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05c540c527d2373b919bf6b7ec0103b3e9d6da82 | Britain will be accused by 180 Iraqis next week of breaching international law by torturing and killing prisoners during the controversial Iraq War. Lawyers representing the group - who claim they are victims of abuse or their family members were unlawfully killed - will accuse the UK of a 'systemic' policy of abuse committed between 2003 and 2008. The case - which will be heard in the High Court from January 29 - will see British soldiers and intelligence officers accused of unlawful interrogation practices. Controversial: Britain will be accused by 180 Iraqis next week of breaching international law by torturing and killing prisoners during the controversial Iraq War . Lawyers acting for the group will place a file of statements before two judges which details alleged use of 'stress positions' and hooding as well as beating, sexual abuse and religious abuse of illegally detained prisoners. Some of the claims made in the . statements are incredibly shocking with sexual depravity and insults to . Islam featuring strongly. In one case, a soldier is alleged to . have masturbated over a prisoner while another is alleged to have . committed sodomy with his finger. The High Court will also be told how . female interrogators stripped and feigned seduction in exchange for . information from prisoners. Worrying: The death of Baha Mousa, an innocent hotel worker killed whilst in British custody in Basra in 2003, is just the tip of the iceberg, it will be claimed next week. He is pictured with his family . According to The Observer, the court . will hear that in some cases, the torture led to the death of a . prisoner. The claims come just weeks away from the 10th anniversary of the . war in Iraq. The court . will rule on whether the alleged abuses were isolated and were unaware . to commanders, politicians and senior Ministry of Defence officials or whether they were . authorised as policy. The statements from the group which will . be presented to the court were complied by human rights lawyer Phil . Shiner, from the Public Interest Lawyers group. He held meetings with victims and their relatives - mostly in Lebanon - were he heard the allegations of abuse. The Ministry of Defence has always maintained that issues around interrogation and detention during the Iraq War were dealt with at the inquiry into the death of Baha Mousa, an innocent hotel worker killed whilst in British custody in Basra in 2003. Accuser: The statements from the group of Iraqis which will be presented to the court were complied by human rights lawyer Phil Shiner, pictured, from the Public Interest Lawyers group . The driving forces behind the case at the High Court next week are a human rights lawyer and an author. The group of Iraqis who make the . allegations of abuse against British soldiers are represented by human . rights lawyer Phil Shiner. He works for the Birmingham-based . Public Interest Lawyers group and has a reputation for working on issues concerning international, environmental and human rights law. Mr Shiner has also written numerous articles on international and human rights law. Much of the evidence which will be heard . by the High Court next week was taken by him following meetings in the . Lebanon with the alleged victims and their families. He has previously accused the . Ministry of Defence (MoD) of 'deploying every dirty trick in the book' to avoid accountability over the treatment of soldiers in Iraq. Speaking previously, he said: 'There must be a judicial inquiry into the UK's detention policy in south-east Iraq. 'The MoD has deployed every dirty . trick in the book to prevent accountability for the hundreds of torture . and unlawful killings cases of Iraqi civilians.' Mr Shiner also represented the victims in the Baha Mousa Public Inquiries. He was the 'Human Rights Lawyer of the Year' in 2004, as designated by Liberty and Justice. Andrew Williams, who is the . author of a book on the death of Baha Mousa, has also been campaigning for 'the truth' into allegations of abuse. He wrote A Very British Killing: The Death of Baha Mousa which was published in October last year. A description of the book claims it . tells the 'inside story' of the death and examines 'institutional . brutality' and a 'flawed military police inquiry' into the death. His . book claims that the death of Baha Mousa was not about 'a few bad men' or 'rotten apples'. The High Court hearing is scheduled over three days from January 29. The MOD also has its own internal probe into alleged abuse through its Iraq Historic Allegations Team. But Andrew Williams, who is the . author of a book on the death of Baha Mousa , told The Observer that his . death was just the tip of the iceberg. 'This . is the crucial moment of decision', he said. 'This is our last chance . to get to the truth of what happened. This is what we demand of others, . but we do not demand it of ourselves.' The court will be told of five 'state practices' which the lawyers will claim were 'unlawful, right to the top'. They claim illegal interrogation techniques were taught at Chicksands, near London, which is an army intelligence facility. Many . of the alleged incidents happened while prisoners were being held in . custody, although it will be claimed that some took place at people's . homes . | The group will accuse the UK of a 'systemic' policy of abuse over five years .
British soldiers will be accused of unlawful interrogation practices .
This includes sexual depravity and insults to .
Islam . |
05c6b2a21f9c0ffd5f0c76c9ce4c6d3d875fcf39 | Washington (CNN) -- A Wisconsin federal judge has granted a temporary restraining order preventing the state from enforcing a new and restrictive abortion law. The law, signed by Gov. Scott Walker on Friday, bans doctors from performing abortions if they don't have admitting privileges to hospitals within 30 minutes of their practice. U.S. District Judge William Conley granted the hold Monday after the Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin filed suit. The group alleges the admitting privilege requirement is unconstitutional and treats doctors who perform abortions differently from doctors who perform other types of medical procedures. Conley agreed. "There is a troubling lack of justification for the hospital admitting privileges requirement," he wrote in his 19-page ruling. He added that the U.S. Supreme Court precedent places the burden upon states to show such laws are "reasonably directed to the preservation of maternal health." To that end, "the record to date strongly supports a finding that no medical purpose is served by this requirement," he said. The restraining order will stay in place pending a fuller hearing on July 17. The law, which took effect Monday, also requires women to have an ultrasound before getting an abortion, but that portion of the law was not challenged in the Planned Parenthood suit. Opponents of the Wisconsin legislation allege that restrictions in the law would force the closing of several abortion clinics, and that the law is simply a way to make access to abortions more difficult. Supporters insist that it would guarantee a safer environment for a woman suffering from abortion-related complications. Judge Conley questioned that contention, saying, "The current system already handles efficiently the very low percentage of women seeking abortions with serious complications." CNN reached out to Walker's office for response and is awaiting a response. Texas abortion showdown continues . CNN's Cristy Lenz contributed to this report. | Law says doctors can't perform abortions without admitting privileges in nearby hospitals .
Planned Parenthood files suit .
The judge sides with the group .
The restraining order will stay in place until another hearing next week . |
05c847a08c093c3500843e504d305296ce22ac76 | By . Zoe Szathmary . A photography series has captured one family's struggle to come to terms with a beloved grandfather's Alzheimer's disease. Called 'Life with Pito,' the photos were taken by Ginger Unzueta, a Central-Florida based photographer. Unzueta felt compelled to begin the project as she saw her father-in-law, nicknamed Pito, struggle with Alzheimer's disease. 'I felt God pushing me to capture him through the lens,' Unzueta writes on her website. 'I wanted to be able to capture moments of him now - not always pretty moments, but his life as it is,' she added. 'I feel our family needs these memories. These memories are a part of his story, just as much as his childhood memories are.' The photos show Pito hugging and embracing loved ones, as well as being guided to help with daily tasks. Unzueta first learned of Pito's diagnosis in 2007, when her husband was overseas in Iraq. During a satellite call to relatives, Unzueta's brother-in-law broke the news, she writes. Unzueta says Pito's case is made worse by the fact that 'his mind was his life.' A doctor, Pito reportedly specialized in pediatrics and sought stimulation, including reading up on medicine playing tennis. Pito's conditon is now so severe, Unzueta says, that he has trouble recognizing his own family. 'Sadly, he has progressed to the point where he mostly doesn't recognize his wife of over 40 years and his four sons,' she writes. 'He now just sits around the house, talking to himself and to the photos on the walls.' Unzueta credits her mother-in-law with the strength to take care of her husband, as well as offer to support other family members with meals and helping take care of children. 'She has good and bad days with Pito, but she says that she would rather have him like this than not at all,' she writes. 'Even through the heartbreak of Pito not recognizing her, the woman he courted as a nurse in the hospital where he worked after graduating from medical school, she still manages to love and serve him. She says he deserves this, for being such a devoted loving husband and father for so many years.' For more information on Unzueta's work, visit her website and her Facebook page. Support: Pito is seen here embraced by a loved one . Caring: Photographer Ginger Unzueta says she wanted to capture Pito's journey because 'these memories are a part of his story' Devotion: Pito and his wife have been married for over 40 years . Through thick and thin: Pito's wife says her husband deserves her support, after being a loving husband and father for so long . Catching up: Pito is seen here relaxing with youngsters on the couch . Here for you: Pito gets a hug in this photograph . Hanging out: Pito is seen outside with a younger family member in this photo . Steps: Pito receives support walking in this photograph . Always here: Pito receives help walking from loved ones in this photograph . Helper: Pito, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, is seen being helped into a chair in this photograph . Loving kiss: Pito and his wife are seen in a tender embrace in this photograph . | Photos taken by Ginger Unzueta show father-in-law's life with Alzheimer's disease .
Pito is a former doctor whose 'mind was his life' and enjoyed mental stimulation .
Enjoyed reading up on medicine and playing tennis .
His condition has now progressed to the point that he has trouble recognizing his wife of 40 years and 4 sons . |
05c99d910b239370dd7bdc7912f519dc83f6eda6 | A female Marine who was killed in a helicopter crash on Friday was a highly decorated Afghanistan veteran. Captain Elizabeth Kealey, 32, had been in the Marine Corps for almost 10 years and was deployed twice with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit serving one tour in Afghanistan. She was serving as a helicopter pilot and weapons training instructor when her aircraft went down at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms on Friday afternoon. Afghan vet: Captain Elizabeth Kealey commissioned in the Marine Corps in May 2005. She was deployed twice with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and served one tour in Afghanistan. She was serving as a helicopter pilot and weapons training instructor . Death: Captain Elizabeth Kealey, left, and First Lieutenant Adam Satterfield died from their injuries in the crash at the Twentynine Palms Marine base in Southern California . Captain Kealey, from Indiana, Pennsylvania had earned several awards and medals including the Air Medal with three Strike/Flight awards and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star in lieu of second award. She died alongside fellow Marine First Lieutenant Adam Satterfield who was working alongside her when their helicopter crashed during a military training exercise. They both died as a result of crash injuries. No one else was on board the UH-1Y Huey helicopter at the time. Both Marines died as a result of crash injuries. No one else was on board the UH-1Y Huey helicopter, model pictured is file photo . Leutenant Colonel James M. Isaacs, commanding officer of their squadron, said the two were outstanding officers and talented pilots. Satterfield, 25, of Oldham, Kentucky, was commissioned in 2011 and supported training operations in Southern California. Both pilots were based at Camp Pendleton. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. In a statement, released by Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, wing commander Maj Gen Michael Rocco paid tribute to the Marines. U.S. Marines are pictured doing an exercise at Twentynine Palms, California where two Marines lost their lives . Wing commander: In a statement, released by Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, wing commander Maj Gen Michael Rocco (pictured) paid tribute to the Marines, whose families are still being notified of their deaths . He said: 'Our hearts go out to the families and friends of the Marines we lost in this tragic accident.' He added there was no immediate word on a cause of the crash, which occurred around 4.30pm. According to its website, the Combat Center's mission 'is to conduct relevant live-fire combined arms training, urban operations, and Joint/Coalition level integration training' for Marines and Navy sailors. It is situated in San Bernardino County, about 130 miles east of Los Angeles. | Captain Elizabeth Kealey and First Lieutenant Adam Satterfield died from their injuries in the crash Friday at the Twentynine Palms Marine base .
Marines were taking part in military exercise at Southern California base .
Third Marine Aircraft Wing chopper went down Friday, killing them both .
The cause of fatal crash remains unknown; an investigation is ongoing . |
05cb31edefa647ed4831e3f305984a17baeee938 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 5:07 PM on 12th November 2011 . The 14-year-old son of a 'hero' police traffic officer who died as he helped a stranded motorist on a motorway hard shoulder was in tears as he followed his father's coffin at his funeral service. Ben Goodlad clutched the white-topped police cap of PC Mark Goodlad, 41, as he walked into Wakefield Cathedral, past an honour guard of scores of the officer's colleagues from West Yorkshire Police. The misty centre of Wakefield came to a stop as the funeral cortege, which was led by police motorcyclists and horses, drew up outside the cathedral, between lines of officers. A father and husband: Ben Goodlad, 14, was in tears as he watched the procession alongside and his mother Helen . A hero: PC Mark Goodlad's son Ben, 14, and widow, Helen watch as his coffin is carried out of Wakefield Cathedral after the funeral . Ben and PC Goodlad's widow, Helen, travelled behind the hearse in a marked police traffic car. Members of the public joined the lines of police outside as the family followed the coffin through the main doors of the cathedral. Among the officers outside was West Yorkshire Police's chief constable Sir Norman Bettison who also read a eulogy at the packed service. Sir Norman said the dedication PC Goodlad showed on October 24, when he died as he helped a woman who was stranded on the hard shoulder of the M1 near Wakefield, was typical of him. He told the congregation: 'He would put on his uniform and the cap that now sits on his coffin, and go out to face risk, threat and harm wherever they arose. 'After a gruelling, exhausting night shift he would do it all over again the following day. 'That is what police officers, special constables and PCSOs do the length and breadth of this magnificent force and that is why I am able to say that it is my honour to speak today about our departed colleague Mark Goodlad. 'He stands for what is best in all of us. Tribute in numbers: Led by mounted officers, the funeral procession makes its way through a guard of honour . Pallbearers: PC Goodlad's coffin is carried out Wakefield Cathedral by colleagues from West Yorkshire Police . Chief Constable's words: 'We shouldn't define heroes by the way they die but recognise them instead by the way they lived their lives' 'We shouldn't define heroes by the way they die but recognise them instead by the way they lived their lives. 'On that basis, Mark is a hero.' PC Goodlad died when an orange Scania articulated heavy goods vehicle hit a marked BMW X5 police car and a grey Suzuki Swift on the southbound carriageway. The police car and the Suzuki were both stationary on the hard shoulder. PC Goodlad was between the two vehicles, helping the 51-year-old female Suzuki driver. The woman suffered minor injuries in the incident. Crash scene: PC Goodlad, 41, was killed on the hard shoulder of the M1 while helping a stranded motorist . Loved by many: PC Mark Goodlad pictured in his uniform (left) and colleagues of PC Goodlad grieving over the loss of their friend (right) A family portrait: Pc Mark Goodlad pictured with his wife Helen and son Ben before the tragedy . | PC Goodlad's son and widow travelled behind the hearse in a marked police traffic car .
West Yorkshire Police's chief constable Sir Norman Bettison read a eulogy at the packed service .
PC Goodlad died as he helped a woman who was stranded on the hard shoulder of the M1 near Wakefield . |
05cb52643cd8a840cf559ebbc2371653220a2a55 | As Floyd Mayweather Jnr took in an NBA game on Thursday night the crowd left the pound-for-pound king under no illusions about which opponent they want to see him fight next. Mayweather's presence at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles for the game between LA Clippers and Brooklyn Nets led to chants from supporters of 'we want Pacquiao, we want Pacquiao'. Negotiations between the two fighters are ongoing as the boxing world waits with bated breath hoping for confirmation of the $200million mega fight that has been more than five years in the making. Floyd Mayweather cheers from his front row seat during LA Clippers' game against Brooklyn Nets . During the game the crowd chanted 'we want Pacquiao', calling for Mayweather to fight him . Mayweather was sat with Beyonce and Jay-Z during the game in Los Angeles on Thursday night . Robert Morales, an LA-based basketball reporter, tweeted about the chants aimed at Mayweather . The pound-for-pound king was pictured after the game with pal Justin Beiber . The LA Clippers recorded a comfortable win against the Brooklyn Nets . Mayweather was flaunting his wealth this week as he posed next to his Ferrari . Manny Pacquiao (left) was in London on Friday to discuss a potential future fight with Britain's Amir Khan . Manny Pacquiao has already agreed terms for the most eagerly-awaited fight in boxing which has been penciled in for May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. But the Filipino, who insists he has agreed to fight Mayweather on his own terms, is waiting on the undefeated American to commit to the bout. Mayweather was joined at the LA Clippers game by Jay-Z and Beyonce and well-known celebrity pal Justin Beiber. The Clippers recorded a comprehensive 123-84 victory against the Nets. | Los Angeles Clippers beat Brooklyn Nets 123-84 on Thursday night .
Floyd Mayweather watched the game at the Staples Centre in LA .
The boxer was heckled by fans calling for the Manny Pacquiao fight .
The pair are in negotiations to set up a $200million mega fight . |
05cb8aa8982022c5c8beee927163c614bf86f95b | By . Associated Press . Many of the exhausted dogs that have been in . search of victims of the deadly mudslide that buried a mountainside Washington . community will take a two-day break as the official death toll rose from 18 to 21. The dogs can lose their sensing ability if overworked in the cold and rain. ‘The . conditions on the slide field are difficult, so this is just a time to . take care of the dogs,’ said Kris Rietmann, a spokeswoman for the team . working on the eastern portion of the slide, which hit March 22 about 55 . miles northeast of Seattle and is one of the deadliest in U.S. history. Needed rest: Rescue dog Tryon, muddied from the day's work, stands with his handler near the west side of the mudslide on Highway 530 near mile marker 37 in Arlington, Washington. Dogs like Tryon have been given a two-day break from work because days of intense searching can dull their senses . Dogs from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that arrived more recently will continue working. Fifteen of the victims have been identified by the Snohomish County medical examiner, and six have yet to be identified, Biermann said. Another four bodies were found in the debris field on Sunday, but they won't be added to the official count until the medical examiner receives the bodies. Biermann said 30 people remain missing. Authorities have said the task of finding and identifying victims from the debris field has been extremely challenging, and not all may ultimately be recovered. Dirty job: Rescue dog Nexus, muddy from working onsite, waits to be decontaminated via hose. He's one of many that helped uncover four more bodies over the weekend . Slog: Periods of rain and wind have hampered efforts for days and constant exposure to the conditions can hurt dogs' ability to sense victims . Holding strong: Search and rescue teams navigate the wet, muddy terrain at the west side of the mudslide. While some dogs will be given a break, others will continue working in the unforgiving conditions over the next two days . Rescue dog Nexus, muddy from working onsite, strolls the staging area at the west side of the mudslide . FEMA dogs that were brought in more recently will continue to work as the local rescue dogs that have been searching for days will get a break . Crews have completed a makeshift road that will link one side of the debris field to the other, significantly aiding the recovery operation. They have also been working to clear mud and debris from the highway, leaving piles of gooey muck, splintered wood and housing insulation on the sides of the road. Searchers have had to contend with treacherous conditions, including septic tanks, gasoline and propane containers. When rescuers and dogs leave the site, they are hosed off by hazardous materials crews. The slide dammed up the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River, causing water to pool up on the east side. The river cut a new channel through the mud, but the rain has raised the water level nearly a foot, Rietmann said. In at least one place, the water level got so high that it covered areas that have already been searched, said Tim Pierce, leader of Washington Task Force 1, a search-and-rescue team. ‘At this point, there's no point in searching (that area) again until the water drops back down,’ he said. Rescuers should get some relief soon. Conditions were improving Sunday, and mainly dry weather is forecast Monday through Wednesday in western Washington. Devotion: The congregation of the Glad Tidings Assembly of God church in Darrington sings Sunday during morning church services . Staying strong: Much of the music and speaking at Sunday's service was devoted to reaction to the deadly mudslide that hit the nearby community of Oso . The size of the debris field is also smaller than initially thought, officials said Sunday. After review and analysis, geologists have determined it is about 300 acres — just under half the size of an earlier projection of 1 square mile. Away from the whirring chain saws and roaring bulldozers, many residents of nearby Darrington sought comfort in church services. ‘I can only compare it to a hot, hearty meal after a very cold day,’ said Slava Botamanenko, who works at the hospital in Arlington. He said he spent two nights there to be sure he was available for work after the mudslide blocked the road. All week, a steady stream of people has stopped in to pray at the Glad Tidings Assembly of God on the edge of town, said Lee Hagen, the senior pastor. ‘At a time like this, everybody knows they've got to have God's help,’ he said. Tough times: Search and rescue teams navigate the wet, muddy terrain at the west side of the mudslide. Soggy conditions have made the search effort difficult for both humans and dogs . Remembering what's important: An American flag pulled from the debris hangs in the staging area . Reaching out: Randy Fay, a volunteer rescue technician with Snohomish County's SnoHawk 10 rescue helicopter, helps Jetty Dooper, from the Netherlands . Terrible conditions: Search and rescue teams walk through a field of mud on a path of plywood at the west side of the mudslide . Evidence of tragedy: Assorted broken debris sits on a muddy suitcase pulled from the scene at the west side of the mudslide on Sunday . In it together: A sheriff chaplain offers a few words to a rescue worker as he enters the decontamination tent area . Firefighters navigate through downed trees as they carry shovels in the muck on Sunday . Country singer Susie McEntire, sister of Reba, performed for the congregation Sunday, crooning: ‘You'll get through this and you'll break new ground.’ At the St. John Mary Vianney Catholic church a few blocks away, Father Tim Sauer said: ‘Bless our communities, bless our people, bless our valley.’ The Rev. Owen Couch, a chaplain for the fire district in Darrington, said he's worried about the first responders. ‘My concern is when this slows down and they're not going full tilt, and they have time to kind of reflect on what they've seen and what they've done,’ he said. ‘That's when the critical incident stress starts to kick in.’ Steve Huot, lead chaplain for the Arlington Fire Department, said he is seeing people in various states. Some are in shock, while others have begun to grasp the reality of the disaster. Many are exhausted. ‘It's more about listening right now. You need to encourage them and maybe change their focus to staying busy for the group, for the team,’ he said. Unprecedented: A flag flies at half-staff on a log Sunday with the slope of the massive mudslide that struck Saturday, March 22 n the background . | The dogs can lose their sensing abilities if overworked .
FEMA dogs that arrived more recently will continue working .
The death toll for the tragedy now stands at 21 with 30 still missing .
Another four bodies were uncovered Sunday but cannot be added to the official list of victims until they are identified . |
05cd01ab2472ee98c9b42557169e87bb7694555c | Some years ago, I appeared on a well-known television talk show opposite four "angry white men": four men who believed they had been discriminated against in the workplace by affirmative action programs initiated, they argued, by feminist women. Each man told his story of how he was qualified for a job or qualified for a promotion that he did not get because of this putative reverse discrimination against white men. One ended his remarks with a line that served as the title for this show: "A black woman stole my job," he declared. Asked to respond, I had but one question for these guys, a question about the title of the show. Actually, my question was about one word in the title of the show. I wanted to know about the word "my." Why did the men think it was their job? Why wasn't the title of the show "A black woman got a job" or "A black woman got the job"? The answer, I argued, was that these men felt entitled to the position, and that any effort to make the workplace more equal was perceived, by those men, as a loss. I thought of those men recently while reading Suzanne Venker's addled rant against feminist women as the source of the unhappiness that saturates male-female relationships. I thought of how painful it is when you are used to having everything to now have only 80%. What a loss! Poor us! Equality sucks when you've been on top -- and men have been on top for so long that we think it's a level playing field. In her screed against women, she argues that women are their own worst enemy, and that the rise of women has caused the "end of men," that men are wilting into angry, resentful bachelorhood because women are demanding so much from men. They're emasculating men, confounding their DNA, which seeks only to provide and protect. Women aren't letting men be men. Women, Venker writes, have been seduced by feminists into pushing men off their pedestal to "take what they were taught to believe was rightfully theirs." As a result, Venker continues, women have come to believe the adage "women good/men bad" -- an equation that has "destroyed the relationship between the sexes." Men, she tells us, are "tired of being told that if women aren't happy, it's men's fault." But she is actually arguing that if men aren't happy, it's women's fault -- for seeking the very same exhilarating sense of autonomy and selfhood that men claim as our natural entitled birthright. How dare they? OK, so what's wrong with this picture? This unhinged argument fuses dreadful history with empirically baseless contemporary analysis. The result cannot help but be bad politics. This notion of good women/bad men has been the foundation not of feminism but of anti-feminism since the 19th century. Those innocent "angels in the house" were supposed to soothe the savage beast, as men were prone to bouts of rage, drunkenness and other depravities. If women didn't tame men, the anti-feminists argued, all hell would break loose. Pop psychologists joined the pundits to argue, as does Venker, that if women are unhappy, it's their own damned fault. How many advice columns about "the rules," admonitions about the man shortage or effusive media prostration before three or four upper-class white female Yale grads who "opted out" (only to rejoin the workforce when their children were 5 years old) must we endure? Countless. One needn't be original to be wrong. In fact, feminism reversed the equation Venker offers. It encouraged women to be bad girls -- to seek their own pleasures, to go for it, autonomously, to leave unhappy marriages, and to control their own bodies. And it encouraged men to be good -- demanded it, in fact -- insisting that men can and should step up as equal parents, colleagues and coworkers, that we stop the rape and violence that so compromised women's equality. And the empirical evidence suggests that men are quietly adapting to a very new landscape. Most of the 400 young men (aged 16-26) who I interviewed for my book "Guyland" assume, without resentment, that their wives will be as fully committed to their careers as they are. Why? Because they'll need the income. And they assume, with no resentment, that they will be involved fathers, spending far more time with their families than their parents or grandparents ever did. Why? Because they actually want to be involved dads. They all have friends of the opposite sex ("When Harry Met Sally's" dictum to the contrary), which bodes well for their ability to be more equal coworkers and colleagues with women they consider their peers. Stop the madness. There's no war between the sexes. Men and women can, and should, be allies. And they are becoming more equal, and happier, every single day. Men aren't nearly as unhappy or resentful as Venker suggests -- because she only talks to those who feel themselves so entitled that they lament, as did Rush Limbaugh, that the re-election of President Obama was the loss of "our country." Truth is, in her efforts to exalt men, she actually insults us. Who says we can't be happy with fully equal female colleagues and coworkers? Who says we can't enjoy the joys of shared parenthood? Who says that we are biologically programmed to be both rapacious testosterone-driven animals and lazy remote-hogging couch potatoes unable to lift a finger in the kitchen? Venker paints a most unyieldlingly awful portrait of men, one that is happily belied by actual, real, American men. And we won't stand for the sort of male-bashing Venker offers. We want it all also -- and the only way we can have it all is to halve it all. Like CNN Living on Facebook . | Suzanne Venker's opinion article on a supposed "war on men" ruffled feathers this week .
Sociologist Michael Kimmel counters that efforts at social equality are not a war on men .
Men are accustomed to social dominance, Kimmel says, but society is evolving for the better .
A sense of entitlement may lead some men to sulk when women succeed, he says . |
05cd57120ca413e4317526af8d469afd593cf767 | Wayne Rooney is just four goals away from claiming Sir Bobby Charlton's crown as England's all-time top scorer after finding the net twice during Tuesday's 3-1 victory against Scotland. However, the debate over whether the Three Lions frontman is a 'football great' continues to rage on. Whether or not the Manchester United star compares to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, Sportsmail duo Jamie Redknapp and Jamie Carragher insist Rooney is heavily relied upon by England. Wayne Rooney's double means he is three goals behind Sir Bobby Charlton's all-time England record . Sportsmail's Jamie Carragher and Jamie Redknapp insist Rooney is an integral part of the England set-up . Speaking to Sky Sports, Redknapp said: 'When we talk about big-game players we talk about Wayne Rooney and that's what he is. 'When we needed him most tonight he was the one who came up with the goals. There should never be a point where he can be dropped in his England career, he needs to be in that side. It's between Welbeck and Sturridge who plays beside him.’ Carragher, not convinced Rooney is up there with the very best, added: 'Of course he's an England great. He's going to be our greatest goalscorer. Is he a world great, is he a Messi or Ronaldo? No he's not. But he's an England great. The former Liverpool defender, who himself earned 38 international caps, insists Rooney is an integral part of Roy Hodgson's side and said: 'He should always be in the England team, it's nonsense to say he shouldn't. I can't remember the last time he played great for England but he sets up goals and he scores them when they need them. Rooney runs away and does a little jump as he prepares to launch himself into a cartwheel . The forward cannot hide his massive smile as he prepares to go on his hands . His right hand hits the floor as he prepares to bring his legs round and complete the celebration . 'He's an England great, he's not a world great. Only the 1966 World Cup winners and Lineker getting the Golden Boot have lit up World Cups for England.' However, former Scotland international Graeme Souness isn't convinced and believes a time may arise where Hodgson decides to drop Rooney. 'He's scoring against Championship players tonight so let's not get carried away with him tonight. Yes, on the basis of tonight, he was excellent. But is Rooney up there with the greats in the world? No he isn't. You can't say we'll play him all the time - you cannot say we'll never, ever leave him out, because he isn’t undroppable.’ VIDEO Hodgson praises attack as Rooney approaches record . | Wayne Rooney scored twice in England's 3-1 win over Scotland .
Striker is just four goals away from breaking Sir Bobby Charlton's all-time goalscoring record for England .
Sportsmail's Jamie Redknapp and Jamie Carragher insist Rooney is an England great .
Sportsmail's Neil Ashton believes England should cherish Rooney more . |
05cde9cddc9f7a0470658f08b6ac4c5c14dd5e29 | SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- Some families long separated by the Korean War saw their loved ones Saturday for the first time in years near the border between North and South Korea. South Korean Yoon Ki-Dal, right, meets the children he left behind as babies during the Korean War. Yoon Ki-Dal, 88, of South Korea thought such a moment would never come. After leaving his son and daughters when they were babies during the Korean War, he was able to hold the hands of his North Korean children on Saturday. "Father, we thought you were dead," his daughter, now in her 60s, told him, her face trembling. Their family was one of 97 reunited Saturday on Mount Keumgang, a North Korean resort near the eastern part of the border, after decades of separation by war and ideology. And soon these families will be separated again. They are allowed to be together for a few days. Then the South Koreans must return home. The reunions -- the first in nearly two years -- are taking place through October 1. Millions of families were separated by the Korean War, which ended in 1953 with a cease-fire and no formal peace treaty. No mail, telephone or e-mail exchanges exist between ordinary citizens across the Korean border. The agreement to hold the reunions came after North and South Korea held three days of talks, mediated by the International Committee of the Red Cross, last month, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported at the time. About 10,000 people applied to take part in the reunion, but fewer than 200 families were allowed to participate. In addition to the 97 families who met Saturday, another 99 families are expected to meet next week, authorities said. Watch families share hugs, tears » . Participants are selected randomly, and there is no date set for a further reunion, which means the tens of thousands of others who were separated by the Korean War have no idea when they may get a chance to see their loved ones -- if ever. For the many separated family members who are elderly, a reunion may never be possible. Reunions between North and South have been taking place off and on since 2000 after an inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang, Yonhap says. The last reunion took place in October 2007. Rapprochement talks between the two Koreas have hit a wall since conservative South Korean President Lee Myung-bak took office in early 2008 with a tougher stance toward the North than his liberal predecessor, Roh Moo-Hyun. The two Koreas have remained in conflict since the conclusion of the Korean War in 1953. Last month, officials from both sides had the first high-level, cross-border contact in nearly two years when South Korean Unification Minister Hyun In Taek met with North Korean unity leader Kim Yang Gon. The meetings and reunions are in stark contrast to the tense public statements each side made about each other earlier this year. Tensions between the two were heightened in July when North Korea launched seven short-range missiles toward the Sea of Japan, also referred to as the East Sea. The launches came after North Korea conducted a nuclear test on May 25 and threatened U.S. and South Korean ships near its territorial waters. South Korea condemned the action, calling the launches "unwise." Journalist Sohn Jie-Ae contributed to this report. | Families have reunion meeting at resort in North Korea, near border .
The South Koreans must return home in a few days .
Millions of Koreans were separated following Korean War cease-fire in 1953 .
About 10,000 people applied to participate; fewer than 200 families approved . |
05ce5139120e8933299f262155b53cf2669cd22e | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 11:19 PM on 27th June 2011 . A convicted bank robber today became Britain's first prisoner to be given a paid apprenticeship - while still behind bars. Reuben Reynolds, 30, was a member of a four-man gang which netted £250,000 using stolen pick-up trucks to rip ATM machines from the walls of shops and banks in a five-month spree. He was jailed for four years at Lincoln Magistrates' Court in November 2009 after admitting one count of conspiracy to steal. Hammering away: Convicted robber Reuben Reynolds was a member of a four-man gang which netted £250,000 using stolen pick-up trucks to rip ATM machines from the walls of shops and banks in a five-month spree . The Apprentice: Reuben signs along the dotted line watched by, from left, Karen Woodward, of the National Apprenticeship Service, Steve Gelder MBE, and MP Karl McCartney . Reynolds will now work for housing firm The Gelder Group after being freed from his cell at HMP Lincoln to work five days a week as a £3.60-an-hour trainee builder. But Reynolds, who is now studying an NVQ in maintenance, will continue o be monitored by the Prison Service and must sleep in his prison cell every night. Furthermore he cannot spend a penny of his earnings until he is released. A spokesman for The Gelder Group said the apprenticeship will be cancelled if Reynolds steps out of line. She said: 'He's a very lucky boy. He's determined to turn his life around and get back on the straight and narrow. 'He will be closely monitored by us and the Prison Service. He's got too much to lose if it goes wrong. 'He will be working on our new build house and insurance and renovations so homeowners will be told and have the choice to say no if they wish. 'But Reuben has already been working for free on work experience and no one has had any problems.' The apprenticeship course includes painting and decorating, plastering and carpentry through the Sturton-by-Stow firm's new training academy. Work release: Mr Reynolds had been jailed for four years in 2009, but has been freed on licence to work five days a week . He worked several weeks for free on work experience before being interviewed for the position and agreed terms on Friday. During his crime spree Reynolds was part of a four-man gang that stole £250,000 from cash machines from shops and banks during a five-month spree in Lincolnshire. They also took cigarettes and tobacco and caused £13,000 damage. The gang is now serving a total of 16 years. Reynolds is eligible for release later this year on licence after serving half of his sentence. Mike Johnson, group training manager at The Gelder Group, said Reynolds is the first serving prisoner to get a paid apprenticeship in Britain. He said: 'It is the first time ever it has been done and we're proud Gelder Group has been selected to pilot and manage it. 'Reuben is number one and hopefully there will be a lot more. 'We provide them with all the things they will need and help them prepare for when they are released. 'We want to give them the best chance to find employment. We want to help them get back into the community and get back on track. 'There is a stigma attached when you are a prisoner. Sometimes it's difficult to prove it's a one-off and they regret it for the rest of their lives. 'What we're trying to do with this scheme is show that there is value in taking on inmates and past prisoners. 'We are motivated by a passion for training people and getting them back into the community.' Reynold's wages will be kept by the Prison Service until he is released. The company is taking over a training facility at the prison and plans to extend the apprenticeship to 150 inmates by the end of the year. Karl McCartney, MP for Lincoln, described the scheme as 'commendable'. He said: 'This clearly is a milestone in the Gelder Group and the prison services' development programme. 'It is all the more commendable insofar as the Gelder Group, I gather, is the first company to take on a serving prisoner as an apprentice. So well done to all involved.' | Reuben Reynolds was member of four-man gang that stole £250,000 .
Has to down tools and head back to his cell at night . |
05d19deea808879d30bf4a8e3832d61cc2f22e53 | By . Kerry Mcqueeney . Last updated at 8:48 PM on 26th October 2011 . Accused: Achilleas Kallakis at Southwark Crown Court . It was claimed his company had assets in excess of $1 billion. However, a property tycoon at the centre of a £750 million fraud ran his office from a basement with just 'two and a half computers', a court was told. Despite projecting an image of success and prosperity, Atlas Management Corporation was operating as if it was about to go bankrupt, with keys even falling off one computer keyboard as staff typed, it was claimed. Millionaire Achilleas Kallakis - allegedly at the company's helm - and his 'right hand man' Alex Williams are accused of using forged documents to con banks out of money to amass a property empire. Southwark Crown Court, in London, heard that Kallakis - who claims to come from a wealth Greek shipping dynasty dating back 200 years - asked accountants to cash cheques for him, for up to £20,000 at a time. It is thought Kallakis was using the . cash to fund . his 'very expensive lifestyle' of chauffeur-driven cars, private planes . and the upkeep of his own yacht, the court heard. Kallakis and Williams - both aged 43 - are alleged to have bought 16 landmark properties on the back of the cash, which was mainly forked out by Allied Irish Bank (AIB). However, AIB lost £56million when Atlas Management Corporation - which was based on forgeries - went bust. Victor Temple QC, prosecuting the case, said money was coming in but 'almost immediately coming out again.' The court today heard how Rodney Rezler, who was appointed chief accountant at the company, revealed how he was led to a basement room on his first day where there was only one working computer. Chartered account Mr Rezler told the court: 'On the day I arrived I was led to a small basement room where there was one and a half working computers. They were not networked. 'I managed after a few days to scrounge a computer for myself. This was a laptop where the keys would fall off as I typed. 'There was no company system as such. There were little pools of information sitting on individual computers some of which had been in the accounts office and had now moved to unknown places.' Kallakis and Alex Williams are accused of conning banks out of cash using forged documents to amass a property empire. Their trial is being heard at Southwark Crown Court (pictured) Mr Rezler said the accounts were so 'scattered' it was 'impossible' to check the rents were being paid on properties the company owned. Asked how the company's finances were, he said: 'It was catastrophic. We were constantly bombarded, as I put the phone down the phone would ring again from another creditor asking where their money was. It was almost impossible to work. 'The company wasn't paying its bills. It was behaviour normally expected in companies that were about to go bankrupt.' Mr Rezler said he told Mr Williams this but added: 'His basic view was that future financial ease would be coming. Large amounts of money were promised to follow through down the line and the problems would be dealt with.' 'The company was absorbing more money than it was producing' When asked about Kallakis, Mr Rezler replied: 'Mr Kallakis was rarely in the office. One would often know if he had been in the office as he had a tendency to smoke cigars when he was around so one detected cigar smoke but not Mr Kallakis. 'Three months in I spoke to him about the accounts when I found that the situation had got worse because Mr Kallakis, having felt the property managers was not doing their job properly, had decided to review all the invoices personally. This created a bigger and bigger backlog. 'The company was actually absorbing more money than it was producing. It seemed money was being supplied into the company but there was not sufficient money coming in from rents to pay back loans. 'Mr Kallakis had a very expensive lifestyle. It was clear that a lot of money that went out was to pay for monthly requirements to run things because he had the yacht, the plane, accommodation costs.' Asked by Mr Temple if he had ever been told anything about Kallakis' claim he was a Greek shipping heir, Mr Rezler said: 'Yes, he said the business had been in the family for about 200 years. 'My impression was it was an extremely wealthy shipping company that had been underpinning the establishment of the property business and that the property business itself was in control of about one billion dollars worth of assets.' Mr Rezler told the court he had seen other accountants being asked to sign blank cheques on occasion. Earlier chartered account Alf Burgess, who worked for Kallakis for almost six years, said: 'It could be anything from £2,000 or £20,000, but that [£20,000] was a one-off.' Asked by Mr Temple who asked him to do that, Mr Burgess replied: 'Mr Kallakis.' 'Did you ever query that with Mr Kallakis?' asked Mr Temple. 'No, Mr Kallakis was the boss. He told me what to do,' Mr Burgess said. Mr Rezler eventually resigned from the company before it went into liquidation as he was concerned Atlas Management was trading illegallym the court heard. Kallakis and Williams deny two counts of conspiracy to defraud, 13 counts of forgery, five counts of fraud by false representation, two counts of money laundering and one count of obtaining a money transfer by deception. The trial continues. | Millionaire accused of using forged documents to con banks .
He used the money to fund his 'very expensive lifestyle', court hears .
Allied Irish Bank 'lost £56m' when company went bust . |
05d1a99f9c32fec632b370297167bbdee9ae8d56 | (CNN) -- When Entertainment Weekly published the first trailer of USA Network's new series "Common Law" in November on its website, readers were abuzz with excitement. According to the synopsis, the show revolves around two quarreling Los Angeles homicide detectives, played by Warren Kole and Michael Ealy, who are ordered to go to couples therapy. While many were keen to see "Think Like a Man" star Ealy again, it appeared that most commenters were sure they would like "Common Law" because they knew what to expect. "Another light-hearted show that is PERFECT on USA," one user, Tim Mahoney, said. "I'll always give a USA Network show a chance and rarely have I been disappointed," another user named Kaiulani said. Now, six months later, "Common Law" is set to kick off the network's 2012 summer line-up that includes returning shows "Royal Pains," "Burn Notice," "Suits," "White Collar," "Necessary Roughness" and "Covert Affairs." The buddy-cop show, which will premiere at 10 p.m. ET Friday, will form a crucial part of USA's annual and popular summer block. The network even claimed that it "owns summer" in a recent news release. According to ratings tracker Nielsen, USA averaged 3.61 million viewers in primetime from May 30 to August 21 last year. The newspaper USA Today also reported in January that USA Network had an average of 3.2 million total viewers and remained the top-rated cable network for the sixth consecutive year in 2011. Over the years, this success has largely been attributed to USA's original series, which are often character-driven comedy-dramas that are fun and set in bright and beautiful locations, which have become almost synonymous with destination summer viewing. The 'Characters Welcome' branding . Jon Turteltaub, executive producer of "Common Law," told CNN that the show was originally written to air on CBS, but was picked up by USA because the focus on the detectives' relationship and therapy sessions seemed to be a better fit for them. "USA does work differently, they push characters over plot," he said. "They were really interested in well-developed and fully drawn characters. For the creators of the show, that's music to our ears." Turteltaub said that he sees this priority not necessarily as a formula, but more of "a guiding principle of things that have worked." "USA has been very clear about not letting the story bog down the tone," he said. "The feel of your show is more important than the police procedural details. If we are loving the characters and feeling a sense of entertainment and fun, then three clues to solve the crime is fine, not five." This emphasis is what drew Cory Andrew Barker to USA shows in the first place, so much so that he eventually ended up doing research on the network's programming theme. Barker, who just graduated from Bowling Green State University in Ohio with a master's degree in popular culture, said he was intrigued by how the shows were tonally similar and yet often popular. In his university-approved thesis, "Genre Welcome?: Formula, Genre and Branding in USA Network's Programming and Promotional Content," he explained how the network has carved its own niche. The show that really heralded the network's present style was "Monk," Barker found. When Tony Shalhoub's Adrian Monk, a brilliant detective with obsessive-compulsive disorder, was introduced in the summer of 2002, USA at that time was mostly known for reruns. Barker, who also runs a blog called TV Surveillance, argues that since then, USA has branded itself with its "Characters Welcome" slogan to signify its shows' "quirky, sort of left-of-center" personalities. These characters tend to work toward "the greater good" in ways not always in tandem with the law, have an overarching goal and happen to live in sunny locales. For example, the character of Monk solves crimes with his detailed-oriented abilities, lives in San Francisco and throughout the series is trying to figure out who murdered his wife. This pattern of elements or formula, Barker said, can be found in most of USA's shows, making them recognizable and easy to pick up and consume. So audiences are loyal as they automatically have an idea of what the next USA show will be like and view the network as unique. "If you are a person who likes USA shows, you will probably like 'Common Law,' " Barker told CNN. "You have watched nine shows like these, so why wouldn't I try this?" Robert Bianco, a TV critic for USA Today, has reviewed several USA Network shows and summarized the cultural perception of the network this way: "They have a very clever, successful marketing position for themselves, as the home of these 'blue sky,' mostly crime-based dramas with more of a comic twist than you would get on [for instance] FX." Blue skies, all season long . The "blue sky" that Bianco refers to is the approach or philosophy that USA shows tend to have. The lighter theme is favored over a gloomy or gritty scenario because the objective is not to be overly somber, he said. "The cable dramas these days have become very serious, and the network procedurals tend to be in the darker side of crimes," Bianco said. "USA shows tend to be glossier, on the sunnier side." Jeff Eastin's USA series "White Collar" is a good example. The show is about a con man named Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer) who, after getting caught by the FBI, helps them solve white-collar crimes using his expertise. Eastin, the show's creator executive producer and show runner, said that since the crimes mostly involve white collar offenses such as art forgery, the lighter elements of the crime are shown and stressed on. " 'White Collar' ... we're a good prototype show for 'blue sky,' what USA is," Eastin said. "There's a certain classy slickness to the show, just in the general world of police shows ... [It's] pushing for that cleverness [in a] sort of high-end world." A part of that slickness also comes from the shows' locations. "Burn Notice" is set in Miami, "Royal Pains" in the Hamptons, "Psych" in Santa Barbara, all of which bring to mind warm weather, beaches and an abundance of sunshine. Eastin said that for the New York City-set "White Collar," there is a tendency to shoot in places where the architecture can be exploited. Barker said that these settings, along with the warm weather timing of the premieres, capture the allure of summer and are all about escapism. "You are sort of immediately drawn to this place where you might want to take a vacation to," he said. Future of USA Network . Many critics have pointed out that despite the likely success, USA's cookie-cutter model for its shows can only go so far and that viewers might tire of similar series. But Bill McGoldrick, USA's executive vice president of original scripted programming, said he doesn't look at it that way. He said that when they go through show pitches, they certainly look for characters that stand out because of their background or relationships. However, McGoldrick added that while the network focuses on a feel that "puts you in a good mindset" it is not the motivating factor. "We definitely stay away from the word 'formula,' he said. "It's a dirty word here." McGoldrick, who worked on "Monk" and "Psych" early in his career, said that USA, like any other network, is evolving. When "Monk" was being developed, network executives at the time were not that interested in serialized character development or just procedurals. "In those days, we saw that there were not a lot of shows doing throwback, where you could mix comedy and drama," McGoldrick said. "Where you didn't have to be so earnest and serious like 'Law and Order' and 'CSI.' " After the success of "Monk" and the fan-base growth of "Psych" and "Burn Notice," McGoldrick said that USA is encouraging its older shows to have continuous and rougher plots and is green lighting new shows such as "Suits," which have more edge. "Covert Affairs," "Fairly Legal" and "Necessary Roughness" not only deal with more provocative subjects, but also have female leads. USA's political miniseries, "Political Animals," starring Sigourney Weaver as the secretary of state, is set to premiere this July. Bianco said that the new direction might be challenging because the blue sky and escapist vibe might not accurately portray real life -- such as the workings of a law firm in "Suits" versus the workings of a law firm like in CBS' "The Good Wife." But he said that there is no need for USA shows to compete with the more serious shows for the fear of becoming too formulaic. "I don't think there is anything wrong with simple, enjoyable entertainment when you pull it off well," Bianco said. | New series "Common Law" is set to kick off USA network's 2012 summer line-up .
