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0456d10e1c20c72be24bc7ad1ff34e1cc3109e8d | Amanda Bynes has been arrested for a DUI again. The troubled Easy A actress was pulled over in the San Fernando Valley neighborhood of Los Angeles on Sunday at 4 am and taken into custody, the California Highway Patrol confirmed with MailOnline. She was cited for being under the influence of a controlled substance while driving her Mercedes-Benz. The 28-year-old star was released at 12 noon that same day on $15,000 bail. The former child star is set to appear in court on October 23 in Van Nuys. Scroll down for video . Not a good turn of events: Amanda Bynes, pictured in June in LA (the last time she was seen in public), was arrested for a DUI on Sunday . Official: This sheet made available by the LAPD shows Bynes was booked at 7:06 am at the West Valley Station . It's just the beginning: A court date has been set for 8:30 am on October 23 at the Van Nuys Court House . Law enforcement sources told TMZ the She's The Man actress was on drugs, specifically marijuana, but the CHP has yet to confirm this. The former child star was booked at the Los Angeles Police Department's Van Nuys division on a misdemeanor DUI. The brunette movie and TV star had been living with her parents Lynn and Rick in a LA suburb as she has dealt with several legal problems from the past few years. She was last seen in public in June. A concerned father: Rick Bynes appeared distressed on Monday afternoon while talking on his cell phone outside his Los Angeles home . Booked: Her mugshot from April 2012 taken in West Hollywood after getting a DUI for alcohol . In early September Amanda was released from her conservatorship and moved out of her parents' house. She now lives in an apartment in Orange County. Once she started living on her own, that's when things started to go 'haywire,' according to a source. The arrest is causing a legal problem because Bynes is on probation for a reckless conviction from last February. A tough time: The 28-year-old She's The Man actress had a difficult phase in 2012 and 2013; here she was spotted in September 2012 . The Sydney White actress was taking fashion design classes at the Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising in Irvine, California, earlier this year and seemed to be in good health. Amanda's legal troubles began in March 2012 when she was pulled over and ticketed by police for talking on a cell phone while driving. One month later the Family Guy star was arrested and charged with driving a DUI after side-swiping a police car in West Hollywood. Then in September the Thousand Oaks native was charged for two alleged hit and run incidents, one occurring in April and the other in August. The charges were dismissed three months later, however. A worrying time: At her worst, the Easy A actress shared Twitter photos where she wore wigs and had a cheek piercing, which she did here . Her DUI charged was also dropped in February 2014 but she was placed on probation. When she moved to New York City in 2013 the Hairspray star started displaying some odd behavior. In May she was arrested at her apartment for criminal possession of marijuana, attempted tampering with evidence, and reckless endangerment. She was also accused of throwing a bong out the window of her dwelling which was located on the 36th floor. A much-loved TV icon: The star at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards; she's had a big following thanks to her small-screen hits The Amanda Bynes Show and What I Like About You . Behind the wheel: Before the Family Guy star's legal troubles in 2009 . She seemed to be on the road to recovery: Things reportedly went sour in early September when the Love Wrecked star moved out from her parents' home in Thousand Oaks and into an apartment in Orange County; here she is seen in March . The Maxim cover girl then went under psychiatric evaluation and eventually (June 2014) the case was dismissed. Things got worse when she returned to LA. In July 2013 she was detained after trying to set fire to a neighbor's driveway. Bynes was then put on a 5150 mental health evaluation hold and her parents filed a conservatorship. Treatment at a Malibu facility followed. 'Amanda currently is on zero medication,' her attorney Tamar Arminak said in a statement to UsWeekly in April. 'She's devoted to living her life as healthy as possible. Her family is closely involved with her day-to-day life, but they try to give her as much autonomy as possible.' Summer 2010 . *Retires from acting, aged 24, saying 'I don't love acting anymore. She unretires a few weeks later. April 2012 . *Arrested after a minor fender bender involving a stopped police car in West Hollywood, California in the early hours of the morning. She reportedly refused a breathalyser or blood alcohol test. *Just four days later, she crashes into another car on the Los Angeles freeway and reportedly flees the scene . June 2012 . *Uses Twitter account in an attempt to persuade Barack Obama to intervene in her DUI case: 'Hey @BarackObama… I don’t drink. Please fire the cop who arrested me. I also don’t hit and run. The end.' August 2012 . *Rear ends a female motorist on Ventura Boulevard . September 2012 . *Is formally charged with two counts of hit-and-run from the June and August incidents and pleads not guilty. *A day later, she is pulled out for driving with a suspended licence. *Continuing to behave erratically, she is kicked out of a Los Angeles spin class. However, she tells People.com she is 'doing amazing' in the wake of the latest charges and claims to be moving to New York City where she plans to start a fashion line. November 2012 . *Threatens to sue a U.S. magazine for alleging she walked around a New York tanning salon naked save for a pair of goggles. 'I’m not "troubled", she declared. 'I don’t get naked in public. I’m 26, a multimillionaire, retired. Please respect my privacy.' March 2013 . *Tweets that she wants R&B star Drake to 'murder my vagina' April 2013 . *Insists that photographs showing her walking around New York City with cheek piercings and a pink wig are of someone pretending to be her. 'My hair is blonde, I’ve never been a redhead!' she tweets. 'Somebody keeps posing as me! Check my photos on Twitter for up to date pictures!' *Partially shaves her head . May 2013 . *Tells InTouch magazine she has 'no clue' why people say she's insane. 'Every time I’ve heard it, it came from an ugly person’s mouth, so I don’t care,' she says, adding she is 'allergic to alcohol' and 'can’t wait to start working on an album.' *Claims via Twitter she had a nose job a few years prior to 'remove skin that was like a webbing in between my eyes.' *In a seemingly unprovoked attack, she tweets Rihanna: 'Chris Brown beat you because you're not pretty enough. No one wants to be your lover so you call everyone and their mother that I almost named my new dog Rihanna.' Rihanna fires back: 'Ya see what happens when they cancel intervention?' *Is sentenced to three years of summary probation after pleading no contest to driving with a suspended license. *Arrested for allegedly throwing a glass bong out of her 36th floor apartment window in New York City. Is taken to hospital for psychiatric evaluation. Appears in court wearing a platinum wig and claims the bong was a vase. July 2013 . *Is placed on a 5150 involuntary psychiatric hold after reportedly starting a fire in a stranger's driveway in Thousand Oaks, California. August 2013 . *A Los Angeles judge grants her parents temporary conservatorship over her affairs and the psychiatric hold is extended for 30 days. September 2014 . *Is released from her conservatorship and moves out of her parents' home and into an apartment in Orange County. October 2014 . *Is pulled over in the San Fernando Valley neighborhood on Sunday at 4am and taken into custody. Cited for being under the influence of a controlled substance while driving her Mercedes-Benz. | Amanda Bynes was pulled over at 4 am on Sunday morning in Los Angeles .
The 28-year-old She's The Man actress was arrested for a DUI .
She was cited as being under the influence of a 'controlled substance'
By 12 noon on Sunday the Easy A star was released on $15,000 bail .
Her conservatorship ended earlier this month and she was living on her own .
She got her first DUI in 2012 and is still on probation . |
04573a238e6333b598fab593be635af9969b5ad9 | (CNN) -- The space shuttle program should have come to an end a long time ago, NASA administrator Charles Bolden told CNN in an exclusive interview Wednesday. The 30-year program has been kept on life support because the United States has not readied another vehicle to take its place. "What is not acceptable is the fact that the most powerful nation in the world, the United States of America, finds itself in a situation that we didn't do the proper planning to have a vehicle in place to replace shuttle when it lands its last landing," Bolden said. NASA originally planned to retire the aging shuttle fleet last September, but mission delays have pushed that date. But once Endeavour, Atlantis and Discovery are permanently grounded, Russia's aging Soyuz capsules will ferry astronauts and cosmonauts to the space station and bring what supplies can fit in the smaller craft. And that will have to do, perhaps throughout this decade, until commercial cargo spacecraft are available. The last shuttle landing, according to the administrator, will not be in April when Endeavour is scheduled to fly. NASA says it wants one more mission to resupply the space station. That flight would be STS-135 this summer, using the Atlantis orbiter and designated with the acronym that stands for "Space Transportation System." But whether NASA will have the money for the flight -- about a half a billion dollars -- is in question. "We are budgeted for 135 and unless something disastrous happens, it's our intent to fly it," said Bolden, "It's in the authorization bill signed by the president back in November, so for me it's the law and I'm excited about it because I need it, so we plan to fly 135." That would leave three flights before the program ends. STS-133 using Discovery sits on the launch pad ready to make its last trip into space Thursday. In April, STS-134 with Endeavour is schedule to fly. Commanding that mission is astronaut Mark Kelly. Kelly's wife, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, was among 19 people shot in Arizona during a political event. Giffords is going through rehabilitation in Houston as she recovers from a gunshot wound to the head. During a news conference, Kelly said his wife would attend his launch. "I pray that he is absolutely correct," Bolden said, "because for all in the NASA family, who have been praying with him ever since that Saturday, and all of us who love her and him, It would be just tremendous, it would be tremendous for the nation. It would give everybody a big boost." But with those launches, the nation is seeing an end to its only means of putting humans in space. It is also seeing an end to a program that caught the public's attention nearly 30 years ago, with the launch on April 12, 1981, of the shuttle Columbia on the program's first mission. Bolden hopes that at least two commercial space companies will emerge to transport astronauts to the International Space Station. This will allow NASA to concentrate on building a new heavy-lift rocket capable of leaving lower Earth orbit. There had been concern whether the space agency would have enough money to develop this vehicle. Bolden said the money is there to build a vehicle that will evolve over time. "When I say we are not going to do things the way we used to, we're not building the world's heaviest, biggest rocket right out of the chute. It's going to take us ... a decade or so to get to the point that we have the final vehicle that is going to take the first humans to Mars," said Bolden. The White House has said it wants humans on Mars by the mid-2030s. Right now, Bolden says his priority is flying these last three shuttle missions and bringing the astronauts home safely. | NASA's space shuttle program has three missions left .
NASA administrator Bolden looks to commercial companies for future space transport .
NASA will focus on a new heavy-lift rocket .
That rocket could "take the first humans to Mars," says Bolden . |
04588f3153f5d7507bcf958276c1da9a05232acb | By . Emily Allen . PUBLISHED: . 11:38 EST, 16 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 01:18 EST, 17 May 2012 . A 15-year-old youth is facing a life sentence after being found guilty of stabbing a student to death in a row over conkers. The youth was found guilty at the Old Bailey of murdering architecture student Steven Grisales, 21. Mr Grisales died after he went over to remonstrate with three boys throwing conkers still in their spiky husks on August 31 last year. Senseless: Steven Grisales died after he went over to remonstrate with three boys throwing conkers still in their spiky husks . He was walking to Silver Street station, Edmonton, north London, when he was attacked in College Close. The youth, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was remanded in custody to be sentenced next month. After the verdict, Detective Inspector Richard Beadle said: 'Steven did no more than stand up to unruly youths and for that he has lost his life. 'But for the courageous intervention of a local resident, I am convinced the attack would have continued. 'He placed himself in front of Steven whilst the youth continued to try to stab him. 'The defendant’s arrogance and contempt for others belies his age.' Steven’s mother Jasmid said in a statement: 'Steven was always loved by every person who had the privilege of knowing him.' Andrew Edis, QC, prosecuting, told the trial: 'This was a sudden, unnecessary killing as a response to a confrontation which took place in the street, which was about nothing very much. 'It was about throwing some conkers. Horse chestnut trees in north London shedding their conkers, people picking them up and throwing them about.' The Old Bailey had heard the boys had been throwing conkers at two female friends before Steven was nearly struck by a flying chestnut hurled by one of the men, triggering the row. Murder scene: College Close, Edmonton where Mr Grisales was stabbed. The accused blamed another youth but was identified from his clothing on CCTV . The promising student was walking along College Close when the argument escalated and he was attacked by the 15-year-old. The accused blamed another youth for the stabbing, but was identified from his distinctive clothing on CCTV. He claimed Mr Grisales had over-reacted and tried to hit him with a skateboard. Neighbour Mandy Addy said she was looking out of her window and saw one of the youths lunge at Mr Grisales. She said she had earlier seen three people sitting on a wall in front of her house and then heard the sound of shouting. 'It was a very excited, that kind of voice,' she told the Old Bailey. 'I looked out the window. The person who got stabbed was facing towards me. He was gesturing with his hands. 'He had his arms up and was trying to placate him.' She then saw the youth who was confronting Mr Grisales swing his arm at the victim. 'He seemed to make contact with the victim’s left side. The two other people who were with him seemed to be shouting,' Ms Addy said. The victim went down on one knee, but managed to lift himself up to his feet. 'There was a second blow. It landed in the same place. The victim was shouting. He went down a second time. 'He got up. He tried to make it down the road to the train station. He quickly changed his mind and ran across the road and into the garden of another house.' Ms Addy said two other neighbours ran to try and help Mr Grisales and she called the police. Mr Grisales collapsed in the garden and was taken to hospital for emergency surgery but died the following day. Jurors heard the 15-year-old boy was later picked out from CCTV images of the three men by one of the neighbours, who also recognised the youth's street name. The teenager handed himself in at Edmonton Police station on September 5, 2011, and gave a prepared statement blaming one of his friends. He claimed that he and one of his friends started 'throwing spiky objects' at two girls they knew. 'We did this recklessly and one of the spiky objects went close to a man who was walking in the street,' the statement read. 'This man started shouting and swearing at me. It was aggressive and abusive. He was very angry. 'I was close to him and the man crossed the road and picked up a skateboard. He hit me on the head twice. 'I punched him in the face. I did so in self-defence while I was being attacked.' The teenager said he heard one of the girls telling one of his friends to 'take the knife.' His statement continued. 'I saw my friend appear to punch [Steven Grisales] in the chest. I saw blood on his t-shirt. I ran away down the close.' Jurors heard that the teenager wrote his street name on his mattress in his cell along with the words 'NPK. Riding the Big Bird. Innocent on Remand.' Police also found a knife scabbard under his bed at his home in Enfield, it is claimed. | Accused blamed another youth but was identified on CCTV from his distinctive clothing . |
04592f1cb4a1cb4bdd04fb7b30986eb278cec9a4 | WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Determining the amount of troops necessary to win a war is never an easy decision for a commander in chief and his military commanders if history is any guide. The Obama administration is working on a strategic review of improving conditions in Afghanistan. And it's a dilemma President Obama faces as pressure mounts on him to decide what strategy will improve conditions in Afghanistan. The president and his top military, national security and foreign policy advisers are conducting an intensive strategic review of the U.S. military presence in the war-torn nation. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, is calling for a counterinsurgency strategy that would add as many as 40,000 troops. But others in the administration want a different approach. Vice President Joe Biden has called for a counterterrorism strategy, which would focus on using special forces and technology to reduce the number of al Qaeda insurgents on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. If the president should listen to McChrystal and adopt a troop "surge," the question remains: How many is enough? One expert said such a large number is needed to reduce violence throughout the country -- the 40,000 troops would allow the U.S. military to "reverse the momentum of the insurgency, which has been on the rise," said Kimberly Kagan of the Institute for the Study of War, who has advised McChrystal on Afghanistan. That number, Kagan said, would help fill in gaps around Kandahar in the southern part of the country where Taliban forces have amassed. But she warned that eventually, troops would also be needed to tamp down the insurgency in other parts of the country. "If we had 40,000 more troops, it is likely that the initiative would be wrested from the enemy, and the U.S. and coalition forces would be able to mount a counteroffensive that would proceed in stages over time," she said. Even with more troops, the fight will be a tough one if the last few weeks are any indication. Just last week, eight U.S. soldiers were killed in an intense firefight with hundreds of insurgents in Nuristan province, a remote area in northern Afghanistan. It was the second deadliest attack in a single day so far in the war, which recently entered its ninth year. Read soldiers' accounts from the battle . The White House is getting pressure from all sides of this issue. Many on the right have said the president should take the advice of the commanders on the ground. Sen. John McCain, a staunch supporter of the 2007 troop surge in Iraq, said Sunday that any added military deployment in Afghanistan smaller than 40,000 troops "would be an error of historic proportions." Asked whether he thought the war in Afghanistan could be won with fewer troops, the Arizona Republican said, "I do not." "I think the great danger now is a half-measure, sort of a -- you know, try to please all ends of the political spectrum," McCain told John King on "CNN's State of the Union." "And, again, I have great sympathy for the president, making the toughest decisions that presidents have to make, but I think he needs to use deliberate speed." Democrats are split over increasing troops. Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said U.S. troops would be put in "jeopardy" if Obama does not listen to McChrystal. "I don't know how you put somebody in who's as crackerjack as Gen. McChrystal, who gives the president very solid recommendations, and not take those recommendations if you're not going to pull out," she said on ABC's "This Week." But Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Massachusetts, who also appeared on ABC, said that enlarging the U.S. footprint in Afghanistan would be a mistake. Watch more on the varying advice Obama is receiving from lawmakers » . "We need to come up with a strategy that includes an exit strategy, because it'll also put pressure on the government of Afghanistan to step up to the plate, which it has not done so far." McGovern said adding more troops and resources will make the country go "bankrupt." "We have wars in Iraq, in Afghanistan, hundreds of billions of dollars that are all going onto our credit card. Our kids and our grandkids are paying for this." But the troop number argument is nothing new for presidents and their defense secretaries. Criticism surrounded then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld as conditions in Iraq deteriorated and insurgents increased attacks on U.S. forces. He was largely criticized for not sending enough troops early in the Iraq war. Rumsfeld's plan, observers have said, was to win the war in Iraq with smaller troop numbers and a large emphasis on technology, which would in turn let democracy take root. At the beginning of the war in 2003, troops quickly filled the country, took out Saddam Hussein's government and gained control of Baghdad, the capital. The force was small, and success came quickly. But three years later, civil war broke out, and U.S. forces struggled to maintain control of cities they had once secured. Rumsfeld admitted in a 2006 CNN interview that no one was well-prepared for what would happen after major combat ended. "Well, I think that anyone who looks at it with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight has to say that there was not an anticipation that the level of insurgency would be anything approximating what it is," Rumsfeld told CNN for the 2006 documentary, "CNN Presents Rumsfeld -- Man of War." CNN's Tom Evans and Kate Bolduan contributed to this report. | The war in Afghanistan passed the 8-year mark last week .
Obama and his national security team are working on a new strategy .
His top commander there has reportedly called for 40,000 more troops . |
045a85841e289359458e07d349f9d0354fa5083e | (CNN) -- A liberal Democratic congressman who came under fire for a lewd photo that briefly appeared on his Twitter account over the weekend told CNN Wednesday that he did not post the image. Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner spoke to CNN's Wolf Blitzer a day after a contentious exchange with reporters in which he refused to directly answer any questions about the picture. On Wednesday he said he had hired a law firm to look into the matter. But he declined to directly answer whether he appeared in the photo. "Photos can be manipulated. Photos can be of one thing and changed to something else. We're going to try to get to the bottom of what happened," he said. The photo showed the lower body of a man wearing underwear. A conservative blogger who broke the story has called for a full investigation of what he said was either the hacking of a congressman's account or something Weiner wants to hide. But Weiner told CNN he did not think such steps are necessary to deal with what he said was internet spam, an issue that many Americans face. "Just because it happened to Congressman Weiner on his personal account doesn't mean that the taxpayers should pay for an investigation," he said. "I'm going to turn it over to some people who are going to give me advice on what to do next. "This seems like it was a prank to make fun of my name, the name Weiner. It happens a lot," he added. Asked whether he was protecting anyone, Weiner replied, "Yes, I'm protecting my wife, who every day is waking up to these insane stories that are getting so far from reality. You know, we've been married less than a year." He also declined to say what he had written in direct messages to Twitter followers. "I'm not going to get into how I communicate with people on social media. There was nothing ... inappropriate," he said. An e-mail that Twitter sent to members of Congress Wednesday lists several online security tips, according to a copy of the e-mail CNN obtained. The message does not specifically mention the photo posted on Weiner's page, but notes that questions about account security have surged recently. "Some of you inquired today about the security of Twitter accounts," Twitter's Adam Sharp wrote. "While we won't comment on individual accounts, news reports of the past few days are a good reminder of the importance of actively protecting your account credentials." Weiner on Tuesday told reporters he wasn't interested in talking about the issue any more, saying he already made statements over the Memorial Day weekend after the photo turned up on his Twitter account Friday night. In a heated exchange with reporters, he repeatedly dodged direct questions about the photo. "If I were giving a speech to 45,000 people, and someone in the back threw a pie or yelled out an insult, I would not spend the next two hours of my speech responding to that pie or that insult. I would return to the things that I want to talk about," Weiner said in response to a question about whether he sent the lewd photo to a Seattle woman. He also refused to say why he hasn't asked law enforcement to investigate if in fact his account was hacked, as he has said it was. Despite repeated efforts by reporters, Weiner did not directly answer questions about the photo. In earlier comments, when asked if the photo was of him, Weiner deflected the question. "I'm not going to talk about this anymore," he said, adding: "I'm going to get back to the conversation I care about," including economic issues and what he calls a conflict-of-interest situation involving conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on the health care reform law. The New York Democrat is a leading liberal voice in Congress. Asked several questions about the Twitter situation Tuesday, Weiner stuck to his message. "I understand you're doing your job, but I'm going to go back to work now," Weiner said at one point. When asked if he was concerned about being hacked, he responded: "I'm going to return to working on the things I care about. I participated in the story a couple of days now, given comments on it. This is a distraction and I'm not going to let it distract me." When a reporter noted the distraction might go away if he answered the questions, Weiner answered: "I'm not convinced of that. "I'm not convinced there's any value of me talking about it," Weiner said. Asked again if he was the man in the photo, Weiner responded again that he had made previous statements and now it was time for him to get back to work. On Wednesday, Weiner told CNN that he regretted "the way that I handled it yesterday and I'm trying to do a better job today." Previously, Weiner blamed the photo on a hacker who got control of his social-networking accounts and played a prank. Weiner's spokesman, Dave Arnold, said Monday the congressman has retained an attorney to look into the situation. No formal criminal investigation has been launched, which rankles Andrew Breitbart, whose conservative website biggovernment.com first reported the photo on Weiner's Twitter account in connection with a tweet to a Seattle woman. Breitbart, who has been involved in questionable tactics against Democrats and liberals in the past, told CNN on Tuesday that the case warrants further investigation. "There's something fundamentally different between a prank and a hack -- a prank is innocuous, a hack is criminal," Breitbart said, later adding he wanted a full investigation by the FBI and Capitol Police. However, CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin said Tuesday he believed the situation was a harmless prank unworthy of further investigation. "Twitter is not a very secure environment," Toobin said, noting that information on the site can be unreliable "and doesn't even come from the people it appears to come from." He added: "There's a famous expression -- don't make a federal case out of it." CNN's Kate Bolduan, Dana Bash and Rachel Streitfeld contributed to this story. | NEW: Twitter e-mails members of Congress about account security .
Weiner says he did not post a lewd photo and has hired a firm to investigate .
On Tuesday he had a heated exchange with reporters .
A conservative blogger who broke the story wants an investigation . |
045a9f24d03fa875747d3db6f5dddd21caceb3fe | (CNN) -- Troops closed in on one of Mexico's most wanted drug lords Wednesday, nabbing him at a seafood restaurant in a popular tourist destination. Members of the Mexican Army didn't fire a single shot when they captured Hector Beltran Leyva in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, officials said. His arrest came after 11 months of investigation as intelligence officials traced his path, Tomas Zeron de Lucio, the director of criminal investigation for Mexico's Attorney General's Office, told reporters. Mexican authorities were offering a reward of more than $2 million for information leading to his capture. And the U.S. State Department's Narcotics Rewards Program had been offering a reward of up to $5 million. Beltran Leyva, who led a cartel by the same name, had been living a discreet, low-profile life in Mexico's Queretaro state, ditching fancy cars and other trappings of luxury to appear as a simple businessman, Zeron said. But in reality, Zeron said, Beltran Leyva was "one of the main leaders of drug trafficking in Mexico" and headed "a large network of corruption and money laundering." He rose to power after Mexican marines killed his brother in a 2009 raid that the head of the DEA described as a "crippling blow to one of the most violent cartels in the world." More on the Mexican drug war . Nicknames for the kingpin included "The Engineer" and "The H." According to security experts, the cartel had regrouped after the dramatic 2009 operation and developed alliances with the Zetas and the Juarez Cartel. The State Department has said the cartel was responsible for transporting weapons and ammunition to Mexico from the United States, and trafficking in cocaine, marijuana, heroin and methamphetamine. CNN en Español's Krupskaia Alis and CNNMexico.com contributed to this report. | Authorities capture Hector Beltran Leyva inside a seafood restaurant .
He became a cartel chief after Mexican marines killed his brother .
Officials say he was living a discrete, low-profile life to avoid detection .
Authorities had offered millions of dollars for information leading to his capture . |
045aa973a284e683febd039607658120a4dbc2f6 | Sentenced: Former NFL star Sam Hurd was sentenced to 15 years in jail on Wednesday for buying large amounts of illegal drugs . Disgraced former Chicago Bears player Sam Hurd was yesterday sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in starting a drug-distribution scheme that ended his football career and left his future in tatters. Hurd, 28, received the punishment in a federal courtroom in Dallas after pleading guilty in April to one count of trying to buy and distribute large amounts of cocaine and marijuana. The charge carried a minimum 10-year sentence and a maximum of life. Authorities say that while NFL teammates and friends knew him as a hardworking wide receiver and married father, Hurd was fashioning a separate identity as a wannabe drug kingpin with a focus on 'high-end deals' and a need for large amounts of drugs. U.S. District Judge Jorge Solis gave Hurd a much shorter sentence than the 27 to 34 years recommended by federal sentencing guidelines. Solis noted that the case against Hurd centered on a 'lot of agreements' to buy and sell marijuana and cocaine, rather than physical transactions of drugs. But, the judge said, 'You didn't just start nickel and diming it.' Hurd stood before him in orange jail scrubs after a rambling, emotional 30-minute plea for mercy. Behind him in the gallery were more than a dozen family members and friends. 'You had everything going for you,' Solis told Hurd, adding that he thought the case was a 'tragedy.' Federal inmates are typically not eligible for parole and required to serve at least 85 percent of their sentences. Wide receiver: Sam Hurd during the NFL game between The Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys . Hurd's December 2011 arrest outside a . suburban Chicago steakhouse came after he tried to buy a kilogram of . cocaine in what turned out to be a sting. According to a federal . complaint, Hurd told an undercover agent that he wanted 5 to 10 . kilograms of cocaine and 1,000 pounds of marijuana per week to . distribute in the Chicago area. He claimed he was already distributing 4 kilograms a week, according to the complaint. A kilogram is about 2.2 pounds. At the time, Hurd was a wide receiver with stints for the Bears and Dallas Cowboys who had played most of his five seasons on special teams. He was in the first year of a three-year contract reportedly worth more than $5 million. The Bears soon cut him. Hurd was released on bail and returned to Texas, where he grew up, but soon fell into trouble again, according to court documents. He allegedly tried to buy more cocaine and marijuana through a cousin, Jesse Tyrone Chavful, and failed two drug tests. That led a magistrate judge in August 2012 to revoke his bail and order him returned to jail. In court: Pictured is a courtroom artist drawing of Chicago Bears wide receiver Sam Hurd, center right, as he makes an initial court appearance before Judge Young Kim, left, on federal drug charges Thursday, December 15, 2011 in Chicago . Hurd spoke near the end of a . four-hour hearing, sometimes reading from handwritten notes and . sometimes looking directly at Solis to plead for mercy. While . he denied leading a major conspiracy or dealing with Chavful, Hurd . admitted to having a marijuana addiction and a weakness for friends who . needed his help. He admitted giving $88,000 to another co-defendant, . Toby Lujan, knowing that the money might go to buy drugs. And he . admitted the fateful meeting at a steakhouse that ended in his arrest. 'I regret not thinking about the consequences,' Hurd said, adding: 'I made some dumb, very bad decisions.' His attorneys tried to explain his claims of having high-value customers and massive demand for drugs as mere boasting, saying he had a penchant for exaggeration. One of his lawyers, Michael McCrum, called his client 'a guy showing up at a restaurant, talking stupid.' 'I think he should be punished, but for the crime that he committed,' McCrum said. Short sentence: U.S. District Judge Jorge Solis gave Hurd, pictured in 2011, a much shorter sentence than the 27 to 34 years recommended by federal sentencing guidelines . But Hurd's failed drug tests and alleged . dealings with Chavful appeared to factor heavily against him Wednesday. Prosecutors repeatedly brought up Chavful - rejecting claims by Hurd . and his attorneys that the two men were talking about Hurd's attempts to . start a T-shirt printing business. 'Normally, when you dig a hole, you quit digging,' said prosecutor John Kull. 'But he keeps digging.'Chavful and Lujan have both pleaded guilty to being involved in the conspiracy. Solis gave Chavful eight years in prison for his smaller role in the scheme. Lujan will be sentenced in January. While no other NFL players are known to have been charged in connection with the case, Hurd claimed in an interview published Tuesday by Sports Illustrated that he shared marijuana with Cowboys teammates and smoked during the last three to four years of his career 'all day, every day.' But while he gained extra notoriety due to his now-finished football career, prosecutors said Hurd's case was simple. 'He's not being prosecuted because he's an NFL player,' Kull said. 'He's being prosecuted because he's a drug dealer.' | Sam Hurd, 28, received the punishment Wednesday in a federal courtroom in Dallas, Texas .
He pleaded guilty in April to one count of trying to buy and distribute large amounts of cocaine and marijuana .
U.S. District Judge Jorge Solis gave Hurd a much shorter sentence than the 27 to 34 years recommended by federal sentencing guidelines .
Hurd stood in the court in orange jail scrubs and made a rambling, emotional 30-minute plea for mercy . |
045adeaf8f6643694d4203074c791469ac517aed | January 22, 2015 . Today, CNN Student News is bringing you history: Cold War events between the U.S. and Cuba. We're bringing you economics: how supply, demand and drought could affect avocado availability. We're bringing you engineering: a new way to change lanes at the Golden Gate Bridge. And we're bringing you a superlative: the oldest lighthouse still in use. On this page you will find today's show Transcript and a place for you to request to be on the CNN Student News Roll Call. TRANSCRIPT . Click here to access the transcript of today's CNN Student News program. Please note that there may be a delay between the time when the video is available and when the transcript is published. CNN Student News is created by a team of journalists who consider the Common Core State Standards, national standards in different subject areas, and state standards when producing the show. ROLL CALL . For a chance to be mentioned on the next CNN Student News, comment on the bottom of this page with your school name, mascot, city and state. We will be selecting schools from the comments of the previous show. You must be a teacher or a student age 13 or older to request a mention on the CNN Student News Roll Call! Thank you for using CNN Student News! | This page includes the show Transcript .
Use the Transcript to help students with reading comprehension and vocabulary .
At the bottom of the page, comment for a chance to be mentioned on CNN Student News. You must be a teacher or a student age 13 or older to request a mention on the CNN Student News Roll Call. |
045bc6fcee7b435fad7136430788add2b0809301 | New York City would look radically different today if one very big thinking engineer had his way back in 1912. In a New York Times article from that year, Dr. T. Kennard Thomson proposed, among other big changes, the complete filling-in of the East River, the extension of Manhattan by ten blocks to the south and several new plots of land including an island in New York Bay. For decades, Thomson extolled the virtues of his plan, which he called 'A Really Greater New York.' Among those virtues, he said, was room for 20 million New Yorkers--or over four times the population in 1912--and a considerable 1,400 acres of land that Thomson claimed would have a worth of $1 billion. 'A Really Greater New York': A 1912 proposal by engineer T. Kennard Thomson would have added 1,400 acres to New York City by filling in the East River, extending Manhattan over ten blocks to the south, adding new tracts of land and an island off Staten Island and adding land to Bayonne, New Jersey, among other changes . 'At first glance,' Thomson wrote in a 1916 Popular Science article, 'a project to reclaim fifty square miles of land from New York bay, to add one hundred miles of new waterfront docks, to fill in the East River, and to prepare New York for a population of twenty million, seems somewhat stupendous, does it not?' Despite his salesman-like panache, Thomson was actually a well-respected civil engineer of his day. According to Big Think, Thomson had been involved in the construction of over 20 early NYC skyscrapers and many of its bridges. But more than just a southerly extension of the island of Manhattan, filling in the East River would remove the only delineation between Manhattan and Queens--which would have grown the island several times over. However, the borough of Queens would remain. Not satisfied with simply removing a river, Thomson proposed a new East River that would run straight through the middle of of Queens. To the west would be mega-Manhattan with its ten new blocks extending nearly all the way to Staten Island and encompassing Governor's Island, which still today sits to the south of the island. Disappearing islands: Present day Governors Island would have been engulfed by Thomson's plan to extend Manhattan southward nearly all the way to Staten Island . Governor's Island today is a popular destination for warm weather leisure activities, though it remains accessible only by boat or ferry . Thomson fought for decades to get his plan recognized as a viable future for New York. He even pared it down to a more modest proposal by 1930, but it never caught on and the borders of the city remain nearly the same today as they were in Thomson's day . To the east of Staten Island, a new island and two new tracts of land would create what the map calls a 'new entry point' to the city along with a new harbor. New Jersey also factored into Thomson's plan, which would have extended the city of Bayonne far deeper into the Hudson toward Manhattan. 'This will mean an addition of one hundred miles of new water-front. New York's City Hall would become the center of a really greater New York, having a radius of twenty-five miles, and within that circle there would be ample room for a population of twenty-five millions, the entire project to be carried out within a few years,' Thomson wrote. While he admitted that his plan would cost even more than another massive engineering feat of the day--the Panama Canal--Thomson believed the economic benefits would almost immediately refill the city's coffers. Sadly for Thomson, his plan never caught on enough to come to fruition--even by 1930, when he'd reduced his grand vision from 'A Really Greater New York' to a smaller scale plan he dubbed more modestly 'New Manhattan.' Even bigger than present day: Thomson hoped to add to New York land worth some $1 billion and enough space quadruple its population to 20 to 25 million . | The 1912 plan first appeared in a New York Times proposal penned by mainstream engineer T. Kennard Thomson .
Serious interest kept the plan floating around for decades as Thomson touted the benefits of his 'stupendous' plan .
Purported benefits of Thomson's plan included total space in the city for 20 million -- over twice its current population -- and 100 miles of waterfront . |
045dd47adc11cee5562cc279e8ff7f9749353448 | By . Daily Mail Reporters . PUBLISHED: . 13:21 EST, 29 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 20:36 EST, 30 November 2012 . The mother of the lesbian who was brutally beaten by her girlfriend's boyfriend on Thanksgiving said she 'knows in her heart' that his motivation was hatred because her daughter is gay. Kristi Taylor, the mother of Mallory Owens, from Mobile, Alabama, said in a statement released last night: 'I believe that Travis Hawkins Jr's rage against my daughter stemmed from Mallory being Ally's first same sex relationship. His anger towards her was for being gay.' Hawkins was arrested, charged with second-degree assault and released after the viscous beating which took place at his home while the family were eating Thanksgiving dinner. Mallory, who is in a relationship with Hawkins' sister Alex, was beaten so badly she had to undergo reconstructive surgery and suffered from severe concussion and bleeding on the brain. Scroll down for video . Kristi Taylor, the mother of Mallory Owens, pictured, said in a statement released last night: 'I believe that Travis Hawkins Jr's rage against my daughter stemmed from Mallory being Ally's first same sex relationship' Victim: Mallory Owens, left, was left horribly injured after attending Thanksgiving dinner with girlfriend Alex Hawkins, right . Aftermath: Mallory Owens, right, returned to the home of her girlfriend, Alex Hawkins, left, after she was brutally beaten there days earlier . On Tuesday, after she checked herself out of the hospital, she denied the beating was fueled by hate over her sexuality. The accused: Travis Hawkins was charged with second-degree assault and later released on bond . 'A lot of things have happened between us, but it doesn't make me hate her brother,' she told WKRG-TV. 'I don't hate her family at all, or anybody for that matter.' Miss Hawkins backed this up saying: 'It's not a hate crime at all. We both know the reason why this happened, and it doesn't . make any excuses for him, I'm not defending him at all. I know why he . was angry, and that will come out.' Neither woman elaborated about the 'real' reason behind the beating but they hinted it concerned her 'conduct' rather than sexuality. Family and supporters of Miss Owens believe those charges should be much more severe. A . Facebook group entitled 'Charge Travis Hawkins Jr with the attempted . murder of Mallory Owens' has sprung up on Facebook, garnering more than 4,600 'likes' since it was formed. An . online petition has also been set up asking that the charges be . increased to attempted murder. Almost 100,000 people have signed it. Hawkins' lawyer, James Byrd, told the . TV station his client, age 18, has been forced to go into hiding after . numerous death threats. 'People have taken this and overreacted, and made it something that it's not,' Mr Byrd said. After the initial attack, Mrs Taylor said: 'He tried to kill her. He's lucky he didn't kill her. She's lucky to be . alive. I didn't recognize her when I got here. It's hard to look at her . like that.' Brutality: Miss Owens was hospitalized for . several days after the attack, receiving treatment for a broken nose in . the beating that was so bad her eyes were swollen shut . Unrecognizable: Miss Owens suffered numerous lacerations and required facial reconstruction surgery after the attack . Miss Owens was hospitalized and . treated for a broken nose and numerous lacerations. Her eyes were . swollen shut after the brutal beating and she had to receive facial . reconstruction surgery. Ms . Taylor said that there was friction with the Hawkins family over the . fact that her daughter was gay and had a relationship with the sister, . which Hawkins reportedly did not approve of. Despite the accusations, Hawkins . cannot be charged with a hate crime because Alabama law doesn't include . sexual orientation among bias offenses, according to the . Anti-Defamation League. Happy couple: Owens and Hawkins have remained together, despite the violent end to Thanksgiving dinner . And Alabama is not alone, as 26 other . states are also without hate crime laws protecting members of the LGBT . community, including Texas, Virginia and Missouri. Earlier this year, Hawkins allegedly . hit Miss Owens over the head with a pipe wrench. While she was injured . in that attack, no charges were filed. While Mallory Owens' attacker has been charged in the vicious beating, friends and family of the woman are shocked that additional charges have not been filed. But despite the nature of the alleged beating, Travis Hawkins cannot be charged with a hate crime in Alabama. The state's law does not include sexual orientation among bias offenses, according to the Anti-Defamation League. And Alabama is not alone, as 26 other states are also without hate crime laws protecting members of the LGBT community. In 2010, the FBI reported 1,470 offenses based on sexual orientation bias in Alabama. Her mother told the station: 'I did not . want her to go, I begged her not to go, knowing how the family felt . about her. But she said, "They're trying to be nice".' Miss Owens' sister Avery Godwin told AL.com that Hawkins called her on Friday to say 'that he would finish what he started last night with Mallory'. Information about an attorney for Hawkins was not immediately available. It’s also not the first time that police have been called to the Hawkins home. Last year, Hawkins was hospitalized after he was allegedly shot in the chest by his father, Travis Hawkins Sr. WKRG-TV . reported that the elder Hawkins was later released on bail and the case . was never brought to trial after his son refused to testify against . him. Watch video here . | Mallory Owens severely beaten after Thanksgiving dinner in Mobile, Alabama .
Alex Hawkins' brother Travis charged with second-degree assault, but friends and family argue that the charges should be more severe .
He can't be charged with hate crime, as Alabama does not include sexual orientation among bias offenses .
Mallory denies it was because she was gay . |
045e07a5eeef4d3ef8716107f4a373e5f80e0569 | (CNN) -- As the NCAA basketball tournament kicks into gear this week, March Madness once again spreads out of arenas and into the workplace. Diehard and fair-weather fans alike will take part in office pools, games will be streamed online, and smack will be talked around water coolers. "People love Cinderellas," the come-from-behind stories, said Stewart Mandel, a senior writer for SI.com who covers basketball and football. "People love bragging when they pick something right." Read Mandel's analysis of the brackets . And, amid all this game monitoring and chatter, some say productivity and earnings may take a hit, but others say the shared experience bolsters business. The first week of the tournament -- when the most games are played during daytime hours -- could cost U.S. employers as much as $1.8 billion, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc., a global outplacement company in Chicago, Illiniois, that annually predicts the tournament's impact. This blow to employers is based on surveys showing that 45 percent of Americans enter office pools and waste on average about 20 minutes a day focusing on basketball instead of work. Challenger, Gray & Christmas says that translates to more than 58 million employees. Print your bracket (PDF) "Employers can no longer claim to be caught off guard by the annual event," firm CEO John Challenger said in a written statement. "Some have tried to squash these pools, most simply ignore them and others have found ways to embrace the tournament as a team-building and morale-boosting opportunity." But this figure on time and money lost seems "plucked out of thin air," said Don Forsyth, a psychologist who studies group dynamics in the workplace in the Jepson School of Leadership Studies at the University of Richmond in Virginia. Who is to say how much time and money people waste each day on personal distractions, he asked. And maybe, he added, the employee who generally dreads going to work comes in energized because of the games. Forsyth, who's been studying work dynamics for 30 years, said the shared experience of feeling the madness probably does the workplace good and leads to gains instead of losses. "It's a powerful social process," he said. "It builds relationships and rituals within the group. Everyone is included," from the corner offices to the mailroom. "People on the fringe get drawn in. It builds cohesion," he continued. "You'd pay an expert to come in to do that for your company. March Madness does it for free." | As March Madness begins, office pools and basketball become part of workday .
One company says employers stand to lose $1.8 billion this week due to distractions .
Psychologist says shared ritual boosts sense of belonging in workplace .
Positive cohesion comes for free, and employer wins, psychologist adds . |
045e8b310cef4017c30b432b4c3e38004f0d6c7a | (CNN) -- Richard III is getting people talking all over again. DNA tests confirm that skeletal remains found buried in a parking lot belong to England's most famous king, British scientists announced on Monday. Some CNN commenters did a bit of a double take. don4060: "From the picture, I thought it was Keith Richards." John: "Nah, looks too lively and fresh." Jerry: "HAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!! The Strolling Bones ..." But Richard III's suspicious rise to power and ultimate downfall are literally the stuff of Shakespearean legend. The news sent readers scrambling back to their history books, or perhaps Wikipedia. Social media users rushed to talk about it. Who would have guessed 500 years later a former king buried in a dirt hole would have a chance at redemption? . View this page with Storify . | Bones discovered in parking lot belong to King Richard III .
Historians hope to repudiate King's villainous reputation .
'Hide and seek win' tweets one parody account . |
045e8e88b451532745f1297e95dd551784cdd362 | The Vatican put its former ambassador to the Dominican Republic under house arrest Tuesday after opening a criminal trial against him, the first time a high-ranking Vatican official has ever faced criminal charges for sexually abusing youngsters. Josef Wesolowski had already been defrocked in June after the Vatican's canon law court found him guilty of abuse and imposed its toughest penalty under church law: laicization, or returning to life as a layman. On Tuesday, the Vatican City State's separate criminal court opened a preliminary hearing into his case and ordered him to be placed under house arrest. The Vatican put its former ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Josef Wesolowski (pictured), under house arrest Tuesday after opening a criminal trial against him . Wesolowski had already been defrocked in June after the Vatican's canon law court found him guilty of abuse . A Vatican statement said Wesolowski presented medical documentation detailing health concerns that presumably prevented a more restrictive type of detention. The Vatican has a few small detention rooms inside its police barracks, but no long-term facilities. The Holy See recalled the Polish-born Wesolowski in August, 2013, after the archbishop of Santo Domingo told Pope Francis about rumours that Wesolowski had sexually abused teenage boys in the Caribbean country. Dominican authorities opened an investigation, but declined initially to press charges since the Vatican had said Wesolowski enjoyed diplomatic immunity. Polish prosecutors opened an investigation as well. A Santo Domingo court, though, took the first steps toward possibly charging him last month after the Vatican said he had lost his immunity when he was defrocked and could be prosecuted elsewhere. The office of the Dominican Republic's attorney general said Tuesday it was requesting specifics from the Vatican about how it came to its decision to put Wesolowski under house arrest and open a criminal trial against him. Spokeswoman Tessie Sanchez said Attorney General Francisco Dominguez Brito wanted more details from the Vatican before commenting further on the latest developments in Wesolowski's case. In an August interview with The Associated Press, Dominguez welcomed the Vatican announcement that Wesolowski had lost his diplomatic immunity and could be tried by Dominican or other courts. Wesolowski could face jail time if found guilty by the Vatican criminal court, which has jurisdiction over crimes committed within the tiny Vatican City State or by any of the Holy See's diplomatic personnel. It is unclear where he would serve any possible term: inside the Vatican or in an Italian prison. Pope Francis, pictured in St Peter's Square on Wednesday, has said no prelate, whether a priest or a cardinal, has any privileges when it comes to sex abuse . The case against Wesolowski has been closely watched, given the grave nature of the charges and the fact that the Vatican had faced criticism that it had shielded Wesolowski from Dominican jurisdiction by recalling him last year. In fact, many countries would have done the same with diplomatic personnel facing possible criminal charges abroad. The case has also been a test of Francis' willingness to sanction even a high-ranking Vatican official for a crime the Holy See has long sought to blame on wayward priests, not direct representatives of the pope. Francis has said no prelate, whether a priest or a cardinal, has any privileges when it comes to sex abuse. | Josef Wesolowski was defrocked in June after being found guilty of abuse .
Rumours emerged in August 2013 that he had abused teenage boys .
