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04db2233137b325eacf51c8ed58a5a0c5915cb96 | (CNN) -- The president of an advertising firm that lost a $25 million contract to create a marketing campaign promoting the Jersey Shore told CNN Tuesday that the evaluation committee asked her team whether they would be comfortable featuring New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in the ads. The news comes as federal investigators are looking into whether Christie improperly used some of that money to produce tourism ads that featured him and his family while he ran for re-election. The New Jersey ad agency Sigma Group had the lowest bid on labor and markup costs but lost the contract to a firm charging about $2 million more. Sigma Group President Shannon Morris told CNN that her team was asked during the pitch meeting "if we would be open to featuring Chris Christie in the ads." "We didn't want to commit one way or the other. We were confident in the creative direction that we had presented. Our opinion was that maybe they knew something we didn't about the requirement or maybe they felt strongly for one reason or another that he should be included," she said. "We also wanted to stand behind the work that we had submitted that didn't feature the governor or any other celebrity." It turns out that the committee evaluating the proposals is made up entirely of people who work for the Christie administration. And perhaps the most controversial of the members is Michele Brown, the chief executive of the state's Economic Development Authority. She's one of the six voting members on the evaluation committee and has a long history with Christie. When Christie was U.S. attorney, Brown was a prosecutor. She resigned after revelations that Christie had given her a $46,000 loan in 2007 and had not reported it. After resigning, Brown went into private law practice, but in 2012, Christie named her to her current post. CNN was not able to reach Brown for comment. The other voting members are also tied to Christie. Two work with Brown at the Economic Development Authority. Another is chief of staff to Christie's lieutenant governor. And the two others are representatives from the community affairs and treasury departments, all of which ultimately answer to Christie. Some critics slammed Christie over the summer for starring in taxpayer-funded ads as he was running for re-election in November, arguing it gave him an unfair advantage. But others argued that he was the face of the Sandy recovery, so it made sense to put him in the ads. On Tuesday, the office the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development inspector general issued a statement about the inquiry, first reported by CNN, that said it had begun an audit in September "to examine whether the State administered its Tourism Marketing Program in accordance with applicable departmental and Federal requirements." The inspector general also said, "This is an audit and not an investigation of the procurement process." The inspector general uses the term "investigation" to denote a law enforcement probe. | Firm with lowest bid for post-Sandy campaign was asked about using Gov. Chris Christie, it says .
"We didn't want to commit one way or the other," firm President Shannon Morris says .
All members of the panel that picked the winning firm were part of the Christie administration .
Morris' firm lost the contract to a company that charged about $2 million more . |
04db382fa3e079453de12f4c0a1a042532a4725d | By . Michael Zennie . PUBLISHED: . 12:48 EST, 14 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:10 EST, 14 August 2013 . Ouch: Binge drinking costs more than just a hangover. The CDC says it costs more than $223.5billion a year . A shocking new government study claims that excessive drinking costs the nation more than $223.5billion a year in health care, lost productivity, crime and early death - and most of the burden is carried by taxpayers. The research, released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control, finds that binge drinking, alcoholism and alcohol abuse is dragging millions - and sometimes billions - of dollars from the economies of every state in the country. The health and productivity losses mean that for every cocktail, pint of beer or glass of wine consumed, American society must pay nearly $2 in additional costs. The nation's capital, which has one of the highest rates of alcohol consumption in the country according to CDC figures, pays the most. Washington DC residents consumed more than 680 drinks each in 2006 - the year that the study surveyed. Those drinks cost out more than $966billion in ancillary healthcare bills and productivity losses as a result - more than $1,660 per resident of the city. Utah, where strong influence from the Mormon church means alcohol is heavily regulated, has the lowest rates of alcohol consumption and - as a result - the lowest costs. Utah residents consumed fewer than 200 drinks each in 2006 and paid just $578 per capita. The shocking figure of $223.5billion is larger than the economies of Ireland and Pakistan. Researchers say it should serve as a wake-up call that the country needs to curb its drinking habit. 'Excessive alcohol use has devastating impacts on individuals, families, communities, and the economy,' CDC Director Dr Tom Frieden said in a statement. 'In addition to injury, illness, disease, and death, it costs our society billions of dollars through reduced work productivity, increased criminal justice expenses, and higher healthcare costs. 'Effective prevention programs can support people in making wise choices about drinking alcohol.' About 42 percent of the cost of heavy drinking was paid by state or federal funds - whether through Medicare and Medicaid or by other government services. That amounted to the largest share of the cost - and less than the cost paid by heavy drinkers and their families. Some 70percent of the costs of excessive alcohol use was incurred by binge drinkers - those who consume five or more drinks in a single sitting. Binge drinkers account for an estimated 70percent of the cost of alcohol abuse in America, the CDC study found . Authors of the study cautioned that the data doesn't include drinkers whose productivity at work is hampered by hangovers. A MailOnline analysis of CDC data shows that New Hampshire had the highest rates of alcohol consumption, with 736 drinks purchased per capita in 2006. Washington, DC, and Nevada were the next highest. However, the CDC points out that in New Hampshire many of the package liquor buyers come from other states and in Nevada - home to Sin City - much of the state's alcohol consumption can be attributed to tourists. The lowest per capita alcohol consumption was in Utah, Oklahoma and Arkansas. The study will be published in the October issue of the American Journal of Preventative Medicine. | Centers for Disease Control study suggests huge costs in health care, drunk driving crashes, crime and productivity losses from excessive alcohol consumption .
42percent of cost is picked up by state and federal government .
New Hampshire, Washington DC and Nevada have highest per capita drink consumption .
Study found that every drink consumed costs society $2 . |
04dc1fc653f383b642471e2b8adc2dc9d66084f9 | (CNN) -- Real Madrid Football Club has unveiled world-record transfer signing Gareth Bale to thousands of fans inside the Bernabeu Stadium. The former Tottenham Hotspur winger, who cost the Spanish giants a reported $132 million (£85 million), was officially welcomed by Real Madrid President Florentino Perez at a press conference on Monday. The 24-year-old said it was "absolutely amazing" to have joined the Spanish giants adding he hoped to help the team to success and win a 10th European Cup this season. A suited Bale then changed into his new kit before stepping out on to the pitch to greet hoards of adoring Madrid fans. Earlier, Perez praised the Welsh Intenational who has been named Footballer of the Year in England twice and scored 26 goals in 44 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur last season. Read more: Bale becomes latest 'Galactico' "We are in this temple of Real Madrid to incorporate a new man who knows very clearly what are the values of this club," Perez said. "A man who has been chosen as the best player in the Premier League last season. A young footballer but with great qualities, committed to the sport and whose dream has been to be a Real Madrid player. Read more: Transfer deadline day latest . "Gareth you are going to help us to make the legend of this club even greater and stronger. This is your stadium, your shirt, your badge and your fans. From today this is your home." The Welshman passed a medical on Monday morning with flying colors according to the head of Real Madrid's medical team, Carlos Diez. Read more: Award-winner Bale destined for greatness? "As always, we follow a protocol and we have done all the investigations and all the cardiorespiratory and biomechanical studies and the truth is that he is in excellent physical condition and available for the coaching staff when they see fit.," Diez said in a statement on the Real Madrid website. "I highlight the physical condition he is in. He arrives at the club a physical marvel and we think he will serve the club well," he added. Bale's unveiling at the Bernabeu concludes this summer's most high profile and protracted transfer saga. The Welshman has made no secret of his desire to join Madrid admitting it was a "dream come true" on Tottenham Hotspur's website on Sunday. Blog: Is Bale money distasteful? "I am not sure there is ever a good time to leave a club where I felt settled and was playing the best football of my career to date," Bale's statement read. "I know many players talk of their desire to join the club of their boyhood dreams, but I can honestly say, this is my dream come true." Spurs chairman, Daniel Levy said it was never his wish to sell Bale, but the club were forced to bow to the inevitable. "Such has been the attention from Real Madrid and so great is Gareth's desire to join them, that we have taken the view that the player will not be sufficiently committed to our campaign in the current season," Levy told Tottenham's website. Bale has agreed a six-year contract with Madrid which will see him reportedly earn around $13.2 million a year after tax. The reported $132 million (£85 millon) fee sees Madrid break their own world transfer record set when they signed Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United for $124.6 million (£80 million) in 2009. | World-record signing unveiled by Spanish giants at news conference in Madrid .
Bale says it feels "absolutely amazing" to join the La Liga club .
The 24-year-old winger joins from Tottenham Hotspur for reported $132 million . |
04dd1b30d3cd202901c0fccacf062650e9a5fa35 | By . Jessica Jerreat . Nick Vujicic, a preacher born without limbs, knows all too well that everyone needs a hug sometimes, so today he was offering a comforting embrace to tourists in New York's Times Square. The Australian, who was taunted at school because of a medical condition that left him without arms and legs, was in New York to promote his book. During his appearance in Times Square, Vujicic let tourists and fans embrace him as part of his anti-bullying 10,000 Hugs Tour. Embracing the day: Nick Vujicic hugs a woman in Times Square as part of his anti-bullying campaign . Inspiration: The Christian minister met fans of his book, Stand Strong, at the Times Square event . The preacher, who moved to California from Melbourne in 2007, has previously held a Guinness Book of World Records title for the most hugs in one hour. For the record he took part in 1,749 hugs, but while he met a lot of fans during his appearance today, Vujicic did not break his own record. The 31-year-old advertized his appearance in Times Square on his Facebook page, posting: 'Good morning New York City! Come meet me in Times Square. I'll be there... to give hugs and raise awareness to #endbullying.' The author of Stand Strong: You Can Overcome Bullying (and Other Stuff That Keeps You Down has been helping victims for several years. Hug tour: Nick Vujicic meets tourists in New York as he promotes the release of his book . Message: The Australian devoted his life to spreading God's word after coming to terms with his disability . Support: The 10,000 Hugs Tour is being used to raise awareness on how to overcome bullies . His anti-bullying cause is one close to his heart, after Vujicic struggled with his disability . as a child, both physically and emotionally. At the age of ten, after a . failed suicide attempt, he vowed never to give up again. By the age of 17 he had started his own non-profit charity, Life Without Limbs. As well as making it on to the New York Times best-selling author's list, Vujicic is also a devoted husband and father. Before his New York appearance he was pictured playing with his young son and wife on a beach in Hawaii. In pictures of the vacation, the broad smile on Vujicic's face, and obvious happiness he now has in his life, was testament to one man's triumph over adversity. The Christian minister was clearly feeling like any other hard-working dad taking a break with his family: he beamed proudly as baby son Kiyoshi toddled about on the shoreline; and shared contented smiles with his wife of two years Kanae. Spread the love: Nick has taken his anti-bullying campaign to 40 countries . Dedication: The 31-year-old, pictured meeting a fan, is working tirelessly to combat bullies . Vujicic was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare disorder that is characterized by the absence of all four limbs. His worldwide motivational speeches tell of courage overcoming disability, and the bullying he suffered as a child. His life and his determination serve as an inspiration to countless thousands worldwide. But the idyllic holiday the Vujicic family was recently pictured enjoying is more than just the result of the success he has found as an adult. After university, where he graduated . with a Bachelor of Commerce, Vujicic embarked on a motivational speaking . tour, concentrating on teenage issues, disability, and his faith in God . and how it helps his life. To date, he has visited more than 40 countries on five continents. In 2008 Vijucic met Kanae Miyahara, and . has described it as 'love at first sight'. He was quoted in a 2013 . interview in The Christian Post about the unique way he proposed. Scroll down for an excerpt from Stand Strong: You Can Overcome Bullying... Vacation: Nick Vujicic watches as wife Kanea helps baby son Kiyoshi walk along the beach in Maui, Hawaii . Fun in the surf: Kanae swings Kiyoshi in the waters as Nick looks on . Having the engagement ring in his mouth he casually asked Kanae: 'Baby, can I kiss your hands?' Kanae admitted that she thought he was simply biting her finger, but then she saw the ring he had been trying to position in the right spot. Vujicic released his book - Stand Strong: You Can Overcome Bullying - on April 15. In it he describes how to turn bullies into motivators: 'Bullies want to abuse you. Instead of allowing that, you can use them as your personal motivators,' he writes. 'Power up and let the bully eat your dust.' Bullies want to abuse you. Instead of allowing that, you can use them as your personal motivators. Power up and let the bully eat your dust. In the pages that follow, I will help you build your antibully antibodies. This is a process that works by building strength from the inside out, from your deepest thoughts and feelings—your heart and soul—to the way you see the world, make decisions, and take actions. You build your bully defense system from the inside out by . 1. Figuring out who you are so no bully can tell youdifferently or make you feel badly; . 2. Taking responsibility for your own behavior and happiness so bullies have no ultimate power over you; . 3. Establishing strong values that no bully can shake; . 4. Creating a safety zone within yourself where you can go mentally to draw strength and comfort; . 5. Building strong and supportive relationships to stand up for you against bullies; . 6. Learning to monitor and manage your responses to the emotions triggered by bullying; . 7. Developing a spiritual foundation to help you be at peace and be strong against bullying; . 8. Taking the opportunity to learn from your bullying experience so that you can become stronger, wiser, more confident, more faith filled, and more prepared to handle any challenges; . 9. Creating your bully defense strategy so you are prepared to handle bullies of all kinds; and . 10. Mastering empathy so you are aware of the needs of others and serve them whenever possible to help them overcome bullying. Excerpted from Stand Strong by Nick Vujicic Copyright © 2014 by Nick Vujicic. Excerpted by permission of WaterBrook Press, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. | Melbourne-born Nick Vujicic has rare tetra-amelia syndrome .
After a suicide attempt at the age of 10, Vujicic turned his disability into a motivation to spread the gospel .
New York appearance was part of 10,000 Hugs Tour . |
04ddcdf4e5b871bb6eea736d3a463f206e8d7d6a | By . Sam Webb . and Alasdair Baverstock . The beauty queen and TV star gunned down with her British ex-husband in front of their daughter spoke of their enduring friendship in a poignant interview before she died. Miss Venezuela 2004, Monica Spear Mootz, 29, was shot to death alongside Thomas Berry, 39, from London, by thieves after their car broke down on the Puerto-Cabello to Valencia highway at about 10pm on Monday. Police made five arrests in connection with the case earlier today, including two who were said to be under 18. Scroll down for video . Happy: Despite separating Thomas Berry and Monica Spear holidayed together for their daughter's sake . Horrific: Robbers shot through the car windscreen when the terrified family locked themselves in . Nightmare: A friend of Berry said he had spoken to him on Sunday and was told they were having a great time . In an interview in Venezuelan magazine Panorama, she said they had remained close despite the divorce and agreed to they would still spend time together with their five-year-old daughter Maya. She said: 'It was a spectacularly civilised divorce. My friends ask me if I have suffered and are amazed because I say no. 'I married a very civilised person and when we decided to separate we decided that we would continue seeing each other with our child. 'I want him to have a good life and and he wants the same for me. I assure you there are no problems.' Armed men came up the car as the couple waited . for a repair truck, and the terrified couple locked themselves in their . Toyota Corolla. But the robbers opened fire through the windows. The bodies of Mr Berry and Ms Spear, who had American citizenship, were found in the car with their daughter, who had been shot in the leg. Monica Spear posted a video on Instagram of her horse riding just hours before she died . The five-year-old was taken to hospital where family and friends are helping to care for her. Her ex-husband, an . independent travel consultant, lived in the capital . Caracas, reports El Universal. He moved to Florida for a short time after he was shot 15 years ago in a robbery that killed his friend. 'He had already been shot once by robbers trying to steal his car,' close friend Luis Dominguez told The Telegraph. 'His . friend died in the incident and although doctors saved his life, they . couldn't extract the bullet and he still had it in his stomach.' ['Mr Berry] moved to the States to get . away from things here for a while but missed Venezuela and came back,' Mr Dominguez added. He said the family had spent New Year's in the mountains of the western state of Merida then traveled to the plains. Mr Dominguez said they were people 'who really loved the country' and had a good relationship despite the divorce. Monica was pictured with a child, believed to be her daughter Maya, a few days before they were attacked . A still from a short film showing the actress riding before she blew a kiss to the camera on the day she died . According to Telemundo, the car was already on the back of a tow truck at the time of the attack. Two tow truck drivers who had arrived to help the couple are said to be under 'intense interrogation' by police. All . the tires on the couple's car had been punctured after it hit 'a sharp . object that had been placed on the highway', director of investigative . police, Jose Gregorio Sierralta, said. Police believe the couple may have been targeted by bandits who put obstacles in the road to force victims to stop. The ploy is commonly used on the country's highways after dark. Venezuela is one the most violent places in Latin America and armed robberies, carjackings and kidnappings are rife. The annual murder rate in Caracas alone is an average of 80 murders per 100,000 people, the third highest in the world. Most . murders occur in the slums where police presence is minimal. Eastern . Caracas is home to South America’s largest slum, named Petare with more . than two million residents, where the police to public ratio is 1 . officer to every 3,000 people. There . were an estimated 24,000 murders in 2013, one of the world’s highest . homicide rates. It has tripled in the previous decade. Gun ownership is also high, with an estimated 15 million unlicensed weapons in circulation. At . least six shots are believed to have been fired, hitting Mr Berry in . the chest, his ex-wife in several places and their daughter in the leg. The . attack appeared to follow a pattern of recent robberies, where cars are . disabled by obstacles left in roads, or drain covers removed. A photo . believed to be the couple's car was pictured behind police tape by . Gilbert Angustia on Twitter. Ms . Spear was a famous TV actress following her pageant victory and . appeared in a number of telenovelas [South American soap operas], with . her roll in 'Forbidden Passions' the most notable. The University of Central Florida graduate had American citizenship and her parents live in Orlando, Florida. Pictures of the model enjoying the vacation with her young daughter were posted on Ms Spear's Instagram account in the days leading up to her death. In a short video posted on the day she was shot dead, the actress blows a kiss to the camera during a horse riding trip. Another photo shows Ms Spear holding hands with a girl, believed to be her daughter, as they gaze across a lagoon. Thomas Berry and Monica Spear Mootz on their wedding day in June 2008. They were murdered by gunmen in front of their daughter . Police tape cordons off the couple's car, which had ground to a halt after the tires were punctured . The former beauty queen's Instagram showed her looking relaxed and happy . Monica Spear was visiting Venezuela so her daughter could learn about the country . His parents are at the hospital with the couple's daughter. It is not known if his sister, Katie, who lives in Scotland, will fly out to be with the family. In the Panorama interview, the actress spoke of her ideal man. She said: 'I want a man who respects me, who lets me be me, who shares my feelings. 'I need someone to make me feel positive, regardless of whether the relationship lasts a lifetime or not. 'It is also imperative to have a sense of humor, I love a man who makes me laugh. 'I'm super romantic and I'd like him to sing to me, to cuddle me and love me in all ways. 'That's what I live for - a fine, beautiful love.' Ms Spear's parents were flown from Florida to Venezuela by private jet, provided by Venezuela's president, so they could be with their granddaughter. 'It is the deepest pain, the deepest pain. It is unbelievable,' her father, Rafael, told the Orlando Sentinel. 'She was very charismatic, a very good daughter, a very good mother, and she loved Venezuela.' He recalled how his daughter had come to him for advice when she wanted to change from her chemical engineering course to study acting instead. 'I told her she had to decide what she wanted to do to be happy for the rest of her life,' he said. 'When my children were young, I wouldn't let them watch telenovelas, and then she began acting in soap operas, and I began watching all of hers.' Mr Dominguez, who ran an adventure tour company with the actress's ex-husband, told NBC he last spoke to Mr Berry on Sunday. 'They were having the greatest time. He said, I'll see you soon,' Mr Dominguez said. A friend of the family, Carlos Drakkar, 38, a Colombian graphic designer who lives in Caracas, said: 'This is a very difficult moment for all of us to deal with. We are doing all we can to help out friends in this difficult moment. These things happen all too often in this country. Something has to change.' Mr Berry, with his daughter Maya, 5. She was injured in the attack and is now in the care of the authorities . Loving: Former Miss Venezuela Monica Spear Mootz and Thomas Berry had maintained a good relationship following their divorce and family say they were close to getting back together for the sake of Maya . Ms Spear's family had asked her to move to the U.S. with them after she was robbed six times, but the model refused. Her brother, Ricardo Spear Mootz, said: 'She loved her country too much. It was her home.' Family friend Marytza Sanz said Miss Spear loved Venezuela and even though she could have remained in the U.S. she chose to return so her daughter could spend time there. The network Miss Spear worked for released a statement describing her as a 'great actress' who had 'extraordinary drive and determination'. Venezuela's public prosecutor has appointed two separate investigators to the case, while the CICPC, Venezuela's SWAT police force unit, has been deployed to nearby slums for answers. Commissioner Daniel Alvarez , head of the CICPC's homicide division, promised 'fast results in this awful case'. Beauty: Monica Spear Mootz represented Venezuela in the 54th annual Miss Universe competition . Ms Spear with Maya, who was born in October 2008. The little girl was shot in the leg during the attack . During the 2005 Miss Universe contest Spear visited the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok . The Foreign Office says it is aware of the reports and are looking into it with the assistance of its offices in Venezuela. A . spokesman said: 'We are aware of reports of the death of a British . national on 6 January in Venezuela. We stand ready to provide consular . assistance to the family.' Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro vowed to respond to the violence gripping his country with 'an iron fist, the BBC reported. 'There . will be no tolerance to those who carry out acts like that, killing . decent men and women, who have a right to live,' he said. | Thomas Berry and Monica Spear Mootz killed in front of daughter Maya .
The divorced couple were still close and were holidaying together .
In a last interview, she said they had remained good friends .
Five people, including two under-18s, arrested over attack .
Mr Berry was shot in another robbery in Venezuela 15 years ago . |
04e2d77f5704022d026e9e88bde5abb0af3730ac | By . Leon Watson . PUBLISHED: . 07:03 EST, 21 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:05 EST, 28 February 2013 . A university student known as 'Mr Muscles' has died after apparently taking 'lethal' bodybuilding pills to help him lose weight. Fitness fanatic Sarmad Alladin, 18, who had posted snaps of his new muscles online, was taken to . hospital just hours after praising the . fat-burning tablets called DNP on Facebook. Mr Alladin, an international student and son of an Indian millionaire, called an ambulance as he suddenly collapsed. Tragic Sarmad Alladin, 18, nicknamed 'Mr Muscles', posted this picture of himself on Facebook . He was living in university accommodation in Epsom, Surrey, while attending the specialist art and design university in nearby Farnham. A friend told The Sun: 'He wasn't the . type to put something like that into his body, so clearly they're . misleading. I've cried so much since he died.' Last week the University for the Creative Arts warned its students: 'It has come to the University's attention that some very dangerous weight-loss and body-building drugs could be circulating among students. 'If you have bought or obtained Dinitrophenol or Dymetadrine tablets online or anywhere else, please stop using them immediately. The drugs are potentially lethal.' Vice-chancellor Dr Simon Ofield-Kerr said: 'As a university we are devastated by the untimely and tragic passing of one of our students, Sarmad Alladin. Our sympathies are with his family and friends at this difficult time.' Last night Mr Alladin's family, who flew to UK from Hyderabad, were awaiting the results of a post mortem. The drug DNP is sold mostly over the internet under a number of different names but contains 2, 4-Dinitrophenol . A spokesman for Surrey Police said: ''Surrey Police received reports of the sudden death of an 18-year-old man at Epsom General Hospital on Wednesday, February 13. 'The man, who is from Epsom, was brought into the hospital around 4am and was pronounced dead at 6.20am. 'Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. At this stage the death is being treated as unexplained but there is nothing to suggest any third party involvement. 'Officers are liaising with Coroner’s Office and a post mortem will be held in due course.' Mr Alladin was living in university accommodation in Epsom, Surrey, while attending the specialist art and design university in nearby Farnham . Dangerous; The Food Standards Agency has told consumers not to take pills containing any level of DNP after a second death was linked to the substance . Mr Alladin's family, who flew to UK from Hyderabad, are awaiting the results of a post mortem into his death . DNP is sold mostly over the internet under a number of different names but contains 2, 4-Dinitrophenol. It is marketed mainly to bodybuilders as a weight loss aid as it is thought to dramatically boost metabolism. The Food Standards Agency has told consumers not to take pills . containing any level of DNP after a second death was linked to the . substance. Selena Walrond, 26, (left) died from a heart . attack in 2008 after taking a large amount of DNP (right) that she had . bought online . The manufactured drug is yellow and odourless and was previously used as a herbicide and fungicide. It was launched as a slimming aid in the U.S. in the 1930s but then banned in 1938, due to the severe side-effects. According to a study published last year in the Journal of Medical Toxicity, in medical literature has attributed 62 deaths to DNP. The study authors from the Whittington Hospital in London, wrote: 'DNP is reported to cause rapid loss of weight, but unfortunately is associated with an unacceptably high rate of significant adverse effects.' In 2008, Selena Walrond from Croydon, south London, died after taking DNP she had purchased online. The yellow pills had sent her heart-rate racing and temperature soaring. She was found by her mother Anjennis trying to cool down the next day. She was taken to hospital but died eight hours later from a heart attack. Croydon Coroner's Court heard that Selena had taken a gram of the drug the day before she died. At the time her mother said: 'I'll never forget her yellow fingernails and skin - the drug was sweating out of her. 'Selena's life has been cruelly snatched away, all because she was desperate to lose weight. DNP is lethal. If you want to lose weight, do it the sensible way.' A verdict of accidental death was recorded. | Sarmad Alladin, 18, taken to .
hospital hours after praising tablets .
University for the Creative Arts tells students: 'Stop using them'
Pills contain the drug DNP, which has been linked to several deaths . |
04e2d981d1bf347242f31be6cc949aa448aab946 | Editor's note: Journalist Karl Penhaul spent several weeks tracking the gangs of the Mexican underworld, the corrupt officials who support them and the cops trying to halt the violence. Mexico police round up gang suspects in Juarez, across the border from El Paso, Texas. CAMARGO, Mexico (CNN) -- There are no welcome signs on the approach to Camargo. It's a hardscrabble Mexican border town and home turf for "Los Zetas," a gang of hitmen and corrupt former special forces cops on the bankroll of the Gulf Cartel. Local journalists explained if we went there we'd be getting "tangled up in the hooves of the horse." They said Zeta gunmen recently smashed one reporter's fingers with a hammer as a warning to the media to stay away. The plaza was deserted -- for a few minutes at least. Then the throb of engines broke the Sunday morning peace. Scores of pickup trucks with heavily tinted windows began circling. Occasionally a window would crack open. We were clearly being watched. A black SUV pulled up alongside the soda stand. One of the occupants stepped out. First I saw the ostrich skin cowboy boots, then the highly polished 9 mm pistol strapped to his side. It was loaded with a longer-than-usual ammunition clip, custom-made to pack extra bullets. It was a brazen flouting of Mexican law to carry a gun that way. No words. Not even a stare. But his message seemed unequivocal. Our visit to Camargo lasted just 20 minutes. Taking the strong hint, we immediately left town. Much as we wanted to explore the underbelly of the drug war raging in Mexico, it was clear the capos, or bosses, and their hired guns were in no mood to talk. Their business thrives best in the shadows. Our best chance of getting some insight was to track down a cast of peripheral characters who live in the gray areas, somewhere between the extremes of right and wrong. The hospitality was little better in nearby Miguel Aleman. Customers, even an argumentative drunk, fell silent as we ordered a beer in a dingy cantina. A couple of tired-looking prostitutes retreated to a far corner. They may have been down on their luck but they knew talking to outsiders wasn't worth the cost. Here the Zetas are well-known for enforcing their law of silence at gunpoint. Watch Mexican cops on the hunt for gang members » . Along this stretch of the border Los Zetas are kings. From here their bloody reach stretches far across Mexico and deep into Central America. They run immigrant smuggling, drug trafficking, prostitution rackets, video piracy and local politics. In the glitzy industrial city of Monterrey, we met a marijuana dealer smoking his own merchandise in the bathroom of a dance club. The man, whom we can't name for his safety, explained how he had been recruited at gunpoint two years earlier by the Zetas to be what they call a "landowner" (terrateniente in Spanish) -- in charge of cocaine distribution in a handful of neighborhoods. He said Zeta gunmen bundled him into a truck and with assault rifles aimed at his head they gave him three options -- pay them $100,000, begin working for them or die. Over the next few days, he said, the same gunmen scared off or killed rival drug dealers, leaving him in charge of what he said was a $4,000-a-day business. It all ended, he said, when Mexican soldiers kicked down his door. He was never detained but his cover was blown. Local Zeta commanders thanked him for not ratting on them by giving him permission to retire from the business. But recently he's gone into business for himself selling $2 bags of pot. He realizes working independently of the Zetas may be fatal. "Maybe I'm stupid or something, but I don't know how to do anything else. If they catch me it's simple, they'll kill me. It's just not allowed to work freelance," he said. An old friend of mine in Monterrey knew the marijuana peddler well and vouched for his story. He never made good on his promise to give us a recorded account. He went on a 24-hour drug binge. When we caught up with him again he was smoking crack, sweating profusely and paranoid his former paymasters would exact revenge. Mexico's tit-for-tat vendettas look like uncontrolled chaos. Mob assassins are no longer content with efficient execution-style killings. Sinaloa cartel hitmen regularly place pig masks on the faces of their Juarez cartel victims. And in a grim seasonal touch, killers in Juarez decapitated a cop and placed a Father Christmas hat on his severed head. But in a sidewalk cafe in Guadalajara, "Jose" explains there is a clearly defined set of narco-rules that must be followed. A small-time Latin American cocaine trafficker I've known for years introduced me to Jose. Jose is old school. He tells me he's been in the cocaine trade since the early 1980s almost since it began, has worked internationally and done a stretch in prison . "From the outside it might look like the cartels are just going around killing people. But on the inside there's a code of conduct, rules. You might not want to kill somebody but you have to because it's all about respect," he said. "This cannot work if there's no respect. Above all, the capos use logic to solve the problems." Jose added that he believed groups of corrupt officials and law enforcement officers were using the militarization of the border region not as a means to crush the drug cartels but as a way of forcing them to pay a bigger slice of the drug profits as bribes. "The authorities and the cartels use the rule of 10. By that I mean for every 10 kilos of cocaine we move, we have to give three to the authorities and keep seven for ourselves," he explained. "When times are bad the authorities may arrest somebody or grab an entire consignment and that's a way for forcing up their percentage take." Jose's assertion might seem like feverish conspiracy theory if it weren't for the growing list of Mexican officials, ranging from local cops and foot soldiers to generals and men at the highest levels of law enforcement, who've been busted for allegedly profiting from the drug trade. In November, Mexico's former drug czar was detained on suspicion that he may have accepted $450,000 a month in bribes from drug traffickers. He had been in charge of the attorney general's office that specializes in combating organized crime. | "Los Zetas" gang of hitmen and ex-cops run rackets from U.S. border across Mexico .
Reporter lasts just 20 minutes in town before message became clear: Leave now .
Drug dealers reveal the rules of the cartel killers and how officials are also profiting . |
04e4939551f205a96bfa4ffb8d223c4979cd9757 | A cynic might suspect Kenny McDowall knew what he was doing. The interim Rangers boss used a press conference to reveal that five Newcastle loan players shipped north on a Sports Direct truck must play if they are fit. A coach who wanted the Ibrox job on a permanent basis would be unwise to detonate a bomb under Mike Ashley. McDowall is different. He is playing out time. He began a 12-month notice period last month and the suspicion is he would be less than devastated if what he said on Thursday was taken the wrong way. If they pay him off now, he’ll cope. Scottish football thought it had seen the last of this stuff when Vladimir Romanov, the erstwhile king of Hearts, was detained by the Russian authorities. Newcastle have loaned Gael Bigirimana (left) Remie Streete (centre) and Haris Vuckic to Rangers . But Mad Vlad has merely given way to Big Mike Ashley, the de facto banker of Rangers who has now purchased the right to use one of Scotland’s biggest football clubs as a real life version of Championship Manager. Rangers, in essence, have become a nursery club for Newcastle United. A vehicle for enhancing the fitness of loan quintet Haris Vuckic from Slovenia, English defender Remie Streete, Burundi-born Gael Bigirimana, Swiss defender Kevin Mbabu and Northern Ireland winger Shane Ferguson. For the SFA, currently investigating alleged breaches of dual interest rules at Ibrox, the charge sheet is growing ahead of a hearing next month. ‘As far as I’ve been told, providing they are fit, the boys will play in the team and I’ll carry that instruction out,’ McDowall revealed. ‘In terms of once the game has started, I will make substitutions as I see fit. Rangers caretaker boss has confirmed that he must play the five Newcastle loan players in the first team . ‘It’s a slightly unenviable situation for the boys who’ve come in. But let’s not forget these boys have come from Newcastle, so they’ll be good players and it’s a good addition to our squad. It can be a positive, absolutely, and you’d hope that other people will get a lift from it.’ Recruiting five promising players from Newcastle, an established English Premiership club, could prove no bad thing. Against Celtic last weekend, Rangers were pitiful; a Samson shorn of their locks. The loan players — two defenders, two midfielders and an attacker — have the capacity to make the team better, starting with Sunday’s Cup game against Raith Rovers. The problem lies in the principle. The idea that a shareholder with 8.92 per cent of the club, heavily securitised loans and the club’s commercial valuables safely under lock and key can also dictate five of the starting places in the Rangers first team. Irrespective of form or ability. Whatever they say publicly, existing players will welcome the newcomers with the kind of enthusiasm usually reserved for a tax bill. Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley faces a hearing with the Scottish FA over his involvement with Rangers . ‘I can’t answer for the other players in the dressing room,’ said McDowall, ‘but I would hope that they would be professional and continue to work hard in training. ‘The new boys are settling in fine. They are nice lads, I met them on Wednesday. Two of them trained on the first day and the other fit one will train today. They took part in the session and did fine. ‘All the players here have to just accept that’s what happens at big clubs. Players come in — but they have to continue to work hard. ‘If I have to tell a player that I can’t pick him, that’s just where it’s at. They have to be professional.’ Under the rules set down by Ashley and Derek Llambias, only three of the five are likely to play against Raith Rovers. Ferguson and Mbabu remain a few weeks away from full fitness and have yet to arrive in Glasgow. They are not completely unknown to McDowall. ‘Myself and Ally (McCoist) went down in November to watch a Newcastle reserve game in which two of the boys played,’ he revealed. ‘But in terms of deciding which ones were coming in, I spoke with Derek about a month ago and he made me aware that he was trying to bring players in and it could possibly be five coming up.’ With Newcastle players now moving to Rangers on loan, Mike Ashley's interest in the club continues to grow . Vuckic, Bigirimana and Streete can — and will —play on Sunday. That the man ostensibly known as the manager has barely seen them play is neither here nor there. ‘All I will say is that the more I see of the boys on the training field, the more I can get working with them,’ added McDowall. ‘I would like to think that would help. But they play with Newcastle, so they are good players — let’s not forget that.’ The players, like the manager, have been placed in an unenviable situation. For a coach in normal circumstances, all of this would be intolerable. Rangers prepare for their Scottish Cup fifth round clash with Raith Rovers . Rangers new loan signings Haris Vuckic, Remie Streete and Gael Bigirimana in training at Murray Park . Agreeing to provide cover until the end of the season after Ally McCoist was placed on gardening leave, however, McDowall’s terms and conditions were made clear. Players coming and going were none of his business. He probably expected, as we all did, that he would follow McCoist onto the allotment soon enough. It’s far from impossible his revelations will force the issue, despite reiterating his commitment to his professional duties. ‘I have intimated I am working my notice, but every time I pick a team to go out there I want to win for Rangers. That will not change. ‘It’s been tough, but I am trying to get on with things as best I can. Keep the boys upbeat and try to win football matches. That’s what my job is. ‘Twelve months notice I am working and that’s me.’ He didn’t quite slap his thighs in relief, but the thought might have crossed his mind. Where the Rangers circus is concerned, every man has his limits. Gael Bigirimana: The 21-year-old has made 26 appearances for Newcastle since arriving from Coventry City in 2012 for £1m. After impressing during his first season, the Burundi-born midfielder - likened to Cheick Tiote - has failed to progress and was soon demoted to the reserves. Haris Vuckic: The playmaker joined Newcastle from Domzale in 2009 - after they beat off competition from AC Milan - but he has struggled with injuries, damaging his knee and ankle ligaments in one match for Slovenia Under 19s. He has previously been loaned out to Rotherham United and Cardiff City. Kevin Mbabu: The 19-year-old Swiss defender joined Newcastle's academy in January, 2013 but is yet to make an appearance for the first team. Remie Streete: English centre back Streete is a product of the club's youth system and joined them as a 13-year-old. He was loaned to Port Vale earlier this season. He was highly-rated all through his progression at the academy but now looks set to leave the club in the summer. Shane Ferguson: Northern Ireland winger Ferguson has made 30 appearances for Newcastle and, under Alan Pardew, enjoyed a run in the side in 2012. He lost his place, however, and hasn't featured for the first team in nearly two years. He also has 18 senior caps for his country. | Rangers have loaned five players from Newcastle until end of the season .
Kenny McDowall has been given specific instructions to play them .
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has an 8.92 per cent stake in Rangers .
He is facing a hearing with the Scottish FA over his involvement at Ibrox . |
04e5bbd3e16512b44d17558ef367587202604ed0 | The owner of an animal shelter which is caring for wildlife affected by South Australia's devastating bushfires has taken aim at Channel 7 breakfast show Sunrise, claiming producers got him to organise for volunteers to be on location for Tuesday's show - only for them to cancel without warning. Mark Aldridge says he organised for volunteers and victims of the fires to be at his house from 5.30am for live crosses for a special broadcast but were left stunned when no one from Channel 7 showed up. Executive producer Michael Pell and another senior Channel 7 staffer called Daily Mail Australia but refused to deny the claims on the record. Mr Aldridge and his volunteers are caring for displaced and injured animals and taking food donations for them after fires destroyed large parts of the Adelaide Hills. Mr Aldridge, who runs Willow Wood Sanctuary in South Australia with his wife Helen, claimed Sunrise producers asked him to have ‘the donations on the lawn, all the rescuers there with the animals and those that lost their homes in the fires here for the cross overs’. Scroll down for video . South Australians and rescued wildlife were ready at 5.30am for Sunrise to broadcast from Mark Aldridge's home . Mark Aldridge organised for volunteers and victims of the fires to be at his Willow Wood Sanctuary in South Australia for a live cross from the Channel 7 breakfast show . He said the show also requested ‘that we have the trucks arriving and departing, from 5.30 in the morning’ and he happily set about putting their requests into action. But after visiting on Monday evening to ‘sort out where to set up the satellite’ and to ‘ask that we stack the donations on the lawn’, Sunrise workers then allegedly failed to turn up at Mr Aldridge’s sanctuary on Tuesday morning. Mr Aldridge said Sunrise producers later told him that they tried to contact him during Monday afternoon but he was out of phone range in the remote bushfire zone. He raged on Facebook: ‘We have been doing rescues and feeding the animals and families devastated by the SA fires. 'Some of us have missed days of sleep, but as Sunrise were going to help get the word out about the good work of the rescue groups, and in the hope that we would raise money for them, we all went out of our way.' Bushfires have already burned more than 12,000 hectares of land north-east of Adelaide. More than 375 firefighters from South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales are currently working on securing the 240-kilometre perimeter of the bushfire. The blaze has destroyed or badly damaged 26 homes so far. Mr Aldridge fumed at the show on Tuesday morning after he spent hours preparing for their arrival . Mr Aldridge and his volunteers lined-up boxes of food donations for the rescued animals . He claims he organised piles of food to show Sunrise the work they are doing for the animals . In one of the photos, a woman sits with a rescued joey inside the sanctuary . A rescued possum peers out of an orange towel inside Mr Aldridge's home . Mr Aldridge explained: ‘Now we have hours of work to get all the feed back under cover, and the rescuers have wasted time better spent doing what they do best........NOT EVEN A CALL SAYING THEY WERE NOT COMING. 'People devastated by the fires came all the way to be interview......what a**holes, in the world of mobile phones, they could have let us know last night, I will never watch that show ever again.' After Mr Aldridge claimed he didn't receive a message or phone call from Sunrise and angrily shared his story on Facebook, thousands of community members commented in outrage. Trish Butcher wrote on Sunrise's Facebook page: 'I think you have quite a few angry South Aussies. I think they have enough troubles without the no show, no communications this morning.' Kathryn Clayton wrote: 'I think you have quite a few angry South Aussies. I think they have enough troubles without the no show, no communications this morning.' Boxes of fresh vegetables that have been donated for the animals affected by the bushfires were piled up outside the sanctuary . Mr Aldridge also organised crates of water to be on site by 5.30am . Anwyn Davies called for Sunrise to apologise on their Facebook page: 'Shame on you Sunrise, hang your head in shame.' Anwyn Davies called for Sunrise to apologise: 'Shame on you Sunrise, hang your head in shame. Not even the decency of a phone call. You are a disgrace and you owe South Australia an apology.' Channel 7 got in touch with Mr Aldridge on Tuesday morning and he then updated angry locals saying: ‘Channel 7 are not happy with my post, facts are simple I made the arrangements for their request to run the show from my Sanctuary, I did everything they asked and many people went out of their way to support the broadcast.‘ . '7 have said they could not contact me in the late arvo, which was because I was in the fire zone and had no coverage. Fire fighter Ben Wilson posted this image of the fires in the Adelaide Hills . A burnt out house in Greenwith in the outer suburbs of Adelaide, as fires continue to burn through the Adelaide Hills . Burnt out areas as fires continue to burn through the Adelaide Hills, in Kersbrook, near Adelaide . Bushfires have already burned more than 12,000 hectares of land north-east of Adelaide . ‘I spoke to them one in that time and said everything would go as planned. They then could not contact me for a couple of hours so decided to go elsewhere, without telling me, I was home from 9 pm and in range from around 7.30. ‘They never sent a message or phoned me to say they weren't coming. So If they had messaged me saying they were not coming I did not receive it, and if that message was sent it was before 7.30 when I was out of range, I have never let 7 down and they have never let me down in the past, so I had no reason to believe they were not coming, if they did send the message I apologise, but I would have thought a call or confirmation would have been more appropriate.’ Daily Mail Australia has contacted Sunrise and Channel 7 for comment. | Channel 7 breakfast show organised to broadcast from Mark Aldridge's home .
He runs Willow Wood animal sanctuary in South Australia with his wife .
He organised for victims of the bushfires and animals that had been rescued to be at his house for the broadcast at 5.30am .
But he claims no one from the breakfast show arrived at his property or cancelled in advance .
He posted angry messages on his Facebook page which were shared by thousands .
The show's executive producer and other senior staff refused to deny the claims on the record . |
04e60d11097ef93d5aac799f2c4b7ae777a01c31 | (CNN) -- I have been fortunate to have lived and experienced two worlds: My childhood in India -- which in many parts is a world of poverty, infrastructure problems, and a paucity of qualified health-care personnel, a world of many preventable deaths. The other world is the United States, where my time at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology exposed me to amazing technologies, tremendous resources to build "things," to build businesses, and where -- for the most part -- there exist reliable systems, processes and medical technology which enable us to save lives, whenever they can be saved. Watch Myshkin Ingawale's TED Talk . The opportunity that exists, one might well be told multiple times, by multiple very enthusiastic and entirely well-meaning people, is to take the best of the West and put it to good use in the so-called East. So, that would mean that, to improve health care in the so-called Third World -- we should take lifesaving medical technologies that the West has developed and transplant these to countries like India. The poster child for this kind of transplant is the mobile revolution in many developing nations like India, which have leapfrogged the rather expensive wired telephony phase altogether, and jumped straight to mobile phones. In India today, about half the population already owns mobile phones. It is not only their primary means of voice communication but also becoming their most important source of all forms of information -- business, media, health ... So can we replicate this kind of success story in health care delivery? TED.com: The universal anaesthesia machine . Can we take the cool technologies developed in Route 128 and in Silicon Valley, put them on Indian soil, amidst lower resource settings, and expect a similarly spectacular outcome in health care? There might be a case to made for this approach, but to date my experience suggests that the problems in health care in the developing world are too complex, too entangled with other issues (social, political, economic) and -- in some cases -- too alien altogether from the Western world perspective -- to have a simple "tech-transfer" fix. Also, a similar problem emerges when the best brains in the West, with all the best intentions, design new products intended to solve the problems of the developing world, while not having a full knowledge or context to the problem the product is designed to solve. The story I told in my TED talk was my personal narrative of a team of doctors, engineers and designers who were thrown into the midst of a severe problem -- anemia in children and pregnant women in a rural, underserved part of India. As many as 1 million or more children and pregnant women are dying as direct or indirect result of undiagnosed, untreated, unmonitored anemia. The treatment for anemia is not only well understood, but also widely available -- iron tablets, folic acid, iron injections, supplements and in extreme cases -- blood transfusions. TED.com: Touring a hospital in Nigeria . Many government and WHO-backed schemes (e.g. "Janani Suraksha Yojana" in India) exist that provide subsidized health care -- free treatment. In rural India, there is a village health worker (Accredited Social Health Activist) in every village -- a ratio of one for every 1,000 people. The implementation of these health-care schemes is largely on the shoulders of the ASHA workers. In India there are more than 500,000 -- a really big (if not highly qualified medically...) force for doing good. Having experienced the conditions in a village in India, my group of friends -- who eventually set up the startup Biosense Technologies -- developed a simple, hand-held device that the ASHA worker could use to diagnose and monitor anemia noninvasively (without needles) and at the point of care (she could carry the hand-held device door to door). The ToucHb is designed for low-resource settings, requires no medical expertise and is perfect for the quick and affordable anemia screening it is tasked to do. The device emits three wavelengths of light. The light passes through the tissue, and from understanding how much of it is transmitted, how much of it is scattered and how much of it is absorbed, we can figure out how much hemoglobin there is in the blood. Our insight behind the ToucHb product was not merely that anemia needed diagnosing -- this is obvious to every person in public health care. Our insight was not merely that the ASHA worker needed to be empowered to solve problems in her community, and that she was the real centre of the public health system, rather than the doctors sitting in cities and towns -- again, obvious to folks in the development world. Our insight was not merely scientific -- how to develop a product that could measure blood hemoglobin and diagnose anemia all without needles and in the form of a device no bigger than a TV remote control -- there are other scientific approaches and technologies available for noninvasive hemoglobin estimation. TED.com: Your health depends on where you live . Our real insight was that we needed to not only build something that works from a scientific standpoint but also makes sense from a commercial and cultural and political-adoption angle. This was not easy and I cannot point to any single glorious "aha" moment in time when it all clicked. All I have are a series of failures -- monuments to our own stupidity, ideas and prototypes and commercial models failing in the lab, in the field, in a government office, at the VC (venture capital) meeting, failing due to some reason from a plethora of reasons in the complex entangled mesh that is India. Slowly, over three years, our team and ToucHb stumbled our way to making the beginnings of impact. We are still stumbling forward, but have been told we are going the right way! I want a thousand stories like ToucHb to emerge to solve the pressing health care needs of the 3 billion underserved people in the world, dying or suffering from completely preventable diseases. I believe neither the "First World" or the "Third World" can do this alone. The best researchers sitting at MIT or Stanford do not always understand the context and nuances of the developing world's problems they sometimes set out to solve, and the best field people in the developing world do not have the resources and scientific expertise to create robust and cutting-edge technology solutions that scale to the levels of the problem. TED.com: The promise of research with stem cells . There are ways around this impasse, but none are quick or simple: Either technology innovators from the West who propose solutions for the East must follow through and stick it out in the field, to design and implement their vision to the end, or the developing nations must wait for a few more years while their indigenous tech innovation ecosystems mature... In the face of this complexity, I have personally found three simple rules that I have internalized, for tech innovators to create real impact: . 1) Experience the problem: Don't assume you understand the problem. 2) Fail early, fail often: Don't fall in love with your ideas -- expose them as early as possible to data, to real life, and hence to failure. 3) Build a team: Surround yourself with people smarter than you, with very diverse skill sets ... and have fun! The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Myshkin Ingawale. | Myshkin Ingawale: Mobile tech enables developing nations to leapfrog over wired systems .