USA's original series are often character-driven comedy-dramas set in beautiful locations .
Bill McGoldrick, the executive VP of programming, said they are picking up edgier shows . |
05d1e0fb1db3b5ea4b3157317ee60cc12e4971e7 | By . Joshua Gardner . A plane from Houston on its way to New York City's LaGuardia Airport on Saturday had to make an emergency landing after an unruly passenger ran for the cockpit while telling the flight crew he had a bomb. Victor Manguel allegedly bum-rushed the cockpit of United Flight 1435 after a scuffle with other passengers and had to be subdued with the help of four first class passengers. Pilots were forced to land at Memphis, where authorities arrested Manguel before bringing in bomb-sniffing dogs and eventually giving pilots the okay to head to New York. Scroll down for video... Unruly: United Flight 1435 passenger Victor Manguel allegedly charged the cockpit while claiming he had a bomb on Saturday while en route to New York City . Passenger Cookie Smith told KPRC that Manguel first argued with a passenger toward the back of the plane. 'He seemed a little off and he had a black eye. Like the whole white part of his eye was blood red,' said Smith. After the scuffle in back, Smith said Manguel charged toward the cockpit as the flight attendant yelled for him to stop before asking passengers for assistance. Among those who helped hold Manguel back was Smith's husband. Smith told KPRC that Manguel said he had a gun, while other passengers reported that he claimed to have had a bomb. Grounded: Manguel was taken off the plane, as were the 140 other passengers. He'd allegedly charged the cockpit after claiming he had a bomb. Authorities brought on explosives sniffing dogs before allowing the plane to go on to New York . Once the plane landed in Memphis and Manguel was hauled away by authorities as all the passengers were ushered out, bomb-sniffing canines were brought aboard. 'The FBI showed up and put a bomb-sniffing dog on the plane and we were told the plane had to be searched by this bomb-sniffing dog because the passenger had reported that there were some explosives on-board,' passenger Brent McCowan told WREG. All 140 passengers were seriously inconvenienced by the Manguel, who's been charged by federal authorities with interfering with a flight crew. However, McCowan said the flight crew handled the situation perfectly. 'There was no panic. There were no screams. There were no cries,' he said. 'The flight attendant did a great job with the way he handled the situation.' Manguel now faces federal charges for interfering with a flight crew. The plane eventually made it to New York via Newark airport . | Flight 1435 from Houston was headed to LaGuardia airport in New York on Saturday when it was forced to land at Memphis .
Victor Manguel allegedly became unruly and a flight attendant required the help of four first class passengers reign him in .
Memphis police and the FBI stormed the plane once it landed and arrested Manguel .
He's now been charged with interfering with a flight crew . |
05d208c31768541ac43314e05d0a9c13e3e9574a | President Barack Obama said he has "no sympathy at all for destroying your own communities," urging protesters in Ferguson to avoid a second night of violence and fight instead for longer-lasting political changes. Obama's comments Tuesday in Chicago came as the sun set in Missouri and law enforcement officers -- including 1,500 additional National Guard troops -- prepared to stop the looting and fires that followed a grand jury's decision not to indict the police officer who shot and killed Michael Brown in August. "The frustrations that we've seen are not just about a particular incident," he said. "They have deep roots in many communities of color who have a sense that our laws are not always being enforced uniformly or fairly. That may not be true everywhere and it's certainly not true for the vast majority of law enforcement officials, but that's an impression that folks have and it's not just made up -- it's rooted in realities that have existed in this country for a long time." RELATED: King to Obama: Invite Wilson to White House . He said Monday night's protests were "overwhelmingly peaceful," but said some of the images from Ferguson -- including police cars being destroyed and businesses looted -- shouldn't be tolerated. "There are productive ways of responding and expressing those frustrations, and there are destructive ways of responding," Obama said. "Burning buildings, torching cars, destroying property, putting people at risk -- that's destructive and there's no excuse for it. Those are criminal acts. And people should be prosecuted if they engage in criminal acts." The President's comments came at the beginning of a speech that was focused on immigration. He said he wouldn't comment on the grand jury's decision not to indict Darren Wilson, the Ferguson police officer who shot and killed Brown. But Obama said better police training, law enforcement forces that are representative of the communities they serve and more "makes a difference." He promised regional meetings focused on "building trust in our communities" between police and residents, and vowed to work with protesters who want to make political changes. "For the overwhelming majority of people who just feel frustrated and pained because they get a sense that maybe some communities aren't treated fairly or some individuals aren't seen as as worthy as others, I understand that and I want to work with you," he said. Obama tackles immigration, Ferguson at hometown rally . Obama echoed Attorney General Eric Holder, who said Tuesday afternoon that peaceful and non-violent protests have a history of forcing change in the United States, and called it "heartening" that some leaders of the protests tried to stop the violence that broke out Monday night. "I really embrace those who have been proactively intervening to stop acts of violence within their midst and I encourage them to continue exercising this important leadership. I know this is not an easy thing to do," Holder said. The Justice Department has launched civil rights investigations into both the Brown shooting and the Ferguson Police Department's relations with minorities. Officials from the department have been in the area since August working to ease tensions between protesters and police and offering training to local law enforcement. Amid concerns about a second night of violence, Holder said the Justice Department remains in contact with leaders of the protests. He also said the department will conduct a review in the wake of Monday night "so that we can develop strategies for identifying and isolating the criminal elements from peaceful protestors." RELATED: 9 moments that capture the chaos in Ferguson . Before departing the White House for Chicago, Obama was briefed by Holder on both the situation in Ferguson and longer-term efforts to improve relations between citizens and police, White House spokesman Eric Schultz said. Top Obama aide Valerie Jarrett spoke twice -- Monday night and Tuesday morning -- with Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, and has also briefed Obama. Jarrett and Holder also held a conference call with civil rights leaders. Cabinet Secretary Broderick Johnson, meanwhile, held a call with Missouri officials to coordinate their response in Ferguson, while White House staffers discussed other cities' responses with mayors across the country. After a St. Louis County prosecutor announced that the grand jury had decided against indicting Officer Darren Wilson on Monday night, Obama said protesters' anger is "understandable" but urged them to remain peaceful. As he spoke, though, some of the hundreds in the streets of Ferguson had looted local stores, destroyed police cruisers and set fires -- and police responded by firing tear gas into crowds. "I think the images that were captured last night were all the more reason the President felt compelled to go out and speak and urge calm," Schultz said. Obama deflected a question about whether he would visit Ferguson. Asked on Tuesday about travel to the area, Schultz said Obama would decide once "things calm down a little bit." Complete coverage of what's happening in Ferguson . | President Barack Obama says he has "no sympathy" for violence after a grand jury did not indict the police officer who shot and killed Michael Brown .
Obama called on protesters to fight for political change and new policies to improve relations with police .
Attorney General Eric Holder says the Justice Department's two civil rights reviews in Brown's shooting will continue . |
05d3cc020041b02b9fee0004079071b575e1e9ab | By . Richard Shears . A Taliban war lord has told how Prince Harry . was the prime target for fanatical fighters while he was serving in . Afghanistan, including a number of plots to either kill or kidnap him. The startling revelations emerged today as . Prince Harry was surrounded by heavy security in Sydney, where he is . representing the Queen at a review of naval ships on Sydney harbor. As the fourth in line to the throne remained . under heavy protection - including police commandos in rubber dinghies as . standard procedure - alarming claims were made that Prince Harry was a . constant target for Taliban fighters while he was serving in Afghanistan. The Taliban insurgent, Qari Nasrullah, . made it clear that Prince Harry was not looked upon as the son of the Queen of . England. Prince Harry was the target of Taliban forces while serving in Afghanistan, it has been claimed. In Sydney today, the prince was met by Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, Chief of Navy, before embarking on the HMAS Leeuwin as they attend the 2013 International Fleet Review . Prince Harry and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott view Sydney Harbour as they participate in the the 2013 International Fleet Review . Taliban member Qari Bashir has claimed Prince Harry was a prime target in a new interview . 'As far as the Mujahideen were concerned, he . was just an ordinary soldier who was fighting for America,' Nasrullah told The Daily Mirror in a secret interview in Pakistan. 'This is how we view . him. 'He may well be a Prince in Britain, but to us he is merely a common soldier. 'There were many plans to capture him but - maybe it was his good luck - . he managed to escape.' During his first tour as an infantryman . Prince Harry had to be recalled for his own safety when it was leaked that . he was serving in Afghanistan. He completed his second tour as part of 662 . Squadro, 3 Regiment, Army Air Corps at the end of last year. He had been in Afghanistan for just a few days . before the main UK base Camp Bastian was attacked by suicide bombers. In this image released on January 21, 2013, Prince Harry makes early morning checks as he sits on an Apache helicopter at the British controlled flight-line at Camp Bastion on December 12, 2012 in Afghanistan. He was serving until January this year . This picture taken on November 1, 2012 shows Britain's Prince Harry at a mission briefing at the British controlled flight-line at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan's Helmand Province, where he was serving as an Apache helicopter pilot/gunner with 662 Sqd Army Air Corps. Ground . forces charged at the desert perimeter, firing rock-propelled grenades and . Soviet-make AK47 assault rifles. Although it is believed Harry was off duty at . the time, the battle continued for four hours resulting in the deaths of two US . servicemen and the destruction of several planes and helicopters. Nasrullah, his face covered by a scarf, asked . in the secret Mirror interview why the British people did not take notice of . the suffering of children in Kunar province as a result of NATO air strikes. And he wondered why many marriage ceremonies were bombarded. Harry is surrounded by security on the HMAS Leeuwin while on an official visit to Sydney today for fleet week . Prince Harry stands and salutes as he arrives at Garden Island in Sydney to attend the 2013 International Fleet Review . Sydney harbor has been flooded with navy ships as part of fleet week and Prince Harry's arrival . Earlier: Prince Harry arrives in Sydney . While the new revelations that the Taliban had planned . to kill or kidnap Prince Harry would not have reached the ears of security . officials responsible for the royal visitor's safety in Australia before he . began his official duties today, no chances were being taken in any case. Members of the Royal family remain a constant . target for fanatics of all types and they remain under guard whenever they are . out in public. When Prince Harry began his duties - inspecting . an international fleet of warships joining in the celebrations for the Australian . navy's 100th birthday - armed plain clothes police and security experts mingled . with the thousands who had gathered around Sydney harbour's foreshores. | Rebel leaders were determined to take out the fourth in line to the throne .
Veteran Taliban commander chillingly said it was 'good luck' nothing happened to Harry .
News comes as he tours Sydney on behalf of the Queen . |
05d5fa6335c617c511a22233fb6c8f692dbe8766 | By . Leon Watson . PUBLISHED: . 08:34 EST, 24 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:36 EST, 25 February 2013 . The number of women in positions of power in the UK has plummeted causing a damaging effects on our country's social, cultural and political life, an influential new report has claimed today. Researchers found female representation at senior levels of the judiciary, education, the arts, finance, the civil service and Government has gone into reverse. The evidence is presented in a report by Counting Women . In, a coalition of five organisations including the Fawcett Society and . the Hansard Society. Home Secretary Theresa May is one of a dwindling number of women in top jobs, according to a new report . In politics, the report finds that Britain has rapidly fallen down the international league tables for female democratic representation since Gordon Brown left power. The former Labour Prime Minister had eight female cabinet ministers and there were 31 women in government. Women now make up only 22.5 per cent of MPs; 12.3 per cent of council leaders (in England); and 17.4 per cent of the cabinet, the report says. The study found Britain fell 37 places through the noughties, from 33rd place in 2001, to joint 60th in 2010. In western governments, only Ireland and Italy had fewer female representatives in 2010. The Sex and Power 2013: Who Runs Britain? report, to be published tomorrow, found a similar trend at senior levels in the judiciary, education, the arts, finance, the civil service, the City and media. The group was created after the 2010 general election to create annual reports modelled on the audits of public life that were published by the now defunct Equal Opportunities Commission. Women are increasingly under-represented in the judiciary, according to Counting Women In . Nan Sloane, director of the Centre . for Women and Democracy said: 'This report shows a shocking absence of . women from powerful roles in Britain. 'We are often told that it's just a . matter of time before we have equality, but we have already waited for . generations; asking us to wait still more will change nothing, and the . quality of decision-making in our democracy and public life will suffer . as a result. 'There needs to be meaningful action now if next year's report is to show real progress.' Only a third of public appointments are female, as are 15.6 per cent of high court judges and five per cent of editors of national daily newspapers. In many areas, progress has shifted into reverse, such as in the devolved regional political bodies, where fewer women have been returned at recent elections. Katie Ghose, chief executive of the . Electoral Reform Society said: 'These missing women offer the most vivid . illustration of parliament's failure to keep up with the times. While women are well represented in the teaching profession, the report says they are not at the upper echelons of the education sector . 'Politicians will struggle to connect . with voters as long as the combined talents and perspectives of half . the population are shut out. Party leaders admit there's a problem, but . all have failed to find a lasting solution. 'It's not a good look for the Mother . of all Parliaments to be left lagging behind on the fundamental issue of . women's representation.' In Wales, the percentage of women elected has dropped from 50 per cent in 2004 to 40 per cent last year; in Scotland, the figure has dropped from 39.5 per cent to 34.9 per cent in the same time. In a handful of other areas, progress has been made in the past decade, but with a long way still to go. Women now lead three in ten trade unions and membership is 50-50. Ceri Goddard, chief executive of the Fawcett Society, said: 'It's simply scandalous fact that in 2013 men still outnumber women four to one in parliament. If political parties don't take urgent action, Britain will continue to fall down the global league table when it comes to women's access to power and representation in politics. 'The number of women in the Cabinet is at a ten year low. Failure to increase the number of women around the top table of politics sends a message to other walks of life and to the next generation for whom we hope for something different, that excluding women from positions of power is acceptable. 'Women's votes will determine the next election – remaining male dominated won't help the parties on polling day' Ruth Fox, chief executive of the Hansard Society said: 'Parliament needs to show leadership in reflecting the people it governs and serves. 'Decisions made in Parliament affect women and men equally and the dearth of women in positions of political power not only reflects badly on the quality of our democracy, it also wastes the skill, expertise and life experience of half the population and sets a terrible example for other professions and industries. 'It's time for Parliament and political parties to take concrete steps to increase the number of women in politics.' Alex Runswick, deputy director of Unlock Democracy, said: 'The lack of female involvement in UK politics is a canary in the mining shaft; it is a particularly visible example of how the system fails to represent people more widely. 'Our democracy and public life is weaker because it misses the skills experience and talents of over half the population. It is not enough to recognise the problem and simply hope that things will improve; we need Parliament and politicians to take urgent action.' | Evidence presented in report by researchers from Counting Women .
In .
In politics, only Ireland and Italy had fewer female representatives in 2010 .
Woman also underrepresented in the judiciary, education, arts and finance . |
05d62d92b254841e54851b94ebbda39a7840b2c9 | (CNN) -- It's not the first time John Daly has had to ask for help -- but it must be one of the most embarrassing. Twice a champion of golf's biggest tournaments, the reformed alcoholic -- who has also battled gambling and weight problems -- is seeking advice after the worst round of his professional career. The 47-year-old carded 19-over-par 90 in Friday's second round of the PGA Tour's Valspar Championship, including an octuple-bogey 12 at the 16th hole of the Copperhead course at Innisbrook resort in Florida. Whereas the younger Daly, known as "Wild Thing" among other nicknames, might've stormed off without a word, or broke a club or two, this time the veteran American was happy to explain his woes. "When you've got the yips, it's no fun," he said, referring to the 37 putts he needed over the 18 holes. He three-putted three times, and needed four at the fourth hole. "When you play a putt to go left-to-right and push it three feet right, you look like an idiot. "When I shorten my stroke, I get quick and miss it left. When I try to do my normal long stroke, I come up and push it. I've never had that problem before." However, it was not just the short game that let "Long John" Daly down. Known for his "grip it and rip it" approach, he hit three balls into the pond at the 16th, and then shanked a seven-iron "dead right." "It was just one of those days when nothing went right," said Daly, who eclipsed his previous worst round of 89 at the 2008 British Open. "You hit it in the bunker, it buries. Hit it in the fairway, you're in a divot. I even hit it in a divot in a bunker." Daly also defended himself on Twitter, where he has 368,000 followers, after one tweet that showed a screenshot of his scorecard claimed he was "way too drunk." "Haven't drank in six years, be nice," he responded. Daly won the 1991 PGA Championship in his debut season on the main U.S. circuit, and followed that up with his second major success at the 1995 British Open. However, his off-course problems were reflected in his declining playing fortunes and these days he has to rely on sponsor exemptions to enter PGA Tour events. He has not played at the Masters since 2006, but is often seen selling his merchandise outside the hallowed Augusta club. Daly is still a draw at overseas tournaments, but had trouble at the 2011 Australian Open when he walked off the course after hitting seven balls into water hazards. The PGA Tour's website reported that Daly had been considering trying to get entry into a secondary tour event in Louisiana in two weeks, but will instead seek help with his putting "yips." "I've got to call somebody that's had them," he said. | Two-time major champion John Daly cards the worst round of his top-level golf career .
The 47-year-old signs for 19-over-par 90 at a PGA Tour event in Florida .
Daly says he needs help to cure his putting "yips" after shooting 12 at one hole .
He also hit three balls into the pond at the 16th and then shanked an iron . |
05d86d6fe17e7ace0c71a3f2ba28aff706db26e8 | Washington (CNN) -- A competitor of the Coca-Cola Company can bring a private lawsuit against the beverage giant over allegations of false advertising in a juice product, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday. The 8-0 decision is a win for Pom Wonderful, a California-based firm. It claimed Coke's Minute Maid brand was cheating consumers through deceptive labeling in its Pomegranate Blueberry beverage, which the court said "in truth ... contains but 0.3% pomegranate juice and 0.2% blueberry juice." At issue was whether one federal law regulating and enforcing food labeling preempted or overrode efforts by private parties to bring lawsuits under a separate federal law. Those two laws are the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, or FDCA, and the Lanham Act. "Nothing in the text, history, or structure of the FDCA or the Lanham Act shows the congressional purpose or design to forbid these (private) suits," Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote for the unanimous court. "Quite to the contrary, the FDCA and the Lanham Act complement each other in the federal regulation of misleading food and beverage labels. Competitors, in their own interest, may bring Lanham Act claims like POM's that challenge food and beverage labels that are regulated by the FDCA." Lower courts had sided with Georgia-based Coca-Cola, a global brand. But the justices concluded that while the federal government can go after misleading labels, private parties can also challenge "practices that allegedly mislead and trick consumers." POM Wonderful, which produces pomegranate juices and products, has also faced allegations of deceptive advertising. It was separately sued by the Federal Trade Commission in 2010, for making "false and unsubstantiated" health claims, and the agency had asked POM to remove the claims from its ads. The current case is POM Wonderful LLC v. Coca Cola Company (12-761). Justice Stephen Breyer did not participate in deciding this appeal. | Pom Wonderful has accused a Coke brand of deceptive labeling .
At issue was whether a labeling law clashed with private efforts to sue under a separate law .
The laws "complement each other" in regulating misleading food and drink labels, court says . |
05d8b730675f8e5504b936367c4be64f068c6316 | (CNN) -- A flurry of last-minute legal maneuvers Tuesday spared, for now, the life of John Ferguson, a Florida death row inmate who suffers from mental illness and at one point called himself the 'prince of God.' Ferguson, a diagnosed schizophrenic convicted of killing eight people, was scheduled to get the lethal injection Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET at a Florida State Prison. But an appeals court in Atlanta granted an emergency stay of execution Tuesday night. Florida officials then asked the Supreme Court to allow the lethal injection to proceed. Just before midnight the high court denied Florida's request, keeping in place the stay of execution, according to court documents. Some had questioned why authorities would kill a man who suffered from mental illness. Laurel Bellows, the president of the American Bar Association, released a statement earlier Tuesday saying she was concerned about how thoroughly Ferguson's competency was evaluated. "The American Bar Association is alarmed that Florida is poised to execute John Ferguson, a man diagnosed as severely mentally ill for more than 40 years, before the constitutionality of his execution is fully evaluated." Chris Handman, one of Ferguson's attorneys, told CNN. "We think the court should intervene to stop that execution from going forward." Handman said a court had earlier found that Ferguson was mentally ill and had delusions that caused him to think he is the "Prince of God." Ferguson is on death row for the murders of eight people in Hialeah and Carol City, Florida, in the late 1970s. Lawyers from both sides will now be allowed to file motions on the case and it was unclear when a hearing would be scheduled to decide Ferguson's fate. As the legal wrangling went on Tuesday, Florida prison officials poceeded as if the execution was going to take place, putting Ferguson in isolation and giving him his last meal. The convicted killer, prison officials said, ate a "last meal" of a country-fried chicken sandwich and sweet tea. CNN's Bill Mears, Nick Valencia, Joe Sutton and Jason Hanna contributed to this report. | The Supreme Court upheld a stay of execution just before midnight .
Ferguson, a diagnosed schizophrenic, was convicted of killing eight people .
Despite the legal wrangling prison officials still fed Ferguson his last meal . |
05d8d28b392d17ce5947cd16f58a5585c44dbf91 | Luke Shaw admits his performances since joining Manchester United have not yet justified his price tag but vows: ‘You’ll see my best soon.’ The England Under 21 left back endured a difficult night in the 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion, only his third club match following his £31million move from Southampton having picked up a hamstring injury and had questions raised over his fitness. The result leaves United 10 points behind Chelsea, who visit Old Trafford on Sunday and are seen by many as champions-elect. But Shaw insists the title is not a foregone conclusion. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Luke Shaw say his focus is solely on impressing Van Gaal . Luke Shaw admits his performances have not lived up to his £31million price tag at Manchester United . Shaw (centre) walks off after West Bromwich Albion's second goal on Monday night at The Hawthorns . ‘No not yet. It’s a long season so we’ll have to see what happens,’ he said. ‘We’re going to work hard this week and be ready for the challenge on Sunday. It’s a massive test. They’re flying at the moment.’ On his own form Shaw provided a commendably honest appraisal, having received some criticism over his defensive credentials. He was partly at fault for Stephane Sessegnon’s opening goal at The Hawthorns by getting drawn too central trying to win the ball. Shaw, 19, said: ‘I know I haven’t been up to my full potential and I think maybe people can see that at the moment. They haven’t seen the best of me yet. ‘I am trying hard and it’s about getting used to everything. When you come to a club like this it’s never easy for a young player like me. But I’ll get myself starting soon and put in good performances. ‘I wouldn’t say I’ve been horrendous but I know I can do much better. And I need to do better. I’ve come to Manchester United and I know what they need. I’ve been working hard and the performances will come.’ Louis van Gaal will need to dip into the transfer market again if he thinks Manchester United can win the title . Shaw, who broke into the Southampton first team two years ago, was told by Louis van Gaal to improve his fitness during pre-season. Roy Hodgson also voiced his concerns. He had to wait for his debut until West Ham visited Old Trafford last month, and was withdrawn in his next match against Everton as a precaution over a knee complaint. But during the international break he played 180 minutes as England Under 21s beat Croatia over two legs to progress to Euro 2015 and that action provided a psychological and physical boost. ‘It always helps and the main thing for me was it was two 90 minutes for fitness,’ he said. ‘I feel fit but like I said I haven’t played my best recently. That’s football. Hopefully I’ll come out of it now. I think I could still get a bit fitter from working hard in training. But I do feel pretty fit in training.’ At The Hawthorns, Van Gaal set up United in a third different formation of the season, having started with a 5-3-2 system before switching to a midfield diamond. Manchester United players look dejected after West Brom's opening goal at the Hawthorns . Against West Brom it looked more 4-1-4-1 with Angel di Maria and Adnan Januzaj hugging the wings. Shaw described the formation as 4-3-3 and insisted it relatively straight-forward to adjust tactics. ‘It’s not too difficult, we had a few days to work on it,’ he said. ‘We did a lot of work based on the 4-3-3 formation with wide wingers. ‘We knew what we had to do against West Brom but unfortunately we didn’t get the result. It’s definitely two points lost, we’re Man United, we come to win every game. ‘It’s two points lost because we were positive ahead of the game. They only had two shots on target (but scored twice) and that’s not good enough for us. We’ll focus hard this week and be ready for the game on Sunday.’ VIDEO Van Gaal not happy after two lost points . | Luke Shaw admits he has not quite lived up to his £31million price tag .
The 19-year-old joined from Southampton as a huge prospect .
But Shaw insists we will see the best of him soon enough .
The left-back endured a difficult night in the 2-2 draw with West Brom .
Manchester United are now 10 points behind league leaders Chelsea . |
05daed2056af1e83a98e8d2eb0ee67b114c4508e | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 23:00 EST, 13 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:32 EST, 16 October 2012 . Police now believe that the four Iowa teens who went missing Saturday met online via Xbox. The two girls and two boys are thought to have run away together after the boys took one of their parent's cars and then allegedly drove across the state for four hours to pick up the girls. The girls, Skie Floyd and Jazlyn Visek, both 15, were last seen around noon Saturday at a park in Shellsburg, Iowa. Investigators believe the girls are with 13-year-old Austin Michael Boggs and 16-year-old Corey Sunderman from Atlantic, Iowa, which is roughly 200 miles from Shellsburg. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Skie Floyd, left, and Jazlyn Visek, right were last seen at noon Saturday . Police believe the girls are with two . teen runaways, 16-year-old Corey . Sunderman, pictured left, and 13-year-old Austin Michael Boggs, pictured right . Corey's mother spoke to ABC News and . said that she became concerned that her son and his friend may run away . after they got into trouble on Friday night. The two boys snuck out of the . Sunderman's home on Friday to go skateboarding but they were brought . back by police because they were out past curfew. 'This is going to sound really stupid, . but I took all the shoes downstairs and put them in a bag and took them . up to my room, thinking if I had the boys' shoes, they couldn't go out . and go skateboarding again,' Crystal Sunderman told ABC. The boys found extra boots in the . garage and left home later that night, taking $400 from Corey's father's . paycheck, his mother's laptop, and the family's 1997 gold Jeep . Cherokee. The car does not have license plates. Corey has run away from home twice before but he has returned both times and has no criminal history. Police are searching for four teens from Iowa, two girls and two boys, who have been missing since Saturday and are believed to be runaways . The teens are believed to be traveling in a 1997 gold Jeep Grand Cherokee with no license plates (stock image) Police had their biggest break in the . case when a local storeowner reported that he had seen the boys driving . that car early Saturday morning. The owner said that he allowed the boys to use the shop phone but only if they did so on speakerphone. 'The conversation was something to the . effect of, 'Don't pick us up at our house. Pick us up at the Quick . Stop,' said sheriff Randall Forsyth. That version of events matches up with the story that the girls' parents have pieced together. 'At this point we're 99.99% certain what we have here is a runaway, not an abduction,' Sheriff Forsyth said. The mother of one of the missing . girls, Skie, told KCRG: 'I know my daughter is scared right now, I'm . sure she wants to come home.' Vanished: Skie Floyd, left, and Jazlyn Visek were last seen around on Saturday in Benton County, Iowa . Floyd, who is 5ft 1ins, was last seen . wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with white pin stripes, dark jeans and . black boots. She weighs roughly 115 pounds and has blonde hair. Visek, who has brown hair and green . eyes, was last seen wearing a gray zip-up sweatshirt with 'Arrow' printed on the front, blue skinny jeans and Nike shoes. She has two lip . piercings, weighs 185 pounds and stands 5 feet 5 inches tall. Now the parents are left waiting for . any contact from the four teens, and wondering what they could have done . to prevent the situation. 'I don't let him have a Facebook account because I don't want him meeting people online,' Mrs Sunderman said. 'I didn't realize they could do so much on Xbox.' | Skie Floyd and Jazlyn Visek, both 15, missing since Saturday in Iowa .
Believed to be with Austin Boggs, 13, and Corey Sunderman, 16 . |
05db158dea01f7974f018dc1f2f4d1e1e2697ac8 | By . Mail On Sunday Reporter . Argentina's football chiefs have been fined £19,500 by FIFA after their players posed with a political banner laying claim to the Falkland Islands. The players stood behind the slogan ‘Las Malvinas son Argentinas’ (the Falklands are Argentinian) at a June 7 friendly against Slovenia in Buenos Aires. The world governing body opened disciplinary proceedings against the AFA last month following the controversial incident. Scroll down for video... Controversial: The Argentina players posed with a banner which read: 'The Falkland Islands are Argentinian' Not the first: Boca Juniors also posed with the banner ahead of a match against River Plate on March 30 2014 . The message was displayed in support of an on-going campaign to claim sovereignty of the islands, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. A statement from FIFA said the AFA had been fined and issued with a reprimand after it was deemed to be in breach of Article 60 of the FIFA stadium safety and security regulations ('political action') and Article 52 of the FIFA disciplinary code ('team misconduct'). The AFA was notified of the terms of FIFA's decision on Friday. No cigar: Lionel Messi's (R) Argentina were eventually beaten 1-0 by Germany in the World Cup final . | Argentina players unfurled provocative banner in friendly against Slovenia .
The controversial banner translated as 'Falkland Islands are Argentinian'
FIFA has taken action by fining the Argentina FA 30,000 Swiss francs .
Lionel Messi's team eventually lost to Germany in World Cup final . |
05de3de546b86292247b9a8d0f533530fe5d9db9 | BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraq's deputy minister of transport has been arrested after investigators taped him taking a $100,000 bribe, the Iraqi Integrity Commission said Monday. It's the latest sting aimed at what many Iraqis say is rampant corruption in the country. The anti-corruption body said Monday this was the first time such a high-level Iraqi official was caught in the act of taking a bribe. The announcement, made on the commission's Web site, said investigators detained Deputy Minister Adnan al-Obaidi last Wednesday. A spokesman for the Ministry of Transport, Aqeel Kawthar, told CNN on Monday that the deputy minister took office August 10, and his arrest came as a surprise to the ministry. He said there were no indications that al-Obaidi might be corrupt before this incident, but he said the Ministry of Transport "supports and congratulates" the Integrity Commission's work. A foreign security firm had approached the Integrity Commission alleging that al-Obaidi had asked for a bribe of $500,000 to renew the firm's contract, the commission said. "The deputy minister was supposed to receive the full amount first, but the scenario was changed into him receiving $100,000 [in U.S. dollars] as a down payment, and the rest of the money would be delivered after the renewal of the contract," according to the commission's account. "Orders were issued to security forces to deploy undercover in Karrada district" in central Baghdad. Watch more about Iraq's war against corruption » . The statement said the security forces did not know who the target was and their orders were in coordination with the Integrity Commission's operations room. The commission said that five minutes before the arrest, the head of the commission, Judge Rahim al-Agili, informed Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki that a high-ranking government official had taken a bribe. The commission said al-Maliki responded by saying: "I do not want to know his name, carry out the operation even if the wanted individual is Nuri al-Maliki. ... Whether he is from the Dawa party, a Sadrist, or a member of ISCI [all Shiite political parties, including that of the prime minister], he is only known to me as a bribe taker ... " The Integrity Commission said the sting was caught on videotape, which it said would be posted soon on its Web site. "The arrest of of the deputy minister of transport was a professional operation with no political dimensions to it, and we have not heard any political or parliamentary bloc objecting to it ... " the commission's account said. "The operation was carried out within 56 hours of continuous, nonstop, work. The head of the secret informant department and the men of the special operations branch [of the Integrity Commission] played a major role ... and the commission dedicated all its advanced capabilities to document and follow this." According to the monitoring group Transparency International, Iraq is one of the top three most corrupt countries in the world, along with Somalia and Myanmar. A recent report from the group said almost half the people it surveyed in Iraq had paid a bribe in the previous year. When CNN talked to people coming and going from Iraq's Interior Ministry, complaints were frequent. "The employee inside said he will only finish my ID for an extra $40," one man said. Another said, "You can't even talk to the janitor in a government office unless you're paying a bribe." Judge al-Agili told CNN his office is kept busiest by the Interior Ministry, but it is investigating 8,000 allegations of corruption against people through all departments and all levels of government. Al-Agili said he believes corruption is part of Iraq's culture, stretching back long before Saddam Hussein's regime. But he said he believes it can be beaten slowly, and that's why he set up the undercover special operations unit to carry out sting operations. CNN's Jomana Karadsheh and Phil Black contributed to this report. | Integrity Commission says videotape shows Transport official taking $100,000 bribe .
Sting is latest aimed at what many Iraqis say is rampant corruption in the country .
Transport spokesman calls arrest a surprise, congratulates integrity panel's work .
Integrity panel chief says Iraqi prime minister strongly backed operation . |
05dfaa42ca60ed6887e455568efbf3baba387616 | (CNN)You can rest when you're dead, as the saying goes. And in Ghana, your eternal slumber is done in style. Burying your loved ones in intricate, beautifully crafted -- and, at times a little surreal -- caskets is a common tradition in some parts of the the West African nation. Based in Awutu, a small town in Ghana's central region, self-taught carpenter Kudjoe Affutu has made a name for himself with his eye-catching style of coffins. "I love playing with the wood," he says. "I didn't study it in the school -- I just love carving." The plucky, young artisan has always had a passion for woodwork and inspired by artists before him such as Kane Kwei and Paa Joe, his startup began to take shape. "I saw a designed coffin somewhere and I said: 'No, I have to do this' and I forced my parents to push me into it." By 2007, Affutu had opened the New Generation Woodwork Shop. Seven years on, and the craftsman has found big success thanks to his fantastical funerary boxes. From chickens to sewing machines . Burial rites in Ghana are incredibly important in honoring ancestry. In a country where the passing of a loved one is often celebrated with a party-like fervor, the elaborate coffin art allows mourning family members and friends to send their dearly departed off to the afterlife in style. Affutu adds: "It's a special coffin that talks a lot about the deceased. But also for the family who sees it to as a last gift to the deceased." Often designs for these figurative coffins reflect the deceased's vocation or personality. Perhaps if you worked as a farmer, a chicken casket could be for you. What about a fashion designer? Well, a sewing machine, what else? Prices for a custom-made coffin from Affutu vary due to design request, size and where the casket needs to be shipped to. "When it's local, it could be around 1,000 Ghanaian cedi (around $300) and above. Exported ones are $1000 or more." Eye-catching and strange creations . Over the years, Affutu has heard some weird, wonderful and downright bizarre requests for casket creations. Yet, whatever the request, he doesn't judge a family's choice -- he just sees it as a challenge. "I just think of it and am done. I always see my orders as normal no matter how weird it is," explains the artisan coffin maker. He adds: "A family came here some two years ago, and they said our late mother used to be a midwife and we want a designed coffin, something that can talk about her work -- and I came up with a pregnant woman who is about to deliver and it was a fantastic piece." Affutu has also constructed a variety of fisherman-inspired pieces for departed sea workers including canoes, fishing boats, nets and of course, a variety of fish. Today Affutu employs six full-time staff. But with an increased workforce, other problems arise. "Like today, for example, we have a lot of work here and I don't have a big shop..." He adds: "Sometimes the materials we use -- it can be scarce for a while and we don't have enough money to gather or to store materials for many years." However, Affutu is optimistic about the future, "In the next five years I want to extend my shop and even the workers or apprentices I have, so that when somebody orders something you can deliver days before its time." | Kudjoe Affutu has been designing coffins since 2007 .
His creations reflect the professions of the deceased .
His strangest creations include a hen, pregnant lady and sewing machine . |
05dfced72a21b331f0817cd089f1929b5f26e685 | By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 11:23 EST, 12 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:33 EST, 12 December 2013 . A paedophile has had his conviction for having sex with an 11-year-old overturned after an Italian judge ruled it was ‘a romantic relationship.' The supreme court in the southern Italian town of Catanzaro ruled the 60-year-old was in a ‘real relationship’, with the girl according to local media reports. The girl is understood to be from a disadvantaged background and had . been placed into the care of the man – who worked for the local social . services department, according to the Italian news . website TGCom24. Ruling: The supreme court in the southern Italian town of Catanzaro ruled the 60-year-old was in a 'real relationship', with the girl according to local media reports . The pair were found naked in bed together when police raided the man’s seaside villa. The man was given a five-year sentence for sexual violence against a minor, reports the BBC. The age of consent is 14 and rises to 16 when one of the partners is in position of authority or care over the younger participant. But the child sex victim reportedly claimed to be in love with her carer. The case is being sent back to the Catanzaro court for a retrial and there are expected to be several levels of appeal before a sentence is confirmed. Care: The girl is understood to be from a disadvantaged background and had been placed into the care of the man . | Supreme court in the town of Catanzaro made the ruling .
Ruled: The 60-year-old was in a a ‘real relationship’, with the girl .
Man worked for the local social services department .
Pair were found naked in his home during a police raid . |
05e1281b78d2a9548a900821036099ee2ec1ddbd | By . Suzannah Hills . PUBLISHED: . 10:27 EST, 5 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 06:30 EST, 6 September 2012 . Home secretary Theresa May is the latest Tory member of the Government to be booed by spectators at the Paralympic Games - just two days after chancellor George Osborne received the same reception. The crowds jeered when it was announced that Theresa May would present the medals for the men's 1500m T20 won by Peyman Bazanjan of Iran. It comes after Chancellor George Osborne was booed in the Olympic Stadium on Monday when it was announced he was to present the winners of the men's T38 400m race with their medals. Scroll down for video . Award ceremony: Home Secretary Theresa May presenting the Men's 1500m gold medal to Iranian Peyman Nasiri after she was booed by the crowd . Putting a brave face on things: Spectators at the Olympic Stadium jeered when it was announced Home Secretary Theresa May would be presenting some medals . Mr Osborne initially laughed as the jeering at the 80,000 seater Olympic Stadium erupted but seemed to become embarrassed as it continued. It appears spectators at the London 2012 Games are determined to deliver their verdict on the Coalition government with Prime Minister David Cameron also meeting a less than enthusiastic reception at the Aquatics Centre on Sunday. While Mr Cameron presented Ellie Simmonds with her gold medal some members of the crowd booed the PM but they were drowned out by cheers for the Paralympic poster girl. But Sebastian Coe ministers are . 'brave' enough to deal with being booed as he defended asking ministers . to take part in medal ceremonies. Public figure: Home Secretary Theresa May has appeared at several events over the course of the Paralympic Games . Brave: Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Lord Sebastian Coe said politicians are 'brave enough' to cope with being booed . Lord Coe said it was common for political figures to become 'the pantomime villain' at times in their careers. He . said: 'I think it is right that the political leadership of the United . Kingdom should be seen supporting something that they've supported right . from the very moment we flung our hat in the ring. 'There . are 500 medal ceremonies, we require over 1,000 people, not just . politicians, and from time to time, I know from my own personal . experience, you do become the pantomime villain in politics. Britain's Chancellor George Osborne is booed by spectators as he prepares to take part in a medal ceremony at the Paralympic Games . Stoney-faced: George Osborne looked as if he didn't see the funny side of the crowd's abuse . 'I don't think that we should read too . much into that and I think it's really important that politicians have . been seen supporting the two greatest sporting events in our lifetimes. 'Politicians are bold enough and brave enough to know that sometimes that is the landscape that they are in.' The . reception given to Mrs May and Mr Osborne contrasted sharply with . enthusiastic cheers for other public figures including the Earl of . Wessex and former Olympian Tessa Sanderson. South Africa has made an official complaint that athletes are switching the size of their running blades after Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius claimed longer prosthetics gave a rival an unfair advantage. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) received a letter yesterday morning alleging that athletes had changed the length of their blades, breaking competition rules. Staff spoke to coaches in the athletes' village yesterday but found no evidence to back the South African claims. Controversy: South Africa's Oscar Pistorius with his silver medal, left, after losing to Alan Fonteles Cardoso Oliveira, right, in the Men's 200m - T44 . Pistorius sparked controversy with angry comments he made after losing out on gold in the 200 metres. He alleged that Alan Fonteles Cardoso Oliveira's use of longer blades gave him an unfair advantage. Today, Craig Spence from the IPC said: 'When we put that allegation to the coaches there was a look of shock to be honest because running on different size prostheses or swapping them for races is extremely difficult to do for an athlete. 'There is no evidence that any athlete competed on different size running blades. 'Unless the South Africans can come to us with some evidence that proves otherwise, it's something that we won't continue investigating.' He said that blades were measured before the heats and the final, and that running on different size prostheses would involving adapting to a different running technique. The letter from the chief executive of the South African national Paralympic committee asked the IPC to 'urgently' investigate its allegation. It also asked to meet with members of the committee to discuss the existing rules. As things stand, it is against the rules to swap blades mid-competition, Mr Spence said. Organisers contacted competitors in April asking them to raise any concerns about Paralympic regulations, and they heard nothing from South Africa, he added. LOCOG chairman Sebastian Coe said Pistorius had spoken out 'in the heat of the moment'. He said: 'In sport we've all been in a mixed zone 40 or 50 seconds after a big emotional moment in your career and said all sorts of things. 'It's the nature of sport at the highest level. We shouldn't be surprised that from time to time emotions run high. 'As far as Oscar is concerned he's raised those concerns, he was very clear yesterday morning I think in trimming what he said in the heat of the moment.' Watch the full ceremony on Channel 4. | Theresa May was presenting the medals for the men's 1500m T20 won by Peyman Bazanjan of Iran .
Comes just two days after chancellor George Osborne was jeered as he handed out medals for the men's T38 400m race with their medals .
South Africa has launched an official complaint over running blades sizes after Oscar Pistorius said they give some athletes an unfair advantage . |
05e27d9b951e9c5a454b85f46bec24373b1532e3 | By . Stephanie Linning . A man in Glasgow was given an unwelcome surprise while cleaning his kitchen - when he found a huge tarantula lurking behind the oven. The hairy Chilean rose tarantula, which can have a leg span of up to six inches, was hidden behind the appliance before the man spotted it scuttling across the ground. But while the sight of the creeping intruder would send many running away screaming, the man remained calm and used a glass and a piece of cardboard to keep the creature cornered. Hairy and scary: The tarantula that crept out from behind the oven in Glasgow. The man who found the spider remained calm enough to corner the creature with a glass and piece of cardboard . He then phoned the Scottish Society for the Protection of Animals who arrived to remove the animal safely. The spider is now being looked after by staff at the Glasgow . Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre, where staff have named it Incy. Chilean rose tarantulas are popular pets and staff at the centre believe that it could have escaped from a nearby flat. They are appealing for anyone with information to come forward. [caption] . New home: The Chilean rose tarantula was found in a flat on High Street in Glasgow. Officers from the Scottish SPCA would like to return the tarantula to its owner. Pictured: Nearby Sauchiehall Street . 'It's possible the tarantula belongs to someone in a nearby flat and we'd really like to return him home if he has gone missing. 'If no-one comes forward we'll find him a new owner who understands his needs.' Anyone who recognises the tarantula is being asked to contact the Scottish SPCA centre in Glasgow on 03000 999 999. The Chilean rose tarantula, native to Northern Chile, is one of the most popular species to be kept as a pet. The spiders, which can have a leg span of up to about 5 or 6 inches, can be kept in an enclosure that is just 18 inches long. Though generally considered a docile species, the Chilean rose tarantula can be skittish and has been known to escape from enclosures or quickly creep out of sight when it senses danger. Those who keep them as pets are warned to keep their enclosures tightly shut. Chilean rose spiders have not been kept as pets long enough to accurately say how long they can live for, but it is thought that female spiders live between 15 and 20 years - with some living more than 20 years. | Identified as Chilean rose tarantula, which has leg span of up to six inches .
The man who spotted the creature cornered it with a glass and cardboard .
Believed it could have escaped from nearby flat as species is a popular pet . |
05e4c2c2fd9f04ec9cfdb669ed03559dc38e049a | By . Katy Winter . PUBLISHED: . 09:22 EST, 15 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:19 EST, 28 November 2013 . When Spice Girl Victoria Adams married football star David Beckham in a royal-thermed ceremony complete with His and Hers thrones, one of the most powerful celebrity couples of all time was born. After meeting at charity football match in 1997 their romance quickly blossomed into one of the most publicised love stories ever, culminating in their fairy tale wedding. Now the crown worn by Victoria during the lavish nuptials is to be sold at auction with a guide price of £25,000 - though experts say a superfan of the singer-turned designer could well pay a good deal more. Scroll down for video . The gold and diamond 'East of Paris' regal coronet, worn by Victoria Beckham on her wedding day, is valued at £18,000-£25,000 and was designed by Slim Barrett. It will be auctioned by Bonhams on December 5 . The gold and diamond crown tiara made by acclaimed jewellery designer Slim Barrett, is to be sold in the Fine Jewellery sale at Bonhams auction house in London. The tiara, entitled East of Paris, which Victoria wore throughout the ceremony, is valued at £18,000 - £25,000 and is crafted from 18-carat latticed yellow gold, set with large brilliant-cut diamonds and suspended diamond drops. The couple were married on July 4 1999 by the Bishop of Cork, Paul Colton, at Luttrellstown Castle, in Ireland and the couple's four-month old son Brooklyn was the ring bearer. To complement her crown Victoria wore a £60,000 wedding gown by Vera Wang and sat alongside her husband on matching gold thrones. To complement her crown Victoria wore a £60,000 wedding gown by Vera Wang for the wedding, which was covered by OK! magazine . Spice Girl Victoria Adams and David Beckham the Manchester United footballer announce their engagement on January 25, 1998 . 'Inspiration for ‘East of Paris’ came from my love of Eastern design and Parisian haute couture' artist Slim Barrett commented, '...so I set out to fuse the two styles.' The Victoria and Albert Museum exhibited the work in 100 Tiaras, Past and Present and it was included in the prestigious Diamond Divas exhibition at The Diamond Museum in Antwerp. Emily Barber, Director of Bonhams Jewellery Department commented: . 'Interest in the tiara expected to be two-fold because it is designed by acclaimed jeweller, Slim Barrett, whose pieces rarely come up for sale at auction. 'Posh and Becks' fans will no doubt be clamouring to get hold of such a momentous piece of their idols' history . 'The fact that it was worn by international style icon Victoria Beckham on her wedding day adds even further interest to the piece, bringing it to the attention of a wider audience.' Slim Barrett is an Irish born jewellery artist and master metalworker . Slim Barrett, designer of Victoria’s crown, is an Irish born jewellery artist and master metalworker and the man behind countless couture creations since the 1980s as well as designing jewellery for Princess Diana and Mick Jagger. Chanel, Versace and John Galliano are among his notable collaborations while famous faces such as Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Cara Delevingne are pictured in Barrett’s awe-inspiring crafted jewellery pieces, on and off the catwalk. Recently, Barrett has worked with performers such as Beyoncé and Lady Gaga creating experimental, cutting edge pieces which reveal his background in sculpture and fine art. Slim Barrett’s work is held in the permanent collection of The Victoria and Albert Museum and recently featured in the museum’s Club to Catwalk exhibition. | Victoria Adams married David Beckham in 1997 in royal-themed ceremony .