Vatican City State's criminal court has opened a hearing into his case . |
045f8aacd5bce0a59ab5cb8737de50ab87bfea54 | (CNN) -- As the terrorist group the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) continues to capture and control more territory in Iraq and Syria, it is important to realize what is at stake in the region and for the American people. The challenge that ISIS poses is not just to Iraq's stability but also to U.S. security. ISIS is a terrorist group with their own army and bank account that has a clear and growing ability to conduct terrorist attacks against the Iraqi government, Americans and U.S. interests, and even the U.S. homeland. ISIS, although loosely affiliated with al Qaeda, is in many respects even more extreme in its methods and its brutality than the terrorists who plotted and carried out 9/11. Although until now ISIS has focused its military goals on Syria and Iraq, its ranks include thousands of jihadists who have streamed into Syria and now into Iraq from around the globe as well as known terrorists who have been released or freed from Iraqi prisons. ISIS's goal is to secure its hold over large swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq, to establish an Islamic state or "caliphate" that stretches across the heart of the Middle East. As we have learned in the past, terrorists seek safe havens from which to operate, often in failed or failing states. They use this territory to train and equip themselves, raise funds and plot attacks. In addition to the threat to the U.S. homeland, we also need to be concerned that if Iraq begins to fragment, the resulting chaos and instability will ripple throughout the region. ISIS has sown incredible instability in Syria and is now seeking to do the same in Iraq. If we allow ISIS to spread further, their next targets will be U.S. allies and partners already under sufficient strain from the ongoing conflict in Syria, such as Jordan and even Saudi Arabia. We have an imperfect partner in Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who has shown himself unable to govern inclusively. We need to make clear to Baghdad that significant U.S. assistance will not be possible unless a national unity government is formed that does not include al-Maliki. Iran has already entered the fight on behalf of the al-Maliki government in Baghdad. But if we delegate this problem to Iran, we are likely to see the creation of a Shiite rump state that would effectively become an Iranian proxy and extend Iran's reach and influence from the Gulf of Oman to the Mediterranean Sea. So, what should we do? First and foremost, we need to move now to degrade ISIS's capabilities. The President's decision to send 300 advisers to Iraq is a good first step, but their ability to deter ISIS will be limited unless we eventually engage in airstrikes to target their leaders as well as the supply lines that they use to transfer weapons and fighters between Syria and Iraq. We know where these supply lines are, we should not hesitate to halt the ISIS resupply to their strongholds in Anbar, Ninawa and Salah ad-Din. Second, we also need to understand that our lack of an effective Syria strategy has allowed ISIS to take hold and flourish in the region. ISIS has been able to develop its capabilities, increase its ranks, and obtain combat experience for its fighters over the last 18 months in northern Syria. We need to begin to tackle the root causes of the problem in Syria by overtly arming the moderate Syrian rebels that are fighting ISIS in that country even as we simultaneously tackle the challenge they currently pose to Iraq. The U.S. and allies should consider additional counter terrorism measures in Syria, perhaps working with regional partners. This is all a response to the same problem, and must be part of a unified strategy. The President's long overdue announcement on Thursday of an overt plan to train and equip moderates in the opposition is a welcome development, but we need to do much more to finally deal with the threat that the Syrian conflict poses to regional stability and ultimately, to U.S. security. Third, as ISIS has gained ground in Iraq, its wealth and ability to make money have increased. We need to stop their ability to sell the Syrian and Iraqi oil they attempt to market to the outside world. We also need a new diplomatic strategy to counter ISIS funding and support. Unfortunately, some of our partners in the Gulf have contributed to this problem. Others in the region have turned a blind eye to foreign fighters flocking to the fight. This needs to end. Finally, our partners in the region need our support. Jordan deserves special attention and assistance. Jordan is already dealing with an influx of hundreds of thousands of refugees from the conflict in Syria. Jordan is a close partner of the United States and a likely target of ISIS's attention. In recent days, the group captured the border crossing between Iraq and Jordan. The United States should find ways to make clear that the United States will defend Jordan's security, including militarily if necessary. Some will argue that the challenges faced by Iraq or countries such as Jordan are none of our business. That we have spent too many years, lives, and dollars trying to make Iraq and the broader Middle East a better place. None of the options before us are ideal, but the question is whether we take action against ISIS now or deal with the consequences later here on U.S. soil. The stakes are too high for us to continue to ignore this problem. Join us on Facebook.com/CNNOpinion. | Sen. Marco Rubio is worried about the growing threat of ISIS in Iraq .
ISIS poses a real threat not just to Iraq's stability but also to U.S. security, he argues .
He is calling for U.S. airstrikes to target their leaders .
Rubio: An Iraq unity government must be formed without Nuri al-Maliki . |
045fda0115fb57053c3d4f5fc1e523cde7ec0140 | Fran McGlinn played a key member of his high school basketball team despite being diagnosed with a debilitating heart condition . A Philadelphia Catholic high school basketball coach has been fired after he was allegedly identified as being part of the group that brutally attacked a gay couple. Fran McGlinn, 25, is said to have been among about dozen men and women in their twenties who participated in the attack on a 28- and 26-year-old gay couple, according to Philadelphia Daily News. One of the victims told CBS Philadelphia that three men started 'pummeling' him and knocked him to the ground. The two men were walking near 16th and Chancellor streets in the Center City area of Philadelphia just before 11pm on September 11 when the group of men and women confronted them, the 28-year old told CBS Philadelphia. His 26-year-old boyfriend said that the men in the group asked if the two were a couple and, when he confirmed, the men began to pummel them both. The 28-year-old had to be hospitalized with a large cut on his face. His jaw had to be wired shut due to severe fractures. The 26-year-old boyfriend suffered bruises to his face, CBS Philadelphia reports. Kenneth Gavin, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, told the Daily News that McGlinn has been fired and prohibited from working at any archdiocesan school. Seen on camera: The group of about 12 white men and women were caught on video walking in Rittenhouse Square . Gavin said that McGlinn had been serving as a coach on a 'contract basis' at the high school and was not a teacher. McGlinn graduated from Wood High School in 2007 and was a key member of the school's men's varsity basketball team, the Wood Vikings. The Daily News reported that McGlinn continued to be a member of the basketball team, AAU teams as well as attending practices despite suffering from a debilitating heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. McGlinn wrote in an online profile that after being diagnosed, doctor's told him that he could 'never play basketball again.' People have taken to social media to aid authorities in the search for the 'persons of interest.' After news of the attack spread, internet sleuths used social media to help identify the people said to have been involved in the incident. Photographed here, the more than a dozen men and women who are 'people of interest' in the same-sex couple attack, are seen dining at La Viola . Fine dining: The group was photographed dining at La Viola restaurant near Rittenhouse Square prior to the attack. The restaurant has since come under fire by social media users . Particularly, CBS Philadelphia reported, that one Twitter user utilized his more than 6,000 followers to identify the alleged attackers. One follower tweeted a photo of the group at a restaurant prior to the time of the attack as a result of the user's efforts. The Twitter user told CBS Philadelphia that he would use photos his followers would send him and match them to a surveillance video released by authorities. Since the investigation began, social media users have uncovered that the group dined at a Center City restaurant called La Viola just before the time of the attack. The surveillance video shows the group walking near Rittenhouse Square. The restaurant itself has since come under fire from social media users even though its officials say they were in no way involved in the attack. Person of interest: A new 'person of interest' was interviewed by authorities, he refused to comment . CBS Philadelphia reported this statement from the restaurant's officials: 'We were horrified to learn any of our patrons could have been involved in such a crime. Our thoughts are with the victims and we wish the gentleman a speedy recovery.' Daily News reports that though the incident was initially investigated as a hate crime, the District Attorney's Office say the case may not fit that standard. Under current law, a hate crime includes incidents motivated by race, ethnicity, or religion -- not sexual orientation. | Fran McGlinn was fired from Archbishop Wood High School and prohibited from working at any Catholic school in the Philadelphia area .
One victim was hospitalized with a large cut on his face and had to have his jaw wired shut .
Social media users are helping police identify 'persons of interest' from surveillance footage . |
046095ee2443897bdd8386931d68ff16ba1b28f1 | Pretoria, South Africa (CNN) -- Prosecutors in the Oscar Pistorius murder case will make a final push Friday to keep the acclaimed track star in jail after a bail hearing jolted by the sudden removal of the lead investigator. The South African Police Service pulled Hilton Botha from the case Thursday after prosecutors reinstated attempted murder charges against him. Botha is accused of chasing and firing on a minibus full of people while drunk in 2011. He is charged with seven counts of attempted murder. The allegations were the latest blow to a prosecution case that has suffered through several miscues during the bail hearing, including admissions that police could have contaminated the crime scene and failed to properly catalog evidence. Prosecutors are trying to keep Pistorius jailed pending his trial on a charge of premeditated murder in the February 14 shooting death of his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp, 29. The hearing ended Thursday with no decision on bail and is scheduled to resume Friday. Pistorius, 26, is accused of the premeditated murder of Steenkamp after, according to prosecutors, a heated argument in the early morning hours of Valentine's Day. The sprinter, however, says he thought an intruder was hiding in a toilet room inside the bathroom of his Pretoria home. He says he fired into the room in a fit of terror before realizing the person inside was Steenkamp. Replacing Botha . Court officials learned Thursday that prosecutors had restored the charges against Botha in the 2011 incident. The charges had previously been withdrawn for additional investigation, but prosecutors decided Wednesday to proceed, said Commissioner Riah Phiyega of the South African Police Service. Phiyega praised Botha, saying he is an experienced investigator who "has presented the case of the police well." Botha was replaced by the department's most senior detective, Vinesh Moonoo, in a move Phiyega said positioned the department for a "long-haul" investigation of Steenkamp's killing. During the three-day bail hearing, being held in a dark, stuffy Pretoria courtroom, defense attorney Barry Roux hammered away at the credibility of Botha and the entire police investigation. He argued police had missed a bullet in the toilet of the bathroom where Steenkamp was shot and may have contaminated the crime scene by failing to wear protective foot covers. Botha told Roux that investigators didn't wear the booties because they'd run out. Bulelwa Makeke, the spokeswoman for South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority, said before the announcement of Botha's removal that the accusations against the investigator would be little more than a "speed bump" in the Pistorius case. Gallery: Athletes charged with murder . Monumental collapse? In arguments wrapping up Thursday's session, Prosecutor Gerrie Nel said Pistorius' defense team has failed to explain why investigators found two cell phones and the gun believed to have been used in the shooting in front of the shower. That goes to the prosecution claim that Steenkamp didn't merely get up to relieve herself in the middle of the night, but in fact had locked herself in the bathroom with her cell phone to protect herself from Pistorius. Nel also said Pistorius has shown a lack of realization of what he has done and cast doubt on Pistorius' claims that one of the reasons for his extreme fear that night was that he had been a victim of burglary and violent crime in the past. Where, Nel asked, are the court cases from those incidents? Why, Nel asked, didn't Pistorius whisper to Steenkamp or try to wake her up when he heard noises? In full: Pistorius' affidavit to court . In addition to his questions about the bullet and the booties, Roux got Botha to acknowledge during the hearing that investigators had failed to collect any evidence that counters Pistorius' argument that he mistakenly shot Steenkamp. Roux told Magistrate Desmond Nair that the prosecution's case had suffered a monumental collapse. The defense attorney also questioned police claims that a witness who lived at least 300 meters (328 yards) from Pistorius' home had heard a raging argument coming from the home. He also said officers had failed to properly investigate and catalog evidence found there, including ammunition and a bottle of what Botha first called testosterone before backtracking. Roux said the substance is an herbal remedy. Authorities have argued that ballistic evidence shows Pistorius had to intentionally target the toilet to strike Steenkamp, and that evidence shows he was standing on his prosthetic legs when he shot through the bathroom door. Pistorius said in his statement that when he shot through the door, he was feeling vulnerable to an intruder because he was not wearing his legs and had limited mobility. Prosecutors are fighting bail because they worry that Pistorius will disappear if he's released, and they say that he has a history of police encounters that suggest he is a threat to public safety. Pistorius has pledged to stay in South Africa and fight the charges if released, adding that he's unlikely to escape notice as a well-known athlete who walks on prosthetic legs. His family issued a statement Thursday afternoon through Vuna Reputation Management, saying that they "fully respect the bail hearing process." "They understand it is in the full interest of justice that the process associated with the bail application be followed in its entirety", said Arnold Pistorius, Oscar Pistorius' uncle and family spokesperson. "We are strong and supportive as a family, for Oscar, but we understand that this is in the best interest for all." Anger about detention . In other developments, the women's branch of South Africa's ruling party accused authorities of giving Pistorius special treatment by holding him at the police station instead of prison. "If there is some special circumstance that permits this, authorities must share this with the public as they are setting a bad precedent," the statement from the African National Congress Women's League said. "All should be treated equally before the law no matter your standing in society." What's life like in a South African prison? Nike pulls away from sprinter . Also Thursday, Nike announced it had suspended its contract with Pistorius, saying it would "monitor the situation closely." Nike had already pulled a TV ad featuring the sports star. Nike's bullet ad with Pistorius backfires . Robyn Curnow reported from Pretoria, and Michael Pearson reported and wrote from Atlanta. CNN's Marilia Brocchetto, Kim Norgaard and Dianne McCarthy also contributed to this report. | NEW: Pistorius family "fully respect the bail hearing process," uncle says .
Police replaced Hilton Botha after prosecutors reinstated murder charges against him .
The sprinter's lawyer says the state's murder case has collapsed .
A hearing to decide whether the track star gets bail will resume Friday . |
04636d43796993bf93608f5b8a1be932694afd8f | Matt Lauer is denying claims that he had an affair with celebrity chef Giada De Laurentis. The married Today show host said he never had a sexual relationship with the 44-year-old and says their long-term friendship is why they have been recently spotted together. He hit out at allegations that he was one of the reasons why the celebrity chef had recently split from her husband. De Laurentis also denies the claim. Speaking to TMZ following his arrival at LAX on Saturday, he said: 'There is no truth to that story.' 'From the horse's mouth we have been friends for 10 years and more importantly I feel bad for what she has been going through.' De Laurentiis recently announced her split from husband Todd Thompson after 11 years of marriage last week - but she denied it was because of Lauer. Strictly platonic: Matt Lauer has denied ever having an affair with celebrity chef Giada De Laurentis saying they have been 'friends for 10 years' Sympathy: The Today show host, pictured cooking with the celebrity chef, says he 'feels bad' for De Laurentis following the split from her husband of 11 years . Lauer has been married to Annette Roque, his second wife, since 1998. The Dutch former model is the mother of his three children . Then there were also rumors concerning fellow chef Bobby Flay, after the pair were seen dining together in New York just days before the 44-year-old Food Network star announced her breakup at the end of December. However Giada has now said any suggestions of romance involving the two - which first surfaced in Star magazine - were false. 'My long-time friendships with my co-workers Matt Lauer and Bobby Flay are exactly that — long-time friendships,' she said in a statement to website Gossip Cop. 'There has never been a romantic relationship with these two men,' she added. Giada and her husband, fashion designer Todd Thompson, separated in July but only announced the split last week. The couple have a six-year-old daughter, Jade. Their separation comes three years after Giada was forced to deny claims she had been cheating on Todd with musician John Mayer, 37. Lauer took to the red carpet at the Golden Gloves with Today show co-cost Savannah Guthrie at the Beverly Hilton Hotel . Denial: Three years before announcing her split from husband Todd Thompson, Giada De Laurentiis was forced to deny claims she had hooked up with John Mayer . Speaking to Redbook magazine about the claims in 2011, Giada called it unexpected and insisted nothing had happened with the Your Body Is A Wonderland singer. Star magazine reported that the duo had a 'steamy hookup' at the Gansevoort Hotel in New York, in 2010 but Giada revealed her husband was actually in New York with her when she was alleged to have been with John. And she revealed Todd's embarrassment that his family in Michigan might believe it was true. She told Redbook: 'I was shocked. And not so much for me, but for my husband and family. My family is used to that sort of thing. But my husband's family is not. Todd was embarrassed that his family in Michigan would see it and think, What is going on over there in Hollywood?' Giada admitted she had met John in the past but insisted it was nothing more than a brief introduction and she hadn't seen him in three years before the alleged fling took place. John's rep also told E! News: 'The claims are absolutely ridiculous.' Giada's representative told MailOnline on Wednesday: 'She barely knows John Mayer. She met him at an event and chatted with him for about five minutes and that is the extent of her contact with him.' Separate paths: Giada and Todd, shown in February in New York City, separated back in July . The chef and Todd appear to be having an amicable split, with Giada writing on Facebook: 'After an amicable separation since July, Todd and I have decided to end our marriage. Although our decision to separate comes with a great deal of sadness, our focus on the future and overwhelming desire for our family's happiness has given us the strength to move forward on separate, yet always connected paths. 'Todd and I share a beautiful daughter and a lifetime of great memories that we both treasure more than anything. We are so thankful for our friends and family, and really appreciate the support in this time of change,' she added. The statement did not mention if divorce proceedings had started. 'Thanks so much for your support in this time of change...', Giada tweeted on Monday night to her more than one million followers on Twitter. The couple were married in May 2003. Giada won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2008 for Outstanding Lifestyle Host for her show Giada At Home. Happier times: Giada is shown with Todd and their daughter Jade in February in Miami Beach, Florida . She was born in Rome, Italy and her maternal grandfather is the noted Italian film producer Dino De Laurentiis whose producing credits include the Fellini films La Strada and Nights Of Cabiria and the 1992 cult classic Army Of Darkness. After her parents' divorce, she and her siblings moved to Southern California, where they grew up. Giada graduated from UCLA in 1996 with a degree in social anthropology. Along with her cooking show and contributions to the Today show, Giada also came out with a line of kitchen supplies for Target in 2010. Television chef: Giada is shown in an undated file photo from her show Giada At Home . | Today show host said there is 'no truth' to allegations about a relationship .
Insisted their relationship is platonic and have been friends for 10 years .
Added that he 'feels bad' following her divorce from Todd Thompson .
Celebrity chef has also denied affair rumors - saying they are 'just friends'
Three years ago she was forced to deny an affair with singer John Mayer . |
0463fb8720397c3656f3c02298161d2a093d336c | By . Richard Shears . PUBLISHED: . 05:50 EST, 8 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:51 EST, 8 February 2013 . WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT . Children took pictures and laughed while a young mother was tossed on to a pyre of tyres and burned alive, after being accused of killing a neighbour's six-year-old son with sorcery. Kepari Leniata, 20, 'confessed' after she was dragged from her hut, stripped naked and tortured with white-hot iron rods. She was then dragged to a local rubbish dump, doused in petrol and, with hands and feet bound, thrown on a fire of burning tyres. As the mother-of-two screamed in agony, more petrol-soaked tyres were thrown on top of her. She was torched by villagers who claimed she killed a six-year-old boy through sorcery, with police outnumbered by onlookers and unable to intervene . The horrendous scene took place in in the village of . Paiala, in the highlands of Papua New Guinea where many believe that witchcraft exists and sorcery is used to kill enemies. The head bishop of a Lutheran Church located in the district today condemned the killing. ‘Sorcery . and sorcery-related killings are growing and the government needs to . come up with a law to stop such practice,’ David Piso told The National . newspaper. ‘Many innocent and helpless people . have been killed and tortured after being accused of witchcraft, but . taking a life is against the teachings of the Bible and the laws of the . country,’ he said. The tragedy unfolded after Miss Leniata's . young neighbour fell sick on Tuesday morning. He complained of pains in . the stomach and chest and was taken to Mt Hagen hospital where he died a . few hours later. Still alive: Sorcery and witchcraft are still practiced in remote villages in Papua New Guinea's highlands . The boy who died had been complaining of pains in the stomach and chest and had been taken to Mt Hagen hospital . Relatives of the boy were suspicious . that witchcraft was involved in the death and learned that two women had . gone into hiding in the jungle. After they were tracked down, the pair admitted they practised sorcery but had nothing to do with the boy's death. Miss Leniata, they said, was the person responsible. The boy's family went to her hut at 7am on Wednesday, stripped her and dragged her away to torture and death. Pictures of the horrific scene were soon circulating online. The . Post Courier newspaper said the torture and brutal murder of a mother of . two ‘provided a photo opportunity for many of the onlookers, including . school children, who crowded around and took photos of the woman being . consumed alive by the fire.’ Police who rushed to the area were . turned back by the angry crowd, but were able to drive away with one of . the other women while the second has fled. Part of the culture: Sorcery and witchcraft is widely believed in Papua New Guinea, which brought in a Sorcery Act to protect against attacks on those accused of practising black magic (file picture) Breaking the law: The criminalisation of sorcery has seen several cases of violent vigilante action against 'witches' and 'sorcerers' in highland villages . Sorcery and witchcraft is widely believed in Papua New Guinea and is commonly practiced in remote villages across the island nation. The cost of a witch doctor revealing a cause of death or casting out an evil spirit is usually 1000 New Guinean kina (£303), plus a pig and a bag of rice, . In 1971, whilst still a colony, the country introduced a Sorcery Act to criminalise the practice. However the law has recently seen a rise in attacks on innocent people accused of black magic, such as that on Miss Leniata, and convictions by ‘kangaroo courts’ made up of of local village elders. As a result the Papua New Guinean law reform commission proposing to repeal the law. Last July, 29 people were arrested accused of black magic and cannibalism after allegedly murdering seven people in order to eat their brains and use their genitals for sorcery rituals. In 2009 a man was hacked to pieces by machetes after a ‘kangaroo court’ convicted him of sorcery. Papua New Guinean police have launched a murder . investigation and are reportedly preparing charges against those . responsible. A firetruck which had been called to the scene was chased away by the crowd. Authorities and international diplomats have spoken out against the torching of the young mother, leaves behind two children, the youngest an eight-month-old girl. The country's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has sworn to bring the killers to justice, as he addressed the matter in a statement today. ‘No one commits such a despicable act in the society that all of us, including Kepari, belong to,' he said. ‘Barbaric killings connected with alleged sorcery. Violence against women because of this belief that sorcery kills. These are becoming all too common in certain parts of the country. 'It is reprehensible that women, the old and the weak in our society should be targeted for alleged sorcery or wrongs that they actually have nothing to do with.’ The U.S. embassy on the Papua New Guinea issued a statement condemning the "’brutal murder’ calling it evidence of ‘pervasive gender-based violence’. ’We add our voice to those of Papua New Guinean religious and civil society leaders who have spoken out against the brutality inflicted upon Ms Leniata,’ the embassy said. ‘There is no possible justification for this sort of violence. We hope that appropriate resources are devoted to identifying, prosecuting, and punishing those responsible for Ms Leniata's murder.’ | Police turned back by lynch mob in highlands of Papua New Guinea .
She had confessed to killing a boy 'with sorcery' while being tortured . |
04647b4d1a47bbdd1d9778559c14b9c6dbe5692d | A woman shopkeeper has been caught on CCTV fighting off an armed raider who pointed a loaded sawn-off shotgun at her seven-year-old daughter. Ranvir Bassi, 35, who was in the family-run shop in Stafford with her young daughter Satpreet, can be seen grabbing the barrel of the gun and forcefully shoving the hooded robber away. The shop's CCTV cameras then film the man running from the shop empty-handed - chased by the petite mother-of-two. Scroll down for video . Ranvir Bassi fought off a hooded gunman who pointed a sawn-off shotgun at her and her seven-year-old daughter and demanded cash . Mrs Bassi, 35, who was in the family-run shop in Stafford with her young daughter Satpreet, was filmed grabbing the barrel of the gun and forcefully shoving the hooded robber away . The man can then be seen running from the shop empty-handed, chased by the petite mother-of-two . Mrs Bassi said her mother’s instinct took over as she fought to protect her daughter. Mrs Bassi - who is just 5ft 2in and weighs 9st - said: 'It was just . horrific. I was shutting down the shop and he just burst in waving the . gun around. 'He started shouting "Give me the money" and swearing at me. 'I . really don’t know why I did it, but I guess my mother’s instinct took . over, my daughter Sattreet was hiding and I just grabbed the gun. 'He had shouted at me to give him the money and I just shouted "Get out of my shop" - and started shoving him. 'I must have startled him because he turned and ran out of the shop. 'He just picked the wrong day to mess with me - I wasn’t having him take my hard earned cash.' Mrs Bassi said her mother's instinct took over as she fought to protect her daughter . The family have run the store for 19 years but insist they will not be forced out by the incident . She said the incident had badly affected her daughter, who suffered from nightmares and flashbacks. Her husband Parmjit, 32, was at home at the time of the attack, and she says they have all been left shocked by what happened. The family have run the store for 19 years but insist they will not be forced out by the incident. She added: 'We will not be moved - we are a close-knit community and we won’t be driven out by thugs like him.' A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named, was later caught by police after officers found his trainers close to the scene and the gun discarded by old bike frames nearby. On Friday the teenager admitted attempted robbery, possessing a firearm with intent to commit robbery and possessing a prohibited weapon. Recorder Mr Michael Elsom told Stafford Crown Court: 'Mrs Bassi displayed quite extraordinary bravery in taking hold of the weapon.' Prosecuting Phillip Beardwell said the gun’s stock had been crudely cut down, the barrel shortened and loaded with a 12-bore round. He told the court the defendant had put forward a basis of plea in which he maintained he had been under pressure from others to commit the robbery. Mr Beardwell added: 'At the time he was associating with people who were on the periphery of a local organised crime group. 'The Crown’s view is this was either braggadocio to earn his stripes, or it was something done under direction. 'The evidence is he attended the store alone and he left the store alone.' Michael Anning, defending, added: 'This is not a determined and experienced criminal. 'He was under pressure in relation to a debt they said he owed. The gun was given to him by them to commit this offence.' The case was adjourned and the teenager will be sentenced at a later date at the same court. | Ranvir Bassi, 35, was in family-run shop in Stafford with daughter Satpreet .
She can be seen grabbing barrel of loaded gun and shoving robber away .
Man then filmed running from shop - chased by petite mother-of-two .
Mrs Bassi said her mother's instinct took over as she defended daughter .
Mother-of-two added: 'He just picked the wrong day to mess with me' |
0464934b60d275d4de36b081534b5982f7260331 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . All eyes will be on The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's son Prince George next Tuesday, 22nd July, as the future king celebrates his first birthday. To commemorate the date, this beautiful set of pictures has been released, depicting Royal babies over the past 87 years. The oldest photograph from the set dates all the way back to 27th June 1927, and portrays the Duke and Duchess of York with King George V and Queen Mary and the . then Princess Elizabeth, now Queen Elizabeth II, on the balcony of . Buckingham Palace. Royal portrait: Queen Elizabeth II holds Prince Edward, surrounded by her family, (left to right) the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and Princess Anne, at Windsor on the occasion of her 39th birthday . An adorable family portrait shows Princess Elizabeth with her children Prince Charles and Princess Anne on her 1st birthday, taken on 15th August 1951. And 1949, Prince Charles is pictured about to turn one himself. At 11 1/2 . months Charles weighed 24 1/2 lbs, had six teeth and could walk a few . steps by holding onto the sides of his play pen. And many from the set show a beaming Queen Elizabeth with her family on her 39th birthday on 21st April 1965. Now and then: Prince George, left, at London's Natural History Museum, will turn one next week. Right: Princess Elizabeth with her children Prince Charles and Princess Anne on Anne's first birthday, taken on 15th August 1951 . Young Prince: Charles and Diana, The Prince and Princess of Wales play with their first son Prince William on a rug in the grounds of Government House in Auckland, New Zealand, 1, May 1983 . Heartwarming: Left is a picture of Princess Anne in the arms of Princess Elizabeth, with Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh holding Prince Charles in August 1951. Right, Queen Elizabeth II with baby Prince Andrew on 16th January 1961 . First birthday: Prince Charles pictured about to turn one in November 1949. Left, with his smiling mother, Princess Elizabeth. At 11 1/2 months Charles weighed 24 1/2 lbs and had six teeth and could walk a few steps by holding onto the sides of his play pen . On the road: Queen Elizabeth II with baby Prince Andrew, the Prince of Wales, Princess Anne and the Duke of Edinburgh on 16th January 1961 . Eighties babies: Zara and Peter Phillips, left on 15th November 1982 and, right, Diana, Princess of Wales, carrying baby Prince Harry on 7th August 1985 . On the road: Queen Elizabeth II with baby Prince Andrew, the Prince of Wales, Princess Anne and the Duke of Edinburgh on 16th January 1961 . Proud mother: Queen Elizabeth II with baby Prince Edward at Frogmore House, left, and with the Duke of Edinburgh, and their two children, Prince Charles, and Princess Anne, right, in the grounds of Clarence House 9th August 1951 . Happy family: Queen Elizabeth with the Duke of Edinburgh and their children: (left to right) Princess Anne, Prince Edward, Prince Charles and Prince Andrew on the lawn at Frogmore House, Windsor . Carefully does it: Duke of Edinburgh keeping a steady hand and eye on baby Prince Edward whilst daughter Princess Anne looks on. Behind is the Queen and Prince Andrew in the Gardens of Frogmore House, Windsor, Berkshire . Remarkable: The Duke and Duchess of York with King George V and Queen Mary and the then Princess Elizabeth, now Queen Elizabeth II, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on 27th June 1927 . | Series shows a baby Princess Elizabeth, now Queen Elizabeth II, on the balcony of .
Buckingham Palace, 1927 .
Photographs also include Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip with children Charles, Anne, Edward and Andrew .
The stunning set features Charles and Diana, the Prince and Princess of Wales, with a young Prince William in 1983 .
The future King of England, Prince George of Cambridge will turn one on Tuesday 22nd July . |
0464f0c4296a7d03f9b373e3863e205dd258c5d6 | (CNN) -- Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Egypt returned to Cairo on Saturday after tensions briefly spurred the kingdom to pull its envoys and shutter its missions, Saudi state media reported. Ambassador Ahmad Kattan is expected to resume his duties on Sunday, the Saudi Press Agency said. Saudi Arabia called back Kattan and closed its embassy and consulates last Sunday after raucous protests in Cairo over the imprisonment of Ahmed Mohammed el-Gezawi, an Egyptian human rights lawyer. Throngs of Egyptians had gathered in front of the Saudi Embassy, calling for the release of el-Gezawi. The decision to pull out Saudi diplomats came after protesters' "attempts to storm and threaten the security and safety of its (embassy) employees," the Saudi Press Agency said. Saudi officials say el-Gezawi is accused of trying to smuggle thousands of pills into the country. The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights said el-Gezawi had been traveling during Umrah, a minor pilgrimage to Mecca, when he was detained. "What has happened in the recent days of repercussions in the relationship between the two countries is painful to every honorable Saudi and Egyptian citizen, and our decision to recall the ambassador and the closure of the embassy were only to protect its employees from other situations that could have developed with dire consequences," the Saudi Press Agency said, quoting King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz. "We will not allow this incidental crisis to prolong." The protests and the Saudi reaction appear to have again ratcheted up long-standing tensions between the two Middle Eastern nations. The strains can be traced to 1979, when the kingdom broke off diplomatic relations after Egypt inked a peace deal with Israel based on the Camp David Accords. The ties were restored in November 1987. Egypt, the most populous Arab country, has often engaged in "a subtle competition" with its Saudi counterparts "over this question of regional leadership," said Steven Cook, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. Egypt erupted in protest last year during 18 days of demonstrations in Cairo's Tahrir Square after similar uprisings in neighboring Tunisia, ultimately ousting Egypt's longtime president Hosni Mubarak after nearly three decades in power. | Ambassador Ahmad Kattan is expected to resume his duties Sunday .
The ambassador was pulled after protests in front of the Saudi Embassy .
The protests and the Saudi reaction ratcheted up long-standing tensions between the two nations . |
04651398f0d3cc29e5321b162f5ed6be1b9dae35 | By . Emma Innes . PUBLISHED: . 10:44 EST, 11 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:44 EST, 11 April 2013 . A 21-year-old student has found a way of allowing Facebook users to encode pictures with secret messages. Owen Campbell-Moore, a computer science student at Oxford University, has created a browser extension that allows people to share secret messages on the social networking site. Secretbook allows anyone with access to Google Chrome to hide 140 character long messages in JPEG images uploaded to Facebook and these messages can only be unlocked using a personal password. Secretbook allows anyone with access to Google Chrome to hide 140 character long messages in JPEG images uploaded to Facebook . It works by hiding messages amongst the millions of images that are uploaded to Facebook. It does this by changing a pixel to a different colour and then replicating it in many different pictures to spell out a message. This message is then only revealed to someone who knows the password and knows which pixel to look for. According to Wired.com, Mr Campbell-Moore spent two months designing the programme as part of a university project. It is the first time that anyone has managed to work out how to hide messages in computer files and it is very difficult for Facebook to detect as it operates through a Google Chrome web extension platform. Secretbook works by hiding steganographic messages where no one would think to look – in this case, among the millions of images that are uploaded to Facebook. Mr Campbell-Moore told Wired.com: ‘Many tools for steganography in JPEGs have existed in the past although they have always required that the images are transmitted exactly as they are.’ For example, this could be one pixel which has been changed to a different colour and then replicated in many pictures to spell out a message – to see this message you have to know the password and which pixel to look for. However, when a picture is uploaded to Facebook the image is automatically formatted which would render any message incomprehensible. It is the first time that anyone has managed to work out how to hide messages in computer files and it is very difficult for Facebook to detect as it operates through a Google Chrome web extension platform . As a result, Mr Campbell-Moore had to copy the sites recompression algorithm so that the encoded message is automatically compressed meaning that it does not change when recompressed by Facebook. Mr Campbell-Moore accepts that the technology could be used by terrorists but he believes that they would not use his method of steganography as it is not entirely secure. When Wired.com approached Facebook a spokesperson declined to comment on Secretbook. | Owen Campbell-Moore's plugin allows encoding of pictures with messages .
It allows people to hide 140 character notes, which can only be unlocked using a password, in pictures that are uploaded to Facebook .
First time anyone has worked out how to hide messages in computer files - it works by placing messages where people wouldn't think to look .
There is a fear that the technology could be used by terrorists . |
0467270364a5305e65f28296ead84e34b887500c | Former Manchester United trainee Josh King scored a famous FA Cup hat-trick as Stoke City boss Mark Hughes suffered a nightmare return to Ewood Park. Rovers fans mockingly chanted 'Hughesy, Hughesy, What's the score?' as their former manager watched his Premier League outfit collapse after being reduced to ten men on the stroke of half-time. Despite going in front through Peter Crouch, Stoke couldn't handle King, a 23-year-old Norwegian-born striker who left Old Trafford after making just two first-team appearances and was only playing on Saturday because Rovers star striker Jordan Rhodes needed a rest. Josh King scored a hat-trick against Premier League side Stoke City to ensure his side progressed to the sixth round . Blackburn Rovers forward King nets his first goal of the afternoon by flicking the ball past Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland . Former Manchester United striker King won a penalty after he was fouled by Stoke's Geoff Cameron . Blackburn's King celebrates his side's third goal by jumping in the air at Ewood Park . BLACKBURN (4-4-1-1): Eastwood 6; Duffy 7, Henley 6.5, Kilgallon 6, Olsson 6; Williamson 6.5 (Evans 45 6), Marshall 6 (Conway 11 6.5), Cairney 6, Taylor 6; King 9 (Varney 78); Gestede 6.5 . Subs not used: Steele, Spurr, Hanley, Rhodes . Goals: King 36, 50 & 55, Gestede pen 45 . Booked: Williamson, Cairney, Evans . STOKE CITY (4-4-2): Butland 5.5; Cameron 5, Wollscheid 6.5 Muniesa 5 (Sidwell 52 5.5), Bardsley 6; Arnautovic 5.5 (Wilkinson 45 6), Whelan 6, Nzonzi 5.5, Moses 7.5 (Adam 67 6); Crouch 6, Diouf 5.5 . Subs not used: Sorensen, Palacios, Teixeira, Shenton . Goal: Crouch 10 . Booked: Diouf, Wollscheid, Whelan . Sent off: Cameron . Referee: Anthony Taylor 6 . Attendance: 13,934 . He drew his side level with a header and after Rudy Gestede had put the Championship underdogs ahead with a penalty, King added two more in the second half by out-sprinting the Stoke back line. By that time, Stoke were a man short with Geoff Cameron dismissed for the foul that led to Gestede's spot-kick. 'Kingy will get the headlines and rightly so,' said Rovers manager Gary Bowyer. 'He has had a great education at Manchester United and shown here what he is capable of. 'The challenge for him now is to produce it on a regular basis. What can I tell you about him? He lives in Manchester and drives a car that's too fast, probably the same speed he can run.' Hughes, who was Blackburn's manager between 2004 and 2008 before leaving for Manchester City, wasn't happy that his players wilted so easily under pressure. 'Blackburn were direct but that is valid. They executed their game plan better than us. I have no complaints,' he said. Even so, Hughes will be hurting this morning. He won the FA Cup four times as a player and fancied emulating the Stoke team that reached the final in 2011, hence he named his strongest side - save for regular cup keeper Jack Butland for Asmir Begovic. It started well for the visitors when Peter Crouch turned in a Victor Moses corner to open the scoring after 10 minutes and they should have added a second when Mame Biram Diouf blazed over from six yards. However, Stoke's new vulnerability at set pieces cost them after 36 minutes, Shane Duffy headed a corner goalwards and King got the final touch off his head from a couple of yards to equalise. When referee Anthony Taylor signalled eight minutes of injury time at the end of the first half – due to a shoulder injury to Ben Marshall - Stoke were rocking badly. Butland fluffed a cross and needed Philipp Wollscheid to clear off the line. Stoke's indecision was becoming a problem and in the next attack, Gestede was brought down by Geoff Cameron, and Mr Taylor pointed the spot and sent off the American defender. 'The letter of the law says he has to be sent off,' said Bowyer, and Hughes wasn't ready to argue. Gestede coolly sent Butland the wrong way from the spot for his 13th goal of the season. Referee Anthony Taylor shows Cameron a red card after his foul on eventual hat-trick hero King . Stoke forward Peter Crouch had put his side in the lead until Blackburn hit back . Crouch poked home from close range to score his eighth goal of the season . Stoke look dejected after conceding a fourth goal against Championship outfit Blackburn Rovers . Hughes sent on Andy Wilkinson as a half-time substitute to cover the loss of Cameron but within 10 minutes Stoke had conceded twice more and were as good as out of the cup. Both goals, after 50 and 55 minutes, were similar. King's pace on the break taking him clear of the Stoke defence and finished off with low finishes past Butland. He was so quick for the first that Marc Muniesa pulled a hamstring trying to catch him and after collapsing in agony, needed help as he hobbled off to be replaced by Steve Sidwell. King then outpaced Steven Nzonzi to complete his treble. Stoke's miserable day was completed when their fans were involved in minor skirmishes with stewards who had moved into their section with a stretcher after had fainted. Stoke will launch their own investigation after claims that punches were thrown and one person suffered injuries. King is mobbed by his Blackburn team-mates after scoring his third goal of the afternoon . The 23-year-old scores past Stoke goalkeeper Butland to complete the scoring at Ewood Park . Butland failed to stop King from scoring Blackburn's fourth goal of the afternoon . Mame Biram Diouf and Steven N'Zonzi prepare to restart play after their side concede against Blackburn . Stoke boss Mark Hughes reacts to his side's disappointing performance by waving his hands in disgust . Stoke fans clash with stewards during the FA Cup fifth round match at Ewood Park . | Josh King ensured his side progressed to the sixth round of the FA Cup by scoring a hat-trick .
The former Manchester United striker had scored just one goal for Blackburn before match against the Potters .
Rudy Gestede scored from the spot after Geoff Cameron was sent off for a foul on King inside the penalty area .
Peter Crouch opened the scoring in the 10th minute before Blackburn hit back . |
046740a7f786434305b6aabed7b1ad0ce8e1dfa7 | (CNN) -- Our youngest child, Peter, was murdered on September 11, 2001, while attending a conference at Windows on the World at the World Trade Center. He was 25 years old when he died. When the towers fell, we were in France, on vacation to celebrate Steve's 60th birthday. Peter, our daughter, Jane, and our son Jeff and his wife, Tobey, had all been with us for a week before flying back to the U.S. on September 8. On the day of the attacks, we were terribly upset after hearing the news. But at first, we were not worried about our kids. Jeff and Tobey lived in Tulsa. Jane lived in D.C. but her job was nowhere near the Pentagon. Peter worked in midtown Manhattan for Bloomberg LP. But since he traveled throughout the city for his job, we became concerned. We desperately tried calling our kids but could not get a line out of France. It wasn't until late in the day that we learned from Jeff that "Pete was there." The next day, Michael Bloomberg, who became mayor two months later, called to tell us that Pete was dead. My world stopped, and it still is totally out of kilter. News: Triple-amputee veteran gets 'smart' home on September 11 . Not Peter! Pete was all laughter and sunshine and love. He wasn't uncomfortable kissing his mother or father in public, or hugging his sister for no reason at all. He and Jeff traveled to fun places and laughed and laughed. Not Peter -- he was too full of life. Our mark on this Earth is our children. After his death, we knew we had to leave a mark that Peter existed and the world would be a better place because he lived. In searching for a way to honor his life, we learned that 1 billion people, almost one sixth of humanity, have directly experienced torture, terrorism or mass violence. Victims are left with lifelong emotional wounds preventing them from leading productive lives. In sub-Saharan Africa, the incidence of traumatic depression and PTSD exceeds that of HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB combined. Peter loved life; he was compassionate and caring. There was nothing we could do for Pete, but returning survivors to life in his name was the perfect memorial. In March 2003, we created the Peter C. Alderman Foundation. People often ask: "Why are you dealing with traumatic depression and PTSD when there are so many greater problems in the world?" Our response is simple: Billions of philanthropic dollars go into fighting HIV/AIDS, malaria and poverty. But if people don't care whether they live or die, they will not follow through with their medication regimens, walk that extra mile for potable water or take advantage of microfinance. If you can restore hope, a person is less likely to strap on dynamite and kill innocent people. Opinion: 11 years after 9/11: Who are the terrorists? Our foundation started by training indigenous health workers, but we quickly learned that training by itself was not sufficient. We needed to provide a framework in which professionals could work. To that end, our foundation runs eight trauma clinics in Cambodia, Uganda, Liberia and Kenya. Establishing public-private partnerships with local governments, our foundation trains, supervises and pays its staff; the government provides clinic space, in-patient beds and psychotropic drugs. Our foundation's average annual cost per clinic is $30,000. More than 30,000 children have been abducted in Uganda, and many of our patients are child soldiers, like Patrick. He has been treated in our Kitgum clinic for two years. Now he no longer has nightmares or flashbacks. He can sleep through the night and hold down a job. He no longer thinks of suicide. He has even named his new baby after his counselor at the clinic. Our foundation sponsors an annual African training conference on traumatic depression. Watch: The Alderman's talk to CNNMoney . At July's fifth annual conference in Tanzania, attended by 500 mental health professionals from 22 countries, an imam from Somalia rose to say the opening prayer. He only spoke Arabic. When translated, we learned that he had said a prayer for Peter. Tears streamed down my face as I realized we were truly on the way to leaving that mark for Peter. The work has kept us functioning and given us a reason to get out of bed every day. Nothing can erase our pain, but our passion to leave a profound and indelible mark that Peter existed on this Earth has propelled us forward. Peter would be very proud of the foundation that bears his name. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Elizabeth Alderman and Stephen Alderman. | Elizabeth and Stephen Alderman: Our youngest son, Peter, was killed on 9/11 .
After his death, they knew they had to leave a mark that Peter existed .
They set up the Peter C. Alderman Foundation to help people affected by terrorism .
Elizabeth, Stephen Alderman: Peter would be proud of the work that bears his name . |
04692780f63d101507037a9f09f050e29b2477fc | By . Martin Robinson . Fiona Dickie: The beauty queen now struggles to wear stilettos as a result of the crash . A beauty queen received £18,000 in damages yesterday after a car crash left her unable to wear high heels comfortably. Fiona Dickie, 24, was hit by a Suzuki 4x4 while driving, leaving her with back injuries that make slipping into stilettos a painful experience. Incredibly, despite her injuries, the 24-year-old went on to win the Miss Edinburgh competition in 2010 following the collision in April the previous year, but her ability to take part in charity events has been limited because of continuing back pain. She raised an action at the Court of Session in Edinburgh suing the other driver Mohammadreza Khandani, also of Edinburgh, for damages following the collision. Khandani admitted liability but he wanted to pay around £3,500 but Miss Dickie wanted closer to £20,000. The court heard that the accident occurred on April 10 in 2009 shortly after midnight in Edinburgh’s South Clerk Street as Miss Dickie returned home from working at a drinks promotion event. She was left shocked and distressed and suffered bruising to her chest and pain in her neck and back. The sales manager went home after the accident but later phoned NHS Direct because she was in pain. A nurse said she should consult her GP and she was subsequently referred for physiotherapy, where Miss Dickie was later diagnosed with chronic low back pain. After deciding on the £18,000 compensation today, which included £10,000 for 'pain and suffering' judge Gordon Reid QC said: 'The pursuer (Miss Dickie) is an attractive young woman and also carried out some work as a model, usually at charitable events. 'She did not wish however to have a career as a model. 'She was expected to wear high heels for this promotional work. Doing so aggravated her back.' Mr Reid said that after she won the Miss Edinburgh contest her main duty was attend and take part in charity events. 'Her ability to participate in the usual range of such events was limited because of her continuing back pain,' he said. Payout: The Edinburgh Court of Sessions, pictured, heard today that she would be getting £18,000 - £10,000 of which was for pain and suffering . 'The pursuer felt she was letting people down by not participating in as many events as, but for her back pain, she would other wise have done. She gave as an example various fun runs in which she was not able to participate. 'In spite of her attractive looks and the promotional work which she carried out the pursuer was very much against women being employed on the basis of their looks. 'She strongly opposed the WAG (wives and girlfriends) culture and part of her purpose in wishing to become Miss Edinburgh was to encourage young girls to be independent, to be their own boss and not to rely on men,' he said. 'She has adopted a sensible attitude to her continuing back problems. Sje knows she can wear high heels but will suffer the next day for doing so. It seems to me that rather than being criticised she should be commended for her efforts . 'In the present case it is abundantly plain on the evidence that since the accident she has complained of and suffered intermittent lower back pain. She did not suffer such pain before the accident. 'She is not exaggerating her injuries to enhance the value of her claim. If she is, it is a strange way of going about it. She returned to work, resumed part-time employment over and above her day job and continued her modelling and charity work,' he said. The judge awarded her a total of pounds 18,281, including pounds 10,000 for her pain and suffering. | Fiona Dickie hurt her neck and back after her car was hit by a Suzuki 4X4 that undertook her and then swerved back to avoid a parked car .
The 24-year-old cannot wear heels without getting severe pain, which has hit her career .
Her payout included £10,000 for pain and suffering . |
046969919dc9247c2aa59e3c6c617a231e7e3bd9 | By . Paul Revoir . Last updated at 11:05 PM on 28th December 2011 . For most of us, the only recycling this Christmas involved large piles of wrapping paper. But the BBC took things to a whole new level by re-using many of its biggest Christmas shows days – and in some cases, hours – after they first aired. Viewers were shocked to see shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and The Gruffalo’s Child, which aired on Christmas Day, reappear on BBC1 on Boxing Day. Repeat: The Gruffalo's Child, pictured, was aired on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day . The festive episode of Doctor Who was not far behind as viewers were hit with it for a second time, just two days after it premiered on December 25. The Christmas Eve episode of Winter Wipeout was on again on Boxing Day and another hotly anticipated Christmas Day show, Absolutely Fabulous, will be screened tonight. Even one of the biggest films was being given a second outing – The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe, which aired on BBC1 on Christmas Eve, is on BBC3 tomorrow night. Was this the worst Christmas ever on the BBC? ITV gave shows such as Michael Buble: Home For Christmas and The Jonathan Ross Show more than one showing, and the Christmas Day special of Downton Abbey will be screened again on New Year’s Day. But viewers singled out the BBC for recycling so much of their new output over the festive period. As well as its big Christmas Day shows, the corporation also aired cookery shows The Hairy Bikers’ Christmas Party, Rick Stein’s Spanish Christmas and Lorraine’s Last Minute Christmas only 15 hours after their first slot. Viewers have also complained that this year’s festive line-up was one of the worst in recent memory. Shows such as the return of Absolutely Fabulous did not live up to many people’s expectations and the new Sir David Jason comedy was another disappointment. As well, the Downton Abbey special on Christmas Day did not get the huge ratings many were expecting. One viewer wrote on the BBC’s message board: ‘What’s with all the repeats? On Boxing Day you repeated Strictly from Christmas Day, Winter Wipeout from Christmas Eve, not to mention the numerous repeats of the Morecambe and Wise Specials. ‘There is no need to repeat programmes now as most people have access to a digital recorder… can’t you spend the licence fee on some new programmes instead.’ A BBC spokesman said: ‘We never repeat prime-time shows in the same slot. ‘This Christmas has seen brand new shows in drama, factual, entertainment and religion. ‘Over 91 per cent of programming on peak-time on BBC1 is brand new and has never been shown before.’ | Strictly Come Dancing and The Gruffalo’s Child aired on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day .
