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066a7371951ca384ba4dcf18ea3222e6e213a2bc | (CNN) -- When Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu stated that the Russian troops along Ukraine's borders were only conducting "training exercises" and have no "intention to cross Ukraine's borders or to engage in any aggressive actions," Ukrainians rolled their eyes. And when President Vladimir Putin told Ukrainians "Don't believe those who terrify you with Russia, who shout that other regions will follow Crimea. We do not want Ukraine's division. ... We want Ukraine to be a strong, sovereign, and self-sufficient state," Ukrainians shrugged. The problem is, even if Putin and Shoigu were being sincere, Moscow has lost all credibility among most Ukrainians and the international community. After three weeks of aggressive Russian behavior and the possibility of existential annihilation, Ukrainians, like Israelis, prefer to think in terms of worst-case scenarios. After all, they blithely assumed Russia would never attack -- and then Russia seized Crimea. They never imagined that Russian officials would treat their country as an object of abject scorn. They never suspected that thousands of Russians would chant anti-Ukrainian war slogans in the streets of Moscow. In each instance, Ukrainians' working assumption of a friendly Russia proved dead wrong. They also never imagined that the Yanukovych regime had so thoroughly permitted Ukraine's defensive capacity to deteriorate, by sacrificing Ukrainian security on the altar of the Yanukovych family's untrammeled accumulation of power and embezzlement of state funds. A political scientist at Kiev's elite Mohyla University has stated that he is not "not optimistic about Ukraine maintaining the integrity of even its mainland territorial borders" until the end of March and has evacuated his family from the capital. A friend in Lviv tells me that "an invasion and war are unavoidable." An American businessman in Kiev writes: "I believe we are closer to World War III than we have ever been." In many parts of the country, Ukrainians have taken to preparing little suitcases with all the necessities -- just in case they have to flee at a moment's notice. Ukrainians' jitters are perfectly understandable. Ukrainian officials say that 80,000 Russian troops and heavy armor are amassed on Ukraine's borders. Putin claims to have the right to intervene anywhere in Ukraine if and when he deems that Russian citizens are being threatened. He and myriad Russian policymakers routinely insist that Ukrainians are really Russians and that Ukraine is an artificial entity. Thus far, Moscow refuses to recognize the democratic government in Kiev and claims that it is no longer bound by the 1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances. Because of Russia's occupation of Crimea and Putin's militarist rhetoric, many Ukrainians are certain that war is inevitable. Prime Minister Arsenii Yatseniuk warned Moscow on March 20 that Ukraine's response to a Russian invasion would be vigorous. Kiev has already begun improving its defensive capabilities. On March 17, the Ukrainian Parliament allocated 6.9 billion hryvnia -- about $684 million -- to defense. In the last few weeks, Ukrainian armed forces, tanks and other defensive weapons have been deployed along the country's border with Russia. The number of border guards along Ukraine's southeastern borders has also increased. Kherson province is planning to build a 20-kilometer long ditch along its border with Crimea. A National Guard has been formed, and its ranks are to consist of 20,000 troops. The Ukrainian Security Service appears also to have become more active in Ukraine's vulnerable southeastern provinces. No less important, the population is determined to resist and sales of guns have far outstripped supply. Thinking in more long-term categories, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Volodymyr Ohryzko has even suggested that Ukraine exit the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and initiate the "process of uranium enrichment." American provision of non-lethal military equipment and advisers would also go a long way to improving Ukraine's deterrent capacity. Kiev's defensive efforts may or may not be enough to stop a possible Russian attack, but they would certainly make it far more difficult, risky, and bloody -- which may be enough to deter Moscow. Alternatively, these efforts may just induce Russia to seek less frontal modes of undermining Ukraine. After all, any potential Russian assault on mainland Ukraine would rest on three pillars: an invasion by the army, the agitation by pro-Putin "fifth columns" within Ukraine, and the diversionary activities of Russian secret agents and special forces tasked with sowing panic, sabotaging transportation and communications, and attacking military bases and arms depots. Although Ukraine appears to have the capacity to neutralize internal threats, a concerted long-term Russian effort at stoking instability could lay the groundwork for a later invasion or, at the very least, divert Kiev's attention from the pressing cause of economic and political reform. While Ukraine's security may or may not be enhanced by most of these measures, the irony is that Russia's definitely will not be -- at least in the medium to long term. Putin's seizure of Crimea may have provided him with the opportunity to beat his chest before adoring Russian crowds, but it will eventually undermine Russian security. Ukraine is and will remain too weak to be a threat. And on its own, no country in Russia's "near abroad" can pose a threat. Even taken together, the non-Russians will be weaker than Russia. But Putin's land grab will make all of them inclined to regard Russia as a potentially land-grabbing foe and to promote their own security independently of Russia and outside of any Russian-led blocs or unions. Expect the Central Asians and Azerbaijanis to turn increasingly to China and Turkey, and the Georgians, Moldovans, Ukrainians, and even the Belarusians to head for the West. Also expect the Russian Federation's non-Russian autonomous republics and regions to press for greater autonomy from Moscow. If Putin could just put aside his hypernationalist neo-imperialism and think straight about what's good for Russia, he'd try to nip the problem in the bud. A sober Russia would then withdraw all the forces that are engaged in "exercises" along Ukraine's borders and agree to a significant force reduction in Crimea. A sober Russia would also explicitly state that it recognizes the Budapest Memorandum and the current Ukrainian government. That last point is essential. As long as the Kremlin insists that the Kiev government is illegitimate, it will always be able to claim that its behavior toward Ukraine's Russian minority is also illegitimate and, hence, liable to correction by means of Russian intervention. Seen in this light, annexing Crimea has to be one of Putin's worst strategic blunders. Had the province become "independent," there would still have been a theoretical possibility of finding some accommodation with Kiev. After annexation, any dialogue with the Ukrainian government -- and, thus, any resolution of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict -- becomes significantly more difficult. It's perfectly possible that Putin wants the conflict to remain unresolved, on the assumption that it will undermine Ukraine. The problem is that an unresolved conflict will also undermine Russia. As Ukraine and Russia's other non-Russian neighbors are compelled by Moscow's aggression to enhance their security, Russia may soon face a nightmare of its own creation -- non-Russian encirclement. When Russians wake up to the reality after the euphoria of Crimea's annexation wears off, Putin may very well discover that his own security and stability as President are in danger. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Alexander Motyl. | Alexander Motyl: Ukrainians don't believe Russia's assurances it will not invade .
He says people are buying guns, leaving town, packing suitcases to be ready for war .
Motyl: Ukraine is beefing up its decimated defense; sending troops, tanks to borders .
Motyl: This may be Putin's worst strategic move, alienating other small, nearby nations . |
066ae28b06375c5713fa9be3904efe38fe97c642 | By . Nina Golgowski . PUBLISHED: . 16:24 EST, 30 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:43 EST, 1 October 2012 . A shooting involving motorcycle club members outside a Central Florida veterans' centre has ended with two dead and a third critically wounded. Police in Winter Springs say a charity motorcycle ride was about to depart from the Veterans of Foreign Wars post on Sunday morning when the shooting broke out as the riders were eating breakfast. A number of armed men arrived and started firing, according to witnesses at the scene who reported hearing up to 50 shots fired. Shooting: A line of men are seen detained where police in Central Florida say two people were shot dead and another in critical condition Sunday morning . Members: One of the men seen detained by officers was wearing a Warlocks Motorcycle Club logo, one pictured, on his back . 'Earlier we had noticed two motorcycle gangs, I believe had the altercation,' an unidentified witness responding from the neighbourhood told WFTV. 'I don't believe it was the normal clientele of the VFW,' he added. It's unclear if any of the attendees shot back or how many shooters were involved. None of the victims have been identified. Local news captured a line of men handcuffed at the scene, with Winter Springs Police spokesman Lt. Doug Steeley saying the agency has detained several people and confiscated a number of weapons. He believes all three victims were motorcycle club members. Among those seen cuffed was a man wearing a Warlocks Motorcycle club logo across his back. Scene: Witnesses say the shooting began after a biker gang pulled up to a second having breakfast at the Florida Veterans of Foreign Wars post, pictured . Crime scene: Police say everyone potentially involved was detained at the scene of the crime while they work to determine how many shooters were involved . Notorious in the area, the Warlocks are a biker clan originating in Orlando . with several other chapters throughout the U.S., Britain and Germany . according to their website. 'As far as shooters on the loose, everybody that was on scene when we got here has been contained,' Lt. Seely told News13. VFW posts around the country care for veterans and their families. It wasn't immediately clear if the bikers had rented out the post or were members. A senior centre next door was evacuated with the surrounding neighbourhood taped off. | Motorcyclists were about to depart on charity ride when shooting broke out .
Witnesses said a rival biker gang pulled up at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post prompting the shooting .
The victims are believed to have all been motorcycle club members . |
066bc06029f79d5cf5912bc13dca5e78227b4a75 | Grieving families who were unable to identify the remains of their loved ones who died in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, may finally be able to lay them to rest with the help of DNA. Scientists in New York are carrying out painstaking work on the last known fragments of people who died in the World Trade Center- hoping to use DNA to be identify those who remain missing. Each day a dedicated team of forensic scientists sift through thousands of vacuum-sealed plastic pouches filled with bits of bone rest in a Manhattan laboratory. Tests: Mark Desire, right, assistant director for forensic biology at the Office of Chief Medical Examiner, speaks as a trainee forensic scientist, prepares sample bone fragments for DNA testing at the training lab in New York . On Saturday, the 7,930 pouches are due to . be moved in a solemn procession from the city medical examiner's office . to the new trade center site. They will be kept in a bedrock repository 70 feet underground in the new September 11 Memorial Museum that opens May 21. The museum will . charge $24 for entrance but the remains will not be a part of the . exhibit. The move will mean that families who have effectively been living in limbo since their loved-ones were killed on that fateful day will have somewhere that they can go to be with the remains. The . remains will be accessible only to families of the dead and to the . forensic scientists who are still trying to match the bone slivers to . DNA from the more than 1,000 victims who never came home and have never . been identified. Bone grinding: Michael Mosco works to match the bone with DNA from victims who have never been identified . New technology: Advances in technology have yielded results impossible 10 years ago to match the bone with DNA from those who died on Sept. 11, 2001 . Office of Chief Medical Examiner in New York: Families have renewed hope to be able to formally find their lost loved ones by using the unique genetic code gleaned from the bits of bone . Freezer: Scientists are using this device for milling and extracting DNA, at the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in New York . DNA: Michael Mosco prepares to enter the bone grinding room at the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in New York - the room is central to the examination of bone DNA from those who died on Sept. 11 . However, while the bereaved families have long endorsed the . ongoing identification process, some have protested against this weekend's move of the remains. They fear that the museum site could be prone . to flooding after witnessing the aftermath of Super storm Sandy which swept through lower Manhattan in 2012, flooding buildings and causing widespread water damage. Rosemary Cain, a mother who lost her firefighter son at the World Trade Center pleaded at a protest on Thursday: 'Don't put them [the remains] in the basement.' 'Give them respect so 3,000 souls can rest in . peace,' she said. United front: Rosemary Cain Centre, the mother of deceased firefighter George Cain, pauses before attending a press conference opposing the placement of unknown human remains of victims in the basement of the 9/11 Museum at Ground Zero . However, Mark . Desire, who oversees the four-member World Trade Center team in the . city's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, is keen to stress that the . remains will be treated with the utmost respect. 'Our commitment to return the remains to the families is as great today as it was in 2001,' he said. Over . 2,753 people were reported missing at the World Trade Center after it was . attacked on a sunny September morning in downtown Manhattan. Of . those victims, 1,115 victims - at least 41 percent - have not been . identified through a DNA match to items provided by families — . toothbrushes, combs, clothing or swabs from relatives. Justice: Attorney Norman Siegel says families oppose the placement of unknown human remains of victims in the basement of the 9/11 Museum . Listen to us: Retired New York Deputy Fire Chief Jim Riches, left, whose son was killed in the World Trade Center attacks, and Rosaleen Tallon, sister of firefighter Sean Tallon, also killed on 9-11, say they are being ignored . Grief: Rosemary Cain, left, Sally Regenhard, second left, attorney Noman Siegel, Rosaleen Tallon, and retired New York City Fire Chief Jim Riches protest in front of a fire station opposite the National September 11 Memorial . Renewed hope: Rosemary Cain, the mother of deceased firefighter George Cain holds his image as she protests over 9/11 remains . But technological advances in DNA testing has given the families renewed hope as the process of identification has become far easier than it was a decade ago. Families want to be able to formally find their lost loved . ones by using the unique genetic code gleaned from the bits of bone. It . is, in fact, the only hope for families waiting for anything tangible . to officially confirm what they already know: their loved one died. In . some cases, scientists have gone back to the same bone fragment 10 or . 15 times, using new technology to attempt to extract DNA diminished by . fire, sunlight, bacteria and even the jet fuel that poured through the . towers. Four new identifications were made this past year. By . December, the latest technology will have been applied to every remnant . in the medical examiner's possession, exhausting the available methods, . for now. Beyond this year, . families who still have not been given any hope of finding their family . members, will face uncertainty about how long and at what cost the . forensic team will keep working to identify these last 9/11 remains. Support: Rosaleen Tallon, left, sister of firefighter Sean Tallon killed in the 9-11 World Trade Center attacks, embraces Rosemary Cain, who lost her son George in the attacks . Sadness: A woman visits the National September 11 Memorial & Museum and admits that her family lost friends in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 . Respect: People pay their respects to those who died as they walk around one of two reflecting pools at the National September 11 Memorial in New York . Visitors: International visitors go to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum and peer through the windows of the museum at the World Trade Center in New York . Resting place: This is where the remains will be placed in the basement of the National September 11 Memorial Museum, left, at the World Trade Center in New York . Rose petals: A flower has been placed next to the name of a victim of the September 11, 2001 attacks that has been engraved at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center in New York . Utter devastation: The rubble near the base of the destroyed south tower of the World Trade Center in New York . City of light: One World Trade Center towers over the lower Manhattan skyline in New York . The team's annual budget is $230,000, plus costs for follow-up work by other scientists and staff. However, Charles . Strozier, founding director of the Center on Terrorism at the John Jay . College of Criminal Justice, said that work must continue 'because our . relationship to the September 11 disaster hinges on being able to . identify and pay respects to those who died.' He said: 'The World Trade Center attack was more cruel than death usually . is, because some people were simply incinerated and those remains went . into the air.' For Mr Desire and those like him who work on the remains, it's not just a grim scientific task — it's personal. He . said that Ms Cain's missing firefirghting son was under the . still-standing towers minutes after the two hijacked planes hit them, . having rushed down with the then-chief medical examiner, Dr. Charles . Hirsch. As the towers toppled, the men were struck and bloodied by falling glass and debris. Mr Desire sees it as his duty on behalf of his country to find them. He said: It's a service and an honor, working on something that has transformed American history.' Team: Mark Desire, left, assistant director for forensic biology at the Office of Chief Medical Examiner, visits as trainees prepare sample bone fragments for DNA testing at the training lab in New York . Personal: Mark Desire, right, assistant director for forensic biology at the Office of Chief Medical Examiner, talks with Michael Mosco as he prepares to enter the bone grinding room . | Scientists sift through vacuum-sealed pouches filled with bone fragments .
At least 1,115 victims from the September 11 attacks still remain unidentified .
Pouches will be moved to new World Trade Center and kept in repository . |
066c267cbbfc6031e33bb44770b2a299727b4b5e | (CNN) -- A teenage student is facing a first-degree murder charge, with police saying that he followed through on a plan to kill the principal of his small private school in Memphis, Tennessee. Eduardo Marmolejo was charged in the death Wednesday of 49-year-old Suzette York, the Memphis Police Department said in a statement Thursday. A detention hearing was held on Thursday, during which Magistrate Judge Sheldon McCall ordered the suspect held without bail and also ordered a mental evaluation, said Chief Probation Officer Barry Mitchell of the Memphis and Shelby County Juvenile Court. Court-appointed defense attorney Autumn Chastain told reporters Thursday that "it's difficult for everybody right now." "It's just a very serious allegation," Chastain said. "We need to know everything that's going on in the case." Police said the suspect is 17 years old, while Mitchell said he is 16. CNN normally does not identify juveniles charged with crimes unless the juveniles are charged as adults. However in this case police have released his name under a Tennessee law that allows them to publicly identify juveniles charged with first-degree murder. Once the police publicly identified the suspect, CNN and other national and local media have reported his name. York was found Wednesday lying in a pool of blood at Memphis Junior Academy, according to the city fire department. Police, who responded to a call at 11:15 a.m., added that she was pronounced dead at the scene, after succumbing to "multiple stab wounds." Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong told CNN on Thursday that the suspect "has been carrying a grudge all summer long" because the previous school year he'd been switched out of a class that he liked. "Basically, he conspired all summer as to how he was going to get revenge," Armstrong said. According to Memphis police, Marmolejo told investigators "that he did not like (York) and that she had made him angry." Then he allegedly acted on his plans Wednesday, during the first week of school. "He found himself alone in a classroom, ... and he attacked Ms. York, stabbing her multiple times resulting in her death," said Armstrong. The city's police chief said authorities have no indication Marmolejo conspired with anyone, either in the planning or in the execution of the alleged crime. He added, "From what we've been told, ... there were no red flags" to suggest the suspect posed a danger to others or to himself. York, who had been the principal of the school since 2008, has a family in Memphis, said Marvin Lowman, communications director for the Seventh-day Adventist Conference in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. The school is affiliated with that church, said officials. "It's tragic all the way around," Memphis Mayor A.C. Wharton Jr. said outside the school. Former student Kristen Bridges described York as an exemplary biology and math teacher. "Past the teaching, she loved God," Bridges told CNN affiliate WREG. "And she showed that in everything she did." Marmolejo's next hearing, also in juvenile court, is scheduled for August 24, according to Mitchell. CNN's Rick Martin contributed to this report. | NEW: Memphis' police chief says the suspect carried "a grudge all summer"
Eduardo Marmolejo told investigators his principal "made him angry," police say .
The head of Memphis Junior Academy was found lying in a pool of blood .
The teenager is held without bond after a juvenile court hearing, a probation official says . |
066c425814f54dcf4ed7374cb3367c87be4a9ee7 | Almost 200 prisoners, including dozens of violent offenders, have been let out of jail to learn how to drive, ministers have admitted. A total of 190 offenders were given temporary release for driving lessons or tests in 2013, including robbers, drug dealers and fraudsters. Labour warned the lessons, designed to rehabilitate offenders, could spark public fears that prisons are ‘taking a big risk with their safety’. A total of 190 inmates were given day release to learn how to drive last year, including dozens of violent and serious offenders . New figures released in Parliament reveal details of the offenders allowed to walk out of prison to be taught how to drive. They include 89 held on violent offences, 51 for drugs, 29 for robbery, five for theft, three for fraud and two behind bars for burglary. The government argues that temporary release can help prepare inmates for the outside world when they come to the end of their sentence. Most prisoners must pay for their own lessons and the cost of applying for a driving licence. But ministers admitted that in some cases the costs could be picked up by the taxpayer. The figures were released in response to a parliamentary question by Labour MP Stephen Doughty. Labour’s shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan said: ‘The public will be concerned that releasing prisoners to do driving tests is taking a big risk with their safety. Some of the prisoners let out are inside for serious and violent crimes. ‘It’s absolutely crucial that ministers look into this to ensure everything possible is being done to make sure that no risk is being taken with the public’s safety.’ Shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan warned of the risk to public safety . A new report this warned fights and assaults are a daily occurrence in the nation's prisons with unprecedented levels of violence. The chief inspector of prisons Nick Hardwick suggested that the rise in problems in jails could be linked to government reforms and spending cuts, a claim disputed by the government. Mr Khan added: ‘There is enormous pressure in the prisons service caused by the government’s policies so we need guarantees that corners aren't being cut with this. ‘We cannot have the wrong kinds of prisoners might be let out, which would be a disaster. We need urgent reassurances that isn’t happening.’ The coalition government has repeatedly claimed to be making life in prisons tougher, removing perks for inmates. But the number of prisoners being given release for driving lessons has fallen by just 25 since 2008. Prisons minister Andrew Selous said: ‘Temporary release can be an important tool in helping prisoners to re-adjust safely and productively to life in the community. ‘It is allowed to prisoners only towards the end of their time in custody and only after a thorough risk assessment.’ He stressed that changes are being made to temporary release to ‘give even greater weight to public protection and the need for prisoners to demonstrate how the release will aid their rehabilitation and increase their chances of leading a crime free life on release’. Driving lessons are only allowed if the licence is required to help their rehabilitation, such as improving their chances of getting a job. | Almost 4 offenders a week allowed out to be taught how to drive .
Includes burglars, drug dealers and fraudsters given driving lessons .
Ministers insist it helps with the rehabilitation of offenders before release .
But Labour raises concerns about the risk to public safety of the scheme . |
066e9d6ab17c6ece93e8a7d319d2c2bf83a0520f | A pair of thugs who pushed a blind and deaf man and his brother on to train tracks in a 'horrifying assault' at a busy station have both been jailed. Daniel Webster, 23, and Niall Martin, 24 pushed a 31-year-old, off the platform at Chelmsford station in Essex, then threw his brother Joseph down after him as he tried to intervene. Martin admitted ABH on the brother and was given a nine-month sentence - but he has been freed already after he spent five months in custody, making him eligible for parole. Daniel Webster, left, has been jailed for 22 months after attacking a blind and deaf man, along with his brother. Niall Martin, right, was jailed for 9 months for his part in the assault . Webster was jailed for 22 months after pleading guilty to GBH and ABH against both brothers. Chelmsford Crown Court heard that the victim was attacked by Webster and Martin late at night on February 20 this year after the pair came over to ask him about train times. A row broke out, and Webster launched his attack on the victim, who was described in court as 'profoundly deaf' and is registered blind. CCTV footage from the station shows a second man trying to come to the aid of his vulnerable brother, only for both of them to be thrown on to the tracks. CCTV from Chelmsford station, Essex, shows Daniel Webster throwing one of the victims on to the train tracks. National rail staff had to block incoming trains for fear the brothers would be killed . As the pair scramble back to the platform edge and attempt to climb back to safety, Martin and Webster punch them both in the head, leaving them stranded. Network rail staff were forced to put a block on all trains coming through the station over fears that the pair could have been killed. Webster punches one of the victims as he tries to get back on to the platform in the 'horrifying' attack . Jailing the pair yesterday Judge David Turner QC said it had been a 'disgraceful episode' and labelled their actions 'manifestly dangerous'. He said: 'This is exactly the sort of thing that terrifies members of the travelling public late at night.' Speaking afterwards, Detective Constable Alan Reed of British Transport Police said: 'This is one of the most appalling incidents I have investigated. 'Webster and Martin showed a savage disregard for their victims, and one of the brothers is still suffering from the injuries sustained to his foot. 'It is no exaggeration to say the brothers could have been killed after being thrown onto the tracks. 'I would like to pay tribute to the victims, who have shown great dignity following what was a terrifying ordeal for them . 'I hope the sentence will provide them with some sense of closure, although in truth, the impact this has had on both of them is likely to remain with them for the rest of their lives.' The court heard that the victim spent six weeks on crutches and was off work for six months. He now walks with a limp and has been told the foot injury may take two years to heal and may need further surgery. | Daniel Webster, 23, and Niall Martin, 24, got into row at Chelmsford station .
Pair attacked 31-year-old, who is deaf and blind, along with his brother .
Threw brothers on to tracks and punched them as they tried to climb up .
Police say 'horrifying' case is 'one of the most appalling' they have seen .
Martin is already free despite being handed nine month sentence for ABH . |
066f8568d9c1c23ca3aeb23330123e7dd8967208 | Tragic: Kenneth Bellando, 28, was found dead in an apparent suicide on March 12 . An investment banker has been found dead in an apparent suicide in Manhattan's Upper East Side. Kenneth Bellando's death is the latest in a spate of suicides by finance professionals both around the globe and in New York. He was found dead in a neighboring backyard after jumping off his six-story building at around 10.20pm on Wednesday March 12. Police investigators told MailOnline that the case is still technically under investigation but there was no immediate suspicion of foul play and he was dead on arrival. Bellando, 28, worked at Levy Capital Partners and was previously an investment bank analyst at JP Morgan and Paragon Capital Partners. He was raised in Long Island before attending and graduating from Georgetown University in D.C. He returned to New York after graduation and launched his career in finance. Kenneth was not the only one in the family to work in the business world. Scene: Bellando's body was found in the backyard of a neighboring building after he is believed to have jumped from the roof of his apartment building on the Upper East Side . Latest: Kenneth, a Georgetown University graduate, is the 12th finance professional to kill himself this year . His father John Bellando is chief operating officer and chief financial officer at Conde Nast- and is listed just below famed editor Anna Wintour on the magazine company's executive team bio page. The New York Post reports that Kenneth's brother John worked at JPMorgan as the bank's chief information officer. Because of his role and involvement in risk exposure valuations, some of John Bellando's emails were used as evidence in the Senate Finance Committee's hearings about the 2012 'London Whale' trading scandal. Kenneth's friends have begun posting photos and condolences on his Facebook page since his March 12 death, including some of Kenneth posing with his two sisters. High powered family: Kenneth's dad John Bellando (left) is the COO and CFO of Conde Nast and his brother John (right) is a CIO at JP Morgan and his emails were used as evidence in the Senate hearing on the 'London Whale' scandal . Friends: In the wake of his death, friends have posted photos like this one on his Facebook page, where he is shown with his two sisters (second from left and far right) and friends . His death came the day after another banker killed himself by jumping in front of a commuter train in Long Island. So far this year, there have been nine other apparent suicides by people who work in various financial roles around the globe, making Bellando's death the 11th in two and a half months. Bellando is the youngest of the deaths, having only graduated from college in 2007. There . have been a spate of suicides amongst financial services employees . since the beginning of 2014. They've occurred in London, the U.S., Singapore and . Hong Kong. 1. William Broeksmit, . a 58-year-old former senior executive for Deutsche Bank AG, was found . dead in at home after apparently taking his own life in South Kensington . in central London, on January 26 . 2. Karl Slym, . the 51 year old Tata Motors managing director was discovered dead on . the fourth floor of the Shangri-La hotel in Bangkok on January 27 . 3. Gabriel Magee, . the 39-year-old JP Morgan employee, whodied after plummeting from the . roof of the JP Morgan European headquarters in London's Canary Wharf on . January 27 . 4. Mike Dueker, . the 50-year-old chief economist of US bank Russell Investments was . discovered dead near to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington State on . January 31 . 5. Richard Talley, . the 57 year old founder of American Title Services in Centennial, . Colorado, was found dead on February 4 after apparently shooting himself . with a nail gun. 6. Tim Dickenson, who was a U.K.-based communications director at Swiss Re AG, died in late January, in as yet unexplained circumstances . 7. Li Junjie, 33-year-old banker in Hong Kong jumped from the JP Morgan HQ in Hong Kong on February 19 . 8. James Stuart, . the former National Bank of Commerce CEO was found dead in Scottsdale, . Arizona on the morning of February 19. The cause of death has yet to be . announced . 9. Autumn Radtke, the CEO of First Meta, a digital currency exchange firm who was found dead on February 28 outside her Singapore apartment. 10. Ed Reilly, 47, a divorced father-of-three who worked as a trader at Vertical Group in Manhattan. He jumped in front of a Long Island Rail Road train on March 11 . 11. Kenneth Bellando, 28, an investment banker at Levy Capital Partners jumped off his building in Manhattan's Upper East Side on March 12 . | Kenneth Bellando jumped to his death on March 12 .
He worked at Levy Capital Partners and had previously trained as an analyst at JPMorgan and Paragon Capital Partners .
His father John is the COO and CFO of Conde Nast and his brother is a CIO at JPMorgan; his emails were cited in the 'London Whale' hearings .
At 28, Bellando is the youngest of the string of suicides by finance professionals who have killed themselves this year . |
0670226a1976dd14431e93c21530c3d4dea74246 | (CNN) -- Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb army commander wanted for crimes against humanity, is a notorious name synonymous with the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the Balkan wars of the 1990s and the bloody assaults on Sarajevo and Srebrenica. Born in Kalnovik, Bosnia and Herzegovina, during the height of World War II, the 69-year-old was a career soldier who served in Yugoslavia's military before that nation dissolved in the early 1990s. Mladic then became a leader of Bosnian Serb forces during the brutal conflict in Bosnia, the bloodiest in Europe since the allies fought Germany in the 1940s. He was shaped by the war when his father was killed by Croat Nazis when he was 2 years old. In 1965 he graduated from a military academy and joined the Communist Party in Yugoslavia, an ethnic stew of six states -- Bosnia, Serbia, Macedonia, Slovenia, Croatia, and Montenegro. Working his way up the ranks, Mladic was general of the Yugoslav Federal Forces in Sarajevo in 1992, an entity later transferred to the Bosnian Serb army when war engulfed Bosnia after it declared independence. The state was populated by Muslims, Croats and Serbs, but Serbian forces wanted to take lands where Serbs had been a majority. Mladic is charged with leading a 1992 siege against the city of Sarajevo, an assault that lasted two years and killed thousands. He is also accused of leading a 1995 attack on the Muslim enclave of Srebrenica, where close to 8,000 Muslim men and boys died. In 1995, he was indicted by the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia for war crimes and an international arrest warrant was issued a year later. Mladic faces charges of genocide, complicity in genocide, persecutions, extermination and murder, deportation and inhumane acts, unlawfully inflicting terror upon civilians, murder, cruel treatment, attacks on civilians and the taking of hostages. The genocide and complicity in genocide charges involve "the planning, preparation or execution of the intentional partial destruction" of Bosnian Muslims in various towns, including Srebrenica. In detailing its charges against Mladic, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia cites the "widespread killing, deportation and forcible transfer of non-Serbs in furtherance of the 1992 and 1993 'ethnic cleansing' campaigns in the Bosnian Krajina and in eastern Bosnia; by causing serious bodily or mental harm to Bosnian Muslims, including torture, physical and psychological abuse, sexual violence and beatings." It said Bosnian Muslims were subjected "to conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destruction, namely through cruel and inhumane treatment, including torture, inhumane living conditions and forced labor." Such alleged crimes occurred many locations, including in Banja Luka and Srebrenica. The court also cites Mladic's alleged role in the Bosnian Serb siege on the city of Sarajevo. Mladic, working with others, planned and ordered "a protracted military campaign in which Bosnian Serb forces under his control, in particular the Sarajevo Romanija Corps, used artillery and mortar shelling and sniping to target civilian areas of Sarajevo, killing and wounding civilians." The U.S. Rewards for Justice program announced a $5 million reward for information leading to Mladic's capture. Over the years, he has eluded authorities as his cohort, the former Bosnia Serb president, Radovan Karadzic, was apprehended and is facing various charges at the court in The Hague. | Mladic's father was killed by Croatian Nazis .
The military leader led the siege against Sarajevo .
He was also in charge of the attack against Srebrenica .
Mladic is wanted for crimes against humanity, among other charges . |
06708d9632bee9cff3536e8a8571621194481ab3 | An Alabama woman accused of running her granddaughter to death has asked an appeals court to dismiss a capital murder charge against her, citing potential autopsy problems and legal delays. Lawyers for Joyce Garrard Hardin, 49, have filed papers with the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals saying they found numerous problems with the state's autopsy of 9-year-old Savannah Hardin in 2012. Hardin has been jailed since Feb, 22, 2012, accused of making her granddaughter run for hours as punishment for a lie about candy. Authorities have said the girl was exhausted to the point of collapsing. She died three days later in a hospital. Drop charge?: Lawyers for Joyce Garrard Hardin, 49, say they found numerous problems with the state's autopsy of 9-year-old Savannah Hardin in 2012 and want her murder charge dropped . The defense contends the child died because of long-standing health problems, adding testimony about the girl's physical condition and the autopsy could be vital at trial. Those lawyers have asked the appeals court to order a circuit judge in Alabama's Etowah County, William Ogletree, to throw out the charge. Hardin has pleaded not guilty but faces a possible death penalty if convicted. Her trial is set to begin Feb. 12 in Gadsden; two previous trial dates were pushed back. Prosecutors have yet to respond to the defense document, which was filed Oct. 28 in Montgomery. The document was released by the appeals court Thursday at the request of The Associated Press. The state has until later this month to file an answer with the appellate panel and is under a gag order barring out-of-court comments. A petition filed by the defense contends the girl's autopsy was performed by a doctor who was later fired over allegations that included possible falsification of documents and dereliction of duty. The physician has since failed to testify in other cases and may not be available to testify in Hardin's trial, the defense argued in the document. Hardin's trial has been delayed twice despite defense attempts to move the case along, the attorneys argued. They said in their document that the postponements violate the woman's constitutional right to a speedy trial. Also, the defense claimed, Hardin is suffering from numerous health problems in the Etowah County jail and should be freed. Ogletree has previously refused to dismiss charges against Hardin. The child's stepmother is free on bond after being charged with murder for allegedly failing to intervene while the girl was running outside Hardin's rural home. Health problems: The defense contends Savannah died because of long-standing health problems, adding testimony about the girl's physical condition and the autopsy could be vital at trial . | Joyce Hardin has been jailed since she was accused of making her granddaughter Savannah run for hours as punishment for a lie in 2012 .
The defense contends the child died because of long-standing health problems, not from running .
The child's stepmother is free on bond after being charged with murder for allegedly failing to intervene while the girl was running outside . |
0671c42ea644770a53ba2e2181ebda6edd70457a | By . James Nye . PUBLISHED: . 19:02 EST, 10 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 04:10 EST, 11 February 2014 . Dramatic surveillance footage shows the moment when US Delta Force special forces surgically extracted al-Qaeda terrorist Anas al-Libi from outside his home in Libya on October 5. The early morning raid, which has been described as akin to 'brain surgery-level of precision', took the eight-man team exactly 60-seconds to ambush the terror suspect inside his car in Tripoli and then bundle him into their own white van. Al-Libi, 49, who is suspected of masterminding the 1998 bombings of the US Embassy's in Kenya and Tanzania was rushed away from his home to the USS San Antonio in the Mediterranean to be questioned by the High Value Detainee Interrogation Group before being taken to New York City. Scroll Down for Video . Rush: In this screen grab from the surveillance video obtained by The Washington post two men can be seen exiting the white van that has pulled up alongside the dark car of Nazih Abdul-Hamed al-Ruqai, better known as Anas al-Libi . The rare glimpse of covert operations, which was obtained by The Washington Post, unfolds just like a scene from a Tom Clancy novel and begins with al-Libi's dark car coming around the corner to park outside his Tripoli home. From behind his car a white van rushes to pull up alongside and men rush out brandishing weapons pointing them at al-Libi's car. There then appears to be a brief scuffle which ends with al-Libi being yanked from his vehicle and bundled into the van. No shots appear to be fired and once the terror suspect is inside the white van, the doors close on both his dark car and the Delta Force vehicle - at which point both drive off - presumably with a Delta Force soldier at the wheel of al-Libi's car. Another white car, which had been providing back-up at the end of the street behind the extraction then zooms away too. Captured: Anas al-Libi, a suspected terrorist, is shown in this photo released by the FBI October 10, 2001 in Washington, D.C. Al-Libi is now in custody in New York City waiting trial for his involvement in the 1998 bombings of the US Embassy's in Tanzania and Kenya . The entire operation takes 60 seconds and one former Army special operations soldier told ABC News that having observed the video it was like watching 'brain surgery-level of prescision.' Indeed, in the immediate aftermath of the cars speeding away, bemused residents of al-Libi's home can be seen rushing out onto the roof of the house to see what the commotion was all about. After his interrogation by the High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group, al-Libi was then brought to New York to face terrorism-related charges for the bombings of the US Embassy's in Kenya and Tanzania. He has pleaded not guilty and al-Libi's attorney, Bernard Kleinman, told The Washington Post his client never swore allegiance to al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and was not involved in the embassy attacks. 'My client is innocent of any and all actions that either directly or indirectly resulted in the bombings in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam in August 1998,' Kleinman said according to The Washington Post. 'His trial will prove this beyond any doubt whatsoever.' Terror: US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright looks 18 August at damage from a bomb at the US embassy in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania where 10 people were killed and 72 injured when the device detonated on August 7, 1998 . The raid was the result of 13-years of planning by the CIA, FBI and the US Army's Delta Force as they hunted the man accused of being responsible for the deaths of more than 200 people in East Africa at the end of the 1990s. He is awaiting trial in New York, held in the special housing unit of a jail across from the federal courthouse. In his defense, al-Libi has reminded the courts that he offered assistance in the 2011 overthrow of Gaddafi, after he moved back to Libya when Iran asked him and his family to leave in 2010 without explanation. Devastation: Construction workers prepare to fence off damaged shops and offices 17 August at the scene of a bomb blast that killed 247 people in Nairobi on August 7 in 1998 . However, US officials have said that they were concerned at his presence in Libya following the removal of Gaddafi and believed he was a serious threat to the American embassy in Tripoli. They added that official permission was sought from Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan to conduct the raid which was granted. However, the Libyan government is now paying for al-Libi's defense according to State Department sources. | Surveillance footage shows Nazih Abdul-Hamed al-Ruqai, better known as Anas al-Libi being grabbed from outside his Tripoli, Libya, home on October 5 .
Al-Libi, 49, was taken by Delta Force soldiers in a raid planned in co-operation with the CIA, FBI and the Libyan government .
The raid has been described as precise as brain surgery and takes one minute .
Al-Libi was transported to New York City where he is awaiting trial for his part in the 1998 bombings of the US Embassy's in Kenya and Tanzania .
More than 200 people died in the attacks . |
0672440c5c1a906e7010b5829c223be0f6ddc94e | One of the most difficult parts of a trial, especially in front of a jury, is accurately describing the crime scene. A number of courtrooms have begun projecting 3D images of scenes onto walls - but these can only reveal a limited amount of information. To take criminal courtroom reconstructions to the next level, experts have created a 3D immersive system that virtually transports people inside the scene using an Oculus Rift headset. The setup uses an Oculus Rift headset (d), the OptiTrack optical tracker (e), laser scanner from Geomagic and Autodesk 3DS Max software to create the final reconstructions. The computer system is shown at (a), (b) is the Oculus USB connector, and (c) is a wall-mounted tracker . It has been dubbed 'forensic holodeck' after the environment simulator used in sci-fi show Star Trek. The low-cost setup uses an Oculus Rift headset, the OptiTrack optical tracker, a laser scanner from Geomagic and Autodesk 3DS Max software to create the final reconstructions. It also uses gaming software called Unity 3D. This creates an immersive world in which the jury, judges and other members of the court can explore and see in 3D high-resolution detail - similar to Star Trek’s hologram setup. ‘In Switzerland, scenes are routinely reconstructed by combining 3D laser scans of the scene to post-mortem surface scans and medical images, such as CT and MRI,’ explained lead researcher Lars Ebert from the from the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Zurich. To demonstrate the system, the researchers chose to reconstruct a shooting in an internet cafe (pictured). The scene was recorded by a surveillance camera, and the team then used a laser to scan the surroundings. The aim was to show how close bullet trajectories came to injuring people in the room . The low-cost setup uses an Oculus Rift headset, the OptiTrack optical tracker, a laser scanner from Geomagic and Autodesk 3DS Max software to create the final reconstructions. This creates an immersive world in which the jury, judges and other members of the court can explore and see in 3D high-resolution detail. Oculus Rift is worn on the head and measures the orientation of the wearer in real time, allowing for calculation of the scene with the correct perspective. Oculus Rift (pictured) is worn on the head and measures the orientation of the wearer in real time . The headset consists of a screen that is split in half, delivering half the 1280 x 800 pixel resolution for each eye. In the front of the screen, two plastic lenses help create a diagonal viewing angle of 110-degrees. The Rift is then connected to the PC using a HDMI cable, and a USB transfers information about the head orientation to a computer. Head orientation is measured using a combination of gyros, accelerometers, and magnetometers. When used for gaming, the headset doesn’t typically need to use positional information of the head is usually not required. To overcome this problem for the forensic holodeck system, the researchers added an optical tracker to measure the user position. This meant they could freely move inside the virtual scene. To demonstrate the system, the researchers recently chose to reconstruct a shooting in an internet cafe. The scene was recorded by a surveillance camera, and the team then used a laser to scan the surroundings. The aim was to show how close bullet trajectories came to injuring people in the room. ‘The purpose of these reconstructions is to create a visualisation of an event to make it possible for a state attorney or judge to properly assess a situation based on the bullet trajectories, visibility, speed and distance.’ Mr Ebert continued, however, that although the data used for these reconstructions are high resolution, and allow for a spatially correct display of the scene, they typically use a 3D reconstruction on a 2D display. This reduces the amount of spatial information available. The technology is similar to the fictional holodeck in Star Trek (pictured with Deanna Troi played by Marina Sirtis left and Jonathan Frakes as William Riker right). Holodecks were installed on starships, space stations, and at Starfleet for entertainment, training, and investigative purposes . And although 3D screens partially solve this problem, estimating distances is still difficult because the perceived depth depends on the size of the display. Mr Ebert believes his Oculus Rift system is a solution to this. To demonstrate the system, the researchers recently chose to reconstruct a shooting. During the incident in an internet cafe, a known drug dealer was approached by policemen and women in civilian clothes as well as in uniform for the purpose of arresting him. A Holographic Environment Simulator, or holodeck for short, was a form of holotechnology designed and used by Starfleet in Star Trek. Holodecks were installed on starships, space stations, and at Starfleet institutions for entertainment, training, and investigative purposes. A typical holodeck consisted of a room with a hologrid containing so-called omnidirectional holographic diodes. Holographic projections could be shown by manipulating photons contained within force fields. It was also used in an episode of The Next Generation, called A Matter of Perspective, to recreate the events leading up to a space station explosion for forensic investigations. Source: Memory Alpha . Despite being surrounded, the man was able to get up from his chair and draw a handgun. One of the policemen managed to grab onto the arm bearing the gun while the others attempted to take cover. In the course of the struggle, seven gunshots were fired and one of the bullets hit a policeman on his hand. The entire scene was recorded by a surveillance camera in one of the top corners of the room, and these recordings were used to reconstruct the sequence of events. The team then used a laser to scan the surroundings, and used to this to pinpoint the final position of the projectiles. This, along with the camera footage, were used to reconstruct every bullet fired. The aim of the reconstruction was to show how close the bullet trajectories came to severely injuring one of the people in the room. 'During a police congress, we were able to demonstrate the system,' continued the researchers. 'The comments by the police officers involved in the presented incident were promising.' Further work will be carried out to make the technology more accurate before it is used widely in courtrooms. 'The forensic holodeck: an immersive display for forensic crime scene reconstructions' was published in the Springer journal Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology. | The setup was devised by forensic experts from the University of Zurich .