Former Spice Girl wore a tiara, called East of Paris on the day .
The gold and diamond crown was designed by Slim Barrett .
Up for auction at Bonhams auction house in December .
Estimated value is £18,000 - £25,000 . |
05e60f9569f5e729daa3e7d8cb4e00f9b23dcef0 | By . Andy Whelan and Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 12:03 EST, 11 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:50 EST, 11 April 2012 . An inquest into the death of a six-year-old at a campsite, heard today her parents discovered the young girl 'unresponsive' in the tent they were sharing. Isabelle Harris became ill at Holmsley campsite in the New Forest, Hampshire on Friday and suffered a heart attack on the way to Southampton Hospital. Histology and toxicology reports have now been ordered in an attempt to discover why the little girl died, the court in Southampton was told. Tragic: An inquest into the death of six-year-old Isabelle Harris, heard today her parents discovered the young girl 'unresponsive' in the tent they were sharing . Coroner’s officer Howard Willis said that shortly after midnight Isabelle had been found 'unresponsive' in the tent. When ambulance crews arrived they found her parents, Lee, 30, and Tracey, 40, trying to revive Isabelle, their only child. Paramedics took her to Southampton . General Hospital, but she had a cardiac arrest on the journey and was pronounced dead on arrival at 1.16am on April 6. 'Concerns were expressed by a . paediatric consultant about her condition, so it was decided that a post . mortem should take place with a Home Office pathologist,' Mr Willis explained. Police initially reacted by arresting Isabelle’s parents on suspicion of murder, but released them later without charge. Death: Isabelle Harris went into cardiac arrest at the Holmsley campsite in the New Forest, Hampshire, early on Friday . Distraught: Some campers were so upset by the incident they decided to end their Easter weekend break early and go home . The youngster’s parents from Gosport, Hants, did not attend the brief hearing. Mr Denson adjourned the hearing until a date to be fixed and said the case was now transferred to the Bournemouth coroner. Police said the death had been a 'tragic incident.' Mr and Mrs Harris released a . statement which said they were devastated at the loss of the youngster . who they described as 'our whole world.' 'No words are strong enough to . describe how we feel at the moment. Isabelle was our whole world; . everything we ever did was for her. She was a really special girl and . this is a huge loss to everyone who knew her,' it said. Sad scene: An aerial view of Holmsley Enclosure Camp in the New Forest shows a forensic tent covering the area where Isabelle died . Probe: Officers make queries with campers after they were called to investigate the sudden death . Mr Denson warned the media not to draw 'premature conclusions' about the cause of death until the full inquest. Last week the blue family tent, which sleeps up to six people, was guarded by police officers and the field was cordoned off. Isabelle’s parents released a statement paying tribute to their daughter a few days after her death. It read: ‘No words are strong enough to describe how we feel at the moment. Isabelle was our whole world; everything we ever did was for her.’ Despite being arrested, the couple thanked police, saying: ‘We thank them for the way they have treated us, being as open and honest as they can.’ Mr and Mrs Harris said they did not wish to speculate on the cause of their child’s death. ‘We want to find out why this happened and we would like to leave the police to get on with this,’ they said. A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman defended the force’s decision to arrest Isabelle’s parents. ‘The arrests were necessary as a result of a report from experienced medical professionals,’ he said. ‘The results of a post-mortem examination conducted at Southampton General Hospital have indicated that there are no suspicious circumstances.’ | Isabelle Harris died last Friday at Southampton General Hospital .
Inquest heard her parents found the youngster unresponsive in the tent they were all sharing at a campsite in the New Forest, Hampshire .
With no cause of death found, histology and toxicology reports have been sought . |
05e7a2f7c8c68f265268bb5c9096b46562bbf486 | The Buffalo Bills' home game with the New York Jets, originally scheduled for Sunday, will now be played in Detroit on Monday night after their Ralph Wilson Stadium was left covered in 220,000 tonnes of snow. After heavy blizzards in the state of New York, Buffalo's stadium is four feet under snow and their AFC East divisional clash against the Jets will have to be played 250 miles away in Detroit. The NFL confirmed on Thursday evening that the game would be moved from Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Ralph Wilson Stadium was completely covered by thick snow on Wednesday ahead of Sunday's game with the New York Jets . The Buffalo Bills had been optimistic that Sunday's game would still go ahead, with a little help from their supporters . The Bills asked fans to help shovel the snow working three shifts a day in the build up to the weekend's game . The game against the Jets will now be played in Detroit on Monday evening . There is currently a driving ban in the Orchard Park area and the Bills players were unable to practice on Thursday . Someone rides a snowmobile down Abott Road in front of the Ralph Wilson Stadium on Wednesday . The Bills will lose home field advantage against the Jets, with the game being played 250 miles away in Detroit . The Bills were initially optimistic that the game could go ahead as planned and called on volunteers to help shift the snow, offering them $10 an hour. 'All of our intention and all of our focus is 1 o'clock on Sunday,' a Bills representative said on Wednesday. 'We're just going to have to go 24/7, triple shifts, to push forward and make sure we have this place ready for Sunday,' vice president of operations and guest experience Andy Major Major added. 'We can't have too many people helping, so there's no cutoff. We will definitely not be turning anybody away who wants to help shovel snow.' There are currently driving bans in the area because of the severe weather and the squad were unable to train on Thursday. But it hasn't been all doom and gloom for the players. Linebacker Kiko Alonso took the opportunity use the icy conditions to aid his recovery on Wednesday by sitting waist-deep in the snow. | The Ralph Wilson Stadium and pitch was completely covered in about four feet of snow .
Buffalo's home game against the New York Jets will now be played in Detroit on Monday night .
The team had offered volunteers $10 per hour to help shift the snow and get stadium ready for the game on Sunday . |
05e85eff145ac221c34f2b12821177a9b9a6e75c | (CNN) -- Four family members' bodies were found after an intentionally set fire damaged a Florida home belonging to former tennis player James Blake, who was leasing it out, authorities said Wednesday. "We have also confirmed that the fire was started intentionally by an unknown accelerant," Hillsborough County Sheriff Col. Donna Lusczynski told reporters. Two bodies had upper body trauma, Lusczynski said. The four apparent family members -- two adults and two teenagers -- were found in their respective bedrooms after the early morning fire, Lusczynski said. Identifying the bodies will take several days, she said. The adults were in one bedroom, and each teen was in a separate bedroom, Lusczynski said. Authorities found small commercial-type fireworks in the Tampa home, officials said. Blake was not at the home at the time of the fire, Lusczynski said. He was leasing the property and was contacted by phone after the incident by sheriff's officials. Blake, 34, was once ranked No. 4 in tennis among world singles and played in the 2006 Tennis Masters Cup, according to his Facebook page. At 5:45 a.m. Wednesday, authorities received a 911 call about an explosion and then a fire at the home. Firefighters began extinguishing the fire and then discovered two bodies inside the 6,000-square-foot house, authorities said. Crews found a third body and then a fourth, the sheriff's office said. "Due to the magnitude of the structural damage caused by the fire, this investigation will be a slow, meticulous process," the sheriff's office said. CNN's Marlena Baldacci contributed to this report. | NEW: Fire was "started intentionally by an unknown accelerant," official says .
NEW: Two victims had upper body trauma .
NEW: Two adults are found in one bedroom, and teenage children in their own bedrooms .
Former tennis pro James Blake, 34, owns the house but was leasing it . |
05e8e4ffbf97332dc277d3b097a20203ccdccb25 | By . Simon Walters . PUBLISHED: . 18:43 EST, 31 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 22:32 EST, 31 August 2013 . David Cameron’s standing as a world leader and Britain’s much vaunted ‘special relationship’ with America have both been badly hit by his Commons defeat over military strikes against Syria. And Ed Miliband has won approval for opposing the action. But the Prime Minister is applauded for giving MPs the chance to vote on the issue – and is still seen as much better at dealing with international crises than the Opposition leader, including by many Labour voters. Political capital: . Prime Minister David Cameron, left, is still seen as more of a statesman that Labour leader Ed Miliband, right, despite his humiliating defeat in the Commons after urging MPs to back an attack on Syria . That is the verdict of a Mail on Sunday poll on the row over whether the UK should support air strikes against the Syrian regime of President Assad by the US. Despite the bitter Commons clashes over Syria between Cameron and Miliband, there is no change in the party ratings, with Labour, on 37 per cent, maintaining an eight point lead over the Conservatives and the Lib Dems trailing UKIP. An overwhelming 65 per cent are opposed to UK raids on Syria, with only 19 per cent in favour, according to the Survation poll. However, that could change dramatically if Assad does not back down. Nearly one in two say they would support military action if Assad orders more mass chemical weapons attacks, with three in ten against. Barely one in five say the Prime Minister is in touch with public opinion over Syria, compared to nearly two in five who say Mr Miliband has judged the public mood correctly. But despite the doubts, four out of ten say they trust Mr Cameron in an international crisis, against just over two in ten who back Mr Miliband. Worryingly for the Opposition leader, nearly one in six Labour supporters prefers Mr Cameron. A majority of 41 per cent say the Syria affair has damaged David Cameron’s global standing, compared to 38 per cent who say it has made no difference and seven per cent who say it has enhanced it. One in three also say it has damaged Britain’s so called ‘special relationship’ with the US, though nearly half believe it has made no difference. A clear majority say the Prime Minister spends too much time strutting the world stage, instead of fixing Britain’s problems. But more than half say Mr Cameron showed strength, not weakness, by letting MPs vote on the issue. And 43 per cent say the vote enhanced the reputation of Parliament, left in tatters by the expenses scandal, compared to 23 per cent who say the anti-war vote was bad for the reputation of the Commons. A total of 1,002 people took part in the Survation online poll, conducted on Friday. | The PM is applauded for giving MPs the chance to vote on the issue .
But his standing as a world leader has been badly hit by the loss .
However voters still judge him a better statesman than Miliband . |
05ec542f19bbc3e02ce9baae1d0d3ad49442be18 | Labour frontbencher Ed Balls today dismissed Russell Brand as a 'pound-shop Ben Elton' after the comedian labelled him a 'clicky-wristed snidey c***'. The war of words erupted at the weekend, when Brand used an appearance on Channel 4's Big Fat Anniversary Quiz to take aim at the shadow chancellor. Balls today hit back, insisting Jo Brand was funnier and questioning whether Brand was trying to be funny or offensive. Scroll down for video . Comedian Russell Brand tore into Labour's Ed Balls on the Channel 4 show, The Big Fat Anniversary Quiz . Brand launched his foul-mouthed attack in the show, broadcast on Friday night, in which he also warned Balls and former Prime Minister Tony Blair that they faced a tough time when his planned revolution overthrows the political establishment. When asked by MailOnline yesterday, a spokesman for Balls declined to comment. But today the Labour bruiser hit back, telling BBC News: 'I wasn't quite sure what it meant to be honest. I'm not quite sure what clicky-wristed means. 'I don't know whether that's supposed to be offensive or funny or whatever.' He went on to liken him to Ben Elton, the writer and comedian who built a reputation for left-wing stand-up in the 1980s. Ed Balls dismissed Russell Brand as a 'pound-shop Ben Elton' (left) and suggested he thought Jo Brand (right) was funnier . Ed Balls told BBC News: 'I wasn't quite sure what it meant to be honest. I'm not quite sure what clicky-wristed means.' Balls added: 'I think probably Jo Brand is a rather better political commentator. I suppose you could call him a pound shop Ben Elton. But it doesn't mean he's not sometimes funny.' He later told Sky News: 'I think he was funnier before he tried to do politics. Maybe it shows that being a funny politician is not very easy to do. 'I thought this reference to me having clicky-wrists; I wasn't quite sure whether he was having a go at my sexuality or whether he was just trying to claim that I had a disability. 'Either way, I thought it was a bit off. He's normally funnier than that.' Brand was appearing on the show alongside other comedians including Noel Fielding, Jonathan Ross, Jack Whitehall and Claudia Winkleman. It included questions about the last 10 years, and in one round teams were asked about an infamous tweet which Balls sent which simply stated: 'Ed Balls.' Between questions Whitehall asked Brand about the Labour MP's prospects if he gets his way and overthrows democracy. Whitehall asked: 'Ed Balls, Russell, after the revolution?' Brand replied: 'I think it's gonna be a tough time for Ed Balls.' He went on: 'I shook his hand once. All clicky wristed, he was a snidey c***.' Fellow guests including Whitehall and Winkleman appeared visible shocked by the foul-mouthed slur. The quiz, hosted by Jimmy Carr, had asked what Mr Balls had tweeted in 2011 which had been retweeted thousands of times . Referring to Brand's confrontation last year with Newsnight host Jeremy Paxman, Whitehall added: 'Why didn't you say that in the Paxman interview?' Host Jimmy Carr said 'all clicky wrists' sounded like something from dystopian crime drama A Clockwork Orange. Brand went on, inspired by the film's Nadsat slang: 'All clickly wrist he were, real horror show. Me and my droogies done him in. Did him good it did as he spilt his claret like silvery wine.' Whitheall, appearing baffled, responded: 'It sounds wonderful but I am going to have to have it Google translated to posh.' The question in the quiz related to the tweet posted by Mr Balls on April 28 2011 which just said: 'Ed Bals.' In April 2011 Mr Balls posted just 'Ed Balls', which sparked a Twitter frenzy and led to April 28 being named Ed Balls Day . It has since been retweeted more than 30,000 times. As Carr gave the answer to the question, Brand responded: 'What a prick, clicky wrist prick.' Earlier in the show Brand suggested Mr Blair would also be in trouble when his revolution came. He has argued that there is little point in voting and insisted 'profit' is a dirty word. In 2013 Brand launched similar verbal assault on David Cameron, calling the Tory Prime Minister a 'w*****'. He told Alan Carr's Chatty Man: 'If you're always cutting benefits and being horrible, it's because you don't know how to f*** properly. 'I think if your job is to look after the country and you don't care about the people who need it most, you're out of order, and you're a filthy, dirty, posh w*****.' A spokesman for Mr Balls declined to comment. | Shadow chancellor Ed Balls hits back at comedian's foul-mouthed rant .
Brand launched attack on Channel 4's Big Fat Anniversary Quiz .
He said he shook the Labour MP's hand and he was 'clicky wristed'
To the shock of other guests, Brand added: 'He was a snidey c***' |
05ed7e67bc94a5392d4bb6469d5e777d8d1c8686 | Downing Street has a new resident – the long-lost cat Chancellor George Osborne and his family had assumed has vanished for ever. Tabby Freya was just a few months old when she went missing from the Osbornes’ Notting Hill home three years ago. Mr Osborne, wife Frances and their two young children Luke and Liberty searched the streets of West London and put up ‘lost’ posters, but to no avail. Back where she belongs: Freya the cat is settling in at Downing Street after being reunited with the Osborne family . They gave up hope long before moving into Downing Street last year, assuming the cat had got lost – or worse, been run over. So they transferred their affections to the family budgie, Gibson, named after RAF Dambusters hero Guy Gibson, and two goldfish. But two weeks ago, Frances, an author, received a phone call telling her Freya was alive and well. She had been living as a stray in a garden a few streets away from the Osbornes’ Notting Hill house, lovingly fed and looked after by a neighbour who had not seen the posters. Nice surprise: The Chancellor and his family had given up hope of finding Freya after she went missing three years ago . Freya, looking particularly well-nourished, was reunited with the Osbornes after a visit to a vet revealed a microchip beneath its skin bearing Mrs Osborne’s phone number. A few days later, Freya, looking fit and healthy, was installed in Downing Street. This time, they took no chances, keeping Freya indoors until she could get acclimatised to her new surroundings. The Osbornes live in the flat above No 10, which they moved into more than a year after the 2010 Election, while the Camerons live above No 11. Before Freya was let loose in the garden, one vital matter had to be dealt with: a formal introduction to Larry, the Camerons’ cat. Fortunately for all, the fur did not fly, and yesterday Freya was allowed outside. A Treasury spokesman said: ‘She is settling in nicely and getting on well with family, staff and Larry.’ Neighbour: The Camerons' cat Larry (pictured) is getting on well with Freya . Trading places: Freya lives with the Osbornes in the flat above No 10 (right), while the Camerons and their cat Larry live above No 11 (left) | Tabby cat Freya went missing from the Osbornes' Notting Hill home three years ago .
She was living as a stray in a garden only a few streets away and being fed by an unknowing neighbour .
Now fit and healthy, Freya is making herself at home at Downing Street . |
05ee7f15e4eae410dc59811594c38c3256a208f4 | The Southern Poverty Law Center offered an apology of sorts on Thursday to Dr. Ben Carson, a black potential Republican presidential candiidate, for lumping him in with neo-Nazis, skinheads, and Klansmen on its influential 'Extremist Watch' website. The iconic American civil rights group targeted Carson, a world-renowned retired pediatric neurosurgeon, because he is a Christian who opposes gay marriage. The SPLC has seen its mission creep from defendng the civil rights of African-Americans to embracing a broader target list that includes 'white nationalists, anti-gay zealots, black separatists, racist skinheads, neo-Confederates' and others. 'In October 2014, we posted an "Extremist File" of Dr. Ben Carson,' the SPLC wrote in a statement on Thursday. 'This week, as we've come under intense criticism for doing so, we've reviewed our profile and have concluded that it did not meet our standards, so we have taken it down and apologize to Dr. Carson for having posted it.' The mea culpa quickly took on a backhanded quality, however. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Ben Carson, a possible 2016 presidential candidate, is making waves in Iowa (shown) and other early primary states – but his right-of-center views have attracted unusual critics including America's most iconic civil rights legal aid group . NO DIFFERENCE? Presidential hopeful Ben Carson appeared until Thursady on the same Southern Poverty Law Center's watch list that includes skinheads and neo-Nazis, because he is a Christian who opposes gay marriage . 'We've also come to the conclusion,' the group added, 'that the question of whether a better-researched profile of Dr. Carson should or should not be included in our "Extremist Files" is taking attention from the fact that Dr. Carson has, in fact, made a number of statements that express views that we believe most people would conclude are extreme,' the group added. The bulk of the published statement consisted of a list of those quotes. Carson's attack at the hands of the SPLC was a hot topic of discussion among American conservatives this week as Carson moves closer to announcing a White House run. 'I don't think the left can stand the idea that the next black president might be a Republican,' one U.S. Senate staffer said, requesting anonymity because he is not quthorized to speak to the press. 'And the SPLC is a left-wing group. Don't forget that.' The Southern Poverty Law Center did not respond to a request for comment. Earlier in the week Daily Mail Online asked Carson if he thought the SPLC was 'crooked' in its dealings with Republicans. 'Oh, definitely,' he replied. 'And I – certainly that's been the impression of everybody I've heard from.' 'I find it very ironic that they would castigate someone as a hater whose entire professional career was spent saving people's lives,' he said. Carson described a scholarship program he has endowed, and literacy projects he has set up 'specifically in poor areas, so that kids can learn the love of reading, which will have a profound impact on their academic performance.' 'But because I don't agree with them about traditional marriage, I'm a "hater",' he mused. 'And that's pretty interesting that someone could come away with that belief.' David Duke (left), founded the Louisiana Ku Klux Klan and later ran for governor of Louisiana; the SPLC lists him on its 'Extremist Watch' website . Carson first attracted national notice in 2013 when he chastized President Barack Obama from a few feet away at the speaker's podium during that year's National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. 'Obamacare,' Carson said, 'is really, I think, the worst thing that has happened in this nation since slavery.' 'In a way, it is slavery,' he added then. His political positions are wrapped tightly in his Christianity, including opposition to gay marriage and a preference for a flat income tax rate that would affect everyone equally. 'When I pick up by Bible, you know what I see?' he asked the prayer breakfast audience. 'I see the first individual in the universe, God, and he’s given us a system. It’s called a tithe.' Tithing is an institution that calls for Christians to donate a flat 10 per cent of their earnings to the church where they worship. But it's speaking against same-sex unions that has put him on the hot seat, and may endanger his chances of emerging as a serious presidential contender outside America's Bible belt. HORROR: Floyd Corkins entered the conservative Family Research Council's office in 2012 with a gun and shot a security guard, later saying he meant to kill as many people as he could; he got the idea from the SPLC's 'Extremist Watch' website . 'If we can redefine marriage as between two men or two women or any other way based on social pressures as opposed to between a man and a woman,' he wrote in his 2012 book America The Beautiful, 'we will continue to redefine it in any way that we wish, which is a slippery slope with a disastrous ending.' More dramatically, he said during a 2013 Fox News hannel interview that 'traditional' marriage is 'a well-established pillar of society and no group – be they gays, be they NAMBLA, be they people who believe in bestiality – it doesn’t matter what they are, they don’t get to change the definition.' NAMBLA, the North American Man/Boy Love Association, advocates for the normalization of pedophilia in society. The Southern Poverty Law Center had cited those examples as evidence that Carson belongs on the same list as white nationalists and antisemites. Days after the Fox interview, he admitted on CNN that his comments were 'somewhat insensitive, and I certainly apologize if I offended anyone.' 'I have always advocated equality for everyone,' Carson insisted. 'As a Christian, we have a duty to love everyone and to love them as ourselves. You know, I love gay people. I love straight people.' On Monday Carson told Daily Mail Online that 'when embracing traditional Christian values is equated to hatred, we are approaching the stage where wrong is called right and right is called wrong.' 'It is absolutely critical for us to once again advocate true tolerance in this world where freedom of speech is closely guarded. That means being respectful to all of those with whom we disagree, as well as allowing people to live according to their values without harassment.' BAD COMPANY: The Southern Poverty Law Center listed Ben Carson as an 'extremist' alongside former KKK National Imperial Wizard Jeff Berry (left) and White Aryan Resistance founder Tom Metzger (right) RACE POLITICS: Malik Zulu Shabazz (left), head of the New Black Panther Party, has attracted the SPLC's attention but is one of only a few African-Americans on the same 'extremist' list that featured Carson . 'It is nothing but projectionist and ignorant,' Carson said, 'when groups label certain people with whom they disagree as haters. Said behavior is truly uncouth and should be viewed as such.' Placing an individual or organization on a high-profile, credible list of extremists can have unintended consequences. In August 2012 a gunman namex Floyd Lee Corkins entered the Family Research Council's headquarters in Washington in an attempt – as he later explained – 'to kill as many people as possible' Corkins shot a security guard before he was disarmed. He chose his target from the SPLC's 'Hate Map' web page – a geographic guide to its extremist list. The Family Resarch Council, like Carson, landed on the site because it opposes gay marriage. Putting Carson on a list along with former Klan leader David Duke and skinhead Eric 'The Butcher' Fairburn wasn't the first time the organization dabbled in national electoral politics. In 2011 it included Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul on a list titled 'Electoral Extremism: 23 Candidates on the Radical Right,' listing 'Right-wing libertarian' as his 'EXTREMIST IDEOLOGY.' Cornell Law School professor William Jacobson, wrote Friday that 'the Southern Poverty Law Center ceased long ago to be a neutral source of information.' The SPLC did not respond to multiple requests for comment. The group's controversial spokesman Mark Potok did speak to the left-wing website Talking Points Memo, however. NO ARGUMENT: Holocaust denier Ernst Zuendel is on the SPLC's list for producing publications titled 'The Hitler We Loved and Why' and 'Did Six Million Really Die?' 'Our criticism of him was based in large part on his very extreme rhetoric about the evils of gay people,' Potok said. 'He says that any criticism he makes is always kind and never meant to destroy the person, but then he says that gay marriage will lead to the destruction of America much in the same way the Roman Empire collapsed.' In February 2014 Potok claimed on CNN that 'anti-black attitudes among American whites have gone up quite significantly between 2008 and 2012, to the point where now more than half of white Americans have these anti-black attitudes.' SPLC's latest nonprofit income tax return shows that its assets totaled more than $314 million at the end of October 2014. More than $3 million of its income between 1999 and 2008 came from the Picower Foundation, whose founder Jeffry Picower earned billions – and later had to forfeit the money – from convicted scammer Bernie Madoff's investment frauds. | SPLC started as a civil rights legal aid charity but has since placed conservatives of many stripes in its crosshairs .
It offered an apology of sorts on Thursday for lumping Carson, a likely 2016 presidential candidate, in with the KKK and skinheads .
The apology, however, ended with a laundry list of all the things he had said that angered them in the first place .
A homicidal gunman used the SPLC's 'Extremist Files' website in 2012 to identify his target – a Christian group called the Family Research Council .
List includes prominent Americans who oppose gay marriage and illegal immigration, alongside Klansmen, neo-Nazis and skinheads .
'Because I don't agree with them about traditional marriage, I'm a "hater",' the famed neurosurgeon surgeon told Daily Mail Online . |
05ef0e9098f362ccb1d6331d70cd79247a0563d2 | LONDON (CNN) -- Iran offered to stop attacking coalition troops in Iraq nearly four years ago in an attempt to get the West to accept Tehran's nuclear program, a British diplomat told the BBC in an interview aired Saturday. John Sawers, British ambassador to the U.N., told BBC of Iran approaching Western nations with offer. "The Iranians wanted to be able to strike a deal whereby they stopped killing our forces in Iraq in return for them being allowed to carry on with their nuclear program -- 'We stop killing you in Iraq, stop undermining the political process there, you allow us to carry on with our nuclear program without let or hindrance," said John Sawers, now the British ambassador to the United Nations, in the documentary, "Iran and the West: Nuclear Confrontation." The United States and other Western nations believe Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons program, but Iran says it is developing nuclear capability to produce energy. Iran also has been accused of sponsoring terrorists and supplying weapons to Iraqi insurgents. The latter prompted a warning from the United States that such behavior by Tehran "would be regarded by us as enemy action," Philip Zelikow, a State Department counselor, told the BBC. Then, Iran began shopping its offer around Europe, Sawers said. Sawers, Britain's political director at the time, reveals the behind-the-scene talks from 2005 -- when roadside bombing against British and American soldiers in Iraq peaked -- were held with British, French and German diplomats at hotels in London, Paris and Berlin. "And then we'd compare notes among the three of us," Sawers told the BBC. The British government dismissed the offer and Iran's nuclear enrichment program restarted once again, the BBC reports . Iran has denied offering any such deal and reiterated its position Saturday. "Iran's high officials have repeatedly stated that Iran has not had any part in attacks against American and British forces, and there is no evidence to support these baseless accusations," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi said, according to the semi-official Mehr News Agency. Interviews with top brass from former President Bush's administration and British envoys indicate that Iran and the West had neared agreements several times in the past few years, but never reached success. Nick Burns, who was in charge of the Bush administration's State Department policy with Iran, said taking a tough approach with Iran didn't seem effective. "We had advocated regime change," Burns told the BBC. "We had a very threatening posture towards Iran for a number of years. It didn't produce any movement whatsoever." The documentary aired a day after the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security released a report stating that Iranian scientists have reached "nuclear weapons breakout capability." The report analyzed the finding of the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog agency, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). However, an IAEA official who asked not to be named cautioned against drawing such dramatic conclusions from the data, saying Iran's stock of low-enriched uranium would have to be turned into highly enriched uranium (HEU) in order to be weapons-grade material. That hasn't been done, the official said. Meanwhile, Iran's relationship with the West continues to be strained, though both sides have indicated interest in holding direct talks. President Obama, in his first prime-time news conference held earlier this month, said the United States is looking for opportunities for "face-to-face" talks with Iran after an absence of diplomatic ties for nearly three decades. "There's been a lot of mistrust built up over the years, so it's not going to happen overnight," he said. And Iran's powerful parliament speaker and former nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, has called the Obama administration "an exceptional opportunity for Americans." | Iran approached diplomats with offer nearly four years ago, BBC told .
Diplomat: Iran offered to stand down in Iraq if West would accept its nuke program .
Iran denies involvement in fighting in Iraq, says allegations are "baseless"
Despite strained relations, Obama administration has hinted at direct talks . |
05ef75fbae0435fd410732dbad5280fdcd74d14a | (Tribune Media Services) -- If you think being a secret agent is all just one giant adrenaline rush, think again. Cracking the safe at the International Spy Museum . Our mission on the other side of the world: Retrieve a missing nuclear trigger before it falls into enemy hands. We don't know whom to trust in Kandahar. We can't speak the language. We've got to conduct video surveillance on an always-moving target, decrypt a secret audio conversation when we can barely hear through the static, crack a safe and then escape from a heavily guarded compound. Phew. We kept the terrorists from getting the trigger. Everyone heaves a giant sigh of relief. The three middle-schoolers in the group performed admirably. Welcome to Operation Spy at the International Spy Museum (www.spymuseum.org) in Washington, D.C. "Today intelligence is the first line of defense against ideology-driven terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and other threats to our country," explains Peter Earnest, executive director of the International Spy Museum, who spent 36 years at the CIA. The idea, he explains, is to put civilians like us in a situation that mirrors a real mission. But I've got a bigger mission ahead this weekend: Can I make a visit to the nation's capital, museums and historic sites at every turn, fun? I've brought along two sixth-graders from Stamford, Connecticut -- my cousin's son, Max Weinberg, and his friend, Miles Singer -- to see if I'm up to the challenge. So far so good. The kids loved Operation Spy and the spy tools in the museum's permanent exhibits -- a Soviet listening device hidden inside the heel of a target's shoe, a lipstick pistol and poison gas gun nearly as much as they loved the gift shop, which offered every spy toy imaginable. New lasers in hand, we adjourn next door to the upscale Zola restaurant (www.zoladc.com), which has a sophisticated ambience and menu to please the grown-ups, as well as a welcoming attitude toward kids ... not to mention terrific fries. (Memo to parents: If you take kids to a restaurant like this and they've outgrown the kids' menu, suggest they share a meal -- assuming they want the same thing.) Over dinner, the boys confess that learning about intelligence gathering was a lot more fun than learning how Congress works, and taking the Amtrak train (www.amtrak.com) was a lot more fun than driving or flying, because they could stay "plugged in" the entire trip, playing video games, watching movies and buying pizza and hot dogs. (Kids ride Amtrak for half price.) The Palomar Hotel, a Kimpton Hotel, (www.hotelpalomar-dc.com), just a short walk from DuPont Circle and Rock Creek Park) proved an ideal choice for my "mission" too. The theme of this hotel is "art in motion" and when we get to our room, the kids find personalized cartoons drawn by a local cartoonist and an iHome to plug in their iPods. "This makes me feel like a king," Miles declares, jumping on the bed. That's exactly what General Manager Brett Orlando, himself the father of young twins, wants to hear. "Our job is to create an experience for kids as well as parents," he explains. There is a treasure chest of toys for younger kids to borrow, a lending library of DVD movies and welcome swag that includes a card for free cookies from room service. (Check the hotel Website for the Link in Luxury package that allows you to book one room at a going rate -- weekend rates start at $229 and a second adjoining room for the kids for $50. Fall and winter weekends are a great time to visit D.C. with bargain hotel rates. Visit www.washington.org). The boys, of course, would have preferred to never leave the hotel but I promise we can skip all the "boring stuff"" -- like the Capitol Building, the Supreme Court, all art museums and even the White House. But even without these stops, we had plenty to fill up our weekend. At Jaleo, (www.jaleo.com), they sampled tapas for the first time -- but passed on the octopus and squid and reveled at being treated like grown-ups at the trendy D.C. Coast (www.dccoast.com). They declared "Shear Madness," which has been running in the Kennedy Center's Theater Lab (http://www.kennedy-center.org/) for almost 20 years, a high point -- with campy humor and the opportunity for the audience to help solve the scissor-stabbing murder of a concert pianist who lives above the hairstyling salon. They also liked the view from the top of the Washington Monument, though they were disappointed when they learned they had to take a 70-second elevator ride rather than climb the 800-plus steps. (TIP: Even in the fall, the entire day's tickets had been given out before 10 a.m. Arrive before 9 a.m. at the kiosk at 15th Street and Madison Drive to get one.) The kids also gave a thumbs-up to The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (www.bep.treas.gov) where they watched from an overhead glass window, as money was made and sorted. NOTE: Though (free) tickets aren't required September through February, tours still fill up. Be prepared. You may need to wait. At the National Air and Space Museum (www.nasm.si.edu) where a new exhibit, America by Air, will open next month, the boys were most interested in the gift shop -- until they discovered the Simulator Rides ($8 each) that allowed them to try their skills as a pilot and gunner aboard an F-4 Phantom II Jet Fighter. "I wish we could do it again and again," Max said. I insisted they see the original 1903 Wright Flyer but after a cursory look, they were done. Sure I could have forced them to spend more time at the museum -- maybe I should have -- but that would have just made them cranky. Me too. Instead, we all left happy. The Smithsonian museums and the capital will be here next trip. E-mail to a friend . (For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com, where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments.) Copyright 2009 EILEEN OGINTZ, DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC. | The International Spy Museum is popular with kids .
Fall and winter weekends in D.C. are a great time for bargain hotel rates .
Arrive before 9 a.m. for tickets to climb up the Washington Monument . |
05ef8e95c2d9522f6c6a59b4d2b2efe421bbb452 | (CNN) -- The U.S. Defense Department cannot account for about $2 billion it was given to cover Iraq-related expenses and is not providing Iraq with a complete list of U.S.-funded reconstruction projects, according to two new government audits. The reports come from the office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction. The Iraqi government in 2004 gave the Department of Defense access to about $3 billion to pay bills for certain contracts, and the department can only show what happened to about a third of that, the inspector general says in an audit published Friday. Although the Department of Defense (DoD) had "internal processes and controls" to track payments, the "bulk of the records are missing," the report says, adding that the department is searching for them. Other documents are missing as well, including monthly reports documenting expenses, the audit says. "From July 2004 through December 2007, DoD should have provided 42 monthly reports. However, it can locate only the first four reports." A letter accompanying the report is signed by Stuart Bowen, the inspector general. The audit was overseen by Glenn Furbish, assistant inspector general for audits. In a response letter also contained in the report, Defense Under Secretary Mark Easton acknowledges "a records management issue." The audit says it believes records management is to blame, and "has been an ongoing problem for DoD in Iraq. By all accounts, DoD established good internal processes and controls to account for and report on" the funds it was given after the Coalition Provisional Authority dissolved. Where the records did exist, they matched other records and contained "good financial documentation supporting individual payments." Also, there is "sufficient evidence" that required monthly reports were sent to the government of Iraq, even though they can't be found, the audit said. The audit deals with a time when Iraq's government was undergoing a transition. The Coalition Provisional Authority ran the country for 14 months from 2003 to 2004. During that time, the authority awarded numerous contracts. When it dissolved in 2004, the Iraqi government gave the U.S. Defense Department access to the $3 billion to pay bills for contracts the provisional authority had awarded. The Defense Department letter from Easton -- the department's deputy chief financial officer -- thanks the inspector general's office for "the collaborative effort and professional courtesy" in a series of audits. Separately, the inspector general's office sent a letter Sunday to the U.S. ambassador to Iraq complaining that the U.S. government is not providing Iraq with a complete list of reconstruction projects. The U.S. criteria for selecting which projects to report to Iraq -- which include only those valued at $250,000 or more -- is a central part of the problem, the letter says. The U.S. Embassy says the system is designed to help Iraq "focus its limited resources on sustainment of infrastructure and other large capital projects done through U.S. reconstruction efforts," the report notes. The inspector general's office argues that the limited list -- which is also "hampered by unreliable data and other data entry problems" -- does not allow Iraq to decide where to focus its resources, and notes that the country might consider some smaller projects more important than those that are reported. "Without more comprehensive knowledge about reconstruction projects the (Iraqi government) will not be in a position to maximize the use of its resources," the report says. Billions of dollars in spending are not reported to Iraq under the current system, the report says. In a response letter, Peter Bodde, assistant chief of mission for the U.S. Embassy in Iraq, says that while the current system is incomplete, "it does capture the vast majority of reconstruction projects and there is no other alternative that captures more." He also notes that the Iraq reconstruction effort "is now in its very last stages, and all remaining capital projects will be reported through the asset transfer process." The Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction was created in 2004 to continue oversight of Iraq reconstruction programs. | NEW: The U.S. is keeping Iraq out of the loop on some projects, report says .
NEW: The U.S. Embassy in Iraq disagrees with that complaint .
The Defense Department can't account for about $2 billion in past spending, report says .
The department acknowledges a "records management issue" |
05f103fe82ded462c7c330b45b4bbcb55f493d38 | By . Laura Collins . PUBLISHED: . 00:09 EST, 17 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:59 EST, 17 October 2013 . Their wedding was so secret that the first most knew of it was when a solitary picture of the glamorous couple was released to a stunned public. Now, these never before seen pictures, provide a tantalising glimpse into the lost weekend 13 years ago when John F Kennedy Jr married Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. The candid shots, seen here for the first time, form part of a new documentary which offers a fascinating new insight into John F Kennedy Jr, his relationship with his bride and his sister and his tragically short marriage. Scroll down for video . Everything to play for: John Jr and his best friend William 'Billy' Noonan relaxing on the eve of John Jr's secret wedding on Cumberland Island, off the coast of Georgia. Noonan was the last person to speak to John Jr . Lost youth: John Jr playfully grabs his nanny Marta on the weekend of his wedding to Carolyn Bessett in September 1996. Behind wedding guests mingle at an informal barbecue . Speaking for the first time those closest to John Jr, then 35, and Carolyn, then 30, have recalled a young couple ‘madly in love,’ and filled with optimism on the eve of their marriage on 21 September 1996. They have revealed the poignant speech made by the groom at the rehearsal dinner and the hauntingly prophetic words of his uncle, Ted Kennedy, on the day itself. Seen today, Ted Kennedy’s words seem to foreshadow the crash that claimed John Jr, Carolyn and her sister, Lauren, less than three years later when, in a storm on the night of 16 July 1999, the small plane John Jr was piloting plunged into the Atlantic off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard. In ‘Coming Home with the Kennedys,’ filmmaker Daphne Barak was allowed unprecedented access to the family as . they made an emotional journey to Ireland, recreating in almost every . aspect the historic trip made by JFK, 50 years after his assassination. Beloved son: The picture that melted the hearts of a nation. John Jr plays beneath his father, JFK's desk in the White House's Oval Office in October 1963 . Laid back: John Jr pictured with his Uncle Ted's dog in his Manhattan apartment. John John as he was often known was charismatic and fun, easy and much missed company . Carolyn hugs John Jr's nanny, Marta, as, left, Jackie Kennedy Onassis's butler, Daniel Efgenio, prepares an informal supper in the kitchen of Jackie Fifth Avenue home . Power couple at play: Bill and Hillary Cilnton chat to Marta while John Jr looks on. Hillary became firm friends of John's mother Jackie when she sought advice from her on raising children in the White House on Bill's election win . JFK was the first American president of Irish ancestry to visit his homeland, travelling to New Ross, Co Wexford in June 1963. The journey made by 35 of the Kennedy clan this June was intended, in part, to honour the promise to return that he could never fulfil. Four months after his visit JFK was shot dead in Dallas. 'Carolyn...You changed my life in a way I never knew was possible,' John F Kennedy Jr to his bride on the eve of their wedding . During this recent visit the family, led by JFK’s daughter, Caroline, 55, and her cousin Kathleen, 62, rededicated the Kennedy Homestead in New Ross, opened a visitor centre and lit the Emigrant Flame with a flame carried from the Eternal Flame that burns on JFK’s grave in Arlington. Many times over, according to Barak, thoughts turned to the other ‘lost sons.’ She said: ‘You’d hear people say, “I wish John Jr was here.” Or they would comment on how much Caroline’s son Jack looks like him.’ Unfulfilled promise: John Jr at his mother's Manhattan home on the christening of a friend's baby. John had spoken to friends of his desire to start a family with Carolyn . John Jr with Marta and Daniel Efgenio, his dog Friday sits at his master's feet. Following John Jr's death Daniel took Friday back to his home in Portugal . The fact that Caroline . and John Jr visited Ireland together as small children when, in 1966, . Jackie took her children ‘home’ made John Jr’s presence all the more . keenly felt. Abandon all hope: The wreckage of the plane that John Jr was piloting on the night that he, Carolyn and her sister Lauren perished in stormy weather on 16 July 1999 . United once more in grief: The Kennedy family and members of the Bessette family gather on the Vineyard Sound on 22 July to scatter the ashes of John Jr, Carolyn and Lauren . John Jr’s charisma and sense of fun was often recalled during the June visit and those qualities shine out from these previously unseen pictures. 'Even as a child his fate was on his head,' Daphne Barak on John F Kennedy Jr . In a series of candid moments John Jr is shown messing around on the beach at Cumberland Island, the little known spit of land off the coast of Georgia. Bare-chested and brimming with all the promise of his youth, John Jr, playfully holds his nanny Marta in a bear hug as wedding guests enjoy a relaxed beach barbeque the day before the ceremony. Madly in love: John F Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bessett pictured in May 1999, two months before their death. Their marriage was beset with rumors of infidelity and drug abuse but friends who saw them wed dismiss such talk . In another he poses with best friend William Noonan. They appear mismatched beach tennis partners as the athletic John Jr clutches a beach bat while the slightly portly Noonan grins by his side. Out of sight: The Greyfield Inn on Cumberland Island, pictured on 23 September 1996 - two days after John Jr and Carolyn's wedding. Many wedding guest stayed here for the secret ceremony that caught the world by surprise . Noonan, 55, was the last person ever speak to John Jr. Now he reflects: ‘What’s most interesting about John is that everybody knew who he was but few people outside of his closest friends knew exactly what he was.’ The night before the wedding John Jr made a clumsy toast to his wife, giddy with love he muddled his dates as he addressed her: ‘Carolyn, I am looking forward to call you my wife on Sunday..’ The raucous wedding crowd yelled: ‘Not Sunday: Tomorrow! Saturday!’ John blushed before raising his glass and continuing: ‘To Carolyn…You changed my life in a way I never knew was possible.’ The following day it fell to his uncle Ted Kennedy to toast the couple following the evening ceremony in Cumberland Island’s tiny wood-frame church. In words that, Barak said, now seem a chilly premonition he recalled a gift made to JFK by the Irish Ambassador on John Jr’s birth. ‘The Irish ambassador came and gave my brother after John was born a wonderful silver mug cup, from Wexford. 'At the time he read a poem that had been written by a friend in Ireland about HIS son, when his son was born. ‘And let me take a moment to read these lines…It was read to my brother Jack. '”We wish to the new child…As the wind leaves as it passes over the grasses, after a summer shower….A heart than can recognize… the gifts that life holds for the wise..And when the storm breaks for him, may the tree shake for him…In the night that he is troubled, may the friends wait for him, so that his time be doubled. And at the end of all the loving and love, may the man above give him the crown.”’ Carolyn relaxes with Marta at her parents' home in Connecticut during the holiday season, while she visited them with John Jr. Marta has dismissed any notion that the Kennedy's did anything other than welcome Carolyn . Barak pointed out: ‘All the talk of storm and the night that he is troubled…John Jr’s plane went down on a stormy night when his friends were waiting for him at the other end of that journey. ‘To me it’s quite chilling that this poem was read to his father on his birth. It is as if even as a child his fate was on his head.’ 'They never did anything without each other. Every decision. They were two but they were one,' John Jr's nanny Marta on the bond between John Jr and sister Caroline . But before tragedy struck pictures of John Jr and his wife Carolyn, just 33 when she died, at home show a couple seemingly relaxed and happy together. They are seen posing with John Jr’s nanny Marta and Jackie Onassis’s butler Daniel Efgenio in the kitchen, of what used to be Jackie’s Fifth Avenue home. The same kitchen in which John Jr can be seen chatting animatedly to Bill and Hillary Clinton a few years earlier – according to Barak one of the first things Hillary did on Bill’s presidency was contact Jackie. Daphne Barak's book of the visit. Half of the proceeds will be donated to the JFK Foundation in Ireland . She said: ‘She asked her for lunch because she knew that Jackie had experience of raising young children in the White House and they had Chelsea. They became very good friends after that.’ But as scion of the Kennedy family and the founder of George magazine, John Jr’s public profile brought much to live up to and much to bear. By the time of their death rumors of marital difficulties were rife. There was talk of infidelity and drug abuse and the allegation Caroline Kennedy did not approve of John Jr’s bride and that the siblings had grown distant as a result. Now, speaking to camera, John Jr and Caroline’s nanny, Marta, has dismissed these rumors as nonsense. She insisted that any ‘distance’ was simply the natural effect of two people marrying and leading more separate lives. There was no breakdown of relationship, she said. To the very end of John Jr’s life she said: ‘They never did anything without each other. Every decision. They were two but they were one.’‘Coming Home With The Kennedys’ will be released worldwide in November . A percentage of the proceeds of Daphne Barak’s souvenir book of the trip will go to JFK’s Foundation in Ireland to buy the book go to www.daphnebarak.com . | Friends and family dismiss rumors that beset the tragically brief marriage .
Rubbish talk of a rift between John Jr and his beloved sister Caroline .