He says nations such as India need ways to jump ahead in health care .
Ingawale: New technology isn't a magic pill; technology must fit health care delivery system .
His company developed a tool to detect anemia without drawing blood . |
04e68820195af3e29e2b0897b2fe1c0eb3e4f066 | By . Victoria Woollaston . Nowhere else in your life are you forced to spend time with such a variety of people as you are when at work. Yet a psychologist claims that each colleague can be put into one of five personality types, including the Ball Breaker, who would ‘sell their own mothers to get ahead’ and the Mother Hen who is the office gossip. Each type was compiled using psychological profiling based on various research carried out by The Chemistry Group, but which one are you? Alasdair Scott, psychologist at Berkshire-based The Chemistry Group, has created a guide that reveals what the five types of office workers, including The Ball Breaker who shout at colleagues and will 'stop at nothing to become successful' Alasdair Scott, occupational psychologist and business analysts at the Berkshire-based firm has created a guide that reveals the signs to look out for, how to stay in the good books of the different types, and highlighted some key psychological traits. The first type is The Ball Breaker, according to Scott they ‘are the ones who will stop at nothing to become successful; they’ll sell their own mothers if it means they’ll get ahead.’ The best way to work well with Ball Breakers is to show them respect, but not to reveal any weakness, and above all Scott claims it’s important to make yourself ‘invaluable’ to them. Psychologically speaking, these types are low on the agreeableness scale and very high on emotional stability. They’re low on empathy and mildly extraverted. The Ball Breaker . How . you can recognise them: 'These guys are the ones who will stop at . nothing to become successful; they’ll sell their own mothers if it means . they’ll get ahead,' said Scott. How to work . with them: 'The softly, softly approach would seem like a good antidote . to these guys, but don’t be fooled. 'Try not to show too much weakness, . be thorough and resolute and ready to hold your corner. Plan your . approach to work, keep up your pace of work and make yourself invaluable . through your own insight. What not to do: Show them up in big meetings, win at their expense - they might catch you out later. Personality . make up: These guys are low on the agreeableness scale and very high on emotional stability. They’re low on empathy and mildly extraverted, . meaning that they’re out for solo success and not really a team player. The Mother Hen . How . you can recognise them: 'Guy or girl, they’re the ones you can always . rely on for a pick-me-up chat and a cup of tea. 'They’ve been in the . business for years and are probably in a support or admin role. They . never socialise with you but subtly know all the gossip in the office.' How to work with them: Always say hello . to them in the morning and offer to make them a cup of tea. Invite them . to the pub after work and insist they come. What . not to do: 'Meddle with their systems or set way of doing things. 'They’ve been in the company for years and won’t welcome a young . whippersnapper changing things.' Personality make up: They’re highly extraverted with average . emotional stability. 'This means they’re warm and approachable and . will welcome any interaction. Scott said this type are low on openness, meaning that . they like their set way of doing things. The Socialite . How you can . recognise them: 'Always booking after-work drinks, will be thinking . about the Christmas party in July and seem to know everyone around the . office,' explained Scott. 'They appear to do minimal work but everyone still loves them.' How . to work with them: 'Take five minutes to say hello in the morning, ask . questions and interact with them. Keep them occupied with . people-related tasks as was this won’t feel like work to them.' What . not to do: Ignore them or their social events. Try and avoid them if you’re busy or have a tight . deadline, continued Scott, 'otherwise you’ll be doing that report in the small hours after . those drinks you’ve been forced into.' Personality make up: They are . high on extraversion, low on emotional stability and high on openness. Socialites are 'the life and soul of the party' and will want everyone to join . in. 'He added work is probably where their main . social circle is. 'They may be slightly needy and will seek constant . social stimulation.' The Guy with 'Bernard’s Watch' How you can . recognise them: Bernard’s Watch was a British TV show in the late 90s and early 2000s in which a young boy could stop time using a magic pocket watch. They’re the ones we’d all like to be. They’re in the . office first and leave last and according to Scott this type have 'already been to the gym and done . the school run, but still look amazing.' They’re able to . be in a thousand different places at once. How . to work with them: 'They’re quick, so you’ll need to be able to keep . up' said Scott. He said to plan work around their movements. What . not to do: Scott advised not to keep this type waiting or run over time. 'They run an . efficient ship and you’ll need to be just as organised to work with . them.' Personality make up: . They are motivated self-starters and full . of energy; nothing is too much for them and they’ll take anything on. They’re low on detail and will figure things out along the way. The Creative . How . you can recognise them: 'Think ‘Apple tech geeks’ and you know who these . guys are,' said Scott. 'Their hair is messy; they probably have a beard and wear . flared jeans and their desks have seemingly unrelated knick-knacks on . them.' How to work . with them: Give them space to think, suggested Scott. 'Provide them with coffee and . constant stimulation to help their creative process.' What not to do: People should avoid disrupting the creative process or 'waving the rulebook in their faces.' Personality . make up: They are high on openness and low on conscientiousness. They’re unlikely to conform to conventional rules or working practices . and thrive in teams that go against the grain. On what seems like the opposite end of the scale are The Mother Hen types. These are colleagues who have been in the business for years, mainly in an admin or support role, and know all of the office gossip. People can get on their good side by saying hello and making them tea, but shouldn’t ever ‘meddle with their systems’ or tell them how to do their job. They’re ‘highly extraverted with average emotional stability’ but low on openness, meaning they like their set way of doing things. Socialites are the life and soul of the party and will want everyone to join in, claims Scott. 'Work is a social event for them and it's probably where their main social circle is' The Socialite will be the person that organises all the work events including the Christmas party. Scott’s profiling describes this type as being ‘high on extraversion, low on emotional stability and high on openness.’ Adding: ‘They are the life and soul of the party and will want everyone to join in. Work is a social event for them and it’s probably where their main social circle is.’ But this can make them needy. If you’ve got a team member who is always early for work, goes for a run or the gym before work and still looks unfazed then they might beThe Guy with Bernard’s Watch' type. Bernard’s Watch was a British TV show in the late 90s and early 2000s in which a young boy could stop time using a magic pocket watch. According to Scott: ‘Don’t keep this type waiting or run over time. They run an efficient ship and you’ll need to be just as organised to work with them. They’re quick, so you’ll need to be able to keep up.’ This does make them motivated, but low on detail and prefer to work things out along the way which can lead to mistakes. More laid-back types fall under The Creative category. Creatives are described as ‘Apple tech geeks’ with messy hair. Men may also have beards and wear flared jeans. Colleagues can spot them because they’re desk is covered in ‘unrelated knick-knacks’ and they always ‘need space to think.’ Scott claims these people don’t like sticking to the rules and will find ways to go against the grain. This makes them high on openness and low on conscientiousness. | A psychologist has created five personality types for office workers .
They range from ambitious Ball Breakers to gossiping Mother Hens .
The types were compiled using psychological profiling . |
04e711e1d8e89959ff4e1b3d1e156ac51161b6d6 | By . Mark Duell . Last updated at 4:15 PM on 18th September 2011 . By day Alisha Smith is a respected prosecution lawyer in the New York state Attorney General’s Office on a decent salary of almost $80,000. But by night the 36-year-old reportedly turns into dominatrix ‘Alisha Spark’ - paid for restraining and whipping people at S&M events, a source said. Prosecutor Ms Smith is known to wear transparent skin-tight latex outfits with heart-shaped pasties while she is performing outside the office. Red dress: Prosecutor Alisha Smith, pictured outside her Manhattan home, is known to wear transparent skin-tight latex outfits when she performs . She has now been suspended without pay immediately by the state Attorney General following inquiries by the New York Post. ‘They pay her to go to the events,’ a fetish source told the New York Post. ‘She dominates people, restrains them and whips them.’ This is in stark contrast to just three years ago, when she was praised by the then attorney general Andrew Cuomo, now state governor. He congratulated her for work in getting a $5billion settlement from Bank of America and other organisations in a case of securities fraud. A spokesman for state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman confirmed she had been suspended but would not say why. Whip: Alisha Smith, 36, works for the state Attorney General's Office by day - but by night turns into a dominatrix at S&M events, a source said (file picture) But sources told the New York Post say her suspension is probably only because she has profited from the work. 'They pay her to go to the events. She dominates people, restrains . them and whips them' S&M source . Employees of the state Attorney General’s Office must get prior approval for outside work that could generate them more than $1,000. Last month she tweeted about sexual lubricants to her friend and dominatrix Jade Vixen, whose real name is Edythe Maa. A source told the New York Post the two women often attend fetish parties and have been seen working together on one submissive. Neither Ms Smith nor her lawyer, Marshall Mintz, have yet commented. | Alisha Smith, 36, is a well-respected New York attorney .
She turns into dominatrix 'Alisha Spark’ at S&M events .
State Attorney General’s Office has now suspended her . |
04e9055b9b27ac7deb917b7ebddddc08e390c7cd | (CNN) -- "We must be on you but cannot see you." That was one of the very last voice signals transmitted by Amelia Earhart in the summer of 1937, somewhere over the vast Pacific Ocean during her ill-fated flight around the globe. An intense search led by the U.S. Navy was launched to find Earhart and her plane, but after several weeks, nothing was found. "All right, good night." Those were the last words transmitted 17 days ago from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, somewhere over the South China Sea between Kuala Lumpur and Ho Chi Minh City. An international search led by the Malaysian government and Malaysia Airlines and joined by governments and private companies from the United States, Great Britain, China, Australia, Norway, Japan, New Zealand and others have narrowed down a possible search region to a vast chunk of the Indian Ocean southwest of Perth, Australia. "This is probably the one of the largest efforts you'll ever see in terms of maritime surveillance and joint operations," Australian Defense Minister David Johnston said Tuesday. Reports now seem to support the theory, popularized by pilot instructor Chris Goodfellow, that an incapacitating emergency led the pilots to divert the Boeing 777 toward the closest airport (hence turning south) while simultaneously trying to fight an electrical fire of some sort until they were overcome. Experts believe that the jet continued on dumb autopilot until it was, like Earhart's Lockheed Electra, out of fuel, plunging into the sea. Opinion: Flight 370's resting place is best clue . Earhart was lost on July 2, 1937. MH370 disappeared March 8, 2014, more than two weeks ago. In those 77 years, almost everything about the world has changed. Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, disappeared just a few years before World War II erupted and a new world order emerged: what is often called the American century. And the three-week search effort for Earhart was entirely American, directed by the Navy. Flight 370 was operated by Malaysia's national airline, en route to Beijing. The flight was the opposite of pioneering, instead a routine long haul of 227 passengers, with a coach class ticket costing about $530. But in this case, the search effort is extraordinary and much more international in scope. This time, it's not just the Americans. The Australians, the Chinese and the Norwegians are deploying their air forces and navies with cutting-edge technologies for weeks on end to help. Pakistani radar, Chinese satellites, even NASA aided the search. Add to that countless hours of analytical personnel. In the end, it was a private British satellite company, Inmarsat, that confirmed the likely flight path and terminus. According to some reports, this is the most expensive search effort in history. Although there was strong criticism against the Malaysian government for delays and missteps during the initial days of the investigation, it seems as if the international community has largely united in focusing massive resources on finding the plane. There was nobody famous on the flight and yet it is somehow unremarkable that dozens of nations are expending millions of dollars to solve the mystery. Together. Pilot: How mechanical problem could have downed Flight 370 . All this stands in stark contrast to Russia's opportunistic conquest of the Crimean peninsula, a major part of the neighboring nation of Ukraine. That sort of nationalist land grab reminds me less of the Cold War than of norms of the 18th century and just about every century of history prior. Certainly, there's something extraordinary and dangerous going on in the Crimea, but a calmer, more patient, more historical assessment distinguishes the reflexive nationalism of a weakened ex-empire from the larger trends in a globalizing world. Or what about the civil war in Syria? Or the heightened tensions on the North Korean peninsula? Or the disputes between Japan and Korea over the "Sea of Japan" versus the "East Sea"? Or the uprisings in Venezuela? All are hot spots where the international community has largely been paralyzed, unable to do much more than call for multilateral inquiries and issue hollow condemnations. So what's left to be seen is whether this unprecedented international coalition assembled to scour the ocean for the remains of Flight 370 is one of the few bright spots in an otherwise devastating tragedy for the families of the 227 passengers and 12 crew members. Or whether this is merely a one-off proposition where each nation is acting in its own self-interest to do what it must for its own citizens, while feigning cooperation for the world stage. I prefer to see the goodness here, that the world can come together and work together when it counts. Sometimes it takes a tragedy to remind us of the everyday miracles of our time. Join us on Facebook.com/CNNOpinion. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Tim Kane. | Tim Kane says international search for Flight 370 is rare bright spot in tragedy .
More than a half-dozen nations have come together in the deep-water search .
Like the disappearance of Amelia Earhart in 1937, Flight 370 is a mystery . |
04e9928eb2a4e747b7c4375ed379261c5b672565 | By . Paul Milligan . PUBLISHED: . 04:11 EST, 21 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:30 EST, 21 June 2013 . Enrika (left) and Jolanta Lubiene were brutally murdered in their home in Killorglin, County Kerry . Irish police are investigating a double murder after a mother and daughter were brutally killed in their County Kerry home. 27-year-old Jolanta Lubiene and her eight-year-old child Enrika, which were discovered on Sunday, confirmed the pair died in violent circumstances. It has emerged that eight-year-old Enrika Lubiene had her throat slit, and was killed alongside her mother, 27-year-old Jolanta Lubiene. Jolanta was stabbed more than 20 times in her torso as well as receiving a fatal knife wound to the neck . She was stabbed in the kitchen after putting away the shopping and her dinner in the oven. Their bodies lay dead in their home for 48 hours before being found by a friend. Ms Lubiene, originally from Lithuania, was found in a room downstairs and the child in an upstairs bedroom. According to sources, the extensive nature of the stab wounds . suffered by Ms Lubiene suggest she was the intended victim of the attack. Police are investigating whether Enrika was then killed because she . witnessed the attack on her mother and may have known the killer. A source said: . ‘The scene was awful, because there was so much blood. It was like an . abattoir.’ It is believed they were murdered sometime between 2.30pm and 5.30pm on Saturday. Enrika was not wearing pyjamas and was dressed in regular clothes. Police were eventually called to the house at about 8.30pm on Sunday, alerted by another Lithuanian . woman living locally who had been unable to contact Ms Lubiene. Enrica, who made her Holy Communion last month, was regularly seen cycling around the estate on the bicycle, and was known for always having a smile on her face. Her father Marius Lubys flew in from . Sweden yesterday, where he has been working for the past six months . He told the Irish Daily Mail: ‘I’m shocked. I am very . sorry for my wife and daughter.’ It is understood that the family were due to move back to Lithuania, where the couple came from, in just two weeks. Enrika with her mother Jolanta Lubiene and father Marius Lubys. He flew into Ireland from his job in Sweden after being given the news his wife and daughter had been murdered . Jolanta Lubiene with daughter Erika at her First Communion last month . A clearly distraught Kristina Lubite, Jolanta's sister, is consoled by her husband Viadas outside the house in Langford Downs, Killorglin . Detectives believe that the young mother . of one may have known the double murderer, as there were no signs of . forced entry at their rented semi-detached home, in the Langford Downs estate in Killorglin, . County Kerry. They also suspect the killer may be from . Eastern Europe. It is understood Ms Lubiene had taken out a . protection order against someone she knew in the past, though this person is not currently a suspect. Police have ruled out robbery as a motive as nothing was taken from the house. They have also ruled out a sexual motive as both victims were fully clothed. On Saturday morning, some neighbours . heard loud music coming from the house, suggesting to gardaí that the . killer turned up the radio to drown out screams. Ms Lubiene was last seen at around 1.50pm on Saturday on Langford Street, walking towards her semi-detached home. Police investigators remove the two bodies from the scene . Enrika was well known around the Langford Downs estate in Killorglin for riding her bicycle and always having a smile on her face . 'She was wearing a dark waist length . coat, dark trousers and white shoes,' Superintendent Murphy said. 'She . was carrying two bags of shopping, a pink bag and a white bag. 'Investigating Gardai are particularly anxious to talk to everyone who was in the Langford Downs housing estate between 12 noon and 7pm Saturday last. 'This is a small housing estate with just over 50 houses and with only one vehicle entrance and exit.' Ms Lubiene had been living in Ireland for several years and working locally. A technical examination of the scene is continuing. Earlier, Killarney Garda Station Superintendent Florence Murphy appealed for anyone with information to come forward. Jolanta Lubiene had gone to the courts to take out a protection order against someone she knew in the past . Marius Lubys (left) husband of the dead mother and daughter, arrives at a special mass held in their honour in Killorglin clutching a picture of them both, and people visiting the house to pay a floral tribute . Father Michael Fleming says a prayer after the bodies of Jolanta Lubiene and her daughter Enrika were removed from the house . | 27-year-old mother Jolanta Lubiene and her eight-year-old daughter Enrika were killed in a bloody attack .
The family was due to move back to Lithuania in two weeks .
Jolante Lubiene had already taken out a .
protection order against someone she knew in the past . |
04e9e9d2f3ad6d7998225845eec5933ec7437ff1 | (CNN) -- Rem Koolhaas revolutionizes city landscapes with distinctive and cutting-edge buildings. Seattle's Central Library is one of Rem Koolhaas' recent builds. Responsible for the iconic CCTV headquarters in Beijing the Dutch architect was named one of "The World's Most Influential People" by Time magazine. Similar to the man himself, his buildings are not afraid to make a statement. "We felt it was very important for an entity like CCTV to make its presence felt... To generate a space and to define a space, that is the main thing," he told CNN at the opening of his "Transformer" building in Seoul, South Korea. Koolhaas admits that the current economic climate is not particularly favorable to big and bold architectural plans, but from adversity comes creativity. "Definitely there were a number of projects that we worked on put on hold, but on the other hand certain things were also accelerated because the price of construction is getting so cheap." Despite these new parameters he remains optimistic that his profession will continue to invent and be relevant, "because it means kind of smaller, but more complex and kind of interesting things, kind of related to, not necessarily with commerce, but more connected to culture and to the social world." His buildings have attracted worldwide fame and given Koolhaas himself a form of semi-celebrity status. Yet Koolhaas still feels a sense of unease being labeled a "Starchitect." "I think it's a name that is actually degrading to the vast majority of people it is applied to. And it really is a kind of political term that for certain clients is important because they use star architects. My hope is that through the current complexity that title will exit discretely and disappear," he said. He believes that by being able to respond to different demands architecture is evolving into something new. "It is not possible to live in this age if you don't have a sense of many contradictory forces," he said. "Each building has to be beautiful, but cheap and fast, but it lasts forever. That is already an incredible battery of seemingly contradictory demands. So yes, I'm definitely perhaps contradictory person, but I operate in very contradictory times." | Dutch architect is creative force behind landmark buildings across the world .
Beijing's CCTV building and Seattle's Central Library are two bold examples .
Koolhaas embraces contradictions in a project and creative-commercial tensions . |
04ea9942825635af23878dafd1ce2e2f9fd6bd90 | (CNN) -- The husband of a Saudi rape victim sentenced to 200 lashes and six months in prison said his wife is "a crushed human being," but blamed a judge -- not the Saudi judicial system -- for treating her as a criminal. Human rights groups want Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah to drop charges against the rape victim. Saudi society is respectful of women, he said, adding that he had faith his wife would get justice. The ruling relates to an incident in March 2006 when the woman, then 18 and engaged to be married, and an unrelated man were abducted from a mall in Qatif, Saudi Arabia, by a group of seven men. She was later raped. In October, the men were convicted and sentenced to two to nine years in prison for the assault. She was convicted of violating the kingdom's strict Islamic law by not having a male guardian with her at the mall. "From the outset, my wife was dealt with as a guilty person who committed a crime," said her 24-year-old husband. "She was not given any chance to prove her innocence or describe how she was a victim of multiple brutal rapes." The husband, who asked to remain unnamed, spoke to CNN senior Arab affairs editor Octavia Nasr. His wife, who he said is "a quiet, simple person who does not bother anyone," is ill and too fragile to speak about the case, he said. As her guardian under Saudi law, he is standing up for her publicly. Watch the victim's husband speak out » . The attack, trial and sentencing have taken a heavy toll on his wife's already-poor health, he said. She suffers from anemia, a blood disorder and asthma, and will have surgery next month to remove her gallbladder, he said. "Since the attack, she's been suffering from severe depression." The events ended her pursuit of an education past high school, he said. "Her situation keeps changing from bad to worse," he said. "You could say she's a crushed human being." "The court proceedings were like a spectacle at times," he said. "The criminals were allowed in the same room as my wife. They were allowed to make all kinds of offensive gestures and give her dirty and threatening looks." Of the three judges at the trial, one of them "was mean and from the beginning dealt with my wife as guilty person who had done something wrong," he said. "Even when he pronounced the sentence, he said to her, 'You were involved in a suspicious relationship, and you deserve 200 lashes for that,' " he said. The judge dismissed her lawyer, Abdulrahman al-Lahim, after the two clashed in court, he said. "The judge took things personally and was reacting to our lawyer, who's a known human rights activist," the husband said. "The judge undermined the lawyer, decreased his role and then dismissed him from the case altogether. The judge simply couldn't work with our lawyer." The woman was originally sentenced in October 2006 to 90 lashes. But when she appealed, the court more than doubled her sentence. The husband said the judge was pursuing "a personal vendetta." "We were shocked when the judgment changed and her sentence was doubled," the husband said. "We were looking for pardon; instead, she got double the whipping and more jail time." A court source told Arab News, an English-language Middle Eastern daily newspaper, that the woman's sentence was increased after the woman spoke to the media about the case. But a Saudi Justice Ministry statement said the permanent committee of the Supreme Judicial Council recommended an increased sentence for the woman after further evidence came to light against her when she appealed her original sentence. "If this sentence is based on the law, then I would've welcomed it," the husband said. "But it is harsh, and the Saudi society I know and belong to is more sympathetic than that. I do not expect such harshness from Saudis, but rather compassion and support of the victim and her rights." Saudi society is very respectful to women in general, he said. The case, which has sparked media scrutiny of the Saudi legal system, has drawn a strong international reaction. Human Rights Watch said it has called on Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah "to immediately void the verdict and drop all charges against the rape victim and to order the court to end its harassment of her lawyer." Under law in Saudi Arabia, women are subject to numerous restrictions, including a strict dress code, a prohibition on driving and a requirement that they get a man's permission to travel or have surgery. Women are also not allowed to testify in court unless it is about a private matter that was not observed by a man, and they are not allowed to vote. The Saudi government recently has taken steps to better the situation of women in the kingdom, including the establishment earlier this year of special courts to handle domestic abuse cases, adoption of a new labor law and the creation of a human rights commission. E-mail to a friend . CNN's Octavia Nasr, Saad Abedine and Mohammed Jamjoom contributed to this report. | NEW: Husband says one of the judges at the trial was pursuing "a personal vendetta"
Court more than doubled woman's original sentence of 90 lashes to 200 .
Woman convicted of violating law by not having a male guardian with her .
Husband: Saudi society is very respectful to women in general . |
04eaef04529ba2d89394796fdf043ec28693d78a | By . Scarlett Russell . The daughter of Sweden's Princess Madeleine and New York banker Christopher O'Neill was baptised earlier today at Royal Chapel at Drottningholm Palace outside Stockholm. Princess Leonore Lilian Maria will be known as the Duchess of Gotland - in reference to Sweden's largest island. She was born on 20th February in New York. Princess Leonore is the second grandchild of Queen Silvia and King Carl XVI Gustaf's, following Princess Estelle, who is the two-year-old daughter of Princess Madeline's older sister, Crown Princess Victoria and her husband Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland. All smiles: Christopher O'Neill, left, waves to the crowds as Princess Leonore is held by her mother, Princess Madeleine, right, outside the church after the christening ceremony in the Drottningholm Palace church outside Stockholm . Royal christening: Archbishop Anders Wejryd, left, baptizes Princess Leonore held by her mother Princess Madeleine and father Christopher O'Neill, right . Proud parents: Princess Madeleine holds her daughter Princess Leonore watched by Christopher O'Neill during the christening ceremony in the Drottningholm Palace church outside Stockholm . Some 150 guests - mostly family and . friends - attended the ceremony. It comes exactly a year after Princess Madeline and Christopher wed in Stockholm. Among the guests were Crown Princess Victoria, who looked stunning in a lilac dress with a gorgeous matching satin head band wound around her brunette hair which she had pulled back into a bun. Princess Victoria's daughter, Princess Estelle, looked adorable in a cream dress with white socks and a pretty headband. In keeping with the lilac theme, Princess Madeline looked stunning in a short-sleeved lace dress of the colour, which she wore with a matching fascinator. Royal service: Front row right, from left, Christopher O'Neill, Princess Leonore, on her mother's lap, Princess Madeleine, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Queen Silvia, Eva O'Neill, Prince Carl Philip and Prince Daniel sit during Princess Leonore's christening . Deep in thought: Christopher O'Neill, left, Princess Leonore, on her mother's lap, Princess Madeleine and King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden sit during Princess Leonore's christening . Princess Madeleine of Sweden (R) and her husband Christopher O'Neill watch Princess Leonore rest in Karl XV's crib after the christening ceremony in the Drottningholm Palace church outside Stockholm, Sweden . Also in attendance was Swedish model and Sofia Hellqvist, the partner of Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland. She wore a stylish short white dress and jacket with white heels and, of course, a fascinator. Countess Gunilla Bernadotte af Wisborg wore a smart skirt suitand waved to onlookers as she arrived. But the excitement of the Royal event seemed to be too much for some: one of the royal guards fainted outside the ceremony as guests arrived. A fellow guard was seen rushing to his side. Horsing around: The Governor of Gotland, Cecilia Schelin Seidegard presents a horse, a Gotlandsruss, as pictured, as a present to Princess Leonore . Bundle of joy: Princess Madeline holds her baby daughter Leonore on the day of her christening, whilst her husband Christopher O'Neill looks proudly at his daughter . Guest arrival: (L- R) Cedric Notz and Andrea Engsaell at for Princess Leonore's Royal Christening at Drottningholm Palace Chapel . As the ceremony proceeded, father of the baby Princess, British-born Christopher, gave a short speech, according to Hello. The website reports that he asked God to, 'bring [His] love to the child for whom [He had] given [Madeleine and Chris] responsibility.' Crown Princess Victoria then poured water into the font, which was used to baptise Leonore. The water had come especially from a special spring on Öland, a large Swedish island located in the Baltic Sea, says Hello. After the ceremony, Governor of Gotland, Cecilia Schelin Seidegard presented a picture of a horse, a Gotlandsruss, as a present to Princess Leonore . Picture perfect: Princess Madeleine of Sweden, husband Chris O'Neill and Princess Leonore Christening of Princess Leonore at Drottningholm Palace . Sitting comfortably? Crown Princess Victoria and her daughter, Princess Estelle at the Christening of Princess Leonore . Royal ladies: Crown Princess Victoria, right, walks out of the church ceremony with her daughter, two year old Princess Estelle, centre . Step carefully! Two-year-old Princess Estelle, center, with her mother Crown Princess Victoria, right, at the christening of Princess Leonore today. Crown Princess Victoria is the aunt of Princess Leonore and elder sister of Princess Madeline of Sweden . It's been a big week for three-month-old . Leonore. On Friday she was celebrating National Day in Sweden, . accompanying her parents during festivities in Stockholm. Dressed in traditional Swedish folk-wear, matching her mother Madeline's outfit, Leonore was held was held in her mother's arms whilst the Royal couple waved at onlookers from the Royal Palace. Earlier last week, the proud parents released official pictures of their newborn via the official website of the Swedish Royal Family. Model guests: Swedish model Sofia Hellqvist arrives for Princess Leonore's Royal Christening, left, and the Countess Gunilla Bernadotte, also arrives for the big day, right . All hail: Queen Silvia waves as she arrives for her granddaughter Princess Leonore's christening, left. She wears a pale blue long-sleeved lace dress, similar to the outfit worn by her daughter, Princess Leonore's mother Princess Madeline, who was dressed in a lilac lace dress. Pictured right, Prince Carl Phillip arrives at the ceremony . Princess . Madeleine lives with British banker Mr O’Neill in New York, where she . works for the World Childhood Foundation, a non-profit group founded by . her mother. Madeline’s . daughter Leonore is now the fifth in line to the throne, but only if . she takes Swedish citizenship and is brought up as a member of the . Church of Sweden. Leonore is fifth in line to the Swedish throne; her mother is fourth. Sweden . is a constitutional monarchy in which the royals primarily serve as . figureheads. The King is the country's head of state, but his powers are . limited to ceremonial duties. Marching orders: Guards march at Princess Leonore's Royal Christening at Drottningholm Palace Chapel . Soldier down! Perhaps it was the excitement of the Royal christening for Princess Leonore or exhaustion from the hot weather, but a solider from the royal guard fainted during the arrival of guests for the christening . | Princess Leonore Lilian Maria of Sweden was baptised today at Drottingholm Palace outside Stockholm .
She is the daughter of Princess Madeline and Christopher O'Neill and granddaughter of King Carl XVI Gustav .
150 guests attended the ceremony for the baby princess, who was born in New York on 20 February .
Princess Leonore, who will now be known as the Duchess of Gotland is fifth in line to the thrown after her mother . |
04eb426a4042f0b316da3508e8784402fa7f3cd8 | A California teenager just wanted a quick meal from KFC, but he was left in disgust after he discovered a chicken organ in his food. Manuel Cobarubies had ordered a $4 meal of fried chicken breast, thighs and corn when he found what appeared to be a brain of a chicken last Tuesday. The high school student was contacted by a KFC consultant who told him the organ was a kidney or gizzard and is 'safe to eat'. As 'grossed out' as he was from the incident, all Cobarubies wanted for the inconvenience was a refund. Scroll down for video . A California teenager just wanted a quick meal from KFC, but he was left in disgust after he discovered a chicken organ (above) in his food . Manuel Cobarubies (above), a student at Stockton High School, had ordered a $4 meal of fried chicken breast, thighs and corn when he found what appeared to be a brain of a chicken last Tuesday . Cobarubies said when he found the organ, he spit it into the trash, and then took his frustrations to Twitter (above). Following no replies from KFC, the teen's tweet was shared 231 times and finally caught their attention . Cobarubies who attends Stockton High School said when he found the organ on February 3, he spit it into the trash, and then took his frustrations to Twitter, according to Fox40. 'I do eat there often so I mean coming across something like that is just like wow,' he said. '(It looked) like a brain to me. I mean at that point, red flags were kind of raised.' The student said he directly reached out to the chain's location on Martin Luther King Boulevard in Stockton where he ordered the meal, but never got a reply. Richard Ramos, a KFC consultant, told him the organ was safe to eat, and that they were working with staff at the branch to ensure the chicken is prepared properly. Cobarubies said will have to start preparing meals from home following the incident . He wrote: 'I found a f****** brain in my KFC. Don't eat at the KFC on Martin Luther King Blvd.' However, after the tweet was shared 231 times, it caught the chain's attention. Cobarubies was contacted by KFC, which only offered a quick apology, but eventually a KFC consultant reached out to him on Monday. Richard Ramos told him the organ was safe to eat, and that they were working with staff at the branch to ensure the chicken is prepared properly. The student said he directly reached out to the chain's location on Martin Luther King Boulevard where he ordered the meal, but never got a reply. He then reached out to his local news station (above) Cobarubies was eventually contacted by KFC who only offered a quick apology. However, Ramos reached out to him on Monday . The high school student also received a refund for his KFC meal, but said he will have to start cooking at home. Cobarubies said: 'I’m probably just going to have to start packing my own meals, making my own sandwiches.' Daily Mail Online contacted KFC for a comment but did not receive a response before publication. The high school student received the refund he wanted from the chicken fast food chain . | Michael Cobarubies, from California, ordered a meal of fried chicken breast, thighs and corn when he found organ .
Student from Stockton High School thought it was a brain .
He was 'grossed out' and shared picture of it on Twitter where 231 followers retweeted it .
On Monday, KFC consultant said organ was a kidney or gizzard .
Cobarubies received his refund and said he will make his own food . |
04ed2e09b217db75f57d19962a56db516552049f | WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. Hillary Clinton on Saturday will officially suspend her campaign for the presidency and "express her support for Senator Obama and party unity," her campaign said Wednesday. Sen. Hillary Clinton said Tuesday that she will let her supporters and party leaders decide her course. The Clinton campaign said she will make the announcement at "an event in Washington, D.C.," where she will also thank her supporters. Sen. Barack Obama and Clinton were in Washington on Wednesday to each address the influential American Israel Public Affairs Committee. The candidates ran into each other at the AIPAC conference and had a brief chat, Obama spokeswoman Linda Douglass said. "She's an extraordinary leader of the Democratic Party and has made history alongside me over the last 16 months. I'm very proud to have competed against her," Obama told the Israel lobbying group. Obama became his party's presumptive nominee Tuesday and will be looking to unite Democrats divided by the long and contentious primary season. "I am very confident how unified the Democratic Party is going to be to win in November," he said in a Senate hallway Wednesday. iReport.com: Obama/Clinton -- dream team or nightmare? Some say that putting Clinton on the ticket might fit the bill for uniting Democrats. Clinton lavished her opponent with praise Tuesday, saying he ran an "extraordinary race" and made politics more palatable for many. Watch how the primary played out » . Prominent Clinton backer Rep. Charles Rangel, D-New York, thinks the New York senator could have been "far more generous" during her speech Tuesday night after it was clear that Obama had clinched the Democratic nomination. Rangel, the senior member of the New York congressional delegation and an early supporter of Clinton's presidential campaign, said Wednesday that Clinton should have been more clear about what her plans are. "I would agree that after the math was in before her speech, that she could have been far more generous in terms of being more specific and saying that she wants a Democratic victory," Rangel said on MSNBC. "I don't see what they're talking about in prolonging this," Rangel added. "There's nothing to prolong if you're not going to take the fight to the convention floor. ... I don't know why she could not have been more open in terms of doing up front what she intends to do later." But with some Democrats clamoring for her to join Obama on the ticket, and with the Democratic National Convention -- and thus, the official anointment -- still more than two months out, the senator from New York gave no hint as to her plans. See VP prospects' pros, cons » . She again invoked the popular vote, saying she snared "more votes than any primary candidate in history," but primaries come down to delegates, and according to CNN calculations, Obama has her beaten, 2,156 to 1,923. Even the White House seemed convinced of Obama's victory. White House press secretary Dana Perino said Wednesday that President Bush congratulated Obama on becoming the first black nominee from a major party. She said his win shows that the United States "has come a long way." Clinton vowed to keep fighting for an end to the war in Iraq, for universal health care, for a stronger economy and better energy policy, but she didn't indicate in what capacity she would wage these battles. That, she said, would be up to her supporters and the party brass. See what lies in store this fall » . The party's best interests were high on the minds of party leaders Wednesday, as Sen. Harry Reid, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin and DNC Chairman Howard Dean called on Democrats to focus on the general election. "To that end, we are urging all remaining uncommitted superdelegates to make their decisions known by Friday of this week so that our party can stand united and begin our march toward reversing the eight years of failed Bush/McCain policies that have weakened our country," said a statement from the four. Billionaire businessman Bob Johnson, a close Clinton adviser and friend, said on CNN's "American Morning" on Wednesday that Obama could best forge party unity by offering Clinton the vice presidential slot. A day after the final two primaries in South Dakota and Montana, Johnson sent a letter to House Majority Whip James Clyburn to lobby the Congressional Black Caucus to endorse Clinton as Obama's running mate. Saying Clinton would "entertain the idea if it's offered," Johnson said, "This is Sen. Obama's decision. If the Congress members can come together and agree as I do that it would be in the best interest of the party to have Sen. Clinton on the ticket, they carry that petition to Sen. Obama." Watch how the world reacted to Obama's win » . "This is not a pressure. This is elected officials giving their best judgment," said Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television. Johnson's letter to Clyburn says, "You know as well as I the deep affection that millions of African-Americans hold for both Senator Clinton and President Clinton." It continues, "But most important, we need to have the certainty of winning; and, I believe, without question, that Barack Obama as president and Hillary Clinton as vice president bring that certainty to the ticket." Watch Johnson urge Obama to pick Clinton » . Johnson is one of many influential Clinton supporters who have raised the prospect of her joining Obama on the ticket. They say she has solid credentials and wide appeal, exemplified by her popular support in states such as Pennsylvania and Ohio, which will be crucial to a Democratic victory in the fall. Obama and Clinton spoke by phone for a few minutes Wednesday. He told her he wants to "sit down when it makes sense" for her, said Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs. Clinton said that would happen soon, Gibbs said, but he also said Obama did not raise the issue of the vice presidency. Clinton campaign Chairman Terry McAuliffe confirmed that there had been "absolutely zero discussions" on the matter. The Clinton campaign issued a statement saying she was open to becoming vice president. "She would do whatever she could to ensure that Democrats take the White House back and defeat John McCain," the statement said. CNN's Alexander Mooney and Ed Hornick contributed to this report. | NEW: Clinton will suspend presidential campaign Saturday, sources say .
Obama, Clinton spoke by phone Wednesday, but VP slot was not discussed .
Rangel says Clinton could've been "far more generous" on Tuesday night .
Obama says he's "very confident" he can unite Democrats by November . |
04ed684677a320b4aca1c8b707af7478a5aab124 | When John Dyson and his wife Faith moved to a sleepy corner of southern France, they were hoping for a peaceful retirement. But within months of settling in the village of Brugairolles, they found themselves embroiled in a bitter feud with their neighbour – another British expatriate – over access to their front door. The French media have dubbed it La Guerre des Britanniques (The War of the Britons) after Forbes Dunlop nailed up the Dysons’ window shutters and blocked their front door with wooden fence posts secured with cement. Scroll down for video . Dispute: 100 villagers ripped down a brick and wooden wall built across this home (right), which belongs to British couple John and Faith Dyson. It was the final chapter in a 10-year row with their neighbours . Mr Dunlop is believed to object to his neighbours being able to look out over ‘his’ driveway. His . fury has prompted him to write to everyone from his local police force . back in Scotland to the European Court of Human Rights, while one . 85-page epic was even sent to former French president Nicolas Sarkozy. The . latest development saw the Dysons forced to come and go via their back . garden instead of the driveway leading to the pair of stone houses, . which Mr Dunlop, 67, says they have no right to use. Far . from dismissing the row among ‘les rosbifs’ with a Gallic shrug, French . residents of the village – population 258 – have rallied round the . Dysons, with some 60 of them marching on the properties ‘to rescue’ the . couple. Blocked in: John and Faith Dyson bought the property near Toulouse when they retired in 2004 . Enraged: Mr Dunlop sparked outrage in the village of Brugairolles by building a brick wall across the front door . Video courtesy of the DSCV . ‘We . could not accept that they should continue to live under such terror,’ said Jeannot Gach, 83, a retired policeman. ‘We shouted, whistled . against their unscrupulous neighbours.’ South . African-born Mr Dyson, 72, a retired engineer, moved to Brugairolles, . in the foothills of the Pyrenees, with his wife in 2004 from . Storrington, West Sussex. Mr . Dunlop, formerly from Strathclyde, and his wife Krystyna, thought to be . Polish, moved there eight months later – and soon began raising . objections over the Dysons’ windows, which overlook the driveway. Although . access to the driveway was not written into the property’s deeds, . French law guarantees right of way if an entrance has been used . continuously for at least 30 years. The . Dysons have produced a series of affidavits to confirm this is the case . with their house, and a local civil court will now rule on the matter. ‘For the last 150 years, the only access to the house was from that . drive,’ said Mr Dyson. ‘They knew all this before they even bought their house.’ Mr Dunlop has refused to comment, telling one reporter: ‘I am deaf, I cannot hear what you say, I am deaf.' 'Intrusion': The Dunlops, who live in this house (left) claim the privacy of their home (pictured) has been infringed by the Dysons' windows . | John and Faith Dyson embroiled in row with British neighbours in France .
Media have dubbed it La Guerre des Britanniques (The War of the Britons)
Their neighbours nailed up their window shutters and blocked front door .
Neighbour objected to Dysons' ability to look out over 'his' driveway .
60 villagers 'marched on' the house to rescue the British couple . |
04ef98193d6c50e1f5f22a71b4e3d73f9a1cadae | Washington (CNN) -- Late last week, the leaders and finance ministers of the 20 biggest economies, the G-20, met in Cannes for their annual media extravaganza. Surprise, surprise, the G-20 summit failed to allay anxieties about Greece -- and has left the whole world anxious that Italy might be the next Euro country to plunge into crisis. As usual, it's very hard to see what could possibly be accomplished in an unwieldy format like this. Taxpayers confronting the enormous cost must wonder: How on earth did this event ever come into being anyway? A bit of history: . Thirty-five years ago, a president of France had a very good idea: . In the mid-1970s, the Western world faced the first serious economic crisis since World War II: a spike in the price of oil that had sparked record unemployment and unusual inflation. Cooperation between the big economies was necessary. Unfortunately, the new leaders of the Western world did not know each other as well personally as had the great postwar generation of Eisenhower, DeGaulle, Adenauer and so on. Yes, the leaders encountered each other at the U.N. General Assembly and other big useless crushes. And yes, sometimes they scheduled bilateral meetings to discuss particular pieces of business. But wouldn't it be nice if the leaders could just regularly sit down for a sequence of informal talk, no particular agenda, just get-to-know-you, hear what's on your mind? Accordingly, President Valery Giscard D'Estaing proposed a new kind of summit for the leaders of the world's six largest economies: two days at a location outside a capital city, to be followed by a bland communique that sent the message: "If we told you what we discussed at our confidential talks, then they would not be confidential talks, would they?" The first meeting was held at Rambouillet, some 25 miles outside of Paris. By all accounts, the meeting was a great success. No, the leaders did not overcome their economic challenges. But they built new relationships, so much so that four leaders in particular remained close friends for the rest of their lives: D'Estaing, U.S. President Gerald Ford, German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, and British Prime Minister James Callaghan. The small summit was recognized as so useful that it quickly evolved into a permanent institution. Yet almost as soon as the institution was created, it began -- as international institutions so often do -- to bloat from useful innovation into useless behemoth. The Rambouillet meeting in November 1975 was followed by a meeting in Dorado, Puerto Rico, in June 1976. At the behest of the United States, Canada was added to the group, which thus became known as the G-7. (The other six countries, by the way, were the United States, Japan, West Germany, Britain, France and Italy.) The Canadian addition was an excellent innovation. Not so what happened the next year. In retaliation for the addition of Canada -- opposed by France, which was then engaged in a grudge match with Canada over independence for the French-speaking province of Quebec -- the French demanded and got the addition of the president of the EU Commission at the third meeting, in London in 1978. As the meetings became a fixture on the annual calendar, the agenda for the meetings began to fill. The number of aides in attendance grew. The press coverage escalated: hundreds of journalists converged on the 1988 meeting in Toronto. With so many TV cameras eager for video, political entrepreneurs inevitably materialized to provide the video the cameras needed: counter-summits, political demonstrations, and so on. Three thousand protesters convened in Toronto. Security costs escalated correspondingly: to a then-astounding $30 million. Toronto 1988 was noteworthy as the last of the Cold War summits. As the world moved into a new political era, the G-7 summit elephantized in earnest. In 1996, the leaders of the UN, World Bank, International Monetary Fund and World Trade Organization were added. In 1997, Russia joined the group, now renamed the G-8 - despite the awkward fact that the Russian economy had shrunk to approximately the size of that of the Netherlands. The Russian addition raised the question: If Russia, why not China? And what's with the whole "largest economies" thing anyway? Isn't that kind of ... stuck-up? To respond to that concern, a new forum was created in 1999: a meeting of the finance ministers of the 20 largest economies, called (you guessed it) the G-20. During the financial crisis of 2008, the US urged a summit of the heads of government of the G-20. What was intended as an emergency summit instantly congealed into a recurring gathering, held in the late fall after the G-8 meetings of mid-summer. If the G-20 was intended to thwart demands for ever huger expansion of the G-8 - it failed. Beginning with the Okinawa summit hosted by Japan in 2000, five poor countries were added to the G-8 guest list: South Africa was included as a permanent invitee, along with four rotating slots for countries like Senegal and Algeria. And if you were already adding poor countries, shouldn't we add agencies that address poor country concerns? In 2000, the World Health Organization gained attendance rights too. The 2001 meeting in Genoa, Italy, was stage-managed by Italy's showman prime minister Silvio Berlusconi. He accommodated most of the leaders on luxury cruise ships in Genoa harbor to isolate them from the violent protesters on the mainland. Total costs for the summit were now soaring toward and then past the quarter-billion mark. In 2003, China and India were added as temporary members: the group was now being called the G-8+5. The G-8+5 format quickly broke down however. At the 2004 meeting in Sea Island, Georgia, the United States invited 13 additional countries (plus of course all those international organizations). Over successive years, additional international organizations would be added to the roster: the African Union, UNESCO, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the League of Arab States. In 2010, Canada hosted the G-8 summit of world leaders (in the rural setting of Huntsville, Ontario), at the same time as the G-20 finance ministers met in downtown Toronto. For the first time, costs pass the $1 billion mark mostly due to higher security expenses. But this experiment in folding the G-8 (plus 5!) into the G-20 failed. The two massive entities retained their distinctness, each separately growing bigger, costlier, and progressively more useless. At the 2010 G-8 meeting, France proposed junking the G-8+5 format for a permanent G-14 format: the core seven, plus Russia, plus China, India, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa and 1 Muslim country, so nobody will feel left out. That idea looks likely to be adopted in time for the 2013 meeting in the United Kingdom. By which point of course the original purpose of the meeting will have been lost under the layers of accreted uselessness. So sources close to David Cameron are reporting that the young British prime minister has had a brainwave: Now that the G-8 has swelled into a grandiose nightmare mobile U.N. General Assembly -- now that the G-8 is evolving into a group very nearly identical to the G-20 -- why not just junk the G-14 or merge it with the U.N. General Assembly (which would amount to the same thing as junking it)? Then the leaders of Britain and other major countries could organize amongst themselves some informal talks, no particular agenda, just get-to-know-you, hear what's on your mind ... Coming up soon: the new G-30! The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of David Frum. | In mid-1970s, French president proposed informal meeting of leaders from six nations .
