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fab793092d22bb35c8d9abe4b1e1eb0f0d71338d | Danny Cipriani has turned his back on a lucrative move to European champions Toulon to sign a new contract with Sale, following his try-scoring comeback for England on Saturday. The 27-year-old fly-half made his first Test appearance at Twickenham since 2008, as a replacement in the 47-17 RBS 6 Nations victory over Italy. His eye-catching cameo was further evidence that he has forced his way back into Stuart Lancaster’s plans - and that was undoubtedly a major factor in the decision about his club career. Danny Cipriani, who made a try-scoring cameo off the bench for England on Saturday, will stay at Sale . The 27-year-old fly half has been made offers by European champions Toulon but is settled in Manchester . Cipriani, here training with England, features in Stuart Lancaster's plans beyond this year's World Cup . The faith placed in him by Lancaster for a national team recall undoubtedly influenced his club decision . Cipriani joined Sale from Melbourne Rebels in 2012 and he has produced consistently outstanding displays for the Cheshire club over the last 18 months. Now, he has opted to stick with the Sharks for another two seasons, and Sportsmail understands that he will also take on the role of vice-captain. Toulon had made informal enquiries about Cipriani and they came back with a firm offer late last month. But after being called into the England squad, he chose to reject the offer in order to stay at home and in contention for Test selection. Cipriani, converting his try for England, has chosen to stay with the Sharks for another two seasons . Sportsmail understands that Cipriani will also be given additional responsibility as vice-captain . Cipriani chose to reject the advances of cashed-up Toulon to remain in contention for Test selection . While Harlequins and ambitious Bristol are understood to have expressed an interest, Cipriani has settled in Manchester and was happy to stay with Sale. Negotiations have dragged on for several months, but terms have been formally agreed this week. Having seen Toby Flood move to Toulouse at the end of last season, England head coach Lancaster will be relieved that another No 10 contender is not heading into Test exile across the Channel. Last month, he emphasised that Cipriani features in his long-term plans, saying: ‘I see Danny being around for hopefully the next three or four years.’ | Danny Cipriani has turned down an offer to join Toulon .
The 27-year-old will stay at Sale where he's impressed for 18 months .
Cipriani made an eye-catching cameo for England in their win over Italy .
National coach Stuart Lancaster said Cipriani features in long-term plans . |
fab7ebb43bc370fbf5cf7c97651fa62bcae0e02e | By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 08:45 EST, 26 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:45 EST, 26 November 2012 . More working people are living in poverty than families where no one has a job, a new study shows. Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has repeatedly claimed he wants to ‘make work pay’ but a new report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation shows how a million more working families are in poverty than households where everyone is on the dole. Around 6.1million people are classed as being in poverty despite someone going out to work. By comparison 5.1 million people live in poverty where everyone is unemployed. The report said 6.1million people are in poverty despite someone going out to work compared to 5.1 million people who live in poverty in homes where everyone is unemployed . The government’s welfare bill has continued to balloon, after benefits rose by 5 per cent while earnings for those in work have on average gone up by just 1.8 per cent. Julia Unwin, Chief Executive of JRF, said: ‘The most distinctive characteristic of poverty today is the very high number of working people who are also poor. ‘Many more people have experienced poverty since the downturn, cycling in and out of insecure, short-term and poorly paid jobs. ‘Tackling poverty requires a comprehensive strategy, but overcoming the frail jobs market must be the starting point.’ The amount of money spent by the Government on welfare soared by 7.7 per cent last year. Despite the Coalition’s efforts to crack down on the huge bill, it has risen by far more than the 1.8 per cent rise in average pay for those in work. The Centre for Policy Studies think tank said the spiralling welfare costs do not fit in with the Government’s stated objective of making work pay. The number of people who are working part-time but looking for full-time employment is now 1.4 million, up by 500,000 since 2009. The number of working families who get working tax credits from the state to top up wages is up by 50 per cent since 2003, to 3.3 million. Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has insisted his welfare reforms will make sure work always pays . Millions of people are moving in and out of work every year, with the jobs market more insecure than ever. Tom MacInnes, research director of New Policy Institute which wrote the JRF report, said: ‘Low wages are a drag on economic recovery and cause families to struggle with the costs they face, trapping them below the breadline. ‘Changes across five decades demonstrate poverty is not inevitable - reductions in child and pensioner poverty show that. ‘But it is in-work poverty that is becoming the modern face of hardship, and at the same time support for working people is being cut. The high level of in-work poverty undermines any idea that better incentives to enter work, the centrepiece of Universal Credit, is some kind of cure-all.’ The Department for Work and Pensions insisted welfare reforms will improve the lives of some of the poorest families. The new Universal Credit, to be introduce from next year, with simplify the complex myriad of means-tested benefits. A spokesman added: ‘It will make work pay - by allowing people to keep more of their hard-earned money as they move into work - and directly lift hundreds of thousands out of poverty altogether. ‘Furthermore, for people who have been dependent on benefits for years moving into work can seem a big risk, Universal Credit will reward people who choose to go back to work by ensuring that you are better off in work than on benefits for taking that risk.’ | Joseph Rowntree Foundation says 6.1million people live in poverty despite someone in their family going out to work .