Reveal the chillingly prophetic speech delivered by Ted Kennedy at his nephew's wedding feast . |
05f114b8901e1573a913636f4f6e4ce00f97ceaf | By . Leon Watson . PUBLISHED: . 15:02 EST, 7 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 15:52 EST, 7 January 2014 . Two teenagers who were killed when their car crashed down a motorway embankment have been named by police. Destiny James-Keeling, 14, and Megan Marchant, 18, both from Leicester, died when the Vauxhall Astra convertible they were passengers in left the M1 near Lutterworth, Leicestershire, on Saturday night. The driver - a woman aged 35 - and an 18-year-old man both escaped with minor injuries after the car struck trees on the embankment at around 7.15pm, Leicestershire Police said. Destiny James-Keeling (pictured), 14, and her friend Megan Marchant, 18, both from Leicester, died when the Vauxhall Astra convertible they were passengers in left the M1 near Lutterworth, Leicestershire . A statement released by Destiny's family read: 'Destiny lit up every room she walked in. 'She was a beautiful and loving young woman, full of soul and laughter who lived life to the fullest. 'Destiny was always there to support her friends, her laughter, friendship and huge love has left a huge hole in our hearts. 'Anastasia, Wade and family would like to thank everyone from the bottom of their hearts for all of the overwhelming support, messages and tributes.' Investigating officer Detective Constable Ady Keeble said: 'This was a tragic incident in which two young girls have sadly lost their lives. 'The car had gone about a mile past the start of the M6, Junction 19, and was travelling M1 northbound on Saturday evening when it left the carriageway and collided with trees on the embankment at the side of the motorway. (Stock picture of M1) The accident happened as the car left the M1 near Lutterworth, Leicestershire, on Saturday night . 'We'd like to appeal to anyone who was driving on the M1 in this area on Saturday evening between 7pm and 7.15pm to contact us. 'The car was quite distinctive because it was a convertible so we'd like to hear from anyone who thinks they saw either the incident or the vehicle being driven beforehand.' A fundraising page has been set up to raise money for Destiny's funeral which has already raised £2,190. It says: 'The beautiful Destiny James Keeling was tragically taken from us on the 4th January 2014 at the devastatingly young age of 14. It was a tragic and devasting accident which no one could of prevented or forseen. 'This is a traumatic time for her parents and anyone who knows or loves destiny and to take the financial burden from them all at this terrible time we please ask for everyones help. 'Any donation big or small will help contribute towards the cost of young Destiny's funeral.' | Teenagers were Destiny James-Keeling, 14, and Megan Marchant, 18 .
Pair died when the Vauxhall Astra they were passengers in left M1 .
Driver - a woman aged 35 - and an 18-year-old man both escaped . |
05f3d7a14ee392376966509d71abdba0c5ab7dcf | By . Ashley Collman . and Mark Prigg . A retired Marine with nearly two decades of aviation experience has stepped forward with a compelling theory about a mysterious plane that was spotted flying over Texas last month. On March 10, photographers Steve Douglass and Dean Muskett took pictures of three puzzling aircraft flying over Amarillo, and posted them online in hopes of identifying the planes. Retired-Marine James Vineyard has submitted one of the more interesting explanations, telling the Houston Chronicle he believes they are SR-72 Blackbirds - a spy plane that can cross the U.S. in less than an hour, unmanned. The triangle over Texas: Two photographers captured this mysterious object flying over Texas last month . Mystery solved? A retired Marine says the plane pictured in Amarillo last month is the SR-72 Blackbird - a plane designed to cross the country in less than an hour . The mystery aircraft seen over Amarillo on March 10. Three of the craft were spotted flying by . In 1956, British magazines started . getting eyewitness accounts and grainy photos of the Lockheed U-2, then . operating out of RAF Lakenheath on its first spy flights over the Soviet . Union - marking the first sight of a stealth plane that government's . had hoped to keep secret from prying eyes. It provided day and night, very high-altitude (70,000 feet / 21,000 m), all-weather intelligence gathering. Vineyard spent 17 years as a Marine and also worked with a jet squadron in Arizona. He . says the Pentagon may have dispatched the planes to the Indian Ocean to . aide in the search for missing Malaysian Airlines flight 370. But Douglass, who saw the planes himself, doesn't agree. 'The . SR-72 is still in development,' he said Tuesday. 'Plus it's a . high-speed, high-Mach plane. These were going airliner speed. They were . not in a hurry to get anywhere.' The . SR-72 is currently being developed by Lockheed Martin in California, . and according to the company's website they say the plane could be . operational as early as 2030. It . is the predecessor of the SR-71 which broke speed records when it flew . from New York to Lonton in less than two hours in 1976. Lockheed . Martin's Hypersonics program manager Brad Leland wrote that the plane . is designed to 'strike at nearly any location across a continent in less . than an hour.' 'Speed is . the next aviation advancement to counter emerging threats in the next . several decades. The technology would be a game-changer in theater, . similar to how stealth is changing the battlespace today,' Leland said. Another source told the Chronicle that the plane was a B-2, but the two photographers discovered that no B-2s were flying in the country that day . The SR-72 is a successor to the SR-71 which broke speed records when it flew from New York to London in less than two hours in 1976 . Another . reader who wished not to be identified told the Chronicle with . confidence that 'It's a B-2 stealth bomber flying out of Whiteman Air . Force Base in Missouri.' That's . what the photographers thought when they first saw the group of . aircraft, but they say they checked with the base and no B-2s were . flying anywhere in the U.S. that day. Instead, . Douglass believes that the planes are a no type of spy plane - a . stealth transport plane that could sneak troops into a another country . unseen. | A retired Marine says the mysterious plane is an SR-72 - a super-fast spy plane currently in development .
The SR-72 is designed to cross entire continents in less than an hour, unmanned .
Developers at Lockheed Martin say the plane could be operational by 2030 .
The man who photographed the plane doesn't believe it's an SR-72 but rather a stealth transport plane . |
05f5f62c39fd5e1271b2e3414d68fbe2f0dd1616 | The Islamic State has set up terror training camps in Libya after the U.S. admitted that more than one hundred militants have gathered in the country. ISIS has already overran large areas of Iraq and Syria and a today a top US general confirmed that the Islamic extremists had set up in eastern Libya with the American military monitoring the situation closely. Western countries have been increasingly worried that Libya's political turmoil could provide fertile ground for Islamic extremists, but General David Rodriguez ruled out military action on the 'nascent' camps in the immediate future. Scroll down for video . The group has largely focused on Iraq and is currently fighting for control of Kobane in Syria but there are fears they are spreading into North Africa . The head of US Africa Command told reporters at the Pentagon: 'They put training camps out there', referring to ISIS who have seized territory in Iraq and neighboring Syria this year in a brutal and swift offensive of beheadings and forced religious conversions. 'ISIS has begun its efforts over in the east out there to introduce some people over there. 'But we'll have to just continue to monitor and watch that carefully in the future to see what happens or whether it grows on unabated.' He described the IS activity in eastern Libya as 'very small' but added that there were 'around a couple hundred' militants present at the camps, with US forces continuing to track the area. The United States has been waging an air war against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, but when asked if the training camps in Libya were a potential target for American forces, Mr Rodriguez replied: 'No, not right now.' The four-star general said it appeared the ISIS militants in Libya were not volunteers coming from outside the country but militia members who had shifted their loyalty to the jihadist group. His comments came after the US government and European allies voiced 'grave concern' over mounting violence and civil unrest in Libya. ISIS has already seized huge swathes of land in Iraq and Syria, including the town of Raqqa, pictured . Experts have warned that ISIS has gained a foothold in the eastern town of Derna, exploiting the chaos that has engulfed the North African state. Libya has been plagued by instability since the overthrow of autocratic leader Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, and ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi recently boasted of vows of allegiance from militants in the country. Analysts say a number of factions in Derna have pledged loyalty to the group, but it remains unclear how much support they enjoy. ISIS, which aims to establish an Islamic caliphate across the region, is the prime target of the US-led bombing campaign in Iraq and Syria. The group has attracted a wave of global revulsion after a series of horrific executions of Western hostages filmed and released online, as well as gruesome videos depicting the beheadings of Syrian and Iraqi forces. While largely based in Iraq and Syria, the IS organization has also attracted pledges of allegiance from militant groups in Egypt, with the Ansar Beit al-Maqdis (Partisans of Jerusalem) group last month vowing support for the group. He described the IS activity in eastern Libya as 'very small and nascent.' 'Around a couple hundred' militants were present at the camps and US forces would continue to track the area to see if the IS presence expanded, said Rodriguez. The United States has been waging an air war against the IS group in Iraq and Syria, but when asked if the training camps in Libya were a potential target for American forces, Rodriguez said: 'No, not right now.' The IS group 'has begun its efforts over in the east out there to introduce some people over there,' he said. 'But we'll have to just continue to monitor and watch that carefully in the future to see what happens or whether it grows on unabated.' The four-star general said it appeared the IS militants in Libya were not volunteers coming from outside the country but militia members who had shifted their loyalty to the jihadist group. His comments came after the US government and European allies voiced 'grave concern' over mounting violence and civil unrest in Libya. Experts have warned that the IS group has gained a foothold in the eastern town of Derna, exploiting the chaos that has engulfed the North African state. Commander of the United States Africa Command General David Rodriguez, who has warned that ISIS has set up terror training campaigns for militants in eastern Libya . Libya has been plagued by instability since the overthrow of autocratic leader Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, and IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi recently boasted of vows of allegiance from militants in the country. Analysts say a number of factions in Derna have pledged loyalty to the IS group, but it remains unclear how much support they enjoy. IS, which aims to establish an Islamic 'caliphate' across the region, is the prime target of the US-led bombing campaign in Iraq and Syria. The group has attracted a wave of global revulsion after a series of horrific executions of Western hostages filmed and released online, as well as gruesome videos depicting the beheadings of Syrian and Iraqi forces. While largely based in Iraq and Syria, the group has also attracted pledges of allegiance from militant groups in Egypt, with the Ansar Beit al-Maqdis (Partisans of Jerusalem) group last month vowing support for the group. By Larisa Brown, Defence Reporter for The Daily Mail . More British troops will be sent to help the Iraqi security forces as part of a large-scale mission to defeat Islamic State jihadists. Military trainers will teach the Iraqi army how to counter deadly roadside bombs as the British Army steps up its role in the country, leading to claims of ‘mission creep’. They will join four large American training bases that will be established within weeks to train and advise the Iraqi army on a wider scale. Details are yet to be finalised but an announcement is expected in the coming days. Lieutenant General Gordon Messenger told the Defence Select Committee yesterday: ‘The training and support that we are providing has been requested by both the Kurds and central Iraqi Government. 'The Americans will see the establishment of four big training bases - one of which will be in Erbil. 'As part of that we see ourselves delivering niche specialist training in the area which is much needed, particular in IEDs. 'We are still scoping the exact nature of that but we hope to have some concrete proposals in the coming days.' He added: 'We are sending the reconnaissance forces out there to ensure that at the time when are training is needed we will be able to deliver it.’ In terms of numbers, they were still looking at both ‘light’ and ‘heavy’ options, he said. Islamist jihadists have started laying IEDs to take out Iraqi forces as part of a change in tactics after UK airstrikes blasted their vehicles and killed their fighters. British soldiers – who have learnt how to detect the deadly bombs after fighting against the Taliban in Afghanistan – have been asked to help by the Iraqi government due to their specialist knowledge. The deputy chief of defence staff said British forces were also looking at other training possibilities as part of the UK’s contribution to a ‘large scale venture’ in training anti- Islamic State forces. He added: 'I think importantly it is demand led… we are delivering the type of training that these forces have asked for and need.’ Hundreds of British forces will also be sent to join American troops in training thousands of Syrian moderates outside the country. Defence sources said both Saudi Arabia and Jordan could host the training grounds but details are yet to be finalised. Peter Watkins, Director General of Security Policy, denied the further deployment of UK forces to ‘advise and train’ Iraqi security forces was ‘mission creep’. He told MPs: ‘Whatever we do has to be guided by the objectives we set out at the first place. 'I think if we remain guided by the objectives we can avoid mission creep.’ Lt Gen Messenger said air strikes had helped demoralise Islamic State –but had forced the extremist fighters to change tactics. He said: ‘The effect on the morale of both those organisations has been significantly enhanced by those air strikes.’ There had been an ‘equivalent reduction’ in the morale of IS, who were now using guerrilla tactics such as improvised explosive devices (IEDs). ‘They were much more out in the open and even held military parades in certain areas’ Lt Gen Messenger said. ‘That has stopped. They are resorting to more asymmetric tactics, including the use of IEDs. They are using quite extensive countermeasures to avoid them being struck, moving at night, using the weather, avoiding grouping in big areas.’ | ISIS has set up terror training camps for militants in eastern Libya .
U.S. admits more than 100 fighters are gathered in country at various sites .
General David Rodriguez says the situation is being monitored closely .
The camps have been described as very small and there are no plans for military action yet . |
05f601543749a34b9a149b2c774c20f166ad3d8f | By . David Mccormack . The New York . apartment where Philip Seymour Hoffman tragically died of a drug . overdose in February is back on the market and the rent has increased . since the Oscar winner lived there. The condo, which is located in a building called Pickwick House in the . West Village, is available to rent of $10,500 a month, reports the New York Post. Hoffman had only moved into the address last October, when he rented it for $9,995 a month. Scroll down for video . The New York apartment where Philip Seymour Hoffman tragically died of a drug overdose in February is back on the market and the rent has increased since the Oscar winner lived there . The 1,079 sq ft, fourth-floor apartment has two-bedrooms, two-bathrooms and nine oversize windows which enable it to get flooded with natural light . The 1,079 sq ft, fourth-floor apartment has two-bedrooms, two-bathrooms and nine oversize windows . which enable it to get flooded with natural light. It . also features 10-foot-high, wood-beamed ceilings, a wood-burning brick . fireplace, strip oak floors and custom closets in both bedrooms. The . building, which was besieged by people paying their respects following . the actor's untimely death, is a former printing plant that was built in . 1880 and then converted into apartments in 1984. It is part of the Historic Preservation District. Mail Online has reached out to listing agent Arlyne Blitz of the Corcoran Group for comment. The condo, which is located in a building called Pickwick House in the West Village, is available to rent of $10,500 a month . The building, which was besieged by people paying their respects following the actor's untimely death, is a former printing plant that was built in 1880 . Earlier this week the jazz . musician arrested on heroin possession charges amid an investigation . into Hoffman's death lost his bid to have the case handled by a New York . drug court that emphasizes treatment instead of punishment. A Manhattan judge turned down Robert Vineberg's request on Wednesday. The case will continue in a regular criminal court. Vineberg . was arrested as police followed leads after Hoffman's death from a . combination of heroin, cocaine and other drugs. Vineberg isn't charged . with any role in the Capote actor's death. Vineberg has said he and Hoffman were friends but hadn't been in touch since December. Vineberg . has pleaded not guilty to possessing 300 packets of heroin with the . intent to sell it. His lawyer has called him an addict. The Oscar-winning actor, 46, was . found dead on February 2 in his West Village apartment . surrounded by 70 bags of heroin and 20 used syringes. Hoffman's . tragic death came less than a year after he completed a stint in rehab . for his addiction after being clean for 23 years. According to the New York medical examiner, acute mixed drug intoxication was the cause of death. One . of the drugs found in Hoffman's system was benzodiazepine - a . psychoactive drug with sedative and muscle relaxant properties that can . be used to treat anxiety disorders. The other prescription drug found in Hoffman's system amphetamine was an 'upper' - such as Adderall - and can be used to give an enhanced feeling of wakefulness and focus. Longtime partners: Philip Seymour Hoffman and Mimi O'Donnell, pictured in an undated photo, had been together for many years. They had separated shortly before his death as Hoffman tried to beat his drug addiction . Mixing the heroin and cocaine together . is known as 'speed-balling' and is the same deadly combination that . claimed the lives of actors River Phoenix, John Belushi and Chris . Farley. The star . reportedly fell off the wagon during the wrap party for his 2012 movie . The Master and entered rehab in May of last year. The Capote star . was found at dead at his home early on the morning of February 2 by his friend . David Bar Katz when he didn't show to pick up his children. Investigators . have determined that Hoffman made six ATM transactions for a total of . $1,200 inside a supermarket near his home on the Saturday night before his death. Before his death, Hoffman separated from costume designer . Marianne 'Mimi' O’Donnell, the mother of his three children, as he battled addiction. Hoffman moved into an apartment close to where Ms O'Donnell lives with the children in their $4.2 million apartment. The actor leaves Ms O'Donnell and their three children - son Cooper, 10, Tallulah, seven, and five-year-old Willa. The . actor, who won an Oscar for Capote and also starred in The Hunger . Games, The Master and Moneyball, was considered one of the leading . talents of his generation. He . was remembered at a funeral on February 6 for 400 people at the Church . of St. Ignatius Loyola on Manhattan's Upper East Side. The service at attended by his . family and close friends in Hollywood including Cate Blanchett, Meryl . Streep, Ethan Hawke, Amy Adams and Joaquin Phoenix. | The West Village apartment were Hoffman, 46, was found dead in February is back on the rental market .
The Oscar winner had only moved into the $9,995-a-month condo last October after splitting with his wife .
The monthly rent has been increased to $10,500 in the building which was besieged by fans following .
the actor's untimely death . |
05f6e674921d19622a045c9f8c8e7917c54c1b96 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . A boy with disabilities in Michigan who said he didn't want an 11th birthday party because he had no friends got the surprise of his life on Tuesday when players from his local ice hockey team showed up to offer him a special deal. Colin and his family were enjoying pizza when several players and coaches from the Kalamazoo Wings appeared and presented him with a special one-day contract that will allow him to join the team for their home game at Wings Stadium on Sunday. The contract, which is the first one-day . deal the team has ever offered, will give Colin the opportunity to get . his own jersey, drop the game puck and even sit on the bench with the . players, among other activities. Colin, 11, got the surprise of his life on Tuesday when players from the Kalamazoo Wings appeared and presented him with a special one-day contract that will allow him to join the team on Sunday . ‘I was not expecting this,’ Colin told the Kalamazoo Gazette. ‘I knew we were going to the restaurant, but I was not expecting the rest.’ It all came about about Colin's mother, Jennifer, who asked that her last name not be used, started a Facebook page for her son after she asked him what he wanted to do for his 11th birthday, which was on March 9. Colin, a 5th grader at Gull Lake Community Schools, said he didn't want a party because he didn't have any friends. He suffers from a sensory processing . disorder and another disorder similar to Asperger syndrome which cause . him to struggle with facial expressions, verbal cues and in some social . situations. Colin reads his contact which will give him the opportunity to get his own jersey, drop the game puck and even sit on the bench with the players . Colin's disabilities mean that social skills aren't easy for him and he often acts out in school. He typically eats lunch alone everyday because no one will sit with him. His mom decided to start the Facebook page as a way to boost Colin's confidence. 'I thought, if I could create a page . where people could send him positive thoughts and encouraging words, . that would be better than any birthday party,' she wrote. It quickly proved to be a tremendous success and has attracted more than 2 million likes. Shake on it: Colin shakes the hand of Kalamazoo Wings coach Nick Bootland after signing a contract to be a Kalamazoo Wing . 'It's been just overwhelming,' said Jennifer, who said her son has also received 78,000 pieces of . mail as a consequence of her campaign. However she said the best reward for her efforts has been seeing the growth in Colin's confidence. 'I have seen him in this last month blossom because he knows he has 2.1 million friends and that is something that nobody else has,' she said. 'His self-confidence has grown. It doesn't bother him that kids don't like him because he has 2.1 million friends.' Colin, 11, of Richland, Mich., sits with his family talking with members of the Kalamazoo Wings. Colin has a condition similar to Asperger's syndrome that makes it difficult to relate to peers . | Colin told his mom he didn't want an 11th birthday party because he had no friends .
He has a condition similar to Asperger's syndrome that makes it difficult to relate to peers .
His mother created a Happy Birthday Colin Facebook page that drew more than two million 'likes' and he received thousands of cards .
On Tuesday the Kalamazoo Wings offered him one-day contract that will allow him to join them for their home game on Sunday .
Colin has described the outpouring of affection as 'very heartwarming' |
05f6f7186f7a62875dc516ebdf0f99d5fc97e704 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 13:01 EST, 16 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:14 EST, 16 July 2013 . A reporter who had an affair with Dateline NBC star Chris Hansen has spoken out about what she says is a double standard against women in broadcast media. The outburst comes as 32-year-old Kristyn Caddell released photographs allegedly showing her kissing Hansen, who had previously said reports of the affair had been 'full of hurtful lies'. Miss Caddell claims that she has not been able to find work since their four-month affair was revealed, while Hansen has continued unscathed by the scandal, according to RadarOnline. Caught on camera: Kristyn Caddell says this photo, allegedly showing Chris Hansen and her kissing, proves their relationship . The reporter said she had worked at three stations since the affair was revealed in 2011, but claims she was unable to hold down a job because of the stigma of the relationship. 'No matter what your philosophy is . on someone who has an affair, if it was the man or the woman’s fault, . there are two people involved and if I can’t work, he should not be able . to work,' Miss Caddell told RadarOnline. 'I have lived the double standard,' she . added. 'A double standard is an understatement as to what happens in . this industry. The women get fired and the men keep going.' Miss Caddell met 54-year-old Hansen in Palm Beach, Florida, when she was a news reporter for NBC affiliate WPTV. She claimed he led her to believe his 20-year marriage to Mary Joan was ending and he was therefore able to date. 'I believed him with my heart,' Miss Caddell, who is not married and does not have children, said. 'You can say I was naive, as it was. That was my biggest crime, being naive ... I make one personal mistake and I am [considered] a worthless human being.' Ruined: Kristyn Caddell claims she has been turned down by news networks because of the affair . Denial: When the National Enquirer first revealed the affair, Chris Hansen said the pair were just friends . Hansen, a father who is best known for his show To Catch a Predator, had previously claimed evidence showing his alleged affair was just a picture of him going out to dinner. 'I understand the perceived irony of . the, you know, so-called "gotcha guy" getting gotcha-ed,' he said in March last year. 'But what the "gotcha guy" got gotcha-ed . doing was going out to dinner.' The National Enquirer had revealed the affair after the pair were recorded enjoying a romantic dinner at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Manalapan, before spending the night at Miss Caddell's Palm Beach apartment. However, in images Miss Caddell has just released, Hansen is shown kissing her. She claims he did not try to hide their relationship at the time, and she believed it was public knowledge before the Enquirer exposed it. 'Chris was flying me all over the . country; putting us up in the finest hotels; having dinner and mingling . with many of his colleagues; having our photographs taken together in . public places ... Chris . gave me no reason at all to believe our relationship was a secret and I . trusted him explicitly,' she said in an open letter to the Enquirer earlier this month. Miss Caddell said she decided to release the images because the affair was still affecting her ability to find work. She told the National Enquirer that potential employers told her they were put off because of the negative publicity surrounding her. 'For the past two . years, I was told that it would be in my best interests not to say . anything. Let it blow over. Just keep trying to truck along and keep . trying to get jobs. “But we . are here two years later and I probably don’t go a day without an . employer tell me they do not want to hire me because of the situation . involving Chris Hansen.' She added: “I . thought by not saying anything, and Chris advised me that it would be in . my best interest not to say anything, that I would continue to go and and . my life would go back to normal. My life has been the exact opposite of . that.' Dreams shattered: Kristyn Caddell says the scandal has ruined her career as a news reporter . The reporter added that she had struggled to break into journalism, and just before the affair, had finally felt like her career was taking off. 'Then, to essentially get taken down, because of a man, who has a lot of money and a lot of fame, it is not a good feeling. That is what happened to me,' she said. Hansen has previously claimed the pair were no more than friends, according to Fox News. | Kristyn Caddell says news stations are put off by 'negative publicity'
Reporter releases pictures of her kissing NBC star to 'prove' relationship . |
05f77ebd269d2ee12893896f9bf5197aaf66d3ae | (CNN) -- Golf is a sport where concentration and the ability to perform under pressure is key. So how was Webb Simpson feeling during Sunday's final round of the U.S. Open, knowing he was within touching distance of winning his first major title? "I couldn't really feel my hands or my legs," the 26-year-old told CNN after carding 68 in each of the two final rounds to finish one over par at San Francisco's Olympic Club. "My legs felt like they were a couple of hundred pounds each ... It was very nerve-wracking." But the new world No. 5 put together a run of four birdies in six holes in the middle of his final round to move above overnight leaders Graeme McDowell, who missed a 25-foot putt at the 18th to force a playoff, and fellow American Jim Furyk. "I'm pretty excited, I'm pretty worn out," he said, after clinching the third PGA Tour title of his four-year career and taking home the $1.44 million first prize. "It's such a long week, such a grueling week on your mind, and this place is hard to walk. So physically it's a tough week as well. "But I couldn't have imagined I'd be U.S. Open champion this early in my career. I didn't expect that it would come this quickly. One thing I've always done is I've never put limits on what can happen with this game." The North Carolina native, who tied for 14th at Congressional last year in his only previous U.S. Open appearance, is hoping to capitalize on the run of form which has propelled him to one of golf's four biggest prizes. "You can get on runs out here, you wins and your good play comes in bunches. I want to take advantage of that. One thing I pride myself in is remembering how I got here and remembering what makes me tick as a golfer," he said. "So win or lose I'm trying to get better, and that's what I've been trying to do for the last couple of years." Simpson said the continued shouts from the crowds gathered on the Lake Course kept him guessing on a foggy day in California. "This week I felt like they were especially great. I looked at my caddy on 14 and asked him, 'Are the crowds are lot louder today?' because it seemed like we were hearing roars every few minutes," he said. "It was so fun to play in an atmosphere like that. The famous 18th hole, coming down the hill and going back up to the clubhouse, is probably the coolest finish I can imagine in golf." Despite becoming the third consecutive American winner of a major -- following on from Bubba Watson at the Masters and Keegan Bradley at the PGA Championship -- and the 15th different major winner in a row, Simpson's participation at next month's British Open is in doubt. He and his wife Dowd are awaiting the birth of their second child, and Simpson is looking forward to sharing his tale of Father's Day glory with his children in the years to come. "I got to talk to my dad and I told him, 'Happy Father's Day,' and he said it was a pretty good Father's Day present for him. It's a fun memory that I can't wait to share with my son one day." | Webb Simpson says his hands and legs were shaking during U.S. Open final round .
The American finished one over par to win his first major title at Olympic Club .
He is the 15th different major winner in a row, and the third consecutive American .
Simpson may miss the British Open due to the imminent birth of his second child . |
05f88807f2e807c94205ea6067c459222f977f24 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin (CNN) -- Arthur Budzinski wiped away the tear running down his cheek. He had just returned from the basement, where he was talking to Gary Smith, a longtime friend and former classmate. The two men, both deaf, feverishly gestured to one another in sign language over a videophone, discussing the recently released documents relating to a Milwaukee priest molesting students -- the same priest they said had molested them. The New York Times reported the documents showed top Vatican officials, including the future Pope Benedict XVI, had failed to discipline the now-deceased Milwaukee priest, the Rev. Lawrence Murphy. According to the report, Murphy abused as many as 200 deaf boys in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from 1950 to 1974. Read the article . Back upstairs, Budzinski, 61, sat next to his daughter, Gigi, who translated his story. Her father, she said matter of factly, was abused three times by Murphy while a student at St. John's School for the Deaf in St. Francis, a suburb of Milwaukee nestled on the banks of Lake Michigan. Timeline of Father Murphy's case . Budzinski said he was 12 the first time it happened. "It was in the closet. I asked for a confession, and then he molested me," he said, adding the abuse occurred once a year for three years. "I was wondering ... 'You're a man from the church, why are you molesting me?'" He was unable to tell his story at the time, because his parents did not know sign language. For years, he blocked out the memories of the abuse, until they came flooding back when he was in his 20s. It was during the 1970s that Budzinski, Smith and another friend and classmate, Robert Bolger started sharing their experiences with each other. "If you don't tell people, it gets worse, and it will happen more and more," Budzinski said. "You need to speak out and be open." The three friends found strength in numbers. It was time to tell their secret and put an end to the sexual abuse against deaf boys by Murphy, Budzinski said. They held public protests where they circulated "Wanted" fliers with Murphy's image. They went to the Milwaukee County district attorney's office and the St. Francis Police Department to file complaints against the priest. Murphy denied the allegations, and no criminal charges were filed. "Robert Bolger always said 'It's the three of us,'" Budzinski said. Bolger died in 2006. "I'm sad that Robert's gone, but I am in his place fighting, because Robert was the leader." Budzinski has been sharing his story since the 1970s, but now the world is aware. The headlines from the March 25 New York Times story had circled the globe. "I fought for 37 years, it finally broke open, I'm surprised," Budzinski said. "What's next, I don't know. But something should happen." Days after the Times' report, the archbishop of Milwaukee apologized repeatedly for the way his archdiocese handled the priest. He also defended the Vatican, which has come under fire for not disciplining or defrocking the man. "Mistakes were made in the Lawrence Murphy case," said Archbishop Jerome Listecki at the end of a special Holy Week mass at St. John's Cathedral in Milwaukee. "The mistakes were not made in Rome in 1996, 1997 and 1998. The mistakes were made here, in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, in the 1970s, the 1980s and the 1990s, by the church, by civil authorities, by church officials, and by bishops. "And for that, I beg your forgiveness in the name of the church and in the name of this Archdiocese of Milwaukee." The Vatican said it did not know about the allegations until 20 years after civil authorities investigated and later dropped the case. Murphy died in 1998. The Holy See has criticized The New York Times' coverage of Murphy's case, saying it lacks fairness. More on the Vatican's criticism . Budzinski moved on with his life, becoming a journeyman printer, a husband and a father to two daughters. But the memories of the abuse stayed with him. He said he repeatedly told church officials about Murphy. "When he was 26 he had to go to the police, he was talking to Archbishop Cousins, he was doing all this," said Gigi, who began to weep. "I could never imagine right now, me having to do that." In 2006, Budzinski said he received $80,000 from the archdiocese for his suffering. Despite being haunted by the abuse and upset with how his case was handled, he said he has been blessed. "He always thought, 'I want to have children,'" Gigi said. "Now he's happy he has me and my sister." The Budzinskis vow to continue sharing their story to help all victims of abuse, whether deaf or hearing. "I want to help people," he said. "Father Murphy died and I'm still doing it. ... I keep fighting." | Arthur Budzinski says he was abused by a Milwaukee priest as a child at a school for the deaf .
He received a settlement from the church in 2006 .
The New York Times recently reported the priest abused up to 200 deaf children . |
05f940f319ed1e1dc6be3b1bc996b49f168a148b | By . Joshua Gardner . PUBLISHED: . 11:51 EST, 26 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:03 EST, 26 November 2013 . 'Thrill kill': Colin Lowrey, 22, is charged with what prosecutors say was the 'thrill' killing of 23-year-old Las Vegas woman Cherish Pincombe on October 22 as a still unknown person watched on video chat site . A Nevada Army reservist will stand trial for murder in the October 22 ‘thrill kill’ in which he shot his friend in the head as an anonymous stranger watched on a video chat site. Colin Lowrey, 22, told police he and Cherish Pincombe were using the worldwide video chat website Omegle.com at his Henderson home when the 23-year-old Nevada woman was killed. Authorities say somebody in the world witnessed the shooting, but they don’t know who. Lowrey is charged with knowingly killing Pincombe despite telling police he believed the gun was not loaded. The Las Vegas Review Journal reports . that police subpoenaed Portland, Oregon-based Omegle.com for footage of . the chat turned deadly. They received snapshots, but only of chats that involved Pincombe, Lowrey, and one of Lowrey’s three roommates, Patrick Duffy. Officer . Chad Mitchell, who responded to the scene and interviewed Lowrey and . his roommates, said the snapshots revealed little because ‘everything . looked happy.’ None of Lowrey’s roommates actually saw the alleged crime. But Mitchell maintains there was at least one witness. And they saw it on their computer monitor. Murdered? Pincombe was shot in the head with a .45 caliber handgun at close range at Lowrey's Henderson, Nevada home. She was rushed to an area hospital and died shortly thereafter . 'Somebody saw the gun discharge': Police and Lowrey say there was an active chat window open on the worldwide video site Omegle.com, but the witness could be anyone, anywhere in the world . ‘Somebody saw the gun discharge,’ he testified in a Henderson court on Monday. ‘There was an active chat going on.’ Lowrey told police Pincombe’s death was just the unfortunate outcome of a game gone terribly wrong. He . told detectives he and Pincombe were chatting with a girl who said she . was from Norway. He said she asked if they had any guns. That’s when he retrieved a rifle and a .45 caliber handgun. Prosecutors said at the Monday hearing they are ‘looking at this more as a ‘thrill kill’ than an accidental death.’ Lowrey’s . roommates testified that everyone in the house, including Lowrey, had a . playful relationship with Pincombe. Duffy told the court he’d never . seen Pincombe angry at Lowrey. Premeditated? Lowrey, a Nevada Army reservist, told police he didn't know the gun was loaded when he pulled the trigger but investigators believe that he slipped a magazine into the handgun unbeknownst to Pincombe . Mystery: Lowrey claims the deadly game began when they were chatting with a girl from Norway, who asked the Americans if they had any guns. But he says that's not who saw the gun go off . Lowrey’s . attorney Stephen Stein used the testimony in an attempt to argue his . client should be tried for involuntary manslaughter. ‘I heard no evidence whatsoever of premeditation, and I heard no evidence whatsoever of malice,’ Stein said. The judge disagreed and ordered he be tried in on an open murder charge. Lowrey remained in jail in lieu of $200,000 bail. An arraignment was set for December 10. He claims he left the weapon with Pincombe and then went to the bathroom. When he returned, he says she asked him to point it at her head, presumably as a joke. ‘Without her asking, he decided he would pull the trigger,’ Mitchell told the court of Justice of the Peace Rodney Burr. While Lowrey claims he still thought the gun wasn’t loaded, investigators think he likely took it with him to the bathroom where he inserted the magazine. By the time Pincombe was shot, Lowrey . believes they were chatting with someone new, not the girl from Norway . who started the deadly game. But as of Monday’s hearing, investigators were still at a loss as to who that witness was. Unknown witness: Police subpoenaed Omegle to get footage of the chat, but received only snapshots in which 'everyone looked happy.' Lowrey's roommates testified that everyone in the house, including Lowrey, had a good relationship with Pincombe. None of the roommates witnessed the gun discharge . Whoever it was, he or she did not technically witness a death. Pincombe died shortly after arriving at an area hospital. It was Lowrey who called 911. He reported that a gun had accidentally discharged in his home and wounded a woman. Prosecutors said at the Monday hearing they are ‘looking at this more as a ‘thrill kill’ than an accidental death.’ Lowrey’s roommates testified that everyone in the house, including Lowrey, had a playful relationship with Pincombe. Duffy told the court he’d never seen Pincombe angry at Lowrey. Lowrey’s attorney Stephen Stein used the testimony in an attempt to argue his client should be tried for involuntary manslaughter. ‘I heard no evidence whatsoever of premeditation, and I heard no evidence whatsoever of malice,’ Stein said. The judge disagreed and ordered he be tried in on an open murder charge. Lowrey remained in jail in lieu of $200,000 bail. An arraignment was set for December 10. | Colin Lowrey, 22, is charged with shooting 23-year-old Cherish Pincombe in the head while using worldwide anonymous video chat site Omegle.com .
'Somebody saw the gun discharge': Police say somebody, somewhere witnessed the Las Vegas girl's October 22 death but they don't know who .
Lowrey claims he believed the gun wasn't loaded, but prosecutors are pursuing a murder charge . |
05f962d43a4e7b57888a6c33bdc49c383461d476 | (CNN) -- Two pilots in northern California were lucky to be alive Monday after they escaped a midair collision without serious injuries. A helicopter clipped a small plane in the skies over northern California on Sunday evening, sending both crashing to the ground, CNN affiliate KCRA reported, citing the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office. The collision snapped off the helicopter's tail, but firefighters found the pilot sitting in the car of a driver who had stopped to help, the station said. "She was a little shaken up, but she was completely with it," said Capt. Brandon Wilson of the Rio Vista Fire Department. "Initially, she didn't want to go to the hospital. "The person that was flying it was very lucky -- very lucky -- to walk away pretty much uninjured." The helicopter, a Robinson R22, went down about eight miles south of the Rio Vista Airport, between San Francisco and Sacramento. It collided with a single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza, which landed near Byron Airport, some 20 miles to the south, said Ian Gregor of the Federal Aviation Administration. Footage of the helicopter showed it resting in a field. KCRA said its severed tail rotor landed about 50 feet away from the fuselage. The plane's pilot was not injured. "Absolutely a best-case scenario, very lucky for everybody involved," Wilson said. CNN's Greg Morrison and Stephanie Gallman contributed to this report . | The helicopter pilot is "very lucky to be able to walk away," a fire official says .
The helicopter crashes between San Francisco and Sacramento .
The plane lands near Byron Airport, south of the helicopter crash . |
05f9a2ff2f07a5b4734bb901fb87c288e15f4a99 | Madison, Wisconsin (CNN) -- A left-leaning website that union supporters used to rally protesters in Wisconsin was partially blocked as demonstrators gathered in the state Capitol over a controversial budget bill. The website, defendwisconsin.org, could not be accessed on Monday and into Tuesday morning in the Capitol building, where crowds assembled over proposed legislation that would increase the costs of benefits to public employees and curb their collective-bargaining rights. Wisconsin Democratic Party press secretary Graeme Zielinski blamed Gov. Scott Walker and Republican lawmakers -- who returned to work Tuesday -- for causing the outage. "In a direct assault on the First Amendment, Scott Walker's administration is blocking access in the Wisconsin Capitol to opposition websites," Zielinski said. The governor's spokesman, Cullen Werwie, responded Tuesday, calling the accusation "a lie." "The Department of Administration blocks all new websites shortly after they are created, until they go through a software approval program that unblocks them," Werwie said. "Within 30 minutes of being notified this website was blocked, DOA circumvented the software and immediately made the website accessible." He said, "The Democratic Party should spend less time lying about Gov. Walker and more time trying to get their AWOL state senators back to Wisconsin," referring to Democratic efforts to prevent a quorum in the Senate. The Capitol internet service, which restricts access to certain websites considered inappropriate for lawmakers, revealed a "blocked page" when users tried to access the site using the building's wireless system. Users were able to access the site elsewhere. The outage comes on the heels of a speech by Walker, who defended the budget proposal and criticized unions for squandering state coffers and impeding fiscal reform. "We're broke," he told reporters Monday. "You really can't negotiate when you don't have money to negotiate with." Unions have argued that collective bargaining -- a process of negotiations meant to regulate working conditions -- has helped protect wages and health care, enforce workplace safety and serve as a means to arbitrate employee grievances. The budget-repair bill, proposed by Walker to address a $137 million shortfall through June 30, would increase contributions of state workers to their pensions and health insurance benefits. It requires collective-bargaining units to conduct annual votes to maintain certification. It also eliminates the right of unions to have dues deducted from worker paychecks. Walker warned that not passing the proposed bill would result in at least 1,500 government employees being laid off in the short term and could result in the layoffs of upward of 6,000 workers in the following budget cycle. Last week, 14 Democratic state senators essentially boycotted the Legislature and went to Illinois to prevent a quorum from passing the bill. The measure's opponents said they won't allow a vote unless Walker negotiates on the plan to eliminate collective-bargaining rights for everything but wages. CNN's Chris Welch contributed to this report. | NEW: Governor's spokesman calls the accusation "a lie"
NEW: Spokesman calls blockage temporary, routine for new sites .
Democrats blame Republicans for blocking pro-union website in the state Capitol .
Defendwisconsin.org could not be accessed in the Capitol on Monday, early Tuesday . |
05fa6152f08a3d64745030124428775768ee3afd | If it is still true that a strong Yorkshire makes for a strong England then Alastair Cook can look forward to a golden era, with the White Rose at the forefront of both the international game and the chase for domestic honours. Yorkshire’s march towards the county championship title, which can be confirmed if they avoid defeat against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge this week, could be the start of something big at Headingley and beyond. Not only are Yorkshire on the verge of clinching the greatest prize in the domestic game but they are doing it with a squad crammed with potential England players and an academy bulging with many more top prospects. Champions elect: Jason Gillespie's Yorkshire could clinch the title this week . At the forefront of Yorkshire’s rise towards their first title in 13 years is an ex-Australian Test bowler who has made it his mission to provide the old enemy with as many aspiring internationals as possible. What’s more, Jason Gillespie is making sure that a county once known for their divisive internal politics have a smile on their face as they march forward with young players very much to the fore. ‘Since I’ve been at the club all I’ve done is tell the lads to back themselves and play the brand of cricket we want to play,’ said Gillespie ahead of Tuesday’s showdown with their biggest rivals for the county title. ‘Be positive, go out with a smile and enjoy the game. ‘I coach because I love cricket and I love helping lads achieve their dreams. And spectators come and watch because they love the game too. For me it’s all about enjoyment. If you’re not enjoying it why are you doing it?’ Homegrown: Sheffield-born Joe Root has gone on to be a key player for England . All-rounder: Gary Ballance is another player from the county to break into the international set-up . It is an ethos that has seen Yorkshire achieve that elusive balance of competing for trophies while recognising their duty to give opportunities to young English players. Joe Root, Gary Ballance and Liam Plunkett, rejuvenated after his move from Durham, have all played for England this season while openers Adam Lyth and Alex Lees and leg-spinning all-rounder Adil Rashid head the queue of those who could join them. Jonathan Bairstow, meanwhile, has recovered from a nightmare winter in Australia to provide hope that he too could once again represent his country. And this summer’s England Under 19 team included five Yorkshiremen. ‘We’re always keen to give our young lads a crack as often as possible,’ said Gillespie, who is quick to credit the role of director of cricket Martyn Moxon and his support staff for Yorkshire’s rise. ‘I’m a big believer in if they’re good enough they’re old enough. I like to drip feed the young lads into first-team cricket. Prospect: Opener Adam Lyth has become a key player for Yorkshire . ‘As a county we do have a duty to produce as many players for England as we can. At the same time this county is ambitious and wants to win trophies, absolutely. So it’s finding that balance. All counties want to win but we all have to look at the bigger picture.’ The bigger picture for Gillespie is trying to ensure that the likes of Lyth, Rashid and Lees, considered by England to be the best prospect of the lot, join Root and Ballance in competing for the Ashes next summer. Surely that would provide divided loyalties? ‘No question I’d be proud if these guys line up against the Aussies next year,’ said a man who took 259 Test wickets for Australia and hit a Test double hundred. ‘First and foremost I’m the coach of Yorkshire and part of my job is to help my players represent England. I’ll be absolutely chuffed if they are there and I’ll be supporting them. ‘Don’t get me wrong, I love my country and that will never change. Last time in the Ashes there were a few Yorkies playing and I was really hoping they’d do well as well as wanting my country to do well. It can be a tough one but my priority is seeing Yorkshire players succeed.’ Front foot: Youngster Alex Lees has piled on the runs in 2014 . Comeback: Spin king Adil Rashid could return to the England set-up for the first time in five years . Yorkshire’s biggest problem may be keeping hold of their 39-year-old coach. Gillespie has already been sounded out by Darren Lehmann for a role within Australia’s set-up, without success, while Michael Vaughan, for one, believes he could be the next England coach. For now Gillespie is very happy as an adopted Yorkshireman and his wife and four children are settled in Leeds. ‘It’s a fantastic job, a dream job, at a big club with lots of challenges,’ he said. ‘I like to think I’ve got a good rapport with everyone I work with and I love working with this group of lads. ‘I’ll never quite get the accent but my kids are all talking like Yorkshiremen. My four-year-old boy just sounds like one and my older two have both got the twang. There’s no hope of my two-year-old daughter having an Aussie accent whatsoever! ‘Look, we’re very happy here and I feel I owe the club. They took a bit of a punt on me. I’d done some coaching in Zimbabwe but my CV wasn’t strong and I’m thankful for the opportunity to repay their faith. I just want to help them achieve their goals.’ Victory over Notts this week would be the perfect start. | Yorkshire can win the title if they avoid defeat to Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge this week .
Chasing their first title in 13 years .
Squad crammed with potential England players .
First team coach Jason Gillespie trying to help his players enjoy their cricket .
Joe Root, Gary Ballance and Liam Plunkett have all played for England this season .