In past three decades, David Frum writes, the meeting has grown larger and larger .
Last week's g20 did nothing to allay anxieties about Euro crisis .
With more countries added, costs rose, results vanished . |
04efd7f5e9517e1412d79082c4f5574222f5e33a | (CNN) -- The second edition of an online al Qaeda magazine has surfaced with frank essays, creatively designed imagery and ominous terror tips such as using a pickup truck as a weapon and shooting up a crowded restaurant in Washington. The magazine is called "Inspire" and intelligence officials believe that an American citizen named Samir Khan, now living in Yemen, is the driving force behind the publication. The latest edition was emerged on the 10th anniversary of the suicide attack on the guided missile destroyer USS Cole -- struck as it refueled in Aden, Yemen. The first edition came out in July. Christopher Boucek, a Yemen expert with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said the timing is no coincidence. "It also comes on the heels of a busy week for al Qaeda in Yemen. They released an hourlong video last week. There was also an attack on a British Convoy in Sanaa [Yemen's capital] last week. And an audiotape was released two days ago. Al Qaeda in Yemen is good at amplifying its message and that shows the organization is still active, that they're still able to function," he said. An article titled "The Ultimate Mowing Machine" calls for using a pickup truck as a "mowing machine, not to mow grass but mow down the enemies of Allah." The article says that such a plan could be implemented in countries where people back the "Israeli occupation of Palestine, the American invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq or countries that had a prominent role in the defamation of Muhammad." It said a four-wheel-drive pickup truck is needed -- "the stronger the better." "To achieve maximum carnage, you need to pick up as much speed as you can while still retaining good control of your vehicle in order to maximize your inertia and be able to strike as many people as possible in your first run," the article says. Another tip in the magazine includes the use of firearms. "For this choose the best location. A random hit at a crowded restaurant in Washington DC at lunch hour, for example, might end up knocking out a few government employees. "Targeting such employees is paramount and the location would also give the operation additional media attention." An idea in the first edition, "Make a Bomb in the Kitchen of Your Mom," is touched on again. "The pressurized cooker should be placed in crowded areas and left to blow up. More than one of these could be planted to explode at the same time. However, keep in mind that the range of the shrapnel in this operation is short range so the pressurized cooker or pipe should be placed close to the intended targets and should not be concealed from them by barriers such as walls." Adam Raisman, senior analyst at SITE Intelligence Group, said the "very well-presented magazine" covers a variety of topics, is meant to reach a wider audience, and tries to be tongue-in-cheek in its presentation. "The magazine has suggestions, ideology it attempts to instill in the reader, and it includes tips for technology," Raisman said. Boucek said the "big takeaway" is that the magazine is focusing on what the individual can do. "The message to the lone actor is to be patient -- that you can do it -- you can participate in this," he said. There are writings in the magazine by Yemeni-American cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, who U.S. authorities have linked to the failed attempt to blow up a U.S.-bound jetliner in December. Samir Khan wrote an article titled "I Am Proud to be a Traitor to America." There is also recycled material. The latest issue includes recent commentary from Adam Yahiye Gadahn, who is an American, about President Barack Obama. CNN's Joe Sterling and Mohammed Jamjoom contributed to this report. | NEW: Yemen expert says issue's timing, 10 years after Cole bombing, is no coincidence .
NEW: Magazine's ideas, ideology aimed at lone jihadist, Christopher Boucek says .
Pickup trucks, pressure cookers envisioned as weapons .
Targeting government employees is seen as paramount . |
04f03204cde011a3051e6aa02ea31dd8106dffd5 | On a day made remarkable by many things, not least the sheer scale of the turnout, the courage of one man was always going to shine through. Staring death in the face but refusing to flinch, Fernando Ricksen deserved every full-throated cheer and moist-eyed tribute delivered at Ibrox yesterday. Crippled by the motor-neurone disease that will eventually claim his life, Ricksen was just able to take the ceremonial kick-off in an exhibition match between a Rangers Select and Fernando's All Stars, stumbling and tumbling to the turf moments after making contact with the ball. An emotional Fernando Ricksen was carried around the stadium at the end of a tribute match at Ibrox . Ricksen (centre) was greeted by supporters after arriving at Ibrox for the game . If that was a heartbreaking sight for all who turned out to thank the Dutchman for his contribution to the club, it is worth noting what happened after he fell down. He got back up. With the help of his former team-mates, he rose again to take the applause of 41,349 paying punters. Why were so many moved to venture forth on a dreich winter's day for a bounce game involving old boys in varying states of (dis)repair? It was an appreciation not just of what Ricksen did in his playing days, but of how he is facing down this horrifying illness. 'Even the fact that MND patients don't have more than three years to live doesn't get me down,' he said in an interview conducted for the commemorative programme. 'Scared? No, because what's going to happen is inevitable. OK, maybe I have only a couple of years left. That doesn't scare me, it's just that I would love to live a lot longer. I want to see my daughter growing up. That's what I'll fight for. 'One person should be the first to defeat this terrible disease. Well, let me be that person then! I will show the world what fighting spirit means. 'But if death comes, well, it comes. What can you do about it? I've always been like that. Never been afraid of flying either, unlike most of my Russian team-mates (from his time with Dick Advocaat at Zenit St Petersburg). 'I always told them: 'If we go down, we go down'. Which was quite likely with those Russian aircraft, by the way! Ricksen (left) watches on from the dugout during the match at Ibrox . Ricksen (centre) is carried by Ronald de Boer (left) and Thomas Buffel (right . 'I don't want to feel too much sympathy. I am not pitiful. Please don't treat me that way. It will be tough but I'll keep my head up. 'It was a shock (when I got the diagnosis). Especially after I had Googled what the illness exactly means. All of a sudden, you know you may be dead within a year. 'I still hope the doctors have made a mistake. That, one day, they will say it isn't MND. As long as I don't have the really heavy symptoms of MND, it's a straw I keep grasping at. 'I know it sounds strange but being chased by the Grim Reaper doesn't affect your life that much. Not when your motto is: 'Don't look back'. 'We avoid pessimism and depression by not talking and thinking too much about the disease. That's one of the reasons why we don't shoot an enormous amount of footage of our life as it is today. 'For my daughter, Isabella, that would put too much emphasis on the illness.' Ibrox was packed full of supporters offering tributes to former player Ricksen . The money raised from yesterday's match will be split four ways, with Ricksen and young Isabella each receiving a share, and the remainder going to MND Scotland and the Rangers Charity Foundation. Among those to have contributed include old foes Celtic — with a £10,000 donation — a fact that didn't greatly surprise the man himself, as he revealed: 'It isn't true that all Celtic supporters have always hated me. 'When I was playing for Zenit, lots of Scottish tourists wanted to have their picture taken with me on the Red Square — even Celtic fans. That was very rewarding. So I must have done something good.' Ricksen had been back to Ibrox in a playing role since his departure for Rangers, turning out for Zenit in a friendly. But yesterday was different. In a very familiar way. The crazy traffic, the huge queues that saw kick-off delayed by half an hour, it was like a throwback to more successful times in Govan. Former Rangers winger Neil McCann noted: 'It's great to see such a big crowd at Ibrox again. I gave Fernando a hug and said: 'This feels like the old times'.' Fans held banners, scarfs and signs and chanted Ricksen's name during the tribute . The former Old Firm warrior was accompanied by Isabella as he made his way between a guard of honour formed by both teams before kick-off, the atmosphere creeping closer to spine-tingling levels as he slowly marched out. With his ability to speak severely damaged by the disease, the look of joy on Ricksen's face said as much as words ever could. The game itself was, of course, an afterthought, a 7-4 romp for the All Stars. Gordon Durie, Peter Lovenkrands, Thomas Buffel and Nacho Novo scored for the home team, while James Beattie was among the many visitors to find the net — the first time this particular former Rangers player had ever scored at Ibrox. There was only one choice for Man of the Match, though, Ricksen lauded again as his name was announced, then receiving a further standing ovation as he came back on the pitch for a lap of honour. He was carried aloft on the shoulders his team-mates, borne ever higher by the goodwill of all in attendance. Ricksen (centre) lifts the Scottish Premier League trophy as a player for the club in 2005 . And the last word went to the man himself, in a way, too, when his close friend Roy Knez read out a statement on his behalf declaring: 'Fellow Blue Noses, thank you for your support today. The numbers who turned out make me feel so happy. It gives me a fighting spirit. 'When I played here, I gave everything for the world's most successful club. Now the club and the fans have given me so much more back. I need it now. 'I've never been so proud to be a Rangers man. Thank you. I love you. Rangers forever.' | Former Rangers captain Fernando Ricksen has motor-neurone disease .
Thousands turned out at Ibrox to show their support for Ricksen .
The disease will eventually claim the Dutchman's life . |
04f1de50ad0b8ab517c3b5de44cca5a12c8c59c6 | From 3D sets, to televisions with curved screens - it may seem as if there is already a TV to suit any living room. But Google is reportedly working on screens that fit seamlessly together - potentially making the days of having to pick the perfect sized screen to fit a given space a thing of the past. The search giant said the screens would fit seamlessly together in a similar way to Lego bricks, and won't have a surrounding bezel, like current smartphones and tablets. Scroll down for video . Google is reportedly working on screens that can fit seamlessly together to create a larger ones. Its modular system would be different to video walls (illustrated) which show different images on different screens with spaces between them . Engineers at the Google X lab, in California, which is also responsible for the company’s self-driving car, are working on the new screens, The Wall Street Journal reported. It is rumoured that the screens could be put together to form different shapes, enabling users to watch films on a large widescreen, before reassembling the screen blocks to view a document in portrait format, or simply choosing to use one of them as a smaller screen. The project is at an early stage as the experts at Google try to work out how to makes screens without bezels that can connect together seamlessly, and work as one large screen. It is reportedly being led by Mary Lou Jepsen, co-founder of One Laptop Per Child. It appears that Google believes the future is likely to be modular, because the company is already working on Project Ara smartphones (pictured), where components clip together. They could be ready for consumers to buy in January . According to the developer kit, Ara phones will be able run on multiple batteries - when one battery dies, it can be detached and replaced with a full battery module. Each phone will have a central 'spine' and an endoskeleton - nicknamed 'endo' - made of ribs that the individual modules will clip on to. There will be three different sized endos - including mini, medium and large - to rival the existing range of phones currently on the market, from compacts to phablets. Larger phones will be able to accommodate either larger, or additional modules, than the mini will. Google's kit describes various modules including batteries, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips, cameras, speakers and more. In theory, any sensor that can be fitted to a module will be able to attach to a module and while Google will make the shell, these modules will be made by other companies. By printing their own parts, users will also be able to customise them. The phone is set to be available in January 2015 with prices starting from just $50 (£31). It appears that Google believes the future is likely to be modular, because the company is already working on Project Ara smartphones, where components clip together. They are set to go on sale in January. The idea is that the Ara phones will be able run on multiple batteries, so that when one battery dies, it can be detached and replaced with a full battery module. Lower-resolution cameras can be swapped with higher-res versions, and users will be also be able to 3D print replacement parts. By printing their own parts, users will also be able to customise them. Files seen in April hinted that each phone would have a central 'spine' and an endoskeleton - nicknamed 'endo' - made of ribs that the individual modules will clip on to. There will be three different sized endos - including mini, medium and large - to rival the existing range of phones currently on the market, from compacts to phablets. Larger Ara phones will be able to accommodate more modules than the mini will, for example. Google's kit describes various modules including batteries, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips, cameras, speakers and more. In theory, any sensor that can be fitted to a module will be able to attach to an Ara device, and while Google will make the shell, these modules will be made by other companies. Files seen in April hinted that each phone will have a central 'spine' and an endoskeleton - nicknamed 'endo' - made of ribs that the individual modules will clip on to. There will be three different sized endos (illusrated) - including mini, medium and large - to rival the existing range of phones currently on the market . | Google said screens would fit seamlessly together, similar to Lego bricks .
Individual screens will not have surround bezels to make the image seamless .
Technology is being developed at the Google X Lab in California .
It complements the company's modular smartphone .
Project Ara handset is set to go on sale in January from $50 (£31)
The release date of the giant modular TV has not been announced . |
04f2d9477d86ac2405a4626198214584976d9ed2 | By . Deni Kirkova . PUBLISHED: . 10:53 EST, 30 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:00 EST, 30 August 2013 . An animal-mad bride walked down the aisle with her pet donkey and bulldog after convincing her local reverend they needed to be part of the service. Charlotte Sullivan, 40, from Herefordshire surprised her friends and family when she tied the knot with Matthew, 51, accompanied by their 12-year-old mule Moses. Her pet bulldog Bessie, four, was also an honorary bridesmaid for the service in Weston-under-Penyard on August 9. Charlotte Sullivan's wedding to partner Matthew included her donkey, Moses, walking up the aisle . Reverend Neil Patterson conducted the hour-long ceremony at St Lawrence Church. After her nuptials, foster carer and mother-of-five Charlotte said: 'Everyone who knows me knows that I am animal mad. 'Because my children have been brought up with animals I thought it would be a great thing to do. We’ve had Moses for years - I bought him when he was just nine months old and he’s been with us ever since. 'It wouldn’t have been right without him there, weddings are a family occasion and Moses is part of the family. 'Animals are such a huge part of my life - I have six dogs and a horse as well as Moses - it just made sense for him to be there. 'When I spoke to Reverend Neil he had anticipated me asking to bring one of the dogs to the church but perhaps didn’t expect me to ask for permission to bring the donkey along. Reverend Neil Patterson conducted the wacky hour-long ceremony at St Lawrence Church in Herefordshire . The black-and-white male donkey, 12, was dressed for the occasion and sported a pink floral headpiece . 'He thought it was an unusual request but when I pointed out donkeys are God’s creatures too I think it convinced him - although he did insist on having someone to clean up after him. 'It was the best day, it all went so smoothly. 'It was relaxed, fun wedding where everyone helped out and I can’t thank them enough.' The wedding was also a double celebration for Charlotte as she tied the knot on her 40th birthday. She added: 'Matthew asked me what I wanted for my birthday and I said I wanted to get married. 'We had an amazing day and the kindness of all the guests was great.' Rev. Neil thought it was an unusual request, but Charlotte said donkeys are God's creatures too . Reverend Neil Patterson said it was the first time he had married a couple with a donkey in the church . The wedding was also a double celebration for Charlotte as she tied the knot on her 40th birthday . The couple, who have three daughters Jess, 20, KD and Josie, both 15 and sons Isaac, 11, and Jack, 15, are planning to go on honeymoon later in the year. Reverend Neil Patterson said it was the first time he had married a couple with a donkey in the church. He said: 'For a moment I did wonder if he would go up the steps but it was fine. 'It was a very pleasant wedding and I was pleased to take it.' | Charlotte Sullivan, 40, and partner Matthew, 51, married on Aug 9 .
She asked the Reverend to allow her donkey as a pageboy . |
04f4af5033ff5f781cc309508268ec739c3cd918 | Washington (CNN) -- The United States' first couple welcomed their Mexican counterparts Wednesday to the second state dinner of the Obama administration, a night of pomp and ceremony that both leaders hope will demonstrate the important relationship between the North American neighbors. President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, dressed in a flowing blue gown, welcomed Mexican President Felipe Calderon and his wife at the White House steps as a military honor guard saluted and media cameras clicked and whirred. In an unrehearsed moment, a White House aide slipped while walking out with the Obamas before their guests arrived, and both the president and first lady immediately called out, "Don't take that picture," to the media gallery. The more than 200 invited guests, including diplomats, White House officials and celebrities, including actresses Whoopi Goldberg and Eva Longoria-Parker, arrived through a separate entrance for the Mexican-themed dinner and musical performances. Later, the two leaders started the dinner in the East Room by toasting the U.S.-Mexico partnership and their effort to fulfill the dreams of their nations' children. Obama laced his toast with some playful remarks, mentioning Mexico's contributions to arts and science along with "some very good food, including the food of the gods, chocolate." At another point, Obama prompted laughter with a joke aimed at Mexico's passion for soccer, noting the nation had, like the United States, "a pretty good soccer team." "In the fight for your country's future, you have shown extraordinary courage, extraordinary bravery, and you and the Mexican people have a full and committed partner in the United States," Obama said. Calderon thanked his hosts, twice making special reference to the charm of the first lady, and emphasized the friendship and partnership between the two countries. "We work with the certainty of what is good for the United States of American is good for Mexico, and if we understand this, at the same time what is good for Mexico is good for the United States," Calderon said. He concluded by responding to Obama's reference to Mexican poet Octavio Paz's sentiment that people must deserve their dreams. "Both of us have dream," Calderon said, looking at Obama. "Those dreams are related to our people, and we try every day to deserve those dreams and we will reach them." The White House promised enhanced security measures to keep out the uninvited. At the first state dinner, in November, gate-crashers shook hands with the president. Wednesday night's dinner was the eighth state dinner honoring Mexico, all since 1967, reflecting the growing importance of the U.S. southern neighbor in the past half-century. Guests sat at tables for 10, some rectangular and some round. The head table with both first couples seated 20 people, including Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Tables were covered in boldly striped linens made in three hues of blue, intended to resemble ripples of water, the White House said. Floral centerpieces featured gilded handmade woven baskets, with bouquets of fuchsia flowers, including roses, orchids and prickly pear cactus. The china, from the White House collection, was from the Clinton and Eisenhower presidencies for a meal accenting both American and Mexican cuisine. Guests dined on jicama and fruit in a citrus vinaigrette and ceviche of Hawaiian opah, followed by Oregon beef in Oaxacan black mole with black bean tamalon and grilled green beans. Dessert was a chocolate cajeta tart with toasted homemade marshmallows, graham cracker crumble and goat cheese ice cream. After the meal, the diners will move into a tent erected on the South Lawn to be joined by additional guests for performances by pop star Beyonce and Mexican performers Rodrigo y Gabriela, along with the President's Own United States Marine Band. Tables in the tent were decorated in natural shades of oranges and greens, with a bouquet of marzipan and chocolate flowers: roses, the national flower of the United States, and dahlias, the national flower of Mexico. The tent also featured artistically rendered Monarch butterflies hanging in the air in a tribute to Calderon's birthplace of Michoacan, Mexico. "The Monarch butterfly is the queen of butterflies, because every winter it flies down from Canada to Michoacan, my homeland, looking for the warmth of the Mexican people," Calderon said in brief remarks, again thanking his hosts. Obama paid tribute to the musical traditions of both nations and said he hoped to get Calderon and his wife out on the dance floor later in the evening. | More than 200 people to attend dinner in honor of Mexican president .
Enhanced security promised to keep out party crashers .
Musicians Beyonce, Rodrigo y Gabriela to perform . |
04f6b789c27838de21d0e9fa685f2c0691ee4dd4 | (EW.com) -- Gru, the bald and beetle-browed rascal hero of "Despicable Me 2," is an infectious imp — as voiced by Steve Carell, he's like Uncle Fester with the personality of Nikita Khrushchev. But in the first "Despicable Me" (2010), he was a supervillain with a grand plan (he wanted to steal the moon), and in the surprisingly toothless sequel, he has been neutered into a boring nice guy. The co-directors, Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud, create a seductively tactile computer-animated landscape in which gentle slapstick rules the day. For some reason, though, they have mostly left out the flashes of egomaniacal dastardliness that even a movie for kids can thrive on (e.g., the far superior Will Ferrell animation Megamind). Kristen Wiig voices Lucy, the Anti-Villain League agent who has a crush on Gru and recruits him to be a spy. You keep waiting for Wiig to display some of her flaked-out inspiration, but she, too, has been given almost nothing to play but sweetness and light. The best thing in the movie is the army of chattery yellow minions who are injected with a serum that transforms them into gnashing purple beasties. By the end, every child in the audience will want his or her own monster-minion toy. Adults will just regret the way that "Despicable Me 2" betrays the original film's devotion to bad-guy gaiety. Grade: C . CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved. | The film is sequel to the 2010 original .
This time the main character Gru is a nice guy .
Reviewer says the best thing about the film is the minions . |
04f92ca9a95d0439f0abc93331a59b3ef466b0b9 | Thousand of British wine connoisseurs have unwittingly been drinking vintage burgundy topped up with cheap table wine under a scam operated by one of France’s most prestigious traders, prosecutors have claimed. Following an 18-month investigation, police say that merchants Labouré-Roi took bottles of Nuits St George and topped them up with supermarket wines. Nuits St George was not part of the scam which happened between 2005 and 2009 when 2million bottles were sold, police said at a press conference in Dijon. Wine from the Burgundy region (pictured) were filled up with cheaper supermarket wine . They were bought by people who thought they were buying Nuits St George vintages that were chateau-produced and, in some cases, prize-winning. Labouré-Roi, . which has been established since 1832, is the Burgundy region's third . biggest wine company and sells the drink across the world. Some . of the bottles were also individually numbered wines and the scam is . believed to have earned several hundred million pounds. Some . of the cases of wines were being sold for thousands of pounds despite . them being topped up with a cheaper wine from the south of France with . high alcohol content and available from supermarkets, the police said. Two of Labouré-Roi's . executives, brothers Armand, 82, and Louis Cottin, 83,were arrested . last week in a police sting along with a wine taster and the company . administrator. They were later released and are yet to be charged. Gendarmes . have seized significant amounts of wine and tax inspectors are also . looking into the company's records, a police spokesman said. Revelations about the Nuits St George scam come only a few weeks after it emerged in March this year that another wine company at Beaune in Burgundy allegedly cheated its customers with diluted AOS Bourgogne label wine. But the scale of the Labouré-Roi scam is likely to inflict far greater damage to the worldwide reputation of Burgundy wine. Labouré-Roi is a world-renowned name in wines which exports to 30 countries including Britain and the U.S., gleaning more than 50 per cent of its turnover from international trade. Armand Cottin, one of Labouré-Roi's directors said: 'We are three years after the period which was checked by investigators and we are now approaching a situation where we have an error rate of close to zero. 'The management is taking responsibility for the situation we are in.' A lawyer for the company said that none of the directors have been charged and the company had moved on from the period in question. The lawyer said that the main concern of the two directors who are in their eighties and are finding the present situation 'difficult to cope with' is to save the jobs of the company's 70 employees. | Labouré-Roi took expensive bottles of Nuits St George and put cheap supermarket wine in them .
Nuits St George was not in on the scam .
Scam is believed to have defrauded several hundred million pounds from wine connoisseurs .
Two former executives - brothers aged 82 and 83 - were arrested but later released . |
04f95ebf0c764be65e68364f8bfd4f8a743bd06f | London (CNN) -- Janet Jackson is opening up for the first time about a duet with her brother that she's reviving two years after his death. Jackson took to the stage in London on Thursday and performed their 1995 song Scream as video of Michael Jackson played and his voice filled Royal Albert Hall. The reworked duet follows in the footsteps of jazz pianist and singer Nat King Cole and his daughter, Natalie Cole. In 1991 she turned her father's famous 1961 recording "Unforgettable" into a father-daughter duet. Janet Jackson said she did the original duet at the request of her brother years ago. "I was on the Rhythm Nation tour and Mike actually asked me to do a song with him and I told him no. I didn't want to do it. I felt I hadn't come into my own and I hadn't fully made a name for myself ... and I didn't want to ride anyone's coattails," she said. "And I remember being in the Janet Tour a few good years later and he asked me again if I would do a song with him. And I felt, at that point, I'd carved my own little niche in this world of music and I felt okay, I can do this now and that's how it came about." Jackson said that performing the song alongside her brother again isn't difficult. "It feels great -- just listening to and hearing his voice," she said, adding that on stage she finds herself, "remembering the experience of recording it." Jackson declined to comment to the press on the two-year mark of her brother's death, instead taking to social media this week with a simple message on Twitter on the June 25 anniversary: "I miss you, I love you." Jackson wraps up the European leg of her tour this week then heads to North America, Australia and Africa. | Jackson performs virtual duet on stage in London .
She recorded it with her brother Michael in 1995 .
"It feels great -- just listening to and hearing his voice," she says . |
04fa4f1170b5a673c3022726605d95155bcc885b | By . Associated Press Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 21:14 EST, 29 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:09 EST, 30 May 2013 . A huge 30-mile block of ice his causing chaos in an Alaskan town as water has been flowing onto the land. The colossal river ice jam, which is when water builds up behind a block of ice, was starting to rotate Wednesday as water finally chewed ice chunks away from the stubborn, frozen mass after most of the residents were forced to flee from the rising water. An aerial survey Wednesday afternoon revealed chunks of ice have broken off at the front of the 30-mile ice jam on the Yukon River, National Weather Service hydrologist Ed Plumb said. That means the jam will move soon and waters will begin to recede in the waterlogged town of Galena, 20 miles upriver. Scroll down for video . 'I've never seen anything like this before,' one official said. 'And I don't think these people here (have) either. The ice jam is amazing.' The ice jam had begun churning Wednesday as water finally chewed ice chunks away from the river . The flooding lifted homes off foundations and has threatened to break a dike protecting the airport, virtually the only dry spot left in the community of 500 where floodwaters washed out roads and submerged homes. There are no reports of injuries. The National Guard flew 32 more people and 19 dogs to Fairbanks Tuesday night. Other residents were evacuated earlier. Kevin Ray, a state worker who moved to Galena four months ago, was among the human evacuees who flew in on a Guard C-130 transport plane to Fairbanks, 270 miles east of Galena. Ray said the flight was noisy, with the constant barking of frightened dogs. In Galena, Ray's office is gone. His apartment and all his possessions are under water. 'So basically, I'm kind of a homeless guy,' Ray, 65, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Wednesday from an American Red Cross shelter set up at a local church. 'I never thought I'd be a victim. But hey, life is life.' The community of 500 had to evacuate after the floods but there have been no reports of injuries . The flooding lifted homes off foundations and has threatened to break a dike protecting the airport, virtually the only dry spot left . Now that the water is trying to push through the jam, conditions could change quickly. When the jam breaks, the downriver community of Koyukuk will be at risk of flooding. In an earlier flight Wednesday, Plumb said, the ice was locked firmly in place, despite 80 degree temperatures. The hot weather is expected to last a couple days before cooling slightly. In Galena, water went over low areas of the dike Tuesday, then the water level fell. With the threat of water topping the dike again, the state took the step of bringing in military aircraft to aid in the evacuations of those who wanted to leave. State emergency spokesman Jeremy Zidek said 76 residents chose to stay in a former Air Force barracks. The water was rising again Wednesday morning close to the edge of the dike, which protects the runway and some buildings including former barracks, then levels fluctuated without rising more, Plumb said. Outside the dike, everything has been hit by flooding, according to Plumb, who has worked for the weather service for 13 years. 'I've never seen anything like this before,' he said. 'And I don't think these people here (have) either. The ice jam is amazing.' The water was rising again Wednesday morning close to the edge of the dike, which protects the runway and some buildings including former barracks, then levels fluctuated without rising more . The damage has left the town without power, fresh water and cell phone reception. When the ice jam knocked out the bridge leading to the airport, evacuees had to be taken there by boat or helicopter, according to Ray, who said the flooding began with a trickle Sunday. In a place where spring flooding is nothing new, many homes are built on stilts, but the fast rising water reached them, too. An ice jam occurs when water builds up behind a blockage of ice. That includes a glacier blocking an unfrozen river, as is happening in Alaska, and a thawing river being blocked by a still-frozen section further on. After the ice dam breaks apart, the sudden surge of water floods areas downstream. The disaster has left people feeling traumatized and vulnerable, Ray said. 'We didn't have any idea how vast the flood was going to be,' he said. Zidek said the damage is being . assessed and a disaster policy cabinet will forward recommendations to . Gov. Sean Parnell, who visited the area Tuesday. Recommendations are likely to include issuing a disaster declaration. Parnell surveyed the damage on Tuesday and had the Alaska National Guard help evacuate the estimated 75 residents still in town. 'We expect the flooding to become worse before the waters start to recede,' Parnell said. 'Ensuring the safety of those impacted by the flooding remains my top priority.' Devastation: Homes in Galena, Alaska were destroyed after a 30-mile ice jam on the Yukon River sent water flowing onto the land . The damage has left the town without power, fresh water and cell phone reception. When the ice jam knocked out the bridge leading to the airport, evacuees had to be taken there by boat or helicopter . | Ice jam is when water builds up behind ice and then over flows .
Most of the chunks of ice have already broken off, giving hope to the hundreds of displaced residents .
Alaska National Guard called in to help with evacuations .
'I've never seen anything like this .
before,' one official said. 'And I don't think these people here (have) either.
The ice jam is amazing' |
04faf6dfdcc62d8fce2a106ff237ac8a02d0653c | By . Anna Hodgekiss . Three-year-old Alfie Williams was left profoundly deaf after a viral infection . A three-year-old boy who lost his hearing as a result of a mystery virus has become a social media star. Alfie Williams, from Medomsley, County Durham, was plagued by an illness which left him profoundly deaf. Devastated, his mother Danielle set about trying to raise awareness for the National Deaf Children's Society. Her #handsonears Twitter campaign has now gone viral - and attracted support from many famous names. Celebrities such as DJ Fatboy Slim aka Norman Cook and his wife Zoe Ball, Man Vs Food's Adam Richman, sprinter Iwan Thomas and TV presenter Andi Peters have all tweeted pictures with their hands over their ears. Mrs Williams, 33, a full-time mother, said: 'When the doctors told me about Alfie, I cried for about two months.' 'Alfie loved . music, especially the Beatles song Hey Jude, and we were . distraught when we realised he would never be able to hear it again. 'Then one day my husband John and I decided we had to turn it into something positive, so we started the Hands on Ears campaign. 'I put the photo of the family on Facebook and it just kind of took off - I never expected it to be this big. 'We've worked really hard, and Alfie's brothers and sister have been great, I've been blown away the support. 'Alfie is too young to understand the social media storm . he has triggered, but I'm putting together a montage of all the photos . to show him when he grows up.' Devastated but determined to make the best of things, Alfie's family started the Hands on Ears campaign to raise awareness of deafness. His mother Danielle (left) said: 'I put the photo of the family on Facebook and it just took off - I never expected it to be this big'. Clockwise is John, Alfie's father and siblings Charlie and Lewis . The #handsonears Twitter campaign has now gone viral - and attracted support from many famous names including DJ Fatboy Slim - aka Norman Cook - and his wife Zoe Ball . Alfie, who has a twin brother called George, started suffering symptoms of the virus in March 2012. His mother said: 'Normally he gets up straight away, but that morning he wouldn't. He was sick and I thought he was just feeling under the weather. 'But a few days later he wasn't getting any better, so we took him to the doctors where we were given antibiotics. 'But these didn't help either. He wasn't eating and his balance was off.' Despite numerous visits to the doctor, Alfie's condition was dismissed as an ear infection. But in November 2012, Mrs Williams realised Alfie wasn't responding to sounds. She said: 'When we shouted his name he wouldn't react. Sprinter Iwan Thomas and TV presenter Andi Peters have also tweeted pictures of their hands over their ears . 'Then when doctors did the sound test they told us was profoundly deaf. 'He was fitted with grommets and I hoped they would work, but at the follow-up test he still couldn't hear a thing. I was devastated and couldn't stop crying.' It is still not clear what caused Alfie's illness, but one theory is it may have been meningitis. Mike Wade, from the National Deaf Children's Society, said: 'We are extremely grateful to Danielle for raising awareness of childhood deafness. 'There are 45,000 deaf children and young people in the UK, and they are often vulnerable to isolation, abuse, bullying and poor self-esteem. 'That's why campaigns like Danielle's, that get people thinking and talking about deafness, are so important. 'She has done a fantastic job of raising awareness so far and we wish her every success.' Alfie with his mother, Danielle. It is still not clear what caused his illness, but one theory is it may have been meningitis . | Alfie Williams, 3, was left profoundly deaf after the bizarre illness .
His devastated mother began awareness campaign to focus on the positives .
The #handsonears Twitter campaign has now attracted a wealth of support . |
04fb35909f9611b19de4baec58c8e08bdd9d544d | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 22:59 EST, 16 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 22:59 EST, 16 February 2014 . A childhood friend of embattled New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has been dragged into the Bridgegate scandal, with emails revealing he gave a key Port Authority official a tour of the traffic chaos. In the latest twist, emails show Port Authority police officer Thomas 'Chip' Michaels was on the George Washington Bridge with David Wildstein, the official who ordered the road closures, when the disaster unfolded. The messages also reveal Michaels was aware of the plan to flood Fort Lee with traffic the . day before the controversial lane closings in September last year and kept Wildstein updated. It is not clear if Michaels will be implicated in the scandal. Thrown under the bus: It has been revealed that Chris Christie's long time friend, Port Authority police officer Thomas 'Chip' Michaels (left), was involved in the infamous George Washington Bridge lane closures . They go way back: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (pictured) and Thomas Michaels reportedly grew up together in Livingston, New Jersey, and Michaels recently coached Christie's son in little league hockey . Michaels grew up with Christie in Livingston and even coached the Governor's son in Little League hockey. He joined the Port Authority Police Department in 1998, according to payroll records. The troubling emails were today released by MSNBC's Steve Kornacki and can be found at the bottom of this page. On September 8, a day before the lane closures, Michaels emailed . Port Authority Captain Darcy Licorish, asking, 'Is there going to be a new . traffic pattern installed for Monday the 9th?' In a 7.28am email on the first day of the traffic snarl, Wildstein informed Robert Durando, general manager of the bridge, 'Going to take a ride with chip and see how it looks.' 'Want me to pik u up. Its fkd up here (sic),' Michaels, a 15-year Port Authority officer, told Wildstein in a text before the tour. Michaels later texted Wildstein, 'I may have idea to mak ths beter (sic)'. The text-message exchanges between . Michaels and Wildstein were included in documents subpoenaed by a New . Jersey legislative committee investigating the bridge scandal. Scandalous: Emails released today show Michaels took David Wildstein (pictured) on a tour of the George Washington Bridge traffic snarl . The Fort Lee lane closure scandal has thrown Christie's presidential campaign into disarray, with mounting evidence showing his appointees conspired to . create traffic jams in Fort Lee, New Jersey on September 9 last year. The problems began after two toll lanes at a New . York-bound, toll plaza entrance to the George Washington . Bridge were closed to traffic from . Fort Lee before rush hour. The closures caused massive traffic snarls for days. Various reasons for the closure have been reported, including that it was political retribution against Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, a Democrat, for not endorsing Christie in the 2013 gubernatorial election. The Fort Lee lane closure scandal: Evidence shows appointees of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie conspired to create traffic jams in Fort Lee, New Jersey, starting at a New York-bound, toll plaza entrance to the George Washington Bridge (pictured) Christie has repeatedly denied knowing of the bridge debacle until it was over. But Wildstein's . lawyer has recently claim that 'evidence exists' Christie knew of the . lane closures while they were occurring. Wildstein resigned in December. Meanwhile, Michaels' brother, Jeffrey Michaels, is a top Republican lobbyist whose business Optimus Partners L.L.C. has flourished under the Christie administration. MSNBC reported Jeffrey Michaels served as the chief of staff to Republican Gov. Donald DiFrancesco just . over a decade ago before transitioning into lobbying. He also advised Christie in his 2009 run for governor. 'I’ve known him for a long time,' Jeffrey Michaels said in a TV interview after the campaign. 'We went to high school with – we – our families knew each other . from Livingston, and just stayed in close contact with him over the . years and was very pleased to help his campaign out with policy.' Local . reports and I.R.S. filings show Jeffrey Michaels has donated . extensively to pro-Christie groups. The donations include $25,000 to a PAC-created . to push the governor’s agenda and $20,450 since October 2012 to the . Republican Governors Association, which Christie heads. Documents and Emails Shed Light on the Lane Closures . | Emails reveal Lt. Thomas 'Chip' Michaels, a Port Authority police officer, took David Wildstein on a tour of George Washington Bridge during debacle .
Michaels grew up with Chris Christie in Livingston, New Jersey, and recently coached the Governor's son in hockey .
The messages, reported today by MSNBC, also show Michaels was aware of the plan to flood Fort Lee with traffic .
Michaels' brother is New Jersey Republican power broker Jeffrey Michaels . |
04fb72dc5ae9ac6dc9c85dc55211fdea67896e2c | By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 00:11 EST, 24 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 00:13 EST, 24 May 2013 . A man wanted for 13 years on attempted murder charges in Los Angeles was captured in Colorado after someone called police to report he was urinating on a wall outside a KFC restaurant. Miguel Sanchez, 59, initially gave officers a false name when he was arrested Wednesday, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department. After he was fingerprinted, police discovered his identity and that he had a $2 million warrant in California. Game over: Miguel Sanchez. Sanchez, wanted for 13 years on attempted murder charges in Los Angeles, was captured in Colorado after someone called police to report he was urinating on a wall outside a KFC restaurant. 'Kentucky Fried Chicken called and said he was peeing on the wall,' said Colorado Springs police Lt. Dan Lofgren. 'On the run for 13 years, and then they get caught for being stupid.' Sanchez is accused of stabbing someone multiple times after an argument in 2000, then stabbing a second person before running away. KFC Pee: Sanchez initially gave officers a false name when he was arrested outside this KFC in Colorado Springs. After he was fingerprinted, police discovered his identity and that he had a $2 million warrant in California . Los Angeles police Sgt. Albert Gonzalez said the crime was classified as domestic violence, and that one victim was male and the other female. He declined to provide more details. Prosecutors filed four felony charges against Sanchez in 2000: two counts of attempted murder, one count of aggravated mayhem and one count of assault with a deadly weapon, said Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the district attorney's office. | After 13 years on the run, man was caught urinating on a wall .
Sanchez tried to give a false name but was fingerprinted .
Accused of attempted murder in 2000 . |
04fbd3088e8610dd4d5bea709e7cc5ee3e53710d | New Chelsea signing Cesc Fabregas has been involved in a training ground row with Spain coach Vicente del Bosque. Tensions were high in the camp after defeats by Holland and Chile dumped the reigning champions out of the World Cup early and things came to a head on Saturday. Del Bosque was unimpressed with Fabregas' attitude in training and the low intensity he was operating at. VIDEO Scroll down to see Del Bosque allegedly ask Fabregas to leave training session . Bust-up: Cesc Fabregas and Vicente del Bosque have reportedly locked horns during Spain training . Deflated: Things in the Spain camp appear to have gone sour following their shock exit . Animosity: Spain's World Cup campaign has gone from bad to worse . After a while, enough was enough, and Del Bosque ordered Fabregas to give his bib to Xabi Alonso and leave the session. The former Arsenal and Barcelona star reluctantly did so, with team-mates stopping him from arguing further with Del Bosque. Fabregas . was believed to be angry about both Spain's plight and also the fact . that he was only utilised as third substitute in the 5-1 mauling by . Holland, and not at all against Chile. The 27-year-old's sum total of minutes so far in the World Cup is 12. Fabregas was then filmed trudging away, before finding a bicycle and cycling off, understandably in a bad mood. Del . Bosque is quite a forgiving coach and it would not be a surprise if . Fabregas started Spain's final group match, against Australia, as the . boss tries to create a new side from the wreckage of the old one. Disappointment: Fabregas is still expected to start their final group game against Australia . Frustration: It has been a difficult summer for Fabregas, with his departure from Barcelona . Warmer: Fabregas didn't make it off the bench during Spain's second game against Chile . His . new manager at club level, Jose Mourinho, is an altogether different . prospect and would take badly to a similar occurrence at Cobham. Defender Raul Albiol tried to play the incident down when questioned about it by the Spanish media. He . said: 'I didn’t see anything strange. I imagine that Cesc is equally . annoyed as the rest of the group for being eliminated early, nothing . else.' While Fabregas could . still play a part against Australia, in the dead rubber clash on Monday . night, Iker Casillas may be dropped for Pepe Reina. The Real Madrid goalkeeper has made several costly errors so far and may have played his last game for La Roja. | Fabregas has reported bust-up with coach Del Bosque .
27-year-old asked to leave training session after perceived lack of effort .
Spain already out of the World Cup after two defeats from two games .
Set to face Australia in a dead rubber match on Monday . |
04fccd3ad94faa6da3cc46b4f92411e20f63dc30 | C'est Magnifique! This très chic Parisian pied-à-terre is cheaper than most hotel rooms in the French capital, costing just £69 for a night's stay. The doll house maisonette, measuring just 215sq-ft is available to rent through Airnbnb . The smart bijou home has a main living area on the ground floor, which includes a kitchen corner and tucked away on the first floor is a cosy double bedroom with an en-suite bathroom. Cute: The Parisian pied-à-terre is cheaper than most hotel rooms in the French capital, costing just £69 a night . Cosy: The house is located in the middle of four buildings and a 20-minute walk from Montmartre station . The petite property is situated in a charming paved courtyard in the city, at the foot of Montmartre on Rue des Martyrs. The charming little house is on a street filled with bakeries, chocolateries, restaurants, cafes and bars. Simple but effective: Tucked away on the first floor is a cosy double bedroom with an en-suite bathroom . Bright: The smart bijou home has a main living area on the ground floor, which includes a kitchen corner . Attracting the attention of gourmets, the Rue des Martyrs street has become the foodie artery of the bohemian neighborhood, which has been recently dubbed SoPi (for South of Pigalle). The street goes straight up Montmartre Hill, primarily known for the white-domed Basilica of the Sacré Cœur on its summit. Arty: According to the property's AirBnB listing, French Impressionist Degas had his last studio on the very same street at number 37 on the fourth floor . The house is located in the middle of four buildings and is a 20-minute walk from the Montmartre subway station. According to the property's AirBnB listing, French Impressionist Degas had his last studio on the very same street at number 37 on the fourth floor. Van Gogh is also rumoured to have lived on the same street. | Bijou residence located in famous bohemian district of Montmartre .
House has a living room, kitchen and double bedroom with en-suite facilities .
The area is the foodie artery of the South of Pigalle neighbourhood . |
04fe24c719b75ec0b234eeed48dae3a2c32badff | By . Aap . and Ryan Lipman . A memorial stone to First Fleet commander Admiral Arthur Phillip was unveiled at Westminster Abbey in central London on Thursday. The Duke of Edinburgh laid a wreath at the stone during an hour-long dedication service on Wednesday that was also attended by NSW Governor Dame Marie Bashir. Phillip, the first governor of NSW, is the latest addition to the long list of 3,300 notable people buried or memorialised in the abbey. This year marks 200 years since Phillip died in August 1814 in England. A memorial stone to First Fleet commander Admiral Arthur Phillip was unveiled at Westminster Abbey in central London on Thursday . Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh attended the service of dedication to Admiral Philip and laid a wreath at the memorial stone . During Wednesday's service Dame Marie praised the admiral as being 'enlightened, far-sighted and indeed humane'. 'Determined to ensure the fair treatment of the Aboriginal people he actively fostered harmonious relations with them,' she said. The memorial - carved from Sydney sandstone - is set in the floor of the Nave near memorials to David Livingstone, Thomas Cochrane and Isaac Newtown. It's also nearby to the grave of the unknown warrior. It reads: 'Admiral Arthur Phillip. Royal Navy 1738-1814. First Governor of NSW & founder of modern Australia'. There's a small outline of a kangaroo too. The memorial stone reads: 'Admiral Arthur Phillip. Royal Navy 1738-1814. First Governor of NSW & founder of modern Australia'. There is also a small outline of a kangaroo . Carved from Sydney sandstone, the memorial is set in the floor of the Nave near a memorial to Isaac Newtown . NSW Governor Marie Bashir attended the service and said the admiral ensured the fair treatment of the Aboriginal people and actively fostered harmonious relations with them . Admiral Arthur Philip was born on October 11, 1738 and died on August 31, 1814 . On May 13, 1787, the First Fleet of 11 ships set sail from Portsmouth, England for NSW . Mr Phillip captained HMS Sirius in the fleet . Over 252 days, the First Fleet brought about 1,500 men, women and children half way around the world from England to Australia . The fleet arrived first in Botany Bay on 18 January, 1788 and later in Sydney Cove (in Port Jackson), as named by Mr Phillip, on January 26 . Sydney Cove was preferred because of its access to fresh water for the colony . Mr Phillip was the first Governor of NSW and founder of the settlement, which became Sydney . The Dean of Westminster, Dr John Hall, described the navy man as a 'modest, yet world-class seaman, linguist and patriot, whose selfless service laid the secure foundations on which was developed the Commonwealth of Australia'. Phillip was in charge of the 11 ships of the First Fleet which carried some 1,450 individuals, half of which were convicts. He was meant to establish a penal colony at Botany Bay but due to his rural background realised the soils and adjacent rivers were not suitable to sustaining agriculture. So in 1788 he sailed on to Port Jackson instead which later became Sydney Harbour. The memorial stone came about following years of lobbying by the Britain-Australia Society Education Trust whose patron is the Duke of Edinburgh. The society said in a statement: 'Admiral Phillip is hardly known in the UK, although in Australia, Phillip Bay in NSW and Port Phillip Bay in Victoria are named after him.' Admiral Phillip was in charge of the 11 ships of the First Fleet . This year marks 200 years since the admiral died in August 1814 in England . | An Arthur Phillip memorial stone was unveiled in London on Thursday .
Admiral Phillip was the first NSW governor and captained a First Fleet ship .
Prince Phillip laid a wreath at the stone at Westminster Abbey .
This year is the 200th anniversary of the Admiral's death . |
04ff02e815e31dd23dbc3adfbf2ba0a86da2b80d | By . Steve Hopkins for MailOnline . Two American flags swiped from the Brooklyn Bridge and replaced with white ones have been handed back to U.S officials. New York Police Department spokesman Sergeant Carlos Nieves today said that the flags are in the United States, but he did not know their exact location. It is understood the flags had been given to U.S embassy officials in Germany. Scroll down for video . The American flgas swiped from the Brooklyn Bridge last month and replaced with white ones, seen above, have been returned to the U.S after being given to embassy officials in Germany . German artists, Mattias Wermke, 35, left, and Mischa Leinkauf, 37, claimed responsibility for the stunt . Police are yet to decide on whether to charge Berlin-based Mischa Leinkauf, 37, and Mattias Wermke, 35, who claimed responsibility for the July 22 stunt. And they are still seeking the men's American accomplices and are said to have 'significant leads'. The artists replaced the flags on top of the bridge with white flags they had hand-stitched stars and stripes onto. They said the flag switch was intended as a celebration of public art rather than a political statement. It was also a celebration of the bridge and to mark the 145th anniversary of the death of its German-born engineer, John Augustus Roebling. | The swiped flags were returned to U.S embassy officials in Germany .
Police are still deciding whether to charge the artists behind the stunt .