By comparison only 5.1million of those living entirely off benefits are in poverty . |
fab827c0c07e96613b33e39f105a15dcfd7d4e50 | The number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon has passed 1 million, the United Nations' refugee agency said Thursday, making up almost a quarter of the country's resident population. "The influx of a million refugees would be massive in any country. For Lebanon, a small nation beset by internal difficulties, the impact is staggering," U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said in a statement. Their numbers have made Lebanon the country with the highest per capita concentration of refugees in the world, the agency said. The total number of registered Syrian refugees in all countries is 2.58 million, according to the United Nations. Other nations with large populations of Syrian refugees include Jordan and Turkey. The number in Lebanon has now risen into seven figures, from just 18,000 two years ago. The United Nations has said that more than 100,000 people, many of them civilians, have been killed in Syria since a popular uprising spiraled into a civil war in 2011. U.N. staff in Lebanon register 2,500 new Syrian refugees every day, the UNHCR said. | U.N. staff in Lebanon register 2,500 new Syrian refugees every day .
The refugees now make up almost a quarter of the resident population .
"For Lebanon ... the impact is staggering," a U.N. official says .
Lebanon has the highest per capita concentration of refugees in the world . |
fab851045aaf4583dca78474343a6c91a58f0bdf | Most people feast on dishes brimming with turkey, potatoes and vegetables on Christmas Day. But this shocking photo shows what one 83-year-old care home resident was served instead. The pensioner was handed a plate containing a slice of bologna sausage, a piece of salami, some 'watered down' macaroni and a bread bun by staff at Pioneer Village in Saskatchewan, Canada. For dessert, he was given simply a bowl of 'runny' apple sauce. 'Unacceptable': This dish, containing a slice of bologna, a piece of salami, some 'watered down' macaroni and a bread bun, was given to an 83-year-old man at a Canada-based care home on December 25 . Shocked: The pensioner's horrified daughter, Darlene Mitchell (pictured, left, and, right, with her elderly mom), posted a photo of the meal on Facebook after visiting the publicly-run Regina facility with her partner, Shauna . His horrified daughter, Darlene Mitchell, posted a photo of the meal on Facebook after visiting the publicly-run Regina nursing home with her partner, Shauna, deeming the offering 'unacceptable'. Alongside the image, she wrote: 'So I wasn't going to do this on Christmas but I am doing this on Christmas. Tonight Shauna and I went to visit my dad in his care home. 'This is the meal they served the residence for Christmas supper. In case you can't tell what it is...it is a slice of bologna, a slice of salami, a bun and some watery macaroni salad. 'For dessert watered down apple sauce. So as always my mind isn't just angry it is curious... like who is in charge of meal planning. Do they say ok December 25 supper...bologna and a bun?' In response, the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region has stressed that Pioneer Village residents were served a hot traditional Christmas meal - including turkey and all the trimmings - earlier in the day. The later meal was, therefore, supposed to be cold and light, a spokesman said. Spreading the word: Alongside the image, Ms Mitchell wrote: 'Tonight Shauna and I went to visit my dad in his care home. This is the meal they served the residence for Christmas supper'. She then described the meal . Defense: In response, the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region has stressed that Pioneer Village (pictured) residents were served a traditional Christmas meal - including turkey and all the trimmings - earlier in the day . However, the photo, which also features a glass of still water and a small pack of butter, has sparked concern among thousands of social media users and politicians over Canada's care of the elderly. One Reddit user claimed her father - who resides at a different care facility - had simply