Adam Lyth, Alex Lees and Adil Rashid could join them . |
05fb2d22250ad281b7d93959d4bff109c1ce2bfc | (CNN) -- Which came first, the troubles or the fame? After the suicide of a former contestant on Gordon Ramsay's "Kitchen Nightmares," the spotlight shined bright on the issues of reality TV stars. New Jersey restaurant owner Joseph Cerniglia plunged into New York's Hudson River in September 2010, and the New York City medical examiner ruled the death a suicide. Cerniglia had appeared on the first season of the Fox reality show hosted by famed chef Ramsay. At the time the episode was taped in 2007, Cerniglia was facing financial issues stemming from his then-struggling restaurant. Ramsay offered advice on how to turn his business around, telling the chef, "Your business is about to f**king swim down the Hudson." Ramsay released a statement following Cerniglia's death. "I was fortunate to spend time with Joe during the first season of 'Kitchen Nightmares,' " Ramsay said. "Joe was a brilliant chef, and our thoughts go out to his family, friends and staff." Cerniglia's death once again raised the specter of suicide in connection with reality television. "I absolutely don't feel that everyone who appears on a reality show is a damaged person," said Sharon Waxman, founder of entertainment site The Wrap, which in 2009 examined the suicides of 11 people connected to reality shows. "I'm just saying that there's probably a higher percentage than in the normal population who are attracted to that and who might have some vulnerabilities that will be exploited by being on television." There have been several cases, including Najai Turpin, a boxer who killed himself in 2005 after participating in the reality show "The Contender," hosted by Sylvester Stallone and Sugar Ray Leonard. In 2008, a one-time "American Idol" auditioner, Paula Goodspeed, was found dead of an overdose near the home of one of the show's judges, Paula Abdul. Abdul later said that Goodspeed had been obsessed with her for several years and that she had begged producers not to allow Goodspeed to audition. The Fox network declined to comment on Goodspeed's death, but former "Idol" producer Nigel Lythgoe told People magazine he had no recollection of Abdul requesting that Goodspeed not be allowed on the show. Rachel Brown, a 2006 contestant on "Hell's Kitchen," which is also hosted by Ramsay, was found dead of a gunshot wound in her Dallas home in 2007. A representative of the Tarrant County medical examiner's office confirmed to CNN that Brown's death was ruled a suicide. Princess Banton-Lofters is a development producer who has worked on casting several reality shows, including "The Real Housewives of Atlanta." She said she has seen the process morph over the years. "I know that when I am casting, I am looking for that person who is going to shine," Banton-Lofters said. "That could be shining in personality, shining in lifestyle or shining in just their story. But I think it's definitely changed in that (casting professionals) are probably now looking for a little bit more of the crazy." But with so many people these days pursing the limelight via reality shows, is the number of troubled contestants just an expected statistic? Celebrity and fame expert Cooper Lawrence said that may be, though she pointed to a 2006 study authored by Dr. Drew Pinsky (host of HLN's Dr. Drew On Call" and former VH1 reality shows "Celebrity Rehab" and "Sober House") and S. Mark Young as evidence that reality television attracts a specific type of personality. In the study, published in the Journal of Research in Personality, celebrities including television stars, comedians, musicians and reality stars were given the Narcissistic Personality Inventory. "The numbers for the reality stars were off the charts," Lawrence said. "It makes sense, because you are not an actor playing a role, you're not a musician hiding behind a guitar, you're you. The level of narcissism for reality stars is documented and goes well beyond the normal population." And while narcissism isn't an indicator for suicide, Cooper said it can be an indicator of a troubled person who lacks the stability to deal with the dark side of notoriety. "Reality television has provided an outlet for narcissistic individuals, many with limited abilities, to believe that they can succeed in the entertainment industry," the study said. "This desire to enter the industry may be fueled by the types of fantasy feelings of success, power and glory that narcissists seem to exhibit." Dr. Paula Clayton, who in 2010 was medical director for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, said that there is no data that definitively link reality television with an increased probability of suicide but that a mental disorder like narcissism could make a person more prone to taking his own life. "Ninety percent of people who kill themselves have a mental disorder when they kill themselves, the most common one being depression," she said. "There are all of these background factors that are the most important, and these reality shows and whatever happens might be the final straw." The Wrap's Waxman said their series on reality show suicides sought to examine whether the sometimes brutal nature of appearing on reality shows with all that entails, including public scrutiny, was a cause or whether such shows simply attract troubled individuals. Waxman said the debate rages on. "I think the experts will tell you that both are factors," she said. "To some degree, there are people who are needy in some way who are looking for fame for some particular reason to fill some need that they have which makes them particularly vulnerable." "But also the experience of being on television exposed in that way and often seeing themselves on television being 'Franken-edited' or what they call 'Franken-bytes,' where they edit a sequence together just to heighten the drama of every scene, is sometimes really mortifying for people, and they're really not prepared for that." Blogger Kath Skerry, who runs GiveMeMyRemote.com, said she worries that those who are focused on the fame that reality TV brings may not be mentally or emotionally prepared for the downside. "If you fail on reality TV, you're failing in a very big way," she said. "In a way that is seen by millions and millions of people, and to have that level of vulnerability exposed can raise the dramatic stakes of your situation." For help please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or call 1-800-273-8255 and they will put you in touch with someone in your area. | The suicide of "MasterChef" runner-up is the latest involving reality TV .
In September 2010, a former contestant on "Kitchen Nightmares" killed himself .
Blogger says she worries reality show contestants aren't prepared for downside of fame .
Expert says many factors cause suicide, and show appearance could be "final straw" |
05fb33c6d2120f4bda11a33e2ddd89a39bb8383c | Banned: Adam Walker has been prevented from teaching again after driving at a group of boys . An outspoken BNP activist has been given a lifetime teaching ban for chasing children in his car after they were verbally abusive towards him. Adam Walker, who has been pictured on BNP marches with the far-Right party's leader Nick Griffin, had initially been banned for two years by the College for Teaching and Leadership. However, Education Secretary Michael Gove has over-ruled that decision, and imposed a lifetime ban on returning to the classroom. Walker, 44, has 20 years of teaching experience, having worked in Japan before returning to North-East England, where he taught at Houghton Kepier School in Sunderland. He was given a six-month suspended prison sentence and lost his licence for 12 months after he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Durham Crown Court. At a St George's Day celebration in 2011 at Tudhoe, near his home town of Spennymoor in County Durham, Walker was abused by three boys aged between 10 and 12, the court heard. He chased the children in his car, then slit the tyres on their bikes with a Stanley knife. Recorder Ben Nolan said that his actions were extremely dangerous, and claimed he could have killed the boys. When the teaching council imposed a ban, it said: 'He had been provoked, but his reaction failed to meet up to the high standard expected of a teacher both in and out of school.' Supporter: Walker, pictured with BNP leader Nick Griffin, is a member of the far-Right political party . 'Vendetta': Walker, right, insists his teaching ban is politically motivated and not based on his crime . However, Walker insisted that the punishment imposed on him by Mr Gove was excessive, and the result of a 'personal vendetta' based on his controversial political beliefs. 'Clearly the Secretary of State has an axe to grind,' he said. 'I was dealt with first by the courts, then the teaching council, and accepted their decisions, but the Secretary of State has overruled all that. 'When I compare the punishments given to other teachers, including proven paedophiles and the like, what's happened to me seems totally disproportionate.' In his judgement for the Secretary of State's office, Alan Meyrick said: 'Mr Walker's convictions involved threatening behaviour and criminal damage of a serious nature aimed at children. 'The reputation of the profession would be seriously damaged by allowing a teacher with this combination of convictions to be able to teach again.' Punished: Walker was banned from driving and given a suspended sentence at Durham Crown Court, pictured . | Adam Walker, 44, targeted boys after they verbally taunted him .
He admitted dangerous driving and was given a suspended scentence .
He was initially banned for two years but this has now been extended .
Recorder Ben Nolan said that his actions could have killed the boys . |
05fb63fb10548a588f51aa791462bc3720f30e5a | (CNN) -- The Netherlands made a winning start to their World Cup campaign as a moment of defensive madness cost Denmark dearly in Johannesburg, while Japan defeated a disappointing Cameroon 1-0 in Monday's other Group E match. The Dutch failed to live up to their pre-tournament billing as one of the favorites, needing an own-goal less than a minute into the second half to settle their nerves and pave the way for an eventually comfortable 2-0 victory. Dirk Kuyt sealed the win with five minutes left, then defender Simon Poulsen -- earlier at fault for the opening goal -- made a spectacular clearance from under his own crossbar to prevent an even more damaging defeat. Keisuke Honda was the hero for Japan in Bloemfontein as his first half goal proved enough to beat 1990 quarterfinalists Cameroon and give the Asian side their first World Cup win on foreign soil. Netherlands 2-0 Denmark . The Netherlands started the match in at Soccer City with star forward Arjen Robben on the substitutes' bench still resting his injured hamstring, but still boasted attacking potency in Robin Van Persie and Kuyt plus the midfield presence of Mark van Bommel and Rafael van der Vaart. But Denmark slightly edged the first half as striker Nicklas Bendtner -- who made a surprise recovery from injury to start the match -- headed wide, and then set up Thomas Kahlenburg for a shot that was well saved by Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg. But the game turned some 40-odd seconds after the halftime restart when Poulsen, who plays for Dutch club AZ Alkmaar, inexplicably headed Van Persie's cross onto the back of his helpless teammate Daniel Agger and into the net. The unlucky Agger was later credited with the own-goal by world governing body FIFA. With Bendtner going off after an hour, the Danes lost all attacking impetus despite the introduction of 18-year-old forward Christian Eriksen, the youngest player to appear so far at this year's tournament. It became only a matter of time before the Dutch extended their lead, with Wesley Sneijder's deflected shot looping onto the top of Thomas Sorensen's crossbar. Kuyt wrapped it up soon after with a simple chance, following up as Eljero Elia broke free down the left and beat Sorensen with his low shot but hit the post. Poulsen then made some amends for his earlier error as he got back to clear with Sorensen again beaten in the 88th minute. "The players were a little tense and frustrated in the first-half, we wanted to play beautiful football, but we lost the ball too often," Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk told AFP. "Things got better after the first goal, then you saw what we are capable of doing, we could have won by more. It was a huge relief when the second goal went in." Japan 1-0 Cameroon . Both Japan and Cameroon came into the World Cup on a poor run of form, with the Asian team having lost four of the previous five games and the Africans winless in seven. After a dull opening, Japan started to press forward and deservedly took the lead seven minutes before the break. Daisuke Matsui swung over a deep cross from the right which eluded the entire Cameroon defense before landing at the feet of Honda, who calmly passed the ball into the net. Cameroon captain Samuel Eto'o, who appeared isolated on the right wing in the first half, carved his side's first real opportunity early in the second. Cutting in between three defenders, the Inter Milan forward cut the ball back from the byline and teed up Eric Choupo-Moting, whose curled shot went narrowly wide. Japan, who reached the last 16 on home soil in 2002, were organized and disciplined throughout and could have extended their lead when Makoto Hasebe's long-range strike drew a flying save from Hamidou Souleymanou. Shinji Okazaki fired the rebound against a post, only to be flagged offside. Moments later, the woodwork was shaking again at the other end of the pitch as Stephane Mbia's fierce shot from outside the area smashed against the crossbar. Cameroon, the highest-ranked African side at the tournament, laid siege to the Japan goal in stoppage-time but could not find a way past the impressive Eiji Kawashima. | Own-goal from Denmark defender puts Netherlands on the way to 2-0 Group E victory .
Poulsen heads cross off teammate Daniel Agger and into net for first goal after halftime .
Dutch seal victory with 85th-minute goal from Dirk Kuyt after Eljero Elias hits post .
Keisuke Honda scores only goal as Japan beat 1990 quarterfinalists Cameroon 1-0 . |
05fbc449143e6c05c719afc70a4ad582bbb84ece | Calling all iReporters: Have you ever wanted to write for CNN.com? Well here's your chance to get a CNN.com byline and improve your journalism skills along the way. Over the next seven weeks, you will be building a story from start to finish and working with some of the best journalists in the business along the way. Each week, CNN experts will take you through the basic steps of storytelling -- from picking your story to shooting and editing photos and videos and wrapping the package with a killer headline. At the end of each week, 10 iReporters will get one-on-one feedback from specially selected CNN experts in each area, and everyone will get a chance to ask the experts questions at the weekly roundtables. When boot camp is over, you will have a completed story with all the bells and whistles. And the best stories have a chance of being published on CNN.com. How does it work? Starting Friday, August 12, we'll launch a new topic every Friday. We will publish tips from CNN experts on that topic and open up that week's iReport assignment, which will cover each step of the storytelling process. You will have until the following Monday at noon ET to submit your iReport. Once submitted, CNN experts, along with the iReport team and the iReport community, will evaluate your iReport for that week. Every Wednesday, a select group of iReporters (Core iReports as we'll call them) will submit their top picks for that week, which you can find linked on the boot camp launch page. On Thursday, the CNN expert for that week with give feedback on a handful of the submissions, answer any questions you might have and share additional thoughts and suggestions through a roundtable discussion, which you'll find on the iReport boot camp page. How can I participate? Anyone can participate. Just take note of when each topic launches, which will be every Friday for the next seven weeks. Then submit the appropriate assignment by its deadline and tune in every Wednesday and Thursday for feedback from the community and CNN experts. Those who participate every week will have a better chance of getting their story featured on CNN.com. What are the topics? And what's the schedule? Even though the assignments won't open until the tips post is published, you will still be able to check it out, so plan ahead. Make sure to keep checking the boot camp launch page for continued updates on the assignments and topics. Week 1: Pick your story: Launches August 13, roundtable August 18. Week 2: Find your sources: Launches August 19, roundtable, August 25. Week 3: Interviewing: Launches August 26, roundtable September 1. Week 4: Capturing images: Launches September 2, roundtable September 8. Week 5: Photo and video post-production: Launches September 9, roundtable September 15. Week 6: Editing: Launches September 16, roundtable September 22. Week 7: Headlines and story building: Launches September 23, roundtable September 29. We'll announce specific times for the Thursday roundtable discussions as we get closer to the actual dates. Remember to tune in every Wednesday for feedback from our Core iReporters. And on September 30, we will announce the iReporters who got their story published on CNN.com. Who are the experts? From CNN.com's Senior Supervising Producer Manuel Perez to CNN Director of Photography Mark Hill, we have tapped some of the best in the business to help you become a better journalist. And some of those familiar TV personalities will be sharing their secrets as well. So in the meantime, check out all the assignments and start thinking about what story you want to cover. | Boot camp gives iReporters a chance to freshen up on their storytelling skills .
Starting August 12 for seven weeks, CNN experts will review the basics of storytelling .
There's a chance to get one-on-one feedback from CNN experts in each area . |
05fcb178cc2791ed5d66932956921062fb5d89cc | Manila, Philippines (CNN) -- With memories of last year's killer typhoons still fresh, Typhoon Megi roared across the Philippines on Monday, ripping through roofs and cutting off electricity. The cyclone's peak wind speeds decreased as the system moved over the Sierra Madre mountains, but it still packed sustained winds of around 167 kph (103 mph) with gusts up to 204 kph (126 mph), according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. This is down from peak sustained winds of 212 kph, with gusts up to 259 kph (161 mph), over the weekend. Megi, also known as Typhoon Juan, was expected to pick up steam again as it heads over the South China Sea. Current forecasts from the Joint Typhoon Center show the storm heading toward the southeastern China coast, just west of Hong Kong. In the Philippines, five people have died in what the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is billing as the strongest storm of the year, according to Catherine Martin, manager of disaster management services at the Philippine National Red Cross. Emergency workers pulled the body of Vicente Decena, 53, from a bloated river; a tree fell on the house of Aileen Respicio, 20, killing her and injuring her child. Five others were injured elsewhere, the disaster council reported. Even as it weakened, Megi continued to pose a serious threat. Trees swayed and relentless rains inundated roads. Storm chaser James Cabrera, who was in Luzon, said parts of the Philippines could see 300 to 500 millimeters (12 to 20 inches) of rain. "Unfortunately, this is a part of the world where the infrastructure is quite fragile, the power grid is quite fragile and a lot of people live in quite basic houses," James Reynolds, a storm chaser who is on Luzon, told CNN on Monday. "We have learned our lessons from the grim experiences we had during typhoons Ondoy [known internationally as Ketsana] and Pepeng [Parma]," House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said, according to the Philippine News Agency. "We must all cooperate because nature's wrath exempts no one." A year ago, tens of thousands of people were in evacuation centers as four consecutive typhoons drenched the Philippines. About 500 people were reported dead. Journalist Eduardo Lingao in Manila contributed to this report for CNN. | Typhoon Megi, also known as Typhoon Juan, has weakened further over land .
The storm is expected to regain strength as it moves over the South China Sea .
Northern areas of Luzon have been battered by heavy rain and strong winds .
Parts of the Philippines could get 300 to 500 millimeters (12 to 20 inches) of rain . |
05fdd8a5412ff57f8f514842390c4a9e60155dce | Philadelphia (CNN) -- It's late afternoon on a recent Friday when Shree McKinley walks past the Women's Medical Society. Making her way toward a large picture window, she peers inside the shuttered medical clinic, cupping her hand on the glass to block the glaring sun. Backing away, she gasps at a series of petite baby hands made of plaster fastened to the windowsill. "That is sad," she said. "But I guess it's the memory of the little kids that never made it." McKinley said she was a patient of Kermit Gosnell, a Philadelphia physician who was accused of killing babies born after attempted abortions in the sixth, seventh, and eighth months of their mothers' pregnancies at his Pennsylvania clinic, while operating in dangerous, deplorable conditions. Gosnell carried out those killings in a particularly brutal manner: using scissors to cut the babies' spinal cords. He also was charged in the death of a 41-year-old woman during an abortion procedure. He was found guilty Monday of three counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of the babies, and involuntary manslaughter for the woman's death. The grisly allegations in the case -- dirty procedure rooms, blood-stained and weathered equipment, babies born alive, breathing and crying, and unlicensed staff administering anesthesia -- shocked the nation and prompted McKinley to rethink what she went through six years ago. Gosnell horror fuels fight for abortion laws . The 36-year-old now wonders if maybe her child was born alive and had its neck snipped. "I try not to think about it. But I think about it, and it's sad. I wish I never did it," she said. "If I would have known what I know now, I never would have had an abortion." McKinley, now a mother, said she was approximately six months pregnant at the time Gosnell performed her abortion, which was not part of the criminal case against him. CNN could not independently verify McKinley's account. It's illegal to perform an abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy in the state of Pennsylvania. Generally, most doctors will not perform abortions after 20 weeks, Philadelphia district attorney Seth Williams said following Gosnell's arrest in January 2011. Prosecutors say Gosnell, who is not certified to perform abortions, falsified gestational ages on records. "This doctor gained the reputation far and wide that he'd perform abortions at any time," Williams said. Struggling with the idea of having a child, McKinley ultimately decided to terminate her pregnancy. So one evening, her father escorted her to Gosnell's crowded and unkempt clinic in West Philadelphia for the procedure. Opinion: Gosnell case shows why abortion rights need protection . "He seemed like he was a helpful person," she said of Gosnell, adding that her abortion cost $1,600. "I didn't have (all) the money up front. So I was able to give him partial money and come back and pay the rest off in payment plans." Although unaware of the salacious allegations that later surfaced during the investigation of the clinic, McKinley said she felt "uncomfortable" and "scared" at the doctor's office. "All the equipment was old, it was rusty. It looked like stuff from back in the 70s. And it was dirty," she said. "But I had to, you know, at the time, I had to do what I had to do." During the trial, prosecutors accused Gosnell of reusing unsanitary instruments; performing procedures in filthy rooms, including some having litter boxes and animals present during operations; and allowing unlicensed employees -- including a teenage high school student -- to perform operations and administer anesthesia. Gosnell's defense attorney Jack McMahon maintained that none of the infants was killed; rather, he said, they were already deceased as a result of Gosnell previously administering the drug Digoxin, which can cause abortion. The conviction on three counts of first-degree murder mean Gosnell, who is not a board-certified obstetrician or gynecologist, could be sentenced to death. "He deserves to die," McKinley said. | Shree McKinley says Kermit Gosnell performed an abortion on her years ago .
After details of his trial emerged, she had second thoughts about her decision .
Prosecutors said Gosnell killed babies by cutting their spinal cords with scissors .
He was found guilty of first-degree murder on Monday . |
05fe1e564d77779d1ed79a8b37a15a77bca441a4 | By . Emma Reynolds . Last updated at 8:16 AM on 30th September 2011 . Ed Miliband has admitted he turned to his spurned brother David for advice on his keynote speech at the Labour conference in Liverpool. The revelation came as a party member blasted the brothers' feud as a 'cloud hanging over Labour.' Mr Miliband said his brother had advised him to 'be his own person' in the speech, and the Labour leader followed it up with an attack last night on the Government's cuts to public sector pensions. Mr Miliband has faced criticism for a lack of strong policies since he beat his brother in last year's leadership contest. Brotherly advice: Ed Miliband (right) denied talk of a feud and said absent brother David advised him on his keynote speech to the conference on Tuesday . He has now criticised David Cameron for wrongly 'slapping a three per cent per cent tax rise on . public sector workers without properly negotiating'. His insistence that the Prime Minister needed to talk to the unions will be well received after Unison's Dave Prentis said this week that millions of workers expected support from Labour. But Mr Miliband was challenged over his troubled relationship with his brother during a question and answer session at the conference and urged to bring David back from 'political Siberia'. Minal Supri, a special constable from Leeds, asked: 'Don't you think it's time to bring David out of political Siberia and for once end all the rumours and innuendo about backbiting? 'Because this party is not going to win if people focus on that and that is what the media is focusing on. Attack: David Cameron came in for criticism from Ed Miliband, who said the Prime Minister had failed to negotiate before cutting public sector pensions . 'We need to unite and we need to move forward otherwise we are not going to win in 2015.' Mr Miliband acknowledged that his defeat of his brother, who is missing the party conference and instead giving a speech in the U.S., had been 'difficult for us'. He said: 'David is a massive asset to our politics and our party... I have always said I would be happy to have him back, I want to have him back, but in the end he has got to decide what is the right thing for him to do. 'He has been incredibly supportive to me in relation to the speech I gave on Tuesday and throughout the last year.' But Ms Supri said later: 'I wanted a straight answer and I didn't get one. We want the party to unite and Ed to put an end to this once and for all. This is a cloud hanging over Labour.' The Labour leader tried to emphasise his closeness to his brother by detailing how David had helped him him develop his vision. He said: 'I talked to him before the speech, he's currently abroad, and he gave me good advice. The advice was "be your own person, say what you think" and that's what I did and that's what I'm going to keep doing. 'What I've set out is a vision for how we can change this country and where I stand - against the closed circles of Britain that hold people back. We've seen that today, the top universities not doing enough to open up to state school pupils, that's wrong, I think it's got to change. 'How are we going to take on the vested interests at the top of our society, whether it's the energy companies or the banks, real changes that can help the people of Britain?' In his latest stand against Mr Cameron's pensions changes, Mr Miliband said: 'The most important thing is that we have proper negotiations and the Government engages seriously in the negotiations. Family ties: Ed (left) awkwardly embraces brother David after winning the Laboru leadership contest . 'At the moment what the Government has done is slapped a three per cent tax rise on public sector workers without properly negotiating, without it being recommended by an independent report. 'I say the Government should not be doing that, it should be engaging in proper, serious negotiations with the trade unions. 'It's their responsibility to stop the strike, which is after all scheduled for two months' time if a ballot goes through, it's their responsibility to stop it happening.' Mr Miliband now has the freedom to choose his own frontbench team instead of seeing them elected, after the conference changed the party's rules. But he refused to comment on the possibility of an imminent reshuffle, saying: 'I've got an excellent team. I think it's right to change the rules though, because I don't think the public want us looking inwards having shadow cabinet elections - the old system - but looking outwards to them.' Jasmin Beckett, from Liverpool, was the real star of the show as she told Mr Miliband about cuts at her school, Holly Lodge Girls' College. The 15-year-old won warm applause after describing how her school was being 'attacked by the coalition Government' . The Labour leader was also given a rough ride by disability rights campaigner Kaliya Franklin, 35, from Wirral, who claimed he was 'reinforcing the destructive rhetoric' on welfare by talking about someone he met who was on sickness benefits and could have worked. Mr Miliband replied: 'I'm not questioning the fact that he genuinely had an ailment... but I just say to you the system didn't demand that he go back to work, the system wrote him off.' He added: 'I genuinely don't think that saying you are tough on abuse of the benefit system is a non-Labour thing to do. I think it is fundamentally a Labour thing to do.' He went on to reject calls for a referendum on EU membership, said strikes should only ever be a 'last resort' and said he would like to see more working class MPs. He said that the Arab Spring had taught him that it was 'wrong' to support dictators in the Middle East and North Africa on the grounds that they were a bulwark against terrorism. Mr Miliband later told BBC2's Newsnight he was 'in favour of capitalism, just for the record, but it is what kind of capitalism you have.' He said the New Labour model of using the proceeds of growth to invest in public services and tackle poverty had advantages and disadvantages. 'The disadvantages were that it didn't change the way the economy worked enough, it did not lower inequality, and, also, for the next 10 years, there isn't going to be that money around,' he said. On the final day of the conference, deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman will accuse the Conservatives of plotting to wipe out millions of Labour's core votes by pushing people off the electoral register. The conference will also hear today from some of the 3,000 workers who are set to lose their jobs at BAE Systems. | Party member slams siblings' war as distracting from politics .
Ed Miliband attacks David Cameron for 'slapping a 3% per cent tax rise on public sector workers' |
05fec3f0f5aaf676ae60650c9e416550e2e7c303 | Jerusalem (CNN) -- Four Palestinian militants were killed Tuesday evening in an Israeli airstrike in the Zeitoun neighborhood east of Gaza City, the latest in a series of attacks in recent days that have included two children among the fatalities, Hamas security sources and Palestinian medical officials said. Islamic Jihad said all four militants were field commanders for Islamic Jihad. An Israeli army spokeswoman said that an Israeli military aircraft fired toward the group after identifying a group of militants who were preparing to launch a rocket into Israel. In an earlier incident Tuesday, two adults and two children were killed in the Al-Shajaieh neighborhood east of Gaza City when shells from Israeli tanks hit a house there, the sources said. The children, 11-year-old Mohammed Jihad Al-Hilo and 16-year-old Yasser Ahed Al-Hilo, were playing soccer outside their house when the shells hit, the sources said. Yasser Hamed Al-Hilo, 50, and Mohamad Saber Harara, 20, were also killed, according to the sources. Eight others were wounded, three of them critically, they said. The Israel Defense Forces said the mortar attack was carried out in response to the launch from Gaza of four military-use projectiles into the Shaar Hanegev regional council area. "It appears that uninvolved civilians were injured as a result," the IDF said. The incident was under investigation by the IDF. "The IDF does not want an escalation of violence in the South," an IDF spokesman said. In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed regret over the deaths and injuries of Gaza civilians in Tuesday's Israeli military action and said the strikes were carried out in response to Hamas attacks on Israeli citizens. "It's unfortunate that Hamas continues to intentionally rain down dozens of rockets on Israeli civilians using its own civilians as shields," he said. "Israel has no intention of bringing about a deterioration of the situation, but at the same time the IDF will continue to act decisively to protect Israeli citizens." Hamas condemned the killings east of Gaza City. "The massacre in Al-Shajaieh neighborhood is a war crime and the Israeli occupation bears full responsibility," it said in a statement. Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad also condemned what he called "the Israeli aggression against the civilians" and asked for international protection of civilians. He called the military shelling of residential neighborhoods a "dangerous escalation that should be ended." Since Saturday, 10 Palestinians have been killed and at least 37 others wounded in a series of incidents in Gaza, Palestinian medical sources said. Also since Saturday, 61 mortars and rockets have been fired into southern Israel, the IDF said. CNN's Michal Zippori, Kareem Khadder and Talal Abu Rahma contributed to this report. | NEW: "Israel has no intention of bringing about a deterioration of the situation," Netanyahu says .
NEW: "The massacre ... is a war crime," says Hamas .
Four Palestinian militants were killed Tuesday evening .
Israel says mortars and rockets have been fired from Gaza into southern Israel . |
05ff520b07cbeaf0ce31d6ac47b5fecef4e368dd | (CNN) -- If a young Robin Wright had gotten her wish, she would've wed Cary Elwes. The now 48-year-old actress recalls in the June/July issue of Town and Country magazine that she had a definite crush on her "Princess Bride" co-star as they were working on Rob Reiner's 1987 film. "Cary was so good looking," Wright says. "I was convinced we were going to be married." At the very least, she got to have an on-screen happy ending with the actor in the cult favorite film, which tells the story of Princess Buttercup's longing to reunite with her true love, Elwes' "As you wish" Westley. "It was my first film experience, and so you might say that I fully immersed myself in the role," Wright tells Town and Country. "I did not act. It was mostly telling myself, 'Don't be an idiot in front of Mandy Patinkin and Christopher Guest.' " Wright's come a long way since her days playing princess, and she now co-stars with Kevin Spacey in Netflix's praised "House of Cards." Although fans -- and critics -- love her as the calculating wife of Spacey's politician, Frank Underwood, Wright has begun to enjoy working behind the camera more. In the second season of "House of Cards," she makes her directorial debut in the 10th episode. "I've been in this business almost 30 years, and I'm such a control freak. You're sitting around knowing how a scene should be blocked or the direction an actor should be given, and biting your tongue," Wright tells the magazine. "I loved being in the driver's seat. I honestly don't want to act anymore." Part of that ambivalence might have something to do with the roles she's been offered; if the main duty was just to stand and be pretty, Wright says she's had no problem passing them up. "Hollywood is difficult to navigate if you have integrity, so I opted not to work if there wasn't enough to do in a role, which doesn't have to do with the role's size," she says. "If there's nothing for me to do as an actress, that's frustrating. ... I'd rather go work at a menial labor job, where I can actually get my hands dirty." It's a good thing portraying "House of Cards'" Claire Underwood involves plenty of dirty work. | Robin Wright talks about her first feature film role in "Princess Bride"
"I did not act," Wright tells Town and Country magazine in its June issue .
She says she was "convinced" she was going to marry co-star Cary Elwes .
These days she stars on Netflix's "House of Cards" |
060003f4a1df86bf7af0bf2b82c4b02fc0315a72 | (CNN)Heidi Snow and Michel Breistroff were planning a future together. Breistroff, a Harvard graduate, was a professional hockey player with a promising career. Snow worked for a hedge fund in New York City. On July 17, 1996, their lives changed forever. Breistroff boarded TWA Flight 800 bound for his native France on his way to Germany to play professional hockey. "He called me, and he told me he was getting on the plane. And he asked me to marry him on the phone before he got on the plane," Snow told CNN the next day. Twelve minutes after takeoff from JFK Airport, the plane exploded in midair off the coast of Long Island. Two hundred thirty passengers were on board. No one survived. "After we said our final 'I love yous' ... about two hours later, my mom called," Snow recalled recently. "She said, 'Please tell me that Michel didn't go to Paris tonight.'" Snow immediately turned on the TV. "I just remember fire and really dark water. And at that point, my life stood still," she said. "He was strong, he was young, and he definitely swam to shore. And I held on to that hope. And then the next morning it became a recovery mission." About five weeks later, Snow's greatest fear was confirmed when Breistroff's remains were recovered from the bottom of the ocean. "One of the hardest things for me was just going home," she said. "Everybody is resuming life as normal but I had a huge hole in my heart, and I had a future planned with somebody and that was gone." Snow looked for a support group in New York City but couldn't find one. She spoke with Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and he suggested she attend a meeting with families from Pan Am Flight 103, which had exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, eight years earlier. "When I walked in the room, it was the first time I didn't have to apologize for my tears. They didn't have to say a word. They got it," she said. Snow met a woman who lost her fiancé on the Pan Am flight. "She would meet with me and talk with me," Snow said. "She is really how I got through it." From there, Snow began pairing up mothers to mothers, siblings to siblings, spouses to spouses -- Pan Am families with TWA families. A few months later, ACCESS was born. ACCESS, short for AirCraft Casualty Emotional Support Services, is a nonprofit bereavement support program for people who have lost loved ones in aviation disasters. "We have 250 grief mentors from air disasters dating back to 1958 -- private, military and commercial air disasters," Snow said. "This gives people an opportunity to share what they went through with somebody else and also provide hope for them." Most of the trained grief mentors have called in for help in the past, Snow said. Rachel Courtney is one of them. Courtney lost her father, James Courtney, along with his legal assistant in a private plane crash in 1998. "For a period of three weeks, we were searching for him in the woods," Courtney said. "The first night I was home, we were all in a small airport...I thought he's probably cold and in the woods and that nobody's helping him. And I was completely panicked." A year later, Courtney was still grappling with the loss. "I realized that the world was moving on but in a lot of respects, I wasn't," she said. "Heidi ended up pairing me up with another woman who was a mentor, who had lost her father in an aircraft disaster." Courtney's experience inspired her to help others. "To me, it was 'I got through this,'" she said. "I wanted to be there to help other people see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel." When planes go down, like AirAsia Flight 8501, which left 162 people dead in December, Snow and her team of grief mentors stand by ready to help. "Every time we have the opportunity to speak about ACCESS on the news...We get calls for help from people who have lost loved ones who didn't know we were there," she said. Snow appeared on several CNN shows after the AirAsia crash. "Every time these incidents occur we are walking with them, we remember, we are grieving with them," Snow told Michaela Pereira on CNN's "New Day." In addition to providing one-on-one support, the organization shares information with airlines and organizations to help them offer more effective emotional support after these types of losses. Snow also wrote the book "Surviving Sudden Loss: Stories from those who have lived it" as another tool families could use to deal with their grief. "This is a lifelong journey. ... I feel so blessed that I've been given the opportunity to be with these incredible people who come forward and volunteer their time," Snow said. "They really look at life differently because they start to realize how precious it is and how life can change in an instant." | Heidi Snow lost her fiance when TWA Flight 800 exploded in 1996 .
Snow started ACCESS to help others who have lost loved ones in plane crashes .
Snow wants to make sure "no one ever has to go through their loss alone" |
0601134cb2593baac73cd1c874048798fa3feda4 | Siem Reap, Cambodia (CNN) -- Maneuvering slowly through grassy Cambodian terrain, a caravan of 20 men and women is on a search-and-rescue mission. Dressed in military fatigues, they are guided by a fearless leader who calculates every step and ensures the safest path for his comrades. It takes just minutes for the unit to confront the first of many hidden targets: a muddied 20-year-old land mine buried a few inches beneath the ground. "This is an active land mine made from Russia. [If] we step on [it] ... it explodes and cuts the leg off," says Aki Ra, leader of the Cambodian Self Help Demining team. He and his group are working to make their country safer by clearing land mines -- many of which Aki Ra planted himself years ago. Aki Ra, a Cambodian native who does not recall his birth year, was a child soldier during the communist Khmer Rouge regime, a genocidal crusade responsible for the deaths of an estimated 1.5 million Cambodians during the 1970s. He was raised by the army after being separated from his family during the internal conflict. Around age 10, Aki Ra estimates, he was given a rifle that measured his own height. Soon after, he was taught to lay land mines. For three years, Aki Ra worked as a mine layer for the Khmer Rouge. He then did the same job for the Vietnamese army that overthrew his village. "I maybe planted 4,000 to 5,000 land mines in a [single] month," said Aki Ra, who says he's about 40 years old now. "We planted them all over the place." Watch a slideshow of some young land-mine victims Aki Ra has helped . According to the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, an estimated 4 million to 6 million land mines were laid in Cambodia during three decades of conflict. The mines were planted to defend strategic military locations, target warring opponents and deny the use of roads. "I had [bad] feelings, because sometimes we were fighting against our friends and relatives," Aki Ra said. "I felt sad when I saw a lot of people were killed. A lot of people were suffering from land mines. [But] I did not know what to do, [because] we were under orders." Approximately 63,000 civilians and soldiers have been in accidents involving land mines and other explosive weapons, according to the Cambodian Mine Victim Information System. Nearly 19,000 of them were killed. Today, Cambodia reportedly has one amputee for every 290 people, one of the highest ratios in the world. When the United Nations came in the early 1990s to help restore peace to Cambodia, Aki Ra saw an opportunity to begin undoing the damage he and others had done. He started training with the U.N. and helping them clear mines. It was around this time he got the name he goes by today. He was born Eoun Yeak, but he was so skilled at clearing mines that his supervisors began comparing him to AKIRA, a heavy-duty appliance company in Japan. One reportedly commented, "He works just like an AKIRA." The name stuck. Do you know a hero? Nominations are open for 2010 CNN Heroes . In 1993, one year after working with the U.N., Aki Ra decided to begin clearing mines alone. "Some of the areas I was clearing were places where I used to plant mines before," he said. "I didn't have any equipment. ... I clear by knife, by stick." For Aki Ra, this bare-hands technique "wasn't dangerous. It was easy." But easy didn't mean legal. The method was not in accordance with international standards, which requires protective gear and other professional equipment. So in 2005, he went to the United Kingdom to receive formal training and accreditation. In 2008, Aki Ra formed his nonprofit demining organization. Comprised of native Cambodians, it includes former soldiers and war crime victims. One of the workers is an amputee who lost a leg to a land mine. "[Our] goal is to clear land mines in rural villages for the people who need the land for building houses or farming or building schools," Aki Ra said. Aki Ra and his organization devote all of their donated funds to clearing Cambodia's rural "low-priority" villages. These villages, populated primarily by poor farmers, do not always receive first dibs for minefield clearance projects because of their remoteness and limited traffic. At times, they're completely overlooked. "Villagers report land mines every day, and they ask us to destroy [them]," Aki Ra said. "The people are afraid of mines. Whether there are a lot of land mines or only a few, [we] still have to clear the area so that the people in the village can be safe." Kuot Visoth, chief of Prey Thom village, was relieved when the team arrived in early July to clear his village. "I know the area around the school has a lot of land mines, and I am afraid that when the children come to school and play, they will step on them, or the villagers' buffaloes grazing in the area would be killed," Visoth said. Aki Ra estimates that he and his group have cleared more than 50,000 land mines and unexploded war weapons such as bombs and grenades. The Cambodian government says there are 3 million to 5 million mines still undiscovered. Many of Aki Ra's recovered land mines and unexploded weapons are on display at a museum in Siem Reap. For $2, visitors can touch defused mines and bombs as well as AK-47 rifles and war uniforms. "I had an idea to open a land mine museum to teach people to understand about war, land mines," he said. "Even though the war [is] finished, [these explosives] still kill people, and the land cannot be used." Also at the museum is an orphanage that Aki Ra and his wife, Hourt, opened about a decade ago. Roughly 100 children, some injured by land mines, have been cared for over the years. The orphanage provides food and shelter for the children and sends them to public school. "I brought them to the museum because I could provide them with [a] better situation," Aki Ra said. "If I didn't help them, they would have a very difficult life." The orphanage's first resident, Sot "Tol" Visay, lost a leg to a mine. He was living on the street when Aki Ra was demining in his province. Aki Ra offered Visay a home, and Visay has spent the past seven years living there. "This place has been very good to me," said Visay, now 21. "Mr. Aki Ra does not want anything from me. Instead, he encourages all people here to study, to gain knowledge." Hourt died last year from a stroke, leaving Aki Ra to care for his three biological children and 27 orphans ages 10 to 20. Aki Ra is thankful to have caretakers, teachers, a chef and a driver who help look after the children during his demining missions, which can last up to 25 consecutive days every month. "All the children living in my center I consider as my own children. They call me father," said Aki Ra, whose efforts in Cambodia will be highlighted in an upcoming documentary, "A Perfect Soldier." "I have told them about my personal life. They understand all about my history. I tell the children that they should study hard, do good acts and love each other." Want to get involved? Check out the Cambodian Self Help Demining website at www.cambodianselfhelpdemining.org and see how to help. You can nominate a 2010 CNN Hero at cnnheroes.com. CNN's Miranda Leitsinger and Tim Schwarz contributed to this report. | As a child soldier for the Khmer Rouge, Aki Ra planted up to 5,000 land mines a month .
Now he goes into rural villages to find remaining mines and defuse them .
Aki Ra has also taken in about 100 orphans, some injured by land mines .
Do you know a hero? Nominations are open for 2010 CNN Heroes . |
060365a0fecfbf03ee7694b21806cbd2ae2f6561 | By . Alexandra Williams . PUBLISHED: . 06:14 EST, 28 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 08:22 EST, 28 February 2014 . Skier Dave Tapsfield smiled for a picture in the sunshine after summiting an Alpine mountain this week – but less than one hour after it was taken he was tragically swept to his death in a huge avalanche. The Scotsman who mounted a courageous rescue effort to rescue Mr Tapsfield has spoken movingly of the tragedy. Lorne Cameron, 29, has told how he desperately battled in vain to save his friend after he was flung down the mountain. Tragedy: This picture of Dave Tapsfield was taken less than an hour before he was swept to his death in an avalanche . Fall: The red line shows the path of the avalanche that Mr Tapsfield was swept along by . The experienced mountaineers were skiing on Mont Buet, near Chamonix in France, when a snow cornice, an overhanging edge of snow on a ridge, suddenly collapsed from under Mr Tapsfield. Lorne watched in horror as Mr Tapsfield, 28, from Whitley Bay, was engulfed by snow. He skied over the avalanche debris and managed to locate him after 20 minutes by using his avalanche transceiver. Mr Lorne, originally from Glasgow, saw one of Mr Tapsfield’s hands protruding from the snow and frantically dug him out. But he was dead. Local rescue workers have praised Mr Lorne’s efforts, describing him as ‘undeniably very, very courageous’. The tragedy happened at about 1pm on Tuesday on Mont Buet. The men had summitted at 11.30am and were descending. Courageous: Lorne Cameron (left) has told how he desperately tried to save Mr Tapsfield (right), skiing down treacherous terrain to reach him . Speaking from Chamonix, Mr Lorne, who has attended training courses with the Avalanche Academy in Chamonix, said: ‘We were on our way down after a five-hour hike up. Dave was in a great mood. It was a beautiful day. ‘I was in the front. Dave was behind and slightly to the right. ‘We knew there were cornices. We were skiing parallel to the ridge about five to six metres from the edge. ‘Suddenly, without warning, I fell to the ground. There was a crash, a boom sound. It was loud. I fell away from the ridge edge. ‘I looked up and saw Dave. He had fallen too but then I saw him literally bouncing over the precipice. ‘We had skied over a cornice and it had broken off. Dave was just a step closer and he bounced over with the broken edge of cornice. ‘It was four to five metres in depth. It was a huge mass that collapsed off the ridge on to the slope below. ‘This triggered an avalanche. The avalanche was massive. I could see Dave. Maybe for one second I could see him being carried off in the avalanche. I lost sight of him about 100 metres into the avalanche. He was completely engulfed in it. I had no idea of the terrain. Dave had been taken down terrain we had no plans of going into. It was steep. At least 40 to 45 degrees in gradient. Location: The accident took place on Mont Buet in the French Alps, near the ski resort of Chamonix . ‘The avalanche kept going and going. There were clouds of snow billowing into the air. It was a massive cloud. There was no mistaking that it was a huge avalanche. ‘I stood up. I was less than a metre from the edge of the ridge. I was on the new edge, where the cornice had broken off. ‘I desperately wanted to get to Dave as quickly as I possibly could. I knew I had to ski down the avalanche debris. ‘It was a 10 metre drop down off the edge so I had to hike back up and find a way around. ‘I found a way to get on to the avalanche path. The avalanched snow grabbed at my skis. ‘It was now about five minutes since I had seen Dave. I switched my transceiver to search mode and swept it from side to side, desperate to pick up a signal from Dave’s transceiver. ‘The avalanche terrain was tough. There was a huge swathe of bare ice. The avalanche had stripped all the snow away. There were exposed rocks. ‘I suddenly picked up Dave’s signal quite a bit further down. I honed in on the area and then I saw one of Dave’s hands on the surface of the snow. ‘I grabbed it. I shouted his name. I kept shouting. His hand was bare. The glove had been ripped off. It was cold and it was limp. Accident: David Tapsfield fell when a snow cornice, an overhanging edge of snow on a ridge, collapsed from under him . ‘I started digging. Digging, digging, digging. I uncovered his face first, then freed his chest. I knew in my heart there was no hope but I couldn’t give up. ‘It must have been after about 15 minutes between turning on my transceiver to search mode and finding him. ‘I pulled my phone out. There was no signal. I started giving Dave CPR. I remember thinking if I could get oxygen into him there might be hope, however slim. My phone still had no signal. ‘Between every set of two breaths and two chest compressions I checked the signal on my phone. ‘Suddenly that bar of signal was there. I called a friend of Dave’s and mine, Angus Paterson. I thought it was better to get a quick message to him in case my phone cut out. I just shouted down the phone to him that we needed a heli on the north east face of Mt Buet and that there had been a big avalanche. ‘I got back to the CPR. It was all I could do. It was traumatic. So traumatic. Trying to resuscitate Dave was so nasty. It was horrible. I tried and I tried but he was dead. The reality was, he was dead when I found him.’ Mr Lorne was helicoptered off the mountain. Popular: Chamonix, famed for its challenging terrain, is visited by thousands of skiers and snowboarders every year . A Chamonix police spokesman said: ‘Lorne saw the avalanche and he was first on the scene to rescue his friend. ‘It meant skiing over the avalanche debris and then searching for him with his Arva (avalanche transceiver). He administered first aid at the scene until the mountain rescue arrived. ‘He was undeniably very, very courageous. ‘A cornice had ruptured and the victim had fallen 600 metres. ‘The fall triggered the slide of a huge mass of snow or an avalanche.’ A snow cornice is formed by wind blowing snow over a sharp terrain break, such as the crest of a mountain or along the sides of gullies, where it attaches and builds out horizontally. It is extremely dangerous to ski or hike on them or underneath them. The vulnerability of the structure poses a high risk of triggering avalanches. They are particularly dangerous during sunny weather. The area has experienced warm weather during the past week. On Thursday Mr Tapsfield’s parents and two of his sisters arrived in Chamonix to identify his body and collect his possessions. Mr Tapsfield had moved to Chamonix a few years ago to pursue his love of the mountains and set up a successful sausage-making business selling his wares to local restaurants and pubs. As a teenager he was part of the Football Development Scheme for 16 to 19-year-olds at Tyne Metropolitan College in North Tyneside. In 2005 he won a scholarship at Lafeyatte College in New Jersey, USA, one of the top six colleges in the country, to study and play the game. | David Tapsfield, 28, was ski touring when he was killed in the French Alps .
The experienced mountaineer fell nearly 2,000ft in a huge avalanche .