And are still seeking the Americans that helped them carry it out . |
04ff903e96f3b099ff389be7e03676c979f85e12 | By . Sophie Jane Evans . A family who were holidaying on an island off the Scottish coast used their luggage straps to save 19 stranded dolphins. Finlay Meakin, 13, spotted the pod of dolphins swimming unusually close the shore at the seculded resort of Lochbuie on the Isle of Mull. He called for help when it became clear the animals had become stuck in shallow water after chasing a school of mackerel toward the beach. Scroll down for video . Rescue: Simon Lane, 59, is pictured rescuing a pod of dolphins after it became stranded off the Scottish coast . Family: Finlay Meakin, 13, spotted the pod of dolphins swimming unusually close the shore at the resort of Lochbuie on the Isle of Mull on July 24. Above, Finlay (centre), his mother Madge Meakin (left) and Mr Lane . His uncle Simon Lane, 59, and mother Madge Meakin, 48, ran down to the shore, before immediately wading into the sea in a bid to help the 'mass stranding'. The family then spent two hours slowly moving the dolphins, weighing between 35lbs and 200lbs each, back into deeper water. Incredibly, they even used their suitcase luggage straps to help lift the heavier animals and push them to safety. Video footage taken by Finley shows Mr Lane, from Hickling, Nottinghamshire, wading into the shallow water, before helping the stressed dolphins. 'Mass stranding': Finlay called for help when it became clear the animals had become stuck in the shallow waters after following a school of mackerel toward the beach. Above, Mr Lane attempts to move the dolphins . Time-consuming: The family spent two hours moving the dolphins, weighing up to 200lbs, into deeper water . Location: The beaching happened at the seculded resort of Lochbuie (pictured) on the Isle of Mull . Due to the family's brave rescue efforts, the dolphins were able to swim to deeper water unharmed. The beaching on July 24 was the worst case seen in the UK since 2008, when 26 dolphins died after becoming stranded in Cornwall, according to the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust. Yesterday, Mr Lane said he was forced to carry the dolphins out to water that was up to his neck so they could swim to safety. 'On the day, we were in the house which overlooks the bay and we saw them chasing mackerel, but to our astonishment they were all beached,' said the grandfather of one. Saving lives: Incredibly, the family even used their suitcase luggage straps to help lift the heavier animals and push them to safety. Above, Mr Lane is pictured donning gloves, black swimming shorts and long socks . Getting stuck in: A video taken by Finley shows Mr Lane with the dolphins while Ms Meakin stands feet away . 'It was only about 100 yards away, I had never seen anything like it before. We ran down to see what we could do and they were beached about 20 yards from the sands and seemed very distressed. 'I went in and tried to get them out but they kept coming back in. With some of the bigger ones we had to get a strap and put it under them and lift them. 'We had to move them into the deeper water and hold them under using this strap so they could get their sat-nav sorted. At its eepest, the water was up to my shoulders and neck.' Ms Meakin, 48, added: 'Simon was definitely the hero. We just couldn’t believe what had happened.' Saved: Due to the family's brave rescue efforts, the dolphins were able to swim to deeper waters unharmed . Mr Lane was on a two-week holiday in Scotland with his partner Sue Meakin, 60, her sister Madge and her husband Jim, 58, and their son Finley when they spotted the stranded dolphins. He said the family have rented the house on the Isle of Mull for ten years but have never had to act as heroes before. 'We go up there regularly, and rent the house that overlooks the bay. It is very remote, there isn’t much out there,' he said. 'It will probably never happen again. I do a lot of snorkelling and have swam with seals before but I have never had any dealings with dolphins. 'Hero': Mr Lane said he was forced to carry the dolphins out to water that was up to his neck so that they could swim to safety . 'I wasn’t sure what they would be like, they were obviously stressed and you could hear them squeaking very loudly. 'They must have been talking to each other but they seemed to know what we were doing and that we wanted to help them. 'It was pretty exhausting but we were all so relieved to know the dolphins were safe.' The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, which is based an hour-and-half’s drive from the loch, today praised the family’s rescue efforts. Sighting and strandings officer Conor Ryan, 28, said: 'It was a really unusual event and the family did everything right. 'It was in a very isolated place, so it was very lucky that the family spotted them.' Mr Ryan also described the 'mass stranding' at Lochbuie as unusual, saying: 'Common dolphins normally live in deeper waters, so they don’t tend to get beached. 'Between 100 and 150 dolphins had been going through the waters nearby at that time. The dolphins that became beached were part of a splinter group. 'It’s that time of year when they move a bit closer to the shore, possibly for fish, and the mackerel come right in close to the beach.' He added: 'A "mass stranding" means that more than two individuals have been affected. The last one of this scale was in Cornwall in June 2008 when 26 dolphins became beached.' During the 2008 incident, the entire pod of dolphins died after becoming stranded near St Mawes in Cornwall. Veterinary wildlife pathologist Vic Simpson, who examined the . bodies, said the animals had died after they inhaled debris and mud that . clogged their insides. He added that the scenes in the River Percuil looked like 'some sort of mass suicide'. | Finlay Meakin, 13, spotted 19 dolphins stuck in shallow water in Lochbuie .
Called for help and uncle Simon Lane, 59, and mother ran down to shore .
Waded into sea and spent two hours moving dolphins into deeper water .
Used luggage straps to move heaviest animals, weighing up to 200lbs .
Incredible scene on Isle of Mull off Scottish coast was captured on video .
Said to be worst case of beaching in UK since 2008 incident in Cornwall . |
04ffba5c2a19cd90779fabd2c4d516aadb0e8296 | By . Emma Glanfield . It might not seem the best place to set up home but this mother goose has done exactly that – and set up her nest right in the middle of a busy dual carriageway. The Greylag goose has bedded down in the shrubbery on the Castle Mills Bridge in York, just inches away from busy fast-flowing traffic. While the expectant mother may have chosen the camouflaged spot to lay her young, the welfare of her goslings when they hatch has become a cause for concern. The Canada goose has bedded down in the shrubbery on the Castle Mills Bridge in York, just inches away from busy fast-flowing traffic . While the expectant mother may have chosen the camouflaged spot to lay her young, the welfare of her chicks when they hatch has become a cause for concern . Anne Pyrah, from Selby Wildlife Rescue Centre in Barlby, North Yorkshire, said: 'My concern is that cars will swerve to avoid them if a chick is on the road' All wild birds are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which states that none should be harmed nor should their nests be moved or interfered with. Annette Pyrah, from Selby Wildlife Rescue Centre in Barlby, North Yorkshire, is worried the nest could cause problems for both the nesting bird and passing motorists. She said: ‘My concern is that cars will swerve to avoid them if a gosling is on the road. ‘By law we can't move the nest but she must be resourceful to have built it there anyway. ‘It's the perfect nesting area really, apart from the fact that it's between two roads. ‘She is camouflaged and there is lots of shrubbery which makes it an inviting nesting place.’ Ms Pyrah said that numerous people, . including drivers, have called her with concerns - but said that until . the eggs hatch there is little the wildlife group can do. All wild birds are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which states that none should be harmed nor should their nests be moved or interfered with . As vehicles roar by, the Greylag goose nests in the middle of the busy dual carriageway on Castle Mills Bridge in the centre of York . Ms Pyrah said that numerous people, including drivers, have called her with concerns - but said that until the eggs hatch there is little the wildlife group can do . She said: 'People have been ringing me up because they are so concerned about her. One lady called me and told me she got out of her car to stop traffic to help the goose. 'Once all the eggs are hatched, the mother goose has got to try and get her goslings safely across the road. 'Will cars stop or swerve for them? It’s not ideal. 'The council should have a think about making it less attractive for them to nest there. It’s thick shrubbery at the moment which is ideal for them to hide in.' The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 states that all wild birds are protected. A part of the act dictates that a person must not intentionally damage, destroy or take the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built, or intentionally or recklessly disturb certain wild birds or their dependent young while they are at or near to an active nest site. A part of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 dictates that a person must not intentionally damage, destroy or take the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built . Many passing motorists have become concerned for the welfare of the expectant Greylag goose which is expected to stay in its current nesting place until all eggs have hatched . The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 states that all wild birds are protected. The act makes it an offence to intentionally: . The Act also prohibits certain methods of killing, injuring, or taking birds, restricts the sale and possession of captive bred birds, and sets standards for keeping birds in captivity. It also makes it an offence to intentionally or recklessly kill, injure or take any wild and prohibits interference with places used for shelter or protection, or intentionally disturbing animals occupying such places. | The expectant mother has set up home on the Castle Mills Bridge in York .
It has bedded down in shrubbery in the middle of a fast-flowing busy road .
Locals are concerned for bird's welfare but cannot move nest due to law .
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 protects all wild birds and their nests . |
05000a87a94c3bf7afa355f4e1e0ef417804644c | The woman behind everyone's favorite cookie: Ruth Wakefield, founder of the Toll House restaurant in Whitman, Massachusetts, created the chocolate-chip cookie in 1938 . There are two popular stories about how the chocolate-chip cookie was invented by Ruth Wakefield in 1938. One theory is that Wakefield, the co-owner of Whitman, Massachusetts' Toll House restaurant, accidentally spilled a bag of chocolate morsels into a batch of cookie dough that was being prepared in a mixer. The other is that Wakefield added chopped up bits of a chocolate candy bar when she ran out of nuts. Both of those theories were disproved by Carolyn Wyman in her recently-published book about the sweet-treat's origin: 'The Great American Chocolate Chip Cookie book'. In her research for the book, Wyman tracked down a rare interview given by Wakefield in 1974, just three years before the cookie inventor died. In the interview, Wakefield explains that she was trying to improve a cookie recipe they had been serving at her restaurant. 'We had been serving a thin butterscotch nut cookie with ice cream. Everybody seemed to love it, but I was trying to give them something different,' Wakefield explained. Adding chocolate chips made the cookies the new star of the dessert and they became an instant hit across the country. Unlike the fame-seeking celebrity chefs of today, Wakefield didn't care to use her recipe to get her places. Instead, she sold the recipe to Nestle nearly 75 years ago this week. The chocolate company then went on to start mass-producing chocolate chips. Touch of genius: Wakefield gave an interview in 1974, saying she was trying to improve a Butterscotch cookie when she created the world's first batch of chocolate-chip cookies . The best thing since sliced bread: The cookies became an instant hit at Wakefield's Toll House restaurant, and soon swept the country when Nestle began mass-producing chocolate chips . How-to: Soon after inventing the cookies, Wakefield sold the rights to her recipe to Nestle and they still publish her instructions on the back of their chocolate-chip bags . Chocolate chips remain one of the few food items specifically created for use in a recipe. They also printed Wakefield's original Toll House cookies recipe on the back of the chocolate-chip packaging. The recipe is still on the back of the bag today and remains the most frequently made back-of-the-package recipe. While it may seem a shame that Nestle profited from her invention, signing over her recipe proved fruitful in the end since it drove traffic to her restaurant and helped turn her cookbook 'Toll House Tried and True Recipes' into a best-seller. Eventually Wakefield and her husband Ken retired from running the restaurant, passing the popular eatery on to new owners. Wakefield passed away in 1977, and was quickly followed in death by the Toll House restaurant itself. It burnt down on New Year's Day 1985. You can buy Wyman's book 'The Great American Chocolate Chip Cookie Book' on Amazon. Ingredients 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour1 tsp baking soda1 tsp salt1 cup butter, softened3/4 cup granulated sugar3.4 cup packed brown sugar1 tsp vanilla extract2 large eggs 2 cups chocolate chips1 cup chopped nuts PREHEAT oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely Makes about 5 dozen cookies . Putting the story to rest: Carolyn Wyman disproved the theory that the chocolate-chip cookie was invented by mistake in her new book 'The Great American Chocolate Chip Cookie Book' | The first batch of chocolate-chip cookies was baked by Ruth Wakefield at her Toll House restaurant in Whitman, Massachusetts in 1938 .
Wakefield told the Boston Herald-American in 1974 that she was trying to improve a butterscotch cookie recipe she served at the restaurant .
'I was trying to give them something different,' she said of adding a chopped up chocolate bar .
For years, many believed that Wakefield accidentally spilled a bag of morsels into a mixer or substituted chocolate when she ran out of nuts .
Her cookie recipe became an instant hit and soon after she sold the recipe's rights to Nestle who started mass-producing chocolate chips . |
050096e1665a83273a2b75fa0969aa617c729643 | Jennifer Aniston, Angelina Jolie and Amy Adams were among the stars snubbed at this year's Academy Awards nominations. Jennifer had admitted just hours prior to the announcement that she was hoping to be asleep when the Oscar nods were announced, and hopefully that was the case because she did not receive her first Best Actress nod for her role in Cake. The 45-year-old actress had received nominations at the Golden Globes, SAGs and Critics' Choice Awards but sadly it wasn't enough for the Academy. Scroll down for video . Snubbed: Jennifer Aniston did not receive a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her role in Cake . Eyes closed: Amy Adams won't be getting her sixth Oscar nod after she was snubbed for Best Actress, despite winning the Golden Globe equivalent on Sunday for her part in Big Eyes . Jennifer had said on Wednesday night that she wouldn't be waking up early to hear the announcement. 'I'm not going to torture myself,' Aniston told E! News. 'I'll be in bed. I'll be in bed with my beloved and my dogs dreaming wild little dreams.' Amy Adams actually won the Golden Globe for her Best Actress performance in Tim Burton's Big Eyes on Sunday night but she was, rather surprisingly, not recognised this year. Recognised: Jennifer and Amy were nominated for Best Actress at the Golden Globes but the later won the award on Sunday . No to Unbroken: Angelina Jolie's wartime epic did not pick up a Best Picture nomination or a Best Director for the actress . Amy had been nominated five times at the Oscars; once for Best Actress and four times for Best Supporting Actress. Instead Marion Cotillard, (Two Days, One Night), Felicity Jones (The Theory Of Everything), Julianne Moore (Still Alice), Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl), and Reese Witherspoon (Wild) are up for the highly-coveted prize. Angelina Jolie was also overlooked in both the Best Director and Best Picture category for her wartime epic Unbroken. Based on the harrowing but inspiring story of Olympian turned World War II prisoner Louis Zamperini, Unbroken seemed set to become an awards season frontrunner but it has been overlooked across the board apart from in the more technical categories. Surprise: Based on the harrowing but inspiring story of Olympian turned World War II prisoner Louis Zamperini, it was thought Unbroken would be an awards frontrunner . She wasn't the only female director to be snubbed as Selma's Ava DuVernay did not get recognised for her work on the civil rights period film. The shortlist was all male featuring Alejandro González Iñárritu (Birdman), Richard Linklater (Boyhood), Bennett Miller (Foxcatcher) Wes Anderson (The Grand Budapest Hotel) and Morten Tyldum (The Imitation Game). Also missing from the list were the four time Oscar-nominated and twice-winning actor/director Clint Eastwood for American Sniper, as well as Christopher Nolan for his epic Interstellar. It's a shock for most film-lovers to see the Sci-fi blockbuster and Angelina's Unbroken missing from the Best Picture shortlist, considering there are 10 spots in the field and only eight filled. Another year for Jessica: Chastain did not get a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her turn in A Most Violent Year . Missed out: Jake Gyllenhaal and Reno Russo had been celebrated for their performances in Nightcrawler but neither received nods in the Best Actor or Best Supporting Actress categories . Elsewhere, Jessica Chastain did not receive a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her turn in A Most Violent Year but Emma Stone picked up her first ever Oscar nomination in the same category. Jake Gyllenhaal, Riz Ahmed and Reno Russo had been celebrated for their performances in Nightcrawler but not one of them received a nod in the Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor or Best Supporting Actress categories. Same goes for British actor Timothy Spall, who won the Best Actor award at last year's Cannes Film Festival for his role as the titular character in Mr. Turner, but failed to secure a nod at the Oscars or the BAFTAs. Not the Academy's cup of tea: British actor Timothy Spall won the Best Actor award at last year's Cannes Film Festival for his role as the title character in Mr. Turner but failed to secure a nod at the Oscars or the BAFTAs . Best Picture . American Sniper . Birdman . Boyhood . The Grand Budapest Hotel . The Imitation Game . Selma . The Theory of Everything . Whiplash . Best Actress . Marion Cotillard, Two Days One Night . Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything . Julianne Moore, Still Alice . Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl . Reese Witherspoon, Wild . Best Supporting Actress . Patricia Arquette, Boyhood . Laura Dern, Wild . Keira Knightley, The Imitation Game . Emma Stone, Birdman . Meryl Streep, Into the Woods . Best Foreign Language Film . Ida . Leviathan . Tangerines . Timbuktu . Wild Tales . Best Original Screenplay . Birdman . Boyhood . Foxcatcher . The Grand Budapest Hotel . Nightcrawler . Best Original Score . The Grand Budapest Hotel . The Imitation Game . Interstellar . Mr. Turner . The Theory of Everything . Best Animated Feature . Big Hero 6 . The Boxtrolls . How to Train Your Dragon 2 . Song of the Sea . The Tale of Princess Kaguya . Best Film Editing . American Sniper . Boyhood . The Grand Budapest Hotel . The Imitation Game . Whiplash . Best Animated Short . The Bigger Picture . The Dam Keeper . Feast . Me and My Moulton . A Single Life . Best Sound Editing . American Sniper . Birdman . The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies . Interstellar . Unbroken . Best Sound Mixing . American Sniper . Birdman . Interstellar . Unbroken . Whiplash . Best Documentary — Feature . Citizenfour . Finding Vivien Maier . Last Days of Vietnam . The Salt of the Earth . Virunga . Best Director . Alexandro G. Iñárritu, Birdman . Richard Linklater, Boyhood . Bennett Miller, Foxcatcher . Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel . Morten Tyldum, The Imitation Game . Best Actor . Steve Carell, Foxcatcher . Bradley Cooper, American Sniper . Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game . Michael Keaton, Birdman . Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything . Best Supporting Actor . Robert Duvall, The Judge . Ethan Hawke, Boyhood . Edward Norton, Birdman . Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher . J.K. Simmons, Whiplash . Best Cinematography . Birdman – Emmanuel Lubezki . The Grand Budapest Hotel – Robert Yeoman . Ida – Lukasz Zal & Ryszard Lenczewski . Mr. Turner – Dick Pope . Unbroken – Roger Deakin . Best Adapted Screenplay . American Sniper . The Imitation Game . Inherent Vice . The Theory of Everything . Whiplash . Best Makeup and Hairstyling . Foxcatcher . The Grand Budapest Hotel . Guardians of the Galaxy . Best Original Song . 'Lost Stars,' Begin Again . 'Everything is Awesome,' The LEGO Movie . 'Glory,' Selma . 'Grateful,' Beyond the Lights . 'I'm Not Gonna Miss You,' Glen Campbell…I'll Be Me . Best Documentary—Short . Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1 . Joanna . Our Curse . The Reaper . White Earth . Best Production Design . The Grand Budapest Hotel . The Imitation Game . Interstellar . Into the Woods . Mr. Turner . Best Live Action Short . Aya . Boogaloo and Graham . Butter Lamp . Parvaneh . The Phone Call . Best Visual Effects . Captain America: The Winter Soldier . Dawn of the Planet of the Apes . Guardians of the Galaxy . Interstellar . X-Men: Days of Future Past . Best Costume Design . The Grand Budapest Hotel . Inherent Vice . Into the Woods . Maleficent . Mr. Turner . British actor David Oyelowo will not be practicing his speech making for the Oscars either after his turn as Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma was not recognised in the Best Actor category. Sadly, Ralph Fiennes was another Brit who didn't get a nod for their critically-acclaimed performance, though his turn as Monsieur Gustave H. in Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel could win him a BAFTA. Lorde was snubbed for Best Song for her track Yellow Flicker Beat from the movie The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part One. She had picked up a nomination at the Golden Globes but lost out to John Legend and Common's track, Glory, from the Selma soundtrack. British actor David Oyelowo will not be practicing his speech making for the Oscars either after his turn as Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma was not recognised in the Best Actor category . Switched off: Lorde was snubbed for Best Song for her track Yellow Flicker Beat from the movie The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part One . The LEGO Movie lost out on a nomination in the Best Animated Feature category, leaving Big Hero 6, The Box Trolls, How To Train Your Dragon 2, Song Of The Sea and Tale Of The Princess Kaguya hoping to win. However it did get a nod for Best Original Song and director Philip Lord tweeted a picture of his own Oscar - made out of Lego. 'This is not a tragedy,' Lord wrote. 'Congrats to incredible crew and cast of The Lego Movie, who made a classic.' Everything Is (not) Awesome: The LEGO movie did not get a Best Animated Feature nod but it's catchy song got a nod . Here's one he made earlier! Philip Lord posted a picture of a LEGO Oscar after learning his film had not received a Best Animated Feature nod . The announcement was made by actor Chris Pine, Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs, and directors Alfonso Cuarón and J.J. Abrams, on Thursday, January 15 from the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. The 24 Oscar categories were revealed in a special two-part live news conference that was streamed live on the official website for the annual awards ceremony. Cuarón and Abrams announced the nominees in the following categories: Animated Feature Film, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short Subject, Film Editing, Original Song, Production Design, Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing and Visual Effects. Star power: Actor Chris Pine, left, and Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs announce the Academy Awards nominations at the 87th Academy Awards nomination ceremony in Beverly Hills . Pine and Boone Isaacs took to the stage to unveil the nominations for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Cinematography, Costume Design, Directing, Foreign Language Film, Makeup and Hairstyling, Original Score, Adapted Screenplay, Original Screenplay and Best Picture. Oscars for outstanding film achievements of 2014 will be presented on Sunday, February 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and televised live on the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The Oscars will also be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide. Technical: J.J. Abrams and Alfonso Cuaron announced the first half of the 24 categories . | Jennifer Aniston and Amy Adams were not nominated for Best Actress .
Angelina Jolie's Unbroken was overlooked for Best Picture .
Best Director category featured an all-male shortlist, ignoring both Angelina and Selma's Ava DuVernay .
No nods for Nightcrawler's Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo or Riz Ahmed .
British actors David Oyelowo and Timothy Spall also ignored .
Birdman and The Grand Budapest Hotel led the 2015 Oscar nominations with nine nods each .
The LEGO Movie was snubbed in the Best Animated Feature Category . |
050207715f9f739efa0f4f8495bd633ce6ce727f | (CNN) -- A day after an explosion rocked its offices in Mexico City, Mexico's state-run oil giant Pemex says it's too early to speculate on the cause of the deadly blast. At least 33 people -- mostly women -- were killed in the explosion, Pemex chief Emilio Lozoya said at a news conference Friday. More than 100 were injured, including 52 who remain hospitalized. Watch: Blast rocks Mexico City . Lozoya was asked if he believed Pemex, the powerful but often criticized state oil monopoly, was the target of a bombing, but he declined to speculate. Experts from Mexico and abroad are investigating the scene to determine the cause, he said. Mexican Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam similarly refused to rule out possibilities. "We have experts in everything, absolutely everything," he told reporters, adding that investigations are under way to determine whether the blast was the result of an accident or an attack. Some witnesses have reported smelling a strong odor of gas after the blast. It is a complicated investigation that "cannot be explained in a few hours," Lozoya said. The priority, Lozoya said, is providing support to the victims' families and rescuing anyone who may remain trapped. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto visited victims in the hospital Friday, offering condolences and promising help. The explosion happened Thursday afternoon at an administrative building in the Pemex office complex. "People were screaming. ... You could see pieces of the wall falling to the ground," said Joaquin Borrell Valenzuela, an attorney for the Pemex comptroller's office, who was in a courtyard outside the building at the time of the blast. Paramedics quickly arrived and started pulling people from the rubble. Thousands of people work at the Pemex headquarters, which includes a 54-story building that is nearly 700 feet tall. The annex where the explosion happened is adjacent to the tower. The oil company's production capabilities have not been harmed, and operations and oil production will continue Friday as normal, Lozoya said. Employees at the Pemex annex said that the basement of the building, where he explosion is believed to have originated, housed a water treatment facility, storage areas and archives. The first floor, which also was heavily damaged, is where the company's human resources team worked. One employee, Silvia Hernandez, recounted how she was finishing up her workday at another building and standing in line to clock out when she heard a blast. "I saw the explosion of glass, people bleeding; it was something very shocking," she said. "I can't say more because the memory makes me nervous. I was terrified, anxious." A bridge that connected her building with the annex collapsed, likely trapping employees, she said. Another employee, who declined to give his name for fear of retribution, spoke about his failed attempt to locate his brother within the rubble. The man smoked cigarette after cigarette in the predawn hours of Friday as he waited at the medical examiner's office to claim his brother's body. More than 100 relatives waited outside the offices with him. The man said he was among the employees who began rescue efforts in the immediate aftermath of the explosion. He knew his brother worked in the human resources area, which had been damaged, so the man covered his face with a rag and ran there to search for him. The man said he removed debris and helped rescue others, but never reached his brother. By then, professional rescuers arrived and took over the job of looking for survivors. CNNMexico's Juan Pablo Mayorga and Arturo Ascención contributed to this report. | NEW: The country's attorney general similarly refuses to rule out possibilities .
NEW: President Enrique Pena Nieto visits victims in the hospital .
The death toll rises to 33 .
Employee: "I saw the explosion of glass, people bleeding; ... I was terrified" |
0502ea678766d2f5b625f71643665bd64c35f460 | Clearwater, Florida (CNN) -- After a second day of jury selection in the Casey Anthony murder trial, more prospective jurors facing weeks and possibly months away from home, family, work and school have been excused. While a few were dismissed for expressing opinions about the defendant, most were let go after revealing compelling hardship issues during questioning by the judge and lawyers from both sides. One woman in her 50s, who works at a hospice, said she cannot go weeks without an income. Her employer would not compensate her during the trial and she said she would not be able to pay her mortgage. Another woman said she is in school and would have no one to care for her 4-year-old daughter. The obstacles to serving represent a vivid cross-section of everyday struggles for Americans, especially in a fragile economic recovery. Financial difficulties, chronic illness, single parents trying to care for children while earning a living were among the excuses offered in court. The judge in the case, Belvin Perry, previously ruled that the jury would be sequestered throughout the trial. Perry wants to shield the panel of 12 and eight alternates from media coverage of the trial and other factors that could sway the outcome. "Black's Law Dictionary" defines jury sequestration as ''the custodial isolation of a trial jury to prevent tampering and exposure to publicity.'' Other major cases that have been sequestered in recent years include the O.J. Simpson double murder trial in Los Angeles and the trial of Mary Winkler, found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the death of her husband, a minister in Selmer, Tennessee. Casey Anthony's 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, disappeared in the Orlando area in 2008. After a protracted search amid national news coverage, a repairman found the toddler's remains in woods near her parents' home. That the case is so high-profile makes it difficult to find a jury without prejudices. Legitimate personal hardships -- universally considered grounds for dismissal in U.S. courts -- present an extra challenge. A male juror said Tuesday he is one of four nurses on a 24-hour rotation for treating heart attack patients. His co-workers would have to "scramble" without him on the job, he said. Others included a middle-aged woman who may need surgery; a man who runs group homes for delinquent youths and is getting married this summer; a man who wants to see his dying uncle in Puerto Rico, and a woman who is the sole caregiver for her disabled husband. She brings him to doctors and reminds him ''to take his pills.'' A woman in her 40s pays her children's college tuition and works two jobs to supplement her income. She said she would have to borrow money or ''pull funds from other places'' to avoid falling behind on her mortgage. But not every juror claiming hardship was released. A man in his 30s said he runs a family-owned Ace Hardware store. His father has had heart attacks and strokes over the past several years, leaving his son to manage the business on his own. The man, who has two dogs, no children and no wife because he hasn't ''found the right woman yet,'' said leaving the store for eight weeks would be a big problem, even though he has 34 employees. None of them are trained as managers, he said. However, when asked what else is on his calendar in the next several months, he said he has a business and pleasure trip to Panama. That's when he lost his argument. Cheney Mason, Anthony's lead defense attorney, said if the man can go to Panama, he has someone to take care of the store. According to authorities, Casey Anthony took about a month to report her daughter's disappearance to police. Widely known as "Tot Mom" from media coverage, Anthony was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. She could face the death penalty if convicted. Anthony was transported to Clearwater, Florida, and booked into the Pinellas County Jail for jury selection. Perry is holding jury selection in this Tampa Bay Area city of more than 100,000 to avoid assembling a panel that is likely to be more familiar with the case. Anthony will return to Orlando, about 100 miles to the east, for the trial, which could kick off next week. Lawyers have also dismissed several potential jurors who expressed opinions about the case during voir dire, questioning to ensure jurors are not biased. The old French phrase means to speak the truth. Jury selection is scheduled to resume Wednesday morning. Belvin dismissed a panel of candidates on Tuesday, saying they were contaminated by a prospective juror overheard discussing the case. By sheer coincidence, the juror is a witness in the Anthony case and was serving in Pinellas County. After screening for hardship, the court will ask remaining prospective jurors about their knowledge of the case, whether they could set that aside and if they were to find her guilty could they impose the death penalty. In a moment of limited levity on Tuesday, Belvin asked one potential juror who planned to visit Savannah, Georgia, with his wife in June for their wedding anniversary whether he would ''be in the dog house'' if the trip were put on hold. ''I think she'd be a bit more upset than I would at this point,'' he said. | Casey Anthony case indicates how many need every paycheck .
Others have no one else to care for child or spouse .
Several dismissed for expressing opinions . |
050301db2c2b1a79bd8e70d98042b8571a81e89b | London (CNN) -- A former archbishop of York was accused Friday of covering up child abuse by a Church of England clergyman who has since died. The accusations against the late Very Rev. Robert Waddington are the result of a joint investigation by the Times of London and The Australian newspaper, based in Sydney. The Times alleges that Waddington, who died in 2007 from cancer, abused choirboys and school children, and that the former archbishop of York, David Hope, failed to report the abuse claims to police or child protection authorities after he was made aware of them in 1999 and 2003. The former archbishop, who was made Lord Hope after he stood down in 2005, said he had followed the legal requirements of the time. "Throughout my time as bishop and archbishop I always adhered to the statutory practices of the Church of England concerning safeguarding," he said in a statement Friday. "I strenuously deny (and am obviously disappointed at) the suggestion that myself or my team at the time would have acted negligently in this or any other safeguarding matter." Under the Church of England's 1999 Policy on Child Protection, there was no automatic legal obligation on the church to refer allegations by adults to the police or social services, his statement said. The policy, which has since been reviewed, said only that steps should be taken to protect children from any further abuse. "In considering whether children would be at risk from Robert Waddington I decided under these guidelines that this would not be the case given his serious ill health following cancer surgery," Hope said. "The following year I revoked Robert Waddington's permission to officiate. He died two years later." Waddington, once dean of Manchester Cathedral, is accused in the Times of grooming and abusing Eli Ward, who was an 11-year-old choir boy when he first met the clergyman in 1984. Ward, now 40, told the newspaper the abuse lasted through his teenage years and he was only now starting to come to terms with it. Claims of abuse at the hands of Waddington have also been made by pupils at a residential school in Queensland, Australia, where he was headmaster from 1961 to 1970, according to the Times. The Diocese of Manchester said it was aware of the allegations of past abuse against its former dean and was "working cooperatively with the parties concerned." The diocese places the "highest priority on all child safeguarding issues," and has a comprehensive child protection policy in place across its churches and schools, the statement said. "We encourage all who have suffered abuse to report it to the police." The bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, the Right Rev. Paul Butler, chairman of the Churches National Safeguarding Committee, said the church would always apologize for "past systems that let down the vulnerable" and offer support to anyone affected. "When any church-related abuse or allegation of abuse comes to light our first concern is always for the victim: Both that they are being supported and with an acknowledgment that the effects of abuse can be lifelong," he said. The office of the archbishop of York said it was aware of legal proceedings and could not comment on the allegations at this time. "For some years now the Church of England has been working consistently towards making the church a safe place for all," it added. | Former archbishop of York is accused of not alerting police to child abuse by a clergyman .
The former archbishop, David Hope, says he followed church policy as it was at the time .
The alleged abuses were committed by Robert Waddington, who died in 2003 .
The claims emerged in an investigation by the Times of London and The Australian . |
050447b58ffc927f3b91492692658ea4bfab6526 | Prime Minister Tony Abbott has promised 'good government starts today,' after surviving an attempt to spill the Liberal leadership that he called 'a very chastening experience.' But Mr Abbott's future as prime minister remains in doubt after 39 of his own MPs voted for the spill in the secret party room ballot. A majority of the Liberal backbench is thought to have voted against the prime minister, with the vote count totalling 61 votes to 39. The vote count is considered so dire for Mr Abbott because there was no direct challenger for his leadership. In a recorded statement released following the vote, Mr Abbott said: 'The Liberal Party has dealt with the spill motion and now this matter is behind us.' 'We are absolutely determined to work for you, the people.' Scroll down for video . Relieved: Mr Abbott enjoys a moment of peace during a press conference this afternoon. He survived a leadership motion, telling reporters: 'Good government starts today' While Mr Abbott expressed contrition about his performance in recent weeks, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten today revelled in the prime minister's misfortune, questioning whether he had the mandate to remain leader . Isolation: Prime Minister Tony Abbott, pictured in Parliament, was deserted by 39 of his colleagues who voted against the spill . Leadership murmurs: Mr Abbott was not opposed by any of his colleagues, including Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull. The pair are pictured sharing a moment on the floor of Parliament today . Discussion: Mr Abbott is now formulating plans on how his team can claw back support in the polls . Survivor: Mr Abbott has survived the threat to his leadership, but 39 of his own MPs voted against his leadership . The victor: Prime Minister Tony Abbott walks from the party room after a majority of his backbench voted against his leadership . Mr Abbott is due to give his first statement to the media following the vote shortly . At a press conference later, Mr Abbott conceded the government had been having a difficult time recently, citing the Queensland election result that delivered a massive swing against the Liberals. 'Who wouldn't be nervous after watching the result in Queensland,' he said. 'So all of us are determined to lift our game and the fundamental point I make is that the solution to all of these things is good government. 'And good government starts today.' Mr Abbott swept into the party room meeting on Monday morning flanked by a large throng of supporters. Malcolm Turnbull - his potential leadership rival - was not one of them, sidling into the meeting on his own. Mr Turnbull has remained coy about his position and has not publicly challenged the leader. Today's vote was instigated by rebellious backbenchers, who revolted following his controversial decision to knight Prince Philip and the disastrous defeat of Campbell Newman's Liberal National government in Queensland two weeks ago. Mr Abbott faced more grim news this morning, with a Newspoll commissioned by the Australian newspaper finding that more than 68 per cent of voters are dissatisfied with his performance. Worse, the Newspoll figures revealed Mr Turnbull was by far the preferred Liberal Party leader, with 64 per cent voting in support of him compared to just 25 per cent backing Mr Abbott. On a two-party preferred basis, Labor led the Coalition by 14 points, 57 points to 43. The poor approval ratings are the most bleak ranking for a Prime Minister in more than 20 years, comparable only to Paul Keating in 1994. Mr Abbott began today with a visit to a Canberra church. It was a traditional service held at the beginning of each parliamentary sitting year. He told reporters afterwards that the government would 'get on with being the government we were elected to be' following the vote. Contrast: Mr Abbott swept into the party room meeting accompanied by his deputy leader, Julie Bishop and a huge column of supporters . On his own: Malcolm Turnbull arrived to today's party room meeting without any supporters in tow . Cheeky stunt: Labor bigwigs Bill Shorten (centre), Tanya Plibersek and Penny Wong swept by the assembled media after buying coffees . Time to pray: Mr Abbott appeared with his wife, Margie, at a traditional church service prior to the beginning of the year's first sitting week of Parliament . After grim polling this morning, Mr Abbott is facing one of the most critical tests of his leadership in the form of a spill motion this morning . Tony Abbott and his family spent time in Sydney's China Town on Sunday afternoon after he had announced the spill motion would take place in Canberra on Monday . Tony Abbott claims he has moved the spill motion forward because, 'the last thing Australia needs right now is instability'. However, others believe he made the decision to avoid an awkward question time on Monday . Senior Liberal figure Arthur Sinodinos has said he is very disappointed by Prime Minister Tony Abbott's decision to move the spill motion forward to Monday, and revealed he will vote in favour of a spill . The most influential person to come out in favour of the spill motion was Liberal Senator Arthur Sinodinos, the former chief of staff to Prime Minister John Howard. 'I believe it will help precipitate a discussion', Senator Sinodinos told Fairfax Media on Sunday. He said he was 'very disappointed' with the Prime Minister's decision to move the spill forward from Tuesday to Monday. He said: 'MPs should be given time to discuss the matter at hand. Tuesday is the time to do that.' Treasurer Joe Hockey has said any Cabinet minister who supports the Liberal leadership spill motion should resign. Mr Hockey said he expected all cabinet members to reject the spill motion, but if they supported it they should declare their hand now. 'If I disagreed with the prime minister and if I believed he wasn't the best person to lead the team I would step down from the cabinet - that is the appropriate thing to do,' he told Sky News on Sunday. He said he trusted his Cabinet colleagues Malcolm Turnbull and Julie Bishop. 'If you are going to be disloyal to someone, you should front them,' Mr Hockey said. He expected the motion would be voted down, but not unanimously. 'There will always be a third of the party room that are upset about one thing or another,' he said. The treasurer rejected media reports that he could lose his job in a compromise to head off the leadership spill. 'I think everyone should do the jobs they have and properly serve the Australian people, not engage in commentary on gossip.' Mr Hockey stood by the government's controversial decisions to overhaul Medicare, higher education, pensions and welfare, which have contributed to the leadership unrest. 'We have no choice,' he said of the budget changes. Queensland MP Wyatt Roy, 24, has also declared that he will vote in favour of the motion to spill the leadership of the government. Wyatt (left) is pictured with Abbott in 2010 . Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull welcomed Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to Sydney on Sunday . Mr Turnbull has only voiced his opposition to Mr Abbott moving the vote forward, labelling it a 'captain's call' - what the prime minister has dubbed some of his less popular decisions, including knighting Prince Philip. Mr Turnbull said anyone was in a position to contest the leadership without being disloyal. 'If, for whatever reason, the leadership of a political party is vacant then any member of the party can stand, whether they be a minister or a backbencher, without any disloyalty to the person whose leadership has been declared vacant,' he said outside his home on Sunday. On Sunday Mr Abbott said he wanted to deal with the spill line 'as quickly as possible' so the Liberal party can put the matter behind them. 'The only question for our party is do we want to reduce ourselves to the level of the Labor party in dragging down a first term prime minister,' he said. 'Now obviously I've been talking to many colleagues over the last few days and my very strong sense is that we are determined to do what we are elected to do - to clean up Labor's mess and to give our people the economic security and the national security that they need and deserve.' Turnbull has refused to deny he will challenge the Prime Minister for leadership of the Liberal party, and said if anyone stands for a vacant position that does not mean they are disrespecting the person whose leadership has been declared vacant . Malcolm Turnbull refused to say if he will run for the leadership but maintains he supports Mr Abbott in line with cabinet solidarity . As Prime Minister Tony Abbott battles to secure the backing of his own party members amidst next week's leadership spill motion, a new Galaxy poll has revealed that 55 per cent of voters want him to stand down . As reports that Malcolm Turnbull will contest the leadership continue to circulate, the poll showed he would improve the Liberal's chance of winning at the next election if he were made Prime Minister . Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is also preferred as leader when measured up against Mr Abbott, but still not as much as a Labor government according to the 53:47 two-party preferred vote focused on her taking the top spot . There may be some hope yet for Mr Abbott, as sources reveal Mr Turnbull would offer him his support on Tuesday if he were to be promised the role of Treasurer, dumping Joe Hockey (pictured) from the position . The Communications Minister took to Twitter this week to deny he was in secret meetings with deputy leader Julie Bishop . He also revealed he believes the spill will fail and if so he will take that as an endorsement of his leadership . Ms Bishop said as Mr Abbott's deputy, she supported the prime minister . Luke Simpkins, pictured with potential leadership contender Malcolm Turnbull, has announced he will move for a federal Liberal leadership spill . | Prime Minister Tony Abbott says today's leadership vote was 'a very chastening experience'
He has promised that 'Good government starts today'
He survived a leadership spill motion, though he is weakened after a majority of backbenchers voted for a spill .
Failure of the spill motion meant Malcolm Turnbull did not have a chance to challenge Mr Abbott's leadership . |
0504bb545182fca19b1413f1e8b7e980e733104d | Rugby league has broken new ground by unveiling a major sponsorship deal with a firm of bookmakers. Ladbrokes have been announced by the Rugby Football League as the successors to Tetley's as sponsors of the Challenge Cup. Having weaned itself off a reliance on alcohol and tobacco sponsorship, the RFL took a principled stance three years ago in rejecting an offer from gambling firm Betfair for the naming rights to Super League in favour of a cashless deal with Stobart. Castleford Tigers celebrate at full time after their 2014 Challenge Cup semi-final win over Widnes Vikings . That decision was taken following a personal plea by then RFL executive chairman Richard Lewis but the current regime at Red Hall have adopted a more pragmatic stance since he left to take up the role of chief executive of the All England Club at Wimbledon in April 2012. Stobart were ditched after 12 months following pressure by the top-flight clubs and replaced as Super League sponsors by energy firm First Utility. Tetley's were appointed as Challenge Cup sponsors two years ago, taking over from long-time backers Carnegie, and now the RFL has struck a deal with Ladbrokes following the expiry of the agreement with the brewery. The deal is for three years and thought to be worth in excess of £1million a season. RFL commercial director Chris Rawlings said: 'I am delighted to announce a three-year partnership that will see the sport's oldest and most prestigious competition become the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup. Castleford's James Ellis crashes over for a try during his side's last four clash against Widnes . 'The Rugby League Challenge Cup is rich in heritage and tradition and it is both significant and fitting that the first Ladbrokes Challenge Cup final will be played on Founders Day.' Richard Glynn, chief executive of Ladbrokes, said: 'We're thrilled to begin our sponsorship of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup in a historic and momentous year for the sport. 'Rugby league is without doubt one of the world's most exciting sports, brimming with energy and adrenaline both on and off the pitch. 'The fans are beyond passionate and that passion is infectious and spreading quickly across the globe. This exclusive deal will bring Ladbrokes unprecedented access to the action, which all of our customers have become accustomed to as part of The Ladbrokes Life.' Forty amateur clubs, including representatives of the armed forces and the police, will go into the hat for the first-round draw at Wembley on Thursday and the 10 winning teams from the first two rounds will face Kingstone Press League 1 opposition in the third round in March. Kingstone Press Championship clubs will enter the fray in the fourth round while the bottom four teams from the 2014 Super League enter in round five in April, with the top eight clubs including holders Leeds joining at the last-16 stage in May. The final will be at Wembley on August 29. | Ladbrokes announced as new sponsors of the Challenge Cup .
They succeed Tetley's as official sponsors of the tournament .
The RFL rejected an offer from Betfair three years ago . |
05066c376972cfc3c4044796e12dc1aff0a4e698 | Steve Jobs hated Flash. Hated it. And not just a little bit. "Flash is a spaghetti-ball piece of technology that has lousy performance and really bad security problems," he said, according to biographer Walter Isaacson in his book published earlier this month. On Wednesday, Adobe announced it will no longer be developing Flash, its media-player tool, for mobile devices. More than a few bloggers have noted the news would have been vindication for the late Apple co-founder, who felt betrayed by Adobe more than a decade ago. In a post on the Adobe blog, company vice-president Danny Winokur said Flash has enabled the Web's richest content for a decade. "However, HTML5 is now universally supported on major mobile devices, in some cases exclusively," he said, apparently a nod to Apple's iPhone, iPad and iPod. "This makes HTML5 the best solution for creating and deploying content in the browser across mobile platforms." HTML5 is the emerging Web language that many developers are using. The Apple vs. Adobe standoff over Flash has been one of the tech world's most visible, and at times nasty, disputes. As the company shifts away from developing software for smartphones and tablets, it is impossible to ignore the part that Apple's steadfast refusal to use Flash on its popular mobile products may have played in the decision. Under Jobs, who died October 5 after a long battle with cancer, the iPhone became the industry's leading smartphone and the iPad emerged to virtually dominate the tablet space. While there are more phones running Google's Android software (many of them pointedly advertising their Flash compatibility), no products captured the public's imagination, and attention, quite like Apple's. As such, when Jobs blasted Flash, people listened. And blast it he did. He called it "buggy," a battery hog and a product created by lazy developers. "Allowing Flash to be ported across platforms means things get dumbed down to the lowest common denominator," Jobs said, according to Isaacson. "We spend lots of effort to make our platform better and the developer doesn't get any benefit if Adobe only works with functions that every platform has." Adobe fired back. Last year, the company bought multiplatform ads which, perhaps appropriately, flashed this message: "We love Apple ... . What we don't love is anybody taking away your freedom to choose what you create, how you create it, and what you experience on the Web." According to the biography, Jobs' longstanding animus toward Adobe helped form his vision for Apple's tightly controlled mobile environment. In 1999, he was flatly denied when he asked Adobe to create a version of its popular Adobe Premiere digital-graphics software for the Mac. Adobe also wouldn't rewrite Photoshop for the Mac's operating system, even though Macs were popular with designers. "My primary insight when we were screwed by Adobe in 1999 was that we shouldn't get into any business where we didn't control both the hardware and the software, otherwise we'd get our head handed to us," Jobs said, according to Isaacson. The two companies go back together even further. Apple invested in Adobe in 1985 and they worked together early on. But Jobs, who in Isaacson's book comes off sometimes as vindictive and brusque as he was innovative and inspirational, told Isaacson that Adobe went downhill after founder John Warnock retired. "The soul of Adobe disappeared when Warnock left," he said. "He was the inventor, the person I related to. It's been a bunch of suits since then, and the company has turned to crap." On Wednesday, Adobe said its upcoming release of Flash Player 11.1 for Android and the BlackBerry PlayBook will be the platform's final mobile update. Moving forward, Winokur said, Adobe plans to work with "key players in the HTML5 community, including Google, Apple, Microsoft and RIM." | Steve Jobs hated Adobe's Flash, which will quit developing for mobile devices .
The Apple CEO's feud dated to 1999, when Adobe wouldn't develop for the Mac .
He called Flash "buggy;" while Adobe criticized Apple for depriving developers of freedom .
Adobe will now support HTML5, which Apple's mobile devices use . |
05067d1cf2a109cde9ccf9603f479d5b2cb6f59d | Air New Zealand cabin crew are being praised for reviving a passenger who suffered a suspected heart attack on a domestic flight. The small plane was flying from Dunedin to Wellington today when the man went into medical distress just minutes after take-off. Fellow passenger Richard Woods said the ‘exceptional’ crew recognised the situation and jumped into action to resuscitate the man. A passenger says the man went into medical distress on the flight from Dunedin to Wellington . Mr Woods, head of emergency planning for Auckland Council, told the New Zealand Herald: ‘We were about five or ten minutes into take-off and the fella behind me was just not very well. The airline attendant picked up on that pretty quickly, she tried to get him to respond, but he wasn't responding. ‘She very, very efficiently pulled him down onto the floor and got the resuscitation pack out and brought him around with the assistance of the other two crew. ‘The crew were exceptional and everyone on the plane was extremely impressed. They pilot came down later and everyone was just saying how exceptional the crew had been. Once he'd been shocked, he came back around.’ The plane turned around and returned to Dunedin airport, where it was met by emergency services . During the emergency the twin-engine turboprop turned around and returned to Dunedin International Airport, where it was met by paramedics, who rushed the man to hospital. A St John Ambulance spokesman told the newspaper the man was taken to hospital in ‘a very serious condition’. After the man was taken to hospital the flight departed and arrived in Wellington two hours later than scheduled, an airline spokeswoman said. | Passenger went into medical distress on flight from Dunedin to Wellington .