been served canned meat for his Christmas dinner, while another said their relative was also served bologna. Meanwhile, others raised concerns over the nutritional value of meals in the country's care homes. Speaking of the 'lack' of nutrition in her father's Christmas dinner, Ms Mitchell told CTV Regina: '(It) does not meet any nutritional guide whatsoever, especially on Christmas Day, but any day.' Expressing concern: Speaking of her father's 'unacceptable' Christmas dinner, Ms Mitchell told CTV Regina (pictured): '(It) does not meet any nutritional guide whatsoever, especially on Christmas Day, but any day' Giving their opinion: One Reddit user said: 'It's the overall nutritional quality that's the issue' at Pioneer Village . In agreement: Another claimed her father - who resides at a different care facility - had been served canned meat for his Christmas dinner, saying: 'The same situation has been my Dad's existence for three years' She added: 'It's dismal, it's depressing, it's sad and it's horrible that [this is how] these people are living the last years of their life. So what would I like changed? A hot meal.' The provincial NDP agreed that Ms Mitchell's father's meal fell short of acceptable standards for seniors' care - and has called for minimum-care standards in seniors facilities across the province. 'The meal that was served on Christmas Day is absolutely unacceptable,' said Opposition Deputy Leader Trent Wotherspoon, claiming it would not be appropriate on any day of the year. 'It doesn’t provide the basic nutrition. It doesn’t provide the dignity that those in care - that the seniors of this province, the builders of this province - deserve.' Speaking out: Michael Redenbach (pictured), vice-president of integrated health services with the health region, spoke out in defense of the photo, saying: 'We make sure the nutritional needs of residents are met' However, Michael Redenbach, vice-president of integrated health services with the health region, told CBC News: 'We make sure the nutritional needs of our residents are met.' He added that the health region works with registered dietitians to develop nutritious meal plans for residents. These are based on the provincial government's special-care home guidelines, he said. Pioneer Village is the largest seniors' care home in Saskatchewan, with 390 beds. | Meal at Pioneer Village comprised a slice of bologna and a bit of salami .
Also included 'watered down' macaroni, bread bun and a glass of water .
Pensioner's daughter posted a photo of dinner online on Christmas Day .
She deemed offering 'unacceptable' and criticized home's management .
Picture has sparked widespread concern over care of Canada's elderly .
Health region has argued residents were served hot meal earlier in day . |
fab8813488ba31d9541af941e3e76bcbedf9d3de | Even if you were not thrilled with one of your presents yesterday, it might be worth sending a thank you letter anyway. Those who take the trouble to put pen to paper stand to get something much better next year, according to research. More than 80 per cent of gift givers say they will spend an extra £20 next Christmas on friends and relatives who send them a note. Those who take the trouble to put pen to paper stand to get something much better next year, research says . But more than half of Britons say they would reduce the amount they spend on a loved one by £10 if they didn't get a written thank you. Some 20 per cent polled in a survey by Royal Mail and etiquette experts Debrett's said it would put them off giving that person a Christmas present ever again. There is also a time limit after which patience wears thin, with 60 per cent saying a note sent after a fortnight is too late. More than 80 per cent of gift givers say they will spend an extra £20 next Christmas on friends and relatives who send them a note . Almost two-thirds of parents will ask their children to write thank you letters for gifts this year. Debrett's etiquette adviser Jo Bryant said: 'In our digital age, a handwritten letter is always appreciated. 'Letters of thanks should arrive by the first few days of January.' | Those who write a thank you letter will get better presents next year .