He was accompanied by a friend during tour of Mont Buet, near Chamonix . |
06038c0a1cf594f4653e7e5cf494df2db08a084a | With Princess Charlene days away from giving birth, Monaco's Prince Albert was forced to draft in sister Stéphanie as his date last night. The Monégasque royal was at the Fight AIDS Monaco Auction Sale at the Hotel Meridien and looked in good spirits, cheerfully giving his sibling a smacking kiss on the cheek as she arrived to join him. For her part, Stéphanie, 49, was chic in a tailored cream boucle jacket and neatly tailored trousers, and accessorised the look with a bright slick of red lipstick. Scroll down for video . Pucker up: Prince Albert plants a kiss on sister Stéphanie's cheek as he arrives at the auction . No nerves: Despite the imminent birth of his twin heirs, Albert, 56, looked happy and relaxed . She also joined auctioneers on the stage to help sell off some of the art, which was donated by painters such as Kenzo Takada, will all profits going to help AIDS victims. Fight AIDS Monaco is a personal project of Princess Stéphanie's and was launched to help people with HIV and AIDS live normal lives, free from discrimination and stigma. Stéphanie is the youngest child of the late Prince Ranier and his wife Grace Kelly and has enjoyed a colourful career, that has included stints as a model, fashion designer and singer. Her love life has been equally colourful, with a first marriage to her bodyguard Daniel Ducruet, followed by a relationship with an elephant trainer. After that relationship ended in 2001, she married Portuguese acrobat Adans Lopez Peres but the marriage ended in divorce less than a year later. Nice to see you: The royal siblings looked thrilled to see each other for the Hotel Meridien event . All smiles: The siblings sat together for the event, which was held to raise funds to help AIDS victims . Birth: Albert's wife Charlene, who is almost nine months pregnant with twins, chose to stay at home . Auctioneer: Stéphanie helped auction off some of the artworks on behalf of her charity, Fight AIDS Monaco . While Prince Albert is no stranger to a complex love life, his romantic life has been transformed since meeting then Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock in 2000. Now Princess Charlene, the sports star moved into the Palais Princier in 2006 and the couple married in 2011. Although heavily pregnant Charlene, 36, usually accompanies Albert to events in Monaco, she remained at home last night. Due to give birth to twin heirs within days, she last appeared in public with the Monégasque royal family on Monaco Day last month. Donation: Painter Kenzo Takada was among the artists to donate work to be sold at the auction . Last appearance: Princess Charlene was last seen on Monaco National Day last month . Imminent: The heavily pregnant princess joined the rest of the Monégasque royals on the balcony . Kiss: She treated husband Albert to a kiss on the balcony of the Palais Princier in central Monaco . Speaking in a rare interview days after the balcony appearance, Albert told local paper Monaco Matin that the birth is imminent. 'As it is a twin pregnancy the birth will surely take place a dozen days early,' he told the French language title. Princess Charlene, 36, who has chosen to find out the babies' genders, is, he revealed, under strict instructions not to tell him. 'The princess probably knows but she is playing the game,' said the expectant father. 'She is keeping the secret as I asked her to.' 'You know, one doesn't often have the opportunity to have such pleasant surprises in life. That is why I prefer not to know the babies' gender before the birth.' With an average of 3.5 sets of twins born per 1,000 pregnancies, an instant family of two babies - even royal ones - isn't unusual. Georg Friedrich, Prince of Prussia is one royal parent of twins, who with wife Princess Sophie of Isenberg welcomed Carl Friedrich and Louis Ferdinand in 2013. Another is Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and his wife Mary, who became parents to Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine in 2011. Prince Louis Alphonse, Duke of Anjou is yet another royal father of twins, following the birth of Prince Louis, Duke of Burgundy and Prince Alphonse, Duke of Berry, to his wife María Margarita Vargas Santaella in 2010. But although royal twins are fairly frequent among European dynasties, among them the Monégasque couple, British royals are an entirely different story with just one set born in the last 2,000 years. Born to King James I of Scotland and his wife Joan Beaufort in 1430, Alexander and James were the first and only twins born to British royal parents. Tragically though, Alexander, the eldest of the two, died before reaching one - with his younger brother later taking the throne of Scotland as James II. During his marriage to Mary of Guelders, James sired no fewer than seven children, all of them in separate pregnancies. Despite the lack of British royal twins, odds have shortened on another double birth - for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - taking place. While the Monégasque rules of succession are clear, the British rules aren't set in stone, although as the new baby - or babies - will be spares, the question of who inherits what is less vexed. In theory, with Prince George already in the royal nursery, the new babies would come behind him with the elder becoming the spare while the younger would have no real role. As for which parent is responsible for the Monégasque royal twins - or the British ones, should they come to pass, Consultant Gynaecologist Dr Andrew Paterson says both could be behind a multiple birth, although the mother is the more likely candidate. ‘Twins are not genetically based,' he explains. 'Monozygotic twins are more rare and when a single fertilised egg divides in two, creating identical twins. ‘Another way is when a mother release two eggs at ovulation and both are fertilised, creating non identical twins. ‘If either the mother or the father have twins in their family, the chances of them having twins is higher.’ | Prince Albert was joined by sister Princess Stéphanie for charity auction .
Money was raised for Fight AIDS Monaco - Stéphanie's foundation .
Princess Charlene, who is due to give birth in days, stayed at home .
The South African born royal is expecting a set of twin heirs for Monaco . |
0603a76540c16aae8fac4830cfebcb5c5d0e1b21 | A seven-year-old boy miraculously survived three nights stuck down a roadside service shaft in freezing temperatures of -10C after his faithful dog kept him warm. Raul Kutliakhmetov was trying to rescue the stray dog when he slipped and fell - leaving them both stuck in three-metre deep roadside service shaft. The boy and the dog were trapped inside the hole in for three days and nights - only managing to survive and avoid hypothermia by hugging each other for their body warmth. Man's best friend: Seven-year-old Raul Kutliakhmetov became trapped down a three-metre deep roadside service shaft while trying to rescue a stray dog near his home town of Bulgakovo in the Urals . Keeping each other alive: Raul and the dog huddled together to keep warm as temperatures in the shaft plummeted to -10C . A doctor who treated Raul told The Siberian Times: 'We are in awe at how he managed to survive, sitting inside there for three days. He told us that all that time his dog and him were clutching to each other trying to warm each other up.' More than 200 people joined the search to find Raul but it wasn't until rescuers heard the dog barking from the hole 72 hours later that they found the schoolboy. Raul, who was left weak and exhausted by his ordeal, and the dog were then both pulled out of the shaft. Speaking shortly after his rescue, Raul told the newspaper: 'I was coming back home from school and heard a strange noise. It was coming from inside the uncovered hole on the side of the road. I looked inside and saw my favourite dog down there'. Raul said he had often played with the dog in his home village Bulgakovo, in Bashkiria in the Urals, so didn't want to leave him trapped in the shaft. Large operation: More than 200 people joined the search to find Raul who was missing for three days . Saved: Doctors were amazed that Raul manged to survive in such freezing conditions . He then walked home to change clothes before returning to rescue the dog. But Raul then fell three metres down into the shaft and was unable to climb out. He said: 'I wanted to save the dog and fell inside; I was calling but no-one heard me. I'm shivering a lot and my legs and arms and aching'. The stone walls meant that Raul's calls couldn't be easily heard by rescuers. But road engineer Maksim Belskiy heard about the missing boy on the radio and decided to check the service shafts around the area with a colleague. They heard the dog barking and went in search of the noise. Then they discovered the boy and the dog huddled together. The stray dog was also rescued alive but has since disappeared. | Raul Kutliakhmetov was trying to rescue stray dog when he slipped and fell .
Both were then trapped in a roadside service shaft in Bashkiria in the Urals .
More than 200 people joined the search party to find the missing schoolboy .
He was finally rescued after 72 hours when road workers heard dog barking . |
06043b6c6fd3531afe473c5efaaf6368677bfd19 | The U.S. Army's new ban on many types of ethnic hairstyles has African-American women who wear their coifs in dreadlocks, braids and cornrows in a twist. The Army's regulations stipulate such guidance as hair "must be of uniform dimension, small in diameter (approximately ¼ inch), show no more than 1/8 (inch) of the scalp between the braids." Dreadlocks "against the scalp or free-hanging" are banned. "Unkempt" or "matted" braids and cornrows are also considered dreadlocks and "are not authorized," according to the regulations that were updated this month. It's that type of language, words like "unkempt" and "matted," that read to some African Americans, as code for racial bias. "These new changes are racially biased and the lack of regard for ethnic hair is apparent," Sgt. Jasmine Jacobs of the Georgia National Guard wrote in a White House petition she started in late March asking the Obama administration to reconsider the policy. Currently, the petition has more than 13,000 signatures. White House petition . "We feel let down," Jacobs told the Army Times. "I think, at the end of the day, a lot of people don't understand the complexities of natural hair. A lot of people, instead of educating themselves, they think dreadlocks and they think Bob Marley, or they see women with really big Afros and they think that's the only thing we can do with our hair." The updates in appearance standards were crafted, in part, with the help of African-American female soldiers and are intended to clarify the professional look of soldiers, said Troy Rolan, an Army spokesman. Previous regulations did not specifically address things such as braid widths or numbers, or the definition of twist styles. "Many hairstyles are acceptable, as long as they are neat and conservative," Rolan said, noting the Army has banned dreadlocks since 2005. If soldiers aren't happy, they can go through a formal process to request changes to the hairstyle regulations, the Army said. "We encourage soldiers to make use of this process by sending recommendations and examples of hairstyles which could present professional appearances and conform to the regulation," Rolan said. The rules' conciseness isn't the problem, say some African-American women and black studies scholars. The problem, they say, is a perception that ethnic hair that is "natural" or not straightened with heat or chemicals is somehow unruly, unkempt and must be carefully regulated to fit within white cultural norms. Black female soldiers say new grooming reg is 'racially biased' "In a broad sense, it's just another example of U.S. institutions policing black style," said Mark Anthony Neal, an African-American studies professor at Duke University. "And it's not that there aren't other examples of such policing among other racial and ethnic groups. But, given the fraught relationship between black identity and culture and what some Americans might perceive as 'normal,' it strikes a particularly dissonant chord among some blacks." Mandating what should be done with black hair is a particularly sensitive matter. During slavery and for generations after, hair texture, along with skin complexion, was used to classify which slaves were more valuable, given jobs in the master's house rather than the field, and — by default — deemed beautiful. Straighter hair, lighter skin and features that looked white were considered preferred traits, African-American scholars noted. Those values were internalized and perpetuated within the black community for years in a way that was particularly damaging to the self-esteem of black women, African American scholars said. "The gender dynamic here is also important; hair is so tied to the idea of black womanhood and self-esteem," Neal said. "There have been many stories, for example, of the extra scrutiny black women with locs or dreads face going through airport security. The Army's ban is just another knock from the dominant society that somehow black women are out of step with the so-called status quo." Black pride and natural hair movements have emphasized that all hair types and the rainbow of skin hues are all beautiful. However, the Army's regulations, some natural hair advocates and African American scholars fear, might suggest to black soldiers that their tresses must be straightened or closely cropped in order to fit in and be valued. Army: Female focus group helped determine new hair rules . That type of pressure is "both unfair and racially biased," said Imani Perry, an African-American studies professor at Princeton University. "While it is reasonable for the military to expect some degree of conformity and neatness in hairstyles, those expectations ought to take into account the variety of natural hair textures people have," Perry said. "For many African-American women who have tightly curled, coily or kinky hair, cornrows braids and locs are styles that allow for ease of close to the head grooming. Hence, banning those hairstyles puts black female soldiers in a difficult bind with respect to the requirement." That type of pressure is "both unfair and racially biased," Perry said adding that the Army conformity isn't absolute because female soldiers are allowed to wear their hair long. "Likewise, consideration ought to be made for different textures of hair," Perry said. "Otherwise, a burden is placed disproportionately upon some soldiers due to an immutable characteristic, natural hair texture that is tied to race." | Army's updated appearance guidelines ban many African-American hairstyles .
African-American soldiers; scholars say rules against dreadlocks, twists, cornrows are biased .
Army says the regulation is needed to maintain a professional, uniform look among soldiers .
Controversy touches on historic tensions about black hair and white beauty standards . |
06052646ae957a1c115ce263df97153073e77760 | By . Rajvir Rai . Follow @@R_Rai . Fulham's decision to splash £11million on Ross McCormack has led to much head scratching and a few raised eyebrows. Sure the Scottish international was the leading scorer in the Championship last season with 28 goals, but considering Tottenham spent the same on Christian Eriksen, it seems Fulham have certainly paid over the odds for the 27-year-old striker. Here Sportsmail looks at other attacking players Fulham could have spent their money on. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Sportsmail's Top 10 Ross McCormack transfer virals . Big money move: Ross McCormack, 27, has cost Fulham a whopping £11million . Christian Eriksen (Ajax to Tottenham - £11m) Midfield maestro: Christian Eriksen (right) has impressed for Tottenham since signing from Ajax . One of the best young players in Europe, Eriksen announced himself to English audiences with a man-of-the-match performance in a 2-1 friendly defeat against England in 2011. Michu (Rayo Vallecano to Swansea - £2m) Spanish sensation: Michu took the Premier League by storm during his first season, scoring 18 goals . Relatively unknown outside of Spain before his move to Wales in 2012, the midfielder-turned-striker hit the ground running with 18 league goals in his debut season to help Swansea qualify for Europe. His second season was less impressive as he only scored twice in 17 appearances. Rickie Lambert (Southampton to Liverpool - £4m) Going red: Rickie Lambert is fulfilling a childhood dream with his move from Southampton to Liverpool . The striker scored 13 goals for Southampton last season and impressed with his general all-round play. He earned himself a call up to the England squad for the World Cup and a move to boyhood club Liverpool earlier this summer. Christian Benteke (Genk to Aston Villa - £7m) Sharp shooter: Christian Benteke (left) scored 19 Premier League goals during his first season in England . Blessed with pace and power, Benteke proved an astute signing by Villa as he found the net 19 times in the Premier League - breaking the club record for the most league goals in a season. His second season in England was cut short by an Achilles injury that ruled him out for sixth months and the World Cup. Jordan Rhodes (Huddersfield to Blackburn - £8m) High flyer: Jordan Rhodes has excelled for Blackburn since signing from Huddersfield two seasons ago . The prolific striker has scored more than 20 goals in all competitions in his last five seasons - and since moving to Ewood Park has scored 52 times in just 96 games. His consistency led to a call up to the Scotland squad in 2011, and prior to moving to Blackburn he was linked with several Premier League clubs. Philippe Coutinho (Inter Milan to Liverpool - £8.5m) Creative spark: Philippe Coutinho (right) celebrates scoring Liverpool against Manchester City last season . The Brazilian midfielder may have been overlooked for Brazil's World Cup squad, but he has impressed at Anfield with his eye for a pass and trickery. Eight Premier League goals in his first season was also a decent return for the 22 year old. Javier Hernandez (Guadalajara to Manchester United - £7m) Spot on: Javier Hernandez scores for Manchester United against Fulham in the Capital One Cup . Hernandez - or 'Little Pea' - has earned a reputation as the ultimate supersub during his time in England. With blistering pace and quick reactions, the striker has scored vital goals coming off the bench that have changed games. Yet to be seen how much he would score playing regularly. Jay Rodriguez (Burnley to Southampton - £6m) National service: Jay Rodriguez was in contention to go to the World Cup before injury ruled him out . Rodriguez scored 15 goals last season and was in contention to be part of Roy Hodgson's World Cup before being ruled out with a anterior cruciate ligament injury. Adept at playing off either flank or down the middle as a striker, Rodriguez has become a key player for Southampton. Lukas Podolski (FC Cologne to Arsenal - £11m) Gunning for you: Lukas Podolski in action for Arsenal against Newcastle . With more than 100 caps for Germany and a CV that includes three World Cups, a European Championship runners up medal and a Bundesliga title, Podolski is one of Europe's most experienced and accomplished players. Critics would say he needs to score more goals but rarely plays as a central striker for Arsenal. Mario Mandzukic (Wolfsburg to Bayern Munich - £11m) Lethal: Mario Mandzukic celebrates scoring against Manchester United in Champions League quarter final . The Croatian striker scored twice in a 4-0 win over Cameroon at the World Cup but has fallen down the pecking order at Bayern Munich and has been linked with a move to the Premier League, with Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal all interested. PS It's not all doom and gloom for skeptical Fulham fans because they can at least take comfort in the fact McCormack was cheaper than Konstantinos Mitroglou, who signed for Fulham on deadline-day from Olympiacos for £12.4m. Three Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse (£3m each) 9,573 cruises around the world (£1,149) 226 nights in world's most expensive hotel suite (£48,660 per night) 68,750 pairs of adidas predator instinct boots (£160) 1,326 return flights between London and New York on Concorde . | Fulham's £11million Ross McCormack transfer has come under scrutiny with many feeling the player is overpriced .
McCormack was the leading scorer in the Championship last season with 28 goals . |
0605e0e4e677d2f31f4c69eebaa47b03d602f76e | New York (CNN) -- Featuring a display of black eyes and bruises, a video of naughty Santas in New York on their worst behavior surfaced on Sunday. The Christmas-themed brawl was caught on camera at the end of a day of heavy drinking and has drawn the holiday ire of some New Yorkers. Police were alerted at 8:20 p.m. Saturday that group of eight to 10 people dressed as Santa Claus were fighting on the snow-covered corner of 17th Street and Third Avenue in Manhattan's Gramercy neighborhood. By the time police arrived, the bad Santas were nowhere to be found. The New York City Police Department is looking into the incident but has no assault complaints, according to Sgt. Lee Jones. Bargoers dressed in Christmas-themed costumes descended upon hundreds of cities worldwide Saturday for the annual bar crawl known as SantaCon. In New York, thousands took to the streets dressed as elves, Santas and holiday-themed characters, as they have since 1997. In recent years, the debauchery of some of its participants has become too much -- even for some who take part in it. "It was just terrible; they were throwing up in the streets. It was really just disgusting. I just put a red suit on and have a good time," Sandy Bachom, who participated in the event last year, told CNN affiliate WABC. "I think New Yorkers generally are extremely tolerant of visitors, but when they come in such droves, and then combine that with public intoxication, it has a negative impact in our neighborhoods," state Sen. Brad Hoylman said to WABC. Despite the brouhaha, city officials are still supporting the event. "It's what makes New York New York," Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said at a news conference Friday. "There has been some rowdy activity by a small handful of people." However, NYPD officers were handing out fliers stressing that they would stop revelers who publicly consume alcohol. SantaCon NYC is vowing to clean up its act. "SantaCon has had growing pains," the event's organizers said in a news release on the NYC SantaCon website. "With a little elbow-grease from the elves, a little patience from the community, and just a pinch of holiday magic, SantaCon can spread joy." Santacon.info, a website that attempts to keep up with SantaCons wherever they are and assist organizers in publicizing them, maintains a list that on Saturday showed 146 locations where events would be taking place this weekend and next, from Helena, Montana, to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. | A video of misbehaving Santas has some New Yorkers saying enough is enough .
Police were told a fight broke out Saturday night in Manhattan .
NYPD is looking into the incident but has no assault complaints .
New York was just one site for the worldwide holiday gatherings known as SantaCon . |
060603a5533ed879f260cf93140330ee68f9cdcf | By . Amanda Williams . PUBLISHED: . 12:26 EST, 8 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:45 EST, 9 May 2013 . Andrew Kelly, pictured outside York Crown Court, was caught speeding at 122mph, and used a forum to try and avoid a conviction . A biker who was caught speeding at 122mph visited an internet forum to brag about how he avoided a parking fine and to ask for advice on how to avoid speeding points. Andrew John Kelly, 37, took to the forum to find out how he could get off the speeding charge after he was clocked with a friend. A court heard how he persistently lied to the police and provoked outrage on the forum after admitting to other users that he had been caught on the A63 near Selby, North Yorkshire, on June 20 last year. Police were tipped off by Road Safety Support - a not-for-profit company providing specialist services to the police and local authorities - about the thread on pepipoo.com in September last year and Kelly was arrested. Kelly, of Pudsey, West Yorkshire, was jailed for eight months after admitting two counts of perverting the course of justice and one charge of speeding. A judge labelled his behaviour 'calculated, deliberate and thoroughly disturbing'. During the investigation, police uncovered that father-of-one Kelly had previously boasted about how he had forged a recovery invoice and claimed his car had broken down when he parked in a disabled parking space so he could buy a sandwich. Posting under the name 'andyroo', Kelly, who works as an MOT tester at his father’s garage, stated that he was the rider at the time of the offence but didn’t want the points so asked other users how to avoid being caught. His comments provoked a backlash from other forum members on the site and his account was terminated by the administrators. During police interviews he claimed that a man called 'Richard' was riding his bike at the time of the offence but he could not provide any further information about 'Richard' as he claimed the diary in which he kept his details had been stolen. Picture from police mobile camera shows the biker speeding at an astonishing 122mph . Posting under the name 'andyroo', Kelly, who works as an MOT tester at his father's garage, stated that he was the rider at the time of the offence but didn't want the points so asked other users how to avoid being caught . In a message posted on the forum on August 24 last year, Kelly said: 'I’m in a bit of a dilemma. I and a friend of mine were caught speeding on our motorcycles - both caught by a mobile speed camera van at 122mph in a 70mph limit. 'I didn’t sign for the nip because I wasn’t at work and so they left me a ticket to collect the letter at the post office and I never collected it as I knew what it was. 'Next they sent one to my work three weeks later unrecorded and I never replied. 'I’m not sure what to do next?' In another message, Kelly outlines how he lied to avoid a parking ticket after he posted a copy of the letter he sent to Leeds City Council with an accompanying false invoice. His comment says: 'It took me 20 minutes to write. It’s all bull but I’m proud of it. In another message, Kelly outlines how he lied to avoid a parking ticket after he posted a copy of the letter he sent to Leeds City Council with an accompanying false invoice . In an angry backlash from others visiting the forum, one user writes: 'You are a complete idiot and a dishonest one at that. You fabricated a pack of lies and forged a receipt just to get out of a council parking fine. 'This forum is about getting justice by lawful means, not using crooked tactics to get away with it at any cost.' Another wrote: 'I’d find it funny if the CPS bring up this thread in court when he’s there trying to escape his 122mph case that he’s being done for.' In response to his critics, Kelly wrote: 'This forum is a waste of time. 'Don’t make me laugh. Next you’re all going to tell me you never told a lie? Oh yes, and you’re all honest, law-abiding citizens.' Adrian Pollard, defending Kelly, told the court: 'These are short-sighted, blinkered acts of stupidity and thoughtlessness. 'Over a period of months, he has become caught up in his own obsessiveness. 'He has not recognised the consequences at he outset to his father’s business, his employees and to his own family. 'He is terrified at the prospect of custody. Those around him are astounded at his degree of publicity and how he’s dealt with relatively simple matters.' After his account was terminated, Kelly opened another account under the name 'Andyrooisback' in September last year. He posted: 'Andyroo is back. I must thank those who tipped off the law enforcement officers. I must buy you a pint. 'No one likes a grass. I lied - big deal.' Traffic Constable Zoe Billings of North Yorkshire Police said: 'Unbelievably Kelly published his intention to lie about who was riding his motorbike on the internet. 'When forum users spoke of their disgust at his dishonesty, he then bragged to them about how he had lied in the past and got away with not paying for a parking ticket. 'Our investigation also revealed that Kelly had a history of failing to comply with statutory documentation and a complete disregard for road safety. 'He tried to portray himself as a simple mechanic who was poor at paperwork, but in reality, he is an accomplished liar. 'He continued to lie during police interviews and only when presented with overwhelming evidence through his seized clothing, did he admit to being the rider of the bike.' TC Billings added: 'This case sends a very clear message that we will leave no stone unturned to ensure that those who put lives in danger on our roads are brought to justice.' Stephen Smith, co-founder of the pepipoo.com motoring advice website and forums, said: 'This case shows yet again that many people don’t appear to appreciate the seriousness of lying about what they may see as "just speeding", or even something as minor as a parking fine.' | Andrew John Kelly, 37, took to forum to ask how he could get off charge .
Court heard he persistently lied to police and provoked outrage on forum .
Kelly, of West Yorkshire, was jailed for 8 months after admitting charges . |
0606d77613bc2e864ce150122870d2b8fd87c94c | Dylan Hartley escaped another lengthy ban which would have jeopardised his Six Nations participation but still left Stuart Lancaster facing a selection headache on Tuesday night. The 28-year-old Northampton hooker received a three-week suspension - the fifth ban of his career - at a disciplinary hearing in London following an ugly incident during Saturday’s East Midlands derby which saw him sent off by referee JP Doyle after 16 minutes for elbowing Leicester centre Matt Smith in the face. RFU judicial officer Jeremy Summers accepted Hartley’s guilty plea and mitigating circumstances, which included a degree of provocation by Smith, but took into consideration his appalling disciplinary record. Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley has been suspended for three weeks by the RFU for a wild elbow . Hartley's incident came during a flare-up between Northampton and Leicester players during the first half . During the melee, Hartley was caught planting a elbow into the face of Leicester Tigers' centre Matt Smith . Hartley's elbow was caught by the Television Match Official who reported the violence to the referee . VIDEO Aviva Premiership Highlights: Northampton Saints 23-19 Leicester . April 2007 - banned for 26 weeks after being cited for eye-gouging Wasps forwards James Haskell and Jonny O'Connor. March 2012 - received an eight-week suspension after being cited for biting Ireland forward Stephen Ferris' finger while playing for England in a Six Nations game. December 2012 - banned for two weeks after being cited for punching Ulster hooker Rory Best during a Heineken Cup match. May 2013 - sent off for verbally abusing referee Wayne Barnes during the Aviva Premiership final against Leicester at Twickenham. Received an 11-week suspension that sidelined him for the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia that he had been selected for. December 2014 - sent off for elbowing Leicester centre Matt Smith in the face. Banned for three weeks. * Hartley, has now been banned for a total of 50 weeks during his playing career. ‘The sanction reflects the low-end entry point of the offence, which carries a two-week tariff,’ said Summers. ‘The entry point was aggravated having regard to Dylan’s previous record and a week was taken off to reflect mitigating circumstances. As such the sanction reflects the player’s record rather than the seriousness of the offence itself.’ With a nine-week ban available for elbowing offences deemed to be at the high end of the scale, Hartley can consider himself lucky only to be ruled out for three Aviva Premiership games before being available to return for Northampton’s European Cup clash with the Ospreys on January 18. Hartley, who admitted he was in the ‘last-chance saloon’ with England following the 13-week ban that saw him miss last year’s Lions tour to Australia, had feared an even lengthier punishment that would have seen him miss the Six Nations. England open their campaign against Wales in Cardiff on February 6. It was unclear on Tuesday night if Lancaster will take any further disciplinary action against his troubled hooker. The coach was livid with Hartley, who has won 61 caps, for getting a yellow card for stamping on South Africa’s Duane Vermeulen in November. Early indications suggest Lancaster, whose resources at hooker are not especially deep, will be willing to give the Saints captain another chance. His physicality, set-piece excellence and leadership qualities make him unquestionably England’s first choice. But the point when Lancaster decides enough is enough must surely be drawing near. Having exiled Danny Care from his squad in 2012 on disciplinary grounds, there will inevitably be murmurs of double standards if Lancaster fails to act against another persistent miscreant. Smith (left) and Hartley (right) have words after the incident, as the Leicester man is seen to by a physio . Referee JP Doyle (left) had no choice but to show Hartley a straight red card for his antics . Hartley pleaded guilty to elbowing Smith via video-conference and received support from Saints boss Jim Mallinder, who claimed in the aftermath of his side’s victory over the Tigers that there was ‘no malice’ in the stray elbow, which caught Smith square on the jaw. Mallinder argued the offence was only worthy of a yellow card, while claiming Smith was guilty of play-acting. Injured Saints prop Alex Corbisiero went as far as to accuse Smith of ‘deserving an Oscar’ for his reaction while commentating on BT Sport. ‘The red card was disappointing,’ Mallinder said after the game. ‘Dylan’s got to keep his arms down but he was being held. I don’t think there was any malice in it. In the nature of the game I don’t think it justified a red card.’ Northampton hooker trudges off despondently after being sent off for his vicious elbow . Saints were left fuming by Doyle’s decision. The referee had appeared ready to issue a yellow card before being persuaded it deserved red following consultation with television match official Sean Davey. ‘I think Smith went down pretty easily,’ Mallinder added. ‘It was probably a yellow card. It’s a tough game and Dylan plays to the edge. You won’t change Dylan. He’s competitive.’ Hartley has been unable to shake off a reputation as a troublemaker since he was banned for 26 weeks for eye gouging in 2007. He has subsequently served bans for biting, punching, swearing and now elbowing. | Dylan Hartley was sent off in during Northampton's win vs Leicester .
Hooker was caught elbowing Leicester's Matt Smith in the face .
Hartley pleaded guilty to the charge of striking on Tuesday evening .
England international will be available to play in the RBS Six Nations . |
0607213d79d1e247c0bb663ae9a6f2ea03f39c63 | By . Laurie Whitwell . UPDATED: . 17:04 EST, 15 August 2011 . The ex-wife of a man accused of killing an Ohio schoolgirl in 1967 told a court she found the 14-year-old naked and suspended by ropes in their basement before she was killed. Robert Bowman, now 75, is charged with the murder of Eileen Adams, who vanished on her way home from Central Catholic High School in Toldeo. She was discovered six weeks later in a frozen field with her body hogtied and a nail driven into the back of her head, similar to several dolls that were collected when officers travelled to Miami to question Bowman. Cold-case killer: Robert Bowman, now 75, is on trial for murdering 14-year-old Eileen Adams in 1967 . There were signs she was sexually assaulted and strangled. Her body was tied with telephone and drapery cords. Investigators think Bowman kidnapped Miss Adams, held her captive in his basement for as long as two weeks and then killed her. Detectives first tried to link him to the slaying in the early 1980s, but they did not have enough evidence to bring charges until a cold-case squad reopened the investigation five years ago. New DNA evidence connected Bowman to the killing and police charged him even though they had no idea where he was living or even if he was still alive. Confrontation: Bowman was questioned by Ed Miller from America's Most Wanted before the trial . Schoolgirl: Miss Adams never returned home from Central Catholic High School, Toledo, on that cold December day in 1968 . He was profiled on 'America's Most Wanted' and police in California arrested him in 2008 near Palm Springs after he was spotted riding a bicycle. His attorney said he had been living in the desert under a tarp. On Monday Margaret Bowman, one of the key witnesses against her ex-husband, offered a chilling account of discovering the girl after hearing what she thought were rats in the cellar. She told jurors she opened a wooden door and was stunned to find a naked young girl tied-up and 'hanging like Jesus'. Her arms were outstretched and she had tape covering her mouth. Ms Bowman said she knew the girl was alive because: 'I looked in her eyes.' 'I was horrified, I was screaming, I was shaking,' she added. 'I didn't know what to think.' Eerie: Dolls tied up in a similar manner to how Miss Adams was found were discovered in Bowman's house in Miami . Mugshot: This is a police photo of Bowman from 1962 - five years before the killing . She said she ran upstairs and that her husband confronted her, saying that she was getting into his business and that he now had to kill the girl. He also threatened to kill his wife and their newborn daughter if she told anyone, she said. Ms Bowman said she never went in the basement again. 'That was enough,' she said. That same night, she testified, Bowman made her go with him as he dumped the body just north of Toledo, across the state line in Michigan. Miss Adams was discovered in a southern Monroe County field in February 1968. Ms Bowman said that at some point she discovered school books on a table in the kitchen. She opened one of the books and saw the name Eileen Adams written inside. The couple moved several times, including to Las Vegas, Phoenix and Miami. Ms Bowman said she didn't go to police until 1981, after she had saved enough money to leave her husband and return to Toledo. That was the first time anyone connected Bowman to the killing. During the trial's opening statements, defence attorney Peter Rost questioned why Miss Bowman had not told police years ago. 'You'll have to decide how believable she is,' he said. Detectives tracked Bowman down to Miami, Florida in 1982. Once a successful businessman who sold high-end handbags in Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue stores, he was living in an abandoned restaurant near Miami, wearing a tattered shirt, jeans and a scruffy beard. Bowman's attorney said he had become involved in an offbeat religion and given up all of his material things. Three more decades passed until cold-case detectives took DNA samples from Bowman's ex-wife and their daughter and compared them with DNA found on Adams' clothing. Sister: Mary Ann Brimmer, Miss Adams' older sister, testified on the first day of the trial . Gruesome: Miss Adams was found hogtied with telephone cables and with a nail driven in her head . Retired Monroe County Sheriff Detective Peter Navarre took the stand at Lucas County Common Pleas Court on Friday to testify that when officers questioned Bowman in Miami, he said: 'What if I told you I probably killed that girl?' Detective Navarre added that the way Miss Adams was tied was similar to several dolls that were collected from the abandoned building housing Bowman. One was hanging from the ceiling with twine tied around its ankles and another had a nail driven in the back of its head, assistant Lucas County Prosecutor Chris Anderson said. Also during the trial on Friday, the victim's friend testified saying she remembers Eileen riding the bus with her everyday to and from school, including the day she disappeared. On the first day of the trial on Thursday, Mary Ann Brimmer told the court how her little sister failed to come home for the 'first time' on the day of her disappearance. More than four decades after she waited at the front door of her West Toledo home Mrs Brimmer, who still lives in the area, testified: 'I just kept standing at the door, waiting for her. It got to be 6 or 6.30. She'd never done anything like that. Ever.' Bowman has pleaded not guilty and faces life in prison if he's convicted. | Margaret Bowman kept quiet after being threatened .
Robert Bowman said he would kill her and their child .
Eileen Adams was hogtied with cords when found dead .
She had a nail in her head and had been strangled . |
06076f2ef624084b96e9fe2391115e185bfebd94 | By . Joshua Gardner . A 13-year-old boy plummeted to his death from a 15th-floor hotel balcony Saturday just as he and his family were wrapping up their Florida vacation. Authorities say Zach Dickman was checking out of a Panama City hotel with his parents, grandparents and brother when he returned with his grandmother to their room to retrieve his cellphone. The 7th grader would not be returning home to Indiana. He somehow fell to his gruesome death from the patio down to a pool deck down below. Scroll down for video . Horrific: A 13-year-old Indiana boy plummeted 15 floors from a hotel balcony to his death Saturday while on vacation with his family . Tragic: Zachary Dickman was retrieving his cellphone from the room as his family checked out downstairs when he fell onto a pool deck below . Authorities were dispatched to the Palazzo condominiums around 10am after receiving a call from the boy's grandmother. 'Grandmother waited for a few seconds. Started calling his name no answer, that's when she realized he fell off . the balcony,' Panama City Beach Police Chief Drew Whitman told WJHG. Authorities say they have no reason to believe Zachary's death was anything but accidental. However, the cause of death would not be named until an autopsy could be performed. Investigation: Authorities say there is no reason to believe the tragedy was anything but accidental, but are awaiting autopsy results . | Zachary Dickman was about to head home to Plainfield, Indiana when he returned to the room as the family checked out .
The boy was going to retrieve his cellphone but wound up falling to his death onto a pool deck down below . |
0608150748e0989851c0c67642534a5c8045bff9 | By . Ashley Collman . The 12-year-old girl who was mauled by a raccoon as a baby is back at home after successfully undergoing surgery to create a new ear. Charlotte Ponce of Spring Lake, Michigan was just three-months-old in 2002 when her young parents left her at home with the pet and she lost her right ear, nose and part of her lip in an attack. Two years ago, Doctor Kongrit Chaiyasate repaired little Charlotte's nose and now he's focusing on giving her a new ear. Going home: Charlotte Ponce, 12, of Spring Lake, Michigan was released from the hospital Monday after undergoing a seven-hour surgery to implant cartilage into her arm . Revolutionary surgery: The lung cartilage was molded into the shape of an ear and inserted into Charlotte's arm during the April 15 surgery . Growing: The cartilage will continue to grow in her arm for the next few months before doctors will attach it to her ear. Pictured above on Monday . One last surgery: Little Charlotte will return to the hospital in June for her surgery, which will hopefully be her last. Pictured above on Monday . 'The raccoon pretty much ate the right side of her face, all the way back to the ear,' Charlotte’s adoptive mom Sharon Ponce told ABCNews.com. 'Now, all she wants is to wear two earrings.' That dream of pierced ears came closer to reality on April 15, when she underwent a seven-hour surgery to embed lung cartilage, shaped into an ear lobe, into her arm where it will continue to grow until June. That's when Charlotte will go under the knife for hopefully the last time as Dr Chaiyaste attaches the cartilage to her ear. Brave: Charlotte Ponce was just three months old when a raccoon chewed off her nose, ear and lips. Pictured above just before she underwent the surgery on April 15 . But this last procedure will be the most complex yet, as it is claimed it has only been performed twice before.[ . Dr Chaiyasate admitted the procedure is not easy and he will only have one chance to get it right, so he has been practicing on a potato. Dr Chaiyasate, of Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, told WBIV: . 'As plastic surgeons we need to think outside the box a little bit - . what can we do to make a life long reconstruction for her. 'I've been practicing carving potato last weekend using this as a template. It's not easy.' Mauled: Charlotte Ponce as a baby before and after the attack. Her adopted parents say she is still a happy girl . He said he could not guarantee success, but would try his best. Charlotte's adopted mother Sharon Ponce said people from as far as Britain and Australia had contacted the family to tell them what an inspiration the girl has been. She was just a newborn when her 18-year-old mother and 23-year-old father left her home alone with the pet. The raccoon was thought to have escaped from its cage after a door was left open when food had been dropped in, and no one was there to save the baby when she was attacked. Her great-aunt Sharon and great-uncle Tim only found out about the attack with horror when they watched that night's news bulletin. They gained custody of Charlotte and her brother Marshall, who was then 15 months old, and they and their friends raised more than $10,000 to help pay for her trips in and out of hospital. Sharon had to quit her job at a daycare center to look after Charlotte after doctors said she would need full time care. Although ears have been made out of ribs before, the method of 'growing' the ear inside the forearm is extremely rare. Remarkable: Charlotte with her adopted mother Sharon and Dr Kongkrit Chaiyasate after he built her a new nose in a 2012 operation. He said this next surgery will hopefully be the last major work she has done . Attack: It has been a slow recovery for Charlotte, who lived for a decade without a reconstructed nose . Intact: Charlotte as a baby with her brother Marshall before she was attacked in late 2002 . Happy family: Charlotte now lives with (from left) her great-uncle Tim, great-aunt Sharon and brother Marshall . It has to be done because Charlotte's ear was so badly damaged that the foundations of an ear structure no longer exist inside her head. Charlotte previously had a prosthetic ear fitted but it was not an ideal solution and soon became infected and uncomfortable. Yet despite the enormous damage, there is one miracle. Even before the extensive surgery which will grant her a new quality of life, Charlotte's hearing has been largely unaffected. | Charlotte Ponce from Spring Lake, Michigan, left disfigured by 2002 attack .
On April 15, she underwent radical surgery to implant lung cartilage in her arm where it will grow until it can be attached to her ear .
The surgery to attach the ear in June will be conducted by Dr Kongkrit Chaiyasate, is same plastic surgeon who gave her a new nose . |
060969bc17829b0545d78a1b3c8181218133099d | (CNN) -- For their extraordinary efforts to help change the world and better the lives of others, 10 everyday people will receive $50,000 and a chance for much more. This select group -- the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2012 -- will be revealed at noon Thursday on CNN.com. All the top 10 were nominated by CNN's global audience and profiled earlier this year on CNN. They will be honored at "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute," a globally broadcast event that airs live December 2 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. At the tribute show, hosted by Anderson Cooper in Los Angeles, one of the top 10 will be named CNN Hero of the Year and receive an additional $250,000 to continue their work. The Hero of the Year is decided by a public vote. Starting at noon, you will be able to vote for your favorite Hero at CNNHeroes.com or from your mobile device. Voting ends November 28. Last year's Hero of the Year, Robin Lim, was recognized for her efforts to help thousands of poor Indonesians have a healthy pregnancy and birth. Through her Bumi Sehat health clinics, Lim offers free prenatal care, birthing services and medical aid in Indonesia, where many families cannot afford care. "I found that if you have a good idea and you do it with love, a lot of people want to help you," Lim told Cooper after the show. This is the sixth year CNN has conducted its annual search for CNN Heroes. In those years, the campaign has profiled more than 180 people on CNN and CNN.com. Click here to see all the remarkable Heroes who have been featured this year. | The top 10 CNN Heroes of 2012 will be revealed Thursday at noon on CNN.com .
They will be honored at "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute," which airs live December 2 .
Who will be Hero of the Year? You can cast your vote starting at noon . |
060970754d78db825a049bce5f020e4a9604bce0 | A man has been charged with religiously aggravated assault after an attack that left outspoken MP George Galloway with a broken rib. The Respect Party MP also suffered a badly bruised face after he was assaulted in the street by a man who appeared to have taken exception to his controversial comments about Israel. Writing in The Mail on Sunday, the politician said he feared for his life when he was attacked in Notting Hill, West London, in broad daylight on Friday. And he called for police protection in future. A man has been charged with religiously aggravated assault after an attack that left outspoken MP George Galloway with a broken rib. Right, Neil Masterson as seen on Facebook and, left, Mr Galloway after the assault . Neil Masterson, 39, of Campden Hill, West London, will appear at Hammersmith Magistrates’ Court tomorrow charged with attacking Mr Galloway and a man in his 40s who came to the MP’s aid. Last night, it emerged that a man of the same name made threats about Mr Galloway on Facebook hours before the incident. An account in that name carries a series of comments and abusive remarks about Muslims as well as claims that Galloway is anti-Semitic. The account holder ‘shared’ a picture of the politician, branding him a ‘snake’ and captioned: ‘Galloway is a Hamas and IRA supporter.’ Scene of the crime: Mr Galloway was attacked in Golborne Road (pictured) in Notting Hill, West London . The account holder commented, just hours before the attack: ‘I’d cut his throat myself if I’d dare stoop to the required level.’ He added: ‘Virulent antisemite of the worst kind. Doesn’t even have the gut [sic] to admit it. Drone’ Mr Galloway was posing for photographs when his attacker rushed across the street and assaulted him, swearing and shouting about the Holocaust. Tweet: The Respect Party tweeted this with the picture of a battered and bruised Mr Galloway after the assault . The Bradford West MP received treatment at nearby St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington. Mr Galloway was interviewed under caution by police earlier this month after he said in a speech that Bradford had been ‘declared an Israel-free zone’ and urged people to reject all Israeli goods, services, academics and tourists. 'I crashed to the ground thinking... this man is going to kick me to death': George Galloway reveals his terror after attack in Notting Hill - and how he led police to suspect . By GEORGE GALLOWAY . I was walking down the street in Notting Hill in broad daylight and getting into my car when two Moroccan guys approached me. One of them said he was leaving Britain the next day and would love a photo with me for his cafe back home. I stood in the road shaking hands with him as his friend took a picture. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a man powering towards me like a bat out of hell. Politician: George Galloway was left with a broken rib and bruising when he was assaulted by a man in street . He laid into me and was effing and blinding about the Holocaust. He looked like the type who works out and moved very fast. He punched me so many times I kept thinking, ‘When is this going to stop?’ But it didn’t. I went into what boxers call ‘peekaboo style’ like American heavyweight Floyd Patterson when he fought Muhammad Ali, covering my face and eyes. He got frustrated his punches weren’t getting through and kicked me back towards the kerb. I lost my footing and staggered backwards, crashing into a grille on a Moroccan delicatessen I had eaten at a few hours earlier. I was on the ground thinking ‘this man is going to kick me to death’. He was so enraged he got on top of me and eventually landed a haymaker right on my jaw. I felt a terrible crack and sickening thud. It went on for about three minutes – a long time when punches are raining down on you. Luckily, the two Moroccan guys pulled him off. My attacker calmly walked across the road and I drove up the road behind him. I was in a bad way but I was determined he wouldn’t get away with it. I called 999 and described him to police. He knew I was behind him. I slowed down and the police told me to stop following him. I pulled the car over and saw him go down a side street. While I was talking to the police, he reappeared and walked over to a bus stop. At this point a police van hurtled round the corner with four police officers in it. Three were women. It was like Cagney and Lacey. I shouted, ‘He is getting on the No 23 bus’ and the police drove into the middle of the road to stop it. Street: The Respect Party MP said he has 'no idea' why the attack in Golborne Road (pictured) took place . The policewomen bravely piled on to the bus, and brought a man out with handcuffs on. I have no idea why it happened, though I suspect my attacker was a thug from an extreme Right-wing group. Regardless of his motives, I have no regrets about speaking out on issues like Israel and the Middle East. We live in a democracy, and as someone who has been elected as an MP on six occasions, I have a right to voice my opinions. And like other politicians who have suffered similar threats and attacks, I am entitled to receive a degree of protection from the State so I can continue to do so. Even though I have just turned 60 years old, I am slightly ashamed to admit that I didn’t land a single blow. But I am not ready to stop fighting for what I believe in yet. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | George Galloway was left with broken rib when he was assaulted in street .
He also suffered a badly bruised face following violent attack in Notting Hill .
MP said he feared for his life - and has called for police protection in future .
Man will now appear in court charged with religiously aggravated assault .