Crew pulled the man onto the floor and resuscitated him, says witness .
Fellow traveller Richard Woods said flight attendants were 'exceptional'
Plane returned to Dunedin International Airport after emergency declared . |
0507ccb674a6124193b3be5076914edbf1f92ed5 | By . Olivia Williams . Caught on camera: David Jones went on the rampage in Manchester with a replica gun . Dramatic footage of a 'shotgun-wielding' robber threatening staff in a bookmakers and a petrol station has been released today. David Jones, 40, is now starting a five-year jail sentence after going on the rampage with an imitation shotgun. Police said he caused terror as he carried out the raids in the Oldham area of Greater Manchester wearing a balaclava and hi-visibility jacket. Manchester Crown Court heard that Jones was in debt and used the replica in a bid to pay off what he owed. At around 9.30pm on 11 May this year, Jones drove a Vauxhall Astra up to the kiosk of an Asda . petrol station in Chadderton, Greater Manchester. He managed to steal several hundred pounds at the petrol station after pointing the imitation gun at a clerk. She handed over the cash before he drove off. The next day he tried his luck again at a William Hill bookmakers in Rochdale. At 8.25pm, he walked into the . shop where there were two cashiers and a customer. He was carrying his fake gun in a black plastic bin liner and demanded staff gave him money. On the prowl: Jones arrived at the bookmakers carrying what staff believed was a gun in the black bin liner . Trying his luck: Jones has successfully stolen money from a petrol station the night before and was looking to repeat his success . Terror: Jones walked around the William Hill bookmakers on Oldham Road, Rochdale in his balaclava and high visibility jacket . The . staff, who ran into the back after seeing Jones walk in wearing a . balaclava, did not give him any and he walked off empty handed. He drove . off in the Vauxhall Astra. Detective Constable Dave Meeney from the . Serious Organised Crime Group said: 'Following a police investigation, . Jones led us to a mill off Osborne Street that he had access to. 'Inside, . we found the car, a high vis jacket that he wore during the first . crime, his balaclava and the imitation gun.' 'Although the gun was not real, the victims were not to know this and the CCTV gives an example of the terror he caused. Threatening: Hoping to pay off his considerable debts, Jones demanded staff give him money but they had run for safety . Empty-handed: Staff had gone to the safe room and refused to hand over any money to him . 'They were naturally scared when they were faced with a man wearing a balaclava and holding a weapon.' 'In the second incident at William Hill, the staff members were able to lock themselves in the back office and nothing was taken. 'From what officers uncovered, Jones was in a lot of debt and thought he would target businesses to help pay for it. Now he is paying for what he has done and is behind bars.' CCTV released by Greater Manchester Police shows the raid on the bookmakers first and then the attack at the petrol station. Jones of Shaw, near Oldham, was charged with one count of robbery, one count of attempted robbery, and two counts of possession of an imitation shotgun. He was sentenced to five years today after pleading guilty at a previous hearing. Terrifying: CCTV footage of David Jones pointing his imitation shotgun at an Asda petrol station worker the night before . | David Jones threatened workers around Manchester with imitation gun .
He managed to steal from an Asda petrol station and tried again at a bookmakers the next day .
Jones used the imitation weapon in a bid to pay off big debts he owed .
He is now serving a five-year sentence after pleading guilty . |
05091bd7113f6e8409191ddd474ebf6dcef784e4 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 01:07 EST, 23 March 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:54 EST, 23 March 2012 . One sentiment was clear among the thousands who rallied Thursday night for action in last month's fatal shooting of an unarmed Florida teenager: justice. Civil rights leader Al Sharpton helped lead the charge, demanding the arrest of neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in 17-year-old Trayvon Martin's killing in Sanford. 'We cannot allow a precedent when a man can just kill one of us... and then walk out with the murder weapon,' Sharpton said, flanked by Martin's parents and a stage full of supporters. 'We don't want good enough. We want George Zimmerman in court with handcuffs behind his back.' Scroll down for video . Standing together: A mass of protestors gathers in protest of the killing of Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida on Thursday night . Fight: Rev Al Sharpton speaks to the public, demanding the arrest of George Zimmerman . Unarmed target: Trayvon Martin, 17 (pictured left) was killed by George Zimmerman, 28 (right) after the neighborhood watch captain pursued him as walked in a gated community in Florida . The rally came the same day that . bitterly criticised Police Chief Bill Lee stepped down temporarily, he . said to help quell the rising passions surrounding the case. Hours . later, Gov. Rick Scott announced that the county prosecutor also had . recused himself from the case and that a state attorney from . Jacksonville would take over the investigation. Sharpton attended the rally just hours after the death of his mother. 'This is where she would want me to be,' he said. He was joined by Martin's parents, . Martin Luther King III and nationally syndicated radio host Michael . Baisden whose encouragement to his Twitter followers helped escalate . attention on the shooting. Call to action: Tracy Martin, father of Trayvon Martin, speaks to thousands gathered at the rally for his son . Support: Sybrina Fulton (centre), the mother of Trayvon Martin, pauses for a moment as she steps up to the podium to address attendees during the rally, attended by Rev Al Sharpton . Impassioned: Rev Al Sharpton addresses attendees at a rally for the slain Florida teen Trayvon Martin at Fort Mellon Park in Sanford, Florida on Thursday . 'Justin for Trayvon': Protesters gather at a rally for slain teenager Trayvon Martin in Sanford . United: Protesters applaud at the rally for the slain teenager . Rally: Protesters demonstrate for Trayvon, after Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee announced today he will temporarily step down following the killing of the black unarmed teenager . Heavyweight: Rev Gary Johnson, from Miami, leaves after giving a speech at the rally . In memory: Marion Evans (centre), grandmother of Trayvon Martin, and Leona D Johnson listen to Rev Al Sharpton's speech . Trayvon Martin lived in Miami and was . in Sanford visiting family February 26 when he went to a convenience store. He was walking back carrying a bag of Skittles candy and can of iced . tea, the hood of his jacket pulled over his head because it was raining. He was approached by the 28-year-old Zimmerman, who told a police . dispatcher he thought Martin looked suspicious. Zimmerman shot Martin . following a chase and fight. Zimmerman says he shot Martin in . self-defense, and Sanford police officials say there is no evidence that . contradicts that. Some neighbors in the gated community have praised . Zimmerman for taking a stand against crime in the neighborhood of the . city that is 57 percent white and 30 percent black. Police say Zimmerman . is white; his family says he's Hispanic. Martin's parents, Tracy Martin and . Sybrina Fulton, believe Zimmerman should have been arrested. They claim . he was profiling their son and acted like a vigilante. Out: Police chief Bill Lee Jr resigned Thursday afternoon amid mounting pressure from the fumbling of the investigation into the shooting death of Trayvon Martin . No confidence: The Sanford city commission, including Velma Williams (right) voted that they had no confidence in police chief Bill Lee Jr. (left) and called for him to resign . Past precedent: Police officer Anthony Raimondo- . the same officer who responded to the Martin shooting- was allegedly . involved in the cover-up of Justin Collison's (left) attack on Sherman . Wade (right) in 2007 . The rally was initially planned for a . 400-seat church. But it was moved to downtown to make room for all the . people who stood shoulder-to-shoulder in Fort Mellon Park, many holding . signs with everything from 'Justice For Trayvon' to 'Chief is gone, . Zimmerman is next.' Fulton was teary-eyed when she . addressed the crowd, telling them 'we want justice for Trayvon' before . referencing a popular Bible verse when she said she had been reminded to . 'trust in the Lord with all thy heart and lean not on thy own . understanding' during the past month. The actions of the Sanford Police Department following the shooting of Trayvon Martin on February 26. Immediately after they responded to the scene, they took George Zimmerman back to police headquarters but while there, they did not test him for alcohol or drugs. Considering he is heard slurring his words on the 911 call, that was a particularly agregious move. Not only that, but playing into to thoughts of Mr Zimmerman, the police instead tested Trayvon's dead body for alcohol and drugs. He was clean. They allowed Mr Zimmerman to leave the police station without pressing any charges. And until the very recent press buzz about the case, they proceeded to do no further investigation after that fateful night. It has taken almost a month for anything to change in the case, which has upset Trayvon's family and their supporters. Tracy Martin thanked the rally goers. 'If Trayvon were here, he would have been here tonight,' he said. 'He was a people person. Let's get justice for your son.' Familiar chants like 'No justice, no . peace' were also sung throughout the night. At least four charter buses . from Atlanta brought rally goers. Martin's parents both spoke to the . crowd just hours after they sat down with Scott who announced that the . local state attorney, Norman Wolfinger, had recused himself from the . case. In a letter to Scott, Wolfinger said that while he thought he . could fairly oversee any prosecution that develops in the case, his . recusal was aimed at 'toning down the rhetoric and preserving the . integrity of the investigation.' Scott appointed Angela B. Corey, the state attorney for the Jacksonville area, to take over the case. That announcement by the attorney for Martin's parents brought a loud cheer. 'We've still gotta hold everybody accountable until there's an arrest,' attorney Benjamin Crump beckoned the crowd. Sharpton took up an impromptu monetary . collection for Martin's parents. He started it off with a $2,500 pledge . and he was joined by Greg Mathis and Baisden who both pledged $10,000 . each. Former New York Gov. David Paterson also gave $2,000. Paterson was . among several state and national politicians at the rally. Wanted man: Many, including the parents of slain Trayvon Martin, are demanding the arrest of George Zimmerman . Athlete: In Zimmerman's 911 call he said Martin, pictured, looked like he 'up to no good' and on drugs as the teen returned home with skittles for his brother . Scene: Martin was visiting his father and stepmother in Sanford where they live at The Retreat at Twin Lakes, pictured, when he went out to buy snacks for his younger brother . Coming together: Thousands of protesters, some banding together from other causes, attended the Million Hoodie Rally in Manhattan's Union Square on Wednesday . Unexpected: Tracy Martin, pictured, said he and his son's mother found out about the march after arriving in New York City, where they have done interviews about the case . Buckets were also passed throughout . the crowd with Sharpton telling them 'Y'all show the world we're gonna . finance our own movement.' There was a brief moment of booing, when Sanford Mayor Jeff Triplett addressed the crowd. But U.S. Representative Corrine Brown . quickly quieted it when she told them how Triplett flew to Washington, . DC, and met with congressmen for five hours about the case and helped . get the 911 tapes released to the public, which generated a social media . buzz that propelled the case nationally. 'Now we are working on this issue,' she said. 'And everybody didn't want him working on this issue.' Brown also announced that they hope to . have hearings in Washington with the Justice Department about the case . as early as Tuesday. The FBI is looking into what happened. Dick Gregory, a comedian who uses . humor to convey his civil rights message, said the steady pressure . should be the goal going forward. 'All you have to do is be a turtle,' he said. 'Hard on the outside, soft on the inside and willing to stick your neck out.' Florida is among 21 states with a ‘Stand Your Ground Law,’ which gives people wide latitude to use deadly force rather than retreat during a fight. The self-defense law helps explain why a neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman has not been arrested in the shooting death of an unarmed teenager. The Florida law lets police officers on the scene decide whether they believe the self-defense claim. In many cases, the officer's defer to making the arrest, letting the courts work out whether the deadly force is justified. In this case, however, police have said they are confident they did the right thing by not charging 28-year-old Zimmerman, a white Hispanic. Martin's family questions Zimmerman's story, and believes if their races were reversed, there is no doubt a black shooter would be jailed, even if he claimed self-defense. ‘They are making it look like Zimmerman is the victim and their son is in the grave,’ said Benjamin Crump, attorney for Martin's parents. ‘It's about equal justice.’ In a statement released Wednesday, Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee insisted his officers were ‘prohibited from making an arrest based on the facts and circumstances they had at the time,’ including physical evidence that supported Zimmerman's self-defense claim. ‘The Sanford Police Department has conducted a complete and fair investigation of this incident,’ Lee said, adding that it's now up to prosecutors to determine whether to bring charges. Late Wednesday, commissioners in Sanford, a city of 53,000 people outside Orlando that is 57 per cent white and 30 per cent black, voted 3-2 to express ‘no confidence’ in the police chief. -Associated Press . Watch video here . Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy . Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy . | Al Sharpton leads charge as he calls for arrest of shooter George Zimmerman .
Police chief Bill Lee Jr resigns after national outcry over shooting .
Investigating officer Anthony Raimondo was at centre of case where white teen got off after beating a black homeless man . |
05098d800c787ddbef9d64d06d2baac028b3f516 | She's the Siberian-born beauty who has been turning heads since she burst onto the tennis scene in 2004 and won Wimbledon aged 17. Now Maria Sharapova, 27, has opened up about her passion for tennis - and her desire for a simpler life - in an interview with The Edit, Net-a-Porter's e-zine. Sharapova, who has appeared in campaigns for Tag Heuer and Cole Haan among others in the past, also shows off her glamorous side, smouldering for the camera in an accompanying photo shoot. Looking good: Maria Sharapova strikes a pose during a glossy shoot for Net-a-Porter e-zine, The Edit . Looking good: Sharapova showed off her stylish side during the sports-luxe themed shoot . But despite her striking looks and unparalleled ability to look good in a dress, Sharapova says that what she most wants is a simple life at her beachside home in California. 'I live a simple life by the beach where people don’t bother me much,' she explains. 'People seem to respect athletes that way.' One group of people who don't are the paparazzi, who thanks to interest in her relationship with fellow tennis pro Grigor Dimitrov, 23, seem to be able to find the couple anywhere. 'I think, "Oh my goodness. How did they find us?" We’re in the middle of nowhere, just sand and ocean, and all of a sudden a boat shows up. 'When we’re at home and away from the sport, we’re just two normal people who try to go about our life in a casual way, so [the media attention] is funny.' But not even media attention can stop Sharapova from throwing herself into her real passion - tennis - and she says she has her parents to thank for her success. 'The thing my parents taught me was that they were completely fine with going back to Russia, to the life we had before,' she reveals. 'The biggest gift they gave me was a sense of reality. They saw that I had potential, and they knew that there were sacrifices we had to make. But they never imagined how far we could go.' While Sharapova has lived in the US since the age of seven and currently resides in California, she says she remains a Russian at heart and adores her home country. 'The way that I speak and think is very Russian,' she confesses. 'I’m accustomed to [the US] but ultimately, it’s just the feeling you have inside.' Real world: Sharapova says her parents have helped her stay focused although she's not keen on the paps . She also says she remains passionate about seeing the world, despite spending more than a decade on the gruelling tennis tournament treadmill. 'I think of the 80/20 balance for my body and mind,' she insists. 'Disciplined 80 percent of the time, relaxed for 20.' It's a lesson that many of those left bruised by her 90mph serves and powerful approach will want to learn for themselves. Read the full interview in The Edit, which can be downloaded from net-a-porter.com . | Sharapova appears in the latest issue of Net-a-Porter e-zine, The Edit .
Says she lives a simple life at her beachside home in California .
Revealed that no one bothers her apart from the paparazzi . |
0509f58bfa3b32b6a26d831a85ec0ed6f31fc783 | By . Tom Mctague, Mail Online Deputy Political Editor . The Chancellor George Osborne has seen his approval ratings soar as the economy recovers. But experts have warned that a new crash could be round the corner . The world economy is as vulnerable to a financial crash as it was before the recession hit in 2007, the global bank watchdog has warned. Soaring levels of government debt in Europe and America and easy loans in the developing world have left the global economy in the danger zone, according to the respected Bank for International Settlements. A fresh crash could be devastating for Britain -with debt now more than double what it was in 2007, leaving the Government powerless to intervene. In 2007, Government debt was just 36 per cent of GDP, but has since topped 75 per cent. And despite recent falls in unemployment, the number out of work in Britain is still higher than before the recession struck. The jobless rate has dropped to 6.6 per cent - but this remains more than half a million more than in early 2008. Unemployment jumped from 1.6million - or 5.2 per cent - in early 2008 to a peak of 8.4 per cent or nearly 2.7million in late 2011. But it has fallen rapidly in recent months to just under 2.2million or 6.6 per cent – its lowest level since late 2008 and well below the 7.9 per cent jobless rate the Coalition inherited from Labour. The Swiss-based Bank for International Settlements said booming economies outside Europe and America were also much more important to the global economy now - so any crash in these countries would have a bigger impact in Britain and elsewhere. China, Brazil, Turkey and other booming economies have seen personal debt levels soar. Their government debt has also increased to an eye-watering 175 per cent of GDP. But at the same time, average borrowing rates are just one per cent - encouraging people to take on even more debt. The bank's chief Jaime Caruana told the Telegraph that easy credit in developing countries could hit their economies hard when it comes to an end. He said: 'Markets seem to be considering only a very narrow spectrum of potential outcomes. 'They have become convinced that monetary conditions will remain easy for a very long time, and may be taking more assurance than central banks wish to give.' He added: 'If we were concerned by excessive leverage in 2007, we cannot be more relaxed today.' The financial sector was hit hard in the 2007 crash. The Swiss-based Bank for International Settlements has warned that low interest rates in developing countries pose a future risk to the global economy . A fresh global crash would hit Britain hard. Families are already mired in debt - as the above table of the top 10 most indebted British towns shows. Government debt has also soared since 2007 . The bank said the 'ramifications would be particularly serious if China, home to an outsize financial boom, were to falter'. It said: 'Time and again, in both advanced and emerging market economies, seemingly strong bank balance sheets have turned out to mask unsuspected vulnerabilities that surface only after the financial boom has given way to bust.' Government debt in the West is even higher than in poorer, developing countries - hitting 275 per cent of GDP, up 20 per cent since 2007. | Easy loans in the developing world pose a risk to the global economy .
A crash in booming countries like China and Brazil would damage the West .
UK could be hit hard by fresh crash because of soaring Government debts . |
050ad09c3edf8309fec124d912a390819c57b421 | The Russian web was ablaze with bizarre theories today at an extraordinary explosion seen by thousands of commuters in St Petersburg. It must have seemed like the end of the world was nigh when motorists driving along this busy motorway saw a huge flash light up the night sky on the horizon. So far, conspiracy theories of martians and bomb-testing have emerged to explain the astonishing sight. However, the reality was far less exciting. Scroll down for video . The calm before the electric storm: Unsuspecting motorists were driving along this motorway when the huge flash appeared on the horizon in front of them . Lit-up: This motorist's enjoyment of John Lennon came to an abrupt end when the huge flash appeared in front of them . Bright: Some of the conspiracy theories which have surfaced online in Russia claim the flash is the result of bomb-testing or martians . The flash was the result of an . explosion at an electrical power plant in St Petersburg, in what was . described as a 'technical malfunction' by officials. No one was hurt in . the incident. The amazing footage was recorded by one driver listening to John Lennon as he was stuck in a traffic jam. Footage has gone viral on YouTube and other blogs and social networking site, attracting a flurry of online theories from conspiracists. 'It's . the Martians landing,' said one comment, while several others also . suggested a spaceship had landed on Russia's second city and former . Imperial capital. Another commenter added: 'I know precisely what this is - tests of a neutron bomb in St Petersburg.' 'It's Vladimir Putin's new bomb - watch out,' was another version, which brought a reply: 'We didn't have such a thing under Stalin.' One claim was that it was 'a test of after-election therapy for the people'. Different angle: The explosion was also captured on camera from another viewpoint - and a plume of smoke is seen rising from the power plant on the horizon . Armageddon? The shocking sight has been met with suspicion and hysteria in Russia, with footage of the explosion going viral online . Explanation? The Russian authorities said the flash was caused by 'technical malfunctioning' which led to a temporary blackout . Russians go to the polls to choose a . new President on March 4 following widespread complaints of ballot . rigging by the party of favourite Putin in the December parliamentary . elections. In fact the explanation was more mundane. The dramatic light show came from the latest explosion of an electricity substation in St Petersburg. Officials blamed a 'technical malfunction' for the spectacular display without further explanations of what went wrong. The breakdown of small feeder power stations is by no means unusual in the former USSR, often plunging entire districts into darkness. But as one blogger said: 'It's great they've got John Lennon on the radio. His message will not be lost.' Now watch the video . | Explosion at power station near St Petersburg causes huge flashes .
Motorists see the light show while stuck in traffic . |
050b1222d24db8e4a28f4fbb5b36f484a19dc5dd | (CNN) -- A plume of black smoke rose over Cairo early Friday after a powerful explosion hit the city's police headquarters, killing at least four people and wounding more than 50 others, Egyptian authorities said. The blast struck a key symbol of authority in a country that has been shaken by political turmoil and violent unrest in recent years. It was followed by two smaller explosions near police stations in the Cairo area, one of which killed one person. And later, a fourth explosion outside a movie theater in Giza city, near Cairo, killed one person and injured seven others, state television said. The blasts took place at a time of high tension -- the day before the third anniversary of the 2011 revolution that eventually brought down authoritarian leader Hosni Mubarak. And they come amid the instability ushered in by the military's overthrow last year of the democratically elected former President, Mohamed Morsy, and the ensuing crackdown by security forces on the Islamist movement that supported him, the Muslim Brotherhood. Suicide bomber suspected . The first blast appeared to have been caused by a suicide attacker who tried to drive a vehicle laden with explosives into the police headquarters, said Maj. Gen. Hany Abdel Latif, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry, citing preliminary reports. Guards stationed in front of the headquarters in the Abdeen district of Cairo opened fire at the vehicle, and the explosion went off in the building's vicinity rather than inside, he told state news agency Egynews. The blast destroyed the front of the first and second floors of the eight-story building, he said, and damaged the third floor. Most of the building's windows appeared to have been blown out. Air-conditioning units dangled by cables from the shattered facade. At least 51 people were wounded in the explosion, state-run broadcaster Masriya TV reported, citing the Health Ministry. Visiting the ruined building, Egyptian Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim condemned the bombing. "These are nothing but desperate attacks in an attempt to create chaos, but the citizens here will remain resilient," he told Masriya TV. Ibrahim said security forces will ensure that Egyptians will be able to celebrate the anniversary of the revolution Saturday "as if nothing happened today." A powerful blast . CNN's Reza Sayah said the blast appeared to be "the most powerful bomb attack that we've seen here in central Cairo in recent memory." Speaking from near the scene of the blast, he said the attack will probably intensify the fight between Egypt's military-backed government and the groups that oppose it. It wasn't immediately clear who was behind that bombing. Friday is a holiday in Egypt, so the police headquarters is unlikely to have been as busy as it would have been on a weekday. The blast happened around 6:30 a.m., according to state media. Hundreds of people -- some stunned, some angry -- gathered around the scene, Sayah said. Many of those in the crowd were quick to blame the Muslim Brotherhood, despite no official word on who might be to blame. The Muslim Brotherhood denied responsibility for the bombing and issued a statement condemning it. "The Muslim Brotherhood condemns any acts of violence or killing, regardless of who are the perpetrators, and the (Muslim Brotherhood) emphasizes that the revolution that has continued for seven months is a peaceful revolution and it will insist to remain peaceful." Separately, the Muslim Brotherhood called for protests and sit-ins across multiple sites in and out of Cairo in a show of defiance. The group said security forces fired live ammunition on demonstrators in Beni Suef on Friday; surrounded and mistreated worshippers at a mosque in Suez on Friday; and thugs attacked a funeral in Alexandria on Thursday, among other grievances. Police arrested 111 protesters across the country, the Interior Ministry said. Egypt's armed forces condemned the bombings, as did the U.S. government. "It should be clear to all ... Egyptians that violence has not and will not move Egypt's political transition forward," White House spokesman Jay Carney said. "Ongoing unrest and cycles of violence surrounding protests hurt Egypt's prospects for political and economic stability." A U.S. State Department official said that Washington is "aware of reports" that one of its citizens "has been detained in Egypt." But the official said the U.S. government wouldn't comment any more than that. Fears of more turmoil . Friday's second explosion was much smaller and went off near a police station in Dokki, a residential area of Cairo, wounding several people, authorities said. And in the Al-Haram district of Giza city, a small bomb was thrown at a moving police vehicle near a police station, killing one person, deputy Giza security chief Mahmoud Farouk told state TV. This new wave of violence follows a referendum earlier this month in which Egyptian voters overwhelmingly approved a new constitution proposed by the military-backed government, according to the country's electoral commission. But supporters of the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood had boycotted the vote in response to a continuing government crackdown. Rights groups have expressed concern about what they call an increasingly repressive environment in Egypt, where more than 2,200 people have been killed since Morsy's ouster. Some anti-government groups have resorted to violence. Bomb attacks and shootings against the security apparatus have taken place across the country in recent months -- a situation described by some as a low-level insurgency. The government has blamed the Muslim Brotherhood for many of the attacks, even though the movement has condemned them. The bombing of the Cairo police headquarters suggested the violence is taking on a more serious, high-profile form. "The fear is there's a very difficult and tumultuous phase ahead for this country," Sayah said. Democracy: Egypt's beautiful dream in the wrong hands . Egypt passes a new constitution . CNN's Jamie Crawford and journalist Ian Lee contributed to this report. | NEW: Official: U.S. is "aware of reports" one of its citizens has been detained in Egypt .
A huge explosion strikes Cairo's police headquarters, damaging several floors .
More than 50 people also are wounded in the attack, state media report .
Smaller blasts follow in other areas of Cairo, wounding several people . |
050ba548541a9b198a030cd14a9fc50ac567861a | Aaron Ramsey has defended his form this season and called some of the criticism he has received 'unfair'. Former Arsenal forward Charlie Nicholas accused the Wales midfielder of playing 'Hollywood football' following the 3-3 draw with Anderlecht. Ramsey, though, said he 'knows his qualities'. He has yet to hit the heights of last season, when he scored 16 goals in all competitions for Arsenal - finding the net only three times in 17 appearances for club and country. Aaron Ramsey hurdles the challenge of Nicolas Lombaerts during Sunday night's draw in Belgium . Gareth Bale and Ramsey celebrate at the final whistle after securing a hard-earned point for the Welsh . He was out for three weeks with a hamstring injury sustained in Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Tottenham on September 27. Arsene Wenger has said his player must focus on getting his 'priorities right' between attack and defence. 'I’m not worried. I know my qualities,' said Ramsey. 'I’ve had a few injuries this season and I’m just getting back. 'To be honest, I’m still not 100 per cent physically there. It does take a bit out of me. Ramsey battles for possession with Belgium's Axel Witsel during Sunday's stalemate . Chris Coleman has played a major role in the Welsh side's resurgence, says Ramsey . 2013-14 . Games: 23 . Goals: 10 . Minutes per goal: 176.4 . Shots-to-goal conversion: 26.32% . Assists: 8 . Chances created: 32 . Pass Accuracy: 84.36% . 2014-15 . Games: 10 . Goals: 2 . Minutes per goal: 309 . Shots-to-goal: 12.5% . Assists: 1 . Chances created: 18 . Pass accuracy: 85.96 . *Premier League only . 'It will take me a few more games to be back to my best. I’m not worried. Certain criticism from people is unfair.' Ramsey was part of the Wales team who earned a point in Belgium to keep their hopes of qualifying for Euro 2016 very much alive. The 23-year-old praised manager Chris Coleman, but also predecessor Gary Speed, who Ramsey said laid the foundations. 'Chris has done really well,' he said. 'It was always difficult to come in after Gary Speed - whoever the manager was. 'To be fair to the gaffer, he was brave to take on the job. Now he has had his own input as well as building what Gary first started off. 'He’s done really well and you can see everyone is right behind him. We all want to go in the right direction.' The 0-0 draw places Wales second in Group B on eight points from four games, one point behind Israel. Scenes of jubilation greeted the final whistle, with Ramsey one of several players to throw his shirt to the celebrating travelling fans. 'It wasn’t a very exciting game for them to watch when we had the ball,' said Ramsey. 'We felt like that we needed them to get us over the line. We showed them our appreciation for getting us that point in the end. 'You can see the fans are right behind us. They have come over in numbers this week and they stuck with us all through the game even when we weren’t playing great. Ramsey says former Wales manager, the late Gary Speed, laid the foundations for the country's current form . 'We’ve got a very important point. We were under pressure for large periods of the game, but I felt we stuck together and that is something we have improved on dramatically in this campaign. We are very hard to beat and to score against. 'We are going in the right direction and we have kept the momentum going in terms of getting the point and keeping the points ticking over. 'We are second in the group but we would have snapped anyone’s hand off if we were offered that before the campaign began. 'We will go to Israel now full of confidence and hopefully be more dangerous with the ball. Hopefully it will be a more comfortable game for us.' The Welsh stars saluted the visiting fans at the final whistle after continuing their good start to Euro qualifying . | Wales star was accused of playing 'Hollywood football' by Charlie Nicholas .
Ramsey says he 'knows his qualities' and has defended his start to season .
Arsenal ace has scored just three times in 17 games for club and country .
But midfielder says he is still not 100 per cent fit after niggling injuries . |
050ba955e51ddca7bface031ea3c0ef9bc19c020 | (CNN) -- Costa Rican President Oscar Arias has been diagnosed with the H1N1 virus, commonly known as the swine flu, the government said in a televised statement on Tuesday. Oscar Arias, the president of Costa Rica, has contracted the H1N1 virus. Arias fell ill on Sunday, complaining of a sore throat and temperature, Presidential Minister Rodrigo Arias said. A doctor's visit on Tuesday revealed that the president had the H1N1 virus, cases of which had been reported earlier in the Costa Rican capital of San Jose. The president's overall health was good, but following his doctor's advice, he will rest at his home until Sunday, Rodrigo Arias said. The president is expected to return to work on Monday, the minister said. As of Friday, there were 718 confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus in Costa Rica, and the virus has been blamed for 27 deaths, according to a report by the country's ministry of health. A majority of the confirmed cases -- 480 -- were in San Jose. Arias, 67, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for helping bring an end to Central America's civil wars. More recently, he acted as mediator between two feuding sides claiming the leadership of Honduras. | President Oscar Arias has been diagnosed with the H1N1 virus, government says .
Arias fell ill Sunday, complaining of a sore throat and a temperature .
Arias is expected to return to work on Monday, presidential minister says .
As of last Friday, there were 718 confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus in Costa Rica . |
050bb6765dc1f8f917ed5e8e89867199df75d1d8 | North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un has been photobombed by two soft toys while visiting an orphanage. Kim seen oblivious as he leaned against a bed, that two soft toys had been placed in a compromising position on a wardrobe in the corner of the room. The front toy had a satisfied smirk and a cheeky wink while its grey-and-white compatriot approached it from behind. Kim Jong-Un appears oblivious that two cuddly toys have been placed behind him in a compromising position . Kim Jong-Un was seen without a cane according to North Korean for the first time since undergoing surgery . In the orphanage photograph, Kim is pictured holding what appears to be a cigarette as he rests against a pink bed. When he returned in October, he was walking with a pronounced limp despite the use of a cane. North Korean media released the images of Kim in a bid to show that he had recovered from his recent health scares. One of the new images showed Kim walking past a chair while inspecting soldiers. In a second photograph, Kim was photographed standing while clapping his hands. Earlier Kim appeared at a number of events using a black cane for support, including when he inspected the cockpit of a North Korean fighter jet. Kim Jong-Un's father Kim Jong-Il died in 2011. Since then, the dictator has regularly appeared at public events in North Korea, being photographed. Hundreds of troops clapped as Kim walked several yards in front of them without any walking aid . After returning to public view last month, Kim Jong-Un was photographed using a large black cane . The images appeared in the official newspaper of the North Korean Communist Party . Since his return to public view, it is understood that Kim has ordered the execution of several leading members of the communist party. One top military official was dragged from his home and shot by firing squad after he changed several of the words of a socialist anthem during a karaoke session. Instead of singing 'hate your enemies, love your country', the official chanted 'hate your wife, love your mistress.' Several other officials were believed to have been executed after they were reported for watching South Korean soap operas. | Kim Jong-Un was photographed during a visit to a Pyongyang orphanage .
Two soft toys were placed in a compromising position during Kim's visit .
It was the first time Kim had been pictured walking unaided since September .
The dictator had been using a cane while recovering from ankle surgery .
Kim went missing for six weeks prompting claims that he had been deposed . |
050be641a7ce527b26f53ed991d2d3025c6800de | (CNN) -- Dionne Warwick was one of the thousands of guests to attend Michael Jackson's memorial service Tuesday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Dionne Warwick said Michael Jackson brought a new insight to things people should be paying attention to. Warwick talks with CNN's Larry King about the moving tributes during the service and the legacy left behind by the "King of Pop." King also talks with Warwick's son, Damon Elliott, who has been a friend of Jackson's since childhood and was writing a song with Michael just before his death. The following is an edited version of the interview. Larry King: What did you think of the event, Dionne? Dionne Warwick: Well, it was probably one of the most emotional mornings and afternoons that I've spent in a very long time. It was done with a great deal of style and class. King: He would've liked it? Warwick: He would've loved it. He would've loved it. King: How did you and Michael hook up, Damon? Damon Elliott: From Mom. We shared moms. When I was very little, I used to beg her probably at least once a week, "Mom, you have to take me out to the house, you have to take me out to the house." She'd always say, "I'm on tour right now, baby. But when we I get home, we'll go see Michael." And one day we did, and he showed up, I think, in my living room or somewhere. King: You were writing a song at his death? Elliott: Yes. Actually, I was working on some music for the new record that I was going to get over to Jermaine. And the night before he passed away, it's crazy we were writing a song. King: How great a singer was Michael Jackson? Warwick: Michael was... King: A singer -- a pure singer? Warwick: And he could sing. Yes. Yes. It was more than the magic of everything else that he did. He was a brilliant singer. King: What was he like to work with, if you were working on a song together? What was that experience like? Elliott: Well, from a distance, I got to work with Michael. I mostly worked through Jermaine, who was another amazing talent. But just all the brothers, you know, they have so much conviction and so much feeling in their delivery. Watch Jackson family address crowd » . And Michael was like the greatest teacher to all of us -- producers, dancers, singers, songwriters. He just had it all. He would come in and beat box a melody and you'd try to emulate it on a drum machine and it just was impossible. So you'd just keep what he did. King: What's Michael Jackson's legacy? Warwick: The wonderful things that he did for this entire world. I think he brought a new insight as to the things that we really should be paying attention to. He did it brilliantly, and I think that's his legacy. | Singer Dionne Warwick: Jackson's memorial service was done with style, class .
Warwick's son was writing a song with Jackson days before his death .
Damon Elliott: "Michael was like the greatest teacher to all of us" |
050cda28e643e36c50cb8a5d4e80545add092358 | Jason Boog was immersed in publishing for five years as editor of the MediaBistro blog GalleyCat. When he became a dad, he was curious how best to foster a love of books in his newborn daughter. His solution was - what else? - writing a book about raising bookworms, Born Reading, out in July from Touchstone. Mr Boog, 37, lives in Los Angeles with his wife and now nearly four-year-old daughter, Olive. He works for a film production company, connecting screenwriters with experts to assist story development. Mr Boog's book coincides with a policy . issued Tuesday from the American Academy of Pediatrics asking doctors . to stress that parents should read to kids every day, beginning in . infancy. Bringing up bookworms: In a new book called Born Reading, former GalleyCat editor Jason Boog talks about raising children in the digital age, and why parents should read to their kids every day . In a new interview, the Associated Press posed four questions to Jason Boog: . AP: Isn't there enough guidance out there on fostering a love of reading in babies and young children? Mr Boog: When I was just starting to introduce my daughter to books, the iPad, lots of digital devices, were swamping the market. They entered the marketplace so quickly that I don't think we as parents, or even the child development experts - no one really - had enough time to process the whole change. There was this rapid shift in the way we read, so I set out in the book to speak to scientists, child development experts on how best to handle the new landscape. AP: Are parents too exhausted in their child's first year to read to them? Mr Boog: I started to read to my daughter from the very first few days of her life. On the one hand it's boring to have these newborns. They don't do very much. They kind of just sit there and you kind of need something to do to entertain them and entertain yourself. Then when I started speaking to the experts about it, that act of reading, even if your child is not speaking and not pointing to things in a book, but the act and the sound of your voice is turning on switches in their brain constantly in those first two years of life. I didn't realize that. So I would set her up in her bouncy chair and as she drank her bottle I would pull out a board book and read it to her. Every single day you would see a little bit more light in those eyes and you would see her start to follow the story a little bit. AP: How do you feel about the recommendation of no screen time for children under two? Mr Boog: . Some parents ban it completely during those first two years. We . definitely let Olive grab the iPhone or the iPad when we were on . airplanes or in long lines. We kind of used it as the pacifier of last . resort. More to come: Born Reading: Bringing Up Bookworms in a Digital Age by Jason Boog will hit shelves in July . I still struggle on a daily basis with my daughter to balance my need for making her lunch, for doing my work or getting dressed. She would play with the iPad all day if I let her, until she fell over and fell asleep. She has nothing in her brain that tells her to turn it off. It's a constant struggle for 21st- century parents to figure out what the perfect balance is for their child and devices. Realistically, you can't have zero screen time the way the world works now, with parents using devices every day and children seeing them every day. They're going to be curious. They're going to want to touch them. AP: Do you think parents, pediatricians, day care providers and others do enough to read to or expose babies and young children to reading? Mr Boog: Over the last 30 years we've developed this very rich body of research about the science of interactive reading. That is reading to your child in a way where you're asking questions, where you're having them compare it to their own experiences, where it's a very active, participatory experience. You can use a device, you can do it while watching Sesame Street, with a song, but it's you and your child and not your child and a device. So we've had 30 years of research telling us it's just crucial for a developing brain to do this. I feel like at a time when books, maybe, are receding a little bit from the public imagination, it's almost a public health issue to know this. People should be handing something out at the hospital saying it's really important that you do this with your child, have this interactive experience. It doesn't have to be an either-or proposition - book over device. It would be a terrible tragedy if the art of reading to your child is lost in the digital transition. | Jason Boog's book coincides with a policy issued Tuesday from the American Academy of Pediatrics asking doctors to stress that parents should read to kids every day, beginning in infancy . |
050d5763cde1833eee530b03040acf1177dc2695 | By . Luke Salkeld . A teacher has been struck off for having sex with a 16-year-old boy after seducing him with photographs of herself in various poses on Facebook. Mother-of-two Clare Horton, 33, posted a series of self-portraits known as ‘selfies’, before her relationship with the pupil became sexual. She showed him pictures of herself in a lacy top and a black dress with a plunging neckline while he was revising for his GCSEs. Selfie: Teacher Clare Horton, who had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old pupil, according to a disciplinary hearing . It was heard she sent the boy messages on Facebook with pictures of herself posing . The design teacher claimed she had been simply seeking ‘the hand of friendship’ from the teenager as she went through an acrimonious divorce and they did not have sex. But she was found guilty of misconduct and banned from teaching for two years. Mrs Horton, who was head of year 11 at the time, sent the teenager messages on Facebook while he was on study leave for his GCSE exams. A disciplinary hearing was told she met the schoolboy for a revision time ‘rendezvous’ before driving him back to her home in Newport, South Wales. The boy, known as Pupil A, later told police he had sex with the teacher but did not want to press charges because of his ‘strict religious beliefs’. Mrs Horton worked at Fitzalan High School in Leckwith, Cardiff, for ten years. Trusted: Horton was was head of year 11 at Fitzalan High School in Cardiff . A Professional Conduct Committee of the General Teaching Council of Wales heard that ‘a number’ of pupils had messaged her on Facebook. She agreed to meet Pupil A and drove him to her home, where the pair are said to have had an afternoon sex session before she dropped him off at his home and went to pick up her two young children. The teacher, who was going through a bitter divorce at the time, claimed all she took from him was 'the hand of friendship' Rumours quickly spread in the school. After taking two weeks’ sick leave, Mrs Horton told head teacher Catherine Bradshaw that she had ‘slept’ with the boy and handed in her notice. The head referred the matter to social services and the police but the Crown Prosecution Service decided to take no further action. Mrs Bradshaw said Mrs Horton was well respected and her actions were ‘out of character’. In a statement given to the disciplinary hearing in Cardiff, Mrs Horton said she had committed ‘the ultimate sin’, but denied that sex had taken place. She claimed that she simply chatted to the boy before falling asleep on the sofa for a couple of hours. ‘I was in an incredibly emotional state and sexual intercourse was the last thing on my mind,’ said the teacher. ‘All I took from Pupil A was the hand of friendship. ‘Because of what was going on at home, teaching was my only lifeline. To be told I was anything other than ugly, fat, useless and worthless was a safety blanket that I foolishly used. ‘He was very kind and listened. I was just talking about what was going on with my ex-husband. He made me feel better. ‘He slept at my house and so did I. I slept alongside him. We did not have sexual intercourse.’ The teacher, who broke down in tears while giving evidence, added: ‘Within days of the event, I felt I had committed the ultimate sin. I was in such a bad place mentally. ‘The feeling of shame and regret is something I will never be able to get rid of.’ She added that she ‘deserved to be punished’. Martin Jones, who presented the evidence at the hearing, said Mrs Horton’s behaviour ‘clearly amounted to a significant breach in the professional boundary between her and pupil A’. Panel chairman Helene Mansfield said the teacher’s arguments were ‘unconvincing’. She had displayed ‘a lack of awareness of her responsibilities and abused a position of trust’. The panel chairman acknowledged that the teenager had been a former pupil at the time of the incident, ‘albeit by a few days’. The disciplinary hearing ruled that Mrs Horton had engaged in an inappropriate and sexual relationship with the pupil that amounted to misconduct. She was given an indefinite prohibition order and told she would have to wait two years before reapplying to teach. | Clare Horton, 33, drove teenager to her home for sexual encounter .
She sent him pictures of herself pouting in sexy clothes .
The pair just fell asleep together, according to the former year 11 head .
Ms Horton found guilty of misconduct, banned from teaching . |
050ea68cfff49b99600bfc32ee6b9954c3bfc3f4 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 10:26 EST, 6 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:26 EST, 6 March 2013 . The New York police officer accused of scheming online to kidnap, cook and eat his wife will not testify in his trial, leaving his fate in the hands of the jury, it was revealed today. Yesterday, jurors were forced to watch a video of a woman made to appear to be cooked over an open flame from the Dark Fetish website officer Gilberto Valle used, as the court heard the site has 38,000 members and 4,500 active users. In the final day of testimony yesterday, Valle fought back tears as he told the judge it was 'not his desire' to testify. This is the only time he has spoken during his cannibalism trial since it started on February 25. On trial: Gilberto Valle visited websites containing instructions on how to tie up, 'chloroform' and cook a girl . Cannibal Cop: The former New York City police officer Gilberto Valle, pictured in a courtroom sketch, planned to tie up his wife and watch her bleed to death, he said . Emotional: In the final day of testimony yesterday, Valle fought back tears as he told the judge it was 'not his desire' to testify . The government rested a week after it . began trying to prove that Valle tried to conspire with others on the . Internet to kidnap, kill and cannibalize six women, including friends . and his wife. The evidence, taken from websites devoted to torturing and eating women visited by Officer Gilberto Valle, also included images of women with apples in their mouths and instructions on ‘how to cook a girl’. Public defender Robert Baum said Valle 'started getting emotional' as jurors were shown the Dark Fetish website where Valle met the alleged co-conspirators with whom he engaged in depraved online chats and e-mail exchanges. 'It got him very emotional,' Baum told the New York Post. 'It brought back the whole experience.' Baum also said Valle realized that 'the trial is finally coming to a conclusion and his fate is in the jury’s hands. And that’s a heavy weight for someone to bear'. Since the trial's start last week, jurors have heard excerpts read aloud from dozens of Internet chats and emails in which Valle talked with others about murdering and eating women. Those women included his estranged wife, Kathleen Mangan-Valle. Out of two dozen plots involving women, at least three were real, prosecutors contended. Defense lawyers said their client's cyber-plots were 'pure fiction', no more dangerous than a Stephen King novel or a horror movie. Earlier, FBI computer forensics . examiner Stephen Flatly testified Valle frequently visited websites . showing women being tortured, including one that offered images of women . who did not survive. ‘Some are dead. A couple of them appeared to have been strangled,’ he said. As Mr Flatly described the images . displayed on video monitors in federal court in Manhattan, shocked . jurors put hands to their mouths and displayed other signs of distress. One cannibalism website allegedly visited by Valle promised customers they would ‘only receive the highest quality human beef'. The jury also heard how the officer . allegedly looked up 'how to tie up a girl', 'human meat recipes', 'how . to chloroform a girl', 'I want to sell a girl slave', 'how to cook a . girl', 'death fetish' and 'huge cooking tray' among other topics the . defense says were part of a fetish fantasy that never posed a real . threat. 'Discovered': Kathleen Mangan, 28, pictured with her husband, was offered up to a Pakistani man to be cooked and eaten . View of Federal Courthouse in Manhattan where the trial of New York Police Department officer Gilberto Valle, accused of conspiring to kidnap women that he planned to cook and eat, began . An undated photo submitted as evidence shows Gilberto Valle with his daughter. Valle is accused of conspiracy to kidnap a woman and unauthorized use of a law enforcement database that prosecutors say he used to help build a list of potential targets . The video showed to the jury, which . was found by the FBI on Valle’s computer, is apparently staged and shows . a naked, screaming woman hanging over an open flame. Two images of naked women roasting on a . giant spit were discovered in a computer file of several dozen . photographs that Valle kept on a former college friend whom prosecutors . have identified as a target of the alleged plot. The face of one woman prosecutors say he targeted was cut out and pasted onto a cartoon of a woman being boiled in a pot. Prosecutors also had wanted to present . as many as 34 exhibits of even more ghastly images found on Valle's . computer depicting women being tortured, dead bodies and body parts. They include a picture of a dead body . with the feet cut off which Valle's wife testified she saw when she went . to one of his favorite sites and discovered why he stayed up late . online. However U.S. District Judge Paul . Gardephe ruled they were not admissible because they were automatically . stored in cache files on Valle's computer. ‘What we don't have is proof that he ever saw the images here,’ he said at the start of the second week of the trial. Wife: In this courthouse sketch, Kathleen Mangan, right, testifies about discovering her husband's sick fetish for torturing and eating women . On trial: In this courtroom sketch, Gilberto Valle is seen in federal court in New York as his wife, Kathleen Mangan testifies . However, the judge permitted the . screenshots of Valle's Internet searches about cannibalism as well as . proof that the officer looked up articles written about the rape and . murder of a young woman and others about a 15-year-old girl who was . kidnapped and murdered in California. The browsing history also showed that . an article titled ‘Cannibalism can be addictive, expert says’ and . Facebook pages of alleged targets were viewed. As soon as the government finished, . defense lawyers asked the judge to acquit their client, saying . prosecutors failed to present sufficient evidence to let a jury decide . whether Valle planned to carry out a crime. A judge reserved decision. Defense attorney Julia Gatto said it has not yet been decided whether . the officer will testify. Earlier in the trial, prosecutors . claimed the 28-year-old was involved in online chats with a Pakistani . man to whom he offered his ex wife for meat. At Manhattan Federal Court last week, . testimony by FBI Agent Corey Walsh outlined an an online chat between . Valle and a man named Aly Khan last year, where Khan said he 'would love . to slaughter a girl and make her meat'. Valle, who met Khan on a website for . people who fantasise about eating human flesh, wrote that he was 'trying . to pick out a girl who i can send over'. He added: 'I can talk my girlfriend into going to India,' where Walsh said Aly Khan claimed to live. Testimony: Kathleen Mangan, pictured right as she's driven away from court on Monday . Warped: The websites visited by Valle contained images of women with apples in their mouths . Prosecution case: A passage of a Federal complaint filed in New York against Valle . He was referencing Kathleen Mangan, the . woman who would become Valle’s wife about six months later and informed . police about her husband's sexual fantasies after she found material on . his laptop. The pair have a baby daughter. They go on to talk about 'humiliating' Mangan, taking turns raping her and then slaughtering her together. Valle, 28, has been held without bail . since his October arrest. Throughout the trial, his lawyers have . attacked government evidence as nothing more than a man fantasizing with . like-minded people. The government has conceded that Valle never met . the purported Internet co-conspirators and that no women were harmed. Jurors have heard testimony from . Valle's estranged wife and from former classmates and other women who . said they knew Valle on a casual basis and never considered him . dangerous. Their testimony was followed by evidence that all of them . were the subjects of emails and chats describing how they could be . snatched away and eaten. The . charges of conspiracy to kidnap and improper use of a federal database . system could bring Valle, 28, a life sentence if he's convicted. Harrowing: He allegedly discussed how to kill a woman by slowly cooking her over emails with co-conspirators . Officer: Valle worked at the New York Police Department's 29th precinct . | Gilberto Valle, 28, visited websites with recipes for human meat .