It uses an Oculus Rift, optical tracker and Autodesk 3DS Max software .
Camera footage is combined with laser scans to create final reconstruction .
This creates an immersive world in which the jury, judges and other members of the court can explore and see in 3D high-resolution detail .
Technology is similar to the fictional holodeck in Star Trek .
It was recently demonstrated to reconstruct the scene of shooting . |
06729dfd73d15b66cd65961f7079ec9f22fd54bb | Moscow (CNN) -- There is no basic human right to barge into a church to make a political statement, jump around near the altar, and shout obscenities. But there is most certainly the right not to lose your liberty for doing so, even if the act is offensive. But that is exactly what happened Friday. A court in Moscow sentenced the three members of the feminist punk band Pussy Riot to two years in prison. In my two decades monitoring human rights in Russia I've never seen anything like the Pussy Riot case -- the media attention, the outpouring of public support, the celebrity statements for the detained and criminally charged punk band members. The image of three young women facing down an inexorable system of unfair justice and an oppressive state has crystallized for many in the West what is wrong with human rights in Russia. To be sure, it is deeply troubling. For me, even more shocking were the images of Stanislav Markelov, a human rights lawyer, lying on the sidewalk with the back of his head blown off in 2009, or the body of tax lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who died in prison in 2009 after he blew the whistle on a massive government extortion scheme. The Pussy Riot case shines a much needed, if highly disturbing, spotlight on the issue of freedom of expression in post-Soviet Russia . On February 21, four members of the group performed what they call a "punk prayer" in Moscow's Russian Orthodox Christ the Savior Cathedral. They danced around and shouted some words to their song, "Virgin Mary, Get Putin Out." The stunt lasted less than a minute before the women were forcibly removed. The same day, a video widely shared on social media showed a montage of the stunt with the song spliced in. The song criticizes the Russian Orthodox Church's alleged close relationship with the Kremlin and the personally close relationship of President Vladimir V. Putin with the patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church. Three of the band members were tried on criminal "hooliganism" charges. Their trial was theater of the absurd. In their closing statements, the women and their lawyers delivered devastating critiques of the state of justice and civic freedoms in Russia. During the Soviet era, the human rights landscape in Russia was stark. But since then the situation has been harder to figure out, often making it easier for outsiders simply to give the government a pass. But the devil is in the details. It has been incredibly difficult to pin down any involvement of officials in the beatings and murders of investigative journalists and human rights activists. And the government, while not silencing civil society groups outright, tries to marginalize, discredit, and humiliate them, and crush them with heavy-handed bureaucracy, trumped-up accusations, threats and the like. Whatever misdemeanor the three women incurred for their antics in the church should not have been transformed by the authorities into a criminal offense that in effect punishes them for their speech. It's typical, though, of how the authorities try to keep a lid on controversial issues. The Russian think tank SOVA has documented dozens of cases in recent years in which the authorities used the threat of extremism charges to silence critics. This also isn't the first time Russian authorities have misused criminal legislation to stifle critical artistic expression. In 2010 a Moscow district court found the co-organizers of a controversial art exhibit guilty of the vague charge of "inciting religious hatred." The art exhibit organizers were fined. By making the Pussy Riot band members await trial in jail for almost six months, the authorities made clear how they plan to set boundaries for political criticism. After a winter of unprecedented, peaceful opposition protests, a dozen demonstrators whom the authorities claim were involved in a scuffle with police during a mass demonstration in May have been arrested and are being charged with crimes grossly disproportionate to their alleged actions. Police have searched opposition leaders' homes. Laws rammed through Russia's parliament this summer sent more signals: criminal liability for leaders of nongovernmental organizations for "serious breaches" of new restrictive regulations; much tougher sanctions for violating rules on public assembly; and new restrictions on the Internet that could easily shut down big social networking sites. Critics of the Kremlin have been subject to vicious harassment, intimidation and grotesque public smear campaigns. For years Russian human rights defenders have tried to draw attention to the lack of independence of the courts. With the unprecedented attention to the Pussy Riot trial, the surreal state of justice when political interests are at stake is there for all to see. What we really should be wondering isn't why Pussy Riot is so distinctive, but whether it's just the tip of the iceberg. Too often, foreign governments have resorted to wishful thinking about the direction Russia is heading. Talking about human rights at a high level -- where all things in Russia are decided -- is unpleasant business. It might be hard, but Russia won't respect other governments if they shy away. If three women in the defendants' cage had the courage to speak out about where Russia is headed, surely members of the international community should too. They, at least, won't be thrown in jail. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Rachel Denber. | Rachel Denber: no on should lose liberty for dancing on an altar to make a political statement .
She says guilty verdict on Pussy Riot shows Russia's unfair justice system, oppressive state .
She says: Modern Russia slippery on human rights; other nations mistakenly give it a pass .
Denber: Verdict is tip of iceberg of Russia oppression; world community must speak out . |
0674bb94b8e58ae1785bf1e607d2e03c7bb1d596 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 15:11 EST, 24 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 16:42 EST, 24 October 2012 . From a small coffee shop in San Francisco, to American Apparel and Walmart, retailers are using footage from security cameras to study shoppers’ movements in order to improve their marketing. As security cameras have grown more sophisticated, technology like the Prism Skylabs software, collects security camera data to reveal foot traffic, line formations, where and how people linger, which products are most popular, and the aisles people browse in the most and for how long. But because retailers technically use this footage for security, they are under no obligation to ask customers for permission to record them, or even disclose the fact they are watching them via video. Scroll down for video . Surveillance: A coffee shops in San Francisco, The Creamery, uses footage from security cameras to study shoppers' movements in order to improve their marketing and services . According to Ad Week, T-Mobile uses surveillance data to decide on the design of its stores, while American Apparel analyses its security footage figure out how best capture the most shopper attention with its clothing displays. According to MarketsandMarkets, a global market research company, this kind of video surveillance as a service, which is also called VSaaS, is expected to grow in worth from $474 million in 2011 to nearly $2.4 billion within the next five years. While not as sophisticated, surveillance cameras have actually been used in marketing for a number of years. Marshal Cohen, chief retail analyst of The NPD Group, told Ad Week he used to employ security videos to watch shoppers as they left an escalator, wanting to discover which way they turned so he knew where to place displays. Now, digital innovations like cloud technology and have given . retailers cheaper, faster and easier ways to use their store's security . footage to interpret consumer patterns that go unnoticed on the shop . floor. 'A mobile security video lets me stand above the action, and read the crowd no matter where I am' Prism Skylabs uses security footage to create stop-motion time studies and heat maps to show customer movements, and which items customers touch or pick-up most through the day with a red, . green or blue marker showing the most popular merchandise. The Famous Footwear chain also uses security footage to help managers place promotions in the optimal spot. Jon Grander, vice president of asset and revenue management at the . Brown Shoe Co., which owns Famous Footwear, said: 'We were posting so many ads in our . stores they were like wallpaper and became meaningless. Big brother? Prism Skylabs software collects security camera data to reveal where and how people linger, which products are most popular, and the aisles people browse in the most and for how long . 'Now . we can put the ads where we have people’s undivided attention, such as . the seating area where they try on shoes. Little changes make a big . difference.' According to research and surveillance specialists, Walmart has employed an internal team to test new ways of using security footage to enhance in-store marketing. Prism Skylabs CEO and . co-founder, Steve Russell, said: 'This kind of information helps managers . make micro-merchandising decisions such as, "will it increase sales if I . put out the yellow sweaters or the blue sweaters?"' The Creamery, a San Francisco cafe, knows the benefits of fusing security footage with marketing analytics firsthand. 'This information helps managers . make decisions such as, "will it increase sales if I . put the yellow sweaters here?"' Owner Ivor Bradley said he uses his smartphone to watch streaming footage via the The Creamery's security cameras. He explained: 'The mobile video lets me stand above the action. It lets me read the crowd no matter where I am.' He added that recently, while keeping . an eye on the store's cameras during breakfast rush hour, he noticed . that people would often attempt to lean across the counter display, and . cut off other customers, to pick up a cup of fresh orange juice. He . said his busy staff didn’t notice, yet it was so clear on his . smartphone monitor. 'The camera saw what I didn’t,' Mr Bradley said. 'Sales of the fresh OJ shot up 100 percent,' after he moved the juice . closer to the counter. Secret tools: According to research and surveillance specialists, Walmart has employed an internal team to test new ways of using security footage to enhance in-store marketing . Reaping rewards: The Creamery and Famous Footwear knows the benefits of fusing security footage with marketing analytics firsthand . 'Plus the line moved noticeably faster,' he added. American Apparel also saved 40per cent in fixed expenses by using . RetailNext, a system that aggregates surveillance data for marketing purposes, according to Stacey Shulman, chief information officer. She said: 'Our . technological changes, including [improved] traffic counting, have . collectively impacted our sales, theft and labor costs.' While a store's surveillance-turned-marketing footage is not used to identify specific shoppers (Prism hides customers’ identities by blurring their faces or only using their heat paths), it seems retailers want to keep this growing crossover camera practice quiet. Pam Dixon, executive director of the World Privacy Forum, said that while online shoppers are aware their purchasing habits will be tracked on the Internet, people have an expectation of privacy in brick-and-mortar stores. Ms Dixon added: 'It is crucial for retailers to disclose that camera-tracking information is being used for marketing and to offer shoppers a way to opt out. It’s especially important in the case of children and in sensitive areas of stores such as pharmacies.' Time.com polled more than 500 readers in September on their feelings towards these crossover camera practices, and 62per cent admitted they thought it was 'creepy'. A large 40per cent of people said they would avoid retailers that did so, if they were made aware. | American Apparel, Famous Footwear and Walmart use security cameras to study shoppers’ movements in order to get them to spend more in store . |
0676f2f537a25637182375a6f461741f1bce2c2d | Managua, Nicaragua (CNN) -- Daniel Ortega marked the beginning of his third term as Nicaragua's president during an inauguration ceremony Tuesday -- an event both buoyed by his pledges of moderation and marred by months of discord over voter irregularities. The Nicaraguan leader pledged that his socialist government would continue efforts to promote peace and attack poverty. "Savage capitalism, it is no longer possible. There is no space on this planet for savage capitalism," Ortega said in a wide-ranging inauguration speech that touched on a international events, including war in Afghanistan, last year's earthquake in Japan and the killing of former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. Shortly after taking his oath of office, Ortega hugged Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who were among a number of dignitaries at the ceremony. "People have tried to give many interpretations to the visit of (Ahmadinejad). I think they still don't understand that it is necessary to look for an authentic path toward peace," Ortega said during his inauguration address, stressing that it was within Iran's right to use nuclear technology for energy needs. "They cannot deny that right to any people," he said. Ahmadinejad's Latin American tour . Ortega is known as a Venezuela ally, had been a public supporter of Gadhafi and remains a stalwart U.S. critic. In his speech Tuesday, the Nicaraguan president decried Gadhafi's killing. "A head of state in Libya was assassinated in the most brutal manner, with some television media basking in the crime. If there were accusations, it was logical to detain him," he said. Cable channels throughout the Central American nation were blocked during Tuesday's inauguration ceremony, which drew a crowd of thousands and was broadcast on national television. Since the country's November elections, Ortega, 66, has reached for the political middle, making overtures to the business class with promises of encouraging foreign investment. But his critics say they fear the former leftist revolutionary is looking to solidify Sandinista party control over state institutions and have pointed to reports of ballot fraud and voter intimidation. According to a report presented by the Organization of American States, irregularities included problems providing identification cards to vote, problems in the accreditation of observers and imbalances in political parties present at polling stations. Ortega, who fought against the U.S.-backed contras during the 1980s, won the country's elections in November with 64% of the vote, though subsequent protests and clashes have left several people dead. Nicaragua's constitution bars presidents from being re-elected, but that did not stop Ortega from running in his sixth straight presidential race. Ortega was first elected as president in 1985, and ran unsuccessfully in 1990, 1996 and 2001 before being elected again in 2006. CNN's Luis Carlos Velez contributed to this report. | NEW: President Daniel Ortega: "Savage capitalism ... is no longer possible"
Ortega officially begins his third term at a ceremony in Nicaragua .
In recent months, he has reached for the political middle .
November's elections have been marred by months of discord over voter irregularities . |
067832836b5fcb3556aa78ac055f3b82cc9b31c9 | By . Zoe Szathmary . A shirtless photograph of a Texas football coach said to resemble Ryan Gosling was shared online Monday. Texas Tech University's head coach Kliff Kingsbury, 34, was seen next to two bikini-clad women, one of whom is a cheerleader for the Dallas Mavericks, Fox Sports reported. Female fans have spoken fondly of Kingsbury's photograph, which went viral through the help of a Buzzfeed article. 'All I want for my birthday today is to be one of these two girls,' a user wrote. 'And people thought it couldn't get hotter in Texas! #hottestbachelor #texastuesday #kliffkingsbury,' another said. Another user wrote 'Kliff Kingsbury's body is on point.' A male Twitter also noted Kingsbury's physique, writing 'When I'm 34 I want to look like Kliff Kingsbury #AdamScott.' Kingsbury has already been declared multiple times a lookalike of Hollywood actor Ryan Gosling. Scroll down for video . Team leader: Texas Tech University's head coach Kliff Kingsbury was snapped shirtless posing with two women in bikins . Twins? Kingsbury has been said to look like Ryan Gosling, seen here in the 2011 movie Crazy Stupid Love . Kingsbury poked fun at his image and appeared on both ESPN's Highly Questionable and SportsNation, MySanAntonio.com pointed out. On Tuesday, Kingsbury spoke to ESPN's Highly Questionable. 'Like I've said all along, I'll take that [compliment]. But if it was somebody else - but you get an A-list celebrity, you can take that compliment,' he said on the program. Kingsbury told Highly Questionable's hosts he's received attention from both single and married mothers. The coach also spoke about about 'signing some cleavage' when asked about female fan interactions - which he said happened 'around five' times. Kingsbury appeared in a segment for ESPN's SportsNation set to jazz music where he read tweets on July 24. Can you tell them apart? Kingsbury is seen left, while Hollywood actor Gosling is seen right . 'Sweet Jesus, Kliff Kingsbury is HOT,' one said. Kingsbury read another message which said 'So when can I expect my Kliff Kingsbury Sexy Red Raider 2013 Calendar?' In September 2013, E! News reported that Kingsbury's image was printed on T-shirts, along with the message '#OurCoachIsCuterThanYourCoach.' Speaking about his sense of dress, Kingsbury told the entertainment channel 'I guess it's not normal for coaches to dress on that side of things, but that's who I am and I never wanted to change that.' E! News also revealed Kingsbury designed his team's uniforms. Earlier this year, Kingbury's dance skills were also unveiled in an April dance-off with his players, CBS Sports reported. Team player: Kinsbury, center, recently read aloud messages from Twitter admirers in a video for ESPN - one of which said 'Sweet Jesus, Kliff Kingsbury is HOT' | A shirtless photograph of Texas Tech University's head coach Kliff Kingsbury appeared online Monday .
Fans have spoken fondly of Kingsbury's photograph on Twitter .
Kingsbury, 34, has already been declared multiple times a lookalike of Hollywood actor Ryan Gosling . |
06783e26413a3b7c0cb943d2181a5afd170cf331 | By . Emily Allen . Last updated at 11:33 AM on 4th March 2012 . Two 'frightened' Lottery winners have moved out of their home after thieves broke in while they were celebrating their £45million EuroMillions windfall, it has been revealed. Matt Topham and Cassey Carrington, from Stapleford, Nottingham, have left their £80,000 semi to stay with Mr Topham's father and his stepmother. The burglars fled empty handed after being disturbed, but the engaged couple were said to be 'sickened' by the break-in and have moved most of their belongings out of their home - even fitting an alarm. However, the 22-year-olds, who won the life-changing sum last month, don't seem too down as they have just splashed out on two new luxury cars to replace their £7,000 . Peugeot 107 city car. Cassey Carrington and Matt Topham, 22, had their house broken into while they were celebrating their win . Mr . Topham, a painter and decorator, has bought a Jaguar XKR-S, costing . £109,000, and Miss Carrington, a supervisor at Iceland, picked out a . £50,000 white Range Rover Evoque. Both sets of wheels have the new '12' registration plates. Mr Topham was pictured driving his new car his . local Tesco this week, turning heads in the car-park. The break-in happened the night the couple were named publicly as winners, last month. The news attracted much attention from the press. Neighbour Susan Naylor, 66, told the . Sunday Mirror said: 'I heard a bump outside at about 11.30pm. The side . gate of the house had been forced open. They've since taken most of . their things away and fitted an alarm.' However, it wont be long before they move into their new, slightly larger three-bedroom house in Nottingham - no doubt with top-of-the-range security - once it's has been decorated. The couple's house in Stapleford, Nottingham which burglars targeted but fled empty handed after being disturbed. The couple have been left 'sickened' and 'frightened' by the break-in . It comes as it was revealed that the another UK ticket holder has scooped £22.1million following Friday night's EuroMillions Lottery draw - but has yet to come forward with claim the life-changing prize. The new multi-millionaire is the fourth Briton in recent months to hit the jackpot. The numbers were 5, 6, 11, 30, 44 with the lucky stars 2 and 6. Last month, Mr Topham and Miss Carrington admitted that also on their shopping list was a new computer and washing machine . because their old ones had broken within minutes of each other on the . morning of the draw. Miss Carrington, a supervisor at Iceland, has picked out a £50,000 white Range Rover Evoque, like this one pictured. Both of their cars have '12' registration plates . Mr Topham, a painter and decorator, has bought a Jaguar XKR-S, costing £109,000, and he has been spotted behind the wheel at his local Tesco . At a press conference last month the couple vowed to ‘look after our . friends and family first’. Mr Topham works for his father Brian as a . painter and decorator and made numerous references to him, along with . his siblings. The couple said they owe their new-found fortune to a lucky dip . ticket. Mr Topham, member of the Air Training Corps in his youth, said he wanted to pay . for flying lessons with his winnings in order to learn to fly . ‘helicopters and planes’. Mr Topham, member of the Air Training Corps in his youth, said he wanted to pay for flying lessons with his winnings in order to learn to fly 'helicopters and planes' Miss Carrington added that while they had no plans to move their . September wedding reception from their existing, secret venue, or change . Miss Carrington’s ‘dream’ dress, they would be upgrading to a suite on . their foreign honeymoon. The win came days after she had won a share of a £10,000 bonus awarded . to staff at her store in Eastwood, Nottingham. Miss Carrington said she . would hand back her share, amounting to ‘a few hundred pounds’ for her . old colleagues to share between them. She had worked at the store since leaving school and supervised 20 . staff. A former colleague at the branch said they were ‘really made up . for her’. | Matt Topham and Cassey Carrington have left their £80,000 semi and taken most of their belongings .
Burglars fled empty-handed after being disturbed leaving the couple 'sickened' |
06786986a80b3b329f8cd309d160ade9f0aeb9d0 | By . Gerri Peev, Political Correspondent . PUBLISHED: . 16:56 EST, 26 March 2012 . UPDATED: . 09:07 EST, 27 March 2012 . Motorists are being held to ransom by 1,000 militant tanker drivers who yesterday voted for a national strike. The walkout, which threatens to wreck the Easter break, could close nearly 8,000 petrol stations. Army personnel are being trained to drive the tankers and are on standby to maintain essential supplies. Scroll down for video . Remember this? Long queues at the pumps during the strike in 2000. Such scenes look likely to be repeated after 1,000 militant tanker drivers voted yesterday for a national strike . Soldiers at the ready: Army personnel are being trained to drive the tankers and are on standby to maintain essential supplies . But only a minority of union members . voted for the strike. Unite, the union led by militant Len McCluskey, . balloted members at seven major haulage and oil companies in a dispute . over pay and conditions for drivers. Vote: Unite, led by the militant Len McCluskey, balloted members at seven major haulage and oil companies . Across these organisations, the union has 2,062 members. But only 1,001 voted in favour of . striking – 48.5 per cent. The union achieved its slender 55 per cent . majority for strike action because 12 per cent of members failed to . vote. London Mayor Boris Johnson yesterday . renewed his demand for a change in the law to make strikes illegal . unless at least half the union members vote in favour. The strike could begin as soon as next . Tuesday – April 3. Unite is the Labour party’s biggest financial . backer, and Ed Miliband has been urged to condemn the strike. But so far . he has remained silent. Tory MP Charlie Elphicke said: . ‘Today’s vote is very disappointing news for hard-working families and . businesses who will be inconvenienced by this unnecessary and . irresponsible strike. ‘Ed Miliband must condemn this strike and get Labour’s biggest trade union paymaster round the negotiating table.’ Unite has warned the strike will lead . to 7,900 petrol stations closing, as the firms it balloted supply 90 per . cent of the total. Five of the seven drivers’ depots voted for a . strike. But drivers at DHL, which has the largest number of Unite members, voted against. Flashback: A line of tankers standing idle at a Shell depot in 2008 . Pickets: Members of the 'Unite' line up outside the Kingsbury Oil depot near Tamworth in 2008 . The results for the seven companies involved in the ballot are: . And members at JW Suckling . overwhelmingly voted against strike action. Its managing director Peter . Larner told the Daily Mail: ‘Our [pay and conditions] agreement for 2012 . was supervised by Unite but they still chose to ballot our drivers. The . union then claimed we had refused to sit down with them, which just . isn’t true. We have met with them and other companies several times. 'I . really don’t know what this strike is about as we have agreed our . standards with the union.’ One industry source told the Mail: ‘This is all about the ego of one union leader who is picking a political fight. ‘If this was really about pay and conditions and safety, they would be balloting the smaller firms who do things on the cheap.’ Mr McCluskey is known as the most Left-wing union leader and is a controversial figure even within Unite. Memories of 2000 (when fuel cost less than 80p a litre): Cars rushed to the forecourts as tankers struggled to make it to garages . The looming protests serve as a . reminder of September 2000, when the petrol blockade brought the nation . to its knees. Convoys of truckers and farmers blockaded refineries, . preventing the vital flow of fuel and forcing prices higher. Business leaders yesterday warned a strike would be bad news for firms. Simon Walker, director general of the . Institute of Directors, said: ‘A tanker drivers’ strike threatens to . clog the arteries of the economy. 'The vast majority of travel in Britain . takes place on the roads.’ John Cridland, director-general of the CBI, . said: ‘This vote should disappoint us all. Disruption is in nobody’s . interest at this critical moment in the recovery.’ Unite will decide in the next 24 to 48 hours whether to set a date for strikes. Diana Holland, the union’s assistant . general secretary, said: ‘These votes send a clear message through- out . the industry and should prompt all the major companies to get around . the table to establish mini- mum standards.’ The union claims safety has been . compromised since fuel companies outsourced petrol deliveries to . ‘squeeze profits and win contracts’. Energy Secretary Ed Davey said the . strike was ‘wrong and unnecessary’ but added that the Government had . ‘robust resilience and contingency plans’ to deal with one. VIDEO: Petrol companies insist negotiations are ongoing . | Reminder of protests in 2000 as Unite drivers vote for national strike .
Walkout threatens to wreck Easter break closing nearly 8,000 stations .
Army personnel on standby to drive tankers and maintain supplies .
Ed Miliband stays silent over Unite - one of Labour's biggest donors . |
067882c406e8f245cae144a9f7b39b86d124e843 | Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- Four missing coal miners have "very little chance" for survival in a southwest Pakistan mine that collapsed after a methane gas explosion Sunday, a government official said. At least 48 of the 52 miners in the mine were confirmed dead, but just 28 of the bodies had been recovered by Monday evening, according to Sardar Aslam Bizenjo, the minister for irrigation in Balochistan province. "There is very little chance of survival for remaining four," he said Monday. The mine in the Soringe area, 35 kilometers (about 22 miles) east of Quetta, caved in Sunday after the explosion. | NEW: "Little chance" seen for four missing miners, an official says .
NEW: 28 bodies have been recovered, official says .
Methane gas explodes in a coal mine near Quetta in Pakistan . |
06790ea53de8e4990ca26c01313e181ec2405050 | (CNN) -- Postmaster General John E. Potter has come under criticism for his total 2008 compensation of nearly $800,000, but the agency's board of governors says the pay is less than what leaders of several other independent government agencies receive. Postmaster General John Potter isn't paid as much as leaders of some other independent government agencies. And the amount is far below that given to CEOs in the private sector, even though compensation and benefit packages for postal service officers are required by law to be comparable to those given to private-sector employees doing similar work, the board of governors says. "That's a difficult standard to achieve given the compensation restraints within the federal sector," said Carolyn Lewis Gallagher, the chairman of the agency's board of governors. She added that the postal service, with $75 billion in revenues and nearly 700,000 employees, compares with Fortune 100 companies. Potter received a salary of $263,575 in 2008. His total compensation of nearly $800,000 included deferred earnings toward his retirement plan. Compensation and benefit packages for officers of the postal service are governed by Congress and not funded by taxpayers. Gallagher said effective compensation was necessary for effective managers. "Even in these difficult times, the postmaster general continues to exhibit visionary leadership, effecting billions of dollars in cost reductions," she said. Critics have tried to paint Potter's compensation as excessive, given that he had recently appeared before Congress warning that, with a $2.8 billion loss in 2008, the postal service may need to reduce its congressionally mandated six-days-a-week delivery schedule. iReport.com: Mail five days a week? "Apparently compensating executives well is still a possibility at the post office," Pete Sepp of the National Taxpayers Union told CNN on Tuesday. "And despite all the delivery problems they may have, despite the deficits they may have, executive compensation is still nice, fat and round." Other independent government agencies pay their executives much more, however. Richard Syron, former Freddie Mac CEO, had a compensation package of $3.4 million and reportedly took home much more in cash, stocks and other compensation before he was fired in September, according to Forbes magazine. Daniel Mudd, former CEO of Fannie Mae, had a total compensation package of $8.79 million before he, too, was fired that month, according to Forbes. Frederick Smith, the long-time CEO of delivery giant FedEx, had a total compensation package of $32.21 million, Forbes said. Fannie Mae and FedEx are among Forbes' top 100 firms. A new postal law in 2006, Gallagher said, gave the postal service more flexibility to devise a compensation plan that didn't focus on salary. As a result, she said, the agency adjusted salaries and benefits packages, including performance-based initiatives, that became effective in 2008. Potter saw his civil service pension fund rise by $381,496 in 2008, and he received a $135,041 incentive pay that will be deferred to his retirement, according to a filing released December 10. Civil service pension rules are applied to all federal employees to calculate compensation, postal service spokesman Gerald McKiernan said. The calculation is based on salary and years of service, he said. Sepp compared Potter's earnings to "Detroit auto executives flying to Washington in a fancy jet to ask for tax dollars" and said he "would not be surprised" if the postal service asked for a Wall Street-like bailout. Automakers General Motors and Chrysler on Tuesday asked Congress for another $21.6 billion to keep them out of bankruptcy. They plan to cut 50,000 jobs between them by the end of the year. The price of a postage is increasing in May, going up from 42 cents to 44 cents. CNN's Amy Sahba contributed to this report. | Postal service's board of governors defends Postmaster General John Potter's pay .
Total is less than that of some other independent government agencies' CEOs .
Board: Pay also behind private-sector CEOs, though it's supposed to be comparable . |
06799d9646564a04e8412c32fc54948f99d8fe76 | (CNN) -- A nonprofit's attempt to expose -- and stop -- the degrading street harassment women face every day has turned dangerously ugly. Last month, HollaBack, an international movement dedicated to "developing innovative strategies to ensure equal access to public spaces," released a hidden camera video of Shoshana Roberts walking down the streets of New York City, just minding her own business. According to the video, during the 10-hour filmed experiment, more than 100 men made unwanted, unprovoked and sometimes unnervingly harassing remarks toward Roberts. In a matter of minutes after its release, the video went viral. And with this, the story took a drastic and disturbing turn as an aggressive backlash took place. Threats to rape and kill her were posted across the Internet as part of an assault that seemed intent on humiliating and silencing not only Roberts, but any woman who dares to speak up against inequality and expose the truth about how women are treated in our society. This was not the first time such an attack was mounted against a woman advocating for gender equality. A month earlier, actress Emma Watson endured a similar attack. In September, Watson stood before the United Nations, where she spoke eloquently about the virtues of an equal society -- a world in which men and women enjoy freedom and security in equal measure. Her call to action excluded no one and threatened no one. But almost before this speech could be digested, a website featuring a timer was created to count down the hours and minutes until naked images of Watson would supposedly be released. One report suggested the countdown was a hoax run by Internet spammers. But the fact that Watson would be a target after her speech is in itself extremely telling -- and intimidating. Sadly, systematically silencing women through rape threats and revenge porn has become the newest weapon in the war on women. In fact, weaponizing women's bodies -- whether by making rape threats or disseminating unwanted and compromising images of women's bodies -- are crimes, violations that are born of a deep-rooted hatred toward women and a drive to shame into submission any woman who dares to speak out. These threats are not just happening to high profile women, but to women and girls everywhere. It is happening to girls in high school, when private naked images and rape threats are viciously sent into cyberspace as revenge for their refusal to comply with the wills of the boys at school. It's happening to celebrity women advocating for gender equality. It's happening to women who dare speak up on behalf of the rights of all women. This devastating crime is gender specific. It is a hate crime against women. Let's look at this another way. Imagine that there were a rash of threats targeted only at LGBT individuals, gay celebrities and gay youth under constant threat of rape and sexual violence. Or imagine this was happening to only people of color. When such hate-fueled acts are targeted specifically at another historically oppressed group in our society, then they are seen for what they are, a hate-based violation. And we would express outrage and rally to the defense of the victims of this crime. You don't have to look too far to see how women are dehumanized in popular culture. On TV and in film, we are bombarded with images of women's bodies that are often bloodied and bruised, naked and dead. These bodies are presented as little more than that -- just bodies to be bought and sold, rented and brutalized. It's no wonder that men and young boys become desensitized and think it's OK to objectify, harass and threaten women who challenge the sexual status quo. Women's bodies -- those amazing, life giving, powerful bodies -- are being weaponized by personal images that are disseminated against their will. This is, of course, is just one aspect of the war on women, but it is one of the most insidious and damaging. It is time that we were collectively outraged -- men and women -- about the use of sexual threats online. It's time to stop turning a blind eye. It is time for the silencing of women stop. | Response to HollaBack campaign turned ugly: Lauren Hersh and Aimée Lagos .
Rape threats and revenge porn newest weapon in war on women, they say .
Men and women should be outraged by use of sexual threats online, they argue . |
067bcd1c431d1f762bbcd312feabb11baaf30d1e | Britain hosts the third biggest volume of internet pornography in the world and is home to more than half a million sites, according to a shocking survey. There are more than 52million pages of pornographic content in the country, including rape websites registered under the national domain name which ends co.uk. The revelation that Britain is one of the most popular worldwide locations to host adult websites will intensify pressure on the Government to provide an opt-out system for online porn. Porn.co.uk: Britain hosts the third biggest volume of internet pornography in the world and is home to more than half a million sites, according to a shocking survey . There are no restrictions on pornographers registering their sites under Britain’s domain name, for which a private company called Nominet UK is responsible. John Carr, a government adviser on child internet safety, called on Nominet to ban websites containing certain words like rape and said the ‘free for all’ should end. He said that all porn sites should be under the domain name .xxx and declared: ‘The UK should not provide succour and comfort to porn merchants.’ The policy of unrestricted access means that websites including Asian-rape.co.uk and Incestrape.neuken.co.uk are paying to use Britain’s domain name. One of the available web addresses is rapeher.co.uk – which is being sold by commercial agent GoDaddy for £2.99 a year. The entry on its website reads: ‘Snap it up before someone else does.’ GoDaddy said: ‘We are withdrawing the name while we carry out a review. We have not done this before.’ Taking it seriously: Communications Minister Ed Vaizey is now writing to Nominet to ask what its plans are to prevent 'abusive behaviour' Ed Vaizey, the communications minister, is now writing to Nominet to ask what its plans are to prevent ‘abusive behaviour’. He added that he took Mr Carr’s complaint ‘extremely seriously’. Mr Carr questioned on his blog whether it was appropriate for a not-for-profit company to oversee more than ten million co.uk domain names. He added: ‘Ministers and parliament must be satisfied they are entirely happy with the way that Nominet discharges its responsibilities. ‘Nominet should have a policy that websites registered under the national domain name do not contain depraved or disgusting words. People should not be able to register websites that bring disgrace to this country under the national domain name.’ In other countries, the government controls the national domain name. The evidence that Britain hosts more pornography than any other country apart from the US and Holland will be presented by a web analysis company called MetaCert this week. Paul Walsh, the chief executive of the California-based organisation, said Britain hosted six times as many porn web pages as Germany in fourth place and ten times as many as France in fifth place. The US is home to nearly two-thirds of the world’s pornography. The company claims its analysis is more reliable than other studies as it also checks websites which don’t advertise that they host porn. Nominet said it had referred two of the rape websites to the Internet Watch Foundation and was reviewing its policy on registration. The company also pledged to check its database of .uk names against the IWF’s list of key words associated with illegal content. But it admitted that pornographers could exploit a UK loophole by registering for a UK domain under one name, and later adding a sexual word before the first dot in the address. | 52million porn pages are registered with .co.uk domain names .
The makes Britain third biggest porn host after Holland and the U.S.
The UK hosts six times more porn sites than fourth place Germany . |
067d0ec005f1cf98c7ee0620fdb50ebe7fe851dc | By . James Salmon . PUBLISHED: . 19:56 EST, 31 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 20:23 EST, 31 December 2012 . The Chancellor George Osborne hailed the deal, signed in 2011, as the largest tax evasion settlement in UK history . Thousands of wealthy British investors hiding money in Swiss bank accounts will finally be forced to pay billions in unpaid tax under a deal that comes into force today. Under the settlement between UK and Swiss authorities, an estimated £5billion will be clawed back and handed to HMRC over the next six years. The deal, signed in 2011, was hailed as the largest tax evasion settlement in UK history by Chancellor George Osborne. However last night critics attacked the deal as shielding ‘criminal tax avoiders’ – because they will be allowed to remain anonymous to HMRC as long as they pay what they owed in the first place. The actual number affected by the deal is unknown because Swiss banks are notoriously secretive about clients – but they are likely to include anyone from investment bankers to celebrities and criminals. The rich, many of whom have been hiding their wealth for decades, will see unpaid tax deducted from profits on investments and savings at the end of May. At the end of May they will be given a final chance to disclose their affairs and pay what they owe. If they do not, the money will be deducted automatically by Swiss authorities and repatriated to the UK. The charge will be based on the amount of years the money has been hidden, the type of income and the prevailing tax rate in the UK and will range from 21 per cent to 41 per cent. It is estimated the move affects £40billion of assets held in Swiss accounts by British investors. But tax campaigner Richard Murphy said: ‘Honest taxpayers are seeing criminals who broke the law being allowed to wipe the slate clean.’ ‘They should be forced to pay penalties and hand back interest on money they have kept illegally.’ ‘A similar agreement was rejected by the German parliament in November due to concerns that tax evaders would be able to retain their anonymity.’ | HMRC to claw back money British investors have hidden in Swiss banks . |
067d877c560b352b088c50c46db0add7fdd43fbf | Troy Davis, who is set to be executed by lethal injection tomorrow night, has lost a bid for clemency launched by his defence lawyers who said he was wrongly convicted of killing a police officer. Georgia's board of pardons rejected the last-minute plea even after it attracted high-profile support, and his execution will go ahead as planned. It was the last hope for the 42-year-old, who was convicted of killing police officer Mark MacPhail, in Savannah, Georgia, in 1989. Anti-death penalty activists, who also claim Davis was wrongly convicted, chanted and held banners through Atlanta last week. It is the fourth time in four years his execution has been scheduled by Georgia officials. Scroll down for video . Conviction: Troy Davis, left, is set to be executed by lethal injection on Wednesday after he was convicted of killing police officer Mark MacPhail, right, who was shot dead in Savannah, Georgia, in 1989 . Peace: Police officer Mark MacPhail MacPhail's mother Anneliese MacPhail remains convinced Davis is guilty . Steve Hayes, spokesman for the Board . of Pardons and Paroles, said the panel decided to rejected Davis' request for clemency after hearing hours of testimony from his . supporters and prosecutors. Troy Davis was convicted of the August 19, 1989, murder of Georgia police officer Mark MacPhail, who was working as a security guard at a Burger King when he intervened in an argument between several men in a nearby parking lot. He was shot in the heart and face without having drawn his gun. One of the men, Sylvester Coles, went to police and implicated Davis in the killing, and he was arrested four days later. During Davis’ 1991 trial, many witnesses testified they had seen Davis shoot MacPhail. Two others testified that Davis had confessed the murder to them. The murder weapon was never found, and no physical evidence linked Davis to the crime. Throughout his trial and subsequent appeals, Davis has maintained his innocence but was sentenced to death in August 1991. Seven of nine witnesses to the . murder changed or . recanted their testimony in recent years. Several stated they had felt pressure by police to implicate Davis. New witnesses implicated Coles in the crime. Many appeals in state and federal courts followed. Davis and his lawyers argued that the racial composition of the jury and poor advocacy from his lawyers had affected his right to a fair trial. In an August 2010 decision, the conviction was upheld, with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia declaring that the new evidence cast only 'minimal doubt on his conviction'. Subsequent appeals, including to the Supreme Court, were rejected. In July 2007, September 2008, and October 2008, execution dates were scheduled but stayed shortly before the events took place. The decision appeared to leave Davis . with little chance of avoiding the execution date. Defence attorney . Jason Ewart has said that the pardons board was likely Davis' last . option. His lawyers have long argued Davis . was a victim of mistaken identity. But prosecutors say they have no . doubt that they charged the right person with the crime. MacPhail's relatives said they were relieved by the decision. 'That's what we wanted, and that's . what we got,' said Anneliese MacPhail, the victim's mother. 'We wanted . to get it over with, and for him to get his punishment.' 'Justice was finally served for my father,' said Mark MacPhail Jr, who . was an infant when his father was gunned down. 'The truth was finally . heard.' Kim Davis, the inmate's sister, declined immediate comment on the decision. Amnesty International USA director Larry Cox said in a statement that the decision was 'unconscionable'. 'Should Troy Davis be executed, . Georgia may well have executed an innocent man and in so doing . discredited the justice system,' Mr Cox said.- but Mr MacPhail’s mother . Anneliese remains convinced Davis is guilty. She said the upcoming execution of her son's 'killer' will bring her peace. ‘I will never have closure,’ Ms MacPhail told CNN. ‘But I may have some peace when he is executed.’ The case has captured international attention because of concerns about the quality of evidence involved in Davis’s conviction - but Ms MacPhail said she has ‘never had any doubts’ it was him. ‘I think these people are just against the death penalty,’ she told CNN, of the many protesters who claim to be worried the state will put an innocent man to death. ‘They don't know what happened.’ Georgia's Board of Pardons and Paroles is expected to meet on Monday to consider whether to stop Davis' execution by lethal injection, which is scheduled for next Wednesday. Marching army: Thousands gathered in Atlanta, Georgia, to protest the pending execution on Wednesday of Troy Davis, who they say was wrongly convicted of killing a Savannah police officer in 1989 . Crowds: Thousands gathered in downtown Atlanta to protest the pending execution on Wednesday . ‘I pray that this rally will have an . impact on Pardons and Paroles,’ said marcher Solana Plaines, of . Savannah, Georgia. ‘I hope they will do the right thing.’ Davis declined to order a special last . meal. He will be served what's on the menu at the Georgia state prison . in Jackson before his execution on Wednesday - grilled cheeseburger, . oven-browned potatoes, baked beans, coleslaw, cookies and a grape . beverage. Davis's supporters say there is no physical evidence linking him to the crime and that key witnesses in his trial have since recanted their testimony. ‘You just can't give up hope,’ said Ellen Kubica, who travelled all the way from her home in Germany to attend Friday's event, which featured banners reading: ‘Too much doubt to execute.’ Martin Luther King III, son of the late civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr, joined the march. Reverend Al Sharpton, a civil rights activist and television show host, also attended. Anger: Reverend Al Sharpton speaks to a standing-room only crowd during a prayer service at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, in support of death row inmate Troy Davis . Megaphone: Martin Luther King III, son of the late civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr, joined the march . ‘The only thing left to decide is whether you have the courage to do the right thing,’ he said of the parole board. ‘It is blatantly clear that there is no reason for this man to be sitting on death row.’ 'The only thing left to decide is whether you have the courage to do the right thing. It is blatantly clear that there is no reason for this man to be sitting on death row' Reverend Al Sharpton . In a rare move, the U.S. Supreme Court in August 2009 ordered a new hearing for Davis to assess what he said was new evidence showing his innocence. The justices transferred the case to a U.S. District Court in Georgia for a hearing and determination of his claims that new witnesses will clearly establish his innocence. A year later, the judge, William T. Moore Jr, rejected Davis' claims of innocence. But on Thursday, supporters of Davis delivered petitions with more than 600,000 names to the parole board. New York: Demonstrators gather near Times Square in Manhattan to protest the execution of Davis on Friday . Message: A woman holds a sign at a protest outside President Barack Obama's campaign headquarters in Chicago, one of 300 rallies held worldwide on Friday, ahead of a last-ditch parole board hearing for Davis . In a column last week in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, former FBI Director William Sessions called for Davis's sentence to be commuted to life in prison, saying the case was 'permeated in doubt'. However in an opposing column written in late 2008 and republished on Thursday, Spencer Lawton, the district attorney who prosecuted Davis, said the condemned man had a fair trial. The claim that seven witnesses at the trial had subsequently recanted their testimony was ‘not believable’, Lawton wrote - and he denied any witnesses had been coerced by police. See video here . | Convicted of killing police officer Mark MacPhail in Georgia in 1989 .
More than 2,000 activists march claiming he was wrongly convicted .
