be a fresh and . dynamic new manager and someone who will give us a bright and energetic . way forward for Celtic.' Success: Deila coached Stromsgodset to their first Norwegian title in 43 years in 2013 . Big job: Deila (left) will replace Neil Lennon at Celtic after the Northern Irishman quit . Going back? Former Celtic player John Collins has been linked with a return to the club as assistant manager . 'Knowing . that he was so highly rated across Europe, Ronny was one of the first . candidates we considered as Manager and having discussed the opportunity . with him at length, we are convinced he has the talent and the . determination to deliver very positive results for the Club and our . supporters. 'Ronny . likes to play attacking, winning football, the Celtic way, something I . know our supporters will endorse. As the new season begins, I am sure . our fans will get right behind Ronny and the players once again as we . aim to bring success to Celtic and continue to deliver a Club they can . be proud of.' Deila was recommended to Celtic by contacts at English champions Manchester City and, speaking before the appointment was confirmed, predecessor Neil Lennon said: 'He came highly recommended, he's highly thought of. 'I don't know if it's confirmed with Celtic yet, but I know from contacts in the game that he is well respected as a coach. No go: Republic of Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane asked not to be considered for the Celtic job . 'We recruited Stefan Johansen from Stromsgodset, so we were aware of his work. It'll be interesting to see if Ronny gets the job.' Lennon was 'surprised and a little bit disappointed' that former Celtic and Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane had asked not to be considered for the Parkhead post. The Irishman opted to stay on as Republic of Ireland assistant to Martin O'Neill and has has been linked with the number two job at Aston Villa under Paul Lambert. Backing: Predecessor Neil Lennon has backed Deila's credentials after he came highly recommended . 'I think he's ready for it,' said the Northern Irishman. 'He's had, what, three years since he was out of the game as a manager and he's been watching a lot of games, he's been at Champions League games, and he's got vast experience. 'He fits the identikit of a Celtic manager. I can totally understand his situation, that it's a personal decision, but I was hoping he would take it. 'He would have given the club a big lift.'
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The 38-year-old Norwegian has been confirmed as Neil Lennon's successor .
Deila is the Glasgow club's 18th manager .
Deila led Norwegian club Stromsgodset to their first title in 43 years in 2013 .
Former Celtic and Scotland midfielder John Collins is expected to be his assistant manager .
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Shahab Reza, 52, of Perivale, London (pictured outside an earlier court hearing), has admitted his role in the scam and now faces years behind bars . A deaf couple fuelled a lavish lifestyle by using their disability to pocket nearly £1million in a sophisticated benefits fraud. Shahab Reza, 52, and his wife Shahnaz, 53, were described as ‘breathtakingly arrogant’ after using the money to buy luxury properties and jewellery, including a ‘flawless’ £8,000 diamond. The couple set up a complex network of fake companies around the world while still receiving benefits. By submitting bogus invoices for sign language interpreters, they duped officials out of the huge sums with ‘scandalous ease’. The elaborate scam saw the greedy couple net £800,000. They also lied to a council about their financial position, getting a further £100,000 in other benefits and tax exemptions. They used the money, which was earmarked to help vulnerable individuals find work, to fund a holiday to Dubai, where they bought a £600,000 penthouse apartment. Shahab Reza, an accountant who was described as the mastermind of the fraud, even recruited his university-educated children to take part in the scheme. Their son Abbas, 26, and daughter Zainab, 22, spoke on their parents’ behalf and signed off paperwork from their early teenage years. Abbas, who works as a doctor, even used the money to fund a ‘jolly’ to America while still a student and the siblings allegedly used the companies to harvest false expenses claims. The children said they were ‘doing what they were told’ by their malicious father, who abused their vulnerability. Shahab Reza orchestrated the four-year con by submitting fake invoices for sign language interpreters to the Department of Work and Pensions through the Access to Work scheme. The money was then laundered through six sham companies set up in Canada, the United Arab Emirates and the UK to claim thousands every month in bogus fees. Shahab even used his connections at a local mosque and training college to recruit fraudsters to widen the scheme. Their ‘employees’ were given a cover story and paid hundreds of pounds a month for their ‘silence and co-operation’, the court heard. The couple’s lies about their financial circumstances also netted nearly £100,000 in benefits and tax exemptions from Harrow Council between 2002 and 2010. Prosecutor Rosina Cottage QC said: ‘The ease with which these frauds were perpetrated is scandalous; the extent of the Reza family’s greed and ability to lie is breathtakingly arrogant.’ She told jurors at Southwark Crown Court that the son and daughter were ‘drawn into the fraud very early’. A contract was found at the family home’s in Stanmore, north-west London, from 2008 that detailed an employment contract involving the brother and sister. Shehnaz Reza, 53, (left) and her children, Zainab, 22, (centre) and Abbas, 26, (right), denied involvement in the plot but Shehnaz and Abbas were found guilty of fraud charges. The jury could not reach a verdict on Zainab . The couple's son Abbas (pictured outside court) was found guilty of fraud charges at Southwark Crown Court . ‘The agreement was to employ [Zainab] for £400 a month – that is just a sham agreement,’ Miss Cottage said. ‘Shahab Reza knew he could trust his children to sign those documents and they would not ask any questions. 'We say that the young people – Abbas Reza and Zainab Reza – are intellectually able. 'Certainly we know that Abbas Reza is a fully trained and qualified doctor, Zainab Reza has a degree as well and they are no fools, however young they were when they first signed the documents. ‘The ease with which these frauds were perpetrated is scandalous; the extent of the Reza family’s greed and ability to lie is breathtakingly arrogant.' The court heard how the family laundered the cash through accounts in Canada, the United Arab Emirates and the UK and then spent on luxuries. The family bought property in Dubai, a new luxury family home and £600,000 penthouse apartment. Detectives later seized thousands of pounds worth of gold jewellery and gems in a safe at their house, as well as a £8,000 ‘flawless and beautiful’ diamond. The family also bought investment bonds and savings policies with the stolen funds. Abbas also splashed cash on a ‘student jolly’ to America in July 2009 and claimed back spending money and travel in expenses. Shehnaz regularly claimed business expenses while Zainab claimed her travel costs and Abbas was claiming for his mobile phone insurance. Zainab and her mother also claimed for travel and ‘everything they ate’ on a trip to Dubai to purchase an investment property. Shahab orchestrated the four-year con by submitting fake invoices for sign language interpreters to the Department of Work and Pensions through the Access to Work scheme. The accountant set up six sham companies to claim thousands a month in bogus fees on the basis of the fraudulent claim forms. But he had to widen the pool of people the cash was being paid to so Shahab used his connection with his mosque and the training college UCanDoIt to recruit further fraud members. Southward Crown Court heard how Shahab and his wife Shehnaz, who are both deaf, oversaw a four-year benefit swindle on the Department of Work and Pensions using false invoices for sign language interpreters . Shahab admitted his role in the con before the trial began and is facing years behind bars. The jury also found Shehnaz and Abbas guilty of fraud charges but were unable to reach verdicts in respect of Zainab. The jurors also failed to return verdicts on a string of further charges and were discharged from considering five counts after more than 60 hours of deliberation. The CPS has yet to indicate whether it will take the outstanding charges to a retrial. Sentencing has been adjourned until February. Daiva Alisaskaite, 42, from Hackney, east London, was their cleaner, while Natela Babina, from Middlesex, also attended meetings at the house. They were both found guilty of fraud by false representation and also await sentence. They were given a cover story and paid hundreds of pounds a month for their ‘silence and co-operation’, the court heard. Neither of them ever required an interpreter or support worker yet they submitted false claims worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. Among those cleared was friend Saifur Rahman, 31, from Camden Town, northwest London, who had been charged with fraud by false representation and showed palpable relief as the verdict was read. The jury failed to return a verdict for co-accused friend Ahsan Naseer, 29, from Birmingham, for the same charge. Rahman, Naseer, Babina and Alisauskaite admitted signing the bogus forms but said they ‘did not knew there was anything dishonest’ about it. Enquiries began after concerns were raised by Access to Work staff who investigated the fraud while the Reza family continued to make their bogus claims. Abbas, Shehnaz, and Zainab Reza, of, Stanmore, north west London, each denied conspiracy to defraud for which no verdict was reached. Shehnaz further denied a single count each of fraud by false representation, obtaining money transfer by deception, and dishonestly obtaining exemption from liability but was found guilty. Zainab denied a further charge of fraud by false representation for which no verdict was taken. Abbas denied but was convicted of one count of fraud by false representation but the jury was hung on a further charge of the same offence. The jury was discharged from considering a charge that Abbas lied about his finances to the Student Loans company.
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Shahab Reza, 52, admitted scamming £900,000 from Government in scam .
Wife Shehnaz and children Abbas, 26, and Zainab, 22, denied part in plot .
Shehnaz, 53, and Abbas found guilty of fraud charges at Southwark court .
Jury could not reach verdicts on whether Zainab was involved in swindling .
Prosecutor said the disability fraud was committed with 'scandalous ease'
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(CNN) -- A notorious Bosnian Serb general accused of trying to eliminate Bosnian Muslims and Croats from their shared country could face two separate trials in the United Nations' International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Prosecutors want to try Ratko Mladic first for his alleged crimes in Srebrenica, Bosnia, in 1995, according to a statement from the tribunal Tuesday. Then, prosecutors want to try him for allegedly spreading terror throughout the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo from 1992 to 1995, and for taking U.N. personnel hostage, the statement says. In both cases, Mladic faces charges of genocide, crimes against humanity, and violations of the laws and customs of war, the statement says. Prosecutors say dividing the case against Mladic "will maximize the prospect of justice for the victims, enable more effective management of the two separate trials and best allow the proceedings to be adapted in case of unforeseen contingencies." In addition, prosecutors say they're taking into account "Mladic's arrest at this late stage of the Tribunal's mandate, the need to ensure justice for the victims, the desirability of commencing a trial as soon as possible, and the need to plan for the contingency that Mladic's health could deteriorate." Mladic, 69, was arrested May 26 after 15 years in hiding. He told the court June 3 that he was "gravely ill." When Yugoslavia dissolved in the early 1990s, Mladic led Bosnia Serb forces in the civil war that broke out in the part of Yugoslavia that became Bosnia-Herzegovina. More than 200,000 Muslims and Croats died in the 1992-95 civil war in Bosnia-Herzegovina, including nearly 8,000 Muslim men and boys slaughtered at Srebrenica in 1995 -- Europe's worst massacre since World War II. Mladic has appeared in court twice since his arrest. On June 3, he called the charges he faces "obnoxious." At a July 4 appearance, Mladic refused to enter a plea, demanded new lawyers and repeatedly interrupted the judge until he was removed from the court.
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Former Bosnia Serb Gen. Ratko Mladic could have a war crimes indictment split in two .
One indictment would focus on the 1995 Srebrenica massacre .
The other indictment would focus on the shelling of Sarajevo and taking U.N. staff hostage .
Prosecutors want to begin the trial as soon as possible; Mladic says he is "gravely ill"
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ac6577924c8a0f4b0484d80fa84c6a7f488dbf26
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If it had been a Hollywood movie, it would have been slated for its bad acting. But Mickey Rourke was not in character on Friday night when he stepped into the ring after a 20-year absence. The 62-year-old took on Elliot Seymour, who is 33 years his junior, in a sanctioned five-round fight in Moscow. Hollywood star Mickey Rourke made a victorious return to the ring as he beat Elliot Seymour in two rounds . Seymour, who was 33 years younger than the 62-year-old actor, went down in the second round . Rourke needed less than two rounds to stop his opponent who collapsed to the canvas after taking what looked a rather tame body shot. He beat the count but was soon down again and the fight was waved off. After a 30-fight amateur career in the 1960s and 70s, of which he lost just three, Rourke stopped competing in favour of chasing his dream in Hollywood. He returned as a professional for eight fights in the 90s, causing damage to his face that necessitated surgery and changed his appearance. In 2008 he starred in The Wrestler about a washed-up fighter making a comeback, winning a Golden Globe for best actor. Seymour, meanwhile, had lost all but one of his nine fights since 2009. After this performance, they’d both be better off hanging up their gloves. Rourke had a 30-fight amateur boxing career during the 1960s and 70s, and was last in the ring 20 years ago . Seymour jabs with his left during the bout in Moscow, Russia, on Friday night . Rourke starred in The Wrestler, a film about about a washed-up wrestler, in 2008 and won a Golden Globe .
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Hollywood star Mickey Rourke beat Elliot Seymour in two rounds .
Rourke was making his return to the ring for the first time since the 1990s .
The actor was an amateur boxer in the 1960s and 70s .
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(CNN) -- Our democracies are facing a moment of truth. From the rise of extremism in the European Union to the political gridlock in the United States, leaders are struggling to respond effectively to new and complex global challenges. Citizens feel alienated with conventional politics and frustrated by the absence of effective policies that serve societies' needs. That's why I am convinced that the real issue we face is not simply defining economic solutions, but rethinking our democratic institutions. In any healthy democracy, there must be a balance between strong government and an empowered electorate that holds that government to account. But our democratic institutions have been captured by special interests. Policy is driven by powerful lobbies. Despite the rise of social media, media itself is increasingly concentrated in the hands of the few. Watch George Papandreou's TED Talk . The speed and power of financial markets make democratic deliberation near impossible -- and government appears slow and weak in comparison. Banks have become too big to fail, which actually means too big to be accountable to the public good. We've seen this before. As Franklin D. Roosevelt once said: "We know now that government by organized money is just as dangerous as government by organized mob." The absence of a global governance system allows such interests to consolidate even more power, further constraining our capacity for democratic oversight. It's not only the Occupy movement -- the 99 percenters -- who are taking a stand against this growing concentration of global wealth and power. Last year, inequality was cited as the No. 1 challenge by the World Economic Forum. Not exactly a radical leftist group. TED.com: Larry Lessig on rebuilding the republic . As we seek to rebuild our fragile economies after the financial crisis, economic measures must therefore be matched with democratic measures that rebalance this inequality and redistribute power to our citizens. A case in point is Greece, where a drastic austerity program was prescribed in exchange for emergency loans to avoid bankruptcy. Those who have paid the highest price -- low- and middle-income taxpayers, and young Greeks who now face almost 60% unemployment -- are not to blame for the crisis. Austerity has created a sense of injustice and a lack of opportunity that has fed political extremism in Greece. Opposition parties chose to enflame popular opinion rather than work together toward a common reform agenda. Such political opportunism is toxic. In Greece, it prolonged the crisis, delayed reforms and cost our country dearly. That's why I called for a referendum on the terms of Greece's bailout loans: to give ownership of the process back to the Greek people. Although that referendum didn't happen, pushing the proposal did force wider political consensus in Greece. It led to a coalition government and has given the broader public a stake in their country's future. TED.com: Rory Stewart on why democracy matters . My personal experience has taught me that hyper-partisan politics cannot lead us out of financial woes. No single party can push through the deep structural reforms that will make our economies sustainable. Such efforts require consensus, compromise and a sense of responsibility to future generations. While polarization is a deeply problematic fact of democracy, it is also true that democracies have the capacity to guard themselves against the empowerment of extremist minorities. Indeed, what seem to be the dangers and weaknesses of our democracies can be dealt with only by more democracy: ensuring a public space for participation and informed deliberation. That's why I have faith that democracies can find a way to reconcile differences and pull competing parties together for the public good. But first, we must ensure that our democracies are regenerated -- by fighting for institutions that are accountable, transparent and genuinely representative of all our citizens. TED.com: Dave Meslin on the antidote to apathy . The recent crisis gives reason to revisit the origins of democracy. In ancient Athens, democracy was an innovation to disrupt the concentration of power and maintain equality amongst citizens. We, too, need to use innovation to reclaim these principles of democracy. Online deliberation, citizen juries, crowd-sourcing for political solutions, and referenda are all useful tools inspired by the ancient Greek version of direct democracy. Politics must again become the art of imagining a better world -- and collectively finding the power to do so. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of George Papandreou.
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Former Greek PM: From Euro-extremism to U.S. gridlock, this is a moment of truth for democracy .
George Papandreou says special-interest groups have too much sway, create inequality .
Papandreou: Politics, with citizen participation, must again become the art of imagining better world .
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Rory McIlroy has had a year to remember after winning both The Open and the PGA Championship this year, and the world No 1 appeared to be in the mood to celebrate as he and a pal joined a group of pretty girls at the . Lowry hotel in Manchester at 3am on Sunday. It's been an exciting few weeks for the sportsman who enjoyed a summer of success - he won his first Open Championship at Hoylake in July before triumphing at Valhalla last week. The Northern Irishman, who is a Manchester United fan, also backed Louis van Gaal to lead the club to the Premier League title before he paraded his Claret Jug at Old Trafford during half-time of the 2-1 defeat by Swansea. Scroll down for video . That's a late night: Rory McIlroy and a group of friends head to the Lowry hotel in Manchester at 3am on Sunday . Teeing it up: McIlroy (centre) chatted to a pretty lady in a black dress as the group headed up the hotel stairs . On Saturday night, the 25-year-old from Holywood, Co Down was joined by his group of friends and was pictured cuddling up to one lady in a white dress. His pal held hands with another girl. Towards the . end of May, McIlroy surprisingly broke off his engagement to tennis star . Caroline Wozniacki just days after sending out wedding invitations. The couple started dating in 2011 and got engaged on New Year's Eve. McIlroy . recently told the ESPN: 'I think what happened has been for the better . in terms of my golf. I've put a bit more time into it and it has . refocused me. I mean, what else do I have to do now? The night is young: Flanked by two lovely ladies, McIlroy made his way through the hotel . Cuddle time: The sportsman placed his arms around a brunette who wore a white bodycon dress . Affectionate: McIlroy nuzzled into his friend's neck as they stood by a piano . Keeping close: The Open and US PGA champion placed his arm around one lady as they stood at the bar . Catching up: Rory and his pal had a little chat as they chilled out in the hotel bar . 'I go to . the golf course, I go to the gym and it's just my life at the minute. I . worked pretty hard before but the past couple of months I've really just . buried myself in my game. 'It obviously works pretty well, so I am going to keep doing it.' On . Thursday, McIlroy posted a picture of his father posing with the Claret . jug and joked: '"Dad... It's not a footrest, it's the claret jug!!" Incredible few weeks, can't wait to get home and see the family!' MailOnline has contacted a spokesperson for McIlroy for comment. Lapping up the applause: McIlroy paraded the Claret Jug around Old Trafford at half-time on Saturday . Year to remember: McIlroy has won both The Open and the US PGA Championship in 2014 . All smiles: McIlroy watched Manchester United's opening day defeat by Swansea next to Sir Alex Ferguson . Getting along famously: The group continued to talk until the early hours . A good round: McIlroy placed one arm around the back of his friend's chair . Par for the course: McIlroy (far left) looked casual as he arrived at the hotel wearing a blue jumper and jeans . Helping out: The golfer's pal held hands with his blonde companion as they also made their way in . Happy days: The Irishman could barely keep the smile from his face as he carried on his evening . Loving life: The 25-year-old appeared to be in high spirits as he followed his pals inside . VIDEO US PGA Championship Round Up .
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McIlroy has won The Open and US PGA Championship this year .
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cc26a6083256d689a70a2ac82db7778f2387db62
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Editor's Note: In our Behind the Scenes series, CNN correspondents share their experiences in covering news and analyze the stories behind the events. CNN's Senior Vatican Analyst John L. Allen Jr. is following the pope during his U.S. trip. Pope Benedict XVI asked pilgrims in St. Peter's Square on Sunday to pray for the success of his U.S. trip. NEW YORK (CNN) -- The official motto of Pope Benedict XVI's April 15-20 visit to the United States, the first of his papacy, is "Christ our Hope." Based on the frequency with which papal spokespersons have struck a different note, however, its unofficial motto might well be, "This is not a political event." Here's a typical example from early April: "The pope is not coming to get mixed up in the local political process," said Italian Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the pope's ambassador to America, in an interview with the National Catholic Reporter. "His presence is about something more universal and, at the same time, more personal." Fear that Benedict's visit might be read through the lens of party politics reflects a key fact of electoral life in America: The "Catholic vote" matters. To take the most obvious example, if a few heavily Catholic counties in Ohio had gone the other way in 2004, pundits would today be handicapping the re-election of President John Kerry. America's almost 70 million Catholics, representing a quarter of the country's population, are diverse and divided. They don't all agree with official church positions, and although Catholics were once reliable Democrats, today they're not clearly aligned with either party. That's a key reason why states with large Catholic populations, such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Florida, are considered crucial battlegrounds. Already in the 2008 race, Catholics have made themselves felt. On the Democratic side, they're the biggest single reason Sen. Hillary Clinton is still afloat. So far, the more Catholic a state, the better Clinton has done. With her back to the wall not long ago in Ohio and Texas, Clinton decisively outpolled Sen. Barack Obama among Catholic Democrats. In Ohio, Clinton won the Catholic vote by a margin of 63 percent to 36, while in Texas it was 62 percent to 38. Clinton is now hoping that Catholics will come through for her again in Pennsylvania's April 22 primary. The state's 3.87 million Catholics represent more than 30 percent of the population, and Clinton is clinging to a lead despite Pennsylvania Sen. Robert Casey's endorsement of Obama. Casey is a hero to pro-life Catholic Democrats, and his backing is apparently helping Obama narrow the gap. Clinton does better than Obama among Latinos, who are disproportionately Catholic. She's also winning Catholic "Reagan Democrats," meaning socially conservative blue-collar voters. Obama's recent gaffe, telling a crowd in San Francisco, California, that small-town Americans were "clinging to guns or religion" out of economic frustration, may help cement that advantage. Once the Democrats settle on a candidate, the Catholic vote seems wide open in November. Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, appeals to many Catholics because he's pro-life and has a moderate stance on immigration. Yet his willingness to remain in Iraq for "100 years" is at odds with the church's opposition to the war. Either Clinton or Obama could make a strong appeal to Catholics on peace-and-justice issues, yet both are out of sync with Catholic teaching on issues such as abortion, stem-cell research and gay rights. Both sides are expected to court Catholics aggressively. The McCain campaign recently formed a "National Catholics for McCain Committee" led by former Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback and former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating, along with a "who's who" of prominent Catholic conservatives. Obama has his own "National Catholic Advisory Council," led by Casey and former Indiana Rep. Tim Roemer, both pro-life Democrats. Clinton likewise has top-drawer Catholic advisers. Pope Benedict's trip is unlikely to offer a decisive boost to either side. He'll probably strike pro-life notes that Republicans can exploit, but he'll also likely accent peace, concern for the poor and the environment, issues that generally skew to the Democrats. Watch as CNN's Rosemary Church speaks with Vatican analyst John Allen about the pope's visit » . Any political fallout may thus depend on what happens to the pope's message once it's swept up into the sausage grinder of American spin. Benedict XVI usually speaks not in sound bites but in carefully crafted paragraphs, which sometimes leaves the door ajar for competing explanations of what he really means. One can expect a "war for the microphone" among Republican and Democratic operatives, each looking to exploit pieces of the pope's message. In a tight race, movement of even a few percentage points among Catholics could be decisive. One sign the Democrats understand what's at stake is that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has arranged an April 16 conference call with reporters to comment on Benedict's trip -- in effect, not wanting President Bush, and by extension the Republicans, to claim a monopoly on the pope. All this makes the political implications of the pope's presence difficult to anticipate. The best advice boils down to that classic broadcast cliché: "Stay tuned!" E-mail to a friend . John L. Allen Jr. is CNN's senior Vatican analyst and a senior correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter.
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Papal representatives stress Benedict's U.S. trip is "not a political event"
But Catholic vote still matters in U.S. politics, as 2004's close Ohio vote showed .
Obama's "guns and religion" gaffe may help Clinton with blue-collar Catholics .
Once Democrats settle on a candidate, Catholic vote seems wide open in November .
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Zesty: Old Bay seasoning will be added to the Filet-O-Fish's tartar sauce from Monday . McDonald's are banking on beloved Old Bay seasoning to bring new life to one of their staple sandwiches. From Monday, the popular Maryland seafood spice - which has a Sriracha sauce-like following, particularly in the Mid-Atlantic area - will be added to the tartar sauce of the fast good giant's Filet-O-Fish. The idea was developed by McDonald's franchisee in - where else? - Baltimore. Store owner Mark Furr said he came up with the idea because so many customers added Old Bay to the fried fish burger, and so he pitched the idea to his head office. 'We know that Old Bay is as popular as salt and pepper on our tables here in Baltimore,' Mr Furr told The Baltimore Sun. 'McDonald's is extremely excited to be able to deliver a true, local taste to our customers.' Nearly 700 McDonald’s locations in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Delaware and West Virginia will offer Filet-O-Fish with Old Bay tartar sauce. The limited-time-only offering is an official partnership between McDonald's and McCormick and Co., the Maryland company that makes Old Bay. The seasoning was named after the Old Bay Line, a passenger ship line that plied the waters of the Chesapeake Bay from Baltimore to Norfolk, Virginia, in the early 1900s. It began as a spicing for bushels of blue crab, with the main ingredients of mustard, paprika, celery salt and bay leaves. Old favorites: The Filet-O-Fish has been a McDonald's staple since 1962, while Old Bay seasoning has a cult following in the Mid-Atlantic, where it is added to almost everything . However, for many, it has become a necessity that can be sprinkled on just about anything, from popcorn and potato salad to even beer and doughnuts. The Old Bay Filet-O-Fish will hit participating stores on February 16. Of course, locals seem to be all for it. 'It makes perfect sense to spice up the Filet-O-Fish with Old Bay, especially around the Mid-Atlantic,' Chesapeake business owner John Shields told Baltimore Magazine. 'McDonalds tried going locavore a number of years ago on the Eastern Shore with the addition of a crab-cake sandwich. 'Not so good, and it didn't last long. But Old Bay and Filet-O-Fish? How could it go wrong?' The Filet-O-Fish has been around since 1962 and was created by Lou Groen, a McDonald's owner in Cincinnati, Ohio.
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Old Bay seasoning, a Maryland institution, will be added to the tartar sauce .
New sandwich will be launched Monday in 700 stores .
Only available in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Delaware and West Virginia .
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By . David Martosko, U.s. Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 15:45 EST, 8 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:53 EST, 8 November 2013 . Congress is gearing up for a series of votes on measures that could upend the entire Obamacare scheme, as both the House and Senate now have bills that would allow Americans to keep their health insurance policies in the face of the Affordable Care Act, no matter what. In a 2009 speech to the American Medical Association – one of many he made in defense of his insurance overhaul law – President Obama pledged that 'if you like your health-care plan, you’ll be able to keep your health-care plan, period. No one will take it away, no matter what.' Now, in the wake of Obama's public apology to millions of Americans who have received cancellation letters from their insurers despite his promises, four pieces of legislation – two in each house of Congress – are gathering steam to force the government to keep its word. It's not just anti-Obamacare Republicans who are pushing the proposals. Sen. Mary Landrieu, a liberal Louisianan who voted for the Affordable Care Act in 2009, is up for re-election in 2014. Like many Democrats who fear public anger over the law, she is moving to political redefine herself as an oath-keeper. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Civil war in the Democratic Party? Sen. Mary Landrieu (L) is pushing to rewrite a crucial part of President Obama's health care law in order to save her own political hide . Landrieu's 'Keeping the Affordable Care Act Promise Act' would gut the law's grandfather-clause section, allowing Americans to keep any insurance plan they are enrolled in by Dec. 31, 2013 . Landrieu and three other Senate Democrats – Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Kay Hagan of North Carolina and Mark Pryor of Arkansas – are cosponsoring the 'Keeping the Affordable Care Act Promise Act.' All four face tough re-election battles, and campaign-watchers say their group-pivot away from the White House is a matter of political survival. 'Manchin, like the others, has to watch his back,' a Republican campaign operative in West Virginia told MailOnline. 'They all understand that the longer the Obamacare mess drags on, the more their votes for it in 2009 will hurt them.' If it should become law, the Democrats' proposal would allow taxpayers to keep any individual health care plan they were enrolled in as of December 31, 2013. 'Any such coverage shall be deemed to be a grandfathered health plan for purposes of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,' the bill reads. It also guarantees that 'grandfathered' plans would, by definition, meet the Obamacare law's minimum coverage requirements. President Obama said Thursday that he's 'sorry' some Americans are losing their current health insurance plans as a result of the Affordable Care Act, despite his promise that no one would have to give up a plan they liked . The idea of grandfathered plans was a part of the Affordable Care Act that promised to protect Americans with existing health plans they wanted to keep, and the president took great pains to sell the law to the public based on that assurance. But in the wake of the law's looking implementation, insurers have mailed millions of policy cancellation notices. Most cite the Obamacare law as the reason. Senate Democrats blocked a Republican measure in 2010 that would have eliminated Obamacare's grandfather clause. GOP senators predicted at the time that it would, by design, cause as many as 69 per cent of businesses to lose thir group policies and force them to participate in government-run marketplaces instead. Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin warned at the time that 'only in the District of Columbia could you get away with telling the people if you like what you have you can keep it, and then pass regulations six months later that do just the opposite and figure that people are going to ignore it.' Obama himself has pivoted in recent days, adding a caveat to his oft-repeated 'if you like your plan, you can keep your plan' commitment that lines up with Harkin's forecast. 'If you had one of these plans before the Affordable Care Act came into law and you really liked that plan, what we said was you can keep it – if it hasn't changed since the law passed," he claimed on Nov. 4 during a Washington, D.C. speech to supporters. But facing a public backlash and some analysts' predictions that the number of cancelled insurance policies could swell to as many as 12 million, Obama changed tack a second time with an apology on Thursday. 'I am sorry that they are finding themselves in this situation based on assurances they got from me,' he told NBC News. West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, another Democrat facing angry voters at home, has signed on to Landrieu's bill in order to put distance between himself and the unpopular Obamacare law . Michigan Rep. Fred Upton (L) has chaired contentious hearings about the Affordable Care Act's disastrous implementation to date, and House Speaker John Boehner (R) is expected to bring his bill to the floor soon . The Landrieu bill is not alone. A second Senate version and two separate House proposals mirror and predate hers, increasing the likelihood that one of the proposals will gain enough traction to be taken seriously, and soon. The other Senate bill, the 'If You Like Your Health Plan, You Can Keep it Act,' is co-sponsored by 38 Republicans including its author, Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson. Its approach is similar to Landrieu's, but also guarantees individuals the right to add family members to their grandfathered plans. It also protects employers as they add new employees to existing group insurance policies. The Johnson bill has a companion measure in the House, with 34 co-sponsors so far. 'More than a million Americans have been notified that the plans they like with the coverage they have chosen have been canceled,' Johnson complained. 'Millions more Americans will have the plans of their choice canceled in months to come.' Americans, he said, 'don't want ObamaCare destroying what they have and what they like.' House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Fred Upton, a Michigan Republican, has introduced a separate measure, the 'Keep Your Health Plan Act of 2013.' It's a more streamlined bill that extends only through the end of 2014, and would need to be renewed annually. No worries? White House Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest, with Obama on Air Force One, reassured reporters that 1 million Americans with canceled insurance policies will qualify for Medicare instead . Backup plan: Sen. Ron Johnson has his own Senate bill, and has gathered the support of most of his fellow Senate Republicans . Upton, however, has 88 co-sponsors on his side, including several members of the House leadership. The Hill reported Wednesday that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor had 'announced via Twitter that the bill would get a vote' in the coming week, but that tweet does not appear on Cantor's account. “Many Americans are now learning the sad reality that their current plan will no longer exist beginning on January 1. ... This legislation is about providing folks the peace of mind that they will be allowed to continue their current coverage if they so choose,' Upton said in a statement last week. Landrieu accompanied the president on his trip to New Orleans on Friday, and White House Deputy Press Secretary Joshua Earnest told reporters aboard Air Force One that he's open to legislative fixes like hers that address what he called a 'gap' in the law. 'The president has said for years now that he is open to working with members of Congress that have a genuine interest in trying to strengthen the Affordable Care Act,' Earnest said. 'That's been true for years now, and it’s true today.' Earnest also tried to downplay the epidemic of cancellation letters, saying that 'about a million of them' have gone to Americans 'who otherwise would qualify for Medicaid.' There's a wealth of differences between private health insurance coverage and the publicly funded Medicaid system, however: Many hospitals and doctors won't treat Medicaid patients, citing low reimbursement rates and administrative red tape involved with processing claims. Millions of Americans have lost their individual health insurance plans since the Affordable Care Act became law; a website called mycancellation.com is publishing some of the bad-news letters . Even military veterans aren't exempt from Obamacare's cancellation axe, which may affect as many as 12 million Americans who buy their medical insurance on the individual market . Landrieu introduced her bill on Monday, reading a dramatic insurance cancellation letter on the floor of the Senate. 'This is a letter that thousands of people are getting,' she said. 'and this letter never should have gone out – because we said to people if you had insurance that you like, you could keep it.' 'We didn’t say if you had insurance that you like that ... didn’t meet the minimum standards, you could keep it. We just said, and the president said over and over, if you have insurance and you like the insurance you have, you can keep it. ... That’s the single focus of my bill.
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Four Dem senators push bill to 'grandfather' ALL insurance plans that are in force by December 31 .
Some liberal lawmakers facing re-election in 2014 are putting distance between themselves and Obamacare as public outrage grows .
House leaders are expected to vote on a similar Republican measure as soon as next week .
Obama apologized Thursday for causing millions of insurance cancellations that he promised would never happen .
The White House says as many as a million of them might qualify for Medicare, an inferior form of coverage that many doctors won't honor .
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By . Bianca London . PUBLISHED: . 08:08 EST, 16 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:15 EST, 17 September 2013 . She claims that she does . 'nothing' to prepare for her catwalk appearances due to a hectic work . schedule, but size 6 Cara Delevingne always looks incredibly slim on the catwalk. And now . the 5ft 9in model of the year has given girls worldwide even more . reason to envy her after taking to Instagram to showcase her 'fashion week diet' of McDonald's burgers and chips. The 21-year-old posted a photo of herself and fellow model Jourdan Dunn with giant bags from the fast food chain with the caption: 'My food is faster than yours!!! #fashionweekdietplan.' Scroll down for video . Cara posted a picture of her and chum Jourdan tucking into fast food backstage at London Fashion Week . Speaking to style website Beauty High last year, Cara said: 'I need to eat a lot otherwise I feel . faint. I get in the worst moods if I don’t eat'. And it seems she isn't the only genetically-blessed model that loves a good calorie-laden meal; Jourdan Dunn is a big fast food fan too, citing her favourite meal as fried hot chicken wings. See, models DO eat! Jourdan Dunn was spotted tucking into a Nando's backstage at Topshop Unique yesterday and Cara even dressed up as her favourite food . Fry up: In Jourdan's latest cookery show she can seen frying chicken wings . On her cooking show Well . Dunn, which . appears on Jay-Z‘s Life + Times YouTube channel, Dunn is often seen cooking up her favourite meal in the deep fat fryer. And proving that she doesn't live on a diet of lettuce and water during fashion week, Dunn was spotted backstage yesterday at Topshop Unique devouring Nando's chicken wings whilst she was in hair and make-up. Speaking on her cookery show, she said: 'I always get so excited cooking chicken wings. How do they do it? Despite feasting on fast food behind the scenes, Cara and Jourdan looked super slim on the catwalk yesterday . 'I . don’t know, because it’s chicken wings! I don’t know anyone who doesn’t . like chicken wings. You say chicken wings and everyone’s like "What, . what? Chicken wings? I’m there." 'Chicken wings and beer, chicken and beer. Perfect.' Contrary to popular belief that models live in fear of carbs, the models were making the most of the free food at fashion week, devouring ham and cheese sandwiches and blueberry muffins backstage at Topshop Unique and chocolate lollipops at Matthew Williamson yesterday. Guests eat too: Fish and chips with tartare sauce and Eton mess were served for those attending the Topshop Unique show yesterday .
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Cara posted picture of her and Jourdan eating McDonald's backstage .
Jourdan spotted eating her favourite fried chicken wings at Topshop .
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This colour-coded map reveals the startling difference in life expectancies across 222 of the world's countries. The map shows how people are likely to live the longest in developed countries with state-funded healthcare systems like Japan, Canada and the UK, which each have average life expectancies of over 80 years. The tiny tax haven of Monaco - with its notoriously wealthy inhabitants and compulsory state-funded health service - has the highest life expectancy at an average of 89.68 years, five years higher than anywhere else on earth, according to the CIA World Factbook. The country with the worst life expectancy is the African state of Chad at a shocking 48.69 years. Life expectancy in America ranks 51st in the CIA's table at . 78.49 years - lower than Canada (81.48), Australia (81.90), New Zealand . (80.71), Japan (83.91), the UK (80.17) and much of Europe. How long will you live? This colour coded map shows the life expectancy in 222 of the world's nations. Nations shaded dark blue are those where people are expected to live to over 80, and they include most of the developed countries which have compulsory state-funded healthcare like the most of the countries of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Jordan and Japan. With the exception of Afghanistan, the countries with the lowest life expectancies are all in sub-Saharan Africa. Inhabitants of Afghanistan, Swaziland, South Africa, Guinea-Bissau and Chad are not expected to reach 50 . Of the top five longest-living . nations the only large country is Japan, with the . rest being city states (see box). Life expectancy levels in South America and generally 10 years lower than those in North America. People are likely to live the shortest in sub-Saharan Africa, with no country in that vast region having an average life expectancy of over 60. Only a few Asian countries, including Afghanistan (49.72) and a . couple of Caribbean nations, have such similarly short life expectancies compared with Africa. The worst countries to live in if you want to reach old age are Afghanistan (49.72), Swaziland (49.42), South Africa (49.41) Guinea-Bissau (49.11) and Chad (48.69), whose people are generally expected to die before they even reach middle age. The map, created by io9.com, shows the average life expectancy for both men and women. The CIA's individual breakdown confirms that women on average live longer than men. Life expectancy for a woman in Monaco is 93.77 years compared with that of a man at 85.74 years. In Chad life expectancy for men is only 47.61 years while women are expected to live slightly longer to 49.82 years. American men live 76.05 years on average while women in the United States live to 81.05 years. In the United Kingdom the life expectancy of men is 78.05 years while it is 82.4 years for women. While the United States has consistently fallen in the rank of world nations over the last 50 years, the average life expectancy has risen from 69.8 years in 1960 to 78.49 today. And while Chad's figure of 48.69 today is shockingly low, in 1960 Afghanistan had the world's lowest life expectancy at 31.3 years. Where do you live? The life expectancy levels are traditionally highest in Europe, Japan and small city states while African nations dominate the bottom end of the table . World's apart: Monaco, above left, has the highest life expectancy on earth at 89.68 years while Chad, above right, has the lowest at an average 48.69 years . Monaco, above left, has the world’s highest number of millionaires and . billionaires per capita as well as the lowest poverty rate. It . has a population of 36,000 people and is one of the most densely populated . countries in the world. The main income comes from tourism and gambling. No one pays taxes in this small Mediterranean country so it has become a haven for the rich and famous, . including the likes of Sir Elton John. The country has an excellent standard of compulsory . state funded healthcare. Chad, above right, is one of the . world’s poorest countries with 80 per cent of the population living below the . poverty line. Located in the centre of North Africa it is sometimes known as the 'Dead Heart of Africa'. It has a population over 10.3million and the northern third of the country is dominated by the Sahara Desert. Since independence from France in 1960, Chad has suffered . from instability and conflict arising from tensions between different . religious and ethnic factions, further fuelled by interference from . neighboring states. About 80 per cent of the population depend on . farming , herding or gathering forest products for livelihood. Frequent droughts and water scarcity make life a daily challenge. As of 2004, it was estimated that there were . fewer than three physicians, 15 nurses, and two midwives per 100,000 . people.
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Monaco has the highest life expectancy in the world at 89.68 years .
Chad has the lowest level of life expectancy at 48.69 years .
America ranks 51st in the table with 78.49 years, while the United Kingdom comes in 30th at 80.17 years .
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By . Mark Prigg . Nasa has captured one of the most active aurora ever seen on Saturn. Researchers say the incredible video created by Hubble and Cassini give the 'best look yet' at the phenomenon. They say the video will give a major step forward in understanding the atmospheres of giant planets. Scroll down for video . NASA's Cassini spacecraft has revealed similar curtain-like auroras to those seen on Earth - except on Saturn, they are red at the bottom and purple at the top. Nasa trained several pairs of eyes on Saturn as the planet put on a dancing light show at its poles. While the Hubble Space Telescope, orbiting around Earth, was able to observe the northern auroras in ultraviolet wavelengths, Nasa's Cassini spacecraft, orbiting around Saturn, got complementary close-up views in infrared, visible-light and ultraviolet wavelengths. Cassini could also see northern and southern parts of Saturn that don't face Earth. The resulting video is 'a kind of step-by-step choreography detailing how the auroras move, showing the complexity of these auroras and how scientists can connect an outburst from the sun and its effect on the magnetic environment at Saturn,' says Nasa. 'Saturn's auroras can be fickle -- you may see fireworks, you may see nothing,' said Jonathan Nichols of the University of Leicester in England, who led the work on the Hubble images. 'In 2013, we were treated to a veritable smorgasbord of dancing auroras, from steadily shining rings to super-fast bursts of light shooting across the pole.' The Hubble and Cassini images were focused on April and May of 2013. Images from Cassini's ultraviolet imaging spectrometer (UVIS), obtained from an unusually close range of about six Saturn radii, provided a look at the changing patterns of faint emissions on scales of a few hundred miles (kilometers) and tied the changes in the auroras to the fluctuating wind of charged particles blowing off the sun and flowing past Saturn. 'This is our best look yet at the rapidly changing patterns of auroral emission,' said Wayne Pryor, a Cassini co-investigator at Central Arizona College. 'Some bright spots come and go from image to image. 'Other bright features persist and rotate around the pole, but at a rate slower than Saturn's rotation.' The dark region seen on the face of the sun at the end of March 2013 is a coronal hole (just above and to the right of the middle of the picture), which is a source of fast solar wind leaving the sun, and caused the aurora on Saturn . The image also suggest that one way the bright auroral storms may be produced is by the formation of new connections between magnetic field lines. That process causes storms in the magnetic bubble around Earth. The movie also shows one persistent bright patch of the aurora rotating in lockstep with the orbital position of Saturn's moon Mimas. While previous UVIS images had shown an intermittent auroral bright spot magnetically linked to the moon Enceladus, the new movie suggests another Saturn moon can influence the light show as well. The new data also give scientists clues to a long-standing mystery about the atmospheres of giant outer planets. 'Scientists have wondered why the high atmospheres of Saturn and other gas giants are heated far beyond what might normally be expected by their distance from the sun,' said Sarah Badman, a Cassini visual and infrared mapping spectrometer team associate at Lancaster University, England. 'By looking at these long sequences of images taken by different instruments, we can discover where the aurora heats the atmosphere as the particles dive into it and how long the cooking occurs.' The visible-light data have helped scientists work out the colors of Saturn's auroras. While the curtain-like auroras we see at Earth are green at the bottom and red at the top, Cassini's imaging cameras have shown us similar curtain-like auroras at Saturn that are red at the bottom and purple at the top, said Ulyana Dyudina, an imaging team associate at the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif. The color difference occurs because Earth's auroras are dominated by excited nitrogen and oxygen molecules, and Saturn's auroras are dominated by excited hydrogen molecules. 'We were thrilled to learn about this colorful display that no one had seen before,' Dyudina said. 'The auroras at Saturn are some of the planet's most glamorous features – and there was no escaping NASA's paparazzi-like attention', said Marcia Burton, a Cassini fields and particles scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., who is helping to coordinate these observations.