ITV follows suit as Christmas Day special of Downton Abbey will be screened again on New Year’s Day . |
046ae9857b8a670e30da397c4cbdb1aa6ab6d5e7 | (CNN) -- English club Liverpool qualified for the knockout stages of Europe's second-tier Europa League on Thursday along with Paris St. Germain, Besiktas and Dynamo Kiev. Liverpool continued their minor revival since the arrival of new American owners, but allowed second-placed Steaua Bucharest to come from behind and earn a 1-1 draw. Serbia international Milan Jovanovic headed in a 19th-minute cross from Dutch winger Ryan Babel, but Spanish goalkeeper Jose Reina allowed the home side to level with half an hour to play as he failed to keep out a header by Eder Bonfim. That kept Roy Hodgson's team three points clear ahead of the final Group K match at home to Utrecht on December 15. The Dutch club are five points behind their upcoming opponents following a 3-3 draw at home to Napoli -- who have also drawn four of their five matches. Balotelli double helps Manchester City qualify . Edinson Cavani scored a hat-trick to help the Italian club come from 3-1 down and end their hosts' hopes of progressing, while the Serie A outfit can through to the last 32 by winning at home to the Romanians next month. Paris St. Germain qualified with a 4-2 victory over Sevilla that lifted the French side two points clear of the second-placed Spaniards in Group J. Mathieu Bodmer and Guillaume Hoarau scored from two early corners by Nene before the Brazilian midfielder made it 3-0, then Mali striker Fredi Kanoute netted a double for the visitors. Hoarau's second goal just after halftime left Sevilla needing a point from their final game at home to Borussia Dortmund to progress. The Germans kept their hopes alive with a 3-0 win at home to pointless Ukrainian side Karpaty Lviv. In Group L, Turkish side Besiktas went through with a 2-1 win at Bulgaria's CSKA Sofia. Portugal's Porto, who had already qualified, ensured top spot with a 3-1 win at Rapid Vienna, as Colombian striker Falcao scored a hat-trick to move top of the goal charts with seven. Russian club CSKA confirmed top spot in Group F, winning 5-1 at home to bottom Swiss club Lausanne for a fifth straight win. Czech side Sparta Prague will go through in second after drawing 2-2 at Palermo, with the Italian side having two players sent off. In Group D, Spanish side Villarreal moved into top spot with a 3-0 win at home to Dinamo Zagreb, with Italian striker Giuseppe Rossi scoring twice including a first-half opener from the penalty spot. The Croatians had Igor Biscan sent off in the 87th minute for handball, but Marcos Senna missed the subsequent spot-kick. Previous leaders PAOK Salonika are a point behind Villarreal, and two above next month's opponents Zagreb, following a 1-1 draw with Club Bruges. The Greeks led through Adelino Vieirinha's 25th-minute effort, but gave the bottom-placed Belgians a point through Stefan Scepovic's late equalizer. In Group E, Ukraine's Dynamo Kiev booked a last-32 berth with a 4-1 win at previously unbeaten BATE Borisov of Belarus, leaving both teams on 10 points. Dutch side AZ Alkmaar and FC Sheriff were eliminated after a 1-1 draw in Moldova left both teams with four points. | Liverpool reach last 32 of Europa League with a game to spare after draw in Romania .
Paris St. Germain qualify from Group J with a 4-2 victory over Spain's Sevilla .
Turkish side Besiktas go through from Group L with a 2-1 win at CSKA Sofia .
In Group E, Dynamo Kiev booked berth with 4-1 win at previous leaders BATE Borisov . |
046b2a2b670eefb436c6ba0fb494e8e84fe0ab40 | By . Simon Tomlinson . PUBLISHED: . 13:41 EST, 20 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:43 EST, 20 July 2012 . A speedboat driver drowned in the River Thames last night after the vessel capsized when three men took it for a high-speed test run. Police divers were tonight trawling the murky water for the man's body after the tragedy which happened near the spot where two men drowned last year. The man's father told bystanders that his son, who was apparently not wearing a lifejacket, could not swim. High-speed horror: The driver of this sunken speedboat drowned in the River Thames at Shepperton, Surrey, after it flipped over when he and two other men took it out for a test run following repairs . 'Thrown out': The 12ft fibreglass boat is believed to have capsized when the driver accelerated on a bend . His friend, who had been tipped into the river with another man, managed to keep his head above water but had to let go as the strong currents threatened to drag them both under. Rescuers pulled the sunken speedboat to the river bank so police could examine it. The drama happened as the three men revved up the 12ft fibreglass speedboat during a test-run on the Thames at Shepperton, Surrey last night, following repairs. Witnesses on the idyllic stretch of the river spoke of the small craft passing their moored boats at speed, before they asked the driver to slow down. As he reached a bend further on, the man was believed to have opened the throttle on the powerboat. Trawling the waters: A police diver drops into the Thames in search of the body of the driver, who was not thought to have been wearing a life jacket . Pleasure boater Jim McCutcheon said: 'The current was very, very strong indeed when I saw a speedboat came up here with three men in it. 'They were going at speed. I told them to ease off because they were coming through a mooring and the skipper said "just testing" because they had done some repairs to the engine and were giving it a trial run. 'He did slow down and went through nice and slow and I remember saying: "You wait until he gets to the bend. He’ll open her up - and he did. 'Unfortunately, I think they were to one side and they were thrown out.' He said throttling up while turning into a strong current would have been like turning into a brick wall. 'That’s the mistake,' he said. 'The biggest mistake of the day was nobody was wearing lifejackets.' He added that he and other boaters had learned the man’s father had arrived at the scene from his home in the New Forest, Hampshire, at around 10pm last night. 'He had a word with a woman,' said Mr McCutcheon. 'He was in a terrible state. He told her his son couldn’t swim.' Tragic: The victim's friend held his head above water, but had to let go as strong currents threatened to pull both of them under . David Green, a local boat builder, was carrying out repairs to his vessel near the scene and had also been passed by the boat. He said: 'It was just a little speedboat, about 12ft. I think if went over because they were all sitting on one edge and the river’s been running really strongly lately. 'I didn’t take much notice when they went past because so many people go above the speed limit because it’s just four knots here. 'It happens because people get big engines and they want to see how fast the boat can go.' He said the first he knew something was wrong was when he heard shouting and looked over to see an upturned hull. 'I just thought it was a sailing dinghy,' he said. 'The (missing) guy’s mate had him in the water. He was holding him up but he had to let go because he couldn’t hold him any longer.' Witness David Green . He added: 'The other one had swum to the other bank. He started shouting and freaking out and saying he was in shock but what can you do? The river’s so strong.' He said that man was rescued by the fire service, who deployed their boat and used specialist underwater equipment to search for the missing man. The other survivor was helped by a group of youths, who took a lifebelt from its stand and threw it to him, before pulling him from the water. Mr Green was one of several people to comment on the fact that the trio were not properly kitted out. 'If they had been wearing life jackets the guy would still be alive. I think it should be mandatory.' Dog walker Duncan Macduff, 38, from Shepperton, was at the scene minutes after the accident. He said it was common for speedboats to throttle up as they rounded the corner. I’ve seen it happen a few times here, he said. 'When they get to the corner they open up round the bend.' Police divers were sent into the water and also used a camera on a pole to search the upturned boat and the banks and river bed. Meanwhile, a police helicopter with a thermal imaging camera hunted for any signs of body heat along the stretch of river. A Surrey Police spokesman said: 'Surrey Police was called to Russell Road in Shepperton at just before 6pm yesterday to reports that a boat had capsized and three people had fallen into the River Thames. 'Officers attended the scene where a teenage boy and a man in his 40s had managed to get to safety, however a third person, a man believed to be in his 40s is still missing.' The trio were believed to have taken to the water in their boat in nearby Walton-on-Thames. Music executive Keith Lowde and Dr Rex Walford drowned in the River Thames at Shepperton in January last year as Mr Lowde was ferrying himself and five friends from a river island dinner party at his home to the shore in pitch darkness. | Boat believed to have flipped over when driver opened throttle on bend .
Friend held his head above water, but had to let go due to strong currents .
Three men on board were not thought to have been wearing life jackets .
The two passengers were able to swim away and were pulled to safety .
Police divers trawling waters at Shepperton in Surrey for victim's body . |
046b96ec863ccb41f8c838e973cfeb32d16e36de | A Bengal tiger snatched a man off a fishing boat in eastern India, dragging him away into a mangrove swamp as his children looked on in horror, according to his son. The attack happened on Thursday as Sushil Manjhi and his son and daughter were crab fishing in a stream in the Sunderbans National Park. The tiger leaped aboard the boat and clamped its jaws on Manjhi's neck, said Sushil's son, Jyotish. The tiger 'quickly flung my father on his back and gave a giant leap before disappearing into the forest,' said Jyotish from his village of Lahiripur in West Bengal state . Scroll down for video . Tiger in the water: A Royal Bengal tiger prowls in Sunderbans, at the Sunderbans delta, near where the incident happened . 'Shortly after we reached the spot, around 7am, we got a whiff of a strange odour. We immediately decided to turn back to a safer zone,' Jyotish told The Times of India. He told the newspaper they paddled towards a less dense area when the tiger struck. 'Suddenly, my sister cried out: "Dada, bagh (tiger)". I was stunned, and my body froze. All I saw a flash of yellow. It took me a moment to register the gruesome sight before me. My father was completely buried under the beast,' he said. He said he and his sister tried to beat . the animal with sticks and a knife, but the thrashing had no effect. His . father was dragged away and was presumed dead. The national park is one of the largest reserves for the royal Bengal tiger. Thursday's attack was the fourth deadly assault by a tiger this year in the Sunderbans, according to wildlife officials. India has more than half of the 3,200 tigers believed to be left in the wild in the world. But as the country undergoes breakneck development to accommodate the growth of its 1.2 billion people, tiger habitats have been shrinking. The big cat's numbers have also dwindled because of rampant poaching to feed a flourishing market for tiger organs and bones in China. | Tiger said to have flung man on his back and then disappeared into forest .
Man's children tried to beat animal away with sticks to no avail .
Attack is the fourth tiger-related fatality in Sunderbans this year . |
046bafde3d0612d2d093c083c48cb210701e2232 | The captain of a sinking oil tanker off the coast of Japan is missing and four other crew members are in hospital with serious burns after the vessel caught fire and erupted in flames off the coast of Japan. Thick smoke billowed from the 1000-tonne Shoko-Maru, 450km west of Tokyo. The ship had just unloaded its cargo at a port near Hyogo prefecture. Emergency crews used hoses to douse the fierce blaze, which started when a spark from a grinder ignited oil on board on Thursday. Scroll down for video . Thick smoke seen billowing from the ship went 100 metres into the air . A Coast guard vessel attempted to douse the burning ship 450km off the coast of Tokyo . The tanker had just unloaded most of its cargo at a port in the west of the country . Four crew members were taken to hospital with severe burns, while the remaining three were being assessed for injuries. The Coast Guard said it held 'grave fears' for the captain, who is still missing. Akihiro Komura, an official from Hiroshima-based shipping firm Syoho Shipping, said seven of the eight Japanese crew were accounted for, but the fate of the captain was not yet known. 'The ship unloaded crude oil at a port in Hyogo prefecture and the tanker was virtually empty when the accident occurred,' he said. 'I heard that a crew member was using a grinder to remove paint and that seems to have triggered the blast, which we believe could have occurred when the remnants of the oil caught fire.' All the crew were Japanese nationals, he said. News of the incident caused Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to interrupt debate in parliament. 'In waters off Hyogo (prefecture), a tanker has exploded and is currently in flames,' he told lawmakers. Himeji port is one of a number that sit along the Inland Seto Sea coast, where there are numerous pockets of heavy industry. The city itself is a popular tourist destination, and is home to one of Japan's finest feudal castles. The burnt-out wreck on its way under water . A spokesperson said the fire started when a grinder sparked some oil aboard the ship which caught on fire . Seven of the eight crew members were accounted for but coast guard crews held grave fears for the missing captain . | Fire started when a grinder used to remove paint ignited oil .
Coast guard unable to locate missing captain of Japanese vessel Shoko-Maru .
Ship burst in to flames 450km west Japanese capital .
Plumes of thick smoke were billowing 100 metres into the sky . |
046bdad2ddc16c7b52953cd5139d464d7f6e06fa | (CNN) -- It's the question Edin Dzeko is constantly asked. "You ask me again about war..." sighs the 28-year-old, rolling his eyes and smiling as he enjoys a rare moment of peace outside Bosnia-Herzegovina's team hotel in the picturesque suburb of Ilidza. Perhaps the line of questioning is understandable given that just a short drive away is Dzeko's home city of Sarajevo, where the national hero lived throughout the Bosnian War which raged between 1992 and 1995. The war in Bosnia left tens of thousands dead, and hundreds of thousands displaced. But just as the bullet holes which still riddle this land represent a gruesome past, Dzeko and his teammates have become symbols of a different more optimistic future. For the first time in its short history, Bosnia is off to the World Cup. "I never thought I would be where I am now," Dzeko, who played a key role in Manchester City's 2013-14 English Premier League title triumph, told CNN. Dzeko's early years were played out against the devastating backdrop of the consequences of a brutal internecine conflict. "I started to play football when I was about 10, my father brought me to one school because there were more pitches where we could play. Everything was destroyed after the war." In previous interviews Dzeko has spoken of how his family home was destroyed and he was forced to live in his grandparents' house with 15 of his relatives. His mother once inadvertently saved his life, calling him inside seconds before the land he was playing on was hit by bombs. The siege of Sarajevo followed the break-up of the former Yugoslavia, with conflict erupting between the ethnic groups which make up Bosnia -- chiefly Bosnian Muslims, Croats and Serbs. Modern-day Bosnia is an independent state, although still under international administration. "I was here all the time during the war and I know what it is, but I think we came out stronger," explains Dzeko. "We want to show the world that even if you go through some bad periods, you always have to think positive just to go forward. "Some people had a very hard life, we are still making positives and I think that's amazing." Amid the bombs and bullets, Dzeko forged an unlikely path to the top. After signing his first professional contract in Bosnia, the young striker earned a move to Teplice in the Czech Republic before getting his big break with VFL Wolfsburg in the German Bundesliga. He became one of the hottest properties in European football during a prolific spell which saw him score 67 Bundesliga goals in three-and-a-half seasons, with City winning the race for his signature after paying Wolfsburg a reported $45 million in January 2011. While Dzeko carries echoes of the fighting wherever he goes, other members of the Bosnia squad had a different experience. Asmir Begovic and his family left Trebinje, 80 miles south of Sarajevo, and headed to Germany before immigrating to Canada. Aged four when his family relocated, Begovic has no memories of the conflict which engulfed his homeland. "And it's probably better so," the 26-year-old goalkeeper, who plays in England for Stoke City. "I mean it's obviously very bad memories, very bad experiences for some of my other family members who have been around and stayed for the war. "I left when I was a boy, so I really don't remember much from the past. "As I've gotten older I've educated myself a little on the situation and what happened, drawn on experiences from my family members and friends, who lived through it and it was just a very unpleasant experience as people can imagine. "For our quality of life as a family, just being able to be safe in a different country meant a lot to us." Although Begovic's life abroad has left its mark on his voice -- he speaks perfect English with a slight North American accent -- he insists his upbringing was distinctly Bosnian. "I've always been very close to the country," he says. "When the opportunity came it was a fantastic thing for myself and my family to do, I couldn't wait to put on a Bosnia shirt and I haven't really looked back since." Neither has Bosnia's national football team. Since an inauspicious first official international match in November 1995 -- a 2-0 reverse away to Albania -- "The Dragons" have gone from strength to strength. Bids to qualify for the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championships fell agonizingly short, with Portugal ending the team's hopes at the playoff stage of both qualification competitions. But, on October 15, 2013 in the Lithuanian capital city of Vilnius, a goal from striker Vedad Ibisevic sealed a 1-0 win for Safet Susic's Bosnia and passage to Brazil 2014. Cue wild celebrations on the streets of Sarajevo, with the team flying home to be greeted by 50,000 ecstatic Bosnian football fans. "I am proud of this team that we achieved some great things, that we did some things that nobody could do it before us," said Dzeko. "When you see 50,000 there waiting for you, then you know you did something good." "We've learned from our past, we've learned from our failures and I think we've definitely grown as a team and we've been able to overcome that final hurdle now," added Begovic. "To receive such an ovation and such a reception from our people, being able to celebrate with them is what qualifying and being able to qualify for major tournaments is all about. "It's something we have all accomplished together." Now Rio de Janeiro's iconic Maracana Stadium awaits. At the arena first built for the 1950 World Cup and lavishly redeveloped for Brazil's second hosting of the tournament, Bosnia will take its bow against a Lionel Messi-led Argentina. African Cup of Nations winners Nigeria and Iran are the other two teams which make up a tough Group F. "I'm very much looking forward to it," says Begovic, who will be trying to keep out four-time FIFA Ballon d'Or winner Messi. "That's what football is all about, being able to work your whole life to get to a World Cup and then playing against one of the biggest football countries in the world in the opening game. "Obviously we're massive underdogs, so we've got nothing to lose in that game, we can go there with an open mind and see how we can beat them. "It's going to be a huge challenge, but I believe in the quality of our team and we can cause Argentina problems." With players like Begovic and Dzeko, not to mention Roma playmaker Miralem Pjanic, Bosnia have players capable of upsetting the odds. And in Dzeko, they also have a leader who is determined to show how far his country has come in the last 20 years. "I love this country, I love my country," he said. "I am very happy that I am born here and I am very happy that I know that I will always, always come back here. "I think we all just can't wait for this World Cup to start." Interactive: Take the pulse of the 2014 World Cup . | Bosnia-Herzegovina will play at the World Cup for the first time in its short history .
First major tournament the team has played at since gaining independence in 1992 .
Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko is the biggest star in a team .
Bosnia will play in Group F, alongside Argentina, Nigeria and Iran . |
046bf6fc35b15913cce74fd940625bf29bbaaae7 | By . Lizzie Parry . For generations men have been brought up to be the perfect gentleman, opening doors for women and walking closer to the kerb to protect companions from the traffic. But the act of being chivalrous could have a detrimental impact on a person's health, as scientists have found air pollution can be up to a third higher at the kerb than on the inside of the pavement. A new study has recommended that people avoid busy streets and junctions altogether to protect their health - and even advised to stay away from the edge of the road to keep out pollution. A new study has found you are more likely to suffer the effects of air pollution if you walk closer to the kerb, rather than if you take a path further from the traffic . Atmospheric consultant Dr Iarla Kilbane-Dawe, who led the study aimed at educating members of the public on the dangers of air pollution, said drivers should close their air vents while in busy traffic to prevent a person inhaling harmful fumes, the Evening Standard reported. She also mentioned previous studies which identified the health benefits of avoiding the kerb, carried out by three scientists at Imperial College London around 2004. He said: 'Walking or cycling along quiet rather than busy roads can reduce your exposure by half or even more, especially if you avoid pollution hotspots at the busiest junctions. 'Even walking further from the kerb on a busy road has been shown to make a difference.' One study recently found that nearly 3,000 Londoners die prematurely each year from the harmful health effects of inhaling polluted air. Further studies by Dr Kilbane-Dawe showed that in parts of the capital exposure to particulate pollution - a harmful mix of brake dust, soot and tyre fragments - is the fifth biggest killer after cancer and heart disease. And in Kensington and Chelsea, as well as places including Bromley and Richmond, death rates relating to pollution were twice as high as death rates from traffic accidents. It comes as the World Health Organisation (WHO) named and shamed British towns and cities for breaching safety levels for air pollution. Nine urban areas - London, Birmingham, Chesterfield, Leeds, Nottingham, Sheffield, Southampton, Stoke-on-Trent and Thurrock - were highlighted by the global health body. WHO said that across the world most cities that measure outdoor air pollution are failing to meet its guidance for safe levels and are putting residents at risk of respiratory disease and other health problems. The research carried out by government advisor, Dr Iarla Kilbane-Dawe found air pollution can be up to a third higher at the kerb than on the inside of the pavement . Overall, only 12 per cent of the people living in cities reporting on air quality reside in places which comply with WHO's safety levels. A spokesman said that it appears that air pollution is 'getting worse'. WHO's air quality database monitors 1,600 regions around the world, including 36 in Britain. Earlier this year it estimated that outdoor air pollution was responsible for the deaths of 3.7 million people globally during 2012. Air pollution is associated with deaths from heart disease and stroke, as well as respiratory illnesses and cancers, a spokesman said. One way to measure air quality is to asses the levels of a type of pollution known as particulate matter (PMs). 'Too many urban centres today are so enveloped in dirty air that their skylines are invisible,' said Dr Flavia Bustreo, WHO's assistant director-general for family, children and women's health. 'Not surprisingly, this air is dangerous to breathe. So a growing number of cities and communities worldwide are striving to better meet the needs of their residents - in particular children and the elderly.' The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated earlier this year that outdoor air pollution was responsible for the deaths of 3.7 million people globally during 2012 . Dr Carlos Dora, coordinator for interventions for healthy environments at WHO's Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health, added: 'We cannot buy clean air in a bottle, but cities can adopt measures that will clean the air and save the lives of their people.' Recently English health officials called on local authorities to do more to protect people from harmful air pollution. Long-term exposure to air pollution led to around 25,000 deaths in England in 2010, Public Health England (PHE) said. PHE said that air quality has improved 'considerably' in the UK in recent decades due to new, cleaner technology and tighter environmental legislation. But it said that local action can be taken to reduce the emissions of these man-made particles and people's exposure to air pollution. | Government-commissioned study pointed out air pollution can be up to a third higher at the kerb than on the inside of the pavement .
World Health Organisation (WHO) found air pollution was responsible for 3.7million deaths globally in 2012 . |
046c8f5a75070e8b928b7ceab81d06522b0af9f6 | By . Dan Bloom . A dominatrix and two friends who were accused of torturing one of her clients at knifepoint have been cleared of all charges. The anonymous man was visiting 20-year-old Sinead Nijjer - who he had paid for oral sex twice before - when he claimed he was jumped by her friends Rico Awad and Leam Ryan. He told a court that he feared his penis would be cut off, during an ordeal in which he was forced to suck Miss Nijjer's toes and told his face would be scalded with boiling water. Cleared: Sinead Nijjer, 20, had been accused along with two friends of torturing a man who had previously paid her for sex at her flat in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire - but today the trio were cleared of all charges . But Mr Awad, 21, insisted on a different version of events - that an argument had broken out when the client enjoyed an hour-long domination appointment then refused to pay. Today a jury took less than two hours to clear the trio of false imprisonment, robbery and common assault. The trio had already been cleared of blackmail and causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent. The . jury also cleared a fourth man, 22-year-old Mohammed Awan from . Aylesbury, of perverting the course of justice after he was claimed he . offered the man £1,500 to drop his allegations. During the trial the jury was told the alleged victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was held at knifepoint while he was forced to dance around in nothing but women’s underwear. He also claimed he had his face cleaned with a toilet brush - all while being filmed, and was threatened the footage would appear online. Claims: Sinead Nijjer (left) and Rico Awad (right) said Mr Awad came to the flat after the man refused to pay . Speaking from behind a screen, the man said he had visited Miss Nijjer's home on July 23 last year in the belief she would have non-domination sex with him for free, after he previously paid £50 for oral sex twice. He told the jury that when he got to her flat, he was jumped on by two men including one wearing a balaclava and holding a knife. 'The man said if you do what we tell you then you won’t get hurt,' said the alleged victim. 'I was kissing her feet for maybe 15 seconds. She took a sip of her drink and sprayed it all over me. 'They were getting a buzz out of the whole thing... They were laughing all the way through. I was scared. 'What happened was real... I still have to live with it today.' The man said he was able to escape when he exaggerated breathing difficulties he was having and one of his alleged captors called 999. But Miss Nijjer said the alleged victim had come to her flat for a domineering session which he then refused to pay for. Mr Ryan, 22, of no fixed address, said he was only at the flat in case things got violent between Miss Nijjer and the man, which he said they did when he refused to pay. Missing: Miss Nijjer had not attended the four-day trial and a warrant remained in place for her arrest . And Mr Awad, from High Wycombe, said he only arrived at the flat after the argument over money began, and he was the one who called 999 when the man began having breathing difficulties. In court the alleged victim was accused of making up the story to cover his embarrassment after paramedics found him in the flat wearing just women’s underwear. He denied wanting to engage in a domination session, denied taking part in an hour-long appointment and denied telling Miss Nijjer: 'That was ****, I’m not paying.' But the jury took just one hour and 40 minutes to clear all four defendants of all charges. There were smiles from Mr Awan and Mr Awad in the dock and Mr Awad gave the jury a thumbs-up. It came after Judge Francis . Sheridan dismissed a blackmail charge against Miss Nijjer, Mr Ryan and . Mr Awad, saying there was not enough evidence. He also instructed the jury to find the trio not guilty of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent. Mr Ryan and Miss Nijjer did not appear at the trial, and warrants remained in place for their arrests. The pair have not been seen at Aylesbury Crown Court since last year, despite numerous court hearings being held ahead of the four-day trial. | Client visited Sinead Nijjer, 20, at her flat in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire .
He claimed he was jumped by her friends Rico Awad, 21, and Leam Ryan, 22 .
Court heard client - who cannot be named - feared his penis would be cut off .
But client accused of refusing to pay and inventing a story to hide his shame .
A jury cleared the trio today after deliberating for less than two hours .
They also cleared a fourth man of trying to bribe client to drop his claims . |
046cdfc573e5c4cfbf8ee91351a89baabee03aec | Spain manager Vicente del Bosque says Chelsea striker Diego Costa was right to pull out of his country's first Euro 2016 qualifier against Macedonia on Monday night. Costa, 25, picked up a second hamstring injury in as many weeks playing for Spain against France last week, and will not feature against the European minnows in Madrid. And Del Bosque insisted the withdrawal was not caused by pressure from Chelsea, who are keen to get their star striker fit for Saturday's clash with Swansea. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Diego Costa chip Iker Casillas in Spain training . Stretching himself: Costa has played all three of Chelsea's league games despite injury doubts . Good start: The Spanish striker has scored four times in his first three games for his new club . 'It hasn't been easy with Diego,' said Del Bosque. 'All his teammates are trying to help him. He's a great guy and has always shown interest in playing for Spain. 'When there were doubts surrounding his fitness, he was the first wanting to join the squad. 'Now he's in great form but I wouldn't suggest that he's feeling pressure from his club.' Withdrawal: Costa picked up the minor hamstring injury against France last week, ruling him out for Monday . The Spain striker suffered hamstring problems towards the end of his final season with Atletico Madrid and was a doubt before his last club fixture against Everton. However Costa recovered in time to start and found the net twice in a 6-3 victory for Jose Mourinho's side. No pressure: Del Bosque refused to blame Costa's absence on Chelsea, who want the striker fit for next week . VIDEO Costa and Fabregas are signings of the summer . | Diego Costa has been struggling with minor hamstring injury .
Chelsea striker injured playing for Spain against France .
Costa had problems with the muscle last season for Atletico Madrid .
Chelsea have played the forward in all three league games this season .
Striker has scored four times for his new club since joining this summer . |
046dcbc9fd2ebeee26374ebd44c97d9a84d2ec60 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 23:06 EST, 14 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:46 EST, 15 August 2013 . A photographer with a special knack for aerial shots has put New York City into perspective by only looking down on it from above. Jason Hawkes boasts a portfolio of hundreds of thousands of aerial shots from all over the world and has produced 40 books of aerial photography. But there is something especially stunning about the City that Never Sleeps when seen from the top down and Hawkes’ method of getting his birds-eye-views are equally inspiring. The intrepid photographer takes most of his shots from the passenger seat of a helicopter. While tethered in for dear life, he leans out the window and...voila. From his vantage, sunsets in the city are even more riveting, the nightlife looks all the more exciting, and a walk in the park becomes an adventure into urban wilds. Scroll down for video . Burning brightly: Aerial photographer Jason Hawkes has caught New York City in action many times of over the years. Here, Manhattan is seen at dusk from its southernmost tip . Splashing around: A pool in Central Park shows how many locals take advantage of the massive public pools on hot days. And how great the orange umbrellas look from above . Urban jungle: A tree-topped building in Manhattan's Upper East Side looks down on even more trees in Central Park . Cooling off: Lucky summer revelers swim atop a highrise in Manhattan's Kips Bay neighborhood . The new towers: One World Trade Center (center left) is topped by cranes set off by a Lower Manhattan sunset . Bustling hub: The piers along Manhattan's west side at dusk with One World Trade Center in the distance at far right . The Staten Island Ferry dutifully chugs along carrying commuters in waters below Manhattan . Standing tall: The curving lines of the art deco Chrysler building are a welcome change from rectangular boxes of most newer Manhattan construction . Urban reprieve: Stretching all along the middle of otherwise hectic Manhattan are the serene wilds of Central Park . Stunning: One World Trade Center catches the last hints of sunset on an evening in Lower Manhattan . Picnic time: Park goers lay out in the Chelsea sun on the west side of Manhattan . Technicolor: Hints of purples and reds offset the incandescent yellows as the lights of New York City switch on for the night . Towering: The iconic Empire State Building greets a new day . Anything but square: Times Square makes for an even brighter oasis of light in the city that never sleeps . Defiant: As the night darkens, the lights of the city skyline become ever brighter . Midnight sun: In Midtown Manhattan, the vibrant, neon stretches of Times Square light up the night . Light bulb built on light bulbs: The GE building's famous sign . Birds-eye-view: Hawke's name is apt. His photos could pass for the view of a bird swooping through Manhattan's most famous buildings . | Jason Hawkes has taken hundreds of thousands of aerial photos and clocked innumerable hours in the sky above Manhattan . |
046dee11ff95a61a67d4e8fe17e6c87f1b3c6a84 | (CNN) -- Going to a restaurant is supposed to be a relaxing experience. But for Katherine Dillinger, there was one thing that was guaranteed to stress her out: Seeing "Caesar salad" misspelled on the menu. "It would just drive me ballistic," Dillinger said. After years of practice, she's learning to relax. "Now, I just shrug it off. I still notice it, but it doesn't drive me crazy like it used to." Many of us have a tendency to notice bad grammar and misspellings, as evidenced in the gallery above. But for copy editors, the people who read and edit stories for grammar, style and substance, fixing errors is their job. In honor of National Grammar Day, we sat down with Dillinger, one of the funniest grammar gatekeepers on the copy desk. She has been a copy editor for 15 years, six of which she's spent at CNN.com in Atlanta. The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. CNN: What made you want to become a copy editor? Dillinger: I wanted to be a writer first, actually, but I took a reporting class in college and hated it. I didn't like going up to people, saying, "Your house just burned down. How did it feel?" At the same time, I was taking an editing class. It came easily, I enjoyed it, and it seemed like fun. CNN: What are the most common errors you come across in your job? Dillinger: Where to start? It's probably punctuation errors, specifically comma errors with independent and dependent clauses. Spell check means most people usually don't make spelling errors unless they just don't pay any attention at all. Most people get verb tenses correct. And capitalization ... people love to capitalize things they shouldn't. CNN: What are your biggest grammar pet peeves? Dillinger: Misuse of the em dash when you should have a colon instead drives me crazy! And I really hate the word "probe," just in general. I have a bunch, but those are my two main ones. I'm constantly taking em dashes out of stories. Learn the colon! There are proper ways to use a colon. I shake my fist at you. CNN: Could you ever be close friends with someone who makes lots of grammatical mistakes? Dillinger: I used to date somebody who did, back in college. He was as bad a writer as you could get. I used to type his papers for him and edit as I was going. You learn to live past it, I guess. CNN: Have you ever made a mistake? What's your most memorable one? Dillinger: Oh, God, I've made so many. That's the nature of the business. When I was in Austin (on the copy desk of the local newspaper), there was a month where I just made one after another. It was terrible. It's your job not to do those things. I've put incorrect information into stories. It kills you every time you do it, too. Luckily, none of them has been libelous or gotten me called up to the publisher. CNN: What's the best grammar fail you've seen? Extra points if it made you laugh. Dillinger: Where they misspell the team name on a jersey. Those always crack me up. It's not a grammar fail; it's more of a spelling fail. CNN: The grammar rule that must never be broken is ________ . Dillinger: You can make an argument that, within reason, you can break almost any grammar rule. You learn over the years that it's OK to break the rules. It's all in how you were taught. You go by what this story says to you. If this story splits an infinitive but it works, then I would split the infinitive! How the story sounds is sometimes more important than being totally adherent to every grammar rule. CNN: How will you be celebrating National Grammar Day? Dillinger: Every day is grammar day when you're a copy editor. Is grammar really important to you? What's your biggest grammar pet peeve? All grammarians are welcome to discuss this in the comments below. | National Grammar Day is celebrated on March 4 .
For copy editors, spotting errors and correcting them is their job .
What are the best grammar and spelling fails you've seen?
Share your photos with CNN iReport . |
046e012e6434667219eb8f0c2d1ece30318e5e97 | By . Sean Poulter . A 33-year-old Royal Navy veteran has died after drinking a pear drink manufactured in the Caribbean which contained a lethal amount of cocaine. Joromie Lewis, of Gosport, Hampshire, became ill immediately after drinking the pear fruit drink in Southampton. He died within hours at Southampton General Hospital on December 5. Killed: Joromie Lewis who died after drinking a pear drink manufactured in the Caribbean which contained a lethal amount of cocaine . A Hampshire police spokesman said that one of its lines of inquiries was that the drink had been used to smuggle cocaine into the UK in a liquid form. Drug traffickers often try to smuggle cocaine as a liquid because the powder form is highly soluble. Half a kilogram can be diluted into a litre of water. It is then easily returned to its original state as 90 per cent can be decantered and filtered. Drugs . authorities in different countries have found liquid cocaine smuggled . in tins of pineapples, coconut milk, tequila and even soaked into . clothes . In May . 2009, a 63-year-old taxi driver, Lascell Malcolm, from Haringey, north . London, died after he drank from a bottle of Bounty Rum which had been . used to smuggle cocaine into the country. The . father-of-two, who had been given the bottle as a present in lieu of . payment from an unknowing friend, died after drinking from the bottle . that had been used to smuggle 246g (8.7 oz) of pure cocaine dissolved . into the alcohol. Just a teaspoon of the liquid could be fatal. Drug . smuggler Martin Newman of Romford in Essex, aged 50 at the time of his . conviction in 2010, was convicted of Mr Malcolm's manslaughter at . Croydon Crown Court and sentenced to 20 years to run concurrently with . 15 years for the importation of cocaine. Later . in 2010, scientists from the Universities of Bradford and Leeds . developed a portable laser light, called a Raman, which can detect the . presence of cocaine through glass and was hoped could help prevent the . drug being smuggled into the country in this manner. Customs officials otherwise have to open bottles to test for cocaine. Mr Lewis' widow, Jayrusha Lewis, said her husband was a 'selfless and devoted family man'. She said: 'Joromie Lewis was a Royal Navy veteran, originally from St Vincent and the Grenadines. 'He was a devoted family-oriented man with a selfless attitude to help others, and always knew the right words and advice to give. 'His exemplary conduct and actions touched the lives and hearts of many. 'He was a member of the Bridgemary Family Church.' A Hampshire police spokeswoman said: 'It appears from police inquiries that Mr Lewis ingested a small amount of liquid in the belief he was drinking a genuine pear drink.' A post-mortem examination was carried out on Saturday, December 7. The results are inconclusive and toxicology tests are being carried out. The spokeswoman continued: 'On Wednesday, December 11 police received laboratory test results which showed that the liquid in the juice bottle contained a lethal amount of cocaine. 'Police now have established that the bottle of Cole Cold Pear D fruit drink was manufactured in the Caribbean and the company did not export this drink to the UK.' The Food Standards Agency said: ‘The presence of cocaine renders the product a very serious health risk. This makes the product unsafe for consumption.’ The product packaging lists the manufacturer's name as S.M. Jaleel & Co Ltd, Otaheite, Trinidad. However, the company has said that the Cole Cold Pear-D product has not been exported to the UK and that the label was last produced in September 2013 for the local Caribbean market. Despite investigations by the enforcement authorities, it has not yet been possible to obtain any distribution details for this product. Investigations are ongoing. An investigation has been launched by Hampshire police. The Food Standards Agency has issued an alert to all local authorities to contact retailers to withdraw Pear D if it is found. Drink: Cole Cold Pear D fruit drink manufactured in the Caribbean which contained a lethal amount of cocaine . Detective Superintendent Richard Pearson, who is leading the police investigation called Operation Crab, said: 'We are working closely with partner agencies, including Southampton's Regulatory Services, Public Health England, the Food Standards Agency and other law enforcement agencies, including the National Crime Agency, to minimise any risk to the public and to investigate the circumstances leading to the tragic death of Mr Lewis. 'We are supporting his family and linking closely with public health departments. 'We have taken clear advice from partner agencies and, in light of the analysis of the contents of the bottle, a decision was made to issue the public alert by the Food Standards Agency. 'Inquiries to date have not identified any further incidents or similar bottles. 'The investigation suggests that this was likely to be a rogue bottle from a consignment of drugs stored in plastic juice bottles. 'If anyone finds a bottle of Pear D juice, do not open the bottle. 'If sealed, the bottle is perfectly safe. Take the bottle to the nearest police station, and we will examine the contents if appropriate.' Anyone who finds they have a bottle of Pear-D should take it to their local police station and are advised to contact the Food Standards Agency on 020 7276 8448. | Joromie Lewis became ill immediately after drinking the pear drink .
He died within hours at Southampton Hospital .
Investigation has been launched by Hampshire Police .
Police believe the drug was being smuggled in the bottle .
Inquiries have not identified any similar bottles . |
046f5eb5c9a95734821503457aa921492188952c | By . Lydia Warren . PUBLISHED: . 08:06 EST, 8 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:19 EST, 8 October 2013 . A young couple who are still recovering from the devastating injuries they suffered in the Boston Marathon bombings have gotten engaged. Pete DiMartino, 28, proposed to Rebekah Gregory, 26, on Friday by kneeling beside her wheelchair at her home in Richmond, Texas and presenting her with a ring he had custom-made following the April 15 attack. She said yes. 'I said, "You're my best friend and I . love you",' he told NBC News. 'I couldn't get anything else out, I was shaking.' The couple, who met on a work trip, have been together for a year and said they knew before the attacks that they had found the perfect match - but agreed the experience brought them even closer. Celebration: Pete DiMartino, 28, and Rebekah Gregory, 26, are engaged - six months after they both suffered serious injuries in the Boston Marathon bombings. Rebekah is still unable to use one of her legs . Support: They are pictured before DiMartino threw out the first pitch before a Red Sox game in May . They were near the marathon finish line with Gregory's six-year-old son Noah when the two homemade bombs exploded in April, killing three and injuring more than 270. Noah suffered injuries to his lungs and scrapes and bruises, but DiMartino and Gregory both required multiple surgeries and both continue to undergo rehabilitation. As well as a ruptured eardrum, DiMartino lost 90 per cent of his right Achilles' tendon and suffered broken bones in his ankles and it has taken him months of physical therapy to learn to walk again. Gregory has had a staggering 14 surgeries on her left leg, which she cannot put weight on and which she continues to fight to keep. Amputation is still an option if there is no luck with a new device that was drilled into the bone and which will hopefully turn the foot so she can walk on it again. Together: The couple, who have been together a year, were standing near the finish line when the bombs exploded on April 15. Rebekah has undergone 14 surgeries since and could still lose her left leg . She has undergone skin grafts along her leg to cover where she lost soft tissue. Shrapnel marks also cover her leg. 'Going through an experience like the . marathon makes you realize how short life really is and how we don't . really know how much time we have left,' Gregory said. 'And I know that with my time . there is nobody else I would want to spend it with. It made me . realize how much I cared about him and how much he was the only person . for me.' DiMartino said watching his girlfriend fight through the multiple surgeries was inspiring and he joked that he 'had to jump on it before somebody else did'. Strong: The couple are pictured with Gregory's son before the blats on the day of the bombings. The six-year-old boy only suffered scrapes and bruises but the couple has needed multiple surgeries . Devastation: An image shows seconds after bombs went off in Boston on April 15, killing 15 and injuring 270 . The couple are now building a home in Richmond, and DiMartino will move there from his home in Rochester, New York. They have designed the house, which includes a master bedroom on the ground floor to make it easier for Gregory. DiMartino is even working towards taking part in an upcoming 5K race. They hope to marry within a year but said that they have had so much stress in recent months that they don't plan on having a large event. 'We're marrying each other, that's all that matters,' Gregory said. | Pete DiMartino, 28, and Rebekah Gregory, 26, were at the finish line on April 15 with Gregory's 6-year-old son when the bombs detonated .
Gregory has undergone 14 surgeries on her left leg and could still lose it .
DiMartino broke his ankle bones and lost most of one Achilles' tendon .
They are now building a house and hope to marry within a year . |
046f6a13027dba6e36a0aa3001ebbdaa51655fff | (CNN) -- Federal regulators warned consumers to avoid one brand of vitamin B dietary supplement because it contains potentially harmful anabolic steroids. Preliminary lab tests showed the product, Healthy Life Chemistry By Purity First B-50, contains methasterone, a controlled substance, and dimethazine, the Food and Drug Administration said. "Products marketed as a vitamin but which contain undisclosed steroids pose a real danger to consumers and are illegal," said Howard Sklamberg, director of the FDA's compliance office. Regulators received 29 complaints associated with the product, including fatigue, muscle pain and cramps, and liver and thyroid problems, the FDA said. Women also reported unusual hair growth and missed menstruation, and men reported impotence and low testosterone. Some patients were hospitalized, the FDA said in a statement, but no deaths were reported. Anyone who used the product and has symptoms should seek medical care and report the case to the FDA, regulators said. The product manufactured by Purity First Health Products is sold online and in stores. The company has declined to voluntarily recall the product or to warn consumers about the potential for injury, according to the FDA. | FDA: The supplement is linked to 29 complaints .
Users reported fatigue, pain, liver and thyroid trouble .
Men reported impotence and low testosterone .
No deaths were reported, but some patients were hospitalized . |
046fa86e7c87a19619905c873fc140b65b6ed7e4 | No one knew they were expecting a new family member. But on Thursday Ellen Pompeo, 44, announced on her WhoSay account that she and her husband Chris Ivery have gained a daughter. 'Sienna May Ivery welcome to the world,' the Grey's Anatomy actress wrote. 'We love you more than words can say.' Scroll down for video . Another girl: Ellen Pompeo and Chris Ivery, pictured in January, announced on Thursday they have welcomed a new daughter into their family . Along with the message, the proud parents showed a black-and-white photo of the little girl. Chris is smiling as he plants a kiss on the little one's cheek. The baby looks to be a few weeks old but it is hard to tell as her face is mostly hidden. Her dark hair looked grown in fairly well and she was wearing a onesie. Pompeo also tweeted, 'Sienna was born via surrogate & I would like to thank my whole @ShondalandTV family for helping us enjoy these first few weeks privately ❤️U.' Chris and Ellen are already parents to daughter Stella, who turned five only two weeks ago. Proud papa: Chris posed with little Sienna in this black-and-white portrait posted to WhoSay . Ellen was last seen in public on Wednesday when she stopped by the Andy LeCompte salon in West Hollywood. The actress looked radiant as she smiled from ear to ear. She was wearing oversized ripped jeans and an ill-fitting button-down shirt. A large black Givenchy purse also was held in front of her mid section. The big news: The Old School star tweeted that Sienna had been born via surrogate . Now a mother of two: The 44-year-old star leaving Andy LeCompte salon in West Hollywood on Wednesday . In 2012 the Massachusetts native said she had a hard time balancing her acting career and motherhood. 'It is challenging. You know, I have my days where I feel really guilty that I've been here every day if I have to work a lot,' she said. 'But the truth is I'm in a very blessed situation, I am so lucky. First of all, I am so lucky to live in a country where a girl like me can make this kind of living, achieve her dreams and reach her goals. The show that made her famous: The beauty with Patrick Dempsey on Grey's Anatomy . 'And I don't think anywhere else in the world can girls have the freedom that we do here to have these amazing careers and be mothers. She added, 'So first I'll say it really isn't a challenge with respect to the women in the rest of the world, I think we're very lucky. ' And all working moms have their challenges and I'm incredibly lucky compared to most. I can afford help and I'm fortunate where I can bring her here if I miss her.' The Old School star also said that she feels her life is a 'blessing.' 'I've got my little challenges, but they're insignificant compared to what real working moms go through,' Pompeo admitted. There are those baggy jeans again: The TV icon pulling daughter Stella on Sunday at a Studio City Farmers' Market . | The 44-year-old shared a photo of her child with Chris Ivery on WhoSay .
The Grey's Anatomy star tweeted the baby was born via surrogate .
Ellen and Chris chose the name Sienna May Ivery for the newborn .
Pompeo had not announced plans to have another child before this .