Last night, it emerged Facebook threats were made hours before attack . |
0609bc5f971a58b7b955c4cd9ac71bc88a3de51b | Most homeowners hit by flooding are faced with just two options - clean up and hope it doesn't happen again, or move out. But one determined couple whose island home was wrecked when the Thames burst its banks last year have come up with a new idea - shifting their five-bedroom house 5ft into the air. Yaron Ivry and his wife Sigal have spent almost £80,000 jacking their riverside property in Wraysbury, Berkshire, up onto stilts, and filling in the gap with breeze blocks. Yaron Ivry and his wife Sigal (pictured together) spent almost £80,000 jacking their Thameside property in Wraysbury, Berkshire, up by five feet to prevent it from a repeat of last year's winter flooding. Here the house is seen in its finished state, having been put on stilts and the new basement underneath the property bricked up . Over the course of ten days, a team of engineers lifted the 80-ton building up into the air, using a steel cradle and 28 computerised jacks which pushed the house upwards at a rate of three inches an hour. Now, a year after the house was devastated by floods last January, work is complete with the house protected from the waters of the Thames, and the Ivry family enjoying a new basement underneath their home, as well as a new kitchen, replacing the one which was left underwater when the river breached its banks. 'It's fantastic,' Mr Ivry, 59, told MailOnline. 'It's great. We are back in the house now and the work is almost all done. 'There is still some work inside but it's nearly there. 'We have created a new basement under the house in the space where the stilts are and that will be useful for storage and we have a new kitchen. 'It is better than we could have ever imagined, with under floor heating, and a better view out over the river. Mr Ivry hired specialist builders who created a network of steel beams under the house which would hold its weight as the property began to lift. Holes were bored into the brick walls, shown here, so supportive beams could put up both inside and outside the building . 28 super-strong jacks — each capable of supporting 50 tons — were placed underneath the steel cradle. A diamond-edged saw then sliced horizontally through all the brick walls below the level of the concrete floors, severing the building from its foundations . 'Every day I look out of the window and I smile and feel happy because I am safe.' Mr Ivry, a former engineer and owner of telecommunications business D-Mobile, his wife, 49, their 17-year-old daughter Ayala, and dog Prince live on an island between the River Thames and an artificial water channel, which left them vulnerable to flooding. When water poured into their home last January it caused £125,000 in damage, with the house's hardwood floor, ground floor walls and electrics wrecked beyond repair. As the rain poured down, Mr Ivry's garden was left underwater and even though he tried to set up barricades at his garage and front door, he was unable to stop the water gushing in, leaving the ground floor under nearly half a foot. 'We are sitting on an island, so when the water comes up it comes from all sides,' he said. 'When we were flooded we were an island surrounded 360 degrees by water. 'It was devastating.' The self-employed couple lost a year of business because they could no longer work from their home. Mrs Ivry, who runs a jewellery distribution company, said: 'I was hoping right up until the last minute we would not have to move. 'We thought maybe we could stay and live upstairs, but after a day we realised it was not realistic, when the smell starts. The windows and walls of the home were braced with timber beams to help ease any internal strains, and work began to lift the house slowly into the air - with the family's belongings still inside. Work to lift the house began after planning permission was granted last June . With the perimeter ring of steel steadying the structure and pressure spread evenly over the hydraulic jacks (pictured), no one part of the building was exposed to particular stress as it was lifted from the ground at a rate of three inches an hour . 'The house became all humid and stinking - it was not healthy.' The value of the house - which had been worth £1 million - dropped to £750,000 as it could not be insured against future floods. Now, after the £80,000 project the house is thought to be worth between £1.5 million and £2 million. 'My view was that if I did nothing it would end up costing me and I would lose a lot of value on the house because I could not insure it,' he said. 'But if I did something, if I put in £80,000 to save the house, I would definitely get it back if I did decide to sell it. 'Plus I could insure the house and I could live in it safely.' Father-of-three Mr Ivry had considered sealing the house with a barrier, waterproof doors and pumps to get rid of any ground water or leakage, but worried that just one tiny crack would mean water pouring into his home again. 'I could have spent £35,000 and I wouldn't know if it would even work,' he said. He also considered demolishing the house completely. The value of the house - which had been worth £1 million - dropped to £750,000 as it could not be insured against future floods. Now, after the £80,000 project the house is thought to be worth between £1.5 million and £2 million. It took ten days to lift the house to its agreed height . 'It would have cost me maybe £400,000 to rebuild it , and I would need to find somewhere else to live,' he said. 'So I took up the challenge of lifting it and researching on the internet I saw that it had been done with a concert hall in Shanghai. 'People were sceptical and wanted to see if it would work, but I knew that if it was done properly it then the risk would be almost nothing.' After getting permission from the local council, Mr Ivry hired specialist builders who created a network of steel beams under the house which would hold its weight as the property began to lift. Holes were bored into the brick walls and supportive beams put up both inside and outside the building. Then, 28 super-strong jacks — each capable of supporting 50 tons — were placed underneath the steel cradle. A diamond-edged saw then sliced horizontally through all the brick walls below the level of the concrete floors, severing the building from its foundations. With the perimeter ring of steel steadying the structure and pressure spread evenly over the jacks, no single part of the building was exposed to particular stress as it was raised. Finally, all the windows and walls were braced with timber beams to help ease any internal strains, and work began to lift the house slowly into the air with the family's belongings still inside, although they moved out into a rented flat nearby. The newly-formed gap at the bottom of the house was then filled with breeze blocks, and the steel cradle removed before the breeze block basement was concealed with reclaimed London yellow bricks, designed to match the rest of the house. Mr Ivry's newly-raised front door now has a long staircase leading up to it, protecting the entrance to the house from any flood water . Around the back of the family's house, two former patio doors will soon become a raised decking area for barbecues. The family were able to move back into their home in October . The couple say the transformation is 'unbelievable', and their higher home means they enjoy a better view of the river . His front door now has a long staircase leading up to it and around the back of his house two former patio doors, which are now suspended from mid air, will soon become a raised decking area for barbecues. Work on the main structure was completed in August, and the family were able to move back in last October. Mr Ivry's home, which the family have lived in since 1998, is thought to be the first in Britain to have been lifted in this way, and he has been visited by officers from the Environment Agency eager to learn from his project. His neighbours, many of whom were forced to leave their homes in last January's floods, have also turned to him for advice on how to protect their own homes from any future damage. '2014 was total chaos,' said Mr Ivry. 'I could not work, by wife could not work and we were out of our home. 'Now 2014 is behind us and we are looking forward to the future. 'We are so happy that we have done it and the house is unbelievable.' As the rain poured down, Mr Ivry's garden was left underwater and even though he tried to set up barricades at his garage and front door, he was unable to stop it gushing in. The house was badly hit by last year's floods, with the hardwood floor, ground floor walls and electrics wrecked beyond repair . Mr Ivry's home, which the family have lived in since 1998, is thought to be the first in Britain to have been lifted in this way, and he has been visited by officers from the Environment Agency eager to learn from his project . | Yaron Ivry and his family live in five-bedroom home on a island between water channels in Wraysbury, Berkshire .
Their house was gutted by floods last January when many of his neighbours couldn't return home .
In bid to beat the frequent flooding, the family have spent three months and £80,000 lifting the house on to stilts .
After the work raised the house five feet off ground, experts estimate it's now worth up to £2 million .
The home also has a new kitchen, and Mr Ivry says he has a better view of the River Thames from his home .
Father-of-three Mr Ivry says his restored home is 'unbelievable' and he feels safe from the nearby river . |
060a3ac3ed2f8ab619d393e46ec916da6f420113 | (CNN) -- The midterm elections made it clear that Americans want a government that works for the people. The 112th Congress will be faced with a choice: Work with the president and the people to deliver results, or pursue an obstruction agenda that will leave individuals and businesses with an even less sustainable economy and future than they face today. If Congress chooses the collaboration path, members can tackle one issue that will enhance our national security, create jobs and help stabilize the climate --an issue with bipartisan roots that touches every corner of this nation: clean energy. Our nation's energy challenges are pressing and immediate. Unlike countries in Asia and Europe, the United States has neglected to join the global clean energy marketplace. We have no long-term clean energy plan, and so we have few domestic clean energy technologies or industries. While the world surges ahead, we risk being left behind, dependent on yesterday's energy solutions to solve today's energy challenges. We know what steps to take. We must reduce our dependence on oil. The transportation sector alone is 95 percent dependent on oil. American taxpayers spend from $500 million to $1 billion a day on foreign oil, 39 percent of which is imported from "dangerous or unstable" nations, according to a Truman National Security Project report. We must redouble our efforts to pass national clean energy and efficiency standards to meet our energy needs using homegrown, low-carbon sources. In turn, these actions will lower costs to consumers, create jobs, and spur an export market for innovative energy technologies. We must use public dollars and the government's credit enhancement power wisely, to leverage private capital for clean energy research, development, production, transmission, storage and deployment. We must confront climate change, which jeopardizes our economic prosperity by leaving us acutely vulnerable to increased water shortages, widespread drought and floods, and food insecurity. We can solve these problems. If the United States adopts a progressive energy strategy that combines market creation, financing for new industries and technologies, and infrastructure development, we can end our dependence on dirty fossil fuels, protect public health, and provide a solid foundation for economic growth and prosperity. Even without comprehensive climate and clean energy legislation, the next Congress can take concrete steps to strengthen the U.S. market for clean energy, providing critical stability and certainty for investors, business, and consumers. These polices have all previously been introduced in the House or Senate, with bipartisan and business support. None will contribute significantly to the federal deficit. Congress can: . -- Spur clean energy innovation, manufacturing, deployment, and export through an ambitious renewable electricity standard, extensions of the successful Treasury grant program (1603) and Section 48c manufacturing tax credit, and by establishing a Clean Energy Deployment Administration (CEDA, or "Green Bank") to leverage private sector investment for the deployment of clean energy. -- Encourage home and business owners to invest in energy efficiency and boost employment in the beleaguered construction sector by passing HOME STAR and Building Star. Those programs would reward consumers for installing energy-efficient equipment. -- Increase the $75 million liability cap for offshore oil damages, and pass other measures to enhance the accountability of oil exploration companies and give these companies an incentive to conduct their operations more safely. The United States can and must also act on the international stage to limit the consequences of climate change and enhance our national security. Congress can show a commitment to the U.S. goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, take concrete steps to reverse widespread deforestation that contributes 18 percent of these emissions globally, and provide short-term financing to allow the poorest countries in the world to adapt to the impacts of climate change. This is not a partisan agenda. The midterm elections reaffirmed that the clean energy agenda is a positive political agenda. In California, voters overwhelmingly supported the nation's only cap-and-trade policy even in the face of a well-financed attack led by a coalition of out-of-state fossil fuel industries. In defeating Proposition 23, California voters across the political spectrum forcefully chose new technologies and new jobs over a retreat to last century's polluted air and fossil fuel dependence -- showing broad bipartisan support for the most comprehensive emissions reduction measures the country has ever seen. Co-chairman of the "No on 23" campaign, former Secretary of State George Shultz said it best: "Those who wish to repeal our state's clean energy laws through postponement to some fictitious future are running up the white flag of surrender to a polluted environment." In Michigan, voters elected Gov. Rick Snyder, who campaigned as a "good green Republican" who believes that "Michigan needs to be a leader in the innovative movement toward alternative and cleaner energy." The clean energy economy is here for the long term. This Congress must decide if America will lead it. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writers. | Gordon and Caldwell: New Congress can create jobs, end fossil fuel dependence .
Clean energy is bipartisan issue, they write. We need clean energy industries .
Policies that encourage clean energy have been introduced with bipartisan support, they say .
Authors: U.S. must act to keep up with international markets, help national security . |
060a3bff08102e9fcc72542c2ed7d17af4ae7c16 | The Cornish are to be recognised as a national minority group for the first time, it has been revealed. Chief Secretary Danny Alexander announced the decision today, saying it meant for the first time that Cornish people would receive the same rights and protections as other minorities in Britain. It will also mean they are classified under the European Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities the same as the UK's other Celtic people, the Scots, the Welsh and the Irish. Welcome to Cornwall: Campaigners say the region deserves special measures - including economic concessions, such as reductions in fuel duty - in recognition of its geographical location and cultural heritage . Liberal Democrat Cabinet minister Mr Alexander, 41, who is making a visit to Bodmin today, said: ‘Cornish people have a proud history and a distinct identity. ‘I am delighted that we have been able to officially recognise this and afford the Cornish people the same status as other minorities in the UK.’ Campaigners say the region deserves special measures - including economic concessions, such as reductions in fuel duty - in recognition of its geographical location and cultural heritage. Those who have pushed over a 15-year period for Cornwall to be fully recognised under European rules for the protection of national minorities welcomed the announcement. Dick Cole, leader of Cornish independence party Mebyon Kernow, said: ‘This is a fantastic development. ‘A lot of people have been working for many years to get Cornwall the recognition other Celtic people of the UK already receive. The detail is still to come out on what this might mean, but make no mistake that this is a proud day for Cornwall.’ He told MailOnline: ‘The actual . implementation isn't going to cost the Government. There's no immediate . of promise of money from central government. Announcement: Chief Secretary Danny Alexander revealed the decision, saying it meant for the first time that Cornish people would receive the same rights and protections as other minorities in Britain . ‘But in terms of promoting the culture, there's going to be opportunities to access money. It's also the responsibility for the people of Cornwall to make it work us.’ Praise: Prime Minister David Cameron said Cornwall had a 'very special place in my heart' Mr Cole also said that it is not the case that all councils will have to employ Cornish diversity officers, because they all already have equality and diversity strategies which will now cover the Cornish as well. And in terms of road signs in Cornwall, there are at least 1,000 already in place, he said - and they are all being built on new estates to avoid any extra cost of replacing existing signs. In response to claims by critics that the Cornish are no different to any other community in England, Mr Cole said: ‘Already the Welsh, Irish and Scots were protected by the framework on the basis of their national origins. ‘If you take that basic starting point, Cornwall is exactly the same. The position for Cornwall is that it is specifically a Celtic area.’ Prime Minister David Cameron, whose daughter Florence was born in the county while the Cameron family were on holiday in 2010, said Cornwall had a ‘very special place in my heart’. Florence was born during a family holiday in August 2010, and was given the middle name Endellion in honour of the village of St Endellion near where the Camerons were staying in Cornwall. Mr Cameron told BBC Radio Cornwall: ‘I am very proud of the fact that she was born in Cornwall, very proud of the fact that she carries the name Endellion - a church which means a lot to me. Beautiful: Porthtowan beach, near Redruth in Cornwall. Today;s announcement means when Government policy is considered, ministers will have to think how this will affect people in Cornwall . ‘I've been to a wedding of one of my best friends there and very sadly buried another of my friends there. Cornwall has a very special place in my heart. After 15 years of vigorous campaigning, Cornwall today moved closer to gaining greater cultural and political recognition. The announcement means when Government policy is considered, ministers will have to think how this will affect people in Cornwall. Campaigners say there could now be social, education and broadcasting policy which benefits Cornwall more than in the past. The Cornish will be recognised as a national minority under the European Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities - meaning they will be afforded the same 'protections' when policy is considered as the Welsh, Scottish and the Irish. The full details of any economic benefit borne from Cornwall's inclusion in the convention have yet to be known, though it is billed as helping strengthen the Cornish brand, as well as recognise the distinctiveness of the Cornish. Campaigners on the peninsula have long argued the region deserves special measures - including fuel duty reductions - in recognition of its cultural heritage and geographical location. They had also claimed that decisions affecting them were . being made in Westminster without their input. The measure commits Britain to preserving and promoting the Cornish identity, but does not bring extra money. ‘I love it when we go down to Cornwall now and Florence is there. Some shopkeepers single her out for special attention and say “well I want to talk to the Cornish one first”. So she gets the pasty before anybody else.’ Communities Minister Stephen Williams added: ‘This is a great day for the people of Cornwall who have long campaigned for the distinctiveness and identity of the Cornish people to be recognised officially. ‘The . Cornish and Welsh are the oldest peoples on this island and as a proud . Welshman I look forward to seeing Saint Piran's Flag flying with extra . Celtic pride on March 5 next year.’ Campaigners have taken their message to Westminster in recent years after concerns policies affecting them were being made from Whitehall without their consideration. Half a million people signed a petition - swelled by support from newspapers including the Western Morning News - opposing 2012's controversial ‘pasty tax’. And thousands marched through Cornwall and in Westminster in an ultimately successful effort to get the Government to reverse plans imposing VAT on hot Cornish pasties. Independent Cornwall Councillor Bert Biscoe, who worked on the campaign, said: ‘I very much welcome that the Cornish as a group can stand equally beside all other groups in British society.’ Fellow campaigner and comedian Edward . Rowe, also known as the Kernow King, added: ‘This is obviously great . news for the people of Cornwall. ‘I . think there is always going to be a certain degree of pessimism when . politicians are involved - are they going to be chasing votes, for . example. ‘But it is great for Cornwall to get the recognition for its culture and heritage that it deserves.’ In the spotlight: A tongue-in-cheek plot played out in the BBC¿s spoof comedy W1A last month looked at the issue of Cornwall being under-represented on the Corporation . North . Cornwall MP Dan Rogerson said: ‘Today's announcement means that the . Cornish will finally be recognised as one of the constituent peoples of . the UK alongside the Welsh, Scottish and Irish. Backing: Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the Government would invest a further £120,000 into the Cornish Language Partnership . ‘It will also make sure that public institutions take account of Cornwall's unique identity.' The Liberal Democrat added: ‘Despite the fact that the last Labour Government said that the Cornish couldn't be recognised in this way, Liberal Democrats in Coalition Government have made sure that the Cornish people, and our traditions, culture and heritage, now have the same status as everyone else.' The announcement follows previous commitments, which included formal recognition of the Cornish language. In March, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the Government would be investing a further £120,000 into the Cornish Language Partnership to promote and develop the language. Mr Cole added: ‘In 2002, the Government recognised the Cornish language through a charter, and it's putting money in to help with the revival. ‘So we've always been arguing that it's a bit silly - you're recognising a minority language, but not a minority group from which it came. What they've done today is to close the circle.’ Residents of Cornwall traditionally spoke a Celtic language similar to that of France's Brittany region. Separately, a tongue-in-cheek plot played out in the BBC’s spoof comedy W1A last month looked at the issue of Cornwall being under-represented on the Corporation. A fictional local presenter in the series - which looks at what might go on behind closed doors at the BBC - felt that she could not work as a national presenter because of a perceived anti-Cornish bias. The series, which ran for four episodes as a follow-up to Twenty Twelve, starred Hugh Bonneville. | Cornish people will now receive same rights as other minorities in UK .
Public bodies must take their views into account when making decisions .
Campaigners say region deserves measures such as fuel duty reductions .
Government put £120,000 into Cornish Language Partnership in March . |
060bdee6220d514b3c0888a8ac30c8a483611c71 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . UPDATED: . 12:34 EST, 8 March 2012 . Police investigating the cold-case deaths of women from more than 30 years ago have linked four of them to a convicted triple murderer who authorities say may have been responsible for as many as 26 slayings. Cops are investigating if Vincent Groves is responsible for 26 murders . District Attorney Mitch Morrissey said Vincent Groves, who died in prison in 1996 at age 42, was tied by DNA to the 1979 killings of women found strangled and partially nude in an alley, an industrial park and a bathtub in Denver. Police used a DNA profile of Groves they recently found from an old murder investigation and linked it to the three separate crime scenes. Groves was serving a life sentence for the 1980s strangling of two young women. He had been released on parole in 1987 after serving five years in prison for killing a third woman in suburban Denver. The 1979 slayings of Emma Jenefor, 25; Joyce Ramey, 23; and Peggy Cuff, 20, bore strong resemblances to Groves’ past killings and the disappearance of a woman that Groves was suspected in, police said. DNA also linked the 1988 slaying of 35-year-old Pamela Montgomery, whose body was found in an alley, to Groves. Groves strangled most of his victims; many were found nude or partially clothed, left in the mountains west of Denver, alleys and fields outside the city, police said. Authorities launched a task force in the late 1980s to investigate a string of slayings after authorities began finding an average of a body a month, all possibly killed by the same person. At that time, Grove was suspected of up to 20 killings between 1979 and 1988, he said. More DNA testing is pending to determine if Groves is linked to other victims, Morrissey said. Groves’ DNA profile was recovered from the case file related to 17-year-old Tammy Woodrum. He returned to prison in 1990 for the slayings of Juanita “Becky” Lovato, 19, and Diane Montoya Mancera, 25. Police had circumstantial evidence linking Groves to three slayings in the late 1970s, including Ramey, and one missing woman. They also suspected Groves of four additional slayings, including Lovato and Mancera, after his release from prison. | Police suspect Vincent Groves of killings in Denver .
DNA being used to solve 30-year-old cold cases . |
060c4f244d960b9b91374ba86dc2d8f86fe46747 | Silverstone, England (CNN) -- Fortune can be a fickle mistress in Formula One. Home hero Lewis Hamilton was dejected and apologetic after a mistake in qualifying but Silverstone rang with fans chanting his name as he fought back to win the British Grand Prix. His victory was won at the expense of his Mercedes teammate and title rival Nico Rosberg, who retired with a broken gearbox. The German had taken pole position and was leading at just over the halfway point before the pendulum of bad luck swung his way on lap 29. It was the first time Rosberg has retired this season while, in contrast, Hamilton had failed to cross the finish line twice. "Yesterday was a really difficult day," Hamilton, who was knocked back to sixth on the grid after choosing to pit rather than finish a final timed lap in qualifying, told reporters at the historic Silverstone circuit. "You could say it was a real kick in the balls. I really had to pull up my socks and get on it. "I went away feeling terrible. I felt I really let the fans, the team and myself down. Determined Hamilton . "Coming back today to turn that emptiness around was really my priority. This weekend showed you never give up." Hamilton's second British GP victory -- earned exactly six years after his fantastic 2008 win in the wet -- was not only about personal redemption, it was also about closing the gap in the F1 world championship. Luck has been on Rosberg's side at the previous three races, the 29-year-old winning in Monaco and Austria and finishing second in Canada. Hamilton's home win means he is now just four points behind Rosberg, who was still smiling as he chatted to reporters in the Mercedes motor home after the race. The Mercedes duo will now renew their rivalries at the German Grand Prix on 20 July -- and Mercedes chairman Niki Lauda, a three-time world champion himself, is predicting fireworks now Hamilton is back to his best. "Lewis from the beginning of the season was on a very good stable level and Nico after Monaco had everything going for him," Lauda said. "But now Lewis is back on track so I tell you the next couple of races are going to be interesting. Highly motivated . "He is highly motivated and for me the most important thing is that this victory gives him a real push about his qualities, what he can achieve so there will be no ups-and-downs with him anymore. "Everything is reset like before. So they will fight until the end like you do not believe to be world champion. "It's interesting to watch now because they are exactly the same level." Rosberg: Mercedes has not peaked yet . There was also a turnaround in fortune for the Williams team, who saw their cars start out of position after failing to choose the right tires in a rain-hit qualifying. Valterri Bottas hustled his way through the field with some impressive overtaking to finish a brilliant second in the car Susie Wolff had driven on Friday for four laps before it ground to halt with an engine problem. "We're on the right way," said the Finn, who finished third last time out in Austria. "One step more to go. "You see how quick the car is. It was a pleasure to drive. I was able to go through the field. I'm really, really happy." Fine third . Daniel Ricciardo finished third for Red Bull Racing, the same position his teammate Sebastian Vettel had started the race from. While the four-time world champion came in for fresh tires twice, Ricciardo switched to a one-stop strategy, which moved him onto the podium. "I didn't intend on doing a one-stop but we were able to keep the pace, so we stayed on and just held on at the end," the Australian explained. "It was awesome. All three of us had a bit of redemption on our plate today. It was a pretty dismal Saturday for us so we're all pretty happy. This is definitely one of my best podiums this year." A bit further down the road, Vettel found himself engaged in a thrilling duel with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso. Both drivers flexed their egos, complaining about each other's driving style on the pit-to-car radios but in the end Vettel swooped past Alonso for fifth place. Early incident . The dramatic race had been delayed for an hour after a crash involving Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari on the opening lap. The Finn, who has had a difficult season since returning to the Italian team, lost control as he turned into the Wellington Straight. As he rejoined the track at speed, the car kicked out into repeated spins. The Finn plunged into the barriers on the right and then collided with Felipe Massa's Williams -- the damage enough to end the Brazilian's 200th grand prix in miserable fashion. The Ferrari spokesman told the media: "Kimi is OK. He obviously got a big hit. He only seems to be having some bruises to his ankle and a little bit on his knee." The bruising 2014 championship continues at the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim in two week's time. | Lewis Hamilton wins British GP in front of home fans .
Hamilton closes gap on title leader Nico Rosberg .
Pole sitter Rosberg fails to finish after gearbox problems .
Valtteri Bottas and Daniel Ricciardo complete podium positions . |
060cef1808b4f602bd559e89021926838025982c | By . Jill Reilly . Ariel Sharon's burial alongside his wife yesterday was disturbed by two rockets fired by militants in nearby Gaza. Minutes after the former prime minister was buried in a plot at his family farm on Monday, militants fired the missiles into southern Israel, the army said. They were on high alert for any rockets being fired out of the Palestinian territory and responded with air strikes on two militant . camps in Gaza, Palestinian officials said, bombing strongholds of Islamic Jihad, a militant group. Ariel Sharon's burial alongside his wife yesterday was disturbed by two rockets fired by militants in nearby Gaza . Members of the Knesset guard carry the coffin of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon . No injuries were reported in . any of the attacks. Sharon was regarded as a war hero at home but as a war criminal by many in the Arab world. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and former British prime minister Tony Blair laid wreaths at his grave, 10 km (6 miles) from the border of the Gaza Strip. 'We are accompanying to his final resting place today a soldier, an exceptional soldier, a commander who knew how to win,' Israeli President Shimon Peres said in Jerusalem, Sharon's hefty coffin draped in Israel's blue and white flag. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair (right) shakes hands with Omri Sharon, the older son of the former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel (Arik) Sharon . At Sharon's graveside, his son Gilad remembered his father for overcoming the odds, whether it was battling a Palestinian uprising after becoming prime minister in 2001 or clinging to life in his final days even after his kidneys had stopped functioning . Joe Biden greets the sons of Ariel Sharon, Omri and Gilad at the start of the memorial . Sharon, 85, died on Saturday after . spending the last eight years of his life motionless in a hospital bed, . pitched into a coma by a stroke and far from the public gaze. The death of the former general reopened debate into his legacy. Opponents denounced his ruthless conduct in military operations while friends praised him as a strategic genius who as prime minister stunned the world in 2005 by pulling Israeli troops and settlers out of Gaza. 'The security of his people was always Arik's unwavering mission - a non-breakable commitment to the future of Jews, whether 30 years or 300 years from now,' Biden said, using Sharon's nickname. There was no direct mention of events that made Sharon a hated figure in the Arab world, such as the 1982 invasion of Lebanon that he masterminded as defence minister. However, in his eulogy, Blair said the man known at home as 'the bulldozer' had left 'considerable debris in his wake'. Iconic: This picture taken on November 16, 2005 shows former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon addressing a press conference in Jerusalem . Ariel Sharon taking a ride on a mini-tractor on his ranch in southern Israel with his wife Lily who he is buried next to and one of his grandchildren . Biden referred simply to his 'mistakes', saying: 'History will judge that he also lived in complex times, in a very complex neighbourhood.' The Israeli foreign ministry said dignitaries had come from 21 countries, mainly in Europe, but did not list any delegations from the Middle East, Africa or Latin America. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, noting he had not always seen eye-to-eye with Sharon on policy matters although they both stood on the right of Israel's political spectrum, praised his commitment to Israel's security. 'Arik understood that in matters of our existence and security, we must stand firm. Israel will continue to fight terror. Israel will continue to strive for peace, while protecting our security. Israel will act in every way to deny Iran the capability of arming itself with nuclear weapons.' Beefy and brusque, Sharon was seen at home as a master of the battlefield: his crossing of Egypt's Suez Canal in the 1973 Middle East war is still studied in military college. By the same token, the drawn-out 1982 campaign in Lebanon is regarded as his worst mistake, which reached its nadir when hundreds of Palestinian civilians in the refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila were killed by Israeli-allied Christian militiamen. Sharon was forced to stand down as defence minister in 1983 after an Israeli investigation ruled that he bore 'personal responsibility' for not preventing the massacre. Written off at the time, he soon bounced back and served as prime minister from 2001 until he was incapacitated by stroke. A memorial service was held followed by a funeral near Sycamore Farm, the former prime minister's residence . Israelis are paying their respects to Ariel Sharon, whose controversial life inspired admiration and provoked revulsion and whose death drew emotional reactions even after eight years in a coma . An Israeli woman mourns for former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as he lies-in-state on the plaza of the Knesset . Neither Netanyahu nor Peres mentioned the Lebanon war or disengagement from Gaza, which showed Israel could roll back its occupation of the Palestinian territories given determined leadership. Both Biden and Blair welcomed the pullout.However, one of Sharon's friends, settler leader Zeev Hever, made clear the sense of hurt felt by some Israelis.'Your disengagement in the final two years of your term from the path we had walked together was particularly difficult and painful,' he told mourners, recalling Sharon's past pivotal role while in various cabinet posts in expanding settlements on territories Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war. Two years after Israel left Gaza, the Islamist group Hamas seized control, calling for the destruction of the Jewish state. Israel had strengthened security for Sharon's burial and warned Hamas not to allow rocket fire during the ceremony. Hamas Interior Minister Fathi Hamad denounced 'our worst enemy, the cursed Sharon' during a rally in Gaza to mark the 2008-09 war with Israel. How to handle Gaza is among the sticking points in Israel's U.S.-sponsored peace negotiations with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Hamas's rival based in the occupied West Bank. During his brief visit to Israel, Biden will discuss the so far fruitless talks with Netanyahu and Peres, U.S. officials said. The vice president will also seek to ease Netanyahu's concerns about world powers' interim nuclear deal with Israel's arch-foe Iran, which takes effect on Jan. 20. Sharon and Peres are the last of the so-called 1948 generation of leaders who played a prominent role in Israeli public life right from the foundation of the Jewish state. 'He left us too soon. But the work of trying to reach peace continues,' said Biden, hinting that had Sharon stayed healthy, he might have taken further steps after the Gaza withdrawal to end the decades-old Middle East conflict. | Missiles fired minutes after the former prime minister was buried .
Israeli army responded with air strikes on two militant camps in Gaza .
No injuries were reported in any of the attacks . |
060d7e68706185b731248914a7b2941cb0b22f28 | By . Aaron Sharp . PUBLISHED: . 04:00 EST, 18 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:02 EST, 18 October 2013 . Life on the rocks is a barrel of laughs for this harbour seal who was spotted chortling as he took a relaxing break from swimming. The mammal was spotted having a blast at Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey, California, an area of the US popular with the species. It was spotted by keen photographer Veronica Craft, who said she takes pictures of seals because of their happy nature. Roaring with laughter: The happy seal seems to have been tickled by something as it rolls onto its side . Too much: The expressive mammal is overcome with the giggles is rolls around on the rock . Raising a smile: The seal cracks an almost human smile as he seems to enjoy basking in the sun . The jovial beast, which Veronica nicknamed 'LOL' was more than happy to play up for the camera. Harbour Seals come in a variety of colours, and all have dog-like heads without external ears. This breed of seal particularly enjoy basking in the sun at low tides. Veronica, from Marina in California, said: 'When I saw what he was doing my first thought to the seal was 'Please don't stop, I have to get a shot of this'. 'I like to think he was mugging for the camera or maybe he was laughing at me. He probably thinks humans are silly. Nice and easy: Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey, California is a favourite spot for the harbour seals who love bask in the warm sunlight . Smiling from ear to ear: The jovial seal doesn't seem to mind at all when it eventually realises it's being pictured . 'Initially I couldn't believe I had captured the moment but as I clicked through my shots I realised that I had actually captured several moments. 'I love seals. It is extremely fun to see them play. They always bring a smile to my face and I can't stop photographing them. 'They are just cute and silly. I am truly blessed to live in an area with such diverse sea creatures.' | The happy seal seemed tickled with laughter as it lay about on a rock .
The jovial mammal was basking in Monterey Bay, California .
The heart-warming scene was captured by nature snapper Veronica Craft . |
060fb7c38daf725c8ca35e3944159d70edf4e751 | NAIROBI, Kenya (CNN) -- Two U.S. filmmakers were injured Saturday when their small plane crashed into a three-story residential building in downtown Nairobi. People gather around the wreckage of a plane that struck a building in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Saturday. Dan Parris, 25, and Rob Lehr, 26, both from St. Louis, Missouri, were shooting an independent documentary on poverty in Africa. Both men were hospitalized and expected to survive, according to David Peterka, who was part of the film crew, but was not aboard the plane. He said that all four aboard the plane were Americans. A flight engineer, whose name was not released, was critically injured and was in a coma, Peterka said. The pilot, whose name has not yet been released, was killed in the crash. The crew had been in the east African nation for four days and was shooting video of Kibera, one of the largest slums in Africa. The plane was headed to nearby Wilson Airport, where most light aircraft land in the Kenyan capital. "The pilot had warned that he was going to hover and go slow," Peterka said. "They were surprised when they went to about 50 feet off the ground --- and then they hit electrical lines and the plane flipped into the building." Just before the plane crashed, the listening devices went off and they could not communicate with the pilot, Peterka said. Peterka said Lehr, who was ejected because the doors were open for filming, ran back in to rescue the others. Parris crawled out and Lehr, with the help of bystanders, pulled the pilot and the engineer out as the plane burst into flames, Peterka said. "Local residents were using water, dirt to put the fire out" before the fire department arrived, Peterka said. "Before the plane crashed, witnesses said it was flying unusually low," said Francis Mwaka, a Kenyan federal communications official. The four-seater plane was owned by African Inland Missions company. No one on the ground was injured, Mwaka said. The crash is under investigation. CNN's Ben Brumfield contributed to this story. | Pilot killed, three passengers injured when plane crashes into building .
Two victims were U.S. filmmakers shooting documentary on African poverty .
Dan Parris, Rob Lehr were taken to hospital, expected to survive .
Witnesses say plane was "flying unusually low" before crash . |
06103731d2327bd4811624ae30697ead8d37e9ae | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Warren Buffett this week donated $2.8billion of stock in his investment firm to five charities, as part of the billionaire's plan to give away nearly all of his wealth. Mr Buffett, 83, donated about 21.73million Class B shares of Berkshire Hathaway, the so-called Sage of Omaha's investment vehicle, a regulatory filing shows. About 16.6million shares, worth more than $2.1billion, went to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which focuses on education, health and poverty problems. Scroll down for video . Cool move: Warren Buffett eats an ice lolly. He has just donated nearly $3billion to charitable foundations . The rest went to four family charities, including a foundation named for his late first wife Susan and foundations for his children Howard, Peter and Susan. The $2.8billion is the most Buffett has donated to these charities, reflecting Berkshire's near-record share price, since he began making annual gifts in 2006. Mr Buffett still controls nearly 20 per cent of Berkshire's stock, which made him worth $65.8billion on Monday, the day the donation was made, according to Forbes magazine. Only Mexico telecommunications mogul Carlos Slim and Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder and Berkshire director, were worth more, Forbes said. Thanks: Bill Gates, co-founder and co-chairman of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which received shares in Berkshire Hathaway worth more than $2billion to invest in its charitable causes . Berkshire has more than 80 operating businesses and ended March with more than $146billion of stock and bond investments. Mr Buffett has run the Omaha, Nebraska-based company since 1965. He is widely considered the most successful investor of the 20th century. | The 83-year-old investment guru donated nearly 22million shares in his firm .
About 16.6million went to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation .
Mr Buffett's fortune still amounts to a staggering $65.8billion . |
0610b1c6646fa307e2d86bd7bf75b5dc1bf9d197 | Manchester City are running out of time to win the Champions League, according to Gary Neville. The former Manchester United full-back wrote in the Daily Telegraph that the age of City's squad and the impact of Financial Fair Play mean the chances of success in Europe for Manuel Pellegrini's men are decreasing every season. City lost their opening game of this season's Champions League 1-0 in Bayern Munich on Wednesday. Manchester City were beaten in their opening Champions League game by Bayern Munich on Wednesday . Jerome Boateng scored a late winner to give the Germans all three points at the Allianz Arena . Gary Neville believes time is running out for an ageing City side to win the Champions League . Neville said: 'Two championships in three years marks them out as a great English side who sit alongside the title-winning teams of Arsene Wenger, (Jose) Mourinho and Sir Alex Ferguson. But just looking at them now, and where they are in their development, I feel this team is in a dangerous position. 'Before Wednesday's game I said: "For this team the time is now." I looked at the line-up and felt they were growing old together. Football allows that less and less. The fruit is ripe - but you had better eat it quickly, because it's going to go off. 'The value of those players will drop quite sharply in the next 18 months because everyone will know they are going over the edge. People used to say of Ferguson: 'Why has he sold this or that player when he's still performing really well?' Answer: because he knew what was coming. 'There is a trace of that now with City. Their problem, though, is that Financial Fair Play is chasing them down the road. So their option is to sell big now and buy young replacements in the next 12 months. 'If they wait any longer they will be in trouble on the saleable value of the current players. Another route would be to bring through academy graduates.' Jesus Navas rides a Boateng tackle but Manuel Pellegrini's side couldn't force a goal in Germany . | Manuel Pellegrini's side lost away at Bayern Munich on Wednesday .
Jerome Boateng scored a late winner at the Allianz Arena .
Gary Neville believes City must win the Champions League soon .
The England coach argues that Pellegrini's squad is ageing . |
06118769addd0f4ec1c544d18bd454c23b423b1c | (CNN) -- A Virgin Islands jury has found a veteran Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives special agent not guilty of using excessive force when he intervened and fatally shot a man during a domestic argument in 2008. ATF Special Agent William G. Clark was cleared of charges Thursday in a case that enraged many federal law enforcement officers who said Clark was heroically coming to the defense of a battered woman. "ATF has been steadfast in its support of Special Agent Clark and wholeheartedly agrees with the jury's verdict," said Thomas Brandon, ATF deputy director, in a written statement. ATF officials said Clark was confronted by Marcus Sukow on September 7, 2008, and "took immediate action to defend himself and others by discharging his firearm to stop the attack." The incident occurred outside a St. Thomas condominium where all of the main participants were neighbors. While the broad outline of the shooting is undisputed, two government investigations came to starkly different conclusions. A federal government multiple-agency investigation of the incident unanimously concluded the shooting was justified. The ATF even returned Clark's gun and badge and put him back to work. But a Virgin Islands Police Department investigation prompted prosecutors to charge Clark with second degree murder. Local prosecutors evidently were heavily influenced by two points: First, the dead man was armed only with a flashlight; second, Clark shot him five times. According to a police affidavit, Clark was leaving his condo when he encountered Sukow and his girlfriend. They had been drinking and were having a "disagreement." Federal authorities were so incensed by the Virgin Island's prosecution of Clark -- and so concerned other federal agents could similarly be prosecuted -- that they removed all ATF agents from the Virgin Islands in 2008, a policy that continues today, the agency said. The U.S. Virgin Islands is an unincorporated territory of the United States. 2010: Federal agents nationwide eye ATF agent murder trial . CNN's Mike Ahlers contributed to this report. | The charge against Special Agent William G. Clark enraged many federal law officers .
He had intervened in a domestic argument in 2008 .
A federal investigation cleared him, but Virgin Islands police charged him with murder . |
0611a7b4c8845cceb001fd66ffa0e1566fb6bbbd | Despite the rising costs involved in attending university, the pursuit of a degree-level education is becoming increasingly common with each generation. Roughly 41 percent of Americans aged 18 to 24 are currently enrolled in a two- or four-year degree-granting institution, compared with 25.5 percent enrolled in 1967, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. There is good reason to pursue a bachelor’s degree as in 2013 the typical American adult with a degree earned more than double someone with only a high school diploma. Lake Havasu City-Kingman, Arizona, has topped a list of the least educated cities in the United States . Half of America's least educated cities are in California, although worst of all was Lake Havasu City-Kingman, Arizona . But as people with the best education move to areas with the best paid jobs, left behind are the nation’s cities with the lowest education levels. These metropolitan areas are ‘stuck in a vicious cycle’, according to Pedro Noguera, professor of education at New York University. ‘Low levels of education make it difficult for them to attract businesses that pay higher wages.’ To rank the ten least educated cities in the U.S., 24/7 Wall St. reviewed metrics including cities with the lowest percentage of adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree, median household income, median earnings and the poverty rate. The results produced a list of cities that have historically been dependent on agriculture and mining and which now find themselves without a foothold in the technology sector and other industries which are running the economy. In second spot was Dalton, Georgia. Known as the carpet capital of the world, its economy was hammered by the Great Recession . The top ten least-educated cities are: . 10. Vineland-Bridgeton, New Jersey . Bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.7 percent . Median household income: $45,978 (148th lowest) Median earnings - bachelor’s degree: $53,187 (30th highest) Median earnings - high school diploma: $23,818 . Poverty rate: 20.6 percent (58th highest), compared to less than 16% nationwide. 9. Merced, California . Bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.5 percent . Median household income: $40,687 (54th lowest) Median earnings - bachelor’s degree: $41,719 (116th lowest) Median earnings - high school diploma: $32,000 . Poverty rate: 25.2 percent (13th highest) Less than 68 percent of adults living in Merced had finished high school, compared to 87 per cent nationwide . Nearly 16 percent of the population did not have U.S. citizenship last year - one of the highest percentages nationwide. Non-citizens are less likely to attend college. 8. Visalia-Porterville, California . Bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.3 percent . Median household income: $39,422 (29th lowest) Median earnings – bachelor’s degree: $50,569 (73rd highest) Median earnings - high school diploma: $20,515 . Poverty rate: 30.1 per cent (4th highest) Nearly 19 percent of the workforce were employed in agricultural sectors, versus just 2 percent nationwide. 7. Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana . Bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.2 percent . Median household income: $54,070 (96th highest) Median earnings – bachelor’s degree: $46,659 (139th highest) Median earnings - high school diploma: $38,000 . Poverty rate: 13.6 percent (88th lowest) 6. Madera, California . Bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.0 percent . Median household income: $39,758 (36th lowest) Median earnings – bachelor’s degree: $49,994 (90th highest) Poverty rate: 23.6 percent (21st highest) Once had a flourishing lumber industry, Madera now has a diversified agricultural industry . Like several other cities with low educational attainment rates, Madera also has a relatively large immigrant population. Last year, an estimated 16.2 percent of the area population were not U.S. citizens, one of the highest percentages nationwide. Hanford-Corcoran, California: More than 17 per cent of Hanford’s workforce is employed in the agriculture, forestry, and mining industries . 5. Hanford-Corcoran, California . Bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.9 percent (tied-4th lowest) Median household income: $45,774 (144th lowest) Median earnings – bachelor’s degree: $46,719 (138th highest) Poverty rate: 21.4 percent (47th highest) More than 17 per cent of Hanford’s workforce is employed in the agriculture, forestry, and mining industries. 4. Farmington, New Mexico . Bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.9 percent (tied-4th lowest) Median household income: $43,787 (103rd lowest) Median earnings – bachelor’s degree: $40,503 (72nd lowest) Poverty rate: 22.7 percent (27th highest) Wages may be expected to grow in the near future, as the San Juan Basin - located less than two hours from Farmington - is a major source of New Mexico’s budding oil boom. More than one in 10 members of the area’s workforce were employed in the agricultural, forestry and mining industries - which includes the energy sector. 3. El Centro, California . Bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.7 percent . Median household income: $43,310 (91st lowest) Median earnings – bachelor’s degree: $52,546 (38th highest) Poverty rate: 22.1 percent (34th highest) Last year, more than 18 percent of El Centro’s population were non-citizens, the third highest percentage nationwide. 2. Dalton, Georgia . Bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.2 percent . Median household income: $37,659 (17th lowest) Median earnings – bachelor’s degree: $42,293 (149th lowest) Poverty rate: 21.8 percent (38th highest) Dalton is known as the carpet capital of the world and its economy was hammered by the Great Recession. 1. Lake Havasu City-Kingman, Arizona . Bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.3 percent . Median household income: $39,058 (26th lowest) Median earnings – bachelor’s degree: $37,452 (41st lowest) Poverty rate: 21.2 percent (52nd highest) An exceptionally high percentage of Lake Havasu’s workforce was employed in the entertainment and accommodations industry, at more than 21 percent last year, more than all but four other metro areas. | Growing numbers of people are going to university in pursuit of better jobs and better pay .
Left behind are the nation's cities with the lowest education levels - 'stuck in a vicious cycle' as they fail to attract higher wages .
Half the top ten are cities in California - but worst of all was Lake Havasu City-Kingman, Arizona .
Bottom three also included Dalton, Georgia, and El Centrol, California . |
0612042c0c7d5cf6459f5435402919673c8c552f | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Children with asthma may be using medicines that do not work, and in some cases could increase their suffering, a new study has shown. The inhaler, often the first line of treatment in asthma, could be less effective or may even make the condition worse for some children carrying a particular gene, according to research at the Brighton and Sussex Medical School. Its chairman of paediatrics, Professor Somnath Mukhopadhyay, said: ‘Both asthma reliever and controller medicines may not work well in a proportion of children. The inhaler could make the condition worse for those carrying a particular gene, researchers say . ‘A simple test can identify those who might benefit from a switch to an alternative, more effective medicine.’ The news comes just weeks after it was revealed that exposing newborn babies to germs could help prevent asthma as they grow up. According to the 'hygiene hypothesis', exposure to bacteria is necessary to prime the immune system early in life. The findings bolstered the theory that modern obsession with hygiene and cleanliness has driven a boom in allergies and health problems. Many scientists believe that modern society, with its mania for sanitation and easy access to antibiotics, makes children hypersensitive to harmless allergens. | Youngsters with a certain gene could make condition worse by using the aid .