Last minute plea by lawyers to spare his life rejected . |
067ea5e32e7dfff3307f402713f9bb40dcb6d226 | Ronan Farrow, the biological son of Mia Farrow and Woody Allen, was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship, distinguishing him as one of the country's brightest thinkers. But given their estranged relationship, it is unlikely that Woody will be celebrating along with him. Ronan, 23, and Woody, 75, had a very public falling out when Woody began a romantic relationship with Mia's adopted daughter Soon-Yi Previn, 34 years his junior. Young leader: Ronan Farrow has worked as a UNICEF spokesman and as a special appointment in the State Department . 'He's my father married to my sister. That makes me his son and his brother-in-law. That is such a moral transgression,' Ronan has said. 'I cannot see him. I cannot have a relationship with my father and be morally consistent... I lived with all these adopted children, so they are my family. To say Soon-Yi was not my sister is an insult to all adopted children,' Ronan said of the relationship. Ronan has not seen much of Woody since his romantic relationship with Soon-Yi began in 1992 when Ronan was only five years old. Earlier bonds: Woody Allen and Mia Farrow walk as Mia carries their son Satchel, who later changed his name to Ronan . Together: Woody and Mia were a couple for 12 years before it ended in 1992 when Farrow found naked pictures of her adopted daughter in Woody's home . Following the discovery of naked photos of Soon-Yi in Woody's possession, Mia split from Woody and launched a messy custody battle over their three children. Prodigy: Ronan graduated from Bard College at 15 and Yale Law School at 21 . During the proceedings, which were closely followed, Mia claimed that Woody had sexually abused Ronan's sister Dylan, though the judge dismissed the claims because they were not substantiated. Mia was awarded full custody, and Woody was only allowed to have supervised visits with Ronan, originally named Satchel Ronan O'Sullivan Farrow. Woody was denied visits with Dylan, who later changed her name to Malone, and the couple's other adopted child Moshe, who changed his name to Moses, chose not to see Woody at all. In a PBS documentary titled American Masters, Woody is profiled in detail about his work and Soon-Yi is seen in clips. He never mentions Ronan in the entire three-and-a-half hour series, the second portion of which airs tonight. In a 2005 interview, Woody confirmed that he no longer has relationships with his three children from his relationship with Mia. 'Well, I feel terrible about it. I spent millions of dollars and fought in court for years to do it, but could not swing it,' he told Vanity Fair. The strained relationship with his father doesn't seem to have held Ronan back, and he has been deemed a child prodigy. Controversial: Woody and Soon-Yi have been married since 1997 and have two adopted children together . He enrolled in Bard College at the age of 11, graduating at 15, and moving on to the prestigious Yale Law School and graduating by the age of 21- a year younger than most students finish their undergraduate degree. Since leaving school, Ronan has worked as a special advisor to the State Department, specifically focusing on the youth issues in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He has lent his face and name to charitable causes for years, serving as a UNICEF spokesperson from 2001 to 2009. After working under Hillary Clinton in the State Department, Ronan is now moves into the ranks of her husband, former president Bill Clinton, with Monday's Rhodes scholarship nomination. This year, 32 Americans have been nominated for the scholarship that will pay for the expenses of a year of study at Oxford University. Family outing: Ronan seen here with his mother and half-brother Fletcher Farrow Previn, was raised by his mother after she won full custody in 1992 . For a man known for his many neuroses, Woody Allen hasn't let that stop him from enjoying his love life. The famous New Yorker has been married three times, in addition to a number of multi-year relationships with actresses Diane Keaton and Mia Farrow. Ronan is his only biological son, but he has four adopted children- two that he adopted with Mia and two with his current wife Soon-Yi. He first married at age 19 to a 16-year-old girl named Harlene Rosen, and that marriage lasted for five years. Undeterred, Woody married actress Louise Lasser, and though they divorced three years later, she continued to work with him and was featured in three films after they ended their romantic relationship. The recent release of Diane Keaton's autobiography gives a glimpse into their partnership, and while it only lasted a year, their professional one lasted much longer with Ms Keaton serving as his muse for such films as Annie Hall. 'He was even better-looking in real life. He had a great body, and he was physically very graceful,' Keaton writes in her book. Keaton was not his first relationship that played out on the big screen, as Woody was rumored to have dated a 17-year-old student Stacey Nelkin in the 1970s and she was said to be the inspiration for his 1979 film Manhattan. Woody's relationship with Mia Farrow, which began in 1980, was quite the Hollywood pairing, ending in explosive Hollywood fashion. Mia had previously been married to Frank Sinatra and was nominated for a Golden Globe for her work in Rosemary's Baby, so she was famous in her own right when she and Woody started their relationship. The couple never married but were together for 12 years. Mia had three biological children and three adopted children from a previous relationship, one of which was Soon-Yi Previn who Mia adopted from Korea at the age of 8 years old. When she and Woody were together, the couple adopted two more children and she gave birth to their son Ronan. In 1982, Mia found naked photos of Soon-Yi, who was 21 at the time, on Woody's mantelpiece. This discovery prompted a torrid legal battle between Mia and Woody over the custody of their children. Woody was denied access to their daughter Dylan, allowed only supervised visits with Ronan, and their eldest son Moses was given the choice- and decided not to see his father. In a 2005 interview, Woody confirmed that he no longer has relationships with his three children with from his relationship with Mia. 'Well, I feel terrible about it. I spent millions of dollars and fought in court for years to do it, but could not swing it,' he told Vanity Fair. In spite of the drama, Soon-Yi and Woody stayed together, eventually marrying in 1997. The couple have since adopted two children named Bechet and Manzie Tio, their names paying homage to two jazz musicians. 'The heart wants what it wants. There's no logic to those things,' Woody has said. | Ronan Farrow started college at 11, graduated Yale Law School by 21 and was an advisor to Hillary Clinton . |
067f74aa50297ed9bc1b08a323970b4d18dd465e | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 08:51 EST, 7 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:38 EST, 7 June 2013 . A former University of Alabama basketball standout has been charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping for his alleged role in a bizarre plot to kidnap his own 6-year-old cousin earlier this year. Also involved in the plot is 18-year-old Devonta Pollard's mother, 21-year-old cousin, aunt and uncle. According to authorities, the family plotted to kidnap Jashayla Hopson, Pollard's cousin, in an effort to get the girl's mother - Pollard's aunt - Roshell Ford, to make a deal in a property dispute she had with Brown-Pollard. Foul: former University of Alabama basketball star Devonta Pollard is facing up to five years in prison for his alleged role in a bizarre plot to kidnap his own cousin . Kemper County Sheriff James Moore told ABC News that the dispute is over a one-acre piece of land in Porterville, Mississippi, that once was owned by Brown-Pollard. When the house on the property burned down, Brown-Pollard lost the land and it was sold to Ford. After the sale, Brown-Pollard allegedly conspired with a friend, 52-year-old Wanda Darcy, to kidnap the little girl in an attempt to coerce the girl's mother into giving her back the land. "They began talking and Pollard told . Dancy that she wanted to take Roshell Ford's daughter for 'leverage' to . get her land back," FBI Special Agent Charles G. Murrow stated in his . affidavit. On April 30, Hopson was in her school library when Jessie Pollard picked her up and drove her to a motel. She allegedly then sent the girl's mother a text message that read, 'don't call the police I will call you . later if you call the police u won't see her again.' The number used to call Hopson's mother was traced to a Samsung phone bought at a Walmart in Bessemer, Alabama, on April 30. Surveillance footage from the Walmart shows Pollard purchasing the phone. Pollard's mother, Jessie Mae Pollard Brown is the alleged mastermind behind the poorly thought out plan to kidnap her own neice . After the initial text message, Shaquayla Johnigan drove the girl to a motel in Laurel, Mississippi, where she sent Hopson's mother further instructions. 'since you called police, I want $50,000 by 3 p.m., I will tell you location later,' the text message read, according to the indictment. That's when authorities began to suspect that Brown-Pollard was involved in the kidnapping - she was questioned by police and asked to take a polygraph. Pollard allegedly then told his cousin Shaquayla Johnigan and her mother, 42-year-old Joyce Johnigan, that his mother was being questioned by police. So the pair drove the girl to a rural location in eastern Mississippi and dropped her off outside of a stranger's home. Pollard scored 141 points during his first season with the Crimson Tide . Shaquayla Johnigan then drove the car she was driving into a ditch and threw the keys into a pond. Her father, 39-year-old James Johnigan, then burned the phone the plotters used to contact Hopson's mother. About 1:25 p.m. on May 1, police found the girl at the stranger's home and returned her to her mother. For their roles, the Johnigans and Pollard face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. Pollard-Brown could face up to life in prison and a $750,000 fine. Pollard has since been forced off of the University of Alabama's basketball team. | Also involved in the plot is Devonta Pollard's mother, cousin, aunt and uncle .
The plot to kidnap the little girl was an attempt to get back at her mother for a dispute over a land deal .
Pollard is no longer a member of the University of Alabama basketball team . |
067fa82bc7d2d52b134367fd081c25e9fc20dbb8 | A 5-year-old boy who was mauled by two Rottweiler dogs and is in serious condition at a Seattle hospital owes his life to his quick-thinking and brave mother. A Harborview Medical Center nursing supervisor says the boy is in the intensive care unit Wednesday following surgery. Kitsap County sheriff's Deputy Scott Wilson says the boy suffered bites to his head, face and neck Tuesday at a home in Silverdale before his mother threw her body atop his to protect him. Mauled: Three Rottweilers, one seen here being led from the Silverdale, Washington home, mauled a 5-year-old boy Tuesday before his mother rushed in to save his life . Wilson says the boy's mother covered the child with her body until another relative could rescue the boy. The mother was caring for the dogs as a favor to an ex-boyfriend, who is in prison. The boy was playing outside with one dog when they attacked as a pack, Kitsap County Sheriff's spokesman Scott Wilson told KIRO. The mother used her body like a blanket to cover her son and protect him from further bites. Another relative soon saved the boy, who was rushed to a hospital for emergency surgery . 'She couldn't get the dogs off the child because they were too strong, so she laid on the child and the dogs started nipping at her,' Wilson said. The dogs have been turned over to Kitsap Animal Rescue to be tested for rabies, which is standard procedure in such cases. Wilson said he does not expect criminal charges to be filed in the case. 'I don't think it was ever conceived that the dogs were dangerous,' Wilson said. 'There'd been no predisposition, no attacks, no anything.' The boy's condition was upgraded Wednesday to serious. His mother was not seriously injured. The dogs have been quarantined and will be tested for rabies (The boy's home is pictured here) | The Silverdale, Washington mother was caring for the dogs for an ex-boyfriend. The boy was playing outside with one dog when they attacked .
The boy underwent emergency surgery Tuesday after suffering bites to his head, face and neck .
By Wednesday, his condition had been upgraded. His mother suffered only minor injuries . |
06804343c6ee5ca7eded40d4157757fe947eecb4 | The planned documentary by the Oprah Winfrey Network on Michael Sam, the NFL's first openly gay player, has been postponed. Erik Logan, president of the network, said Friday that the postponement was made after meetings with the St. Louis Rams. 'After careful consideration and discussion with the St. Louis Rams, "The Untitled Michael Sam Project" has been postponed, allowing Michael the best opportunity to achieve his dream of making the team,' Logan said in a statement. Scroll down for video . In training: St Louis Rams rookie defensive Michael Sam during the NFL rookie camp Friday . From the football field to Hollywood: Michael Sam, the first openly-gay man to be drafted into the NFL, will be the star of his own reality TV show, Oprah Winfrey announced Wednesday . Cameras are rolling: The show has reportedly already started filming and crews were in the room when Sam got the call that he had been drafted and kissed his boyfriend in celebration . From the people that brought you 'Lindsay': The documentary series is being filmed by the same crew that followed Lindsay Lohan for her OWN reality show . The first openly gay football player to be selected in the draft was to be the focus of a new multi-part documentary series to air on Oprah's OWN network, produced by the same crew that filmed Lindsay Lohan's reality show. 'We are honored that Michael is trusting us with his private journey in this moment that has not only made history but will shape it forever,' Oprah Winfrey said in a statement. 'It's clear that we, along with the world, recognize the important opportunity that Michael now has in this moment. We will continue to support him in his journey to earn a spot playing for the Rams.' As a seventh-round draft pick, Sam will face hefty challenges just to make the Rams. Being the subject of a TV documentary could have been a major distraction for the defensive end from Missouri. Spotlight: Sam and his boyfriend Vito Cammisano celebrated his drafting in Las Vegas this weekend. He has since flown to St Louis to begin training. It's unclear how much access the crews will be granted by the NFL or Rams . Hard road ahead: During his time at the University of Missouri, Sam was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year, but will likely have to train for a different position if he wants to make the Rams 53-man roster . 'This (postponement) will allow for . Michael to have a total focus on football, and will ensure no . distractions to his teammates,' added Sam's agent, Cameron Weiss. 'Everybody involved remains committed to this project and understands . its historical importance as well as its positive message.' The . announcement that Sam was to participate in the show was somewhat . surprising to some, since Sam said at a press conference that he just . wants to focus on training. When asked what it felt like to the the first openly gay draftee, Sam said simply: 'I guess it's great.' 'I'm determined to be great so I'm going to train hard and try and make the team,' he added. Shooting . had reportedly already begun on the project, but it's uncertain how . much access the NFL and Rams would grant production crews now that Sam . is in training. Sam was . named SEC Defensive Player of the Year during his time at the University . of Missouri, but is considered too small to be a defensive end in the . league at six-foot-two and 261 pounds. Most likely, he'll have to focus on learning a new position if he wants to make the team for the season. | The planned reality series about Michael Sam has been postponed .
Sam is the NFL's first openly gay player .
Oprah Winfrey Network president Erik Logan said the decision was made to allow Sam his best chance at a place on the team .
Filming had already begun on the multi-part documentary series and was to follow Sam as he trains to make the St Louis Rams roster .
As a seventh-round draft pick, Sam will face hefty challenges just to make the Rams . |
0680469e60c6a00b2f1c353eac5c5a2f880b15f5 | More details emerged in state media Thursday about the dismissal of the highest-ranking Chinese official yet since President Xi Jinping launched a massive campaign against corruption -- a lightning rod for public discontent across the country. Su Rong, a former vice chairman of China's top political advisory body, was formally removed from his post on Wednesday. Though little known outside of China, Su's position at the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference made him a "state leader" in the official hierarchy. The downfall of Su, a senior member of the ruling Communist Party who served as the Party boss in three provinces, was made public on June 14. The Party's disciplinary commission said in a brief online announcement that he is under investigation for the "serious violation of laws and Party disciplines." 'Flies and tigers' State media has since characterized Su as the biggest "tiger" caught in President Xi's anti-graft campaign. After taking power in late 2012, Xi banned official extravagance -- from banquets to year-end gifts -- and vowed to target "flies and tigers" alike in his fight against corruption when describing his resolve to spare no one regardless of their position. The state-run Xinhua news agency recently touted the catching of 30 "tigers" after the investigations of Su as well as two other provincial leaders became known. Su, 65, and his wife profited tremendously through bribes and illegal land deals when he ran the southeastern province of Jiangxi, state media reported. He was also implicated in tampering with evidence in a criminal trial and covering up the death toll in the breaching of a local dam, according to state media. Zhou Yongkang . Some China watchers have noted Su's ties to Zhou Yongkang, the former domestic security czar who has been rumored to be under investigation for some time. State media has reported official probes into many of Zhou's family members as well as former associates in the domestic security apparatus, state oil industry and Sichuan Province in the southwest -- three places Zhou once ruled. If announced, Zhou would replace Su to become the highest-ranking official ever to face corruption charges in the history of the People's Republic. In 2013, some 182,000 officials were disciplined while courts nationwide tried 23,000 corruption cases, according to the Party's disciplinary commission. State media has cited the trial and conviction last year of former high-flying politician Bo Xilai -- though called politically motivated by Bo supporters -- as one prime example of President Xi's determination to clean up the Party. 'Corruption endemic' Longtime China observers, however, point to the limits of President Xi's war on corruption. "There have been public calls for a law to require officials disclosing their assets. There has been no indication that they are going to do that. In fact, a number of people calling for this law have ended up in prison," said Frank Ching, a Hong Kong-based commentator and columnist on Chinese politics. "I think people will be much more convinced of the seriousness of this anti-corruption campaign if there were a move to enact such a law." "Corruption is so widespread and so endemic that campaigns are just not going do it," he added. "Something has to be done about the system." | Su Rong, former vice chairman of China's top political advisory body, removed from his post .
Party: Su under investigation for the "serious violation of laws and Party disciplines"
Xinhua: Su and his wife profited through bribes and illegal land deals when he ran Jiangxi province .
This is the latest chapter in President Xi Jinping's crusade against corruption in China . |
0680ee464f43e7e5d625de1d1fecaca3ed475f9e | (CNN) -- A gunman attacked worshippers at a Colorado Springs, Colorado, megachurch Sunday afternoon, killing one person and wounding four others before being killed by a security staff member, the city's police chief said. Police would not discuss whether there was any connection between the church shootings and an attack on a missionary training center outside Denver about 12 hours earlier that left two people dead and two wounded. The gunman in that incident was still unknown. Chief Richard Myers called the Colorado Springs church security staffer "a courageous security staff member who probably saved many lives." He said some of the shooting victims being treated at the hospital have life-threatening injuries. Several "suspicious devices" were found at the church, Myers said. SWAT teams were clearing the multiple buildings at New Life Church, along with an explosives unit, he said. Rev. Brady Boyd, senior pastor of New Life Church, said the church had a security plan in place. "I'm proud of the way our team responded," he said. "Many, many lives were saved because of the quick action of some committed volunteers at our church." Watch as a church member describes what he saw » . He said about 7,000 people were at the church, which had just completed a late-morning service, when the shooting took place shortly after 1 p.m. The wounded were taken to Penrose-St. Francis Hospital, where two were in critical condition, Howard said. Another patient was in good condition and one fair, hospital spokeswoman Amy Sufak said. Police know neither the motive for the attack nor of any relationship between the suspect and the victims. Police spokesman Lt. Fletcher Howard said area businesses were placed on lockdown after the shooting "to make sure there's not any other suspects at large." As of Sunday afternoon there was no known connection between the two Colorado shootings, Howard said, but he did not rule out that possibility. Arvada, site of the missionary training center, and Colorado Springs are about 80 miles apart. Howard said investigators are expecting detectives from Arvada to come to Colorado Springs to check for any connections between the two cases. In Arvada, police said they were investigating whether there was any link between the two fatal shootings. "Obviously, two shootings at two faith-based locations is very concerning to both us and Colorado Springs," said Deputy Police Chief Gary Creager. New Life Church is on the northwestern outskirts of Colorado Springs, near the U.S. Air Force Academy. The non-denominational church claims a membership of more than 10,000. The church was founded by the Rev. Ted Haggard, an evangelical Christian leader who was ousted in 2006 after allegations that he had been a client of a male prostitute from whom he had purchased drugs. Haggard admitted to undisclosed "sexual immorality" and called himself "a deceiver and a liar" in a letter to the congregation. E-mail to a friend . CNN's Eric Marrapodi contributed to this report. | Four victims at hospital; two of them in critical condition .
Gunman and one victim dead .
Shooter was killed by church "security staff member," police say .
Gunman fired on worshippers at Colorado Springs megachurch, minister says . |
0681e7a0f6b30bd62b3df1a4311ac65a58f858b9 | The nurse found dead after a hoax call to the hospital treating the Duchess of Cambridge left three notes, a court heard yesterday. The body of Jacintha Saldanha, 46, was discovered in her room in staff quarters last Friday. Two notes were found nearby and a third was among her possessions. Scroll down for video . Family support: MP Keith Vaz addresses the media outside Westminster Coroner's Court following a hearing . The mother of two had also sent a number of emails and made telephone calls that police believe might help explain what happened. During a five-minute hearing at Westminster Coroner’s Court yesterday it was revealed that attempts were made to revive the nurse but they were ‘to no avail’. Detective Chief Inspector James Harman said: ‘Jacintha Saldanha was found by a colleague and a member of security staff. Sadly she was found hanging. There were also injuries to her wrist. The London Ambulance Service was called to the scene. At this time there are no suspicious circumstances.’ Scotland Yard detectives are examining the notes, as well as interviewing Mrs Saldanha’s friends, family and colleagues at London’s King Edward VII hospital. Mrs Saldanha, a night sister, was the senior nurse on duty when she took a call at 5.30am on Tuesday from Australian DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian, who were pretending to be the Queen and Prince Charles. She unwittingly transferred the call to a colleague, who described in detail the condition of Kate, who was being treated for severe morning sickness. Reporters and cameramen: A policeman stands on duty outside as media gather at Westminster Coroner's Court where the initial inquest into nurse Jacintha Saldanha's death is being opened, in London today . Condolences: Flowers and personal messages . (right) are pictured outside the King Edward VII Hospital apartments . where Jacintha Saldanha (left) was found dead in central London last . week . Mr Harman told the hearing detectives . had been in contact with colleagues in New South Wales and would be . taking statements from those involved in the prank call. A mass will be held on Saturday for Ms Saldanha at London's Westminster Cathedral. The . mass will be offered 'for the repose of the soul of Jacintha and her . grieving family', a spokesman for Westminster Cathedral said. 'We would hope to hold a more formal memorial after the inquest has concluded.' Mrs Saldanha’s accountant husband Ben . Barboza, 49, identified her body. Coroner Fiona Wilcox opened and . adjourned the inquest until March 26. Mrs Saldanha, who was born in India, . lived in London during the week and returned home to Bristol to be with . her family at weekends. Mr Barboza and children Junal, 17, and Lisha, . 14, had been expecting her home for the weekend and were apparently . unaware of her role in the hoax call. Labour MP Keith Vaz, who has been . representing the family, said they could expect the results of a . post-mortem examination within four days. Hearing: Members of the media gather outside Westminster Coroner's Court in central London where the inquest into the death of Jacintha Saldana is being held . Together: Ms Jacintha's husband Barboza (centre) and her children Lisha and Junal (pictured here with Labour MP Keith Vaz (right), had no idea the nurse had received the hoax phone call . He added: ‘The family is very grateful . to the coroner’s court for the way they have dealt with the matter and . they are extremely grateful to the Metropolitan Police. ‘As you know they are very upset and they are grieving and they are comforting each other.’ A memorial service is due to take . place in Bristol tonight and a mass is to be held for Mrs Saldanha at . London’s Westminster Cathedral tomorrow morning. Saddened: Sydney-based 2DayFM radio presenters Michael Christian (left) and Mel Greig (right in left, and right) made a grovelling apology in two interviews aired on Australian TV yesterday (one seen right) The mass will be offered ‘for the . repose of the soul of Jacintha and her grieving family’, a spokesman for . Westminster Cathedral said. He added: ‘We would hope to hold a more . formal memorial after the inquest has concluded.’ Southern Cross Austereo, the parent . company of Sydney-based 2Day FM which broadcast the hoax call, has ended . Greig and Christian’s Hot 30 show and suspended prank calls across the . company. Last night it was revealed Mrs . Saldanha’s family have been offered bereavement counselling in their . home city of Bristol by the King Edward VII hospital. In a letter to John Lofthouse, the chief executive of the private hospital, Mr Vaz says the family will take up this offer. For confidential support call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 or visit a local Samaritans branch – see www.samaritans.org . By Richard Shears . A . full and searching inquiry was launched by Australia’s media watchdog . today into the royal radio prank, following which nurse Jacintha . Saldanha committed suicide. The . Australian Communications and Media Authority has powers to compel 2Day . FM’s parent company, Southern Cross Austereo, to name those who . approved the infamous hoax going to air. The . authority will look into whether the radio station complied with their . broadcasting licence conditions – and insiders said today that if the . findings were against the station it could lose its licence. Presenter: 2Day FM DJ Mel Greig is pictured (right in left photo) with her sister Alana Munday (left in left) in Adelaide in April 2011 - and (right) at Oakbank Racecourse in South Australia in the same month . The . authority’s chairman, Mr Chris Chapman, said it would be examining . ‘whether the licensee has complied with its broadcasting obligations.’ Miss . Saldanha took her life just days after receiving a hoax phone call at . London’s King Edward VII hospital from Sydney DJs Mel Greig and Michael . Christian. She and . another nurse in the ward where Kate Middleton was being treated for . morning sickness believed they were talking to the Queen and Prince . Charles, despite the unimpressive attempts by the DJs to imitate the . royals. Although . Austero has repeatedly apologised for the ‘tragic, regrettable death’ of . the nurse and has committed at least $500,000 (£326,000) to a memorial . fund for her family, the media watchdog has shown its determination to . dig deeper into the scandal. It is expected to demand who was working at the time the hoax was perpetrated and who approved it. Those who will be questioned, it is understood, will be producers and lawyers who were on duty, or on call, at the time. Austereo . has been in damage control ever since the death of nurse Saldanha, . including permitting the two DJs to appear on Australian tv and, amid . their tears, express their sorrow for the tragic consequences of their . hoax call. The watchdog . will be referring heavily to the radio broadcasting code, particular a . part which states that it is a breach to record a person in . conversation, and also air it, without their knowledge. Section 6.1 of the code states that ‘a licensee must not broadcast the . words of an identifiable person unless that person has been informed in . advance or a reasonable person would be aware that the words may be . broadcast.’ The section . adds that there must not be a broadcast unless, ‘in the case of words . which have been recorded without the knowledge of the person, that . person has subsequently, but prior to the broadcast, expressed consent . to the broadcast of the word.’ The . station’s parent company has said it attempted to contact the hospital . five times following the hoax call to discuss it, but had not been able . to speak to anyone. The . company has not explained why it still went to air with the recording . even though it had not been able to reach anyone at the hospital . following the prank. It . is understood the hospital has written to Austereo demanding to know . how it has arrived at a figure of $500,000 to be given to the nurse’s . family – and has given it until tomorrow to reply. VIDEO: 'The family still haven't had an apology': Keith Vaz MP speaks outside nurse inquest . | Inquest into death of Jacintha Saldanha, 46, opened in Westminster today .
It reveals colleague and security guard found mother-of-two last Friday .
Two notes were found in her room and one was among her possessions .
Cameron: 'She clearly loved her job and many lessons need to be learned'
For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details . |
06833b4bb5ca596e6575b07c61561f2df3ce294a | (CNN) -- It takes seven minutes to execute a death row inmate, according to the state of Texas. Mike Graczyk poses outside the Texas death chamber prior to an execution in January. At that rate, Mike Graczyk has spent about 40 hours of his life watching men -- and a few women -- die. Graczyk, a correspondent for The Associated Press, is believed to hold a macabre record. He's almost certainly watched more executions than anyone else in the United States. "I can't possibly imagine there's been someone present at more than Mike," said Michelle Lyons, the spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, which uses lethal injection at its execution chamber in Huntsville. Since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, no state has executed more inmates than Texas. And no one has witnessed more of them than Graczyk. He's on the witness list for 315 of the state's 439 executions -- more than any other reporter, prison employee or chaplain -- and no records were kept for another 80. Interactive map: See how Texas compares with other states » . In his early days, he kept count. But he eventually stopped. He didn't want to know. "In one circle, I was perceived as putting notches on my gun belt," the 59-year-old reporter said. "I didn't like that." Prison regulations in Texas require The Associated Press to be given one of the five designated media witness passes for each execution. Graczyk works in the AP's Houston bureau -- it's closest to the state's execution chamber in Huntsville. Since the early 1980s, he's made the hourlong drive north almost every time an inmate has faced the needle. The first was March 13, 1984, for the execution of James "Cowboy" Autry, convicted of shooting a female store clerk between the eyes with a .38-caliber revolver while arguing over a six-pack of beer. She died, along with a former Catholic priest that Autry killed at the crime scene. "The first time definitely leaves an impression on you," Graczyk said. There are others that stand out along the way. Graczyk remembers Bob Black, convicted of killing his wife and trying to collect the insurance money. "I walked into the death house, and he was strapped to the table and he said, 'Hey Mike, how are you doing?' It threw me for a loop." Graczyk said it's normal for him to know the name of the condemned and not uncommon for the reverse to be true. There have been others who greeted Graczyk by name with a needle in their arm. Once, while waiting to be let into the death house, a prisoner phoned him in the media holding area. It was the inmate whose execution Graczyk was about to witness. "He said, 'I just wanted to call and make sure you were OK.' I was flabbergasted." Over the years, the inmate's name has slipped from Graczyk's memory, but not the unexpected phone conversation. "I don't think he had any family to call," he said. There was Ponchai Wilkerson, who once nearly escaped from death row and, years later, coughed up a handcuff key as he lay dying from his injection. There was the "Candy Man," Ronald Clark O'Bryan -- convicted of poisoning his child's Halloween candy with cyanide -- and the gauntlet of college students wearing Halloween masks who showed up to cheer. And Karla Faye Tucker, the first woman executed in Texas since the 1800s. He remembers a network correspondent crying after her death -- and another blow-drying his hair. Of the entire death chamber ritual, Graczyk said, it's the final statements that stick in his mind. Some have been confessions. Others were denials. Poetry. Prayers. Bible verses. Curses. Emotions ranging from defiance to resignation. There was Jonathan Nobles, an electrician who stabbed two people to death. He sang "Silent Night." "Ever since then, I think of him on Christmas or Christmas Eve when I'm in church," Graczyk said. "That's the kind of thing that haunts you." The person who may come closest to Graczyk's status also felt things that haunted him. Don Reid, a writer for the AP and, before that, a Texas newspaper, witnessed 189 executions in the 1960s, when Texas still strapped inmates to "Old Sparky," the nickname for the state's electric chair. The experience changed Reid, who died in 1981, from a supporter of the death penalty to an opponent. He wrote a book, "Have a Seat, Please," chronicling that transformation. Graczyk said he doesn't worry about the mental toll of watching so many deaths. His bosses with the AP have offered counseling. He's declined. "To see someone go to sleep -- not to sound insensitive -- but the carnage at the murder scene is harder than what you see in the death house in Huntsville," he said. Over a 25-year career, Graczyk said, the executions have only been a small portion of his work. He finds balance in those other stories. As a journalist, Graczyk never answers the question when friends ask his own views on the death penalty. "I'm not sure I really know," he said. But as long as Texas keeps executing people, Graczyk said, it's important that he keep showing up. The next execution in Huntsville was scheduled for Thursday before the condemned, convicted murderer Kenneth Mosley, was granted a reprieve until September. If the execution goes ahead then, Graczyk plans to make the drive. "I would hate for the state of Texas to take someone's life and no one be there," he said. CNN's Doug Gross contributed to this report. | Texas reporter has covered executions in Texas since the early 1980s .
Graczyk stopped counting, didn't want "notches on my gun belt"
Inmates waiting to die have greeted him by name, called to check up on him .
He says he doesn't worry about the mental toll and has declined counseling . |
0683ded120b1f4d470696707b624e126245ff948 | By . Emily Allen . PUBLISHED: . 11:22 EST, 19 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:29 EST, 19 September 2012 . A judge has condemned a former soldier for his 'frenzied revenge attack' after he stabbed the mother of his four-year-old son to death in front of him after he found out she had secretly aborted their unborn baby. Lance Corporal Ian Lowe, 25, was jailed for life today after he knifed 24-year old Leanne McNuff in front of their four year old son after he unexpectedly learned of the termination when he hacked into her page on Facebook. Relatives of Leanne wept in the public . gallery as the judge Mr Justice Alistair MacDuff told Lowe: 'Yours was a frenzied revenge attack . and cold blooded murder. You robbed her of her young life and your son . of his mother. The anguish you have caused is beyond words.' Jailed: Lance Corporal Ian Lowe, 25, left, was jailed . for life today after he knifed 24-year old Leanne McNuff, right, in front of . their four year old son after he unexpectedly learned of the termination . The soldier, who had just been . dumped by Leanne, posted messages on his own Facebook page saying: 'My . life is in absolute s*** state and I got no f***** to help me. 'Not even the army will help me out . after all I have done for Queen and country. Need a weapon out of . armoury to shoot the b****'. He then kicked in the door at the home . of call centre worker Leanne and repeatedly stabbed her in the upper . body and stamped on her face as their son Jaden looked on in horror. When family who lived next door raced . to the scene, they found Lowe had already fled, leaving Leanne dying on . the landing floor. Jaden was found on the landing holding his teddy bear . screaming: 'Daddy's killed mummy and she is all red.' Devastated: Leanne's mother Margaret McNuff told police Jaden is very confused and sometimes thinks his mother is in hospital . The judge added: 'She was in . the sanctuary of her own home when you committed this wicked act in the . presence of your four year old son. 'The fear and pain she must have felt . in her dying minutes is unimaginable. You are evil and dangerous. You . went round there to get even with her - blaming her as you had done on . so many previous occasions for the mess you had got yourself into.' Leanne suffered 22 separate wounds to her body and she died in hospital. Her mother Margaret McNuff later told police: 'Jaden is very confused - he will say his mum is in hospital getting better one day and then the next will say that she's in the sky with the angels.' Today at Manchester Crown Court Lowe, who served in Afghanistan, showed no emotion as he was found guilty of murder and was ordered to serve a minimum 28 years. The jury was told the couple had originally began dating in 2006 and Jaden was born the following year but they split up last February after a series of rows. Lowe, nicknamed 'Boom Boom', warned Leanne he would 'make her life hell,' and in text messages Leanne replied: ' I clearly mean nothing to you. There's only do much hurt I can take.' In 2010 Miss McNuff made a complaint to the army that Lowe had threatened to 'get a hitman to kill her over Child Support Agency payments'. On Valentine's Day Leanne then . discovered she was pregnant with Lowe's baby and rang him at his . barracks in Catterick, North Yorkshire where he was serving in the 1st . Battalion, the Duke of Lancaster Regiment and due to go on a tour of . Afghanistan. 'She made it . clear that although she didn't want to resume a relationship with him . she would not prevent him from seeing either Jaden or the baby when it . was born,' said Neil Flewitt QC prosecuting. 'The . defendant responded saying if they could not live together as a family . his life wouldn't be worth living and he would commit suicide.' Lowe . was allowed home from base on compassionate grounds and once back in . Manchester begged Leanne to take him back. She agreed but said she . 'wouldn't kiss or cuddle him' because she 'no longer had feelings for . him.' During a meeting about . Jaden and the pregnancy at Leanne's house on February 18, a violent row . broke out when Lowe started telling Jaden that Leanne was a . 'prostitute' and accused her of 'sleeping around.' As . she tried to push him out of the house in Droylsden, Greater . Manchester, Lowe grabbed Leanne by the throat and began 'shaking her . from side to side.' Sentence: Lowe, Leanne and their baby son. Lowe, who . served in Afghanistan, showed no emotion as he was found guilty of . murder and was ordered to serve a minimum 28 years in court today . In a statement given to police at the time, Leanne recalled: 'He's shaking me from side to side and I'm almost on the floor. 'I've . lost my footing but being held up by Ian gripping my clothing and he's . shaking me about. Somehow, whilst he's still ragging me about, I've . twisted and he's got hold of my hair. 'Now he's got a grip of my clothing and a grip of my hair and he's still shaking me about. 'At . some point he's let go of my jumper and his left arm has come around my . throat choking me and making it hard to breath for a few seconds. I was . frightened to death. 'I . didn't know what was going to happen. I was scared wither he'd really . hurt me or I'd lose the baby. I was scared for Jaden's safety. 'Then . Ian's released me and pushed me to the floor. He's gone to kick me. At . first I think he was going to kick me hard but he held back and it . wasn't a very hard kick in my back. Then he's picked up his bag and ran . out of the gate'. Crime scene: Floral tributes and police officers outside the house in Droylsden, Manchester after the attack. Lowe found out about Leanne's termination after hacking into her Facebook account . Lowe was later arrested and charged with assault and was ordered not to contact Leanne as part of his bail conditions. But literally an hour after he was charged, a frightened Leanne ran police again claiming Lowe had telephoned her. The following day on February 20, Leanne secretly went to an abortion clinic for a consultation with a nurse said her relationship with Lowe was definitely over and she secretly had a termination on March 1. In the week before the killing on March 11, Lowe confided to his army superiors and the chaplain about his unhappiness at Leanne having a baby and his fears of being thrown out of the army over the assault allegation. He eventually found out about the termination on March 10 when he hacked into Leanne's Facebook account and then wrote: 'Yet again she does it again, we split and she stops me and my family seeing Jaden. She tries to ruin my career, not only are you a benefit thief you are an oxygen thief as well'. At 4.30pm. on the day of Leanne's death Ian wrote, 'Just to let everyone know Leanne had aborted the baby. She did not tell me or even given me a say in the matter'. He then hacked her Facebook account falsely claiming she had slept with members of her own family and that is how he found out she had had the abortion because she had messaged it to one of her friends. As he prepared to go back to camp Lowe went for a drink with his father and a family friend who said he 'looked as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.' That night Leanne's mother Margaret McNuff and Margaret's son Ryan who lived next door, heard 'banging noises' coming from the victim's house. Ryan ran next door to see the front door had been kicked off its hinges and saw Lowe walking quietly away. Margaret told the hearing: 'Jaden was stood there with a brown teddy bear and said: 'Nana can you help mummy.' Leanne was on her back. 'Her eyes were piercing wide open. I took Jaden down to get him away because I wasn't sure whether she was alive. Then I ran back up and just started CPR on her.' She added: 'Leanne said she really wanted the child but she was scared for her own life and he'd never stay away from her if she had another baby. I am angry that Ian has taken her life. She was tiny - she could not have fought back. It was very brutal.' The court heard Lowe had previously been convicted of assaulting his own mother Lorraine by throwing her against a car during an argument over Leanne. He denied murder but admitted manslaughter claiming he had 'lost self control' and saying of Leanne and Jaden: 'They were my life'. | Judge jailed Ian Lowe for 28 years for stabbing the mother of his son to death in front of him .
He had found that she had secretly aborted their unborn baby when he hacked into her Facebook account .
Judge says: 'The anguish you have caused is beyond words' |
0684456190f21a35ccb06d8609b912c494dd7bdd | A wrong turn on a hike led to an innocent pack of Cub Scouts learning a bit more about mother nature than perhaps their leaders intended. The boys, aged nine and 10 years, came face-to-face with dozens of naked people after stumbling onto a nudist beach during a coastal walk through San Diego's Torrey Pines State Beach . The red faced leader of the San Diego Cub Scout pack was confront by outraged parents after taking a trail across the sand at Black's Beach. Scroll down for video . The San Diego Cub Scouts from Troop 766 got an eyeful when they were lead onto a nudist beach during a nature hike . The boys, aged nine and 10 years, were confronted by dozens of naked naturists enjoying Black's Beach . Officials said the hike, which took place last month, was swiftly 're-routed' after organisers discovered the error. But one angry parent claimed that it was far from a mistake. Diane Lekven, who was on the hike told CBS News 8 in San Diego: 'He (the leader) said 'This is a naturalist beach, and my family and I go through here all the time. 'It's not a big deal.I got really angry. 'I was nauseated because I've never seen just a bunch of nude people walking around holding hands, strange people that I don't know,' she said. The leader of troop 766 was hauled before a meeting with parents and local officials to discuss what happened. Black's Beach states on its website that it is affiliated with the Naturist Society and that clothing is optional. The Scouting Association said that the 'proper protocol' was followed and 'appropriate steps were taken' Angry parents questioned whether the leader of the troop had made a mistake when he led the innocent child onto the sand . 'During a planned hiking trip at Torrey Pines State Beach, a local Cub Scout Pack encountered some individuals who were inappropriately dressed,' said the Boy Scouts Association of America, CBS News 8 reported. 'This outing, involving both parents and adult volunteer leaders, was quickly rerouted to protect the youth. 'Following the trip, both San Diego-Imperial Council and Pack leadership met with parents to discuss the events and determine if further action was needed. 'Together we concluded that proper protocol had been observed and appropriate steps were taken in this matter.' Black's Beach is a well known spot for nudist and states on its website that clothing is optional . | Boys, aged nine and 10, stumble onto nudist beach during nature hike .
Leaders led them onto stretch of sand whilst exploring San Diego coast .
Pack master forced to face angry parents in meeting to explain error .
American Scouting Association said 'proper protocol' was followed . |
06858ac27664bf899d0a509d60c2eee7d3be669c | Goal-line technology will be introduced to the Bundesliga from next season after it was approved by the majority of clubs in the German top flight. The technology chosen is the Hawk-Eye system, which is also used by England's Premier League. German football league president Reinhard Rauball said 15 of the 18 Bundesliga clubs voted for the new technology, meeting the two-thirds majority requirement. Goal-line technology will be introduced to the Bundesliga five years after Frank Lampard's goal against Germany that was not given during the 2010 World Cup . German Football League president Reinhard Rauball said 15 of 18 Bundesliga clubs voted for the technology . The Bundesliga will use the same hawk-eye system that is used in the Premier League . Thursday's vote ended longtime opposition to the technology, mostly on cost grounds. An earlier attempt to approve the technology failed in March but the proposal was tabled again by Bayern Munich after the German Cup final in May against Borussia Dortmund. Bayern won the match 2-0 and benefited from a wrong decision, when Mats Hummels' strike was not given although the ball had clearly crossed the line before being kicked out by Bayern defender Dante. In the May vote, 24 of the 36 clubs in the first and second division voted against the project. This time, only the top-tier clubs voted and the system will be used at first-division stadiums. The league picked the cheaper Hawk-Eye system over two German technologies, including GoalControl, which was used at the World Cup in Brazil. | The Hawk-Eye system was voted for by 15 of the 18 Bundesliga clubs .
The technology will be introduced from the start of next season .
An earlier attempt to approve the technology failed in March . |
0685b8a8857f5fdb221221d9d45c24d431a2e5ab | Australian fighter jets have attacked an Islamic State facility in Iraq. Two bombs were dropped from an F/A-18F Super Hornet on to an IS facility, the Australian Defence Force said in a statement on Thursday. "All aircraft exited the target area safely and returned to base," the statement said. It is the first time Australia has launched air strikes since beginning combat operations on Sunday. First strike: Australia has launched its first airstrikes in Iraq. Open fire: The RAAF dropped two bombs on an Islamic State facility. Prime Minister Tony Abbott has described the deployment as a 'combat operation', rather than a war. | Australia launches first air strikes against the Islamic State .
RAAF Super Hornet dropped bombs on IS facility in Iraq .
All aircraft exited the target area safely, Defence Department said . |
0685e2a0188f42b190674934a555f062d9cb4c3e | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Michael Schumacher was involved in a road accident with a motorbike rider in Spain just weeks before his horror ski crash, it emerged yesterday. The Formula 1 driver, 45, was allegedly driving a hire car when he knocked the man off his bike when he failed to give way at a roundabout. A court is still looking into the crash in Seville on November 17. The motorcyclist apparently broke his wrist when hit by Schumacher’s rented Audi A4. Denial: Schumacher's manager Sabine Kehm said the waking-up process remained 'unchanged' 'On hold': A German magazine claimed the slow waking-up process had been halted last week . The case is not expected to go to trial as the racing driver’s insurer will pay compensation. It comes as Felipe Massa has claimed he saw Michael Schumacher's mouth move as he spoke to him in hospital. The . racing driver said he feels 'very positive' about his friend's . condition following a recent visit to the seven-time Formula One . champion in hospital. When asked about his friend's condition by journalists, Massa replied: 'He was sleeping, and I was very . positive because he was normal. Hope: Felipe Massa has claimed he saw Schumacher's mouth move as he spoke to him . Optimism: Massa says he told 'sleeping' Schumacher all about his car and prospects for the coming season . 'He looks normal, and he also gave some reactions with the mouth and everything. So it's positive to look at him. 'I have no experience to say anything. I'm not a doctor. But when I saw him, for me, it looked very positive.' It is almost eight weeks since Schumacher was placed in an induced coma following a skiing accident. He required two operations to remove blood clots from his brain following his fall in December. Trials: Williams driver Massa has been in Bahrain for Winter Testing since Wednesday . Schumacher . is currently in what manager Sabine Kehm described as a 'waking-up process' from his coma. Prior to this week's second pre-season . test in Bahrain, Massa visited Schumacher at the Grenoble hospital where . the former Ferrari star has been recovering. Speaking to reporters at the Sakhir circuit, Massa said: 'I always try to be optimistic. 'I . saw him, I talked to him, I told him everything I did in Jerez (at the . first test), about my car, the new team (Williams), everything. I told . him to wake up many times... I'm positive. We need to believe. 'It's always very difficult to say because I have zero experience about what the doctors say. 'But I saw him and was very happy to be together with him for a very long time, talking to him, trying to give the best energy and just help him. 'He's a very strong man, a very great man and I really hope he can wake up, and I really hope he can enjoy his life again.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Michael Schumacher reportedly involved in road accident in November .