The couple already have daughter Stella, who turned five two weeks ago . |
047021c04d4328e4e713d9c175932cc60d8343aa | A ban on assault weapons has been struck from the U.S. Senate's gun control bill, leaving out a major portion of gun control legislation that's due to be revealed next month. Sen Dianne Feinstein, the sponsor of the ban, announced the decision by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today. The gun control bill will be debated by the Senate next month. Instead, Feinstein said she will be able to offer her ban on the military-style firearms as an amendment. Speaking out: Dianne Feinstein, the sponsor of the assault weapons ban, announced the decision to drop that portion of the bill . Gun rights issue: The assault weapons ban was the most controversial of the major proposals to restrict guns that have been advanced by President Obama and Senate Democrats . She is all but certain to need 60 votes from the 100-member Senate to prevail, but faces solid Republican opposition and likely defections from some moderate Democrats. 'I very much regret it,' Feinstein, a Democrat from California, told reporters of Reid's decision. 'I tried my best.' Killer: Adam Lanza used an assault rifle when he murdered 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14 . Asked about the decision, Reid said he . wanted to bring a gun bill to the full Senate that would have enough . support to overcome any GOP attempts to prevent debate from even . starting. He said that 'using the most optimistic numbers,' there were less than 40 votes for Feinstein's ban. That is far less than the 60 votes . needed to begin considering legislation, and an indication that Reid . feared that including the assault weapons ban in the main guns bill . would risk getting the votes needed to begin debate. 'I'm not going to try to put something on the floor that won't succeed. I want something that will succeed. 'I think the worst of all worlds would be to bring to something to the floor and it dies there,' Reid said. Feinstein, an author of the 1994 assault weapons ban that expired after a decade, said that fellow Democrat Reid, informed her of the decision yesterday. There are 53 Democrats in the Senate, plus two independents who usually vote with them. An assault-type weapon was used by Adam Lanza in the December massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, that revived gun control as a top issue in Washington. It was also used in the 'Dark Knight' shooting spree in Aurora, Colorado, and the deadly Christmas Eve shooting of firefighters responding to a blaze in upstate New York. Pledge: Banning assault weapons was among the proposals Obama made in January in response to the Sandy Hook killings . Procedure: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said the gun control bill will face two votes after it goes up for debate next month . Banning those firearms was among the proposals President Obama made in January in response to those slayings. The assault weapons ban was the most . controversial of the major proposals to restrict guns that have been . advanced by Obama and Senate Democrats. Applications for gun permits have jumped in Newtown, Connecticut, since a school massacre there revived the national debate on gun control and led to worries about new restrictions. Newtown in recent years has issued about 130 gun permits annually. Police say the town received 79 permit applications in the three months since the December 14 massacre, more than double the normal pace. Robert Berkins, records manager for Newtown police, says many applicants have expressed concerns that their gun rights will be taken away. Firearms sales have surged around the country, driven by Washington's new focus on gun control. 20 first-graders and six adults were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School when Adam Lanza forced his way in and began opening fire in the hallway and in two classrooms. Because . of that, it had been expected that the assault weapons measure would be . left out of the initial package the Senate considers, with Democrats . hoping the Senate could therefore amass the strongest possible vote for . the overall legislation. Having . a separate vote on assault weapons might free moderate Democratic . senators facing re-election next year in Republican-leaning states to . vote against the assault weapons measure, but then support the remaining . overall package of gun curbs. Gun control supporters consider a . strong Senate vote important because the Republican-run House has shown . little enthusiasm for most of Obama's proposals. Feinstein said Reid told her there will be two votes. One would be on her assault weapons ban, which also includes a ban on ammunition magazines that carry more than 10 rounds of ammunition. The second would just be on prohibiting the high-capacity magazine clips. Many Democrats think the ban on large-capacity magazines has a better chance of getting 60 votes than the assault weapons ban. The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved four gun control measures this month, including Feinstein's barring assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. The others would expand required federal background checks for firearms buyers, increase federal penalties for illegal gun trafficking and boost school safety money. | Sen Dianne Feinstein, the sponsor of the ban, announced the decision by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today .
She says she can still present the ban as an amendment when its debated by the Senate next month . |
0470f82e0ce6da7ac719c38a5b0db1890bc11351 | By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 01:30 EST, 23 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:30 EST, 23 November 2013 . A North Carolina newspaper deliveryman picked up a teddy bear on a rural road, only to have authorities tell him later a bomb had been stuffed inside. Anthony Cannon, who works for The Shelby Star, said on Friday that he spotted the booby-trapped toy before dawn on Thursday along his route near Lattimore, a tiny town about 50 miles west of Charlotte. Later, he circled back to pick it up. 'I thought it was real unusual to be sitting in the middle of the road,' Mr Cannon, 42, said. 'It was pitch-black out there. When I picked the bear up some sort of container fell out.' Scroll down for video . A newspaper delivery man found this teddy bear (stock image) by the side of a North Carolina road on his round - and later discovered an IED packed inside . Not realizing he was holding an . improvised explosive device, Cannon left the bear and put the . cylindrical item in his car for the 20-minute drive back to Shelby. He . drove to his cousin's home, where he examined what he had found more . closely in the light. He says it was a small, liquid-filed bottle covered with tape with some wires coming out of it. Suspecting what he was holding might be dangerous, Cannon set the device down on the porch and dialed 911. Among those who responded was a bomb squad from the larger nearby city of Gastonia. 'Within about two minutes of walking up, they said it was an IED and cleared us out of the house,' Cannon said. Cleveland County Sheriff Alan Norman said Cannon was very lucky. Though he said he couldn't speak to the construction of the device or how it could be set off, the sheriff said it was capable of causing serious damage. 'It could have caused personal injury had the device activated,' Norman said. Anthony Cannon put the bear in his car and drove it to his cousin's home in Shelby (pictured) where he made the shocking discovery . The bomb was deactivated and sent to a lab. Federal investigators are inspecting the device, looking for clues as to who made it. Another bomb was discovered in the same area six months ago. In 2009, authorities discovered two homemade bombs several days apart in Shelby. None of those cases has been solved. Cannon said he and other local residents are concerned that whoever is making the bombs will eventually hurt someone. Even though he could have been seriously injured or killed, Cannon said he is happy he picked the bear up out of the road. 'If a kid had walked down the road and seen that bear, I'm pretty sure they would have picked it up,' he said. | Anthony Cannon said on Friday that he spotted the booby-trapped toy before dawn .
on Thursday along his route near Lattimore, west of Charlotte .
He put it in his car and brought it to his cousin's house to examine more closely .
When he saw the liquid and wires, Mr Cannon dialed 911 - and the bomb squad were soon on the scene to evacuate the family . |
04718a9467ff51ef2170612128b601d4b25a6b19 | (CNN) -- Some of the country's best firefighters matched wits Wednesday with a fiendish Colorado wildfire that has scorched structures and sent tens of thousands fleeing from Colorado Springs and other communities. As predicted, erratic winds kicked up again in the afternoon, increasing the chance of embers jumping fire lines and creating more havoc, officials said. "We are learning as we fight this fire some of its tricks," said incident commander Rich Harvey. "And one of its tricks is to run down these hills that way. You can fool us once, maybe, but not twice." Officials said they had not completed an inventory of homes and other structures lost or damaged Tuesday by the Waldo Canyon Fire, which was only 5% contained. They were making plans to schedule a meeting with affected residents. "It really is a loss, and there is a grieving process that has to take place," said Steve Cox with the Colorado Springs mayor's executive team. The FBI's Denver office, meanwhile, said it was working with other agencies to determine whether any of a dozen wildfires across the state resulted from criminal activity. Nearly 1,000 firefighters tried to corral the 15,517-acre blaze that moved into Colorado Springs. Gov. John Hickenlooper told CNN's "John King USA" that the number of evacuations grew Wednesday to 36,000. "We're still fighting with everything we've got," he said. Harvey said progress had been made in some portions of the Waldo Canyon Fire, and firefighters were taking an aggressive stance against hot spots. "It's been house to house, door to door, street to street, hill to hill activity," he said of one location. Higher humidity and cloud cover Wednesday night might aid firefighting efforts, but there was no guarantee conditions would not be similar to Tuesday's conflagration, Harvey told reporters. Some rain did fall Wednesday on a separate fire burning near Boulder, Colorado, according to the National Weather Service. President Barack Obama will travel to the Colorado Springs area Friday to survey the damage and thank responders battling the blaze, the White House said. The Waldo Canyon Fire captured attention because of its proximity to landmarks such as Pikes Peak and the Air Force Academy, and also to Colorado Springs, a city of about 400,000, the state's second largest. "We have rehearsed and practiced disasters," said Dave Rose, public information officer for El Paso County, which includes Colorado Springs. "We have never seen one like this before." Winds gusting to 65 mph through mountain canyons blew the wildfire through containment lines into northwest Colorado Springs on Tuesday afternoon. It roared downhill, burning to the ground the Flying W Ranch, a popular Western-style tourist destination. CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen likened conditions to a double-edged sword. While temperatures were down a bit Wednesday, high-based thunderstorms will be fed by rising air, wind and low humidity, he said. Such storms produce lightning and rain, but dry air will suck up most of the precipitation before it hits the ground. Lightning can reach the parched soil and possibly ignite additional fires, according to Hennen. Open Story: iReporters share their harrowing views of the western wildfires . Richard Brown, the Colorado Springs fire chief, on Tuesday described the Waldo Canyon Fire as a "firestorm of epic proportions." Stan and Darlene Colbert were among the last families in the evacuation zone to pull out. They waited, hoping the fire would subside, but after watching the flames from their back porch, they knew it was time to go. The first things the couple -- married 43 years -- packed were the family photos. "Every one of them I could find. Every photo because I can't replace those," said Darlene Colbert. Many residents waited anxiously to get word of whether their homes had been spared. Becky Schormann was one. Her family managed to take some sentimental items with them when they left, but still had to leave behind a boat, a pair of ATVs, a china cabinet and an antique doll collection. "I keep telling myself: It's going to be OK," she said. Schormann told CNN that flames came to within 20 feet of their home but were beaten back. "Our volunteer fire department is just awesome," she said. The Schormanns are staying in an RV at their daughter's home. The family's two dogs, a pony and a donkey also came along for the ride. The flames came dangerously close to the Air Force Academy's main campus, and an evacuation order was issued for about 700 residents in its Pine Valley Housing and 1,400 in Douglass Valley Housing, said public affairs officer John Van Winkle. The facility was closed to visitors Wednesday, with only essential personnel asked to report. Reactions: Monster fire terrorizes a Colorado city . The academy's powered flight, glider and parachuting operations have been called off since Saturday so that the U.S. Forest Service could use runways for helicopters used to fight fires along Colorado's Front Range, Van Winkle said. The academy's Class of 2016 -- all 1,045 cadets -- is still scheduled to arrive Thursday, but officials are making contingency plans in case they have to report to a different location on the base. Rose, the county information officer, said one in four callers to the joint information center are offering food for firefighters, shelter for displaced neighbors or to volunteer in some capacity. "It is a somber resolve," Rose told CNN. "There's no doubt that we have a grim reality that we have lost a number of structures. Our western border mountain vista has dramatically altered." Colorado wildfires had consumed 181,426 acres by Wednesday afternoon, according to the Colorado Division of Emergency Management. The largest of the fires was the High Park Fire, which began June 9 and has now consumed 87,284 acres, the U.S. Forest Service said. It was 65% contained Wednesday. The total number of homes burned stood at 257. An estimated $33.1 million has been spent trying to contain the blaze. The brotherhood of Disaster City . CNN's Jim Spellman contributed to this report. | Winds kick up as firefighters tackle hot spots .
FBI is investigating the cause of the wildfires .
President Obama calls governor and will visit the state on Friday .
Colorado's governor describes the scene as "surreal" |
0472a6cfd1556e2dcf5232a9a7092994a49fa8f2 | By . Lucy Waterlow . PUBLISHED: . 03:42 EST, 23 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:10 EST, 23 August 2013 . Here's more bad news for people with a sweet tooth. Not only can excess sugar intake led to health problems and obesity, it can also make you look old too. A diet high in sugar can damage the skin leaving it more prone to wrinkles and dryness. Nutritionist Brooke Alpert and dermatologist Dr Patricia Farris explain why in their new book, The Sugar Detox. They write: 'So, do people who eat too much sugar really look older? The answer is a resounding YES! In a large study published in the journal AGE, 602 people were examined by independent evaluators. Moment on the lips, lifetime on the face: Too much sugar can prematurely age your skin . 'Healthy people with lower blood sugars . typically looked a year younger than did those with higher blood sugars, . and a year and a half younger than did diabetics of the same age.' They explain: 'Too much sugar also has another negative effect on skin: Simply put, it makes skin unhealthy. Skin is our largest organ; one of its main functions, called barrier function, is to protect us from environmental insults such as pollution, dirt, bacteria, and fungi. 'Anything that disrupts the epidermal barrier leaves us more vulnerable to skin irritation and infections. Some very interesting recent studies have shown that long-term hyperglycemia (too much sugar in the blood) leaves skin more vulnerable. 'This explains why diabetics and others with long-standing hyperglycemia so often suffer with dry skin. This is why controlling your blood sugar is so important if you want healthy skin.' Pamper and protect: Nutritionist Brooke Alpert, left, and dermatologist Dr Patricia Farris have developed a diet plan and skincare regime to help people look younger . The pair explain how the skin begins to produce less collagen as we age, making it wrinkly and saggy, and poor nutrition can accelerate this process. But they believe sugar junkies still have time to turn back the clock by following their detox plan. As previously reported in the MailOnline, the plan begins with a strict three day diet of no sugar. On the low carb plan, dairy, fruit (with the exception of lemon and lime), starches, wheat and any added sugars are all banned. Some of these foods are then gradually reintroduced as the plan progresses. The pair say going 'cold turkey' for three days is the best way for people to start on the path of a life low in sugar. The foods they recommend are all beneficial for the body - and especially for the skin. For example, they suggest snacking on nuts because they are high in protein and other vitamins and minerals that help repair tissues in the body and boost collagen production. Turn back the clock: Swap coffee with added sugar for green tea . Process in a blender: . Apply a thin layer of the mixture to your face, leave on for ten minutes then wash off with warm water.Why . it works: The yogurt contains exfoliating lactic acid, oatmeal is a . natural anti-inflammatory, honey has healing properties and acts as a . natural moisturizer, and the blueberries contain powerful antioxidants. At meal times they recommend . regularly consuming fish high in Omega 3 such as salmon. This is because . they contain essential fatty acids that are 'the building blocks for . the natural moisturisers in your skin and help keep skin hydrated.' When . it comes to drinks, their superhero product for the skin is green tea - . which can also be used as an extract in moisturisers. They also . recommend using green tea bags as a compress on the eyes to reduce under . eye bags and puffiness. They . explain why it's so good for helping the skin look more youthful: . 'Studies have confirmed that ingestion of green tea extract effectively . blocks collagen cross-linking and inhibits AGE accumulation associated . with ageing. 'Green tea can also be prepared as an extract for use in cosmeceutical skin care. Topical green tea extract protects against UV-induced inflammation and oxidative stress, making it a powerful, topical skin care agent. Using skin-care products containing GTPs is an excellent way to inhibit collagen glycation and protect skin from damaging UV rays.' Read all about it: The Sugar Detox is available to buy as an ebook . As they are aware many will find the three day detox difficult, the book also includes DIY beauty treatments you can do at home over the three days to boost your mood and rejuvenate your skin. Their spa treatments include a sea mud mask, an 'ancient beauty bath', i.e. one where you soak in bathing salts, and a 'moisturising antioxidant mask'. This can either be bought in the shops (they provide a list of recommended products) or made yourself using their recipe (see pink box above, right). The aim of the treatments is to make people feel better with some pampering as they detox but also give their skin a head start on recovery before the benefits of the new diet kick in. Beyond the three day pampering, the pair outline a skincare regime that people should follow in tandem with their diet plan to look and feel good on the inside and out. They guarantee people who follow their advice will notice a difference in the appearance of their skin which will look younger and healthier. What could be sweeter than that? The Sugar Detox: Lose Weight, Feel Great and Look Years Younger is published by Transworld Digital, ebook £6.49 . | Sugar inhibits production of collagen leading to wrinkles .
Authors of The Sugar Detox say you can turn back the clock .
They recommend foods which enhance the skin .
They've also developed rejuvenating DIY beauty treatments . |
0472e14886f29751cc58251dab76e477a904eb5d | A young married couple who plotted to abuse children as part of a paedophile love triangle are facing jail after police uncovered 'horrific' texts and indecent images of children and animals. Kevin Barnett, 28, suggested drugging youngsters so he could enact his sick desires and his wife Susan, 28, said she would be willing to comfort a child as it was raped, a court heard. The pair were found guilty of arranging the commission of a child sexual offence and a second woman, Nikita Moore, 22, was convicted of conspiracy to commit child sexual offences with Barnett. Moore had even discussed having a baby with Barnett, from Barrow, Cumbria, for them to abuse together - although prosecutors conceded this particular 'horrific' exchange was just fantasy. Kevin Barnett, 28, (right) suggested drugging children so he could enact his sick desires and his wife Susan, 28, (left) said she would be willing to comfort a child as it was raped, a court heard . The 22-year-old was sending messages to Barnett saying she thought about sexually abusing children 'all the time' when sick exchanges between the married couple were still continuing. Although both women were eager to please Barnett as he made increasingly disturbing suggestions, the Preston Crown Court heard he was the driving force behind the criminal activity. Mr Brown told the court how Barnett took advantage of the women's feelings and exploited their desperation for his own sexual gratification - at one stage having a threesome with both women. Detectives were able to stop the would-be child abusers after officers were called to a domestic disturbance between, Barnett and a woman unrelated to the case. Officers examined his phone after a tip off and the three defendants were arrested after detectives trawled through the sick messages. Nikita Moore, 22, discussed having a baby with Barnett for them to abuse together and they have been convicted of conspiracy to commit child sexual offences . All three denied the charges and argued the texts had been a 'fantasy' with no real intent to act on them. The jury had to decide whether or not the messages represented a genuine plan to sexually abuse children. Moore began an affair with Barnett shortly after the death of her long term partner Jason Baines, who killed himself in October 2013. The 22-year-old, originally from Birmingham, said the two had indulged in 'unconventional' sexual practices. Their relationship ended in early 2014 when Moore discovered Barnett was also having an affair with another woman. After admitting the affair to Mrs Barnett, Moore said the two women had become 'really close' and began living together in Barrow. But Moore continued to secretly exchange messages with Kevin Barnett discussing underage sex and sharing indecent images of children. Summing up the case, Judge Christopher Cornwell told the jury: 'You have heard the text exchange which at times no doubt disgusted you. We could go on and on with the disgust but the central question never goes away. Was there a conclusive agreement and was there an agreement that it should be put into action?' Moore and Kevin Barnett had previously pleaded guilty to offences relating to indecent images of children. Mrs Barnett had also pleaded guilty to possessing extreme pornography depicting sex with animals. The defendants will next appear at Preston Crown Court for sentencing for all the offences on February 5 next year. Judge Cornwall said: 'I don't see any alternative to immediate imprisonment.' Acting Detective Inspector Brian Murray, of the South Cumbria Public Protection Unit, said: 'I am pleased that justice has been served today and these three individuals will be facing prison for their crimes. 'Thankfully cases like this are extremely rare in Cumbria and the quick arrests of these three people once information came to light show that we are committed to protecting children in Cumbria.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Kevin and Susan Barnett, both 28, sent sick texts and child abuse images .
Barnett suggested drugging children so he could sexually abuse them .
He had affair with Nikita Moore who thought about child abuse 'regularly'
They even discussed having a baby for them to sexually abuse together .
All three denied the charges and argued the texts had been a 'fantasy' |
04736d1036e9c2c2f2c03526e0816883343ecb59 | Television's ‘Queen of Mean’ Anne Robinson is the latest addition to the Henley Literary Festival . Television's ‘Queen of Mean’ Anne Robinson and Captain Phillips director Paul Greengrass are the latest additions to the Henley Literary Festival, alongside big names from fiction, sport, politics and more. The festival, supported by the Daily Mail, will bring the likes of Princess Michael of Kent, Emma Bridgewater, Paddy Ashdown, Earl Spencer and rugby star Gareth Thomas to picturesque Henley-on-Thames from September 29 to October 5. Robinson will chair events with Mail writer Simon Heffer, Conservative MP Liam Fox and controversial former Labour spin doctor Damian McBride. Baroness Doreen Lawrence will be interviewed by Bafta-winning film-maker Greengrass, whose credits include the TV film The Murder Of Stephen Lawrence. David Nicholls is in conversation with Mail literary editor Sandra Parsons on October 5, just days after Us, his first book since One Day, is published. Other bestselling novelists featured at the festival include Adele Parks, Jojo Moyes, Jenny Colgan and Tony Parsons, while debut authors include Rosa Rankin-Gee, Abbie Ross and Cesca Major. Director of the Bourne Trilogy and Captain Phillips. Paul Greengrass, will also speak at the festival . The regular Crime & Wine evening returns with thriller writers Erin Kelly and Kate Rhodes providing the crime and Laithwaite’s supplying the wine. The festival’s final day will include a special staged reading of a new play, Martini Days, by actress Eleanor Bron, whose credits range from Help! to her current role in The Archers. She will be joined by Mail writer Craig Brown and her old Establishment Club co-star, satirist John Bird. The Wrong Knickers author Bryony Gordon will be quizzed by fellow columnist Polly Vernon in a Friday evening event, while earlier in the week Emma Freud and Dawn O’Porter will talk vintage fashion. Henley’s rowing connections are celebrated in three events looking at all aspects of the sport, including Jack Carlson on blazers and Olympian Alison Mowbray — each take place on a boat on the Thames. History events include Chris Bryant MP on Parliament, Selina Hastings on her father, the Red Earl, Sinclair McKay on Dunkirk and Helen Castor on Joan of Arc. Two events on Saturday, October 5 will focus on local author Ian Fleming; original illustrator John Burningham on the 50th anniversary of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Matthew Parker, author of the acclaimed biography Goldeneye, discussing Fleming’s time in Jamaica with broadcaster Sue Cook. Author of One Day David Nicholls will attend the event . Penny Junor will talk about her new biography of Prince Harry while explorer David Hempleman-Adams, DJ Mike Read and playwright Bonnie Greer will each look back on their careers. There are more than 20 events for children aged two and up, including Pigsticks and Harold illustrator Alex Milway, Julia Copus’s Hog In The Fog sing-along and a chance for four to seven-year-olds to create a digital storybook with Bubble Trouble author Tom Percival. Mail readers can save 10 per cent on their booking and claim a free glass of Laithwaite’s wine for them and a guest over the weekend of the festival (October 3 to 5) at the Baillie Gifford Festival Hub with the code mailwine online at henleyliteraryfestival.co.uk or on 01491 575948 (Monday to Friday). | Television's ‘Queen of Mean’ Anne Robinson and Captain Phillips director Paul Greengrass are the latest additions to the Henley Literary Festival .
Robinson will chair events with Mail writer Simon Heffer, Conservative MP Liam Fox and controversial former Labour spin doctor Damian McBride .
The festival will bring Princess Michael of Kent, Emma Bridgewater, Paddy Ashdown, Earl Spencer and rugby star Gareth Thomas to Henley-on-Thames . |
0473b210dfad3ac8d0b7a2074b107e2cf2dfe78b | Polar bears leave messages for each other in the footprints they leave in the snow, according to new research. Biologists have found that the Arctic carnivores produce smelly chemicals from the soles of their feet at different times of the year that create scent trails across the ice. This is thought to help the solitary bears communicate with one another in their huge, icy territories. Polar bears, like above, use their smelly feet to send messages to each other over their vast icy territories . The scientists found that bears tended to be attracted to foot scents taken from bears of the opposite sex, particularly if it is from a fertile female during the breeding season. They believe the bears may leave behind distinctive scents from their smelly feet to help attract mates and avoid clashes between large aggressive males. The researchers also found that the paws of polar bears have abnormally large sweat glands and strange clumps of hair growing from single hair follicles. A team of scientists have recently reported that chemical pollutants accumulating in the Arctic may be reducing the density of the bones in the penises of male polar bears. The researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark found that polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are associated with a less dense penile bone. They have previously shown bears that have high levels of pollutants named organohalogens, which include PCBs, in their bodies, have smaller than average penis bones and testes. Organohalogens contain at least one halogen such as fluorine or chlorine, and are used as solvents and pesticides, as well as in the making of dyes and drugs. PCBs were used to make paints and rubber goods in the 1930s, but were banned in 2001 after scientists discovered they can cause cancer. The researchers warn that the presence of such chemicals, which tend to accumulate over time in the bodies of top predators from the prey they eat, may have disastrous consequences for polar bear mating. They claim that these could be responsible for depositing the scent on the ground wherever the animal stands. Dr Megan Owen, a biologist who led the study at the Institute for Conservation Research at San Diego Zoo in California, said that the polar bears were unusual as most mammals leave their scent by rubbing their bodies or spraying urine onto their surroundings. She said: 'The polar bear relies instead on disseminating scent across a vast and relatively featureless landscape via pedal scents. 'We documented both seasonal variation and intersexual differences in chemosensory behavior and these results provided some support for our hypotheses of the function . that pedal chemosignals play in regulating social and reproductive behavior in the species. 'It is possible that the chemical composition, and potentially information content, of pedal scent changes with the season.' Polar bears may have evolved this unusual form of leaving messages in scent from their feet due to the barren landscape in which they live. While most animals can rub against trees, rocks and other objects, the Arctic ice shelves that polar bears inhabit are almost completely flat. Their ranges can extend to more than 370,000 miles (600,000km). Scientists in the past have observed polar bears sniffing each other tracks and even following them after having a smell. While polar bears are known to have one of the most sensitive noses in the animal kingdom, Dr Owen and her colleagues decided to investigate whether there was more to this behaviour than idle curiosity. In perhaps one of the more dangerous examples of the persuit of knowledge, Dr Owen and her team collected scent samples from the feet of 203 wild polar bears by rubbing cotton buds between their toes. They then tested the reaction to each of these samples by 26 captive polar bears housed in 10 zoos around North America. Researchers found enlarged sweat glands and strange clumps of fur on the paws of female polar bears . Polar bears have been seen to sniff and then sometimes follow the tracks left by other polar bears . They hung the scent samples in boxes near to the captive bears and recorded their interest according to their response - approaching the box, sniffing the box, curling their upper lip and snuffing the scent with their mouths. In general the bears were more interested in the scent from feet of bears of the opposite sex, with males showing almost twice as much interest in the scent of fertile females than non fertile females. Fertile females were also more interested in the scent of males while males would approach the scent of males but show little interest beyond that. Dr Owen said: 'Given the energetic constraints of life on the sea ice, accurate identification of potential mates or adversaries may be essential for reproductive success and survival. 'The scent investigation patterns likely reflect the need to identify potential mates prior to making the energetic commitment to pursue them. Melting ice could make it harder for polar bears to detect and follow the scent trails left by their neighbours . 'The male investigatory preference for female over male odors, coupled with the lack of discrimination of male from female odors by females, is consistent with the notion that male polar bears must identify and locate potential mates, while females only need to signal their reproductive readiness and recruit males to them.' The researchers, whose results are published in the Journal of Zoology, also examined the paws to two dead female polar bears in detail to understand how the scent may be produced. They found the bears had enlarged sweat pores and unusual large clumps of hair growing from single hair follicles that might help deposit the scent. Dr Owen added that changes to the Arctic habitat as sea ice melts and disappears could have a dramatic impact on the ability of polar bears to use these scent trails. She said: 'Effective communication is essential for successful reproduction in solitary, wide-ranging animals. 'Developing an understanding of how communication is tied to the environment may enhance our ability to predict the impacts of rapid environmental change on populations.' Dr Steven Amstrup, chief scientist for Polar Bears International, added: 'This is fascinating new research that suggests scents deposited when polar bears simply walk over the sea ice may play a role in the polar bear’s social and reproductive behavior. 'However, this method of communication, which may be instrumental in helping polar bears find their mates, may be at risk in a warming Arctic, as scent trails increasingly are broken up by melting ice.' | Biologists rubbed cotton wool buds between the toes of wild polar bears .
They found the bears produce powerful scents that other bears can detect .
Researchers from San Diego Zoo in California examined how bears reacted .
Male bears are attracted to the scent from the feet of fertile female bears .
They tended to avoid approaching scents from the feet of other male bears .
Large pores and hair clumps on their feet may help bears leave their scent .
Most other animals leave their scent in urine or by rubbing their bodies .
The scent trails may help polar bears communicate over their vast ranges .
Some fear that melting ice will make it harder for bears to leave messages . |
0473d39cc5dd363506a08c4fb9f39586ee651cca | Gary Neville admits Manchester United aren't good enough to win the Premier League. Louis van Gaal's men are already a massive 10 points behind leaders Chelsea after winning just three of their opening eight games. Daley Blind's late equaliser spared United's blushes at West Brom on Monday night, and former Red Devils defender Neville reckons the title is beyond them. Daley Blind sidefoots the equaliser late on from outside the box to save Manchester United's blushes . Louis van Gaal looks on from the bench as his Manchester United side snatched a point late on . Gary Neville was on the Sky Sports panel for Manchester United's 2-2 draw at The Hawthorns . Premier League top six . Speaking as a pundit on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football show, Neville said: 'At this moment in time this Man United team isn't good enough to win the league. 'Louis van Gaal asked for three months when he came in and he's reassessed that. It's a tougher job than he imagined and in the next eight games they've got tough opponents. 'At the start of the season after eight games you would have said they would have been on 16 or 17 points. There's been a lot of upheaval. It's been tough for him. 'Coming out of the World Cup he was drunk with praise, but I think it's sobered him up slightly. 'There's a big belief, I think he will get it right. A lot of good players have been signed but there's been so many injuries, particularly in defence. 'There's something there but it's going to take him longer.' West Brom's young striker Saido Berahino picks his spot to emphatically put the home team 2-1 up . Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini climbed off the bench at half-time to haul the visitors level . Stephane Sessegnon fires West Brom ahead early on inside the first 10 minutes of the match . West Brom defender Joleon Lescott tussles for possession with Man United striker Robin van Persie . VIDEO Van Gaal not happy after two lost points . | United are already 10 points behind Chelsea after three wins in eight games .
Daley Blind rescued a 2-2 draw at West Bromwich Albion on Monday night .
Neville admits on Monday Night Football that United are struggling to cope with physicality of the top flight . |
0474f60995cc45c135e87bde5678b53d5ca4df5c | By . Sam Adams . PUBLISHED: . 08:37 EST, 28 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:02 EST, 28 February 2013 . Impact: The painful moment when John O'Donaghue (black and white top) suffered a life threatening intestine puncture when he collided with his own goalkeeper during an amateur match . This is the moment a footballer suffered . a life-threatening injury during a collision with his own goalkeeper. Club captain John O'Donoghue, 26, was defending a corner when he leapt in the air and collided with Christopher Pearce - puncturing his intestine. Mr Pearce had charged out to punch away a cross and accidentally slammed into him. The keeper's left knee smashed straight into Mr Pearce's stomach - with the wince-inducing moment caught on camera. Doctors say the force of the force of . the collision ripped a 2cm hole in his intestine and Mr O'Donoghue immediately . collapsed and was violently sick on the pitch. A . player on the opposing side who works for the Royal Navy air rescue . service immediately gave him first aid - but was unable to find a pulse. He . was rushed to the Royal Cornwall Hospital with a life threatening . injury and underwent emergency surgery for four hours as medics battled . to save him. Mr O'Donoghue, who . was hurt as his team lost 11-0 to local side Helston Athletic, is now . recovering after suffering the horrific injury on Saturday afternoon as . he played for non league side AFC Holsworthy in Devon. Club . chairman Barry Parrish, 64, said: 'It was such a freak accident. A ball . came over from a corner and John went up to head it but our keeper also . jumped, leading with his knee and they clashed, with his knee hitting . John in the stomach. 'The . ref blew the whistle straight away, it was obvious that he was in a lot . of pain. Luckily, a man from their team was qualified and realised the . danger so he sorted everything out and called the ambulance who turned . up very quickly. Injury: Mr O'Donoghue is recovering in hospital after suffering the injury which happened during his side's 11-0 defeat at another amateur club - Helston Athletic . 'He was . completely flattened and his temperature was dropping, he was still in a . lot of discomfort at the hospital. He has had life-saving surgery. Mr Parrish said Mr O'Donoghue is now on the mend and will hopefully be playing again sooner rather than later. 'In . all the years I have been in football I have seen some bad injuries but . I have never heard of anybody puncturing their intestines. He is lucky . to be here,' he said. Mr . O'Donoghue's wife, Bethany, said: 'He underwent several scans that . showed a lot of fluid in his stomach. They did emergency surgery and . discovered a 2cm hole in his intestine.' | John O'Donoghue, 26, crashed into goalkeeper while defending corner .
Force of the collision ripped a 2cm hole in his intestine .
Underwent emergency surgery for four hours as medics battled .
to save him . |
04753c077af6b7ad39bcc4875d2cd600c0371e02 | Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" celebrates its 54th birthday today, and for the first time, it's available as an e-book. Since it was published July 11, 1960, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide and been translated into 50 languages. In 1999, it was voted best novel of the 20th century by Library Journal. Until this week, though, it had never been available as an e-book. The story . "To Kill a Mockingbird" is a coming-of-age story about two children in the South, Scout and Jem Finch. While their lawyer father, Atticus, defends Tom Robinson, a black man wrongly accused of rape, the children are fascinated by a mysterious neighbor, Boo Radley. Through the trial and their experiences in their hometown of Maycomb, Alabama, Scout and Jem learn about racism and acceptance in the 1930s Deep South. The author . Born in 1926, Lee spent her childhood in Alabama before moving to New York when she was 23. She struggled with odd jobs over the years and, in 1956, decided to write full-time. She found a publisher interested in her novel and completed it three years later. In "Mockingbird," a 2006 biography about Lee, author Charles J. Shields, wrote that the novel is partially autobiographical, based on Lee's childhood in Monroeville, Alabama. Similar to the young protagonist in "To Kill A Mockingbird," Lee was a tomboy whose father was a lawyer. Amazon's 100 books to read in a lifetime . The town where the novel takes place is based on her hometown, and the fictional trial in "Mockingbird" closely parallels the 1931 Alabama "Scottsboro Boys" trial. Lee has said that although she didn't want the trial in her book to be as sensational, her intent was to expose the longstanding racial disparities in the South. It's also believed that she based the character of Scout's playmate, Dill, on her childhood friend, Truman Capote. The two remained close as adults, and after the release of "To Kill a Mockingbird," Lee traveled to Kansas with Capote to research an article he was writing for the New Yorker. That article would later become his famous true-crime story, "In Cold Blood." The book . The book was released in July 1960 and flew off the shelves, but critics had mixed reviews. Some praised it for pushing the envelope with its social commentary, while others found its characters, both black and white, to be poor representations people of the South and their lives. Although it's considered a classic, the book is still among those challenged and banned in schools and libraries, often because of language or its themes around race. 5 best-selling authors' favorite beach reads . Although Lee humbly accepted the success and praise around "To Kill a Mockingbird," she's always been reclusive, avoiding the spotlight and media attention. She began work on another novel in the early 1960s, but "Mockingbird" was her only published work. Fiercely protective of the novel, she's been involved in several lawsuits regarding copyright issues and unauthorized merchandise being sold in her hometown. The film and the future . In 1962, the novel was made into an Oscar-winning film starring Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch. Lee was pleased with the film adaptation, praising Peck's portrayal of the small-town lawyer, and called the film a work of art. This year, Lee finally gave permission for the novel to be published as an e-book and digital audio edition e-book, saying, "I am amazed and humbled that 'Mockingbird' has survived this long. This is 'Mockingbird' for a new generation." Rosemary Murphy dies; played Miss Maudie Atkinson in 'Mockingbird' When did you first read "The Kill A Mockingbird"? Share your memories in the comments, on Twitter @CNNLiving or on CNN Living's Facebook page! | "To Kill a Mockingbird" was published this week in 1960 and was immediately popular .
Just this year, Lee gave permission for "Mockingbird" to be released as an e-book .
The e-book version of the classic was released this week .
The book explores racism in the South through the eyes of children . |
0475eb07f13c539132706f0fd5ef9954d63f508c | Expensive taste: Son of Equatorial Guinea's president, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, wearing a shirt emblazoned with his father's face, has reportedly spent $70million of his country's money . He lives a typical Malibu playboy lifestyle - residing in a sprawling beach mansion, has dated rapper Eve and even splashed out $3million on Michael Jackson memorabilia. But now Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue is set to lose it all after it was revealed that the son of Equatorial Guinea's president is being hunted by the U.S. government for looting more than $70million from his own country. Mangue, 39, used his position as a government minister to siphon millions of dollars for personal use, according to two civil forfeiture complaints filed in Los Angeles and Washington D.C. As part of an international collaboration to retrieve his fortune, the U.S. government is now trying to recover the $70million. U.S. authorities believe the son of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema amassed more than . $100million in various schemes while he served as the country's . forestry minister. Among them were demanding companies pay a 'tax' for doing business in Equatorial Guinea as well as providing Mangue with . gifts and free services, according to court documents filed in the U.S. In what appeared to be a concerted action, France last month seized 11 luxury sports cars belonging to him and a Spanish investigative judge has been asked to seize properties in Madrid and Las Palmas in the Canary Islands owned by the president, his sons and ministers. Equatorial Guinea is a country of around . 680,000 people which has become a major oil, gas and timber producer, . resulting in billions of dollars in revenue. Despite this fact, the majority of the population live on a dollar a day. And despite already having a government . salary of $6,800 a month, Mangue is accused of tapping into the nation's . wealth and indulging his lavish tastes. Mangue, who is American-educated, spent $30million on a Malibu . mansion, $38.5million on a Gulfstream jet and $3.2million on . Michael Jackson memorabilia that included a crystal-covered glove from . the Bad tour and a basketball signed by the singer and Michael Jordan. Wacko for Jacko: Mangue is wanted by the U.S. Government for spending his country's resources on Michael Jackson's crystal-covered glove and a basketball signed by the singer . Life's a beach: The Equatorial Guinea minister is said to have spent $30 million of the country's resources on this extensive Malibu mansion . Worlds apart: The majority of citizens of Equatorial Guinea live on a dollar a day (left) while government minister Mangue spent millions of his nation's wealth in Malibu . Among the other items purchased by Mangue, according to federal officials, was a 2011 Ferrari . valued at more than $530,000. 'We are sending the message loud and . clear: The United States will not be a hiding place for the ill-gotten . riches of the world's corrupt leaders' Assistant Attorney General . Lanny Breuer . He also stored 24 luxury cars worth . nearly $10million at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles and . shipped them to France, which has reportedly since seized 11 of them. Last year it was reported that Mangue was dating the rapper and actress Eve, spending close . to $700,000 to rent Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen's 303-foot yacht . Tatoosh to impress her, according to the New York Post. A friend of Eve told the New York . tabloid that he had been chasing her for a long time and that she . finally gave in to his invitation. Meet and greet: The Obamas meet president of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and his wife Costancia . All about Eve: The playboy is said to have rented a super-yacht from Microsoft billionaire to impress the rapper and actress . The Grammy award winner was reportedly named in the ongoing investigation into Mangue and foreign corruption. Eve used her Twitter account to deny the allegations and urged her fans not to believe everything they read. Authorities are seeking to . recover $70million in stolen funds from Mangue for 'the benefit of the . people of the country from which it was taken'. Assistant Attorney General . Lanny Breuer said: 'We are sending the message loud and . clear: The United States will not be a hiding place for the ill-gotten . riches of the world's corrupt leaders.' An email message left for Purificacion Angue Ondo, Equatorial Guinea's ambassador to the U.S., was not immediately returned. Mangue would give various stories to banks that questioned his large sums of cash, authorities said. When Nguema opened an account at a California bank in 2007, he claimed that he acquired money from a family inheritance along with trading expensive, custom-made cars. His father, who has led Equatorial Guinea since 1979, has been . accused by Amnesty International of torturing and unjustly imprisoning . political opponents. Bad investment: Mangue (left) spent millions on Michael Jackson memorabilia including the famous crystal-covered glove . Lavish luxuries: He is said to have spent $38.5million on a Gulfstream jet (file picture) The U.S. Senate Permanent . Subcommittee on Investigations issued reports in 2004 and last year . regarding possible corruption by Equatorial Guinea government officials. The 2010 report found that powerful . foreign officials and their families used attorneys, real estate agents . and lobbyists to circumvent anti-corruption laws. In the two civil forfeiture complaints, it is stated that Mangue's assets can be . forfeited because he engaged in misappropriation and theft of public . funds for his benefit. Poverty: Malabo neighbourhood in Equatorial Guinea stands in contrast to President Mbasogo's riches . Equatorial Guinea was a relatively ignored place until American energy company Exxon Mobil discovered oil and gas there in 1994. U.S. companies continue to dominate the industry there but face growing competition. Most oil from the country, which produces billions of dollars in annual revenue, is exported to America. Despite its newfound wealth, life for the vast majority of the country's 680,000 people remains a struggle. The majority live below the poverty line with tens of thousands having no access to electricity or clean water. It was listed by U.S. think tank Freedom House as among one of the world's worst regimes along with North Korea, Burma and Somalia. President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo seized power in 1979 from his uncle, who said he was a sorcerer and collected human skulls. The President has created a one-party state in a country with Africa's most notorious prison, Black Beach, which is known for its torture. | Son of Equatorial Guinea's president splashed out $38.5m on private jet .
Dated rapper Eve and 'hired super-yacht for $700,000 to impress her'
American-educated 39-year-old also spent $30m on Malibu mansion .
Shelled out $39m on Gulfstream jet and 24 cars worth almost $10m . |
0475fae90b27e28592648e32fd8ed6f87cc34b02 | A former banana importer who was involved in a fatal drug-fueled threesome has been sentenced to up to four years in prison after beating his girlfriend of six months to a pulp at their New York home. Thomas Hoey Jr, 46, the wealthy owner of now-bankrupt Long Island Banana Corp, 'brutally attacked' Alison Bretherick, 29, at their Manhattan apartment in 2012, then tried to conceal the evidence. After the 'vicious' assault, Miss Bretherick was left bleeding from the scalp, unable to hear in one ear and with a red and swollen face. She also suffered several chipped teeth, court documents state. Attack: Thomas Hoey Jr (left), 46, the wealthy owner of now-bankrupt Long Island Banana Corp, 'brutally attacked' Alison Bretherick (right) at their Manhattan apartment in 2012, then tried to conceal the evidence . Despite her injuries, the victim defended her millionaire boyfriend in court, pleading with Judge Daniel Fitzgerald for mercy on his behalf. 'I miss him every day,' she said in an emotion-choked voice. However, apparently unmoved, Judge Fitzgerald handed down the maximum sentence to Hoey - who had previously been convicted of third-degree assault and tampering with evidence - on Friday. He sentenced the defendant to up to four years in prison, and also extended an order of protection aimed at keeping him away from Miss Bretherick for five years, the New York Daily News reported. The sentencing comes just a month before Hoey is due to be sentenced in a pending federal court matter for giving cocaine to a woman, who later died, during a three-way hotel sex romp in 2009. In the latter case, Hoey faces up to 11 years for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to suborn perjury and obstruction of justice relating to the incident at Manhattan's ritzy Kitano Hotel. He allegedly delayed a call for help when 41-year-old mother-of-two Kimberly Calo collapsed on the floor and started frothing at the mouth after overdosing on cocaine at the $700-a-night venue.. Threesome: In March, Hoey is due to be sentenced in a pending federal court matter for giving cocaine to Kimberly Calo, who later died, during a three-way hotel sex romp in 2009. Above, Hoey has been accused of pressuring the other participant in the sex romp, Nicole Zobkiw (pictured), his then girlfriend, to lie in court . Luxurious: The millionaire banana mogul faces up to 11 years for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to suborn perjury and obstruction of justice relating to the incident at Manhattan's ritzy Kitano Hotel (pictured) Hoey, who was dubbed the 'Banana King' by the media after Miss Calo's death hit the headlines in 2012, admitted to providing the high-quality cocaine to the personal trainer during the romp. He has also been accused of pressuring the other participant in the threesome, Nicole Zobkiw, his then girlfriend, to lie in court. Miss Zobkiw has since died of a suspected cocaine overdose. In Friday's beating case, Hoey entered the courtroom in handcuffs, winking at Miss Bretherick before she made a plea for mercy on his behalf to Judge Fitzgerald, denying that he had assaulted her. 'My life and city was taken from me along with my happiness of living with my boyfriend,' Miss Bretherick, a former University of Pennsylvania swimmer, told the court in a tearful voice. Death: Hoey allegedly delayed a call for help when Ms Calo (pictured), a mother of two, collapsed on the floor and started frothing at the mouth after overdosing on cocaine at the $700-a-night venue . She added that the court process has left her 'abused, disregarded and disrespected - none of which Tom makes me feel.' Hoey then told the judge: 'I love Alison and I would never hurt her.' But sentencing Hoey, Judge Fitzgerald said he had shown no remorse, saying: 'The assault was vicious. There was blood and at the time, the defendant lied to the police about how it happened.' He added: 'Moreover, I believe he influenced Miss Bretherick to lie to them also.' Miss Bretherick had only been with Hoey for six months when she was subjected to the assault. Court documents state a neighbor called 911 after hearing cries on March 30, 2012. Before police arrived, Hoey tried to clean up blood leading from an apartment door to a stairwell. During an interview with police, Hoey reportedly told officers, who saw his girlfriend's red and swollen face on the day of the attack, that the blood had come from him picking his nose. At Friday's sentencing, Assistant District Attorney Laura Millendorf said there was undeniable physical evidence that Miss Bretherick had suffered facial and head injuries during the beating. 'The back of her head laceration was bloody, fresh and deep when they arrived,' Ms Millendorf said. 'It was so deep, in spite of the fact that she showered and was attempting to hide the laceration, they could see it from across the room.' She added: 'This assault was brutal and his attempts to cover up this crime are equally as serious.' Hoey was previously alleged to have beaten Miss Bretherick so often and so viciously that she once scribbled on the back of a photograph, 'If you find me dead, Thomas hoey did it'. Under the limited protection order, Miss Bretherik is able to contact and visit Hoey behind bars. | Thomas Hoey Jr, 46, beat girlfriend Alison Bretherick, 29, to a pulp in 2012 .
Victim left bleeding from scalp, unable to hear in one ear and with red face .
Despite injuries, she defended Hoey in court, saying he had never hurt her .
However, Judge Fitzgerald sentenced millionaire to up to 4 years in prison .
Said Hoey had tried to conceal evidence after the 'vicious' New York attack .
Ruling comes month before former banana importer is due to be sentenced in pending court matter involving a fatal threesome in luxury hotel in 2009 .
Kimberly Calo died after overdosing on cocaine during notorious sex romp .