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Nasa video shows the northern auroras in unprecedented detail .
Hubble and Cassini images captured one of the most varied displays ever seen .
Gives astronomers new insight into giant planet's atmospheres .
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812bc06ffe4dabdde775f364aabb54b4524d5b82
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By . Andrew Levy . 'A generation is growing up in conditions of anxiety and deprivation': Rowan Williams said support for needy people had been 'dismantled' Rowan Williams reignited the debate over food banks yesterday by claiming a generation of children is growing up with ‘anxiety and deprivation’. The former Archbishop of Canterbury attacked the Government’s benefits policy saying support for needy people had been ‘dismantled’. And he dismissed the benefits of the economic upturn, saying it was doing nothing to prevent ‘day-to-day hardship’. Lord Williams spoke out after Cambridge Food Bank, of which he has patron, released figures claiming the number of people fed by its five centres had doubled in a year to more than 4,600. He said: ‘The facts on the ground are indisputable. Whatever may be said about economic recovery at national level, the day-to-day hardship experienced by so many people in this country is not getting less and is not going to get less in the near future. ‘Structures of support have been dismantled, resources for dealing with people in crisis situations have been reduced. ‘And meanwhile, a generation is growing up in conditions of anxiety and deprivation. The psychological as well as practical effects of this are long-term for those who are children now. ‘Once again, we have to challenge those who deny this to come and see for themselves.’ Dr Williams is the latest senior church figure to attack the Government over poverty. His successor, Justin Welby, used his Easter message to bemoan the plight of struggling families ‘left broken and weeping’ by hunger and debt. A letter signed by 600 church leaders including 36 Anglican bishops earlier this year called on the Government to deal with what it described as a ‘national crisis’ of poverty and people living below the bread line. But their concerns contradict findings by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development which show food poverty in Britain has reduced dramatically. Only 8.1 per cent reported struggling to afford food in 2012 – down from 9.8 per cent in 2007, before the economic crisis. Critics including former Cabinet minister Lord Tebbit have also pointed out there is a ‘near infinite demand’ for free food and warned of the ease with which people can claim the food parcels without providing evidence of financial hardship. Piety: Dr Williams is the latest senior church figure to attack the Government over poverty. His successor, Justin Welby, used his Easter message describe the plight of families 'left broken' by hunger and debt . In April the Trussell Trust - a charity run by Labour Party member Chris Mould which has more than 400 food banks including those in Cambridge - was accused of being ‘misleading and emotionally manipulative’ after claiming more than 913,000 people had received three days’ emergency food in the past year – almost a threefold increase on the previous 12 months. Publicity campaigns are widely accepted to have increased awareness of the service. Applicant numbers have also swelled as a result of the Coalition overturning a Labour ban on job centres advising people about food banks. Tory MP Stewart Jackson, a practising Christian, said he was ‘appalled’ at Lord Williams’ ‘partisan attack’ and defended the benefits system as ‘one of the most generous in the world.' ‘It’s interesting that Rowan Williams sat back under the Labour government when they abolished the 10p tax rate for poorer working people and presided over a huge rise in inequality between the richest and poorest. There wasn’t much moral indignation from him then,’ he said. ‘He is completely undermining his credibility with this partisan attack.’ Poverty: A sign outside St. Paul's Church in Brixton, South London directs to a Food Bank depot . Some 4,684 people, including 1,650 children, were recorded as having used Cambridge’s food banks last year. This included 1,405 because of ‘low incomes’, 682 due to ‘benefit changes’, 364 who were in debt and 139 whose reason was listed as ‘other’. The trust admits it does not carry out checks into applicants’ suitability to receive food parcels. Instead, it relies on referrals from ‘front-line professionals’ such as GPs and social workers who fill out a tick box form. A spokesman said: ‘Front-line care professionals make a judgement whether someone is actually in crisis and will ask questions about whether they need to be referred to a food bank.’ A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said Government reforms were ‘improving the lives of some of the poorest people in our communities’. He added: ‘The truth is that employment is going up, benefits are being paid to claimants more quickly and independent experts tell us that there are fewer people struggling with their food bills compared with a few years ago. ‘The Trussell Trust and other food banks agree that increased awareness has helped to explain their recent growth.’
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Lord Williams spoke after food bank said its clients had doubled in a year .
4,684 people used Cambridge Food Bank’s services last year .
Current Archbishop used Easter message to bemoan plight of families .
But critics claim there is a 'near infinite' demand for free food .
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eb2884df1a145df267a37159761d2f6327ec6ed6
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By . Naomi Greenaway . A family are still desperately searching for a missing mum after she vanished during a shopping trip near her home in Collinstown, West Dublin, three years ago. Esra Uryun was 38 years old when she disappeared leaving behind her husband of seven years, Ozgur, her then two-year-old son Emin, now five, and her older sister, Berna Fidan. ‘Has someone got hold of her? Has something horrible happened to her? It just doesn't make sense,’ Berna says fighting back tears on tonight’s Channel Four documentary, The Missing. Scroll down for video . Berna Fidan, sister of missing mum Esra Uryun, whom she's searched tirelessly for since her disappearance three years ago . The harrowing programme delves into the mystery of the 2,000 missing people who vanish without a trace in Britain each year. ‘She wouldn't just run off on her own. That child was everything to her. I don't believe she would have taken off and left her baby behind,’ says Berna as the documentary airs touching home video footage of a doting mother kissing her little boy and saying, ‘I love you’. Esra's distraught family is unable to . continue normal life and unable to grieve, but live in hope that they . will one day be reunited. Esra Uryun, 38, has not been seen since leaving her home at Collinstown in a silver Renault three years ago . After Esra’s disappearance, her husband and son moved to London and in a heart-wrenching moment little Emin talks about the mother he hardly remembers. 'She went to the shops by herself. She didn't know the way home, then she got lost somewhere,' he says as he plays at home with his father. Ozgur tries to describe how hard it’s been for his son, ‘I can't understand what's going on. Think about his little brain -- how he's trying to cope with the situation.’ Turning to his own experience he says, ‘You’re always fighting between your heart and your mind. Your heart is saying she's coming back but your logic is saying the probability is getting low.’ An hour after Esra left for the shops that fateful morning, her silver Renault was clocked on CCTV footage in the nearby town of Bray. Since her disappearance Berna has gone to extraordinary . lengths to bring her sister home and has visited Bray fifteen times in the hope of uncovering further evidence. ‘It hurts me to be here, but I keep coming back all the time -- because she's here somewhere and I need to find her,’ she says bravely of her search. ‘I try and block it all out my head and pretend it's not my sister. I hate putting these posters up. I see lamppost with missing dogs and cats and I'm having to put my sister's picture up,’ she says reaching breaking point. The police found Esra’s car abandoned in the town’s parking lot, but there’s no proof Esra herself was the one who drove it there. 'There wasn't a shred of evidence she was ever in Bray because the CCTV footage is so appalling, you can't see who the driver is,’ explains Berna. 'All I want is an answer and that's when I'll be at peace. There’s a baby, who's now five years old, who's growing up without the love of his mum.' Because there’s never been a sighting of Esra since her disappearance, police have downgraded the investigation. The detective leading the search suspects suicide. 'I know she's here somewhere -- I just have to find her': Berna Fedan with a picture of her missing sister Esra Uryun . Blurry CCTV footage showed a female walking from where the car was parked towards Bray Head, a nearby hill. 'I can't say whether that's Esra or not but I can say the CCTV does not pick up that person coming back down,’ the detective explains. But Berna is convinced the woman is not her sister. The detective believes the passing of Esra’s father in 2010 may be linked. ‘It affected Esra more because she was living away from her family,’ he says and adds, ‘In 70 per cent of suicides, there's no note.’ But Berna is far from convinced and continues to publicise her plight. 'What damn proof do they have that my sister's dead? 'How can you commit suicide and no one come across the body in such a public place. It's still a search in my eyes. She could not bear to be away from her son.’ As she prepares to leave Bray, where she will no doubt return, Berna explains, ‘It’s hard coming and it’s even harder going back. She’s my flesh and blood, my only sister. She’d do the same if it was me.’ ‘I know I‘m torturing myself but how can I let it go? With no closure, how can I let it go. It’s impossible,’ she says. Berna continues her search to bring her beloved sister home but, like thousands of families round Britain, a lifetime of uncertainty may lie ahead. Berna Fidan’s search is featured in the Channel 4 series The Missing, which starts today at 10pm. The charity Missing People is at: missingpeople.org.uk .
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Esra Uryun has a husband, five-year-old boy and sister .
Last seen leaving for shops from her house in Collinstown, West Dublin .
Abandoned car picked up on CCTV in nearby Bray, but no footage of Esra .
Sister tells how life plunged into limbo and of painstaking search for clues .
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48bf56e7f52eeead17a81791c455125ab951b34d
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New York (CNN) -- Lions may be kings of the jungle, but for nearly two hours, two kittens ruled the concrete jungle as officials halted New York subway service Thursday. The fearless felines risked all nine lives meandering the subway Thursday, causing part of it to be shut down for 90 minutes as personnel cut the power to begin their search. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority suspended subway service on the B and Q lines between the Kings Highway and DeKalb Avenue stops in Brooklyn -- about 6 miles of track -- to search for two cats that were reported seen at about 11 a.m., MTA spokesman Kevin Ortiz said. MTA had to cut the power to the third rail, which carries 600 volts of electricity. "If you touch that third rail, you're not going to make it -- people and especially cats, anything that moves," Ortiz said. New Yorkers are accustomed to seeing critters, but it's usually rats and mice scampering around the underground tunnels, leaving the alley cats above ground. Even though the search was for a couple of friendly felines, some riders were not happy with the inconvenient suspension. "It's a waste of money. They could have been doing something else. It's a waste of money. But that's the MTA for you," subway rider and former MTA employee Wilson Burton told CNN affiliate WABC. The New York Police Department was brought to the scene later in the day for crowd control. "As the trains backed up, the crowds build up and people are late in their travels. We have to make sure everyone gets to their place safely," Lt. Paul Ng of the NYPD said. Though the sneaky cats were at large on the tracks for more than seven hours, they reappeared around 6 p.m. and were corralled and captured within the half hour, MTA spokeswoman Judie Glave said. They were taken to a nearby shelter, police said. It is MTA protocol for conductors to stop and call in anytime something is on or traveling on the tracks, so it is in the best interest of customers and MTA to clear the track as soon as possible, Glave said. The pair was found in the same spot where they were first sighted earlier in the day, despite the running trains and the re-electrified deadly third rail. It was a close call -- but, luckily, curiosity didn't kill these cats.
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Two kittens spotted at MTA station in Brooklyn .
Officials suspend local service during search .
No cat-astrophe: Tale has happy ending .
Some commuters spitting mad .
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(CNN) -- A DNA investigation following the discovery of 11 bodies in a Cleveland home has linked a second man to serial killings in the area, prosecutors announced Tuesday. "This is wild stuff," said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason. "One serial killer leads us to another one." After the bodies were found at the home of Anthony Sowell in 2009, Cleveland's Cold Case Unit launched a DNA investigation into victims found within a 3-mile radius of the property. The unit matched two cases to felon Joseph Harwell, who is currently serving time on a separate murder charge, Mason said. Both the victims allegedly tied to Harwell, 27-year-old Mary Thomas and 33-year-old Tondilear Harge, were found raped and fatally strangled, seven years apart from one another. Thomas was three to four months pregnant at the time of the attack, a release by the Cuyahoga County Prosecutors Office says. Harwell is indicted on 14 counts, including charges of aggravated murder, rape, and kidnapping, according to the prosecutors office. Believing there could be more victims related to the ones found in the Sowell home, "we kind of drew a circle around his residence," Mason said. "There are missing pieces. I don't believe that everybody (Sowell) killed, he put in his house," Mason said. "There's a lot of missing girls that would fit that description." Harwell is currently serving time for the 1997 murder of 29-year-old Teresa Vinson of Columbus. He is up for parole next year but with Tuesday's additional indictments could now face the death penalty, according to Mason. "He was kind of a little stunned by it, to say the least," Mason said on Harwell's reaction to his DNA linkage to the two victims. "... He just said I want a lawyer." Harwell was also convicted of felonious assault in 1989 for attempted strangulation of a 31-year-old woman in east Cleveland and convicted of aggravated robbery in 1979. Mason's office accuses Harwell of murdering Thomas in 1989 and murdering Harge in 1996, according to a statement. Sowell, indicted on 85 counts including aggravated murder, rape and kidnapping, is currently awaiting trial. He has pled not guilty.
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Cold Case Unit "kind of drew a circle" around one serial killer's home .
Investigation led them to indictment of second man .
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By . Ryan Gorman . A Brooklyn man is headed to prison after it was revealed in a college application essay that he raped his eight-year-old stepdaughter more than a decade ago. Albert Tarrats, 62, raped the child in 2003 while she slept in her bed, but the horrifying assault only came to light when the victim, now 19, wrote about the attack in 2012. Her mother saw the essay and immediately called police. Following his Thursday conviction, Tarrats faces up to 25 years in prison. Where he was convicted: Albert Tarrats was found guilty Thursday of multiple charges including rape and sexual assault at Brooklyn Criminal Court . ‘Toward the end of their marriage he began to rape me,’ the teen wrote in the essay. ‘I never told anyone till later in life but at that point in my life I was scared.’ She then took the stand last week to testify about the suffering she has endured because of his callous acts. ‘She was very credible,’ one of the jurors told the New York Daily News. ‘The fact that so many years passed made us think she doesn’t have an ulterior motive.’ The victim’s mother divorced the convicted rapist in 2005 and moved to Florida, her daughter went with her. Jurors shot down defense attempts to frame the claims as an attempt to defame Tarrats after her mother’s marriage failed, or to gain sympathy from college admissions counselors. It’s her best effort to try to get the attention of the admissions committee of that college to convince them she was the best candidate for that school,’ Tarrats’ lawyer Earnest Hammer argued during his closing argument, according to the New York Post. Hammer went out of his way to point out her poor grammar and make sure the whole courtroom knew she was not accepted to the school. ‘I’m sure it weighed heavily on her,’ another juror said, ‘and really affected her life.’ The jury found Tarrats guilty of multiple charges including rape and sexual assault. He showed no emotion as the verdicts were read aloud in court. His sentencing is June 30.
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Albert Tarrats was found guilty of raping the young girl in 2003 .
The attack was a secret until she wrote a college application essay in 2012 .
He now faces 25 years in prison .
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Poor you: Hatre cleric Abu Hamza's wife, Najat, has complained the extremist hasn't been able to use a comb in his American jail cell, where he awaits trial for 11 terror-related offences . The wife of hate preacher Abu Hamza has hit out at American prison authorities because they won't let her husband comb his hair. Muslim extremist Hamza was finally extradited from Britain last year and is in America awaiting trial on 11 terror-related offences. Wife Najat, who was discovered living on benefits with some of her seven children in Hammersmith, west London, last year, bleated on a website for Hamza's supporters over his treatment in his New York jail, where he is kept in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day. She writes: 'Since he’s been there his hair has not been combed due to a comb not being available for him.' According to the Sunday Express, she also moans at how he hasn't had any face-to-face meetings since his incarceration. Even when he meets lawyers, he cannot see them because they sit behind a glass screen with a curtain, she says. She writes: 'All this time he has remained in solitary confinement 23 hours a day in a small room with no window and no sunlight. 'For one hour, he is allowed to stretch his legs just next to his cell where there is not even enough room to even do that. 'He doesn’t even know the direction of the kibla (which indicates the direction in which Muslims must pray).' She says she has received few letters from him and he has been allowed to call her just once. Najat, who thanks 'all those brothers and sisters who have supported my husband for all these years', adds the cleric is still praying but is left to guess. Finally: Abu Hamza was extradited last year after a concerted campaign to have him gone. Here builders call for the hook-handed cleric to be deported back in 2004 . It has also been reported he is seldom allowed the use of his hook. She adds to his fans: 'Your help, love and concern for him has not gone unnoticed. Your reward is with Allah.' Hamza gained global notoriety for his fanatical sermons outside London’s Finsbury Park mosque after the 9/11 terror attack on New York. He was jailed on terrorism-related charges at high-security Belmarsh Prison in London. In the US he has denied facilitating violent jihad in Afghanistan and trying to set up a terrorist training camp in Oregon. Outrage: Hamza caused fury when he he praised the 9/11 attacks to a gathering outside Finsbury Park Mosque . He has also denied involvement in the 1998 kidnapping of Western tourists in Yemen, in which three Britons and an Australian died. Hamza, 54, was finally extradited to New York last October and is awaiting trial on 11 terrorism-related offences. It took Britain eight years to get rid of him as he fought extradition to the US. The legal and prison bills cost taxpayers at least £1million.
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Wife Najat bleats on website for Hamza's supporters .
Complains he is in solitary confinement and can't write to her .
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His eyes moist and lower lip trembling, Clint Romesha nodded haltingly at family, comrades, military brass and the president standing to applaud him for receiving the nation's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor. He never smiled during the White House ceremony on Monday and later explained why in a statement to reporters. "I stand here with mixed emotions of both joy and sadness today," he said, describing how he felt "conflicted" about the medal around his neck. "The joy comes from recognition from us doing our jobs as soldiers on distant battlefields," said Romesha, a former Army staff sergeant dressed in full uniform that included a cavalry hat. "But it is countered by the constant reminder of the loss of our battle buddies - my battle buddies, my soldiers, my friends." An American hero: The uncommon valor of Clint Romesha . For "conspicuous gallantry ... at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty," Romesha, 31, received the honor at an emotional ceremony lightened by his rambunctious toddler son. In conferring the medal, President Barack Obama described the conditions faced by Romesha and 52 other soldiers when they came under attack from mortar, rocket-propelled grenade, machine-gun and sniper fire on October 3, 2009, at Combat Outpost Keating in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan. A military investigation later described the outpost as indefensible against the higher-ground positions surrounding it, and Obama noted the challenge that Romesha's unit faced from the estimated 300 Taliban insurgents. Explosions from the dawn attack "shook them out of theirs beds and sent them rushing for their weapons, and soon the awful odds became clear," Obama said. "What happened next has been described as one of the most intense battles of the entire war in Afghanistan," the president continued. "The attackers had the advantage, the high ground, the mountains above, and they were unleashing everything they had -- rocket-propelled grenades, heavy machine guns, mortars, snipers taking aim." Romesha and his men "had never seen anything like it," Obama said. Clint Romesha, the bravest of the brave . "With gunfire impacting all around him, Clint raced to one of the barracks and grabbed a machine gun," the president said. "He took aim at one of the enemy machine teams and took it out. A rocket-propelled grenade exploded, sending shrapnel into his hip, his arm and his neck, but he kept fighting, disregarding his own wounds and tended to an injured comrade instead." Later in the battle, Romesha and his team charged more than 100 yards through enemy fire to reach wounded soldiers in the outpost, Obama added. The audience on Monday included relatives of the eight soldiers killed in the battle, and Obama paid tribute to the efforts by Romesha and his fellow soldiers to bring them back. "Our troops should never ever be put in a position where they have to defend the indefensible," Obama said. "That's what these soldiers did for each other in sacrifice driven by pure love, and because they did, eight grieving families were at least able to welcome their soldiers home one last time." Before the East Room ceremony, the militaristic and somber atmosphere was lightened by Romesha's son, Colin, who climbed the podium and examined the lectern, briefly playing hide-and-seek with the bemused onlookers. It took a military escort to entice Colin to his mother's arms in the first row, and when Obama spoke a few minutes later, he prompted chuckles in pointing out the boy's exuberant nature. "Colin is not as shy as Clint," Obama said. "He was in the Oval Office and he was racing around pretty good and sampled a number of apples before he found the one that was just right." Romesha was invited to be the guest of first lady Michelle Obama Tuesday at the president's State of the Union address. But he declined the invitation, telling CNN that he has decided to spend the evening with friends from his former unit, Black Knight Troop, 3-61 CAV, his wife Tammy -- with whom he celebrates a wedding anniversary Tuesday -- and their families. Romesha to be guest of first lady at State of the Union . Romesha is the fourth living person to receive the nation's highest military decoration for actions in Afghanistan or Iraq. The battle at Combat Outpost Keating raged for more than 12 hours. When it ended, with Romesha and others having held onto the outpost, more than half of their 53-soldier contingent had been killed or wounded. Despite his own wounds, Romesha led a charge across the outpost that regained control of the ammunition supply depot. In doing so, he ignored an order to hold his position, pretending the radio was broken. The U.S. military closed the heavily damaged outpost three days later, destroying what remained to prevent it from aiding insurgents in any way. A few months later, a U.S. military investigation found that measures taken to protect the outpost were lax, and critical intelligence and reconnaissance assistance had been diverted from the base. The Medal of Honor: What is it?
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Clint Romesha speaks of the loss of "my battle buddies, my soldiers, my friends"
Romesha gets the Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry" beyond the call of duty .
He led counter-attacks against a 2009 assault by insurgents on a remote outpost .
Romesha is the fourth living veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars to get the Medal of Honor .
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Umar Mughal, 27, is currently on trial at the Old Bailey accused of fraud by abuse of position . A NatWest bank manager gave £830,000 to a fraudster posing as a 91-year-old customer 'because he wanted to eat his fish and chips', a court heard. Umar Mughal, 27, approved the bogus transfer of the funds at the Brentwood branch in Essex where he worked. He allegedly failed to carry out any checks to confirm the identity of the man who came into the branch on May 9 2012 claiming to be a wealthy client. Mr Mughal put his error down to the 'negative atmosphere' in the bank, while also claiming that he was trying to have his lunch at the time of the incident. Financial investigator Julia Payne told the Old Bailey that when the bank's system was examined there was no sign that Mr Mughal had confirmed the customer's signature. She continued: 'From a banking perspective people working in the branches know we could be targeted by a fraudster and to look at documentation to see if it is genuine.' Ms Payne added: 'The computer trail tells us what enquiries have been made in the account. 'As soon as Mr Mughal sat down he entered the sort code and account number. 'I would have expected to see a signature enquiry as that's how Mr Mughal told me he identified the customer. 'But the first thing after that is the funds transfer.' She said: 'There is no looking into the account for signatory or anything of the kind.' Prosecutor Fer Chinner said: 'The man comes into the branch and the transfers are made by Mr Mughal. 'Mughal logs on to the computer system at 14.07 and logs off at 14.34.' She said that Mr Mughal accessed five different accounts during the session and transferred the money into one account. Jurors heard £70,000 was taken from the first account, £10,325 from the second, £73,300 from the third, £23,100 from the forth and £76,600 from the final account. Mr Mughal was manager at the Natwest Branch in Brentwood, Essex, (above) when he says he accidentally approved fraudulent transfers worth £830,000 . The suspicious activity was spotted by the customer's private banking manager the following day who raised the alarm, it is said. Ms Payne said: 'The customer had a private banking manager, customers with large balances as he had would have a banking manager. He has blamed his grievous mistake on the 'negative atmosphere' in the bank, claiming his colleagues had been 'moaning all day' 'He noticed the large number of transfers the next day.' She added: 'He first contacted the branch and spoke to Mr Mughal to find out what had happened. 'Mr Mughal explained that the customer had come in.' Mr Mughal was investigated by the bank and claimed during an interview on May 10 2012 that he had 'made a mistake', the court heard. He allegedly tried to blame his colleagues for 'moaning all day' and creating a 'negative atmosphere'. During questioning, he said: 'I've done one stupid little thing which for me was a stupid thing but for the bank was massive. 'I never make the same mistake twice and unfortunately this mistake was big.' He added: 'When it comes to this transaction do I want to put it on here that I gave £800,000 to someone else because I wanted to eat my fish and chips?' Ms Payne asked him: 'Is that why?' Mr Mughal replied that he wanted to take his break and 'ignored' the procedure for customer identification. He added: 'I just wish I could turn back time and do my job again like I normally do.' Mr Mughal, of Walthamstow, east London, denies fraud by abuse of position. The trial continues. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
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Umar Mughal, 27, approved bogus transfers at branch in Brentwood, Essex .
Failed to examine customer's signature to confirm their identity .
He accessed five different accounts for fraudster posing as 91-year-old .
He blames 'mistake' on 'negative atmosphere' and 'moaning' colleagues .
Also suggested error occurred because he was desperate for his lunch .
He is on trial at the Old Bailey charged with fraud by abuse of position .
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7ed27a14d93104f64b31debc17e7074238227dda
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As MailOnline Sport prepares to lead the way with more Deadline Day exclusives (we broke Ozil to Arsenal and Fellaini to United a year ago), we ask those at the vanguard of our news operation, our brilliant reporters, what to expect with the transfer window poised to slam shut… . IAN LADYMAN - @Ian_Ladyman_DM . 1. Best bit of business so far… Diego Costa to Chelsea. They needed a centre forward so they bought one. 2. Which fantasy move do you still want to see happen in this transfer window? I would like to see Sergio Busquets play in the Premier League. Anywhere. 3. Name one transfer deal likely to come off before 11pm on Monday… Daley Blind from Ajax to Manchester United. Best bit of business? Sportsmail's Ian Ladyman is impressed with Chelsea's capture of Diego Costa . 4. What’s your best/biggest transfer exclusive of your career? In early April 2009 I wrote that Real Madrid had a deal with Manchester United to buy Cristiano Ronaldo for £75m. United denied it and Sir Alex Ferguson was asked about the story and said: 'Look who wrote it.' It wasn’t meant as a compliment and indeed the story was wrong. The fee – confirmed two months later – was £5m more. 5. Name one thing you’d change about the transfer window… I would end it when the season starts. Hard to do, of course, unless all the major European leagues agreed to start on the same day. Penned: Cristiano Ronaldo (next to Alfredo di Stefano and Eusebio) signed for Real Madrid five years ago . ROB DRAPER - @draper_rob . 1. Best bit of business so far… Gylfi Sigurdsson from Spurs to Swansea: good player who will thrive back in Wales. Not showing it yet, but Mauricio Isla could be excellent for QPR. 2. Which fantasy move do you still want to see happen in this transfer window? Radamel Falcao joins Arsenal for £60m - just to make it a three-way title race. 3. Name one transfer deal likely to come off before 11pm on Monday… Daley Blind to Manchester United . 4. What’s your best/biggest transfer exclusive of your career? The most significant was the transfer of an unknown 16-year-old to Arsenal. It got about 50 words in the paper. I told the desk Cesc Fabregas would be good. 5. Name one thing you’d change about the transfer window… Transfer deadline day to become like the NFL draft. All the chief executives to be herded into the NEC Arena, watched by a crowd to do all their business in public. A fleet of helicopters on standby to fly players from around the country for medicals and grand unveilings. Sitting, waiting, wishing: Sportsmail's Rob Draper expects Ajax defender Daley Blind to move to Man United . Young Gun: Cesc Fabregas' move to Arsenal in 2003 went almost unheralded but was noted by Rob Draper . DOMINIC KING - @DominicKing_DM . 1. Best bit of business so far… Manchester City smoothly concluding the contract extensions of their star players. The deals to re-sign David Silva, Vincent Kompany, Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero happened during the window. You don’t have to buy players from elsewhere to make your squad stronger. 2. Which fantasy move do you still want to see happen in this transfer window? Liverpool making a £10million bid to take Petr Cech and being successful with it. Brendan Rodgers needs a keeper, Cech has been ditched by Chelsea. It won’t happen as the clubs won’t do business with each other – as proven by Ryan Bertrand – but it would help Liverpool considerably if it did. 3. Name one transfer deal likely to come off before 11pm on Monday… Danny Welbeck joining Tottenham on loan. Fantasy: Sportsmail's Dominic King wants Liverpool to succeed with a bid for Chelsea's Petr Cech . You're not going over there? Sergio Busquets would be a seen as a major coup for the Premier League . 4. What’s your best/biggest transfer exclusive of your career? Lucien Mettomo to Manchester City from Saint-Etienne in September 2001. I was 23, had the story confirmed by Kevin Keegan one Friday morning and got the tale in print in the old ‘City final’ edition, in the days when evening papers were still published in the evening. Mettomo wasn’t the biggest name, he wasn’t a City great but it was the first time I’d had ‘exclusive’ next to my byline for a transfer story. 5. Name one thing you’d change about the transfer window… It doesn’t need changing now. Everyone knows how it works, everyone looks forward to the drama of the final day; let’s just leave it as it is. CRAIG HOPE – @CraigHope_DM . 1. Best bit of business so far… Chelsea identifying what they need – a goalscorer and central midfielder – and duly bringing in Diego Costa and Cesc Fabgreas at a cost of £62million, less than what Manchester United paid for Angel di Maria. Newcastle’s acquisition of £5m Holland right back Daryl Janmaat also looks very shrewd. He’ll no doubt be sold for £12m within the next 18 months, however. 2. Which fantasy move do you still want to see happen in this transfer window? Newcastle sign a goalscorer, for a half decent side will go to waste without someone to put the ball in the back of the net. To that end, Loic Remy for £10m from QPR would make a lot of sense. Makes sense: Sportsmail's Craig Hope believes Newcastle should shell out £10m for QPR's Loic Remy . Expected: Reading's Alex McCarthy should make the £6m switch to QPR before Monday's deadline . 3. Name one transfer deal likely to come off before 11pm on Monday… Fabio Borini to Sunderland on a season-long loan. The Liverpool striker is still playing a waiting game with the Black Cats - who have had a £14m bid accepted - but the arrival of Mario Balotelli at Anfield could make his mind up and a loan move is more likely. 4. What’s your best/biggest transfer exclusive of your career? When I was nine years old I saw Sunderland midfielder Paul Bracewell in a restaurant next to St James’ Park. It was close-season and he was with two men in suits. I went home and told all of my friends he was signing for Newcastle, which the very next day he duly did. Today, I would have posted a selfie on Twitter with Bracewell and it would have been on MailOnline within half an hour. As it was back in 1992, I had my exclusive for 24 hours. 5. Name one thing you’d change about the transfer window… One?? Undisclosed fees for a start. But while we’re at it, the window should shut on the Thursday before the Premier League season starts. SAMI MOKBEL - @SamiMokbel81_DM . 1. Best bit of business so far… Cesc Fabregas to Chelsea . 2. Which fantasy move do you still want to see happen in this transfer window? Edinson Cavani to Arsenal . 3. Name one transfer deal likely to come off before 11pm on Monday… Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy to QPR. £6m. Four-year deal . 4. What’s your best/biggest transfer exclusive of your career? Mesut Ozil to Arsenal, September 2013, and Thierry Henry back to Arsenal on loan. 5. Name one thing you’d change about the transfer window… Scrap the winter one and end the summer window the day before the start of the season. Leader of the pack: Sportsmail's Sami Mokbel's biggest exclusive was Mesut Ozil's £42m move to Arsenal . LAURIE WHITWELL - @lauriewhitwell . 1. Best bit of business so far… Diego Costa for £32m will end up looking a snip if his goals win Chelsea the league. 2. Which fantasy move do you still want to see happen in this transfer window? Arturo Vidal to Manchester United - finally bringing some steel to midfield. 3. Name one transfer deal likely to come off before 11pm on Monday… Liverpool winger Jordon Ibe to Derby County on loan. 4. What’s your best/biggest transfer exclusive of your career? Georgios Samaras to WBA on a free this summer. Don’t smirk. 5. Name one thing you’d change about the transfer window… That it gets smashed into a thousand shards and doesn’t exist. Why don't you come on over? Arturo Vidal should make the move to Manchester United this weekend . JOE BERNSTEIN - @RedJoe31 . 1. Best bit of business so far… Chelsea, Diego Costa . 2. Which fantasy move do you still want to see happen in this transfer window? Arjen Robben to Arsenal . 3. Name one transfer deal likely to come off before 11pm on Monday… Javier Hernandez to Juventus as make-weight in deal to bring Arturo Vidal to Old Trafford . 4. What’s your best/biggest transfer exclusive of your career? Robbie Keane leaving Liverpool for Spurs after six months . 5. Name one thing you’d change about the transfer window…. Transfer fees were independently verified to prevent buying and selling clubs misleading the fans (and us) with bogus figures eg. Barca and Liverpool over Suarez . That didn't last long! Robbie Keane (right) spent just six months at Liverpool before rejoining Tottenham . VIDEO Transfer Wrap .
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Arturo Vidal's future is still up in the air with Manchester United keen .
Javier Hernandez could make a move in the opposite direction to Juventus .
Daley Blind of Ajax is wanted by Louis van Gaal .
Tottenham want to sign Danny Welbeck on loan from Old Trafford .
Alex McCarthy is expected to complete a move from Reading to QPR .
Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa are seen as the summer's best business .
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By . Damien Gayle . PUBLISHED: . 05:46 EST, 1 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:52 EST, 1 October 2013 . An estate agent is accused of raiding $500,000 worth of possessions from a $7.6million house he'd just sold to a New York socialite. Gallery owner Tina Kim and her husband Jae Chung bought their home in West 81st Street, New York City, with the help of realtor David Kim last December. But the family never changed the locks on the doors, allowing the 42-year-old to allegedly let himself in and empty the property of their belongings. Art lover: Tina Kim's gallery is on the third floor of this building on New York City's West 25th Street. The socialite's family home was allegedly emptied by her real-estate agent after she went on holiday in the Hamptons . Ms Kim and her husband, who employ a maid, nanny and personal driver, were relieved of possessions including rare artworks, high-end fashion accessories and credit cards. A police source told the New York Post that Kim, who is no relation to Ms Kim, 'decorated his apartment by framing the artwork on his walls.' The suspect, who was arrested last week, is said to have stolen almost everything from the victims' home, 'even humidifiers, cigar boxes and all the woman's purses', including one worth $90,000. Kim knew the family was leaving New . York City for the Hamptons on August 16 and crept into their town house . through the service entrance, police sources said. High fashion: Pricey Louis Vuitton accessories were said to be among the possessions Kim helped himself to from his client's family home . Over three consecutive days he is said to have taken away possessions including Louis Vuitton accessories, a Gucci wallet, a crystal pen, electronics and artwork, storing the haul at his apartment in the same block. Court records claim that on seven occasions he also used one of the victim's credit cards to make $50,000-worth of purchases in various shops. The family called police after returning home on August 19 to find their home plundered. Officers are said to have recovered the stolen property from David Kim's apartment. Lance Fletcher, the suspect's private attorney, said: 'There’s been no evidence linking him to the apartment where the burglary occurred except for the alleged proceeds from the burglary.' Ms Kim has run the Tina Kim Gallery in Chelsea since 2007, after first setting up in Manhattan's 57th Street five years earlier. She has said that if she was not an art dealer 'I would probably be on the other side, as an art collector.'
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Art dealer Tina Kim's home was raided while she was in the Hamptons .
Her realtor David Kim - no relation - has been charged with the burglary .
Over 72 hours he is said to have practically emptied their entire house .
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f4a59c4836f6d7ebb26f23f39f36a438c2cfbc65
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By . Mark Duell . Last updated at 10:52 PM on 29th November 2011 . It seemed the perfect act of revenge - a jilted lover cruelly tattooed a picture of flies over excrement on his ex-girlfriend's back and the photo swept the internet. But MailOnline can reveal all is not quite as it seems with the story of 'Rossie Brovent's poo tattoo'. The resident of Dayton, Ohio, was reportedly suing her ex-boyfriend and tattoo artist Ryan Fitzjerald for $100,000 over the drawing which she eventually found out was of flies over a pile of excrement. Tall story? This photograph of a woman with a pile of excrement tattooed on her back was claimed to be Rossie Brovent of Ohio - but it is sourced from a Polish website . He was said to be angry at her for . cheating on him with a friend and plied her with alcohol before she . signed a consent form agreeing a design ‘at the artist's discretion’. She wanted an image of Narnia. But the story itself - originally reported on the VeryWeirdNews website and later followed up by British newspaper The Sun, U.S. website Metro and others across the world - has been thrown into doubt. The picture of the ‘tattoo’ appeared on the Ugliest Tattoos blog, part of the Fail Blog group of websites, as far back as December 2009, MailOnline can reveal. It was sourced from Polish social network website Nasza-klasa, which translates as ‘our class’, and the caption on the photo lists the month in Polish as January, without a year, and the name of ‘Ania’. A court official at Dayton Municipal Court, where the lawsuit would most likely have been filed, told MailOnline they had no record of either Ms Brovent or Mr Fitzjerald in their records system. Is it real? The story itself - which was originally reported on VeryWeirdNews and later followed up by newspapers and website across the world - has been thrown into doubt . A search of that court's database and of those of the surrounding civil courts by MailOnline also threw up no matches for either the defendant or plaintiff. In addition the Smoking Gun website reported that a spokesman for Montgomery County Common Pleas Court, which covers the Dayton area, said he did not know about the reported lawsuit. 'I was passed out for most of the time, and woke up to this horrible image on my back' What Rossie Brovent is quoted as saying . In the VeryWeirdNews article from November 21, Ms Brovent is quoted. But no contact address, email or phone number is listed for the website. ‘He tricked me by drinking a bottle of cheap wine with me and doing tequila shots before I signed it and got the tattoo,' she is quoted as saying. ‘Actually I was passed out for most of the time, and woke up to this horrible image on my back.’ The photo has gone viral since it was picked up by the mainstream media, but it now appears the image has been floating around blogs for years and there is no civil lawsuit as has been reported.
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Rossie Brovent 'suing ex-boyfriend for $100,000 after he drew tattoo on her'
Ryan Fitzjerald was 'angry at her for cheating on him with long-time friend'
But story has been thrown into doubt as no court records are held on case .
In addition the photo has been found published from a Polish website in 2009 .
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Editor's note: Clark Howard, the Atlanta, Georgia-based host of a nationally syndicated radio show, is host of a television show designed to help viewers save more, spend less and avoid getting ripped off during these tough economic times. The show airs at noon and 4 p.m. ET Saturdays and Sundays on HLN. Clark Howard says it's smart to cut back and save, but sometimes being cheap doesn't pay. ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Over the last several years, we as Americans became "negative net savers" -- a fancy term used by pointy-headed economists to say that we spent more money than we made. In fact, our savings rate was at negative 2.7 percent as recently as four years ago. Now, however, the trend seems to be reversing. We actually saved five percent out of every dollar of disposable income in January, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Wow, a whole nickel out of every dollar. Thomas Jefferson would be proud! Sure, it's not the "dime on a dollar" rule of thumb for savings that I rave about, but it's a start. Watch Clark talk with an amazing saver » . The truly noteworthy thing here is how we're saving this much-heralded five percent. Where exactly are we cutting back to satisfy our newfound hunger for pinching nickels? The BEA's numbers show that vehicles and fuel expenses account for nearly two-thirds of the savings. That category alone has seen a $115.2 billion decline compared with January 2008 numbers. Americans are riding their vehicles until the wheels fall off. The second largest category where we've cut back on is eating out, which is down $55.7 billion from last January. After that, we're also trimming the budget on clothing, jewelry, alcohol and more. In most recessions, the sales of alcohol do very well as people try to drown their worries in a bottle. I'm not so sure that behavior itself has changed, but this time around, people are trading down in their drink of choice. For example, fancy wine drinkers may be switching to Trader Joe's lines of Charles Shaw wines (a.k.a. Two Buck Chuck, for their $1.99-$3.49 per bottle price). Beer drinkers, meanwhile, are skipping expensive and exotic microbrews in favor of cheaper choices. Of course, there are other ways to save a nickel without having to trade down or go without. Many people are simply becoming "do-it-yourselfers." This trend has also been called insourcing -- when you do something yourself instead of paying someone else to do it. Some marketers have seized on insourcing to great effect. For example, Target recently ran an ad campaign that aimed to reinvent the store's image for these new, leaner times. Consider this: The ailing retailer has always positioned itself as an affordable splurge over the years. But suddenly, any kind of splurge is seen as irrelevant in today's economy and Target's sales are suffering. So their recent ad campaign was all about the "new." A circular I saw showed the "new" room service (store brand orange juice and cereal served at home); the "new" personal trainer (using home exercise equipment instead of paying for a gym membership); and the "new" restaurant (eating at home) -- all things that can be pricey, but are now being repositioned on the cheap in an effort to boost sales. Insourcing is making direct inroads into the home too -- quite literally. The Wall Street Journal's Weekend Journal recently reported on "closet boutiques" where women are now opening up their homes and closets to strangers in order to sell unwanted designer clothes. Closet boutiques are typically advertised on Craigslist. There were 715,000 postings in February -- more than double the amount last year at that time. For buyers, a closet boutique offers the opportunity to pick up designer threads at a tiny fraction of their new cost. But a word of caution for sellers: You'll almost certainly have some questionable characters coming into your home. Store away all your valuables, and make sure you have enough eyeballs on hand to ensure that people don't wander around your home with sticky fingers. In other DIY (do-it-yourself) moments, The Washington Post recently reported that sales of sewing kits at Wal-Mart are up 30 percent in just the last few months. People are mending their own clothes instead of paying a tailor or seamstress to do the same. And let's not even mention all the botched dye jobs that hairdressers are having to work with from women (and some men) who tried to take matters into their own hands. Sometimes, it doesn't pay to be cheap!
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Americans are saving five percent out of every dollar .
Vehicles and fuel expenses account for nearly two-thirds of the savings .
More people trying "do-it-yourself" projects like sewing, hair dying .
Clark says, sometimes it doesn't pay to be cheap .
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In amongst chasing car theft syndicates and catching armed robbers, Queensland Police have dedicated their crime-fighting efforts to tracking down a distressed citizen who'd lost their camera. Taking a break from cracking cases on an obviously quiet weekend at Queensland's North Stradbroke Island, Dunwich police uploaded the happy snaps from the lost device onto their social media page. Cops even issued a press release on Saturday morning, launching a lost-and-found exercise at the popular but relatively quiet beach destination about half an hour off the coast of Brisbane. Incriminating evidence: Police released three photos from a lost camera on Saturday in an effort to find the items owner . The press release was issued inbetween two serious crimes including a 'organised theft of motor vehicle syndicate' and 'armed robbery' 'The search is on for a snapper who left their camera behind at North Stradbroke Island earlier this year,' the press release stated. 'The camera contains images from around Australia, including North Stradbroke Island and Brisbane, and police want to return it to its rightful owner.' One of the images, which shows a platter of sweets beside a couple of paper cups filled with chocolate, received a fair amount of attention from Facebook viewers, leading even police to express their cravings. One particular picture, depicting a table laden with deserts, proved ot be particularly popular on the Queensland Police's Facebook page . 'Did you take this photo before enjoying the deliciousness? If so, Dunwich police may have your camera,' the post by Queensland Police Service said. 'Can QPS please help unite me with that deliciousness?!' one person wrote in response to the post. 'That looks like a chocolate sampler from Montys Chocolate in Brisbane. So yummy! I hope you find the owners of the camera,' another person commented. Queensland police media was quick to respond to the posts, even tellling one woman who announced she was off to sample the photographic 'evidence', 'Enjoy the deliciousness, Anne!'. The press release issued by the police, urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers . The press release was issued by police in between two far more serious crime stories, including one about the 'organised theft of motor vehicle syndicate' being broken and an 'armed robbery' in Surfers Paradise. Nonetheless, the public service was sure to remind citizens of the serious nature of the matter at hand, imploring them to make contact with police. 'Anyone with information which could assist with this matter should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au 24hrs a day,' the media release said.
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Queensland police took a break from hard-hitting crimes on Saturday to share some photos from a lost camera .
One of the photos received a fair amount of attention from both police and social media viewers, who were engrossed by the sweets depicted .