Half of Britons say they would reduce the amount they spend by £10 if they didn't get a written thank you, according to research . |
fab890b90574641ed3422b405bc2a857ef718f0c | Former senior national coach Andy Flower will lead England Lions in their triangular series against New Zealand A and Sri Lanka A next month. Flower, who stood down as England head coach following the disastrous Ashes tour last winter, remained as technical director of elite coaching at the England and Wales Cricket Board and will now play a key role in developing players for the top team. Nottinghamshire batsman James Taylor has been named captain for the series and will be hoping to press his claims for inclusion in the squad for next year's World Cup and add to his two ODI caps so far. Back in the fold: Andy Flower will return to frontline coaching after stepping down as England's team director after the disastrous Ashes defeat . Middlesex paceman Steven Finn will also be looking to impress the selectors after his eyecatching season so far following a disastrous Ashes tour in the winter. Ravi Bopara and Harry Gurney will hope to keep their places for the senior series against India beginning on August 25 after featuring against Sri Lanka while Jonny Bairstow and Stephen Parry look to re-establish themselves. National selector James Whitaker said: 'With the Royal London One-Day International series against India rapidly approaching and next winter's tour to Sri Lanka and ICC Cricket World Cup also firmly in our sights, this is the perfect opportunity for these players to impress the selectors in the 50-over format of the game. New coaching role: Andy Flower will be in charge of a strong Lions team . Stepping up: James Taylor will captain the England Lions against New Zealand A and Sri Lanka A . 'We are delighted to welcome Ravi Patel from Middlesex into a Lions squad for the first time and look forward to what promises to be a closely-contested series against two highly competitive touring sides.' The Lions will open their series against New Zealand at Taunton on August 5 before facing Sri Lanka at the same ground 24 hours later. They then go to Bristol where they face New Zealand on August 8 and Sri Lanka on August 9 before again facing Sri Lanka at Worcester on August 11 and finishing at the same ground against New Zealand the next day. England Lions squad: Taylor (c), Bairstow, Bopara, Finn, Parry, Gurney, Hales, Overton, Roy, Patel, Smith, Vince, Willey. New addition: Ravi Patel is joining the England Lions squad for the first time . | Flower stood down as England head coach following disastrous Ashes tour last winter .
England Lions squad contains seven full internationals .
Nottinghamshire batsman James Taylor has been named captain .
Middlesex’s Ravi Patel makes first Lions squad appearance . |
fab893668a12a98ee46374d92b4dadbe714803ad | (CNN) -- Protesters in Bahrain marched through the streets Friday to criticize government plans to boost cooperation between the island state and Saudi Arabia. The proposed unity plans have heightened already tense relations between Manama and Riyadh, on one side, and Tehran on the other. Though specifics of the proposals are not clear, Bahraini opposition groups are against them because they fear the plans are the latest in a string of attempts to crush dissent. Demonstrations in Bahrain failed to gain the traction of other Arab Spring uprisings after a government crackdown, backed by troops from nearby Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Bahrain and other Sunni-ruled countries in the region have accused Shiite-led Iran of meddling in the country's internal affairs and standing behind the protests, which are ongoing. Tehran has denied involvement. Bahrain is a predominantly Shiite country, ruled by a Sunni royal family. Bahrain's state news agency BNA reported the government will take legal action against protesters "who committed violations" during Friday's rally, organized in part by Al Wefaq, Bahrain's main Shiite opposition party. It was not clear what laws were broken. The same party was denied permission to rally Saturday outside a U.N. building, BNA reported. Hours before the march, Ayatollah Sheikh Qassim criticized the push for unity during his Friday prayer sermon in Duraz village, north of Manama. "It is clear that the proposed unity is not one meant to unify the people of the region," he said. "The people are not a herd of sheep, nor are they children or dimwitted to give up their freedoms." Such unity is meant to strengthen the grip of the totalitarian governments and limit liberties, he added. The small island kingdom in the Persian Gulf plays a key strategic role in the Middle East and is home to the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet. Elsewhere in the region, the Arabic-language Al-Alam television network aired video of protests in Tehran, where protesters expressed solidarity with the demonstrations in Bahrain and denounced the unity plans as a "U.S.-Saudi conspiracy." The station claimed similar protests took place throughout Iran. CNN could not confirm the report. Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council met in Saudi Arabia this week for a meeting to discuss transforming their six nations into a union similar to the European Union. The idea of integrating the GCC nations into one entity -- and replacing what exists now as simply a cooperative -- was first floated by Saudi Arabia in December. The GCC comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. | Protesters see the proposals as a bid to crush dissent .