Research was carried out at the Brighton and Sussex Medical School . |
06132364a293fb906ed03f406559de540689375b | Coal miners in sixties Britain might have had to get up before dawn and work all day in the cold, dark and damp, but the women in their lives look like they might have had much more fun. Their daughters, wives and sisters - and women who worked for the coal board - could enter the glamorous Coal Queen beauty contest. The competition started out in the early sixties and by 1969 it was a national event, with the Coal Queen of Britain scooping prizes from holidays to clothes and money. Deborah Tate, from Ashington, was crowned Northumberland Coal Queen in 1982, aged 19. She is pictured here at the opening of a new pit bath complex at Ellington Colliery in January 1983 . One such Coal Queen is Deborah Tate, who grew up in Ashington and was crowned Northumberland Coal Queen in 1982, aged 19. 'It was a great honour to represent your community and usually came with prizes - a real treat,' she tells MailOnline. 'My . father Albert Bramley was a miner who had worked at Woodhorn Colliery - as were the two generations before him. 'Dad always used to tell me I could grow up and be a Coal . Queen, but I'm not sure I really believed him,' said Deborah, now 51 . and living in Ponteland, Northumberland. 'It . was incredible - one day you were nobody, and the next mams were . whispering to their children, "Look, it's the Coal Queen". It was an . honour,' Deborah told Chronicle Live. 'It was . very exciting,' said Deborah, who has kept her family connection to . Woodhorn by working as marketing officer for the colliery museum. 'Mining families didn't have a lot of money, so going to Blackpool was a fabulous holiday. 'We were treated as something special and my family were very proud. The Coal Queens were mascots for the industry.' Deborah Tate, circled, on the way to Blackpool in October 1982 for the national finals of the Coal Queen competition, with girls from coal fields all over the UK. The national winner for the year stands behind Deborah . Coal Queens L-R Northumebrland 1983, National 1977 and Deborah, Northumberland 1982 . The competition in 1982 was held at a dinner in a local hotel the night before the Northumberland Miners' Picnic. Local National Union of Mineworkers representatives made up the judging panel as well as Neil Kinnock who was there to speak at the event the following day. 'The young ladies paraded around in both a day dress and swimwear, and a compere chatted to each one to find out a little bit about them - what their connection was, their interests, ambitions and more,' says Deborah. 'I guess they were looking for an attractive, personable lady who could proudly represent the community for the next 12 months. 'As winner, I was given a sash, tiara, and I think a small cheque, but I was also to go through to the national final in Blackpool in the coming October. Later I was give £50 I think to help with my preparations for the final. 'The big event in Blackpool was amazing to me. It was a huge industry celebration and there were all sorts of other things going on including football tournaments and music. 'We were transported first class to the top hotel with our chosen partner - hubby, sister or in my case, mum - where we stayed for a week. 'One of the event sponsors was a catalogue, so we spent part of the week rehearsing a big fashion show at the Opera House in the Winter Gardens as well as preparing for the main competition. 'We got to know each other very well and really had fun together. It really didn't feel like a competitive environment - just a group of young girls having a great adventure together. 'All of the young ladies were given a watch by Rotary just for reaching the final, and again, I think there was a small cheque. The winner won a gold watch, a bigger cheque and a holiday to St Lucia! 'I've still got my dress from the final and the gold sandals I bought for the event. The watch is still in the jewellery box too, although I'm not sure it works.' Coal Queens on parade at the Northumberland Miners' Picnic - pictured centre in blue is the Picnic Queen and right in the red sash is the Northumberland Coal Queen . Deborah . passed on her crown to her 26-year-old friend Jackie Grey, now 57, whose . father was a safety engineer at Bates' Pit. Jackie was Northumberland's . very last Coal Queen. Competitions were initially run at a . local colliery level and winners would be crowned at local Miners' Galas, but in the late 1960s they became organised into . Coalfield and national competitions. The last national competition was held in . 1983. The mining community had many events celebrating the industry and bringing the community together. The Miners' Picnic was an annual gathering of the Northumberland coal community, where miners and their families would listen to union and political speakers, watch brass bands parade and compete, enjoy a fair and stalls. It celebrated 150 years this year. The photograph with various young ladies . on a lorry, above, was taken at one such Northumberland Miners' Picnic. Pictured in . the centre in blue is the Picnic Queen and to the right in the red sash . is the Northumberland Coal Queen. A float with two oversized miner statues, pictured below, was used for parades and events. Coal Queen Frances Cogan, Miss Brenkley Colliery, who was crowned Northumberland Coal Queen in 1978 pictured on a float used for parades, events and to promote the National Coal Board . Deborah Tate has continued the legacy of her family and the mining community by following in their footsteps. 'I'm the fourth generation to work at Woodhorn . colliery,' she says. 'Which was a working coal mine for more than 80 years and is . now a museum and home to Northumberland Archives.' Deborah now works at the Northumberland Archives . at Woodhorn Museum, where they've released beautiful archive images for . the public to view on Retronaut, and now here on MailOnline. The coal queen collection is just one of the sets the Retronaut has unveiled during an ongoing collaborative project between the website and Northumberland Archives. There . will be an exhibition of images highlighted by the Retronaut at . Woodhorn starting September 27 and running until the end of January, . but will contain at least one Coal Queen image. Parent organisation Museums and Archives Northumberland have also launched a Flickr page of historic photographs from its collections, in the hope of reaching people who don't normally visit museums. For more information visit experiencewoodhorn.com or woodhornexhibitions.com . Bedlingtonshire Coal Queen 1954 Gillian McNair is pictured with her fiancé Cyril Richardson . | Coal miners' daughters, wives and sisters could enter Coal Queen .
Pageant with prizes of holidays and money ran from early 60s to 1983 . |
0614e8da5380aecaa84191d104d1fe09552a2137 | By . Daniel Bates . Hillary Clinton had a rare moment of bonding with Vladimir Putin over his passion for saving Siberian tigers, she writes in her new memoir published today. The former US Secretary of State said that she was able to get the Russian President to shed his tough guy image by appealing to the animal lover inside of him. He took her to his private office and gave her a lengthy lecture and even invited her husband Bill to tag polar bears in the wilderness with him. Anecdotes: Clinton (at a book signing today) shared the stories of the world leaders she met during her time as Secretary of State . Clinton also inspired Putin to reveal a never-before-heard anecdote about how his mother was mistaken for a dead body and nearly taken away for burial when she was really just sick and unconscious. She talks about both episodes in her book, ‘Hard Choices’, which was released today after being highly anticipated in Washington. The memoir and barrage of interviews Clinton has given is being seen as the first step in her potential run for the Presidency in 2016. Hard Choices covers the major events of her time as Secretary of State between 2009 and 2013 including the Arab Spring, the attack on the US embassy in Benghazi and attempts to find peace in the Middle East. But it also includes offbeat anecdotes about relations between US and Russia, which were ‘reset’ by President Obama in 2009 but fell apart by Russia’s use of energy as a tool of foreign policy and its annexation of Crimea earlier this year. She writes that overall Putin proved to be ‘thin-skinned and autocratic, resenting criticism and eventually cracking down on dissent and debate’. But in meeting at his dacha, or holiday home, outside Moscow the two had a rare moment of solidarity. Clinton knew that one of his passions was wildlife conservation so asked him out of the blue: ‘Tell me what you are doing to save the tigers in Siberia’. Clinton writes: ‘He looked up in surprise. Now I had his attention’. Putin led her down a long corridor to his private office, past dozing guards to a huge map of Russia when he launched into an ‘animated discourse’ in English about the fate of tigers, polar bears and other endangered species. Putin even invited Clinton’s husband Bill to tag polar bears in the countryside in a few weeks time, but in the end the trip did not happen. Cuddly: Hillary Clinton revealed that Putin warmed when she inquired about his conservation efforts - particularly his work to save Siberian tigers. He invited husband Bill on a polar bear-tagging trip . Another moment happened in September 2012 at Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting he hosted in the Russian city of Vladivostok. Clinton mentions she had been to a memorial in the city to the Nazi’s siege between 1941 and 1944 and it ‘struck a chord’ with Putin. He reeled off a story she had never heard before and surprised Russian history experts she consulted afterwards. Clinton writes: ‘During the war Putin’s father came home from the front lines for a short break. ‘When he approached the apartment where he lived with his wife, he saw a pile bodies stacked in the street and men loading them into a waiting flatbed truck. ‘As he drew nearer, he saw a woman’s legs wearing shoes that he recognised as his wife’s. He ran up and demanded his wife’s body. ‘After an argument the man gave in, and Putin’s father took his in his arms and, after examining her, realised she was still alive. ‘He carried her up to their apartment and nursed her back to health. Eight years later, in 1952, their son Vladimir was born’. Relations between Clinton and Putin have taken a very different direction since. He branded her 'weak' and said that it is 'better not to argue with women' last week. Putin was responding to Clinton's comments that he was behaving like Adolf Hitler by sending Russian troops into Eastern Ukraine. In 2010 thousands of secret diplomatic cables sent by the US were published by Wikileaks, revealing embarrassing details of what they really thought about world leaders. Clinton writes that it was a ‘long Thanksgiving holiday’ during which time she made dozens of phone calls to apologise. Clinton also had face to face meetings with some leaders, including Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who she spoke to at a meeting of the Organisation for Cooperation and Development in Kazakhstan. In the cables American diplomats accused him of having a ‘penchant for partying hard meant that he never got sufficient rest’. He is also branded ‘feckless, vain, and ineffective as a modern European leader.’ A wounded Berlusconi, who had suffered his own public indignities over his notorious ‘Bunga Bunga’ parties, told Clinton: ‘Why are you saying these things about me? ‘America has no better friend, you know me, I know your family’. At his request Clinton made a speech in front of TV cameras about the importance of relations between the two countries to smooth things over. Shock: Clinton said that Putin surprised her with the grisly tale of how his sick mother was nearly mistaken as being dead eight years before he was born . She writes: ‘No one wished these words had stayed secret more than I did’. Clinton spent two thousand hours on board her Boeing 757 whilst travelling the globe as part of her job, the equivalent of 87 full days. She describes how the air stewardesses used to buy local foods wherever they went such as smoked salmon from Ireland, but the ‘Air Force’s famous turkey taco sandwich’ was always a favourite. On the long flights the journalists, staff and crew on board amused themselves by celebrating birthdays that took place mid-trip and watching weepy romantic comedies. They also never grew tired of the yellow pyjamas worn by Richard Holbrooke, the former special advisor on Pakistan and Afghanistan, Clinton writes. On one occasion they were watching Breach, a 2007 historical drama about an FBI agent who spied for the Russians in the 1980s and 90s. At one point the main character, played by Robert Hanssen, sparked a wave of laughter when he said: ‘Can’t trust a woman in a pantsuit. Men wear the pants. The world doesn’t need any more Hillary Clintons’. Elsewhere Clinton says that when she was on the road she was warned to leave her Blackberry on her plane and take the battery out to stop it being compromised. She had to put up an opaque tent inside her hotel room to stop hidden cameras from recording what she was reading. Where it was not possible to put up the tent she had to improvise by putting a blanket over her head and reading by torchlight. | Former Secretary of State reveals in memoir Hard Choices how she and the Russian President thawed relations over talk about his work saving Siberian tigers .
Putin even invited Bill Clinton .
to tag polar bears in the countryside in a few weeks time, but in the .
end the trip did not happen .
Putin also told her how his mother had been put on a pile of bodies outside their home after an outbreak of sickness .
Putin's father pulled her body off the cart and discovered she was alive - Vladimir was born eight years later .
During her many trips abroad the Air Force's 'famous Turkey taco sandwich' was her favorite . |
06177294b727b4ee9c759e7145d49d0677c6e828 | By . Sean Poulter, Consumer Affairs Editor . PUBLISHED: . 13:50 EST, 26 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:38 EST, 26 November 2013 . A strain of the food-poisoning bug MRSA has been found in turkeys being prepared for Christmas on a farm in East Anglia. In a move that will alarm consumers, however, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has decided to keep the name of the farm and the retailers it supplies a secret. It said last night there was no need to stop the sale of the turkeys as the risk to consumers was ‘very low’ if the meat was handled carefully and cooked thoroughly. Turkeys on a farm in East Anglia have tested positive for food poisoning bug MRSA but the Government's food and farming department has refused to say which on or who they supply (file picture) Defra said its Animal Health and . Veterinary Laboratories Agency had found Livestock-Associated . Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (LA-MRSA) in poultry during a . routine inspection on the farm in East Anglia. This is not the same form of the bacteria that cause illness in people, and usually clears within 24 hours. Officials . said the most likely reaction if it affected humans would be a skin . rash, similar to eczema, rather than the stomach problems associated . with food-poisoning bugs. Defra said that once the turkeys had been slaughtered and sold, the farm owner would disinfect barns. However, . the fact that the department has decided to keep details of the case . secret – protecting the farming and food industry at the expense of . providing information to consumers – will raise questions about its . priorities. The Government . has been criticised for its handling of the scandal of horsemeat being . sold in beef products earlier this year. So far, not a single meat . producer, supermarket or abattoir has been prosecuted. Government department Defra has decided there is no need to stop the sale of the birds which are destined for Christmas lunches across England . Steve . Wearne, of the Food Standards Agency, said: ‘Any risk of contracting . MRSA through meat from animals with these bacteria is very low when . usual good hygiene and thorough cooking practices are observed. ‘All poultry should be handled hygienically and cooked thoroughly to destroy any bacteria that may be present.’ However, . hundreds of thousands of people in the UK are believed to fall ill . every year because they do not handle and cook poultry with the . necessary care. Professor . Angela Kearns, head of the Staphylococcus Reference Unit at Public . Health England, said: ‘There are many different strains of MRSA that . cause illness in people, but this is not one of the strains that we are . overly concerned about. Defra has decided against naming the farm or its suppliers in a move sure to anger consumers . ‘This . strain is relatively widespread in livestock in Europe, including . countries from which meat is regularly sourced by the UK. There are no . known cases of people contracting MRSA from eating meat.’ Professor . Peter Borriello, of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, said: . ‘LA-MRSA has been identified in livestock in a number of countries and . is not considered to represent a significant risk to animal health and . welfare.’ n Sainsbury’s has . recalled packs of its own-brand Kids 20 Pork Cocktail Sausages because . they had the wrong ‘use by’ date of December 25. The correct date should . have been November 25. | Government department confirms MRSA found on farm .
However it says there is no need to stop selling the turkeys .
It has also refused to name the farm or who it supplies . |
06187989b74f8e8aee589e036465e49a7e17274f | By . Lydia Warren . PUBLISHED: . 16:49 EST, 31 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:52 EST, 1 February 2013 . Missing: Police are looking for a person Sarai Sierra chatted with on the internet before she vanished . Turkish police are searching for a person named 'Taylan' who chatted online with Sarai Sierra, the New York mother missing in Turkey, and agreed to meet her a day before she vanished. The 33-year-old mother has been missing since . January 21 when she was supposed to return home to Staten Island from . the two-week solo trip. Turkish police have set up a special unit to find her . and her husband and brother have flown to Istanbul to help with the . search. According to local news reports, Sierra had exchanged emails with a person called 'Taylan' - although it is not known if this is his real name. The two agreed to meet on Galata Bridge, which was around a mile from Sierra's hostel, Dogan news agency reported. Authorities are now scouring security camera images near to the bridge to see if the meeting did in fact take place, the news agency said. Staten Island Rep. Michael Grimm confirmed to Staten Island Live that police in Turkey are searching for at least one man, but he did not know their relationship or if they had met. 'There's nothing remarkable about their conversation, but the fact that . he's the last person she had any contact with makes him a person of . interest,' Grimm said. 'That's a solid lead that needs to be followed up . on.' He added that he spoke with Sierra's husband Steven on Tuesday, and that the man was meeting with local authorities and had provided them with passwords to her social media sites. Authorities have previously revealed that Sarai took trips out of Turkey to travel to Amsterdam and Munich during her two-week vacation. Investigation: A Turkish security official leaves the hostel with Sierra's belongings on Tuesday . Search: Members of the Istanbul-based Association For Families With Lost Relatives hand out flyers with photos of Sierra, and other missing family members, in Istanbul on Thursday . They are trying to establish why the photographer, who had never travelled out of the U.S. before, took the various trips. Her husband said . Sierra was in constant contact with him throughout the trip and knew she . had travelled outside Turkey. 'These are things she made me well aware . of,' he told Staten Island Live before leaving for Istanbul. 'She kept me 100 percent updated.' Turkey's Dogan news agency said police had learned that Sierra had travelled . to Amsterdam on January 15 and then on to Munich on January 16, before returning to . Istanbul on January 19. Her husband continued: 'Every day while she was there she pretty much kept in . contact with us, letting us know what she was up to, where she was . going, whether it be through texting or whether it be through video . chat, she was touching base with us.' On Tuesday, Turkish police released security camera footage showing the missing mother at a mall near her hostel hours before she disappeared. No trace: Sarai Sierra, a 33-year-old mother of two young sons, set off for Istanbul January 7 and has since vanished. Her family last heard from her January 21 and she failed to catch her flight home . Apart: Sarai's husband Steven, pictured, said she had told him about her trips to other countries . Sierra can be seen eating lunch and walking through the mall on January 20 - a day before she was supposed to catch a flight back home - according to local reports. Sarai was supposed to land in the . U.S. on January 22, but she never arrived. Airline staff at Newark . Airport told her husband she had never . boarded her flight. Her two sons, who are aged 11 and 9, have not been told their mother is missing. A . police official said authorities have been reviewing footage from . around Istanbul's Taksim neighborhood - the city's main hub where she . was staying at a hostel. Several police teams have also been . dispatched to surrounding neighborhoods to find possible clues and . witnesses, the official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity, . in line with government rules that bar civil servants from speaking to . reporters without prior authorization. Last images: Sarai Sierra, a New York mother missing in Turkey, is seen on CCTV before she disappeared . Spotted: The footage from inside a mall close to her hostel shows her eating lunch in the cafeteria . Before she went missing, the . mother-of-two told family members that she planned to take some . photographs at Galata Bridge, a well-known tourist destination about a . mile away from Taksim that spans the Golden Horn waterway. Sierra had planned to go on the trip . with a friend but ended up going by herself when the friend couldn't . make it. She was looking forward to exploring her hobby of photography, . her family said. She was supposed to begin traveling home and was scheduled to arrive in New York City on Tuesday afternoon. Her husband, Steven Sierra, waited for . hours at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey on the 22nd . to pick her up. Airline attendants in Turkey said that his wife did not . show up for the flight. Mother: Sarai is pictured with her two sons, who are now 9 and 11. They do not know their mother is missing . Her belongings, including her . passport, phone, phone chargers, and medical cards, were found in her room at a hostel in Beyoglu, Turkey. An official said authorities were therefore not able to track her by her cell phone. The hostel’s . owner told Turkish authorities that he had last seen her last on Sunday . night. Mr Sierra told ABC News that . her behavior is highly unusual, that she seemed perfectly content with her life, and that going off the radar is . extremely out-of-character for her. The heartbroken . husband said that he's been married to her for more than 14 years after meeting her at a church youth group, . adding that his love for her is ‘deeper than it is for any individual'. He told WABC: ‘You . have so many thoughts going through your mind, you don’t know what to . think, you don’t know what to believe, you don’t know what to expect, . you don’t know what will come out of this.' Mystery: A view of the street with the hostel, in yellow, where Sarai Sierra, a New York City woman, left all her possessions before she disappeared . Skyline: Mrs Sierra posted a series of pictures from Turkey on her Instagram account, including this one of Isanbul . Mrs Sierra's friend, Magalena Rodriguez, told the . New York Daily News that the petite woman, who stands at 5ft2in and . weighs only 110 pounds, has previously fainted without warning. Ms Rodriguez fears her friend has fainted and could be hurt somewhere in the unfamiliar country. Crime in Turkey is generally low and . Istanbul is a relatively safe city for travelers, though there are areas . where women would be advised to avoid going alone at night. The Galata and the nearby Galata Bridge areas have been gentrified and are home to fish restaurants, cafes and boutiques. VIDEO: Police release CCTV of Sarai Sierra in Istanbul mall . | Sarai Sierra, 33, a photographer, took trip to Turkey on her own .
Failed to board flight from Istanbul to Newark International ten days ago .
Husband and brother now in Istanbul to assist police investigation . |
0618f9f88ce01bd50f89ffe30add9ba557eb85e2 | By . Associated Press . In a provocative new study, scientists have revealed that they were able to 'see' pain on brain scans and, for the first time, measure its intensity and tell whether a drug was relieving it. Though the research is in its early stages, it opens the door to a host of possibilities. Scans might be used someday to tell when pain is hurting a baby, someone with dementia or a paralyzed person unable to talk. Scroll down for video . Inside the brain: This image created by Tor Wager of the University of Colorado, Boulder shows the regions of the 'neurologic pain signature' Figures: Scientists have revealed that they were able to 'see' pain on brain scans and, for the first time, measure its intensity and tell whether a drug was relieving it . They might lead to new, less addictive pain medicines. They might even help verify claims for disability. 'Many people suffer from chronic pain and they're not always believed. We see this as a way to confirm or corroborate pain if there is a doubt,' said Tor Wager, a neuroscientist at the University of Colorado, Boulder. He led the research, published in the New England Journal of Medicine. So far it is only on pain felt through the skin - heat applied to an arm. More study needs to be done on more common kinds of pain, such as headaches, bad backs and pain from disease. Independent experts say the research shows a way to measure objectively what is now one of life's most subjective experiences. Pain is the top reason people see a doctor, and there's no way to quantify how bad it is other than what they say. Hurt: The scans might be used someday to tell when pain is hurting a baby, someone with dementia or a paralyzed person unable to talk . A big quest in neuroscience is to find tests or scans that can help diagnose ailments with mental and physical components such as pain, depression and PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Although many studies have found brain areas that light up when pain is present, the new work is the first to develop a combined signature from all these signals that can be used to measure pain. Results: Functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI scans, which don't require radiation as X-rays do, recorded changes in brain activity as measured by blood flow . 'This is very exciting work. They made a huge breakthrough in thinking about brain patterns,' said Dr David Shurtleff, acting deputy director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which helped sponsor the research. 'We need a brain-based signature for pain. Self-report doesn't cut it. It's not reliable, it's not accurate.' The research involved four experiments at Columbia University approved by a panel to ensure no participants were harmed. In all, 114 healthy volunteers were paid $50 to $200 to be tested with a heating element placed against a forearm at various temperatures, not severe enough to cause burns or lasting damage. Some of the experiments required them to stand it for 10 to 20 seconds. 'It's like holding a hot cup of coffee that you really want to put down but can't quite yet,' Wager said. Functional . magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI scans, which don't require . radiation as X-rays do, recorded changes in brain activity as measured . by blood flow. Computers were used to generate signatures or patterns from these readings. Seeing pain: Activity in yellow-colored areas is predictive of higher levels of pain, and activity in blue-colored areas is predictive of lower levels of pain . The first set of experiments on 20 people developed signatures for pain versus the anticipation of it or mild warmth on the arm. The second experiment validated these signatures in 33 other people and found they predicted how much pain they said they felt. The results of a new study that measures and displays pain in a patient's brain is a new advancement in an area with a myriad of possibilities. Scans of this nature could one day be used to tell when pain is hurting a baby, someone with dementia or a paralyzed person unable to talk. Other possibilities include less addictive pain medications, and an accurate method to verify disability claims. Dr Tor Wager says that more examination is needed to determine how this study will impact other types of pain, including headaches, bad backs and from disease. 'It's really what seems to be a true measure of the experience that the patient's having,' and it gives a number to pain severity that can guide care, said one expert with no role in the studies, Dr Costantino Iadecola, director of the Brain and Mind Research Institute at Weill Cornell Medical College. Researchers took their work a step further with the third experiment, which involved 40 people who recently lost a serious love relationship and were feeling intensely rejected. Besides the heat tests, they had scans while being shown a picture of their former partners and then a picture of a good friend. Researchers found the brain signatures for social or emotional pain were different from the ones for physical pain. 'That's very provocative,' said Dr Allan Ropper, a neurologist at Brigham and Women's and Harvard University who wrote a commentary in the journal. The signatures seem highly accurate and able to distinguish physical pain from other kinds, he said. In . the fourth experiment, researchers gave 21 participants two infusions . of a morphine-like drug while they were being scanned and having the . heat tests. Scanners: Researchers found the brain signatures for social or emotional pain were different from the ones for physical pain . The first time, they knew they were getting the drug. The second time they were told they were getting dummy infusions but in fact got the drug again. Brain signatures showed their pain was being relieved both times in proportion to how much drug was in their systems. 'This is beginning to open a new wedge into brain science,' Ropper said. 'There may be completely novel ways of treating pain by focusing on these areas of the brain rather than on conventional medications which block pain impulses from getting into the spinal cord and brain.' Shurtleff, of the federal drug abuse agency, also said he hoped the research would lead to newer drugs. 'We want medications that can reduce this signature and don't show a signature for addiction,' he said. | New type of brain scan allows scientists to 'see' and measure pain in terms of a subject's brain .
Brain scans of this type could one day tell when pain is hurting a baby or a person unable to talk due to paralysis .
The results of the study have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine . |
06199509057cb7e9756248b30b6c585a3c771a17 | (EW.com) -- When Cameron Diaz, a type-A corporate attorney — you know this because she wears power skirts and taps officiously on a laptop in a skybox office the size of a swimming pool — gets swept off her feet by a dashing businessman ("Game of Thrones'" Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), it all seems too good to be true. Because of course, it is: It turns out he's got a wife in Connecticut (Leslie Mann) and a barely-legal blond (Sports Illustrated model Kate Upton) in the Hamptons. Mann, a maniac in floral capri pants, actually makes her mannerisms work here; she's so stunned by her husband's betrayal that she latches onto Diaz like a kewpie-doll barnacle, and the movie becomes an inspired oddball buddy comedy for a good half hour, until the pair track down Upton and all three — ''the wife, the lawyer, the boobs'' — join forces to take Coster-Waldau down. That's when the movie (directed by Nick Cassavetes, probably best known for "The Notebook") gets sillier, and a lot more slapstick. Yes, the guy's a cheating a**hat, but do we really need Wile E. Coyote tricks like laxatives in his Scotch and female hormones in his morning smoothie? Nikki Minaj, as Diaz's ruthlessly bodacious assistant, and Taylor Kinney, as Mann's sane, handsome brother, both have nice turns, but "The Other Woman" really is, in its own broad-strokes way, about just these women, and female friendship. Sisterhood comedies, as rare as they are in the testosterone glut of sequels and superheroes, have been done smarter and better. Still, this one has its own wonky charm and intermittent moments of genuine, depraved hilarity; it's like "Bridesmaids" drawn in crayon. Grade: B- . See the original story at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved. | The film stars Cameron Diaz as a corporate attorney .
Leslie Mann is the shocked wife .
Reviewer says it has "wonky charm" |
061b77d42691a92d942827fce7ab3ff1deece7ed | (CNN) -- Derby games can sometimes be dull, with space at a premium and scoring chances few. That wasn't the case Saturday when Liverpool and Everton played to a thrilling 3-3 lunchtime draw in the English Premier League. Daniel Sturridge's goal in the 89th minute salvaged a point for Liverpool, which had taken the lead away from home in the fifth minute. It was the highest scoring Merseyside league derby since Liverpool thrashed Everton 6-0 in 1935. "All in all a wonderful game and when you come to your rivals it is important not to lose," Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers told BT Sport. Liverpool's dropped points, though, allowed Arsenal to extend its advantage atop the Premier League to four points. The Gunners later defeated Southampton 2-0. Prior to Sturridge's conversion from a Steven Gerrard free kick, Romelu Lukaku's two second-half goals reversed a 2-1 Liverpool lead. Lukaku netted his sixth and seventh league goals since joining Everton on loan from Chelsea. "That is the best experience I've ever had in club football," the Belgian international told BT Sport. "It's a pity we didn't win but hopefully we will next time." Lukaku's compatriot, Kevin Mirallas, canceled out Philippe Coutinho's effort to make it 1-1 after eight minutes before Luis Suarez's free kick put Liverpool back on top. Despite losing influential left-back Leighton Baines to injury and after Liverpool's Joe Allen missed a sitter, Everton pushed forward in the second half and got its reward through Lukaku strikes in the 72nd and 82nd minutes. Substitute Sturridge, however, had the last word. "It's really disappointing we didn't get three points," Everton manager Roberto Martinez, whose side still rose to fifth, told BT Sport. "I'm disappointed to concede from three set plays. "To concede late on from a dead ball situation doesn't reward my team for how they played in the second half." Southampton could have gone top of the standings but a mistake by goalkeeper Artur Boruc -- one of the Saints' best players this season -- gifted Olivier Giroud the opening goal in the 22nd minute in London. Giroud, part of France's squad that this week advanced to the World Cup courtesy of the playoffs, completed his brace from the penalty spot in the 86th minute after defender Jose Fonte tugged at the shirt of Per Mertesacker. Chelsea pulled level with Liverpool on 24 points, dispatching West Ham 3-0 in the late kickoff thanks to a pair of strikes from former Hammer Frank Lampard. Elsewhere, Newcastle beat Norwich 2-1 for a third consecutive victory -- French striker Loic Remy has scored in all three games -- and Stoke City blanked 10-man Sunderland 2-0. Sunderland defender Wes Brown saw red to the disbelief of Black Cats boss Gus Poyet in the 36th minute. Crystal Palace, which named Tony Pulis as manager earlier Saturday, moved off the bottom and ahead of Sunderland by edging Hull City 1-0 even after having Yannick Bolasie dismissed in the 78th minute. Fulham remained in the relegation zone, downed 2-1 at home by Swansea in Rene Meulensteen's first game as head coach assisting Cottagers manager Martin Jol. On Sunday Manchester City, perfect at home but struggling on the road, hosts Tottenham and Manchester United visits Cardiff. The Red Devils are coming off a morale boosting 1-0 win over Arsenal two weeks ago. | Everton and Liverpool play to the highest scoring Merseyside derby in about 80 years .
Substitute Daniel Sturridge's late goal gives Liverpool a 3-3 draw away from home .
Arsenal increases its lead in the Premier League to four points after topping Southampton .
Chelsea joins second-place Liverpool on 24 points after coasting past West Ham . |
061b9bf7c63aff90eb43b7e389366f5b3ff402a3 | Barcelona legend Xavi will break a Champions League record when he makes his 143rd appearance in the competition against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night. The 34-year-old midfielder will surpass former Real Madrid icon Raul, with whom he is currently level on 142 appearances. Former Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs made 151 appearances, but 10 of those were in qualifying rounds. Having won Europe's most prestigious club competition three times with Barcelona, he deserves to be considered one of Champions League's all-time greats. Here is our list of the top 10 Champions League players (and there's no room for Zinedine Zidane). Raul - 142 . Xavi - 142 . Ryan Giggs - 141 . Iker Casillas - 141 . Clarence Seedorf - 125 . Ryan Giggs - 151 . Xavi - 148 . Raul -144 . Iker Casillas -143 . Paolo Maldini - 140 . 10: EDWIN VAN DER SAR (Ajax and Manchester United) Winner: 1995, 2008 . Van der Sar was the calm, unflappable figure in goal when Louis van Gaal's extremely young Ajax side caused the biggest upset in the competition's history by overcoming the mighty holders AC Milan. More than a decade later, the goalkeeper's place in Champions League history was assured when he saved Nicolas Anelka's spot-kick in Moscow to earn Manchester United their third European crown with victory against Chelsea. Fittingly, Van der Sar's illustrious career ended with a Champions League final, though this time he was helpless to prevent United from losing 3-1 to Barcelona at Wembley in 2011. Edwin van der Sar won the Champions League with Ajax in 1995 and Manchester United in 2008 . The Dutchman saved a decisive penalty from Nicolas Anelka in the 2008 Champions League final . 9: CLARENCE SEEDORF (Ajax, Real Madrid and AC Milan) Winner: 1995, 1998, 2003 and 2007 . The only player to win the Champions League with three different clubs, Seedorf was the midfield glue that helped some of the world's greatest players get their hands on the famous trophy. The Dutchman was just 19 when he helped Ajax beat AC Milan in 1995. Three years later, he helped Real Madrid end a 32-year wait for European glory by beating Juventus 1-0. But it was at Milan that he enjoyed his greatest successes. He was part of the side that defeated Juventus on penalties at Old Trafford when Andriy Shevchenko converted the decisive kick and, after losing to Liverpool in 2005 (more of which later in the countdown), he won a fourth title by defeating the same opponents 2-1 in 2007. Clarence Seedorf lifts the Champions League after AC Milan's win over Liverpool in the 2007 final . Clarence Seedorf is the only man to win the Champions League with three different clubs . 8: IKER CASILLAS (Real Madrid) Winner: 2000, 2002, 2014 . He may be receiving criticism in the latter stages of his career but nobody can deny Casillas in his place among the all-time greats. To win three Champions League trophies, spanning 14 years, is an incredible achievement and it might be a long time before anyone repeats it. And of course he's still going. The Spaniard was just four days past his 19th birthday, extremely young for a top-class goalkeeper, when he kept a clean sheet in the 2000 final against Valencia. He was one of the few to survive into the Galactico era, keeping goal when Zidane memorably won the 2002 final, and then went beyond the post-Galactico era and played in last May's 4-1 win against Atletico Madrid for La Decima. A young Iker Casillas (right) as part of Real Madrid's Champions League winners in 2002 at Hampden Park . Casillas kisses the trophy after Real Madrid's win over Atletico Madrid in the 2014 final in Lisbon . 7: STEVEN GERRARD (Liverpool) Winner: 2005 . Gerrard hasn't got the multiple medals of others in the top 10, but none of them have dominated a final like he did in 2005, when his man-of-the-match performance helped create The Miracle of Istanbul, a match so famous it's been turned into a film. With Liverpool 3-0 down at half-time to AC Milan, Gerrard scored the opening goal of a miraculous comeback with his head, and ended up playing at right back to ensure his side, far weaker than the Italians man-for-man, reached extra-time and penalties. Previously, Liverpool had only qualified for the knockout stages after his thunderous late strike against Olympiacos at Anfield had staved off elimination. And he is still doing the business now, his last-minute penalty against Ludogorets gave Liverpool victory in their opening group game of the 2014 campaign two weeks ago. Steven Gerrard (right) and Jamie Carragher (left) kiss the trophy after a miraculous win in Istanbul . Gerrard scores arguably his most famous goal against Olympiacos at Anfield in 2004 . The Liverpool captain's goal four minutes from time took his side through to the knock-out stages . 6: XAVI (Barcelona) Winner: 2006, 2009, 2011 . Despite the spellbinding feats of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, this period of world football will be go down as the Xavi-Iniesta era, where they helped Barcelona and Spain dominate with a passing philosophy known as 'tiki-taka'. Xavi was an unused substitute when Barcelona beat Arsenal in the 2006 final but three years later he was an integral part of their midfield in the defeat of Manchester United that prompted Ronaldo's exodus to Spain. In 2011, he was majestic as the Catalans again got the better of Sir Alex Ferguson's side. Now 34, Xavi's consistency, both in terms of keeping the ball and producing season-on-season, are unsurpassed and he will be a worthy record-breaker when he plays his 143rd Champions League game. Xavi has won the Champions League with Barcelona three times - in 2006, 2009 and 2011 . Xavi skippered Barcelona and ran the midfield in the 2011 final victory against Manchester United . 5: RAUL (Real Madrid and Schalke) Winner: 1998, 2000, 2002 . Holds the record for most goals and appearances in the Champions League, though the latter is about to be eclipsed by Xavi. Raul was the King of Madrid as they recaptured the glory years of Ferenc Puskas and Alfredo Di Stefano when the competition was called the European Cup. He won the trophy three times in five years against Juventus, Valencia and Bayer Leverkusen, the highlight coming at Hampden Park in 2002 when he scored the opening goal against the German side in a match ultimately won by Zidane's stupendous volley. Real Madrid legend Raul is the top scorer in Champions League history with 71 goals to his name . 4: RYAN GIGGS (Manchester United) Winner: 1999, 2008 . The only United player who appeared in both finals of Sir Alex Ferguson's Champions League-winning teams. In 1999 against Bayern Munich, he unselfishly played on the right-hand side to accommodate the left-sided Jesper Blomqvist in a United reshuffle forced by suspension to Roy Keane and Paul Scholes. Nine years later against Chelsea in Moscow, Giggs converted United's last penalty in the shoot-out that preceded Anelka's crucial miss. Giggs has played more Champions League game than anyone else if you include qualifying rounds (148), but it's as much to do with respect as statistics that he commands a place in the top 10. The Welshman has become a byword around Europe for sportsmanship, as another United great Sir Bobby Charlton was before him, a reputation underlined when he was applauded by Real Madrid fans in the heat of a tense battle. Ryan Giggs was part of Manchester United's Champions League winning teams in 2008 (left) and 1999 (right) 3: CRISTIANO RONALDO (Manchester United and Real Madrid) Winner: 2008, 2014 . Scored in victorious finals for two different clubs – and ended up being crowned World Player of the Year on both occasions. Ronaldo's header for United against Chelsea in the 2008 final changed any perception that he was a flat-track bully and unable to produce on the big occasions. Six years later, he was the talisman as Real won a record 10th European Cup against Atletico Madrid in Lisbon. He already has 68 Champions League goals, three behind Raul's record, and as he hasn't yet turned 30 it is only a matter of time when he passes that milestone, though Lionel Messi is also breathing down his neck on 67. Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his goal against Atletico Madrid to help Real Madrid win 'La Decima' The Portugal superstar also scored in Manchester United's 2008 victory against Chelsea in Moscow . 2: PAOLO MALDINI (AC Milan) Winner: 1994, 2003, 2007 . Played in no fewer than six Champions League finals – and also won the European Cup twice in the 1980s before the competition changed format. The ultimate Italian defender, tough and resilient, Maldini's finest hour came in 1994 when Milan produced arguably the best performance in tournament history by thrashing Barcelona 4-0 without their first-choice centre-back pairing of Franco Baresi and Alessandro Costacurta. As captain, Maldini also helped Milan recover from the shock of losing a 3-0 lead to Liverpool in Istanbul – where he scored the opening goal - to beat the same opponents in the 2007 final. Paolo Maldini has won the Champions League three times, but also won two European Cups in the 1980s . 1: LIONEL MESSI (Barcelona) Winner: 2009, 2011 . On course to smash all Champions League scoring records. Messi has already hit 67, four fewer than Raul and one behind Ronaldo; but at the age of 27 he could become the first player to net a century of Champions League goals. In the biggest head-to-head between the world's two best players, Messi completely outplayed Ronaldo when Barcelona met United in the 2009 final in Rome. He even scored with a rare header from Xavi's cross. Two years later, he scored again when Barcelona beat United 3-1 at Wembley, their ultimate European performance. But the reason Messi is marginally ahead of all the other great players listed is because of the way he has transcended the sport with his brand of magic. The Argentine has the quickest feet in the history of the game and is the figure that has given the Champions League its own sense of excitement. He may not have won the World Cup like Diego Maradona, but Maradona never won the European Cup and Messi has helped make the Champions League the glamorous institution it is today. That is why he is No 1. Like MailOnline Sport's Facebook page. Lionel Messi has won the Champions League three times already with Barcelona at the age of 27 . Messi, scoring a header against United in the 2009 final, is closing in on Raul's record for most CL goals . | Xavi set for 143rd appearance in Champions League .
Barcelona midfielder currently tied with Raul on 142 .
34-year-old Xavi has won Champions League three times with Barcelona .
Ryan Giggs has made 151 appearances, but 10 of those in qualifying . |
061c39d1a825210dfe55f25a0a77092974f82bba | By . Anna Hodgekiss . It's common knowledge that medication can cause unwanted side effects, from headaches to rashes and cramps. But one woman got more than she bargained for when trying to ease her symptoms of Parkinson's - up to five spontaneous orgasms a day. The 42-year-old had been diagnosed with an early-onset form of the disease, triggered by a lack of the chemical dopamine in the brain. Seven days after being prescribed the drug rasagiline, the woman began suffering hyperarousal . Like many Parkinson's patients, she was prescribed the drug rasagiline which increases dopamine levels, therefore helping to relieve symptoms such as tremor, stiffness and slow movement. Well-known side effects include headache, flu-like symptoms, feeling dizzy, constipation and dry mouth. But after seven days, the Turkish woman began experiencing rather more unusual ones - hyperarousal and increased libido, LiveScience reports. This was triggering three to five orgasms a day, lasting between five and 20 seconds each time. By the 10th day, the woman was so distressed, she was admitted to hospital. In a case report, to be published in the journal Parkinsonism and Related Disorders, the doctors who treated her wrote: 'To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of this adverse effect of rasagiline.' Why the spontaneous orgasms occurred isn't clear - but one theory is the raised levels of dopamine that rasagiline causes . The woman had not been taking any other medication, and she did . not experience any other bizarre symptoms related to the use of the . drug, according to the report from the medics at the department of neurology at Necmettin Erbakan University in Konya, Turkey. When she stopped taking the drug, the symptoms stopped. But the orgasms began again 15 days later when she resumed the course, forcing her to abandon it. It's not clear why the spontaneous orgasms occurred - but one theory is the raised levels of dopamine that rasagiline causes. This is because dopamine is a neurotransmitter that activates the body's reaction to sexual pleasure, the researchers say. In their case report, they mention another bizarre case concerning the drug - a man who suffered from spontaneous ejaculation. The episodes continued even when the dose of rasagiline dropped by half, but stopped when the 65-year-old ceased taking the drug. He also reported a better sex life when he did want to have intercourse, according to the report in the journal Movement Disorders. | 42-year-old Turkish woman had been prescribed the drug rasagiline .
But seven days after she began taking it experienced 'hyperarousal'
By day 10, was having five orgasms a day of between five and 20 seconds .
Rasagiline increases levels of chemical dopamine in the brain .
This is linked with pleasure - and may be reason for heightened arousal . |
061e25d1f681284721b754dad3d9dc877a23eaa8 | By . Oliver Todd . Follow @@oliver_todd . Chelsea supporters have praised the club after the announcement of new plans that could lead to an expansion of Stamford Bridge. The West London outfit announced on Tuesday that owner Roman Abramovich had commissioned a study to look at ways in which their 109-year home could be expanded - including a new proposal to build decking over the restrictive train track to the east and north of the ground. And the Chelsea Supporters' Trust have spoken out to say that they welcome the new development in Chelsea's long-running stadium saga and the attempts to expand Stamford Bridge - an apparent u-turn from the club's previous attempts to move away to the likes of Earls Court and Battersea Power Station. Blue heaven: Chelsea are exploring options regarding the expansion of their home ground, Stamford Bridge . European nights: Financial Fair Play regulations have increased Chelsea's need for an increased capacity . The statement from the Supporters' Trust also offers Chelsea existing comments and suggestions from local residents recorded by the Trust that could help Chelsea in the initial consultation phase of the study. Stamford Bridge's capacity currently sits at 41,837 and the Blues have previously explored the possibility of moving to nearby Battersea power station and Earls Court, options which are no longer there. By potentially utilising decking over the railway lines to the east and north of the ground Chelsea believe they could get around the obstacles associated with expansion on their relatively small West London site. Boy in blue: New signing Cesc Fabregas could be playing in front of a bigger Stamford Bridge crowd . Chelsea had previously been accused by shareholders in Chelsea Pitch Owners (CPO) - the fan-led company which owns the land beneath Stamford Bridge - of not fully exploring the possibility of staying put before attempting to buy back the stadium freehold in October 2011. That was seen as a precursor to a move to a new 60,000-seater ground, something Chelsea are unable to do before convincing CPO to sell up - and Abramovich and Chelsea now seem to have made a significant u-turn. A potential expansion would help Chelsea to boost their matchday revenue. Stamford Bridge is currently the Premier League's eighth largest ground. A 60,000 capacity would improve that ranking to third. Familiar: Chelsea have spent their entire history at Stamford Bridge and the new plans could see them stay . The Chelsea Supporters Trust welcomes the recent announcement by Chelsea FC regarding commissioning a study of the area from Fulham Broadway town centre to Stamford Bridge and beyond. We particularly welcome the fact that “the study will also assess the feasibility of an expansion of the stadium within the existing historic site boundaries”. We note that the study specifically excludes “any design or details of a redevelopment on the stadium site” which presumably would wait until the study report has been published and decisions made. As well as engaging stakeholders such as the local community and residents groups, which is clearly essential, we urge the club to actively involve Chelsea supporters in the study (and the implementation of the study results), which is clearly of significant importance to all Chelsea supporters. We will pass on to those conducting the study the comments and suggestions we have received from members of the local community following extensive door to door leafleting that we have carried out in the area over the last year, as well as ideas we have been given with regard to Brompton Cemetery. The CST are keen to work with the various parties involved in the study, as the stadium issue is of fundamental interest to our members, as was made clear in the 2013 CST Members Survey. Home: Chelsea have spent 109 years at Stamford Bridge since the club was founded in 1905 . | Chelsea announce plans to seek solutions to their ground capacity problem .
Stamford Bridge holds just 41,837 supporters, the eighth largest in England .
Chelsea Supporters' Trust speak out to 'welcome' the new study .
Trust offer club existing data ahead of speaking to local residents groups . |
061e2e1573b4211c96f79c99aed4a491905e880f | Rome (CNN) -- An Italian sex scandal that spawned nationwide demonstrations over the premier's alleged abuse of power and paying an underage girl for sex began at a dinner party in Milan with a Moroccan-born dancer nicknamed "Ruby Heartbreaker." The dancer -- Karima El Mahrough -- was 17 years old at the time of the alleged sexual encounter with Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, according to prosecutors in Milan. The leggy performer -- who has since appeared in scantily clad photographs across the country -- told the Italian news channel Sky TG24 that she had lied about her age before meeting Berlusconi for a dinner party at his private residence near Milan. "He knew that I was 24 years old because I told everyone that I was 24 years old," she said. "I didn't want people to know that I was a minor." It was during that first encounter on Valentine's Day in 2010 that El Mahrough said she received 7,000 euros (about $9,300) after a friend informed Berlusconi that she needed help. Both have denied allegations of having sex. "Absolutely no," said El Mahrough. "I just arrived in Milan and it was a little difficult living there," claiming Berlusconi gave her the money to help support herself financially. The friend "spoke with (Berlusconi) and explained my situation, my story, my family situation," she said. "And he helped me." But an investigation into their relationship burgeoned after the prime minister later urged police to release her after she was arrested on theft charges. El Mahrough said that following the arrest she was visited by dancer Michelle Oliveira and regional lawmaker Nicole Minetti, whom prosecutors have tried to link to the allegations against the prime minister. El Mahrough said Minetti then called Berlusconi "to explain how things went," handing her the phone "so that I could thank him." In their conversation El Mahrough described the premier as "bitter" because "he had allowed someone to enter his house trustingly." "I didn't know about this famous call of the premier to the police," El Mahrough told Sky TG24. "I learned it from the newspapers." Investigators say they later questioned the dancer's former roommate, who claimed El Mahrough had confided in her, describing the details of her sexual relationship with the Italian premier. Berlusconi, 74, denied allegations surrounding his relationship with El Mahrough as well as his alleged abuses of power, arguing that his phone call to police was a case of mistaken identity. His party has argued that Berlusconi believed El Mahrough was a relative of then-Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and that he called the police station on her behalf to avoid a possible diplomatic crisis with Egypt. But little is known about the dancer whose involvement in the scandal helped catalyze demonstrations against Italy's premier and his penchant for dinner parties attended by "pretty girls," according to local media reports and accounts by lawmaker Minetti. El Mahrough reportedly told Italian talk show "Kalispera" -- owned by Berlusconi -- that she was a victim of child abuse and became a runaway before landing a job dancing at nightclubs. The scandal has made El Mahrough, now 18, a national figure. Meanwhile, Berlusconi has been ordered to stand trial in April where he will face a three-judge panel. All of them are women. CNN's Hada Messia contributed to this report . | Berlusconi is accused of having sex with a dancer nicknamed Ruby "Heartbreaker"
The dancer was 17 years old at the time of the alleged sexual encounter .
Both have denied allegations of having sex .
Berlusconi will stand trial in April where he will face a three judge panel . |
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