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A double killer who knifed his girlfriend and their six-year-old son to death in a frenzied attack will today begin a court bid to inherit their £200,000 estate. Paranoid schizophrenic Paul Chadwick is seeking to exploit a loophole in the law that prevents killers profiting from their crimes. But his victims’ family have told of their torment at the prospect of having to face him across a courtroom again and their anguish at having to relive the tragedy. Killer Paul Chadwick has launched a bid to inherit the £200,000 estate of his victims, partner Lisa Clay (left) and their six-year-old son Joseph . Chadwick, 35, claims that his mental illness meant that he had not intended to kill. He has been granted permission to bring a test case at the High Court – and has applied for the case to be heard in secret ‘in the interests of justice’, claiming it would breach his human rights for confidential information about him and his financial affairs to be made public. Chadwick stabbed partner Lisa Clay 32 times and their son Joseph 25 times at their home in Bolton-le-Sands, Lancashire, in April last year. His plea of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility was accepted and last September he was ordered to be detained indefinitely in a secure mental unit. The landscape gardener has been granted permission to leave the secure unit in Preston to give evidence at the hearing at Manchester Civil Justice Centre. Chadwick is demanding the £150,000 semi-detached home he shared with Miss Clay, 40, his son’s £30,000 trust fund and £16,000 in joint bank accounts. Chadwick is demanding the £150,000 semi-detached home he shared with Miss Clay, 40, as well as Joseph's (pictured) £30,000 trust fund and £16,000 in joint bank accounts . He claims that because he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia when he carried out the killings he is entitled to the assets – the proceeds of money inherited by Miss Clay – because he was the beneficiary of her will. If successful, he could set a precedent for other killers to make a claim because their mental health was impaired at the time of their crimes. The Forfeiture Act of 1982 says those convicted of murder or manslaughter cannot inherit from their victims or profit in any way from their crimes. But there is clause allowing that ban to be waived in exceptional circumstances. For example, if a battered wife who has suffered years of violence suddenly retaliates and accidentally kills her partner, she may still be able to inherit his estate. Preston Crown Court heard that Chadwick had complained of hearing voices days before the killings and told Miss Clay, who worked part-time in a Marks & Spencer store, he was concerned that people thought he was gay. Miss Clay’s family, who learnt of the High Court action just before Christmas, told in a statement yesterday of their anguish at Chadwick’s attempt to claim his victims’ estate. ‘To have Lisa and Joseph killed in this way is a tragedy we will never overcome,’ it said. ‘But to be faced with the prospect of seeing their killer in court, fighting to inherit money from the two people he stabbed to death, has been too much for us. ‘He has nothing to lose from taking this action, but it has caused such torment for us. ‘One of Lisa’s aunts was going to give evidence but has had to pull out because of the anguish caused by the thought of seeing him. ‘She is still distraught and this has brought back the nightmares.’ Another family member due to give evidence, who does not want to be named, said: ‘I’m dreading the idea of going into the witness box and seeing him. Is it justice that he can stand there in court with the hope of claiming Lisa’s estate while we have to sit there with the prospect that he could soon be released to enjoy the spoils of his horrendous crime?’ Miss Clay’s relatives have been forced to use their savings to fight the case, while Chadwick has launched a claim against them for his legal costs to be paid. Keith Etherington, of Slater & Gordon, who is representing Miss Clay’s family, said: ‘Manslaughter is the unjustifiable, inexcusable and intentional killing of another person. The usual rule should not be relaxed where the violence was grievous and unprovoked, as here.’ Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
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Paul Chadwick, 35, stabbed partner Lisa Clay and their six-year-old Joseph .
Schizophrenic has launched a court bid to inherit their £200,000 estate .
He was ordered to be detained indefinitely in a secure mental unit in Preston .
But he is demanding £150,000 home and his son’s £30,000 trust fund .
Miss Clay's family said this court action has 'brought back the nightmares'
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(CNN) -- Fernando Verdasco beat Swede Robin Soderling 6-3 4-6 6-3 to claim the Barcelona Open crown on Sunday and ensure a Spanish winner of the clay court tournament for the eighth successive year. The fifth seed Verdasco might have been demoralized after his straight sets rout at the hands of Rafael Nadal in the Monte Carlo Masters final last weekend, but showed his fighting qualities against Soderling. With defending champion Nadal opting not to defend his title at his own club, Verdasco took advantage to add to his San Jose title success earlier this year. He follows compatriots Carlos Moya (2003), Tommy Robredo (2004) and Nadal for the last five years in keeping the trophy on home soil. "I'm very excited and happy to win this tournament. I wasn't originally going to play this week, but I got a wild card and here I am," he told the ATP Tour's official Web site. "I've been training here since the age of 15. Watching the Barcelona Open for me has always been a very special tournament." Verdasco broke the big-hitting Soderling in consecutive service games as he took the opening set. Soderling, who beat Nadal en route to last year's French Open final, showed his ability on clay by winning the second to set up a decider. But the home hope broke Soderling again in the fourth game of the third set and served out to clinch the title. Nevertheless, it was a promising first appearance of the season on clay for Soderling as he builds up to the French Open at Roland Garros from May 23 where Roger Federer defends the crown.
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Spain's Fernando Verdasco claims Barcelona Open title .
Fifth seed Verdasco beats Robin Soderling in three-set final .
Spanish players have won in Barcelona for the last eight years .
Verdasco was thrashed in Monte Carlo final last weekend by Rafael Nadal .
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Atlanta (CNN) -- Georgia Institute of Technology student Nicholas Selby is a force to be reckoned with. The sophomore is a Mechanical Engineering major, co-leads Team Solar Jackets -- Georgia Tech's team that built and raced a solar-powered car in the Formula Sun Grand Prix -- and is a president's scholar, representing the top 2% of enrolled students at the university. It's safe to say he must have a lot of energy -- and it appears to have been unleashed during his welcome speech Sunday to this year's freshman class. It started out like many other convocations. Faculty, staff and notable guests, including Selby -- dressed in a traditional black robe with his mortarboard perfectly perched upon his head -- addressed the new recruits: "We chose Georgia Tech because we want to do the impossible." But then, something unexpected started to unfold. Music from "2001: A Space Odyssey" began as Selby quoted Sir Isaac Newton: "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." As the trumpets from the iconic movie theme song swelled, so did Selby's passion, with the cadence a drill sergeant would envy. "Crush the shoulders of the giants upon whom we stand. We here are all such innovative people. So I am telling you: If you want to change the world, you're at Georgia Tech! You can do that! If you want to build the Iron Man suit, you're at Georgia Tech! You can do that! And if you want to play theme music during your convocation speech like a bad ass, we're at Georgia Tech, we can do that! I am doing that!" Selby breathlessly finished the speech with his arms raised in victory, to applause from the roughly 4,000 people in attendance -- some of whom seemed a little shell-shocked from his intensity. After a brief pause, Selby deadpanned with a smirk: "Congratulations on your acceptance and brace yourselves for a hell of a ride on your way to becoming a hell of an engineer." That last phrase was a reference to refrain of the school's famous fight song. Freshmen, wearing their traditional yellow caps slightly askew, appeared stunned; and they weren't the only ones. Video of the speech is going viral with over 340,000 hits since being posted Monday. Comments on the video range from poking fun at Selby's appearance -- "Welcome to Hogwarts," a reference to Selby's Harry Potter-like appearance -- to enthusiasm. One person commented, "I am 30 yrs old, I already went to college. I am married, I have a kid, and a full time job in New York... and after watching that, I just applied to Georgia Tech." Another person felt the speech was so epic that becoming Selby's best friend feels possible "Because I go to Georgia Tech!"
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Sophomore's enthusiastic welcome speech stuns freshmen .
Video of the epic speech is going viral .
Selby played theme from "2001: A Space Odyssey" as the soundtrack to his speech .
Selby: "You can do that! I am doing that!"
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(CNN) -- Militants who control parts of Somalia's capital city are beating women in broad daylight for violating their radical brand of Islamic law, according to local officials and witnesses in Mogadishu. "Just today, Al-Shabaab dispatched men with whips to the streets around Bakara market and they are flogging any woman who is found not wearing socks," according to a female maize trader at the Mogadishu market, who spoke Thursday. She did not want to be named for security reasons. In the past two days, more than 130 people, including women who were not wearing headscarves and men chewing dried khat leaves, have been detained for violating Al-Shabaab's interpretation of sharia, or Islamic law, according to witnesses and officials. Hooded Al-Shabaab gunmen rounded up 50 women on Wednesday from Mogadishu's Bakara market for not wearing the veil that is required for women under some interpretations of Islamic law, according to the maize trader. "Most of these women were vegetable traders, so they are poor and can't afford to buy veils for 600,000 shillings [about $23 U.S.]," she said. She said she saw more women being detained Thursday. Another 80 Somali civilians were detained in the southwestern town of Luuq, near the Kenyan and Ethiopian border, "because they turned deaf ear to orders we imposed on the town," said the local Al-Shabaab commander Sheikh Hussien al-Iraqi. Al-Shabaab is considered a terrorist organization by the United States because of its ties to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network. It has been imposing stricter rules on Somali civilians living in the areas it controls. Earlier this month, Al-Shabaab militants whipped women for wearing bras in an area of northern Mogadishu that they control, shocking residents who have been besieged by the ongoing insurgency. The militants believe the female undergarments are a deception to men.
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Militant group Al-Shabaab imposes strict interpretation of law in areas it controls .
Women violate law by not wearing socks, headscarves and by wearing bras .
"Al-Shabaab dispatched men with whips to the streets," witness says .
Al-Shabaab is considered a terrorist organization by the United States .
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48f51a9cf3fb49e93083fee3e433326b52579fbf
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The price of a long black or latte could soar to $5 a cup down under as the price of the world-renowned Arabica bean reaches new highs. Drought in one of the world's largest producing coffee countries, Brazil, has pushed the price of the bean to $2.50 for half a kilo making it the most expensive it has been in two and a half years. It's raised new fears that the price of of coffee will soar to $5 a cup in Australia as local roasters struggle to cope with tight profit margins and rising overheads of running their own business. The price of an average cup of gourmet blend coffee could soar to $5 due to demand for beans . Peter Nikolakopoulos from the Kaffeina group, which sells Illy coffee in Australia, said consumers will be forced to fork out more as businesses struggle to cover with costs of ''labour, rents and electricity.' 'I think it might (reach $5),' he told The Australian. 'But that's a reflection of labour costs, not coffee prices.' 'I'll use the example of Illy, which is an expensive, premium coffee which retails for $50 a kilo. You get 140 cups out of a kilo, so you're talking a 35 cent coffee component. 'It's a long way from there to $5.' Brazil is the world's largest coffee grower but is facing an uphill battle to meet demand . The main reason the world's coffee is costing more is due to a lack of rainfall in world-renowned coffee producer Brazil which harvests more than a third of the world's caffeine content. The South American country is in the grip of a drought, raising fears that next year's crop will be the most underwhelming it has been in years. The last coffee harvest was Brazil’s smallest in three years, after the main growing region experienced its worst drought in decades in the spring. In July, unseasonable rains caused some trees to flower early for the next year’s crop, but dry weather followed, causing some of those trees to drop their flowers and others to not flower at all. The International Coffee Organisation said that the new season, which began on October 1, could be the worst producing crop since 2006.
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Droughts in Brazil - the world's largest bean producer - is pushing prices to new highs .
Demand for coffee as well as cafe overheads mean extra costs will likely be passed on to consumers .
One local Australian roaster believes the cost of a takeaway cup could hit $5 next year .
The International Coffee Organisation said that next year's harvest could be the worst in Brazil since 2006.
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2a49ade371de0ba256479f531d5a77eac6df8b3c
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Washington (CNN) -- When Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, pronounced this week that "17 angry old white men will wake up and realize they've just bought the country," after the elections, he echoed the distaste many Americans feel at the secrecy surrounding the flood of money pouring into campaigns. Political experts estimate $6 billion will be spent during the 2012 presidential elections — a large chunk of it via anonymous donors thanks to a Supreme Court ruling which allows unlimited corporate campaign donations. That's enough money to give 6/7ths of the world's population $1 each. Politicos and even comedians have made much ado about the influence of anonymous super rich donors and well heeled super PACs, groups that can raise money from a number of sources and spend unlimited amounts independent of and in support of political campaigns. Democrats on Capitol Hill bemoaned failed efforts this week at forcing out of the shadows political campaign donors who give more than $10,000 to independent groups. Republicans called Democratic efforts a disingenuous attempt to silence critics by going "after the microphone instead, by trying to scare off the funders," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, long an advocate of campaign donations as a form of free speech. Senate Republicans block DISCLOSE Act for second straight day . "We are determined to prove that transparency is not a radical concept," Sen. Tom Udall, D-New Mexico, said of the bill to force groups to reveal big donors' identities. "Our bill is as simple and straightforward as it gets -- if you are making large donations to influence an election, the voters in that election should know who you are. The American people are blessed with common sense. They know that when someone will not admit to something, it is usually because there is something to hide." It's an issue that's chock-ful of sermonizing and spin. "Every election we have a lot of hand-wringing... but this issue has been with us a long time," said Michael Toner, a former Federal Election Commission chairman and a veteran campaign finance attorney. The fact is the Supreme Court has found that this practice qualifies as free speech. The fact is lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have punted -- repeatedly -- on forcing big donors to disclose their identities. Lawmakers such as McConnell once supported transparency for these types of donations but later vociferously advocated anonymity to protect donors from harassment. The fact is both major political parties and conservative and liberal groups alike have benefited for decades from money donated from the shadows. "Yes, there are some pretty rich people who support super PACs because they have some strong ideas. The super PACS are not the evil so many people portray them to be," said Joel Gora, a Brooklyn Law School professor who worked on Buckley v. Valeo, the landmark 1970s Supreme Court case that determined spending money to influence elections is a form of free speech. Pro-Obama super PAC raises $6.1 million in June . "Just because some people can speak more than other people, the solution is not to prevent them to speaking," Gora said. "It's to help...level up free speech for everybody." Still, something about it, for many folks, just feels, well, wrong. A poll conducted in April of roughly 1,000 likely voters by the the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law found that "one in four Americans — 26% — say they are less likely to vote because big donors to super PACs have so much more influence over elected officials than average Americans." Pro-Romney super PAC brings in $20 million in June . For some voters, big dollars means big trouble for the electoral process. "Of course that kind of money spells trouble! If nothing else, it leaves the suspicion that the office is for sale to the highest bidder," Phil Clouser said on CNN Politics' Facebook page. "Campaign spending should be limited to whatever the office will pay for that term." Others feel the bluster over anonymous donors is a red herring. President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney "will each spend a lot on advertising as is usually done. This election is much more important to conservatives so they are making a lot of contributions to Romney," Judi Purcell said on CNN Politics' Facebook page. "Obama has gone to a lot of fundraisers so he has a lot of money too. That's the way is it and those who don't like it don't have to like it." Why Democrats need labor unions .
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Roughly $6 billion will be spent on presidential election -- much through anonymous donors .
The Supreme Court has ruled that this practice qualifies as free speech .
Lawmakers can't agree on requiring big donors to disclose their identities .
Some say they're less likely to vote because big donors have so much influence .
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By . Pat Hagan . Being overweight can increase your risk of going deaf, researchers found. A 20-year study of nearly 70,000 women found those who gained the most weight were more likely to lose their hearing. And although the study focused on women, the findings apply equally to men, the researchers said. Until now, it was thought the only way to slow age-related deafness was to protect the ears against loud noise. But the study also found that regular physical activity – such as walking at least two hours a week – could reduce the risk of hearing loss by around 15 per cent. The study of 70,000 women found those who had put on more weight were more likely to lose their hearing. The findings are also applicable to men say researchers . The findings come from the Nurses Health . Study, one of the biggest health research projects ever undertaken, . which has been tracking the well-being of thousands of female nurses in . the US since the 1980s. Every two years for two decades the . nurses were quizzed on health and lifestyle, including their dietary . habits, weight and hearing loss. Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston found that very overweight women with a body mass index (a measure of whether weight is healthy in relation to height) of 40 or higher were 25 per cent more likely to have damaged hearing than women with a healthy BMI of 25 or lower. And women with waists bigger than 34.5in were 27 per cent per cent more likely to be hard of hearing than those with waistlines of less than 28in. The risks of obesity were evident even when researchers took account of other factors known to affect hearing, such as smoking. It’s not clear exactly how being overweight damages delicate cells in the ear. The study found women with a BMI of over 40 were more likely to suffer damaged hearing. File image . But the researchers, whose work is published in the American Journal of Medicine, suggested fatty deposits could clog up blood vessels in the ear, limiting blood supply and therefore damaging cells. A US study in the early nineties found . elderly men and women with hearing loss were up to three times more . likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke than those whose hearing was . still good. Lead researcher Dr Sharon Curhan said: ‘The ear is highly . metabolically active, so that means it’s really dependent on having . adequate blood supply.’ She said obesity can compromise blood flow by . narrowing blood vessels. People who are obese also are more likely to . have high blood pressure, another condition that can hamper blood flow. Around ten million people in the UK suffer some degree of hearing loss and, as we all live longer, that figure is expected to rise to 14.5 million in the next 20 years. The vast majority of cases are due to the ageing process, where tiny hair cells in the inner ear die off and are not replaced. High-pitched sounds, such as a bird chirping or a phone ringing, are usually the first to go. According to the charity Action on Hearing Loss, most people put up with deteriorating hearing for around ten years before having it tested or seeking help. Action on Hearing Loss said it is due to publish its own research within the next few months exploring the links between dietary habits, smoking and loss of hearing.
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Study found women who gained most weight were more likely to lose hearing .
The findings equally apply to men according to researchers .
Women with a BMI of 40 were 25 per cent more likely to have bad hearing .
Those with larger waistlines also were found to be more likely to go deaf .
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9aa53ad461894b33464a1b80d23f3c1e7adc9855
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Alan Pardew has pinpointed Newcastle’s come-from-behind draw against Hull in September as the catalyst for his side’s dramatic upturn in fortunes. The Magpies have won three on the spin going in to Saturday’s home match with Liverpool in front of a lunchtime television audience. They were also live on the TV on Wednesday as Pardew’s young team made it through to the last eight of the League Cup with a shock 2-0 victory over Manchester City. Papiss Cisse inspired a Newcastle comeback against Hull and they have been in fine form ever since . That came on the back of wins at home to Leicester and at Spurs, easing the pressure on the manager. Pardew was the subject of fan fury ahead of that visit of Hull with many calling for him to be sacked after a winless start to the season. But Papiss Cisse struck twice in the second half to salvage a point and so began United’s revival. ‘The comeback against Hull was possibly the turning point,’ said Pardew as he reflected on his three straight victories. Newcastle have built a strong team spirit and will be hoping they can win their fourth game on the spin . ‘We were 2-0 down at home on the back of a difficult run and a defeat would have been really tough to take. ‘Papiss getting those two goals and coming back to fitness gave us that boost we needed and we’ve taken it on into all the games since then. ‘Our points total is improving and we want to keep improving our position by beating Liverpool. Pardew, whose first game in the Newcastle dugout was a 3-1 victory over Liverpool, added: ‘It’s always a great fixture and a tough game. There’s a certain romance to it and all makes for a really cracking game. Facundo Ferreyra adapts to life on Tyneside and is hoping to break into the first team . ‘It was my first game as Newcastle manager and we’ve had some good ones against them and more than held our own. I’m pretty confident about what Liverpool will do. ‘I think I know Brendan (Rodgers) well enough to know how they will play, but I think we can surprise them. ‘One thing’s for sure - Brendan won’t know my team, but I’m confident what his well be.’ United will be without the injured Cheick Tiote but Papiss Cisse has a chance of recovering from his knee problem. Gabriel Obertan is all smiles as he prepares for Newcastle's clash with Liverpool . Pardew, meanwhile, has revealed that his message to the players remained the same during their recent period of struggle. ‘You have to be strong and be consistent with your players, whether you are going through difficult times or really good times,’ he said. ‘I can’t go bounding in this morning all happy and excited as if we’ve won the World Cup, we have won one game. It’s the same when you get beat. You have to have a consistency of what you are about. ‘We were planning for Liverpool from 8.30 this morning and that is how we work. Everybody else can say and do what they do in the background, we have to ignore that and get on with our job.
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Newcastle have won three games in a row since drawing with Hull .
The Magpies take on Liverpool in their next game at St James' Park .
Alan Pardew's are looking to build on a shock win against Man City .
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Pippa Middleton arrived for Prince George of Cambridge's christening yesterday in a couture coat that colour coordinated with Kate's outfit - as well as her nephew's christening gown. The Middleton sisters both chose to wear cream for the historic occasion, with Pippa opting for a 'trapeze' coat and 'Paris' dress by British designer, Suzannah Crabb. That Pippa, 30, matched her sister and nephew's gown was no coincidence. Suzannah revealed that the socialite had worked with her over the last few months to create the perfect outfit. Scroll down for video . Months in the planning: Pippa asked British designer Suzannah Crabb to help create her outfit for yesterday's historic occasion . Stylish aunty: Pippa follows her mother and brother into the service wearing a 'trapeze' coat made from Italian wool with Emmy shoes and a hat by British milliner Edwina Ibbotson . Pippa and James speak with the Archbishop of Canterbury as they arrive at the Chapel Royal in St James's Palace. Pippa gave a reading during the service . Proud grandparents: Pippa arrived with Carole and Michael Middleton . Magic Moment: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their young son, but the Middleton's business has been accused of cashing in on this relationship . The designer said she undertook 'hours of research into the history of royal christenings' to create something truly fitting of the occasion. She . said: 'We aimed for understated beauty, drawing inspiration from a . 1960s coat dress that I bought in LA, among other vintage looks and . archive pieces. 'The outfit had to be both . beautiful and appropriate from the length of the hem, to the style of the millinery and the subtle colour and cut. 'Lace has . been a popular fabric choice by significant guests at royal christenings since . 1926 and a dress in a style similar was worn by Princess Victoria of Sweden to . the christening of her daughter Princess Estelle in 2012.' The . designer worked with Pippa to create a bespoke version of the cream . coat, made from Italian wool with a blush pink trim and oyster silk . lining. But a similar version is on sale for £750. Suzannah also designed a cream version . of her lace 'Paris' dress for Pippa to wear yesterday. A similar navy style . costs £950 from her website. For an event the royals had been at pains to describe as ‘intimate’, low key and private, it was all rather, well … public. Within ten minutes of Pippa Middleton’s arrival at her nephew’s christening, the designers who made her outfit issued press releases about where the items could be purchased. British designer Suzannah spoke of the ‘hours of research’ that had gone into Miss Middleton’s outfit. Not far behind was a triumphant announcement from designer Catherine Walker that the Duchess’s mother, Carole, was sporting one of her coat dresses. Spokesmen for both companies declined to say yesterday whether the women received a discount – directly or indirectly – in return for generating publicity for their brands. A spokesman for Catherine Walker said: ‘This is not something that is ever commented on or discussed.’ The designer describes the dress as 'a modern shift, with a suitably high neckline and simple, clean lines, . finished in French lace.' Pippa teamed her outfit with a jaunty hat by British milliner Edwina Ibbotson, shoes by Emmy and carried a peach clutch bag - all put together with Suzannah's expert eye for style. Suzannah is a favourite designer of Pippa as she has worn her dresses on numerous occasions including society weddings. The designer said it was a 'dream come true' when Pippa approached her about her outfit for the christening. Pippa was saw the outfit take shape over several bespoke fittings and Suzannah said she was a joy to work with. Still smiling: Kate's sister Pippa Middleton leaves Kensington Palace after the christening of Prince George at the Chapel Royal in St James' Palace . Longstanding relationship: Suzannah Crabb, left, has dressed Pippa before as she wore this green dress by the designer to a society wedding in 2011, right . Special occasion: The Duchess of Cambridge carries her son Prince George after his christening . Popular choice: Kate, Pippa, George and Camilla, right, all wore cream but the Queen brought some colour to the proceedings in a blue coat and matching hat . She said: 'Creating a couture dress and frock coat not only for the occasion of the royal christening, but for Pippa Middleton, who is so naturally elegant and stylish is a commission that every designer dreams of. It's so exciting that British fashion has such a champion.' As well as Pippa, Suzannah has designed for Princesses . Beatrice and Eugenie and pop stars Paloma Faith and Marina and The . Diamonds. As Pippa arrived for the service yesterday, she stopped to chat and shake hands with the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, who will baptised the three-month-old prince. She smiled broadly for the cameras as she arrived at St James's Palace with her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, and brother, James. Pippa smiles for the cameras as she's driven from the service . The magazine columnist, whose brunette hair was swept off her face in a half-up style, was not joined by her stockbroker boyfriend Nico Jackson, 35. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were keen for yesterday's service to be an intimate, family affair - despite the worldwide interest - and only 24 guests were invited. Pippa is not one of the prince's godparents but will take a prominent role in his upbringing as his only aunty. Along with Prince Harry, she was given a key role during the service as the Duke and Duchess asked their brother and sister to give readings at the christening. Pippa read the first lesson, from the Gospel of St Luke, Chapter 18, verses 15-17. Pippa gained notoriety as maid of honour at the royal wedding after causing a stir in her figure-hugging bridesmaid's dress that saw her dubbed 'her royal hotness'. 'It's startling to achieve recognition on account of your sister, brother-in-law and bottom,' she admitted in her party book Celebrate. James Middleton risked comparison with his nephew’s namesake, King George V, by showing off a bushy beard at the christening yesterday. But not everyone was convinced that the Duchess of Cambridge’s brother mastered the beard as well as the Queen’s grandfather. On Twitter, it was described as ‘vast’ and ‘prolific’, while one user wrote: ‘James Middleton. What is that beard?!’. Another user wrote: ‘You’d think James Middleton would have shaved his beard, not look like he’s just spent three months at sea.’ The 26-year-old was seen with a full beard last month while out with girlfriend Donna Air. Observers suggested Mr Middleton, who owns a cake-making business, could be trying a more mature look for television presenter Miss Air, who is eight years his senior. Similar: James Middleton (right) risked comparison with his nephew’s namesake, King George V (left)
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Pippa Middleton wore coat and dress by British designer, Suzannah Crabb .
Arrived at St James's Palace with her parents and brother .
She gave a reading during the service .
Suzannah said Pippa wearing her designs was 'dream come true'
She describes socialite as a 'champion' of British fashion .
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A stunning timelapse video of Melbourne's CBD showcases the many reasons why the city was crowned the world's most liveable for the fourth year in a row. In a survey of 140 cities, Melbourne was ranked the gold medalist for healthcare, education, stability, culture and environment and infrastructure, and given an almost perfect score of 97.5 out of 100. Melbourne-based photographer and videographer Daniel Johnson decided to celebrate the award by exploring the city once a week over five months, to capture the beautiful sights of the city he is proud to call his home. Scroll down . The stunning skyscape of Melbourne's CBD, captured by photographer Daniel Johnson in his timelapse video showcasing the city . Daniel took over 20,000 photographs to complete the project, visiting iconic landmarks and hidden alleyways to snap images of the city's landscape and create the amazing visual showpiece. 'After being nominated as the world’s most liveable city for the fourth year in a row, I thought what better subject to showcase in my new time-lapse short film than Melbourne itself,' said Daniel. 'Growing up in Melbourne I always loved the city and its culture. Getting older and experiencing other cities has made me realise just how lucky I was to be born and raised in such a great city,' In a survey of 140 cities, Melbourne was ranked the gold medalist for healthcare, education, stability, culture and environment and infrastructure . Voted the most liveable city by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Melbourne was among other Australian cities, including Sydney and Adelaide, to make the top ten . Daniel's labour of love took five months to create, and he wanted to capture the areas of the city he loved the most to show off both the iconic landmarks and the hidden gems Melbourne had to offer . 'Melbourne is not just a beautiful city on the outside. The diverse culture and amazing vibe is what makes it special.' Voted the most liveable city by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Melbourne was among other Australian cities, including Sydney and Adelaide, to make the top ten. Former Premier Denis Napthine said that the score was a great boon for Melbourne and Victoria. Daniel took over 20,000 photographs to complete the project, visiting iconic landmarks and hidden alleyways to snap images of the city's landscape . Flinders Street Station in the CBD, on the corner of Flinders Street and Johnson Street, as busy commuters rush past . Melbourne is famous for it's urban aesthetic, including it's graffiti-sprayed alley walls (above) Flinders Lane, one of Melbourne's many back-alley dining gems, home to cafe's, restaurants, and boutique clothing stores . 'It’s terrific to know that we scored the perfect score in healthcare, education, infrastructure and sport, and we got terrific scores in culture and environment and in stability,' reported The Herald Sun. Daniel's labour of love took five months to create, and he wanted to capture the areas of the city he loved the most to show off both the iconic landmarks and the hidden gems Melbourne had to offer. 'I wanted to present the parts of Melbourne that stood out to me and bring life to the images using time-lapse photography,' he said. Daniel said that he took over 20,000 photographs to create the amazing time lapse video . Melbourne scored an almost-perfect 97.5 out of 100 in the Economist Intelligence Unit survey . Melbourne has been ranked as the World's Most Liveable City for four consecutive years . 'To be named the world’s most liveable city for four consecutive years is a great honour and a testament to the enviable lifestyle that Melbourne’s offers,' said Mayor Doyle . 'Well over 20,000 images were shot. Many hours walking through-out the city carrying heavy camera equipment, and countless hours in editing time (thrashing my 13inch Macbook pro to its limits), were spent just to make this project come together,' 'I have never worked so hard on a project & I’m extremely proud of what I have made.' Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said that the score was reflective of the opportunities Melbourne offered it's residents. 'After being nominated as the world’s most liveable city for the fourth year in a row, I thought what better subject to showcase in my new time-lapse short film than Melbourne itself,' said Daniel . 'Growing up in Melbourne I always loved the city and its culture. Getting older and experiencing other cities has made me realise just how lucky I was to be born and raised in such a great city,' said Daniel . Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said that the score was reflective of the opportunities Melbourne offered it's residents . 'To be named the world’s most liveable city for four consecutive years is a great honour and a testament to the enviable lifestyle that Melbourne’s offers,' said Mayor Doyle. 'Safety, sustainability and smart growth have been the keys to Melbourne’s liveability and prosperity,' he said.
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Melbourne was listed as the most liveable city in the world for the fourth year .
It scored 97.5 out of 100 over the categories of healthcare, education, stability, culture, and environment .
Melbourne-based photographer Daniel Johnson decided to showcase the best the city had to offer in a timelapse video, taking over 20,000 images to capture Melbourne at its best .
Daniel said: 'Melbourne is not just a beautiful city on the outside. The diverse culture and amazing vibe is what makes it special'
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(CNN) -- Militants in Pakistan's tribal region attacked a truck carrying supplies for NATO troops in Afghanistan -- killing the driver and his assistant, officials said Friday. Gunmen opened fire and threw petrol bombs, setting the truck and its container on fire, said Muhammad Arshad Khan, a senior government official in Khyber Agency. They then fatally shot the occupants of the truck, Khan said. The torched truck was part of two-truck convoy headed toward the Torkham border crossing. The second truck was not damaged in the incident. Pakistan had closed off the crossing after U.S. helicopter strikes across the border killed two Pakistani soldiers. But it was reopened Sunday. It is the main land route for NATO supplies crossing from Pakistan to Afghanistan. Convoys have repeatedly come under militant fire in recent days. Since October 1, at least six people have been killed in attacks on supply vehicles -- in addition to the latest casualties. The convoys are generally operated by contracted Pakistani firms, using Pakistani trucks and drivers. The Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for some of the attack, saying they were in retaliation for drone strikes. The group said it has set up a special squad to hit U.S. interests in Pakistan, especially NATO supply efforts. The latest suspected drone strike came Friday when four alleged militants were killed in North Waziristan, two Pakistani intelligence officials said. Two missiles hit a vehicle in the area of Machi Khel in the district -- one of seven in Pakistan's volatile tribal region bordering Afghanistan. The intelligence officials asked not to be named because they are not authorized to speak to the media.
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NEW: Drone strike kills 4 in tribal region .
Gunmen set the truck on fire, then shoot the occupants .
Convoys have come under repeated attack in recent days .
The Pakistani Taliban says it has set up a special unit to attack U.S. interests .
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fec7784be48508d1e3eafb8dc6a5a95b159b1d40
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Adnan Januzaj is determined to establish himself at the heart of Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United despite being marginalised under the new manager. Januzaj emerged as a shining light amid the gloom of David Moyes’ time in charge and was rewarded with a five-year contract worth £50,000-a-week exactly a year ago. But the 19-year-old Belgium forward has yet to start a game under Van Gaal, making all six of his first-team appearances this season off the bench while playing for the club’s Under 21 team. Adnan Januzaj is determined to fight for his place at Manchester United . The Belgian teenager has not started a match this season after making his breakthrough last term . However, Januzaj will stay and fight for a place at Old Trafford and is ready to compete with Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata for the No 10 role. ‘We want to stay,’ said the teenager’s agent Dirk de Vries. ‘Adnan wants to gain experience in England as No 10 — he doesn’t fear the competition. Januzaj and Luke Shaw (R) on their way to training ahead of United's clash with West Brom . Januzaj wants to challenge Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney (R) for United's No 10 jersey . ‘Just like anyone else he wants to play but he will wait for his opportunity. He is a super professional and he is still motivated, even when he has to play for the Under 21s. ‘We’re not angry. We know the club is very happy with him and they want to keep Adnan for the rest of his career at Old Trafford. They believe in him, otherwise he wouldn’t be handed the No 11 of Ryan Giggs. ‘We have to wait until Van Gaal gives him a chance. But we cannot look into the Dutchman’s head and know what he thinks. I believe Adnan plays well at this moment and I’ve heard that he could start the game on Monday.’ United manager Louis van Gaal is yet to put his faith in the 19-year-old who has been turning out for the U21s . Van Gaal has preferred to start with United's big money signings Radamel Falcao and Angel di Maria (R) Alex Vervecken, the United scout credited with discovering Januzaj at Anderlecht, believes United’s £150million summer spending spree has left Van Gaal with no choice but to pick the big-name stars. ‘Adnan has still all of his qualities,’ said Vervecken. ‘He will get his chance. Even if he didn’t play for a year, he will stay. Maybe, the problem is that United have started winning games now and Van Gaal focuses on his new guys — Angel di Maria and Radamel Falcao. They have to play. The competition is extremely hard. Even Fellaini doesn’t play and it’s even difficult to make it into the squad. Also, if United were in Europe or the League Cup, Januzaj would have more opportunities.’
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Adnan Januzaj is determined to fight for his place at Manchester United .
Belgium international wants to challenge Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata for the No 10 playmaker's role at Old Trafford .
Louis van Gaal has not handed the teenager a start this season as he relies on big money arrivals including Radamel Falcao and Angel di Maria .
The 19-year-old has been tipped to start against West Brom on Monday .
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c6b256be8b844f396f2ae4591169ab9a0c807d47
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(CNN) -- Liechtenstein, a tiny principality nestled in between Switzerland and Austria, is attempting to shake its tag as a tax haven following intense international pressure. Since 2008, it has signed at least 20 Tax Information Exchange Agreements with countries across the world including Germany, the UK and the United States. The principality's Hereditary Prince Alois said Liechtenstein still has strong banking secrecy but has a more open taxation system. "I would say today we are a safe haven, rather than a tax haven," he said. Liechtenstein is one of Europe's most robust economies, but despite this Prince Alois is not immune to concerns over the eurozone debt crisis. According to the heir apparent, the general view of the situation is "that we have to suffer in the next few years." With this in mind the nation is considering cutting back its social security system as it faces the headwinds of Europe's economic crisis. The Prince said such a move would be unpopular, but there may be no option. "Our social security system is on a higher level than Switzerland, people won't like it if we move down to a Swiss level, but it would be much easier," he told CNN. It's an area the Prince has identified which needs to adapt amidst the current uncertainty. That compares to the principality's manufacturing industry, which he says will more or less have the ability to continue in the same as it has always. Liechtenstein has a population of just 35,000 but has managed to build and sustain a strong industrialized economy, with production making up a large proportion of its GDP. The Prince said Liechtenstein's challenge was to ensure it remained an attractive business environment, and that it continued to lure highly skilled professionals. The principality's location is a major benefit, the Prince said. Its proximity to Switzerland, Australia and Germany allowed it to tap markets with high quality universities. CNN's Emily Smith contributed to this report.
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Liechtenstein is one of Europe's most robust economies .
It's attempting to shake its tag as a tax haven following international pressure .
Liechtenstein's Prince Alois says he is concerned about the eurozone crisis .
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734ca9a754dd444ed50362375e256fd72d82def5
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(CNN) -- Presidential candidates have been wooing voters in Iowa for months, but who wins Thursday may simply come down to where the caucus-goers live, where they meet and the weather. Iowa is a mixed bag politically, and one of the most evenly divided states in the nation. But the candidates will likely watch two regions more closely than others. The central part of the state -- including industrial Des Moines -- is Iowa's most Democratic area. Western Iowa, on the other hand, is home to the most Republicans -- especially the rural counties in the northwest. The Mississippi River city of Davenport is expected to be one of the most significant battlegrounds, with Linn County -- dominated by the university town of Cedar Rapids -- also attracting lots of attention from both parties. Past Iowa caucuses have been nail-biters for the candidates. Democrat Al Gore won the state by a margin of just 0.3 percent in 2000, while President Bush carried it in 2004 by 0.7 percent. In fact, Bush was the first GOP presidential candidate to carry Iowa in 20 years. Important endorsement . The support of Iowa's largest newspaper, the Des Moines Register, may also play a role in Thursday's caucuses. The paper's presidential endorsements began in 1988 and have become a highly sought-after prize in Iowa presidential politics. George W. Bush was the Register's pick in 2000 and went on to win Iowa, the GOP nomination and the White House. Republican presidential hopeful Bob Dole won the state in 1996 and 1988 after receiving the paper's support. Democratic candidates haven't had as much success with the Register's endorsement. John Edwards finished in second place in Iowa in 2004, while Paul Simon was also a close second in 1988. The paper endorsed Sen. John McCain and Sen. Hillary Clinton for their respective parties' nominations. The candidates have to appeal to voters with strong opinions. On the Republican side, 37 percent of participants in the 2000 Iowa GOP caucuses identified themselves as members of the religious right and 73 percent described themselves as conservatives. Meanwhile, 56 percent of the participants in Iowa's 2004 Democratic caucuses described themselves as either very or somewhat liberal. About 37 percent said they were moderates. The weather . Iowans who take part in the caucuses must traditionally brave freezing temperatures and lots of snow. Presidential candidates know bad weather may affect how many people turn out, but 1972 was the only time rough winter conditions played a role in the caucuses, according to Drake University's Hugh Winebrenner -- the nation's leading expert on Iowa caucus history. Caucus-goers that year encountered heavy snowdrifts from a blizzard the previous day. Temperatures dipped below zero across most of the state. The weather forced about one-fourth of Iowa's 99 counties to postpone their Democratic caucuses up to two days after the scheduled date. The forecast for Thursday is much better. Temperatures will be in the 20s during the day and dip just below that as the caucuses begin, according to the Des Moines Register. E-mail to a friend .
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The central part of Iowa is the state's most Democratic area .
Western Iowa is home to the most Republicans .
Support of Iowa's largest newspaper, the Des Moines Register, highly sought .
Weather may affect how many people turn out .
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1b6bd3e204b5e16dac97393eaad6aa7996a8b7a7
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By . Kieran Gill . Follow @@kie1410 . Adam Lallana has taken out a full-page ad in Southampton's Daily Echo to bid farewell to those at St Mary's after making his £23million move to Liverpool. The 26-year-old was officially unveiled at Liverpool's Melwood training HQ on Tuesday and leaves the Saints after joining at the age of 12. The ad, on page 75, read: '14 unforgettable years, the memories will last a lifetime. Thank you Saints fans for your endless support, a place in my heart forever.' VIDEO Scroll down to watch Adam Lallana join Liverpool from Southampton for £23million . Thank you: Adam Lallana takes a page in Southampton's Daily Echo to show his appreciation for Saints fans . New colours: Lallana poses with a Liverpool shirt at the club's Melwood training ground . Bootroom: Lallana poses after passing a medical and concluding negotiations over the £23million deal . In the frame: Lallana sits down for his first interview as a Liverpool player . 2000-2006: Southampton (youth career) 2006-2014: Southampton (235 apps, 48 gls) 2007-2007: Bournemouth (loan) (3, 0) 2014-NOW: Liverpool . 2013-NOW: England (9 caps, 0 gls) The attacking midfielder, set to wear No 20 at Liverpool, is sure to be missed at Southampton but realised a personal dream by joining Brendan Rodgers on Merseyside. 'I'm so excited for the next chapter of my career, coming to a special club like Liverpool,' Lallana told Liverpool's official website. 'I'm quite humbled and I just can't wait to get started. Hopefully I can settle in quickly, and I will give it my best throughout the whole time I'm here. 'I hope I can add something to the team and hopefully we can win trophies while I'm here, because that's why I'm here - for success.' Lallana, whose ad in the Daily Echo seals his departure from a club he spent 14 years with, admitted the move intrigued . him last year, as . Liverpool came within touching distance of winning the Premier League title. Fitness check: Lallana pictured during his medical by Liverpool's first team doctor Zaf Iqbal at Melwood . Tests: Dr Iqbal checks Lallana's legs during the medical on Monday ahead of his switch . Lallana played for Bournemouth until the age of 12 and a sell-on clause was negotiated when he moved to Southampton's academy. For that, the Cherries receive 25 per cent of Lallana's £23million fee, meaning the Championship side get £5.75m from the deal. He said: 'Watching the run-in towards the end of last season was unbelievable, not just for myself but everyone involved in football. 'It got the hairs on the back of my neck standing up just watching them, and the style of football they were playing. 'Deep down, I was thinking to myself: hopefully one day I'll be able to play in that team. 'That dream has become a reality now, so I can't wait for that to get started.' Lallana became Liverpool's second signing of the summer, after his Southampton team-mate Rickie Lambert joined for £4m. Rodgers has also agreed a deal in principal for Bayer Leverkusen's Emre Can.
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Adam Lallana takes page 75 in Southampton's Daily Echo to thank fans .
Message reads '14 unforgotten years, the memories will last a lifetime'
Lallana thanks 'endless support' and says fans will have 'a place in my heart forever'
Lallana was unveiled at Liverpool's Melwood training ground on Tuesday .
The attacking midfielder, 26, will wear No 20 at Anfield .