Hoey admitted to providing drugs; also accused of pressuring other woman involved, Nicole Zobkiw - then girlfriend who has since died - to lie in court . |
047626f937f7fa50d1886cc252e247d64c71a6b9 | Four walls, a bed and a slop bowl. If prison represents physical confinement and a loss of every personal freedom, what does imprisonment of the mind feel like? "Unbearable" according to Marcus Urban, a German footballer who gave up his chosen profession -- his "first love" -- because of homophobia in the game. In a sport infamous for macho bravado on the pitch and anti-gay chants in the terraces, Urban was battling an unspeakable shame. A promising talent, Urban in his youth played alongside and against future German national team stars Robert Enke, Bernd Schneider and Thomas Linke. "To play soccer basically means to rejoice in life," Urban told CNN. "I never stopped playing football. It has always been my first love and it will remain forever." But, as is the case with so many first loves, Urban's left him with a heartbreak which was almost too much to bear. The young midfielder, born and raised in East Germany in the 1970s and 80s in the days before reunification with West Germany in 1990, dreamed of representing his country -- but he was living an exhausting double life. On the surface he was a rising football star, but beneath he was a man coming to terms with his homosexuality. "I hid 24 hours a day, I adjusted," explained Urban, who was terrified of being "outed" in a sport which today has just one openly gay professional player in Europe. "It was an almost unbearable pain, a great sacrifice, a painful price to pay to achieve my goal of becoming a professional footballer. "Constantly hearing gay used as a curse word like s**t, made me think, 'Of course, I'm s**t.' I spent 50% of my energy trying to hide, so a maximum of 50% of my energy was available for football. It wasn't fair. "I kept thinking, 'I cannot do this anymore, I don't want to. What is going on?' Nobody was there to help me." Urban's love affair with football began in 1978, when he joined East German club Motor Weimar at the age of seven before moving to Rot-Weiss Erfurt in 1984. He trained twice a day with his new team and looked capable of achieving his ambition of playing for the German national team, winning a youth championship with Rot-Weiss in 1985. His reputation was growing and he was called up to East Germany's youth team in 1986. Urban went on to make over 100 appearances for Rot-Weiss' senior team in the German second division. But rather than marking the start of his rise to the top of German football, Urban's spell in Erfurt proved to be the peak of a career cut short by fear, insecurity and self-loathing. "By my early 20s I was burned out," he said. "I realized that if I became a professional footballer, I would suffer as a man. I chose freedom over a constructed prison. "Talent is not enough. You need the will, physical fitness, good luck and a tough mentality. But what if you hide 24 hours a day because you are gay? "The fear and pain robbed me of my energy because I was constantly thinking of what to say, how to act so people might think I was heterosexual." When it became clear he was in the twilight of his playing career, Urban finally summoned the courage to open up to one of his teammates following a switch to provincial club SC 1903 Weimar in 1991. "I told only one player, in Weimar at the end of my career -- and precisely for this reason," said Urban. "He found it interesting that I was gay, I was one of his best friends on the team." Compared to other areas of society, the football profession is statistically lacking in openly gay players. Former United States national team player Robbie Rogers recently announced he was gay on the same day he retired from the sport, while Sweden-based Anton Hysen is currently the only openly "out" player in Europe. Justin Fashanu's tragic story is the last time a top-flight player has been so open. The Englishman committed suicide in 1998, aged 37 -- just eight years after announcing that he was gay. He had become the first £1 million black player when he joined Nottingham Forest in 1981. Speaking at a sports forum in Berlin last September, German chancellor Angela Merkel urged gay players to feel confident enough to "come out." Her comments came following an article in a German magazine in which an anonymous gay Bundesliga player said the fear of added media attention was the reason why he hadn't announced his sexuality. German second division team FC St. Pauli placed itself on the front line of football's battle with homophobia during a match with Paderborn. Fans of the club, formerly run by openly gay president Corny Littmann, staged a demonstration against discrimination which included brightly-colored posters and a banner reading, "Football is everything -- even gay." Basketballer Jason Collins recently made history by becoming the first openly gay NBA player, while the NHL has drawn plaudits for its anti-homophobia work. Fifteen years on from Fashanu's suicide, with other sports such as rugby and basketball setting a precedent and with the NFL reportedly closer than ever to having a homosexual player, is the beautiful game ready for a high-profile gay star? "Why not?" replied Urban. "It is a great opportunity for the football world to show now that it is ready. Associations and clubs can come out as 'gay-friendly'. Then players, officials, coaches, referees and so many others will follow. "The effects of outings gay footballers will go far beyond football." After years of torment and secrecy, Urban's coming out proved to be a turning point. With new-found confidence, he was able to pursue a life away from the football pitch. Urban has told his story in the book "Hidden Player: The story of a gay footballer," while he is also something of a life coach, consulting with organizations -- including football associations -- on issues of diversity and integration. "I was so glad to finally be myself and I finally knew what the years of torment had been about," he explained. "With the energy and force of liberation I went on the front foot, on the offensive. "I work as a personal coach and diversity consultant. I work for organizations and I help them to appreciate the dimensions of age, ethnicity, gender, religion and even sexual orientations." With a wealth of personal and professional expertise on the subject of "coming out," Urban is in a unique position to offer advice to any player in a similar situation to the one he found himself in two decades ago. According to Urban, former Wales international rugby player Gareth Thomas -- who told the world he was gay in 2009 -- has set out the perfect blueprint for others to follow. "He proceeded in stages," Urban said of Thomas. "First he outed himself to his wife. Then he told his coach and then two players. After each step he received positive feedback. "He was told by everyone that he was still the same person. This enabled him to increase his self-esteem until it was big enough to go public. He then got exceptionally positive feedback." An openly gay football star would be a turning point not just for the sport, declares Urban, but also for society as a whole. Football, he suggests, stretches into areas where attitudes towards homosexuality have so far proved difficult to change. "Football is the only way to tackle this topic comprehensively," he said. "Very many people are geared towards football role models on television. "If world soccer stars accepted their homosexuality, young people would question having to be so rough and macho. "The result would be a social change that goes far beyond football." Urban is now comfortable with his sexuality, but he is not impervious to the homophobic barbs he often overhears in general conversation. "'F****, f****t', any negative way of calling someone gay," replies Urban when asked which insults he hears. "I was constantly affected by insults. Although it is not said to me directly it concerns me, even today." "But today, with more self-esteem and confidence, I look at homophobia from the perspective of a personal coaches and diversity consultant. Sometimes I have to laugh about it too, because it's stupid and ridiculous." Self-esteem and confidence have helped Urban to heal the wounds inflicted by his first love, football. He is once more besotted with the sport, playing with and against gay-friendly teams from across the globe. It might not be playing at a World Cup with the German national team, but Urban is now back on the pitch, this time with his head held high. "I really wanted to play for the men's national team," reflected Urban. "It makes me happy to have made something out of my experiences. "For years I could never play football in the stadium. I saw the grass and could not stand being a spectator rather than being down playing on the pitch. I had regrets, I was sad and angry. "After I came out I was so much more confident. I played football at university, in a team consisting predominantly of gay footballers against other gay teams from Paris, London or New York and Washington. "Today, I play at a club in Hamburg, accepted by everyone and my teammates are proud of me, I think. It is a great experience to play football and to feel free, pure happiness. "There are certainly more boring lives than mine." | Marcus Urban was an East German footballer who retired to live as openly gay .
A talented midfielder Urban represented East Germany as a youth international .
NBA player Jason Collins "came out" in an interview with Sports Illustrated last month .
Former United States midfielder recently announced he was after retiring from soccer . |
0476a03037387b2cb086f32c03b607728e938ade | Missouri Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon forcefully pushed back Tuesday against his Republican Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder, saying it's 'false and absurd' to suggest he failed to deploy National Guard troops Monday in downtown Ferguson, Missouri because the Obama administration intervened. 'Politics has nothing to do with what anyone up here is doing,' Nixon insisted, referring to police commanders standing behind hi, during a mid-afternoon press conference. 'Politics has not one bit to do with the tasks at hand ... with the seriousness of this mission,' he said. Kinder had accused the Obama administration on Monday night of pressuring Nixon into keeping militarized guardsmen out of the riot zone as buildings in Ferguson burned, police cars were set alight and gunfire pierced the night's chaos. Nixon also dodged a question on Tuesday about whether or not guardsmen were positioned in downtown Ferguson before chaos erupted. 'Politics has not one bit to do with the tasks at hand,' Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon insisted when confronted with questions about whether the federal government had leaned on him to keep National Guard troops out of downtown Ferguson . Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder said Monday night that the only reason National Guard troops were kept out of Ferguson was pressure from the Obama administration . OUT OF DANGER: National Guard troops were stationed everywhere but Ferguson's central business district on Monday . Nixon officially mobilized the Missouri National Guard a week ago but their duties on Monday were restricted to keeping the peace at a courthouse, patrolling the outskirts of town and preventing disturbances in other suburbs. Only Tuesday morning did the guard's camouflaged humvees roll down West Florissant Avenue where rioters had looted, torched and smashed countless businesses – and fired weapons in the direction of first responders. Nixon sidestepped a reporter's request to comment on whether Guard troops were present on West Florissant Avenue, Ferguson's main commercial street, before the grand jury decision was announced Monday night. He said, however, that 700 guardsmen were deployed Monday to 100 locations – mostly command posts – so that other law enforcement personnel were freed up to manage riots. Nixon added that Tuesday night's deployment had been upped to 2,200. Kinder, however, was apoplectic on Monday. Nixon 'declared a State of Emergency almost a week ago and mobilized the National Guard,' he told a Fox News Channel audience. 'Then they were kept away at the crucial time while Ferguson burned.' 'We know they were kept away because they did not come in and stop that from the get-go. They were deployed in other parts of the St. Louis region,' he said. 'Why were they not in there at the first sign of an overturned police car or a smashed police car window with a show of force that would have stopped this?' The lawlessness began after a grand jury declined after a grand jury declined to indict a white police officer in the shooting death of a black teen who attacked him. OUT OF SIGHT: This National Guard humvee was photographed in Clayton, Missouri on Tuesday – 13 miles away from Ferguson – near the county courthouse where grad jurors made their decision . OUT OF FERGUSON: These guardsmen were posted in nearby Dellwood, Missouri on Tuesday but never ventured into the urban war zone . 'A NATION OF COWARDS': Attorney General Eric Holder (left) visited Ferguson's city center in late August but reportedly pressured Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon to keep the National Guard from following suit . Rioters burned buildings, fired guns at police officers and firefighters, looted and set police cars ablaze. 'Here's my question that the governor must answer,' Kinder demanded: 'Is the reason that the national guard was not in there because the Obama administration and the Holder Justice Department leaned on you to keep them out?' 'I cannot imagine any other reason why the governor who mobilized the National Guard would not have them in [downtown Ferguson] to stop this before it started.' Kinder is a Republican. Nixon is a Democrat. In Missouri the two offices are elected separately. The Obama Department of Justice, led by outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder, expressed frustration a week ago after Nixon held a press conference to announce that he had called the guard up to active duty. A top Holder aide called Nixon's office to relay the message, according to The Washington Post. 'Instead of de-escalating the situation, the governor escalated it,' a DOJ official told the Post. 'He sent the wrong message. The tone of the press conference was counterproductive.' WRONG NEIGHBORHOOD? Guardsmen kept watch outside a shopping mall on Tuesday . PROTECTING THE SYSTEM: Members of Missouri National Guard patrolled outside the Buzz Westfall Justice Center before the announcement of the grand jury decision . Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon buckled to pressure from Washington and kept his state's National Guard unit on the sidelines, according to the lieutenant governor . As his town descended into burning chaos, Ferguson Mayor James Knowles grew angry at the absence of National Guard troops. He told reporters that he could not reach state government officials to get help. 'I've called every number that I've got ... All I've been able to do is leave messages,' he told KTVI-TV2 in St. Louis. 'They were deployed at other parts of the St. Louis region ... Why were they not in [Ferguson] at the first sign of an overturned police car or a smashed police car window with a show of force that would have stopped this?' 'I’ve requested the National Guard troops to come out from the command post to help restore order along the business district,' he insisted. 'We have not seen that.' 'It’s my understanding that the commanders out on the street have requested this, and those calls have gone unheeded at this point. ... We need to have the governor step up, give us the resources that he’s promised from the beginning.' | Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon drew fire from Republican Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder for calling in the guard but then never deploying them into the riot zone .
Nixon fired back Tuesday, calling the accusation 'false and absurd'
Kinder had pointed fingers at Attorney General Eric Holder and the Obama administration, saying they pressured Nixon to show restraint .
'I cannot imagine any other reason why the governor who mobilized the National Guard would not have them in [Ferguson] to stop this'
Guardsmen were deployed to other St. Louis suburbs Monday night but only arrived in Ferguson on Tuesday morning to survey the wreckage .
Nixon dodged a question about whether or not guard troops were on Ferguson's main streets before the chaos erupted . |
04771b4775dfcfc83ee2a41c22eb6d56cdbca400 | By . Will Stewart In Moscow . PUBLISHED: . 10:37 EST, 15 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:40 EST, 15 May 2013 . A 12-year-old Russian boy was stabbed nearly two dozen times while on holiday on the island of Crete, allegedly by a Dutchman working as an entertainer at the child's hotel, Greek authorities said. Nikita Onishchenko, who was on holiday with his family, was airlifted to Athens by military plane after being stabbed 20 times on the chest, back and other parts of the body. He was left in a 'comatose state' in a 'serious' condition and is now expected to undergo urgent surgery. His distraught mother Ekaterina was at his bedside, having flown with him from Crete to a children's hospital in Athens. Knife attack: The 12-year-old Russian victim, who was stabbed at least 20 times, is moved from an ambulance at Herakleion airport in Crete to be flown to hospital in Athens . Trauma: The mother of the 12 year-old victim waits outside the hospital of Iraklio, on the island of Crete . Meanwhile, the authorities, fearing . damage to their lucrative foreign tourist market during the current . economic crisis, insisted that Greece is a safe country for tourists who . should not be put off by a one-off case. Nikita, from Moscow, vanished from five-star hotel in the Hersonissos region in northern Crete and his mother raised the alarm at 9pm on Tuesday. Officers scoured the area for hours . before finding the wounded boy at about 2 a.m., lying behind disused . piping and building material at the edge of a field used as a parking . lot near the hotel. An unnamed Dutchman - an entertainer at the hotel where the family was staying - was yesterday in police custody after police stated that he had confessed to the stabbing as well as to stealing an iPad and mobile phone from the boy. A search finally found Nikita at 2am on Wednesday lying 'in a pool of blood' in bushes on the edge of a field near the hotel. Forensics officers search the spot where the boy was attacked by the 20-year old Dutch hotel entertainer . The young victim and his family were staying at the luxury Mitsis Laguna Resort and Spa on the island of Crete . Scene: The cordoned-off area where the 12-year-old Russian boy was found . wounded. He is in a serious condition but his injuries are not believed . to be life-threatening . Police said the Dutchman had allegedly taken the boy's mobile phone and laptop from the hotel's entertainment area earlier in the evening. A preliminary investigation indicated the boy later tracked down the man, finding him near the hotel with the stolen items. Police said the man then led the boy into the parking lot, stabbed him and abandoned him. Authorities later found the knife believed to have been used in the attack, and recovered the laptop and mobile phone. Police claimed to have found the attack weapon which had been washed and hidden in a fire hose. 'He is still in critical condition,' said Panos Ephstathiou, head of the medical centre, where the child was initially treated. 'The patient can later face serious problems with the lower limbs. Unfortunately, in such cases, the injuries often lead to paralysis of the legs.' Russian reports of the case suggested a possible sexual motive in the attack, but there was no confirmation of this by the Greek authorities. Greece last night acted to play down fears over its safety as a tourist destination. 'I am sincerely sorry for what happened. Greece is a safe country,' said Health Minister Andreas Lykourentzos. 'Greece is a hospitable country and the National Health System is in a position to meet anychallenge, whether it concerns a Greek citizen or a tourist.' | Russian boy discovered wounded on the edge of a field .
He is being treated in the main children's hospital in Athens .
His condition was described as 'serious but not life-threatening'
20-year-old entertainer has been arrested on charges of attempted murder . |
0477626e7beca3652ff1616b858efff6b1dabcb3 | (CNN) -- It's every African-American parent's nightmare: seeing your son being led away in handcuffs when you know he's done nothing wrong. The surreal scene happened to me one recent morning. While sitting in my backyard I heard adult male voices around the side of the house. I opened the gate and saw a white police officer handcuffing my 13-year-old son. The plainclothes Evanston, Illinois, officer and his partner did not identify themselves as police. They did not ask our son's age or where he lived. They told him first to put his hands up and then handcuffed him. They assumed he was guilty, of what we didn't know. His crime appeared to be that he was a black male. Later, we would listen to the 911 tape of what preceded the incident. It was apparent police had targeted my son while he was riding his bike home from a friend's house. Why? According to officers, he fit the description of a burglary suspect who had allegedly entered a nearby home. The description they offered: a black male wearing cargo shorts. Our son was wearing cargo shorts, but that identification could have applied to hundreds of black males in Evanston on that particular day. Why didn't the 911 dispatcher ask for a more detailed description of his skin color? His build? Whether he had facial hair? (He doesn't.) Whether he had a tattoo or piercings? (He doesn't.) Or whether he was wearing a hat? (He was.) Authorities on the scene didn't care about my son's other attributes. He is an honor roll student, saxophone player, basketball player and law-abiding teenager. All they saw was his gender and race. To make matters worse, after handcuffing him, police paraded him to the front of our house in full view of neighbors and passersby, and at least three other armed, uniformed officers surrounded him and me. They leaned him against a cop car, his hands still cuffed behind him, and made him wait so the alleged victim could be driven over to identify him in what's known as a "show up." When I protested, asking why my son needed to be handcuffed, they told me he might flee. Give me a break! He's going to try to run with five armed cops and his mother standing near him? The humiliation of being forced to participate in a quasi-lineup was unconscionable. When the alleged victim said our son was not the intruder, the officer uncuffed him and his partners left almost as quickly as they had swarmed in. But before the officer who handcuffed our son left, I demanded an apology. The halfhearted response seemed insincere at best. He didn't even look either of us in the eyes. These officers clearly did not like it that I verbally resisted my son's detainment or my telling them it seemed like racial profiling. That police could handcuff a fully cooperating, nonresisting 13-year-old boy at his home with his mother in plain sight ought to leave all Americans shaking in their boots. It was unnecessary. It was unfair -- un-American. But it happens more often than we know, particularly to young African-Americans, who often don't have the resources to advocate for themselves. This is the United States of America, where one is supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. But this rarely applies if you're a male of African descent. Trayvon Martin's killer has claimed self-defense, but did Martin deserve to be approached by a neighborhood watchman and shot to death? He was carrying a bag with soda and some Skittles candy, not a weapon. I'm reminded of the 2009 incident involving Harvard University Professor Henry Louis Gates, one of the nation's top African-American scholars. Gates returned home to find his key wouldn't work because his lock was jammed. Initially, police thought he was breaking into his own home. Even though he produced identification to prove he lived in the house, he was ultimately arrested for disorderly conduct after he angrily accused officers of racial profiling. Prosecutors dropped the charges. I teach at Northwestern University, which is home to the Medill Innocence Project, a program whose work has overturned wrongful convictions and influenced Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn's effort to end the state's death penalty. It's not surprising that many of those exonerated are African-American men. In fact, the National Registry of Exonerations tracked 958 former convicts exonerated in the United States. Of that total, 45% were African-American men, even though they make up only about 6%-7% of the country's population. Racial profiling has a long history in the United States and there seems to be little relief in the so-called "age of Obama." A 2009 American Civil Liberties Union report called racial and ethnic profiling "a widespread and pervasive problem throughout the United States, impacting the lives of millions of people in African-American, Asian, Latino, South Asian and Arab communities." In 2012 it continues to be a common rite of passage for young black males. Just ask any black male you know and he will tell you a story. No wonder some hate the police. My husband and I cannot undo what happened to our son. At 13 he is now officially inducted into black manhood. I shudder to think what could have happened if I had not been home. Thank God we had taught him at around age 10 to cooperate with police. He complied in every way. But what if he'd gotten scared and run? What if he had reached for his cell phone and police thought it was a weapon? The officers never patted him down. What if police had planted something on him? What if the victim had lied and said my son was the perpetrator? To be sure, police officers have a tough and dangerous job and are vulnerable to injury at a moment's notice. They should try to catch criminals, but not at the expense of treating people with respect and dignity. We have to fight crime without automatically indicting black males. The ACLU report concluded that alienating marginalized groups would ultimately prevent police from reducing crime. When police make mistakes, they must own up to them. They could have identified themselves first and politely asked my son some questions with me present. They also could have profusely apologized. Despite our harrowing experience, I know we are lucky. It was 10 minutes of our lives. The truth prevailed and we will move on. But we will never be the same. The incident is forever seared into my brain and is giving me sleepless nights. The worry I already had for my son being away from home or school is now magnified right at the time he wants to be more independent. We've told our son that he shouldn't think all police officers are bad. However, it is clear more training of Evanston dispatchers and police officers is needed. To parents of African-American youth, as your children (particularly males) return to the routine of classes and homework, remember to school them about the police. They are not always their friends. It's unfair that black parents have to teach this lesson while most white parents don't. But if we don't educate them early and often we may be sending them to an early grave. Follow CNN Opinion on Twitter. Join the conversation on Facebook. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Ava Thompson Greenwell. | Ava Thompson Greenwell: Recently her son, 13, was stopped, handcuffed by police .
She says it happened next to her house, she objected, they said they were seeking burglar .
She says her son was stopped because he was black .
Greenwell: Every black mother's nightmare, that her son could be profiled. This must stop . |
0478612a19ab9c9b8fa8669be840996d3cf0bfe7 | Brooksville, Florida (CNN) -- Freda Green thought the battle was over when her husband returned from the Vietnam War. But more than seven years after his death in 2003, she says the U.S. Defense Department is demanding she repay more than $41,000 in benefits the government shelled out as part of an insurance policy he paid into. "They gave me 45 days to pay it back," said Green, 74, who claims the federal government began garnishing her benefit payments when she couldn't pay it all back at once. "They said 45 days, and two weeks later they started taking it out of my check," she said. Green says $577 is now being deducted from her military benefit check each month. The reason: She got remarried last year. It is a confusing section of a federal law that affects some 57,000 military spouses -- and their children -- who receive military benefits and are now being forced to pay Uncle Sam back after walking down the aisle again, according to Norb Ryan, a retired Navy vice admiral and president of the Military Officers Association of America. "Here we are taxing the groups that have done the most for this country," said Ryan. "If I were in the Pentagon, I'd be awfully embarrassed by this situation." A Pentagon spokesman declined to comment on Green's case. Green's first husband, Jerry, a 33-year Air Force veteran who served during World War II, Korea and Vietnam, elected to pay monthly premiums on an insurance policy for supplemental survivor benefit coverage, she said. The program is a Department of Defense plan, similar to an annuity, that provides the benefit to the surviving spouse. When her husband died from heart and lung problems that the Air Force determined were military-related, Green had to choose between collecting his pension or a separate monthly benefit from the Veterans Administration. She chose the latter. In addition to the monthly benefit, the Pentagon sent her more than $41,000 from the government-sponsored insurance policy her husband purchased. Green said she received the lump-sum check shortly after his death. It prompted her to call the Defense Department for an explanation, she said. "I called Air Force finance, and they said, 'No. That's your money.' I was afraid the money wasn't mine and they made a mistake." The letter from the Air Force reads: "Because Jerry died from 100 percent service connected disabilities, all of the money he paid for survivor's benefits is to be refunded." "That's what they told me," she recalled. Green said she then cashed the check, paying more than $6,000 in taxes. In 2009, a federal judge ruled survivors could get both of the original benefits if they remarry after the age of 57. Green -- who was remarried last April -- then became entitled to collect her husband's pension in addition to the separate Veterans Administration benefits. Uncle Sam is now paying both, but wants the $41,000 back from the supplemental insurance policy, plus 6% interest -- all because of her marriage. A bill that Rep. Joe Wilson, R-South Carolina, introduced last week is meant to fix the issue. "A cost of war is not just guns and ammunition and tanks and airplanes," said Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida. "A cost of war is taking care of veterans and also taking care of the deceased service members widows, widowers, and orphans." The issue may be cost. In congressional testimony, Pentagon officials have opposed eliminating the offset because they believe it would create an inequity as some spouses would receive two benefits while others would receive only one. Ryan said it will cost more than $600 million each year to fully cover all 57,000 remarried military spouses. "The military gave her the money back when he died," said Suzanne Gerstner, a spokeswoman for Gold Star Wives of America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping military widows. "Now they want it back." Gerstner also said it is unfair that Green, and others like her, have to repay the full amount, including the $6,000 she lost in government taxes. "She paid taxes (and) she's going to pay taxes again," Gerstner said. "This isn't right under anybody's book." Green says Congress needs to change the law. "They need to fix it now," she said, saying she feels as though Pentagon and elected officials are "waiting for the military widows to die off." | Widow says the Defense Department demanded she repay $41,000 in benefits after she remarried .
Green says $577 is being deducted from her military benefit check each month .
A Pentagon spokesman declines to comment . |
0479058a7fcccc748246015dfc8b829287266488 | This is the shocking moment a Spanish police officer fell to his death after he was apparently pushed into the path of an oncoming train. The officer, named as 28-year-old Francisco Javier Ortega, was talking to a group on the platform at Madrid's Embajadores station, when it is alleged he asked to see identification papers of one of the men. Bystanders waiting for the train were filming on their mobile phones as a minor scuffle broke out on the platform yesterday. Scroll down for video . The police officer can be seen talking to the group, left, when he allegedly asks one man to produce identification papers, and a small scuffle breaks out, right . Then one of the men appears to grab the officer and drags him on to the tracks, just before a train pulls into the station in the heart of the Spanish capital. Horrified onlookers in the station can then be heard screaming as the pair are both hit by the train. Mr Ortega was then rushed to a nearby hospital but later died from his injuries. The man who is alleged to have pushed him on to the tracks has been named by Spanish newspaper El Pais as 28-year-old Yode Ali Raba from the Ivory Coast. The man can then be seen pulling the officer towards the platform edge, left, before both men end up falling on to the tracks into the path of an oncoming train, right . The paper reports that he illegally entered Spain in 2011 and after surviving the impact of being struck by the train, he is in hospital, where he is being treated for a severe head injury. Today, the Director General of Police in Spain, Ignacio Cosidó described Mr Ortega's death as 'murder'. He told El Pais: 'It is clear that there is intent on taking the agent to the railway tracks and throwing him under when a train was approaching.' The train then strikes the pair, as horrified onlookers, some who had filmed the incident on their mobile phones, began screaming . His comments came after a ceremony took place to posthomously award Mr Ortega the gold medal of police merit. Officers had lined the streets forming a guard of honour as the police officers coffin was brought to an auditorium from a chapel for the medal ceremony to take place. His family were then presented with the national flag and the cap from his uniform, before a funeral mass was held in his honour. | Officer Francisco Javier Ortega was talking to a group at a Madrid station .
Asked one of the men on the platform to produce his identification papers .
Minor scuffle breaks out before one of the men appears to push the officer .
The two men then lose their balance and fall into the path of the train .
Mr Ortega later died in hospital after suffering from severe injuries .
The man who appeared to push him is in hospital with a head injury .
He has been named as Yode Ali Raba from the Ivory Coast who allegedly entered Spain illegally . |
04790610a149632a50733353650982a67aa18518 | ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Abdul Qadeer Khan, the Pakistani scientist who admitted leaking nuclear secrets to North Korea, Iran and Libya and then recanted his confession, has been released from house arrest after it was declared illegal by the Islamabad High Court, his attorney told CNN Friday. Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan meets the media outside his residence Friday. "What the court declared is that he is a free citizen which means effectively... the basic human rights are available to him like any other citizen," said attorney Syed Ali Zafar. The Pakistani government was slow to acknowledge the high court's ruling. A spokesman said the Interior Ministry hasn't received the official court ruling, but will comply with whatever decision was made. Government attorneys said they expected an official announcement to be made by Saturday. But evidence of the end of Khan's house arrest seemed clear outside his home in an upscale part of Islamabad. Where a government security detail previously stood guard with machine guns, cars were parked and reporters roamed the area scratching for details. Khan made a brief appearance, saying he was outside because of the court's ruling, but gave few other details. In Washington, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she is "very much concerned" about Khan's release. Separately, acting deputy State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid said: "This man remains a serious proliferation risk.," he said. "The proliferation support that Khan and his associates provided to Iran and North Korea has had a harmful impact ... on international security and will for years to come." Khan is widely regarded as a hero in Pakistan for his part in helping the country to develop nuclear weapons. In 2004, Khan was placed under house arrest following his admission on Pakistan television that he had been involved in a clandestine international network selling nuclear weapons technology from Pakistan to a host of nations including Iran and North Korea. Pakistan has so far refused to allow the International Atomic Energy Agency and the U.S. access to Khan to quiz him on the extent of the nuclear secrets he sold. "Even if they had asked me I wouldn't have answered," he said last year. In May 2008, Khan denied his involvement with the spread of nuclear arms outside Pakistan. He explained in an interview with ABC News that the Pakistani government and then-President Pervez Musharraf forced him to be a "scapegoat" for the "national interest." He also denies ever traveling to Iran or Libya and said that North Korea's nuclear program was well advanced before his visit. | NEW: U.S. concerned at Abdul Qadeer Khan's release from house arrest .
Pakistani nuclear scientist Khan was placed under house arrest in 2004 .
Admitted selling nuclear weapons technology to Iran, N. Korea, Libya, then recanted .
Khan is regarded as a hero in Pakistan for helping develop nuclear weapons . |
04798bc3225bfc849d8c23307e4d21c4dba63b5c | (CNN) -- Luis Suarez is "now a Barcelona player in all respects," according to the Spanish club. Liverpool and the Spanish side announced last week they had agreed terms for the sale of the Uruguay international, with a transfer fee reported to be in the region of £75 million ($128.5 million.) Suarez, who was due to sign a five-year contract with the Catalan giants, traveled to Barcelona Tuesday to complete the transfer. Although no official announcement has been made, Barca sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta revealed in a news conference Wednesday that a deal has now been finalized. Following the four-month ban from football-related activity imposed by FIFA on Suarez for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup, Zubizarreta conceded he had to be careful what he said about the striker. When the transfer has been officially announced, Barcelona will be unable to unveil Suarez due to his ban. The Spanish club have presented previous big-money signings, such as Cesc Fabregas and Neymar, to their supporters at the Camp Nou stadium. Despite appealing, Suarez saw FIFA uphold his suspension last week, and he will now take his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland in hope that the sanction will be overturned. Suarez joined Liverpool in January 2011 from Dutch club Ajax for £22.8 million ($39 million), scoring 82 goals in 133 appearances. He played a pivotal role in the Reds' title challenge last year, netting 31 times in 37 appearances. Liverpool came up just short in the race for the English Premier League title, finishing second to Manchester City, but ensured Champions League football for the first time in four seasons. Costa signs . One long-standing transfer that has definitely been concluded is that of Diego Costa's move to Chelsea. Costa has long been linked with a move from Atletico Madrid, and the London side announced Tuesday that a deal has been completed. It is reported that Chelsea met the striker's buy-out clause, believed to be worth £32 million ($54.8 million). The 25-year-old, who helped Atletico to the Spanish La Liga title and the European Champions League final last season, has signed a five-year contract. Costa, who was born in Brazil but was part of Spain's squad at the 2014 World Cup, expressed his delight at joining Chelsea, while he revealed he is looking forward to working under manager Jose Mourinho. "I am very happy to sign for Chelsea. Everybody knows it is a big club in a very competitive league, and I am very excited to get started in England with a fantastic coach and teammates," he told Chelsea's official website. "Having played against Chelsea last season [in the European Champions League] I know the high quality of the squad I am joining. "I would like to thank everybody at Atletico who made me into the player I am, it was an incredible time for me, but now I am starting a new adventure and I hope to win many trophies with Chelsea." Costa will be joined at his new club by a familiar face in former Atletico teammate Filipe Luis. Chelsea confirmed Wednesday that an agreement has been reached to sign the left-back, who also played a key part in securing Atletico's first Spanish championship in 18 years. Luis is reported to be joining for a fee of £20 million ($34.25 million), with the move subject to the 28-year-old agreeing personal terms with the English side. Elsewhere, Liverpool confirmed the signing of Lazar Markovic from Benfica Tuesday. The 20-year-old winger is the English club's fourth signing of the summer -- after Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Emre Can -- and he cannot wait to get started. "I am very happy that I have joined such a great club," he told Liverpool's official website. "I hope that I will fulfill the expectations of the supporters, coaches, players and all connected to the club. "I have seen what the players are like, I have seen what the supporters are like, and I cannot wait to start playing here." | Luis Suarez has completed his move to Barcelona, according to the Spanish club .
Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta confirmed the news Wednesday .
Diego Costa has joined Chelsea from Atletico Madrid .
Costa will be joined by former Atletico teammate Filipe Luis. |
047a002209d9cb1a08ae5b39bab4601382f676de | Katie Bowman claims she is being harrased by police after splitting from her PC boyfriend . A forensic science graduate says her life was made a misery after she was allegedly harassed by police following a split from her PC boyfriend. Katie Bowman, who has never been convicted of a crime, claims police interest in her – which saw her stopped 70 times for suspected offences ranging from drink-driving to assault – meant she could ‘barely leave the house’. The 24-year-old alleges she was targeted over 28 months by Thames Valley Police officers from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, after splitting from Alexander Ash. Miss Bowman says that despite never . securing a conviction against her, the force has kept damaging . intelligence reports on her which are stopping her getting a job. She . has won the support of her local MP, Attorney General Dominic Grieve, . who said he was ‘seriously concerned’ by damning comments held on file . about her, which he said bordered on ‘trivial’. Miss . Bowman claims the harassment started in earnest in 2007 when she was 18 . and PC Ash, also based in High Wycombe, was disciplined by his force . for making inappropriate contact with her after their split. PC . Ash, who denies ever having been in a relationship with Miss Bowman, . said this disciplinary action instead related to drunken behaviour on a . night out with friends. Papers . obtained by Miss Bowman’s family suggest that more than ten of the 40 . intelligence reports on her were filed by a friend and colleague of PC . Ash. Following . court action by her family, Thames Valley Police launched a review last . year and earlier this year and removed 20 of the reports. However, . the Bowmans have vowed to take legal action to clear her name fully. They also hope to bring the officers they claim are involved to justice . and to seek compensation. Miss . Bowman, now engaged and expecting her first child, says she was . breathtested 70 times – 54 in one year from September 2007. Each time . the result was negative. She . was stopped on suspicion of possessing drugs and given a caution for an . alleged assault – later rescinded after a professional standards . investigation. Her car was seized eight times, and she was given . disorder penalty notices. Miss Bowman, 24, alleges she was targeted over 28 months by Thames Valley Police officers from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, after splitting from PC Alexander Ash (file picture) Her . father Brian Bowman, from Hertfordshire, said: ‘Katie could barely . leave the house without being stopped. Her life was made an utter misery . by a gang – but a gang in police uniform.’ Miss . Bowman says that, with the support of Mr Grieve, she has repeatedly . complained to the force. She has successfully challenged the more . serious allegations which would have led to a criminal record. Mr . Grieve has written to Thames Valley Chief Constable Sara Thornton . twice, branding the reports kept on Miss Bowman as ‘entirely lacking in . substance’. He told the Mail: ‘I am very concerned, her allegation is of . a serious nature.’ One . intelligence report alleges a set of blue LED decorative lights placed . pointing into the footwell of her car amounted to unlawfully displaying . emergency blue lights. Despite . never leading to an arrest, the claims showed up in CRB checks and cost . Miss Bowman her job as an ambulance call handler in 2007 and saw her . sacked from another job as a student paramedic three years later. It . also stopped her becoming a special constable in 2011. In . his letter to the chief constable, Mr Grieve said she ‘is a person of . good character... adversely affected by the numerous derogatory comments . made about her by police’. Having met Miss Bowman twice, he found it ‘difficult’ to match up the image of her as ‘the wayward teenager’ portrayed in police reports. He also raised concerns that the possible motive for the police’s conduct is that she was being punished for getting PC Ash in trouble. Last night PC Ash, 31, who married recently, said: ‘I met her on a night out about six years ago and again when she came for an open day for prospective employees who want to join the force.’ The roads policing officer added: ‘I think she was upset because I wouldn’t go out with her and made several allegations about me. I have absolutely no idea why she would say we were an item.’ Thames Valley Police said: ‘The need to retain the intelligence reports relating to Ms Bowman was reviewed in 2012 (following which a number were removed) and in 2013 following further requests made on her behalf. ‘Thames Valley Police will not be commenting on the details of the reports, but we seek to comply with all aspects of the Data Protection Act and the national standards for the management of police information.’ The force said it had investigated a complaint from Miss Bowman in 2009 that ‘officers from High Wycombe have harassed her by causing her to be stopped, arrested, her vehicle seized and maliciously prosecuted’. It added: ‘The complaint was found to be unsubstantiated and Miss Bowman’s appeal to the IPCC was not upheld.’ | 24-year-old claims Thames Valley Police targeted her over 28 months .
Says damaging intelligence reports on her are stopping her getting a job .
Her car was seized eight times, and she was given disorder penalty notices .
PC was allegedly disciplined for making contact with her after their split .
Claims they were never an item and she is making allegations against him . |
047a9992d3488c27394c391711aa3ecfa1992a45 | By . Eleanor Harding . PUBLISHED: . 13:38 EST, 18 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 18:03 EST, 19 September 2012 . Vile internet trolls branded murder suspect Dale Cregan a ‘legend’ yesterday as they continued to pay homage to him on twisted ‘tribute pages’. Social networking websites have been awash with comments praising one-eyed Cregan since his arrest – as well as messages attacking the two murdered policewomen. Trolls on Facebook called him ‘Sir Dale’. Last night, the website’s administrators were criticised for failing to remove the offensive content fast enough. A webpage describing murder suspect Dale Cregan as 'the greatest legend since Raoul Moat' has been put up on Facebook . Several ‘tribute’ sites were deleted . on Tuesday night but were created again yesterday morning and were live . for more than five hours. Numerous people said they had reported . the content to both Facebook and Greater Manchester Police. Julie Reid, . councillor for Gorton South in Manchester, wrote on Twitter: . ‘Absolutely disgusting Facebook page Dale Cregan Legend needs to be . taken down. Some appalling comments’. On the page entitled ‘Dale Cregan Legend’, someone wrote that Cregan was ‘the greatest legend’. The pages appeared to be set up anonymously, although some of those commenting appeared to be using their own names. Victims: PC Nicola Hughes, 23, (left) and PC Fiona Bone, 32, (right) were killed after being attacked by gunfire and a grenade while . attending a report of a burglary in the Hattersley area of Greater Manchester . On a page entitled ‘Sir Dale Cregan Is A Hero and a Legend’, Lee McDonald wrote: ‘Haha beauty. And he only had the one eye.’ The trolls also took to Twitter, with a . man named Ricky from Dublin writing: ‘Dale Cregan Wat A Hero . #F**kThePolice’. Tony Snow from Nottingham also tweeted ‘Dale Cregan u . legend’. The abuse started on Tuesday when . messages on Facebook referred to Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes as . ‘scumbags’. The creator of one of the pages wrote ‘So a pair of coppers . got killed who gives a ****?’ The flurry of abusive messages is called ‘trolling’, where internet users aim vile abuse at certain targets, often celebrities. Dale Cregan (left) has been arrested in connection with the killings of two police officers in Greater Manchester. Raoul Moat (right) Blocked: Police cordon off an area near Abbey Gardens in Hattersley, where the two female police officers were gunned down . The messages of praise bore a striking . resemblance to the mass outpouring of support that appeared online . following the 2010 death of steroid-addicted killer Raoul Moat. Nearly . 30,000 joined a tribute group entitled ‘RIP Raoul Moat You Legend!’ Last night, police said they were . aware of the Facebook entries and tweets. Senior officers said they were . investigating them to ascertain whether any constituted a criminal . offence. A senior source said: ‘It does form part of our overall inquiry . into the case and, although it is not a priority at this stage, . inquiries are continuing into the various Facebook entries, tweets and . other insensitive remarks.’ A Facebook spokesman said: ‘We can . confirm that tribute pages have been removed today because they violated . Facebook’s statements of rights and responsibilities.’ Last night Assistant Chief Constable . Garry Shewan said: ‘Greater Manchester Police is investigating reports . of an offensive Facebook page set up following the murders of PC Fiona . Bone and PC Nicola Hughes.’ Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Messages supporting suspect Dale Cregan spread across the internet .
Cregan arrested on suspicion of murdering Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes .
Officers died in a gun and grenade attack in Hattersley, Manchester .
Sick internet troll writes: 'So a pair of coppers got killed who gives a ****?' |
047c35f11915c6fd24706d9fb12fddfbc4b1e25e | Stilyan Petrov is back with a ball at his feet and a smile on his face after returning to the pitch as he continues his recovery from leukemia. Petrov has been turning out for Wychall Wanderers Over 35s in Sunday League and the Celtic and Aston Villa legend, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2012, is happy to be doing what he does best. He said: 'It's a good laugh and they're competitive games. It's just really nice to be out there playing a proper game. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Inspirational Villa hero Stiliyan Petrov playing football again . Stiliyan Petrov looked happy to be back in action playing for Wychall Wanderers Over 35s . 'I've played 90 minutes and my fitness is improving but I need to be patient.' Petrov, 35, has played three times for the team managed by former Coventry defender Dave Busst, who suffered a career-ending injury in 1996, and has scored once in a 5-3 cup win. 'Maybe Sky Sports will show it,' Petrov joked. 'As far as positions go, you have to go where you're needed. Sometimes only 12 players are there. 'The one game, we were winning 2-0 and they had a different man marking me every 10 minutes.' The former Celtic and Aston Villa star has played three times for the men from Shirley in the Midlands . Petrov wears the No 10 shirt and has certainly made his mark in the Central Wawrickshire League Premier One Division with his side losing just one of their last three. Tythe Barn Lane in Shirely is a world away from Parkhead or Villa Park but he's never short of memories. 'I meet a lot of Villa fans and it's great to chat to them, said the man capped 106 times by the Bulgarian national team and who wore the captain's armband representing his country. Petrov, whose leukemia is in remission, wasn't afraid to get stuck in on his return to football . Petrov admitted he is loving being back in the thick of things on the pitch with Wychall Wanderers . CSKA SOFIA . Bulgarian Championship 1996-97 . Bulgarian Cup 1996-97, 1998-99 . CELTIC . Scottish League 2000-01, 2001-02, 2003-04, 2005-06 . Scottish Cup: 2001-02, 2003-04, 2004-05 . League Cup: 1999-00, 2000-01, 2005-06 . INDIVIDUAL . SPFA Young Player of the Year: 2001 . Celtic Player of the Year: 2005 . Villa Players' Player of the Year: 2009, 2012 . Bulgaria Player of the Year: 2003 . 'I do get asked for autographs and pictures after matches. The supporters have been great and I always had a positive attitude.' With the disease in remission, Petrov added: 'Everything is fine, touch wood. There are only three months to go on tablets and I'm finished. I'm on steroids until January. 'I'll be there again on Sunday but don't ask me who we're playing.' Wanderers' secretary John Busst - Dave's dad - paid a glowing tribute to Petrov. 'The most amazing thing is that he's such a lovely, down-to-earth chap. He comes along, pays his subs and has a drink with the lads. 'He is amazing. Players of that class, such is their footballing brain, they are three or four moves ahead even if they are only 40 or 50 per cent fit. 'He scored, and it was a good goal. On Sunday, we won our first league game 2-1 and he made both goals.' Petrov officially announced his retirement from the professional game in May 2013 and had a short spell working as a coach with the Villa Under 21 team. Petrov did a lap of honour at the end of the 2012-13 season at Villa Park and also had a charity match last year at Celtic Park with a host of stars, including Hoops legend Henrik Larsson, turning out in support . Petrov got emotional when the Celtic Park crowd gave him a rousing reception in the charity match last year . Petrov spent six years at Aston Villa and captained the club . Midfielder Petrov was a fans' favourite during his glory-filled days as a Celtic player . July 5, 1979: Born in Montana, Bulgaria . 1996: Joined CSKA Sofia from local team PFC Montana for €30,000 . December 1998: International debut in a friendly with Morocco . Summer 1999: Signed for Celtic in a £2.8m move . March 2000: First of his eight international goal - against Belarus in a friendly . August 2006: Became former Celtic manager Martin O'Neill's first signing as Villa boss - moving for £6.5m . March 2012: Takes a break from football after being diagnosed with acute leukemia . May 2013: Retires from football . | Stiliyan Petrov was diagnosed with leukemia in 2012 .
The former Celtic and Aston Villa captain retired from football in 2013 .
Petrov plays for Wychall Wanderers in the Central Wawrickshire League .
He has played three times and says his fitness is improving .
Petrov's leukemia is in remission . |
047c3f0f3c3faf48a8b0ac10ad3523d7c758ec93 | (CNN)The demands by terrorists for ransoms in return for kidnapped hostages continues and grows -- and it is a brave (some would say heartless) government that chooses non-payment over the lives of its citizens. This week's $200 million demand in return for the lives of two Japanese citizens perhaps represents a change of tactics from ISIS -- the group that now rules over large parts of Syria and Iraq -- as they realize that, with the notable exceptions of the U.S. and the UK, the willingness of Western nations to resist making some form of payment in the face of YouTube videos of their citizens begging for their lives is weak. Is an unwavering resistance towards ransom payments a constructive position to take? Is offering no hope of some form of negotiated settlement in the best interest of a nation's citizens? Or would it in fact make more sense to take a flexible approach that operates on a "case-by-case" basis, engages in negotiation, and considers all possible options including ransom? The arguments against payment are well-rehearsed and oft-repeated by those that attempt to hold the international line. Since 9/11 the attempt to starve terrorist organizations of financing has been a cornerstone of the global effort to counter these groups. Payment of ransoms to terrorist organizations for the safe return of citizens is thus entirely contrary to the blizzard of national and international laws and norms that have emerged. At a 2013 summit in Northern Ireland, world leaders noted that the "international community has made significant progress in combating the flow of funds to terrorist organizations," but also drew attention to the substantial financial benefit being earned through ransom payments and the incentive this provided for further kidnappings. Following the G8 Summit, and notwithstanding the fact that in 2009 the U.N. reminded Member States of their obligation to prevent the payment of ransoms to terrorists under Security Council Resolution 1904, the Security Council passed a further resolution in January 2014 calling upon Member States "to prevent terrorists from benefiting directly or indirectly from ransom payments." Without doubt, paying ransoms encourages more kidnappings -- it is a self-perpetuating, self-reinforcing cycle. The U.S. administration argues that "hostage-takers looking for ransoms distinguish between those governments that pay ransoms and those that do not ... and make a point of not taking hostages from those countries that refuse to make concessions." Be that as it may (and proving a counter-factual is always highly subjective), the murder in 2009 of British citizen Edwin Dyer by al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb -- whilst his fellow Swiss and German captives were freed following the reported payment of a substantial ransom -- shows that refusing to pay is risky. Furthermore, the procession of gruesome beheadings visited on American and British hostages by ISIS in 2014 suggests that, in the knowledge that the U.S. and UK will not pay ransoms, captured citizens from these two countries are far more likely to be murdered in the pursuit of propaganda. A willingness to negotiate . While paying ransoms increases the risk of further kidnappings, it also clearly increases the likelihood of a safe and successful outcome. Offering to consider ransom demands introduces a critical prerequisite for success -- namely, a willingness to negotiate. The secretive world of kidnap-for-ransom (KfR, in industry parlance) insurance provides a source of instructive insight. This industry bloomed following the kidnap, ransom, and death of the 20-month old baby son of U.S. aviator Charles Lindbergh. At the heart of the growth and success of this niche industry is its ability to respond to and engage with kidnappers, normally via intermediaries. Success is judged not only by the safe return of a captured individual but also by the ability to negotiate a price that is far removed from the opening ask. Knowing that ransom payments to designated terrorist groups are illegal, KfR specialists will quickly pass insured situations involving terrorist groups to government authorities -- and the outcomes are rarely as favorable as those that can be achieved via expert negotiation. Periodically the facts presented to policymakers change and policymakers must adapt. Such a moment for adaptation has arrived. Kidnap-for-ransom is an increasingly widely-used tool by terrorist groups. Nasser al-Wuhayshi, leader of Yemen-based al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which is estimated to have earned $20 million from ransom between 2011 and 2013, asserts that "kidnapping hostages is an easy spoil" and "a profitable trade and a precious treasure." In several recorded messages, al Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri has called for supporters worldwide to kidnap Westerners. Stomach-churning (and illegal, in most jurisdictions) as it may be to finance designated terrorists, in recent months, citizens of France, Germany, Denmark, and Italy have returned safely home. Citizens of the UK and the U.S. have not. The point blank refusal to pay ransoms is wrong-headed. A more nuanced approach that leaves all options, including payment, open for negotiation is much more likely to result in success. | ISIS has kidnapped more than a dozen Western citizens in recent years .