Allegedly driving a hire car when he knocked motorbike rider to ground .
Court still looking into circumstances surrounding crash in Seville, Spain .
Comes as Felipe Massa has said he feels 'positive' about friend's condition .
Visited Schumacher at Grenoble hospital and said he 'moved his mouth'
Formula 1 driver has been in induced coma since ski crash in December . |
06884c5660cbe39d0d90e571f1f013ee4c446337 | (CNN) -- Donald Trump visited "Larry King Live" on Wednesday night to tout his new book, "Think Like a Champion." In a wide-ranging interview, Trump shared his thoughts on how to prosper in this economy, Bernie Madoff, how President Obama is doing, taxes and his daughter's love life. On CNN's "Larry King Live" Wednesday night, Donald Trump said it's a great time for entrepreneurs. The following interview has been edited for brevity and clarity: . Larry King: Why this book? Donald Trump: A lot of people wanted me to do a book right now about these troubled times that we're all in. And it's been sort of interesting. They're great times, as an entrepreneur. I don't think I've ever seen better times as an entrepreneur. But the world is a mess, and the country is a mess. King: Why [is it a] good time for an entrepreneur and not necessarily for others? Trump: Well, this is a time for smart people. This is a time for entrepreneurial people. This is a great time for people like me -- and maybe people like you, Larry, because I know you're a great investor. ... Weren't you involved with [Bernie] Madoff? King: A little bit, yes. You weren't, huh? How did you resist him? Trump: Honestly, I got lucky. He might have duped me like he did a lot of other people. He is a disaster. But now he's where he belongs. King: With troubled times like this for the average guy, is this the time to think like a champion? Watch Larry King's entire interview with Donald Trump » . Trump: This is the best time to think like a champion. As an example, the house is being foreclosed. You go see your bank -- maybe you can make a deal, maybe you can't. But you can make a deal with a bank on another house, and much better than the one you're living in. ... They'll do any deal to get rid of their product. They have houses by the thousands. And you go see that bank and you make a deal. King: How do you assess [Barack Obama]? Trump: Well, I really like him. I think that he's working very hard. He's trying to rebuild our reputation throughout the world. The previous administration was a total disaster, a total catastrophe. And, you know, the world looks at us differently than they used to. ... He was handed a pretty bad deck of cards. And I'm not saying I agree with everything he's doing. ... I do agree with what they're doing with the banks. Whether they fund them or nationalize them, it doesn't matter, but you have to keep the banks going. King: Do you assess him as a champion? Trump: Oh, yes, he's a champion. I mean, he won against all odds. When he first announced, people were giving him virtually no chance. And he's just done something that's amazing. King: Is fear harmful in this [economic] situation, Donald, or is it realistic? Trump: Well, I think it's realistic. People are afraid. They're scared. They're losing their jobs. They're losing their homes. And certainly there is a word known as fear, and there's nothing wrong with being fearful. But you have to do something about it. And that's what I write about in the book. You go out. You go to the right place, where there's better employment. You get a trade where they really need people. King: Have you had to lay off people? Because it seems everyone has had to do that. Trump: It's a sad thing, but whether it's "The Apprentice" or not, the fact is you have to say to some people: "You're fired." The world is different. King: You said that this is a good time to buy real estate. What about financing? What if you want to buy and you can't get the mortgage? Trump: Larry, this is a great time to buy real estate. And as far as financing is concerned, the only financing you should be thinking about is seller financing. If the seller won't give you financing, don't do it, because the banks are not doing their job. They're not providing financing for deals. King: New York state is planning a so-called millionaire's tax. It would affect those with incomes starting at $300,000. Yea or nay? Trump: Well, it's a ridiculous thing. Albany is going to destroy ... this state. And they are raising taxes on rich people. The rich people have lots of options, Larry. One option is Palm Beach, Florida. You move down to Palm Beach; it's not the worst thing in the world. I don't have to live on Fifth Avenue. I don't have to live on Park Avenue. It's hard, psychologically, for me to leave, but very easy physically. King: Why don't patriots want to pay taxes? Trump: Well, I don't know that that's necessarily unpatriotic. I think they want to pay taxes. Obviously, you have to pay taxes. But they want to pay a reasonable tax, and they don't want to see the money squandered. Money in this country is being squandered. King: OK. But then we would debate reasonable. Trump: Well, you always debate reasonable. I think unreasonable is the war in Iraq. I mean, there's $1 trillion right there. And, more importantly, thousands of people -- both on our side and the other side -- hundreds of thousands of people killed and maimed and so badly hurt, I think it's just a shame. Now, to me, that's unreasonable. And, by the way, ... Saddam Hussein did not knock down the World Trade Center. King: Has the economy at all cramped your lifestyle? Anything you had to change? Trump: No, because I think I understand life. I think I understand how to live. I'm enjoying my life. I don't really live in an as extravagant a way as people think. As an entrepreneur, this is the best time I think I've ever seen in business. King: There's buzz that your beautiful daughter Ivanka is engaged or getting engaged. What's up? Trump: She has a beautiful boyfriend. He's a great guy, but they are not engaged. King: Would you like them to? Is he the kind of guy you would except as a son-in-law? Trump: He certainly is a wonderful guy. But it's all up to her. If she's happy, I'm happy. | Trump advises to take advantage of low prices, get seller to do the financing .
Trump: Obama rebuilding U.S. reputation; previous administration was a disaster .
He's mad about possible higher taxes in New York, says he could move to Florida .
Trump likes the guy his daughter is dating, but she's not engaged . |
0688ddd6bed1a5a1144386658b07769513f305f5 | (CNN) -- Why always him? Mario Balotelli's knack of attracting the wrong type of headlines shows no sign of abating after the enigmatic forward was charged by the English Football Association with racially stereotyping Jewish and black people in a social media post. The FA is looking into Balotelli's reposting of a Nintendo character Super Mario image that underneath had the words "jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a jew." "Mario Balotelli has been charged by The FA in relation to a recent posting on social media," read the statement. "It is alleged the Liverpool player breached FA Rule E3[1] in that his posting was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper. "It is further alleged that this is an 'Aggravated Breach' as defined by FA Rule E3[2] as it included a reference to ethnic origin and/or color and/or race and/or nationality and/or religion or belief. "The player has until 6pm on 15 December 2014 to respond to the charge." Balotelli quickly deleted the Instagram image, before tweeting: "My Mom is jewish so all of u shut up please," a reference to his foster mother, Silvia. He apologized Tuesday on Twitter explaining the post "was meant to be anti-racist with humor." He added: "I now understand that out of context may have the opposite effect. Not all Mexicans have mustaches, not all black people jump high and not all Jewish people love money. "I used a cartoon done by someone else because it has Super Mario and I thought it was funny and not offensive. Again, I'm sorry." Liverpool said they plan to speak to Balotelli, who has missed the club's last three games due to a groin injury he picked up on international duty in November. "We are aware of the posting which has since been promptly deleted by the player," said Liverpool in a statement. However, former FA executive Simon Johnson called on the FA to punish the 24-year-old Balotelli. "We abhor all forms of racism, wherever it is found," Johnson, who is the current chief executive of the UK Jewish Leadership Council, told the Daily Telegraph. "We call upon the FA to investigate this offensive social media post and to take action if appropriate if we are to succeed in kicking racism out of football." Playing iIn Italy, Balotelli frequently faced racist abuse in stadiums, while in September Merseyside police investigated racist remarks on Twitter made to Balotelli after he posted a message during Manchester United's 5-3 defeat against Leicester City. Balotelli has yet to score a Premier League goal since joining Liverpool from AC Milan in the summer transfer window, though he did find the net against Ludogorets in the Champions League as well as against Swansea in the English League Cup. The minimum ban for race-related rule breaches is five games under the FA's social media guidelines. | Mario Balotelli charged by English Football Association .
Italian international issued apology on Twitter for reposting Instagram image .
Has until 6pm on December 15 to respond to charge .
Jewish Leadership Council chief executive labeled post 'offensive' |
0689b77badc0cd6372fd3bf28d94b0ad1ac21c2f | By . Wil Longbottom . Last updated at 5:03 PM on 17th August 2011 . Italy's highly-paid footballers are threatening to strike over new taxes being brought in on those earning more than 150,000 euros. Supercuts brought in by Silvio Berlusconi's government to avert a financial crisis in the country would see a 10 per cent tax hike on Italy's higher earners. Thousands of villages popular with tourists during the summer months could also virtually disappear after the government announced it cut the cost of bureaucracy by consolidating municipalities with a population of less than 1,000. 'Solidarity tax': AS Roma's Francesco Totti during a preseason game in Valencia, Spain. Serie A stars could go on strike over tax hikes on those earning more than 150,000 euros . That would mean towns including Portofino - a favourite haunt of Hollywood A-Listers Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones - and the Lake Como town of Laglio, where George Clooney has a home, would be legally abolished. Portofino has a population of only 479 during the winter as tourists travel elsewhere, while Laglio has just 957 people living there. The proposals have sparked a storm of criticism in Italy as the country attempts to clean up its public finances to avoid becoming the next victim of the debt crisis. The start of the Serie A - Italy's top football division - is already in jeopardy because of a contract dispute. Tourist hotspot: Portofino, on Italy's Mediterranean coast, is one of thousands of towns that could virtually disappear under plans to axe bureaucracy . Lifestyles of the rich and the famous: Kylie Minogue walking with her stylist in Portofino earlier this week. The town is popular with celebrities . Players have threatened to strike if an agreement is not signed before the start of the season on August 27, but the Gazzetta dello Sport has estimated the new 'solidarity tax' would cost teams around 50 million euros each. AC Milan vice president, Adriano Galliani, said the players should pay, not the clubs. He told the Corriere della Sella: 'Those making 90,000 euros will have to pay it, I don't see why those who make millions shouldn't do it. 'Otherwise, as far as I'm concerned the players can go on strike for the rest of their lives.' AC Milan is owned by Prime Minister Berlusconi, whose government approved the measures. Most top players, especially foreign stars, negotiate their net income upon joining a team, and it is then up to the club to handle their fiscal obligations. Abolished? Lagio, on the shores of Lake Como, where U.S. actor George Clooney owns this home, is another town which could disappear under the municipality merger . This was allowed under the old collective agreement, but the new one - which has not yet been signed - leaves it up to players alone to pay their taxes. The conflict between the players and the league has been going on since the last collective agreement expired in June last year. Two strike dates were set during the last season, both of which were avoided with last-minute verbal agreements. The supercuts will affect 8,100 municipalities across Italy. Around 29 of the country's 110 provinces will also disappear, along with more than 50,000 jobs. Celebrity haunt: George Clooney and Elisabetta Canalis enjoying a bike ride in Laglio. The pair split two months ago . The cuts are aimed at saving a total of 45.5 billion euros over the next two years. Italy's debt in around 120 per cent of its GDP and the cuts aim to balance its budget in 2013. Other measures in the cuts include raising the pension age for women to 65, more tax on cigarettes and MPs switching to economy flights. Capital gains tax will also increased from 12.5 per cent to 20 per cent. The CGIL - Italy's largest trade union - has threatened to call a general strike against the austerity measures. Susanna Camusso, the union's general secretary, told The Australian: 'Once again it's the weakest who are being hit and those who pay taxes. 'We will confront this budget head on: a general strike.' It comes as global stock markets . largely fell as hopes of strong action in the euro zone against the . escalating sovereign debt crisis faded. The . FTSE 100 closed 5331.60, down .49 per cent but lost 0.7 per cent by lunch time to 5,319.12, by which time there had been practically no movement on the Dow, which stood at 11,386. Stocks . around the world lost headway after Germany announced disappointing . growth figures of just 0.1 per cent for the second quarter of this year. There was good news in Belgium, however, after it revealed a 0.7 per cent increase in GDP for the second quarter. The country has been run by a caretaker government for the last 15 months, meaning it has been unable to enact austerity measures despite a public debt level of nearly 100 per cent of GDP. Divisions between the Dutch-speaking and francophone regions have blocked the creation of a government since June 2010. Rudi Thomaes, head of the federation of Belgian enterprises, told the FT: 'Part of the explanation of why the Belgian economy is still strong is that we are late in introducing measures of fiscal consolidation.' | Those earning more than 150,000 euros a year face 10% tax hike .
Villages with a population of less than 1,000 could be consolidated to cut costs .
But 'government-less' Belgium bucks the trend with 0.7% increase in GDP . |
068a8b69ecb95f0909be092a2a92d3e896def3aa | Morganton, North Carolina (CNN) -- Sheriff's deputies, police and firefighters began draining a pond Wednesday night as they resumed their search for the body of a missing 10-year-old North Carolina girl. The pond is next to a site investigators combed overnight in hopes of finding Zahra Clare Baker, whose disappearance is now being investigated as a homicide. The girl's stepmother, Elisa Baker, has been jailed on a charge of obstruction of justice after police said she admitted to writing a ransom note found at the family's Hickory, North Carolina, home. The search ran until 1 a.m. Tuesday, and between 15 and 25 investigators were working past nightfall Wednesday in cool, damp weather to drain the neighboring pond. The site under scrutiny Tuesday night is more than 20 miles north of Hickory. Zahra's father, Adam Baker, frequently worked there hauling loads of wood and brush to be fed into a wood chipper and turned into mulch, witnesses said. Baker was on the scene during the Tuesday night search aimed at finding the girl's body, Burke County Sheriff John T. McDevitt said Tuesday night. "He seems concerned," McDevitt said. "But I don't know how sincere his concern is." Zahra reportedly suffered from bone cancer and used a prosthetic leg and hearing aids. The hearing aids have been found, but not the prosthesis, Hickory Police Chief Adkins said. The case is an emotional one for investigators and a high priority, Catawba County District Attorney Jay Gaither Jr., told reporters after Elisa Baker's initial court appearance Wednesday morning. "The facts are disturbing as we know them at this point," he said, adding, "We want the best, but we fear the worst." Flanked by two attorneys, Elisa Baker wore a bright pink jumpsuit and was handcuffed and chained at her wrist and ankles at her court appearance. She was informed of the felony charge against her, which carries a penalty of more than two years in prison upon conviction. Asked if she understood, she affirmed that she did in a low voice. The bond on the obstruction of justice charge is $40,000, in addition to the bond of more than $30,000 she faces on charges unrelated to Zahra's disappearance. Her next scheduled court date is November 3. Her attorney, Scott Reilly, said he would be filing a motion to get the bond reduced, calling it "excessive." The maximum bond for such a charge is usually $10,000, he said. Reilly said his client is scared, emotional, upset and worried about her family. Asked what she has said about Zahra, he said he was not at liberty to discuss the girl. Though Zahra was reported missing Saturday afternoon. Her father and stepmother reported she was last seen sleeping in her bed about 2:30 a.m. Saturday. But Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins said Tuesday authorities have been unable to find anyone outside Zahra's immediate family who has reported seeing her in the past month, and investigators are not sure how long she has actually been missing. A search warrant application filed in the case said it began with a call about a burning mulch pile at the family's home about 5:30 a.m. Saturday. Firefighters found a Chevrolet Tahoe with its passenger door open and a power company envelope with handwriting on it on the front windshield, the search warrant said. Firefighters notified police, who approached the SUV and smelled gasoline coming from inside. The note written on the envelope was addressed to a "Mr. Coffey," identified in the search warrant as Adam Baker's boss, Mark David Coffey. "Mr. Coffey, you like being in control now who is in control," the note said, according to the search warrant. "We have your daughter and your pot smoking red head son is next unless you do what is asked 1,000,000 unmarked will be in touch soon." In the bottom right, the note said, "no cops," according to the warrant. Coffey and his only daughter were at the residence at the time of the fire, the warrant said. CNN affiliate News 14 Carolina reported Coffey owns the home. Adam Baker called police about 2 p.m., saying someone had poured gas in his car and left a note saying they had his boss' daughter, according to the search warrant. Baker told police he believed the person who left the note had kidnapped Zahra. The Bakers consented to a search of their home, the warrant said. A cadaver dog indicated the possible presence of human remains in or on the Chevrolet Tahoe as well as a burgundy Toyota Camry on the property, it said. Authorities were testing swabs taken from the Tahoe to determine if blood was also present, according to the warrant. Brittany Bentley, who is married to Elisa Baker's nephew, told HLN that the girl "wasn't in very good living conditions, not at all for a 10-year-old." "I remember Elisa coming out of the bedroom one day, saying her hands hurt from spanking Zahra so much," she said. "I know she spanked way too hard, what I consider beating." She said the girl was locked in her room and "I know about letting her out five minutes, just to eat and that was it." North Carolina social services officials declined to comment on the case. Elisa Baker's sister, Carrie Fairchild, said she and other relatives were estranged from her sister after a falling-out with their father over money the Bakers owed him. She also told HLN's "Nancy Grace" that her sister frequently made up stories that she was suffering from a variety of illnesses. "She always had 10 to 20 illnesses that she said were wrong with her," Fairchild said. "You couldn't believe anything she ever said." HLN's Natisha Lance and CNN's Ashley Hayes contributed to this report. | NEW: Investigators draining pond next to Tuesday search site .
District attorney: "We want the best but we fear the worst"
Bond is $40,000 for stepmom on obstruction charge; attorney calls it excessive .
Zahra Clare Baker's disappearance is now a homicide probe, police say . |
068d37f7a1ee822245dbf9d0d8ddfc281919d7ee | (CNN)An uncle of a Jordanian pilot captured by ISIS in Syria and threatened with beheading has appealed to the terrorist group to release its prisoner. "It is in their benefit as well and the benefit of all us," Yassin AlRawashdeh, a former diplomat, told CNN on Friday. ISIS should set Moaz al-Kassasbeh free in order to gain more sympathy in the region, AlRawashdeh said. "Otherwise, they will get the anger of the whole people of Jordan and the anger of the whole world," he said. ISIS had pushed Jordan to bring a convicted terrorist, Sajida al-Rishawi, to the Turkish border by Thursday evening. The Jordanians didn't, so governments and relatives were still waiting Friday to see whether ISIS followed through on its threat to kill al-Kassasbeh, followed by the beheading of a Japanese journalist, Kenji Goto. Another of the pilot's uncles, Fahed Al-Kasasbeh, said the family hasn't received any information from official sources. And there has been no proof of life from ISIS. "But we hope he is still alive," AlRawashdeh said. Al-Kassasbeh's father, Safi, made a similar appeal for his son's release Thursday, after the sunset deadline. Jordanian officials have said they are willing to swap al-Rishawi for the pilot. But Jordan's key condition is proof that al-Kassasbeh is still alive. "At this point, we want to emphasize that we have asked for proof of life, and we have not received anything as of yet," government spokesman Mohammed al-Momani said Thursday afternoon, about an hour before the purported deadline. The lack of proof of the pilot's health is concerning, but Al-Kasasbeh said the family had received some information from "unofficial sources" that was comforting. Kidnappers are in a commodities exchange business, said Chris Voss, a former FBI hostage negotiator. And "proof of life is part of this type of negotiation." "The Jordanians have no business going forward until they get it." Al-Kassasbeh was captured after he ejected from his F-16 jet last month near Raqqa, the extremist group's de facto capital in Syria. Coalition warplanes and drones continue flying over ISIS strongholds in northern Syria, looking for any signs of unusual activity -- perhaps a convoy moving toward the border with Turkey. But hope is fading. "Given the fact that ISIS has executed every hostage that they have publicly produced on a videotape except one British hostage, it does suggest that ISIS is not that interested in serious negotiations and is principally interested in the ability to get a lot of attention for its cause," said Peter Bergen, CNN's national security analyst. The 47-year-old Goto left Japan last fall, when his youngest daughter was 3 weeks old. His wife, Rinko, who heard from his captors first on December 2 and most recently in a Wednesday email with their "final demand" -- pleaded for his return. "I hope our oldest daughter, who is just 2, will get to see her father again," his wife, Rinko, said. Thursday's deadline was the third that ISIS set in less than a week. The wait began with a video showing two Japanese hostages, Goto and aspiring security contractor Haruna Yukawa. And an outrageous demand from ISIS: a $200 million ransom from Japan within 72 hours, or else both captives die. The first deadline passed a week ago Friday. Grim proof soon followed: An image of Goto holding what appeared to be a photo of Yukawa's headless body. Goto apparently was spared. "What it shows is that they are reacting tactically," said CNN military analyst Ret. Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling. "They no longer have a strategic plan. ... They are just trying to get the best thing going." Days later, came a change in demands: ISIS now sought the release of al-Rishawi, a female jihadist imprisoned in Jordan for her role in a 2005 suicide bombing at a wedding reception that killed dozens. And if the swap wasn't made, the group threatened to kill both the pilot and the journalist. Wednesday night brought yet another deadline: deliver al-Rishawi to the Turkish border by sunset Thursday, or al-Kassasbeh and Goto would die. The relentless back-and-forth has raised hard questions about whether ISIS is truly negotiating, and whether Jordan made a mistake to try. "They are attempting to elevate themselves into some sort of status as a political movement and a state," Hertling said. "They are not. They are terrorists." CNN's Kareem Khadder, Barbara Starr, Anderson Cooper and Jim Sciutto contributed to this report. | Uncle of captured pilot: If ISIS kills hostage it will face the anger of all of Jordan .
Family holds hope hostage is still alive despite passage of ultimatum and lack of proof of life . |
068db2e3d817950c03a913830550bea32baaa2ab | Having started at the top of the diamond, Angel di Maria finished the game on the left wing. In truth, his contributions were limited in both positions but the tactical switch brought the consolation of a quick exit. Di Maria was well placed to dart straight down the tunnel, with a dark look on his face which failed to reflect the relief that Manchester United had rescued a late point from a game they seemed set to lose. He was almost off the pitch when he twisted his upper body towards the United fans in a distant corner of the ground and offered them some over-the-shoulder applause, but he did not allow the after-thought to interrupt his stride. Angel di Maria (left) struggled to make an impact as Manchester United nicked a draw at West Ham . Di Maria had a difficult afternoon, and not a lot went right for the Argentine playmaker . English football’s most expensive signing could not get off fast enough. Mind you, he wasn’t alone. Only Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie, Daley Blind and Phil Jones took the trouble to trudge over to the supporters. Again, not a lot had gone right for Di Maria during 90 minutes best summed up by one moment, 13 minutes into the second half when Blind, searching for a long pass to the United right, crashed the ball into the £60million Argentine, who was just a yard or two away. It was not Blind’s most stylish offering and he shrugged an apology as he digested the contents of a filthy glare from Di Maria, who could have done without another pain in the backside. It had not been a good few days. Perhaps the horror of the robbery at his home was still playing tricks on his mind. It has not been a great first campaign in English football. Eight months have ticked by since he was the man of the match in Real Madrid’s Champions League final success. Louis van Gaal played a diamond formation against West Ham, but some players struggled with the style . Radamel Falcao proved to be ineffective, and squandered a chance to get on the scoresheet at Upton Park . He has not played in the competition since, and might start to wonder if he will be back in it next season. United are fighting in the pack behind Chelsea and Manchester City. It is going to be close if they continue to follow each sign of progress with a backward step. Di Maria is finding it difficult to influence games as he did when he first arrived from Real Madrid. It is four months since his last goal in the Barclays Premier League, although he got one at Yeovil in the FA Cup. At West Ham, flashes of promise were swallowed up by the peculiarities of Louis van Gaal’s system, seemingly designed to cram as many creative players as possible into the team, but rarely in their preferred positions. They lacked pace, width and aggression and were easily neutralised by the midfield endeavour of Mark Noble and the defensive strength of James Tomkins and Cheikhou Kouyate. Falcao (right) knocks the ball past Adrian in the West Ham goal, but it goes wide of the post . Di Maria (left) makes a pass under pressure from West Ham midfielder Alex Song at Upton Park on Sunday . Di Maria’s most significant offerings were a fierce drive into the arms of Adrian in the first half, and a free-kick whipped over the bar in the second. In open play, he struggled in a side where the attackers are playing without fluency. While David de Gea made saves and Jones defended well, no one dazzled in Van Gaal’s front five until the introduction of Marouane Fellaini added some useful muscle. Radamel Falcao and Van Persie were both guilty of missing clear chances as United searched for the equaliser. Like Di Maria, Adnan Januzaj and Rooney seemed lost on the edges of the diamond. Rooney operated in areas of the pitch where he had little positive impact on proceedings, having defended poorly on Kouyate’s opener. Rooney memorably scored from halfway at Upton Park last season. This time United can cherish their point and little else by way of satisfaction. | Angel di Maria started at the top of Louis van Gaal's diamond formation .
He finished the game on the left wing, and left the pitch in a hurry .
Not a lot went right for the Argentine, summed up in the second half when Daley Blind crashed the ball into him from a yard or two away .
Di Maria seemed lost, and has not scored a league goal in four months . |
068dc1b89b1829eb35a2154d2dc942de76f2b88f | Of all the questions asked of the new regime at Manchester United recently, those concerning a new contract for David de Gea are among the most pertinent. Since Sir Alex Ferguson shut his office door behind him for the last time 18 months ago, the United goalkeeper has perhaps been the club’s most important player. Now De Gea has a recognised No 2 to compete with, in keeping with the modern trend in the Barclays Premier League. Instead of Scandinavian makeweight Anders Lindegaard, De Gea will soon have a three-time Champions League winner and Spanish international watching him from the substitutes’ bench. Victor Valdes (left, in action against Manchester United in 2011) will challenge David de Gea at Old Trafford . De Gea faces a fight on his hands to keep new signing Valdes at bay . Certainly the De Gea/Victor Valdes dynamic will be an interesting one over the coming weeks. Valdes has only recently recovered from a serious knee injury but has not signed an 18-month contract at United just to pick his nose — to steal a memorable Lindegaard quote — and his relationship with manager Louis van Gaal and goalkeeping coach Frans Hoek is one that stretches back to the day 12 years ago when he was given his debut at Barcelona. Valdes will seek to play over the coming weeks but the wider issue — that of De Gea’s own future in Manchester — remains unclear; his current contract expires at the end of next season, with Real Madrid known to be interested. United chief executive Ed Woodward and De Gea’s agent Jorge Mendes have already spoken and it is understood that official meetings are now planned to accelerate the process. Mendes is a friend of the club, but is a friend of Real Madrid, too. Madrid need a replacement for Iker Casillas, who is will be 34 in May, and De Gea is the outstanding candidate by far. For United, the issue is clear and it is odd that they have not secured one of the world’s most valuable goalkeepers on a long-term deal already. Woodward says he is ‘relaxed’ about the issue, but the lure of Madrid is understandably strong for De Gea, and United can only hope that the expressed preferences of his family prove significant in the weeks to come. Certainly, when Sportsmail spent time talking to former coaches and childhood friends of De Gea in October, the indications were that both the player and his parents are content in Manchester. That has not changed. The Spaniard has established himself as the first-choice keeper at United . In truth, dad Jose and mum Marivi, who live with De Gea in the city, now enjoy a stress-free English lifestyle and have little desire to see De Gea return to the spotlight of the Spanish game. As one source close to the family said: ‘They are super-happy in Manchester. If it was all up to them, they would prefer for him to stay here. ‘In Spain, there would be huge pressure. You have four newspapers per day devoted to Real and Barcelona, invading your privacy. To replace Iker Casillas for both Spain and Real Madrid — can you imagine the scrutiny he would face?’ Van Gaal has no doubts about Valdes’s quality. Indeed, Hoek spoke glowingly about him last summer. Victor Valdes (centre) watches Manchester United play Chelsea at Old Trafford back in October . Valdes (left) works out, wearing a Red Devils snood, with United's first-choice keeper David de Gea . ‘Victor is a goalkeeper, but he is also the 11th outfield player and able to construct moves,’ Hoek told a Dutch newspaper. ‘(Thibaut) Courtois at Chelsea, for example, has composure but he does not have this ability.’ Certainly Valdes is not in Manchester for a watching brief. He will challenge De Gea and that is how Van Gaal wants it. Just this week Valdes has been looking for accommodation in Wilmslow, where he will join the enclave of Spaniards that includes Juan Mata, Ander Herrera, Bojan Krkic and De Gea. An 18-month contract seems generous for a player who has only just recovered from such a serious injury and that would appear to suggest there was some competition from elsewhere for his signature; a more Machiavellian view would be that United are merely covering themselves in case De Gea’s contract talks don’t go well. There have been suggestions that United are prepared to make the Spaniard the best-paid goalkeeper in the world in order to keep him. They may well have to. Goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard (left) could be allowed to return to Scandinavia . | Victor Valdes to sign 18-month contract with Premier League club .
The Spaniard will rival compatriot David de Gea for the No 1 shirt .
United are set to step up contract talks with De Gea to tie up his future . |
068de5596fd58bb10934e8cbdf6e27902af89258 | Bamako, Mali (CNN) -- French-led forces battling Islamist rebels seized the town of Tessalit in northern Mali on Friday, France's defense ministry said. Following air strikes, special forces parachuted in to secure the airport, while an armored infantry regiment moved in on the ground, the ministry said. Chadian forces participated in the operation, which came the same day that a suicide bomber blew himself up at a checkpoint, the first known attack of its kind since the launch of the French-led offensive. The attack by a teenager occurred in the city of Gao, authorities said. One Malian soldier was killed. "The man approached the soldiers at the checkpoint on a motorbike. As soon as he got close, he set off the bomb," said Capt. Oumar Maiga, a spokesman for the Mali army. French-led troops launched the effort to flush out militants in the north last month. They now control Timbuktu and Gao, along with a swath in between the two that was an Islamist stronghold for almost a year. The ground and air campaign has sent Islamist fighters who had seized the northern region fleeing into the desert and rugged terrain nearby. What's behind the instability in Mali? However, some militants lingered, hiding among residents in the villages. "Unfortunately, we expected the Islamists to return to these type of attacks as they were driven out of the city," said Lt. Col. Philippe at the French army base in Gao. The attack is the latest setback for Malian forces. Three weeks ago, three soldiers were killed when they hit a mine near Douentza in the central region. The monthlong French offensive has killed "hundreds" of Islamist fighters in Mali, the French defense minister said this week, as his troops prepared to start withdrawing. France, Mali's former colonizer, has said it expects to begin pulling out its troops in March and leave African forces in control. Mali: The long, troubled desert road ahead . Despite the withdrawal, troops will continue operations to flush out militants in "some terrorist havens" in northern Mali, French officials said. Islamic extremists carved out a large portion of the north last year after a chaotic military coup. They banned music, smoking, drinking and watching sports on television, and they destroyed historic tombs and shrines in the region. World leaders feared that the al Qaeda-linked militants would turn the area into a terrorist haven. Six reasons events in Mali matter . CNN's Pierre Meilhan contributed to this report. | NEW: Special forces parachuted in to secure the airport .
A suicide bomber kills a soldier at a checkpoint in Goa .
France launched an offensive last month against militants in its former colony . |
068f0f60884d67780cc8da4a4e3a4323c0a4529d | By . Suzannah Hills . PUBLISHED: . 13:00 EST, 29 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 15:56 EST, 29 June 2012 . As newly trained Met Police officers, they wanted to look their best at their passing out parade, standing tall and proud in particularly shiny shoes. But then yesterday’s weather intervened. As temperatures soared to 70°F (21°C), it was too much for several graduates, standing to attention in heavy uniforms, hats and gloves. One pale-looking policeman fainted and collapsed into colleagues while another crashed to the ground and had to be helped up by the hardier ranks behind. Passing out: One poorly looking police officer is helped by colleagues after becoming faint during a Passing out Parade at the Hendon Police Training College . Feeling faint: One officer struggles to keep on her feet at the Metropolitan Police's largest ever Passing out Parade . Greeting the officers: Mayor Boris Johnson talks to some of the newly graduated police officers who have managed to stay standing . The ceremony, the largest ever Met . Police passing out parade, saw 567 trainees graduate from Hendon Police . College in north London in front of Met Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe . and London Mayor Boris Johnson. Officers graduating included a special . constable who had saved a suicidal man by holding onto the scruff of . his neck as he jumped off a bridge and another who had foiled a . kidnap. Others passed out completely and had to be escorted from the parade grounds by medical staff to receive treatment. One unwell officer was determined to finish the ceremony but turned incredibly pale before collapsing into the arms of a colleague. He too then had to be helped inside by other officers. It is unclear whether the officers were struggling to cope with the stifling heat from wearing their uniforms standing in the blazing sun as temperatures reached 20c or whether a group of the officers had fallen ill from something else. Despite the interruptions the ceremony, which is the largest parade the Metropolitan Police service has ever held, was completed to welcome the 567 new officers. A helping hand: Officers had first aid kits on hand to treat the new recruits that passed out . Falling like flies: Several officers had to be escorted from the parade ground as the ceremony became too much for them . Grin and bear it: One female officer manages to smile as her colleagues help her to her feet . Mayor Boris Johnson said: 'It is vital to invest in the Met police and I'll continue to fight hard for resources. 'I'm glad we have given so many Special Constables and PCSOs the opportunity to become fully warranted police officers. There is nothing more important than keeping our city safe and I'm confident these officers will serve our city well.' One of the new officers, Special Constable Luxan Thurairatnasingam, saved the life of a suicidal man hanging off Kingston Bridge two years ago by holding onto the scruff of his neck. Luxan, 27, based at Kingston police station, held onto the man for so long that his arm literally locked in place as he pulled him to safety. Looking peaky: One male officer turned very pale as a colleague helped undo his tie and top button to help him breathe . Falling back: A police officer is caught by colleagues as he becomes faint during the Passing out Parade at Hendon Police Training College . Feeling the heat: Another one of the 567 graduates is taken ill during the ceremony and helped by a fellow officer . Luxan, who is originally from Sri Lanka, said: 'I just held on tight as he tried to jump. He had been having personal problems and said he couldn't go on any longer. 'I told him to think about the impact on his family and said we would help him. I just did what anyone would have done. It's all in a day's work.' Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe, added: 'This is a great day for London. Another 567 officers to patrol the streets of the capital is a great achievement. 'This is an historic event and the number of officers passing out here today at Hendon is the highest ever. I wish them every success as they start on their careers with the Met, helping us to keep Londoners safe.' Taking a break: One female officer perches on the ground after becoming faint during the ceremony . Keep your hat on: A female police officer manages to keep hold of her hat after collapsing on the ground . Standing tall: The remaining trainee officers salute during the ceremony . | Metropolitan Police breaks record for number of recruits in a Passing Out Parade as 567 new officers are welcomed to the force .
Excitement too much for some as many pass out or collapse during ceremony . |
068f5057376f6957e08f5222d7e3b6bd020b5cf9 | Everybody in the world will be on the Internet within seven years. That's what Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt said this weekend in public comments that inspired everything from excitement to incredulity. "For every person online, there are two who are not," Schmidt wrote Saturday on his Google+ account. "By the end of the decade, everyone on Earth will be connected." He followed up with a related thought on Sunday. "Think about how great the internet is with 2B users. Now think about how amazing it will be when 5B come online in a decade. #NewDigitalAge." It's just the sort of big thinking that has led Google to become one of the largest and most innovative tech companies in the world. But some of Schmidt's own followers took exception. "You really believe that? What about the millions in Africa who can't even get enough food to eat or the natives in South America who have no idea what technology is?" a Google+ user going by the name "Mary M" wrote. "Maybe you should rephrase to those in civilized areas or something like that..." About 38% of the world's population uses the internet in 2013, up from about 35% last year, according to the International Telecommunication Union, a United Nations agency dedicated to information and communication technology. With poor and developing nations around the world isolated by crumbling or nonexistent Web infrastructures, and others hindered by factors ranging from remote geography to government censorship, is Schmidt's vision overly optimistic? Maybe. But don't rule it out. As Business Insider's Julie Bort notes, there are some projects under way to bring everyone the advantages of the digital age. Google itself supports a project called Geeks Without Frontiers, a nonprofit group that donates computers and related technology to poor areas around the world. Focusing largely on Mexico, Central America and Africa, the decade-old group now aims to bring wireless access to regions with no traditional Web access. Samsung also is backing a project to turn old shipping containers into solar-powered, Web-enabled classrooms in places like South Africa and Sudan. The rise of the mobile Web is also sure to play a role. In Africa, more people have access to a mobile phone than have access to electricity. In South Africa, for instance, Google says, 25% of its searches during the week are via mobile devices, rising to 65% on the weekends. What do you think? Is Schmidt's vision farfetched? Or could it happen? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. . | Google chairman predicts the whole world will be on the Web by 2020 .
Eric Schmidt says Internet will be "amazing" with 5 billion users .
Only about a third of the world's people are on the Internet now .
Some remain skeptical it can be done in seven years . |
068f5bc3c1882c30bb0dfe53d6e331248c4a3e0a | By . Matt West . PUBLISHED: . 03:44 EST, 15 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:32 EST, 18 June 2013 . The British people are weary of becoming involved in another lengthy conflict overseas . after more than a decade of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, the . Defence Secretary said today. In what . will be considered a direct challenge to the Prime Minister and the Chancellor over any . possible military deployment to Syria, Phillip Hammond said Afghanistan . had become Britain’s Vietnam. The Defence Secretary's remarks came . while on a visit to the main British base at Camp Bastion in the Helmand . province of Afghanistan. Vietnam effect: Phillip Hammond has warned Afghanistan has become for the British what Vietnam was for America . His remarks also come amid heightened tensions over the . Middle East between the West and Russia, as the US prepares to arm rebel fighters after it . confirmed the Syrian regime had used chemical weapons on its own people. Mr Cameron has resisted greater . involvement in the Syrian conflict for the last two years partly over . fears of comparison with ex-PM Tony Blair, who took Britain into Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq two years later . The Prime Minister will use the G8 . Summit in Northern Ireland to talk to US President Barrack . Obama about how best to arm rebels in the country who have been trying . to topple the regime of Bashar al Assad for the past two years. Cuts row: Phillip Hammond has warned further cuts to the Ministry of Defence's budget will hurt Britain's operation effectiveness . He has already held preliminary . discussions by video conference with Mr Obama, the French President . Francois Hollande , German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Prime . Minister Enrico Letta, a Downing Street spokesman confirmed this . morning. ‘Three days before a working dinner on . foreign policy, they discussed the situation in Syria and how G8 . countries should all agree to work on together a political transition to . end the conflict,’ Downing Street said. Britain has been engaged in almost continuous conflict in the Middle Eat since the 9/11 attacks on the US in 2001. Since then, 444 British Service personnel have died in the Afghanistan and thousands more have been seriously injured. 'I suspect that the British people - and . not just the British people - will be wary of enduring engagements on . this kind of scale for perhaps quite a long while in the future,' Mr . Hammond said in an interview with The Daily Telegraph. 'You might call it the Vietnam . phenomenon - when an engagement turns out to be longer and more costly . than originally envisaged, there is often a public reaction to that.' Mr Hammond added the true lesson from . Afghanistan may be that a prolonged military commitment could have been . avoided if the West had been prepared to intervene earlier before al . Qaida launched its attack on the Twin Towers. 'We ourselves have learned the lesson . that earlier, smaller scale intervention may often avoid the need for . more massive intervention later, and if we are in a mood for beating . ourselves up, perhaps we should have foreseen the consequences of what . was happening in Afghanistan before 9/11,' he said. 'Perhaps we should have been more . forward leaning in the West collectively in intervening to try and head . off what was happening here before it happened.' Combat fatigue: the Defence Secretary warned this weekend that the British people had become weary of the UK's involvement in overseas operations . On patrol: British soldiers have been involved in active operations in Afghanistan for 12 years . Earlier this week Mr Cameron raised the prospect of weapons falling into terrorist hands. ‘Elements affiliated to al-Qaeda in the . region have attempted to acquire chemical weapons for probable use in . Syria,’ the Prime Minister said. Britain is currently providing . ‘non-lethal’ equipment to the Syrian rebels but Foreign Secretary . William Hague has, with the support of France, been working had to lift a . European Union arms embargo. US confirmation of British and French . reports that the Syrian army was using chemical weapons against the . rebels has increased the prospect of weapons being passed to the rebels. Mr Hague said earlier this week the West 'must do more’ to put pressure on the . Assad regime to reach a peaceful settlement with the rebels and stop the . bloodshed which the UN says has so far cost in excess of 93,000 lives. The Defence Secretary’s comments also . come at a time when he is being asked to make even more cuts to his . department as part of the Chancellor’s comprehensive spending review. His is one of the few departments yet to have agree cuts at part of the . review. Last month Mr Hammond publicly warned any further cuts to his . department would come at a cost to Britain’s military capability. Under current . budget cuts Army personnel will have been cut by a fifth to 82,000, their . lowest level since the end of the 19th century. | British people weary of role in long wars overseas, Defence Secretary says .
Remarks come as Syria tops the agenda at this week's G8 Summit .