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caa684948953fe0186cc917f533c95bcd64660b5
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Washington (CNN) -- Recently, I was talking with an interviewer about men and war (I wrote a book about this), and she asked me, "What is it about testosterone that gets us into war?" There is no doubt that women can fight. They do so every day in Afghanistan and Iraq. Though not permitted in the infantry in the U.S., they have seen plenty of action on a battlefield with no fronts. They are brave. They are also prudent. Some men, maybe not so much. In his correspondence between 1886 and 1898, for example, Theodore Roosevelt wrote enthusiastically about the prospect of war with Mexico, Canada, Britain, Germany and Spain. Roosevelt may have been an extreme example -- charging up Cuba's San Juan Hill, he exulted, "Holy Godfrey, what fun!" -- but he was hardly unusual in his eagerness for combat. When war against Spain was declared in April 1898, President William McKinley asked for 125,000 volunteers. He got over a million young American men almost overnight. In those days, women were not permitted in the armed services. But what if they had been? Do women share the yearning for combat that has defined so many young men in so many societies, all through time? I am tempted to say that women would be less likely to get us into wars. But then I remember Queen Elizabeth I (if you can't, just picture Cate Blanchett in body armor), British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (saying to President George H.W. Bush before the Persian Gulf War, "Now, George, don't go wobbly on me") and Golda Meir, prime minister of Israel during the Yom Kippur War (ordering revenge for the 1972 Olympics slaying of Israeli athletes). Does anyone doubt that gun-toting Sarah Palin would be ready to fight anyone, anytime? Hillary Clinton? Still, I think women do not have the same primitive urge to test themselves in combat. Back in Teddy Roosevelt's time, upper-class men in particular were determined to prove their manhood, fearful that they might be somehow exposed as weak and effeminate. This was particularly evident in Roosevelt's correspondence. He scoffs at his political foes as "hermaphrodites": roughly, half-woman, half-man. Curiously, however, Roosevelt was introduced to the mythology and glories of war by a woman. Josephine Shaw Lowell was the widow and sister of two great Civil War heroes and martyrs, Charles Russell Lowell and Robert Gould Shaw. (You may remember Shaw's fatal charge with his doomed black regiment from the movie "Glory"). The young Josephine, a family friend of the Roosevelts', would visit wearing her widow's weeds and thrill little Theodore with the exploits of her martyred menfolk. In her old age, Josephine Lowell turned against war. She had the wisdom to see that a war to free the slaves in America was noble but that foreign adventuring in Cuba and the Philippines had more to do with the atavistic urges of men than wise policy or moral duty. Indeed, women may respond to the test of their essential identity in a less macho fashion then men. Although there were reportedly some problems with having women in the frontline units of the early Israeli army, women fought courageously and well in the Russian army against Germany in World War II. In the American military, women have taken on dangerous jobs. After some initial resistance, women fliers have been accepted by the brotherhood of naval aviators and air force pilots. In the movie "Courage Under Fire," about a brave helicopter pilot in Desert Storm played by Meg Ryan, the men are shocked when Ryan cries. There is a wonderful scene in which Ryan tells the men to stop staring. "It's just tears. It doesn't mean anything," she snaps. Women are no less courageous than male soldiers, but they sometimes have less need to show off. They certainly can bring a certain sense of humor that is useful in deflating male egos. After Teddy Roosevelt rode up San Juan Hill with his Rough Riders, his wife, Edith, went to Cuba to tour the battlefield. When she returned, she slyly told her husband that the hill of his famous charge was not quite as high as she had been led to believe. It is not known whether Roosevelt laughed. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Evan Thomas.
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Evan Thomas was asked, "what is it about testosterone that gets us into war?"
He says women brave, prudent; historically, men, like Teddy Roosevelt, eager for combat .
Women can make war (Thatcher, Meir) but lack men's macho urge to test themselves .
Thomas: Women tend to have have less need to show off .
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(CNN)President Obama's new tax plan includes some sensible ideas. Unfortunately, it would mean increasing taxes on saving and investment, which are key drivers of economic growth, according to various experts. On balance, I believe the plan moves in the wrong direction. The President's proposal to boost the earned income tax credit for childless low-wage workers is a sensible step to strengthen the social safety net and encourage people to work. Expanding the credit, an idea also put forward by Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, would draw childless adults into the labor force and give them income support. The President is also proposing two supply-side measures that would reduce barriers to work. Under today's tax system, secondary earners often face high tax rates based on the couple's combined earnings. That penalizes two-earner couples and discourages spouses from entering the work force. Some supporters of the tax penalty see it as a way to strengthen their vision of traditional family values. But Americans should be free to choose their own family values, without interference from the tax system. Obama tax plan: Middle-class credits, increases for rich . The President's plan would reduce the tax bias against two-earner couples by providing a second-earner credit and expanding the credit for child care costs. A bigger child care credit is particularly good tax policy. Any tax system that taxes workers on their income should offer relief for work-related costs. Child care costs are definitely work-related; statistical studies confirm that the availability of cheaper child care promotes work by parents, particularly mothers. However, even as the President's plan eases tax barriers to work, it introduces major obstacles to saving. The plan starts on the right track, with measures to make it easier for people to save at their workplaces. But it turns around and strikes a heavy blow against saving by taxing some capital gains at death and raising the top tax rate on capital gains and dividends. Those proposals would amplify the income tax's central flaw, its penalty on saving. People who earn wages and spend them immediately pay tax only on their wages. But those who earn wages, save and consume the proceeds in the future pay tax on both their wages and the returns on their saving. It doesn't make sense to put heavier tax burdens on people who choose to save for the future rather than spend today, particularly when their savings finance the investments that drive the economy's long-run growth. Taxing capital gains at death could be a step forward if tax rates on capital gains and dividends were cut by enough to prevent an increase in the overall burden on saving. For that matter, the combination of taxing gains at death and raising the rates could be a step forward if it was offset by scaling back the corporate income tax, a particularly complicated and destructive levy on saving and investment. But that's a far cry from what the President is proposing. His plan would leave the corporate income tax in place while taxing capital gains at death and increasing the top tax rate on gains and dividends by more than 4 percentage points (on top of an increase of almost 9 percentage points in 2013). Taxing the savings of "the 1%" to finance tax cuts for the middle class may be good politics, but it's a shortsighted approach that could undermine long-run economic growth. A better approach would have been to curtail the growth of entitlement benefits for those well above poverty and to limit tax breaks for expensive owner-occupied homes. The President has put forward some good ideas to help childless low-wage workers and ease the tax penalty on two-earner couples. But it would be a big mistake to pay for them by penalizing the saving and investment on which our economic future depends.
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Alan Viard: President Obama's plan to increase taxes on saving and investment may not be wise .
Viard: It doesn't make sense to put heavier tax burdens on people who choose to save for the future rather than spend today .
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f799b5ff72d4ce89825d7e165cb9a0f000584f86
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By . Steve Robson . PUBLISHED: . 05:02 EST, 12 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:44 EST, 12 December 2012 . Shalema Gaskin, 32, was shot dead outside a hospital in Brooklyn as her eight-year-old daughter lay in a hospital bed inside after suffering an asthma attack . A mother-of-three was shot dead down outside a hospital as her child was being treated inside for an asthma attack. While eight-year-old daughter Saniyah Gaskin-Miley was lying in a ward having following treatment with her father at her side, Shalema, 32, went outside for a cigarette at Brookdale University Hospital, New York. She was gunned down with a single shot to the neck from point blank range. Ms Gaskin - who left her job in immigration services office to pursue a sociology degree - was rushed back into the hospital's emergency room, but could not be saved. Her family told the New York Daily News they have been left shattered by the shocking murder. 'She came outside to smoke a cigarette ... and never made it back upstairs,' said her heartbroken mother, Tanya Gaskin, 50. 'Her baby’s father was up there waiting for her to come back and he didn’t know what happened until the cops called him.' Her aunt Lila Evans said: 'She didn’t deserve to die. That girl was an angel. She had no enemies.' So far police have no clues behind the motive of the random killing in south Brooklyn. Ms Gaskin had brought her daughter Saniyah Gaskin-Miley to the hospital on Monday morning when the child began suffering from asthma. She was joined later by boyfriend and the child's father Mark Miley. Just before 3am, she told him she was going to check on her other daughters - Tamara Gaskin, 18, and Briana, five - at her apartment three blocks away. But minutes later she was shot dead. Detective were scouring the area for clues - looking in drainpipes for spent casings or the murder weapon. Shocking: Brookdale Univeristy Hospital in south Brooklyn where mother-of-three Shalema Gaskin was shot dead on Monday . Police said the incident is not believed to have been caught on any surveillance cameras and Mr Miley was released without charge after being questioned by police. The couple were in a 10-year relationship and Ms Gaskin's mother said Mr Mile was 'hysterical' after receiving news of her death. Ms Gaskin - who had been struggling . to pay her daughter's university fees - was a regular worshipper at New . Jerusalem Baptist Church in Queens. 'She was in a safe place,' said Tanya Gaskin. 'This is a hospital. People are supposed to come here for help.'
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Shalema Gaskin shot outside Brookdale University Hospital, New York .
Daugther Saniyah Gaskin-Miley, 8, was being cared for after asthma attack .
Family pay tribute to 'angel who didn't deserve to die'
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A Delta flight was forced to make an emergency landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Wednesday evening after it experienced problems with the hydraulic system. Delta Flight 886 from Atlanta was scheduled to land at LaGuardia Airport, but on final descent, a warning light in the cockpit indicated a possible problem with the plane's hydraulic system which controls the brakes. The flight was then diverted to JFK as a precaution because it has longer runways then LaGuardia. A Delta flight was forced to make an emergency landing at Kennedy International Airport on Wednesday evening after it experienced problems with the hydraulic system . The plane landed uneventfully, but while taxing, it went into the grassy area off the runway, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said. The plane was moving slowly at the time and none of the 118 passengers and 5 crew members on board were injured. Passengers said they were told they needed to land at JFK because it had a longer runway, which would better ensure a safe landing. ‘It was a little scary,’ passenger Bhatia Tasneem told NBC4. ‘I have to admit, my heart started racing a little bit, and I was worried about what may or may not happen.’ The Delta plane was a McDonald Douglas MD88 similar to the one pictured . ‘You can't help but have that question when something like this happens,’ she said. Victor Chemptob said the landing felt normal ‘up until the very end, when it felt like stopping short, someone slamming on the brakes.’ The Port Authority Police Crash, Fire, Rescue Unit responded to the scene. The passengers were bused to Terminal 2. Delta said those who needed to get to LaGuardia Airport will be bussed there. The hydraulics system controls the brakes, flaps and steering of the plane. The FAA and Port Authority say they're investigating. Video: Plane ends up on the grass at JFK .
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Delta Flight 886 from Atlanta was .
scheduled to land at LaGuardia Airport .
On final descent a warning .
light in the cockpit indicated a problem with the .
hydraulics which controls the brakes .
Passengers were told they .
needed to land at JFK because it had a longer runway and would better .
ensure a safe landing .
The plane landed uneventfully, but while taxing, it went into the grassy area off the runway .
None of the 118 passengers and 5 crew members on board were injured .
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25691adfcc9578b40047d7ee88a31bbf109456fb
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(CNN) -- NASA launched an unmanned rocket to the moon Friday night to study its lunar atmosphere and environment. The 90-foot rocket carrying the orbiter was expected to be visible to much of the eastern U.S. seaboard when it launched from Virginia, officials said earlier. If skies were clear, residents of the Carolinas, northern Maine, West Virginia and Pittsburgh could see it, authorities said. It launched at 11:27 p.m. ET at the Wallops Flight Facility at Wallops Island. The Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer is designed to "orbit the moon to gather detailed information about the lunar atmosphere, conditions near the surface and environmental influences on lunar dust," NASA said. "A thorough understanding of these characteristics will address long-standing unknowns, and help scientists understand other planetary bodies as well," NASA said. Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo completes 2nd powered flight . Nicknamed LADEE, it is expected to reach the moon on October 6. Earth's distance from the moon is between 223,700 miles to 251,700 miles depending on the moon's position, the space agency says. CNN's Diane Ruggiero contributed to this report.
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NEW: It launched at 11:27 p.m. ET from Virginia .
NEW: It will study the lunar atmosphere and environment .
NEW: It will have an orbiter to gather information on the moon .
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United Nations (CNN) -- The United Nations Security Council in New York held an emergency session Thursday to discuss and condemn widespread rapes in eastern Congo, while the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. said she was troubled by a briefing on the attacks. "We are horrified, and we are outraged, and that led us, in conjunction with the French, to request this detailed briefing this morning," said Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., on Thursday. "It was a disturbing briefing, both for what we learned and what we don't know still." The United Nations peacekeeping mission in eastern Congo was aware that Rwandan rebels were occupying villages in the region in late July and early August, but did not know of reports that the rebels were raping women in those villages, U.N. officials said this week. Nearly 200 women were gang-raped by hundreds of Rwandan and Congolese rebels, humanitarian officials said. Roger Meece, a representative for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, said the United Nations was alerted to rebel activity in the area but was not notified of the mass rapes. "There was no particular question of an attack, much less the kind of events like mass rape," Meece said Wednesday. But a senior United Nations official said Thursday that the U.N. was to blame for the incident and that the organization should leave the Congo if it could not protect civilians. "We are guilty of a conspiracy of silence," said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he is a current member of the peacekeeping mission in Congo and is under orders not to criticize the U.N. publicly. "If we can't help civilians, there is no point in being here." "These things happen all the time. It may not be 180, it may be 10, but it happens all the time," the official said. "Our colleagues are part of the problem--it's pretty bad." "They take it for granted, that people in Congo just have to suffer," the official continued. "Some of the people in our hierarchy keep saying 'it's not going to change'... They just seem apathetic. It is very rare to meet anyone who wants to make a difference." The United Nations did not reply to requests for comment on allegations Thursday evening. U.N. officials said that an e-mail warning of rebel activities was sent to U.N. and other staff working in the area. Madnoje Mounoubai, a spokesman for the U.N. peacekeeping mission in eastern Congo -- known by the acronym MONUSCO -- said the U.N. was first alerted to the rapes by humanitarian organizations on August 12. The U.N., which maintains a number of peacekeeping bases in the region, made its first public comments on the attacks Monday. But the account of the delay was disputed by the International Medical Corps, a non-governmental organization that operates in the region. IMC spokeswoman Margaret Aguirre told CNN that her group informed the U.N.'s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs about the rapes on August 6, a day after IMC representatives had visited the affected villages. Rice said that she and the French ambassador asked many questions about the situation on Thursday. "I just want to take this opportunity to reiterate from the U.S. point of view our strongest possible condemnation of the rapes and attacks that occurred against scores of innocent civilians," she said after the briefing. Vitaly Churkin, of the Russian Federation and this month's Security Council president, said Thursday, "The members of the Security Council reiterated their demand that all parties with the armed conflict immediately cease completely all forms of sexual violence and all human rights abuses against the civilian population of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including gender-based violence including rape and other forms of sexual abuse." According to humanitarian organizations, rebels raided a network of villages in North Kivu province between July 30 and August 3 and raped 179 women. Many of them were gang-raped individually by between two to six men. A U.N. peacekeeper military base was within 30 kilometers (about 19 miles) of the general area of the attacks, in the town of Kibua. "We had regular patrols in this area during that period," Mounoubai told CNN by phone from Kinshasa Wednesday. "Unfortunately, the villagers and the local authorities never brought this issue to our knowledge. If we are not informed, it will be difficult for us to know," he added. Giorgio Trombatore, director for the International Medical Corps in the Congo, said he was among the first group of people to visit the site of the attacks. "Two hundred to 400 armed men systematically pillaged and raped women in the villages," Trombatore said. "The rebels entered, tried to calm the population down by telling them they came for food and rest, and so [they] shouldn't flee," he said. "Another group came at night and it was then they started harassing the population." Armed men often raped the women in front of their children and husbands, IMC said in a news release. "Large numbers of women reported being physically beaten before the sexual assaults, and some reported abuse of babies who were forcibly removed from their arms. The perpetrators simultaneously pillaged the entire village and smaller neighboring villages, before leaving." During the four-day attack across 16 villages, according to the U.N., rebels from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, as well as militiamen from the notorious Mai Mai movement, also looted villages. An earlier report said three peacekeepers were killed and seven others were wounded, but those deaths and injuries stemmed from a previous incident. Ban said Tuesday he was "outraged" by the attacks. "This is another grave example of both the level of sexual violence and the insecurity that continue to plague the DRC," Ban said in a statement. He has dispatched a senior representative -- Atul Khare, his assistant secretary-general for peacekeeping operations -- to the affected areas in and around Walikale, the epicenter of the rapes, to meet with victims. Margot Wallstrom, the secretary-general's special representative on sexual violence, was expected to stop in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, before going on to visit Walikale. Churkin, the Security Council president, said the council welcomed the secretary-general's decision to dispatch a special representative to consult with authorities in Congo. That representative, Churkin said, would dig for facts about the rapes and assess what more could be done to ensure effective protection of civilians. In Washington, State Department Secretary Hillary Clinton said Wednesday she was "deeply concerned" by the reports. "The United States has repeatedly condemned the epidemic of sexual violence in conflict zones around the world, and we will continue to speak out on this issue for those who cannot speak for themselves," she said in a statement. "The United States will do everything we can to work with the U.N. and the DRC government to hold the perpetrators of these acts accountable, and to create a safe environment for women, girls and all civilians living in the eastern Congo." Ban has called on Congolese authorities to investigate the rapes and bring the perpetrators to justice, and for the government to step up its efforts to ensure civilian security. Officials with MONUSCO will hold an internal staff meeting between the civilian and military departments Thursday in Goma. The Democratic Republic of the Congo was ranked as the fifth-worst failed state in the world in a 2010 listing created by the Fund for Peace and Foreign Policy Magazine. Journalist Josh Kron contributed to this report.
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NEW: Top U.N. official: "We are guilty of a conspiracy of silence"
U.S. ambassador to U.N.: "We are horrified; we are outraged"
Rebels raped nearly 200 women in four days in eastern Congo .
United Nations says it was alerted to rebel activity but was not aware of the mass rapes .
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608318c46d94c2f656f12e2c82dcf17386ca51ac
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By . Olivia Williams . PUBLISHED: . 13:51 EST, 25 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:19 EST, 28 February 2013 . The real slave trade: An early depiction of what John Murrell, a notorious slave and horse thief, may have looked like . Director Quentin Tarantino is famed for his gory subject matter but Django Unchained, his film about the violence of the slave trade before the American Civil War is more realistic than many critics would realise. The Oscar-winning film is set in 1858, and reflects the contemporary mood of mob rule and casual violence. In the film Django, played by Jamie . Foxx, is a freed slave who journeys to reclaim his bride Broomhilda, played . by Kerry Washington, from a slave owner, with plenty of bloody battles along the way. Two new history books about American slavery suggest that Tarantino's nightmare vision of the period is not that far off the mark. The books paint a picture of how violence and fear pervaded American society at that time. The summer of 1835 was a particularly lawless one. Widespread panic broke out in the Southern states, after a man named Virgil Stewart wrote a sensational pamphlet that claimed a slave rebellion plot, financed by highwaymen and . Northern Abolitionists, was imminent. Rumours rapidly spread that this plot was true according to The Daily Beast. Scroll down for video . Brutal slave history as shown by contemporaries: An Engraving of a White Male Beating a Black Slave Tied to a Tree circa 1860 . At the time Virgil Stewart was . pursuing John Murrell, one of American history's most infamous bandits known as the 'great land pirate of Tennessee', . on suspicion he had stolen two slaves with him. Stewart alleged that this slave rebellion was going to be led by Murrell, a professional horse thief and slave stealer, planned for Christmas Day that year. People living around the Mississippi River and in Tennessee lived in fear of contact the 'Murrell Klan' though so much folklore surrounds them the full extent of Murrell's crimes remain hazy. He was first arrested in 1822, when he would have been about sixteen, and there began his life as an outlaw. The local papers were terrified of him, believing to have hundreds of men in his thrall. According to tradition, Murrell's band of thieves used to meet in a forest in Arkansas, just across the Mississippi River, where they formed their often murderous plans. Among many grizzly crimes Murrell was believed to have murdered the whole crew of a flatboat to steal the goods on board. Poignant climax of Django Unchained: The heroine Broomhilda is flogged against a tree at her plantation . In . the ensuing panic of a Murrell plot in Mississippi, nervous white Southerners formed . vigilante groups, seeking out potential collaborators. They whipped . confessions out of slaves that they were involved in the plot, and they were hanged. How many slaves were killed altogether is not known, but the number is likely to be in the dozens. The slaves' confessions also . implicated white men in the alleged Murrell plot. A self-appointed local . committee handed out their idea of justice and hanged five of them. More... Picturing freedom: How former slaves used photography to imagine and create their new lives after Emancipation . America will never rid the shame of being 'founded on the back of slaves': Bob Dylan says the country can't escape from its past . And this was no isolated incident. Over in Vicksburg, Mississippi, tensions came to a head on Independence Day. Slave and master: Leonardo DiCaprio, right, and Jamie Foxx, left, in Django Unchained . A time of endemic violence and mob justice: Jamie Foxx, left, and Christoph Waltz in Django Unchained - Quentin Tarantino's film about antebellum America . When . a prominent doctor was gunned down in the fracas, a mob lynched five . professional gamblers they believed to be responsible. In many plantations that summer dozens more men were executed, out of fear that they were implicated with gangs of slave thieves. None of this was lost on another subject of an Oscar-winning film of the year - future president Abraham Lincoln. In a speech three years later, Lincoln told the audience that the hangings were so numerous that 'dead men . were seen literally dangling from the boughs of trees upon every road . side; and in numbers almost sufficient, to rival the native Spanish moss . of the country.' Lincoln went on to be one of America's most loved presidents and eventually banned slavery throughout the nation. Freedom, at a price: Django, right, played by Jamie Foxx is purchased and freed by bounty hunter Dr King Schultz, left, played by Christoph Waltz . Shedding light on antebellum America: New history books by Joshua D. Rothman, left, and Walter Johnson suggest that the atmosphere of cruelty and violence in Tarantino's film is not so far-fetched .
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Quentin Tarantino's film Django Unchained is set in pre-Civil War America .
It controversially depicts a period of mob justice and endemic violence .
Fears of a slave uprising prompted real-life mass executions in 1835 .
Abraham Lincoln later described the huge number of hangings .
Slavery was abolished in the US in 1865 .
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624833cc67af95423f796f15d0e1f56cb0aa2cee
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The future shape of Britain if Scotland goes independent has been glimpsed in a piece of KFC chicken. The bizarre discovery was made by Terry O'Neil when he pulled out a breaded piece of fillet and noticed it looked just like a map of England and Wales - but no Scotland. It comes hot on the heels of the appearance of a cloud in the shape of the UK with Scotland removed. Scroll down for video . Bizarre: This piece of chicken looks like a map of the UK without Scotland, according to the man who found it . Mr O'Neil made his finding when he ordered a bucket of KFC while on holiday in Sussex with his family. The 55-year-old from the Isle of Wight said: 'I picked this one piece out and I thought it looked like the map of Britain, but then I realised Scotland was missing.' He added: 'I didn't notice it at first, but the closer I looked the more it just looked like the UK - well, England and Wales - but with no Scotland. 'I don't know whether it's an omen for the outcome of the Scottish referendum, but I wouldn't be surprised if Scotland vote Yes.' Earlier Gillian Begnan, a Scot who lives in England, took a picture of a cloud which she says looks like a map of the UK with Scotland removed. She now believes the odd sighting could be an 'omen' about Thursday's vote - though sceptics may dismiss it as nothing more than coincidence. 'Omen': Gillian Degnan took this photograph of a cloud which looks like the UK without Scotland . Mrs Begnan, 44, grew up in the village of Fairlie in North Ayrshire, on the west coast of Scotland, but has lived in Nottingham for 20 years and so is not able to vote in the referendum. She captured the photograph of the distinctive cloud while on holiday with her family in Sardinia. 'I was on my sun lounger when I spotted it in the sky,' she said. 'I thought it was a bit weird. 'The referendum is the talking point between everyone at the moment and I started to wonder whether it was an omen about how the vote is going to go.' Mrs Begnan added that she supports a No vote - but does not resent the fact that she is unable to cast a ballot. 'I would vote no,' she said. 'I think Scotland would be too small on its own. 'A split would have a negative impact on the rest of Britain as well. I think it would cause a huge disadvantage to everyone, financially and politically.' Close battle: The Yes and No campaigns headed by Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling are now neck-and-neck . The engineer continue: 'I have been away so long now it has to be a decision made by residents, it's not going to affect me directly. 'Most of my family still live in Scotland so we discuss what is happening with them. 'My daughters are 13 and 16, but my oldest thinks that 16 is too young to vote and she feels like if she had a vote she wouldn't be ready to decide. 'But my youngest is quite interested in it all and she says she would vote Yes if she could. 'Whatever happens I think it's going to have a big impact on the UK as a whole.'
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Terry O'Neill found the ominous meat while snacking on a bucket of KFC .
He noticed that it was shaped like a post-independence map of Britain .
Gillian Begnan took photograph of strange cloud while on holiday .
She thinks it could be omen of how Scotland will vote in Thursday's poll .
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6bffdbcbc3b6c33a9bf48de4926aa8efad536362
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By . Rob Draper . Follow @@draper_rob . Andre Schurrle is too young to be weighed down too much by the burden. His first World Cup has gone well and his status in world football is being elevated every time he comes on and makes an impact, so whatever happens now the Chelsea player should have fond memories of 2014. Yet even at the age of 23 he is aware of the sense of unfulfilled expectations. While the rest of the world is allowing itself to be overwhelmed by the consistency of the German national team reaching their fourth consecutive World Cup semi-final, the feeling in Germany is somewhat different. Characteristically the nation is dwelling on what more could be achieved, the feeling being that this generation of players have been in gestation for some time now. VIDEO: Scroll down to watch Klopp analyses Germany's chances . Ready: Schurrle, who scored in the last 16 against Algeria, says his side are ready to win the World Cup . Through: German centre-back Mats Hummels' header sails over the goalkeeper and in off the bar . In reality it is time they gave birth to something special and won a trophy. ‘We have this feeling,’ said Schurrle after the 1-0 win against France. ‘We are really close and we all feel we have a big chance to win the World Cup. In the last few years we have come close in tournaments but now we want to win it. 'We want to go to the final and win the title; that was our goal from the beginning. It is going to be tough. But it doesn’t matter who we play, we look at ourselves and how we play.’ Per Mertesacker, the Arsenal centre-half who endured the disappointment of being dropped before the game, has expressed the same thought. Triumph: Hummels celebrates beating scoring the quarter-final's only goal to put Germany through . All together: The team spirit within the German squad has developed as this team has grown up together . ‘We finished the last two World Cups in third position and that is really consistent,’ said Mertesacker. ‘What we need in Germany after all these years is a title. We are talking about titles and trophies.’ Indeed. Before the game against France in the Maracana, Germany manager Joachim Low hung up a signed Germany shirt from the 1954 team in the dressing room. On Friday, as they prepared to take on France, Low wanted to remind his players that it was 60 years to the day that Germany had won their first World Cup, which at the time was a shock performance dubbed the ‘Miracle of Bern’ but which laid the foundations of the post-War successes of German football. Since then there have been World Cup wins in 1974 and 1990, along with European Championship triumphs in 1972, 1980 and 1996. Joy: Mertesacker, Schweinsteiger and Neuer celebrate beating France to reach a fourth consecutive semi-final . Expectation: 18 years is a long time without a trophy for a team that always reaches the semi-finals . But while an 18-year gap between trophies would be nothing to worry about in England, for Germany it is beginning to nag. ‘It’s quite a performance it you are constantly in the semi-final,’ said Low on Friday night. But he was aware of the subtext of the questioning and added: ‘And yes, we will try to make the next step.’ This is the German generation that came of age in 2009, winning in the European Under-21 championships in Sweden against England. In the final that night in Malmo their team included Manuel Neuer, Benedikt Howedes, Mats Hummels, Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil, all of whom started against France and who represent the heart of Germany now. The England team, beaten comprehensively 4-0 that night, included only Theo Walcott and James Milner who now feature for England, though Joe Hart would have played had he not been suspended for the final. VIDEO Klopp analyses Germany's chances . Superb: Neuer's strng save in the final moments against France has earned him plenty of praise . It was Neuer and Hummels who took the plaudits in the Maracana. Neuer is so good ‘he could play in midfield for Germany’ said Low, referring to the ‘sweeper-keeper’ style of the German No 1. His ability to pass with his feet allows him to come well out of his box to clear up long balls, which permits the German back four to push up high. ‘He is the best in the world,’ said his Bayern team-mate Jerome Boateng. His last-minute save, pushing away Karim Benzema’s strike, was almost nonchalant, a throwback to Oliver Kahn and Peter Schmeichel, goalkeepers schooled in handball who had that ability to stand tall and simply punch balls away. ‘I try to copy the style of a handball goalkeeper when a forward is one on one,’ said Neuer, who played the game at school. There was some respite for Germany in the euphoria of the quarter-final win. Until now, Low and his team have endured criticism in Germany for the style of their football against Ghana and the unconvincing manner of their win against Algeria. Golden generation: Neuer has progressed through from the U21 squad with many in this team . ‘If other teams won the World Cup this way they would be seen as clever,’ said Thomas Muller. ‘People would rave about them. 'I don’t want to end up winning the World Cup and find that we have to be apologising for it, saying: “Sorry we only won the final 1-0.”’ Muller need not worry. The mood has eased somewhat after victory against France and Germany seem to be evolving into something impressive here. The hosts will be without Neymar and Thiago Silva for Tuesday’s semi-final in Belo Horizonte and it now looks, with their creative spark gone, that only sheer willpower and determination will get Brazil over the line to the final. For Germany, the opportunities are suddenly opening up. VIDEO Neymar can be replaced - Ronaldo .
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Germany have reached four World Cup semi-finals in a row .
But last trophy came at Euro 1996 .
German performances have not overwhelmed public at home .
Joachim Low's men beat France in quarter-final, face Brazil in semis .
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fbd4bab770f8f371be4f4351ac272fab82822b4d
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By . Tammy Hughes . PUBLISHED: . 03:30 EST, 9 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:36 EST, 9 July 2012 . An island offering a secluded beach, promises of great fishing and stunning views of the San Francisco skyline is up for sale — and at a heavily discounted price. Red Rock Island, a 6-acre mass of rock tucked away in a northern part of San Francisco Bay, is now being offered for just under $5 million after being listed for $22 million earlier this year. Its owner Mack Durning is now so desperate to flog the land he has clashed the asking price by $18. Bargain: Red Rock Island is on the marked for $5milllion after the owner slashed the asking price of $22million . Mineral rights for the property, which contains manganese in its rocky outcroppings, are negotiable. The undeveloped island has been on and off the market for years and relator Steven Higbee said he advised Mr Durning that the way to sell was by 'whittling away at the price.' Dishing out a few million dollars for a 5.78-acre property — especially one with no house or other structure — is not for everyone. But Higbee notes that if and when the island is sold, the new owner will have some unique opportunities. Sitting about six miles north of San Francisco, just off the south side of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, Red Rock Island is not just off the beaten path, it's not on any path — and doesn't even appear on some maps. Accessible only by boat or helicopter, and with no crowds of tourists swarming about, this island offers what may be the ultimate in a secluded getaway. Higbee said: 'You could go out there and have wild parties or retreat away from the wild parties,' He added that the new owner also would have the 'bragging rights' of owning their own private island in San Francisco Bay. Then there's the chance to escape San Francisco's gloomy and damp summer days with a quick trip to his or her island retreat, with a relaxing day of basking in the sun. 'Red Rock Island is out of fog bank,' Higbee said. 'If San Francisco is in the fog, you may be sitting in the sunshine.' If you want to get out of the sunshine, be sure to bring your own umbrella. There are no structures on the island. All that stands is a flagpole and its supporting wires. Tempted? The island has no structures in place but could be a good fishing spot for keen anglers . Over the years, ideas have been floated to remove dirt and rock from part of the island and sell it for use in roadway construction, and to build a hotel on the remaining land, though none of those ideas have been implemented. The only person to ever call Red Rock Island 'home' for any period was a man named Selim Woodworth who built a cabin on the island and lived there from 1851 to 1856. Possible loneliness aside, Higbee points out that the new owner also would enjoy great fishing and a distant view of the America's Cup races when the event comes to San Francisco in 2013. But taking ownership of the island may turn out to be a long-term proposition, with no guarantee of being able to sell it for a quick profit. According to Higbeen Mr Durning, a retired business owner, took possession of property from David Glickman, sometime in the 1970s. Glickman had bought the land in the early 1960s, asking $10 million for the island and another $10 million for mineral rights, with the hopes of cashing in on the then-increased demand for rock and gravel as parts of San Francisco Bay were filled in for development. Glickman never sold the island, but ended up turning it over to Durning in exchange for some debts, Higbee said. Glickman has since died, and Durning rarely visits the island. 'If somebody came up with some money, I would sell it; otherwise, I'll leave it to my sons to get even with them,' he told the San Francisco Chronicle earlier this year.
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Red Rock Island in San Francisco is completely undeveloped and is accessible only by boat or helicopter .
In a desperate bid to sell the land current owner Mack Durning has slashed the asking price by $18 .
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90d2bf8414df066304d1f233bb508b7db9ea62a2
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By . Anna Edwards . PUBLISHED: . 04:41 EST, 5 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:20 EST, 5 January 2013 . Detectives investigating the disappearance of a mother-of-two have found a body in a car after she went missing in the early hours after attending a New Year's Eve family party. A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of her murder after Janelle Duncan-Bailey went missing in the early hours of January 2. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: 'Officers attended Mayfield Crescent, Thornton Heath this afternoon following intelligence received. The body of a woman was found in a vehicle parked there. Janelle Duncan-Bailey, 25, of Thornton Heath was last seen between 5am and 5.30am on Wednesday, January 2 . 'While formal identification awaits, we . are confident the deceased is Janelle Duncan-Bailey, 25, of Thornton . Heath, Croydon. Next of kin have been informed. 'A post mortem will be scheduled in due course.' Ms Duncan-Bailey, of Thornton Heath, Croydon, was last seen between 5am and 5.30am on January 2. She had made arrangements to leave her two children with a friend in Bromley whilst she attended a family function. She left her friend's address at around 4am on 2 January to return to Thornton Heath. Her friend believed Janelle would collect the two-year-old and seven-year-old boys later that morning. However, her friend reported Janelle missing at 4.22am on January 2 when she had failed to collect the children. The mother was last seen walking down Limpsfield Avenue, in Thornton Heath before she disappeared . At around 4.30am Janelle had visited her former partner's home in Thornton Heath on January 2. Police were called following a report of a domestic incident and Janelle agreed to leave the address with police. It is believed she asked to be taken to another friend's address in Thornton Heath. She was last seen walking towards flats in Limpsfield Avenue, and was wearing a distinctive short-sleeved leopard-skin print dress - she was also not wearing any shoes at the time. Detective Chief Inspector Charles King of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command leads the investigation and is appealing for witnesses who may have seen Janelle. He said: 'I would like to appeal to anyone who was in the Limpsfield Avenue area between 05.00hrs and 06.00hrs to make contact with us. 'Lots of people would have been out and about at that time of the morning, either on their way to work or walking dogs - they may have noticed a woman dressed so distinctively. 'Did you see a black woman around that time wearing a leopard-skin print dress and no shoes? If so, we want to hear from you.' Last night, a 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of her murder. He was taken to a south London police station where he remains in custody. Janelle has never been missing before and her disappearance is totally out of character. She is described as a black woman, 5' 5" in height, of medium build and with shoulder length black hair which could possibly be enhanced with hair extensions. Police are urging anyone who knows of Janelle's whereabouts or has information that may assist the police investigation to contact officers. Anyone who can assist is asked to call detectives from the Specialist Crime Directorate based at Sutton police station on 020 8721 4054. To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons.
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After leaving the family function, Janelle Duncan-Bailey, 25, visited her former partner's home .
Mother was meant to collect her two-year-old and seven-year-old after party, but never showed up .
30-year-old arrested last night on suspicion of her murder .
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(CNN) -- Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair -- once one of the U.S. Army's top commanders in Afghanistan and accused of "sodomy ... by force" and other military crimes -- is to set to plead guilty Thursday to some charges but not the most serious levied against him, his lawyer said. Sinclair will plead guilty on three of the eight charges he's facing in military court, according to the office of lawyer Richard Scheff. These include "wrongfully engaging in ... inappropriate relationships" with three women soldiers from 2009 to 2012 overseas in Iraq, Afghanistan and Germany as well as domestically at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and Fort Hood, Texas. He'll also admit to having requested and possessed "pornographic and sexually explicit photographs and movies," having "sexually explicit communications with a female Army captain, and trying "to engage in an inappropriate relationship" with another woman. And the brigadier general will plead guilty to impeding the investigation into him by deleting nude photographs and an e-mail account, his lawyer said. Army general faces sexual conduct, other charges . But Sinclair will not admit to the most serious accusations against him, including the sodomy charge and that he threatened "to kill (one of the soldiers) and her family if she told anyone about their relationship, or words to that effect." He is also charged with "using his rank and authority to coerce and compel" a woman "subject to his orders ... to maintain a sexual relationship with him and prevent her from ending (that) relationship." "The government now has a big problem: It took pathetically weak assault charges and put a fancy wrapper around them," Scheff said. "We just tore the wrapper off. The prosecution team no longer gets to distract us with salacious details about acts that aren't even criminal in the civilian world." Yet Sinclair could still be found guilty on all the charges against him. It's up to a military judge to accept the guilty pleas as is, though Scheff's office indicates that they expect he'll do so. Moreover, the full trial is still set to proceed as planned with opening arguments kicking off at some point Thursday. Sinclair was sent to Fort Bragg from Afghanistan in 2012, the same year the last alleged incidents occurred and when he was originally charged. He had been deputy commander of the Army's 82nd Airborne Division. Scheff said Wednesday that his client "has consistently admitted his shortcomings and taken responsibility for them." Report: Troops filing sexual trauma claims less likely to get PTSD benefits . Congress passes reform on how military handles sexual assault cases .
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In 2012, Brig. Gen. Jeffery Sinclair was charged with "sodomy ... by force"
The military says he had porn, pulled rank to coerce and threaten female troops .
Sinclair's lawyer blasts what he calls "pathetically weak assault charges"
His military trial is set to begin Thursday .
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(CNN) -- Mention the Italian city of Florence, and people think of history, conjuring images of a classical city that was once Europe's Renaissance capital. In truth, the structure of the city has changed little since the 15th century when Michelangelo, Botticelli and the other great painters and sculptors of the era paraded through its piazzas. But what's it like to explore these ancient streets using the tools of the 21st century? Is it possible to survive in Florence and see it properly armed with just a smartphone? This was the challenge I set myself when visiting the city. No guides or guidebooks. Nothing written down at all, and definitely no help from a friendly local. Getting there . Traveling to Florence using technology is easy. New high-speed rail company Italo has an app and e-booking service. All I need is my phone and booking code to take my seat for the 180 mph (290 kph) journey from Turin. Accommodation is a breeze, too. Florence is one of more than a dozen Italian cities covered by last-minute room booking app Hotel Tonight. The app suggests a couple of places in the humdrum neighborhood near the city's station, but also a riverside artisan workshop turned boutique hotel, Riva Lofts (Via Baccio Bandinelli 98, Florence; +39 055 7130272). A couple of swipes later the room is mine, for $210. When I get there, all rooms in the cheapest category are gone. I get an upgrade to a two-floor suite, with kitchen, bathroom and a floating staircase up to a loft room beneath the original workshop ceiling. So far, so good. A quick check of another hotel reservation app suggests I've saved nearly $70 on my booking. 'Upside-down palace' Like all big European cities, Florence has its share of apps that translate the tried-and-tested format of a paper guidebook onto a screen. Among the best is Too Much Florence, available free for both Android and Apple phones. I appreciate the app's eye for the offbeat. It leads me to Piazza del Limbo, a sad little square close to the Santi Apostoli church. The square earned its name during the medieval period, when children who died unbaptized were buried here. The same app also takes me to the extravagant "upside-down palace" of Borgo Ognissanti. The Palazzo Baldovinetti was supposedly decorated with an inverted facade during the 16th century, to thwart the building regulations of a Medici duke. Untappd isn't supposed to be a travel app, but it's exactly the tool you need to find a decent pint anywhere in the world, even here in the heart of wine country. It points me to Beer House Club (Corso Tintori 34r, Florence; +39 055 2476763), a modern bar with neon, foosball, snacks and 10 pumps of artisan beers, including their own brews made in the neighboring city of Prato. Thanks to my four-inch screen, I'm enriched, fed and watered. Sightseeing seems easier than ever. In fact, tech-friendly travel logistics get ever easier, even in the heart of "old Europe." When I'm due to meet my family for an onward trip to Naples, a quick search on Trenitalia's Pronto Treno app tells me their train is running 10 minutes late. I don't need to rush in vain. The app even seemed to know their platform before the arrivals board did. (It was wrong, however.) No spare change for Florence's new tram? No problem: a text message to 488-0105 and an SMS comes right back to me, the fare deducted from my prepaid phone account. When on roam . It's not all plain surfing. Mobile phone battery technology hasn't kept speed with the power-hungry HD screens and super-quick quad-core processors inside modern smartphones. On both mornings I set out with a fully charged battery. On neither day did my phone last beyond 3 p.m. The situation with data is perhaps even worse. In 36 hours, I consumed more than 180 megabytes. Seeing Florence from the small screen would have been prohibitively expensive if I was being billed by the megabyte. Roaming charges for travelers originating within the European Union will likely be phased out by late 2015, but that offers no comfort to many visitors, especially with arrivals from China and the rest of Asia growing rapidly. Ubiquitous free Wi-Fi would help. In April, Rome's Fiumicino airport announced it was rolling out free Wi-Fi to all passengers, but for truly wireless travel, connectivity needs to go beyond the gates of the airport parking lot. Of course, none of that is Florence's fault. Behind its medieval walls and ancient traditions, the city is getting ready for a new generation of visitors -- and their gadgets, too. Donald Strachan is a food and travel journalist and co-author of "Frommer's EasyGuide to Rome, Florence and Venice 2014."
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Is it possible to visit Florence, Italy, and see it properly with just a smartphone?
Travel and accommodation bookings are easy thanks to train and hotel apps .
Relying on phones instead of guidebooks can be costly due to data roaming charges .
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b0e2b2e6c399f395a38c2bfac7dbac811e73d0c5
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A French city has been made to scrap plans to force homeless people to wear yellow triangle ID tags after they were compared to Nazi-era Star of David badges. Authorities in Marseille wanted beggars to wear the badges, which would have carried information such as their personal details and any health issues, so they could be easily identifiable. But the proposals provoked outrage across France from human rights groups and even government ministers with some comparing the badges to the Star of David Jews were forced to sew on to their clothes during the Nazi era. Homeless man Arnaud shows off one of the yellow triangle ID badges authorities in Marseille were going to make beggars wear . The six-pointed yellow star was forced upon the Jews by Nazis in the Reich to wear to mark them out. French group La Ligue des droits de l'Homme said they were troubled by the badge and its resemblance to the yellow star that had to be worn by Jews. While social affairs minister Marisol Touraine told Le Parisien newspaper: 'Forcing homeless people to carry a yellow triangle indicating the illnesses they might have is outrageous. You don't point the finger at the poorest. The plan provoked outrage with human rights groups and even government ministers comparing the ID tags to the Star of David badges Jews were forced to wear in Nazi Germany . Earlier this week demonstrators gathered outside the City Hall of Marseille to protest against the plans, which were eventually dropped today . The ID tags for homeless people were compared to the yellow Star of David badges worn by Jews in Nazi Germany, pictured . 'You don't write their illnesses on their clothes. Medical confidentiality, in particular, is a fundamental right. I want this local initiative to be stopped.' Demonstrators also gathered outside the City Hall of Marseille to protest against the badges which they said were discriminatory. They held up signs and placards with one reading '1933-1945 Never Again', with the yellow triangle and Star of David emblem next to it. Council officials had tried to defend the plan saying they were only to help emergency services if they have to come to the aid of a homeless person. Over 100 of the cards had also been distributed around the city. But today, council of France's second largest city, bowed down to pressure and announced that they would be scrapping the plan. The head of the social and medical emergency services SAMU Sociale René Giancarli told The Local: 'It’s finished. There won’t be any more cards.'
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Officials in Marseille wanted homeless people to wear triangle ID tags .
Aim was help easily identify beggars and help them in emergencies .