Bahrain blames Iran for the anti-government protests .
Leaders of the GCC met this week to discuss integration . |
fab8f9c76947619b60a34f320f759c3b6fce6125 | Super-rich investors flocked to auctions this year to make world record purchases on everything from classic cars to embroidery and stamps. With interest rates low and a lack of trust in banks, wealthy people have been looking for ways to get decent returns on their money. As a result, more and more are visiting the likes of Bonhams, Sotheby’s and Christie’s to bid on assets they can enjoy and profit from. High price: 'Still Life, Vase with Daisies and Poppies' was one of only a few Vincent van Gogh pieces to be offered publicly in decades. The 1890 piece, painted shortly before his death, was offered with an estimate of £19million. It ended up selling for £40million, a record for a still life painting by the artist . Tick tock: The Henry Graves Supercomplication, a Patek Philippe watch regarded as the Holy Grail of Timepieces sold for a world record £15.1million at a Sotheby’s sale in November. This was a £5.5million increase on the £9.6million it sold for in 1999 - itself a world record . Astonishing rise: A very rare, 19th century stamp from British Guiana was sold for a record-breaking £5.6million at Sotheby’s sale in June. This is almost one billion times its original face value . Auctions houses have achieved world record prices for classic cars, watches, paintings, drawings, stamps and vases. A very rare, 19th century stamp from British Guiana was sold for a record-breaking £5.6million at Sotheby’s sale in June. This is almost one billion times its original face value. Sotheby’s also set a world record for the most expensive wine lot. At a sale in Hong Kong, in October, 114 bottles of Romanee-Conti Superlot sold for £1million - working out a more than £1,100 per glass. John Collins, who runs classic car dealership Talacrest, paid a record-breaking £518,000 for the registration plate 25 O in November. Top car... for a top price: At Bonhams’ Monterey sale in August, a Ferrari 250 GTO - one of just 36 built - was sold to a British-based collector for a world record £22.8million. It was also a record year for RM Auctions as company, with the auction house selling £300million worth of classic cars. The sales were led by Ferraris . More than expected: Poise, a piece by Scottish artist John Duncan Fergusson’s which was discovered in a French attic, sold for £638,000 at a Christie’s sale - five times its initial estimate . Specialist: John Collins, who runs classic car dealership Talacrest, paid a record-breaking £518,000 for the registration plate 25 O in November. The registration plate is going on his Ferrari 250 SWB. Here, it is modelled by Jody Davies, from Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Personalised Registrations . The registration plate is going on his Ferrari 250 SWB, but it could easily go on the world’s most expensive auction car, the Ferrari 250 GTO. At Bonhams’ Monterey sale in August, a 250 GTO - one of just 36 built - was sold to a British-based collector for a world record £22.8million. Gooding and Co and RM Auctions also set records for different Ferraris during the same week, with another Briton paying £6million for Steve McQueen’s old Ferrari 275 GTB. It was also a record year for RM Auctions company, with the auction house selling £300million worth of classic cars. The firm’s sales were led by Ferraris, which have outdone just about every asset over the past ten years with prices rising by more than 400 per cent. Mr Collins has only worked for five months this year and but has racked up sales of more than £70million. Despite his incredible year, he employs just one other person, his secretary. Astonishing price: In November, a Chinese billionaire paid £28million for a silk embroidery - a world record for any work of Chinese art. The 600-year-old thangka, from the Ming dynasty Yongle period, depicts the majestic Raktayamari, the red Conqueror of Death, embracing his consort, Vajravetali . Whopping sale: The thangka was only expected to fetch £6.5million but sold for more than four times that figure at a Christie’s sale in Hong Kong (above) Willy, nilly, silly old bear: A drawing, by EH Shepard, of Winnie the Pooh sold for £314,500 - three times its estimate and a world record for an illustration when it was auctioned in London earlier this month . ‘Still Life, Vase with Daisies and Poppies’ was described as the most important painting of its kind to go on the market in two decades. It was produced by the Dutch artist in 1890 at the house of his close friend Dr Gachet near Paris - not long before he shot