Ministry of Defence still to agree to budget cuts with Chancellor . |
06908689b3d4fad85d2b434d33de2ad9194ed188 | London, England (CNN) -- Union members representing British Airways cabin crew announced Friday they will hold two separate strikes this month in a dispute over working conditions. The first strike will last three days from March 20, and the next will last four days from March 27, said Len McCluskey, the assistant general secretary of the Unite union. There will be no strikes over the Easter period, he said. Further strikes could be called if needed, he said. Will a British Airways strike impact you? "Regrettably, management turned down a remarkable offer," McCluskey said. British Airways, which lost hundreds of million dollars last year, responded by saying it is "extremely disappointed" with the union's decision. "We are very sorry for the stress and disruption Unite's decision will cause," the airline said in a statement. "We are currently considering our response to this strike threat and what action we will need to take to minimize disruption." The industrial action is over planned changes to cabin crew conditions, which BA says will save the carrier more than 60 million pounds ($91 million) a year. Unite has said the plans call for working hours to be extended and crew levels to be cut, changes that it has said will damage customer service and the BA brand. The two sides have been holding talks to avoid strikes. BA management submitted a formal offer to the union Thursday, Unite said, but added that the offer fails to address union concerns about crew numbers and service delivery. That prompted Unite officials to announce the strike dates. There is still a chance the strikes could be averted. Unite said union members will be able to vote on BA's offer on the first day of the planned strikes, and if they vote to approve it, the strikes will be canceled. British Airways declined to share details of its offer with CNN. "Unite's action has no shred of justification," the airline said. "British Airways' crew are rightly renowned for their professionalism and skills. Our entire package for crew recognizes that and is reasonable and fair." BA said all union proposals so far would save the airline "significantly" less money than BA's own planned changes. "In addition, Unite's plans would cut crew pay and allowances," BA said. "The reductions required to generate sufficient savings would leave each crew member between 1,000 and 2,700 pounds ($1,516 and $4,095) a year worse off. These proposals lack credibility, and Unite did not inform crew of them when it asked them to vote for a strike." In December, a judge blocked a planned 12-day strike by Unite over the same issues that would have started just before Christmas. | First strike will last three days from March 20, and the next four days from March 27 .
There will be no strikes over Easter; planned strikes could still be avoided .
Unite says BA plans will damage customer service and brand .
BA said union proposals would save the airline less money than its own changes . |
0693931923c256663ef5a667fe0f2c1e8df0be05 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 05:12 EST, 15 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:08 EST, 15 October 2012 . A competitor in the Arnold Classic Europe bodybuilding competition did a great job when he applied his fake tan – from the neck down. His head literally paled in comparison to his super-bronzed body as he flexed his muscles for the judges. The three-day fitness festival is named after bodybuilding legend and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who also hosted the event. Scroll down for video . Fake tan fail: A competitor in the Arnold Classic Europe bodybuilding event in Madrid has not exactly done a thorough job applying his extra dark fake bake . The competition is the European version of the Arnold Classic, the brainchild of Arnold Schwarzenegger and co-promoter and fitness legend Jim Lorimer, which has been running in the U.S. since 1988. The pair was joined by Dr. Rafael Santonja, the president of the International Federation of Body Building (IFBB), to create the European version in 2011. ‘We have had many requests over the years to take the Arnold Classic to many cities throughout the world, and we are excited to begin the globalization of our event with the first Arnold Classic Europe,’ Mr Lorimer said last year. ‘Rafael Santonja has been one of our biggest supporters and we look forward to working together for many years.’ Hands up, Terminator: Arnold Schwarzenegger and participants in the fitness competition . Bodybuilding hero: Legendary body builder, Terminator and ex-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger flew to Spain to host the competition which is named after him . Clenched clinch: Three competitors flex their muscles during the body building semifinal in Madrid . Lucky man: Italian bikini contestant Mariella Pellegrino poses with a young boy ahead of the semifinals . The original Arnold Classic, now known as the Arnold Sports Festival, has been held in Columbus, Ohio for 24 years. The Arnold Classic Europe, held at the Palacio Municipal de Congresos del Campo de las Naciones in Madrid, included both professional and amateur bodybuilding and fitness competitions as well as bikini fitness, Paralympics and gymnastics. Winner of the IFBB Pro Bodybuilding was Shawn Rhoden. In the female categories Oksana Grishina beat favourite Adela Garcia in the Pro Fitness competition whilst Erin Stern took the crown in Pro Figure. You're so vein: One participant does not hold back in his attempt to impress the judges . Tight run: Two bodybuilders showing off their skills in Madrid . Tough competition: Four semifinalists line up in front of the judges to show them what they have got . | The Arnold Classic Europe was held in Madrid, Spain this weekend . |
0694787e6484d1a05c2c9046568eed358a9a0e59 | TV presenter Gabby Logan was drawn into the tax-avoidance scandal yesterday after it emerged she invested in the same tax shelter as Take That. The sports pundit, who is part of the BBC’s football World Cup presenting team, poured her money into a £12.3million scheme designed to hide earnings from the tax man. The 41-year-old is one of a host of stars – including singer Gary Barlow and several of his Take That bandmates – who have invested £336million in the controversial Icebreaker Management fund. Gabby Logan, left, invested money in the controversial Icebreaker scheme which was used by Gary Barlow, right . Earlier this month, a tax judge ruled Icebreaker was not a genuine investment scheme and had been set up solely to allow the super-rich to claim income tax relief. The ruling means Mrs Logan and the other investors could now be forced to pay back millions to HMRC. It is not known exactly how much money Mrs Logan poured into the scheme. According to the Mirror, she joined an Icebreaker partnership called Ivancroft in 2008. Although it purported to be a creative industries investment scheme, Ivancroft made a loss of £11.7million. Its real purpose was to allow its members to offset their investments against the tax they owed on their other earnings. Barllow, right, and band mates Mark Owen, left, and Howard Donald, centre, also put money into the controversial scheme . It is thought Barlow, 43, his bandmates Howard Donald, 46, Mark Owen, 42, and their manager Jonathan Wild could be forced to pay £20million back HMRC. They put £66million into several Icebreaker partnerships, reportedly allowing them to shelter around £63million from the taxman. Other well-known names who have invested in Icebreaker include retired Olympic hurdler Colin Jackson, 47, former England football manager Terry Venables, 71, and businessman Nick Wheeler, who is the founder of Charles Tyrwhitt shirts. It is thought some of the investors have told HMRC they were misled into joining Icebreaker, and did not realise it was a tax avoidance scheme. Both Jackson and Venables have insisted their tax affairs are in order and have denied they joined Icebreaker to avoid tax. Couple: Gabby, right, is married to former Scotland rugby international Kenny Logan, left . However, judge Colin Bishopp ruled Icebreaker ‘is, and was known and understood by all concerned to be, a tax avoidance scheme.’ Prime Minister David Cameron has said he is ‘opposed to all aggressive tax avoidance’ but refused to join calls for Barlow to be stripped of his OBE. Mrs Logan’s spokesman did not respond to a request for comment yesterday. A year before joining Ivancroft the mother-of-two – who is married to former Scotland rugby player Kenny Logan - gave an interview about her finances. Asked about saving for retirement, she said: ‘Property and the odd speculative investment. As well as property and Isas, I have occasionally bought shares and invested in businesses.’ The star lives in a £3.8million seven-bedroom house in High Wycombe, Bucks. | TV presenter Gabby Logan invested in the Icebreaker Management fund .
Judge Colin Bishopp ruled Icebreaker was a 'tax-avoidance scheme'
Take That star Gary Barlow also invested money in the controversial fund . |
06965170be163a48e150bcffd3f14ded365e190a | By . Kerry Mcdermott . PUBLISHED: . 11:37 EST, 8 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:53 EST, 9 April 2013 . Honoured: Baroness Thatcher will receive a ceremonial funeral with military honours, Downing Street has said . The armed forces will line the streets of London as Baroness Thatcher is given a ceremonial funeral with full military honours, Downing Street said today. A date is yet to be confirmed but the funeral - set to be the biggest farewell staged for a former prime minister since that of Winston Churchill in 1965 - is expected to take place next week. Britain's first and only female prime minister died at the Ritz hotel today, where she been living in recent months after spending Christmas in hospital. Number 10 said a wide range of friends and colleagues are to be invited to the service at St Paul's, which will be followed by a private cremation. The funeral itself will be televised. Some Tory MPs had called for a full state funeral - usually reserved for monarchs - for Lady Thatcher, but she had stated before she died that she did not want one. She told her friend and spokesman Lord Bell that a military fly-past like the one seen at the state funeral held for Winston Churchill would be 'a waste of money'. The day before the funeral the coffin will be transferred to the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in the Palace of Westminster. There will be a short service following its arrival before the coffin rests in the chapel overnight. A Downing Street statement said: 'On the day itself, the streets will be cleared of traffic and the coffin will travel by hearse from the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in the Palace of Westminster to the Church of St Clement Danes, the RAF Chapel, on the Strand. 'At the church the coffin will be transferred to a gun carriage drawn by the King's Troop Royal Artillery. The coffin will then be borne in procession from St Clement Danes to St Paul's Cathedral.' The route from the Church of St Clement Danes will be lined by personnel from the RAF, the Navy and the Army before it is met at St Paul's by a guard of honour. Members of the armed services and pensioners of the Royal Hospital Chelsea will line the steps of St Paul's. Former colleagues, as well as the Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, will be invited. 'A great Briton': Baroness Thatcher's funeral is likely to be the biggest ceremony seen for a former British leader since that of Winston Churchill in 1965 . Flags were being flown at half mast at Downing Street today, and will remain so tomorrow. They will be at half mast again on the day of Lady Thatcher's funeral. Downing Street said that the former . prime minister's family had asked that if people wish to pay their . respects, they consider making a donation to the Royal Hospital Chelsea, . rather than laying flowers. The Number 10 website will have a . condolence page on which people will be able to write private messages . for the Thatcher family. The public will be unable to attend . the funeral service itself but can line the route of the funeral . procession from the RAF Church in the Strand to St Paul's Cathedral, . said Number 10. Lord Bell said: 'She specifically did not want a state funeral and nor did her family. She particularly did not wish to lie in state as she thought that was not appropriate. 'And she didn't want a fly-past as she thought that was a waste of money - somewhat in character you might think. 'She expressed those views to me personally and she will get what she wanted.' 'Not appropriate': Baroness Thatcher said before she died that a military fly-past like the one (left) seen during the state funeral of Winston Churchill (right) in 1965 would be a 'waste of money' Lord Bell's comments came after several Tory MPs said Lady Thatcher should be granted a full state funeral. Baroness Thatcher's spokesman Lord Bell . Alun Cairns of Vale of Glamorgan wrote on Twitter: 'Margaret Thatcher deserves a state funeral after transforming our nation in such a positive way. The changes were never reversed.' Dover and Deal MP Charlie Elphicke said he thought Lady Thatcher should receive a full state funeral but he respected the family's wishes. He said: 'My personal view is that an appropriate celebration of her life would be a state funeral with full honours. However, I understand that her and her family's wishes were not to have that and I respect that.' Should Baroness Thatcher be given a state funeral? The date of the funeral, which will be followed by a private cremation, is yet to be confirmed. A . statement released by Downing Street today said: 'We can announce that, . with the Queen’s consent, Lady Thatcher will receive a ceremonial . funeral with military honours. 'The . service will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral. A wide and diverse range . of people and groups with connections to Lady Thatcher will be invited. 'The service will be followed by a private cremation. 'All the arrangements being put in place are in line with wishes of Lady Thatcher’s family.' Further details will be published in the coming days, the statement said. Procession: The funeral procession for Winston Churchill is seen leaving Westminster Hall in central London . War-time leader: Sir Winston Churchill's coffin is carried out of St Paul's Cathedral after the former prime minister's state funeral in 1965 . There are few visible differences between a state funeral and a ceremonial funeral, although officially the former requires the approval of Parliament. | Iron Lady will receive ceremonial funeral with military honours .
Members of Army, Navy and RAF will line route of funeral procession .
Ceremony at St Paul's Cathedral will be followed by a private cremation .
Entire cabinet and former prime ministers likely to attend .
Baroness Thatcher said before she died she did not want a state funeral . |
0696c91edd48459d20a23faec75ac8c27e710f77 | (CNN) -- A locksmith hired to help in the process of evicting a California tenant was shot dead, along with the sheriff's deputy serving the eviction notice, police said Friday. In addition to the two men shot dead, a lone body has been found inside the charred ruins of the Modesto, California, apartment building, Modesto police Officer Chris Adams told CNN on Friday. He did not say definitively that this was the same person being sought out for the eviction notice, adding that it could take days or weeks to positively identify the body. But he did say that police are no longer looking for any suspects in the case. The incident actually began Thursday morning, when Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department Robert Paris, 53, tried to serve an eviction notice at an apartment when a gunman opened fire. Paris, a 16-year veteran of the department, was shot dead. So, too, was Glendon Engert, a 35-year-old locksmith hired by the apartment complex's management company to get access to the unit as part of the eviction process, said Adams. The suspect locked himself into the home after the shootings, starting a standoff that lasted more than 10 hours. After 10 p.m. local time Thursday, a fire erupted from the apartment and flames could be seen shooting from the roof. The fire ignited after authorities threw flash grenades and tear gas into the apartment to try to flush the shooter out, Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson told reporters. CNN's Greg Morrision contributed to this report. | NEW: A locksmith helping in the eviction process was shot dead, police say .
NEW: An unidentified body was found inside the burned apartment building .
NEW: A police officer says authorities are not looking for any suspects in the case .
A sheriff's deputy was fatally shot while trying to serve an eviction notice in Modesto . |
06972fd2ccef9519174612abd827fe3489c09323 | Little Hunter Alford needs chemotherapy to treat the rare and deadly cancer he was born with but has lost his health insurance under an administrative blunder seemingly caused by Obamacare. While the president's signature policy promised that no one with a pre-existing condition would not be covered, the Affordable Care Act has seemingly caused the seven-year-old Gainesville, Texas, boy to face an agonizing wait for treatment as his parents battle to get him back on his insurance plan. 'Why would you cancel a kid?' asked his mother Krista Alford. 'I really want to send Obama and all of them pictures of my son. He has scars all over his head. He doesn’t want to leave the house because he’s afraid people are going to make fun of him because he’s bald.' Desperate: Hunter Alford needs treatment for his rare cancer but has been left uninsured after a administrative glitch caused by the introduction of Obamacare . Tragic: While the president's signature policy promised that no one with pre-existing condition would not be covered, the Affordable Care Act has seemingly caused the seven-year-old Gainsville, Texas, boy to lose his insurnance . While mom Krista and dad Ron go out their minds with worry, Hunter - who was born with an extremely rare form of cancer called Plexiform Hishocyne Neoplasm - is battling the disease which has now spread to his brain. But after seven years of fighting his illness, Hunter's insurance has been canceled and he is due his next round of chemo, which costs $50,000 and right now, Krista says he is unlikely to get it. The Alford's are battling with children's medicaid, or CHIP - which insures Hunter and despite the family receiving a new, renewed insurance card, they were informed that their agency had dropped them. 'I called them and they said we were dropped October 31st,' Krista said to News 12. She was told that her sons information was lost when administrative changes were made under the Affordable Care Act. 'The lady's like, the only way we can expedite is if your son was pregnant and in labor, or if he was an illegal,' Krista said. The parents said Hunter 'has known nothing other than hospitals, doctors, sickness and pain.' Distraught: Mother Krista has been left out of her mind with worry by the loss of Hunter's insurance and the bureaucratic minefield she is having to through to fix it . Krista was incredulous when she received a letter in November from her insurance provider asking why her son - who has been covered by them his entire life - was in hospital in the first place. Krista reasoned that after seven-years of paying for his medical bills, the insurance company would have a good idea of what was wrong with him. Despite Krista's insistence that the Affordable Care Act has caused her son to be un-insured, a media spokesperson with Texas Health and Human Services Communication - who handle CHIP - said that the problem does not lie with Obamacare. However she did admit to administrative changes that could have led to mistakes moving Hunter from CHIP to an upgraded version of Medicaid. She repeated that the problem was not related to Obamacare, but there were some 'glitches' in coverage when the changeover happened. Ron Alford with his daughter Makayla and son Hunter - he is a police officer in Gainsville and struggling to get his children the health care they have been insured for their entire lives . However, it seems that one of those glitches caused a little boy with life-threatening cancer to lose his health insurance. Over the past month Krista has been stuck in a bureaucratic hell - being passed from one agency telephone helpline to the next. Each one has brought her no closer to an answer or a resolution. Krista said she’d had Hunter's current insurance for a year-and-a-half and had never received any notice that she needed to 'requalify' her children because of Obamacare. When she phoned to complain Krista says, 'all of a sudden could not find my son case, at all. And then, she transferred me over to another gentleman who found his case. He said it was hidden, because when they switched over to HHSC (Texas Health and Human Services Commission), they lost a lot of cases files and Hunter’s was just one of those.' The more she asked, the more confusing the answers became. 'Then they told me October 17th was when he was actually canceled. But on October 25 he had chemo, and they paid for it. So, I am getting different stories.' Tough: Hunter has been ill his entire life and needs another round of chemotherapy to battle his rare form of cancer . The latest development in the shocking case is one that the wife of a small town police officer finds hard to believe. 'Now, the new story with CHIP is they called and said my husband makes too much money, $173 too much. 'So, I’m very upset. I was bawling on the phone with her and the only thing she said was, ‘Have a nice day,’ and she hung up.' To make matters worse, the Alford's have been told that their son's cancer is not only rare but behaving in an unusual manner. 'These tumors are very rare. They are not supposed to spread, but his decided they were going to spread. And it can go into his lungs, because the tumors like soft tissue, and your lungs are soft tissue.' With Hunter desperately in need of a new round of Chemotherapy, Krista has said the family have no choice but to accept the massive $50,000 bill for it with no insurance. However, they have set up a fund for people to help - 'Heroes for Hunter' and so far they have raised $11,005 - but everything will help. | A Gainesville, Texas family is fighting for their cancer-stricken child's life after he was removed from his insurance plan .
Ron and Krista Alford’s seven-year-old boy Hunter is in need of another round of chemotherapy costing $50,000 .
He has lost his insurance after an administrative blunder caused by Obamacare .
They face a desperate battle to get him back on his plan as he battle his life-threatening illness . |
06982ba9387ae97225ca708a936bc3843eccc129 | By . Mark Prigg . PUBLISHED: . 12:51 EST, 20 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 13:58 EST, 20 February 2014 . We swear far more on Twitter than in the real world, researchers have found. A major analysis of 51 million English language tweets revealed that one in 13 contains a curse. Researchers were also able to rank the most popular words, finding f**k was the most popular - and the top seven accounted for over 90% of offensive tweets. The most popular curse words on Twitter: Researchers examined a random one-month sample of 51 million English-language tweets from 14 million distinct user accounts . People curse more and more as the day passes, reaching a peak at 12 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. just before they go to bed, the researchers found. They also found people swore earlier in the week - Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays contained the most curse words relative to tweet volume. 'It’s a sizable fraction of the words we use,' Wenbo Wang, a PhD researcher at Wright State University who led the study, told Fastco. 'On average, one tweet out of 13 tweets will contain at least one cursing word,' 'Because of social media, people don’t see each other. 'They can say things they wouldn’t say in the physical world.' The team at Wright State University examined a random one-month sample of 51 million English-language tweets from 14 million distinct user accounts. They found that we curse more on Twitter than in real life, but tend to use only a few words. 'We found that the curse words occurred at the rate of 1.15% on Twitter, and 7.73% of all the tweets in our dataset contained curse words,' the team wrote in their paper, which was presented this week at the ACM Conference on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work & Social Computing. 'We also found that seven most frequently used curse words accounted for more than 90% of all the cursing occurrences.' The team say they wanted to find out it we cursed more on Twitter. 'Cursing is not uncommon during conversations in the physical world: 0.5% to 0.7% of all the words we speak are curse words, given that 1% of all the words are first-person plural pronouns (e.g., we, us, our),' the researchers wrote. Lack of imagination: The top seven curse words accounted for 90% of all curses, the researchers found . 'On social media, people can instantly chat with friends without face-to-face interaction, usually in a more public fashion and broadly disseminated through highly connected social network.' They also classified the cursing, and identified five different emotions from tweets - anger, joy, sadness, love, and thankfulness. 'Based on the classification results, we found that cursing on Twitter was . most closely associated with two negative emotions: sadness and anger. 'However, curse words could also be used to emphasize positive emotions such as joy or love.' Other insights in the paper involved timing, location, gender, and level of influence of the tweeters. People curse more and more as the day passes, reaching a peak at 12 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. before bedtime, and Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays contain the most curse words relative to tweet volume. Researcher say the hour before we go to sleep is when we are most likely to swear in a tweet . They also found user swore less when talking directly to another user. 'Our study of the relation between cursing and message types suggests that users perform self-censorship when they talk directly to other users. 'We find that users do curse more in relaxed environments, but the differences across different environments are very small, partly due to the fact that Twitter messages are posted in virtual digital world. They also found men tended to swear more. 'Men curse more than women, men overuse some curse words different from what women use and vice versa, and both men and women are more likely to curse in the same-gender contexts. Curses rises late at night just before people go to bed . A case of the Mondays? The study revealed we swear more in the early part of the week . | Swearing peaks at 12 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.
top seven curses accounted for over 90% of offensive tweets .
one-month sample of 51 million English-language tweets analysed . |
0698502b893e5867c074f053e21cc033e4f0dab7 | (CNN) -- An Arizona mother of seven will be back in court on Wednesday as a judge weighs whether she will go free or remain behind bars in Mexico, her family said. It's a situation Yanira Maldonado's family said she never imagined when she boarded a bus to head back to the United States last week after attending a family funeral. Now she's facing drug-smuggling charges after Mexican authorities said they found 12 pounds of marijuana under her bus seat. Her family vehemently denies the charges and accuses authorities of arresting her to get bribe money. A Mexican state official also told CNN it appears that Yanira Maldonado was framed. Anna Soto, Maldonado's daughter, said it was devastating to see her mom in jail over the weekend. "She's an honest woman. She's innocent. It's not a place for someone of her kind," Soto told CNN's "Piers Morgan Live" on Tuesday night. "It hurts just to know that she's there, to have seen her there. It's not fair." Soto said she knows her mother has nothing to do with drugs. "Never. No. She is not that kind of person. I don't think she's ever even tried a cigarette in her life or even drank a beer," Soto said. "You know, she's one of those people that tries to stay away from those kinds of people or those kinds of things." From a bus seat to a jail cell . Mexican authorities arrested Maldonado last Wednesday as she and her husband, Gary, were on their way back to Arizona. During a search of their bus at a military checkpoint in the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora, authorities asked everyone to get off. At first, authorities told Gary Maldonado that marijuana had been found under his seat and arrested him, his father, Larry Maldonado, told CNN. After the father contacted the U.S. Consulate in Hermosillo, Mexico, authorities said they were mistaken and released Gary. Then, they charged his wife. Gary Maldonado said he believes Mexican soldiers at the checkpoint wanted a bribe. "It's about getting money here," he told CNN's "Starting Point" on Tuesday. A lengthy court hearing . Maldonado's court hearing had stretched for more than three hours on Tuesday afternoon, said Brandon Klippel, her brother-in-law. Military officers from the checkpoint were scheduled to testify on Wednesday, Klippel said after speaking with family members and a translator who were inside the Mexican courtroom on Tuesday. "Although we are disappointed to hear that she will not be released today," he said, "we are very encouraged by the strong evidence and witnesses proving her innocence." Gary Maldonado told CNN affiliate KTVK that he was feeling optimistic after Tuesday's hearing. "We're hoping for the best outcome. ... We don't think they have a case," he said. The Mexican Embassy in Washington said in a statement that a preliminary decision from the judge was expected soon. Questions about arrest . A Sonora state official with extensive knowledge of the case told CNN there are questions about the arrest. "Can you imagine?" asked the official, who was not authorized to speak to the media and did not want to be named. "A passenger by himself or herself would have been unable to carry almost six kilos of marijuana onto a bus without being noticed. She must've been framed." A regional office of Mexico's Defense Ministry said troops conducting a routine investigation stopped the bus Maldonado was riding in and and found 12.5 pounds (5.7 kilograms) of a substance that appeared to be marijuana under her seat. Troops turned the case over to the Mexican attorney general's office, the defense ministry said. Maldonado is being housed in a women's prison in Nogales, Mexico, while authorities decide her fate. The Sonora state division of the attorney general's office said the investigation is ongoing and declined to provide additional information about the case against Maldonado. Her husband was told by authorities that regardless of his wife's guilt or innocence, he would have to pay $5,000 to secure her freedom, the family said. He was able to cobble together the money but then was told it was too late. His wife had been transferred to another jail. Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake is monitoring the case, his office said. "Senator Flake is personally monitoring the situation, and he has had multiple conversations with the deputy Mexican ambassador this weekend," Flake's office said Monday. 'Blind mules' unknowingly ferry drugs across the U.S.-Mexico border . Fear grips family . But growing political and media attention toward the case has not lessened the fears of Yanira Maldonado's family. Family members visiting her over the weekend were told they would have hours to talk, but when they arrived they were given only 10 minutes, Klippel said. "She was at a wire window with her fingertips up through the holes, touching her son's hand with one hand and touching her husband's hand with the other," Klippel said. "She was just saying, 'I don't know how this happened to me. I've never done anything illegal in my life. Why has this happened?'" After Tuesday's hearing, sister-in-law Veronica Anaya said the family remained very scared and upset. "The family is very sad," Anaya told Canal 7, a local TV station in Nogales. "They know she's innocent. She's the mother of seven children and a decent person. She's a Christian. This is an injustice." Mormons reach out . While they anxiously await word from Mexico, family members say they've been turning to their church for strength. The Maldonados are members of a local Mormon ward in Goodyear, Arizona, Klippel said, adding that church leaders at the state and local level have offered spiritual and material support to the family. "I feel very blessed, and I feel how powerful this network is," Klippel said. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as the Mormon church is officially known, has long been active in Mexico and other parts of the world, and is famous for its tight and socially active circles. A Facebook page Klippel and his wife founded to support Yanira Maldonado had garnered more than 12,500 members as of Tuesday afternoon, many of whom are fellow Mormons. A number have offered to connect the Maldonados with Mormon leaders in Mexico or media in the United States. Some in the Facebook group said that they are refraining from eating and drinking for a day on the family's behalf. "To find out that hundreds if not thousands of people are fasting on behalf of my sister and praying to God that this is over soon is very humbling," Klippel said. Former marine released from Mexican prison . CNN's Daniel Burke, Stephanie Kotuby, Devna Shukla and Rene Hernandez contributed to this report. | NEW: Daughter: "She's an honest woman. She's innocent. ... It's not fair"
The hearing to decide whether an Arizona mother will be freed continues Wednesday .
She was on her way back from a family funeral when Mexican authorities arrested her .
The Mexican military say they found drugs under her seat on the bus she was riding in . |
0698fc150eb108db93bb21992451f24d86683a5f | Liverpool are close to sealing the first big-money move of the English close season after agreeing a fee for Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson. The 20-year-old already has an England cap to his name, playing for Fabio Capello's side in a friendly against France in November last year. Henderson is regarded as one of the brightest young talents in the English game and is going to cost the Anfield club a reported fee of $32 million, according to the UK Press Association, with French striker David Ngog going the other way. It shows that Liverpool's American owners, Fenway Sports Group -- who also own Major League baseball team the Boston Red Sox -- are prepared to spend big in the transfer market to try and haul Liverpool back into the English top four. Who will be football's top transfer targets? The club missed out on Champions League football in 2010-11, finishing sixth in the table, and even failed to secure a Europa League place for next season despite an upturn in fortunes after former player Kenny Dalglish returned as manager. A statement on the club's web site read: "Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson. "The 20-year-old will today discuss personal terms and undergo a medical on Merseyside after a fee was agreed between the two clubs." Sunderland also confirmed the news on their web site, a spokesman saying: "A fee has been agreed with Liverpool for Jordan Henderson and he travels to Anfield with the club's blessing." Henderson came through the ranks at Sunderland and made his debut for the club in the Premier League back in 2008. He is due to join up with England's Under-21 squad Wednesday ahead of the European Championships. Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn, a former player at the club, said: "Jordan is a credit to himself, his family and Sunderland's Academy and everyone here wishes him the very best for the future," he said. "I am pleased that we got the deal to a level that we felt was right for our club." Meanwhile, Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has welcomed news that the club have been linked with Blackburn Rovers defender Phil Jones. The 19-year-old is also part of England's Under-21 European Championships squad and made his debut for Rovers in the English League Cup in 2009. Rooney said on his Twitter site: "Phil Jones is a good young English player. One of the toughest defenders I played against last season. Can play midfield too." He later added: "I don't know if Phil Jones is signing for us, just saying he is a good player that's all. I haven't got a clue if he is signing or not." In Germany, Bayern Munich have confirmed the signing of Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer on a five-year contract. "I'm very happy in Germany, I'm the national team goalkeeper, and Bayern Munich is the best club in Germany. That's why I wanted to join Bayern," Neuer told the club's web site. "I know exactly what I want. I'm looking forward to the next five years, and I don't know if it'll just be the five years. I'm sure it could be more." | English club Liverpool agree fee for Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson .
The 20-year-old already has a full England cap to his name .
Manchester United reportedly swoop for Blackburn defender Phil Jones .
Bayern Munich confirm signing of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer from Schalke . |
06995d1c7a27acb787d4e91307fb273fd3e132e1 | Not everybody would feel as relaxed lying in a hammock strung thousands of feet up in the air between mountains. But then these thrill-seekers high up in the northern Italian Alps aren't just anybody. They are members of a group of extreme athletes who have travelled to take part in the International Highline Meeting in Monte Piana, Italy. The inaugural meeting took place in 2012, when Monte Piana was identified as a great place for the sport, easily accessible and with a glorious past and a fairy tale atmosphere. The highliners came together for a week to practice their sport in harmony with nature and without mutual showdown, and it was such a success that now the meeting takes place annually. There are seemingly no end of daredevils who like nothing better than to take up the challenges posed by highwire walking. From natural geographical features such as waterfalls and gorges, to man-made objects such as skyscrapers and suspension bridges, tightrope walkers have attempted to walk across them all - with varying degrees of success. It's a physical accomplishment which is not for the the faint of heart. Not at that altitude anyway. Perhaps they are secretly trying to emulate that great high wire walker Jean Francois Gravelet, alias Charles Blondin, of France, who made the earliest crossing of the Niagara Falls on a three-inch rope 1,100ft long and 160ft above the Falls in 1859. Blondin thereafter made each crossing of the Falls in a different manner: blindfolded; trundling a wheelbarrow; on stilts, once with a man on his back, and once and sitting down halfway to make an omelette. These guys look like cooking a few eggs while they chill out in hammocks wouldn't be far beyond them. Scroll down for video . Just chill out man: A guitarist strums a tune while all around him the high wire experts relax. But how did he get the guitar there? Come join! A highline walker heads towards his compadres who rest in a hammock on webbing stretched between rocks in the Italian Alps . Clingon: An extreme athlete makes the walk across a wire strung between the Italian Alps thousands of feet above ground level . Nearly there: After his long walk across this tightrope enthusiast is almost at the other side . Now get back up there: Losing your footing results in the inevitable, but a small safety rope stops this high wire enthusiast from plummeting to his death . Easy does it: A female highliner walks the line strung between rocks in the Alps as part of the gathering near Misurina in northern Italy . Walk the line: A dramatic shot from low down shows three of the highliners criss crossing the gorge . Cosy in there? This highliner is so happy to be resting in his snug hammock he's catching 40 winks . All tgether now, heave! Highliners tighten the webbings between rocks so they can continue to try new routes across the gorge . That's fairly high! This shot shows just how far above the ground these thrill seekers are as they nonchalantly walk across the webbings . Then three came along all at once: Highliners chat to each other, strung hundreds of feet above the ground . And so to bed: A huddle of tents forms the makeshift village for a week as the highliners get some well-deserved sleep before another day of thrill seeking . | Extreme athletes have gathered for the annual International Highline Meeting in the Italian Alps .
Meetings first began in 2012 when the area was discovered to be perfect for highline enthusiasts .
They spend a week practising their sport in harmony with nature and without competition . |
069b8f4df75169101d5d6ed4e70fb89e1335345d | Animal cruelty charges have been dropped in the case of a pig smuggled into the Gabba sports ground during the last Ashes series. David John Gunn, 33, was charged with animal cruelty after a domestic brown pig was found with its snout taped shut and dressed as a baby in the Gabba stands in Brisbane last November. The case was set to go to trial on Thursday but a prosecutor for the Crown told the Brisbane Magistrates Court no evidence would be offered against Gunn. David John Gunn was cleared of all animal cruelty charges at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday . The 33-year-old had been charged after a pig was found with its snout taped at the Gabba sports ground during the last Ashes series . The case was struck out. Outside court, defence lawyer Kate Clark said her client had always maintained his innocence in the face of 'significant public vilification'. Mr Gunn has always argued that the pig was brought into the sports ground by someone else. The pig named Ash was found dehydrated and stressed after being smuggled into the ground in a baby harness . This was later confirmed by police via CCTV footage according to the Courier Mail. The pig named Ash was found dehydrated and stressed after being smuggled into the ground in a baby harness on day one of the first Ashes test. Ash has since made a full recovery and has been adopted by a Brisbane couple. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | David John Gunn was charged with animal cruelty in November last year .
Domestic brown pig was found at the Gabba sports ground during the last Ashes series .
The pig had his snout taped shut and was severely dehydrated .
Gunn was cleared of all charges and the pig has since recovered . |
069c2052ea4c5da5d2cc6255b0459be7565c87a8 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 11:17 EST, 30 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:46 EST, 30 August 2013 . Two teens in Cypress, Texas believed to have been lured to San Antonio by a mysterious man they met on Facebook turn out to have planned the whole thing. The families of 16-year-old Liana Andrews and 14-year-old Kacie Watson were reunited with their daughters Sunday after they and Andrews' mother's car were reported missing August 16. Originally, they believed that the girls had been lured to San Antonio by a man named 'Shaun Hernandez' that they met on Facebook. Back home: 16-year-old Liana Andrews, left, and 14-year-old Kacie Andrews, right, were returned to their families Sunday after being reported missing for more than a week . Runaways: Police found journals written by the two girls left at home which detail their escape. They also believe that they created a fake Facebook profile for a man in San Antonio to cover their real plan to go to Denver . But it turns out that the two girls created Hernandez' profile in an attempt to cover up their tracks and eventually run away to Denver, Colorado. Their entire plan was written about in journals the two girls kept at their houses. 'They planned the whole trip,' Sergeant Doug Thomas told KHOU. 'We have two different journals - one from each girl. They planned down how far it takes to get from one city to the next. How much gas it takes and they even planned their potty breaks.' For some reason they left these journals behind when they left. The journal entries don't explain why they wanted to go to Denver or for how long. For the entire week that they were missing, their families made public appeals on TV and held vigils at local churches, praying for the girls' safe return. 'This is not a runaway case,' said Liana's mother Lana Turner in a press conference last week. 'My daughter and her friend are in danger. I know that and I want them found.' Eventually their plan faltered when the car they were driving was impounded. Andrews' mother had reported it missing so it was towed. Distraught: Liana's mother Lana Turner was convinced that a man named Shaun Hernandez had lured the two teens to San Antonio and that they were in danger . Discovered: The girls' plan fell apart when their car was impounded after it was reported missing. They were eventually found panhandling for money in a San Antonio parking lot . Investigators believe they left all of their belongings in the car, not knowing that it would be impounded. Desperate for money, the two girls were reported panhandling on a Walmart property in San Antonio. On Sunday, they were returned to their families. Neither will be charged as it's not against the law to runaway in Texas. Sgt Thomas has been investigating missing children cases for 10 years, and he says he's never seen a case like this. 'It was every time we turned the page - we always scratched our heads and couldn't figure out why you would do that.' | Liana Andrews, 16, and Kacie Watson, 14, went missing along with Andrews' mother's car on August 16 .
Their families believed they were lured to San Antonio by a man named Shaun Hernandez they met on Facebook .
Police discovered that Hernandez was just a profile that the two girls created .
They also found journals left behind that detailed their escape - calculating gas prices and scheduling bathroom breaks .
The two girls were eventually tracked down to a San Antonio Walmart after their car was impounded .
They were returned to their families Sunday and face no charges . |
069c53f8da3a3891ec29f1811a097531644d9c40 | (CNN) -- A 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck Saturday in the Mediterranean Sea, some 50 miles (80 kilometers) south southwest of Avsallar, Turkey, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. The quake struck at a relatively shallow depth of 32 miles (51 kilometers) in the seismically active region, it said. Video shot in Antalya and aired by Turkish broadcaster DHA showed chandeliers shaking. Turkey is no stranger to seismic events. A magnitude 7.6 earthquake in Izmit, Turkey, killed more than 17,000 people in 1999, according to the USGS. A magnitude 7.2 tremor in Duzce the same year killed 894 people, the USGS reported. Fast facts: What you need to know about earthquakes . | The 5.8-magnitude quake struck in the Mediterranean Sea .
It was centered some 50 miles (80 km) south southwest of Avsallar, Turkey .
Turkey is located in a seismically active region . |
069d939a11a03bf2d95868cc5a810d5b173f77e9 | (CNN) -- Hurricane Emilia raged into to a Category 4 storm Tuesday, hurling 140 mph winds as it spun across the Pacific Ocean. As of Tuesday morning, Emilia was about 680 miles (1,095 kilometers) south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said. It was traveling west-northwest at about 12 mph. No coastal watches or warnings have been issued due to Emilia, and the hurricane center did not indicate if it is expected to hit or even approach land. Though Emilia's intensity could fluctuate Tuesday, "gradual weakening is expected to begin by tonight and continue through Thursday," the weather agency said Tuesday. Past 12 months warmest recorded in United States . Farther west, the cyclone known as Daniel fizzled from a hurricane to a tropical storm. By 5 a.m. ET Tuesday, Daniel's maximum sustained winds had weakened to 70 mph -- under the 74-mph threshold to qualify as a hurricane, according to the hurricane center. Like Hurricane Emilia, Tropical Storm Daniel did not pose a threat to land, the weather agency said. Daniel was about 1,440 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii, and was moving west at 16 mph. "Gradual weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Daniel could become a tropical depression by Thursday," the National Hurricane Center said. Is the hurricane near you? Share your photos and videos on CNN iReport, but please stay safe. | NEW: Hurricane Emilia whips maximum sustained winds of about 140 mph .
NEW: The cyclone known as Daniel fizzles from a hurricane to a tropical storm .
Weather agency: Neither Emilia nor Daniel currently pose a threat to land .
Both the hurricane and the tropical storm are expected to weaken through Thursday . |
069d9e30d6e93942101799e50f49578a29a40b39 | By . Kerry Mcdermott . PUBLISHED: . 07:59 EST, 4 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:04 EST, 4 November 2012 . A couple have told of their horror after discovering an earwig inside a sealed bag of bread rolls picked up on their weekly supermarket shop. Jane Naisbett, who bought the rolls at an Asda Superstore in Sunderland while shopping with her partner Gary MacPhail, said she was 'terrified' when she spotted the bug as she prepared to make some sandwiches. 'If I was partially sighted I might have eaten it,' the 53-year-old said. Shock: The couple say there is no way the earwig could have got into the bag after they brought it home as it was still completely sealed . The disgusted couple, from Hendon in Sunderland, complained to the store on the Leechmere Road Industrial Estate, but Asda bosses say they could not fully investigate because the pair did not leave the item with them. An inspection has since been carried out at the bakery but the supermarket said it found no evidence of insects. Ms Naisbett and her partner Mr MacPhail, a 47-year-old council worker, said they bought the rolls fresh on Monday and put them straight into their freezer when they got home. After removing them to defrost on Wednesday the couple say they found the earwig lurking inside the bag. Disgust: Gary MacPhail and Jane Naisbett, seen with the bread rolls, say they will be taking their business elsewhere . Mr MacPhail said: 'Jane lifted out the pack of rolls to make some sandwiches and when they had defrosted there was earwig inside the bag. 'The bag is still completely sealed, there's no way it could have got in there,' he added. Mr MacPhail claims he was offered a £5 voucher after taking the rolls back to Asda - although the store insists he was offered a £10 voucher as a goodwill gesture. His partner said she would be taking her business elsewhere. 'I've shopped there for over 20 years,' Ms Naisbett said. 'But I won't be setting foot in there again.' An Asda spokesman said: 'The quality of our products is our number one priority and we take any customer complaints incredibly seriously. 'We are at a loss to understand how this could have happened and unfortunately we were not given the opportunity to look at this product or investigate it properly. 'However, a thorough inspection of our bakery has found no evidence of any pests,' the spokesman added. | Jane Naisbett and Gary MacPhail bought the pack of four bread rolls at an Asda Superstore in Sunderland .
Pair claim they spotted the earwig after taking the sealed bag from the freezer to make sandwiches .
Asda store has said a full inspection of its bakery found no evidence of pests . |
069e16b6cbb1927a212cc2e3fca7097758fed03b | The Christmas Day revelations of life for German prisoners of war in 1917 were contained in the diary of German Army officer Johannes Rienau . It was a Christmas Day to savour. A festive feast including game and lobster, a sing song amongst friends relaxing in front of a cosy fire and of course the giving of gifts. Astonishingly, this was how German prisoners of war spent Christmas in 1917 at a luxurious camp in the Yorkshire Dales. While their comrades were being slaughtered in the trenches, the captured soldiers enjoyed snow ball fights, tobogganing and even ‘yodelling.’ For the 500 or so men held at Breary Banks camp at Colsterdale, the terrors of the Western Front were quickly forgotten. Fascinating details of life in the cushy camp have emerged througha long lost journal kept by German Army officer Johannes Rienau. He joined up in 1915, aged 19, and was taken prisoner in April 1917. Rienau soon discovered life as a prisoner was far better. Instead of fighting, prisoners indulged in a variety of leisure activities. As well as music, art classes and a library of 800 books, there were football, hockey and volleyball matches on the prison sports field. The camp was for officers – along with some orderlies to tend to their needs – and they weren’t put to work at all. Christmas was a magical time. Rienau wrote: ‘Outside there still lies deep and gleaming snow. This morning on the way to breakfast all stood spellbound at the splendid scene. It was a snowscape more glittering, brilliant and stirring than I have ever seen. ‘Snow ball fights carry on. In the south of the camp, tobogganing is taking place with much yodeling with primitive sleds or benches or tables. The snow balling has so far cost us a number of window panes.’ Christmas Day began in the early hours when a ‘quartet of orderlies gave a serenade to the whole camp.’ The soldier recorded how the camp commandant greeted prisoners at morning roll call with: ‘I wish you all a merry Christmas.’ On Boxing Day he wrote how they had spent Christmas in front of coal fires in their huts. ‘Having a rest – doing nothing,’ he recorded. ‘On Christmas Eve, one of my comrades finally received his guitar from his aunt in London. So yesterday morning we played in time together from the new guitar book.’ Lunch for the inmates comprised of ‘game with red cabbage and other fine things.’ These included Stollen – a traditional German fruit cake – and coffee. There was more to come. Rienau wrote: ‘On Christmas Day evening, we dined once more to excess – lobster in mayonnaise, spinach and scrambled egg, bread, cheese, and dripping and a cup of coffee. Then presentation of gifts to the orderlies.’ Regular food parcels from home also kept the prisoners supplied with chocolate cake, cocoa, honey, sweets, stock cubes, sugar and flour to supplement their generous prisoner rations. The officers even had their own camp bakery and vegetable plots on site. There were plenty of activities to exercise both body and mind. Rienau continued: ‘My body has been put back to rights. Volleyball in the morning, football in the afternoon.’ He also wrote: ‘After morning parade, I fought out a match of the long running chess tournament. The first game was lost the second was won with checkmate. ‘Outside hockey is being played. I have only taken part one so far, as goalkeeper.’ Dr Jonathan Finch, of York University, who has been piecing together the history of the Breary Banks camp at Colsterdale, said it was the best camp in the country in terms of lifestyle and conditions . Set on grassy slopes in picturesque countryside, the camp was originally set up in 1903 for 700 workers constructing local reservoirs. The Leeds Pals Regiment was posted there early in World War One before it became a POW camp. Dr Jonathan Finch, of York University, who has been piecing together the history of the site, said it was the best camp in the country in terms of lifestyle and conditions. He said: ‘It had piped water, electric lights and it was like a mini town or village, with all the mod cons of the time.’ When the first German prisoners arrived in January 1917 ‘they were virtually starving,’ he said. ‘There were two distinct types of officer. There were those who were very eager to find out how the war was going. But there was another group, including artists and musicians, who were glad to be out of the fray.’ A Red Cross report in 1917 stated ‘a certain chivalrous attitude is maintained between the British officers and the prisoners’ and named it as the ‘best camp’ for officer POWs in the country. After the Armistice, Rienau became a tutor and then took up ecclesiastical work back in Germany. His diary was inherited by Chris Taylor, from York, the grandson of one of the prison guards. He had the hand-written diary translated into English and later returned it to Rienau’s three children back in Germany - where the former soldier had died in 1971. | The revelations were in a long lost journal kept by a German Army officer .