But plan provoked outraged after they were compared to Nazi-style badges .
Human rights groups said they looked like the Star of David worn by Jews .
Government ministers also said that the badges were discriminatory .
Council officials have now been forced to scrap the badges after the backlash .
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By . Daniel Miller . Kim Dotcom, the founder of the file-sharing website Megaupload, is being sued by six major U.S. film studios who claim he 'facilitated, encouraged and profited from' copyright infringement on a massive scale. Twentieth Century Fox, Disney, Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios, . Columbia Pictures and Warner Bros, yesterday filed a lawsuit against the website which authorities allege cost film studios and record companies over $500million (£300m). Dotocom, 40, is already fighting a . bid by U.S. authorities to extradite him from New Zealand to face . online piracy charges over the Megaupload, which is said to have generated more than $175million (£105m). Scroll down for video . Lawsuit: Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom is being sued by several major U.S. film companies for 'massive copyright infringement' Megaupload, . which was closed in 2012, facilitated a 'massive . copyright infringement of movies and television shows,' according to a . statement issued by the Motion Picture Association of America yesterday. 'Megaupload wasn't a cloud storage service at all, it was an unlawful hub for mass distribution,' Steven Fabrizio, an attorney for the MPAA, said in the statement. The studios claim the website generated vast profits by encouraging paying users to store and share copyrighted material, such as movies and TV shows. In his defence, Dotcom claims Megaupload was merely an online warehouse and should not be held accountable if its stored content was obtained illegally. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, said Dotcom and other defendants 'profited handsomely' by providing thousands of copyrighted works over the Internet to millions of Megaupload users without authorization or license. Defence: Dotcom claims Megaupload was merely an online warehouse and should not be held accountable if stored content was obtained illegally . Movies whose copyrights Megaupload infringed, according to the lawsuit, include Avatar, Forrest Gump and Transformers. Commenting on Twitter on Monday, Dotcom said U.S. authorities 'probably demanded' that the studios file the lawsuit 'because they initiated this ... Hollywood science fiction script of a case. Embarrassing.' The lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages as well as attorneys' fees. It claims the studios are entitled to Megaupload's profits and up to $150,000 per infringement. He is also known as Kim Schmitz and Kim Tim Jim Vestor, according to the lawsuit. Dotcom's U.S. attorney Ira Rothken said that Monday's suit was a way for the country's film industry to go after Megaupload if the U.S. Department of Justice fails to extradite Dotcom and his colleagues to the United States from New Zealand. An extradition hearing is scheduled for July. 'The MPAA is suddenly realizing that we're a few months away from the extradition hearing, and once Kim Dotcom and the others prevail in the extradition hearing they'll have more resources and more assets,' Rothken said. 'The MPAA wants to have cover if the Department of Justice fails in the extradition and the criminal case.' He predicted that the judge in the civil suit would likely stay the case pending the extradition hearing, adding that Megaupload will also seek access to evidence stored on its servers housed in Virginia to defend against the suit. Dotcom has been denied access to that evidence for the extradition hearing. Meanwhile, the legal storm has not stopped Dotcom, a German national with New Zealand residency, from delving into politics, launching a party last month to contest New Zealand's general election in September.
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20th Century Fox, Disney, Paramount, Universal Studios, .
Columbia Pictures and Warner Bros, file joint suit .
Authorities allege Megaupload cost film studios and record companies more than $500million .
The website, which was closed in 2012, is said to have generated more than $175million .
Dotcom, 40, is already fighting a .
bid by U.S. authorities to extradite him from New Zealand .
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174,516 |
6ddeb2d229973a8dde1deea74c56bf9a5fd8292e
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Jose Mourinho insisted he would never interfere in medical decisions after Thibaut Courtois suffered a head injury in Chelsea's 2-0 win over Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. The Belgium goalkeeper initially played on following his collision with Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez before being replaced by Petr Cech and leaving the stadium for precautionary tests at a hospital. The decision left the Premier League regulations on head injuries facing further scrutiny amid concerns that clubs have too much say in whether a player can continue or not. Thibaut Courtois suffered a blow when he came out to challenge Alexis Sanchez but played on afterwards . Sanchez immediately shows concern for Courtois as the Chelsea goalkeeper appeared badly hurt on the pitch . Jose Mourinho insists he would never interfere in medical decisions after Courtois's head injury on Sunday . 'Doctor Biosca (Chelsea's medical director Paco Biosca) says there's nothing to be too much worried about,' said Mourinho, after confirming Courtois had gone for tests. 'On the bench I don't communicate with the doctors. I just get decisions. "Can he stay (on)?" "Yes"; "He has to leave". "Okay". I have no time and no medical qualities to discuss that. 'I was just worried for the kid (Courtois), not worried about the game and the performance. 'We have two of the best three goalkeepers in the world, so when one of them is injured and comes out and the other one comes in, no problem, no change in my heart beat. The Chelsea goalkeeper continued for 13 minutes after the injury before being forced from the pitch . The Belgian is escorted up the tunnel and was immediately treated by paramedics in the dressing room . '(I was) so confident that Petr could do once more a fantastic job for us.' Cech began the season as second choice after a decade in the first XI and made his 480th appearance for Chelsea, just his second as a substitute. The 32-year-old plays wearing a rugby scrum cap after fracturing his skull against Reading in October 2006 in an incident which heightened medical procedures at football stadia. Mourinho, who was unhappy with Cech's treatment eight years ago, believes Chelsea acted properly in relation to Courtois. 'I always tell them (Chelsea's medical team) when I'm on the bench I don't want to communicate with them,' Mourinho said. 'I just want them to give me a decision and they gave me a decision. For me that's correct. 'The club doctor, or the club medical department to take control and the responsibility.' Mourinho chats with Arsenal's Mesut Ozil after the 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon . Chelsea manager Mourinho broke away at the top of the Premier League table with the win against Arsenal .
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Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois suffered a head injury in a clash with Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon .
Chelsea's No 1 remained on the pitch temporarily before being substituted .
Petr Cech replaced Courtois and the subbed goalkeeper went to hospital .
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho: 'On the bench I don't communicate with the doctors. I just get decisions'
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c5761b239a9e6687f54751d53c47f1d683051a68
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A week dominated by headlines about the most famous Italian in the Weighing Room can end with a fellow Sardinian with his name in lights. The tremors were almost off racing’s Richter Scale when Frankie Dettori lost the ride on Treve on Monday. The 43-year-old, on board John Gosden’s Forever Now in this afternoon’s £650,000 Ladbrokes St Leger, will be an observer at Longchamp tomorrow when the filly tries to justify her place as Arc favourite against nine rivals in the Prix Vermeille. Andrea Atzeni poses at Doncaster racecourse on Friday . 23-year-old Andrea Atzeni rides Kingston Hill in October 2013 . Andrea Atzeni has already ridden some winners this week - pictured jockeying Silk Sari on Thursday . By then Andrea Atzeni, 20 years Dettori’s junior, could be dreaming of the biggest race in Europe on October 5 should 3-1 favourite Kingston Hill do what he and trainer Roger Varian believe he can over the extended mile and three-quarters of the season’s final Classic. That is how highly they regard their colt, winner of the Group One Racing Post Trophy at the course last year. He has yet to win this season but produced solid efforts in both the 2,000 Guineas and Eclipse while his Derby second, when length and a quarter behind Australia, is form none of his rivals can touch. This a group one performer up against fair rivals but ones who can’t boast a win above Group Three level between them. With Varian giving Kingston Hill the green light to run after fears over the ground, there is an issue over whether Kingston Hill will stay. Frank Dettori shocked the racing world when he failed to win on Treve on Monday . 'Don't Stare' ridden by Andrea Atzeni wins the Frank Whittle Partnership Classified Stakes . Roger Varian, trainer of Kingston Hill, is hopeful of a win on Saturday afternoon at Doncaster . His sire Mastercraftsman has yet to father a winner at today’s trip but his performance over a mile and a half in the Derby hardly suggests lack of staying power. Atzeni, who needs two winners to ride 100 in a season for a first time, doesn’t think so. He said: ‘In the Derby, the draw didn’t look good and I had to use the horse to get a position. He still galloped all the way to the line so has every chance of staying. ‘He has never been a flashy worker but his work last week was better than ever. He has never run a bad race and ran a blinder in the Derby probably against the best horse out there. To win my first Classic would be amazing.’ Atzeni, recently appointed Jamie Spencer’s 2015 successor as No 1 jockey to Qatar Racing, faces a strong challenge from Sir Michael Stoute’s Gordon Stakes winner and Great Voltigeur Stakes runner-up Snow Sky. He will also respect team Gosden – the trainer has won the race four times - which also includes Derby third Romsdal and Marzocco. If his temperament can be kept in check, James Given’s Odeon can out-run his long odds. And Atzeni will not be taking anything for granted, the fate of Cotai Glory in yesterday’s Flying Childer’s Stakes underlined racing’s propensity for the unexpected. The Charlie Hills-trained colt was cruising to victory when veering right and unseating jockey George Baker yards from the line handing victory Richard Hannon’s Beacon. In contrast, the Queen’s Estimate was a thoroughly worthy length and a quarter winner of the Doncaster Cup under Ryan Moore, digging deep to pull clear of Whiplash Willie. However, a tilt at the Melbourne Cup with Estimate is now looking unlikely.
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23-year-old Atzeni could steal the headlines from Frankie Dettori if he wins .
Dettori, 43, shocked the racing world when he lost on Treve on Monday .
Atzeni rides 3-1 favourite Kingston Hill on Saturday, but there are concerns over whether the horse will stay .
The Italian needs two winners to ride 100 in a season for the first time .
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4d91fdeae372e073477dc2f7e08eabb4dbdcb052
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By . Emma Glanfield . and Mark Duell . Tennis fans are set to enjoy more beautiful weather at Wimbledon today, hours after thousands watched Andy Murray claim victory in glorious sunshine. The British No 1's supporters sat on Murray Mound on the first day of the competition in south-west London yesterday after a 25C (77F) weekend. Forecasters predict that the weather will remain sunny and warm for the next two days - which is good news for those wanting to watch plenty of tennis. Temperatures are expected to hit 24C (75F) in Britain today, with some showers expected in parts of East Anglia - although none are forecast for SW19. However, more widespread showers are expected by Thursday, just in time for the traditionally-wet Glastonbury music festival in Pilton, Somerset. Sunrise: Dawn breaks today as the sun comes up over Perranwell near Truro, Cornwall, and the hot weather continues . Andy Murray fans were able to enjoy the glorious sunshine as they watched the Wimbledon champion step onto Centre Court for his opening match yesterday . Fans of Andy Murray gather on 'Murray Mound' to watch his first round match against David Goffin of Belgium . Members of the public queue up for tickets during the first day of the Wimbledon Championships. Forecasters predict that the weather will remain sunny and warm for the next three days with temperatures at around 21C (70F) Scores of tennis fans continued to . queue outside the All England Club yesterday in a bid to get tickets . while sun-seekers once again took to beaches. Sunday . saw 50,000 people fill the seven-mile beach at Bournemouth, Dorset, and . it was even pleasant in the waves with 15C (59F) water temperatures. Met Office spokesman Nicola Maxey said the warm weather was expected to continue for the next few days. She . said: 'There is likely to be a bit of a change as we head towards the . end of the week, so it's likely to become a little bit more unsettled.' Temperatures remained at 21C in Wimbledon yesterday, but tennis fans won't be able to leave their umbrellas at home all week. The . weather is expected to turn wet on Thursday, with showers rolling in . and the balmy conditions all but gone by the weekend. That means music . fans at the Glastonbury Festival, which runs from tomorrow to Sunday, . could be in for a rather muddy finale. Wimbledon watchers however won't be able to leave their umbrellas at home all week, with showers expected to roll in by Thursday . Protection: Maria Sharapova puts on sun screen while preparing for the start of Wimbledon. The tournament opened yesterday after a weekend of above-average temperatures . Preparation: Maria Sharapova ties her shoelaces on Sunday during a preparation session ahead of the Wimbledon Championships . Forecast: A few showers are expected in some parts of the country today (left) and tomorrow (centre), but it will be dry for the most part . Despite . the best start to summer since 2006, some residents spotted council gritters . apparently salting the roads in one rural village. The . gritters were spotted out on patrol on country lanes in St Kew near . Wadebridge in Cornwall, despite top temperatures in the county reaching . 20.8C. However, rather . than salting the roads the trucks were in fact spraying sand to prevent . the road surface from melting in the heat. Peter Glaser, 62, found himself travelling behind the truck for almost half a mile as it sprayed a fine grit on the road. The unusual spectacle took place on Saturday afternoon on a country lane between St Tudy and St Kew in Cornwall. Mr Glaser, from St Breward, said: 'I . couldn't believe what I was seeing. It was a gritter lorry and you could . see the spreader, releasing the fine grit. Tennis fans were up bright and early in the hope of watching Andy Murray begin his defence of the Wimbledon title yesterday . Tennis fans play games as they queue up for tickets during day one of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, in Wimbledon . Tennis fans play ball games as they keep themselves entertained in the queue on the first day of Wimbledon yesterday . 'I was gobsmacked, I just thought "my goodness what are they doing?" It's difficult enough to get them out on a cold day. 'There must have been a logical reason but it was beyond me.' In . Bournemouth, temperatures were already hitting the mid-twenties . by mid-morning on Sunday. Dozens of beachgoers struggled to find a spot on the . stretch of golden sand as an estimated 50,000 people flocked . to the coast. Seaside . staff hired out almost all of the 3,000 deckchairs and ice cream . vendors were bombarded with 10-minute long queues. Almost all of the town’s 200 hotels were reportedly nearing their capacity with the majority displaying ‘no vacancy’ signs. Jason Torpey playing tennis at Hallamshire Academy of Tennis, Sheffield . Pablo Mills, 13 of Sheffield, is put through his paces on the tennis court at Hallamshire Academy of Tennis, in Sheffield . Friends Amy Jagger, 31, Natalie Mason, 23 and Christa D'Apolito, 26 enjoy a relaxing walk along the canal in the village of Saltaire . Bike riders along the canal in Saltaire, a Victorian model village within the Bradford district, in West Yorkshire . Ferdi Grainger, 43, plays guitar as he enjoys the early afternoon sunshine in a park in the Heaton area of Bradford . Pollen levels were expected to be high today, although they are due to fall later in the week . Bournemouth beachgoers bask in sunshine yesterday as temperatures reach the mid-20s on the south coast of England . Sunbathers enjoy the warm weather in Bournemouth yesterday. Temperatures are expected to remain high until later on in the week . Noah, 2 with his mother Liz Skorge, applying sun protection on the beach in Bournemouth, Dorset . Sunbathers in Bournemouth bask in the warm weather as temperatures reach the mid-20s on the south coast . Children enjoy the warm weather in Bournemouth, as temperatures reach the mid-20s on the south coast of England . With the sea reaching temperatures of about 15C, hundreds of children could be seen playing in the water and splashing around. Heather . Smalling, from Bournemouth, who was making the most of the fine weather . with husband Tim and children Archie, seven, and Emma, five, said it . was better than being abroad. The 37-year-old said: ‘Never mind Spain - when the weather is like this, why would you want to go anywhere else? ‘I feel sorry for all the people who have gone abroad during this spell of weather because there really is no better place than the UK right now. ‘This weather is glorious - it puts a smile on everyone’s faces, so long may it last.’ A woman enjoys the fine summer weather outside Cardiff's City Hall. The warm weather is set to continue this week . Forecasters have said the warm weather is expected to remain until later this week, when showers are expected to roll in. Pictured is a woman enjoying the summer weather outside Cardiff's City Hall . Students enjoy a game of beach volleyball in the sun at South Shields .
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Temperatures expected to hit 24C (75F) in UK today, with some showers expected in East Anglia - but none in SW19 .
Scores of tennis fans gathered on Murray Mound to watch the Wimbledon champion in his opening match yesterday .
Forecasters sat spell of warm weather will last until Thursday when rain could set in - just in time for Glastonbury .
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c46eea768b4293f16a3872a8bce05ab29643ae6c
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Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, based at 100 Parliament Street (pictured), wants the power to take money directly from accounts . The taxman cannot be trusted to enact ‘excessive’ new money-grabbing powers properly, accountants have warned. They say Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs is ‘a pretty dysfunctional department’, and allowing it to seize money from bank accounts could lead to an erosion of trust. In a savage assessment of the controversial proposals to recoup unpaid tax bills, the majority of accountants said the powers are unnecessary – and the HMRC is not fit to oversee them. The warning comes as MPs today grill the department’s chief executive Lin Homer about the proposals, which were announced in the Budget in March. Under the plan – currently subject to a public consultation which ends on July 29 – HMRC wants the right to be able to take money directly from bank accounts. If it believes taxpayers owe money, it can take the cash directly from a current account, joint account or even tax-free Isa to settle an unpaid tax bill. One of the biggest concerns is that HMRC will not need to apply to the courts to get permission to seize the money. Around 17,000 people a year are expected to have money taken under the proposed new powers. HMRC insists taxpayers will only be targeted if they owe £1,000 or more to the taxman, have been contacted by HMRC at least four times and would have at least £5,000 left across all their accounts after the money has been removed. But Rebecca Benneyworth, of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, warned the department is ‘shooting itself in the foot.’ She said: ‘Public trust in HMRC would be eroded very quickly if cases come to light where funds have been incorrectly removed. If the consequences of that are devastating to individual taxpayers, that erosion could become a landslide. ‘HMRC cannot afford to have public opinion turn against the tax system and those charged with administering it. This really could be a case of shooting oneself in the foot.’ HMRC is giving under heavy criticism for its desire to take money directly from people's bank accounts . There are concerns around joint accounts such as those set up to pay the bills for an elderly person. For example, an elderly woman in a care home might pay money into a joint account to fund her bills, but have no idea that one of her children who administers the account owes tax. Paul Aplin, a tax partner at the accountants AC Mole & Sons, told the ICAEW conference about the catalogue of problems experienced by his own clients. One client was chased for £9,500 in a PAYE tax debt, which had already been paid. Another was chased for £11,000 in a VAT debt which, again, had already been paid. Speaking at the conference, Jonathan Schwarz, a barrister at the Temple Tax Chambers, said: ‘Why is it that HMRC is asking for these powers? ‘A power which is stripped of judicial supervision goes beyond what is necessary to achieve these objectives and undermines the essential elements of a constitutional democracy. ‘The only purpose of this proposal is to circumvent the jurisdiction of the courts in applying the rules relating to the seizing of assets.’ He said the rules should be redrawn. Anthony Thomas, of the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group, said: ‘I don’t honestly think you can trust HMRC to do the job properly. I think it is regrettably a pretty dysfunctional department even today and a long way from being able to do this job properly.’ An HMRC spokesman said it is having ‘a series of constructive conversations with accountants’ before the consultation closes in a few weeks’ time. Just weeks after the proposals were announced in March, the ICAEW warned MPs they were ‘extremely worrying’. Frank Haskew, from the ICAEW, which has not yet formally responded to the consultation, told MPs: ‘We can’t have HMRC as judge and jury on this. This power is unprecedented in the UK. These powers are extremely worrying and excessive.’ An HMRC spokesman said: ‘It is hard to see why a tiny minority of people who can pay the tax they owe, but refuse to, should enjoy an advantage over the vast majority of people who respect the rules.’
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Accountants warn 'dysfunctional' HMRC cannot be trusted to use proposed money grabbing powers properly .
HMRC wants the right to take money directly from bank accounts if it believes taxpayers owe money .
Critics warn of 'excessive and unprecedented' powers which will erode public trust in HMRC if used incorrectly .
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By . Anthony Bond and Daniel Miller . PUBLISHED: . 04:51 EST, 15 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:40 EST, 16 March 2013 . Be prepared for yet more cold, wintry weather with forecasters predicting snow and hail as the unseasonable cold snap is expected to continue well into next week. Last week saw Britain's coldest March day for almost 30 years as more than two inches of snow fell in some parts of the country. And the misery is set to continue over the weekend with lower-than-average temperatures as well as frequent showers and chances of hail expected across the country. Splash! Two tourists take in the crashing waves on Brighton beach this afternoon. Frequent showers and chances of hail were predicted across the country for this weekend . Wet, wet, wet: One boy gets a soaking in Brighton. The cold weather at the moment is likely to continue well into next week . Taking in the view: Tourists take photos of and enjoy the high winds and crashing waves in Brighton . The Met office warned of another chilly night with a high risk of ice. Sunday will see persistent showers across the UK with sleet and snow likely in the North East and in some parts of the south. The . cold weather is likely to continue well into next week. It should . become slightly warmer by Friday but more unsettled at the same time. Met Office forecaster Craig Snell . said: 'It is going to be feeling rather cold this weekend and very . unsettled. We will see longer spells of rain and possibly sleet and snow . at times. It will be an unsettled, cold weekend for all of us.' Forecasters warned that the unseasonably cold weather which we have . been experiencing this week is likely to make a return next week. Temperatures are likely to plunge again on Tuesday and Wednesday with more snow expected. Mr Snell said: 'We are expecting . across most parts of the country - particularly the north - on Tuesday . and Wednesday that temperatures will again take a tumble and there will . be an increased chance of snow at lower levels. A walker braves the rain by the River Itchen in Southampton, Hampshire today. The miserable wintry weather is set to continue over the weekend with . lower-than-average temperatures expected across the country . Under cover: Racegoers at Cheltenham racecourse were forced to bring out the umbrellas yesterday after a downpour of rain . Wet: Those attending Cheltenham Racecourse today were left with a taste of things to come this weekend with heavy rain falling at the event . Unsettled: Forecasters said many places in the south will endure heavy rainfall. These racegoers at the Cheltenham Gold Cup . today struggled in the muddy conditions . 'At the moment it does look like it will be cold for all of us during the middle part of the week.' The unseasonably cold weather caused chaos on the Channel Islands this week which saw the worst snow storms in 26 years, leaving drifts up to 8ft deep. The airport on Guernsey had to be shut for two days while more than 15,000 tons of snow were removed from the runway. The islands caught the same storms . that crippled northern France, where shoulder-deep drifts led to Channel . Tunnel trains being cancelled and long queues on the M20 as lorries . waited for delayed ferries. Although most of the Guernsey and Jersey snow is now melting, weather men predict another cold snap next week. Wintry: These are the incredible scenes of 8ft snow drifts which wreaked havoc in the holiday isle of Guernsey. Forecasters say this weekend will be cold and wet across much of the UK . Snowy: The unseasonable cold weather which large parts of the UK faced this week - including Guernsey, pictured, - is likely to return next week . Cold: Britain has been feeling the unseasonably cold weather this week after temperatures plummeted. Bob Ripley, 62, from Richmond, looks at the icicles at The Bow Lee Beck at Gibsons Cave in Teesdale yesterday . Stunning: This picture of The Bow Lee Beck at Gibsons Cave in Teesdale looked like it could have been taken in the middle of December rather than March . Danielle . Stonebridge, 21, a Guernsey resident, said: ‘I have never seen snow . like this before, my dad can remember something like this when he was . around ten years old, but there is just so much of it. It brings the . child out in me and I have been out in the snow playing, it has been . great. 'Although it is hard to get around, a five minute journey took me three hours, the roads are absolute carnage.’
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Miserable weather is set to continue through the weekend .
Lower-than-average temperatures expected across the country .
Met office warns of another chilly night with a high risk of ice .
Sunday will see persistent showers across the UK with sleet and snow .
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(CNN) -- It sounds more like schoolyard taunting than a debate involving presidential power, negotiating with terrorists and bringing home a captured American soldier. Political leaders escalated their rhetoric and raised new arguments on Tuesday about the secret deal that obtained the release of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl on May 31 in exchange for five Taliban figures detained at Guantanamo Bay. The controversy touches on a range of volatile issues -- ending the Afghanistan war, releasing Guantanamo detainees, accusations by members of Bergdahl's unit that he deserted -- and it comes in an election year that has further widened the seemingly maximized partisan divide in Washington. Costs from swap will include "lost lives" House Speaker John Boehner, a leading Republican voice, told reporters he had no doubt "that there are going to be costs, lost lives associated with what came out of this," calling the swap a de facto deal with Taliban terrorists. On the Democratic side, Senate allies of President Barack Obama said the deal mediated by the government of Qatar came together too quickly to consult with Congress over an exchange that critics from both parties have labeled too costly. "All I can tell you is this: (the government) knew a day ahead of time that the transfer was going to take place. They knew an hour ahead of time where it was going to take place," said Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois, while his Democratic colleague from Michigan, Carl Levin, noted the military's top leadership fully backed the exchange. "Whether you agree with them or not, its critically important that the American people know that the chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the vice chair of the Joint Chiefs strongly recommended this agreement knowing full well Bergdahl, one, had left his unit and knowing full well how bad these Taliban people were," Levin said. The dispute involves both the dynamics of the exchange and the endless argument between the executive and legislative branches over presidential powers. Legal requirement or courtesy? Members of both parties complain the Obama administration should have let Congress know ahead of time that the exchange was taking place. Some cite the 30 days' notice called for by the National Defense Authorization Act, while others say a simple heads-up would have sufficed. "It's just a matter of courtesy, whether it was in law or not," said conservative Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, a regular critic of the President. "A matter of this importance should have been discussed with at least key leaders in the Congress." Administration officials say the deal came together quickly, and the risks to Bergdahl and the military commandos involved in collecting him near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border required keeping the exchange top-secret. "This was a secret military mission in which disclosure of the mission could put into jeopardy not just the life of Sergeant Bergdahl but also the lives of the American servicemen who were involved in the mission," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Tuesday. "So discretion on this matter was important." However, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon of California called such reasoning for not notifying Congress "absurd." "Nothing in the law requires the Secretary of Defense to disclose the physical details of the transfer," said McKeon, a Republican. "They are merely required to notify us in a classified manner that a transfer will take place, and of the conditions set to prevent a terrorist from re-entering the fight." Boehner noted that he was briefed as early as six months before another significant and secret military mission -- the 2011 raid that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. "I was given a heads-up several days before" the bin Laden mission, Boehner said. "So this idea that they couldn't trust us to not leak things is just not true." Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, a moderate from West Virginia known for criticizing the administration at times, said his main concern was the release of five Taliban figures who could return to the battlefield against U.S forces and interests. Who was swapped for Bergdahl? Congressman: Deal gives 'no guarantee' Taliban figures will be tracked . Under the exchange, the released Taliban detainees were taken to Qatar, where the government says it will keep them under watch for at least a year. But some lawmakers fear there's no guarantee. "How we are sure that the Qataris are going to do what they are supposed to do and we are able to keep (the released Taliban figures) from engaging again," Manchin told reporters. A memorandum of understanding between the United States and Qatar on the deal that freed Bergdahl offered "no guarantee" that the five Taliban commanders exchanged for the captured Army sergeant would be tracked, a Democratic member of the House Intelligence Committee told CNN. Rep. Adam Schiff reviewed the agreement and said, based on his reading, that it is possible the former U.S. detainees "might disappear even during the first year in Qatar." Schiff told CNN's Jim Sciutto that the United States has "some capability to track them while in Qatar," but after the first year, he said, all bets are off. "We have to expect them to return to the fight," Schiff said. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry defended the swap in an interview with CNN over the weekend, saying the former detainees would be monitored closely, and not just by officials in Qatar. He wouldn't say who else will be watching, but he said the United States is confident the conditions of their release will be honored. National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said Tuesday that the Obama administration had received "assurances from Qatar" during the deal. "We have acknowledged that some of these individuals could attempt to return to activities that are of concern. The President said so explicitly on his trip last week," she said. "But we have confidence that we will be in a position to go after them if, in fact, they are engaging in activities that threaten our defenses." Democrats complain about lack of notice . Administration officials gave a classified briefing to the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday after a similar session on Monday with House members. On Wednesday, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will appear before McKeon's armed services committee to discuss the exchange, which he signed off on as the Pentagon chief. "He looks forward to explaining why the President's decision to secure the release of Sergeant Bergdahl was the right one, and why the process we undertook in doing so was in keeping with our national interests," Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby told reporters on Tuesday. After the briefing to House members, some said they were told as many as 80 to 90 administration officials knew of the pending exchange ahead of time, while Congress did not. Earnest told reporters the figure of 80 to 90 officials discussed in the classified briefing referred to the number with knowledge of intelligence involving Taliban activities in Qatar. The number of administration officials who knew ahead of time of the Bergdahl swap was smaller, Earnest said, but he refused to provide a specific figure. Schiff told CNN's "Erin Burnett OutFront" that White House officials should have told congressional leaders, even if the law gave them wiggle room. "I think the President had the constitutional authority ... to make this decision without consulting with Congress," Schiff said. "But I think it would have been wiser, far wiser, for the administration to have notified, certainly the leadership of Congress in the interest of having good relations." Polls show divide, with more disapproving . More Americans disapprove than approve of Bergdahl's release in exchange for five Taliban detainees, according to two new national polls. The surveys also indicate a wide partisan divide, with most Republicans opposing the deal while most Democrats approve of it. Bergdahl went missing on June 30, 2009, in Afghanistan's Paktika province, where he was deployed with the 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. An Army fact-finding investigation conducted in the months after his disappearance concluded he left his outpost deliberately and of his own free will, according to an official who was briefed on the report. The Army has no definitive finding that Bergdahl deserted because that would require knowing his intent -- something Army officials couldn't learn without talking to the soldier, a U.S. military official told CNN. The prisoner exchange has become a political football, with Republicans who once called for the administration to work for Bergdahl's return now saying the cost was too high. Was Rand Paul's red meat joke a bit too raw? Slow recovery . Bergdahl is "continuing to improve every day" as he recovers at a military hospital in Germany, Pentagon spokesman Col. Steve Warren said Monday, but he hasn't spoken with his family yet. The "decision to speak with the family is a decision the returnee has to make when he or she is emotionally in the right place to make the phone call," Warren said. When he is ready, Bergdahl will be flown to the San Antonio Military Medical Center in Texas, where he may be able to reunite with his parents. As Bergdahl recovers, details are slowly emerging about the conditions he endured during five years of captivity. Citing an American official, The New York Times reported Sunday that Bergdahl told medical staff that the box he was kept in for weeks at a time was pitch black and like a shark cage. CNN reported Friday that Bergdahl has said he was kept in a small box after trying to escape, according to a senior U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of not being identified. The official also told CNN that Bergdahl suffers from psychological trauma caused by physical abuse. Obama: 'I make absolutely no apologies' for Bergdahl swap . Opinion: Why we leave no man behind . CNN's Paul Steinhauser, Ed Payne, Catherine Shoichet, Virginia Nicolaidis, Kevin Liptak, Barbara Starr, Elise Labott, Qadir Sediqi, Dana Bash and Deirdre Walsh contributed to this report.
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NEW: Schiff: Deal offers "no guarantee" Taliban commanders will be tracked .
Democrats say Bergdahl deal emerged quickly and military approved .
Speaker Boehner says the swap means "lost lives" down the road .
Congress should have been told ahead of time, legislators say .
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b3574475c6a1b08b2136e2704d551f7ffdf892cb
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By . Anthony Hay for MailOnline . Follow @@Anthony_Hay . Juventus are starting to lose patience in the race to sign Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski and are instead stepping up their efforts to sign Bayern Munich's Xherdan Shaqiri, according to Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport. The Serie A giants are keen on signing Podolski on loan with a view to a permanent deal but have identified Shaqiri as another potential target if they cannot seal a deal for the Arsenal man. Shaqiri remains behind the likes of Mario Gotze and Thomas Muller in Bayern Munich's pecking order which could make the Swiss international available to seal a switch away from the Allianz Arena before the transfer window shuts next Monday. Changing tact: Juventus could switch their attention away from Lukas Podolski to Xherdan Shaqiri . Key target: Tuttosport believe Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri needs to add numbers to his squad . Tuttosport also report on Juventus' interest in Podolski by stating they believe Juventus need to make a couple of more additions before next Monday's deadline. They also include a transfer line in which they link Tottenham's Sandro with a move to Napoli. La Gazzetta dello Sport believe Juventus are keen on signing either Falcao or Manchester United's Javier Hernandez during the closing stages of the transfer window. Turin-bound: La Gazzetta dello Sport believe United forward Javier Hernandez could be heading to Juventus . Hernandez could be allowed to leave the Old Trafford outfit if Louis van Gaal can sign a suitable replacement before the start of next week. Madrid-based newspaper Marca reflect on Angel Di Maria's proposed move to Manchester United. Marca say Di Maria will move to England for a 'galactico price' as the Spanish outlet state the fee could rise to 90million euros. Meanwhile, Sport and Mundo Deportivo reflect on Barcelona's convincing 3-0 win over Elche. Lionel Messi grabs the headlines after scoring a brace in his side's La Liga opener. Galactico: Marca reflect on Real Madrid attacker Angel Di Maria's proposed move to Manchester United . Magic Messi: Spanish newspapers Mundo Deportivo and Sport heap praise on the Barcelona superstar .
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The Serie A side are losing patience in their quest to sign Lukas Podolski .
Juventus could make a late move for Javier Hernandez or Falcao .
Napoli boss Rafa Benitez keen on signing Tottenham midfielder Sandro .
Lionel Messi scores twice in Barcelona's 3-0 La Liga win over Elche .
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3ec0598d1286b2c6d0dd6ed40247e2eed01207c6
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The owners of the Superman brand have banned a tortured boy's memorial from featuring their logo because they 'don't want to be associated with child abuse', it emerged today. Five-year-old Superman fan Jeffrey Baldwin, from Toronto, Canada, died in tragic circumstances 12 years ago when he was starved to death by his grandparents. He had been locked in a cold, urine and faeces-stained bedroom in the home of his grandmother, his Catholic Children's Aid Society-approved guardian, and wasted away to the weight of a baby. Tragic five-year-old Jeffrey Baldwin, from Toronto, died of starvation. He is pictured here in his Superman costume for Halloween . Following an inquest earlier this year, Ottawa IT worker Todd Boyce was touched by the words of Jeffrey's father Richard in his testimony, and started raising money for a statue of Jeffrey. Mr Baldwin had said: 'He wanted to fly. He tried jumping off the chair. We had to make him stop. He dressed up (as Superman) for Halloween one year. He was so excited. I have that picture at home hanging on my wall. He was our little man of steel.' Mr Baldwin added that before his teenage parents lost custody of Jeffrey to his maternal grandparents the little boy was very energetic and loved the superhero. Mr Boyce's appeal to raise money online was successful, and the statue was designed and the model created, with Jeffrey wearing his favourite costume. But, Mr Boyce says, when DC Entertainment found out, the comic book giant refused him permission to use the iconic diamond-shaped 'S' logo. 'It was important for me because I really felt I wanted to capture the photograph of Jeffrey wearing his Superman costume and have it as close to that as possible,' Mr Boyce told CBC News. 'Basically they didn't want to have the character of Superman associated with child abuse. They weren't comfortable with that.' DC Entertainment is refusing to allow the Superman logo to adorn the memorial statue of Jeffrey, who loved the superhero during his short life before his grandparents starved him to death . Mr Boyce told CBC News he was angry and emotional when he first learned of their refusal, but after subsequent conversations with people at the company and their lawyers, he softened his stance. '(I) realized that the most important thing is to have a fitting monument for Jeffrey, that it's about him,' Boyce said. 'To be fair to DC I don't think they wanted to say no. I think they gave it serious thought.' Mr Boyce said the design will be changed to have a 'J' on the chest rather than the 'S' of the Superman logo. The model of the statue is complete - except for the letter change - and is just now waiting to be cast in bronze. Mr Boyce is hoping to unveil it in September. One of Jeffrey's sisters has chosen a poem to be engraved on a bench that will be part of the memorial, Mr Boyce said. It begins with the line 'I wish heaven had a phone so I could hear your voice again.' Jeffrey's grandparents were convicted of second-degree murder in 2006 had custody of Jeffrey and his three siblings. Two of them were treated relatively well, the inquest heard, but one of his sisters was subjected to the same conditions. The difference between Jeffrey and his sister was that she was allowed to go to school and the daily snack she received there probably saved her life, the inquest heard. MailOnline has approached DC Entertainment for a comment.
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Bronze statue created after campaigners raised cash to have it made .
They were touched by the story of five-year-old Jeffrey Baldwin .
He died 12 years ago after being starved by his grandparents .
But DC Entertainment own the brand and have banned its use .
Jeffrey's grandparents convicted of second-degree murder in 2006 .
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b11be7f4c5d2793fce8e1f74166bfd874de1f3a5
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By . Martha De Lacey . PUBLISHED: . 08:57 EST, 9 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:06 EST, 9 April 2013 . When Charlie Curtis broke his ankle during a climbing accident, his regular exercise regime hit something of a brick wall. The 30-year-old director of a London architecture firm watched his physical fitness slip away, along with his body confidence, so as soon as his foot was on the mend he decided to take up an active pastime that wouldn't put undue stress on his healing fibula: swimming. And just six weeks into his training plan, Charlie has lost 10kg and seen extraordinary results - most noticeably around his middle, where a soft paunch has made way for an enviably tight six-pack. Charlie gained weight after breaking his ankle and was unhappy with his figure, left, so Speedo helped him get back in shape, and within just six weeks had developed an impressive six-pack through swimming . Charlie was given his watery exercise schedule by Speedo, who helped him rebuild his fitness and regain his physique after the injury. Former Olympic swimmer and Speedo ambassador Karen Pickering got to work creating him a bespoke swimming programme which involved hitting the pool with her twice a week for 45 minutes , and another couple of times by himself. Charlie, who cut out alcohol from his otherwise healthy diet but didn't make any other changes, said: 'I can't believe . how different I look and feel in just six weeks and couldn't be happier. 'I put on a lot of weight when I broke my ankle but since starting the . swimming training I have dropped from a 36-inch waist to a 32-inch. My . friends have all noticed the difference, and I feel so much fitter and . stronger when carrying out other exercises or even daily activities.' Charlie said: 'My . friends have all noticed the difference, and I feel so much fitter and . stronger when carrying out other exercises or even daily activities' Charlie's exercise plan involved swimming twice a week for 45 minutes for just six weeks . He told MailOnline: 'I was pretty . healthy before the accident, so it was more about getting into shape . again after six months off and a couple of surgeries. 'Swimming isn't normally touted as something that's good for cardio, but I noticed a difference in my fitness after just two weeks. My physio was also really impressed with the progress my leg has made, and three weeks ago I was even able to start running again for the first time. But I still hate running. 'I've kept up the swimming and go at least twice a week. I was so surprised at how effective it was; I'm in he best shape I've been in since university.' In just six weeks Charlie lost an impressive four inches from around his waist through swimming . Charlie's trainer Karen commented: . 'Swimming is one of the best forms of exercise and it is great to see . the results on Charlie's physique and well-being. 'There is a big misconception that . swimming is boring and not that effective, but you can mix it up with . different equipment to keep things varied and to target specific problem . areas. 'Swimming is . also great for injury recovery, like in Charlie's case, as the sport has . a high impact on fitness levels but low impact on the joints and can . target the specific muscles you need to rebuild.' Charlie's programme included aerobic fitness drills and techniques using swimming equipment to build-up his fitness levels and stamina whilst remaining low impact on his ankle. He swam twice a week for 45 minutes each time, and undertook core strength and leg exercises supported with kick boards and hydro discs to define his abs and arms andrebuild the strength in his leg. Sally Polak, Marketing Manager for Speedo UK, said: 'We're passionate about making swimming both effective and fun. 'It's great to see how our Swim Fitness range has helped Charlie achieve his fitness goals after his injury. He has shown what can be achieved in just six weeks - imagine what could happen given a little longer!' Charlie in the pool . EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Kick board and pull buoy, paddles optional . TIPS: -To make main set harder do 2 or 3 butterfly kicks off the wall on turns . - On front crawl concentrate on fully extending arm out in front then pulling right back past hips on each stroke for efficiency . TOTAL: 2000m . WARM UP: 200m mix up strokes, steady pace100m steady Kick MAIN SET: 45 seconds rest between each 100m 2 x 100m Front Crawl1 x 100m Front Crawl Pull (with pull buoy)2 x 100m Front Crawl1 x 100m Front Crawl Pull2 x 100m Front Crawl . DRILLS: 8 x 50m DrillsCount your arm pulls on 1st length, aim for 5 less on 2nd length each time (this is to help you improve efficiency) WARM DOWN:200m Backstroke or Breaststroke, steady pace100m steady Kick .
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Charlie Curtis, 30, from London, gained weight after breaking his ankle .
Speedo sent him training with former Olympic swimmer Karen Pickering .
Swam twice a week for 45 minutes and did aerobic fitness drills .
His waist shrunk from 36 inches to 32 inches, and he lost 10kg .
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c3577fe2599d0ce881ec1ee774f91ef0aa16456d
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Crystal Palace are closing in on the signing of Jordon Mutch after agreeing to pay up to £5.75million for the midfielder. The 23-year-old has failed to make an impact Queens Park Rangers since his move in the summer and has been freed to leave by manager Harry Redknapp. And Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew has moved quickly to land Mutch ahead of next week's transfer deadline. QPR midfielder Jordon Mutch (right) has had limited opportunities at Loftus Road this season . Mutch celebrates scoring for Cardiff against Fulham in the Premier League in September 2013 . The Eagles have agreed a £4.75m fee rising to £5.75m with add-ons. Palace are also trying to complete a move for Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi, but face late competition from QPR. Ameobi held talks with Palace on Tuesday as Pardew looks to reunite himself with the experienced centre-forward. Palace have allowed midfielder Stuart O'Keefe to join Cardiff. Shola Ameobi (centre) was released by Newcastle last summer after 14 years at the club .
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Jordon Mutch free to leave QPR despite only joining in summer .
Former Cardiff City midfielder set for transfer to Crystal Palace .
The Eagles will pay £4.75m with the fee rising to £5.75m with add-ons .