Jury made to watch horrifying video of staged 'cooking' of women .
New York Cannibal Cop accused of conspiring to kidnap and eat six women .
One of the six women was his wife with whom he has a daughter . |
050f19c84a9531d91d4b8dd4650e244396a9ea29 | By . Simon Jones . Saphir Taider is poised to join Southampton from Inter Milan on an initial loan with a view to a £7million permanent deal.Saphir Taider . The French-born Algeria international has been proposed as part of the transfer that took Dani Osvaldo to Milan. Taider, 22, who was also offered to West Ham earlier in the window, is due to have a medical in the morning ahead of a signing on a season's loan. Manager Ronald Koeman said: 'Taider brings quality and we need that. We need competition in the squad as well and that will be good.' Deal: Saphir Taider is poised to join Southampton from Inter Milan on an initial loan with a view to a permanent . Recruitment drive: Ronald Koeman is keen to get new faces in at St Mary's after losing star men this summer . Osvaldo, the Italy international striker who fell out with his Southampton teammates after a training ground fight with Jose Fonte, completed his move today after travelling to Italy over the weekend. Southampton are also in discussions over a loan for Inter winger Ezequiel Schelotto. The 25-year-old was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina but has an Italian passport and one cap for Italy. He spent part of last season on loan at Parma where he scored four goals in 16 games. Schelotto's agent Bruno Carpeggiani said: 'The situation with Southampton is active and we are waiting for the deal to go ahead.' | Algerian proposed as part of the deal to take Dani Osvaldo to Milan .
Saints also in discussions over Ezequiel Schelotto .
Ronald Koeman is looking for fresh blood after losing star men this summer . |
050ffe34f77f152ddfd0ab61edfbdc5946e77bfc | (CNN)Lawmakers in the Philippines have called for an inquiry into allegations that public funds were used to "hide" homeless families at a resort during the Pope's recent visit. The Philippines Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has confirmed that 340 members of 100 homeless families were removed from Roxas Boulevard, a major Manila thoroughfare, and temporarily relocated to a beach resort about 90 kilometers (55 miles) away for the duration of the Papal visit. The families returned after the Pope's departure. A resolution before the Philippines House of Representatives has called on the government to summon the head of the DSWD for a probe into whether $97,600 spent on the six-day training course at the resort in Nasugbu, Batangas, amounted to a misuse of public funds. Rep. Terry Ridon, one of the lawmakers behind the resolution, said in a statement he was concerned that the families had been rounded up from Roxas Boulevard, which the Papal convoy traveled several times during the Pope's January 15-19 visit. He said the episode highlighted the "frivolous manner" in which the government implemented anti-poverty programs. The training course at the resort had been been funded as part of a program with the objective of "keeping families off the streets by training them how to live in a house," read the resolution, which was also sponsored by Rep. Antonio Tinio and Rep. Isagani Zarate. However, "after the papal visit, the families who participated in the 'training' were returned to the streets," raising questions about the program's effectiveness in terms of its "supposed objective of reducing poverty," said the resolution. In an unrelated Senate hearing Tuesday, DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman was asked about the issue, and confirmed that homeless families from the boulevard had been sent to the resort. She said the department had already intended to enroll the families in the training program, and had considered the period of the Pope's visit would be the ideal time to do so. "To prepare for Pope Francis' arrival... local governments wanted to make sure that Roxas Boulevard was in a secure and safe state, and so were the (homeless) people... with the influx of people in the area," she told the hearing. "So when we reached out to the families on Roxas Boulevard, since we were already planning to register them to the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer Program, we thought it could be the right time to hold the orientation from January 15 to 19." The government's Modified Conditional Cash Transfer (MCCT) Program is described on a government website as a "complete package of assistance to street families ... with access to social services and economic opportunities for the improvement of their living conditions." Ridon's resolution alleged that the resort stay was "not the first time that DSWD (had) made an attempt to cover up the massive inequality in the country." It claimed that during the World Economic Forum on East Asia held in Manila in May last year, families were relocated to another resort for similar training. The plight of the poor, particularly street children, was a touchstone during Pope Francis' visit to the predominantly Catholic country. At a Sunday Mass, the Pope embraced former street children, who asked him why God had allowed them to suffer. | Allegations are made the the Philippines hid homeless families during the Pope's visit .
100 homeless families from a busy street were relocated to a resort for training .
They were returned to Manila after the Pope left . |
051290bd52161035410817e8b160282413f50c46 | (CNN) -- Manchester United will be without Wayne Rooney for Sunday's English Premier League clash with Blackburn, but manager Alex Ferguson expects the England striker to return from injury next weekend. Rooney made a shock comeback in Wednesday's Champions League clash with Bayern Munich, but had to go off with an hour to play after aggravating his ankle problem as United crashed out of Europe's top club tournament on away goals. Ferguson believes the injury is not serious and that Rooney will be fit for second-placed United's clash with local rivals Manchester City next Saturday. "I don't think it's as serious as we said when he got the injury the first time, but I think he'll be ready for the City game," the Scot told reporters on Friday. "We've got more time to work on it, anyway. Other than that, everyone else is fit." Ferguson said he was ready to put faith in Dimitar Berbatov for the short trip to North-West rivals Blackburn, despite keeping the Bulgarian forward on the bench until the final 10 minutes of the 3-2 win against Bayern. "Yes, I still trust him," Ferguson said. "He is a good player and there is absolutely no reason why we should doubt that. "Dimitar has done well in a lot of games recently but we prefer to play with one striker. When we got the man sent off on Wednesday there was no need to bring a striker on because all we were trying to do was go over the line in terms of defending." Ferguson hinted that he will rotate his squad as United seek to win and move a point above leaders Chelsea, who take on Aston Villa in the semifinals of the FA Cup on Saturday. "Given the nature of the game on Wednesday and the energy spent, we have to address the situation of freshness," he said. "We've got a a squad to use -- we have the likes of Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville and we also have John O'Shea back now. "He came on against Bayern and did 30 minutes' work -- it's good to get him back because he's such a versatile player for us." | Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson expects Wayne Rooney to return next weekend .
Rooney will miss Sunday's trip to Blackburn after aggravating his ankle injury .
England striker made shock comeback against Bayern Munich on Wednesday .
United can move a point above English Premier League leaders Chelsea with victory . |
0513001450d168440640bf2171294cfc67b007ff | By . Padraic Flanagan . PUBLISHED: . 20:48 EST, 23 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:53 EST, 23 March 2013 . You wouldn’t believe it was the same time of year… As Britain endures its coldest March since 1963, it’s hard to think that just 12 months ago we were basking in the sunniest March since 1929. As our pictures show, then sunseekers flocked to beaches, and even northern Scotland enjoyed temperatures exceeding 22C. Yesterday it peaked at 2C amid the snow. Whatever will the climate deal us next? Last year Tara Hammett made the most of the warm weather strolling by the sea in Langland Bay, near Swansea, south Wales . One year on Clare Mitchell strolled on the beach in Langland Bay, near Swansea, south Wales on a wet and freezing cold morning in March . Meanwhile health chiefs have declared winter officially over – just as millions shiver through the bitter cold snap. The Department of Health said on Friday it was shutting down its Winterwatch health-monitoring service ‘because spring is on its way’. As the country was battered by snowstorms, floods and freezing temperatures, the department ended its regular updates on how to cope in winter and its flu-monitoring service. ‘Winterwatch was scheduled to end at this time,’ said a spokesman. ‘It’s down to the calendar, not based on the weather, though I’m not sure we expected it to be as cold as this.’ The department’s cold weather plan . for the NHS is still in force. This provides advice to hospitals and . doctors on how to prepare and respond to severe weather. The Army has also decreed summer has . arrived. Guardsmen were ordered to swap their greatcoats for red tunics . at Buckingham Palace and St James’s Palace yesterday. And Household . Cavalry troopers switched to a shorter cape. Lieutenant . Colonel Dino Bossi, of the Welsh Guards, said: ‘The soldiers have spent . the winter enduring some pretty bad conditions out there and I hope the . weather gods welcome the added splash of colour and smile on us.’ In 2012 a depth indicator showed the lack of water on a ford of the River Pang, but now pictures show it flooded under 2ft of water . Despite winter having officially ended bookies have slashed their odds on a white Easter. A record number of bets have been taken in the past 48 hours on snow . falling next weekend, forcing one firm, Ladbrokes, to cut their odds to . 4/5. ‘We’ve never seen so many bets on a white Easter,’ said Ladbrokes’ Alex Donohue. ‘People up and down the land are banking on the snowfall continuing into next weekend.’ The firm has also halved the odds on the Queen wearing snowshoes to the . traditional Easter Sunday service at Windsor to 50/1, with snow in May . at 33/1 and June/July at 66/1. The relentless bad weather has caused the national mood to plummet, according to experts. Some 55,000 people rated their state of happiness between 0 and 100, as well as what they were doing, on an iPhone app called Mappiness. The app then correlated the data with the weather at the user’s location. Researchers from the London School of Economics and University College London found that cold, wet weather in Britain has a measurable effect on the population’s mood. In March 2012 Brighton beach was rammed with families enjoying the unusually hot springtime weather . In freezing temperatures Brighton beach was deserted yesterday compared to one year ago . Rain, on average, lowers people’s happiness by 1.4 points, while a lack of sunshine cuts it by another half point. High winds lower it by a further one point. Dr George MacKerron, one of the project’s designers, said: ‘We certainly find significant weather effects. Given that people don’t have control of the weather, we’re pretty sure this is a causal relationship.’ As a result of our wintry blues many of us are seeking out warming comfort food, according to sales figures from supermarkets. M&S has seen soup sales rise by 70 per cent, while warming roast . joints are up 32 per cent compared with last year’s warmer March. Sales of hot puddings were also up ten per cent. A spokesman said: ‘The weather always has a big impact on what our customers choose to eat. ‘When it’s cold outside they like to warm up with hot lunches and hearty dinners. On a cold night nothing beats a good stew or an apple pie with custard.’ Waitrose said shoppers were also trying to avoid the ravages of the . unseasonal weather by eating healthily, with apple and pear sales up by . 28 per cent, citrus fruit up 20 per cent and stone fruit up 26 per . cent. Avocado sales have also jumped by a quarter. | Temperatures peaked at 22C in 2012 but struggled to reach 2C this year .
Officials said winter is now over despite freezing temperatures and snow . |
0513215b695af3a78ca487416d6f2b8e45465e30 | (CNN) -- If you're standing in the rain at the bus stop tomorrow morning, trying to get to work, and if, in the downpour, you should notice that waiting patiently for the bus with you is Bill Gates. . . . Or if you're in a long line at the convenience store, waiting to buy a lottery ticket in the hopes of striking it rich, and you see that the equally hopeful person in front of you in the Powerball line is Mr. Gates. . . . Will you please ask him something? Will you ask him about Winky Dink? We'll get back to Mr. Gates in a moment. He is, as you probably know, one of the world's wealthiest and most influential men. As the co-founder and chairman of Microsoft, he has had vast influence on the way we live -- particularly in the way that screens, and our constant interaction with them, have taken over everything. Which brings us to Winky Dink. A strong case can be made -- and several authors, deep thinkers and historians over the years have made it -- that Winky Dink, more than any other single person (or single cartoon character, in Winky Dink's case), ushered in the era of interactivity. In the early day of television, Americans sat transfixed as the first sets were delivered to homes. The brand-new experience was like having a constantly programmed movie screen in the family living room. The pleasure, the convenience-- all a person had to do was lean back and be entertained. Or so it seemed. But two men -- a pair of fledgling television producers whose names were Harry Prichett and Edwin Wyckoff -- had the foresight to realize that the screen did not necessarily have to be one-way. And that there was money to be made by encouraging people to treat the screen as something with which they could interact. Thus was born "Winky Dink and You" -- a primitive and rudimentary first step into what would eventually become the screen-obsessed world in which we live today: millions of people endlessly tapping away, sending and receiving messages, relentlessly responding to what glows in front of their eyes, regarding their screen as almost a person, a friend. "Winky Dink and You," which aired Saturday mornings on CBS beginning in 1953, was hosted by Jack Barry and starred a sprightly, squeaky-voiced cartoon character named. . .well, you know what he was named. Winky Dink's adventures were not all that spectacular -- but it is what he asked the children watching the show to do that heralded a cultural change. Winky Dink said he wanted the children to mail away for a "Magic Window," which was actually a cheaply produced, thin sheet of plastic that adhered to the TV screen by static electricity. "Send your name and address, along with 50 cents, to Winky Dink, Box 5, New York, 19, New York!" Those incessantly repeated words became one of the most familiar phrases in the land. Along with the plastic sheet that arrived in the mail were "magic crayons." Children were encouraged to place the sheet on their TV screen and watch the show each Saturday, so that Winky Dink could tell them what to do. They might be instructed to draw a ladder on a certain part of the sheet, or a chimney, or a bridge. Then the action on the television screen would combine with what the children had drawn on the plastic sheet to create a narrative-in-motion. It was a sensation, for a while. Children who didn't own the magic sheet or the magic crayons felt left out -- they could watch the show, but they weren't participating in the whole experience. Winky Dink guilted them into sending in the 50 cents so they weren't deprived of what every other kid on the block was doing. The show's downfall derived from two things. According to author Billy Ingram, perhaps the world's leading Winky Dink authority, many children who didn't own the plastic sheets simply took crayons they had around the house and, on Winky Dink's cue, drew directly on the glass screens of their parents' expensive first-generation television sets. And if that didn't make the parents angry enough, there was the concern that the children, by sitting so close to the TV sets as they drew, could be exposing themselves to harmful radiation. The original show went off the air in 1957, and although there were short-lived attempts to revive it, it is now just a distant memory. But Winky Dink's influence lives on in every screen that every person today regards as a two-way window. Which brings us to Bill Gates. There is a line that occasionally pops up in Winky Dink-related literature. The line quotes Gates -- it has him crediting "Winky Dink and You" as "the first interactive TV show." It certainly would make sense. Gates and his Windows are the logical extension of Winky Dink and his Magic Window. Winky Dink and Gates both saw the true back-and-forth possibilities of those screens. What Gates has accomplished is essentially Winky Dink writ large. Very large. But, try as I might, I was unable to locate a reliable, rock-solid citation for that quote. Was is it real -- had Gates ever actually uttered the words? Or was it merely some tall tale, repeated person-to-person by would-be believers? I contacted the Microsoft corporate offices to ask if they could verify, for the sake of posterity, that Gates had, in fact, once sung the praises of Winky Dink. I had some false starts and hit some dead ends. But then, paydirt. I was able to get in touch with a man by the name of John Pinette, who once worked for Microsoft and who now is a spokesman for Gates himself. Pinette said he had a distinct recollection of having been present at the key moment: . "I remember the Winky Dink speech -- but don't remember when Bill gave it (or where -- or to whom). It was a brief example of 'here's an early example of interactive TV' before he went on to a bigger presentation of Microsoft's TV efforts. "He had one of the plastic film sheets -- and the Winky Dink box, if I remember correctly." So there it is. Gates was born in 1955, so it is unlikely that he remembers watching in first-run the original version of "Winky Dink and You." Perhaps he saw the subsequent attempts to bring the show back; perhaps, like so many young Americans of the time, he simply found himself awash in the echoes of Winky's legend. Every creative genius is influenced by someone. Plato was influenced by Socrates. Beethoven was influenced by Mozart. William Faulkner was influenced by Mark Twain. In some future century, a new Mount Rushmore may be carved, to celebrate the figures of our own era who changed the course of the world as dramatically as any presidents or statesmen. It will be only fitting and right if the three faces on the side of the mountain are those of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Winky Dink. Not necessarily in that order. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Bob Greene. | Bob Greene: A popular 1950s TV show featured interactivity with a screen .
Children were invited to draw on a plastic sheet placed on the TV showing "Winky Dink and You"
The show faded, not least because kids were drawing on the plastic sheet .
The question is, did Bill Gates actually call it the "first interactive TV show," or is that a wishful myth? |
05135c9713aeb8865f613ae14481d0f189d7cbf9 | By . Ben Nagle For Mailonline . QPR boss Harry Redknapp has suggested his side's shock cup loss at Burton could hasten the departure of several players. Redknapp paid the price for making nine changes as League Two Albion claimed a 1-0 win in their Capital One Cup second-round tie at the Pirelli Stadium. The likes of Shaun Wright-Phillips, Nedum Onuoha, Karl Henry, Junior Hoilett and Adel Taarabt were among the players to come in and Redknapp was far from impressed by most of them. Redknapp did single out Taarabt - who was making his first appearance for the R's in 16 months - for praise but, with Monday's transfer deadline looming, many of the rest could be heading out. Asked if any business was possible, Redknapp said: 'Absolutely. I still think we need a bit of quality in one or two areas. 'There are one or two who played last night or are not going to get in my team who I think might be better moving on.' The future of former Manchester City, Chelsea and England winger Wright-Phillips at Loftus Road is again in question. The 32-year-old has faded from the limelight since joining Rangers three years ago in a move that was supposed to rejuvenate his career. On Wednesday he was completely overshadowed - almost literally - and outplayed by his marker, the towering 6ft 5in defender George Taft, and was withdrawn after 78 minutes. Goal: Burton celebrate Adam McGurk's 77th-minute winner to knock QPR out . Out? Shaun Wright-Phillips' QPR future is in doubt after struggling against Burton on Wednesday night . Hoilett hit the bar in one of Rangers' better moments, but the Canadian is also in danger of drifting to the periphery. Redknapp said: 'I wanted an awful lot more (from the wide areas). I thought Junior did all right first half but Shaun had a tough night.' Redknapp did say he would like Taarabt to stay but did not know the intentions of the Moroccan, who spent last season on loan at Fulham and AC Milan and has a buy-out clause. Struggle: Taarabt is another player who could be leaving Loftus Road, despite Redknapp's desire to keep him . As well as any transfer business, Redknapp is also anxious to get QPR's season up and running this weekend. The Londoners have lost all three of their games, with the Burton defeat compounding woes after last weekend's 4-0 defeat by Tottenham. Redknapp said: 'Saturday is important, it's massive for us. It won't be easy against Sunderland, that's for sure. 'They were a team in form at the end of last season and have started decent this year. We have got to pick ourselves up and get ready to go on Saturday.' Out: Redknapp watches on in disappointment as his QPR side crash out of the Capital One Cup to Burton . The mood was considerably different at Burton, the modest but well-run Staffordshire club who have made steady progress since promotion to the Football League in 2009. After missing out on promotion in the play-offs last season, the Brewers have made a solid start to the new campaign and are unbeaten in six games across all competitions. Striker Adam McGurk, who curled home the 77th-minute free-kick that settled the tie, said: 'Everyone is buzzing. It's a great win. We worked as hard as we could and we nicked the goal to get the win. 'We have had the likes of Wigan, Stoke and Derby here and given everyone a game. We just work away and stick to the game plan and it is paying off. 'When the goal went in and at full-time you could hear the roar. 'It is great for the fans to get memories like this. It's brilliant for them. 'But these are bonuses for us. Our main aim is obviously promotion. We can't get sidetracked from that. 'We have to get back down on Friday morning and make sure we keep our run going in the league.' | Harry Redknapp made nine changes to his Queens Park Rangers team .
QPR lost 1-0 to Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium on Wednesday night .
Redknapp has said that some of his players would be better 'moving on'
The futures of Shaun Wright-Phillips and Adel Taarabt are still in doubt .
Rangers have lost all three of their games so far this season . |
0513a1079f64097cc3b2e89a0211213a63f204a8 | By . Matt Blake . PUBLISHED: . 09:33 EST, 6 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:56 EST, 6 August 2013 . A mother who was seriously injured in the horror coach crash that killed 39 people in Italy last month refused further treatment today until she sees her husband and two daughters... unaware they are all dead. Clorinda del Giudice, 44, was on the bus with spouse Antonio and children Simona, 16, and Silvana, 22, when it careered into the guardrail of a flyover near the town of Avellino, and plummetted 100 feet into a ravine on June 28. Heartrendingly, her refusal came hours after her daughter Simona lost her two-week fight for life today, making her the 39th fatality of the crash. Hours before the fatal crash, Simona's sister, Silvana, posted happy pictures on Facebook, as the family . sat together on board the coach, at the beginning of a holiday weekend . that ended in tragedy. Heartrending: Clorinda del Giudice's (left) refusal for treatment came hours . after her daughter Simona, right, lost her two-week fight for life today, making . her the 39th fatality of the crash . Heart breaking: Simona's big-sister Silvana (left), 22, and father Antonio (right) were both killed in the crash. Hours earlier, Silvana posted these happy pictures on Facebook, as the family . sat together on board the coach . The elder sibling had only agreed to come on the trip at the last minute, having had a fight with her boyfriend. Italian prosecutors are investigating . the owner of the vehicle and two people who work for the highway . service company Autostrade for possible manslaughter after the crash, . one of Europe's worst road accidents. The 48 close-knit group of friends . and relatives were almost all from the small seaside town of Pozzuoli, . near Naples, and often took holidays together, organised by local salami . butcher Luciano Caiazzo, who also died in the collision. The . blue-eyed sisters documented the whole trip, photographing the group, . the family and each other, posting all the pictures on Facebook. Then tragedy struck. Silvana and her father had been sitting, on Sunday night, at the front of the coach, the part that hit the ground first. But in a horrific case of mistaken identity, their emotional grandfather, dazed by grief as he arrived at the makeshift morgue, mistook the body of Silvana for that of her younger sister, Italian media reported. Simona’s name therefore wrongly appeared on some early lists of the dead. Horrific: The crash happened on July 28. Here, rescuers wielding electric saws cut through metal looking for survivors inside the mangled bus, stopping occasionally in silence to listen for any cries for help . Carnage: Firefighters stand near the wreckage of the bus which plunged 30m (98ft) off a motorway into a ravine, killing at least 39 people . Macabre: Rescuers prepare the coffins of victims as the recovery operation continued through the night . Because of the mix-up, Silvana’s boyfriend arrived at the hospital that afternoon to make up with his lover, whom he believed was still alive, although badly injured. Finding in the hospital bed instead, her younger sibling, who had the same blue eyes, he collapsed to the ground in tears, the Italian newspaper la Repubblica reported. There was no one left but the grandfather to return to the morgue to re-identify Silvana. Mass turnout: Friends and relatives of the victims of the Monteforte Irpino coach crash act as pallbearers during the funeral held at a local indoor sports arena in Pozzuoli, Italy . Grief: People pay tribute to a coffin of one of the victims of a coach crash at the end of the funeral service at the Monteruscello Palasport near Pozzuoli July 30 - two days after the tragedy . Grief-stricken: Relatives gather around coffins in Moterusciello, Italy, during a mass funeral for the 39 victims . Heartbroken: Relatives are overcome with grief as they clutch the coffin of one of the victims of the crash which killed 28 members of one town alone . Map: The coach was travelling between Monteforte Irpino and Baiano in the southern region of Campania . The poignant story emerged last week as families gathered in Pozzuoli to bury their dead after thousands of mourners packed into a sports hall for a mass funeral to commemorate the victims. Prime Minister Enrico Letta joined an estimated 4,000 relatives, friends and dignitaries after calling a day of national mourning to mark one of the worst road accidents in the country's history. Sobbing relatives clutched flower-draped coffins or collapsed into the arms of their loved ones ahead of the service this morning in Pozzuoli, a town in southern Italy which lost 28 members in the crash. | Clorinda del Giudice, 44, is refusing further treatment until she sees family .
Comes as her daughter Simona, 16, dies two weeks after crash near Avellino .
Her husband Antonio and eldest daughter Silvana, 22, were both killed .
The family were aboard the coach travelling from religious site on holiday .
Just before crash, Silvana posted pictures of family on the bus on Facebook . |
05155437f9fd8fff874502ad600c64d501f6d2c8 | By . Emma Innes . PUBLISHED: . 11:32 EST, 13 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:41 EST, 13 December 2013 . A mother-to-be who thought she was only eight weeks pregnant went to hospital fearing she was miscarrying - and gave birth to healthy twins. Katie Brown, 35, was stunned when doctors told her she was actually 31 weeks pregnant and carrying two babies. What she had mistaken for a miscarriage was actually the onset of labour - and twins Amy and Daniel arrived less than 24 hours later. Katie Brown, 35, went to hospital thinking she was eight weeks pregnant and having a miscarriage. Doctors told her she was actually 31 weeks pregnant and giving birth to twins . Ms Brown and her partner, James Moore, 31, are now home in Darnley, West Yorkshire, with their unexpected arrivals. Ms Brown said: ‘I thought I was just putting weight on. ‘I did a pregnancy test in July and it came back negative. Then I did one at the beginning of November and it was positive. ‘When I went to the hospital I thought I had lost my baby. But once they did tests at the hospital they told me I was 31 weeks pregnant and that I was expecting twins. ‘We couldn't believe it, it was a good job we were sitting down. ‘People cannot believe that I didn't know, but I didn't feel any kicking. It is brilliant and I am just glad we are home in time for Christmas.’ Amy and Daniel were born on November 14. Daniel weighed 3lb 12oz and Amy weighed 2lb 14oz. They were kept in hospital until they had gained some weight and have now been allowed home for Christmas . Ms Brown, who also has an eight year-old daughter, Laura, went into Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield on November 14. Daniel was the first to arrive at 5.48pm the following day weighing 3b 12oz, his sister emerged 13 minutes later weighing 2lb 14oz. Amy needed initial help with her breathing and the babies remained in hospital until they put on some weight. Mr Moore, a warehouse worker, said: ‘It's all been overwhelming. We now need a new house. ‘It was a fantastic surprise and I am glad they are all home in time for Christmas. It is going to be the best Christmas ever. Mr Moore said: 'It's all been overwhelming. We now need a new house. It was a fantastic surprise and I am glad they are all home in time for Christmas. It is going to be the best Christmas ever.' Picture shows Amy . ‘Both our families and friends have been brilliant and I don't know how we would have coped without them. ‘We also want to say a massive thank you to all the staff on the neonatal ward at Pinderfields Hospital for everything they've done.’ He added: ‘I went from thinking Katie had suffered a miscarriage to being told I was about to become a father to twins. ‘When the doctor gave us the good news after a scan, I felt a mixture of shock and excitement. ‘We were so upset one minute and then we were so happy. Our emotions ran really high. Mr Moore said that after Amy and Daniel (pictured) were born they were totally unprepared but friends and family rallied round to buy them all of the things they would need . ‘I've been told that the colour instantly drained from my face. I went white as a sheet and if I'd been standing up I'm sure I would have passed out. ‘I just remember Katie saying over and over again “how am I having twins?” ‘We were both as shocked as each other.’ Mr Moore explained that his partner had put on three stone in a few months but that they just assumed she was eating too much. He said they were completely unprepared for their new arrivals but family and friends clubbed together and bought everything they needed as a surprise present. Ms Brown and her partner, James Moore, were aware that she had gained three stone in a matter of months but believed she was just eating too much as a pregnancy test in the summer had come back negative . Ms Brown said: 'People cannot believe that I didn't know, but I didn't feel any kicking. It is brilliant and I am just glad we are home in time for Christmas' ‘It would have been so much more stressful for us if it hadn't been for our friends and family,’ he said. ‘Katie and the twins were kept in hospital for a week after the birth and I stayed with them. ‘When we came out we hadn't bought a single thing but our friends and family had all pooled their money and bought everything we needed. ‘We are so grateful to have such supportive family and friends. I don't know what we would have done without them.’ | Katie Brown, 35, went to hospital thinking she was having a miscarriage .
She thought she was eight weeks pregnant with one child .
But doctors told her she was 31 weeks pregnant with twins - and in labour .
She had put on three stone in a few months but thought it was from eating too much as she had done a pregnancy test which was negative .
Amy and Daniel were born the next day - on November 14 .
They have now both been allowed home for Christmas after gaining weight . |
0517998fc3f567a34b3a3d2ea6e423d77c208598 | By . Martin Robinson . PUBLISHED: . 06:27 EST, 23 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 15:39 EST, 23 August 2012 . After facing a carpeting from the Palace for cavorting naked with a mystery woman in a Las Vegas hotel room, Prince Harry's burgeoning reputation as a mature young statesman looked to be on the line. But it appears many think that rather than be ridiculed for his drunken game of 'strip billiards' this week in Sin City, he should instead be congratulated for being being the model British playboy. Revealing images showing the third in line to the throne standing in a VIP hotel suite in only a necklace with a mystery nude brunette hiding behind him were seen by millions across the world online. It was assumed that he would be lambasted for bringing the royal family into global disrepute but, in fact, Twitter is awash with thousands of comments from admiring celebrities and fans saying he was a 'good lad' acting 'exactly as a Prince should do'. Even Sir Richard Barnson said: 'Shock horror, single man naked in own hotel room with woman. What on earth has this got to do with anybody else? Leave Prince Harry alone.' Leave him alone: Sir Richard Branson was one of many who leapt to the defence of the third in line to the throne . Support: Piers Morgan was one of many celebrities to back the prince publicly as public opinion appeared to swing in Harry's favour . Rock royalty: Kurt Cobain's former wife and musician, Courtney Love, also backed his behaviour as becoming of a prince . But the prince hasn't avoided criticism completely. Some of Fleet Street's most high profile columnists have attacked his naked antics, with some saying he is a 'disgrace' who should be stripped of his royal title and privileges. Last night the Palace banned the British press from using the pictures, which are freely available online. Should British newspapers and websites publish the nude pictures of Prince Harry in Las Vegas? The Times used its main leader column to warn Harry of the consequences of his mistakes in a Nevada hotel this week, especially after he had represented Britain and the royal family so well at the Olympics. 'Prince Harry is the occupant of a . special place in the nation's heart. Like a Royal Boris Johnson the . prince has earned a rare licence to be seen having fun,' it said, adding: 'But he must tread carefully and in future, more carefully than this. 'His reinvention has been a . joy to behold, with a new maturity becoming evident alongside his easy . manner and charm. As a single young man, blessed with money and looks, . he is perfectly free to set his sights on being the nation's favourite . playboy. But it would be a shame.' Letting his heir down: Prince Harry relaxed poolside surrounded by bikini-clad girls in Vegas and even played naked billiards put the public appear to want to back him for it . Party-boy: 'Prince Harry, far right in a hat, went to Vegas to relax after the Olympics but it gout of hand . A quick search on the the internet allows people to see the pictures that are 'banned' in the UK . An identical search on Google images for 'Prince Harry naked pictures' reveals dozens more shots of the cavorting Prince . The Daily Telegraph's Peter Oborne said Harry had ignored his responsibilities to the Queen and the Armed Forces. 'What was Prince Harry thinking of? He’s not a gormless 19-year-old boy any more. He’s a grown-up man, a 27-year-old Army officer who also happens to be third in line to the throne,' he wrote. 'He belongs to an institution that stands for certain forms of behaviour, and cannot survive if its members flout them. Opinion: The British press was barred from using the pictures, despite them being freely available online, The Times said in its leader column, adding , in essence, that Harry is likeable but has to grow up . 'Indeed, the Prince belongs to two such institutions: he is an officer in the British Army, and as such is expected to observe its own code of ethics. That this, too, was broken during this trip to Las Vegas is no coincidence. The Army is another institution that requires discipline, restraint, forbearance and sacrifice.' The Mail's Amanda Platell said: 'How unfortunate that when things . were going so well for him, Harry gets caught with his pants down – . literally – and pictures of him partying naked are beamed across the . world. 'Who on earth advised the third in line to the throne to indulge . in some "full-on partying" in the world’s self-styled capital of sleaze, . Las Vegas? Trashing: The Daily Telegraph's esteemed commentator Peter Oborne laid into Harry and his antics in this morning's paper . Critical: Oborne questioned Harry's maturity and ability to make the right decisions . 'Downing vodka shots and cavorting . until the early hours of the morning with bikini-clad wannabes, this was . more the world of soft-porn films than the behaviour expected of the . Queen’s grandson. Opinion: The Mail's Amanda Platell said she had sympathy for Harry for what he has experienced in life, but believed his Vegas strip billiards showed huge error of judgment . 'We had come to think that poor judgment and immaturity . were all in the past for Harry. For, at the age of 27, he is now a man . with the responsibilities of an Army officer. 'So, yes, we have made allowances for . Harry, but he will be 28 next month and it’s time he grew up.' The Guardian was even stronger in its criticism, saying that the prince should be stripped of his title. 'What shall we do with Prince Harry? It hasn't even been two weeks since he represented the Queen at the closing ceremony of the London Olympics, and there he is in VEGAS, NAKED, playing STRIP BILLIARDS,' said writer Emma Keller. 'I have an idea for him and for other members of the royal family who gad about and undermine the hard work of the rest of their team (Prince Andrew, anyone?) 'Let's strip them of their royal status. He could get as drunk as he likes and strip of all over the place – just like any old toff. 'He'd . still have a job. He has a real job in the army already that has . nothing to do with being royal. 'He's a captain in the Blues and Royals and has served in Afghanistan – at his own behest. But if you remember, he had to be pulled out because of publicity over his royal status. So being royal is nothing but a pain for him.' But despite the criticism, the online world seems to be backing the prince, especially celebrities. Amanda Platell said that Harry's behaviour had got out of control on his American jaunt . British DJ Christian O'Connell said: 'Prince Harry is doing EXACTLY as a prince should do. Party in Vegas. Good luck to him.' Fellow . DJ Lauren Laverne added: Prince Harry is EASILY the best royal,' while . 80s pop star Marc Almond said: 'I love Prince Harry getting his kit off . and having fun before duty in Afg(hanistan). HELL YEAH GO HARRY!' Boy George tweeted: 'Prince Harry, where was his security? People are so cheap, such . rubbish photos! The Queen should behead TMZ and send the bitches to da . Tower.' Star backing: Boy George said that security and 'cheap' partygoers were to blame for the incident, not Harry, above and below . DJ backing: Cristian O'Connell believes that Harry's exploits should be celebrated . Pop star: Marc Almond said that Harry needed to let his hair down before returning to work as a Captain in the army . He's the best: Lauren Laverne really enjoyed what Harry had been up to . "I'm shocked and disgusted by the Prince Harry party photos in Vegas. Why the hell wasn't I invited???' Piers Morgan said, to which Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria replied: 'Piers this tweet made me laugh out loud!' Courtney Love Cobain Twitter said 'wow you gotla [sic] love Prince Harry for showing off the . royal jewels.... oh let him have fun, xc' And the public also sung his praises: @Leti_Rodriguez said: 'Whatever happened to "What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas"? #PrinceHarry #PoorGuy' Envious: Popstar and presenter Jenny Frost says that people have a motive for castigating the prince and his behaviour . Sporting chance: Midfield star for champions Manchester City, Nigel de Jong, called Harry a 'ledge', short for legend . @gaylefortes_ added: 'What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Unless you're Prince Harry.. LMAO poor thing' @xBrittanyMoisax tweeted: 'Who cares what Prince Harry did in Vegas?! He has to act like a prude 24/7, do you blame him for trying to live a little?!' | As revealing photos of the prince sweep the internet, celebrities and fans rush to congratulate him on his antics .
Instead of damaging his reputation, many believe the pictures will enhance how the public view Harry .
But national newspapers weren't so complimentary, with some columnists branding him a 'disgrace' to the royal family and the British army . |
0517d2781edd8dd488fbf75ea511a2aedae953e0 | A burglar suffocated when his neck became trapped under a wooden fence panel as he attempted to flee from a house, an inquest has heard. Stephen Pope, 35, died from asphyxiation after he became trapped between the panel and a concrete gravel board at a property in Waltham Abbey in Essex, in March this year. Today, an inquest at Chelmsford Coroners’ Court, ruled that Mr Pope had died accidentally while trying to escape from the garden of the house with stolen items. Stephen Pope, 35, who suffocated when his neck became trapped under a wooden fence panel as he tried to escape from a house . Accomplice Albert Brinkley, 27, of no fixed address, was jailed for 12 months earlier this year after admitting the burglary. Coroner Eleanor McGann told the hearing: 'It did become obvious early on that this death was part of a burglary. 'We know that somebody has confessed to the burglary, has been convicted and has done his time and come out. 'There is evidence Mr Pope was also part of that burglary.' The inquest heard how Mr Pope, also from Waltham Abbey, was found holding a pillow case containing stolen items from the nearby property. A post-mortem revealed that he had been on a cocktail of drugs including cocaine, cannabis and methadone during the break-in. It went onto state Mr Pope had been ‘pinned in a face down and awkward position that could have caused asphyxiation’. An inquest heard that Mr Pope died from asphyxiation after he became trapped between the panel and a concrete gravel board at the property in Waltham Abbey, Essex . Floral tributes were also left at the scene with his family saying at the time that he suffered from 'inner demons' The inquest heard how Mr Pope had told one elderly passer-by, who believed he was a workman, that he was 'okay' when asked if he needed help whilst trapped under the fence panel. He was later discovered unresponsive by another lady who called 999. Two female nurses from a nearby nursing home helped lift the fence panel off Mr Pope before paramedics arrived. But attempts at resuscitation were unsuccessful and he was declared dead. Mrs McGann added: 'It is perfectly plausible Mr Pope said he was okay as he did not want to be caught with a pillowcase of stolen items.' The coroner ruled the cause of death was compression of the neck in association with postural asphyxia. A secondary factor in the death was noted as mixed drug intoxication. The coroner ruled Mr Pope's death an accident saying the cause of death was compression of the neck . Investigating officer, DS Darren Ward, told the court the death was treated as ‘not suspicious’ following a full investigation. He added: 'The investigation did not reveal a third party was involved in Mr Pope’s death. 'No criminal charges were brought in respect of the death.' Mr Pope had been on bail for theft of fuel when he was found dead outside the property. His parents Barry Pope, 67, a retired bus driver, and Jean Pope, 70, a retired packer, described their son as ‘a lovable rogue’ outside of the inquest whilst slamming the ‘accidental death’ verdict. Mother-of-five, Jean, said: 'We strongly believe that this wasn't an accident. 'Stephen had fractured his back in a car accident the year before. 'How would he be able to lift a fence panel with his injuries? 'We’re not excusing what he did but we just want some closure. 'My son was a lovable rogue who wouldn't hurt a soul. 'I knew he had previous for a bit of shoplifting but I’d never known him to break into a house.' At the time of his death, Mr Pope’s family released a tribute describing him as a ‘troubled and tormented soul’ who was ‘fighting many inner demons’. The statement said: 'He had the ability to make you laugh and lift your heart, but unfortunately also the ability to break it into a thousand pieces. 'He was a troubled and tormented soul, with some mental health issues and was fighting many inner demons for most of his life. 'This is a devastating tragedy for our family, one from which we will never recover. 'A hole has been ripped in our hearts and that void will never be filled.” A 51-year-old who also arrested in connection with the incident was released from bail with no further action. | Stephen Pope became trapped under the fence as he tried to flee a house .
The 35-year-old was found holding a pillow case full of stolen items .
He was approached by an elderly passer-by but said he didn't need help .
Eventually found unresponsive by another passer-by who called 999 .
Despite attempts to resuscitate him he was pronounced dead .
Post-mortem showed that he also had a cocktail of drugs in his system .
Coroner ruled death an accident saying it was caused by compression of the neck .
But his family slammed the verdict saying they believe it wasn't an accident . |
051a37223bdc79d6f97efddef0a45f1f2f3d515b | A woman has been put into isolation at Northampton General Hospital with a suspected case of Ebola, it has emerged. The hospital released few details about the patient last night but it is believed she had recently travelled abroad. A spokesman for the hospital said: 'I can confirm that we have a suspected case of Ebola. It is a female adult. She will be in isolation if she is suspected of having the illness.' Scroll down for video . The woman has been placed in an isolation unit at Northampton General Hospital (pictured) with what is suspected to be Ebola . The hospital spokesman said she was unable to provide further details about the identity of the woman or how she may have contracted the illness. It comes just two days after it was revealed the condition of Pauline Cafferkey had improved - the 39-year-old nurse was struck down by the virus after returning from Sierra Leone in west Africa. In recent months Northampton General Hospital has attempted to reassure the public it has plans in place to manage cases of Ebola in the event of an outbreak. A spokesman said: 'We have robust systems and processes which will ensure we are able to identify and isolate a patient who presents with symptoms of Ebola or any other infectious disease. 'We have sufficient supplies of personal protective equipment, and access to expert testing and advice. Pauline Cafferkey (pictured) was a volunteer with Save the Children in Sierra Leone but only became ill with Ebola after having returned to Britain . 'We would like to reassure local people that the risk of infection in the UK remains very low. 'Nevertheless we are being extremely vigilant and taking all appropriate measures to ensure we are fully prepared. Our plans are being kept under continuous review and amended as the situation changes.' Miss Cafferkey had been a volunteer with Save the Children at the Ebola Treatment Centre in Kerry Town but only became ill when she returned to Britain just after Christmas. After taking an experimental anti-viral drug and receiving blood plasma transfusions from a European Ebola survivor at the Royal Free Hospital in north London, her condition improved. A hospital spokesman said Monday: 'The Royal Free Hospital is pleased to announce that Pauline Cafferkey is showing signs of improvement and is no longer critically ill. 'She remains in isolation as she receives specialist care for the Ebola virus.' David Cameron welcomed the news during Prime Minister's Questions at the House of Commons. He said he was sure everybody was thinking of her, adding: 'It is very good news that she is out of critical care, but there is still a long way to go.' He was responding to Conservative Nicola Blackwood, who said: 'I'm sure the whole House will want to honour the bravery of NHS Ebola volunteers and welcome the news that nurse Pauline Cafferkey is off the critical list.' She also raised the work going on in Oxford to develop a vaccine, which the Tory leader called 'vitally important'. He added: 'The minister for government policy is leading the work on this and making sure we do everything to try and cut through some of the bureaucracy that otherwise would be in place so that we can develop a vaccine fast.' There are currently no specific drugs to cure Ebola, nor any approved vaccines to prevent the disease. Two experimental vaccines are currently being trialled on human volunteers in the UK, US, Mali and Uganda. Experts expect to see the first results of those trials early next year. The Royal Free Hospital is the only High Level Isolation Unit in the UK to house two high-security containment beds. They are located inside isolation 'bubbles' - specially-designed tents with controlled ventilation allowing medics to provide clinical care while containing the infection. Three other hospitals - The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne Royal Victoria Infirmary and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals - are designated centres for escalation if more patients are diagnosed with Ebola. There are around 50 other designated Ebola beds at these three centres. Around 45 per cent of those infected in the current outbreak have survived without treatment. ZMapp, developed by US biotech company Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc, is manufactured in the leaves of genetically modified tobacco plants. The process could yield 20 to 40 doses a month. Evidence suggests that effective treatment with ZMapp requires three doses of 15 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. It is thought the blood of those who have survived the disease may contain antibodies, which can prove effective in fighting the disease. The nurse, from Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire, had volunteered with Save the Children at the Ebola Treatment Centre in Kerry Town, Sierra Leone, before returning to the UK. Save the Children has launched an investigation into how she was infected, but admits it may never establish the exact circumstances. She flew back to the UK via Casablanca in Morocco. Her temperature was tested seven times before she flew from Heathrow to Glasgow and she was cleared to travel. She later became feverish and followed advice given to her at Heathrow to contact local services and was admitted to an isolation facility at the Brownlee unit in Gartnavel Hospital, Glasgow, at 8am on December 29. After a blood sample tested positive for Ebola, she was transferred in a military plane to the Royal Free Hospital by 8am on December 30. | Woman believed to have recently been abroad has been placed in isolation .
Northampton General Hospital confirmed it was a suspected case of Ebola .
The hospital has stated it has 'robust' systems in place to deal with it .
Meanwhile, nurse Pauline Cafferkey is now showing signs of improvement .