Christmas Day began with a quartet of orderlies serenading the camp .
Prisoners attended art classes and had access to a library of 800 books .
They also competed in football, hockey and volleyball matches . |
069eb764fa0ed896043131caf1919d5fc5b4b70a | By . Daily Mail Reporter . UPDATED: . 05:58 EST, 2 August 2011 . The first close-up images of the massive asteroid Vesta have revealed a northern hemisphere littered with craters - including a trio nicknamed 'Snowman' - and a smoother southern half. Running along the asteroid's equator are deep grooves - a surprise to scientists who did not expect to see such features. Chief scientist Christopher Russell, of the University of California, Los Angeles, said last night: 'We're seeing quite a varied surface.' Scroll down for video . Rough terrain: A set of three craters - nicknamed 'Snowman' - are seen in this image of the northern hemisphere of Vesta taken by Nasa's orbiting Dawn spacecraft from a distance of about 3,200miles . The images were taken by Nasa's Dawn spacecraft, which began orbiting the 330mile-wide rocky body last month and has now started to beam back incredible surface details that the team is only beginning to pore over. It is the first time that Vesta has been viewed up close. Until now, it has only been photographed from afar. Since entering orbit, Dawn has taken more than 500 images, while refining its path and inching ever closer to the surface to get a better view. The probe will officially start collecting science data next week once it is 1,700miles from the surface. It will get as close as 110miles while it orbits Vesta for a year. Up close: Dawn began orbiting the 330mile-wide rocky body last month and has now started to beam back incredible surface details . An artist's impression of the Dawn spacecraft orbiting Vesta . Vesta's southern section is dominated by . a giant crater, the result of a collision eons ago that is believed to . have pelted Earth with numerous meteorites, or broken off pieces of . asteroids. The northern side is filled with older craters including three that scientists have dubbed 'Snowman'. Vesta . is 'so rich in features' that it will keep scientists busy for years, . said Holger Sierks, of the Max Planck Society in Germany, who helped to . operate the camera. Currently some 117million miles from . Earth, Vesta is the second-largest resident of the asteroid belt, a zone . between Mars and Jupiter filled with hundreds of thousands of space . rocks orbiting the sun. The belt formed some 4.5billion years ago, around the same time and under similar conditions as Earth and the inner planets. It . is thought that larger chunks such as Vesta could have merged into . planets had they not been foiled by Jupiter's gravity. Despite being . denied planethood, asteroids are of interest to researchers because they . date back to the early solar system. Powered . by ion propulsion instead of conventional rocket fuel, Dawn slid around . Vesta on July 15 after a 1.7billion-mile cruise. Most orbit insertions . are tricky because a speeding craft has to slow down or risk . overshooting its target. Since Dawn has been travelling slow relative to Vesta, the orbit capture was a ho-hum event. 'It wasn't dramatic, but it is exciting,' said chief engineer Marc Rayman, of Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Launched . in 2007, Dawn is the first mission to explore Vesta and Ceres, the two . largest members of the asteroid belt. It is also the largest . interplanetary probe launched by Nasa, measuring 64ft tip-to-tip with . its solar panels unfurled. Unprecedented: It is the first time that Vesta has been viewed up close. Until now, it has only been photographed from afar . Though . the $466million project was conceived long before the U.S. decided to . send astronauts to an asteroid by 2025, the data gathered by Dawn should . help future manned missions. After a year, Dawn will move on to Ceres, where it will arrive in 2015. Unlike dry and rocky Vesta, Ceres is icy and may have frost-covered poles. Due to the possible presence of frozen water, Dawn will not be able to venture as close to Ceres' surface for fear of contaminating the asteroid. The team does not plan to post raw images online as other Nasa missions have done. Instead, there will be just one picture released daily. Press conference (from left): Colleen Hartman, Nasa Washington; Christopher Russell, UCLA; Marc Rayman, Dawn chief engineer and mission manager; Holger Sierks, framing camera team, Max Planck Society; Enrico Flamini, chief scientist, Italian Space Agency . | Since entering orbit last month, Dawn has taken more than 500 images .
Vesta's southern section is dominated by a giant crater .
The northern side is filled with older craters including three that scientists have dubbed 'Snowman' |
069f8994510aea9d7ff563ded9cf15d812e5037c | (Health.com) -- Electroshock therapy today bears little resemblance to its lurid depictions in Hollywood dramas like "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." For decades psychiatrists have used shock therapy to treat cases of depression that haven't been helped by antidepressant medications, and in recent years the treatment -- now known as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) -- has experienced something of a revival. Roughly 100,000 people in the U.S. now receive it each year. The future of ECT is in doubt, however. On Thursday, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel will meet to consider whether the machines used in ECT should be more tightly regulated than they are now. If the advisory panel votes for more oversight -- and if the FDA follows the panel's advice, as it usually does -- some experts fear that access to the treatment will be curtailed. Health.com: Hysteria, demons, and more: depression throughout history . ECT machines are currently in a strictly controlled category of medical devices that includes pacemakers and prosthetic joints. As with prescription drugs, devices in this class must be approved by the FDA before they can be used on patients. But because ECT devices were already in use when the FDA put those rules in place about 35 years ago, they were exempted from the approval process. The FDA is now revisiting the status of the devices. The agency can leave ECT devices in their current class and require manufacturers to provide evidence of safety and effectiveness, which may entail new clinical trials and could temporarily limit the devices' use. Or it can rely on existing evidence and reclassify the devices to a less restrictive category that includes ultrasound machines, motorized wheelchairs, and contact-lens solution. That option would give ECT devices a pass and ensure that they remain available to doctors. The impending FDA action has reawakened the debate surrounding this controversial treatment for depression and other mental disorders. More than 1,500 organizations and individuals have filed formal comments with the FDA. Health.com: 10 things to say (and not say) to someone with depression . The American Psychiatric Association (APA) and scores of individual psychiatrists have expressed support for permanently easing the restrictions on ECT devices, because they worry that manufacturers of ECT devices may lack the funds, time, or motivation to meet new FDA requirements (by conducting new research, for instance). "It may be a major disaster," says Max Fink, MD, a professor emeritus of psychiatry and neurology at Stony Brook University Medical Center, in New York, who researched and performed ECT for 45 years. "If they want an extensive review of safety and efficacy, that means somebody has to pay for it. It becomes a very expensive proposition and there is nobody to do it unless the government supports it. The manufacturers are all small companies in the U.S. There's no General Electric for ECT devices." On the other side, patients' rights organizations and advocacy groups such as the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) have urged the FDA not to hastily reclassify ECT devices. Those groups argue that the treatment and the potential side effects -- such as memory loss and brain damage -- are serious enough to merit a thorough review. Health.com: 7 types of therapy that can help depression . And for good measure, the Church of Scientology and related anti-psychiatry groups have joined the fray, calling for an outright ban on ECT and flooding the FDA with comments that call the treatment "barbaric," "evil," and "criminal." The evolution of shock therapy . ECT was first used on a human patient in Italy in 1938, after preliminary experiments in dogs and pigs. The treatment involves delivering electric currents to the brain in order to induce a seizure, which, in turn, seems to alleviate depression. (No one knows exactly how ECT works.) Early ECT treatments were more primitive than those used today, and in some cases they did cause harm to patients, including memory loss, burns from the electrodes placed on the patient's skull, and bone fractures resulting from violent muscle contractions during the seizure. These grisly scenes are now a thing of the past, advocates of the treatment say, thanks to improvements in devices and protocols. "We have not had an injury of any kind from ECT in years," Dr. Fink says. An ECT session generally lasts no more than 10 to 20 minutes, and the bulk of that time is spent waiting for the general anesthesia to kick in and wear off. The electrical current is on for a few seconds or less, and the seizure lasts for about 20 to 60 seconds, says D.P. Devanand, MD, director of geriatric psychiatry at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, in New York City. Health.com: What ECT feels like . The procedure is relatively drama-free. General anesthesia tends to shorten the seizures, and doctors now give patients muscle relaxants that reduce spasms and even "visible movement," says Dr. Devanand, who ran Columbia's ECT Service for 15 years. The placement of the electrodes has also been refined, making ECT much safer, according to William Narrow, MD, the APA's associate director of research. "ECT does not cause brain damage," Dr. Devanand says. "Memory loss today is very limited in most cases, and the loss is patchy and primarily for events during and just before and following the ECT course. So the patient may not remember one of the nurses on the ward but will recognize the other nurses." The treatment is very effective in the short term, Dr. Narrow says. Roughly 80% to 95% of patients experience a full remission from their depression symptoms, he estimates, although some patients need repeat sessions to keep their severe depression from coming back. And unlike antidepressants, which can take weeks to kick in, some patients start experiencing improvement after their first one or two ECT treatments. Health.com: 10 surprising facts about antidepressants . A charged debate . In 2009, the U.S. Government Accountability Office, which investigates and audits government agencies, urged the FDA to lift the grandfather clause that exempted ECT devices (and many other types of devices) from the FDA approval process. Disability and mental health advocates welcomed this development as an opportunity for ECT to receive a long-overdue review of its safety and effectiveness. If the devices are reclassified, on the other hand, "the rigorous scientific safety investigation of these devices may never take place -- preventing patients from making informed choices about their treatment," the DBSA wrote in a 2009 letter to the FDA. But the APA and other supporters of reclassification claim that ECT has been researched enough to address these concerns. "We have a growing body of evidence to support the fact that ECT is safe and effective," Dr. Narrow says. "We think it would be a waste of money and effort to go through a new application process, because the amount of research that's already been done in the past 30 years is so great." Nancy Koenigsberg, the legal director of Disability Rights New Mexico, one of many independent statewide disability agencies that have lined up against the reclassification of ECT devices, questions the quality of the existing research. "There are concerns about who's done [the] studies and whether they are, in fact, appropriate scientific studies or whether they're pushed by the APA or pushed by manufacturers," Koenigsberg says. "We're calling into question...whether the studies are, in fact, unbiased studies." The FDA's neurological devices advisory panel is scheduled to discuss ECT devices on January 27 and 28. An official decision from the FDA will come later. Copyright Health Magazine 2010 . | Roughly 100,000 people in the U.S. now receive ECT each year .
FDA meeting to consider whether machines used in ECT should be more tightly regulated .
Critics say treatment and potential side effects are serious enough to merit review . |
06a048030966a72e9463390ab3ac7a1d78c6f51c | (CNN) -- A Michigan teenager pleaded guilty Monday in the mob beating of a 54-year-old grandfather after he inadvertently struck a child with his truck in April, according to a news release from the Wayne County Prosecutor's office. Bruce Wimbush, 18, pleaded guilty to assault with intent to do great bodily harm, according to the news release. Wimbush admitted in court Monday that he punched the driver, Steven Utash, in the jaw and was among a "large group of people" that attacked the man in April. The teen told Judge James Callahan that after seeing Utash hit a child, he "got emotional" and his anger took over, according to CNN affiliate WDIV. "I have a little brother and when I saw the kid, all I could see at the time was my little brother," Wimbush said, according to WDIV. The charge was reduced by prosecutors from assault with intent to murder with the agreement that Wimbush will testify in future proceedings related to the assault, the release said. Three other adult suspects are charged with attempted murder in the attack while a fourth, a juvenile, is charged with assault and ethnic intimidation. They are scheduled to appear in court this week, according to the prosecutor's office. Wimbush will be sentenced on July 7 and faces up to 10 years in prison, according to the prosecutor's office. Utash, the driver, was hospitalized in a coma after the attack. He returned home in May after spending more than six weeks in a hospital and rehabilitation center, according to a "Help Steven Utash" Facebook page post. The boy struck by Utash's vehicle was treated for a leg injury at a local hospital and then was released home, according to the prosecutor's office. Severely beaten Detroit driver discharged after 6 weeks . Daughter of severely beaten Detroit driver says he's breathing on his own . 'Race is being looked at' as a possible motive in attack on Detroit driver . CNN's Stephanie Gallman and Kevin Conlon contributed to this report. | An 18-year-old pleads guilty in a mob attack on a Detroit driver .
The driver had hit a child in an accident .
Bruce Wimbush says he got "emotional" after seeing child hit, he then hit the driver .
Wimbush pleads guilty to lesser charge in exchange for testifying against others in case . |
06a0506a90c6dcd7f3217ff3a61b319190720906 | By . Rosie Taylor . PUBLISHED: . 12:20 EST, 29 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:56 EST, 30 April 2013 . IF you are looking to buy a home, an area with good transport links, decent schools and low crime usually tops the wish list. But homebuyers might also want to find out if there are any plans to open a Waitrose in the neighbourhood. A branch of the upmarket store near your home could boost prices by up to 50 per cent, according to estate agents. Premium: Having a branch of Waitrose in a postcode can add up to 50 per cent to the value of homes, according to research by Savills . They examined how the cost of homes with a Waitrose in the same postcode compared to those in the rest of the same county. The verdict was that the typical price of properties with a nearby branch was 25.3 per cent higher. For example, a home in Amersham, which has a neighbourhood Waitrose, typically costs £456,000, while the average for Buckinghamshire is £360,000. The situation is even more extreme in London, where a local branch can add an astonishing 50.3 per cent to average prices. Most expensive: The top 20 locations with the highest 'Waitrose premium' all have house prices at least 40 per cent above their local county average . ‘Our analysis identifies a very clear . house price premium in Waitrose store locations,’ said Sophie Chick, a . research analyst at Savills, which carried out the study. ‘It is . difficult to state with certainty that a Waitrose opening will boost . prices. But it is clear that buyers should expect to pay significantly . more for their home if they wish to have a store on their doorstep.’ She looked at Waitrose branches which have opened in the past five years and house prices in the same ‘postcode district’. These are locations which share the same first half of a postcode, such as SW3 or GU7. Miss Chick admitted there was ‘no real answer’ to whether Waitrose ‘gentrifies’ areas or if the chain only opens in areas which are already upmarket and so more expensive. The findings come as figures from the Land Registry showed that house prices in London are rising by £90 a day. But, in stark contrast, they are falling in most other towns and cities, including Birmingham, Bradford, Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester. In the capital, the average home costs £374,568 after jumping 9.6 per cent in the last year. That is equal to an increase of £32,809 since March last year. Of properties selling for more than £1million in England and Wales, roughly two-thirds were in London. Around 13 homes every day change hands for more than £1million in the capital, according to the Land Registry. In Liverpool, house prices fell 4 per cent since March last year. The average home used to cost £93,514 but its value dropped to £89,974, a fall of £3,540 or nearly £10 a day. In Middlesbrough, prices fell 16.5 per cent. Overall, the Land Registry said the average house price in England and Wales is £161,793, up 0.9 per cent over the last year. Peter Rollings, chief executive of estate agency Marsh & Parsons, said the capital continued ‘to operate in another realm’. Giles Hannah, managing director of upmarket estate agency VanHan, said: ‘International buyers, particularly from Asia, are fuelling demand.’ He said a weak pound meant they could reap big discounts on prices. | Houses near a Waitrose are 25 per cent higher .
Effect most marked in London and Cheshire . |
06a096dc7f292d4fa00ac13906fb0940773c71c0 | (CNN) -- Newly elected Egyptian ministers held their first parliamentary session this week, almost a year to the day after the start of historic protests in the capital led to the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak. But for all the bravery and resilience the demonstrators showed by withstanding a brutal crackdown as they sang, waved flags and held candlelight vigils for 18 days, the movement began many years before. "Being in the square, just feeling that energy, was one of the greatest experiences of my life," said Ashraf Khalil, an Egyptian-American journalist who was standing among the protesters when news broke February 11 that Mubarak had decided to resign. "It felt like a roar but also a kind of relief, an enormous release of years of frustration and struggle." In his new book, "Liberation Square: Inside the Egyptian Revolution and the Rebirth of a Nation," Khalil explains some of the events that quietly laid the foundation for the uprising. He also predicts what may be ahead for Egypt in 2012 as unprecedented elections take place, likely prompting more protests and violence. "There's one camp that's throwing up their hands and saying, 'Oh, the revolution hasn't brought us anything,' " Khalil said. Are you there? Share your thoughts on the anniversary of the uprising. But many Egyptians, particularly older, experienced activists who lived through decades of oppression under Mubarak's rule, are far more optimistic. "They argue that this process, as messy as it may be, is a victory in itself," he said. "This is a generation that believes this is democracy in progress." Khalil's parents emigrated from Egypt in the late 1960s to get their doctorate degrees in the United States. In their home in suburban Chicago, his parents spoke Arabic, but Khalil picked up almost none of it. But as he got older and considered becoming a journalist, he yearned to know more about his family's background and more about Egypt. While studying at Indiana University, he went to Cairo for a year on a study-abroad program. "I got the place in my blood and always thought about coming back," he recalled. After graduation and a few years at a newspaper in Indiana, Khalil moved to Cairo in 1997 to work as a freelance reporter. He had barely unpacked his bags and settled in when a terrorist attack turned the world's focus on Egypt. Fifty-eight foreign tourists were killed when Islamist gunmen invaded a poorly guarded temple across the River Nile from Luxor. The Luxor massacre, Khalil writes, was an important first stone in the path to January 2011. It crippled whatever sympathy some Egyptians might have had toward Islamic militant groups, and it launched the career of Habib al-Adly, who became interior minister under Mubarak. Photos: Looking back at Egypt's uprising . At the time of the Luxor massacre, Egyptian police were given a blank check to go after Islamist groups. But the force also became something much darker, an "unchecked and unchallenged" authority that bullied Egyptians of all backgrounds. The police spied on and intimidated newspaper editors, business leaders, university professors and judges. "You heard anger boiling up about the police from every corner of Egyptian life, but it was hushed because there was such intense fear," Khalil said. Al-Adly is believed to be Mubarak's right-hand man in the security forces' violent actions against protesters. Despite being beaten, tear-gassed and shot at, demonstrators rallied, specifically demanding al-Adly's dismissal. In February, just weeks after Mubarak was ousted, Egypt froze al-Adly's bank accounts, banned him from traveling and arrested him. He was sentenced in May to 12 years in prison for money laundering and abuse of office. Mubarak, meanwhile, is on trial in Egypt, accused of corruption and ordering the deaths of protesters. The former president suddenly fell ill after his resignation. Watching him get wheeled into the courtroom on a stretcher, Khalil is reminded of the Mubarak of 1999, who ran an over-the-top campaign to remain in office. It was a joke, the journalist said, because Mubarak was the only candidate on the ticket. "I was witness to so many fake elections, but (this election) was like Stanlinist level of worship, like something you'd see in North Korea. All the billboards and the newspapers were filled with (photos and editorials) venerating this guy," Khalil said. "It didn't reflect the way people really felt." The propaganda was all the more fascinating because it served as a backdrop for small protests against the regime that popped up throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s. Several took place on Cairo University's campus. The demonstrations focused on foreign policy issues involving Israel, and government security quickly disbanded them. Those moments of protest never caught on in other parts of the country, or gelled much with anyone outside the university, because the demonstrators failed to agree on a unified message, Khalil writes. Some wanted to call out Mubarak by name, while others profoundly feared doing that. Islamist protesters wanted the focus to remain entirely on Israel, leaving the president out of it. 2011's uprising was successful, many observers agreed, because demonstrators were on the same page about what they wanted and how to get it. "Liberation Square" delves into a forgotten but highly significant footnote in the protests in Egypt. On the night that the United States led the invasion of Iraq in 2003, a crowd gathered in Tahrir Square to rally against Mubarak's allowing U.S. ships to take position in the Suez Canal. Against the odds, the demonstrators overwhelmed security forces sent to disperse them and tore down a huge poster of Mubarak outside an office of his National Democratic Party. Wael Khalil, a longtime Egyptian activist who helped fuel 2011's movement, was at that rally. He remembers the night in "Liberation Square." "The tone of anti-Mubarak sentiment and the focus on the question of democracy really started then," Wael Khalil said. "It started with 'Down with America' and turned to 'Down with Mubarak.' " For the rest of the decade, there were more fits and starts of protests and crackdowns while dissident expression took root in the arts and pop culture. Disgust with the regime's enforcement of sexual purity was mocked by a farcical movie that became an underground hit about young people going around Cairo trying to find a secret place to watch a porno. A novel that mocked Egypt's class system became a best-seller and was made into a film. But the tipping point for 2011's revolution came just as it had in the preceding Tunisian revolution: with the death of a young person pushed to extraordinary action. Khaled Said, a 28-year-old computer wiz, was arrested in June 2010 by Egyptian police while he sat at an Internet café in Alexandria. Witnesses said police beat him to death. A postmortem picture of his mangled face was posted on the Web and went viral. "Liberation Square" includes intimate interviews with Said's close friends, activists inspired by his death, witnesses to the night Said died and bloggers who repeatedly posted a picture of a living, handsome Said next to his morgue photo. In October, two Egyptian police officers were found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to seven years for Said's death. The pictures of Said are still fresh in most Egyptians' memory. "I think a lot of Egyptians are just exhausted. They are weary. They are realizing this is the first year mark of a 10-year process," Khalil said. "But what they did, and what they want to do, is still clear." Khalil says elections in 2012 will almost certainly inspire more protests and clashes between authorities and the people, seen most vividly in November and December. Economically, Egyptians will continue to struggle as tourism and foreign investment wanes. "There shouldn't be a rush to decide what will happen in Egypt," he said. "I'm confident, and I think Tahrir showed us, that Egyptians have an incredible determination to get it right." | One year ago January 25, protesters began gathering in Tahrir Square .
Egyptian-American reporter says that many events over years led to uprising .
Ashraf Khalil: Many in Egypt say current struggle is "victory in itself" |
06a0bd80f6ccf863459c8779187e96fa880aa098 | By . John Greechan . Click here to see the final leaderboard from Royal Liverpool . It was certainly a respectable defence from a champion who enjoyed his victory as much as any of his illustrious predecessors. If Phil Mickelson could not quite muster the game needed to retain the Claret Jug, the fact that he did more than just hang around for four days – almost cracking the top 20 – meant a great deal. As for how it felt to be leaving Hoylake knowing that someone else had just taken his crown? Well, in true Californian style, the ultra-positive Mickelson merely sees it as the ideal motivation to reclaim the title he values so dearly – when The Open returns to the Home of Golf in 12 months’ time. Asked for the exact location of the empty spot where the trophy had spent the last year, Mickelson laughed as he said: ‘My heart … Yeah, I just kind of carried it around. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Phil Mickelson: My game's not far off where it needs to be . Respectable: Phil Mickelson made a gallant defence of his Open crown to push for a top-20 place . Positive reception: The Hoylake crowd gave Mickelson warm applause as he finished his final round . Strong finish: The American left-hander ended his tournament on five-under at Hoylake . ‘It is hard to leave here without it. But it’s a good motivating factor for me, knowing how great it felt to . win this tournament – and makes me want to work harder and get ready and . prepared for St. Andrews next year. ‘I . can’t think of a better site or golf course to win any tournament ever . than St Andrews. And to have The Open back is a great opportunity. And . I’ll be working hard to try to get it back.’ Revealing . the details of a conversation with R&A chief executive Peter Dawson . at the back of the 18th green on Sunday, Lefty said: ‘He was just . thanking me - and I was thanking him for a great year. We’ve been in . touch a lot this year and he’s been terrific. ‘He’s done such a great job with the R&A. And it’s been fun representing him, the R&A and The Open Championship. ‘Coming . here, I played about as well as I could. I didn’t score quite as well . as I could, but I played about as well as I could. In looking at the . lead going into today’s round, from the way that I teed off on Thursday . and Friday, I was only a few shots off the lead. And I think that shows . that my game is not far off. ‘To win this tournament you need to not only play great golf, but you need to have a few breaks and you need to have luck.’ Under the weather: Mickelson did not do enough over his four rounds to challenge the leaderboard . While . Mickelson, who shot a 68 to finish five-under and tied 23rd for the . tournament, hopes to mount another challenge next summer in the Kingdom . of Fife, the achievement of Rory McIlroy in winning his third major . has some predicting a new era of domination by the young . Northern Irishman. Cautioning . against getting carried away, the 44-year-old said: ‘Well, you never . can discount it - we used to say there will never be another Nicklaus, . and then along came Tiger. You never want to discount the possibility of . someone coming along and dominating. ‘But . nobody has really asserted themselves week in and week out the way . Tiger did for such a long period of time. We’ll have great performances, . like Rory this week. Like Martin Kaymer at the U.S. Open, and so forth. But it’s very hard to do that week in and week out the way Tiger did. That’s why it was so impressive what he did.’ All smiles: He has vowed to return better next year for The Open at St Andrews . | Mickelson finished tied for 23rd after going in as defending champion .
The American memorably mounted a late charge on the final day in 2013 .
But the left-hander was unable to retain his title at Hoylake .
He shot a final-round 68 in a gallant push to crack the top-20 .
He described his final score of five-under-par as 'disappointing' but promised to increase his efforts to win The Open at St Andrews next year . |
06a16b15f15b450b3d69d02cc958eb099c1ffa56 | A couple whose £1,000 holiday to Tenerife was ruined by building work have been awarded a full refund by Thomson - after originally been offered a £30 holiday voucher. Jordan Pedelty and Dee Kimmings, from Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire, say they were woken at 7am every morning by drilling and banging at the Columbus Aparthotel, Playa de las Americas, Tenerife. When booking the week-long holiday with Thomson, the couple say they were not warned about any building works taking place at the resort during their break. Scroll down for video . Jordan Pedelty and Dee Kimmings have now been awarded a full refund for their ruined Tenerife holiday . After MailOnline Travel reported yesterday on the holiday company's paltry offer to compensate a holiday from hell, the travel company has agreed to a full refund. 'It's unbelievable really, I'm just so pleased we have finally got the money back,' a Mr Pedelty said.. 'They have said they will transfer the full amount, and we have 28 days to accept the offer, which we will. 'It's the right thing in the end; we had already booked another holiday for the six-week (school) holidays in the summer, so this will really help with that.' Mr Pedelty's anger grew when he found other holidaymakers had received a discount due to the work . Mr Pedelty snapped the builders in action at the Columbus Aparthotel, Playa de las Americas . Mr Pedelty added: 'There was banging and drilling, it was just a nightmare. If you've had a night out you don't want to be woken at 7am. 'We couldn't even go to the pool because it was too noisy. 'What made it worse was when we were chatting to other holidaymakers they, they all said they were told about the building work and had got a reduced price because of it. 'That just made us feel even worse.' Other guests at the Columbus Aparthotel were warned in advance of the building works . Builders were snapped by Mr Pedelty as he tried to relax by the pool with his partner . Around 30-40 rooms at the Columbus Aparthotel were being worked on, according to Mr Pedelty . Mr Pedelty estimates that 30-40 rooms were being renovated during their trip - and he took photographs of the work being carried out and also took footage which captures the noise. After contacting Thomson to complain about the noise that disrupted their stay, Mr Pedelty claims they were originally offered £30 in holiday vouchers. A gesture from the Thomson shop in the Kingsgate Centre in Huddersfield topped this up to £130 in total, and then an offer of £300 was made. A spokesperson told MailOnline Travel: 'Thomson is sorry to hear that Mr Pedelty was unhappy with his holiday accommodation in Tenerife. 'Unfortunately, due to a system error, notification of the building work was not sent to Mr Pedelty prior to departure. However, every effort was made to position him in a room as far away from any disruption as possible. We are in contact with Mr Pedelty directly to resolve his complaint. 'We would like to reassure customers that this hotel remains a popular choice with guests.' . | Jordan Pedelty and Dee Kimmings say holiday was ruined from the start .
Building work began at 7am every morning - but couple weren't warned .
After original offer of '£30 holiday vouchers', Thomson have backed down .
Couple from West Yorkshire will be refunded full amount of £1,000 . |
06a1d82806b1d1cbf5018824883b6766c467c40f | Port-Au-Prince, Haiti (CNN) -- Extraordinary drama unfolded Tuesday in Port-au-Prince as charges were filed against former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier, government sources told CNN. It was not immediately clear what the charges were. A judge will have 30 days to investigate and decide whether the accusations merit moving forward with a case against Duvalier. Earlier in the day, the former leader was taken into custody at his hotel and transported to a downtown courthouse for a hearing. After hours of questioning, Duvalier was allowed to return to his hotel. A flurry of intense legal activity preceded Duvalier's emergence from the Karibe Hotel, where he had been since his mysterious return to Haiti on Sunday. His hands free of handcuffs, he made his way down three flights of stairs and waved to a small crowd of supporters before heavily armed police escorted him away in a waiting white van. Outside the hotel in the swanky suburb of Petionville, throngs of journalists had waited for Duvalier's appearance amid speculation that the former despot would be arrested. Several hundred people lined the downhill road from Petionville to downtown Port-au-Prince to show support. Some held photos of Duvalier when he was in his prime and banners. Duvalier shocked the world by returning to his homeland Sunday night after some 25 years of exile in France. He is accused of pillaging the country, siphoning money from Haiti's treasury into his family's pockets during his rule, which ended with a popular rebellion in 1986. Human rights groups have sounded a call for justice for atrocities committed during his 15 years of rule. Under Duvalier's presidency, thousands were killed and tortured, and hundreds of thousands of Haitians fled into exile, according to Human Rights Watch. Michele Montas, a Haitian journalist who has fought for democracy and is a former spokeswoman for the United Nations secretary-general, said Monday night that she plans to file a criminal complaint against Duvalier. "We have enough proof. There are enough people who can testify. And what I will do is go to a public prosecutor, and there is a public prosecutor that could actually accommodate our complaints," she said on CNN's "Parker Spitzer." The United Nations said Tuesday that Duvalier's presence in Haiti had taken the global body by surprise and it "clearly raises issues of impunity and accountability." Rupert Colville, a spokesman for the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said a range of human rights abuses and corruption issues surround Duvalier. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice told reporters Tuesday she hoped for a peaceful resolution to the tensions in Haiti. "I think that it is clearly a tense and fragile time in Haiti, given the unresolved issues around the election, given the cholera epidemic, and it's certainly in the interests of the people of Haiti for there to be peaceful and cooperative efforts to resolve the outstanding issues related to the elections," she said. It's still unclear why Duvalier decided to go back to Haiti, and speculation is mounting over what he hopes to accomplish. His presence certainly added to a bubbling cauldron of political turmoil sparked by a presidential election mired in controversy. "Obviously this is an important and crucial time for the people of Haiti," said White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. "Any political leader or any former political leader should focus not only on him or herself, but on making progress towards a set of important elections," Gibbs said, adding that such people should dedicate "their time and their energy toward the reconstruction of the country." Journalist Amy Wilentz, author of "The Rainy Season: Haiti Since Duvalier," said the "Baby Doc" media circus was taking the focus off Haiti's leadership crisis. "It's a giant sideshow to the electoral debate," she said. Preliminary results of the November 28 election placed former first lady Mirlande Manigat in a runoff with Jude Celestin, the candidate backed by Haiti's unpopular President Rene Preval. However, international monitors charged fraud and a subsequent election review put Celestin in third place. Observers suggested he be eliminated from contention. Preval's government has not officially commented on Duvalier's return, though some Haitians, craving a father figure to lead the nation out of crisis, have commented favorably on the old days of Duvalier. Back then, the streets were safe, said Port-au-Prince resident Jean Etienne. People could walk outside at night and food was cheap, he said. But Garry Pierre-Pierre, editor of the New York-based Haitian Times, blamed the father-son Duvalier dynasty for a nation struggling to regain footing. He said the scars still run deep from an era when no one trusted each other. Pierre-Pierre said he hopes justice will finally prevail. "If there is a bright sport," he said, "finally we have to face that decision that we have never faced straight up. We've been in denial about what happened during the 29-year reign of dictatorship of the Duvaliers." Duvalier was supposed to have held a news conference Monday but it was canceled and he remained huddled inside the Karibe until he was taken away Tuesday. Henry Robert Sterlin, a Duvalier associate, told reporters that Duvalier returned because he was moved by the anniversary of last year's tragic earthquake and because he missed his native land. "He's deeply hurt in his soul after the earthquake," Sterlin said. "He wanted to come back to see how is the actual Haitian situation -- of the people and of the country." Sterlin said he did not know how long the former leader had planned to stay. The Duvalier family ruled Haiti for three decades, starting in 1957 when Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier was elected president. He later declared himself president for life. When he died in 1971, he was succeeded by his son, then only 19. CNN's Lonzo Cook, Kim Segal, John Zarrella, Mary Snow and Moni Basu contributed to this report. | It is not immediately clear what the charges are .
A judge must now decide whether the charges merit moving a case forward .
Police escort the former dictator from his hotel to a courthouse .
A Haitian journalist plans to seek criminal charges against the former dictator . |
06a296880ff5401314fc2b701735ec3e22ec38ff | Editor's Note: Gail Cunningham is senior director of public relations for the nonprofit National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), Inc. based in Silver Spring, Maryland, and has been in the credit counseling sector since 1987. The NFCC says it serves more than 2 million customers through nearly 850 offices around the country. Gail Cunningham says foreclosure is more than a financial failure, it's an emotional ordeal. (CNN) -- When you sit across the desk from someone with overwhelming debt, you can sense their fear before a word is spoken. And when their home is in jeopardy, the fear fills the room. I was a credit counselor for 16 years, and quickly discovered that people in debt are very ashamed of their situation. In all my years, I never counseled anyone who was cavalier about their circumstances, or intentionally sought to dig a deep financial hole. But the shame that accompanies foreclosure tops anything I've ever experienced. There's something about people losing their homes that is disturbing beyond measure. Failure has become a part of their demeanor. After all, foreclosure is about more than the house, and more than the money. It's about losing the dream, taking your children out of their school and moving your family away from their neighborhood friends. Pulling up roots is never easy, particularly when you're forced to do so. The job of the counselor is to put the financial pieces back together, provide hope, and help move people toward a more financially stable life. Each day housing counselors pick up the phone and advocate for their client, often going to the mat with a lender to achieve the resolution option that is best suited for that individual. For example, I'm reminded of the 46-year-old single mom's foreclosure problem that started with a heart attack. Out of work for three months with no income and medical bills compounding her existing debt, she was headed for foreclosure. She and an NFCC certified housing counselor were able to work out a loan modification that not only kept her in her home, but also reduced her monthly mortgage payment. Housing issues are complicated, with the terms short sale, forbearance agreement, deed-in-lieu and loan modification foreign to the consumer. But such resolution options are all part of a day's work for the housing counselor, whose goal is to determine the best long-term solution for the consumer. Their experience allows them to "talk the talk" with the lender and often achieve the happy ending that everyone is after. Each case is individual, with outcomes as varied as the problems, but avoiding foreclosure, where appropriate, is the goal of all parties. Foreclosures happen for many reasons, some of which are beyond the borrower's control: . • Economic hardship related to job loss, reduced hours at work, medical issues or divorce; . • Unaffordable payments when a loan resets to a higher annual percentage rate; . • Buying a house that was more costly than the borrower's income could reasonably support long-term, and . • Increased cost of living, which places more demands on consumers' budgets, forcing them to make hard choices about which debts to pay. Of course, the best foreclosure prevention tool is making an educated and informed decision when buying a home. Pre-purchase counseling is particularly useful for first-time buyers, helping them understand the full responsibility of homeownership. However, once it becomes apparent that buyers can no longer keep up with their loans, it is critical for them to reach out for help right away. Postponing dealing with the mortgage delinquency is one of the main impediments to solving the problem. Delinquent homeowners likely will receive a Notice to Cure Default that lists HUD housing counselors they can contact, as well as hardship program options. They should seek help at once. Many resolution options such as a short sale -- in which the home is sold for less than the remaining mortgage amount and the lender accepts at least part of the loss -- are only open to those who have not dug a deep financial hole. These solutions do not preserve homeownership, but they are less damaging to the consumer's credit history, and depending on their structure, could possibly allow the consumer to leave the home owing little or nothing at all. When homeowners in trouble reach out to lenders, few know that they need to speak to the loss mitigation department, and not the collection area. Once contact is made, buyers should be sure to keep records. Keep a log of the date and time of each call, the person with whom you speak, and the content of the conversation. Ask questions and restate to make sure you are understanding information. Without accurate documentation, any dispute could turn into a "he-said/she-said" with the homeowner being the loser. Don't expect a quick answer. Follow up with your mortgage company to make sure any paperwork you sent was received and logged. In many cases, getting a yes or a no can take weeks, and weeks can feel like years when saving your home is involved. As I write this, it seems as though new proposals to help consumers avoid foreclosure appear daily. Whether it is actions by Fannie Mae, the FDIC or the lenders themselves, solving the mortgage crisis is recognized as an essential component to getting the economy back on track. Any resolution is likely to be as complex as the problem itself. Exotic loan products, combined with making them secure, are far different from yesteryear when we went to our community bank and took out a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage that it held the full term. Homeownership can still be the American dream, but only under the right circumstances. Lenders are returning to more traditional lending standards, and with good reason. Buyers are realizing that what seems too good to be true is often exactly that. America will find solid footing, but until then, many feel as though their home was built on shifting sands. Let's redefine financial success, and this time have it represent living within your means, being able to pay bills in full when the statement arrives, understanding the terms of a loan or credit card, knowing that there are things more important than hocking your financial peace of mind for a larger house or shinier car. In other words, let's begin living the true American dream, one of financial responsibility that is celebrated by all. It's a dream we can make come true, one household at a time. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Gail Cunningham. | Gail Cunningham: Foreclosure is an emotional process for families .
Credit counselors can help homeowners get modified payment terms, she says .
Cunningham: Families need to budget realistically and cut spending .
She says financial responsibility is a dream people can achieve . |
06a299bf925b220983367a14329e008974691500 | Sacked Nottingham Forest boss Stuart Pearce turned down an offer from owner Fawaz Al Hasawi to stay at the club in an advisory role — on a day six more employees left the City Ground. It is understood Pearce was offered a senior role, initially believed to resemble a director of football position. In a significant development, chief executive Paul Faulkner quit in the light of Pearce’s dismissal and Al Hasawi’s failure to consult him over the appointment of new manager Dougie Freedman. Stuart Pearce turned down an offer from Nottingham Forest's owners to stay on as a director . Nottingham Forest chief executive Paul Faulkner resigned less than 24 hours after Pearce was sacked . Assistant manager Steve Wigley, first-team coach Brian Eastick, goalkeeping coach Tim Flowers, physio Dave Galley and head of recruitment John Marshall were all shown the door as Freedman began to shape his staff. Al Hasawi, who flew to Kuwait on business yesterday, tweeted: ‘We will not be selling anyone. The season is still alive and we must hold on to our key players.’ Dougie Freedman was appointed as the new boss at Forest following Pearce's departure . Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony launches scathing Twitter attack at Forest over failed payments . Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony has launched a scathing Twitter attack on a Championship club — believed to be Forest — for failing to make payments on a player whom they signed from the London Road club. MacAnthony wrote: ‘OK Posh fans, there won’t be any incoming signings today but that has nothing to do with players having to leave, etc, the real reason is due to a certain championship club failing to make an agreed large payment (not thousands btw) last week on player they bought from us.’ | Sacked boss Stuart Pearce turned down offer to stay at Nottingham Forest .
Owner Fawaz Al Hasawi offered him chance of an advisory role .
Dougie Freedman was appointed as the new manager at the City Ground .