Some European countries are known to pay, but the U.S. and UK do not .
Keatinge: U.S. and UK are wrong to dismiss ransom demands out of hand . |
047c86eb405ce7d29eef0558192cf171b4e9de1f | The United States military should launch 'targeted' strikes against the 'terrorist army' of ISIS in Iraq - if the situation deteriorates so that it threatens the security of the West said David Petraeus. The retired general - who led commanded the surge eight years ago that rid the war-torn nation of al-Qaeda - said that he does support limited military action to stem the flood of ISIS troops. Former CIA chief Petraeus made these remarks on Thursday, the same day that President Obama declared he was sending 300 special forces advisers to Iraq in addition to the 275 'combat ready' troops he has deployed to protect the US Embassy in Baghdad. Scroll Down for Video . Action: (former) General David Petraeus (pictured here in 2011) has called for military strikes in Iraq to stem the flow of the ISIS terror army . In an exclusive interview with the UK's Daily Telegraph, Petraeus said that he favored using drones to specifically target the ISIS leader, Abu Bakr el Baghdadi. 'If ISIS is seen as a terrorist organization with the potential to engage in terrorist acts beyond the Middle East, then that could warrant the targeting of high value targets,' said Petraeus. He referenced the complicated sectarian friction that currently exists in Iraq between Sunni and Shia Muslims. 'We must be careful not to take sides if we offer military support. But the growing threat posed by Isis means that military action will be necessary,' said Petraeus to the Daily Telegraph. Leader of the surge: Former US General David Petraeus (L) walks with his entouage in the Shorja market area while on foot patrol to meet shopkeepers and other Iraqis March 3, 2007 in the downtown area of Baghdad, Iraq . Survey: (then) US Army Gen. David H. Petraeus (R), commander of the Multi-National Force in Iraq, speaks with then Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) during an aerial tour July 21, 2008 in Baghdad, Iraq . 'We must realize that Isis poses a threat not only to Iraq but to the UK and other countries as well. 'Isis poses two challenges, to the stability of Iraq, and also the emerging threat it poses beyond Iraq and Syria.' Speaking in London, Petraeus said that he was worried that Syria and Iraq could become havens for terrorist planners and was 'disappointed' that Iraq has descended into chaos again. 'I certainly do not think it was in vain,' he said to the Daily Telegraph. 'The surge provided Iraq with an excellent opportunity. However it is undeniably very sad to see the tragic turn of events in Iraq knowing personally how great the sacrifice and the cost was for the US, Britain, Iraq and all the other coalition partners.' Leader: (Then) General David Petraeus, commander of multi national forces in Iraq, walks down a street in the Ghazaliya neighborhood August 18, 2007 in Baghdad, Iraq . On Thursday President Barack Obama announced his intention today to send up to 300 U.S. military advisers into Iraq to help train the country's military. The president expressly stated that the move does not 'foreshadow' a military intervention and said sending troops back into Iraq to fight radical extremists would not benefit the U.S. 'American forces will not be returning to combat in Iraq,' Obama said, ' but we will help Iraqis as they take the fight to terrorists who threaten the Iraqi people, the region and American interests, as well.' The president also said the U.S. was currently ‘identifying targets’ associated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria terrorist group and that the U.S. would take ‘targeted and precise military action if and when we determine that the situation on the ground requires it' - an obvious nod to air strikes. President Barack Obama announced today that the U.S. would send in up to 300 soldiers to train and advise the Iraqi military. American forces still won't be engaging in combat he promised . After meeting with national security advisers early this afternoon, the president said in a statement that the U.S. intended would coordinate with Iraqi security forces, put up joint operation centers in Baghdad and share intelligence with the Iraqi government. Already, the president had deployed 275 armed marines to protect State Department personnel working at the embassy in Baghdad. He had also sent the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier with . its usual battleship escort, the USS Mesa Verde, an amphibious transport . ship that can carry 550 marines and helicopters and armed F-18 Super Hornet warplanes to do surveillance. Obama told members of Congress during a meeting on Wednesday that he did not need their permission to take the actions he was considering. However, he said on Thursday that he would continue to work with Congress to provide additional equipment to the Iraqi military through his newly created Counterterrorism Partnership Fund and that he would consult Congress, as well as Iraqi leaders, if he decided to pull the trigger on air strikes. Iraqi . Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shiite, has asked President Obama for air . strikes against the Sunni Islamist militants who have been carving a . wide swath through his country, but Obama has been slow to comply. The President told congressional leaders yesterday that the U.S. does not have strong enough intelligence at this time to carry out the strikes, an aide with knowledge of the discussion told the Huffington Post yesterday. Obama also expressed anxiety about the number of civilian casualties that the strikes could cause, as well concerns about instability within Iraq's government. The president said last week that he would not provide Iraq with military assistance until the country's leaders made serious moves toward putting their sectarian differences aside. Standing up for themselves: More than 200,000 Iraqis have volunteered to defend their country, including this group of farmers . Vice President Joe Biden spoke on Wednesday with Maliki, the country's Sunni parliamentary speaker and the the . president of the country's self-ruled Kurdish region. He . praised their efforts to bring together their respective communities in . a televised show of unity against ISIS, the White House said. Lawmakers . have been putting pressure on Obama to call for Maliki's resignation . for days, and the Associated Press said reported Thursday morning that . Obama might ask Maliki to resign as a Hail Mary effort to stop the . country's civil war. However, Obama repeatedly said on Thursday, 'It's not the place for the United States to choose Iraq's leaders.' There . is an 'urgent' need for Iraq to convene a new parliament that gives all . Iraqis the sense that they are part of a unity government, though, Obama said. 'Right now what is happening is the fate of Iraq hangs in the balance.' The U.S. president hedged when asked at a presser Thursday after his statement if he had lost faith in Maliki to lead . the country and referred back to his previous statements. US President Barack Obama meets with Congressional leadership including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (2nd R), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (L), House Speaker John Boehner (2nd L), and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (R), in the Oval Office of the White House on June 18, 2014 in Washington, DC. The leaders met to discuss strategy on Iraq . Former U.S. general David Petraeus, . who led the 'surge' that finally brought calm to Iraq, struck a cautious . note on Western intervention on Wednesday. Speaking . at a conference in London, General Petraeus said the Iraqi government . needed to reach out to the Sunni minority before the US got involved . militarily. He said: 'If . the US is to support the Iraqi government it would have to be a . government against terrorism, rather than one side in a civil war.' 'This . cannot be the United States being the air force for Shia militias, or a . Shia on Sunni Arab fight,' he told the Margaret Thatcher Conference on . Liberty. President Obama . expressed concern at doing just that on Thursday and again called on . Iraq's government to come together to fight the common treat to their . nation. He also fired a warning shot at Iran. The . U.S. welcome's the country to play a 'constructive role' in Iraq, he . said, but 'If Iran is coming in solely as an armed force on behalf of . the Shia, and it is framed in that fashion, that probably worsens the . situation.' 'Obviously . what has happened in Syria in part is the result of Iran coming in hot . and heavy' on one side, Obama said, referring to the upheaval in that . country. Obama said he hopes Iran will take a 'more promising path' in Iraq, 'but old habits die hard.' Deployment: F-18 launches off the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush during flight operations in the Arabian Gulf after the ship was deployed into the Gulf in response to the crisis in Iraq . MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter lands on the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush during flight operations in the Arabian Gulf on June 17, 2014 . Yesterday's surveillance missions mark the first declared U.S. flyovers since American troops left Iraq at the end of 2011. Reports . first surfaced on Twitter from ABC, NBC and Fox News about the sorties, . which are taking off and landing on the USS George H.W. Bush, an . aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf. The Obama administration had already authorized 'manned and unmanned' surveillance flights, Fox News reported. But F-18s are not surveillance aircraft. They are attack planes. A . U.S. official hinted to Fox that part of the strategy is to project . strength by rolling out the big guns even on routine video and photo . missions. 'It's not so much about looking as it is being seen,' the official said. The White . House told reporters on Wednesday afternoon that the president is still . undecided about whether to commit military force to the country that . once hosted 143,000 American servicemen and women. Obama said on Thursday that he would prefer Iraq's neighbors in the region step up instead. On that note Obama said he would be sending Secretary of State John Kerry to the Middle East and Europe to meet with the U.S.'s allies abroad about working together to quell the violence in Iraq. 'Rather than play whack-a-mole where these terrorist networks pop up,' the president said, the U.S. has to be able to build effective partnerships. The big picture: ISIS has taken the red-shaded areas in this map and are making progress in their advance toward Baghdad . | Former General David Petraeus believes that drone strikes against the leadership of ISIS is necessary .
Claims that ISIS could become a hotbed of terror planning against the West .
The former CIA said he was disappointed that Iraq had descended into chaos .
Petraeus led the troop surge which forced al-Qaeda from Iraq eight-years ago .
President Obama announced today that he would send 300 soldiers into Iraq to train, advice and support Iraqi security forces .
He had also sent in 275 marines to protect State Department personnel in Baghdad, the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier, the USS Mesa Verde and armed F-18 Super Hornet warplanes to do surveillance .
But U.S. will only take ‘targeted and .
precise military action if and when we determine that the situation on .
the ground requires it' Obama said . |
047e33886363a5f3868eb9d13b9597834ce05cdd | A 'brilliant and ethical' professor who lost his job at a major US university over anti-Israel remarks on Twitter says he is 'not sorry'. Steven Salaita claims he was speaking his mind when he tweeted about the military conflict in Gaza weeks before taking up a tenured role at the University of Illinois on the American Indian Studies. However, his comments were deemed unacceptable and the school refused to accept him as an American Indian Studies professor this fall. 'Not sorry': Professor Steven Salaita has refused to apologize for the anti-Israel tweets that cost him his job . Hitting out at the decision, Mr Salaita told a press conference: 'The way that I have always tweeted sort of has to do with the way things are happening in the moment politically and discursively. 'The [university] administration's actions threaten the principles of free speech, academic freedom, and critical thought that should be the foundation of any university.' Dozens of professors have condemned the university's actions against Mr Salaita, with many threatening to boycott classes. In one tweet, Mr Salaita told his followers: 'It's simple: either condemn #Israel's actions or embrace your identity as someone who's okay with the wholesale slaughter of children.' Another read: 'Only #Israel can murder around 300 children in the span of a few weeks and insist that it is the victim.' On the same day he wrote: 'It's quite simple, really: don't support any ideology whose practice results in dead children.' 'Offensive': This is one of the comments that the University of Illinois deemed offensive before sacking Salaita . Freedom of speech: Dozens of professors have come out in support of Salaita's freedom to speak his mind . The Palestinian-American professor claims he regrets the posts that cost him his job but refuses to apologize. And the university insists it will not revoke the decision. University of Illinois President Robert Easter said: 'We believe that our classrooms ought to be a place where opinions, regardless of their origin or their perspective, ought to be able to be offered freely and students not feel intimidated or unable to express their opinion and that's what led us to the decision.' The Illinois committee of the American Association of University Professors described some of Mr Salaita's comments as 'strident and vulgar', the Huffington Post reported. | Steven Salaita tweeted anti-Israel comments before taking up new job .
University of Illinois deemed comments offensive, pulled offer of tenure .
Sparked outrage, dozens of professors threatening to boycott lectures .
Salaita 'not sorry' for tweets that cost him American Indian Studies job . |
047e4479a5d4812e8cdae7610fd9a5f39255ec19 | KARBALA, Iraq (CNN) -- A female suicide bomber apparently targeting Shiite worshippers killed at least 40 people and wounded at least 65 in Karbala on Monday, according to an Interior Ministry official. Iraqi security forces gather around the site of a car bomb explosion in Baghdad on Monday. The incident occurred one-half mile from the Imam Hussein shrine of Karbala. Karbala is a Shiite holy city, and the Imam Hussein shrine is one of Shiite Islam's holiest locations. The shrine marks the burial spot of Hussein bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, who was killed in battle nearby in 680. No more information was immediately available about the blast southwest of the capital city, Baghdad. Earlier Monday, in Baghdad, a roadside bomb exploded near an Iraqi police patrol, killing one officer and wounding another, the Interior Ministry told CNN. A short time later, another roadside bomb exploded near an Iraqi police patrol on Palestine Street in eastern Baghdad, wounding four bystanders, a ministry official said. The first attack took place about 8:30 a.m. in the upscale Mansour neighborhood, where law enforcement officials have come under frequent attacks in recent weeks. Also Monday, two American soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb north of Baghdad, officials said. The incident occurred about 12:20 p.m. as the soldiers were "conducting a route-clearance combat operation north of Baghdad," according to a news release. The names of the soldiers were not immediately released. Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney arrived in the Iraqi capital Monday on an unannounced visit. Cheney told reporters that the five years in Iraq since the war's start has been "well worth the effort." He said he met with top Iraqi officials. He appeared at a news conference with Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, and Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to the country. Cheney began a trip to the Middle East on Sunday with an official itinerary that listed stops in Oman, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Israel and the West Bank, according to the White House. E-mail to a friend . CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq contributed to this report. | NEW: 2 U.S. soldiers killed by roadside bomb in Baghdad on Monday, U.S. says .
NEW: Other roadside bombs in Baghdad kill one police officer, injure four people .
Death toll rises to 40 in explosion in Karbala, official says; 65 injured .
Explosion was near holy shrine for Shiite Muslims, burial spot of Hussein bin Ali . |
047e7bc4c7ea5f7df08d4efc443ac8a3479649f1 | A father-of-three's comical advert for his pushchair has become an online sensation after he described it as a vomit-stained 'green albatross around my neck' that ruined his life. Joel Andresier, 39, from Southampton, Hampshire, told the auction site's users he never wanted children and the stroller had come to represent everything he hated about being a family man. Now the Phil and Teds Explorer, which costs £400 new, is selling for £154,000 after a flurry of presumably fake bids - and with eight days to go, the price keeps rising. His wife, 36-year-old vet Susan, said she was astounded at the attention and the couple had only wanted to clear out their garage. 'It ruined my life': This eBay advert for a children's pushchair is a web hit - attracting bids of more than £150,000 with eight days still to go - after the seller called it a vomit-stained 'green albatross around my neck' It's only a joke! Mr Andresier's wife Susan, pictured with him on their wedding day, said: 'Despite what he said in the description he is a good dad and loves his children - well at least he makes out he does!' His wife said: 'Despite what he said in the description he is a good dad and loves his children - well at least he makes out he does! 'He is like any other parent - quite tired all the time, but we wouldn't have it any other way.' The couple's children are aged seven, six and four and are now too old for the buggy, which was 'taking up room in the garage', she said. So Mr Andresier, a dealer development manager for the charity Motability, placed the item on the auction site last night and immediately became an online sensation. 'This buggy was purchased against my wishes many years ago as I never wanted any children,' he wrote under the name ukjoel25. 'I have bought cars that cost less than this buggy. My dad once bought a house that cost less than this buggy. 'During its lifetime its had pretty much every bodily fluid known to science, and several that have yet to be discovered, chucked over it by my children. 'It's also absorbed its own weight in Ellas Kitchen meals and mud.' Messy: Seller Joel Andresier, 39, joked the buggy had seen contact with every bodily fluid known to science . 'I have bought cars that cost less than this buggy', he wrote. 'My dad once bought a house that cost less' Photographs on the auction site show the buggy is indeed well-used and stained with dirt - but the seller insisted any parents who claim to have immaculate prams are 'liars and scoundrels'. The item is pick-up only from the seller's detached house in Southampton, and there has been no shortage of offers. Some have genuinely asked about the item's condition or part exchanges, while others have triggered witty ripostes in their attempt to troll Joel. 'If as stated you didn't want children then why did you proceed to impregnate your wife a second and third time?', asked one potential buyer. 'Because my wife's rather yummy and I find her irresistible,' he replied. 'Will this vehicle safely transport a pinball machine?' asked another user. Joel wrote: 'To be fair it never used to safely transport my children, but I learnt that with enough gaffer tape and cable ties it can do pretty much anything.' Mr Andresier's wife Susan also laughed off the publicity. 'We bought the buggy when we had our second child so it's not like I trapped him into having ten children,' she said. Happy family: Mrs Andresier, a vet, and the couple's Labrador - both of whom feature in the advert . 'When you first meet Joel he comes across as quiet person, but he has a very dry sense of humour,' she said . 'When you first meet Joel he comes across as quiet person, but once you get to know him you realise that he has a very dry sense of humour. 'He often writes funny things and they always make me laugh. 'I didn't know that he was going to advertise the pushchair on eBay and it is only when a friend alerted me to it that I saw how popular the post was. 'I didn't think much of the advert. I just thought it was Joel being his usual funny self. Joel is bemused by the whole thing and just thinks it's a bit of a laugh.' She added: 'It would be lovely to have that money but we know we're not going to get it so its not worth thinking about it. All I want is it for to be out of my garage to create a bit more space.' Even if Mr Andresier receives the promised sum for his buggy it won't be the most unusual sale on eBay - or the most profitable for a small item. Description: The listing on eBay was quickly shared on Twitter and picked up joke bids topping £150,000 . Sense of humour: It didn't stop with the listing - the father answered several questions from his new fans . Last year a dress made entirely from loom bands by 42-year-old Helen Smith, from Prestatyn, North Wales, sold for a reputed £170,000 after attracting more than 100 bids. And a decade ago a toasted cheese sandwich said to bear an image of the Virgin Mary sold for £18,000 to online casino goldenpalace.com. It must have been worth its weight in gold; it was already a decade old by the time of the sale, and its owner claimed it had never gone mouldy. But the danger of fake bids always looms large on the auction site. One of the drills used to bore the Channel Tunnel fetched bids of £5million when it was auctioned for charity in 2004 - only for the final selling price to be a more modest £39,999. Here we have for sale the green monster that can only be Phil and Teds. I shall be glad to see it leave my premises and never return. This was purchased against my wishes many years ago as I never wanted any children and a buggy signified my wife's intent to have children. We argued much and this buggy signifies everything that ended my happy carefree low cost child free life. This buggy clearly meant she intended to have not just one but multiple children and the extortionate price of this buggy will stay imprinted on my brain till the day I die. I have bought cars that cost less than this buggy. My dad once bought a house that cost less than this buggy. Anyway as you can tell I hate the buggy. I now have three children, and a Labrador and am forced to endure the school run where women I don't know try and discuss the price of Center Parcs holidays, and the benefits of the micro over the mini micro scooter. To summarise my life is over and this green albatross needs to go round some other poor sod's neck. On the positive none of my three children were stupidly fat, but it's been driven by my wife a lot so not all good. During its lifetime it's had pretty much every bodily fluid known to science, and several that have yet to be discovered, chucked over it by my children. It's also absorbed its own weight in Ellas Kitchen meals and mud. I have tried to maintain this item as best I could and the wheels were filled with green slime to prevent punctures, and WD40 has been used with gusto on the relevant parts. It even comes with what I lovingly refer to as the Cinderella attachment for the second child you have but don't love as much as the first. It means they can sit but cant see anything, and have a ride that's about as comfortable as a Ford Model T. All of my children are now walking (often in completely the wrong direction) but someone else deserves to give this a good home. Over the years I have collected spare bits from other zombified fathers who were once full of life and I will throw these in as well. According to the other half she has the baby carry item that came with this and the pannier bags (whatever they are) but she never used them and they are immaculate and will be listed when she conquers her fear of heights and gets into the loft. This buggy has never been used for dog sledding, racing, or buggy bumper cars, although I once used it to concuss a randy Alsatian that tried getting amorous with my lab. There are many adverts on here for immaculate models and these people are all liars and scoundrels as nothing that comes into contact with a young child is ever immaculate. So for a starting price of just £9.99 you too can screw up your life. There are programs for those of you who need to recover from drugs or alcohol. Any money generated from this sale will be used to help me recover from children (and probably involve drugs and alchohol) So spend big - its for a good cause. | Seller Joel Andresier, 39, from Southampton, 'never wanted children'
'This green albatross needs to go round some other poor sod's neck'
Buggy - which costs £400 new - now has bids of £150,000 on auction site .
Amazed wife Susan, 36, a vet, said they just wanted to clear out garage .
'Despite what he said he is a good dad and loves his children,' she said . |
047f539047e3eb03405370ded2d2f54423ce285a | By . Sam Webb . Payout: Maisha Najeeb has received damages totalling millions of pounds after her brain was accidentally injected with glue during treatment at Great Ormond Street . A girl whose brain was accidentally injected with glue during treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital is to receive a multi-million-pound damages payout after she was left with devastating permanent brain damage. Despite having a rare medical condition that involved arteries and veins getting tangled, which could result in a bleed, Maisha Najeeb, of Ilford, Essex, was a healthy 10-year-old until she went into hospital in June 2010. On other occasions, she had successfully received embolisation treatment, which involves injecting glue to block off bleeding blood vessels, and an injection of a harmless dye to check the flow of blood around the brain and head. But on this occasion, said solicitor Edwina Rawson of legal firm Field Fisher Waterhouse, there was no system in place for distinguishing between the syringes containing the glue and those containing the dye, and they got mixed up. This resulted in glue being wrongly injected into the artery to Maisha’s brain, causing catastrophic and permanent brain damage. Today, Judge Birtles at London’s High Court approved a settlement against Great Ormond Street Hospital For Children NHS Trust of a £2.8million lump sum, plus £383,000 a year until Maisha is 19, increasing to £423,000 per year for as long as she lives, which some experts expect to be to the age of 64. The trust, which admitted liability for Maisha’s injuries, repeated its unreserved apologies for the shortcomings in her care, which had such devastating consequences. It said her family had engaged open-heartedly with the trust, which had allowed staff to really learn from what happened to Maisha so that improvements could be made. Neil Block QC, said: 'We can’t wind the clock back. We hope there are now systems and procedures in place to ensure such a tragic mistake cannot be made again. 'While money can’t restore what Maisha has lost, we are sure a great burden has been lifted from the family by coming to the settlement we have.' The glue is used to seal of blood vessels during embolisation treatment. File picture . He said one could not help but be inspired by what Maisha’s parents, Sadir Hussain and Rukshana, had achieved in terms of their 13-year-old daughter’s rehabilitation. Maisha Najeeb suffered severe brain damage when her brain was injected with glue intended to seal off blood vessels at Great Ormond Street Hospital . 'It is probably the most intensive cognitive rehabilitation we have ever seen by a family and we would wish to acknowledge everything they have done for Maisha and wish them well for the future.' The judge extended his sympathy and admiration to the family and said he hoped the compensation would make the rest of Maisha’s life as comfortable as possible. Outside court, Maisha’s father said: 'We are sad and devastated by what happened to our daughter. 'Her life is ruined. All her dreams have been broken. I hope that by bringing this case, lessons will have been learned to avoid this happening to other families. 'We are grateful that agreement has been reached with Great Ormond Street to ensure that Maisha’s care needs are met.' The compensation will be spent on care and accommodation for Maisha, who needs assistance with all daily tasks day and night, is in a wheelchair and has lost the vast majority of her bodily and cognitive abilities. Ms Rawson said: 'What is so heart-breaking about this case is that the injury was so avoidable. 'If the syringes had been marked-up so the hospital could see which contained glue and which contained dye, then Maisha would not have suffered what is an utterly devastating brain injury. 'Such easily avoidable mistakes should not happen.' | Maisha Najeeb, 13, has rare condition where veins and arteries are tangled .
Her treatment involved injections of glue into bleeding blood vessels .
But a harmless dye and the glue were mixed up, resulting in brain damage .
She received a £2.8m lump sum and will get annual payout for life . |
047fe63920b70ac4af28d66d6f2ec0b7b715cd50 | By . Anna Edwards . PUBLISHED: . 12:10 EST, 8 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:04 EST, 8 January 2013 . Heartbroken Wayne and Coleen Rooney have paid tribute to her sister Rosie who died in her mother's arms after a lifelong illness. The 14-year-old passed away on Saturday morning at the family home in Liverpool with her family by her side. Rosie suffered from the genetic disorder Rett Syndrome and was adopted by Colette and Tony McLoughlin as a baby. In a moving message of condolence in the Liverpool Echo newspaper 27 year-old Coleen called Rosie a 'special little sister'. Rosie McLoughlin suffered from the brain disorder Rett Syndrome - which also affects development . Wayne Rooney penned a heartfelt message to Rosie, calling her an inspiration and said he would never forget her . Coleen Rooney with mother Colette,father Tony and sister Rosie - who the family said was an 'angel' She wrote: 'This doesn't seem real, Ro. I wish it wasn't happening. 'I can't get my head round that my special little sister has gone. 'I am going to miss that massive smile that would light up anywhere with those big eyes which let us know how you were feeling. 'You were tired, weren't you Ro? 'Those gorgeous eyes lost their glow, but no more pain and no more fighting, now it's time for you to be free. 'An angel sent to our family, a sister I never thought I would ever have. 'Our house is never going to be the same again. Love you so much Rosie Mc. 'Look down on us all, especially on our mum and dad. 'Goodnight, God bless. - Your Coleen xxx.' Coleen's final message to her sister Rosie: The mother paid tribute to the teenager in the local newspaper, the Liverpool Echo . Wayne Rooney was inspired by his sister-in-law, asking for donations to to the facilities that cared for Rosie throughout her life instead of presents at his wedding . Coleen and Wayne Rooney's son Kai paid tribute to his aunt, saying he would miss her and tell his new brother about her . Nephew Kai also left a message saying he was looking forward to telling his little brother about his auntie. Mother Coleen announced in December she was pregnant with her second child and are expecting their new arrival in May. The . message read: 'My Rosie, my special auntie. I loved spending time with . you, especially watching DVDs in bed and climbing up on your chair to . sit on your knee. 'I am going to miss you so much, but you will always have a big place in my heart and in my mind. 'Days out with Nanny and Grandad aren't going to be as special because you're not going to be with us. 'I . can't wait to tell my little brother about you. Get ready to catch my . balloons because there's going to be loads getting sent up to Heaven. Your little mate Kai.' Brave Rosie's illness inspired adopted . sister Coleen and Manchester United striker husband Wayne to help raise . funds for sick, disadvantaged and disabled children. When . they married in a extravagent £2.5m celebrity wedding in 2008 the happy . couple told their guests they did not want presents. Rosie McLoughlin died in her mother's arms while Coleen was on holiday with her son Kai . Close: Coleen, her parents Tony and Colette, Rosie and her son Kai are a tight knit group . They . insisted on donations to the facilities that cared for Rosie throughout . her life, Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool and Claire House, . based on Wirral. Devastated Wayne, 27, called Rosie 'an inspiration' in his tribute to his wife's sister. He wrote: 'My angel Rosie, I will miss you so much. 'I will never forget the way you laughed and those big beautiful eyes. You are an inspiration to me. 'God has called for you, so we have to let you go, so take your eyes and that big smile and make Heaven glow. 'You will always have a special place in my heart. Love you always and forever. - Your Wayne.' According to the NHS Rett syndrome is a . neurological disorder that affects just one in 12,000 females and . causes severe physical and mental disability from early childhood. Other . members of the McLoughlin famly have joined the chorus of tributes with . older brother Joe saying he could not have asked for 'a more perfect . sister'. Coleen McLoughlin says she can't get her head round the fact that 'her special little sister has gone' Rosie's illness her sister and Wayne Rooney to help raise funds for sick, disadvantaged and disabled children . Grief-stricken parents Collette and Tony also left a poignant message: 'We are so proud to be your mum and dad. 'Our whole world revolved around you. We are going to miss you terribly. 'You may not have walked like you should have done. You may not have talked like you should have done. 'Sometimes the anger and the pain shone through in your frustrated cries. 'Rosie, we are sorry we had no miracles to give you or a magic wand to wave, all that we could give you was Love and Faith. 'But when you smiled we could see the beautiful little girl who lived in your eyes. 'Love you forever, Mum and Dad xxxx.' The NHS said Rett Syndrome is a neurological disorder that affects just one in 12,000 females and causes severe physical and mental disability from early childhood. A funeral service for Rosie McLoughlin will be held in Liverpool on Thursday and a collection box for Alder Hey hopsital and Claire House will be avilable. | Coleen, Wayne and Kai Rooney all leave heartfelt messages for teenager .
14-year-old, who suffered from Rett Sydrome, died in her mother's arms .
Her family call her an 'inspiration' and say they can never forget her . |
04803f20f2bb7bdac8d8a34fc27cbca3a3e98e6c | New York (CNN) -- A group of union-backed organizations joined the loosely defined Occupy Wall Street movement again Tuesday, leaving behind the confines of New York's financial district for the posh neighborhoods that dot Manhattan's Upper East Side, according to multiple group representatives. Crowds also swelled in Lower Manhattan's Zuccotti Park, where demonstrators waved placards and chanted slogans attacking corporate greed and social inequality. The union-organized march, meanwhile, took protesters past the homes of well-to-do residents like billionaire David Koch, News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch and JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon. Organizations such as UnitedNY, the Strong Economy for All Coalition, the Working Families Party, and New York Communities for Change were accompanied by protesters typically based in Zuccotti Park, a privately owned park in New York's financial district. The Upper East Side march was "in support" of the Occupy Wall Street movement, but was not organized by it, said T.J. Helmstetter, a spokesman for Working Families Party, a coalition of New York community and labor groups. Protesters hopped on the subway, emerging at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street near Central Park, where organizers held a press conference that addressed both New York-centric themes, such as state taxes, and the movement's broader concerns of social inequity. "We are the 99%," the group chanted, a reference to their insistence that most Americans lack the influence in their country's political and financial affairs enjoyed by the elite 1%. "I think it's time that these people realize that people are hurting in this country and it's time to reform what's going on in Washington," said New York resident Lenore Silverstein, who attended Tuesday's march. Emily Monroe , a North Carolina college student and marcher, said the city's wealthiest "are buying billion-dollar apartments and living lavishly, while we are just trying to sustain ourselves." "The American dream is no longer possible because these people are stealing from the middle class," she told CNN Radio. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, meanwhile, said authorities will defend protesters' right to demonstrate, but he doesn't appreciate "the bashing of all of the hardworking people who live and work here." "Our city depends on the jobs that the financial services industry provides," Bloomberg said during a news conference in the Bronx. He added that he didn't understand what the picketing of wealthy and prominent New Yorkers is intended to achieve. The mayor's comments coincided with a state comptroller report released Tuesday that predicts Wall Street could lose an additional 10,000 jobs by the end of next year, raising the total number of jobs lost in the securities industry since 2008 to 32,000. Earlier, in Boston, 129 protesters were arrested during a similar demonstration Tuesday, mostly for "unlawful assembly and trespassing," said police spokesman Eddy Chrispin. The group allegedly blocked traffic and refused to disperse while marching to "areas of the city where they hadn't been previously," he said. Protesters have been occupying Dewey Square Park in downtown Boston, but expanded to the neighboring Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway on Monday night. Protesters were given a 1:30 a.m. deadline to move back to Dewey Square. Those who did not were arrested. The nationwide Occupy movement has been largely peaceful, though it has led to some skirmishes with police and arrests. It has also stoked fervent public debate, including among politicians. Democrats have generally offered sympathy for protesters' concerns while several Republicans, among them 2012 presidential candidates Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich, have described the demonstrations as "class warfare." The movement shows few signs of slowing down. Rallies and marches have been held in numerous towns and cities in recent days, with many more planned. That includes a "Call to Action Against Banks" planned for Saturday, which New York's Occupy Wall Street announced on its Facebook site. "No longer will banks take our homes. No longer will banks rob students of our future. No longer will banks destroy the environment. No longer will banks fund the misery of war. No longer will banks cause massive unemployment. And no longer will banks create and profit from economic crisis without a struggle," according to the online message Monday. It then urges people to "visit your local Bank of America, Wells Fargo or Chase (branches) and let them know, we will not allow business as usual." "We. Will. Occupy. Everywhere," the posting ends. CNN Radio's Steve Kastenbaum, CNNMoney's Charles Riley and CNN's Marina Landis contributed to this report . | NEW: "People are stealing from the middle class," a protester says .
NEW: Bloomberg says he doesn't understand what the picketing is intended to achieve .
NEW: He says authorities will defend protesters' right to demonstrate .
NEW: The New York securities sector could lose 10,000 jobs by 2012 year, report says . |
0480cc7ed7a1187ca9409bb5e5f30466edc6de0e | David Shacklefield was allowed to keep his licence despite ignoring a red light . A white van man has been allowed to keep his driving licence despite racing over a level crossing after the traffic lights had turned red. David Shackleford claims he did not have enough time to stop the vehicle after realising the lights had changed at the crossing in Foxton, Cambridgeshire, so decided it would be safer to speed over the tracks. The 28-year-old trainee truck driver was moments away from colliding with a train, but has been allowed to keep his licence after pleading with magistrates. The driver from Harrow, north west London, was fined £200 and given three points for the incident on January 15. After initially claiming he the lights were on amber, the driver admitted he ignored them after being sent images taken from CCTV footage which clearly show him in plain view of the red light. But Judge Ken Sheraton decided not to disqualify Shackleford, as it would put him out of work. 'I was driving at 40mph and it would have been unsafe for me to slam the breaks on. 'By the time the lights came into view it would have been silly for me to stop.' It is not the first time drivers have had a near miss with oncoming trains at the crossing in Cambridgeshire. In 2010 John McDonald, 38, ignored the flashing warning lights and accelerated his 44-tonne sewage truck over the crossing. The driver was filmed approaching the crossing while the lights are red despite claiming they were amber . Shacklefield accelerated over the train lines just moments before a train thundered by at the crossing in Cambridgeshire . The automatic barriers smashed as they crashed on top of the artic. Two years later Belal Ahmed, 32, was convicted of speeding under the dropping barriers in the BMW, and ten days after that Girish Babu, 31, stopped his Mercedes on the crossing, forcing the signalman to stop the barriers in mid-air. Sgt Andy Cook of British Transport Police said: 'Misusing level crossings is extremely dangerous and will not be tolerated by BTP. 'Drivers who ignore the warning lights and barriers don’t just risk their own lives, but also endanger other road users and rail passengers and staff.' | David Shackleford claimed he did not have time to stop the van .
He was filmed racing across level crossing moments before a train passes .
Trainee truck driver pleaded with magistrates to let him keep his licence .
Crossing in Foxton, Cambridgeshire, scene of other near misses in the past . |
0481c01e50398c7121e07feb048fdaef0936d49c | By . Ryan Gorman . A suburban Toronto father is believed by police to have killed his two sons and committed suicide after their charred bodies were found last week in a burned-out car north of the city. Samuel Masih, 36, was found last Friday near Barrie, Ontario, with sons Tyrese, 10, and four-year-old Santosh, after their mother filed a missing persons report when they failed to come home – marital problems are believed to be what drove the man over the edge. Masih confided earlier this year with neighbors that he and and wife Brintha Shanmugalingam were headed for divorce, they told The Mississauga News. Grim ending: Tyrese and Santosh Masih (left) and father Samuel Masih (right with an unidentified child) were found 'charred beyond recognition' in a burned-out car in suburban Toronto . ‘He said it was going to be hard on the kids, but that he was hoping everything would be okay,’ a man identified only as Brandon told the paper. The revelation came one week after police found the scorched vehicle at the end of a remote cul-de-sac about one hour north of Toronto. Officers were shocked to find three bodies ‘charred beyond recognition’ inside the car, and it took an autopsy to identify the remains, according to reports. The fire burned so intensely that it even melted the vehicle identification number, police told the Toronto Star. ‘Because of the burned-out nature of the vehicle, it’s virtually unidentifiable,’ said Ontario Provincial Police Sergeant Peter Leon. ‘It’s a metal shell.’ Charred: The fire burned so intensely the vehicle's VIN melted, and a large soot mark was left behind after the car was removed . The family's home: Masih's wife called police after he and their two children failed to return to their Mississauga home after he told her they were going to a movie . Memorial: Neighbors have been leaving flowers and letters of condolence for the widowed mother . Masih, a psychiatrist, initially told his wife that he and the two boys were going to see a movie around 4.00 p.m. the day before police found the vehicle. She called police when they failed to return by 1.30 a.m. early the next morning, police told the Star.The burning car was discovered only hours later. ‘This is a very, very tragic set of circumstances which has unfolded,’ Leon told the CBC. Neighbors attending a July 9 vigil had a hard time coming to grips with the series of events that led to the grisly find. ‘The Dad just seemed like a normal guy, he’d pick kids up, drop them off, do the shopping,’ Neighbor Claudia Ah-Yen told the National Post. ‘It’s very hard to comprehend.’ Another neighbor who saw Masih hours before he died was unable to talk about the ordeal, saying only ‘I don’t want to talk about it right now.’ A friend of Tyrese Masih told the paper ‘he was nice,’ and went out of his way to make new students feel comfortable. She left the dead fifth grader a note that read ‘you did not deserve this and you are a very sweet boy.’ The boy’s soccer coach called his death ‘shocking.’ Police have declined to comment further on whether marital troubles led Masih to the double murder-suicide, saying only that the family has been through a difficult number of days and reserves their right to privacy. | Samuel Masih, 36, and sons Tyrese and Santosh went missing last Thursday after the father claimed they were going to see a movie .
Police discovered a charred vehicle early the next morning with their bodies inside .
Neighbors claim Masih and his wife were headed for a divorce . |
0481d86f85285b62eedc47687afeda953cc76b55 | (CNN)On Sunday, at almost the same moment that dozens of world leaders linked arms and led millions of people through the streets of Paris to commemorate the 17 victims of last week's terror attacks in France, explosives carried by two young girls ripped through a mobile phone market in the northeastern Nigerian town of Potiskum. The blasts, which killed three people besides the bombers and injured 46 more, came just a day after another bomb, strapped to a girl described by witnesses as about 10 years old, exploded in a busy market in the city of Maiduguri, killing at least 20 people. While coming in widely divergent settings, thousands of miles apart, the attacks in France and Nigeria were both motivated by an Islamist extremist ideology that rejects a modern world shaped by political, economic, and social liberalism -- and in the case of Boko Haram, whose name can be roughly translated as "(Western) education is forbidden," also abhors scientific progress. To achieve this end, no deed is too brutal or tactic too low, as is underscored both by the recent actions of Boko Haram and the posthumously posted video by the gunman who killed four hostages in a kosher grocery store near Paris. The difference has been that while there has been an outpouring of solidarity for the French victims and pledges of international solidarity for France's stand against violent extremism, nothing similar has been forthcoming for Nigeria's fight against the growing power of Boko Haram, at least not since the ephemeral and largely ineffectual global social media phenomenon of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign last year. This is despite the fact that over the course of recent months, Boko Haram has proven itself to be as much of a threat to international peace and security as the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, which has received so much attention. In fact, as Jamestown Foundation terrorism analyst Jacob Zenn has pointed out, Boko Haram's videos show a troubling convergence between the Nigerian militants and their ISIS counterparts not only in terms of symbolism and ideology, but also insurgency doctrine. Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, for example, first expressed "support" for the ISIS caliph, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, this past summer. Meanwhile, Boko Haram has added the jihadist black banner to its logo and the ISIS anthem to the musical repertoire on its videos. In one recent video, Shekau even seemed to declare that he is establishing his own "Islamic Caliphate" and greeted his "brothers" in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen, as well as "the Caliphate in Iraq and Syria." Even more worrisome than Boko Haram's extremist ideology and gruesome terrorist acts should be the increasing military sophistication demonstrated by the Nigerian militants. Alas, while it is largely ignored by American and European leaders and only sporadically covered by major media outlets, Boko Haram has been steadily gaining ground in its war against Nigeria. As I wrote several months ago, Boko Haram has, like ISIS, clearly moved beyond one-off asymmetric attacks to sophisticated military operations resulting in the assimilation of increasingly large chunks of territory, successfully overrunning and now effectively controlling large portions of three states in northeastern Nigeria -- by some estimates, a total area larger than the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg combined. Boko Haram's territorial base has been used by the group as a staging ground for what has become a steady campaign of terrorist attacks, like the past weekend's suicide bombings, which regularly hit more than half a dozen other Nigerian states as well as neighboring countries like Niger, many of which are already under significant pressure from militants linked to al Qaeda's North African affiliate. Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou has even gone so far as to declare to the newsmagazine Jeune Afrique that "the Islamic State is at our door." By some estimates, more than 10,000 people in Nigeria alone have died as a result of Boko Haram-related violence in 2014, while more than 1.5 million others have been displaced. Just last week, the militants stormed Baga on the shores of Lake Chad, one of the last towns in the region remaining in government hands, reportedly killing more than 2,000 civilians. Moreover, the militants are showing increasingly advanced conventional military capabilities, in contrast with the demoralized Nigerian military forces they square off against. In early September, for example, the group shot down a Nigerian attack jet that was operating against it and captured the pilot, whom it later apparently beheaded, according to a video obtained by The Associated Press. What makes the threat from Boko Haram all the more significant is the political and economic context of Nigeria, Africa's most populous country and the largest economy on the continent. The West African country is in the midst of a hotly contested general election, including a rematch presidential race between incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan and former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, with votes to be cast just a month from now. No doubt Boko Haram, which rejects democratic politics along with other "infidel" ideas, will take advantage of the campaign and voting process to step up attacks. It is hard to imagine how the threat could not have an impact on the vote. In Paris on Sunday, police and military forces fanned out across the French capital, meaning there was a reasonable sense of safety for marchers. In Nigeria, even if the country deployed every last soldier and policeman, it would barely be able to put one security officer at each of its polling stations. And, as if this were not bad enough, declining oil prices have slashed Nigerian government revenues, substantially diminishing the resources available to defeat the extremists in battle and win the subsequent peace with social and economic development of an area whose long-running marginalization helped give rise to the insurgency in the first place. It does, of course, go without saying that both the Nigerian political class and its military, with all their attendant pathologies, bear responsibility for the dire situation the country finds itself in. But that fact alone should not absolve the international community of its obligation (and self-interest) in helping to tackle the growing threat posed by Boko Haram -- any more than legitimate concerns about generally lackluster leadership by French President François Hollande and the French political elite's failure to deal squarely with the potential for radicalization among segments of the country's marginalized Muslim population prevented world leaders from showing their support for France in recent days. As the Roman Catholic archbishop of Jos, Nigeria, pleaded on the BBC recently, "We need that spirit to be spread around...Not just when it happens in Europe, but when it happens in Nigeria, in Cameroon." In the struggle against Islamist extremism and for peaceful coexistence and progress, it is time the international community recognized there is no place for a tale of two cities. | J. Peter Pham: Boko Haram makes significant territorial strides .
Its attacks show growing military sophistication, he says . |
0481d8e2d765f71c646889962f802ab3bcea4063 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . U.S. Navy handed over control of a seized oil freighter to Libyan forces while in international waters Saturday,. The saga of the North Korea-flagged tanker Morning Glory, which authorities now say is bound for the capital Tripoli, has illustrated the extreme weakness of Libya's government, vying with rebels for dominance since the 2011 ouster and death of Moammar Gadhafi. Officials also said that they had interrogated the captain and learned that it belonged to a Saudi company. Homecoming: North Korean-flagged tanker the Morning Glory, pictured here on March 8 docked at the Es Sider export terminal in Ras Lanuf, was returned to Libya Saturday by the U.S. Navy, which had seized it last week . Entourage: USS Elrod escorted the tanker on its way to Libya, with its 34 sailors staying about the Morning Glory . The main force behind the tanker is a well-known militia commander in east Libya who was planning to sell oil in defiance of Tripoli. But Ibrahim Jedran's international partners have until now remained unknown. North Korean officials say they have canceled the ship's registration after the incident. Last week, U.S. Navy SEALs seized the ship off the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, stopping an attempt by a Libyan militia to sell its shipload of crude in defiance of Tripoli. Under cover of darkness, the elite team of commandos swooped onto the The Morning Glory from a helicopter after tracking it down to a bolt hole some 18 miles southwest of the island nation. A Pentagon spokesman said they were met with next to no resistance as they swept silently through the vessel's corridors and cabins, arresting all inside. Nobody was injured in the operation. Jedran, whose fighters control the terminal where the tanker took on its load, is part of a movement demanding autonomy for the east of the country. He has warned the U.S. against handing over the tanker and three of his fighters, reportedly including one of his brothers, who are on board. Libyan authorities at first planned to . bring the tanker Morning Glory to dock at the port of Zawiya refinery, . 25 miles west of the capital Tripoli, according to Ayoub Qassem, . spokesman for the Libyan navy. However, . just as it came into sight of Zawiya, the country's top prosecutor . ordered that it head to Tripoli port for further investigation, Abdullah . Rashed, supervisor of operations at Zawiya port, told The Associated . Press. Rashid said the vessel would arrive late at night at Tripoli port and then continue on Sunday or Monday to Zawiya, though a navy spokesman declined to confirm this. Members of Libya's naval coastguard man speed boats as they wait for the arrival of the Morning Glory at Zawiya port, Libya . Qassem had earlier told the official news agency LANA that three Libyan navy ships escorted the vessel into national waters. Hours before the handover, at least 16 people were wounded when Libyan rebels occupying three eastern oil ports clashed with troops and attacked an army base, where pro-government forces had been preparing to break the rebel blockade. Anti-aircraft gunfire and explosions were heard overnight and after dawn on Saturday in Ajdabiya, the hometown of rebel leader Ibrahim Jedran, whose fighters seized the ports last summer to demand a greater share in Libya's oil resources. Last summer, Jedran's militia took over Libya's oil facilities in the east. As a result, the country's exports of its biggest revenue earner have slowed to a trickle. This month, the militia loaded the Morning Glory with $30million worth of oil. It set sail and evaded a Libyan blockade to escape to the Mediterranean, and the militia said they would sell the oil on behalf of a council that claims to be a government in the east, challenging the central authority. Qassem said three Libyans and 21 crew . members who were on board were detained by the Libyans after the U.S. Navy handed the ship over. A . Libyan security official confirmed that one of Jedran's brothers was on . board. He said a boat of the Libyan navy forces had taken the Libyans . and the crew aboard to Tripoli. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief reporters. A . spokesman for the guards of the oil terminals, Walid al-Tarhouni, said . Saturday that officials had learned that the ship belonged to a Saudi . company following interrogation of the vessel's captain, and after . reviewing the ownership documents. Change of plans: Just as the tanker came into sight of Zawiya (pictured), the country's top prosecutor ordered that it head to Tripoli port . Rogue militiamen: Rebels under commander Ibrahim Jedran unload ammunition from a boat at Es Sider port in Ras Lanuf; Jedran was planning to sell oil in defiance of Tripoli . Al-Tarhouni said Jedran's threats are ‘media talk’ that have no effect and that the army in the eastern area is working to regain control of the oil terminals. Jon Ki Chol, deputy director-general of North Korea's Maritime Administration, has previously said that although North Korea had provided a flag for the tanker Morning Glory, it canceled registration of the ship after being notified of the incident. When the ship docks into the harbor, it's expected to take 10 to 15 hours to unload 350,000 barrels of oil, Abdel Satar el-Terbel, coordinator of the naval operations in Zawiya Refinery Company, said. The attempted oil sale fueled political crisis in Libya and led to the parliament's removal of Ali Zidan from his post as prime minister, saying it had underlined his weakness. Libya's three rebel-held ports account for around 700,000 barrels per day of Libya's oil export capacity, or around half of its total petroleum shipments. Ransom: The vessel was stolen from the port of As Sidra last month by Libyan anti-Government insurgents, who are demanding a greater share of oil wealth and autonomy from the country's fledgling administration. They were tracked down near Cyprus . | The Morning Glory was escorted by USS Elrod to Tripoli Saturday .