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142,895 |
44cc0a918e080a904d99c393a6b01bf623fc38c5
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Researchers have successfully carried out the first 'brain to brain' conversation online - with participants who were 5,000 miles apart. The team transmitted signals over the internet directly from brain sensors. They were able to send the words 'hola' and 'ciao' from a location in India to a location in France. Researchers were able to send the words 'hola' and 'ciao' from a location in India (left) to a location in France (right) using internet-linked electroencephalogram (EEG) and robot-assisted and image-guided transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) sensors. In the first-of-its-kind study, an international team of neuroscientists and robotics engineers have demonstrated the viability of direct brain-to-brain communication in humans. 'We wanted to find out if one could communicate directly between two people by reading out the brain activity from one person and injecting brain activity into the second person, and do so across great physical distances by leveraging existing communication pathways,' said Alvaro Pascual-Leone, of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. 'One such pathway is, of course, the internet, so our question became, could we develop an experiment that would bypass the talking or typing part of internet and establish direct brain-to-brain communication between subjects located far away from each other in India and France ?'' Recently published in Plos One the highly novel findings describe the successful transmission of information via the internet between the intact scalps of two human subjects – located 5,000 miles apart. Researchers using internet-linked electroencephalogram (EEG) and robot-assisted and image-guided transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) technologies. Four healthy participants, aged 28 to 50, participated in the study. One of the four subjects was assigned to the brain-computer interface (BCI) branch and was the sender of the words; the other three were assigned to the computer-brain interface (CBI) branch of the experiments and received the messages and had to understand them. Using EEG, the research team first translated the greetings 'hola' and 'ciao' into binary code and then emailed the results from India to France. There a computer-brain interface transmitted the message to the receiver's brain through noninvasive brain stimulation. The subjects experienced this as phosphenes, flashes of light in their peripheral vision. The light appeared in numerical sequences that enabled the receiver to decode the information in the message, and while the subjects did not report feeling anything, they did correctly receive the greetings. 'By using advanced precision neuro-technologies including wireless EEG and robotized TMS, we were able to directly and noninvasively transmit a thought from one person to another, without them having to speak or write,' says Pascual-Leone. 'This in itself is a remarkable step in human communication, but being able to do so across a distance of thousands of miles is a critically important proof-of-principle for the development of brain-to-brain communications. We believe these experiments represent an important first step in exploring the feasibility of complementing or bypassing traditional language-based or motor-based communication.' Previous studies on EEG-based brain-computer interaction (BCI) have typically made use of communication between a human brain and computer. In these studies, electrodes attached to a person's scalp record electrical currents in the brain as a person realizes an action-thought, such as consciously thinking about moving the arm or leg. The computer then interprets that signal and translates it to a control output, such as a robot or wheelchair. The hotspot for brain communications: This image shows the area of the brain the researchers were targeting with to trigger phosphenes, flashes of light that appeared in subjects peripheral vision. But, in this new study, the research team added a second human brain on the other end of the system. Four healthy participants, aged 28 to 50, participated in the study. One of the four subjects was assigned to the brain-computer interface (BCI) branch and was the sender of the words; the other three were assigned to the computer-brain interface (CBI) branch of the experiments and received the messages and had to understand them. Using EEG, the research team first translated the greetings 'hola' and 'ciao' into binary code and then emailed the results from India to France. There a computer-brain interface transmitted the message to the receiver's brain through noninvasive brain stimulation. The subjects experienced this as phosphenes, flashes of light in their peripheral vision. The light appeared in numerical sequences that enabled the receiver to decode the information in the message, and while the subjects did not report feeling anything, they did correctly receive the greetings. A second similar experiment was conducted between individuals in Spain and France, with the end result a total error rate of just 15 percent, 11 percent on the decoding end and five percent on the initial coding side.
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Team transmitted signals over the internet directly from brain sensors .
Were able to send the words 'hola' and 'ciao' from India to France .
Subjects saw messages as flashes of light in their peripheral vision .
Results described as 'remarkable step in human communication'
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By . David Charlesworth, Press Association . Hull boss Steve Bruce has said a potential deal to sign Blackburn striker Jordan Rhodes is 'dead and buried'. The former Sunderland manager was keen on bringing the prolific Championship striker to the KC Stadium following the departure of Shane Long to Southampton for £12million earlier this month. Bruce reported Blackburn were open to selling their star asset, but that they had changed their minds, with the former Wigan and Sunderland boss now conceding defeat in his pursuit of the Scotland international. Staying put: Blackburn striker Jordan Rhodes will not be joining Hull City this summer . Disappointed: Steve Bruce now has under a week to sign a replacement for former striker Shane Long . 'It's dead and buried,' Bruce said. 'We got an indication from Blackburn that they were willing to do a deal and that obviously changed in 24 hours. That's their prerogative. 'If they'd have said that to start with - that he wasn't for sale no matter what we wanted to do - then fine, we'll walk away. 'But unfortunately it gets a bit protracted and last weekend we thought it was close and then all of a sudden he's not for sale, so we'll move on to the next one.' Bruce admitted his frustration at coming so close to landing the 24-year-old, who has scored 53 goals in 93 Championship appearances since joining Rovers two years ago, and blamed the constant scrutiny being placed on the deal. 'It gets into the public domain and all of a sudden it's not going to happen,' Bruce added. 'It's disappointing for everybody concerned, but more disappointing, I would presume, for somebody like Jordan.' Replacement needed: Long decided to leave Hull City to join Southampton earlier this month . Perhaps understandably, Bruce was a little more reticent about naming his other targets, but did reveal the club were nearing a deal to boost their forward line. 'We're close to one or two things, very close on one in particular, which will be a fantastic addition if we pull it off, but until it's really, really rubber stamped then I'm not going to say much,' he said. 'I really don't want to comment after last week's debacle on Jordan Rhodes. It would be wise of me to say nothing.' One person who has already completed his move to east Yorkshire this week is defender Michael Dawson, who signed a three-year deal from Tottenham for an undisclosed fee on Tuesday. Bruce is thrilled with his latest acquisition, believing Dawson's maturity at the back will be vital as Hull battle on domestic and European fronts this season. 'We're delighted to get someone of his experience and his ability,' Bruce said. 'I've always thought that especially in the centre of defence, a little bit of experience does everybody the world of good. 'It's been a long drawn out process but we eventually got him which I'm delighted about.' Done deal: Former Tottenham defender Michael Dawson became Hull City's sixth summer signing . VIDEO Referees need technology - Bruce .
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Steve Bruce thought he was close to landing Jordan Rhodes .
However Blackburn have now changed their stance on Rhodes' future .
The Hull boss is delighted with the signing of Tottenham's Michael Dawson .
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(CNN) -- The man now synonymous with hunting bad guys had no intention of a career catching fugitives. John Walsh was a hotel developer in south Florida, living a seemingly idyllic life with his wife and son, when a horrific tragedy changed his life -- and the lives of thousands of strangers. Here are five things to know about the host of CNN's The Hunt with John Walsh: . 1. His son was kidnapped and killed . Walsh's life unraveled in 1981 when his 6-year-old son, Adam, was abducted from a mall near their home in Hollywood, Florida. Two weeks after Adam's disappearance, his severed head was discovered in a canal 120 miles away from the mall. The devastation led Walsh to dedicate himself to catching fugitives and seeking justice for crime victims. 2. Helping nab the bad guys is his mission . For more than a decade, Walsh was known as the host of America's Most Wanted -- a groundbreaking show that put fugitives' profiles in the national spotlight. The FBI credits America's Most Wanted for leading to the capture of 17 of the fugitives who have appeared on the agency's 10 Most Wanted list. Walsh says 1,200 suspects have been caught as a result of the show. What was one of his best gets? Walsh says he accomplished in three days what the FBI couldn't do in 18 years: finding and capturing murderer John List, who killed his wife and three children. 3. He's a co-founder of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children . Before Adam Walsh's kidnapping and death, there was no national database on missing children. Law enforcement officers could enter information on stolen cars, stolen guns and stolen jewelry -- but there was no central place to keep information on missing children. So John Walsh and his wife Reve pushed Congress to pass the Missing Children Act, which led to the creation of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. According to its website, the center has helped law enforcement find more than 196,000 missing children since it was founded in 1984. "Our recovery rate for missing children has grown from 62 percent in 1990 to 97 percent today," the center says. The site isn't just for law enforcement officers and missing children's families. At least one young woman discovered she was abducted as a newborn by using the database. Carlina White, now 27, knew something was amiss when the woman who claimed to be her mother didn't resemble her and couldn't provide her birth certificate. So she logged onto the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and found what turned out to be her baby picture -- eventually solving her own kidnapping. After reading about White's case, a Philadelphia man who was adopted from an orphanage also searched the database and found a baby photo of himself. His father had reported him missing three decades earlier. 4. Elizabeth Smart's family counts Walsh among her rescuers . After her abduction at age 14, Elizabeth Smart was held captive for nine months. She was starved, threatened, tortured and raped on a daily basis. While she was missing and her family searched for answers, her father Ed Smart turned to Walsh. "He said, 'Be straight with me. Tell me what the odds are. You're the one guy who can tell me the truth,'" Walsh told CNN in 2010. "And I said, 'You know what Ed, 99% of the cases I do have a very unhappy ending. You're lucky to find the remains, if you do.' " But Walsh put a photo of Elizabeth's suspected kidnapper on America's Most Wanted. Days after watching the show, a woman spotted the suspect in suburban Salt Lake City. 5. Walsh also has a connection to the Ariel Castro case . For roughly a decade, Ariel Castro kept three young women captive in his Ohio home, abusing and raping his victims in what became known as the "house of horrors." Walsh profiled two of the missing women -- Georgina "Gina" DeJesus and Amanda Berry -- several times on America's Most Wanted. In a bizarre twist, it was Castro's daughter Arlene who appeared on the show to appeal for help in finding her friend DeJesus -- unaware that her father was actually hiding and abusing DeJesus in his home.
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John Walsh started a career in victim advocacy after his son was abducted and killed .
More than 1,200 suspects were caught due to his show America's Most Wanted .
Walsh is now the host of CNN's The Hunt with John Walsh .
He is also a co-founder of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children .
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By . Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 10:47 EST, 20 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 11:42 EST, 20 February 2014 . These are the horrifying injuries suffered by a teenager who was beaten up by two youths in an unprovoked attack. Chris Hopkinson, 18, released the images after his attackers Reece Hardy and Jordon Humphrey were locked up after admitting two counts of assault and one of causing grievous bodily harm. The photographs show how the student - who is now scarred for life - was punched beyond recognition in Creswell, Derbyshire, as his face was transformed into a swollen, bloody pulp. Horrific injuries: Chris Hopkinson - who is now scarred for life - was punched beyond recognition in Creswell, Derbyshire, as his face was transformed into a swollen, bloody pulp . The vicious assault, which left Mr Hopkinson unconscious, happened on May 1 last year as he and a few friends from nearby Staveley attended a birthday party in the neighbouring village. Derby Crown Court heard last week how Hardy, 18, and Humphrey, 19, from Creswell, were spoiling for a fight as they attacked two other teenagers. One was punched inside the party at Creswell Social Centre, and another was hit in the face outside the club, before they turned on Mr Hopkinson. Mark Knowles, prosecuting, told how Mr Hopkinson was knocked to the ground and kicked while he was unconscious. Mr Knowles said: ‘He was kicked by both defendants and a witness said it was like the volleying of a football and involved a stamping on the head.’ Speaking after the case, Mr Hopkinson said: ‘There was so much blood. It was unreal. ‘My t-shirt and jeans were covered. I had . my head on this girl’s lap while I was coming round afterwards and her . legs were covered in blood too. Stitched up: Mr Hopkinson (left and right) was knocked to the ground and kicked while he was unconscious . ‘I had cuts on my face, swelling to my . left check but my right eyebrow was the worst - it was nearly coming . off. I had to hold it on so it didn’t peel away with all the blood . running down my face. ‘A few people from the area told me it looked like there had been a murder because there was so much blood in the road. 'My . right eyebrow was the worst - it was nearly coming off. I had to hold . it on so it didn’t peel away with all the blood running down my face' Chris Hopkinson . ‘I came round and thought I . was alright, I told the police officer I was going to go home and he . said you’re not going anywhere. He showed me a picture of my injuries . and I was so shocked.’ Mr . Hopkinson, who was treated at Chesterfield Royal Hospital and wants to . be a traffic police officer, explained Hardy and Humphrey attacked his . friends before turning on him. The . teenager struggled through his A-Level exams just two days after the . bloodbath with dizziness and headaches - and has been forced to re-do . his studies to get better grades. Mr Hopkinson said: ‘After it happened I . woke and it hurt and I couldn’t open my eyes because of the swelling. I . was attacked on a Friday and my exams started on the Monday. Sentenced: Reece Hardy (left), 18, and Jordon Humphrey (right), 19, admitted two counts of assault and one of causing grievous bodily harm. Hardy was locked up for 22 months and Humphrey was given 20 months . ‘But every time I looked at the exam paper I got dizzy. Now I’m going to still be at school while all my friends go off to university. ‘I didn’t feel comfortable going out by myself or going to parties - and when I got back to playing cricket for Staveley Miners’ Welfare, I wasn’t at my best. 'What you (Reece Hardy and Jordon Humphrey) did was terrible. All you have to do is look at the photographs of this young man - look at the scarring' Judge John Burgess . ‘But I am pleased these two have been dealt with, and now they have been sentenced I want to put it all behind me and get on with my life.’ Sarah Brown, defending Hardy, who was locked up for 22 months, said in court that it was a combination of immaturity and alcohol, adding that he was ashamed and acted out of character. Will Bennett, defending Humphrey, who was given a 20-month sentence, said he was drunk and was sickened by what he had done. Neither had previous convictions. Judge John Burgess said: ‘What you (Hardy and Humphrey) did was terrible. All you have to do is look at the photographs of this young man - look at the scarring. ‘He will have to endure comments. People ask him what happened and he feels people who don’t know him question whether he is trouble.’
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WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT .
Attackers Reece Hardy, and Jordon Humphrey admit assault and GBH .
Pair both locked up after pleading guilty at Derby Crown Court .
Chris Hopkinson punched beyond recognition and left scarred for life .
Vicious attack on 18-year-old at birthday party in Creswell, Derbyshire .
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By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 12:37 EST, 5 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:58 EST, 5 February 2013 . US Vice President Joe Biden today raised fresh concerns about Britain leaving the European Union as he flew into meet David Cameron and Nick Clegg. Mr Biden arrived in Downing Street on the last leg of a tour of Europe, and attended meetings with the two coalition party leaders. The prospect of closer trade links between the EU and the US was on the agenda after Mr Cameron’s promise of an in-out referendum raised fears in the White House that America’s closest ally was risking severing ties with Brussels. Scroll down for video . US Vice President Joe Biden met David Cameron in Downing Street today . The two men discussed the prospect of a trade deal between the US and the European Union, amid concern in the White House that Britain could sever ties with Brussels . Mr Biden said the White House view was that the UK was ‘stronger as a result of its membership’ of the EU. ‘And we believe the EU is stronger with the UK's involvement,’ he said in an interview with The Times. Last month President Barack Obama told Mr Cameron that the US ‘values a strong UK in a strong European Union’. Mr Clegg did not mention the issue directly as he welcomed Mr Biden to Number 10 - though he did hail the prospect on progress towards a US/EU trade deal. Mr Biden also met Deputy PM Nick Clegg, and joked that the pair usually only see each other via video calls . Mr Biden attended a meeting of the National Security Council in the No.10 Cabinet room. He sat between Mr Clegg and Home Secretary Theresa May . Mr Clegg told Mr Biden: ‘It’s great to see you again. We’re going to discuss a lot of things. 'Foreign policy challenges which we share and work together on, whether it’s our common endeavour in Afghanistan, the challenges in north Africa, the issue of Iran or the urgent and ongoing need to make progress on the Middle East peace process. ‘And also we’ll be discussing the prospects for a transatlantic free trade agreement between Europe – the EU – and the United States, which is something that has been talked about a lot for many, many years, but it’s been an elusive project to get going. ‘But if we can work together to overcome the obstacles on both sides of the Atlantic, I’m absolutely sure that it will be, we’re all sure it will be something that will create a significant boost to prosperity and jobs on both sides of the Atlantic.’ Mr Biden joked about his swearing in as Vice President for a second time, telling Mr Cameron: 'It was easy, nothing to it' Asked whether Mr Cameron would use the opportunity of today's visit to outline his position on Europe to the vice president, the PM's official spokesman said: ‘They will certainly be discussing EU/US trade. ‘As I understand it, the US position that the administration has expressed is a strong, outward-looking EU with a strong Britain inside that. That is very much our position.’ On international issues, the PM and vice president were expected to ‘discuss our shared agenda around international co-operation and how the UK and US continue to work closely together on a whole series of issues’, said the spokesman. Mr Biden joked that he usually only spoke to his British counterpart via video phone. ‘We spend more time looking at each other in the situation room on cameras and on video talking to each other than we get to do in person,’ he said. ‘We’ve established a great relationship and as you all know, the most open relationship we have with any nation in the world is with Great Britain, and we do have a lot to discuss because we both have a lot to say in the areas you mentioned.’ He said Mr Obama ‘sends his best’ to Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg. Mr Biden was last month sworn in as vice president to Barack Obama, who saw off Republican challenger Mitt Romney to return to the White House. ‘So you signed up for another four years?’ Mr Cameron was heard to say as the pair entered Downing Street's White Room for talks. ‘We did, we did. It was easy, nothing to it,’ Mr Biden replied.
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White House concerned its closest ally will lose European influence .
Vice President said EU is stronger 'with the UK's involvement'
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By . Mark Prigg . PUBLISHED: . 05:58 EST, 12 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:17 EST, 12 November 2012 . Britain's communications regulator Ofcom said it expected mobile operators to be able to provide faster, fourth-generation services from May next year as it set out its long-awaited plans for a 4G spectrum auction. Ofcom said prospective bidders would be able to submit their applications with an initial deposit from December 11, with bidding beginning in January and licences granted in February and March. Ofcom said the reserve prices for the spectrum would be a combined total of £1.3bn ($2.1bn). Nicole Scherzinger at the launch of EE, Britian's first 4G network. Ofcom today revealed rivals will be able to launch in May following an auction process. 11 December: The application day where prospective bidders submit their applications to Ofcom together with an initial deposit. December: Qualification stageApplications are reviewed to determine who can go on to bid in the auction. January: The principal stageBidding begins. February/March: The assignment stage where bidders are informed what they have won and its cost. February/March: The grant stageLicence fees are paid and licences granted. May/June: New 4G services launched . 'Today marks an important shift from preparation to the delivery of the auction, which will see widespread 4G mobile services from a range of providers,' Ofcom Chief Executive Ed Richards said. Mobile operators Vodafone and Telefonica's O2 are desperate for the auction to begin after market leader EE, owned by France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom, rolled out its new service to great fanfare last month. EE was given the go ahead by Ofcom to launch its service early on existing spectrum. The decision was a calculated move to kick-start 4G, and make the operators agree to a timetable for the spectrum auction and delivery of services after lengthy delays. Ofcom said download speeds on initial 4G networks could be around 5 to 7 times faster than those provided by 3G networks, paving the way for a superfast broadband era where consumers can watch video and surf the Internet on the move. What 4G means for consumers: Our table explain how quickly data will be downloaded. The announcement comes amid growing fears over the disruption 4G networks could cause to Freeview TV signals. Hundreds of homes that have their . television signal wiped out by the latest 4G mobile phone networks will . have to be reconnected at a cost of up to £10,000 each, it was claimed . yesterday. Millions of households will suffer interference, ranging from image distortion to the total loss of some channels. Most . will be able to use a filter to block the signal, but for families . living closest to the 4G base stations, the problems are expected to be . so severe that this will be ineffective. Freeview users are expected to be . worst hit and there have been warnings that hundreds will be unable to . switch to satellite or cable providers, leaving them without access to . normal television services. New era: EE recently launched its superfast 4G mobile internet service - but will face competition from May next year, Ofcom has revealed. Experts have warned that up to . 2.3million homes could suffer some form of interference when the 4G . networks – which offer phone users much faster internet connection – are . rolled out across the country next year. Ministers have promised a £180million 'help scheme', funded by the mobile phone operators, for those hit by the problems. But MP John Whittingdale, chairman of . the culture, media and sport select committee, called for the national . launch to be delayed while local trials are conducted.
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Ofcom said it will accept bids from December 11th .
Licences will be granted in February and March next year, with launches expected in May and June .
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By . Sara Nathan . He is twice-divorced - so it's no surprise that Mick Jagger would admit: 'I don't really think that much of marriage'. But that did not mean the Rolling Stones frontman was not devoted to L'Wren Scott, his statuesque girlfriend of 13 years. Indeed, in 2007, Jagger, now 70, picked out a vintage diamond ring that signified the fact he expected to spend the rest of his life with the 6ft 3ins tall brunette, also twice-divorced, MailOnline can reveal. Today, the New York City medical examiner's confirmed that L'Wren, 49, had committed suicide by hanging herself at her Manhattan apartment on Monday. Scroll down for video . The ring that said it all: L'Wren Scott had been wearing a massive diamond ring on her engagement finger since 2007 . Vintage lover: L'Wren's stunning diamond ring up close. Her lover Mick Jagger was said to indulge her passion for vintage jewelry . And speaking about her romance with Jagger, a friend told MailOnline today: 'Mick gave L'Wren the ring as a sign of his devotion. I know it was a vintage ring that he picked out himself, but they were very quiet about it, they never discussed it in public - it was just private for them.' Worn on her tell-tale ring finger, L'Wren first showed off the huge rock when the couple were seen enjoying a string of performances at a folk festival in Rajasthan in India in October 2007. Neither would comment at the time on an engagement, but a friend confirmed they were never engaged. L'Wren told how Jagger indulged her passion for antique jewelry and once enthused to Vogue: 'Talk about someone who knows about jewelry - and the most fabulous taste!' She was seen wearing the ring at what would be her last public appearance on December 2 at the British Fashion Awards at the London Coliseum in London. The former model turned fashion designer was known to have been previously married to property developer Anthony Brand, a short-lived union that lasted from 1992 until 1996, when their divorce was finalised in California. However, MailOnline has learned she was also married for a second time before meeting Jagger at a photo shoot in 2001. In an emotional interview, L'Wren's adopted sister Jan Shane told how L'Wren admitted 'I envy you' at their father Ivan's funeral in 2002, adding: 'I know deep down she wanted a family . and kids, and I think she deeply wanted it and couldn't get it. I think . it bothered her.' ‘To me she had it all,’ said Jan, . fighting to hold back tears as she spoke in the kitchen of her . comfortable family home in Sandy, Utah. The mother-of-eight, who has been married for most of her life to a garbageman, added: 'She was going out . with a Rolling Stone and travelling to London and all around the world . and I was a stay-at-home mum who hasn’t really been anywhere.’ In love: Mick Jagger supported L'Wren Scott at the launch of her Banana Republic range in November 2013 - as the statuesque fashion designer clearly shows off the dazzling diamond ring . Lady in red: L'Wren Scott arrives at the premiere of Crossfire Hurricane at the Ziegfeld Theater in New York City in November 2012 to support her lover . While Lupe Montufar, who worked as . L'Wren's housekeeper in Los Angeles between 1993 and 2009, told the New . York Daily News that the designer tolerated Jagger’s infidelity in the . hope of one day having a family with him: 'She wanted to get married and . have a family, but she didn’t want to get her hopes up or say it out . loud to Mick. She didn’t want to pressure him. 'She . always dreamed about having fame, fortune and money. She had all that . in her hands with him. She sacrificed a lot to be with him. A few years . ago, she thought she’d be with him forever and have a family. She knew . there were other women, but she accepted it.' When asked about her desire for children in 2010, L'Wren dodged the question, saying: 'Let me . see if I can articulate this in a way that makes sense.' 'I . have seven wonderful sort of children in my life, by default. I have . four fabulous grandchildren. I feel that being the product of adoption . is a wonderful thing, and at the moment my life is saturated with . children. My family life is a high priority.” Jagger and L'Wren shared a $10 million home in London and a stunning apartment on the Left Bank in Paris. And asked how her daughter had won the notorious Mick Jagger, L'Wren's adopted mother Lula Bambrough said in 2003: 'L'Wren . is very independent and would not take any nonsense from anyone no . matter how famous they were. 'She usually knows what she wants and she gets it. It . doesn't surprise me at all that she's tamed Mick. She is very much her . own woman and it would be my guess that is why this Mick Jagger likes . her.' Even Jagger's second wife, Texan supermodel Jerry Hall would later admit: 'I think she's better at dealing with him than I am.' The singer first wed Nicaraguan-born Bianca Perez-Mora Macias in 1971 in St Tropez in the South of France, although the day was marred when he made a scene because Bianca refused to sign a pre-nuptial agreement. The marriage was effectively over after a year, though the couple stayed together for the sake of their daughter, Jade. L'Wren Scott married property entrepreneur, Anthony Brand (pictured) in 1993. They divorced after just three years of marriage . Mick Jagger and Bianca Jagger pictured together on their wedding day in 1971 at the Town Hall in St Tropez, France. They divorced in 1979 . When . Bianca finally divorced Jagger in 1979, smart work by his lawyers kept . her settlement at only around $1.6million (£1 million). He then wed Jerry Hall in a Balinese woodcarver’s hut in 1990. The . breaking point with Jerry was his affair with the Brazilian model . Luciana Morad, which resulted in a son, Lucas. When Jerry sued for . divorce, having by then had four children by Jagger, he crassly claimed . their Balinese wedding was legally invalid, and so the marriage was . annulled ‘by mutual agreement’. However, Jerry's rumoured settlement of $7.4 million (£4.5 million) made her the first Jagger ex to describe him as ‘very, very . generous’. So it's no surprise, that speaking in 2010, Jagger told the New York Times: 'I don’t really subscribe to a completely normal view of what relationships should be.' 'I have a bit more of a bohemian view. To be honest, I don’t really think much of marriage. I’m not saying . it’s not a wonderful thing and people shouldn’t do it, but it’s not for . me. And not for quite a few other people too, it would appear.' He laughed: 'I just think it’s perhaps not quite what it’s cracked up to be. I know it’s an elaborate fantasy.' L'Wren's body was found by her assistant at 10am on Monday. Jagger is said to be en route to New from Australia, where he was touring with the Rolling Stones. The tour of Australia and New Zealand has now been postponed and today the band's spokesman was forced to deny that Jagger had left his longtime love at home during the tour because his bandmates felt she was their 'Yoko Ono' - calling reports by PageSix 'ridiculous'. Jerry Hall had four children with Jagger - and managed to walk away from their marriage with a $7.4million settlement .
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New York City medical examiner today confirms fashion designer L'Wren Scott committed suicide on Monday by hanging herself .
Friend tells MailOnline Mick had bought the statuesque former model a huge diamond ring that she wore on her ring finger as a 'sign of his devotion' - but the pair were never engaged .
MailOnline has learned L'Wren was in fact married twice before meeting Rolling Stones star .
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Hundreds of protesters angered at the killing of unarmed black men by white police officers again marched through downtown Berkeley streets on Tuesday night as protests continued to rage in Northern California. Disturbing footage has emerged showing one man, believed to be a Berkeley doctor, knocked out cold after another man hit him in the head with a hammer. The man, who was trying to stop demonstrators from smashing up a Radio Shack, can be seen fighting with the other man in the footage before he is hit. He was rushed to Highland Hospital. However the attack caused the violence to escalate in the town, according to Berkeleyside. Scroll down for video . Attack: New video shows a man, believed to be a Berkeley doctor, trying to stop looters and then getting hit in the head with a hammer . Hit: This is the moment the man is hit. The attack throws him to the ground and he was knocked out . Violence: Police officers with the Berkeley Police Department clash with protesters during a march against the New York City grand jury decision to not indict in the death of Eric Garner in Berkeley on Monday . Clash: A police officer pushes protesters with his arms raised on Interstate 80 in Berkeley. Over 1,000 Berkeley Protesters blocked traffic on Monday and marched again on Tuesday . Smashed: Protesters break the window of a Shattuck Avenue drugstore in Berkeley after a second wave of protesting over the killings of two unarmed black men by police in Ferguson . Held: 223 people Monday on suspicion of resisting arrest, obstructing police and other charges . Wall: CHP officers stop marchers from continuing down University Avenue at Sixth Street in Berkeley . Run: A police officer swings a baton at a protester with a bicycle . Violent protest against police killings . Protest: Demonstrators in Berkeley blocked traffic on I-80 for over an hour on Monday night . Demonstrators stopped at City Hall, where a city councilman addressed the crowd and said he will ask for an investigation into police response to the protests over the weekend, when the latest wave of protests started. Bay Area Rapid Transit officials said the station in downtown Berkeley was closed as a precaution. A City Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday night was canceled after threats to disrupt it, said Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates. One man, a doctor from Berkeley, was hit in the head with a hammer while trying to stop looters from smashing into a Radio Shack. A California Highway Patrol official said 80 percent off its available staff would be deployed to monitor the protest in Berkeley after a crowd of about 1,500 blocked all lanes of Interstate 80 and blocked an Amtrak train Monday night. The agency arrested 223 people Monday on suspicion of resisting arrest, obstructing police and other charges, said Ernie Sanchez, assistant chief of the CHP's Golden Gate Division. Berkeley police arrested another nine people. Sanchez told the San Francisco Chronicle the agency will also ask the Alameda County district attorney's office to increase bails and charges. Those arrested face bails of up to $50,000, and many remain in custody, he added. Dangerous: Protesters block an Amtrak train in Berkeley on Monday . Bold statement: Hundreds of people marched through downtown Berkeley Monday in reaction to the grand jury decisions not to indict white police officers in the deaths of two unarmed black men . A large group of demonstrators destroyed highway perimeter fencing, flooded lanes, and threw rocks and other objects at officers. It took about an hour and a half to clear the interstate, and no major injuries were reported, the CHP reported. A woman stuck in traffic went into labor during the protest, but fire crews were able to get her to a hospital, KPIX-TV reported. 'The CHP respects the public's right to gather and demonstrate, but it needs to be done in a safe manner,' Sanchez said. 'At this point, they've made their statement and we respect that. 'Now, we're asking them to stop.' Although many activists in other parts of the country have gone home, protests in Berkeley and Oakland are still active, reflecting the area's long history of protest dating to the 1960s. The protests started after a grand jury on Nov. 24 declined to indict Officer Darren Wilson in the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. A New York grand jury on Dec. 3 declined to prosecute a police officer captured on video applying a fatal chokehold on Eric Garner. That decision set off more demonstrations nationwide. University of California Berkeley school of law graduated Alyson Reimer holds up a sign as she protests in response to police killings in Missouri and New York as Berkeley Police officers block off a street . Brake! The moment the protesters ran onto California's Interstate 80 to stop traffic in last night's anti-cop march . 'Don't shoot': A protesters raises his arms as California Highway Patrol Officers stand in front of him . Protesters march in Berkeley Monday in response to police killings in Missouri and New York . Major presence: California Highway Patrol officers block a freeway entrance from protesters in Berkeley . Face off: Protesters and police officers face off on a pedestrian bridge over Interstate 80 . Protesters raise their hands as they chant 'Hands Up Don't Shoot' under Highway 80 . The California Highway Patrol also deployed tear gas against protesters on Sunday after explosives were thrown at them. Tear gas was also used against the protesters on Saturday, which Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates admits may have been an overreaction. Police kept a noticeably wider distance on Sunday, but that only led to more businesses getting vandalized. On Monday, many business owners closed early and boarded up in preparation for the march, and nearby UC Berkeley sent out an email to staff suggesting they leave campus by 4:30pm. 'It was really disturbing,' Bates said of the weekend protests, as reported by ABC 7. 'It turned violent and it turned violent in a way that we haven't seen here for a long, long time. Over the weekend, over 16 various stores were trashed, not just major businesses, but small businesses.' Berkeley has a history of civil disobedience, as one of the focal point for protests against the Vietnam War in the 1960s and 1970s. Because of this history, local police are not allowed to have search dogs, stun guns or helicopters. 'The people in the Bay Area are sensitive to worldwide issues,' Bates said, according to NBC Bay Area. 'Unfortunately, there is a small element that uses violence at times to make their point.' Protesters and police officers face off on a pedestrian bridge over Interstate 80 . Protesters block traffic on Highway 80 during a protest in response to police killings in Missouri and New York . A protester, one of dozens detained by police after a group stormed Interstate 80, peers out from a behind a fence in Emeryville, California, on Monday . Protesters lock arms as they block traffic on Highway 80 in Berkeley . A protester holds up a sign in response to police killings in Missouri and New York . Police detain dozens of protesters after a group protesting police violence stormed Interstate 80 in Emeryville . Protesters block a car on Highway 80 during a protest in response to police killings in Missouri and New York in Berkeley .
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At least 223 were arrested on the third night of protests in Berkeley .
California Highway Patrol sent 80 percent of its force to the town Tuesday .
Wells Fargo, Mechanics Bank, True Value and Missing Link were smashed .
Berkeley doctor disproving of people breaking windows of a Radio Shack hit in the head and taken to hospital .
Interstate 80 was shut down for one hour Monday by protestors .
Pregnant woman stuck in the traffic went into labor .
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By . Kerry Mcdermott . PUBLISHED: . 04:59 EST, 4 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:10 EST, 4 November 2012 . A 16-year-old boy has died after being knocked down by a hit-and-run driver as he and his friends crossed the road on their way to a party. Callum Hilton died after suffering a serious head injury when he was hit in Greater Manchester shortly before 6.30pm yesterday evening, despite the efforts of a nurse and neighbours who came to his aid. A man has now been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after the incident in Stand Lane, Radcliffe, Greater Manchester Police said today. Scroll down for video . Hit-and-run: Callum Hilton, 16, died after being knocked down as he crossed the road in Radcliffe, Bury, at around 6.30pm yesterday . The 16-year-old Manchester United fan was rushed to hospital after being knocked down by a silver Peugeot on the busy main road, where he later died from his injuries. The driver sped from the scene at Stand . Lane in Radcliffe, Bury, after the crash on Saturday evening. A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said a man was arrested in Radcliffe shortly after 1.30pm today on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. Callum's 'distraught' mother Tricia Hilton wrote on a Facebook tribute page set up in memory of the teenager: 'im not going to wake up from a nightmare, my son on the news hit and run... it shouldn't be happenin but now its all becoming real for me.' The 16-year-old was raised by his mother and his grandfather, who have been left 'absolutely distraught' by the tragedy, Greater Manchester Police said. A man who lives nearby and witnessed the 'heartbreaking' scene described how a neighbour, a nurse, and a passerby battled to save the boy as he lay in the road. He said: 'As I was coming back home, the boy was already on the floor and there were two people offering first aid. 'One was a neighbour, a nurse who lives further up the hill and one was a guy who was driving past. 'With the boy were three friends, one was apparently his cousin but I don’t know any of them. 'It was heartbreaking to watch. The lad was in a very, very bad way. 'The frustration of standing there as two people try to save a young kid’s life was heartbreaking.' He said cars were 'always' speeding up and down the road despite a number of signs warning drivers of the 30mph speed limit. 'There was a dog run over about 100 yards up the hill about 10 minutes before this boy was run over last night,' the man said. 'Last week a lady who lives down the road had her car struck. 'So just within this stretch of 200 yards there has been three accidents in a week. It’s very unfortunate.' A bunch of flowers had been left in memory of the teenager at the scene today. The attached card read simply: 'Callum xxx'. Scene: The driver sped from the scene after hitting the 16-year-old in Stand Lane, Radcliffe, as Callum and his friends crossed the road . Shock: Flowers were being left at the scene in memory of the teenager today, following the hit-and-run smash last night . Nikki Jewell Howarth wrote on Facebook: 'Thinking of you tricia and family at this . sad time, callum was a lovely lad and always had a smile on hes face . much love nikki, kyle brandon, kiah, taylor and daisy may xx.' Greater Manchester Police have appealed for any witnesses to come forward. Detective Inspector Amber Waywell . said: 'Callum's mum and grandad, who raised him, are absolutely . distraught. 'They have suffered a terrible tragedy and have lost a son . and a grandson in devastating circumstances. 'Our thoughts and sympathies are with them at this time and we have a . specially-trained Family Liaison Officer who is supporting Callum's mum . and grandad as they try to come to terms with what has happened. 'We have made an arrest but I would continue to appeal to anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward,' Det. Insp. Waywell added. She added: 'Callum's family have suffered an unimaginable loss. He was . just on his way to a party with friends and sadly will never be coming . home to his family. 'They deserve to know exactly what happened so I . would urge anyone who either witnessed what happened or has information . about the movements of the silver Peugeot 206 to come forward.' Shortly after the crash police recovered an abandoned silver Peugeot close to Bury town centre, but the vehicle has now been ruled out of the inquiry. 'It is now believed another silver Peugeot 206 was the vehicle involved,' a GMP spokesman said. Anyone with information should call GMP on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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A man has been arrested over the death of 16-year-old Callum Hilton in Bury, Greater Manchester Police said .
Teenager was crossing the road in Radcliffe, Bury on his way to a party with a group of friends when he was hit by a silver Peugeot .
A nurse and passerby battled to save his life as he lay in the road, a witness said .
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PUBLISHED: . 10:21 EST, 4 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:05 EST, 4 December 2013 . Benjamin Price went from earning more than £500,000 a year to claiming £71 a week in benefits . A city banker who complained that his £518,000 pay packet was not enough was made redundant months later and now lives off £71 a week in benefits, a tribunal heard yesterday. Morgan Stanley trader Benjamin Price, 39, said he had effectively ‘signed my own death warrant’ by making a complaint about his pay. His annual earnings had dropped from £533,000 to £518,000, with the bank blaming the cut on the global financial crisis. Mr Price objected and four months later he was made redundant, leaving him to survive on unemployment benefit, East London Employment Tribunal was told. Now he is claiming £1million in unfair dismissal and breach of contract. He is also claiming to be a ‘whistleblower’ about the culture at the American banking giant, where making complaints is ‘seen as detrimental to your career’. Mr Price, of Wimbledon, South London, accuses the bank of reneging on a deal to improve his pay after he turned down a job offer from a rival. He said he had been headhunted by Citibank in 2010 and offered a deal worth $1.1million (£670,000) a year. But he agreed to stay at Morgan Stanley after his bosses promised to match the offer, he claimed. However, not only did his bosses fail to make good on the deal, they cut his wages too, he claimed. He was made redundant in January 2012 after 14 years at the bank, having worked his way up from analyst to senior trader in the company’s derivatives division. He said the culture at Morgan Stanley was such that it only allowed people to speak out if they agreed with senior bosses. Mr Price told the panel yesterday: ‘Despite my good performance, I was a squeaky wheel who was not prepared to put up and shut up. Mr Price, 39, had worked at Morgan Stanley for 14 years when he was made redundant in January 2012 . ‘This effectively was me signing my own . death warrant at Morgan Stanley. That was the deal, $1.1million, they . offered when I turned down Citibank, and I would not just keep quiet . about it. I was made assurances by my senior manager at Morgan Stanley, . Craig Verdon, that they would match this offer. ‘I asked for a written contract from . Mr Verdon that he would match the $1.1million offered by Citibank, but . he told me due to the UK 50 per cent bonus tax at the time, he would not . provide one. ‘When I was . paid $850,000 (£518,000) the following year – not the deal agreed – I . was told there was not enough money to pay what was agreed.’ But . Citibank never put its offer in writing either, and was not ‘hammering . on his door’ to hire him, the tribunal heard. Thomas . Linden QC, representing Morgan Stanley, said Mr Price had never . received a written contract agreeing the new job or terms of the offer. During . a heated exchange, Mr Linden claimed: ‘The truth is you didn’t have an . offer to match. It is quite common for bankers at bonus time to say “it . isn’t enough”. I don’t think I’ve ever met a banker who thinks he is . overpaid.’ The trader replied: ‘I have written my witness statement and . sworn an oath and you keep asserting I am lying. Mr Price told the tribunal he signed his own 'death warrant' with the company by complaining about pay . ‘I don’t think anyone can sit and say being paid $800,000 is being underpaid, but it just was not what was agreed.’ On . the culture at the banking giant, Mr Price claimed: ‘The practice at . Morgan Stanley is to attempt to pay you a minimum it thinks it needs to . in order to keep you happy and not look to move to a competitor. 'Speaking up at Morgan Stanley is welcomed so long as you are agreeing . with senior management, and making complaints is seen as detrimental to . your career, as it is wholly at their discretion how much compensation . you will be getting and promotion is impossible without backing. ‘I . am aware that going up against Morgan Stanley will harm my chances of . finding employment elsewhere in the industry in the future.’ The hearing continues. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons.
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Benjamin Price told tribunal he had 'signed his own death warrant' by taking issue with salary .
Mr Price, 39, said Morgan Stanley agreed to pay him £670,387 after he was headhunted by rival Citibank .
But tribunal heard the bank instead cut his pay from £533,000 to £518,000 .
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By . Freya Noble for Daily Mail Australia . The family of a man who was killed in a tragic road accident along with two of his children have revealed their heartbreak after the killer driver was told by a judge he could be out on parole by 2016. On June 4 last year, Shaun Zagar was in the car with his children, Kaleb, 6, and Zara, 5, in regional NSW near the town of Casino, waiting for the bus which would take them off to school for the day. 'I can just imagine they were just sitting in there in the car, minding their own business, waiting for the bus. This bullet from nowhere came out and just T-boned them,' Shaun's father Andrew Zagar told A Current Affair. Scroll down for video . Andrew and Julie Zagar have spoken of their heartbreak after the man who killed their son and two grandchildren could serve just two years behind bars . The 28-year-old father of three and two of his children, his eldest son Kaleb just a day away from his seventh birthday, all had their lives claimed by the tragic crash. This week the driver of that car Malcolm Joseph Harris was handed his sentence, one the Zagar family are outraged by. For the accident which flipped Shaun's car and rolled it over a fence before it came to rest almost 30 metres away, Harris could serve just two years behind bars. The Northern Star report Harris, was sentenced to five years behind bars for two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death and one count of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm. The 37-year-old also received an extra three years, four months jail, with a non-parole period of two years, for another charge of dangerous driving occasioning death. He is eligible for parole in March 2016. When the family heard the sentence handed down in court, they were in shock according to Andrew: 'We just shook our heads in disbelief. We thought "what, there must be some sort of mistake"', he revealed. At the time of the fatal crash Harris is said to have had an array of drugs in his system, was driving unlicenced and with an undiagnosed epilepsy condition. Shaun, 28, Kaleb, 6, and Zara, 5, were killed in a tragic car accident in June last year . Malcolm Joseph Harris, under the influence of drugs and driving unlicenced at the time of the crash is eligible for parole in 2016 . Shaun's father Andrew said the family were in shock when they heard the sentence handed down in court . He also left his own daughter - a passenger in his car - with brain damage. Harris pleaded guilty to the deaths of Shaun, Kaleb and Zara Zagar, as well as driving under the influence, driving without a licence and the charge relating to his epilepsy condition. But the Zagar family are planning to appeal the case, meeting with prosecutors on Friday to discuss their options. 'You get life for taking marijuana into Bali. And you've killed three people and I know it might not have been intentional but he got in that car of his own free will', Shaun's mother Julie Zagar told the program. Andrew said when he saw his son's killer in court this week, Harris mouthed the words 'sorry' across the room at him. However Andrew said that didn't change a thing, as his family were serving a life sentence. Kaleb was killed just one day before his seventh birthday, waiting in the car with his dad and sister to catch the school bus . Five-year-old Zara was also in the car, and is survived by a younger brother . Zagar family are planning to appeal the case, meeting with prosecutors on Friday to discuss their options . 'You've destroyed our family, why did you do this you selfish mongrel? You selfish bloody mongrel', he said. The Daily Telegraph report that Attorney-General Brad Hazzard is investigating the situation following the public outcry. Andrew said Harris's sentence sent a weak message to the community. 'It's not sending a strong enough message to offenders who do these things. It's not sending a strong enough message to say think, before you actually jump into the car.' Kaleb and Zara's mother said in a statement to A Current Affair 'He's given us a life sentence so he should have to serve one too. I have to go the rest of my life without seeing my first born son or my only daughter.' The couple also had another son together.
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Shaun Zagar and his children Kaleb, 6, and Zara, 5, died in June 2013 .
They were waiting for the school bus when Malcolm Joseph Harris's car ploughed into the in regional NSW .
Harris was sentenced this week and is eligible for parole in 2016 .
Shaun's parents Andrew and Julie told A Current Affair they were outraged .
They are meeting prosecutors on Friday to launch an appeal .