Chief executive quits after not being consulted over Freedman appointment . |
06a2c3475ec2077a99483c735cd8aee2384af699 | (CNN) -- Consider this. On December 17, 2010, Mohamed Bouazizi, a young Tunisian street vendor, set himself on fire and started a dramatic remaking of the political landscape. The striking of a match brought change not only in Tunisia, but also in Egypt and Libya, and even what is happening in Syria. On the other hand, as of August this year, about 48 Tibetans, mostly Buddhist monks and nuns, have self-immolated in Tibetan parts of China. In March 2012 alone, seven people self-immolated, and Tibetan exiles in India have been setting themselves on fire. The political result? Nothing. So why does the self-immolation of one man accomplish so much, but the same gesture performed by so many others accomplishes nothing? Perhaps the question should be phrased differently, because a closer look at Bouazizi's deed and the Tibetan cases reveals that it is something other than the sheer number of self-immolations that makes them a catalyst for change. Two more Tibetans self-immolate in China protest . Tunisians could easily identify with Bouazizi's extreme predicament. His actions spoke to the community's shared frustration and despair. But the demands of Tibetan self-immolators are varied. Some want a "free Tibet," as do all Tibetan exiles, but others only want freedom of religion, or political autonomy, or the opportunity to study in Tibetan as opposed to Chinese, or the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet. When a self-immolator like Bouazizi is perceived as taking upon himself the humiliations and shameful submissions, the collective cowardice and voluntary servitude of his people, he burns off, along with his body, the diffuse sense of shame and guilt that has been paralyzing his community. The burning body thus becomes a site of cleansing, catharsis and regeneration. The community is going -- vicariously, but no less effectively -- through a "purification by fire." And in the process an important thing takes place: That society reinvents itself, it is transformed from a shattered community into a political community. As the body is being devoured by flames, the promise (if only the promise) of a new beginning takes shape. The self-immolations of Thích Quàng Đúc in Saigon in 1963 and Jan Palach in Prague in 1969 were not very different from that of Bouazizi. The former was a Buddhist monk who self-immolated to draw attention to the persecution of Buddhists in Vietnam under the Ngô Đình Diem's regime; the latter was a philosophy student who did the same thing in Prague as a response to the Soviet Union's crush of the Prague Spring. Self-immolations that prompt political change are extraordinary and rare events. The ancient Greeks had two different words for time: chronos for ordinary time and kairos for time of special quality -- a particularly propitious time for which our "right time" is a rather weak translation. For self-immolations to be politically successful, they have to happen in kairos. Bouazizi, Đúc and Palach had many imitators, but none since have achieved so much. That's why the high number of self-immolations among Tibetans lately could be read as an implicit admission of failure. Even though the first self-immolation by a former Tibetan monk, Thupten Ngodup, on April 27, 1998, in New Delhi, had some public impact, it failed to cause the political commotion that Bouazizi triggered in the Arab world. Nor have any of the other Tibetan self-immolators since. Yet, this should not surprise us. There is a strong rejection of violence in Buddhism. Even through self-immolations took place in medieval China and 20th-century Vietnam, even though the Lotus Sutra praises "burning for Buddha" as the supreme self-sacrifice, Buddhists are very reluctant to condone violence. Tibetan Buddhism, in particular, is centered on compassion toward all sentient beings and prohibition of murder, suicide included. Such a religious and cultural viewpoint must prevent ordinary Tibetans from identifying with the self-immolators. Accommodating this radical form of violence within a culture that has for centuries fed on cosmic compassion and political non-violence is not an easy process. That is why the recent string of self-immolations in Tibetan parts of China is a sign that this could be changing. Most self-immolators are young -- some are teens -- which indicates that the new generation of politically aware Tibetans might have lost patience with the Dalai Lama's nonviolent political philosophy and want to respond differently to the Chinese's aggressive methods. What we see now is possibly the beginning of a new type of political engagement in Tibet, a new pattern very different from Bouazizi's and Palach's, who emerged from communities that had been brought to their knees. Tibetans, instead, over the last 60 years have considered their nation as occupied, but not defeated. Since 1959 they have with some regularity risen against the Chinese authorities. It's very disturbing to watch these self-immolations, but that is part of the intent. The Tibetans want the Chinese and the world to look. The meaning of their gesture lies in its total passivity. It is no accident that after every self-immolation the Chinese authorities scramble to confiscate and destroy any pictures taken; they are only too aware of the iconic status such images can acquire. In essence, these self-immolations are an extreme form of political self-expression. They are performed as part of a struggle for recognition, as an autonomous political community. It confirms what Thích Nhất Hạnh was saying in 1967: "To burn oneself by fire is to prove that what one is saying is of the utmost importance. There is nothing more painful than burning oneself. To say something while experiencing this kind of pain is to say it with utmost courage, frankness, determination and sincerity." For many Tibetan monks and nuns of today the burning body has become a tool for the most resounding of self-assertions; when you are in flames your presence cannot be ignored anymore. It is a shouting game of sorts, except that no party shouts. The Tibetans express themselves by burning; the Chinese authorities do the same by shooting Tibetans. Then, another monk or nun engages in self-expression and everything starts anew. Palden Gyatso, a Tibetan monk who spent more than 30 years in Chinese prisons and labor camps, once said: "For those who use brute force, there is nothing more insulting than a victim's refusal to acknowledge their power." Rarely has the desire for recognition been so desperate and moving. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Costica Bradatan. | Groups: 48 Tibetans self-immolated in Tibetan parts of China without political change .
Yet a Tunisian's setting himself afire set off Arab spring, he says. Why was that different?
He writes: The Tunisian spoke to everyone's despair; Tibetan protesters have varying goals .
Bradatan: Tibetans are nonviolent, but some may be tired of Dalai Lama's pacifism . |
06a307947e8c02178951ca446f88749f449b0c58 | Cristiano Ronaldo has been named in Portugal's squad for their World Cup play-off against Bosnia-Herzegovina despite objections from La Liga side Real Madrid. The 24-year-old forward faces a race to be fit for the two games on November 14 and 18 as he has battles back from an ankle injury. Medical reports confirmed he would be out of action for two more weeks and Real coach Manuel Pellegrini had said it would be "impossible for Ronaldo to play with Portugal" and urged Carlos Queiroz to leave him out of the squad. Ronaldo has missed the Spanish side's last eight matches after suffering an injury to his right ankle during the Champions League match with Marseille on September 30, and then aggravating it while playing for Portugal in their World Cup qualifier against Hungary on October 10. The former Manchester United star has since met with Dutch specialist Professor Niek van Dijk in Amsterdam after tests conducted by Madrid last Wednesday revealed that no improvement had been made on Ronaldo's injury since undergoing an MRI scan a week before. Van Dijk, who operated the winger's right ankle in the summer of 2008, advised Ronaldo to continue his treatment before returning for a fresh evaluation in two weeks' time. Portugal coach Queiroz revealed, however, that the injury would not stop him from naming Ronaldo in his 23-man squad and the forward admitted that not playing in South Africa would be a bitter pill to swallow. "We have one more test left. We'll have to qualify in our next two games and I can't possibly imagine a World Cup without Portugal in it," Ronaldo told Real Madrid's Web site. "We are all united to achieve this goal. I believe we can be optimistic thanks to our will and talent. It would have been easier if our run in the qualifying round had been better, but it wasn't to be." Valencia full-back Miguel, Wolfsburg centre-back Ricardo Costa and Werder Bremen striker Hugo Almeida returned to the squad. Portugal take on Bosnia-Herzegovina in Lisbon on Saturday with the return leg in Zenica four days later. Meanwhile, Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has been left out of Spain's squad for their international friendly with Argentina. | Cristiano Ronaldo has been named in Portugal's squad for their World Cup play-off clash with Bosnia-Herzegovina .
Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz has selected the forward despite the objections of Real Madrid over Ronaldo's injury problems .
Real coach Manuel Pellegrini had said it would be "impossible for Ronaldo to play with Portugal" in the match . |
06a410f723bd7ad5990a9bc7c4a527dd1081e780 | (CNN) -- Arizona schools superintendent John Huppenthal has told the Tucson district to stop teaching its controversial Mexican-American studies program or face losing $15 million in annual state aid under a new law, he said Tuesday. Huppenthal told CNN he was backing this week's decision by exiting state superintendent Tom Horne giving the state's second largest district 60 days to comply with a new 2011 law banning certain ethnic studies programs in public schools. Horne is now Arizona's new attorney general, and Huppenthal was sworn in Monday as the newly elected Arizona schools superintendent. Both men are Republicans. The new schools law is the latest controversy in a state already roiled by an immigration crackdown law, known as SB 1070, that is being challenged on constitutional grounds in federal court. The Arizona-Mexico border is considered the nation's busiest for illegal immigration. Tucson school board member Adelita Grijalva charged that the new law provided no due process and was unconstitutional. She said the new law was part of an anti-immigrant political climate in the Arizona statehouse. She and Huppenthal said they expected this new law to also end up in court. "People of color in the state of Arizona are under attack," Grijalva told CNN. "We're basically going from one battle to the next." The law authorizes the state superintendent to stop any ethnic studies classes that promote the overthrow of the U.S. government, promote resentment toward a race or class of people, are designed primarily for pupils of a particular ethnic group or advocate ethnic solidarity instead of the treatment of pupils as individuals. In written findings Monday, Horne said the Tucson program violated all four criteria. Huppenthal said the Tucson program is "in clear violation" of the new law because they're designed for pupils of a particular ethnic group. Tucson educators who have challenged the constitutionality of the new law in court have defended the Mexican-American studies program as no different than African-American or Native American studies classes. Added Grijalva: "What we're doing is teaching a course that is a history course with a Mexican-American perspective. I don't understand what is so scary about that concept." Huppenthal, who was a state legislator for 18 years and was the chairman of the Arizona Senate education committee, said he was serious about enforcing a $15 million-a-year penalty that both sides agree would devastate Tucson schools, if the district doesn't end the ethnic studies program. That penalty is 10 percent of the state's aid to the Tucson system, whose total operating budget is $450 million a year, officials said. "Make no doubt about it. They shouldn't be under any illusion on this thing," Huppenthal told CNN. "We're going to proceed forward. These are serious issues." The Tucson Unified School District's governing board has told the state in a letter that it "supports" the classes, which it says complies with the new law. "TUSD administration supports its ethnic studies programs, and we are encouraged by the real and lasting impact that these programs provide to all TUSD students," the letter stated, according to the board's website. Also Monday, Tucson superintendent John Pedicone told administrators and employees that he wouldn't tolerate any student walkouts protesting the state superintendent's actions. Pedicone also encouraged principals to arrange a time in the school gym for students to "express their view and discuss the pros and cons of the new law in a constructive manner," he said in a letter that was posted on the system's website. "If a student leaves campus to participate in a protest or walkout, there will be consequences in accordance with school procedure and governing board policy," Pedicone said. Huppenthal said he observed one of Tucson's ethnic studies classes last year. "When I came into a classroom, they were portraying Ben Franklin as a racist," Huppenthal said. "Ben Franklin was the president of the Abolitionist Society in Pennsylvania. ... So they are vilifying Ben Franklin in this classroom, and up on the wall, they got a poster of Che Guevara, and the historical record is that he helped direct the communist death camps in Cuba by killing many dissidents. "We just have a lot of concerns about the classes," Huppenthal said. Huppenthal said he was going to broaden his public discussion about the Tucson district to include how some Tucson public schools, particularly those serving low-income minority students, are among the worst in the country. He said he was planning a new accountability system measuring the performance of each school district. "When we do our rankings and compare the data, a number of the schools in the Tucson Unified School District are among the bottom three in the nation," Huppenthal said. "In their failure to serve these kids academically, we see the same failure in their response to the community concerns about these (ethnic studies) classes," Huppenthal added. "I'm a fan of Ronald Reagan and he primarily relied on persuasion. I want to use the energy associated with this one issue to get the Tucson Unified School District to examine itself." Tucson's ethnic studies program, created in 1998 and initially called "Mexican American/Raza Studies," has been effective in reducing dropout rates among Latino students, as well as discipline problems, poor attendance and failure rates, teachers said. In October, 11 Tucson teachers sued the state board of education and superintendent over the new law, calling it an "anti-Hispanic" ban on Mexican-American studies. | A new 2011 Arizona law bans ethnic studies programs that "advocate ethnic solidarity"
The Tucson school system has been teaching Mexican-American studies since 1998 .
Arizona's new superintendent threatens to withhold $15M a year from Tucson schools . |
06a516cccccac955d296f0474ffb63385d3105eb | By . Emma Glanfield . Taxis and buses will automatically switch to electric mode when they enter some of Britain’s most polluted streets as part of a new scheme to eradicate emissions. New technology will allow the vehicles to switch to ‘zero emission’ mode when they enter areas at risk of high air pollution such as Oxford Street in London. It comes as London Mayor Boris Johnson revealed plans for all taxis in the capital to be hybrid in four years’ time. Scroll down for video . New 'geo-fencing' technology will allow taxis and buses to switch to ‘zero emission’ mode when they enter areas at risk of high air pollution such as Bond Street and Oxford Street in central London (file picture) By 2016, there will be 1,700 hybrid buses in London and by January 1, 2018 it will be compulsory for all new cabs to be ‘zero emission capable’. Matthew Pencharz, the mayor’s environment advisor, said the advanced technology would allow vehicles to recognise when they are in highly-polluted areas, prompting them to switch to the greener mode. He told The Times: ‘With geo-fencing technology, when the vehicle crosses a particular line, it will go into electric mode. Some of our buses in future will also be doing this. ‘The technology can be responsive, so if one bit of town is more polluted than another, then the buses and taxis would switch to electric mode where the pollution was worse.’ He said the technology could be fitted to private cars in ‘due course’. Although the exact area where taxis and buses will ‘switch’ to electric mode has not yet been confirmed, it will no doubt include the most polluted roads in London as highlighted by a study earlier this year. In February, figures from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs claimed that traffic travelling along the A302 - known as Grosvenor Place - which runs adjacent to Buckingham Palace, produced the highest levels of the toxic gas at an average of 152 micrograms per cubic metre of air in 2012. London Mayor Boris Johnson has revealed plans for all taxis in the capital to be hybrid in four years’ time . The study also found that Oxford Street was highly polluted, registering at an average of 150 micrograms near Marble Arch, while Trafalgar Square has an average of 138 micrograms of nitrogen dioxide per cubic metre of air. Park Lane, Knightsbridge and Covent Garden were also all found to have seriously high levels of the pollutant. The latest news comes after it was announced that drivers of diesel cars could face a congestion charge-style daily fee of about £11.50 to enter central London, in a bid to further tackle air pollution. The payment could come if diesels fail to meet tough EU emission targets when an ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) is introduced in central London from 2020. The zone would have the same boundaries as the Congestion Charge zone, and only diesel vehicles that meet the Euro 6 emissions standard would be exempt from the charge. Motoring organisations have had a mixed reaction to the plans, with some unhappy about the possible charge. Findings released in February revealed the most polluted roads in central London, with Oxford Street, Park Lane and Buckingham Palace being among the polluted hotspots in the capital . RAC Foundation director Professor Stephen Glaister said: ‘This isn't quite a miss-selling scandal, but for years ministers took their eye off the ball and encouraged drivers to buy diesels to help fight climate change. ‘That has come at a cost: local air pollution. Today 10 million cars in Britain are powered by diesel engines - a third of the total. ‘Part of the problem is regulation. In laboratory conditions diesel cars have met strict test criteria. Unfortunately that performance hasn't been matched on the road and now we have a significant health issue because of the dash for diesel.’ AA president Edmund King added: ‘It is somewhat ironic that cars are banned from the most polluted street in London - Oxford Street. The vehicles that have most effect on air quality in London are buses, taxis and trucks. ‘The first move should be to target the gross polluters and get them off our roads in order to have a greater and more immediate impact on air quality.’ | 'Geo-fencing' technology will let vehicles switch to electric in certain zones .
Vehicles will become 'zero emission' as they travel on most polluted streets .
All new taxis must be hybrid by 2018 under new plans by Boris Johnson .
Part of a wider scheme to tackle air pollution and vastly reduce emissions . |
06a69a4d7c34c59434161f694cb75885f6e709b4 | A controversial Rolling Stone article began a heated conversation about rape on college campus after a student the magazine called "Jackie" described being gang raped at a University of Virginia fraternity. Now some advocates worry where that conversation is headed after the magazine flagged possible flaws in the article. "I've had a lot of our members, especially sexual assault survivors, emailing me, asking if this is going to distract from the broader, bigger problem of sexual assault on campus," said Monika Johnson-Hostler, president of the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence. "They're worried that fallout from one story is going to give people a reason to believe campus sexual assault isn't a real problem or it's been overhyped." One in five women are sexually assaulted during college, according to a White House task force report issued this summer. Last month, Rolling Stone published Jackie's story, a harrowing retelling of how she was allegedly raped by seven men at a Phi Kappa Psi party in 2012. The article sparked international outrage and placed the University of Virginia in the spotlight on the issue of campus sexual assault. Students protested, and university officials banned Greek activities for the semester and vowed change. Then The Washington Post identified holes in the story. Also on Friday, Rolling Stone posted an apology on its website. Editors had chosen not to contact the man who allegedly orchestrated the attack on Jackie, nor did the magazine attempt to contact any of the men Jackie claimed participated in the attack for fear that that could bring retaliation against the college student. Editors regretted that, the note said. The note went a step further, saying: "In the face of new information, there now appear to be discrepancies in Jackie's account, and we have come to the conclusion that our trust in her was misplaced." A day later, Rolling Stone amended that note. It removed the reference to trust being misplaced and added this: "These mistakes are on Rolling Stone, not on Jackie." The magazine offered no explanation for the update. Victim blaming? Rolling Stone has been accused of victim blaming when it said that its trust in Jackie was "misplaced." On CNN's "Reliable Sources," writer Hanna Rosin spoke about the peril of focusing blame on Jackie. Rolling Stone's initial apology that said its trust in Jackie was misplaced "essentially said this is Jackie's fault but, you know, Jackie is not a journalist," Rosin said. "She doesn't know the rules of journalism. She's just telling her own story. It's on us to know that you have to trust but verify. You have to check the sources. You have to figure out with the story is true because if not you end up in a mess like the one we're in now." Johnson-Hostler said that by focusing on the telling of one survivor's story, it can have the unintended consequence of holding that experience as the "true" rape experience. "It can imply to a survivor, 'Well, my experience wasn't as bad as that one, so maybe I wasn't raped,' " said she said. Would all of that actually make it less likely survivors might come forward? "A survivor will see the way this young woman in the Rolling Stone article is being attacked from all sides -- from the media, from the school, from the Greek system -- and think it's not worth coming forward," said John Foubert, an Oklahoma State University professor who was an assistant dean at UVA from 1998 to 2002. He has devoted much of his career researching sexual assault in college and military culture. Are discrepancies really that? Foubert says the "noise" around the Rolling Stone editors' apology will probably mean survivors are going to be less willing to share their stories with journalists. Some advocates feel that keeping those stories in the dark only makes survivors feel more alone and it takes away from the public's education about preventing and reporting sexual assault. As far as perceived discrepancies in Jackie's story, Foubert said that could simply be symptom of the trauma she endured. "Someone who experiences such extreme stress will talk and remember the stress in different ways at different times, through each telling. The assumption is that it didn't happen or she's lying." That is not in line with the way post traumatic stress presents itself, he said. University of Virginia English professor Susan Fraiman also worries that the attention paid to the Rolling Stone story will detract from the bigger picture at the school. "There's a broader desire to make sure that adjudication of rape cases are handled fair," she told CNN. Even after the Rolling Stone article published, there was more fallout from UVA regarding campus sexual assaults. Associate Dean of Students Nicole Eramo, who guides women through their options when they report they've been assaulted, recently told WUVA that no student had been expelled for committing sexual assault, even when the accused admitted it. Eramo told WUVA that there had been 38 reports of sexual assault last year. | Rolling Stone told story of "Jackie," who alleged she was gang raped at UVA .
The magazine published an apology for the story and said it had misplaced trust in Jackie .
Advocates worry that fallout will mean a distraction from rape on college campuses . |
06a76394a27243e5ffc3bec6fa8018222a720e7d | By . James Nye . The NYPD went some way to restoring fraught community relations in Staten Island by taking part in a commemoration of sorts to Eric Garner - whose chokehold death earlier this month sparked massive condemnation of the force. At an impromptu memorial to the 43-year-old father-of-six at the Berry Houses annual basketball tournament, a player wearing a 'R.I.P Eric Garner' T-shirt leapt over a NYPD squad car and slam-dunked the hoop to set the crowd off into a fit of celebration. The cruiser rang out a whoop of its sirens and flashed its lights in appreciation, signaling a thawing in relations and a minor triumph for local community organizers and the NYPD who jointly organized the display. Scroll Down for Video . Success: The NYPD tweeted this picture of the triumphant slam dunk over a police are in Staten Island on Friday by a player wearing a 'R.I.P. Eric Garner' T-shirt . 'It was good for both sides,' said Under the Lights basketball league founder Joel Soto to the Staten Island Advance. 'The cops definitely wanted to use this as a way to get a good relationship between them and civilians, but besides that it felt real - they were just as into it as everyone else here.' Tensions have been high across the New York City borough following the death of Garner after an officer bound him in a chokehold when he verbally refused to be arrested - accusing the police of harassing him. The move is banned in all guideline manuals for the NYPD and in disturbing video of the incident Garner can be heard telling cops that physically cannot breathe before he lost consciousness and never woke up. Support: Brian Hogan-Gary, 20, with his symbolic T-shirt showing his support and respect of the father-of-six who died following a chokehold performed by a NYPD officer in Staten Island earlier in July . Arrival: The NYPD car pulled into the basketball court and was greeted with a muted reaction from the crowd . Victim: . Eric Garner, 43, died after being held in a 'chokehold' by NYPD officer . Daniel Pantaleo in Staten Island. An initial report into his death has . said he was 'not in great distress . So when a NYPD squad car arrived at the courts of the Berry Houses on Friday, some held their breath while others simply booed. However, it quickly became clear that this was not an intervention, rather the officers had come to join in. Soto had asked the police to join the event and they had discussed before hand what kind of participation that could be. 'The cops were really great and nice about it - it was a little bit surreal,' said Soto to the Advance. Ready to launch: Brian Hogan-Gary, 20, prepares to lift off and attempt his slam dunk over the NYPD car . Air: Brian Hogan-Gary takes off and soars above and over the squad car while the crowd watches open-mouthed . Success: Brian Hogan-Gary slams the basketball through the hoop a split second away from the adulation of the crowd . That was the cue for Brian Hogan-Gary, 20, to pull of his jersey to reveal his 'R.I.P Eric Garner' T-shirt, that had 'Justice' emlazened on the back, and line himself up for his dunk. In a cathartic display, Hogan-Gary ran down the court and jumped clean over the car to slam the ball through the hoop and set off wild celebrations. 'People were really surprised the cops wanted to be a part of it,' said Soto to the , Advance, adding, . 'It definitely brought down a little of the tension between police and the community.' Indeed, Soto revealed that two of Garner's teenage sons are members of the league, but they declined to be at the basketball court on Friday. 'Everyone really respects Garner here and feels for him ... he was part of the Under the Lights family,' Soto said to the Advance. Win: Hogan-Gary enjoys the moment after successfully slam dunking over the NYPD car . Justice: As he is slapped on the back, Brian Hogan-Gary reveals that 'Justice' is written on the back of his T-shirt . | Basketball player wearing 'R.I.P Eric Garner' T-shirt slam dunks over NYPD squad car on Friday at basketball tournament in Staten Island .
Stunt was organized with the NYPD and community leaders to ease tensions .
Anger has been rising in New York City since the death of the father-of-six earlier in July . |
06a9b356fec610e9c82e04f7fbfc5f6e19225914 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 11:01 EST, 8 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:10 EST, 8 October 2013 . A week after a Chicago-area woman claimed that she was forcibly stripped by LaSalle County deputies, more women have allegedly come forward with similar complaints. Dana Holmes, 33, was arrested in May for drunk driving and is now suing county police for what she says was an illegal, humiliating strip search by four officers that was all caught on video. Holmes' lawyer Terry Ekl said: 'We have reason to believe there are other women who have been illegally strip-searched by the sheriff's office', the Chicago Tribune reported. Footage: Surveillance video shows an intoxicated Dana Holmes, 33, being strip searched by four police officers . Arrested: Holmes was also taped as she was arrested May 18 for driving at nearly three times the legal limit . Pictured: Dana Holmes was nearly three times the legal drinking limit when she was pulled over in May and was strip searched by four officers . Ekl has asked a judge to force LaSalle County authorities to store all video recordings from inside the jail for evidence and filed an emergency motion for a protective order for such proceedings. Ekl's motion . said: 'It is believed that the video recordings will be destroyed, . either routinely or otherwise, if they are not ordered preserved.' A LaSalle County spokesperson would not comment on the case. Dana . Holmes was nearly three times over the legal blood alcohol limit when . she was pulled over and taken to county jail on May 18, where . surveillance footage shows her being pulled to the ground by a female . officer and three male officers. The . 33-year-old was stripped completely of her clothes and left naked in a . cell alone, where she cried on the floor for several minutes before . police tossed her a ‘padded suit.’ Holmes was transported to the county . jail by local authorities who made no note of any combativeness. Footage . of her DUI arrest released to the media shows her cooperating and the . local authorities made no note of her resisting behavior. However, Lasalle County police say local cops informed them she was ‘being mouthy and causing problems’ according to the Chicago Tribune. It . is at the county jail where things take a turn. Holmes is shown being . searched against a wall by a female officer as male officers watch. Problems: Local police made no note of her resistance. But when she was transported to the county jail, police say Holmes was 'mouthy and causing problems' Resisting? Police say footage shows Holmes kicking them. Holmes denies it. While that remains unclear, laws covering strip searches are explicit . At one point, one of her legs moves. Lasalle police say the footage, which has no audio, shows Holmes kicking them. Holmes . is then taken to the ground by officers and footage shows her being . stripped of her clothes by four officers and tossed into a cell. ‘I did not kick,’ Holmes said. ‘I don't know if I lost my balance or what happened, but I wasn't being combative at all.’ While it’s unclear what led police to strip Holmes, laws regarding strip searches are clear. ‘Nothing in the statute says . resisting arrest is justification for a strip-search,’ attorney Len . Cavise of DePaul University College of Law told the Tribune. The lawyer representing the Coal City woman agrees. ‘It's not only a violation of her civil rights. It's also a crime,’ said Terry Ekl. Under Illinois law, a suspect may . only be stripped by an officer of their same sex and never in the . presence of anyone not participating in the search. Stripped: Footage shows Holmes being taken to the ground and pulled into a cell, then stripped by three male officers and a female officer . Legal? Under Illinois law, only an officer of the same sex may strip search a suspect and only those participating in the search may observe it . After she is naked in the cell for what she says is several minutes, a male officer throws Holmes a 'padded suit' Holmes . was put in a cell while still nude, where she says she cried on the . floor for two or more minutes before a male officer tossed her something . to cover up with. According to the police report, Holmes was told she . would stay there ‘until she sobers up and was willing to cooperate and . not fight with deputies," according to the report.’ ‘I was terrified. I felt helpless. I was scared and I lay there crying,’Holmes told WLS. ‘I just prayed.’ Holmes is suing the LaSalle County sheriff's department and the four deputies for violating her civil rights after her May 18 arrest and for inflicting emotional harm by stripping her without legal justification and says she hopes the officers involved lose their jobs. ‘There's a lot of people that get DUIs, a . lot of people that just make mistakes in life,’ Holmes said. ‘That . still doesn't give them a reason to do what they did. My dignity is . worth more than that, and other people's too.' | Dana Holmes is suing LaSalle County police and the four officers involved for what she says was an unnecessary and illegal search after DUI arrest .
Holmes' lawyer says more women have been illegally strip searched .
Lawyer has filed a motion to store all video recordings from inside the jail . |
06ab307b8e3b288d166ef620bfa0281619c81c65 | By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 12:34 EST, 21 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 01:58 EST, 22 August 2012 . From thieves and safe-breakers, to robbers and fraudsters, these images give a fascinating glimpse into the murky world of Tyneside’s 1930s criminal fraternity. The photographs of the criminals had lain hidden for decades, until a chance discovery saw a book of mugshots uncovered in a junk shop and handed to experts. They are thought to be from a police identification book, used to document the habits and descriptions of known criminals in 1930s Newcastle. Smile for the camera: John Dodgson, listed as a 'general thief and bad character 'who had 'extensively tattooed forearms and hands'. His image was found in a rare book in a junk shop containing the mugshots of some of the most notorious convicts of 1930s . Convict: James Hargreaves Jones, a beggar and housebreaker - his distinguishing feature was a scar running along the side of his cheek from a wound . Little else is known about the mugshots, although some clues appear in the documents. One of the men, William Jones, whose alias was Robert Dodds, is mysteriously noted as 'dead, died in action Benwell Hotel'. Though no other details as to the nature of his death are given, his crimes are described as 'larceny, burglary, house and shoplifting'. Criminal; Arthur Bell was caught for larceny and breaking into properties . Jones, who was born in 1876, and had tattoos including a sailor’s head and a naked woman, was said to use various methods of entry to premises and worked alone. He also played the violin outside pubs and had a conviction in the United States of America for shooting a man. Another particularly colourful character is James Lowrie, otherwise known as the 'Sunderland Kid'. He was accused of 'larceny from person, and robbery' and was described as an 'expert pickpocket who associates with all classes of pickpockets'. One of the perpetrators, Dick Albert, is described as a 'general all-round thief and safebreaker'. On camera: James Isadore Epstine (aka James Robertson) who was a thief as well as involved in embezzlement . Another, John Dodgson, is described as a 'general thief and bad character'. Thomas Giles, also known as Thomas O’Malley, meanwhile, was a burglar who also dabbled in metal theft and counterfeit coins. The notes with the mugshots offer details of criminals and their distinguishing markings, which are labelled as 'peculiarities'. Named and shamed: Thief James Casey whose distinguishing marks included tattoos on his forearm including 'True Love' 'Evelyn' and a heart . John Gallagher is described as having a missing left eye and James Hargreaves Jones as having 'wound scar rt. side of face'. Carolyn Ball, manager of Tyne and Wear Archives, said: 'These mugshots were originally found in a junk shop by a member of the public and subsequently donated to the archives. 'They offer an intriguing insight into the crimes of the era and the way they were described. Dodgy underworld: Lone thief John Thomas Hollings - his distinguishing marks include scars on his right jaw, neck and back of his hand . Revealed: Thomas Orange who broke into shops and warehouses . 'These images are absolutely fascinating and it’s great that we are able to share them online in this way. 'They are proving very popular as well with over 15,000 views since they were posted.' Caught: An image of John Williams Archibold - he broke into shops and pubs in the afternoon . | Photographs of the criminals had lain hidden for decades, until a chance discovery saw the book uncovered in a junk shop and handed to experts .
From thieves and safe-breakers, to robbers and fraudsters, the images give fascinating glimpse into the murky world of Tyneside's in 1930s . |
06acc859b0cf0071bbbe0d53601224994e43ea29 | By . James Daniel . PUBLISHED: . 08:47 EST, 2 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:12 EST, 3 May 2013 . Little Ireland Nugent's parents have been trying to tell her their 2-year-old daughter that her legs have been amputated but they're having a hard time. Three weeks ago, an horrific lawn-mower accident in Palm Harbor, Florida severed both of her legs below the knees. Her mother Nicole Nugent told the Tampa Bay Times that they were trying to find the words in the the hope that she would understand. Scroll down for video... Still my little girl: Jerry Nugent hugs his daughter, Ireland, in a Florida hospital. Just three weeks ago he accidentally cut off his daughters' legs after running her over with his lawnmower . Brave: Ireland's legs were severed below the knees and she had cuts to her hand. She also broke her thumb . Brave: Her parents are adament that their little girl, Ireland, will walk again . 'We were playing with Mr. Potato Head yesterday and taking the feet on and off and I said, 'This is going to be like you, Ireland. We're going to take your feet on and off.' She doesn't really understand. She's honestly so little that I don't really think she gets that.' Brave Ireland has asked virtually no questions about the past, but her parents worry about what is to come. So far she's already had to undergo seven operations and now her parents, Jerry and Nicole are looking into prosthetic-limb providers and group therapy for themselves and their other children. Incredibly, Ireland is managing to smile through it all and is keeping far calmer than her parents. Simplicity: Ireland's mom, Nicole, is trying to get her daughter used to the idea of prosthetic leg. She told her that she was going to be like Mr Potatohead . Harrowing ordeal: Ireland, seen here in her hospital bed, has had to undergo seven surgeries since her accident three weeks ago . She is heavily drugged-up with pain medication and one of her arms is in cast. However, when media were allowed to visit the girl for the first time yesterday, they reported that Ireland appeared to be awake, alert and full of curiosity with her cheeks sporting a healthy glow. She was given a package of Play-doh and animal-shaped cookie cutters. It's Ireland's smile that helps strengthen her family. 'She's just happy and spunky and it keeps us going,' her mom, Nicole said. 'She's been very strong through this whole process. In fact, it's been hard for us to even read that she's in pain at times. I kind of have to read her physical cues because she just doesn't cry.' On Tuesday, her dad said that he was rubbing the ends of his daughter's legs. The idea was to alleviate the 'phantom limb' sensations that trouble many amputees. 'I love your little legs,' he told her. 'Thank you, daddy,' she replied. Comforting: The family are trying to make things as normal as possible for the little girl, even while she is still in hospital . Support: The family say the support from the community has been overwhelming. Her hospital room is awash with cards, toys and balloons . Support: Ireland Nugent's mom and dad have been with her every day since the accident on April 11th . The little girl was injured on April 11th when she ran after her father, Jerry, as he rode a lawn mower up the driveway at their Palm Harbor home. Her mother, Nicole, frantically waved at him to stop, but he misunderstood and put the lawn mower in reverse backing over his child. Both her legs were severed below the knee. Her hand was also cut and her thumb broken. The Nugents say the financial and moral support they've received from the community has been overwhelming. Balloons, toys, and cards fill her hospital room. A fund established for Ireland's medical care and expenses at Trinity Presbyterian had raised about $85,000 and the family are continuing to raise money. Bright future: Doctors plan to fit the toddler with prosthetic legs in a few weeks once her wounds dry and heal . The family is already making plans to have Ireland fitted for prosthetic limbs in Orlando. Two funds have been set up to accept donations for Ireland Nugent's family. • . Trinity Presbyterian Church: Checks can be made out to 'Trinity . Presbyterian Foundation' (with 'Ireland Nugent' on the memo line) and . sent to Trinity Presbyterian Church, 2001 Rainbow Drive, Clearwater, FL . 33765. Or donate by credit card online: trinityclearwater.org. • . The Pinellas County government has arranged for a special fund through . Pinellas Federal Credit Union in Ireland Nugent's name. Find details . online at pinellasfcu.org or call (727) 586-4422. Her mother says she and her husband are looking towards the future and working out how they will cope when Ireland returns home. They will have to make adjustments to the family home in order to make life as easy as possible for the little girl. Her siblings may also need some counseling as they adjust to life without Ireland's legs. Later today, doctors will do a final check of two skin grafts to make sure they've healed. If they have it would mean Ireland is one step closer to coming home. Her mother told WSTP: 'This has been the biggest nightmare of my life, honestly. I never imagined that this would happen to her, but through this have come so many blessings,' Nicole says. 'First, she lived, and we didn't know when it first happened if that was going to happen.' Ireland's father agrees. 'When I see her, it's just like a weight is lifted and I know she's there and she's going to be okay.' | Ireland Nugent's legs were severed in an accident involving a lawnmower last month .
Her recovery has suffered setbacks due an infection she developed .
Her father, Jeremiah Nugent, ran over her with a lawnmower and didn't notice his daughter had run in front of him .
Family are now looking to Ireland prosthetic legs in the next few weeks . |
06aee0ddbbe46d986cf5468f4ee1b097da0f0bcc | By . Tom Gardner . PUBLISHED: . 16:37 EST, 10 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 01:43 EST, 11 September 2012 . For conspiracy theorists, it had been yet more proof of the existence of a sinister Government agency tracking their every move. But now a claim that hackers had managed to penetrate a top secret dossier used by FBI agents to spy on Apple users appears to have been proven unfounded. The Federal Bureau of Investigation had been the centre of a major privacy row after cyber experts from The AntiSec hacking group released more than a million Apple device IDs - allegedly taken from an agent's laptop. Hackers claimed to have obtained more than 12 million ID codes Apple uses to identify its gadgets from an FBI agent's laptop . The group claimed the information - which included 12 million IDs, known as Unique Device Identifiers, as well as personal information such as user names, . device names, notification tokens, cell phone numbers and addresses - enabled the Government to spy on the users. The FBI immediately denied it was the source - but many refused to believe it was anything other than affirmation of their Orwellian nightmares. However, a boss of a small publishing . agency has come forward to say his firm was the most likely source of . the information - not a murky, malign Government agency. Paul DeHart, CEO of the Blue Toad, . which provides app building services to 6,000 users and serves . 100million page views a month, told NBC News technicians had matched . the hacked information with their own private data. He said: 'That's 100 percent confidence level, it's our data.' He added: 'As soon as we found out we . were involved and victimised, we approached the appropriate law . enforcement officials, and we began to take steps to come forward, clear . the record and take responsibility for this.' AntiSec last week released a million of unique IDs online - but removed the most personal data. The hackers issued a statement saying: 'During the second week of March 2012, a Dell Vostro notebook, used by Supervisor Special Agent Christopher K. Stangl from FBI Regional Cyber Action Team and New York FBI Office Evidence Response Team was breached using the AtomicReferenceArray vulnerability on Java. The move comes as Apple is believed to be putting the finishing touches to a launch event for a new version of its iPhone . 'During the shell session some files . were downloaded from his Desktop folder one of them with the name of . ”NCFTA_iOS_devices_intel.csv” turned to be a list of 12,367,232 Apple . iOS devices including Unique Device Identifiers (UDID), user names, name . of device, type of device, Apple Push Notification Service tokens, . zipcodes, cellphone numbers, addresses, etc. 'The personal details fields referring to people appears many times empty leaving the whole list incompleted on many parts. 'No other file on the same folder makes mention about this list or its purpose. It had been thought the group published the numbers to prove the existence of a unit in the FBI which was track people via their computer identification data. The Antisec group has made the files freely available online. 'There you have 1,000,001 Apple Devices UDIDs linking to their users and their APNS tokens,' it said. 'The original file contained around 12,000,000 devices. we decided a million would be enough to release. 'We trimmed out other personal data as, full names, cell numbers, addresses, zipcodes, etc. 'Not all devices have the same amount of personal data linked, some devices contained lot of info, others no more than zipcodes or almost anything. 'We left those main columns we consider enough to help a significant amount of users to look if their devices are listed there or not. the DevTokens are included for those mobile hackers who could figure out some use from the dataset.' The group also defended its decision to release the data. 'well we have learnt it seems quite clear nobody pays attention if you just come and say 'hey, FBI is using your device details and info. 'So without even being sure if the current choice will guarantee that peoplewill pay attention to this.' | Hackers said they had exposed Big Brother snooping operation run by FBI .
But Paul DeHart, CEO of the Blue Toad agency, claims details on computer users was stolen from his servers . |
06aefea3d58db29aaff038ade213fe724385a6a8 | By . Sara Malm . PUBLISHED: . 11:37 EST, 9 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:04 EST, 9 October 2013 . Surrounded by severed heads, limbless bodies and with empty eye-sockets staring back at visitors from all directions, the Isla de las Munecas – The Island of Dolls – is one morbid place for a day out. Dedicated to the memory of a little girl who drowned in the canal many years ago, the island is covered in hundreds of dolls. The creepiest tourist attraction on the map is located in the Xochimilco canals, about 17 miles south of Mexico City, Mexico. Scroll down for video . Island of dolls: The Isla de las Munecas was created as a memorial for a little girl who drowned in the canal . Playtime is over: The island looks more like something out of a Stephen King novel than a memorial to a girl . Terror toys: A doll's head covered in cobwebs and creepy crawlies hangs from a tree . Hermit's secret: The island was not discovered until the 1990s and has now become a tourist attraction . The island is in fact a floating garden, known as a chinampa, which belonged to a man named Julian Santana Barrera, a hermit who lived isolated on the canal. His bizarre creation was discovered in the 1990s when the local council came to clean up the canal and since then the Island of Dolls has become a tourist attraction. Mr Santana Barrera created the terrifying island in dedication of a little girl whose dead body he found floating in the canal near his home. An image of the island's late inhabitant Don Julio Santana Barrera hang among the dolls . Here's Johnny: Don Julian would collect broken dolls from rubbish tips and nail them to walls and hang them from trees . Tragic end: Don Julian died in 2001 and was allegedly found dead int he same spot he had found the little girl all those years before . A few days later he found a doll in the same spot and, believing that the girl’s spirit lived on inside it, he hung it up. Over the years he collected old and broken dolls from rubbish tips and around the canals and nailed them to walls of his home and hung them from trees as a memorial to the girl. After the discovery of the Island of Dolls, Mr Santana Barrera became a local celebrity and visitors would bring him dolls until the island was covered in hundreds of severed limbs and blank-eyed toys. Mr Santana Barrera died in 2001. He drowned in the canal, allegedly on the very same spot he had found the little girl. New additions: Tourist frequently bring their own dolls, which are hung up next to Don Julian's collection . For the brave: The dolls look terrifying in the sunlight, and a visit after dark is not recommended . Garden of limbs: The island is in fact a floating garden, known in Mexico as a chinampa, but instead of flowers it's gardener Don Julian grew dolls . | Isla de las Munecas - the Island of Dolls - was discovered in the 90s .
Doll memorial for little girl that drowned is now covering the entire island .
It was created by its lone inhabitant and is now a tourist destination . |
06af1ebe290c0df14c95f611170be0fc8f672fb5 | The White House accidentally revealed the name of the CIA's top intelligence official in Afghanistan to some 6,000 journalists. The person was included on a list of people attending a military briefing for President Barack Obama during his surprise visit to Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan on Sunday. It's common for such lists to be given to the media, but names of intelligence officials are rarely provided. In this case, the individual's name was listed next to the title, "Chief of Station." The print pool reporter -- a journalist allowed access to or is given information about an event who relays it to the rest of the media -- copied and pasted the list that was provided by the White House. Print pool reports are then distributed by the White House press office, which does not edit them, to a large list of media. In this case, the same reporter, Scott Wilson, the White House bureau chief for the Washington Post, noticed the unusual entry after the list was distributed and then checked it out with officials. The White House followed up and distributed a shorter list from a different reporter that did not include the station chief's name. In his account to CNN, Wilson said when they arrived in Afghanistan, he asked White House officials for a list of who would be briefing the President. A White House official then asked the military for a list to provide to the pool of journalists. The official got an e-mail back from the military with a subject line, "manifest for briefing for Pool," Wilson told CNN. That e-mail was forwarded to Wilson and he proceeded to copy and paste that list for the pool report. He then sent it to the White House official, who sent the report to the distribution list. After the initial report had been issued, Wilson noticed that the chief of station had been identified in the list, which he flagged to the White House official. After checking with the military, the White House official said, "This is a problem." The official asked if Wilson would write another pool report, asking journalists to disregard the previous report that contained the list with the chief of station's name. Wilson said he was open to the request and sent the White House a new report. He said he was unsure whether that report was distributed. The new list, Wilson said, was distributed by a separate pool report that included details from Obama's speech to the troops. That report included a shorter list of names with a note saying, "this is the correct list of participants." Privately administration officials are alarmed about the incident, but so far the White House and CIA officials have declined to comment publicly. A station chief heads the CIA's office in a foreign country, establishing a relationship with its host intelligence service and overseeing agency activities. The identity of station chiefs, like most CIA officers, are rarely disclosed to protect them and their ability to operate secretly. Given the potentially dangerous nature of the situation, CNN has not broadcast or published online the name of the official. In the most recent case before this one, the Bush administration infamously leaked the name of former CIA officer Valerie Plame to a journalist in 2003. Plame tweeted on Monday that the White House's mistake this past weekend is "astonishing." Top U.S. spy pulled from Pakistan after terror threats . | Valerie Plame tweets that this weekend's misstep was "astonishing"
The name of the top U.S. intelligence official in Afghanistan was on a list given to the media .
The White House issued the list for President Obama's trip to Afghanistan .