The ship had been taken by Libyan rebels, demanding more oil wealth and autonomy .
They had loaded 37-ton ship with crude oil stolen from port of Es Sider .
Last week a team of SEALs boarded the tanker near Cyprus and arrested the rebel on board . |
0481fd874dff61f78562a90c74a369620e103d28 | (CNN) -- Embattled Calumet County, Wisconsin, District Attorney Ken Kratz has resigned amid a texting scandal, according to the office of Gov. Jim Doyle. Two weeks ago, at a news conference, Kratz apologized for sending personal texts to a domestic abuse victim while prosecuting her former boyfriend. At the time, he said he wouldn't step down from office. Wisconsin Department of Justice officials said some of Kratz's texts "cross the line and can be construed as sexual harassment." They cited a specific text that refers to the woman as a "tall, young, hot nymph," and another that says, "You are beautiful and would make a great partner someday." E-mails from November 2009 between Kratz and the Wisconsin Department of Justice show Kratz denied wrongdoing for weeks before finally saying, "My behavior was inappropriate." Kratz also recently went on medical leave. In recent months, several local and state domestic violence organizations have called on Kratz to resign as district attorney. CNN's Chuck Johnston and Antoinette Campbell contributed to this report. | Ken Kratz is under fire for texts he sent to a crime victim .
Earlier, Kratz said he was sorry but would not resign .
He was most recently on medical leave . |
048358893b1b8663bd59d4f4fd7c488fa4892ad8 | By . Mark Prigg . PUBLISHED: . 03:30 EST, 22 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:00 EST, 22 August 2012 . Curiosity is set to take its first Martian drive today, mission controllers have confirmed. The Mars rover Curiosity has been investigating the Martian weather around it and the soil beneath it, as its controllers prepare for the car-size vehicle's first drive on Mars. Last night the rover wiggled its wheels to test its motor system, and Nasa was set to send the rover its first driving commands. Scroll down for video . Handling's out of this world: Nasa's Curiosity Rovers tests its steering during final checks before it sets off across the surface of Mars . 'Late tonight, we plan to send Curiosity . the commands for doing our first drive tomorrow,' Curiosity . Mission Manager Michael Watkins of JPL said last night. 'We'll . drive about three meters forward, and then turn, and then drive back a . little less than that ... We don't back up right to the same location . that we are in right now.' If . the test, set to last around 90 minutes, is a success, Curiosity will . leave its landing spot in three or four days, Mr Watkins said. If all goes to plan Curiosity will end up parked at 90 degrees to its . original touchdown position. 'We want to park in a place we've exactly . examined. 'We just want to be extra safe,' said Mr Watkins. 'We have a couple more activities to complete before we start driving,' he said. Curiosity . will first head in the direction of Glenelg, a spot in Gale Crater less . than 500 meters (yards) away from its current position. The site . contains three different kinds of terrain that NASA scientists aim to . explore. Preparing to drive: Nasa released high resolution images of the rover's extended arm as it sent the rovers commands for its first drive on the red planet . It checks air temperature, . ground temperature, air pressure, wind and other variables every hour at . the landing site in Gale Crater. On a typical Martian day, or "sol," based on measurements so far in the two-week old mission, air temperatures swing from 28 degrees to minus 103 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 2 to minus 75 Celsius), Nasa said. Ground temperatures change even more between afternoon and pre-dawn morning, from 37 degrees to minus 132 degrees Fahrenheit (3 to minus 91 Celsius). 'We will learn about changes from day to day and season to season,' said Javier Gómez-Elvira of the Centro de Astrobiología, Madrid, Spain, principal investigator for the suite of weather sensors called the Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS). Within a week or so, daily Mars weather reports from Curiosity will become available. However, the mission also hit its first problem as scientists found one of the two sets of wind sensors is not providing data. 'One possibility is that pebbles lofted during the landing hit the delicate circuit boards on one of the two REMS booms,' said Curiosity Deputy Project Scientist Ashwin Vasavada of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Another new image of Curiosity's extended arm surveying the Martian landscape. Researchers found one of two wind sensors on it had not survived the landing, and believe it may have been broken by a pebble . 'We will have to be more clever about using the remaining wind sensor to get wind speed and direction.' An instrument provided by Russia is checking for water bound into minerals in the top three feet (one meter) of soil beneath the rover. It employs a technology that is used in oil prospecting on Earth, but had never before been sent to another planet. 'Curiosity has begun shooting neutrons into the ground,' said Igor Mitrofanov of Space Research Institute, Moscow, principal investigator for this instrument, called the Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons, or DAN. 'We measure the amount of hydrogen in the soil by observing how the neutrons are scattered, and hydrogen on Mars is an indicator of water.' The most likely hydrogen to be found in shallow ground of Gale Crater, near the Martian equator, is in hydrated minerals. These are minerals with water molecules, or related ions, bound into the crystalline structure of rocks. They can tenaciously retain water from a wetter past after all free water has gone. Images released last night show theCuriosity Rover is seen wiggling its wheels back and fourth during final checks before it sets off across the surface of Mars. Engineers at mission control have been running a series of tests before the one-ton vehicle's first drive which is expected in the next couple of days. The images were taken by one of Curiosity's navigation cameras. Curiosity, a six-wheeled . vehicle the size of a compact car, landed inside a vast, ancient impact . crater near Mars' equator on August 6 after an eight-month, . 354-million-mile voyage through space. Scroll down for video . Nasa's Curiosity rover has unfurled its robotic arm for the first time as scientists continue to tests its systems. The numbers around the edge are degrees of the compass and degrees below or above horizontal. The seven foot long robot arm contain a plethora of instruments, including: . A camera to capture images for analysis . A drill to get under the martian surface . A spectrometer to analyse samples . A scoop and mechanisms for sieving and portioning samples of powdered martian rock and soil . Earlier the Martian motor was shown . flexing its extending robotic arm for the first time. The 7-foot-long . (2.1-meter-long) arm maneuvers a turret of tools including a camera, a . drill, a spectrometer, a scoop and mechanisms for sieving and portioning . samples of powdered rock and soil. The view (above)is a mosaic of low-resolution thumbnail images returned to Earth a few hours after the activity on Mars, with higher resolution versions set to follow. Curiosity landed on Mars two weeks ago to begin a two-year mission using . 10 instruments to assess whether a carefully chosen study area inside . Gale Crater has ever offered environmental conditions favorable for . microbial life. The Mars rover Curiosity zapped its first rock on Sunday with a high-powered laser gun designed to analyze Martian mineral content, and scientists declared their target practice a success. The robotic science lab aimed its laser beam at the fist-sized stone nearby and shot the rock with 30 pulses over a 10-second period, NASA said in a statement issued from mission control at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory near Los Angeles. Each pulse delivers more than 1 million watts of energy for about five one-billionths of a second, vapourising a pinhead-sized bit of the rock to create a tiny spark, which is analyzed by a small telescope mounted on the instrument. The ionized glow, which can be . observed and recorded from up to 25 feet away, is then split into its . component wavelengths by three spectrometers that give scientists . information about the chemical makeup of the target rock. Curiosity has begun its science mission on Mars by 'zapping' a rock with its laser analysis equipment . The combined system, called the Chemistry-and-Camera instrument, or ChemCam, is capable of discerning more than 6,000 different wavelengths in the ultraviolet, infrared and visible light spectrum and is designed to take about 14,000 measurements throughout Curiosity's Mars mission. The purpose of Sunday's initial use of the laser, conducted at roughly 3 a.m. Pacific time (7.00 a.m. EDT), was as 'target practice' for the instrument. But scientists will examine the data they receive to determine composition of the rock, which they dubbed 'Coronation,' NASA said. 'We got a great spectrum of Coronation - lots of signal,' said ChemCam principal investigator Roger Wiens of the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, where the instrument was developed. 'After eight years of building the instrument, it's payoff time.' Curiosity's two-year mission is aimed at determining whether or not the planet most like Earth could have hosted microbial life. The first laser test by the Chemistry and Camera, or ChemCam, instrument aboard NASA's Curiosity Mars rover. The square inset is further magnified and processed to show the difference between images taken before and after the test . The rover's primary target is Mount Sharp, a towering mound of layered rock rising from the floor of Gale Crater. But mission controllers are gradually checking out Curiosity's sophisticated array of instruments before sending it on its first road trip across the Martian landscape. The $2.5 billion Curiosity project marks NASA's first astrobiology mission since the Viking probes to Mars during the 1970s and the most advanced robotic science lab sent to another world. The technique employed by ChemCam has been used to examine the composition of materials in other extreme environments, such as inside nuclear reactors and on the sea floor. Curiosity rover has also sent back its sharpest image of the 3-mile-high (5-kilometer-high) mountain, called Mount Sharp . The technology also has experimental applications in environmental monitoring and cancer detection. But Sunday's exercise, conducted during Curiosity's 13th full day on Mars, was the first use in interplanetary exploration, NASA said. Before Curiosity embarks on its 4.3-mile (7-km) trek to the foot of Mount Sharp, a journey that could take six months, mission controllers plan to send it out on a shorter jaunt to a spot 1,600 feet from its landing site. The deck of the Curiosity rover from the rover's Navigation camera. The back of the rover can be seen at the top left of the image, and two of the rover's right side wheels can be seen on the left . VIDEO: See Curiosity on the red planet as it prepares for target practice... | Rover will move 3m forward and back later today .
New hi-resolution pictures of its arm extended revealed .
Weather monitoring instruments believed to have been damaged by a pebble during landing . |
04847b615690c4920d21b992ef858e34cedf0ff0 | Hugo Lloris has insisted that the current France team is intent on writing its own page in history by knocking Germany out of the World Cup on Friday. The build-up to the quarter-final has been dominated by the controversy caused in 1982 when German goalkeeper Harald Schumacher knocked Patrick Battiston unconscious and the talk in France has been of the need to avenge that incident. But Tottenham goalkeeper Lloris, the France captain, says that the team are more concerned with progressing to the semi-finals. VIDEO Scroll down to watch France in training ahead of their quarter final vs Germany . Preparation: France players train in the Maracana Stadium ahead of their quarter-final against Germany . Good form: Didier Deschamps (centre) has played down suggestions France are favourites to win . Yes boss: Mathieu Valbuena speaks with manager Deschamps as France prepare for Friday's clash . Aim: Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has insisted France are intent on writing their own history . He said: ‘As far as we’re concerned, . we’re living in the present. There is a long history between both . nations but we want to write our own history for these finals. I’m . excited and I’m sure the rest of the team feels the same. We don’t play . the World Cup every year and this is a major opportunity to play against . one of the favourites. ‘We’re not afraid of anything. It’s a sheer . joy to play Germany in the quarter-finals and we want to win for our . friends, our relatives, our families and for France.’ Germany also . knocked out France in the 1986 semi-finals in Mexico and France manager . Didier Deschamps echoed his captain’s call to ignore the precedents of . the past. ‘There is no pressure,’ said Deschamps . ‘I don’t have . to tell the players anything. They’re just thrilled because they’re . going to play a World Cup quarter-final. History is what has been and we . will try to write a new page of history.’ Star man: France's Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba looks on during Thursday's training session in Brazil . My ball: France wideman Antoine Griezmann holds the ball during the training session in Rio De Janeiro . In control: Pogba, Karim Benzema and Mamadou Sakho practice their ball skills . VIDEO Team Profile: France highlights . Deschamps said that this . new generation of French players have learned to embrace the honour and . responsibility of playing for the national team following the debacle of . 2010, when Nicolas Anelka was sent home by the management and the team . went on strike in protest. Deschamps said: ‘Our players are in . major European clubs, so we had to make them more united, to ensure that . they had the same philosophy, the same objectives and to understand the . fact that to be in the France team means they have a number of duties . and responsibilities. But spirits have been high since the beginning of . our preparations.’ Deschamps will bring back Liverpool’s Mamadou . Sakho, who has recovered from a leg injury, in central defence at the . expense of Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny today while striker Olivier . Giroud could make way for Antoine Griezmann, who made a big impact as a . substitute in the second-round win over Nigeria. High spirits: The France squad do some stretching routines as Pogba smiles and Patrice Evra (left) looks on . On a roll: France cruised through the group stage and beat Nigeria 2-0 to reach the quarter-finals . VIDEO Germany are favourites - Matuidi . | France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris intent for squad to create own piece of World Cup history .
Clash has been dominated by 1982 incident involving Harald Schumacher and Patrick Battison .
Tottenham stopper insists team are more concerned about reaching last four of the tournament . |
04848a7c29c850594968d001e28b3320c88d0048 | By . Charlotte Griffiths And Alexis Parr . Singer Cilla Black has criticised the club that made her famous, blaming it for damaging her hearing so badly that she has had a hearing aid surgically implanted. The pop star turned presenter is in her 70s, but as a teenager in the 1960s she was a coat check girl in Liverpool's Cavern Club, working for tickets to watch bands like The Beatles perform. Cilla told The Mail on Sunday: 'I blame the Cavern. All those years in a place with no proper acoustics, I think it may have done some damage. Going deaf: Cilla with her close friend and contemporary Sir Cliff Richard . Dancing at the Cavern Club in Liverpool: Cilla blames the poor acoustics on her deafness . 'It's no fun getting older. I might be wearing beautiful diamond earrings but they can't take away the pain of losing my hearing. I think it's been a gradual thing... I didn't actually realise how bad it had got until I was with a friend in Barbados and I said to her, "Why are you whispering?" She said to me, "Cilla I am not whispering, it is you who has a hearing problem." 'Its rock'n'roll that has done my hearing in. I went to the Cool Britannia party at 10 Downing Street and a well-known rocker came up to me and said something and I said, "I can't hear you." He replied, "I can't hear either." He pointed out his hearing aid and told me to get one. In an astonishingly frank admission Cilla, who was widowed in 1999 when husband Bobby Willis died of lung cancer, also admitted that growing old has left her feeling vulnerable and lonely. Cilla has been lonely since husband Bobby died in 1999. Her life has been turned into a three-part television show . Bobby's girl: Cilla (right) marries Bobby Willis in 1963 and had three sons by him and a daughter who died after only two hours . She says she finds looking back so painful that she has been unable to bring herself to watch Cilla, a three-part ITV series about her life starring Sheridan Smith and co-produced by her son Robert, 43. 'I've had the films for three weeks now but I haven't been able to watch it even though my son is the co-producer. 'It's hard to watch your life unfold, and sad. Life changes. I haven't been in touch with Ringo and he turned 74 the other day, or Paul [McCartney]. 'I wanted to see a new screening of the old Beatles film Hard Day's Night, and I wanted to go with Patti Boyd, but she was in New York and I didn't want to go on my own.' Lookalikes: Sheridan Smith (left) is due to play Cilla (right) in a three-part ITV series . | Noticed she had gone deaf while chatting to a friend in Barbados .
Cilla admitted that growing old has left her feeling vulnerable and lonely .
Singer has lost touch with many of her old friends .
ITV has made three-part drama series about her life but Cilla can't bring herself to watch it . |
04849a32c3b9571a974c5d6ce1ee6dc3ae77008a | By . Associated Press Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 04:04 EST, 16 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:09 EST, 16 January 2013 . An aid package worth $50.5 billion has been approved for victims Superstorm Sandy after weeks of political wrangling. The House of Representatives approved the disaster relief for those devastated by the storm in a 241-180 vote. The Senate is expected to accept the measure early next week and send it to President Barack Obama, despite some Democratic concerns that the package does not do enough. Aid: The House of Representatives approved the $50.5 billion disaster relief package for those devastated by the storm in a 241-180 vote . Recovery: The Senate is expected to accept the measure but there have been concerns that the package does not do enough . Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer said: 'While the House bill is not quite as good as the Senate bill, it is certainly close enough.' The aid package was supported by House democrats in large numbers in the vote, but substantial Republican backing was needed before its passage in the Republican-controlled House. The victory has been tarnished by some who have complained that Congress approved tens of billions of dollars in aid within days of Hurricane Katrina but stalled for more than two months on Sandy aid. Sandy pounded several states in late October and has been blamed for 140 deaths and billions of dollars in residential and business property damage. New York, New Jersey and Connecticut were hardest hit, with power outages and interruptions to public transportation causing the clamor for federal relief to begin almost immediately. Republican Rep. Peter King called the package an 'outstanding victory for the people of New York, New Jersey and Long Island'. Immediate: Obama previously called for House Republicans to vote on the Sandy aid 'without delay for our fellow Americans' But he added that 'it is unfortunate that we had to fight so hard to be treated the same as every other state has been treated'. House Democrats resisted most attempts by southern conservatives to reduce the measure or offset part of its cost through spending cuts elsewhere in the budget. Critics said the proposed cuts would crimp Pentagon spending as well as domestic accounts. Conservatives did succeed in stripping $150 million for Regional Ocean Partnership Grants and $9.8 million for rebuilding seawalls and buildings on uninhabited islands in the Steward McKinney National Wildlife refuge in Connecticut. The House measure includes about $16 billion to repair transit systems in New York and New Jersey and a similar amount for housing and other needs in the affected area. Boarded up: The package includes a number of measures, including $16 billion to repair transit systems in New York and New Jersey . Bare bones: The supports for the boardwalk that was destroyed by Superstorm Sandy can still be seen on the beach in the Rockaways . An additional $5.4 billion will go to the Federal Emergency and Management Agency for disaster relief, and $2 billion is ticketed for restoration of highways damaged or destroyed in the storm. The Senate approved a $60.4 billion measure in the final days of the Congress that expired on January 3 and a House vote had been expected quickly. But House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner unexpectedly postponed the vote in the final hours of the expiring Congress as he struggled to calm politicians unhappy that the House had just approved a separate measure raising tax rates on the wealthy. Boehner's delay sparked a public uproar, much of it from other Republicans like New Jersey Governor Chris Christie who has lobbied Congress for aid. Delay: House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner unexpectedly postponed the vote . 'There's only one group to blame for the continued suffering of these innocent victims, the House majority and their speaker, John Boehner,' Mr Christie said on the day after the delay was announced. The Republican leadership brought legislation to the floor two weeks later under ground rules designed to satisfy as many Republicans as possible, while retaining support from Democrats eager to approve as much in disaster aid as possible. Congress has already approved a $9.7 billion increase in a fund to pay federal flood insurance claims, much of it expected to benefit victims of Sandy. Firsthand: Gov. Chris Christie comforting a woman whose home was damaged by Superstorm Sandy . The House-passed Sandy aid package does not include some projects that were in the Senate version and drew sharp fire from conservatives as unrelated to the storm. Not included in the House bill were a provision for $150 million for fisheries disasters that states such as Alaska and Mississippi could have shared and $188 million for an Amtrak expansion project that included new, long-planned tunnels from New Jersey to Penn Station in Manhattan. The House version has $1.1 billion more than the Senate bill to help repair storm-damaged highways. | Original vote was delayed outraging lawmakers who wanted relief money .
Aid package was approved by House of Representatives in 241-180 vote .
Superstorm Sandy caused 140 deaths and damage worth billions of dollars .
Bill includes $16 billion to improve New York and New Jersey transport .
$5.4 billion given to Federal Emergency and Management Agency . |
04875401293df3936bb922e93e9dc4f9a9d342c2 | A plane carrying the body of Korean War POW Glenn Schoenmann arrived at Nashville International Airport in Tennessee on Thursday to be greeted by four emotional siblings, 62 years after their brother voluntarily left home to fight in the war. Private First Class Schoenmann died in a North Korean prison camp on December 29, 1950, at the age of 20. He was wounded and suffered days in the frigid cold alone during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, known to Korean War veterans as the ‘frozen Chosin.’ Not forgotten: Private First Class Glenn Schoenmann, who left his family farm in Tennessee to volunteer for the Korean War, is seen in this undated handout photo courtesy of the Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs . Long-awaited service: Schoenmann's personal items were put on display during a funeral for the Korean War veteran who died in a prison camp at the age of 19 . The battle took place in late November 1950 as severe winter weather hit North Korea and hundreds of thousands of Communist Chinese troops poured into the country to overturn what had been a largely successful American and United Nations advance. Injured and cut off from his unit, Schoenmann managed to avoid being captured for several days. But eventually, wounded and weakened from the cold, the young soldier was caught and detained in a North Korean prison camp, where he died. His remains were later recovered in 2004 during a brief period of cooperation between the U.S. and North Korea. Schoenmann’s corpse was identified by DNA taken from family members after a nephew’s online ancestry search came to the attention of U.S. authorities involved in recovering Korean War POW remains, the Leaf Chronicle in Tennessee reports. Closure: Sibling Raymond Schoenmann wipes his eyes during the funeral for his brother held at the Grundy County High School in Coalmont, Tennessee . Respects paid: Army Chaplin Ladislao Hernandez paid respects during the funeral for Korean War veteran Private First Class Schoenmann . Preparation for burial: The Army honor guard preparing to move Glenn Schoenmann's to the cemetery . His older brother says he remembers driving him to a bus station in Nashville more than 62 years ago. ‘He knew where he was going,’ Ernest Schoenmann, 86, of Creve Coure, Illinois, told the Chronicle. ‘He said, “I don’t think I’ll ever come home alive." ‘That was hard. Those were the last words I can remember.’ Ernest Schoenmann, who was informed of the positive identification shortly before Thanksgiving, said his family learned a lot about what their sibling went through. ‘They gave me a booklet with an interview with one of the boys who was in prison with him,’ he said. ‘I started to read it, but I couldn’t. It was so horrible.’ Communal dedication: Locals lined the streets during the funeral procession . Proper ceremony: The honor guard carried Schoenmann's casket during the funeral in Palmer, Tennessee, on Saturday, January 12, 2013 . Saying goodbye: Ernest, left, and Raymond, right, Schoenmann sat quietly during the funeral service for their brother who was 20 when he died in December 1950 . As with thousands of other U.S. soldiers killed in action or by the harsh conditions of their captivity, Schoenmann’s remains were not returned to the U.S. after authorities signed an armistice with North Korea on July 27, 1953. Six decades after the signing of that armistice, over 8,000 U.S. military men and women remain unaccounted for. The Korean War, which was fought between June 25,1950, and July, 27, 1953, has often been referred to as 'The Forgotten War' and 'The Unknown War' due to the lack of public attention it received. Ernest Schoenmann said he wishes other families of missing Korean War service members will still be able to find closure as their loved ones remain half a world away. ‘I just wish more of them were home,’ he said. ‘There’s still so many of them missing over there.’Glenn Schoenmann’s long-awaited funeral was held in Tennessee on Saturday. A day to not forget: Final respects were paid before the burial . Flag folding: Members of the honor guards folded the flag during the funeral service . Young fighter: Glenn Schoenmann is seen in this undated handout photo courtesy of the Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs . | Private first class Schoenmann left the U.S. to fight in the Korean War in 1950 .
He died in a North Korea prison camp on December 29, 1950, at the age of 20 .
His remains were finally recovered in 2004 during a brief period of cooperation between the U.S. and North Koren .
Schoenmann's body was sent back to the his family in the U.S. on Thursday, 62 years after he left for North Korea . |
04882672036936ca86bdebed819a133539cbd296 | LONDON, England (CNN) -- Almost 50 percent of the world's primates are in danger of extinction, according to a report from an international conservation group that cites habitat destruction and hunting as the two greatest threats. The golden-headed lion tamarin has been brought back from the edge of extinction. The situation is especially dire in Asia, where the report says more than 70 percent of monkeys, apes, and other primates are classified as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered. "We've raised concerns for years about primates being in peril, but now we have solid data to show the situation is far more severe than we imagined," said Russell Mittermeier, president of Conservation International and chairman of the IUCN Primate Specialist Group. "Tropical forest destruction has always been the main cause, but now it appears that hunting is just as serious a threat in some areas, even where the habitat is still quite intact," he said. The report from Conservation International, issued at this week's International Primatological Society Congress in Edinburgh, Scotland, looked at the world's 634 kinds of primates, mankind's closest relatives. Conservation International funded the review along with the Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation, Disney's Animal Kingdom, and the Swiss-based IUCN, or International Union for Conservation of Nature. The report found that about 90 percent of primate species in Vietnam and Cambodia were at risk of extinction. Populations of gibbons, leaf monkeys, langurs and other species had dwindled, the report said, because of "rampant habitat loss exacerbated by hunting for food and to supply the wildlife trade in traditional Chinese medicine and pets." Jean-Christophe Vie, deputy head of the IUCN Species Program, called the situation in southeast Asia terrifying. "To have a group of animals under such a high level of threat is, quite frankly, unlike anything we have recorded among any other group of species to date," he said in a news release. Great apes like gorillas and bonobos still faced challenges in Africa, the report said, but it was the smaller primates -- such as the red colobus monkey, with its striking white, black and rust-colored coat -- that could die out first. In Africa, 11 of the 13 kinds of red colobus monkeys assessed in the report were listed as critically endangered or endangered, and two may already be extinct, the report said. Bouvier's red colobus has not been seen in 25 years, and despite occasional sightings, no primatologist has recorded a living Miss Waldron's red colobus since 1978, the report says. Primates are important to the health of their surrounding ecosystems, the report's authors say, supporting a wide range of plant and animal life in the world's tropical forests. Healthy forests, in turn, provide vital resources for local human populations. Reforestation is crucial to restoring primate populations because it restores their habitat, the report said. It cites the cases of the black lion tamarin and golden lion tamarin in Brazil, which were downgraded from critically endangered to endangered after three decades of conservation efforts. "If you have forests, you can save primates," said Anthony Rylands, a scientist with Conservation International and the deputy chair of the IUCN Primate Specialist Group. "The work with lion tamarins shows that conserving forest fragments and reforesting to create corridors that connect them is not only vital for primates, but offers the multiple benefits of maintaining healthy ecosystems and water supplies while reducing greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change." | Report: Almost 50 percent of world's primates in danger of extinction .
Situation is especially dire in Asia, where 70 percent of primates threatened .
90 percent of primate species in Vietnam and Cambodia at risk of extinction . |
048903e6f55c4edd86a490409491f3a408b5182b | I wouldn't have missed a drug test like Rio . How I headbutted Schmeichel and gave him a black eye . I don't regret the tackle on Haaland . He didn't even own the bloody thing - Keane on the Rock of Gibraltar dispute . I knew Ronaldo would rule the world . Roy Keane has hit out at Manchester United's famous 'class of '92' by saying their importance to the club's dominance of English football has been overstated. United's legendary youth side that won the FA Youth Cup in 1992 contained the likes of Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Gary Neville and Phil Neville; all became vital to later success at Old Trafford. The group of players took their story to the silver screen, releasing a film last year on their rise to stardom. But Keane, in his new autobiographyThe Second Half, airs his distaste for the 'brand' of the group. He also uncovered a different side to Scholes, who has always been revered for his squeaky-clean image off the field. 'Scholesy was a top top player but I still don’t fall for the boy next door image,' Keane said. 'Or that he’s dead humble. He has more of an edge to him. Everyone thinks he lives in a council flat.' (Left to right) Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and David Beckham as the Class of '92, which Roy Keane says has 'become a brand' According to Keane's new autobiography, The Second Half, Paul Scholes (left) had 'more of an edge to him' than people thought . Keane celebrates with one half of the Class of '92 as Ryan Giggs gives United a 1-0 lead against Juventus in the Champions League in 2003 . With almost 4,000 senior matches for United and close to 100 major trophies between them, Beckham and Co clearly delivered on their promise as the most talented set of Red Devils players since the Busby Babes in the 1950s, but Keane believes the Class of '92 'brand' has slightly overtaken the team's own success in that period. Keane adds: 'The Class of ’92 – all good players but their role at the club has been exaggerated. 'The Class of ’92 seems to have grown its own legs. It has become a brand. It’s as if they were a team away from a team and they are not shy of plugging in to it. However, the Corkman clearly still felt happy to be part of a team that included the most successful United youth graduates to date, 'But we all had the same aims. We all had the same hunger.' 'I wonder about the current United dressing room. When a manager like Sir Alex Ferguson is replaced the new man needs a helping hand. Does that mean every player should like him? No. 'But I look at the current players and they should be doing a lot better. Not liking a manager can never be an excuse for not going out and doing your best. 'Looking at what happened to David Moyes, I can only conclude that he didn’t have a strong dressing room. He had a weak dressing room.' Former United youth team coach Eric Harrison (front) with his young stars in 1993 which included Gary Neville, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes . The famous group of players released the Class of 92' documentary film in November, 2013 . Regrets apologising to Ferguson . Does not regret his tackle on Haaland . Told Fergie 'We need f****** more' Wouldn't have missed a drugs test like Rio . Headbutted Peter Schmeichel . Profited from Glazer takeover . 'Glad' Clive Clarke suffered a heart attack . Keane crosses line to dangerous territory . On that MUTV interview . Knew Ronaldo would be one of the best . Class of 92 . Real Madrid regret . Ferguson wanted me to wear No 7 . Turned down Celtic this summer . Re-opens feud with Fergie . Keane and the Class of '92 became the most successful side in the club's rich history as Ferguson's side completed the Treble in 1999, becoming the first English club to achieve such a feat. The Red Devils went undefeated for 33 games in all competitions before producing the most dramatic of Champions League comebacks against Bayern Munich - a final which Keane was forced to miss through suspension. Speaking about the talented generation, Ferguson said: 'I have been fortunate to work with many exceptional young players, but the Class of 92 was unique. For so many of them to stay together and succeed at the highest level is a great tribute to their talent and this club’s belief in the power of youth. 'I am convinced that no group of players will ever make such an impact on the English game as those boys have done – and continue to do.' Like our Manchester United Facebook page. Keane celebrates with David Beckham (right) - the most famous youth product to come out of the Class of '92 . Keane claims the Class of '92 has 'grown its own legs' as a brand and 'their role at the club was exaggerated' despite being good players . The Aston Villa No 2 has lifted the lid on a variety of subjects in his new autobiography, including his true feeling about Scholes . Neville (left), Beckham and Keane celebrate the former United captain's goal against West Ham in 1997 . Keane and the Class of '92 became part of the most successful United side in history after completing the treble with this Champions League win in 1999 . 'Once we were at Juventus – they were playing Chelsea. We were standing at the corner flag and Adrian (Chiles) was next to me. He goes: "This is great isn’t it?". I went: "I used to play in these games Adrian". I wasn’t being cocky. 'It’s about justification, what you stand for. When I was at United I was getting paid good money but I could go: "Yeah, but I'm giving it back to you". I didn’t feel that way with this TV work. It’s an easy gig. I don’t like easy gigs. When I heard: "I liked your commentary last night". I knew I was only talking bulls*** like the rest of them. Hopefully my bulls*** was a bit better. I wanted to do something that excited me. TV work didn’t excite me. 'I liked Adrian and Lee Dixon, though. What I really enjoyed was the company. I liked meeting people, old players like Liverpool’s Jan Molby. Some United fans saw us together and one of them said: “Why the f*** are you talking to him?”. I felt like saying: “I will speak to who I f***ing want to!"' Keane writes about Clive Clarke's heart attack in his new autobiographyThe Second Half . VIDEO Keane releases second controversial autobiography . Roy Keane: The Second Half, published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson, £20. www.orionbooks.co.uk . | Roy Keane hits out at Class of '92 as former Manchester United midfielder claims the group have 'become a brand'
Keane also shares his view on Paul Scholes, who he believes has 'more of an edge to him' than people think .
'Scholesy was a top top player but I still don’t fall for the boy next door image,' Keane said .
In his autobiography,The Second Half, Keane says the role of the Class of '92 has been 'exaggerated' |
04891c87d0ee08fc6b88fe2a95a5f088ec240dbd | Washington (CNN) -- Richard Mellon Scaife, the billionaire publisher and banking heir who financed conservative causes that included attempts to discredit Bill Clinton while he was president, has died. He was 82. Scaife's death on Friday followed his disclosure less than two months ago that he had terminal cancer, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, one of his newspapers. He was heir to the banking, oil and aluminum fortunes of the Mellon family and used his estimated $1.4 billion wealth to underwrite conservative crusades and groups that included the Heritage Foundation, the Cato Institute and the American Enterprise Institute. Republican leaders mourned him. "RIP Dick Scaife. Great newspaperman. Set the highest standard. True patriot for first principles we honor today. Prayers for his family," House Speaker John Boehner tweeted. During his time supporting presidential campaigns, Scaife first backed Sen. Barry Goldwater, a Republican from Arizona who lost to Lyndon Johnson in a 1964 landslide. Scaife would later spend more than $1 million to re-elect Richard Nixon to the White House before becoming a staunch backer of Ronald Reagan nearly a decade later. Scaife did not always toe the line on every front of the conservative movement. He broke with the Republican Party on abortion, legalizing same-sex marriage and the decision to invade Iraq in 2003. But the deeply private Scaife became a more widely known figure in 1998, when he became the face of what Hillary Clinton, first lady at the time, called the "vast right-wing conspiracy" bankrolling investigations into her husband around the time of his impeachment. He denied involvement. Scaife's regard for the Clintons apparently shifted years later when he reportedly donated $100,000 to the Clinton Global Initiative after having lunch with the former President. And in 2008, Scaife's newspaper even endorsed Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential bid. Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who helped lead the 90s-era charge to impeach Clinton, praised Scaife's patriotism. "Richard Scaife was a remarkable patriot, philanthropist and conservative activist," Gingrich tweeted on Friday. "His passing today is a great loss to America." Scaife purchased the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review in 1969 and, while he used the paper's editorial pages as a bullhorn for his political views, the newspaper's staff attested to the mogul's love of newspapers. "He loved newspapering more than anyone I've known," Frank Craig, the newspaper's editor, said in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's obituary. "No one on the staff took more pride in breaking important stories or winning major awards than he did. Many of his ideas and news tips produced some of our best coverage." In the column announcing his untreatable cancer, Scaife wrote about his philanthropy and said none of the causes he supported "gave me as great a sense of accomplishment as the newspapers." While he supported a number of causes and institutions, Scaife also reportedly struggled with alcoholism for years and several family issues that pushed him into the headlines, including a contentious divorce with his second wife, which was finalized in 2012, according to media reports. Before inheriting his family's fortune, Scaife attended Yale University, but was expelled in his freshmen year when he rolled a beer keg down a flight of stairs and broke a classmate's legs, according to a 1999 Washington Post article. Scaife is survived by two children and two grandchildren. People we've lost in 2014 . | Scaife was heir to the banking, oil and aluminum fortunes of the Mellon family .
He funded conservative causes with his estimated $1.4 billion fortune .
Scaife funded investigations into President Bill Clinton around the time of his impeachment .
Philanthropy didn't give him as great a sense of accomplishment as did newspapers . |
04896c037ca8626b2d63573b924e7ae19634bbb0 | (CNN) -- In 2001, the nation watched as Andrea Yates, by all accounts a loving mother, was arrested in the killings of her five children after drowning them in a bathtub. In the trial that followed, we learned she had a history of mental illness, which intensified in her postpartum periods and required four psychiatric hospitalizations. She would ultimately be found not guilty by reason of insanity and sent to a Texas psychiatric hospital. Her case riveted a bewildered nation for much the same reasons as the story this past weekend of Megan Huntsman, a woman in Utah who authorities say admitted to strangling or suffocating at least six of her babies, likely over a 10-year period beginning in 1996, and putting their bodies in boxes in her garage. As with Yates, intense national publicity has focused on the shock or horror of filicide -- the act of a parent killing a child. We wonder: What would cause a mother or father to do such a seemingly unnatural thing? Indeed, it's rare enough to stop us in our tracks. But the practice has existed since ancient times, and the reasons may include displeasure over the child's gender, or a disability or questionable paternity as a lack of parental resources to care for the child. Filicide has been documented in literature from all eras. Perhaps the most famous tale comes from Greek mythology --- the story of Medea, a woman who kills her sons to punish her husband for his affair. Today, roughly two-thirds of all children murdered in the United States under the age of 5 between 1980 and 2008 were killed by a parent, more specifically 33% were killed by their fathers and 30% by their mothers. We cannot know what was behind the deaths of Huntsman's infants, but research may offer at least broad motivations. Forensic psychiatrist Phillip J. Resnick, a pioneer in the field of filicide research, published a seminal article in 1969 identifying five major reasons for filicide based on the motive of the perpetrator: . 1. Altruism: The parent kills the child because he or she may perceive it to be in the child's best interest. It may be reality-based (e.g., the child suffers from a terminal illness) or precede the suicide of the parent, as the parent feels it would be unfair to leave the child behind to face the cruel world. 2. Acute psychosis: The parent kills the child based on ideas that are inconsistent with reality; for example, the parent believes the child has been possessed by the devil. 3. Unwanted child: The parent kills the child that he or she regards as a hindrance. 4. Accidental: The child's death is an unintentional outcome of parental physical abuse. 5. Spousal revenge: The parent kills the child in an effort to exact revenge on the other parent. Filicide is the broad term used to refer to a parent (or a person acting in a parental role, such as a stepparent or guardian) who kills his or her child under the age of 18; infanticide is the term used to define the murder of a child in the first year of life, and -- more specifically -- neonaticide refers to a parent who kills a child within the first 24 hours of life. Neonaticides, as described by Resnick, are most often perpetrated by young, unmarried women who do not suffer from a major mental illness and do not want their children. In 1997, for example, New Jersey teen Melissa Drexler made national news when it was discovered she gave birth in a bathroom stall at her prom and disposed of the newborn in a trash can. It is also worth noting there are differences between fathers and mothers who commit filicide. Fathers are more likely to kill more than one victim, including other children and spouses. They are also more likely to kill themselves following the filicide. And fathers are often more harshly punished than women who commit similar crimes. England, for example, passed the Infanticide Acts of 1922 and 1938, which banned the use of the death penalty for mothers who killed their children in the first 12 months of life. These were efforts to recognize the effect that the birth and care of an infant may have on the mother. Several other Western countries have followed suit (with the exception of the United States). No such laws exist to protect men charged with infanticide. Is it possible to prevent the killing of children by their parents? This is trickier. Efforts to head off deaths have included the passage of safe haven laws, which allow parents to surrender infants anonymously to state custody without fear of legal repercussions. But parents who kill their children are a varied population, and this, unfortunately, leaves few means to identify those at risk in the first place. The friends and family of parents or parents-to-be suffering from stress or mental illness would best serve their loved ones by helping them get the attention of mental health providers. These treatment providers should in turn make every extra effort to learn specifically about the parents' feelings toward -- or plans for -- their children. Then, perhaps, we can have some hope of preventing these senseless tragedies. | Sara West: Case of Utah mom accused of killing her babies recalls 2001 Andrea Yates case .
She says public shocked by such cases, always asking how mothers could kill their children .
West: Expert identified five reasons, including spousal revenge, acute psychosis .
Prevention is hard, but mental heath treatment can help, West says . |
048a52c19904aba231625b4b1c6d5976758487c8 | (CNN) -- For most people, keeping fit involves an established exercise routine built around a regular weekly schedule. But what if your job involves large amounts of travel? Many people come back from trips away carrying extra pounds from disruption to regular exercise, as well as an increased tendency to overindulge on business dinners paid for on the company card. According to the World Health Organisation, lack of exercise not only impairs your waistline, but can also reduce energy and concentration levels -- the exact qualities that are required when conducting business abroad. Shani Anderson is a personal trainer and managing director of Anderson Fitness Consultants. The British former Olympian says that with the right foresight, it's possible to incorporate a healthy regime wherever and however you travel. 1) Don't treat business travel as a "holiday" from your health regime . There's a temptation to regard exercise as a means to looking good on holiday, rather than as an ongoing strategy for health and well-being. "A lot of people diet or work out to go on holiday. And for me that's a problem, because you have short-term goals," says Anderson. "You switch off when you reach the goal, and your body goes 'great, I'm done' - and in two weeks you're back the way you were before." According to Anderson, this exemplifies the most common obstacle to keeping fit while traveling: Attitude. People tend to perceive trips away from home as in some way separate from the rest of their lives and that therefore the same rules no longer apply. 2) Prepare and do research . Before you travel, investigate the best locations for your preferred form of exercise. If you're into cycling, see if there's a local bike hire company nearby; if you're a jogger, plan the most scenic route to get the most of your new environment. Anderson's motto is "plan, plan, plan." She says that a common trap during hectic business trips is failing to schedule and prioritise your adapted exercise regime before you leave. "It should be exactly the same process as planning a meeting. You put it in your diary. If you had a meeting at work you would have to be there, it's the same thing" instructs Anderson. "It's a mental battle more than anything else." 3) Bring portable fitness equipment . Sometimes there simply won't be an opportunity to access a gym. If so, there is an extensive range of portable exercise equipment, from simple skip ropes to more sophisticated gadgets -- such as the magnetic tension mini-bike. For Anderson's money, the tiny TRX suspension system is hard to beat. "It's basically using gravity against your ankle, it's a nice idea. It's completely portable. You can even put it in your handbag. I use it a lot." 4) Don't overindulge at business dinners . There's no getting away from it -- maintaining a healthy diet during a business trip is a challenge. There's little or no opportunity to prepare your own meals and the most delicious eat-out options will rarely flatter your physique the following day. This, combined with a generous expenses card, is a recipe for disaster. Anderson, though, has a few simple tricks: . "Instead of using calories, you look at your plate, and put your fist next to your carbohydrate section and it should be the same size," she says. "The size and thickness of your palm is the amount of protein you can eat. So it would be the size of a chicken fillet or turkey." Additionally, you can prevent yourself gorging out at the end of a long day by making sure you eat small amounts at regular intervals. 'It's all about not getting hungry. People starve themselves thinking it's going help, but it really doesn't, especially if you're travelling," explains Anderson. 5) Take advantage of hotel fitness services . Malcolm Hendry is general manager of London's prestigious Hotel 41. They have introduced a "sports buddy" program, whereby staff with particular sporting skills are teamed-up with guests keen to keep fit during their stay. "It came along about seven years ago," he says. "We had two guests that were very keen sports people. But they were single travellers -- and things like playing tennis and squash, you need another person to play with." His hotel reflects a growing trend within the hospitality industry to provide high quality, bespoke fitness options. "We think a bit more about the health and fitness of our guests than we did 30 years ago," he notes. "We got a great gym and we got great relationships with local places... and I have about a dozen people on my team who play sports from golf, through horse riding, squash, tennis to cycling." So, if Hendry has his way, trips abroad will no longer be occasions where you escape from exercise, but where you go especially to keep fit. | Many people come back from trips abroad carrying a few extra pounds .
Disruption of regular exercise regime and extra business dinners partly to blame .
Fitness consultant Shani Anderson offers her tips for keeping fit on the road .
Careful preparation, portable fitness equipment and extra discipline are key . |
048b3f4ddf76e73c99e20ad009439f65765eb157 | Daniel Devlin lives in the same house as his children and sees them every day – yet he is unable to recognise them at all. Mr Devlin, 46, from Nunhead, London, is living with a bizarre condition called prosopagnosia, also known as face-blindness, meaning he struggles to recognise faces - even those of his own family. Mr Devlin, a painter, has been forced to memorise his family's voices and body language in order to know who they are. But reading voices and body language doesn't always work, and has even mistaken another boy for his son when picking his children up from school before. Scroll down for video . Daniel Devlin, 46, suffers from rare condition prosopagnosia, also known as face-blindness. He was born with the part of his brain responsible for facial recognition damaged. Despite living with his wife Katarina, daughter Klara, eight and son Emil, five, he struggles to recognise them . Mr Devlin once mistook another boy for his son Emil, five, (pictured) when he was picking his children up from school . Mr Devlin said: 'Humans have a special ability to recognise people by seeing their faces, I really don't have this ability. 'Maybe a good way to imagine what it's like to have prosopagnosia is to try and recognise people by what their hands look like. 'Every person has a different hand but if someone showed you a photo of someone's hands, you might struggle to recognise who the person is, even if that person turns out to be someone you know very well. 'I just thought that everyone was the same or maybe I just wasn't putting in as much effort as others to remember people. 'If I saw my wife Katarina somewhere unexpected and she pretended not to know me, then I'm not sure I would know it was her. 'It often leaves me in some awkward situations, especially when I don't recognise people that I should or think I know people that I don't. 'I have learnt to recognise people based on their body language and voices instead.' Mr Devlin struggles to recognise the faces of his wife Katarina, as well as his children Klara, eight, and Emil, five. Mrs Devlin said: 'When the children are in school uniform, they all look very similar to Daniel. 'He once mistook someone else for our son, which got a very disapproving look from the boy's mother. Prosopagnosia is a neurological disorder characterised by the inability to recognise people's faces. Also known as 'face-blindness', the severity of the condition depends on the degree of impairment a person suffers. Some people with prosopagnosia may only struggle to recognise a familiar face, while others will be unable to discriminate between unknown faces, and in more severe cases sufferers cannot distinguish a face as being different from an object. Some sufferers are unable to recognise their own faces. The condition is not related to memory loss, impaired vision or learning disabilities. It is thought to be the result of abnormalities, damage, or impairment in the right fusiform gyrus - a fold in the brain that appears to coordinate facial perception and memory. Prosopagnosia can result from stroke, traumatic brain injury, or some neurodegenerative diseases. In some cases the condition is congenital, and present at birth. It appears to run in families, which makes it likely to be the result of a genetic mutation or deletion. Some degree of prosopagnosia is often found in children with autism and Asperger's Syndrome. Treatment of the condition focuses on helping sufferers develop compensatory strategies, including relying on voice recognition, clothing, or unique physical attributes. Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke . 'If we've met someone before I will try and tell him who it is before we speak to them. 'It does cause some awkward situations but usually we just find it funny.' Experts said propagnosia is not linked to problems with vision, memory or intelligence. Instead, it is thought to be the result of impairment in the right 'fusiform gyrus' of the brain - a fold that appears to coordinate facial perception and memory. This could be as a result of a stroke, traumatic brain injury, or some neurodegenerative diseases. Or, in cases such as Mr Devlin's - the condition is present at birth, and the pathways in the brain responsible for recognition never developed properly. Though he now knows he has had the had the condition all his life, Mr Devlin was only diagnosed in the last few years, through sheer chance. He said: 'I heard a programme about it on the radio and realised that's what I had. Test confirmed he was suffering from face-blindness. He said: 'I had to do tests where I was shown a number of faces, then I would be shown another set of faces, some that were shown before and some new ones. 'I would have to say which ones I had seen before. My score was well below that of people without the condition. 'We also had the same kind of test but instead of faces, we would have images of horses or houses and my scores would be in line with people without the condition.' It is thought the condition affects up to one in 50 people, the equivalent of about 1.5 million people in the UK. Some people with prosopagnosia may only struggle to recognise a familiar face, but in more severe cases sufferers cannot distinguish a face as being different from an object. Some sufferers are unable to recognise their own faces. Mr Devlin's face-blindness is not so severe, but he has failed to recognise celebrities in the past. He said: 'Growing up I loved films, but my favourite stars were always those that had distinctive voices or characters like James Cagney or Woody Allen. 'Katarina is Croatian and once we saw a very famous rock band there. I met the drummer and was convinced he was Katarina's neighbour. 'I don't think he was used to not being recognised and he was a bit annoyed.' Although there is no treatment for the condition, Mr Devlin has learnt coping strategies . He said: 'Most people know that I have it so it's not a problem. 'There are ways to cope. If I see someone who seems to know me then I ask them vague questions, like how are things, is work okay, until I can figure out who they are. 'I also always say "nice to see you" rather than "nice to meet you", just in case I have met them before.' Mr Devlin says if his wife Katarina pretended not to know him, he probably wouldn't recognise her. If someone they know approaches them, Mrs Devlin whispers their name into her husband's ear so he can greet them, even if he doesn't recognise them . There is a prosopagnosia research group at Birkbeck University, London, where Mr Devlin found out he suffered from the condition. Researcher Joanna Parketny, who has been working with Mr Devlin, said: 'Individuals affected by this condition have trouble in recognising not only famous but also personally known faces such as friends or even family. They also struggle to learn new faces, while having normal vision, intellect and memory, she added. She continued: 'The ability to successfully recognise faces is an incredibly important skill which allows us to navigate in the complex social environment.' Not being able to recognise faces can negatively affect people's well-being and lead to anxiety in social situations, she said. 'In extreme but rare cases it can lead to a person's withdrawal and alienation,' she said. 'The impact of prosopagnosia on an individual depends on the severity of the condition, their individual predisposition and personality. 'It's also dependent on the presence or absence of other conditions and lastly but very importantly the attitude and awareness of the people who make up our social environment.' | Daniel Devlin, 46, suffers from prosopagnosia, also called face-blindness .