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By . Louise Boyle and Daniel Bates . PUBLISHED: . 17:54 EST, 17 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:17 EST, 18 September 2012 . Back in jail: Joseph Green Brown, 62, is being held over the murder of his wife Mamie in North Carolina last week after he was released from death row in 1987 . A former death row inmate who became a spokesman against the death penalty has been arrested again over the alleged murder of his wife. Joseph Brown was held after Mamie, his wife of 20 years, was found dead in her apartment on Thursday. He now faces the death penalty for the second time if convicted of the crime which has left both their families in shock. Officers found the 71-year-old woman lying on the floor suffering from apparent trauma. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Brown was released from death row in 1987 for a wrongful rape and murder conviction and spent his life campaigning for reform of the penal system. He found God, took the name Shabaka and frequently spoke out against the finality of the death penalty, including a passionate speech to a Congressional Judiciary subcommittee. Prominent lawyers involved in his case also changed their minds about capital punishment due to his pleas. In one interview Brown said: ‘I’m against killing, period, whether the violence is by individuals, the state, or armies in warfare. All life is sacred.’ The body of Mrs Brown, 71, was discovered after police were asked to check on her. Her husband was arrested late on Friday at a hotel in Charleston, South Carolina. Back on death row: Joseph Green Brown, right, is again on death row for the alleged murder of his wife of 20 years, 71-year-old Mamie Caldwell Brown, left, was found dead last week . Discovery: Mamie Brown, 71, was found dead at her apartment in North Carolina after having suffered trauma, according to police . During his first court appearance in . Charlotte, North Carolina, he was escorted into a courtroom in . handcuffs. Wearing an orange prison jump suit, he glimpsed at his wife’s . family in the courtroom, but quickly turned away. A daughter of the victim could be heard saying: ‘Oh my god!’ Marcus Williams, Mrs Brown’s cousin, . said: ‘We thought they were happy. He didn’t seem like a threat. He was . upfront about everything. He was always smiling and trying to help . people.' Mr Williams added: ‘He was a motivational speaker. He liked to warn people what could happen in the legal system’. Brown’s 1974 conviction and death . sentence by a Florida jury was for raping and murdering Earlene Treva . Barksdale, the owner of a clothing store. He was scheduled for execution October 17, 1983, but a federal judge ordered a stay 15 hours before he was to be put to death. Mrs Barksdale, 34, a mother of five, . was found shot in the head at the children's clothing store she owned on . July 7, 1973 by her husband Fred, according to an article by Cltampa.com . Her . husband was considered the prime suspect for around five days before he . passed a lie detector test and attention shifted to Joseph Brown. Brown, at the time a 23-year-old . drifter from South Carolina, had just confessed to a motel robbery where . he sexually abused a female guest near Tampa airport on the same . day. He denied knowing anything about Mrs Barksdale's death. Brown was convicted of her murder the . following year and spent 13 years on death row before charges were . dropped just 15 hours before his execution. He was released on March 5, 1987 after an appeals court found that prosecution had allowed testimony at trial they knew to be false. One witness had struck a deal with the prosecution and falsely told the court that he and Brown had committed a robbery together. Grisly: Joseph Green Brown had been convicted of the rape and murder of Earlene Barksdale in 1973 but was released from death row . In a 1997 interview with America magazine about his experiences on death row, Brown said: 'Overall, it took me almost five years to decompress from the experience on death row. 'Some people couldn't believe I was still alive.' Among those who campaigned for Brown the first time around was Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut based lawyer who is now a Senator for the state. He worked the case pro bono and even put in $40,000 of his own money - despite supporting the death penalty. He declined to comment on Brown’s latest arrest. Some $400,000 of money for Brown’s defence was also provided by black rights campaigners the NAACP because they believed it was a racially-linked injustice. North Carolina, where Brown will face justice this time, has the death penalty for capitol felonies, of which first degree murder is one. The last execution in the state was Samuel Flippen in 2006 who beat his two-year-old stepdaughter to death.
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Joseph Brown, 62, being held without bond over murder of wife Mamie, 71 .
Released 15 hours before execution in 1987 after being placed on death row for rape and murder of mother-of-five Earlene Barksdale .
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Deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy on Sunday taunted court officials who placed him in a soundproof glass box during his trial on conspiracy charges, a proceeding cut short by his lawyers' objections. "If this farce continues, leave the trial," Morsy told his lawyers through a microphone. "Those who are afraid of my appearance before the people have no public support," he added. Morsy, Egypt's first democratically elected president, was toppled in a military coup in July and faces trial on a variety of charges -- the most recent being allegations that he spied for an unnamed foreign power. Sunday's session marked the second time he was placed in a glass enclosure. When he was hauled into court along with nearly three dozen co-defendants, his lawyers complained the soundproof enclosure hindered their ability to communicate with their client. "The glass dock is to humiliate the defendants," said Mohamed Selim El-Awa, his lead attorney. "This is unprecedented in the world." El-Awa told CNN that the defendants can't hear inside the glass-enclosed dock and that presiding Judge Shaaban el-Shamy isn't the only one controlling the sound. The judge refused requests to discuss this issue in private, making it impossible for the lawyers to do their job, he said. And Ahmed Morsy, the ex-leader's son, said, "This is what the coup authorities want." With defense lawyers refusing to participate, proceedings were adjourned until February 23. The judge threatened to appoint new lawyers, and the defense attorneys appeared divided over whether they should return. El-Awa said the withdrawal would remain in effect until the glass barrier is removed. "What is important is that I haven't gone against my conscience," El-Awa said. But defense spokesman Mohamed El Damaty said that given the court's threat to appoint new attorneys, Morsy's lawyers may have to submit to the "bitter reality" and continue their defense in later sessions. The trial is one of several that Morsy is facing amid Egypt's seesaw power struggles. The latest charges against him include spying for foreign organizations outside Egypt, committing terrorist acts inside the country, disclosing classified defense information to a foreign country and funding terrorism. He already has been charged with inciting the killings of political opponents and organizing a 2011 jailbreak by members of his then-banned Muslim Brotherhood. Morsy, the former head of the Brotherhood's political arm, won office in 2012. Shortly after he was elected, he resigned from the Muslim Brotherhood and its Freedom and Justice Party in an effort to show he would represent all Egyptians. But he was ousted in a coup about a year later amid widespread protests against his rule, with opponents accusing him of pursuing an Islamist agenda and excluding other factions from the government. Morsy and other Brotherhood leaders were rounded up after the coup and now face a variety of counts, including organizing attacks on Egyptian troops in the Sinai Peninsula and fueling "sectarian sedition with the aim of igniting civil war in Egypt." The Brotherhood had long been suppressed during the 29-year rule of former strongman Hosni Mubarak. But it became the most powerful political force in Egypt after the popular revolt that toppled Mubarak in 2011. Supporters say the military-backed government that replaced Morsy has returned to the authoritarian practices of Mubarak.
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Those who fear his appearance "have no public support," Morsy declares .
Defense lawyers object to the placement of soundproof glass where defendants stand .
Morsy became president in 2012, but was deposed in a military coup one year later .
His supporters say the military has returned to the authoritarian practices of Hosni Mubarak .
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0cdd89ce7dee10d07b7f5b2eb394eb9566b870c6
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(CNN) -- With the holiday season upon us, what better time to take a luxury break and get away from it all -- and relax with a few rounds of golf. From volcanic islands to tropical paradises, wildlife sanctuaries and stunning mountain vistas, CNN has sought out courses that cater for the high end of the market. Here are five of the best resorts around -- let us know if we have missed off your favorite luxury golfing retreat: . Mission Hills Hainan Resort (Haikou, China) Situated in the volcanic region of Hainan Island, the resort houses a remarkable 10 golf courses, each incorporating the native lava rock formations. There are 518 guest rooms and suites, a three-story clubhouse, 12 restaurants, a fully-equipped sports and recreation center, an aquatic theme park, therapeutic volcanic mineral springs, a spa oasis and a shopping arcade. The Blackstone Course is earning a reputation as one of the world's finest, and hosted the 2011 World Cup of Golf in November. A premiere suite will set you back a cool $500 a night, while a round of golf is $200. St. Regis Princeville Resort (Kauai, Hawaii) Perched on the northern shore of the island, this resort reopened in 2009 after a $100 million refurbishment. There are 252 rooms, of which 51 are ocean-view suites, and the resort incorporates 9,000 acres, providing stunning views of Hanalei Bay and its towering cliffs -- the setting for the movie South Pacific. On the golf front, there are 27 holes on the Makai course, with 18 having been completely renovated in 2010. Rooms at St. Regis begin at a cool $375 per night, while the Makai course costs $220 per round. WaterColor Inn and Resort (Santa Rosa Beach, Florida) Located in the Gulf of Mexico and recently named "Best Hotel in Florida" by the readers of Travel + Leisure, the U.S. resort offers luxurious waterfront accommodation, restaurants, a full-service spa, and two of the sunshine state's most celebrated golf courses. One of these is Shark's Tooth, designed by golfing legend Greg Norman, which is a private course only open to guests at the resort. It costs a whopping $525 a night to stay in a beach-view room, with a round of golf at Shark's Tooth setting you back another $95. Pristine Bay Resort (Roatan, Honduras) Located on a tropical island 35 miles off the coast of Honduras, the new Pristine Bay Resort is situated on a 400-plus-acre site adjacent to the Caribbean Sea. The world's second-largest barrier reef provides a stunning backdrop to the Black Pearl Course, with the 120-room resort scheduled to open January 2012. Residents and guests will have access to the ocean-front Bay Village with boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, cafes and other entertainment options. The cheapest rooms start at $300 a night, with a round of golf coming in at $150. Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge (Alberta, Canada) Set in the heart of the Rockies, this beautiful course is rated by SCOREGolf Magazine as the number one golfing resort in Canada. Elk, deer and wildlife are able to roam free on the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which opened in 1925. Between May and October, the resort offers the "Ultimate Buddy Trip" for eight or more people. At $3,125 per person it isn't cheap, but for your money you get a three-day/two-night stay in Milligan Manor -- the largest luxury cabin at Jasper Park Lodge -- two rounds of golf, a fly fishing excursion, whiskey tasting and a private outdoor barbecue with your own chef.
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Pristine Bay Resort is situated on a 400-plus acre site adjacent to the Caribbean Sea on Roatan .
Mission Hills lies in China's volcanic region of Hainan Island and has 10 golf courses .
Elk and deer roam free at Canada's Jasper Park Lodge, a UNESCO World Heritage site .
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By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 08:52 EST, 14 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:58 EST, 21 June 2013 . The British taxpayer has spent £1.7million in eight years on the battle to kick out Abu Qatada, it emerged today. More than a third of the bill is to cover the legal aid claims made by the radical cleric against attempts to deport him to Jordan. Critics slammed the huge sum which could pay for 90 police officers for a year. The deportation of radical Islamist cleric Abu Qatada took a step closer after the Jordanian government agreed a treaty with the UK . Home Secretary Theresa May revealed the scale of the legal bill in a letter to MPs. She told the Home Affairs Select . Committee that the £1,716,306 figure includes Qatada's legal aid costs of £647,658. The Home Office has spent more than £1 million pursuing the case through the courts. Committee chairman Keith Vaz MP said: . 'I am shocked that Abu Qatada's legal costs alone could have employed 90 . new constables for a year.' 'The Home Secretary needs to ensure the Mutual Assistance Treaty is ratified as soon as possible, before our bill for Mr Qatada rises any higher. 'I am glad that the King of Jordan is visiting Parliament in the near future. He would be welcome to take Mr Qatada back with him.' A Legal Aid Agency spokesman said: 'The Legal Aid Agency has done everything in its power to ensure Abu Qatada contributes towards his legal costs and have secured frozen assets of £217,286.57. 'Legal aid for Special Immigration Appeals Commission cases is only available if the applicant passes strict financial means and legal merits tests. 'These cases are managed by the Legal Aid Agency under a case plan system, so that costs are carefully controlled throughout.' The prospect of finally removing Qatada from the UK had seemed remote for years, but this week the Jordanian parliament . approved a new treaty with British designed to finally kick him out. Last . month, Qatada unexpectedly volunteered to leave the country as soon as . the treaty between the UK and Jordan is ratified by both countries. Mrs May announced in April that she had thrashed out a mutual assistance treaty with Jordan, guaranteeing Qatada the right to a fair trial. Home Secretary Theresa May has pinned her hopes on the treaty to finally end the decade-long saga of government attempts to oust him . Human rights judges in Britain and . Strasbourg had halted his removal to Jordan on the grounds some of the . evidence used against him may have been obtained by torture. The . agreement has now been approved by both houses of the Jordanian . parliament but must still be signed off by the country's King Abdullah. The UK Government expects the treaty to be ratified in Britain by June 21. It . does not name Qatada directly, but it states that any evidence used to . prosecute someone who is to be deported cannot be used 'unless the . prosecution in the receiving State proves beyond any doubt that the . statement has been provided out of free-will and choice and was not . obtained by torture or ill-treatment by the authorities of the receiving . State'. September 16 1993 - The Jordanian father of five claims asylum when he arrives in Britain on a forged passport. May 1998 - He applies for indefinite leave to remain in Britain. April 1999 - He is convicted in his absence on terror charges in Jordan and sentenced to life imprisonment. February 2001 . - He is arrested by anti-terror police over involvement in a plot to . bomb Strasbourg Christmas market. Officers find him in possession of . £170,000 in cash, including £805 in an envelope marked 'For the . mujahedin in Chechnya'. August 2005 - The preacher is arrested under immigration rules as the Government seeks to deport him to Jordan. April 2008 . - The Court of Appeal rules that deporting him would breach his human . rights because evidence used against him in Jordan may have been . obtained through torture. February 18 2009 . - In a landmark judgment, five Law Lords unanimously back the . Government's policy of removing terror suspects from Britain on the . basis of assurances from foreign governments. It is ruled he can be . deported to Jordan to face terror charges.April 18 2012 - Abu Qatada lodges an appeal - potentially delaying his deportation by months. March . 6 2013 - He is returned to jail over fears the terror suspect was . trying to communicate with associates, in breach of bail conditions. March 27 2013 . - Court of Appeal admits hate preacher is 'very dangerous' but rules . sending him to face a terror trial in Jordan would not be fair.April 17 2013 - Home Office says it will take its battle to the Supreme Court. April 23 2013 - Court of Appeal rejects government request to appeal. Asked whether Mr . Cameron had booked Qatada's plane ticket to Jordan, a Downing Street . spokesman said: 'Obviously the announcement . from Jordan is good news but from our perspective the case is . still on-going and the Prime Minister is clear in his determination to . put Abu Qatada back on a plane to Jordan.' Ministers have been trying for a decade to send Qatada to Jordan, where he is accused of plotting a terrorist atrocity to coincide with the Millennium. His removal was originally approved by the British courts, only to be halted by the European Court of Human Rights last year. Judges in Strasbourg said he would not get a fair trial because some of the evidence used against him may have been obtained by torture. Controversially, Mrs May opted not to appeal against this verdict. Instead, she and her ministers secured personal promises from the Jordanian authorities there would be no use of torture evidence, and began the deportation process again in the UK legal system. But last November, the Special Immigration Appeals Commission said it was not satisfied with the assurances, and halted Qatada’s removal. The court said it must reflect the Strasbourg ruling. That decision was upheld by the Appeal Court and the same court refused permission for the Home Secretary to challenge the ruling in the Supreme Court. However the treaty with Jordan is seen as a major breakthrough in finally ending the logn and expensive saga. A Home Office spokesman said: 'The Government remains committed to securing Qatada's deportation as quickly as possible. 'We are pleased the Jordanian parliament has approved the treaty and we await its full ratification by the Jordanian government and the completion of ratification procedures in the UK.' Qatada is currently behind bars in London's Belmarsh prison after breaching a bail condition which restricts use of mobile phones and other communication devices. The Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac) previously heard that a USB stick understood to belong to Qatada's oldest son contained 'jihadist files' made by the ''media wing of al Qaida'. Qatada is also being investigated by Scotland Yard over suspected extremist material found during the search of his home. The Metropolitan Police passed on the material to Danish authorities to reportedly investigate a connection with a controversial Islamic publisher.
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A third of the bill has been run up by radical cleric's legal aid bills .
Vast sum could fund 90 police officers for a year, critics claim .
Jordanian parliament this week approved a mutual assistance treaty .
Qatada said last month he would leave voluntarily if treated passed .
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(CNN) -- Former world No. 3 David Nalbandian has continued his latest comeback from injury by reaching his first semifinal of 2010 at the Legg Mason Classic in Washington, but top seed Tomas Berdych suffered a shock defeat. The Argentine is now ranked a lowly 117th after missing both the French Open and Wimbledon due to a hamstring problem, but proved too strong for Andy Roddick's conqueror Gilles Simon on Friday. The 28-year-old, playing his first tournament since April, came from behind to beat the French 13th seed 3-6 6-2 6-3 and set up a clash with Croatian No. 4 Marin Cilic. "I feel good. I will just try to keep believing in my game and play the best I can," Nalbandian, who missed most of 2009 due to hip surgery, told reporters. "During practice I know I can go far. Without playing matches, it's tough to know how far you can go." Nalbandian, four times a semifinalist in Grand Slams and the Wimbledon runner-up in 2002, made a poor start as he trailed 3-0 in the opening set and was then a break and 0-40 down before battling back to level the match. He took a 2-0 lead in the third and sealed his best result since losing to Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals in Monaco. Cilic romped into the last four with a 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 win over Janko Tipsarevic, and now has a 5-0 career record against the Serbian. In Friday's opening match, world No. 8 Berdych crashed out as he lost 6-4 3-6 6-2 to Belgium's world No. 62 Xavier Malisse. Malisse will next take on eighth seed Marcos Baghdatis after the Cypriot ousted Spanish No. 3 Fernando Verdasco 7-6 (7-3) 6-4. Berdych was playing his first tournament since losing in the final at Wimbledon in early July. The Czech said he would not return to the tournament, being unhappy to have to play in mid-afternoon just 10 hours after his previous match. "This is a pretty bad experience for a tournament where I'm first seeded. I thought I could get some better times with a No. 1 seed," Berdych told reporters. "It's the reason I'm not going to be here next year. In the first set I felt like I was still sleeping. I was not 100 percent ready and that's disappointing. I wanted to play better." Meanwhile, second seed Samantha Stosur failed to reach the semifinals of the women's San Diego Open, losing 6-4 6-3 to Italian Flavia Pennetta on Friday. The fifth seed's reward for eliminating the French Open runner-up is a clash with Russia's two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, who defeated American teenager CoCo Vandeweghe 7-5 6-2 after trailing 5-2 in the opening set. Polish fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska thrashed Israeli No. 7 Shahar Peer 6-2 6-0 to earn a semifinal with Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova, who came from behind to beat young Russian Alisa Kleybanova 2-6 6-4 6-3. World No. 3 Caroline Wozniacki reached the final of her home Copenhagen Open on Saturday, with the Danish top seed beating Russia's Anna Chakvetadze 6-1 2-6 6-4. She will play seventh seed Klara Zakopalova on Sunday after the Czech upset China's No. 2 Li Na 6-3 1-6 6-4.
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David Nalbandian to face Croatian fourth seed Marin Cilic in Washington semifinals .
Argentine reaches his first semifinal this year in his return from hamstring problem .
Top seed Tomas Berdych upset by Xavier Malisse in the opening quarterfinal .
Second seed Samantha Stosur misses out on semifinal place in San Diego .
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(CNN) -- Dani Pedrosa may have missed out on the MotoGP world title yet again, but the Spanish motorcycle star is determined to finish the 2012 season on a high note at one of his favorite tracks on Sunday. The Honda rider smashed Valentino Rossi's lap record at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia on Saturday to claim pole position for the final race. He clocked one minute 30.844 seconds near the end of the session to head off compatriot Jorge Lorenzo, who clinched his second world title for Yamaha at the penultimate race in Australia last month. Last year's world champion Casey Stoner, who won at Phillip Island, will complete the front row in his final race for Honda before retiring. "It was almost a perfect lap and I gave 100% because I knew I wouldn't be able to improve any more as the tires were very good for the first lap and then the drop in grip was quite severe," said Pedrosa, who will finish second in the championship for the third time since stepping up to the elite class in 2006. The 27-year-old has won five times at the circuit in MotoGP's three divisions. "I'm very happy with the pole position and the new record because Valentino's old record was done with qualifying tires. We had only one dry session to test the new asphalt," he said. "We still have to decide on the tires for tomorrow because we have used only the soft compound, but it depends on the weather -- if it rains we will need to take what we learned yesterday. I really would like to win here and finish the season with a good race." Stoner, whose title defense was derailed by injury, has two wins and two second placings in Valencia since his MotoGP debut in 2006 but the Australian is not comfortable with the track's new surface. "Qualifying didn't really go to plan, it was a pretty frustrating session. Due to the miserable weather this weekend, we had a lot of work to do in a very short space of time, we did make some good progress but unfortunately we couldn't find enough before the end of the session," the 27-year-old said after setting a time of 1:31.428. "There is a new surface here and we expected everything to be really good and smooth but in fact we've found there are a lot of bumps on the circuit. Hopefully the weather is dry tomorrow and we can take that extra step in warm-up." Lorenzo, who will be rejoined by Rossi at Yamaha next year, has won six out of 17 races and finished runner-up 10 times -- with just one retirement. "It seems like it's going to be very close tomorrow. Dani is very strong here, not only in the dry but also in the wet and it seems it could be wet for the race," he said after clocking 1:31.195. "I tried my best for pole position with the last rear tire but I didn't expect the lap time from Dani." Seven-time world champion Rossi has not won at Valencia since 2004, and his hopes of a repeat seem slim after a poor final qualifying run for Ducati. The Italian, who has stood on the podium just twice in two years away from Yamaha, finished Saturday's session back in 11th -- more than two seconds slower than Pedrosa. He set the previous lap record of 1:31:002 in 2006.
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Spanish motorcyclist Dani Pedrosa wins pole at final race of MotoGP season .
Honda rider breaks Valentino Rossi's lap record at Valencia circuit .
He heads the front row from world champion Jorge Lorenzo and Casey Stoner .
Stoner, the 2011 world champion, will retire from the sport after Sunday's race .
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Australians travelling to Indonesia have been advised to exercise a high degree of caution after Foreign Minister Julie Bishop confirmed she has received information about planned acts of terror. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have issued a warning to Australians to exercise a high degree of caution if travelling Indonesia, including popular tourist spot Bali. The Australian Government says it is receiving information which indicates that terrorists may be planning attacks in Indonesia, which could take place at any time. Scroll down for video . Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in Perth on Tuesday discussing government warnings about heightened risk of terror attacks and advice regarding travel to Indonesia . The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have issued a warning to Australians to exercise a high degree of caution if travelling to all areas of Indonesia, including popular tourist spot Bali (pictured is Legian Beach, Bali) Julie Bishop confirmed that the Government is working 'very closely' with Indonesian security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies and are preparing for the worst. The alarm was first raised after the US Government was warned about threats against US-associated hotels and banks in Surabaya in East Java. 'Australia is monitoring this situation very closely,' Bishop said at a press conference, confirming that DFAT is in partnership with Indonesian security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Ms Bishop emphasised that the risk is very real and Australians must act cautiously when travelling overseas, as we have already experienced 'incidents in the past where Australians were killed'. She used the example of the tragic deaths of 45 Australians in the 2002 Bali Bombings and 88 Australians in the 2005 Bali bombings as stark reminders that 'the threat of terror activity anywhere in the world remains.' She used the example of the tragic deaths of 45 Australians in the 2002 Bali Bombings and 88 Australians in the 2005 Bali bombings as stark reminders that 'the threat of terror activity anywhere in the world remains' 'That is why we count terrorism as our major national security threat,' said Ms Bishop. It is a major priority for the government to prepare adequately to prevent or react to potential terror attacks, 'to keep Australians safe here and overseas'. 'We're taking steps to make sure our intelligence agencies and our law enforcement agencies are well-resourced... (and) have the funding and personnel they require.' The smart traveller warning for Indonesia advises that there are known terrorist groups which remain active throughout Indonesia, despite police disruptions. 'Police continue to conduct operations against these groups and have stated publicly that terrorist suspects remaining at large may seek to attack Western targets.' The Foreign Minister advised Australians to follow all advice given by the Australia Government by paying close attention to Smart Traveller updates. 'We're taking steps to make sure our intelligence agencies and our law enforcement agencies are well-resourced and have the funding and personnel they require,' Ms Bishop told media on Tuesday . 'Of course in all these situations, people should be very aware of the fact that they are in another country, they're subject to the laws of another country,' Ms Bishop added. 'And if you can't afford to travel to Bali with travel insurance, then perhaps you should rethink your travel.' The US government on Sunday warned of a potential threat against US-associated hotels and banks in Surabaya. 'You should exercise particular caution around locations that have a low level of protective security and avoid places known to be possible terrorist targets,' the department says in its latest travel advice. The advice also notes Indonesian immigration staff may refuse entry to Australians with a criminal record, regardless of how long ago the offence took place. Ms Bishop has advised Australians to always execute caution when overseas and to be mindful that they are subject to the laws of another country, of which they may not be aware .
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Australians are being advised to be 'highly cautious' in Indonesia .
There is a high risk of a terrorist attack in the country, according to DFAT .
Government continues to receive information about planned attacks .
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says intelligence agencies and law enforcement agencies are being prepared with funding and personnel .
The alarm was first raised after the US Government was warned about threats against US-associated hotels and banks in Surabaya in East Java .
45 Australians were killed in the 2002 Bali Bombings and another 88 Australians in the 2005 Bali bombings .
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(CNN) -- Today, the day after the tragic shootings near Milwaukee, the fog will begin to lift. Just as after Columbine and Aurora, we will hear the names of the suspect and victims. We will learn more about the motive and imagine the nightmare that unfolded within those walls. In the past, hearing these horrific details would be enough to bring us together in national unity. But that will not be enough today. Today, we are called to do more. We are called to do the hard work of listening. If we really want to unite in response to this national tragedy, we need to know whom we are embracing. For many, this means learning about Sikh Americans for the first time -- and listening closely to what's at stake. For me, the mass shooting is not just about how to keep guns out of the hands of a murderous few. It's also about my community's sacrifice in the struggle to live as free and proud Americans. As a Sikh American whose grandfather sailed by steamship from Punjab, India, and settled in California 100 years ago, my family's story spans the struggle of Sikhs in America. Donning a turban and long beard, my grandfather tamed the hard floor of the Central Valley on a John Deere tractor in the early 1900s. Sikh pioneers such as my grandfather could not own land or become citizens because of the color of their skin, but they stayed and farmed, weathering race riots and decades of second-class treatment until the law permitted their children and grandchildren to become citizens. Like many Sikhs, I grew up with deep roots in America and also fell in love with the heart of the Sikh faith: devotion to one God, who requires us to uphold equality between women and men and all peoples, and perform seva, service to our community as an expression of our faith. Our house of worship is called a gurdwara, where we recite and sing the poetry of our sacred scriptures. Many Sikhs wear five articles of faith, including kesh, long uncut hair that most men and some women wrap in a cloth turban. Nearly every person who wears a turban in America is Sikh. Tragically, the turban meant to represent a commitment to service and justice has since marked Sikh Americans as targets in hate violence. Our family, alongside Sikh families who arrived in a wave of immigration after the 1960s, became American in law but not necessarily in the eyes of our neighbors. I was old enough to remember racial slurs and shattered windows after the Iran hostage crisis, the first Gulf War and the Oklahoma City bombing. Still, none of this could prepare me for 9/11. In the hours and days after 9/11, turbaned Sikh Americans became automatically suspect, perpetually foreign and potentially terrorist -- confused with Muslims, and so immediate targets in anti-Muslim violence. Hate violence swept the country, and on September 15, 2001, a Sikh man was gunned down in front of his gas station in Mesa, Arizona. My family knew Balbir Singh Sodhi; it felt as though an uncle had been murdered. But the killing was not broadcast widely on national news. A few days later, I grabbed my camera, left college and began a journey across America that would last a decade, capturing on film the stories of Sikh Americans profiled, beaten, stabbed, shot but persevering in faith and resilience. The FBI reported a 1,600% increase in anti-Muslim hate crimes in the year after 9/11. Over the last decade, I became part of a new generation of Sikh Americans who organized and became lawyers, artists, journalists and elected officials, in part to advocate on behalf of a community repeatedly swept up in waves of anti-Muslim rhetoric, violence and racial profiling. In a poor economy and critical election season, we have recently watched ideologues use anti-Muslim bias to turn a profit in dollars and votes. When discontents can easily access guns, many of us feared more hate violence. Whether or not the shooting in a Milwaukee suburb is a hate crime, the news has reverberated through every Sikh American home. We saw our own gurdwara on the television screen; we imagined our own aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, caught in the gunfire. And we shared an all-too-familiar sense of helplessness, grief and the sadness of a community that has long struggled to live, work and worship peacefully in this country. But this time, something new happened: The whole nation paid attention. Thousands of people posted messages of love and support in the face of unspeakable tragedy. They knew that the Sikh community gathered to pray on a Sunday morning just like millions in churches across the country. They knew that the terrible loss of life so recently after the shootings in Aurora shocks the conscience and violates our deepest values. They knew that this is not a Sikh tragedy but an American tragedy. Today and in the days to come, I believe Americans are hungry for the next step. We are ready to come together in a groundswell of healing, hope and renewed commitment to a world without violence. We are ready to come together in true national unity, we are ready to listen. There is a Sikh gurdwara in nearly every city in America. Come this Sunday morning. Listen and be with us. Americans' support -- every candle, every prayer -- will be felt by Sikh Americans across the country. Together, we can all be Sikhs; we can all be Americans -- and know what that means. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Valarie Kaur.
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Valarie Kaur's Sikh grandfather faced discrimination when he came to U.S. 100 years ago .
Sikhs could not be citizens then, she says, and have struggled to live as free Americans .
Kaur: Turban shows commitment to God and service but marks Sikhs for hate crimes .
Kaur: Americans are not ignoring violence against Sikhs and are rallying in support .
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f87dd1b837c7352043eddc205f63e595891a57ff
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By . Paul Thompson . An al Qaeda supergrass is to give evidence against hate preacher Abu Hamza and show he was a 'terrorist with a global reach'. British-born Saajid Muhammad Badat will be the star witness when Hamza goes on trial in New York later this year, according to court papers. Badat, who was jailed for plotting to blow up a U.S. passenger jet with shoe bomber Richard Reid and later released for agreeing to become the first terrorist supergrass, has agreed to give evidence via a video link. British-born Saajid Muhammad Badat will be the star witness when Abu Hamza goes on trial in New York later this year having turned from terrorist to supergrass . Abu Hamza, who lost an eye and two hands fighting the Russians in Afghanistan, is also charged with providing material support to the al Qaeda network by trying to set up a training camp in Oregon . Prosecutors in the U.S. believe Badat's evidence will help convict Hamza. Assistant U.S. Prosecutor Ian McGinley said in court filings Badat will show Hamza 'was a terrorist leader of global reach, who among other things, sent his young lieutenants around the world to engage in terror training'. Badat was released from prison in 2010 after striking a deal with British authorities to give evidence in future terror trials. The 33-year-old had been jailed for 13 years in 2005 for taking part in the plot to blow up a U.S. passenger jet along with Richard Reid. He admitted being personally briefed on the plan by terror mastermind Osama bin Laden. But Badat backed out at the last minute while shoe bomber Reid went ahead and was foiled by passengers who subdued him before he could explode his bomb on the Paris to Miami flight in 2001. Reid is serving a life sentence in the SuperMax prison in Colorado and will never be released. Badat, from Gloucester in the south-west of England, has been re-housed using taxpayers' money and given money towards the cost of office space and education courses to help him get a job. His mobile phone bills and internet are paid for by Scotland Yard. Face of shoe bombs: Richard Reid will never be released from a SuperMax prison in Colorado for trying to detonate a shoe bomb on a flight from Paris to Miami in 2001 . U.S. prosecutors are hoping Badat's evidence will help secure a conviction of Hamza who was extradited from Britain after a lengthy legal battle. He will give evidence by video link as he is afraid if he attends the trial in New York he will be arrested by U.S. authorities. Hamza, who lost his hands and an eye fighting the Russians in Afghanistan, faces a life sentence if convicted. He is accused of being involved in hostage-taking in Yemen in 1998 that led to the deaths of three Britons and an Australian. He is also charged with providing material support to the al Qaeda network by trying to set up a training camp in Oregon and attempting to organize support for the Taliban in Afghanistan. While being held in a U.S. prison, Hamza has complained about the harsh conditions and claims the stumps of his hands have become infected. A plea to move to a 'softer' jail was rejected by U.S. authorities. Badat is well known to U.S. terror chiefs and has already given evidence via a video link against a group of terrorists who plotted to blow up the subway. He is also due to be the star witness at the trial of 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and bin Laden's son-in-law Sulaiman Abu Ghayth. Abu Ghayth goes on trial later this month accused of holding terror training camps. Prosecutors do not name Badat in their court filings but refer to him as a witness who .agreed to participate. in the shoe bomb plot in 2001. U.S. Federal Judge Katherine Forrest, who will oversee Hamza's trial in April, is expected to agree to the request.
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British-born Saajid Muhammad Badat will be the star witness when Hamza goes on trial in New York later this year .
He will give evidence by video link as he is afraid if he attends the trial in New York he will be arrested by U.S. authorities .
Badat, jailed for plotting to .
blow up a U.S. plane with shoe bomber Richard Reid in 2001, was later .
released for agreeing to be first terrorist supergrass .
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31b7d3fed3b64c28bb4adacd162e77f898120605
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A former Florida A&M band member accused of being the ringleader of a brutal hazing ritual known as 'Crossing Bus C' that killed a drum major was convicted today of manslaughter and felony hazing. Prosecutors said Dante Martin, 27, was known as 'the president of Bus C' and organized the initiations that required fellow band members to try to make their way through a pounding gauntlet of fists, drumsticks and mallets from the front of the bus to the back in November 2011 after a football game. Two other band members went through the bus before Robert Champion, 26, of Decatur, Georgia. Martin was convicted of misdemeanor hazing counts in their beatings. Guilty: Former Florida A&M band member Dante Martin, 27 (left), pictured in court Monday, has been found guilty of manslaughter in the hazing death of drum major Robert Champion, 26 (right) Hazing: Martin, left, was found guilty in court on Friday. On Monday, he was supported by his family members in court who sat behind him, pictured . At fault: Martin's defense attorneys (left and right) argued that Champion voluntarily took part in the Crossing Bus C ritual in 2011. The jury disagreed in their guilty ruling on Friday . Champion's parents, Pam and Robert Champion, sat silently as the verdicts were read. Martin sat with his head down. Martin's sentencing was set for January 9 and he was taken into custody. He is facing up to 15 years in prison. Champion complained of trouble breathing and vomited after the ritual, then collapsed and died of internal bleeding caused by severe bruising in a hotel parking lot after Florida A&M played Bethune-Cookman in their annual rivalry football game November 19, 2011. His death cast a pall over the school's nationally acclaimed band, which had played at Super Bowls and before US presidents. The famed band was suspended for more than a year after the death and several school officials resigned in the aftermath. Martin's defense attorneys told jurors the ritual was more akin to a competition and that there was no actual hazing. They said Champion and the others voluntarily participated. Tragic end: Champion complained of trouble breathing and vomited after the ritual, then collapsed and died of internal bleeding in a hotel parking lot . Jail? Martin could face up to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced in January . Co-accused: Brian Jones, left, and Ryan Dean, right, have already been sentenced after pleading no-contest to third-degree felony hazing last year . 'You can't take it in isolation and act like it was just any other band,' defense attorney Richard Escobar said during closing arguments. 'Brutal as it was, foolish as it was...it was competitive.' Prosecutor Jeff Ashton said testimony made it clear that band members were looking for a measure of respect and acceptance by 'crossing Bus C.' But he challenged the defense's argument. 'Tradition didn't kill Robert Champion,' Ashton said. 'Tradition isn't to blame. Tradition is not an excuse...It's not a defense to those that got caught.' Disgraced: The famed band was suspended for more than a year after the death and several school officials resigned in the aftermath . Grieving: Champion's parents, Pam and Robert Champion, were in the courtroom every day during the trial and sat silently when the guilty verdict was announced Friday . Several other former band members have pleaded guilty to lesser charges, and three others await trial. Brian Jones and Ryan Dean were sentenced after pleading no-contest to third-degree felony hazing in 2012. Jones was sentenced to six months of community control, which strictly limits his freedom with measures including frequent check-ins with probation officials. He also was given two years of probation and required to perform 200 hours of community service. Dean received four years of probation and 200 hours of community service.
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Prosecutors said Dante Martin, 27, was known as 'the president of Bus C' and organized the hazing ritual that led to Robert Champion's death in 2011 .
Champion, 26, complained of trouble breathing and vomited after the initiation, then collapsed and died in a parking lot .
Martin could face up to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced in January 2015 .
Other former band members pleaded guilty to less charges .
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Prestigious hotel Gleneagles is selling off an acre of land on a neighbouring street for £1million – with a golf course membership thrown in. Located just yards from the 2014 Ryder Cup PGA Centenary Course and with planning permission for a 'substantial' six-bedroom house, it could be a golfer's dream home. The price of the land on one of Scotland's most expensive streets has been slashed from £1.55million to £1million, despite a similar neighbouring plot selling for £1.7million. But the lucky purchaser will still have to dig deeply to build the six-bedroom home in Auchterarder, Perthshire, as it has permission for a four-car garage, pool, gym and sauna. The one-acre plot located yards from one of the golf courses at Gleneagles is on the market for £1million . The buyers will also get two years' free golf club membership and access to all the luxury facilities. While the plot is already hooked up to mains water and electricity, it will have to be connected to the Gleneagles Hotel private drainage scheme, for which an annual levy will be payable. Anna Gardiner, for selling agents Savills, said: 'Caledonian Crescent is a broad private street lined with substantial houses set within generous and established gardens. 'In recent years it had become known as one of the Scotland's premier residential streets. The world-famous hotel (pictured) in Scotland has three championship course - the King's Course, the Queen's Course and the Centenary Course - as well as the nine hole 'Wee Course' The plot on the right was sold for £1.7million but the price of the remaining acre (left) has been slashed to £1million . 'A number of substantial modern mansions have been built on the sites of some of the original dwellings or on greenfield sites at the foot of the crescent. 'It is a great opportunity, especially as the plot is fully serviced and good to go. 'The setting is second to none in such a peaceful position so close to all the Gleneagles Hotel facilities.' She added that the price tag will afford the buyer a secluded and exclusive retreat. 'It's all about exclusivity. The site is pretty special - you don't get this quality of plot anywhere else,' she said. 'It's really a lifestyle you are buying into. The kind of people who will be interested will be looking for a substantial house. An artist's impression of what the six-bedroom house in Caledonian Crescent, Auchterarder, could look like . The buyers will also get two years' free golf club membership and access to all the luxury facilities, pictured is the entrance to the plot . 'Golf is obviously the big draw but also the fact that the hotel facilities are on your doorstep, giving you access to fine dining and the spa.' The five star hotel - dubbed a 'Riviera in the Highlands' - charges up to £2,000-a-night for a suite. It counts the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge among its high profile guests, along with Sir Sean Connery and John Travolta. Last year, the golf course was the venue for Ryder Cup, and residents of Auchterarder, despite living a few minutes' walk away, enjoyed shuttle buses to the event. The plot for sale in Caledonian Crescent has previously been on the market for over £1.55million and a neighbouring, almost identical piece of land, was snapped up for £1.7million a few years ago. In 2009 the street was named as the most expensive in Scotland by the property website Zoopla, with the average house price sitting at £1.6million . When it was opened in 1924, Gleneagles was described as 'a Riviera in the Highlands' and 'the eighth wonder of the world' Rettie estate agent Chris Hall said: 'Only one sold for £1.67m. Gleneagles withdrew the second hoping the market conditions would improve.' The agent admitted: 'The plot price has come down significantly. To buy a plot for £1million or more and develop a house is a significant investment. 'People who can afford that already have nice houses. It's a discretionary decision rather than one driven by a need.' He said: 'The current reduced price level is an attractive opportunity for some people. 'For those familiar with Gleneagles, Caledonian Crescent is very well known. There are six very substantial new build homes with build costs ranging from £2million to £7million. 'I'm not aware of any other street that rivals it in that respect.' Residents of Caledonian Crescent only have a five minute stroll to the entrance to the hotel, where they can dine in the two star Michelin restaurant run by Andrew Fairlie. In 2007 Strathearn Lodge on Caledonian Crescent was labelled the most expensive new home on sale in the country being marketed at offers over £3.75million. Meanwhile the street came out top of Zoopla's Scottish Property Rich List . In 2009 the street was named as the most expensive in Scotland by the property website Zoopla, with the average house price sitting at £1.6million. The world-famous hotel in Scotland has three championship courses, the King's Course, the Queen's Course and the Centenary Course as well as the nine hole 'Wee Course'. When it was opened in 1924, Gleneagles was described as 'a Riviera in the Highlands' and 'the eighth wonder of the world'. It most recently hosted the 2014 Ryder Cup which saw Team Europe beat Team USA 16½ to 11½ to complete a hat-trick of successive wins in the tournament. The hotel was built by the former Caledonian Railway Company, with its own railway station just minutes away, and is now owned by Diageo plc. In 1919 The King's and Queen's courses opened on the same day, but The King's but was only nine holes until it was completed as a full 18 in 1925. When the Second World War broke out in 1939 the hotel closed and became a military hospital and then a miners' rehabilitation centre. It reopened as a hotel in May 1947. In 1993 the PGA Centenary Course, created by Jack Nicklaus, opened to complement the renowned King's and Queen's courses and form one of the world's finest golfing venues.
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Gleneagles is selling an acre of land on a neighbouring street for £1m .
Planning permission for a six-bedroom house with pool, gym and sauna .
Caledonian Crescent named most expensive street in Scotland in 2009 .
Price of the plot in in Auchterarder has been slashed from £1.55m to £1m .
Buyers will get two years' free golf club membership included in price .
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By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 05:46 EST, 10 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:00 EST, 10 June 2013 . Rescue authorities have given up hope of finding any survivors after an asylum seeker boat carrying at least 55 people to Australia capsized in the Indian Ocean. The boat's submerged hull was spotted by air Friday, and bodies, life jackets and debris have been seen near Christmas Island, an Australian territory nearer to Indonesia than to the mainland. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority called off the air and search Sunday night based on medical advice that no one could have survived that long in the sea, a statement said. Horrifying: Australian authorities assist asylum seekers who survived their vessel capsizing - there are now 55 people feared dead . The authority and border protection officials decided Monday not to mount a new search to recover the bodies due to other demands on resources. Border Protection Command said its vessels and aircraft were busy with 'a range of high priority operations' near Christmas Island and elsewhere. It did not detail those operations. 'Our priority is responding to other vessels which may require assistance and preventing any further loss of life,' a border protection statement said. 'If operations permit, Border Protection Command will, where it remains feasible and without further risk to life, endeavor to recover any bodies which may be relocated,' it said, adding the likelihood of recovering bodies would diminish over time. Tragic: The boat's submerged hull was spotted by air Friday, and bodies, life jackets and debris have been seen near Christmas Island, an Australian territory nearer to Indonesia than to the mainland . The capsized boat was seen 120 . kilometers (75 miles) northwest of Christmas Island, which is 500 . kilometers (310 miles) south of Jakarta and 2,600 kilometers (1,600 . miles) from Perth, the nearest major Australian coastal city. A total of 13 bodies have been spotted, but ships did not interrupt the search for survivors to retrieve the dead. The . boat was stationary but appeared to not be in distress when it was . first spotted by the crew of an air force plane on Wednesday afternoon, . officials said. It was then 52 kilometers (32 miles) north of Christmas . Island, where Australia runs a detention camp for asylum seekers. The air crew counted 55 people on deck. They were mostly men, but also women and children, officials said. Many asylum seekers hope for a better life in Australia and surrounding territories - sometimes with devastating consequences. This boat was driven on to the rocks surrounding Christmas Island in December 2010 . At least 27 people died when this boat was smashed against rocks by the waves off of Christmas Island in 2010 . Their nationalities are unknown. The maritime authority's spokeswoman, Jo Meehan, said there could have been as many as 60 asylum seekers and Indonesian crew aboard. Hendra Sudirman, chief of operations at Jakarta's Search and Rescue Agency, said he had no information about the reported asylum seeker boat. He said a separate group of 48 migrants were spotted four days ago on Pecang island in the Sunda Strait. The group, which included Iranians, Afghans and Somalians, was rescued along with two Indonesian crewmen. The asylum seekers were then taken to an immigration detention center in Banten province on the western end of Java island. Because of Christmas Island's close proximity to Indonesia, it's the most popular destination for asylum seekers who pay people smugglers to take them from Indonesian ports to Australia in overcrowded and unseaworthy boats. Many of the asylum seekers come from Afghanistan, Iran and Sri Lanka. Several of the voyages have ended in tragedy with the loss of hundreds of lives as the boats have come in increasing numbers in recent years.