Names of intelligence officers are not revealed publicly . |
06af25bce435d0fa551123ed93f8efcdd3ae3cf8 | The bid was the only entered by . Friday's deadline set up by the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, which has . been trying to get rid of the ferry . Named the Susitna, the ferry was built as a Navy prototype that would be owned and operated by the borough . By . Associated Press Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 00:54 EST, 31 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:23 EST, 31 March 2013 . An unwanted, $80 million ice-breaking ferry owned by an Alaska borough has only one bid to buy it, and it's for $751,000. The bid was the only entered by Friday's deadline set up by the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, which has been trying to get rid of the 200-foot ferry. The borough doesn't have to accept the offer, The Anchorage Daily News reported. Small bid: The the Susitna, an unwanted, $80 million ice-breaking ferry owned by an Alaska borough has only one bid to buy it, and it's for $751,000 . The vessel was completed in 2011 and born out of a partnership between the borough, which wanted a ferry, and the Navy, which wanted a fast military landing craft. Named the Susitna, the ferry was built as a Navy prototype that would be owned and operated by the borough. The project was funded mainly with Department of Defense earmarks wedged into the federal budget by then-U.S. Senator Ted Stevens. The borough has no suitable docks or a workable business plan to operate the vessel as a ferry between Anchorage and Port MacKenzie in the Mat-Su . With monthly costs to the borough averaging $75,000 for insurance, maintenance, fuel, docking fees and other expenses, the Borough Assembly has directed employees to find the most economical way to shed it. While the borough solicited buyers, it also launched a parallel track to give away the boat to a government organization that met federal requirements. Of those that expressed interest, proposals by Los Angeles County and the U.S. Virgin Islands are still being evaluated by the Federal Transit Administration. Young ship: The vessel was completed in 2011 and born out of a partnership between the borough, which wanted a ferry, and the Navy, which wanted a fast military landing craft . The Susitna project was funded mainly with Department of Defense earmarks wedged into the federal budget by then-U.S. Senator Ted Stevens . On Friday, Russ Krafft, the borough purchasing officer, opened the sole bid, a $751,000 offer from Workships Contractors BV, based in The Netherlands. It wants to use the vessel to support offshore wind farms, according to the borough. ‘I was expecting more offers and higher offers, even if it was just for scrapping the vessel,’ said Marc Van Dongen, the borough's port director. The borough asked the state ferry system if it would want the Susitna. But in a new draft study, the ferry system concluded the Susitna would be expensive to run and that existing docks would need to be reconfigured. The study said the boat can hold 134 passengers but only 20 vehicles, and burns 375 gallons of fuel an hour. A state ferry with a similar capacity, the Lituya, burns 55 gallons an hour. The state ferry system doesn't want the Susitna, the staff report said. The vessel is docked near the Ketchikan shipyard where it was built. The government of the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory, said it was interested in the Susitna but then seemed to back off. A community college in Seattle inquired about acquiring it to train merchant marines, but that's not a public transit purpose. A fledgling research laboratory in Wisconsin wants it, too. A village of Native Hawaiians sent representatives in an executive jet to Alaska to check out the boat, but federal officials told the borough that the village would have had to partner with the state. And that hasn't happened. At least two governments are still on the list being considered by the Federal Transit Administration, the borough said. Ultimately, the Borough Assembly will decide the Susitna's future. Docked: The vessel is docked near the Ketchikan shipyard where it was built . | The bid was the only entered by .
Friday's deadline set up by the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, which has .
been trying to get rid of the ferry .
Named the Susitna, the ferry was built as a Navy prototype that would be owned and operated by the borough . |
06af8d31e464c38f36b5cc69f7aae3197bacaca7 | Police forces can never be free of corruption, a Scotland Yard chief has admitted. Alaric Bonthron, head of anti-corruption at the Metropolitan Police, said trying to stop criminals infiltrating the ranks was a very difficult challenge. ‘There is a threat to any law enforcement agency,’ said the detective chief superintendent. Challenge: Alaric Bonthron, head of Scotland Yard's anti-corruption unit, said corruption will always exist . ‘You will never eliminate corruption. You can make it very difficult and put systems in place. Organised crime by its very nature is very challenging. ‘Has corruption gone away entirely? I don’t think it has, you have always got vulnerabilities. ‘Part of our role is to make sure the organisation is absolutely doing the best it can to be corruption-proof.’ Mr Bonthron, who took charge of the Metropolitan Police’s Professional Standards Unit nine months ago, said 99 per cent of officers are ‘honest, law-abiding individuals’. Previously the work of the PSU has been shrouded in secrecy due to the nature of its work. But in a frank interview, Mr Bonthron told The Independent newspaper: ‘One officer, one member of staff, headline news … and it discredits the organisation.’ Temptation: Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, sparked outrage among some MPs last week when he said poorly-paid junior officers were more susceptible to bribes to make ends meet . The officer, who has worked in the police in London for 29 years, denied that the Met was rife with ‘endemic corruption’, as has been claimed was the case in the Eighties and Nineties when some of Britain’s most notorious criminals were allegedly able to gain influence and information to compromise investigations. He said the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards has 385 staff, spending £24 million every year. Sir Hugh Orde, one of Britain’s top officers, warned recently that police are more likely to take bribes if they are underpaid and have money problems. Sir Hugh pointed to the £19,000 starting salary for junior PCs and said that financial pressure felt by ‘certain ranks’ could fuel a wave of corruption. | Comments were made by Met Police anti-corruption boss Alaric Bonthron .
He told The Independent organised crime was 'very challenging'
But he insisted 99 per cent of officers were honest and law-abiding . |
06b06840a58ee09b55091edd555f1ee01815a31c | By . Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 11:49 EST, 20 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 17:53 EST, 20 December 2012 . Fears that consumers are reining in their spending ahead of Christmas were fuelled yesterday after it emerged that sales volumes failed to rebound last month. A predicted return to growth did not materialise, with official figures from the Office for National Statistics revealing flat sales volumes between October and November. It comes after a much-worse-than-expected drop in October when retail sales volumes fell 0.8 per cent month on month. Still time to buy: Shoppers brave the rain as they pass shops in the centre of Bath yesterday, as it emerged that sales volumes failed to rebound last month . Carrying on: Shoppers eat and drink while they pass shops in Bath as retailers slash prices to entice them in . The Confederation of British Industry said that sales for the Christmas season had been ‘below par’ as families try to make their budgets stretch as far as possible. Excluding fuel, the ONS figures showed the total value of sales was up 2.5 per cent in November compared with a year ago, below inflation of 2.7 per cent in the same period. The ONS said new models of tablet computers drove a 3.8 per cent boost for household goods stores, but this failed to offset a 0.1 per cent drop in food sales. Clothes and shoes sales were also down by 0.1 per cent, with department stores also seeing sales volumes fall. Flat-lining: An Office for National Statistics graph showing the estimated quantity of goods bought in the retail sector back to 2000, with indices referenced to 2009 . But the ONS estimated that the proportion of retail sales online increased by 1.4 per cent between October and November, with the average weekly spend in November at £711million. Across all retailing an estimated £7.3billion was spent weekly in November, around the same as last year. James Knightley, an analyst at ING Bank, said the headline growth figure was a disappointing outcome following a decent bounce in consumer confidence in November. He expects overall GDP to be flat in the fourth quarter. British Retail Consortium director-general Helen Dickinson, said the figures suggested that Christmas shoppers were slow out of the blocks as pressures on budgets and the outlook left people reluctant to commit to spending early. Growth breakdown: This ONS graph shows the contribution each of these sectors have had to the total quantity bought in retail over the period from November 2011 to last month . Rising: This non-seasonally adjusted ONS graph shows the internet sales as a proportion of all retailing . But she said there were signs that shopper numbers had been building at a respectable pace throughout December, especially in recent weeks. She said: ‘With Christmas falling on a Tuesday this year, this weekend will be the critical one - I’m expecting a last-minute rush but overall in sales terms it will be neither a bumper Christmas nor a disaster.’ Meanwhile Christmas 2012 is expected be the busiest ever for online retailers in the UK, with visits to British retail websites expected to reach 126million on Boxing Day - 31 per cent up on 2011. It would also be an increase of 14million visits from the recent record breaking Cyber Monday, and consumers are expected to spend £472.5 million as they snap up sales bargains, analysts said. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are also expected to be big transactional days, with consumers expected to spend £225million and £307million respectively, Experian and IMRG said. | News comes after retail sales volumes fell 0.8% month on month in October .
CBI: Sales for the Christmas season 'below par' as families stretch budgets .
Analysts: 126m visits to UK retail websites on Boxing Day (31% up on 2011) |
06b39eae592a8ffef5faa2dd9ff069640c5aff24 | Wayne Rooney has asked to start Louis van Gaal’s first game in charge of Manchester United at the Pasadena Rose Bowl on Tuesday night. The England striker is in America with his team-mates after returning to training following a disappointing World Cup in Brazil. And new United assistant manager Ryan Giggs has revealed that the 28-year-old is raring to go ahead of Thursday's game against LA Galaxy in California. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Wayne Rooney nutmeg former manager David Moyes . Raring to go: Wayne Rooney has asked to start Louis van Gaal's first game in charge of Manchester United . Chilling out: Rooney chats with Man United assistant Ryan Giggs and club legend David Beckham in Los Angeles . Giggs said: 'Everyone will be involved in the first game. Wayne looks really good. Actually all of the World Cup lads have come back looking really sharp. 'The World Cup boys are a bit behind in terms of their fitness, with the other lads who have been back 10 days or so, but no, Wayne looks good, along with the rest of the lads. 'Wayne really wants to play.' Van Gaal has said he will assess all of his new players on this two-week tour of the USA before making decisions on players’ future. He has also not indicated yet who will be captain. Giggs said: 'The players are trying to impress in training and they'll be trying to impress in the game against LA Galaxy. 'That's definitely the case when a new manager comes in. You want to be on that team-sheet for that first game of the season against Swansea, so you do everything you can to do that. 'It always matters who the captain is. It's a tremendous honour. Not many people get to captain Manchester United, so whoever it will be, it will be a tremendous honour. Let's get physical: Ronney and team-mate Phil Jones do some stretches during training on Monday . 'It's one of the things we discussed first when I met Louis. Obviously, with the leaving of the experienced players, it's one of the decisions we are prioritising. 'The decision hasn't been made yet. Louis is still getting to know the players. He's still trying to see their qualities. 'Like I said, about the likes of Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans, maybe a player like that will thrive from it, take charge and come out of their shell.' | Rooney keen to start Louis van Gaal's first game in charge of Manchester United on Thursday .
Red Devils set to face LA Galaxy in California .
United striker snapped chilling out with David Beckham on Wednesday . |
06b49e24c3164b7750feaf4f4d6a2310c377af58 | By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 03:34 EST, 5 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:40 EST, 5 June 2013 . Victims of crime are to be given the power to appeal against decisions not to charge suspects. Top prosecutor Keir Starmer said victims are treated as ‘bystanders’ in the justice system with little say about what happens in their cases. A new Victims' Right to Review will cover any decision taken by the Crown Prosecution not to press charges, potentially affecting up to 75,000 cases every year. Bystanders: Keir Starmer, the Director of Public Prosecutions, said too many victims felt they had only a 'walk-on part' in their cases . It will mean any victim of crime, including bereaved family members or other representatives, will be able to ask the CPS to look again at a case following a decision not to charge, to discontinue proceedings or offer no evidence. Mr Starmer, the Director of Public Prosecutions, said a ‘realistic prospect of conviction test’ would ensure the new measures did not tie up the criminal justice system in extensive reviews. ‘This is big step forward for victims, for many years they’ve been treated as bystanders in the criminal justice process with a sort of with a walk on part if their case goes ahead,’ he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. ‘This is about giving them greater confidence in the decision that starts the process in the first place. ‘If we take a decision not to prosecute then that’s very significant from a victim’s perspective and this new initiative enables them to say to the Crown Prosecution Service “I’d like that decision reviewed”.’ Around 75,000 cases do not proceed every year, but Mr Starmer said that in many of those the victim will ‘readily accept the decision not to prosecute, they may have even indicated beforehand they don’t want to support it’. Around 1,600 people complain each year at . present about a decision not to press charges, and the CPS would expect . this number to rise when the right to review is introduced. Challenge: Victims will be able to demand a review of decisions by prosecutors not to press charges against suspects in their case . The plans, which have been put out to consultation, come after a Court of Appeal ruling involving a case in which the CPS decided in 2007 not to bring sexual assault charges. The decision was reversed by the Court of Appeal and in 2011 disabled man Christopher Killick was jailed for three and a half years for sexually abusing two fellow cerebral palsy sufferers. Intimidated: Justice minister Helen Grant said the criminal justice system makes victims' 'already horrific experiences worse' The court stated ‘as a decision not to prosecute is in reality a final decision for a victim, there must be a right to seek a review of such a decision’. Victims' Commissioner Baroness Helen Newlove backed the move, but vowed to challenge any 'shortcomings' in the way it works. She said: 'On my appointment I was keen to work with Mr Starmer, victims and families of those who have suffered the loss of loved one's to put right this injustice. 'I am pleased that Mr Starmer has listened to the representations I have made on their behalf and today is a positive step forward for victims and their families.' Javed Khan, chief executive of independent charity Victim Support, said: ‘The Right to Review strengthens the rights of victims during the criminal justice process and is welcomed by Victim Support. ‘Too often victims tell us that they don't have much of a voice in our justice system. This new initiative by the Crown Prosecution Service is a step in the right direction and will help to re-position victims back at the heart of our justice system.’ The CPS only allows prosecutions to begin or continue if there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest to prosecute. Decisions not to charge or stop a prosecution on either ground will be open to review. VRR does not apply to cases where the police have decided to take no further action and a file of evidence has not been submitted to the CPS. Victims' Minister Helen Grant said: ‘Too often victims feel intimidated and treated as an afterthought by a 'system' that makes their already horrific experiences worse - the Victims' Right to Review is an important step towards changing this. ‘All victims deserve to know that the Criminal Justice System will work as hard as possible to deliver justice for them and help them recover and move on with their lives. ‘That's why if a victim has the strength to come forward, it is right that we give them every possible chance to get the justice they so deserve.’ | New right of review will allow victims to question prosecutors' decisions .
Director of Public Prosecutions says victims have only a 'walk-on part'
Justice minister Helen Grant said the criminal justice system makes victims' 'already horrific experiences worse' |
06b4c095a39fcae108659d940edad2073bbdeabf | Ahead of the Boxing Day Premier League action, Sportsmail will be providing you with all you need to know about every fixture, with team news, provisional squads, betting odds and Opta stats. Here is all the information you need for West Brom's home clash with Manchester City... West Bromwich Albion vs Manchester City (The Hawthorns) Team news . West Brom . West Brom captain Chris Brunt is in line to return for his side's Boxing Day clash with Manchester City. The Northern Irishman was unable to make his comeback from a hamstring injury against QPR last weekend but has trained this week. West Brom boss Alan Irvine will be able to call upon his captain Chris Brunt for the Boxing Day clash . Victor Anichebe (groin) is still not training but fellow forward Georgios Samaras is back after going home to Greece due to a family matter. Graham Dorrans (calf) and Boaz Myhill (illness) missed training on Tuesday but are expected to be available. Provisional squad: Foster, Myhill, Pocognoli, Gamboa, Dawson, Lescott, McAuley, Yacob, Davidson, Wisdom, Baird, Varela, Gardner, Brunt, Morrison, Dorrans, Mulumbu, Blanco, Sessegnon, Ideye, Berahino, Samaras. Manchester City . Manchester City are still without strikers Sergio Aguero (knee), Edin Dzeko (calf) and Stevan Jovetic (hamstring) for the Boxing Day trip to West Brom in the Barclays Premier League. Midfielders James Milner and David Silva could again play in the advanced central roles that proved successful against Crystal Palace last weekend or teenage forward Jose Angel Pozo might get another chance. Captain Vincent Kompany (hamstring/calf) is also still sidelined but fellow defender Gael Clichy has recovered from a minor knock. Provisional squad: Hart, Caballero, Zabaleta, Sagna, Demichelis, Mangala, Boyata, Clichy, Kolarov, Silva, Nasri, Navas, Toure, Fernando, Fernandinho, Lampard, Milner, Pozo, Ambrose, Sinclair. Manchester City's lack of fit strikers means David Silva could play in a more advanced role . Kick-off: Boxing Day, 3pm . Odds (subject to change): . West Brom 6/1 . Draw 3/1 . Manchester City 8/15 . Referee: Mark Clattenburg . Managers: Alan Irvine (West Brom), Manuel Pellegrini (Manchester City) Head-to-head league record: West Brom wins 49, draws 27, Manchester City wins 58 . Key match stats (supplied by Opta) West Bromwich Albion have won just one of their eight Premier league games played on Boxing Day (W1 D2 L5), but are unbeaten in their last three. Manchester City have won five and lost just one of their last seven Boxing Day fixtures. Man City have won eight and lost none of their last nine Premier League matches against West Brom (D1). Former Man City defender Joleon Lescott has scored in two of his last three Premier League matches against the Citizens. Edin Dzeko has scored three goals in his last four Premier League games against West Brom, including two match-winning goals. West Bromwich Albion's Giles Barnes (left) is tackled by Manchester City's Greg Cunningham during the Baggies' 2-1 win over City in September 2010. The League Cup victory is West Brom's latest triumph to date over the current Premier League champions . Manchester City have won the last 18 Premier League matches that Yaya Toure has scored in. West Brom have won just four home league games in 2014. Hull (3) are the only ever-present Premier League team to have won fewer in this period. Fernandinho has never played in a 0-0 draw in the Premier League (47 games). Radhi Jaidi (61) is the only player to have played in more without ever being part of a stalemate. Craig Dawson (2) is the only WBA player other than leading scorer Saido Berahino (7) to have netted more than once in the Premier League this season. Seven players have scored once. 18 year-old Jose Pozo, City’s youngest player this season, was born one month and 15 days after Frank Lampard made his Premier League debut for West Ham (31st January 1996). | West Brom captain Chris Brunt is in line for a return against the champions .
Manchester City are again without Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko .
Stevan Jovetic is also out meaning David Silva could play higher up . |
06b4f9376869bca97574662514f96bcfe1774fa8 | (CNN) -- Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman was denied a new trial Friday and resentenced to 6½ years in prison for his role in bribery, conspiracy, fraud and obstruction of justice, the Justice Department announced. At a hearing Friday in a federal courtroom in Montgomery, District Judge Mark Fuller said Siegelman would serve the 78 months behind bars, plus receive three years of supervised release and a $50,000 fine. Siegelman's contentious prosecution included a jury verdict of guilt on seven charges in 2006. An appeals court threw out two of the charges but upheld five counts, and the Supreme Court refused to hear his appeal. Siegelman served less than a year in prison before he was released on bail in 2008 after the appellate court tossed two of the charges. But on Tuesday, he asked for a new trial. "The District Court reviewed and denied all of Siegelman's various claims for a new trial prior to his resentencing (Friday)," the Justice Department said. Siegelman stands convicted of bribery, conspiracy and honest services mail fraud arising from a scheme in which HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy paid $500,000 for a seat on the state regulatory board governing HealthSouth. Siegelman was found guilty of obstruction of justice stemming from an investigation of an alleged pay-to-play scheme with another Alabama businessman. "The outcome of this case reflects the unflagging commitment of the Department of Justice to hold public officials accountable for corruption," Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer said in a statement. | Don Siegelman convicted in scheme in which CEO paid $500,000 for board seat .
He was also found guilty in alleged pay-to-play scheme involving another businessman .
He served less than a year in prison before being released on bail in 2008 .
He requested a new trial but was denied and resentenced . |
06b517525dfd4300777c67088c6116881ac73d3e | YORKTOWN, Virginia (CNN) -- It's daybreak on Sara Creek, a sleepy backwater that sits near Yorktown, Virginia, and empties into the Chesapeake. The early morning fog slowly lifts to reveal the ripples of water, the boats swaying, and a picturesque harbor. Tommy Leggett works to reduce polluted waters in Chesapeake Bay by growing oysters. Local watermen have been fishing around this area for generations. It's beginning to rain, and Tommy Leggett, a very proud and reserved waterman, combs over his white beard with his rough hands and prepares his boat, "Chesapeake Gold," for what looks like a day of fishing out in the bay. "I've been a waterman for over 20 years," he says. The difference now is Leggett doesn't fish anymore. He's an eco-conscious farmer and advocate who works on his sustainable oyster farm in the James River. He uses the term "aquaculture" to describe what he's doing here. "It refers to the husbandry, or farming, of aquatic species." Leggett sells the oysters he harvests to local restaurants, growing about 100,000 a year as a part-time business. He makes sure he always has a product to replace the ones that he sells. He shares his expertise with other watermen, educating them about oyster aquaculture and the importance of sustainability. Watch Leggett's efforts to save the bay » . Leggett also sells his fresh products to the area market. "Customers want to know if the oysters they are buying are local, which means they're fresher and taste better." Waterman: Many foods rely on oysters . The Chesapeake Bay, which is the United States' largest estuary, covering more than 64,000 square miles and spanning across several states, has seen its fish, crab and oyster stocks dwindle, in part, because of pollution over the past several decades. "It was once said that the oyster stock in the Chesapeake Bay could have filtered the entire volume of the bay, in a single day," says Leggett, who has been farming shellfish in the watershed since 1995. "Most people don't think of oysters having come from farms, and historically they haven't. They've been harvested from the wild fishery, which is supplied by Mother Nature." That wild fishery, which still exists today, has seen its share of setbacks. From disease to overharvesting, Leggett knows what's at stake, and he's trying to get the message out. "Oysters filter the water, and they provide habitat for other species. There are so many food webs that depend and rely on oysters." Not only does Leggett farm, he also works for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) as the Virginia oyster and fishery scientist. He is trying to do his part to reverse the trends of depleting oyster stocks. "If we don't restore oysters, we're not going to restore the Bay," he says. He wants to make sure people understand what just one single oyster can do. "One oyster out here in one of our bags can filter as much as 50 gallons of water a day." By filtering the water, this important shellfish can take away deadly pollutants that eventually could deplete the crab and fish stocks, which in turn can leave fishermen without work. Millions of oyster 'moms and dads' The CBF helps to grow millions of oysters that will eventually make their way to sanctuary reefs and will not be harvested. The oysters will reproduce, and make a home for thousands of sea critters that will eventually become food for larger animals. "Its all a giant food chain," Leggett explains. Leggett works alongside Jackie Harmon as the CBF's sole employees at a worksite near the Institute of Marine Science in Hayes, Virginia. iReport.com: Show us the environment near you . "Our goal is to replenish oyster stocks," Harmon says, "and by doing so, the oysters cannot only help filter water, but also help with shoreline erosion." "It's a sustainable way for watermen of the Chesapeake to continue their livelihood as fishermen, in a more eco-friendly way." Harmon also maintains an oyster farm on the weekend and hopes to one day sell her oysters at local farmers' markets. Leggett puts it this way: "All we're doing here is making moms and dads to help jump-start reefs throughout the Chesapeake." Leggett and Harmon are optimistic. They believe current federal and state administrations are doing great things for the environment. They believe the CBF's message is being heard. However, a lot more needs to be done, Harmon says. "People are becoming more aware and want to take care of their environment, and they want to make it a better place for future generations," she says. So as the land-based movement makes it apparent that buying local is the healthy way to live, seafood should be known in that same light. Leggett believes the Chesapeake Bay can produce the amount of seafood needed for the entire region and he thinks with careful oversight, the watersheds can be an abundant source for that local seafood industry again, just like it was decades ago. | NEW: Watch CNN.com Live Earth Day coverage at 4 p.m., 7 p.m., 9 p.m. ET .
Pollution in United States' largest estuary has reduced fish, crabs and oysters .
Chesapeake Bay project aims to grow millions of oyster "moms and dads"
Oysters can help crabs and fish flourish by filtering poisons from the water . |
06b5be452f0e363369acaf7a7e8e3bf456d4853b | A female soldier claimed that she made $400 a night at Fort Hood sex parties after being recruited as part of a prostitution ring at the Texas base. The allegations were made in documents relating to court-martial in which a sergeant is accused of attempting to use the service. Master Sergeant Brad Grimes was in military court this week, accused of participating in the prostitution ring set up by another sergeant who has not yet been charged. Charges: A Fort Hood sergeant has been found guilty of conspiracy to solicit a prostitute . The allegations are the latest in a series of claims about sexual harassment and sex-related crimes in the forces. Grimes, a married serviceman who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, was found guilty of conspiracy to pay for sex from a Fort Hood private. He was allegedly approached by Sergeant 1st Class Gregory McQueen who offered to arrange a tryst with a young soldier. McQueen, who served as the sexual assault prevention officer, is currently being investigated over claims that he recruited cash-strapped female soldiers for sex parties at the base. The defense attorney for Grimes said there had been no talk of exchanging money for sex and added that his client decided not to go ahead with the meeting, after it was set up at a hotel. 'At the end of the day, Master Sgt Grimes chose to do the right thing and not have sex with that young lady,' Daniel Conway said. 'This is really a case about sex parties and Master Sgt Grimes had nothing to do with that.' A female army private told the court-martial that Grimes paid her $100 to have sex with him at a hotel, YNN reported. Claims: Soldiers walk by the base headquarters at Fort Hood, where a Sergeant has been accused of setting up a prostitute ring . She also testified against McQueen, claiming he recruited her for the prostitution ring. The attorney argued that Grimes had been charged after he rejected a deal to testify against McQueen. In documents seen by the Austin-American Stateman, the allegations against McQueen were made when a young private told officials he had tried to recruit her to have sex with high-ranking soldiers. The unnamed soldier claimed the woman Grimes was accused of meeting had told her she made 'like $400 to $500' at Fort Hood parties, according to the documents. The private also claimed that McQueen 'preys on young females who are in bad financial situations and that he keeps their pictures on his cell phone,' a sworn statement seen by the Statesman said. No formal charges have been made against McQueen. At the conclusion of the court-martial yesterday a military panel found Grimes was found guilty of conspiracy to patronize a prostitute and solicitation to commit adultery. He was cleared of patronizing a prostitute and committing adultery and has been demoted to a lower rank, KWTX reported. Grimes' attorney distanced the case from the sexual harassment scandals in the forces, saying: 'It has nothing to do with sexual assault.' | Iraq veteran found guilty of attempting to hire prostitute .
Private told court-martial she was offered $100 for hotel room tryst .
Army still investigating claims that sexual assault prevention officer targeted cash-strapped recruits for prostitution ring . |
06b6370f7e70db49c86b7beee89a50aadb0e7124 | By . Sarah Griffiths . Paleontologists have long pondered what caused the extinction of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago and came up with some crazy theories. While a spy proposed the dinosaurs suffered from overactive glands and a low sex drive, which led to their downfall, other scientists believed growing too big, hungry caterpillars, aliens and a taste for eggs were all good reasons as to why the ancient beasts died out. Now-a-days most scientists agree a combination of volcanic activity, climate change and a massive asteroid impact probably finished off land-dwelling dinosaurs - with the exception of birds. While a spy proposed the dinosaurs suffered from overactive glands and a low sex drive which led to their downfall, other scientists believed growing too big, hungry caterpillars, aliens and even farting were all good reasons as to why the ancient beasts died out . A spy and Hungarian-born aristocrat, Baron Franz Nopcsa von Felső-Szilvás, had plenty of extinction theories in the early 20th century including that dinosaurs had a low sex drive and overactive glands. The keen paleontologist thought dinosaurs got so large because of secretions from the pituitary gland, which caused them to grow too large. While he tried to apply knowledge of human conditions to the dinosaurs, there is no evidence to suggest that the gland had anything to do with the animals' size or extinction, Smithsonian reported. Another scientist living at the same time, called George Wieland, believed the dinosaurs ate themselves to death and the T-Rex got its 'first impulse toward gigantism on a diet of sauropod eggs'. The Yale researcher said the greedy carnivores ate too many eggs and caused their mass extinction, but now-a-days scientists agree that while fossils show the creatures had a taste for eggs, they could not have eaten them all. Staying with eggs, fossil expert H.K. Erben proposed in the 1970s that dinosaur eggs had multiple shell layers, while others were too thin, causing developing dinosaurs to either suffocate, or dehydrate if the shell was too thin and got broken. One researcher said greedy dinosaurs ate too many eggs to cause mass extinction, but now-a-days scientists agree that while fossils show the creatures had a taste for eggs, they could not have eaten them all. A nest of petrified dinosaur eggs being analysed is pictured . While he based his idea on eggshells found in Southern France, fossil records show this was a local phenomenon and not a widespread problem. In the early 1900s, when Darwin's theory of natural selection was still catching on, many palaeontologists thought the beasts became too sluggish, big and stupid to function. The now unpopular theory supposed that dinosaurs had a kind of evolutionary inertia and spent their energy getting larger instead of smarter, despite the fact that some of the largest species of dinosaur including the Stegosaurus and Brachiosaurus thrived. More recently, in the past decade, an infertility specialist has argued the dinosaurs died out as they couldn't find partners. Sherman Silber said that as temperatures can determine the sex of some animals, like crocodiles, climate change could have ensured that only one sex of dinosaur babies were born. There are several holes in this theory including that scientists do not know if the sex of dinosaurs were determined by temperature. In the 1960s, entomologist Stanley Flanders proposed that the first moths and caterpillars ate all the vegetation on Cretaceous Earth, causing the herbivorous dinosaurs to go hungry. In the 1960s by entomologist Stanley Flanders proposed that the first moths, butterflies and caterpillars ate all the vegetation on Cretaceous Earth, causing the herbivorous dinosaurs to go hungry. A modern Pearl-bordered fritillary butterfly is pictured . Consequently he argued the predators would also starve as they had no more vegetarian dinosaurs to eat. However, once again, modern science and fossil records have shown that butterflies and moths happily coexisted with dinosaurs and did not gobble all the plants. The Smithsonian article notes that as the expertise of scientists often informs their theory, it is not surprising that ophthalmologist L.R. Croft believed bad eyesight was to blame for the extinction of the dinosaurs. In the 1980s he said rising temperatures caused cataracts to develop faster and even went as far to suggest that dinosaurs successfully evolved horns on their faces to protect their eyes from the sun. The theory does not explain why flying dinosaurs did not go blind too. While not strictly a scientific idea, last year paleontologist David Wilkinson speculated the dinosaur's annual . output of methane gas would have been enough to cause global warming. Before the idea of an asteroid impact (pictured) was embraced by the scientific community as a reason for the extinction of dinosaurs, physicist Wallace Tucker and paleontologist Dale Russell suggested in the 1970s that a death blow came from space . While they did not mention extinction, the media seized upon the idea to conclude dinosaurs farted themselves to death. Likewise, a TV programme last year called 'Ancient Aliens' amalgamated various scraps of science to state that aliens could have wiped out the dinosaurs. However, Utah State University’s Prehistoric Museum said there is no evidence to suggest this theory is true as no fossilized aliens, or alien waste has ever been discovered. Finally, before the idea of an asteroid impact was embraced by the scientific community as a reason for the extinction of dinosaurs, physicist Wallace Tucker and paleontologist Dale Russell suggested in the 1970s that a death blow came from space. However, they thought a supernova relatively close to the Earth exploded and bombarded the upper atmosphere with X-rays causing temperatures to decrease sharply. But no evidence of an astronomical event has been found. They thought a supernova relatively close to the Earth exploded and bombarded the upper atmosphere with X-rays causing temperatures to decrease sharply. But no evidence of an astronomical event has been found. A supernova called Cassiopeia is pictured . | Spy and paleontologist Baron Franz Nopcsa thought dinosaurs had overactive glands and low sex drives and dies out as a result .
Entomologist Stanley Flanders proposed caterpillars ate all the vegetation on Cretaceous Earth, causing the herbivorous dinosaurs to go hungry .
Ophthalmologist L.R. Croft believed bad eyesight was to blame for the extinction of the dinosaurs as they developed cataracts . |
06b705e76d7ad984f10b40fb18a78804a3b867d9 | Old-fashioned one-man bands involve strapping instruments - including a huge bass drum - to your body, but now a slimline gadget claims to turn any item of clothing into a comfortable-to-wear musical instrument. DrumPants let wearers play music anywhere using wearable sensors that transform a pair of jeans into a drum kit or a shirt into a guitar. The easily concealed sensor sticks are attached to a control box that lets a person choose from more than 100 sounds - including instruments such as the piano. DrumPants claim to let wearers lay music anywhere using wearable sensors that can transform a pair of jeans into a drum kit or a shirt into a guitar . Users can also add their own noises, such as the meow of a cat as they are playing, too. DrumPants wearers have the option of listening to their musical endeavours using headphones or if they are more of a performer, they can broadcast their sounds using an external speaker that can be clipped onto their clothes. Two wearable strips, which are offered in the San Francisco-based firm’s basic DrumPants kit, contain six sensors, but extra strips can be added. The sensor sticks, which are very thin and . flexible and respond to touch, can be attached to any item of clothing . with ‘ultra-thin Velcro stickies’. Users of DrumPants can listen to their musical endeavours using headphones or if they are more of a performer, broadcast their music using an external speaker that can be clipped onto their clothes . ‘Just stick them inside your clothes and easily swap the drum pad strips between outfits,’ the company said. The notes and noises produced by . DrumPants can be sent to any app that supports MIDI or OSC and the . device can also be connected to a computer via USB. A looping pedal can be added to the system and controlled by tapping a shoe, for example, to build up a layer of sounds and the wearable sensors can even be used to control a slideshow or other equipment such as a smartphone. Tyler Freeman, the Californian co-founder and inventor of DrumPants came up with the product as a prank but has now been working on it for six years and decided to commercialise it, while studying at the University of California, Santa Cruz. The sensor sticks, which are slim and flexible and respond to touch, can be attached to any item of clothing with 'ultra-thin velcro stickies' The notes and noises produced by the DrumPants can be sent to any app that supports MIDI or OSC and the device can also be connected to a computer or tablet via USB or BlueTooth (pictured) He is currently raising funds to put DrumPants, which he claims is the ‘world’s first industrial quality wearable music instrument’ into production, using crowd funding website Kickstarter. The website says: ‘Over the years it [DrumPants] expanded beyond a stunt, to a Master's project, to an educational tool used to teach teenagers about programming and music production, to finally what it is today: an industrial, production ready wearable music kit.’ The kit on sale from the Kickstarter page starts at $89 (£54) for six sensors, an app and control box, with a BlueTooth version being offered for $129 (£79) and a 12 sensor version for $199 (£129). DrumPants claim to let wearers lay music anywhere using a wearable sensor that can transform a pair of jeans into a drum kit or a shirt into a guitar . The wearable sensors can be used to control a slideshow or other equipment such as YouTube or a smartphone using 'rhythmic gesture control' | A San Francisco-based inventor created the wearable sensors as a joke .
But now the concept has been developed into 'DrumPants', which lets users play over 100 sounds using headphones or a clip-on speaker .
The company is raising funds to put the ‘world’s first industrial quality wearable music instrument’ into production . |
06b80baf2a899a23ea4e6964247c30fa048df20d | (CNN) -- Mississippi's top prosecutor Wednesday threatened to subpoena the search giant Google over what he called its failure to crack down on ads touting unlawful sales of prescription drugs and pirated entertainment. Attorney General Jim Hood said that he and several other state prosecutors have called for Google to tighten its restrictions on advertising those products and that the company hasn't responded. "Google's lack of response leaves us no choice except to issue subpoenas to Google for possible violations of state consumer protection acts and other state and federal civil and criminal laws," Hood said in a written statement. "We attorneys general are duty-bound to enforce our consumer protection laws and other civil and criminal statutes. Google is aiding and abetting criminal activity and putting consumers at risk." The company paid a $500 million civil fine in 2012 over what federal regulators said were unlawful sales of prescription drugs over the Internet. The Justice Department said Google was on notice as early as 2003 that online pharmacies were advertising prescription drugs online to users in the United States but failed to prevent the practice. The Mountain View, California-based company said Wednesday it has made things "increasingly difficult" for illegal pharmacies to hawk their products using its search engine. "A variety of websites and web services are refusing ads from suspected rogue pharmacies," it said. "Domain name registrars are removing suspect rogue pharmacies from their networks. Payment processors are blocking payments to these operators, and social networking sites are removing them from their systems too." But it added that its results "reflect the web and what's online -- the good and the bad." "Filtering a website from search results won't remove it from the web, or block other websites that link to that website," it said in a statement posted on its public policy blog. "It's not Google's place to determine what content should be censored -- that responsibility belongs with the courts and the lawmakers." | Prosecutor: Google should crack down on ads touting unlawful prescription drugs .
"Google is aiding and abetting criminal activity," state prosecutor says .
Google says it's cracking down but results "reflect the web and what's online"
The search giant paid a $500 million civil fine over the issue in 2012 . |
06b88f1a7616a1f10796570f83c7383f6d264638 | WASHINGTON (CNN) -- As President Obama marks his 100th day in office, most recent national polls indicate that more than six in 10 Americans approve of the job he's doing as president. Polls reflect that most Americans approve of President Obama's performance during his first 100 days in office. According to a CNN poll of polls compiled Wednesday, 63 percent said they approve of how Obama is handling his duties. Twenty-nine percent disapprove. The rating is down 3 percentage points from CNN's previous poll of polls, which was compiled Sunday. The president's approval rating stood at 64 percent in a CNN poll of polls in January shortly after his inauguration. "The number of Americans who think Obama has the right personal qualities to be president has gone up since the campaign last fall," said Keating Holland, CNN's polling director. "That wasn't true for George W. Bush eight years ago, and it may be one reason why Obama's approval rating is still in the 60s." How does Obama compare with his predecessors around the first 100-days mark? Bush stood at 62 percent in a CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll in April 2001; Bill Clinton at 55 percent in a CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll in April 1993; George H.W. Bush at 58 percent in a Gallup Poll from April 1989; and Ronald Reagan at 67 percent in a Gallup Poll in April 1981. "The 100-day mark tends to fall during a period when Americans are still evaluating a new president. The danger period for most presidents comes later in their first year in office," Holland said. "Bill Clinton, for example, still had good marks after his first 100 days, but his approval rating had tanked by June of 1993. Ronald Reagan's approval rating stayed over 50 percent until November of his first year in office, but once it slipped below that mark, it stayed under 50 percent for two years. So Obama's current rating certainly does not indicate that he is out of the woods yet." The most recent edition of the CNN poll of polls is an average of seven national surveys taken over the past week: CNN/Opinion Research Corp. (April 23-26), ABC/Washington Post (April 21-24), Fox/Opinion Dynamics (April 22-23), CBS/The New York Times (April 22-26), Marist (April 21-23), Quinnipiac (April 21-27) and the Gallup tracking poll (April 25-27). iReport.com: Grade the first 100 days . The poll of polls does not have a sampling error. | CNN poll of polls finds 63 percent approve of how President Obama handling duties .
Obama's approval rating at 64 percent in CNN poll of polls in January .
CNN poll of polls is an average of seven national surveys taken over the past week . |
06b89cdec72bd77cf37d6e695541cd6a3de28d9d | Among the groups working to try and help keep the peace in under siege Ferguson, Missouri, are leather-clad motorcycle groups. The bikers include members from groups including Outcast MC - America's oldest all-black motorcycle club - and Dominant Breed. The riders arrived in town on Saturday and have been helping to protect stores against looters as well as joining in peaceful rallies protesting the shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown. Scroll down for video . Leather-clad motorcycle groups are working to try and help keep the peace in under siege Ferguson, Missouri . One rider told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch over the weekend that the clubs don't have a specific strategy to help protect the city. ‘But normally when they see our presence [troublemakers] don't come around much,’ he said. The bikers have also been spotted at a memorial site for the slain teen in recent days and their presence is widely considered to be having a positive impact. Protesters and local residents have shared photos on social media of the bikers, wearing their signature black jackets and skull masks. Riders have been helping to protect stores against looters as well as joining in peaceful rallies protesting the shooting of Michael Brown . Protesters and local residents in Ferguson have shared photos on social media of the bikers, wearing their signature black jackets and skull masks . Outcast MC was founded in Detroit in 1969 and has chapters around the country. The bikers aren't the only group on the streets of Ferguson working to restore order and support the peaceful protesters. Amnesty International and the Black Panther Party are among the other groups that currently have a presence in the town along with local student and church-based organizations. Funeral services for Brown, the black 18-year-old killed by a white police officer, are planned for Monday. Benjamin Crump, an attorney for the Brown family said the exact time and location for the memorial has not been finalized. The shooting of the unarmed Brown by officer Darren Wilson has stoked more than a week of unrest in the city. Police have used tear gas, sound projectors and other means to turn back demonstrators, some of whom have lobbed Molotov cocktails and bottles at officers. The volatile scenes prompted Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon to deploy the National Guard in an effort control the unrest. Bikers are members of groups including Outcast MC - America's oldest all-black motorcycle club - and Dominant Breed . | Leather-clad motorcycle groups are working to try and help keep the peace in under siege Ferguson, Missouri .
Bikers are members of groups including Outcast MC - America's oldest all-black motorcycle club - and Dominant Breed .
Riders have been helping to protect stores against looters as well as joining in peaceful rallies protesting the shooting of Michael Brown .
Local residents have shared photos on social media of the bikers - wearing their signature black jackets and skull masks . |
06b8bec3d6e15af2e01cab711a62eee76f3f934d | Online shoppers eager for discounts this holiday season did not wait for Cyber Monday. U.S. consumers spent a record $1.042 billion online on Black Friday, a 26% increase over the same day last year, according to new figures from comScore, an Internet analytics firm. Shoppers also found time amid the cooking, eating and watching football to spend an additional $633 million on Thanksgiving Day, a 32% jump from the year before. Black Friday is the heaviest online shopping day of the year so far. The sales total is the first time e-commerce spending on that day has topped $1 billion. "Despite the frenzy of media coverage surrounding the importance of Black Friday in the brick-and-mortar world, we continue to see this shopping day become more and more prominent in the e-commerce channel -- particularly among those who prefer to avoid crowds at the stores," said comScore Chairman Gian Fulgoni. While the Monday after Thanksgiving has traditionally been a heavy day for online shopping, some retailers offered Web-only deals last week in an effort to spur sales. More than 57 million Americans visited online retail sites on Black Friday, an increase of 18% over a year ago, comScore said. The most-visited site was Amazon, followed by Walmart, Best Buy, Target and Apple. In the holiday shopping season that began November 1, online spending is up 16% over 2011, according to comScore. What's driving the surge in online spending this holiday season? Digital content and subscriptions as more consumers download movies, TV shows, books and music to enjoy on their tablets and smartphones. Spending in that category is up 29% over last year. Other big-growth product categories this season are toys, video games and consumer electronics. | U.S. consumers spent record $1.042 billion online on Black Friday, up 26% over 2011 .
It marks the first time e-commerce spending on that day has topped $1 billion .
Online spending is up 16% this holiday season over 2011 . |
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