Has had to learn coping strategies to recognise his own family and friends .
These include memorising their voices, mannerisms and body language .
There is no cure for the condition, but his family 'try to find it funny'
It is thought to affect up to one in 50 people in some form . |
048bc34426edf7a3e450276287af409b33e82f7b | House Republicans are seizing on the opportunity to tie MIT economist Jonathan Gruber to President Barack Obama after a videos surfaced of Gruber insulting voters and saying Americans were mislead into supporting the President's signature health care law. Rep. Darrell Issa, (R-Calif.), who chairs the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, requested Gruber's testimony in a hearing to "examine transparency failures related to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act," according to a letter signed by Issa on Thursday. Gruber made headlines earlier this month when videos emerged of him saying that the passage of the Affordable Care Act was largely because of the "stupidity of the American voter" and a "lack of transparency." Obama has distanced himself from Gruber and his remarks from over a year ago, calling Gruber "some adviser who never worked on our staff." RELATED: Obama promised Obamacare wouldn't do exactly what Gruber says it will do . But Gruber appeared in a 2012 campaign video for the president, touting the similarities between the Affordable Care Act -- now known as Obamacare -- and GOP Presidential nominee Mitt Romney's legislation in Massachusetts, which many say served as Obama's blueprint. There's no word yet on whether Gruber will show up -- but he has until Monday to make a decision. | Rep. Darrell Issa called Jonathan Gruber to testify before a House committee .
Gruber said Obamacare passed in part because of the "stupidity of the American voter"
President Barack Obama has distanced himself from Gruber and the remarks . |
048c5db644e66173214bd49caef3f22b172be4dd | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 21:59 EST, 13 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:47 EST, 14 September 2012 . A long-simmering volcano exploded with a series of powerful eruptions in Guatemala yesterday, prompting evacuation orders for thousands of families. Thick clouds of ash nearly two miles high spewed from the Volcan del Fuego, six miles south-west of the colonial city of Antigua, as rivers of searing-hot lava flowed down its flanks. Guatemala's head of emergency evacuations Sergio Cabanas said 33,000 people were ordered to leave some 17 villages around the volcano. Hot: Rivers of lava flows from the Volcan de Fuego, as seen from the town of Palin late last night . Explosive: The eruption looks even more dramatic at night as the volcano spews fire and lava . The ash was blowing south-south-east . and authorities said the tourist centre of the country was not currently . in danger, although they expected the eruption to last for at least 12 . more hours. Hundreds of . cars, trucks and buses, blanketed with charcoal grey cash packed with . fearful residents, sped away from the volcano along a two-lane paved . highway toward Guatemala City. Thick . clouds of ash reduced visibility to less than 10ft in the area of . sugarcane fields surrounding the volcano. The elderly, women and . children filled old school buses and ambulances carrying them from the . area. Non-stop: The lava spills out of the volcano and trickles down its side as the eruptions continued throughout Thursday night . Authorities set up a . shelter at an elementary school in Santa Lucia, the town closest to the . volcano, and by last night people had started trickling in. Most were women and children carrying blankets and going into bare classrooms. Miriam Carumaco, 28, arrived to the shelter along with 16 members of her family. 'We . heard loud thunder and then it got dark and ash began falling,' she . said. 'It sounded like a pressure cooker that wouldn't stop.' Ms . Carumaco said parents sent their children to school despite the . darkening skies, but that classes were later cancelled and teachers . walked them home. The . emergency agency said lava rolled nearly 2,000ft down slopes billowing . with ash around the Volcan del Fuego, a 12,346ft-high volcano whose name . translates as 'Volcano of Fire.' Nature's fury: Smoke billows from the Volcan del . Fuego six miles south-west of the colonial city of Antigua, Guatemala, . after it began erupting yesterday, prompting the evacuation of thousands of families . 'A . paroxysm of an eruption is taking place, a great volcanic eruption, . with strong explosions and columns of ash,' said Gustavo Chicna, a . volcanologist with the National Institute of Seismology, Vulcanology, . Meteorology and Hydrology. He said cinders spewing from the volcano were settling a half-inch thick in some places. Extremely hot gases were also rolling . down the sides of the volcano, which was almost entirely wreathed in ash . and smoke, he added. The emergency agency warned flights through the . area could be affected. There . was a red alert, the highest level, south and south-east of the . mountain, where, Mr Chicna said, 'it's almost in total darkness'. Evacuation: A boy and a woman watch plumes of smoke and volcanic ash rise from the Volcan de Fuego, as seen from Palin, south of Guatemala City . He said ash was landing as far as 50 miles south of the volcano. By yesterday evening, the ash plume . had decreased to a little more than a mile high, partly due to rain, . which diminished the potential risk to aviation, said Jorge Giron, a . government volcanologist. He . said ash continued to fall heavily, however, and advised residents near . the volcano but outside of evacuation zones to clean water systems . before using them, and to not leave their homes because of the risk. He said a red alert would be in effect until 4am local time. Dark skies: Guatemala's emergency agency said lava rolled nearly 2,000ft down slopes billowing with ash around the Volcan del Fuego, a 12,346ft-high volcano whose name translates as 'Volcano of Fire . Hazardous: Extremely hot gases were also rolling down the sides of the volcano, which was almost entirely wreathed in ash and smoke and the emergency agency warned flights through the area could be affected . Teresa . Marroquin, disaster coordinator for the Guatemalan Red Cross, said the . organisation had set up 10 emergency shelters and was sending hygiene . kits and water. 'There are lots of respiratory problems and eye problems,' she said. Many . of those near the volcano are indigenous Kakchikeles people who live in . relatively poor and isolated communities; authorities said they . expected difficulties in evacuating all affected people from the area. Officials . in the Mexican state of Chiapas, on the border with Guatemala, said . they were monitoring the situation in case winds drove ash toward . Mexico. Poisonous: Residents living close to the volcano but outside the evacuation zone have been warned to wash water systems before trying to use them because of the ash-fall in surrounding areas . | Emergency agency warns 33,000 people to leave surrounding areas .
Volcan del Fuego has spewed thick clouds of ash nearly two miles high . |
048cb14b11ae08a91c5b5bbeef7c90b9290007c5 | (CNN) -- Clairvoyance and a poker face are among the qualities British hotelkeepers should cultivate when dealing with foreign guests, according to a guide issued by the country's tourism body. "Anticipate all of the needs of a Japanese visitor" but avoid "exchanging a smile or making eye contact with anyone from France you don't know" are among a list of peculiar dos and don'ts prepared for the tourist industry by VisitBritain. The guide comes after a similar initiative by the Parisian tourist board last year, which said Brazilians were fond of physical contact and taxis and the Spanish enjoy free things and late dinners, among other things. Basil Fawlty, the hotelkeeper star of the hit British sitcom who constantly referred to World War II among his German guests, appears to have cast a long shadow if the alternately bizarre and blindingly obvious etiquette guide is any indication. "Don't describe a visitor from Canada as 'American,'" or "ask superstitious people from Hong Kong to sleep in a historic property," the list, which has been derided in the British press, instructs. "Indians are amiable but have a tendency to change their minds," the advice, clearly unafraid of overgeneralization, goes on. Travel dos and don'ts . Russians: don't cram . Avoid housing Russians -- 'a "tall nation"' -- in cramped rooms, it says, possibly having missed that Vladimir Putin, surely among the most globe-trotting of his countrymen, measures in at an un-towering 170 centimeters (5'6"). And as for Germans, "deal promptly with any complaint" from them, lest they become even more "rude and aggressive" than they can already appear. Finally, the guide's clearly well-traveled authors advise, don't mention Belgium or, strictly, "Don't try to talk to Belgians about their country's politics or language divisions" -- which must amount to almost the same thing. The following is the full list of do's and don'ts that VisitBritain defended to the Daily Mail, as "unrivalled ... market intelligence." Dos and don'ts . Do: Understand that Indians are amiable but have a tendency to change their minds quite frequently. Do: Ensure tourists from Russia -- a "tall nation" -- are housed in rooms with high ceilings and doorways. Do: Realize that Australian people are being endearing when they make jokes about "Poms" [Aussie slang for British people]. Do: Anticipate all of the needs of a Japanese visitor -- even if they haven't told you what they are. Do: Deal promptly with any complaint from German or Austrian tourists, who can be "straightforward and demanding" to the point of "seeming rude and aggressive." Don't: Ask superstitious people from Hong Kong to sleep in a historic property or a four-poster bed, because they associate them with ghostly encounters. Don't: Exchange a smile or make eye contact with anyone from France who you do not know. Don't: Describe a visitor from Canada as "American." Don't: Try to talk to Belgians about their country's politics or language divisions. Don't: Say "no" in a direct way to a Japanese tourist -- instead think of a "nicer alternative." China's first tourism law comes into effect, tourists issued manners guides . | Tourism body issues bizarre do's and don'ts list for dealing with foreign hotel guests .
Do give Russians a room with high ceilings -- they are tall, it says .
And anticipate everything a Japanese visitor needs .
But never call a Canadian tourist "American" |
048dbf08e839453b354c117e0d9af85866d970f9 | Enough is enough. England’s embarrassing early exit from the World Cup needs to be a wake-up call that something is fundamentally wrong in our national game and it needs fixing or we’ll be also-rans for ever. To say that we are now a laughing stock is not right, but only because our major rivals didn’t start this World Cup genuinely fearing England. England crashing out is not a surprise to them, or to be honest with ourselves, to us. In my opening column I feared England may not get out of Group D. I desperately wanted to be wrong but we could not cope when we came up against true quality: Italy and Pirlo, Uruguay and Suarez. VIDEO Scroll down for Wayne Rooney: We prepared as well as we could for World Cup . Heading for victory: Mario Balotelli scores Italy's second goal in their 2-1 win over England on June 14 . Floored: Joe Hart (left) and Gary Cahill (centre) were helpless to stop Mario Balotelli scoring for Italy . Lethal Luis: Suarez scores Uruguay's second goal against England on Thursday evening . At the double: Luis Suarez celebrates scoring his second goal during Uruguay's 2-1 win over England . Out here in Rio I’m losing track of the number of fellow professionals from other places asking me: ‘What the hell is going on with your team’s defenders? It’s a joke, comical defending.’ Yes, it is. And there is no point in shying away from identifying several specific areas where England got it wrong or were simply not up to the job. At the back, England were below par, incapable of handling clinical finishers. There are problems in midfield. There’s a lack of confidence all around the pitch. On-pitch leaders are lacking. And Roy Hodgson fell between two stools in his approach to mixing youth and experience. He left behind the nous-heavy, tournament-hardened Michael Carrick and Ashley Cole, played his captain Steven Gerrard in a tough role, and gave youth its head only to an extent. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but there was a case for saying up front that this was going to be an event to gain experience, for the youngsters, across the whole XI. They’d learn how to prepare, play, rest, gain that high intensity experience. Head boy: Raheem Sterling has been one of England's best players at the World Cup . Impact player: Ross Barkley has come on for England twice as substitute during the World Cup . Learning curve: Luke Shaw is yet to feature for England at the World Cup but has gained vital experience . When I went to a World Cup as a kid in 1998, I soaked it up like a sponge but there’s nothing like getting stuck in, full immersion. Yet the real shame in our national game and the issue that has to be tackled urgently is that we just do not have enough good players. With respect to the 23 in the squad, including some seasoned veterans who have done it all at club level and some extremely talented youngsters, our talent pool is puddle deep. Much as we can all talk about the promise of Raheem Sterling, Danny Welbeck, Daniel Sturridge, Ross Barkley, Luke Shaw, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, that just’s half a dozen people aged 24 or under. We shouldn’t be talking in single digits, we should expect many dozens. Costa Rica have a population of five million. Croatia, Bosnia and Uruguay have even fewer. Is it not now blindingly obvious that something is very wrong when England, the home of football, the country that codified the game and took it to the world, a country with 53 million people, cannot field a decent team? Young gun: Rio Ferdinand jokes around as England train during the 1998 World Cup in France . Talking tactics: Rio Ferdinand chats with then England manager as England prepare for the 1998 World Cup . We lack facilities and coaches at all levels, and opportunities for top-level playing experience for the best young players. I was part of the FA Commission who considered these issues; one report has been published and another is on its way. Some suggestions for change are controversial but let’s be absolutely clear: there are very specific identifiable issues. I’ll give you just a tiny example. In the whole of England there are 639 3G all-weather pitches. Germany have more than 5,000. An FA survey of clubs at all levels found 84 per cent of respondents saying facilities are poor. It hasn’t changed. This directly impacts on how many teams and at what age-groups kids can play. We have too few coaches, and those we have are not as well qualified as they should be. Spain have 25,000 coaches with A, B and Pro Licences. Germany have 35,000. We have 6,000. Coaching is respected elsewhere, valued, literally. In Germany and the Netherlands a youth coach can earn £40,000 a year. It’s a profession. In England the equivalent pay is £16,000. That’s vocational, a hobby. Anyone who cannot see the link between all these factors and an under-performing England team is kidding themselves. Touch tight: Phil Jagielka closes down Luis Suarez during England's defeat to Uruguay on Thursday . Centre of attention: Gary Cahill rises above Luis Suarez to clear the ball for England . England have conceded goals via poor defending. It’s unacceptable and in tournament terms it’s been the killer. Why can’t we concentrate? As soon as England equalised against Uruguay on Thursday, I was whooping off-air every bit as much as Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer alongside me. Then I said I’d take the draw immediately because I feared what might happen next. We don’t have top-class centre halves. There is no intention here to demean the capabilities of Phil Jagielka and Gary Cahill, and I mean that sincerely. The worrying truth is, they are the best players available for England with enough game time under their belts. Jagielka is an eight out 10 man every game he plays for Everton. Cahill is the most improved English defender in the Premier League in recent years, indeed a Champions League winner since he moved to Chelsea. But we’re talking about international football at the highest level. And are they good enough? Left back: Ashley Cole was overlooked by Roy Hodgson for the World Cup despite all his experience . Missed a trick: Roy Hodgson should have included Michael Carrick (right) in his 23-man World Cup squad . What you need at a World Cup is to utilise the very best defensive unit as a whole that you DO have, with the most experience, and England left that at home in the shape of Cole at left back and Carrick in the key defensive midfielder role. I won’t even go into the situation with John Terry, because he was not available. But suffice to say that in an ideal world you would take and use all your best players at a World Cup. And for various reasons, England haven’t done that. Hogdson and Gerrard were both tasked with impossible jobs and that has led to us ending up with unsatisfactory compromises. Let’s look ahead now, everyone is saying, let’s look to Euro 2016, it’s not all doom and gloom.I hope it’s not. But unless we get the big picture right, I fear we’ll be back here in a couple of years saying all this again. To celebrate the World Cup, I've added a special Unity Cap to my fashion range, incorporating all the flags of the participating nations and and with a share of the proceeds going to charity. You can find them via www.5mag.co and you can follow me on Twitter for a chance to win exclusive prizes @rioferdy5 . | England crashing out of the World Cup is not a surprise to our rivals .
Are Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka international level centre backs?
Roy Hodgson should have taken Ashley Cole and Michael Carrick to Brazil .
England only have 639 3G all-weather pitches compared to 5,000 in Germany .
England have 6,000 qualified coaches compared to 35,000 in Germany . |
048e048c534464b6658d94e25ba85aea46d87094 | Washington (CNN) -- In Washington, most speeches by representatives of other countries are, well, diplomatic, carefully written to avoid controversy. A speech by Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski at the German Marshall Fund of the United States on Wednesday broke that mold. Speaking off-the-cuff for much of it, Komorowski gave a frank and, at times, sarcastic evaluation of U.S.-Polish relations. Citing Wikileaks disclosures of State Department cables, which some Polish officials believe show the United States put relations with Russia ahead of Poland's security interests, Komorowski said: "Like in marriage -- from time to time its worth taking your wife for a date." Translation: The United States should not take Poland for granted. "It's like a mantra that's mumbled, some slogans are specifically repeated, and quite often there is no practice behind them," the Polish President said. "Today I spoke with President Obama about it. Perhaps I used slightly different words but I want to repeat the same: I simply believe that very much has gone the wrong way in Polish-American relations. And this can be testified to by leaks from different American cables." Komorowski also complained about the requirement that he submit visa form to visit the United States. Referring to 18th century Polish heroes of the American Revolutionary War, he said: "Pulaski and Kosciusko today would also have to fill in the visa forms if they wanted to come to the United States." Komorowski said, when he filled in his U.S. visa form, he was asked "whether I am involved in prostitution or if perhaps I was involved in genocide or whether I was a terrorist." "Well, I don't take it as an insult," the Polish president added. "I'm not a prostitute. But I have to tell you when I had to answer the question whether I was a terrorist my hand shook a little. Because I do not want to lie. I do not want to lie to the United States. "But I had some doubt. At the time of the Communist regime I was considered to be a terrorist. It was the language of some of the charges formulated by the prosecutor in the Communist state. So I did not know: Should I write the truth or lie in that form? So my suggestion is to skip that form. ... It's not understandable for us. It's nonsense. It spoils a lot in Polish-American relations." | Polish president complains of having to submit visa form to enter the United States .
Cables indicate the United States may have taken Poland for granted .
Komorowski: "Very much has gone the wrong way in Polish-American relations" |
048fbc1e9a1dc005b578e8ed8d65c0adb6c863f3 | (CNN) -- American Tommy Gainey led by three shots at the halfway stage of the Wyndham Championship at Greater Greensboro with South African star Ernie Els in the four-strong chasing group. Gainey carded a five-under par 65 Friday for a 12-under total of 128, with Els sharing second on nine-under with Australian Stewart Appleby, Daniel Summerhays and Webb Simpson. Els is battling for a tournament win but also to clinch his place in the lucrative FedEx Cup playoffs which start next week. He is currently 126th in the standings, with only the top 125 to qualify so three birdies in five holes on his back nine on the way to a 66 helped his cause. "I've got quite a large goal for me this week, and you know, I'm feeling like, fine, my game is turning around a little bit," Els told the official PGA Tour website. Four players shared sixth on 132, Jim Furyk (67), Brazil's Alexandre Rocha (66), England's Paul Casey (67) and South African Retief Goosen (65). Gainey, who is chasing his first win on the PGA Tour, was still not satisfied as he followed his opening 63 with a 65. "I hit it worse today than I did yesterday off the tee. I hit my irons worse than I did yesterday," he said. But only the remarkable 125 of Sweden's Carl Pettersson in 2008 has bettered Gainey's score on the par-70 Sedgefield course. Colombian Camilo Villegas, 125th on the FedEx list, went a long way to wrapping up his place at The Barclays next week with a 64 for 134. But three-time major champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland, 130th in the rankings, has work to do as he birdied two of his last four holes for a 68 to make the cut at three-under 137. Defending Wyndham champion Arjun Atwal of India will not be playing the weekend after missing the cut, while joint first round leader Jeff Quinney carded a level-par 70 to fall five behind Gainey. | Tommy Gainey leads at halfway stage of Wyndham Championship .
Gainey cards a second round 65 to follow his opening seven-under 63 .
South African Ernie Els in four-strong chasing group on nine-under .
Els, Camilo Villegas and Padraig Harrington battling for FedEx Cup playoffs spots . |
04901795837451064f89a5998fab803f331d1d91 | Having a pet-loving president is a bonus for dog owners in Argentina whose state-run airline, Aerolineas Argentinas, is to allow small pets on flights starting in mid-January. President Cristina Fernandez announced the policy change in a strange New Year social media address starring her beloved pooch Lolita, who regularly appears on her Facebook page. 'Careful! I said only small pets,' the post says. 'Don't try to board with a 50 kilo mastiff. Lolita only weighs two kilos.' Argentine president Cristina Fernandez announced small pets will be allowed on Aerolineas Argentinas . Fernandez announced the state-run airline's policy change in a New Year's address on Facebook . Lapdogs are a popular accessory and status symbol in Argentina, especially in the capital Buenos Aires, and famously pampered. One photograph of Fernandez with Lolita on the presidential plane Tango 01 posted on New Year's Eve has attracted more than 42,000 likes and almost 5,000 comments. Hand-held pooches ranging from shih tzu's to pugs are commonly seen at outdoor cafes and on the wide avenues of Buenos Aires, which is known as the Paris of South America for its European layout and architecture. As an aside, Fernandez addressed her country's worrying double-digit inflation, contracting gross domestic product and repeated sovereign debt defaults. She said central bank cash reserves rose 2.7 per cent in 2014, which could keep her from being forced into an unpalatable deal with hedge funds suing over defaulted bonds. 'Oh yes, I almost forgot, we've come to $31.4 billion in central bank reserves,' the post says. Zoe Herman (pictured) is going up against some of America's biggest airlines with a petition to allow her companion hedgehog Heloise to travel in the cabin of an aircraft, just like small cats and dogs. Heloise the hedgehog, from Portland, is not allowed to travel inside airplane cabins with her owner . The next president will be elected in October, so Lolita better make the most of the time she has left to enjoy the spacious Tango 01. Fernandez can't seek a third term as president. Pet travel policies vary from airline to airline but most able to arrange for a pet to travel in the hold, which is usually air-conditioned in the same manner as the cabin. In the past week US woman Zoe Herman launched a campaign to make it possible for her to travel with her pet hedgehog Heloise in the cabin rather than the hold. Some dog and cat breeds are deemed unfit for travel. Virgin refuses to fly snub or pug-nosed breeds including all pugs, Boston terrier, English Toy Spaniel, British, American and French bulldogs, along with Himalayan and Persian cats, due to their respiratory problems. British Airways allows cats or dogs in a carrier in the cabin if they weigh less than 6kg (13.2lb) - any larger they have to go in the cargo hold. | President Cristina Fernandez has a pet toy poodle call Lolita .
New policy will allow small pets on board Aerolineas Argentinas flights . |
0490cdb8d592112463c361340f4ff67c14fdb6d6 | By . Emma Innes . A toddler has a rare condition that makes his skin so dry he can't blink. Daniel Maples, who is 18 months-old, was born with lamellar ichthyosis - which affects just one in 600,000 people - and causes the skin to become thickened and cracked. The top layer of his skin sheds six times faster than normal - leaving a thick, scale-like build-up of skin underneath. Daniel Maples, 18 months old, has a rare, genetic condition which causes his skin to thicken and crack . The top layer of Daniel's skin sheds six times faster than normal - leaving a thick, scale-like build-up . His parents Steve Maples, 29 and Emma Holby, 23, have to smother him in medical jelly like Vaseline every four hours to stop his delicate skin from cracking. Mr Maples, a recruiter from Maldon, Essex, said: ‘The skin is thick and it peels off and it takes about two months to completely come off. ‘Over time he now has to be creamed every four to six hours each day and every three hours throughout the night. ‘It’s a very high maintenance condition and he also requires two or three showers a day as well as eye drops because he doesn’t blink. ‘He’s been in and out of hospital with skin infections because of the condition. ‘It will continue throughout his life and there’s no cure for it. When he is older he’ll have to do it all himself.’ Daniel's parents have to apply cream to his skin every four hours during the day and every three hours throughout the night. He is pictured with his mother, Emma Holby . There is no cure for Daniel's condition so as he gets older he will have to learn to manage it himself. He is pictured with his father, Steve Maples . He added: ‘Emma and I were just unlucky that we both had the gene. There is a one in four chance any children we have will get it. ‘As long as he’s been brought up right and it’s not an issue he will be alright. ‘It’s one of those things, he’s just a bit different. He’s a very happy child and as long as we teach him to be confident about himself I don’t see why he can’t lead a normal life.’ Lamellar ichthyosis, which develops when a child inherits an abnormal gene from both parents, speeds up the skin cell turnover. The word ichthyosis comes from the ancient Greek word for fish - because the cracked skin is said to resemble the scales on a fish. Daniel does not blink so he has to be given eye drops regularly so his eyes don't dry out . Throughout his life, Daniel has been in and out of hospital with skin infections. Image (right) shows him in hospital being treated with a Vaseline-like jelly . Problems associated with the condition include overheating, where a person’s thick skin prevents them from sweating, and eye problems caused by the tightness of the skin. Some children get ‘constriction bands’ which mean they have tight bands of skin around their fingers or toes which can prevent proper blood circulation. Severe scaling of the skin on the scalp can also lead to patchy loss of hair. Daniel’s parents are hoping to raise money for The Ichthyosis Support Group, and have so far raised £2,900 towards the fight for a cure. Anyone wishing to donate can do so by clicking here. Lamellar ichthyosis is a very rare skin condition characterised by abnormal scaling and shedding of the skin. It is believed to occur in one in every 600,000 people and symptoms usually appear within the first few days of life. Sufferers tend to have plate-like scales of skin which often appear brownish in colour. The condition is caused by genetic abnormalities that affect the shedding of skin. It occurs when both of a person's parents carry the abnormal gene - in this situation, there is a one in four chance of the person developing the condition. Lamellar ichthyosis can also cause overheating as it prevents sweating, and can constrict the blood flow to the fingers and toes as it causes the skin tighten. It can also cause eye problems, hair loss, and difficulty bending the hand joints. There is currently no cure and the key treatment is regularly applying moisturiser. | Daniel Maples has a condition which causes his skin to thicken and crack .
He has to have two or three showers a day and to be smothered in cream .
He also has to be given eye drops regularly as he does not blink .
There is no cure so as he gets older he will have to learn to manage the condition himself . |
04914a7d5300958b6fd20f6f64e0800701847dd5 | By . Nick Mcdermott . PUBLISHED: . 16:33 EST, 9 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:32 EST, 25 September 2013 . Wind farms are being given around £30million a year in compensation to switch off or slow down their turbines because up to half the electricity they make is not needed. The cash, which comes from household bills, is paid when the National Grid is unable to cope with the extra power produced during high winds or periods of low demand. Known as ‘balancing’, the arrangement is intended to compensate firms for energy they are unable to sell. Waste of energy: Last weekend up to 30 wind farms were paid more than three million to switch off their turbines . But as the number of wind farms grows, the rates have hit record levels. Firms are often paid more to turn off their giant turbines than for the electricity they produce. Last weekend alone, householders handed £3.1million to energy firms for doing absolutely nothing as up to 30 wind farms were paid to switch off. The energy that could have been produced between Friday and Sunday would have powered up to 12,000 homes for a year. At one point, 40 per cent of all the wind energy set to be transmitted to the National Grid was instead discarded, with the loss being blamed on maintenance work and breezy conditions. More than 95 per cent of payments to energy firms last Saturday were to constrain energy produced by wind farms in Scotland because there is limited network capacity between Scotland and the rest of Britain creating a bottleneck of supply. Weekend of waste: The energy that could have been produced over three days by the unused wind turbines would have powered up to 12,000 homes for a year . The amount of wind energy discarded that day was almost twice as much as any other day on record, and cost families £1.9million. It was one of three days since May when wind farms were told to cut their output by more than a third. On June 30, 46 per cent of energy from turbines was constrained. In total, payments worth almost £15million have been made this year – more than double the amount given in all of 2012. If the trend continues, the bill for the year will be around £30million. The figures only relate to giant turbines connected to the national distribution network, which make up 70 per cent of wind power. There are 5,000 giant turbines across the country, with another 1,000 planned. Under EU law, Britain’s energy consumption from renewables needs to reach 15 per cent by 2020. Payments known as ‘forward trades’ are also made to energy operators by the National Grid. This is where it agrees a payout in advance when the weather is expected to be stormy. In 2011, £18.6million was paid in forward trades, although the figure is likely to be much lower this year. Both payments make up about 1 per cent of a typical household’s electricity spend, according to National Grid. A spokesman said costs were being driven down and the energy lost last weekend was ‘slightly above average’ owing to a combination of planned summer maintenance and high winds. But Dr John Constable, director of the Renewable Energy Foundation, said: ‘The increasing volume of discarded wind energy presents a very strong case for revising UK’s ambitious commitment to EU green targets. Allowing subsidised generators to name their price to stop causing problems is a lousy solution. Expensive energy: Over the first six months of 2013, energy companies have been paid almost £15million to slow down or turn off their wind turbines when the National Grid has been unable to cope . ‘They are abusing their position by holding a pistol to the head of Government and effectively saying we will not get off the grid unless you pay handsomely. Ofgem must do something about this. ‘It’s already a record year and it’s set to be a bumper one looking at the costs. We are on track to spend more on constraining wind than all of the previous years combined. And the problem just seems set to be getting worse.’ Generous taxpayer-funded subsidies for wind farms are set to continue until at least 2020. Onshore wind farms have been guaranteed at least £100 per megawatt hour, which is a unit of energy equal to using a million watts of power in one hour. This is double the current wholesale rate of £50. Offshore wind farms receive £150. Last weekend, two Scottish windfarms charged £200 per megawatt hour to shut off. With greater wind production becoming available all the time, experts warn the overall cost of these payments is set to rise. Energy analyst Mulu Sun said the spikes in constraint payments may be partly due to a lack of capacity, adding: ‘National Grid’s infrastructure should be keeping pace with the building of wind farms, but that is not necessarily the case. This can cause bottlenecks.’ A spokesman for Ofgem said: ‘We have powers to take action against licensed generators if we consider they are gaining excessive benefit when constraints occur.’ Maf Smith, of the wind industry body Renewable UK, said: ‘Wind is a flexible energy source that can be managed to fit our electricity demands by shutting down and powering up easier and quicker than other forms of energy. ‘That is partly why the National Grid calls on wind developers to constrain their power.’ Clarification . A previous article reported that nearly half the electricity produced by wind farms is being discarded. We are happy to clarify that this is the discard rate on particular days rather than an overall figure. | Wind farms paid millions when National Grid is unable to use their energy .
Last weekend alone energy firms were paid £3.1million to switch off . |
0491cf03282e35c66c1f03689c8d00cf2ee9c4e9 | New York (CNN) -- Demonstrators took their shouts for an end to what they say is widespread and unchecked police brutality to an NBA arena in Washington, a famed department store in New York, a well-known Ivy League commercial spot and to roads where they often brought traffic and passersby to a stop. Streets in major cities throughout the United States -- Boston, Chicago, Miami and New Orleans, among them -- filled again Friday night with protesters. And while crowds appeared to be smaller than previous nights, marchers were just as passionate about their voices being heard. One sign held by a young black man in Washington read simply: "I could be next." The protests are a response to the decision Wednesday by a New York grand jury not to charge police Officer Daniel Pantaleo in the chokehold death of Eric Garner during his Staten Island arrest, which was captured on cell phone video. They come a week after another decision not to indict by a grand jury in St. Louis County, Missouri, examining the killing of African-American teenager Michael Brown by a white police officer. In New York, protesters in the rain passed out a list of demands to the media regarding the Garner death in July. The top demands were for all officers involved to be fired, for a special prosecutor to be appointed to investigate all complaints of excessive force and for the state Legislature to make a chokehold punishable by significant penalties. A die-in at Macy's . Earlier, Eric Garner's daughter Erica told CNN's "The Lead with Jake Tapper" that she wanted to see people punished for her father's killing. "Justice to me is basically doing what's right," she said. "I wouldn't be happy with (Pantaleo) just losing his job or being suspended or still getting paid. I wouldn't want that. I would want him to face time in jail." She said that anyone who contributed to her father's death should go to prison. Protesters flooded Macy's iconic Herald Square location and staged a die-in as holiday shoppers looked on. Later, the flood of demonstrators shut off Times Square to traffic for 10 minutes before the crowd headed down 42nd Street, shouting, "This is what democracy looks like." They stopped again in Bryant Park and ringed a set of shops. Many of the workers in those stores came out and, in support, raised their hands in the air. It was also a short stop, as the crowd set off up Sixth Avenue, traversing against the flow of yellow cabs and other cars. A cacophony of car horns greeted the protesters and cabbies also held their hands out the window to give their approval. Only about 50 people protested in Chicago, but they marched with few breaks for hours. In Washington, the demonstrators held several four-minute long silent die-ins to empathize with the family of Michael Brown, a Missouri teenager who lie in the street for four hours after he was fatally shot by a police officer. "I'm not an angry black man. I'm an outraged, hurt black man," one of the protest organizers told CNN. Six protesters shouted "Hands up, don't shoot" inside the Verizon Center before an NBA game between the Washington Wizards and the Denver Nuggets. Near Boston -- site of one of the largest demonstrations of the night -- a mass of protesters staged a die-in, several dozen of them blocking an intersection by lying on the road. As many as 1,000 people were marching Friday evening from Tufts University in Somerville, Massachusetts, near Boston to Harvard Square, according to a police estimate. "People who don't already realize what is happening, maybe they will open their minds a little bit or people that do realize and don't care will realize that people are angry and it's not OK," Nicole, a Boston demonstrator who wouldn't give her last name, told CNN affiliate WHDH when asked why she marches. 'So many people realize this is a problem' Those who turned out to protest were a mix of ages and races. Chuck Helms, a 67-year-old New Jersey resident, marched in New York clad in a union-issue hard hat and satin Occupy Wall Street jacket. A sign dangling around his neck said, "Remembering my brothers. BLACK LIVES MATTER." The sign included photographs of Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice and Akai Gurley -- all black men whose controversial deaths made headlines. Gurley was shot dead last month by a police officer in a dark stairwell of a New York housing project. Brooklyn DA: Grand jury to investigate shooting of unarmed man . "It's a shame that people have to die for us to become focused," Helms said. At least two people in New York were detained by police, who will not report on arrests until Saturday morning. In Chicago, Elizabeth Huston, a paralegal, joined in for the first time. "So many people realize this is a problem. This is disproportionally affecting black men and women," she said. In Cleveland, protesters there marched over the death of Tamir, 12, who police say had a lifelike air gun and didn't comply with an officer's commands. "CPD what do you say? How many kids have you killed today," they yelled. Cleveland cop who shot 12-year-old slammed for 'immaturity' in past job . The family of Tamir filed a wrongful death suit Friday against police over the killing, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Growing movement . The demand for change in how law enforcement deals with minorities has been broad, with protests involving untold thousands of demonstrators from coast to coast, in towns both large and small. "It's happening in every city, every town. It's happening here in Pittsburgh," Julia Johnson told CNN affiliate WPXI on Thursday. In many ways, it appears to be based on the Occupy Wall Street movement, which generated protests in New York and elsewhere in 2011 over inequality, corporate influence and other issues. The largely leaderless and underground movement is using social media to organize protests, which have morphed from a wide-ranging agenda to a tight focus on the issue of police violence against black men. The mostly peaceful protests shared many similarities with the protests of the Civil Rights era -- marches, signs, civil disobedience. One Asian-American protester felt inspired by the 1960s marches, but said she believes that struggle shows change will take a long time. "If you think about the civil rights movement, it took 10 years for anything to happen between the protests and the boycotts of the buses to the actual Civil Rights Act," she said. Author and CNN commentator Michaela Angela Davis was marching in a mixed crowd of mostly white students chanting "black lives matter." The blocked streets didn't bother her so much. It's democracy, she said. "I feel like we are seeing the American project at work. It is messy; it is difficult." NYC officials: Fewer complaints against police . Meanwhile, New York officials said that complaints against police officers had fallen significantly in the second half of the year, compared with July to November 2013. A report that tallied complaints said 1,813 were made so far since July 1 of this year, 26% less than the number of complaints filed with the Civilian Complaint Review Board in the same period of the prior year. Excessive force allegations fell by 29%. The dip followed a slight rise in the first six months of the year, but, overall, allegations have declined in 2014. "Over the past 11 months, my administration has implemented a series of initiatives and reforms aimed at bridging the gap between the NYPD and the communities they serve," Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a written statement. "From ending the overuse of stop and frisk, to dropping the city's legal challenge to the racial profiling ban, to changing the department's policy on possession of small amounts of marijuana, we're steadily bringing crime down while drawing police and community closer together." CNN's Ray Sanchez reported from New York, Athena Jones reported from Washington and Steve Almasy reported and wrote in Atlanta. Michael Pearson, Bill Kirkos, Dave Alsup, Ben Brumfield, Jason Carroll, Ralph Ellis, Dan Merica, Dana Ford and Greg Botelho and Melanie Whitney contributed to this report. | Daughter of Eric Garner says officers should go to prison .
Demonstrators marching in New York hand out list of demands that starts with police firings .
About 1,000 people in one protest in Boston area, police estimate .
Protests came after jury opted not to indict officer who put Garner in a chokehold . |
0491d324400030c1c01ba4be67f800d8321225ea | Twitter now has more than 270 million users who actively log in and tweet. But, according to the latest figures, hidden among these active users are approximately 23 million that don't ever visit the microblogging site. Instead, they pull information from Twitter automatically using other apps, including news aggregators - and it is unsure how many of these are non-human bots. Twitter now has more than 270 million active users, (chart pictured) of which approximately 23 million never visit the site. Instead, they pull information from Twitter automatically using other apps. It is unsure how many of these users are non-human bots. The figure does not include the number of bots that actively tweet . Twitter classes spam as any user that creates multiple accounts, either manually or using automated tools. People who post repeatedly to trending topics to try to grab attention, repeatedly post duplicate updates, and post links with unrelated tweets also violate Twitter's rules. Spam became such a problem on the site, that in 2012 Twitter filed a suit in federal court in San Francisco against five of the most aggressive tool providers and spammers. It then launched tools to help users block spam accounts by flagging up suspicious activity to Twitter. To block spam, clicking the gear icon on a spam account, select 'Block or report' and choose 'This is a spam account'. This figure does not include the bot accounts that tweet and push information to the site, according to a Twitter spokesman. But Twitter will not reveal how many of its 271 monthly active users fall into this latter category. An additional six million people use Twitter only through services that let people tweet automatically. Bots on Twitter range from parody to industry accounts. For example, @big_ben_clock tweets the word ‘bong’ every hour, on the hour, depending on what the time is. Elsewhere, @MarmiteBot automatically tweets ‘My mate Marmite’ every time someone mentions the spread on Twitter - even if they’re not tweeting the bot directly. Similarly there are spelling checker bots, Alan Partridge-inspired automatic replies, and a bot that tweets as 'the universe'. Elsewhere there are spam bots that tweet malicious or promotional links. Identified spam accounts are not included in this active monthly users figure, but unidentified accounts may be. In total, Twitter claims around five per cent of all its accounts are false or spam accounts, which at most is 13.5 million. In its shareholder filings, Twitter said: ‘In the three months ended June 30, 2014, approximately 11 per cent of all active users solely used third-party applications to access Twitter. Twitter has not revealed how many of its 271 monthly active users are tweeting bots. These bots include a number of company, parody or industry accounts. For example, @big_ben_clock (pictured) tweets the word ‘bong’ every hour, depending on what the time is . Elsewhere, @MarmiteBot (pictured) automatically tweets ‘My mate Marmite’ every time someone mentions the spread on Twitter – even if they’re not tweeting the bot directly . ‘However, only up to approximately 8.5 per cent of all active users used third party applications that may have automatically contacted our servers for regular updates without any discernable additional user-initiated action.’ This is said to be lower than expected, however. Twitter classes spam as any user that creates multiple accounts, either manually or using automated tools. People who post repeatedly to trending topics to try to grab attention, repeatedly post duplicate updates, and post links with unrelated tweets also violate Twitter's rules. It became such a problem on the site, that in 2012 Twitter filed a suit in federal court in San Francisco against five of the most aggressive tool providers and spammers. It then launched tools to help users block spam accounts by flagging up suspicious activity to Twitter. | Twitter now has more than 270 million users who actively log in and tweet .
Of these active users, approximately 23 million never visit the site .
Instead, they pull information from Twitter automatically using other apps .
It is unsure how many of these users are non-human bots .
The figure does not include the number of bots that actively tweet . |
0492291a7e1b8accb1a07c009a7dbd5f9ed353e9 | By . Louise Boyle . A father who was caught on camera kicking his six-year-old son down a skateboard ramp apologized today but said his attempt to help the boy overcome his fears has been misunderstood. Marcus Crossland, 27, and his wife Emily spoke to Today on Monday after a video emerged earlier this month of the father kicking his son Dino off a 13ft platform, causing the child to howl in pain. The parents, from Jacksonville, Florida, said that the uproar caused by the video caused Mr Crossland to lose his job and the family are now moving home. Scroll down for video . Marcus Crossland apologized for kicking his son Dino down a skateboard ramp earlier this month. The father said that his 'bonehead decision' cost him his job and he and wife Emily (right) are now moving their family from their Florida home and starting over . Mr Crossland said: 'It was a bonehead decision. It was an effort to help him but it didn't come across that way... I'm sorry I used that tactic as opposed to another.' The 27-year-old explained the decision to push his son off the steep ramp as 'my poor attempt at trying to help him overcome his fear'. He added: 'Because of a decision I made, my wife and my children and everybody has got to deal with it.' His wife Emily said the video, which was originally uploaded to Instagram by a teenage skater, has turned the family's lives upside down and now they plan to start over. She said that what has happened has been extremely confusing for her little boy. 'It's something I tried to shield him from,' she said. 'He knows he's been on the news. But he is doing wonderful, he's happy and he's healthy.' The mother said that her husband's actions were 'not acceptable' in their household but that what happened on April 27 was an isolated incident. She said: 'Nothing like that has ever happened before, there is nothing behind closed doors. He's a really great dad, he loves his family, he's a good person.' Police and the State Attorney’s said last week that an investigation is ongoing, according to jacksonville.com. The Department of Children and Families declined to discuss a specific case. Father Marcus Crossland, left, is seen speaking to his six-year-old son Dino at the top of a 13ft skateboarding ramp in Jacksonville, Florida . In the shocking clip caught of a teen's cellphone, the father can been seen kicking his son off the platform . The six-year-old fell down the ramp, landing with a loud bump and a howl. His father has been investigated by the child welfare department and the local sheriff's office following the incident . The . video led to public outcry after it was uploaded and then shared on an . Instagram account IGersJax which documents life in Jacksonville, First Coast News reported. Martin . Ramos, the skate park's operator, told First Coast News that the father and son are . regulars at the park but that he hadn't seen Mr Crossland act that way . before. 'He said he was just caught up in the . moment. He seemed very remorseful. He certainly understands the gravity . of the situation and it seems like he is going to be answering to this . thing for quite some time to come,' Mr Ramos said. He added: 'Unfortunately parents get so enthusiastic about their kids and their abilities in skateboarding, or baseball, or football or whatever and sometimes they take it a little too far.' Mr Ramos reportedly asked Crossland to stay away from Kona State Park for a little while. The family welfare department in Jacksonville along with the sheriff's office are investigating the incident. Mr Crossland's son, nicknamed Dino the Dinosaur, is well-known in the area. There are multiple videos of Dino skating and performing tricks to YouTube. Dino was not hurt in the fall, Mr Ramos told ActionNews, and continued to skate after he was kicked by his father. The teenager who posted the video online told FirstCoastNews that he asked Mr Crossland why Dino was kicked so hard. 'He said "because he needs to learn". I was like "pushing him down is not teaching him how to drop in". And then he said "Do you think you can raise him better than me?" and I said yes,' the 13-year-old said. Online commenters heavily criticized Crossland for his parenting skills. 'How about someone push this a****** off a bridge. #sorryimnotsorry,' one user said. 'he needs to be reported if this is what he did in public view what you thing [sic] he does at home god be with this little boy,' another wrote. 'Man....do not show him to me if we are skateing [sic]....it would really take a lot to keep me out of jail,' another said. 'That guy is a complete a******!' another commenter wrote. The six-year-old, nicknamed 'Dino the Dinosaur' is well-known in the area for his skateboarding skills and multiple videos of the little boy's tricks can be found on YouTube . Dino was not hurt from his fall down the 13ft ramp in Kona State Park earlier this month. Although he has been 'confused' by what has happened his mother described him today as 'happy and healthy' | Marcus Crossland and wife Emily .
spoke out after a video emerged earlier this month of the .
father kicking his son Dino off a 13ft ramp in Florida .
Mr Crossland said: 'It was my poor attempt at trying to help him overcome his fear'
The parents, from Jacksonville said the uproar caused Mr Crossland to .
lose his job and the family are now moving home .
Criminal investigation into the incident is ongoing, police said . |
0492e29aeccf8ab9af5305f0ca59dd31df399de1 | Tony Pulis has seemingly ended up on the wrong end of a prank call after a man impersonating Bolton boss Neil Lennon claimed to get through to the West Brom manager on his mobile phone. The prankster Blain Morrison had left the Baggies boss a voicemail asking him to return the call as he was interested in taking defender Gareth McAuley on loan. Pulis is said to have phoned back, and totally unaware that the man on the other end of the line isn't former Celtic manager Lennon, tells the man that he can't take McAuley because 'he plays every week'. West Brom boss Tony Pulis was apparently tricked by Blain Morrison who was impersonating Neil Lennon . Morrison, playing the part of Bolton boss Lennon, wanted to take Gareth McAuley to the Championship club . Pulis, 57,then apparently goes on to sing the Northern Ireland defender's praises, calling him a 'good lad' and says he is 'fantastic around the place'. He then suggests that the fake Bolton Wanderers manager looks into taking Paddy McCarthy from his former side Crystal Palace. Pulis' West Brom host Garry Monk's Swansea City at the Hawthorns on Wednesday evening as they look to climb away from the relegation zone. Pulis seemingly refused to loan McAuley (left), calling him a 'good lad' and 'fantastic around the place' Pulis then apparently suggested to the man he believed to be Lennon to buy Crystal Palace's Paddy McCarthy . | Tony Pulis was apparently prank-called by a Neil Lennon impersonator .
The prankster Blain Morrison asked about taking Gareth McAuley on loan .
Unaware, Pulis refuses and suggests Crystal Palace's Paddy McCarthy .
West Brom host Swansea City on Wednesday at the Hawthorns . |
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