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The boat destined for Australia capsized in the Indian Ocean on Friday .
Bodies, life jackets and debris have been spotted near Christmas Island .
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority called off the search Sunday night .
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Design duo Amy Molyneaux and Percy Parker exhibited an affinity towards the dark side at their AW15 show on Friday night. The relentlessly alluring theme of Gothic romanticism seeped throughout the collection - named Persephone - thanks to delicate fabrics and feminine details nostalgic of the Victorian age. Frills were rife, dominating the collars or lining the dress, and even made their mark on footwear. PPQ's Amy Molyneaux and Percy Parke did Gothic romanticism with a feminine collection nostalgic of the Victorian age . High-collared translucent silk shirts with dramatic frills echoed the romantic theme, and a long draping fur-lined coat lingered more towards 1940s wartime fashion. Silk blouses and sheer fabrics flowed down the runway, followed by luxurious felt wool coats that embraced winter’s charm and highlighted the feminine silhouette. The relentlessly alluring theme of Gothic romanticism seeped throughout the collection . Delicate fabrics , ruffles, frills and feminine details nostalgic of the Victorian age dominated the catwalk . Other pieces were modernised in their shapes and short cuts, plunging necklines and sheer fabrics added a touch of sensuality, whilst remaining within the realms of romantic traditionalism. The decadent, sculpted shapes of certain dresses were reminiscent of ballet costume pieces, depicting a softer grace in their simplicity and restraint, whilst still keeping the Gothic stance intact. The result? Dresses that were unapologetically haunting. The collection was a surprising shift from PPQ's previous collections thanks to its dominating Gothic romantic form. But judging by the audience, who wholeheartedly lapped it up in all its dark beauty, it was a well-received one. Silk blouses and sheer fabrics flowed down the runway and footwear came courtesy of Moda in Pelle . The collection was a shift from PPQ's previous collections thanks to its dominating Gothic romantic form . With thanks to Addison Lee for driving the FEMAIL team around.
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Design duo Amy Molyneaux and Percy Parker unveiled collection on Friday .
Exhibited an affinity towards the dark side .
Frills were rife, dominating the collars or lining the dress .
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16bc316de9f8c4aaebe11a2777b1da77692546c4
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London (CNN) -- You've heard of Banksy, but have you heard of Bambi? Not the Bambi of Disney fame, but the one dubbed street art's new star. The so-called "female Banksy" counts A-list celebrities like Kanye West and Brad Pitt as buyers of her stenciled street art. Like Banksy, her works command price tags that run into the tens of thousands of dollars. Also, like Banksy, she is determined to stay anonymous. Defacing property is a criminal offense in the UK, and Bambi has spent years avoiding detection. Now, the intrigue around her identity has boosted her popularity. Michael Sahkai, director of Walton Fine Arts and Bambi's broker, is one of few people who know the artist's real identity. The mystery "does add to the flavor, and the charisma -- and makes it a bit more interesting," he told CNN. When CNN asked Sahkai for some clues to Bambi's identity he revealed she is in her mid 30s, studied at London's world-renowned art school Central St. Martins, and lives in the capital. British media have suggested Bambi is Paloma Faith or rapper M.I.A but when questioned on this Sahkai would only reply: "Everything is possible." Bambi's bold images and pop culture references have given her a distinctive voice in the male dominated world of street, Sahkai said. People, he added, are "amazed by the freshness and unusuality of her works." Some of her artworks, like an homage to singer Amy Winehouse in Camden, are protected under Perspex and regarded as cultural landmarks. Others, including a famed depiction of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge which was captioned "a bit like Marmite," are painted over. Bambi's "Diamond Queen," created to mark Queen Elizabeth's Jubilee in 2012, has been defaced by graffiti. But Sahkai said Bambi had made her mark in the street art world, which he believes is undergoing a resurgence. "Banksy relit it fifteen, twenty years ago. Everyone thought 'it's just a phase,' but each year it gets stronger and stronger." Read more: Humor and humanity: Four decades of underground life .
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Bambi is a London-based, anonymous street artist regarded as the "female Banksy"
Her fans include celebrities such as Kanye West, and her work sells for tens of thousands of dollars .
Some of her artworks are protected while others have been defaced with graffiti .
Her broker says Bambi is a Central St. Martins graduate in her mid 30s, but won't reveal any more details .
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When Naomi Broady walks out at Wimbledon tomorrow as one of three home-grown female wildcards, she will carry the unwanted and, she says, unmerited reputation of being the wild child of British tennis. The former under-18 UK girls’ champion remains fiercely unrepentant about what she claims was an innocent girls’ night out seven years ago that almost ruined her career and triggered a devastating family row. The scandal was caused when she posted a photo of herself on a social networking site posing provocatively in a minidress next to a condom machine in a toilet. Tennis' former wild child: Naomi Broady, 24, claims the photo of her posing next to a condom machine on a night out seven years ago (right) has ruined her career . It caught the attention of the press and sparked the wrath of the Lawn Tennis Association, which promptly stripped her of her funding, throwing the future of her career in jeopardy. Similar action was taken against another player, David Rice, who shared a picture of himself surrounded by pizza boxes. Miss Broady says the scandal has made her tennis career a struggle ever since. Unlike her rivals, she has no coach and travels alone to tournaments. Speaking for the first time about the incident, Miss Broady, now 24, said: ‘I don’t know why it was such a big deal. I wasn’t drunk and I wasn’t doing drugs either. I was trying to live, for a few nights at least, as a normal 17-year-old. It was blown out of all proportion. ‘I was disgusted with how the LTA handled things. They warned me the picture would be appearing in the next day’s newspapers, but I heard nothing after that. Frustration: The former junior champion chose to boycott LTA funding over their dealing of the situation . ‘We were given no press training and no support. David and I were thrown to the lions while they protected their reputation. We were used as an example but we were just children. ‘It didn’t happen during a tournament and it wasn’t in a training block. Tell me any 17-year-old who doesn’t have a beer once in a while? If it had been affecting my tennis, then fair enough, but it wasn’t. Now I’m tarnished with this bad girl reputation.’ Miss Broady’s father Simon, a property developer, was so appalled by the LTA’s decision that he pulled Naomi’s equally promising younger brother Liam, then 13, out of the LTA programme. He then sold the family home to fund their careers himself. When the LTA offered Miss Broady funding again the following year, it was turned down on principle. The family continued its boycott until last year when Liam, now on the men’s circuit, decided to accept LTA funding again – a move that has angered his father to the point where they are no longer on speaking terms. Miss Broady said: ‘It’s a very touchy subject. Dad says he was trying to protect us, but now Liam is older and has to pay for tennis himself. It’s a difficult family issue. I try to stay out of it.’ But she insists she will not follow her brother’s example. ‘I don’t want their money and now I have the prize money from Wimbledon I don’t need it,’ she said. ‘I won’t be bought by them after everything that’s happened. ‘I still to this day don’t understand what we did wrong. If I want to have a night out then I will. If it’s going to affect my tennis, then I won’t do it because tennis is my priority. ‘The LTA certainly weren’t trying to protect me. The LTA only wanted what was best for them.’ A spokesman for the LTA said: ‘We have moved on and are glad that Naomi is doing well on court. We wish her the very best.’
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Naomi Broady claims the picture taken on a night out was 'innocent'
Former under-18 UK girls' champion claims it nearly ended her career .
24-year-old said: 'I wasn't drink drunk and I don't do drugs either'
She has no coach and is forced to travel to tournaments alone .
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573fcbc967de8c0dfc1339b821c3dcb527f86f8c
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Norman Mailer once likened Mohammad Ali to the Prince of Heaven. Some of the articles about Susie Wolff, the Williams test driver of all things, have been only moderately less gushing. She has been described by the Telegraph as the fastest woman in the world. The writer of that phrase may have taken her lead from a documentary of the same name about Wolff. That documentary was made by David Stoddart, who just happens to be Wolff's brother. I do not know Wolff at all. A friend of mine is a friend of hers and I am assured she is a nice woman. But it would be idle to deny that the hype has overtaken the reality in the projection of her as a future Formula One race driver. The evidence simply does not support the notion. To suggest otherwise is not only an insult to people's intelligence but to several drivers of greater promise. Dressed for success: Susie Wolff, the Williams development driver, poses for a fashion shoot . Behind the wheel: Wolff during testing for Williams at Silverstone, the home of the British Grand Prix . A few facts. She is not the fastest woman in the world. Danica Patrick is way ahead of her. Patrick's victory in the 2008 Indy Japan 300 is the only win by a woman in IndyCar series history and her third place at the Indianapolis 500 is he best finish by a woman. Wolff has never won a race in a car, as opposed to a kart. In DTM she has finished the season in 17th, 20th, 18th, 16th and 13th places and twice been not classified. She competed in Formula Renault and Formula Three for five years without any particular distinction. By contrast, James Calado, another Britain, finished second in the F3 Championship, second in GP3 and third in GP2, yet he is racing in sports cars after failing to cut the mustard in Formula One testing. Why then is Wolff Williams' test driver? Could it be anything to do with the fact her husband, Toto Wolff, became a director there in 2009? Surely not. (In passing, how can Mr Wolff be a shareholder at Williams and executive director at Mercedes?) Despite her lack of experience in an F1 car – one straight-line test and day in the young driver test at Silverstone last year – Wolff, 31, continues to make her case for a race seat and will, ludicrously, drive in practice sessions during grands prix weekends at Silverstone and Hockenheim this season. 'I focus on performance because once I put my helmet on it doesn't matter what I look like,' she said recently. 'If I don't perform I'm out. 'I'm not on a crusade to prove women deserve to be here. I'm on a crusade for Susie Wolff. I just want to be the best racing driver I can be. If I can break down barriers as well as help people, I will.' I wish her luck. I merely register my belief that the Susie Wolff story is primarily a publicity stunt. Missing out: Promising Brit James Calado has been overlooked by F1 teams . One or the other? Wolff poses with fashion accessories on her Twitter . Chequered flag: But it is debatable whether Wolff deserves her place . Those of us who believe in the rule of law – as opposed to anarchy – respect the FIA's role as the policemen of Formula One. So logic says we should hail the judges' decision to reject Red Bull's appeal against Daniel Ricciardo's expulsion from the Australian Grand Prix and instead support the FIA's right to determine what the rules are. But I am not sure it is as simple as that. Red Bull claim, quite convincingly I think, that the FIA's fuel sensor was unreliable and that they, in fact, were not breaking the fuel-flow limits. The FIA's authority surely depends on their enforcing the law fairly and correctly. Otherwise what legitimacy do they have? Unlucky: Red Bull had a case with Daniel Ricciardo's appeal . Seeing McLaren's de facto team principal Eric Boullier piling suitcases full of car parts nose high on several airport trollies this weekend reminded me of a nickname given to his predecessor, Martin Whitmarsh. Max Mosley, then the FIA president, disparaged Whitmarsh as 'the bag carrier', for supposedly lugging around Ron Dennis's briefcase. Speaking of Whitmarsh, I understand he is still in the process of agreeing his severance package. It is likely to be around £6million, a quarter of a million for each of the 24 years he was at McLaren. Factoring in that his final salary at McLaren was £2.5m, that's quite some compensation for Mosley's cutting remark. Pay-day: Former McLaren chief Martin Whitmarsh is likely to receive a pay-off of around £6million . Seeing as the smog in Shanghai is in your face – not to mention possibly creeping into one's lungs – it would seem a somewhat futile exercise to blank out coverage of the problem. Yet type 'Shanghai' and 'smog' into Google over here and it is hit and miss whether the related stories are accessible. On Thursday, next to none would open up. Friday, they would. Is this some form of half-baked censorship? That suspicion would be abated if the 'official' figures measuring the micrograms per cubic metre were not markedly lower than those issued by the US Consulate. Whatever the criteria, there is a gas mask in my hotel room. Difficult to breathe: The smog in Shanghai has hardly been mentioned by officials . Mercedes are wary of having their image tarnished by association if Bernie Ecclestone's criminal trial, which starts in Germany next week, should find him guilty of bribery. They cite 'compliance', referring to a European law about probity in company affairs. Why then potentially damage their own reputation by covering up the fact they tried to get Red Bull banned for three races over Daniel Ricciardo's fuel-flow irregularity? Twice they denied arguing for that Draconian punishment, only for me to see in black and white that they had repeatedly done so in a 95-page submission to the court. This, we note, is a team that banned me from their motorhome when I wrote what was perceived as an unflattering article about Lewis Hamilton, in which I revealed that his aide-de-camp, Tom Shine, was once convicted of fraud. I am still partially banned: I can go into the motorhome and to general press conferences but not to Hamilton's Fleet Street briefings. I take this in good spirit. I remember the jest of Nigel Dempster, the world's greatest gossip columnist. 'Writs, dear boy, are the Oscars of our business,' he said. Bans, I tell myself, are not far behind.
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Susie Wolff is the Williams test driver who will drive in practice sessions at the British and German Grands Prix .
Wolff is not the fastest woman in the world - Danica Patrick is ahead of her .
Martin Whitmarsh will agree a severance package of around £6milllion .
Mercedes have tried to cover up their pursuit to get Red Bull banned .
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683cb7825a06dba754de1948b3197dedd0ae7a1d
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The scoreline was deceiving at Old Trafford on Wednesday evening. Yes, Manchester United scored three times against Burnley but the performance did not do anything to silence the doubters of Louis van Gaal's side. Here, Sportsmail's Mike Keegan looks at what we learned from United's 3-1 victory over Burnley. Robin van Persie (left) celebrates his penalty with Wayne Rooney (centre) and Marcos Rojo (right) Chris Smalling (third left) scores his second goal of the evening against Burnley on Wednesday . United manager Louis van Gaal saw his team given a tough time by relegation strugglers Burnley . Wayne Rooney, defensive midfielder? United fans had called on their talisman to be shifted upfront from his place on the right of the diamond, bemoaning a waste of his attacking talents. Like having Rolls Royce and leaving it in the garage, said some. Little did they realise that when he was moved it would be backwards take over the holding role from the injured Blind. A bizarre sight, Rooney cleaning up in front of the back four but credit to the England man, he took on the responsibility like a captain and led his team to victory. Wayne Rooney (second left) dropped further back into midfield after Daley Blind went off injured . Blind (centre) hobbled off in the first half and Rooney filled in and played the rest of the game in his place . Ander Herrera has not been kidnapped . Has played just 56 minutes this year with conspiracy theorists in meltdown. Had he run over Van Gaal's cat? Did he follow Anderson to KFC? At £29m the Dutchman's first signing has hardly been given a chance to impress. Tonight, however, he got it. When he came off the bench to replace the injured Blind Old Trafford erupted in ironic cheers. Will have enjoyed a rare run out but did not do much to leave United fans wondering what they have been missing. No doubt desperately short of match fitness. Ander Herrera (centre) replaced Blind when he went off injured after 39 minutes at Old Trafford . Herrera (left) did not do much to impress during the 51 minutes he played for United against Burnley . Are the natives getting restless? They have been resolute in their backing for Louis van Gaal but are United fans reaching the end of their tether? Consensus in the press box was that the prolific Chris Smalling's second goal on the stroke of half-time saved Van Gaal's men from being booed off at the break. Credit to them, though, while shouts of frustration were audible this is still an onside crowd who back their man. Chants of Louis van Gaal's red and white army started in the K Stand and seemed to lift United a level. Like last year under Moyes, they deserve credit. Watching United is not as fun as it used to be. The United supporters were frustrated at their team's performance, especially in the first half . Smalling's second goal for United shortly before the break helped ease the supporters' nerves in the game . Is the problem of Di Maria being solved? This was more like it. Playing on the left of the diamond and terrorised Burnley on the break and relished getting out wide. He had come under-fire for lacking desire but covered every blade and even landed himself in the book for a late challenge which will have delighted the United faithful. Laid Smalling's second on a plate from a short corner that worked. A short corner that worked! Won the penalty and finally began to look at home in a red shirt. Yes, tougher challenges lie ahead but this was impressive from the £59.7m man. Angel Di Maria (right) impressed in United's victory and his commitment to the cause will please United fans . Di Maria (lower) was brought down by Scott Arfield to earn the penalty that team-mate Van Persie converted . Danny Ings is the real deal . It's not hard to stand out in Burnley's tin foil away kit but Danny Ings shone the brightest with a zesty performance that caused United's defence no end of problems. Almost unplayable in the first-half with no disrespect to Sean Dyche's Lancashire battlers you get the impression that in a stronger side he might have a similar impact to Harry Kane at Spurs. He really does look that good. Striker Danny Ings (right) found the net for his fifth goal in six Premier League games on Wednesday . Ings (left) moves past Rooney (right) and impressed once again for Burnley despite his team losing .
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Manchester United were made to work for their 3-1 win over Burnley .
Two goals came from Chris Smalling as Robin van Persie scored a penalty .
Striker Danny Ings had equalised for Burnley in another impressive display .
Louis van Gaal: Wayne Rooney can solve Man United midfield problem .
Wayne Rooney in midfield? Sportsmail's experts pick their Man Utd XIs .
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fe7c818d96b358811bf2f69f5989498a4f1b162e
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By . Ashley Collman . A New York man confessed to killing his 8-year-old son when cops saved him from an attempted suicide on Sunday. Officers responding to a 911 call around 10pm found 41-year-old Boujeke Kenmoe on the floor of his Flushing, Queens home bleeding from the wrists while his son lay unconscious on a bed. When paramedics arrived at the four-family building, Kenmoe told them he had strangled his son that morning. Scroll down for video . Boujeke Kenmoe, 41, confessed to killing his 8-year-old son after police found him in the middle of an attempted suicide on Sunday. Kenmoe is pictured above with an unidentified boy in a photo posted to Facebook . Kenmoe was found bleeding from the wrists while his son was lying unconscious on a bed. Above, investigators are seen entering the Flushing, Queens home Sunday night . The little boy was pronounced dead at the scene. His name is being withheld as authorities try to inform his family. Police went to the apartment following a 911 call from a woman who said the emotionally-disturbed man had taken pills and was trying to kill himself inside the apartment. She said she was worried about his child. At the home, police found a two-gallon bucket filled with blood in the bathroom, along with the child's bloody clothes. However, investigators believe the blood was from Kenmoe's self-inflicted wounds. The Medical Examiner will rule the boy's cause of death, but sources told WABC that it appears the son was strangled. A neighbor said Kenmoe often had loud fights with his wife. The boy's mother was not at the apartment when police arrived Sunday night. Above, more pictures of Kenmoe and an unidentified boy from Facebook . Kenmoe was last reported in stable condition at Queens General Hospital. He has been charged with second-degree murder. It was not immediately clear who the 911 caller was. The boy's mother was not at the apartment when police arrived, and neighbors said the couple often had loud fights. Neighbor Abed Islam told the New York Post that Kenmoe's wife had left the home for a while, but had returned at some point in an attempt at reconciliation. 'They tried to patch things up but it was still stormy in terms of their relationship,' Mr Islam said. Kenmoe allegedly told Mr Islam that his wife 'had a plan to split the family apart so she could leave.' Neighbors say Kenmoe was an immigrant from Africa and that his wife works at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. One neighbor described him as 'a good guy' who is 'always ready to help people'.
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Boujeke Kenmoe, 41, was arrested Sunday night after police found him in the middle of an attempted suicide at his Queens home .
His 8-year-old son was found dead on one of the home's beds .
Kenmoe told responding paramedics that he had strangled the boy that morning .
The boy's mother was not at the home at the time, and neighbors say the couple often had loud fights .
Kenmoe allegedly told one neighbor that his wife planned to leave him and split up their family .
The father was last reported in stable condition at the hospital .
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By . Chris Johnson . Last updated at 4:03 AM on 10th December 2011 . The entire photo spread of Lindsay Lohan posing nude for Playboy has leaked online today - prompting the magazine's founder Hugh Hefner into releasing the magazine early. Earlier in the week the cover, featuring the 25-year-old actress posing nude on a bunny shaped chair hit the net. But now a further 10 snaps started doing the rounds. Revealed: Lindsay Lohan's highly classified Playboy magazine photo spread has leaked on the web, just days after a snap of the cover got out. Founder Hugh Hefner says the magazine will now be released early . Playboy has confirmed to MailOnline . that 'someone took photos of Lindsay’s pictorial in an advanced copy of . the January/February issue'. It was not due to hit newstands for . another week (December 15) and it was earlier reported how bosses feared the sales of what they . hoped would be the biggest selling issue of the year could be severely . hit, according to TMZ.com. Now Hefner has come up with a solution, tweeting: 'Because of the interest & the Internet leak, we're releasing the Lindsay Lohan issue early.' He has not confirmed the new date of release yet. Crest of a wave: Lohan was pictured in Hawaii watching the Pipe Masters Surf Contest from the balcony of a private residence today . Payday: The actress was paid a reputed $1m to take part in the nude Playboy shoot, seen here with a friend . What a drag: The Mean Girls star was spotted puffing on a cigarette . Lohan - who was today pictured in Hawaii watching the Pipe Masters Surf Contest from the balcony of a private residence - was paid a reputed $1m to bare all in the Marilyn Monroe-inspired shoot. The newly-leaked photos capture her in a series of provocative poses as the Mean Girls star channels the tragic screen siren. Lindsay appears entirely naked, save for a pair of terracotta platform heels, in most of the inside shots. The most clothing she wears is a black . fur shrug in one frame as she kneels with a red cushion covering her . lower half while raising her hands above her head. The shoot is set against a sexy red . backdrop; in some of the photos she lies on ruffled material - while in . another she perches on what appears to be a lip-shaped couch. Looking lasciviously into - and away . from - the lens in the spread, Lohan is wearing lashings of red lipstick . and has Marilyn's trademark beauty spot above her lip. She wears and assortment of long and . short blonde wigs, and completes her look with long fake lashes and . heavy black make-up on her eyelids. Props such as cushions are used to . cover her lower half in many of the photographs, although in one she . stands entirely naked - only slightly crossing her leg over. Another frame shows her lying back seductively while holding her breasts with her hands. One blog has published pages of the magazine and the accompanying interview. Lohan tells the mag: 'Sex and . sexuality are part of nature and I go along with nature. I think Marilyn . Monroe said that, and I agree with her. Marilyn Monroe style: Lindsay's shoot was . inspired by celebrity photographer Tom Kelley's nude . pictorial of Marilyn Monroe, shot in 1949 for a calendar before . featuring in the first edition of Playboy in 1953. One of Lohan's poses . is in very similar style to this one of Monroe . 'Knowing your body and being in touch . with your body is important because it gives you confidence, and in . life, women need confidence.' The actress had to pose for the magazine photographers twice, as the original attempt did not satisfy Playboy boss Hefner. Speaking . about the snaps, Hefner revealed the inspiration behind them. He . said: 'It's a classic tribute, inspired by the original Tom Kelley nude . pictorial of Marilyn Monroe. [It's] classy, very classy,' the New York . Post reported. 'It turned out very well. I would say . that I had some reservations early on, but after a couple of false . steps, everybody came on board and it's going to be very exciting,' Hefner added. At the time Lindsay posed for the photos, Dina Lohan, Lindsay's mother said the shoot was 'tastefully done'. Speaking . to The Insider's Christina McLarty she said: 'It was an opportunity for . her and she's done thousands and thousands of covers, so this was just . something...she's 25 now. 'It was just something that was her . decision...we have a contractual say in how far it goes and her and Mr . Hefner will decide.' Blonde ambition: Lindsay sported casual jean shorts, black vest top and flip flops as she stepped out in the sunshine . Getting away from it all: The actress looked happy and relaxed as she chatted to a male friend . This . is not the first time that Lindsay has bared all for a magazine, in . 2008 she covered herself in just a sheer pink scarf posing on the front . of New York magazine. Lindsay . has been keeping a fairly low profile of late and last month she spent . just four and a half hours in jail, after being released early from her . 30-day sentence, due to overcrowding. The . sentence also requires Lohan to undergo 18 psychotherapy sessions and . appear monthly at court hearings between December 2011 and March 2012, . she also has to complete more community service. Taking action: In the wake of the second leak, Hefner says the mag will be released early . Offering their opinion: Playboy boss Hugh Hefner said the shoot was 'classy' and Dina said they were 'tastefully done' Oh la la: The Playboy cover isn't the first time that Lindsay has stripped off for a magazine and the actress bared all for New York magazine in 2008 .
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It was due to hit newsstands next Thursday - but will now be released early, tweets founder Hugh Hefner .
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239,607 |
c237eb21a40b7ae11dba8ec2587fc9db097a2346
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Federal investigators are on the ground at the scene where an 'improvised explosive device' detonated Tuesday next to the Colorado Springs chapter of the NAACP. The blast happened about 10:45am outside a barber shop next door to the group's building, which is about an hour south of Denver. Eyewitnesses said they heard a 'loud boom' as the improvised device, which was placed next to a can of gasoline, went off. The contents of the can didn't ignite, federal officials said. A bomb squad member comes down from the roof as Colorado Springs police officers investigate the scene of an explosion near the NAACP chapter . I was cutting somebody's hair and I heard the explosion,' Gene Southerland, who owns the Mr. G's Hair Design Studio in the same building, told the Denver Post. 'It was such a loud explosion that some plastic containers fell off the shelf.' Police say no injuries were reported. FBI spokeswoman Amy Sanders says it's not known yet whether the explosion was an accident or not or whether it was aimed at the nation's oldest civil rights organization. The extent of the damage from the explosion wasn't immediately clear . Photos of the scene don't show any visible damage to the barber shop building. inside the NAACP office, volunteers say the explosion was enough to knock things off walls, the Gazette reported. . Police officers investigate the scene of an explosion near the Colorado Springs NAACP chapter . Chapter president Henry Allen Jr. told the newspaper he is 'hesitant' to call the incident a hate crime until an investigation is completed. He told the Gazette the organization 'will not be deterred.' 'We believe in civil rights for all, and really we won't work in fear and we won't be deterred,' he added to the newspaper. 'We'll move on — this won't deter us from doing the job we want to do in the community.' The FBI's Denver Office issued an updated late afternoon saying officials were seeking a person of interested in the explosion, the Denver Post reported. He's described as a balding Caucasian male, about 40 years of age. 'He may be driving a 2000 or older model dirty, white pick-up truck with paneling, a dark colored bed liner, open tailgate and a missing or covered license plate,' a statement from the FBI read.
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The FBI is now at the scene where an explosion detonated on Tuesday .
Blast hit near the Colorado Springs chapter of the NAACP .
Eyewitnesses say they heard a 'loud boom' and items were 'knocked off walls' inside the NAACP office .
Chapter president Henry Allen Jr. is 'hesitant' to call the incident a hate crime until an investigation is completed .
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c659a100f37513d37e08d4bbd55790b77eb999c0
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Lord Hutton was contacted just three hours after the death of the weapons inspector . A previously unpublished document which reinforces claims that the investigation into the death of Dr David Kelly was an establishment ‘whitewash’ has been obtained by The Mail on Sunday. A letter written by Lord Hutton, who chaired the public inquiry into Dr Kelly’s death, shows he was asked to do the job just three hours after the Iraq weapons expert was found dead. At that point he had not been identified and no cause of death had been established. Hutton was contacted by Lord Falconer, Tony Blair’s former flatmate who was Lord Chancellor and played a key role in the events leading up to the Iraq War, and the handling of Dr Kelly’s death. The letter has come to light as campaigners prepare to mount a silent vigil in London on Thursday to mark the tenth anniversary of Dr Kelly’s death. It is the latest – and most striking – evidence of the extraordinary haste with which the Blair Government set up an inquiry to replace the usual coroner’s inquest. Dr Kelly’s body was found on the morning of July 18, 2003, in woods close to his Oxfordshire home, shortly after he was exposed as the source of a BBC news report questioning the grounds for war in Iraq. Critics have never been satisfied with . the conclusions of the Hutton Inquiry, which decided that Dr Kelly, 59, . who worked for the Ministry of Defence, died from loss of blood after . cutting his wrist with a blunt gardening knife. Dr David Kelly during questioning by the Commons select comittee, in London. Dr Kelly, who worked for the Ministry of Defence, died from loss of blood after cutting his wrist with a blunt gardening knife . Thursday’s vigil, to be held outside the High Court in London, will highlight the fact that no coroner’s inquest has ever been held into his death. There have been claims Hutton’s suicide verdict was flawed and failed to take account of key medical and other evidence. Some claim it was part of a cover-up. A decade after Dr Kelly was found dead, Mr Blair remains acutely sensitive to the accusation that he has ‘blood on his hands’ over the death. Lord Hutton’s letter to Lib Dem MP Norman Baker states: ‘On July 18, 2003, I was telephoned to my room in the House of Lords . . . I do not remember the precise time but my recollection is that it was about noon . . . I think the Lord Chancellor [Falconer] spoke to me and asked me to come to see him in his room in the Lords [where] he asked me to conduct an inquiry into the death of Dr David Kelly and I agreed to do so.’ According to police records, the 999 call to report the discovery of a body had been made barely three hours earlier, at 9.20am. The letter that has been newly revealed shows that Hutton was asked just hours after Dr Kelly's death . In addition, a Freedom of Information response from the Cabinet Office details two phone calls made that day, between Mr Blair, en route from Washington to Tokyo, and Lord Falconer. They spoke between 12.10pm and 12.13pm and again between 12.20pm and 12.25pm – the time when, according to Hutton’s letter, he was being appointed by Falconer. Although the details of the conversations have not been disclosed, the timing suggests Falconer may have consulted Blair on his choice of Hutton to lead the inquiry. Having secured Hutton, Falconer used an obscure law to replace a coroner’s inquest with the non-statutory public inquiry. Police records show that by midday on July 18, the only medical professionals who had viewed Dr Kelly’s body on Harrowdown Hill were experienced ambulance crew members Vanessa Hunt and Dave Bartlett. Hutton was contacted by Lord Falconer (left), Tony Blair's (right) former flatmate who was Lord Chancellor and played a key role in the handling of Dr Kelly's death . Both have voiced scepticism about the . manner of his death, saying there was very little blood when they . arrived, not an amount consistent with a wrist slashed by a knife, and . believe his body was moved after the volunteer searchers found it but . before they saw it. Many . senior medical professionals have also argued that Dr Kelly could not . have bled to death by severing the tiny artery he apparently cut with . his blunt knife. Lord Falconer was also involved in the decision to overrule warnings that the war could be illegal. The organiser of Thursday’s protest, retired NHS worker Margaret Hindle, said: ‘I’m motivated by civic duty and respect for the law. I’ve long felt there was something suspicious about Dr Kelly’s death and the fact there hasn’t ever been a full inquest. I want to help secure one. Anyone is welcome to join us from 2pm to 4pm on Thursday.’ Neither Lord Falconer nor Lord Hutton was available for comment. By Simon Walters . Humble civil servant Dr Kelly was driven to his death by vicious Labour . This Thursday, a small group of people will mount a vigil outside the High Court in London to mark the tenth anniversary of the biggest British political scandal in half a century. Unlike most demonstrators, they have no political axe to grind, just one thing in common. They remain outraged by the tragic death of Dr David Kelly, a humble civil servant who devoted his life to serving his country. His ‘crime’ was to let the cat out of the bag over the Blair Government’s dirty secret: how it lied about Saddam Hussein’s non-existent weapons of mass destruction to con the British public into backing the Iraq War. And yet the truth would never have been known but for Dr Kelly. A few weeks after letting it slip, almost casually, to a BBC reporter, and inadvertently provoking a disgusting, Government inspired witch-hunt, he became another fatality of the Iraq War. I reported on Kelly’s death for this newspaper. Indeed, The Mail on Sunday played a not insignificant role in the controversy. I have never believed Kelly was murdered by secret agents acting for the Government or anyone else. But I do believe he was driven to his death by the Government as part of a desperate attempt to kill the scandal he exposed over tea at London’s Charing Cross Hotel with the BBC’s defence correspondent, Andrew Gilligan. Four weeks after the war ended, Gilligan told the Today programme on May 29, 2003, the Government probably knew all along its claims about WMDs were wrong. At first, the Government’s response was muted. Four days later, on June 1, The Mail on Sunday published an article by Gilligan which accused Blair’s spin doctor Alastair Campbell of ‘sexing up’ the WMD intelligence dossiers. Campbell made no complaint to this newspaper about the article then, or since. Alastair Campbell resigned as Tony Blair's press secretary a month after Dr Kelly's death . He couldn’t, because he knew it was true. And he knew that unlike the BBC, this newspaper had shown it was immune to his bullying. Instead, the Government aimed its fire at the BBC and Kelly, easy meat for Blair and Campbell.A vicious Downing Street operation to smear and ‘out’ Kelly was launched. If they thought this decent, private, patriotic man would crumble under the pressure, they were right. No one is suggesting they thought Kelly would end up dead. But he did. A Mail on Sunday reporter was with Blair on a trip to the Far East the day Kelly’s death was announced. The newsman challenged white-faced Blair at a press conference: ‘Have you got blood on your hands?’ Blair stared in stony silence – and walked off. Dr Kelly exposed the scandal over tea with the BBC¿s defence correspondent, Andrew Gilligan . For once, lost for words. With good reason. At the time, this newspaper was criticised for asking such a provocative question. Ten years later, not only does it look fair, the honest answer in the eyes of many, including me, would have been ‘Yes’. No one in Whitehall took Kelly’s death more badly than Campbell. Again, with good reason. When he resigned as Blair’s spin doctor a month after Kelly died, he ‘spun’ it as a long-planned decision. In truth, he was forced out by Blair, who realised he was out of control. Yes, it is true that the Hutton Inquiry into Kelly’s death blamed the BBC, not Blair and co for his death and none of the other Iraq inquiries have fully called them to account over their conduct of the war. But as we report above, Hutton is largely discredited. And the word is the Chilcot Inquiry into the war, due to report next year, will finally name and shame the guilty men. Regardless of minor flaws in the BBC’s report about the ‘sexed up’ intelligence, it remains the biggest British political scoop in modern times. Less entertaining than MPs expenses, yes, but far more important than fiddled duck houses. Despite inflicting appalling damage on the BBC for exposing the truth about the WMD dossiers, Campbell is regularly given a platform by the Corporation. Will they ask him for an interview on Thursday to talk about the tenth anniversary of the Kelly tragedy, a subject about which he knows more than most? Don’t hold your breath.
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Letter from Lord Hutton shows he was asked three hours after the death .
He had not been identified and no cause of death had been established .
Hutton was contacted by Blair's friend and former flatmate Lord falconer .
Is evidence of the extraordinary haste with which the Blair Government set up an inquiry to replace the usual coroner’s inquest .
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1f7193218a2da6562c934e2acf9d21a236d6343b
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Mauricio Pochettino claims he will not make a final decision on his new Tottenham captain until the transfer window has closed. The Spurs armband is up for grabs since Michael Dawson completed a transfer to Hull City this week after 324 appearances in nine years in North London. Younes Kaboul has been leading Pochettino's team out in the Barclays Premier League this season and Hugo Lloris was skipper in the first leg of the Europa League play-off against AEL Limassol, last week. Scroll down for video . Taking his time: Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino will not rush to appoint a new captain . Man in the middle: Younes Kaboul (centre) has captained Spurs in the Premier League so far . Lloris is expected to lead them out in the return against AEL tomorrow(THU) but the Tottenham boss still hopes to make more signings before the transfer market closes on Monday, including centre-half Federico Fazio from Sevilla. 'We will decide about the captain in the next few days,' said Pochettino. 'When the transfer window is closes. It is important that we have many leaders in the group. It has been Younes and Hugo and maybe Hugo tomorrow, or another player.' He refused to comment on the move to sign fellow Argentine Fazio, although the move is very close to completion, but he did explain the decision to let Dawson leave. Preparation: Sandro (left) and Vlad Chiriches (right) train ahead of Thursday's clash with the Cypriot side . On the move: Sevilla defender Federico Fazio is close to sealing his move to White Hart Lane . 'We decided it was good for him and good for us. I needed to take a decision as a manager. The past is the past. Football is all about the present. I worked for two months with Michael and I wish him all the best. We recognise what he did for this club. 'He is an unbelievable man and a very important player for Tottenham in the last 10 years.' Lloris also paid his tribute to Dawson. 'Michael was an example for everyone, a top guy and a gentleman,' said the Spurs goalkeeper. 'He always tried to bring the team in the tight way and did great for the club. 'It's never easy to see a team-mate leaving the changing room but we know this is football life and everyone wishes him the best for the future. He is an open guy who did a good job as captain.' VIDEO Top of the table no concern for Pochettino .
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Spurs skipper Michael Dawson has left the club to join Hull City .
Younes Kaboul has captained Tottenham in the Premier League so far .
But Mauricio Pochettino says he will wait to appoint a permanent captain .
Tottenham host AEL Limassol in the second leg of their Europa League play-off on Thursday .
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af34bba22a142ae34a9294961883b16d92123484
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By . Matt Morlidge for MailOnline . Follow @@MattMorlidge . Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri insists he is not disappointed to have missed out on signing Radamel Falcao. The Colombian forward had been on the Juve radar for the majority of the summer, with the Italian champions looking to bring in another striker after losing new signing Alvaro Morata to a knee injury. Manchester United announced on Monday they had acquired Falcao on a season-long loan from Monaco, with an option to make the deal permanent next summer. Signings will be made: Massimiliano Allegri doesn't fret about Falcao while William Carvalho may sign contract . Pose: Radamel Falcao holds his Manchester United jersey aloft after completing a season-long loan move . 'We missed out on Falcao? I'm not disappointed,' Allegri said to Turin-based sports newspaper Tuttosport. 'I am satisfied with the transfer market the club has done. 'Juve has made intelligent moves in the transfer market. 'We haven't bought players for the sake of it.' Elsewhere, in Portuguese newspaper A Bola they report that William Carvalho will be offered a new contract to keep him away from Arsenal and Manchester United. Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo portray Luis Enrique surrounded by his new signings. They claim Enrique fought for all of his players this summer, namely Claudio Bravo, Ivan Rakitic, Jeremy Mathieu and Luis Suarez. My men: Luis Enrique 'fought' for his summer signings at Barcelona while AS build up to France vs Spain .
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Falcao signed for Manchester United in £6m loan deal from Monaco .
Juventus were linked with a new striker this summer but opted against him .
Alvaro Morata has arrived from Real Madrid .
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26ed4192fbb3ad449bafca675f750f5954914c37
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Aston Villa look set for a third consecutive Premier League relegation battle this season and supporters are beginning to turn on manager Paul Lambert and owner Randy Lerner. The Midlands club are currently 13th in the league just three points clear of the dreaded drop-zone and Villa have only scored 11 goals from 21 games this season. Supporters have proposed a large-scale protest in the Holte End of Villa Park ahead of the visit of Liverpool urging fans to leave their seat vacant for the first eight minutes, the number of years Lerner has been in charge of the club. David Michael of Aston Villa blog MyOldManSaid.com says supporters want their club back. Aston Villa supporters are losing patience with manager Paul Lambert and owner Randy Lerner . There’s a saying among Villa fans, that you don’t chose Aston Villa, it chooses you. At the moment though, supporting the club feels like having to serve a sentence for a crime you didn’t commit. Since Martin O’Neill stormed out of the club after having drained chairman Randy Lerner’s resources in a bid to reach the honeypot of the Champions League, Villa have been in free fall. O’Neill ultimately failed, Lerner wasn’t impressed and Villa supporters simply suffered. Current boss Paul Lambert said after Villa’s last game, when responding to questions about agitated supporters calling for his head, that ‘the expectancy levels outweigh the realism’. Lambert knows, though, considering his 41 and 38-point season finishes and the unwanted records he’s collected, including having the worst Premier League record of any Villa manager, one thing fans have been is patient with him. Aston Villa were beaten 1-0 by Premier League strugglers Leicester last weekend . Sections of the Villa crowd called for Lambert to be sacked during the defeat to Nigel Pearson's side . I’ve lost count of the number of managers local rivals West Brom have fired during Lambert’s time at Villa Park. Even in the face of constant humiliation (losing to Bradford City in a semi-final, being beaten 8-0 by Chelsea, suffering a record 10 home league defeats in a season, and losing six games in a row this season), we’ve always hoped Lambert could turn it around. But he hasn’t. With 11 goals in 21 league games our ‘expectancy levels’ have now dropped to praying for shots on target and maybe seeing a Villa goal some day. It’s sad. Certainly in my lifetime, Villa have traditionally been considered a top-half team with ambitions of European football. I’ve personally seen them win everything bar the FA Cup. Yet, as the club enters its fifth consecutive relegation battle, fans' ambition has been dumbed down to Premier League survival. Tempers flared on the pitch after a bad challenge by Leicester's Matthew James led to a red card . Relegation shouldn’t even be in an Aston Villa supporter’s vernacular, and you have to feel sorry for the younger generation of Villa fans who have experienced nothing but the bland decay of their beloved club. The overriding problem is a lack of strategic consistency. There was a change in transfer policy from young and hungry (and cheap) to low-cost journeymen, an astonishing U-turn on the exiled ‘bomb squad’ players. While on the pitch, Lambert, recently switched to the same possession-based ethos he abandoned during his first season in charge. The latest edition, again offers a chronic lack of cutting edge in the final third, but hopefully the signing of Carles Gil will remedy that and make the increasingly disillusioned Christian Benteke a threat once again. Aston Villa have signed midfielder Carles Gil from Valencia for £3.25millon . Lambert attends press conference with his new signing, who he will hope can add a creative spark . Off the pitch, the last we heard directly from our chairman was a statement in May last year, saying he was selling the club. He told us: ‘I owe it to Villa to move on, and look for fresh, invigorated leadership, if in my heart I feel I can no longer do the job.’ He’s still the chairman, yet we haven’t heard from him since, although we are often reminded by Lambert that Lerner owns a telephone and television, so he knows what is happening at the club. But do you know he gave the Villa boss a new four-year contract, a mere four games after he ended the previous season with relegation form of 38 points? It’s baffling. Villa have only managed to scored 11 goals from 21 league games this season . The new Villa CEO Tom Fox talks about the club’s future being in Europe, but increasingly-worried supporters feel it’s more likely to be in the Championship. After all, we’ve heard the Europe line before from Fox’s predecessor. The proposed supporter demonstration of vacating the Holte End for the first eight minutes of the game against Liverpool is simply saying ‘enough is enough’. This compromised version of Aston Villa can’t continue. We want to be confident of what the custodians of our club are doing. We want clarity. We want ambition. And most of all, we want our Villa back. Twitter: @oldmansaid .
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Aston Villa supporters are planning a protest against owner Randy Lerner .
Villa are 13th in the Premier League as another relegation fight beckons .
Aston Villa blogger shares his thoughts on the current situation .
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