She fell ill with the virus after returning from Sierra Leone after Christmas . |
051acc9f3021a2089a2dcdcb0a5478ae6deb577c | It is a treasure trove of letters, notebooks, post cards and papers charting the life of one of the world's greatest ever scientists. A mammoth collection of 5,000 searchable documents from Albert Einstein's earlier years is being made freely available to the public on the internet. The archive ranges from charming letters to his future wife Mileva Marić after the birth of their first child to his battle to come to terms with fame and his stance as a pacifist in the wake of the First World War. Scroll down for video . An online collection of 5,000 Albert Einstein documents includes letters to his future wife Mileva Marić. The pair are pictured together . But it also highlights his prolific output as a physicist as well as lecture notes, extensive workings and a a telegram informing him he had won the Nobel Prize in physics in 1921 for the photoelectric effect. It includes documents about his most famous equation E=mc2, which said that the energy 'stored' in objects is equal to their mass multiplied by the speed of light squared. The transcribed and translated Digital Einstein Papers take readers on a journey through the life of the genius from 1879 to 1923, when he turned 44 - and anyone with an internet connection can now browse through the archive. It includes letters from a 22-year-old Einstein to his former classmate Marić, sent to her from Berne in Switzerland, in February 1902. It reveals his joy at learning of the birth of his daughter. Writing to his 'beloved sweetheart', he asks of baby Lieserl: 'Is she healthy and does she already cry properly? What kind of little eyes does she have? Whom of us two does she resemble more? Who is giving her milk? Is she hungry? And so she is completely bald. I love her so much and I don't even know her yet! 'Couldn't she be photographed once you are totally healthy again? Will she soon be able to turn her eyes toward something?' The archive includes love letters Einstein (right) wrote to Elsa Löwenthal (left). The pair married after his first wife granted a divorce . In 1903, he wrote to his friend Michele Besso that he was living a 'very pleasant, cozy life with my wife'. 'She takes excellent care of everything, cooks well, and is always cheerful,' he wrote. The pair would go on to have two sons but Einstein later began an affair with his cousin, Elsa Löwenthal. In one letter to her on May 7 1912, he writes: 'Both of us are poor devils, each shackled to his unrelenting duties. I cannot tell you how sorry I am for you, and how much I would like to be something to you. 'But if we give in to our affection for each other, only confusion and misfortune will result. You know this only too well. He continues: 'I love you. I would be happy if I were allowed to walk a few steps at your side even if only from time to time, or if I could otherwise rejoice in being close to you.' He later married Löwenthal, who had children of her own, after Marić granted a divorce. In other letters Einstein describes how fame was affecting his personal life, writing that 'The postman is my archenemy, I cannot shake myself loose from his slavery' The transcribed and translated collection shows how Einstein was a prolific writer of letters and postcards. Pictured above is a post card, from a separate archive, that he once wrote to his wife Elsa . In other letters he describes how fame was affecting his personal life, writing that 'The postman is my archenemy, I cannot shake myself loose from his slavery'. And the scientist, who died at the age of 76, sets out his pacifist stance following the horrors of the First World War writing to hi friend Carl Herman Unthan: 'I must admit that it always pains me when the few little blossoms that grew in my flowerbed must suffer by being used to decorate the banner of nationalism. Revealing his excitement about the birth of his first child in 1902, he wrote to Mileva Marić: . ‘I love her so much and I don’t even know her yet! Couldn’t she be photographed once you are totally healthy again? In a 1912 love letter to Elsa Lowenthal, the woman he was having an affair with, he wrote: . ‘Both of us are poor devils, each shackled to his unrelenting duties. I cannot tell you how sorry I am for you, and how much I would like to be something to you. Explaining his hopes for peace after the First World War in a letter in April 1920, he said: . ‘I am a pacifist and, in these times of hate, am steadily intent on encouraging reconciliation’ 'For I am a pacifist and, in these times of hate, am steadily intent on encouraging reconciliation.' Having documented the first 44 years of his life, the team behind the project plans to add more volumes to the archive as they are compiled and printed. The 14th volume, with more than 1,000 documents, is set to be released in January and will be digitised at a later date. The website is a collaboration involving the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Princeton University Press and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. It includes both the German originals and the English translations. Diana Kormos-Buchwald, director of the Einstein Papers Project at Caltech is quoted by the Los Angeles Daily News as saying: 'This is an ongoing project. We have reached his 44th birthday. 'People from China to South America and India and many other places where they don’t have access to these volumes will be able to access these materials. 'These volumes are usually of interest to specialists, and we hope to widen the interest considerably.' | Online archive contains 5,000 documents from Albert Einstein's early life .
Includes letters, notebooks, post cards and papers from 1879 to 1923 .
Documents have been printed out and translated from German to English .
The archive ranges from love letters to workings on his theory of relativity .
In one letter he reveals his excitement at the birth of his first baby, Lieserl .
Also describes his longing for peace in the wake of the First World War .
Further volumes of wider archive are set to be added once they are printed . |
051b8a566ed5d6f3bf0b29852446c51d3eaa2c37 | Don’t you just love our country? I’m not being sarcastic. In April 2010, it was recorded in Hansard that ‘this House expresses profound sadness at the death of Corin Redgrave [and] recalls his life as a brilliant actor, peace campaigner, supporter of the downtrodden and man of enormous principle’. Yet Redgrave, a stalwart of the Workers’ Revolutionary Party, had devoted much of his life to the overthrow of parliamentary democracy and our wicked capitalist ways. Committed to the economic and political theories of Lenin and Trotsky, he saw money and materialism as the root cause of ‘inequality, social conflict and wars’. Mention Thatcher to him and he went blue in the face. Corin fell in love with his second wife, Kika Markham, during a lecture at the Derbyshire College of Marxist Education . Corin fell in love with his second wife, Kika Markham, during a lecture at the Derbyshire College of Marxist Education. They spent their honeymoon thinking up ways of ‘fighting Thatcher, unemployment and racism’. As an actor, Corin developed into a magnificent and authoritative presence. His one-man show about Oscar Wilde was acclaimed in London and New York. I myself witnessed him play Sir Anthony Blunt, the Soviet double-agent, in a one-man show presented in Bromyard, Herefordshire, the town in which Corin and his sister, Vanessa, had spent the war as evacuees. Such was his magnetism that, at the end, he had us all lustily singing The Red Flag. As an actor, Corin developed into a magnificent and authoritative presence. His one-man show about Oscar Wilde was acclaimed in London and New York. He had shaped up into someone as impressive as his late father, Sir Michael Redgrave . As a performer, Corin had shaped up into someone as impressive as his late father, Sir Michael Redgrave. I was slightly disconcerted to discover in Our Time Of Day, however, that, when Sir Michael died and was cremated in 1985, Corin ever afterwards kept the ashes in his car, ‘unable to part with them’. Strange behaviour. As a chain-smoker and alcoholic, Corin was asking for trouble and, in 2005, recovering from prostate cancer on holiday in Italy, ‘he was shivering and shaking like a leaf’, says Kika. The emergency doctor ‘couldn’t tell if it was very bad flu or whether it might have been a heart attack’. As a chain-smoker and alcoholic, Corin was asking for trouble and, in 2005, recovering from prostate cancer on holiday in Italy, ‘he was shivering and shaking like a leaf’, says Kika . Back in Britain, Corin was addressing a meeting of the Dale Farm gypsies in Basildon when he collapsed. He was taken, unconscious, to intensive care and put on a life-support machine. He had suffered ‘severe brain damage from the lack of oxygen after the cardiac arrest’. Would it have been a kindness had he died? The ensuing five years, which are recorded here in a completely engrossing and harrowing mix of diaries, memos, scraps, letters and heartbreaking reminiscence, were hell on Earth for Kika — because, when Corin regained consciousness, he had clean forgotten who she was. He was lucid, ‘articulate and passionate’, but his memory had been obliterated. Our Time Of Day is a horror story about a husband who wakes up and has no idea he’d ever been in love with his wife. Emotion and tenderness — all gone. ‘I can’t remember our life together,’ Corin confesses and, as Kika says, ‘both our lives had disappeared. For what use are memories if they only exist for one person’. She was placed in the unique position of grieving for a man who was not technically dead. To all intents and purposes, Corin was insane. Moved to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, in Bloomsbury, he thought he was ‘in some kind of hotel in Singapore’. He failed to recognise London, believing the trees and parks were a garden in Vienna. He didn’t want to co-operate with the doctors because ‘he didn’t think there was anything the matter . . . He thought people were lying to him and that his life was in danger.’ He was convinced he was the target of a ‘State conspiracy’ and the Secret Police were coming for him. ‘We must get away!’ he screamed. He tried to do just that, in a taxi. ‘Corin is angry and won’t be pacified,’ remembers Kika. Eventually, Vanessa offered to look after her brother at her flat. But there was little improvement. Such was Corin’s rage and fear, he reckoned people were hidden in the wardrobe, listening to him — so he insisted on silence. Piteously, he could never remember that his mother had died and faced ‘the terrible freshness of sorrow’ each time he was told the truth. He started to confuse Kika with his first wife, Deirdre, and what it boiled down to was that Corin no longer had any capacity to reflect. He could only cope and survive ‘in the moment’. Kika talking about her memoirs. She says that by the time Corin's brain damage had set in they had both lost their lives . The miracle, however — the anomaly — is that, despite being sectioned in a mental hospital, despite his increasing ‘disinhibition’ (urinating in public view, buttonholing complete strangers), despite his loss of co-ordination and balance, Corin’s ‘creative power has not diminished one bit’, and he could still work: Beckett on the radio, film and television cameos. But then, he could go quite unpredictably crazy again. Hearing a playback of himself in King Lear, he asked, without trying to be funny: ‘Who’s written this? It’s not Shakespeare. Who’s written it?’ Within the midst of this maelstrom, Kika’s steadfastness is an inspiration, like a heroine in a Greek tragedy. Though ‘we were unable to communicate with one another through familiar ways’, and even though Corin had no remorse about his condition (because he didn’t believe he was poorly — asked if he was upset at having no recollection of his life with Kika he said, rather callously, ‘No, not really. It’s strange’), she never for a single second gives up on what they’d had, what they’d been, before the darkness fell. Darkness fell for good in 2010, when Corin suffered a burst aneurysm. His ashes are interred in Highgate Cemetery — not kept in the car. ‘I was alone,’ says Kika, ‘without a plan.’ The actuality is that she’d already been alone for years. Our Time of Day by Kika Markham (Oberon £16.99) you can purchase a copy at the MailOnline Book Shop. | The pair fell in love at a lecture at a college of Marxism .
As an actor, Corin developed into a magnificent and authoritative presence .
He was as impressive as his late father, Sir Michael Redgrave .
As a chain-smoker and alcoholic, Corin was asking for trouble .
In 2005, recovering from prostate cancer Kika remembers him shaking .
He collapsed and had a heart attack while giving a talk .
He suffered severe brain damage and became irritable and erratic .
Kika struggled to care for him as he did not even remember her .
Sister Vanessa had to look after him .
Kika says both their lives had disappeared . |
051c38280f060028595e09f29e1ff7d703069d62 | From the elegant stalk of an apple to fine fabric of a tea bag, the remarkable beauty of everyday objects is often hidden to the naked eye. But zoom in closer, and an alien world appears as mundane items found around the house rapidly transform into works of art. In a series titled ‘Amazing Worlds within our Worlds’, artist Pyanek has captured the delicate details in objects such as a kitchen sponge, keys, spaghetti, incense sticks and a serrated knife. The photographer used a Canon T3i (600D/Kiss X5) with the kit lens reversed, a HeliconFocus for focus stacking and Lightroom and Exposure 5 for editing. ‘I don't have a rack or any special lights, I did the stacking by literally moving the lens with my hand, taking a photo, moving it again, taking another, then joining them with the software,' he writes. Pyanek, who has chosen not to reveal his identity or location, explains on his YouTube channel that he works on the philosophy that art should be free and has made his images available for use by the public. Scroll down for video... In a series titled ‘Amazing Worlds within our Worlds’, artist Pyanek has captured the delicate details in everyday objects. In this image the bubbles and cracks in a bowl of golden cornflakes can clearly be seen . From the stalk of an apple to fabric of a tea bag (pictured), the remarkable beauty of everyday objects is often hidden to the naked eye . Zoom in, and an alien world appears as items found around the house rapidly transform into works of art. Pictured is an apple stalk . The pages of a novel may appear to be smooth as you turn them, but this images reveals the true, fibrous character of an old book . On the left is a close up of a stone found weathered on a beach, while the left image shows the worn down surface of a brass room key . The end of a red ball point pen, spattered with ink. Pyanek, who has chosen not to reveal his identity or location, explains on his YouTube channel that he works on the philosophy that art should be free and has made his image available for use online . The left image shows a close up of a screw, while the right image reveals the structure of a single grain of sugar. When viewed under the microscope, sugar crystals look like hexagonal pillars that have fallen over . Pictured is the serrated edge of a knife. To take the images, the photographer used a Canon T3i (600D/Kiss X5) with the kit lens reversed, a HeliconFocus for focus stacking and Lightroom and Exposure 5 for editing . Red lipstick such as this may be made from waxes such as beeswax, as well as ingredients such as olive oil, mineral oil and cocoa butter . The left image shows the rough pattern on an incense stick, while a more artificial rough surface is seen on the X key of a keyboard (right) The patterned flecks on a matchstick (pictured) are contrasted against the smooth texture of lipstick and rough surface of a brass key . This alien looking structure is in fact a kitchen sponge. 'The shot is of the curved edge on the sponge, so there is detail in the forefront and goes out of focus way way back, which gives it more depth,' the photographer wrote on his Youtube channel . On the left is a close up of spaghetti, while the right image shows the bubbles in soap foam. 'I did the stacking by literally moving the lens with my hand,' the photographer writes . | The images were created as part of a series titled ‘Amazing Worlds within our Worlds’ by artist Pyanek .
Other close ups include lipstick, a brass key, matchsticks, an apple stalk, a ballpoint pen and sugar .
Pyanek used a Canon T3i (600D/Kiss X5) with the kit lens reversed along with Exposure 5 for editing . |
051c93a9b52b055dd7e59477dd53842c0d8df994 | By . Associated Press and Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 16:08 EST, 30 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 17:40 EST, 30 August 2012 . A man whose teen step-daughter was allegedly shot dead by three soldiers to protect an anti-government militia group rushed and yelled at one of the suspects as he appeared in court on Thursday. Private Isaac Aguigui, Private Christopher Salmon and Sergeant Anthony Peden - all active-duty soldiers stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia - appeared separately in court as the District Attorney said he will seek the death penalty for each suspect. Wesley Thomas, whose 17-year-old daughter Tiffany York was killed alongside her boyfriend Michael Roark, 19, last year, bolted from his seat in the courtroom and rushed one of the suspects, Peden. 'You killed my kid!' he screamed before officers wrestled him to the floor, handcuffed him and led away, alongside Roark's father, Brett, who called one of the soldiers, 'Piece of (expletive).' Anger: Wesley Thomas, whose stepdaughter was shot dead by three soldiers last December, is tackled by courtroom security during the hearing of one of her murderers . Swipe: Thomas was wrestled to the ground and led out of court - but was not charged for the outburst . Both men were led out of the courtroom, but neither was charged for the outburst. Thomas, Salmon and Peden are each charged with 13 counts including malice murder, felony murder and illegal gang activity in the December 4 slayings. The victims were shot in the head in the woods of rural Long County near Fort Stewart in southeast Georgia. Fishermen found their bodies the day after they were killed. 'I want them gone. I want all of these individuals to disappear,' said Nicholas Lee York, Tiffany's brother, who applauded the decision to seek death for the soldiers. 'They took something irreplaceable from me.' Hate: As he tried to reach the defendant, Thomas yelled: 'You (expletive) killed my kid!' Victims: Tiffany York, 17, and her boyfriend Michael Roark, 19, were shot dead by three soldiers who wanted to protect their anti-government militia and their plans to assassinate the president . The case took a stunning turn at an . earlier hearing Monday when prosecutors told a Superior Court judge the . accused soldiers belonged to an anti-government militia operating within . the U.S. military that had stockpiled at least $87,000 worth of guns . and bomb components. They . said the group had a range of plans - from bombing a park fountain in . nearby Savannah to poisoning apple crops in the state of Washington - . and its ultimate goal was to overthrow the U.S. government and . assassinate the president. President Barack Obama was not mentioned by name as their target. Atlantic . Judicial Circuit District Attorney Tom Durden cites domestic terrorism . as an aggravating factor that warrants the death penalty. But . all charges against the soldiers relate directly to the killings. No . charges have been filed in state or federal court accusing the three . suspects of terrorist plots or acts. Fight: Brett Roark, the father of Michael Roark, is escorted out by courtroom security during the hearing . Heartbreak: Brett Roark is escorted out by courtroom security during the hearing of a defendant . 'Sometimes some of these things don't . fit neatly into our state laws,' Durden said after court when asked . about the absence of terrorism-related charges. "We're going forward . with what we feel comfortable with." Because . they now face capital charges, all three soldiers will need to have new . attorneys appointed with death penalty experience. They won't be . arraigned or asked to enter pleas until that happens. 'At . this point, there has been no evidence presented to prove anything,' said Keith Higgins, an attorney who represented Aguigui in court . Thursday. 'The fact that certain statements are being made does not . necessarily mean these allegations are true.' Salmon's . wife, Heather Salmon, has also been charged with murder and other . counts. She did not appear in court Thursday and Durden said he will not . seek the death penalty for her. Target: The ruckus took place as Sgt. Anthony Peden appeared at Long County Superior Court . Accused: Isaac Aguigui has also been accused of murder to cover up plans to bring down the government . In court: Christopher Salmon walks into court. The District Attorney said he will seek the death penalty for all three . Authorities . took extra precautions Thursday as the accused soldiers, in shackles . and jailhouse jumpsuits, were brought before the judge for a preliminary . hearing. The defendants were brought to the courthouse one-at-a-time, with their hearings scheduled an hour apart. Deputies armed with assault rifles walked in front of and behind them. Relatives of both victims have been seething since Monday's hearing after a fourth soldier who says he witnessed both slayings testified about them in detail before pleading guilty to reduced charges. Pfc. Michael Burnett told the judge Roark, whom prosecutors say was helping the militia buy guns, had just left the Army and was considered 'a loose end' by Aguigui, the militia's leader. Burnett said Roark and his girlfriend were led to the woods. Peden shot York before she could get out of her car, Burnett testified, then paused to check her pulse and shot her again. Struggle: Wesley Thomas comforts his wife Brenda Thomas during the hearing of Pvt. Isaac Aguigui . Roark was forced to kneel on the ground before Salmon shot him twice in the head, Burnett said. The Army brought its own murder charges in the case in March, but dropped them earlier this month. Civilian federal prosecutors won't say if they're building a case. Durden, the state prosecutor, says he doesn't know how many other members belonged to the militia, which prosecutors say was called F.E.A.R. - Forever Enduring Always Ready. Army authorities have indicated they don't believe the suspects were part of a large group. 'We have one investigation that encompasses all the allegations made against these suspects,' said Chris Gray, spokesman for the Army's Criminal Investigations Command. 'We're not aware of any other subjects beyond this.' | Tiffany York killed alongside her boyfriend Michael Rourk in December .
Three soldiers 'shot them dead as Rourk was leaving the Army and they feared he would reveal their violent plans to bring down government'
Men 'stockpiled $87,000 worth of guns and bomb parts'
Fathers of both victims led out of court after yelling at suspect Sgt. Anthony Peden during his preliminary hearing . |
051e083ce7f7e39cc6c2397ba60715aaabf9d551 | By . Maggie Harbour . Kris Jenner has someone she’d like her daughter Kourtney Kardashian's partner Scott Disick to call: Her pastor! The momager was all smiles in the premiere episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians on Sunday night when Kourtney, 35, confirmed that she is indeed pregnant with her third child with Scott, 31. They are already the parents of four-year-old son Mason and daughter Penelope, 23 months. Scroll down for video . Not married, three children: And then there were five. Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick have been together for eight years and have two children, soon to be three. But the numbers don't add up for Kris Jenner. She thinks they ought to commit to each other by getting married . Calling the shots: Kris Jenner brings a smile to LAX this afternoon as she gets ready to fly out of town. She's delighted to be a grandma again, but want Kourtney and Scott to seal the deal . But although momager Kris is thrilled she’s going to be a grandma again in December; behind the scenes she’s not so thrilled that her daughter and her boyfriend of the past eight years have still not made it down the aisle. ‘Committing to parent three kids, when you haven’t even committed to each other doesn’t cut it in Kris’s book,’ says a family friend. ‘She comes from a time when, if a girl got pregnant and was still single, she got married as soon as possible. 'And although she understands times have changed, she still has religious values and feels it’s only right that Scott make an "honest woman" out of her little girl.’ In fact, 58-year-old Kris regularly attends church services at the California Community Church in Agoura Hills, California - a church founded by… her. She used to attend a Baptist Church in Westlake where she listened to sermons by Rev. Brad Johnson. Married, no children: They've split now, but Khloe Kardashian married Lamar Odem even though they didn't have kids. The ceremony was presided over by pastor Brad Johnson, the man Kris would like to perform Kourtney's ceremony . Married, one child: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West waited only a year after baby North was born before they walked down an Italian aisle last month . But when the pastor resigned in disgrace over his affair with a mistress – who he has since married – Kris tracked him down at his new job serving up coffee at Starbucks, and made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. Now they are partners in a church that boasts giving people second chances. But besides that, he can marry people. In fact, he performed the September 2009 marriage ceremony between Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom, making him only a phone call away should Scott and Kourtney decide to tie the knot. Kourtney and Scott have been together since 2006. And although he bought her a ring in 2011 he says she is the one who didn’t want to get married. ‘Up until now Kourtney hasn’t been interested in getting married, but at 35, she’s beginning to feel it’s time. She’s expecting the couple’s third child and if Scott would agree to a small, quiet ceremony – nothing like the one Kim just had – I think she’d be up for it.' Pressure: If Kris has anything to say about it, Kourtney and Scott will be married by the time the new baby is born. Says a family friend: 'Maybe there's still a part of Kourtney that wants to make sure that at 31, Scott has outgrown his bad behavior before she agrees to make it legal' But suddenly Scott is saying, ‘Why fix it if it’s not broken?’ so the subject of marriage once again seems at a standstill. Kris on the other hand fears the old adage still rings true; why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?’ And she says if Kourtney doesn’t stand up to Scott and insist on a wedding, she’ll end up a lonely 40-year-old woman with three kids and no husband. ‘It’s no secret that Scott and Kourtney have had their share of ups and downs,’ adds the source. ‘All you have to do is watch their reality show to know that. He’s been arrested for DUI, he’s been in and out of rehab, and he’s had anger issues where he’s put his fist through a mirror while arguing with Kourtney. ‘So maybe there’s still a part of Kourtney that wants to make sure that at 31, Scott has outgrown his bad behavior and is ready to be a proper husband, before she agrees to make it legal.’ Not a great holiday? Meanwhile, Scott was seen leaving his Hamptons house with a Louis Vuitton duffel bag Monday . | Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick have been together for eight years and they are about to have their third child. The numbers don't add up for mom Kris Jenner .
Committing to have three kids when you can't commit to each other doesn't cut it for Kris .
Kris regularly attends services at The California Community Church founded by... Kris .
She handpicked the pastor, who performed Khloe's ceremony, and she wants him to perform Kourtney's too . |
051ef0f7f4fc4f8c4805eb92a1b8cfea4485fadb | By . Pa Reporter . Josh Cobb has continued the Leicestershire exodus by signing a two-year contract with neighbours Northamptonshire. Captain Cobb's departure from Grace Road follows those of all-rounder Shiv Thakor and seamer Nathan Buck in recent weeks. Northants chief executive David Smith said: 'Josh will bring a real cutting edge to our white-ball cricket, having already scored five hundreds in this format. Leicestershire captain Josh Cobb has been signed by Northamptonshire to provide a cutting edge . The 24-year-old batsman has scored five one-day hundreds this season alongside a decent championshp . 'He has also had a very good championship season this year and brings invaluable captaincy experience ... at 24 years of age, his best cricket is still ahead of him. 'He was the number one target of first-team coach David Ripley, and we are absolutely delighted he is joining the club.' Cobb added: 'I feel it's now time to start a new chapter and challenge myself to improve in a new environment. Young seamer Nathan Buck has also left Leicestershire in recent weeks, joining division one Lancashire . 'I want to wish Leicestershire all the best for the future. Grace Road will always be a special place for me. 'Northamptonshire have proven that they are a winning limited-overs team and have set clear targets to get back into (LV=) Division One next year. 'I want to be a part of this - and after talking to the management ... I'm convinced it's the right place for me to achieve my goals.' | Leicestershire are bottom of County Championship division two .
Northamptonshire have been relegated from division one this season .
Northants chief executive says Josh Cobb will 'bring a real cutting edge'
Cobb determined to help Northants win promotion back to division one .
Nathan Buck and Shiv Thakor have also both agreed to leave recently . |
051f820e44b6660679261165a7541c5401d9c49b | Dhaka, Bangladesh (CNN) -- A Dhaka court on Tuesday ordered the arrest of six people, including the owner of Tazreen Fashions Ltd., after a fire in the apparel factory left 112 people dead last year, officials said. "A senior judicial magistrate, Wasim Sheikh, today (Tuesday) accepted the charges against 13 accused and issued warrants for the arrest of six people, including the owner," Mohammad Asaduzzaman, inspector of the Dhaka judicial magistrate court, told CNN. The criminal investigation department launched a probe after the fire on the outskirts of Bangladesh's capital and found 13 people guilty of gross negligence of safety measures in the apparel factory, which manufactured clothes for Western retailers. They were charged with "culpable homicide" because of gross negligence that led to 112 deaths, a court official said. If proved guilty, the accused could be sentenced up to life in jail or be fined under the Bangladesh Penal Code. Of the 13 accused, seven have been arrested, and the court will now send arrest warrants to police stations in the localities where the other six reside. The court also asked police to report by February 25 if the six accused were arrested. The six include Delwar Hossain, the owner and managing director of the company, and his wife, Mahmuda Akther, the chairwoman of Tazreen Fashions. The other accused are officials for the factory, which burned down in November of last year. A government committee has said the fire was an "act of sabotage." The panel also said the owner of the factory should be held responsible for gross negligence and should face trial for the lack of safety measures that led to the 112 deaths. Most of the dead in the fire at the Tazreen Fashions factory in Ashulia were women. Almost half of the dead were burned beyond recognition and were buried under government supervision after DNA samples were taken. More than 200 people also were injured in the blaze. "The owner of the factory should be brought to justice, as we find that proper safety measures could have lessened the fatalities," said Main Uddin Khandaker, head of the government committee and an additional secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs. He submitted a report on the tragedy to the home secretary this year. Hossain, the factory owner, has not yet been detained was not available for comment Tuesday. He has admitted to local media that his factory lacked proper safety measures. However, he said he had not been aware of that. Ready-made garments make up 80% of Bangladesh's $24 billion in annual exports. | A fire at Tazreen Fashions Ltd. in Ashulia killed 112 people in November 2012 .
A court orders the arrest of the factory owner and his wife, plus four others .
Seven others already have been arrested .
A government panel has called fire an "act of sabotage," said factory should've been safer . |
05200e6d917d3f494a4fbf14d1ae2345e1fce888 | By . Mike Dawes . Floyd Mayweather Jnr gave fans a glimpse of what life is like when you have earned more than $100million in the last year. The American boxer recorded a video clip of inside his garage, where he has three Bugatti cars in different colours parked next to one another. Mayweather, who is due to fight Marcos Maidana in September, played the Rick Ross song 'New Bugatti' over the clip, which he posted on Instagram. VIDEO Scroll down to watch some footage of Floyd Mayweather showing off his Bugattis . Bugatti number one: Mayweather posted a short clip of him in his garage with the three cars . Bugatti number two: The second of Mayweather's cars in the video is burgundy and dark navy . Lucky number three: The brief clip finishes on a silver and white Bugatti . On Saturday the undefeated welterweight was pictured with Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese footballer took to Instagram to post a snap of himself with Mayweather accompanied with the message, 'Nice to hang out with the champ'. Legends collide: Cristiano Ronaldo met up with boxing champion Floyd Mayweather . European champion: Ronaldo won the Champions League with Real Madrid last season . Undefeated: Mayweather, pictured with Justin Bieber, is yet to lose a professional bout . Ronaldo is currently in the USA with his Real Madrid teammates as the La Liga giants are preparing for the new season. The Portuguese captain could be included in Real Madrid's pre-season fixtures against Inter Milan, Roma and former side Manchester United. Mayweather on the other hand will be preparing for his fight against Maidana which takes place in September at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. Rematch: Mayweather will come against Argentina's Marcos Maidana in September . | Mayweather posted a video of his three Bugatti cars side by side .
The clip has Rick Ross' song 'New Bugatti' playing over the top .
Boxer was recently granted a promoter's licence for state of Nevada .
On Saturday he was spotted with Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo .
Mayweather's next fight will be against Marcos Maidana in September .
The 37-year-old could finally meet Manny Pacquiao in May 2015 . |
05206bbad78711862f6fc429837ce2e7bd74dbd2 | (CNN)They are two of the continent's acknowledged football powerhouses and later Sunday either Ivory Coast or Ghana will end a long and frustrating wait to be crowned Africa Cup of Nations champions. Ghana last lifted the trophy 33 years ago and was beaten in the 1992 final by Ivory Coast, the last time The Elephants claimed the prestigious crown. The meeting in Bata will bring down the curtain on a tournament -- hosted at the last minute by Equatorial Guinea after Morocco declined because of Ebola fears -- which has seen some fine football but also been blighted by crowd trouble inside and outside the stadiums. Ghana's 3-0 semifinal win over the hosts saw the worst scenes, with a helicopter deployed to disperse fans at the Estadio de Malabo and the game held up for several minutes. Overshadowed by the violent scenes was a solid team performance by the Black Stars, with Andre Ayew, the son of the legendary Abedi 'Pele' Ayew, rounding off the scoring with his third goal of the competition. Ivory Coast, with a host of talented players such as Manchester City's Yaya Toure and the club's new signing Wilfried Bony, has come on strong after needing to beat Cameroon to reach the knockout stages. The Ivorians will start marginal favorites to win the Africa Cup of Nations for the second time. Ghana is a four-time winner and has five wins in nine matches with Ivory Coast at the finals, losing three with the other drawn. | Ivory Coast and Ghana meet in Africa Cup of Nations final .
Ghana last won title in 1982, Ivory Coast in 1992 .
Ghana beat hosts Equatorial Guinea in semifinals .
Ivory Coast starts as marginal favorite . |
05216d3837745866d393f0e07be7ba801dc330f6 | (CNN) -- The United Arab Emirates is playing host to a huge corporate party this week. Hotel lobbies and shopping malls are flooded with Chinese guests and the Dubai-Abu Dhabi highway is dotted with long rows of buses branded "2014 Nu Skin Success Trip" in English and Arabic. Nu Skin China, the Chinese arm of a U.S.-based marketing skin care marketing company is flying in 16,000 of its employees from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau to the UAE for a corporate trip. It says the jaunt will bring in around $20 million of business to the Gulf state. More than 200 flights were booked for the trip, including two chartered Emirates planes, while more than 39,000 hotel beds in 40 hotels and 409 buses were required, according to Nu Skin and local travel agency Arabian Adventures. The visitors are arriving in overlapping groups of around 2000 people a time. The guests are visiting landmarks such as the world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa, in Dubai, and the Sheikh Zayed mosque in Abu Dhabi. The company has also booked out the massive Ferrari World theme park for three days and organized three "workshop dinners" for 8,000 people a time, according to organizers. This year marks Nu Skin's 30th anniversary and the trip "is for the development and recognition of our top sales leaders in the Greater China region," according to a statement from the company. Dubai bid for the jaunt in October 2012, competing against other cities including Seoul, Macau and Singapore, to play host. In January last year the company announced its selection of Dubai as the destination for its massive trip. | A Chinese skin care marketing company is sending 16,000 of its employees to the UAE .
The massive corporate trip is expected to bring around $20 million of business .
The "2014 Nu Skin Success Trip" marks the company's 30th anniversary . |
0522556e9fba5ccf7823d4311af81767539494cd | You don't have to be strictly a man or a woman on Facebook anymore. In a nod to the "it's complicated" sexual identities of many of its users, the social network on Thursday added a third "custom" gender option for people's profiles. In addition to Male or Female, Facebook now lets U.S. users choose among some 50 additional options such as "transgender," "cisgender," "gender fluid," "intersex" and "neither." Users also now have the ability to choose the pronoun they'd like to be referred to publicly: he/his, she/her, or the gender-neutral they/their. "When you come to Facebook to connect with the people, causes, and organizations you care about, we want you to feel comfortable being your true, authentic self," Facebook said in a post on its Diversity page. "An important part of this is the expression of gender, especially when it extends beyond the definitions of just 'male' or 'female,' " the post continued. "So today, we're proud to offer a new custom gender option to help you better express your own identity on Facebook." Facebook said it worked with a group of leading lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy organizations to come up with the new gender categories. "Facebook users from across the country have been asking for the ability to reflect their gender accurately, and today Facebook showed they have been listening," said Allison Palmer, a former GLAAD vice president, who worked on the project with Facebook. To edit your gender status (or other personal information), Facebook offers these instructions: . Go to your Timeline (which we sometimes refer to as your profile). Click Update Info at the bottom of your cover photo. Click Edit in the top right of the section you'd like to change. (The new gender options are only accessible within an autocomplete drop-down menu, so you have to begin typing to see them appear.) Enter your new info and click Save. Among other new gender options identified on Facebook so far: Trans Female, Trans Male, Trans Person, Gender Variant, Gender Questioning, Bigender, Androgynous, Pangender and Transsexual. Facebook also tweaked its privacy settings to let users control with whom they share their custom gender. Reaction on social media Thursday was largely positive, although some people joked they would need a dictionary to look up many of the gender-identity terms. The social network did not say Thursday when the new gender options might be available to users outside the U.S. | Facebook on Thursday added new gender options for people's profiles .
U.S. users can now choose options such as "transgender" and "intersex"
The move was hailed by LGBT advocacy groups . |
0523f7bda39df8648207ebd65920a50265da156d | By . John Drayton . Despite being one of the few England players to return from the World Cup with his reputation enhanced, Raheem Sterling insists he still has to prove himself for Liverpool this season. The 19-year-old was a revelation last season as the Reds came within two points of winning the Premier League title, but Sterling returned to training in Boston knowing that the arrival of new players means his place is not guaranteed. Speaking to LFCTour.com, he said: 'I've still got to prove myself; the manager has brought players in that are all in similar positions to me, so I've just got to keep working hard, show the manager what I can do and try not to take my foot off the gas, pressing for a place in this team. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Raheem Sterling go wild scoring FIFA goal against Sturridge . We go again! Raheem Sterling knows he has to prove himself all over again . Fast tracked: Raheem Sterling has developed rapidly since Liverpool last visited Boston . 'It's a top football club with top players, who come in to compete and do their best every day. That's been no different so far [in training]. 'There is definitely much more to come from me. I just need to keep working hard and hopefully I can get into my full stride this season and try to do the best for the football club.' Sterling introduced himself to the world at large with an inspired performance against Italy in England's opening 2-1 defeat at the World Cup. But, the fleet-footed winger paid little attention to the headlines he created. 'I didn't listen to it too much,' he reflected. 'I was told by some of my family, who told me to keep going and to try not to listen too much and play my game.' Competition: Signing of new players including Lazar Markovic (L) will keep pressure on Sterling . Gruelling: Raheem Sterling takes on England teammate Daniel Sturridge during double training in Boston . Revelation: The 19-year-old made a name for himself with his performance against Italy at the World Cup . Asked what he learned from his time in Brazil, he replied: "There are two sides to football - the international side, and the Premier League and domestic side. 'There were different sorts of tactics and players, so it was really good to be up against. It will be good for me in my learning curve going forward. 'It was a great experience for a young player to go into such a major tournament. It was a real honour and I learned a lot from it. Hopefully that can benefit me going forward with Liverpool.' Red leader: Manager Brendan Rodgers watches over pre-season training at Havard University . Playing for keeps: Pepe Reina takes part in training after returning from a loan spell with Napoli . VIDEO New Liverpool signing eyes Premier League trophy . Sterling is currently in Boston for the club's US tour where players have been put through their paces with exhausting double daily sessions to prepare for the new season. Sterling said: 'The double sessions are killers, really. We've been working hard as a group; the lads that have come back for the first week have been really putting some hard work in. It's part of the game and we're enjoying it so far. 'We have obviously been here before, two years ago. It is a nice city, a really relaxing city. Training has been tough so far but it's good. The manager is really getting us back to fitness and we're raring to go again.' Cool like that: Daniel Sturridge douses himself with water during the hot weather Stateside . Building stamina: Kolo Toure looks exhausted as Liverpool prepare for a tough season ahead . In the two years that have passed since Liverpool last visited Boston, Sterling as risen from an inexperienced fringe player into one of the game's most highly rated youngsters. 'Back then, the dream was always to play for this club and try to do as much for the club," he noted. 'But with England and stuff like that, things have come fast. But this is football. I'm taking it in my stride. 'Hopefully I can build on everything that has come my way and if we come here again in two years, hopefully it will be a similar thing.' | Raheem Sterling knows he has to prove himself on return to Liverpool .
England youngster was a revelation at the World Cup 2014 .
Reds have made new signings including Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic .
Sterling is currently in Boston on Liverpool's pre-season tour of the US . |
0525e26ef169997ac990c87f245e454818f461cc | (CNN) -- It's the biggest move of his career and it's off the court. Jason Collins, who played with the NBA's Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards this season, has disclosed that he is gay, making him the first active openly gay male athlete in the four major American pro team sports. The center, who said he is now a free agent, made the disclosure in a column appearing in the upcoming issue of Sports Illustrated. "I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, 'I'm different.' If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand," he wrote. Collins also wrote that the killing of three people at the Boston Marathon persuaded him to make an announcement. Things can change in a moment, so why not start living more truthfully, he wrote. On Twitter, Collins thanked everyone who sent him messages of support. "All the support I have received today is truly inspirational. I knew that I was choosing the road less traveled but I'm not walking it alone," he wrote. Sports Illustrated's managing editor said Collins was reticent about being a flag bearer. Spike Lee slams the Collins hate machine . "It is a much simpler, more personal reason. He wants to have a family," Chris Stone told CNN. "He wants the same life that his twin brother, Jarron, has. This is a secret he's kept for a very long time. He didn't even inform his brother that he was gay until late last summer. ... So much for twin telepathy." Jarron, who played in the NBA for 10 seasons and was Jason's teammate at Stanford, tweeted to his brother: "Very proud of you." "Jason Collins has forever changed the face of sports," said the Human Rights Campaign, a civil rights group fighting for gay rights. It likened the announcement to Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play in major league baseball in the modern era. NBA's first openly gay player . "At a time when millions are reflecting on the life and legacy of Jackie Robinson, Jason Collins is a hero for our own times," the group said. Former NBA player Charles Barkley, now an analyst for "Inside the NBA" on TNT, told CNN on Monday night that active players shouldn't be surprised that a teammate is gay. "I think anybody who thinks they never played with a gay player is an idiot," he said on "AC360." "I played with several gay players. It's their own business, and I think they should get to be who they want to be." Collins is a 7-footer who has played with six NBA teams -- the Wizards, Celtics, Atlanta Hawks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies and New Jersey Nets -- over the past 12 seasons. He has averaged 3.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in 713 career games, and he has had a great deal of playoff experience with the Nets (who have since moved to Brooklyn) and the Hawks. Momentum had been growing in recent months for an active player in the National Football League, National Hockey League, National Basketball Association or Major League Baseball to come out. Just a few weeks ago, the NHL announced a new program teaching tolerance and giving support to gay athletes. Commissioner Gary Bettman said the agreement made the NHL's policy of inclusiveness "clear and unequivocal." "While we believe that our actions in the past have shown our support for the LGBT community, we are delighted to reaffirm through this joint venture with the NHL Players' Association that the official policy of the NHL is one of inclusion on the ice, in our locker rooms and in the stands," Bettman said in the joint statement with You Can Play. And NFL player Brendon Ayanbadejo, The New York Times reported, has been in contact with closeted players in several sports. "What we're trying to facilitate is to get them together and do what they want to do, do what is right for them," he told the Times. Collins paves way for gay athletes . In February, former professional soccer player Robbie Rogers announced on his blog that he is gay. His former U.S. teammates showed solidarity in response to the news. Though reaction to Collins' announcement also was overwhelming support, not everyone had a positive response. ESPN basketball analyst Chris Broussard said the Bible calls homosexuality a sin. "If you're openly living in unrepentant sin, whatever it may be, not just homosexuality, adultery, fornication, premarital sex between heterosexuals, whatever it may be. I think that's walking in open rebellion to God and to Jesus Christ," he said. NFL receiver Mike Wallace tweeted Monday: "All these beautiful women in the world and guys wanna mess with other guys SMH." He tweeted again, saying he was being misinterpreted. "Never said anything was right or wrong I just said I don't understand!! Deeply sorry for anyone that I offended," he wrote. The Dolphins, Wallace's employer, issued a statement saying the team has spoken with Wallace about the tweets. The team said it will address its policy of inclusion with all of its players. NBA Commissioner David Stern said Collins, a 34-year-old veteran, is widely respected in the league. "We are proud he has assumed the leadership mantle on this very important issue," he said in a statement. Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld said the team is "extremely proud of Jason and support his decision to live his life proudly and openly." "He has been a leader on and off the court and an outstanding teammate throughout his NBA career. Those qualities will continue to serve him both as a player and as a positive role model for others of all sexual orientations," Grunfeld said. Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers called Collins "a pro's pro" and one of his favorite players he ever coached. "If you have learned anything from Jackie Robinson, it is that teammates are always the first to accept," Rivers said. "It will be society who has to learn tolerance." Bill Clinton called the announcement an "important moment for professional sports and in the history of the LGBT community." Clintons welcome announcement from friend Jason Collins . Collins, who had been traded by the Celtics to the Wizards this season, wrote in his essay that U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy, D-Massachusetts, helped prompt his decision to come out as gay. Kennedy and Collins were roommates at Stanford. He recounts hearing about Kennedy, who is not gay, marching in Boston's Gay Pride Parade. "For as long as I've known Jason Collins he has been defined by three things: his passion for the sport he loves, his unwavering integrity, and the biggest heart you will ever find," Kennedy said. "I'm proud to stand with him today and proud to call him a friend." President Barack Obama called Collins "to express his support and said he was impressed by his courage," a White House official said. Active players posted their approval on Twitter. The Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant said: "Proud of @jasoncollins34. Don't suffocate who u r because of the ignorance of others." Steve Nash, also a Laker, said: "The time has come. Maximum respect." Two Wizards players, Garrett Temple and Bradley Beal, said in tweets they were "proud" of Collins. "Much respect to my teammate," Temple said. "Great teammate, mentor and better person," said Beal. Collins' announcement comes after the end of the Wizards' season, and he is no longer under contract. He is an "old" player by NBA standards who has never been a star. So will he play in the NBA this fall? ESPN.com said only six of 14 team officials reached for an unofficial poll Monday thought he would be back in the league. If he does return, he probably will play only a few minutes a game for a team that needs a veteran leader, the other executives told ESPN.com. Twitter reacts to the revelation . Some male athletes have come out as gay after they've left professional sports. One is John Amaechi, a former NBA player. Amaechi told CNN he hopes Collins will be a catalyst for a wider acceptance of openly gay athletes, saying he believes Collins is better equipped than anyone who came before him to handle the attention that will come his way. But it may take more, Amaechi said. People like to believe one iconic figure can change things, he said, "but the reality is that when there's this tipping point, or enough people coming together deciding that change is necessary, that's when change happens." The Women's National Basketball Association, the women's pro league, has had its share of milestones and openness as far as gays are concerned. In 2005, Sheryl Swoopes, a top player in the WNBA, announced she was gay. Brittney Griner, the No. 1 pick in this year's WNBA draft, recently said in an interview with Sports Illustrated that she is gay. Griner finished her college career as the NCAA's all-time leading shot-blocker with 748 and as the No. 2 all-time scorer with 3,283 points. Opinion: Openly gay player is not a distraction . CNN's Brianna Keilar, Jason Hanna and Jill Martin contributed to this report. | Collins thanks supporters on Twitter .
President Obama calls the 34-year-old veteran center .
Next step in Collins' hoops career is uncertain .
Collins writes he is happy to start a conversation . |
0525f667333edb5686b2a2e42f50f628a46ee7a4 | By . Nick Enoch . and Rebecca English, Royal Correspondent . PUBLISHED: . 10:00 EST, 19 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:03 EST, 19 June 2013 . Like the late Princess Diana before her, the Duchess of Cambridge has chosen to have her baby at the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s in Paddington, west London, royal sources revealed today - where staying in a private suite for a natural birth is likely to cost up to £10,000. The internationally renowned wing, where Princes William and Harry were born, is a dedicated private facility which caters for complex pregnancies and deliveries, as well as multiple births. Deluxe rooms or a suite are available on request - and each one is fitted with satellite TV, a radio, a safe, bedside phone and fridge. Following the royal baby's arrival, Kate . and her guests can choose from a comprehensive wine list should they . wish to enjoy a glass of Champagne and a toast. The internationally renowned Lindo wing - where Princes William and Harry were born - is a dedicated private facility at St Mary's hospital in Paddington, west London (above, file picture of a room in the wing) Following the royal baby's arrival, Kate and her guests at St Mary's can choose from a comprehensive wine list should they wish to enjoy a glass of Champagne and a toast . The Duchess will also be able to access the internet and have a choice of daily newspapers delivered to her room each morning throughout her stay. And if the new mum has any special dietary requests, a dedicated kitchen staff will be on hand to cater to her needs. The Lindo Wing has a team of maternity support workers and nursery nurses who can offer advice and reassurance to all new mothers staying there. The Lindo Wing has a team of maternity support workers and nursery nurses who can offer advice and reassurance to all new mothers staying there . Antenatal care . Day case accommodation . Consultant-led care packages . (Cost of additional night – per room) The wing provides expert consultant-led obstetric, neonatal care and anaesthetist care with 24-hour access to Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust’s state-of-the-art maternal and foetal specialist services. Part of the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, St Mary's is described as having 'modern, consultant-led world-class care'. The hospital also has a special care section, The Winnicott Baby Unit. It can look after up to 18 babies at a time in intensive care, high dependency or special care. Around 350 premature or sick newborn babies are cared for each year by the multidisciplinary team . The Lindo Wing was re-opened in June 2012 after extensive refurbishment. Prince William was born at 9.03pm on June 21, 1982, weighing 7lb 1.5oz in the same wing. He made his public debut with his parents outside the hospital, wrapped in a white blanket carried in the arms of his mother Diana, with the Prince of Wales at their side. Harry was born in the same exclusive wing just over two years later. Prince William was born at 9.03pm on June 21, 1982, weighing 7lb 1.5oz in the same wing. He is seen here leaving St Mary's with Princess Diana and Prince Charles . Calling Doctors Farthing and Setchell: The Royal delivery duo . The Queen’s current surgeon-gynaecologist Marcus Setchell, and Alan Farthing, the surgeon-gynaecologist to the royal household, are both playing key roles throughout Kate's pregnancy. Mr Setchell will take the lead for Kate's delivery, assisted by Mr Farthing. Consultant Mr Farthing, 47, is the former fiance of murdered television presenter Jill Dando and took up his role in the royal household in 2008. This is the first royal pregnancy since his appointment. Mr Setchell, 69, treated Kate for her severe morning sickness last December. Elite: Royal surgeon-gynaecologists Alan Farthing (left) and Marcus Setchell (right). Mr Setchell will take the lead for Kate's delivery, assisted by Mr Farthing . Mr Setchell has been a royal surgeon-gynaecologist for 18 years and cared for Sophie, Countess of Wessex, delivering her two babies, Lady Louise Windsor, now nine, and Viscount Severn, four. The Countess collapsed and was close to death when Lady Louise was born prematurely in 2003, after the placenta ruptured the lining of the womb. Mr Setchell also led the medical care following her ectopic pregnancy in 2001. He performed the Duchess of Cornwall’s hysterectomy in 2007 at the King Edward VII Hospital, where the Duchess of Cambridge was treated for her morning sickness. In recognition of his work, the father-of-four was awarded a personal honour by the Queen in 2004 when he was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order. When Mr Farthing took on his role for the royal household in 2008, he became one of the youngest doctors to treat the royal family. He was reported to have met the Duchess last year after her wedding to Prince William. Mr Farthing qualified as a doctor in 1986. He became a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 1991, and a fellow in 2003. In 1997, he became a consultant gynaecologist at St Mary’s Hospital and an honorary senior lecturer at Imperial College, London. He is a specialist in gynaecological cancer care and an internationally recognised expert in keyhole surgery. Mr Farthing went on to open his own private Harley Street practice and works as a consultant at two teaching hospitals in London, Queen Charlotte’s in Shepherd’s Bush and St Mary’s. Prince William and his brother Harry were delivered by Mr Setchell’s predecessor, the late Sir George Pinker, who delivered nine royal babies between 1973 and 1990. Mr Farthing was engaged to Crimewatch presenter Miss Dando when she was murdered in 1999, five months before they were due to marry. The couple met at a dinner party in 1997 and announced their engagement in 1999. Miss Dando was shot dead on her doorstep in April that year and her murder remains unsolved. | Kate to give birth at Lindo Wing at St Mary's in Paddington, west London .
Prince William was born at same wing in 1982, while Harry was delivered there over two years later . |
05260d7b293153d0bc1f56bb53ef19ecb01d1a8b | At least 41 members of Boko Haram have been killed in clashes with the army in Cameroon this weekend, the government said today. The Cameroonian army launched a series of air strikes and on-the-ground attacks on the militant Islamist group after it crossed the border and seized a military base. President Paul Biya personally ordered the retaliation attack which forced Boko Haram to flee the military base at Assighasia, a government representative said in a statement late Sunday. Fighting back: At least 41 members of Boko Haram, pictured is their leader Abubakar Shekau, were killed in several retaliation attacks by the Cameroonian Army this weekend . 'Fighter planes went into action for the first time since the start of the conflict on the Cameroonian side of the frontier, after several months of deadly cross-border Boko Haram raids', Communications Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary said. 'After two strikes and heavy fire... the assailants fled the Assighasia camp... losing several fighters,' he said. Military operations were still under way, he added, saying that 'the toll from combat will be released once the operational evaluation is complete'. The extremists of Boko Haram, have made frequent raids into neighbouring Cameroon since they began their insurgency in northern Nigeria in 2009. Orders: The attacks against Boko Haram were ordered by Cameroon's president Paul Biya . Boko Haram tactics include massacres of civilians on both sides of the frontier, bomb attacks on state institutions and schools, and the razing of villages and mass kidnappings. Since early in 2014, the movement has sent growing numbers of fighters into Cameroon, prepared to battle the army head-on as well as attacking and intimidating villagers. On October 15, Boko Haram forces equipped with a captured tank and an armoured vehicle attacked a military base at Amchide, near the border, in a raid that killed several dozen civilians and eight soldiers, according to officials. The air strikes marked 'a new escalation in the Cameroonian response... to multiple enemy attacks by the Boko Haram terrorist group,' the statement said, but it also sent a signal to other countries. Cameroon's neighbours, together with former colonial power France, have long criticised the authorities for what they considered a passive response to the actions of the jihadist movement even as its members used Cameroonian territory to rest and buy food and weapons. When a French family was kidnapped in 2013, along with two Italian priests and a Canadian nun, President Biya sent major army reinforcements to confront the Islamists in 'Operation Alpha'. The hostages were freed this year in Nigeria. Some 2,000 Cameroonian troops patrol the far-north region, but security sources say that many more are needed because the area is so remote with a very porous border. Military sources accuse Nigeria's army of failing to do enough against jihadist forces who have taken control of large swathes of the northeast of the country. | Cameroon launched air strike on Islamist militants based in Nigeria .
At least 41 Boko Haram militants killed in attack, the government said .
Cameroon attacked after Boko Haram crossed border from Nigeria . |
05285bb6561511d8cafbf3f09f3e92c82fe56af5 | By . Dan Bloom . Moaning with culinary pleasure as they give a running commentary on their meals, these are the 'dinner porn' stars of South Korea - who live-stream themselves gorging on food for money. The bizarre craze is called mok-bang, a mash-up of the words 'dinner' and 'broadcast', and can earn serious money for the biggest eaters. One, 'beautiful glutton' The Diva, makes thousands of pounds from her daily work as an internet star - which she balances with a day job with a consulting firm. Scroll down for video . Dinner porn: South Korean stars like The Diva, pictured, make a fortune letting people watch them eat online . Gluttony: The Diva can eat more than 30 eggs in one sitting, which takes several hours and is streamed live . Paid: The stars' gluttinous antics are rewarded with credits which cost their fans about seven pence each . The craze is called mok-bang, a mashup of the words 'dinner' and 'broadcast' in Korean . Every night when the 'broadcast jockey' gets home from work, thousands of people log onto live-streaming site Afreeca TV for hours to watch her wolfing down enormous meals. Her plates of choice range from two medium pizzas to 30 fried eggs and a box of crab legs, or five packets of instant noodles. She spends almost £2,000 a month on food and has put on one and a half stone since winning her fame - but reportedly makes thousands of pounds a month from her broadcasts. Some professional eaters make 30 times the average salary by getting 'Star Balloons' from their fans for a good show, The Diva told the Korean website Lady. The balloons are then traded into South Korean Wons which can be spent in the real world. The Diva insisted she did not have an eating disorder, was not regurgitating her meals and had no health problems. Dinner: South Korea has a whole network of 'broadcast jockeys' who eat live in front of their fans . Participants are rewarded not just for their quantity of food, but the way they engage with their audience . She added she began broadcasting her dinners because she was 'bored and needed a hobby'. The Diva is just one of a host of people who have started broadcasting themselves eating over-the-top meals. Another, BJ Lebi, devours plates of food the size of her head while answering questions from her fans, including how much she can eat and how often she uses the toilet, all live on air. The videos have now swept onto YouTube, where they have several thousands views - more than 200,000 in one case. People have been mystified as to what has caused the craze for over-eating, which jars with the poverty and hunger of people living just a few hundred miles north in totalitarian North Korea. Their best guess is that it helps make eating alone a little less miserable - even if the only people the live-eaters have for company is thousands of fans on the web. Using their noodle: The livestream eaters have turned their gluttony into a profitable business . Food porn: Some of the participants remain remarkably slender, considering the vast amounts they eat on air . I can't take any more: With daily shows, it's no surprise this live-eater struggled with his mountain of food . | Craze is called mok-bang, a mash-up of 'dinner' and 'broadcast'
Heavy eaters make thousands of pounds a night and spend £2,000 a month .
One, The Diva, can eat 30 fried eggs and a box of crab legs in one sitting .
She balances her bizarre internet stardom with an office job as a consultant . |
0528e9054a66f6f70577d546bf6618ef61176207 | Washington (CNN) -- Osama bin Laden was buried at sea from the deck of a U.S. aircraft carrier because there was no alternative to bury him on land within the 24 hours required by Islamic law, President Barack Obama's homeland security and counterterrorism adviser said Monday. "The disposal of -- the burial of bin Laden's remains was done in strict conformance with Islamic precepts and practices. It was prepared in accordance with the Islamic requirements," adviser John Brennan told reporters at a White House briefing. "We early on made provisions for that type of burial and we wanted to make sure that it was going to be done, again, in strictest conformance." Prothero: Burying bin Laden at sea an elegant solution . The religious rites were conducted on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson in the Arabian Sea, with the ceremony starting at 1:10 a.m. and finishing at 2:10 a.m. ET, according to a senior Defense official. "The body was washed and placed in a white sheet. A military official read prepared remarks, which were then translated into Arabic by a native speaker, The body of Osama bin Laden was placed on a flat board, which was then tipped up, and allowed to slide into the sea," the official said. Planning for bin Laden's burial began months ago as part of contingency planning that took into account numerous possibilities involving the terrorist leader's capture or death, Brennan said. A senior Defense official said no country was willing or able to take bin Laden's body for a funeral. Taking the body to another country and trying to arrange a funeral would have violated the Islamic rule requiring a burial within 24 hours, Brennan said. Opinion: Burial at sea shows compassion of Islamic law . "There were certain steps that had to be taken because of the nature of the operation," Brennan said. "We wanted to make sure we were able to do that in the time period allotted for it. Going to another country, making those arrangements, requirements, would have exceed that time period, in our view." The descriptions of the burial appear to indicate U.S. forces did attempt to follow Islamic burial rules, said Juan Campo, a professor of religious studies at the University of California in Santa Barbara who has studied burial rites in the Muslim world. Questions, however, do remain about the rites, Campo said. For one, Islamic law requires that a Muslim read a special funeral prayer during the ceremony. A Muslim chaplain or even a rank-and-file sailor who practices Islam could read the prayer, he said. U.S. officials' statements do not indicate whether the native Arabic speaker was a Muslim. Also, an Islamic authority would normally grant authority to bury a body at sea when a land burial is not an option. Campo said he would want to know who, if anyone, gave that authority. In his briefing, Brennan said U.S. authorities did seek guidance on the burial. "We consulted the appropriate specialists and experts, and there was unanimity that this would be the best way to handle that," he said. That the U.S. forces performed a ritual aboard ship instead of dumping bin Laden's body from an airborne helicopter would mute some criticism of the burial from radical Muslims, Campo said. "That may temper a lot of that," he said. Another concern expressed by U.S. officials was that bin Laden's grave site would become a shrine -- a practice Campo said bin Laden detested but nevertheless likely would have occurred. Rep. Mike Rogers of Michigan, the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said burying bin Laden at sea was "prudent." "He was given a proper burial. It removes this -- any thought that there'll be any shrine to Osama bin Laden or grave robbing or any other lasting impact for this death," Rogers said. Maher Hathout, senior adviser of the Muslim Public Affairs Council in Los Angeles, said that while the decision was not consistent with Muslim tradition because his death "did not occur in the ocean," the method was pragmatic. "I don't think it was meant to humiliate, it was meant as an easy way out so we don't have a tomb because there are some people who will sentimentally attach to him, and we should not apologize for that decision," Hathout said. CNN's Stan Wilson in Los Angeles contributed to this report. | Administration official says burial conformed to Islamic requirements .
Religion professor: Rites followed some requirements, but questions remain .
Religious rites were conducted on the carrier USS Carl Vinson .
Bin Laden's body was wrapped in white sheet, laid on a board, and tipped into the sea . |
0529a9895a7c8ecbe5b8bd7d47a5ac5a3041cbbc | (CNN) -- Congressman Ralph Hall underwent surgery to repair damage to his hip after a car accident, his office said Sunday. Hall, a Texas Republican and the oldest sitting member of Congress, was airlifted to the hospital Saturday following the accident. Doctors at the Medical Center at Plano said the surgery was successful and that the 91-year-old is expected to make a full recovery. The congressman is in good spirits, his office said. No surprise, given that he apparently took being airlifted in stride, joking with paramedics on the way. Hall was being driven by his friend, 73-year-old Howard Zielke, when someone collided with their vehicle Saturday afternoon in Fannin County, Texas, the state Department of Public Safety reported. The other car's driver didn't need to go to a hospital, while Zielke was transported to a hospital in McKinney, the state agency said. Hall, though, was flown to The Medical Center of Plano with what the public safety department described as "serious injuries." The idea that Hall might find humor in an otherwise bad situation, perhaps, shouldn't be too surprising. Shortly after losing a Republican primary this spring to tea party-backed candidate John Ratcliffe, thus spelling an end to his 32-year stay in Congress, Hall cracked: "I figured it out -- damn guy got more votes than I did!" He pointed out, too, that he couldn't get unemployment yet since he has "a job here until December 31st." "At 91 years old a contract for six months -- you can't beat it," he said then, referring to the rest of his term in the House. | Outgoing congressman Ralph Hall, 91, is the oldest sitting member of Congress .
He had surgery to repair damage to his hip .
He is expected to make a full recovery . |
052c16d83b4f25e70a0c9dea0008c4a939af3495 | Kano, Nigeria (CNN)Boko Haram militants opened fire on northern Nigerian villages, leaving bodies scattered everywhere and as many as 2,000 people feared dead. "The attack on Baga and surrounding towns looks as if it could be Boko Haram's deadliest act," Amnesty International said in a statement. Islamist militants sprayed bullets as they stormed in last weekend in trucks and armored vehicles, local authorities said Friday. When they arrived, they unloaded motorcycles and pursued residents who fled into the bush, firing indiscriminately, said Baba Abba Hassan, a local district head. Local officials reported death tolls ranging from hundreds to as many as 2,000 people. "Dead bodies litter the bushes in the area and it is still not safe to go and pick them (up) for burial," said Musa Bukar, the chairman of the local government where Baga is located. "Some people who hid in their homes were burned alive." Raid lasted for days . During the raid that started January 3, hundreds of gunmen seized the town of Baga and neighboring villages, as well as a multinational military base. Attacks started at dawn and continued throughout last weekend, according to residents. Though local officials gave conflicting death tolls, they agreed on the massive number of fatalities. More than 2,000 people were killed in attacks on 16 villages, Bukar said. He could not explain how he arrived at that toll. But the local district head said hundreds of people had been killed, not thousands. The actual toll will be known after a headcount of households is complete, Hassan said. An offensive is underway to reclaim the areas from the militants, according to Mike Omeri, a government spokesman. Tens of thousands displaced . At least 30,000 people were displaced, authorities said. About 20,000 of the displaced camped in Maiduguri city, the capital of Borno state. Authorities are making arrangements to transport the 10,000 others from Monguno town, 60 kilometers (36 miles) from Baga. Some residents fled into neighboring Cameroon and Chad. "If reports that the town was largely razed to the ground and that hundreds or even as many as 2,000 civilians were killed are true, this marks a disturbing and bloody escalation of Boko Haram's ongoing onslaught against the civilian population," Amnesty International's Daniel Eyre said. Boko Haram has terrorized northern Nigeria regularly since 2009, attacking police, schools, churches and civilians, and bombing government buildings. It has also kidnapped students, including more than 200 schoolgirls who were abducted in April and remain missing. The Islamist group has said its aim is to impose a stricter form of Sharia law across Nigeria, which is split between a majority Muslim north and a mostly Christian south. The United States condemned the attacks, saying the group "shows no regard" for human life. "All those responsible for these recurring terrorist attacks must be held accountable," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. Threats against Cameroon . In neighboring Cameroon, President Paul Biya urged the international community to help battle the terror group. His call came after the leader of the terrorist group threatened him in a YouTube video. "Oh Paul Biya, if you don't stop this, your evil plot, you will taste what has befallen Nigeria. Your troops cannot do anything to us," Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau said in the video released this week. The threat against the President came after Cameroonian soldiers killed dozens of Boko Haram fighters this month. Biya told the international community that a global response is required to combat the terror group. CNN's Faith Karimi wrote and reported from Atlanta, and Aminu Abubakar reported from Kano. CNN's Steve Almasy and Ngala Killian Chimtom contributed to this report. | Deaths number in the hundreds, one official says; another says it is 2,000 .
After the attack, Boko Haram also razed homes . |
052c8dc4a45a937769f157de05d83ad9b4d03ce2 | (CNN) -- The "Fab Five" got off to a strong start Tuesday, and it led to a golden finish. The U.S. women's gymnastics team won its second gold medal ever, living up to its pre-tournament billing, which included a Sports Illustrated cover for the Olympic darlings. Gabby Douglas led the U.S. to a 183.596 score, while Russia finished second with 178.503. Jordyn Wieber was a key part of the victory also, placing third in the vault and fourth on the floor. "I'm so proud of these girls. We did awesome," said Douglas, who competed on all four apparatus. "A lot of hard work and sacrifice in the gym, and it all pays off." Wieber, who didn't qualify for the individual all-around competition because Olympic rules limit the entrants to two per team, said it was a team win. "This couldn't be possible without everyone stepping up today," she said." Everyone did their job and was completely amazing. I am so excited." The U.S. had the highest score in three of the four events, including the vault, which it did first. McKayla Maroney scored a meet-high 16.233 to lead the Americans. Team USA had a two-point lead going into the final event -- the floor exercise -- over the Russians, but both Anastasia Grishina and Kseniia Afanaseva botched their routines, . Afterward, there were tears for both teams. "Well, I think the first tears were of disappointment, but the second were tears of joy," Afanaseva said. Wieber, the world champion in the individual all around, said: "It was just tears of happiness. I really did just go out there and made the most of my Olympics and I'm happy I ended on this note." Members of the Chinese team were crying, too, after a fourth-place finish. Except one member. When asked why she wasn't weeping, Lu Sui responded, ""Because the rest of the team is crying, and besides, if I cry, I will mess up my make-up." Members of the U.S. team said they were unaware of the purported curse that goes with being on the cover of Sports Illustrated. "I was never aware of it. Kyla was told about it in an interview. I don't believe in that," said Aly Raisman. "We worked really hard to get here." At the pool, Americans were also collecting gold medals, including one that made Olympics history. Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympian ever, setting a record with his 19th medal after anchoring the U.S. men's 4x200-meter freestyle team to gold. The crowd at London's Aquatic Centre rose to its feet as Phelps churned home, well ahead of France's Yannick Agnel. "I've been in a huddle with them (his teammates in the relay) because they made it possible," Phelps said. "If I didn't get a big enough lead then who knows what would have happened." With the gold, Phelps broke a brief tie with Larisa Latynina, a Soviet gymnast who won18 total medals from 1956 to 1964. Phelps now has 15 gold, two silver and two bronze medals spanning four Olympics. An hour earlier, Phelps was a dejected silver medalist. SI analysis: Three thoughts from the swimming finals . Phelps led his signature race, the 200-meter butterfly. from the start until the last few meters, appearing to be ready to become the first man to win an individual event in three consecutive Olympics. But just as Phelps glided into the finish, South African Chad le Clos, a 20-year-old whose idol was swimming in the lane right next to him, cranked one last big stroke to edge his hero Phelps at the wall. It reminded swimming commentators of Phelps' 100-meter butterfly win at the Beijing Games when he took a quick final stroke as Serbian Milorad Cavic stretched for the wall. This time it was Phelps who was caught reaching. After the race, the shocked Phelps put his face in his hands. It was only later, on the medal stand when he broke into a big smile. "It was my last one and I would have liked to have won," he said. American Allison Schmitt won the women's 200-meter freestyle in Olympic record time. Michael Phelps: "I consider myself normal" Chinese swimmer Shiwen Ye won her second gold medal, taking the women's 200 individual medley in Olympic record time. The performances of the 16-year-old have resulted in some wondering out loud about possible doping. "I just train well and perform well and keep on going," she said. "I think that was a little bit unfair for me, but it didn't affect me. Other swimmers have won multiple golds, how come they criticize me?" History had already been made once at the Olympics on Tuesday when Queen Elizabeth's equestrian granddaughter Zara Phillips put her name in the record books earlier in the day by becoming the first member of the British royal family to win an Olympic medal. She claimed a silver as part of the British eventing team. Her mother, Princess Anne, a 1976 Olympic equestrian, draped the medal around her neck. Another British Olympian, Tom Daley, was in the news for a less happy reason as police arrested a 17-year-old accused of abusing the teen diver in comments on Twitter. After his day on the tennis court, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France needed some sleep. He beat Milos Raonic in three sets, but the score of the final stanza was 25-23. "For me it's good because this is the only way, you know, to write my name in history for the moment," he said. "With Rafa (Nadal), Roger (Federer) and Novak (Djokovic), even Andy (Roddick), you know, it's tough to go through big tournaments. So ... I'm really happy. I hope I will have some more." | NEW: U.S. gymnast: "We did awesome"
NEW: Swimmer Ye brushes off criticism, wins another gold .
NEW: Two male tennis players go to 45th game in final set .
Michael Phelps wins 19th Olympic medal, best all time . |
052c982ba3f387fa23a9cba5534c057901742674 | Scotland Yard chief Bernard Hogan Howe said it was time for the police to get a pay rise . Britain's top cop Bernard Hogan Howe has said it is time for the police to get a pay rise. The Scotland Yard chief said police officers had been hit by years of pay freezes and had seen their standard of living deteriorate 'like everybody else'. His remarks came in response to David Cameron's call for businesses to hand their staff a pay rise in a major speech today. Sir Bernard, appearing on LBC radio this morning, was also grilled on Scotland Yard's battle to combat terrorism. But the Scotland Yard chief was left red-faced after forgetting the number of the anti-terror hotline set up for people to report their concerns about extremism. It came after he was asked by a caller what he made of the Prime Minister's urge for pay rises. The Metropolitan Police Commissioner said: 'I think it's a very good idea, particularly for police officers.' He added: 'I think the point he is making … is that as business costs reduce through fuel and other things, our interest rates down that some of the profits that have been made should be shared with their staff. 'Well I don't suppose that applies to the police but it's certainly true that our officers and staff have seen fixed salaries now for a number of years and like everyone else has seen their standard of living deteriorate. 'So anything that would help them I support. And if that, if it's possible to get a pay rise of course we'd support it.' Sir Bernard said the police had only received a below-inflation 1 per cent pay rise last year after 'two to three years of a pay freeze' following the 2008 recession. He added: 'I think it would be helpful, particularly with the London property market, to make sure that you know our officers are properly rewarded.' The police chief's intervention came after Mr Cameron urged booming businesses to pass on their profits in bigger pay cheques to their staff. In an attempt to create an election feed-good factor, the Prime Minister insisted trading conditions in Britain have 'not been this good for a long time', and it is time employees saw wage rises after years of a squeeze living conditions. It comes as a sharp fall in oil prices is helping to fuel the fastest growth in the UK economy since before the financial crisis. The Prime Minister was accused of hypocrisy after calling for a pay rise for private sector workers, while overseeing continuing wage restraint in the public sector . Bernard Hogan Howe was left red-faced this morning after admitting he could not remember the anti-terrorism hotline number he has urged Londoners to use. The Metropolitan Police commissioner was asked to repeat the freephone number by LBC host Nick Ferrari after a former serviceman called in to say he had not seen it publicised. Sir Bernard said: 'At this second I must admit I haven't got it with me - it's an 0800 number, so it's free ... Every other time I've been in (to the LBC phone-in) I think I have actually mentioned it. 'You could argue it's an unmemorable number.' The commissioner was later informed the hotline number is 0800 789 321. He added: 'It's ascending and descending numbers. It is probably not that easy to remember - as I've just highlighted.' Latest figures show that average wages rose by 1.8 per cent in the year to November, while the CPI rate of inflation stands at just 0.5 per cent. Mr Cameron said: 'The most recent figures show that wages are already growing faster than inflation, and as the economy continues to grow it's important this continues and that everyone benefits. Put simply – it's time Britain had a pay rise.' But it comes after years of prices rising faster than pay, leaving families worse off each month. Critics accused the government of double standards, because pay in the public sector has been frozen or slated to rise by just 1 per cent. Unions claim the average wage is worth £2,500 less a year as a result of pay failing to keep pace with inflation. The TUC's general secretary Frances O'Grady dismissed Mr Cameron's call as 'no more than pre-election mood music'. She said: 'Since David Cameron became Prime Minister, the average wage is worth £2,500 less a year, the worst fall in living standards since Queen Victoria was on the throne. 'Saying it would be nice if wages went up is no more than pre-election mood music. If elected again his policies would do the opposite. 'Huge cuts would take spending back to the same share of the economy as in the 1930s. This would depress the economy and mean public sector wages would fall every year. On top of that he would make strikes almost impossible, holding back pay across every sector.' Unite general secretary Len McCluskey added: 'If Cameron was serious about giving Britain a pay rise then he'd put his money where his mouth is and immediately boost the minimum wage by at least £1.50 an hour with the promise of a living wage. Instead we have empty words, which don't put food on the table or pay the rent.' Unison's general secretary Dave Prentis said: 'If Jeremy Hunt was following David Cameron's lead, he would have implemented the NHS pay review body's recommendations in full last month.' The round-the-clock police operation to guard fugitive WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is a drain on taxpayers' money and is being reviewed, the UK's most senior officer has said. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe told LBC radio that the force is assessing its options due to the pressure the operation at the Ecuadorian embassy in London is putting on resources. He said: 'We won't talk about tactics but we are reviewing what options we have. It is sucking our resources.' Police presence outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London where Julian Assange, The WikiLeaks founder is in hiding . Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has been at the embassy since June 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden where he faces questions over claims of sexual assaults . Mr Assange has been at the embassy since June 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden where he faces questions over claims of sexual assaults, which he denies. Last week Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the cost of the operation was around the £10 million mark. Australian Mr Assange came under intense scrutiny after WikiLeaks began releasing a selection of more than 250,000 classified US diplomatic cables passed to the whistle-blowing website back in 2010. Mr Assange's supporters last year pondered whether he was to end his self-imposed embassy stay amid concerns over his long-term health. | Bernard Hogan Howe said police officers 'particularly' deserved a pay rise .
Scotland Yard chief said officers had been hit by years of pay freezes .
Comes after David Cameron called for businesses to pay their staff more .
PM said falling inflation and low interest rates made pay rises affordable .
But the Metropolitan Police chief said police officers also deserved a rise . |
052d16e813df698f7864588f0f21740364727e8e | (CNN) -- Fresh on the heels of a new immigration law that has led to calls to boycott her state, Arizona's governor has signed a bill banning ethnic studies classes that "promote resentment" of other racial groups. Gov. Jan Brewer approved the measure without public statement Tuesday, according to state legislative records. The new law forbids elementary or secondary schools to teach classes that are "designed primarily for pupils of a particular ethnic group" and advocate "the overthrow of the United States government" or "resentment toward a race or class of people." The bill was pushed by state school Superintendent Tom Horne, who has spent two years trying to get Tucson schools to drop a Mexican-American studies program he said teaches Latino students they are an oppressed minority. There was no immediate response from the Tucson Unified School District, the law's main target. Brewer's signature comes less than a month after she approved a state law that requires immigrants to carry their registration documents at all times and allows police to question individuals' immigration status in the process of enforcing any other law or ordinance. Critics of the law say it will lead to racial profiling, while supporters say it involves no racial profiling and is needed to crack down on increasing crime involving illegal immigrants. On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council overwhelmingly approved a boycott of Arizona-based businesses and governments unless the state repeals the new immigration law. The city's legislative analyst reported that Los Angeles currently has $56 million in contracts with companies headquartered in Arizona. Several other California cities, including San Francisco and Oakland, have already adopted resolutions requesting city departments to not sign any new contracts with Arizona companies. City also bans employees from travel to Arizona . CNN's Alan Duke contributed to this story. | Law bans classes that "promote resentment" of other racial groups .
Gov. Jan Brewer approves the measure without public statement .
Brewer's signature comes less than a month after she signed immigration law . |
052d238641c5006fa9d4dd693d9d6eec3b624dc3 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 16:19 EST, 28 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:21 EST, 29 January 2013 . So-called eco-friendly cars are facing a crackdown in London after a scheme to encourage motorists to switch to ‘greener’ alternatives has started to make air more toxic. Transport for London is to remove the Congestion Charge exemption for diesels and some Hybrids because soaring sales has increased pollution and traffic. Diesels now account for one in two sales, but emit 22 times more soot particulates than petrol cars. End of the road: Diesel and Hybrid cars are set to lose their London Congestion Charge exemption because booming sales has led to increased polution . The U-Turn has provoked an outcry from motoring organisations, who accused authorities of moving the ‘green goalposts’. And the move is also expected to cause anger among motorists who bought their cars to take advantage of the exemption. Edmund King, AA president, told the Evening Standard: ‘We do have real concerns about “green goalposts” being moved after drivers and businesses have invested in low-emission hybrid and diesel vehicles. We need to encourage the take-up of a range of greener vehicles.’ Out of favour: Toyota Prius is one of more than 50 'greener' cars which are set to lose their Congestion Charge exemption . Audi A3 1.6TDICitroën C3 1.6HDiCitroën DS3 1.6HDiFiat 500/500CFiat Punto Evo 1.3 16V MultijetFord Fiesta ECOnetic 1.6TDCI DuratorqFord Focus ECOnetic 1.6 TDCI Duratorq (below) Hyundai i10 1.0SOHCMini One DMini Cooper DSEAT Leon 1.6TDISEAT Ibiza ST 1.2TDISkoda Fabia hatchback and estate 1.2TDISmart Fortwo CDI Coupé and CabrioSmart ForTwo Coupé and CabrioToyota Auris T4 and T SpiritToyota Prius T3, T4 and T Spirit . Toyota IQ 1.0 VVT-iVauxhall Corsa 1.3TDIVolvo S40 DRIVeVolvo V50 DRIVeVolvo C30 DRIVeVolkswagen Polo 1.2TDIVolkswagen Golf 1.6TDI . More than 50 ‘green’ models, which . includes the petrol/electric Toyota Prius — a favourite among . environmentally conscious drivers - will no longer be exempt from the . £10 charge. The move will come into force in July if approved by Boris Johnson. It is understood the changes to the pricing will generate up to an extra £2 million a year. The additional revenue will go some way to plugging the £60 million lost since the abandoning the Congestion Charge’s western extension. About 70,000 motorists a day enter the congestion zone, with 2,500 qualifying for Transport for London’s Greener Vehicle Discount because they emit less than 100g/km of greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. TfL wants to scrap this limit and replace it with a much tougher 75g/km maximum in a new scheme — which effectively rules out all hybrid and diesel vehicles now on the road. David Bizley, the RAC’s technical director, said that only pure electric cars are likely to meet those new rigorous pollution restrictions. Applications for the Greener Vehicle Discount would cease to be accepted from July. But drivers already registered would continue to qualify for the exemption until June 2015. TfL, which made a £136.8 million net profit from the congestion charge in 2011/12, believes the existing system ‘creates an incentive’ for owners of hybrid and diesel cars to enter the zone. It fears the number could more than double to 6,000 ‘free’ cars a day by the end of this year. The new rules would sit alongside a £10 increase in penalty fines — taking them to £130 — and the closure of C-charge payment points in shops and petrol stations. These changes would generate a further £2.5 million a year. | Soaring sales of Congestion Charge exempt eco-cars making air quality worse .
Diesels emit 22 times more soot particles than petrol cars . |
05303c20d6bc4243e68e9cc36648bd67723b8405 | New Orleans (CNN) -- In a small gun range 20 minutes outside New Orleans, a steady stream of gun enthusiasts fill the air with the scent of gunpowder and the sharp bang of shots. Many of the customers -- a range of ex-military men, off-duty law enforcement officers and a sprinkling of women learning how to handle a firearm for self-protection -- said they have grown up around guns and are leery of interference by the federal government on gun rights. "Just like drug use is illegal but people still get their hands on drugs -- so, the bad guys are still going to have guns," said Meredith Timberlake, who came from a family of Marines. "Well, I'm going to have a gun too." Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-Louisiana) is well aware of those concerns. The veteran Democrat will face her states' voters in a 2014 election, and despite her three terms in the Senate, Landrieu's seat is widely considered vulnerable. CNN Poll: Importance of guns soars, as do gun owner concerns . She has already drawn a Republican challenger, who has worked to tie Landrieu to the policies of President Barack Obama and charged she does not represent the views of many in this deeply red Southern state. Landrieu, in an interview with CNN during a small business event in Boston, emphasized her independence from Washington. Despite the president's aggressive support for expanding background checks for gun purchasers, Landrieu said she has not decided whether she'll support a Senate bill on the matter. Background checks on gun sales: How do they work? When asked about recent polls finding 90% of Americans support universal background checks, Landrieu said: "I don't know what the number is in Louisiana." "I'm not the president of the United States, I'm the senator from Louisiana," Landrieu said. "So I really will follow what the people in my state want me to do on that issue." Landrieu said she wouldn't weigh in on background checks "until I see the bills and then I'll decide how I'm going to vote. But there's no question about my support for the Second Amendment." CNN Poll: Background checks popular, worrisome . Months after the massacre of elementary school students in Newtown, Connecticut, there is intense pressure for Congress to address gun violence. A third-party group, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Mayors Against Illegal Guns, has rolled out an ad in Louisiana urging Landrieu to support new gun legislation. The group has also directed spots at other lawmakers on the fence about reforms, including several other Democrats up for re-election in 2014. And there are some signs that a bill like one announced by a bipartisan group of senators Wednesday on background checks may be more palatable to voters. A Quinnipiac poll released in early April found 91% of voters across the country support universal background checks. "I think we should be doing that anyway. I think that's part of our responsibility," said Keith Moody, a former Marine who works in law enforcement and supports expanding the background check system. "I think responsible gun owners would agree that's a reasonable request that our government or local law enforcement put on us. When you start going past that is when I think people get nervous about it or have strong feelings one way or the other," Moody said. Before the play date, the gun talk . As the Senate prepares to consider gun legislation as early as Thursday, Landrieu will have to cast a vote. "If there is a lot of support and we can get background checks done and not infringe on the right of people to own guns or to pass them down to their children or grandchildren, we'll figure out a way to do that," Landrieu said. "I do know that people in Louisiana want the right to own a gun and feel that it's, you know, part of our culture and history, and we're not going to infringe upon that right." | Sen. Mary Landrieu is a conservative Democrat representing the red state of Louisiana .
"I really will follow what the people in my state want me to do" on gun control, she said .
This despite national polls that show 90% support background checks . |
05307cebc83f24d65cd33edafabf41e1e165ec74 | David Beckham has hailed new Three Lions captain Wayne Rooney as the ‘most respected player in the England team’ and says leading his country will be the greatest honour he’ll ever have in football. Beckham, who skippered England on 59 occasions to become the country’s most iconic football captain since Bobby Moore, gave his blessing of the changing of the guard from Steve Gerrard to Rooney on a visit to The FA’s training base at St George’s Park. Ahead of England’s first Euro 2016 qualifier against Switzerland on Monday, Beckham said: ‘It’s no surprise to me at all that Wayne has been made captain. He is one of the most experienced players in the team and the most respected player in the team. Pinnacle: Wayne Rooney, training here at St George's, will not have a higher honour than captaining England . We go again! Roy Hodgson prepares England for their opening Euro 2016 qualifier against Switzerland . ‘Young players will look up to him for inspiration; he’s a player who wears his heart on his sleeve. ‘People want to see that passion; you fight for every ball and celebrate every goal you score, or every goal you set up. That’s what Wayne’s all about. Wayne’ s such a great talent, such a great player, people love him, fans love him and it’s great to see him with the armband. It’s something I know he’ll cherish.’ Beckham played with a young Rooney at Euro 2004 and advises the Manchester United striker to enjoy being England captain, admitting it’s the thing he misses most since retiring from football. The former United, Real Madrid and LA Galaxy star, who was capped 115 times by England and was at one time the most famous sportsman on the planet, said: ‘Being captain means more in England than any other country. You really know how important it is when you are part of the squad. Good start: Rooney scored the winning goal against Norway in his first game as captain . Greece is the word: David Beckham rates being named England captain as his proudest moment . ‘As a kid I was a Manchester United fan but my dream like like every kid was to play for England. ‘I got the opportunity and to be captain 59 times was incredible. When I look back at my career since retiring, playing for England was the thing I’ve really missed. It was my proudest moment to get the armband.’ Beckham, now 39, popped into St George’s Park on a family trip at the weekend and admitted he was stunned by the facilities to all England squads, from women’ s and junior teams to the senior side under Roy Hodgson. Rooney poses with former England striker Michael Owen (L) during England training . ‘It is really amazing, I’m so impressed, ‘ he said. ‘It’s peaceful, and you can feel it respects the history of our game even though this particular facility has only been open for two years. ‘It’s nice to hear rooms are named after certain players and the fans have voted for like the ‘Paul Gascoigne Room’ or the ‘Bobby Moore Room’. It’s special. ‘Obviously we always played on nice pitches, but to have pitch like this to train on every day is incredible. I’ve not been to many facilities around the world as good as this. “For our players, it’s place where you can rest and prepare. It’s great for young players to come and aspire to be great England players in the future.’ What's next? Beckham, ambassador for Sainsbury's Active Kids, has not ruled out a management career . Beckham is busy trying to build a new MLS franchise in Miami but hasn’t ruled out trying to coach one day in the future. ‘At the moment I am happy doing what I am doing, but you never know, in a few years I might change my mind,’ he said. ‘It is great for coaches to get the chance to come to St George’s and do their qualifications. For young coaches, it is a chance to become Premier League and England managers of the future. | David Beckham has told Wayne Rooney there is no greater honour than being named England captain .
Beckham is not surprised as Rooney is 'the most respected player in team'
England face Switzerland in opening Euro 2016 qualifier, October 8 .
Beckham captained England 59 times in 115 appearances for Three Lions .
Former Manchester United star was impressed by facilities at St George's Park and has not ruled out a career in management . |
0530ab6f4cd332386e2765ef5998c8809767a0c7 | (CNN) -- With Pope Benedict XVI leaving the papal office after resigning two weeks ago, the Roman Catholic Church will have to rush to pick his replacement before Easter. Normally, the College of Cardinals is not allowed to select a new pontiff until 15 to 20 days after the office becomes vacant -- usually when the previous pope has died. Benedict's resignation is a rare exception. The last man to quit the head of the Catholic Church did so 600 years ago. The situation calls for some rule bending, and having the current pope involved is proving advantageous. Interactive: Where does the pope live? He has slightly amended the 500-year-old policy on pope selection to get a successor into place more rapidly. The cardinals may to be able to pull it off before March 15, according to Father Federico Lombardi, a Vatican spokesman. This would give the new pontiff a little over a week to prepare for the next mass, Palm Sunday celebrations, on March 24. While Benedict won't be directly involved in his successor's selection, his influence will undoubtedly be felt. He appointed 67 of at least 115 cardinals set to make the decision. The pope gives his last audience Wednesday morning. His last day on the job is Thursday. Here's a look at the process of electing a new pope: . A look at possible papal contenders . What has to happen first? There were traditionally three methods of choosing a new pope, but the church abolished two, leaving cardinals to pick a peer via paper ballot only. When a pope dies, the dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals calls for a meeting of all cardinals eligible to vote -- those under age 80. They have to vote in person. Although some work at the Vatican, most are spread out worldwide, running dioceses or archdioceses, and will have to travel to Rome. Once they get there, they can't leave until the process is done and aren't allowed to talk with anyone outside of the conclave. Though Benedict left the rules greatly untouched, experts on the church's constitution will comb through the section on the "Vacancy of the Apostolic See and the Election of the Roman Pontiff" (how to elect a new pope when the office is vacant) and interpret proper protocol for the election. Benedict's predecessor, the widely popular John Paul II, made a number of changes to the voting process in 1996 to make it less taxing on the cardinals. Opinion: How next pope must tackle child sex abuse . Will the world get to see the process? Although the procedure is transparent to participating cardinals, no one else is supposed to find out about the vote. In his amendments to voting procedures in 1996, John Paul II anticipated modern forms of communication and forbade any recording devices. He ordered that technicians check the Sistine Chapel for hidden microphones or cameras before the balloting begins. The new pope would be called to deal with violators personally. "They will be subject to grave penalties according to the judgment of the future pope," the former pontiff wrote. Notes cardinals make during the voting must be burned with the ballots. The final declaration of a winner is sealed in an envelope and archived. It may be opened only by order of the pope. The pope in retirement: What to expect . What does balloting look like? The meeting of cardinals, called the conclave, usually begins with a special morning mass in St. Peter's Basilica. In the afternoon, they walk in a procession to the Sistine Chapel -- known for its famous ceiling painting by Renaissance artist Michelangelo -- to begin the voting process. Ballots are passed out, and cardinals write in a candidate's name and fold it up, then one by one, in order of seniority, they approach an altar and ceremoniously place their ballots into a chalice. Voting is secret, but ballots are counted in the open. A cardinal needs a vote of two-thirds to ascend to the papacy. If there is no winner, the vote is repeated one time on the first day. Surprising standards for next Catholic leader . What does the smoke from the chimney mean? After some of the rounds of voting, the ballots land in a furnace. If no one has won, a chemical is added to make the smoke black. This lets people waiting in St. Peter's Square below know that there is no new pope yet. If there is a winner, no chemical is added, and the smoke remains white, telling the world that the conclave has agreed on a new pontiff. In the past, it has been hard for the crowd waiting in St. Peter's Square below to discern the color, which has sometimes billowed out in shades of gray. The Vatican has attempted to remedy this by adding a second furnace to boost the intended color. Scandal threatens to overshadow pope's final days . What if there is no winner? Then they vote again, and again, and again. The cardinals may cast ballots as many as four times on the second and third days, according to voting rules laid down by John Paul II. By the end of the third day, if there is still no new pope, they break for a day for prayer, discussions and admonitions from a senior cardinal. This recovery day was instituted by John Paul II. Voting can go on for another seven rounds of balloting. Still no pope? Keep voting. John Paul had decided to save the cardinals from themselves, if they reach this point. He reduced the necessary result to elect a new pope to an absolute majority -- 50% plus one vote -- if they cross this tiring threshold. But in 2007, Benedict reversed the rule, so once again, two-thirds are needed to elect, according to CNN's Vatican expert, John Allen. The pope emeritus preserved the day of rest on every third day of a deadlock. A long deadlock would be unusual, according to the Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island. Of the past 11 conclaves, none has run longer than four days. When there's finally a winner, what next? The winner must accept the decision for it to be valid. Once he does, the dean asks him to choose a papal name. The oldest cardinal announces the new pope to the crowd in the square from a balcony. The new pope joins him to bless the crowd and the rest of the world. Past popes have been crowned during a coronation ceremony, but John Paul II refused it, and Benedict followed suit. Both were inaugurated in a mass in St. Peter's Cathedral. Could the next pope be from Africa or Latin America? CNN's Kyle Almond contributed to this report. | Benedict changed a rule, which means the selection could take longer .
Of the 115 cardinals set to vote, 67 were appointed by Benedict .
Black smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel means no pope elected .
White smoke rising means cardinals have selected a new pope . |
0530ff545af6fe6ac23ee0adde9d89db0121ab01 | Paul Pogba has posted a photo of himself signing his new contract with Serie A giants Juventus. The 21-year-old, whose previous deal was due to expire in 2016, recently put pen to paper on a deal that will keep him at the Italian club until June 2019. The former Manchester United midfielder had been the subject of considerable interest from around Europe, leading the Turin club to treble his wages to around £70,000 per week. VIDEO: Scroll down to see Paul Pogba showcase his impressive array of football skills . Paul Pogba signs his new deal with Serie A giants Juventus, thought to be worth around £70,000 per week . Juventus announced the new deal with Paul Pogba on their Twitter page on Thursday afternoon . Pogba has snubbed a return to Manchester United and has signed a new long-term deal with Juventus . Age: 19 . Position: Midfielder . Club career . 2009-12: Manchester United . 2012-present: Juventus . International career . France 20 caps 5 goals . Juve had been keen to tie the 21-year-old central midfielder down as he has become the target of several top European clubs. 'We have just signed Paul Pogba's renewal until 2019,' Juve club administrator Giuseppe Marotta said during a shareholders meeting in Turin on Friday. Pogba, who was named the young player of the tournament at the World Cup in Brazil in the summer, moved to Turin two years ago on a free transfer from Manchester United. He has formed a solid partnership with Italian veteran Andrea Pirlo, which has contributed to Juve's back-to-back Serie A titles. Marotta announced earlier his month that Juve had turned down several lucrative offers for Pogba in the summer. Pogba in action for Manchester United against West Bromwich Albion in 2012 . Pogba congratulates Arturo Vidal (left) after the Chilean's goal against Copenhagen in the Champions League . Pogba gives his shorts to a fan at the end of the friendly match between Armenia and France in October . | Paul Pogba posted a photo of himself signing a new contract .
Juventus have tied Pogba down until June 2019 .
France international's previous deal was due to expire in 2016 .
Pogba left Manchester United on a free transfer in 2012 . |
053161507729759244e7fb6a302ab71a29174269 | Atlanta, Georgia (CNN) -- BP, which is responsible for the greatest oil spill in American history, has made the right call in deciding to suspend dividend payments this year. Dividends are not legally required; they are optional. If BP does not pay a dividend, a shareholder cannot go into court and sue BP. Dividends are to be paid only when the company has enough money to take care of its operations, including potential liability for the spill. Some have argued that BP should pay dividends this year because there are plenty of individuals who count on those quarterly dividends. That is a familiar argument. It conjures images of the elderly being forced to choose between buying food or medicine. That imagery was raised in 2003, when President Bush pushed a dividend tax cut through the Republican-controlled Congress, reducing the maximum tax rate to be paid on dividends to only 15 percent. (You and I pay taxes on our interest and wages at rates up to 35 percent.) The reasons for the tax cut were varied, from compensating for risk to encouraging savings to an argument that it "will help millions of seniors who depend upon dividend income for their day-to-day expenses," a line from congressman Sam Johnson of Texas. Johnson was certainly not alone in arguing that the dividend tax cut would help senior citizens. Bush's signing statement provided that "we're helping seniors who rely on dividends." What the Republicans neglected to say was that it was not taxpayers' senior status that made it more likely that they would receive dividends, but their income levels. The typical low- or middle-income senior does not have a lot of income and does not receive dividends. A 2006 study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities showed that only 4 percent of households with less than $50,000 of income own stock and actually receive capital gains and/or corporate dividends. Only 11 percent of households with incomes under $100,000 receive capital gains and/or corporate dividends. However, more than 75 percent of all capital gains and dividend income goes to households with income over $200,000, which represents only 3 percent of all U.S. households. The reality is that the typical American BP shareholder is not really going to miss that dividend payment. British newspapers have reported that U.K. pension funds have heavily invested in BP, so the impact could be somewhat greater there. BP has agreed to create a $20 billion escrow fund that will be administered by an independent third party, Kenneth Feinberg, the mediator who oversaw the September 11 victims' claims. This is certainly a step in the right direction. BP is not obligated to pay the $20 billion all at once but has several years to fund the escrow account. Any amount paid to shareholders is forever lost to victims of the Gulf spill. So if BP were to pay any dividends now and subsequently become financially unable to make more payments to the escrow fund, the Gulf victims would become victimized again. Shareholders who own stock in an oil company that drills offshore without adequate plans in place, should disaster strike, have made a risky investment indeed. Given the potentially catastrophic impact of the oil spill, how can BP really know how much all of the costs will be? And the safest course of action is to wait until the company gets a better handle on its potential liabilities, which seem to be growing daily. Between the business owners in the Gulf with their very livelihoods being threatened, the workers who are unable to earn a living and the looming environmental cleanup costs (once the oil actually stops spilling into the ocean) on the one hand and BP's shareholders on the other hand, the choice is easy: The shareholders should wait for their dividends. After all, isn't that why their tax rates are so low? The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Dorothy Brown. | BP decided to suspend dividends for rest of year as it creates escrow fund for liability .
Dorothy Brown says it's impossible to say how much liability BP will have for oil leak .
She says bulk of dividends go to people who have high income .
Investors in oil company that drills offshore assume risk, she says . |
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