himself with a revolver, aged 37. Van Gogh painted just a few hundred works in his career, the majority of which are now displayed in museums. The artist is believed to have suffered from bipolar disorder, where manic episodes of high energy and creativity succumbed to spells of depression. The painting was seen as particularly poignant because Van Gogh picked the flowers for the picture from the meadows where he is thought to have shot himself the following month. And the classic car dealer expects the ‘crazy’ market to continue and has just taken two 1960s Ferrari prototype race cars into stock - with each model for sale for £15million. He said: ‘In 2008, before the collapse, you were getting £700,000 in interest for every £10million in the bank but that soon disappeared. Now all people want is assets. 'The car and art markets in particular have gone crazy. People are scared of banks. They are scared they could collapse and they would lose their millions so they would rather have assets. ‘A right-hand drive Ferrari 250 Lusso, which is a run-of-the-mill classic Ferrari, has gone from £300,000 to £2.25million since 2007. ‘Ferraris are like then Chanels and Warhols of the car world. 'You might get one person looking at a classic Jaguar, but you’ll have ten looking at each Ferrari. They are the leaders.’ Classic cars aren’t the only ‘boys’ toys’ doing the business at the auction house. The Henry Graves Supercomplication, a Patek Philippe watch regarded as the Holy Grail of Timepieces sold for a world record £15.1million at a Sotheby’s sale in November. This was a £5.5million increase on the £9.6million it sold for in 1999 - itself a world record. Classic: A British car collector paid £6million for Steve McQueen’s old Ferrari 275 GTB. The actor bought the car while filming police drama Bullitt. In the film, his character is followed in his 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback by a black Dodge Charger in one of the best car chase scenes in Hollywood history . Flower: Georgia O’Keeffe’s iconic ‘Jimson Weed’ of 1932 more than tripled the previous record for a female artist when it was sold by Sotheby’s for £28.4million at a New York sale in November . The 1856 British Guiana One-Cent Magenta sold in June in New York, which was the fourth time it had broken the auction record for one stamp in its long history. Measuring 1in-by-1 1/4in, it had not been on public view since 1986 and is the only major stamp absent from the British Royal Family's private Royal Philatelic Collection. The last owner was John E. du Pont, an heir to the du Pont chemical fortune who was convicted of fatally shooting 1984 Olympic champion wrestler David Schultz in 1996. Printed in black on magenta paper, it has the image of a three-masted ship and the colony's motto, in Latin: 'we give and expect in return.' It went into circulation after a shipment of stamps was delayed from London and the postmaster asked printers for the Royal Gazette newspaper in Georgetown in British Guiana to produce three stamps until the shipment arrived: a 1-cent magenta, a 4-cent magenta and a 4-cent blue. While multiple examples of the 4-cent stamps have survived, only the tiny 1-cent issue is known to exist today. Artwork has continued to set records as well. ‘Still Life, Vase with Daisies and Poppies’ was one of only a few Vincent van Gogh pieces to be offered publicly in decades. The 1890 piece, painted shortly before his death, was offered with an estimate of £19million. It ended up selling for £40million, a record for a still life painting by the artist. Poise, a piece by Scottish artist John Duncan Fergusson which was discovered in a French attic, sold for £638,000 at a Christie’s sale - five times its initial estimate. The year of 2014 also saw the emergency of female power players in the art market, according to Sotheby’s, with a surge in appreciation for works by woman. Georgia O’Keeffe’s iconic ‘Jimson Weed’ of 1932 more than tripled the previous record for a female artist when it was sold by Sotheby’s for £28.4million at a New York sale in November. A drawing, by EH Shepard, of Winnie the Pooh sold for £314,500 - three times its estimate and a world record for an illustration when it was auctioned in London earlier this month. In November, a Chinese billionaire paid £28million for a silk embroidery - a world record for any work of Chinese art. The 600-year-old thangka, from the Ming dynasty Yongle period, depicts the majestic Raktayamari, the red Conqueror of Death, embracing his consort, Vajravetali. It was only expected to fetch £6.5million but sold for more than four times that figure at a Christie’s sale in Hong Kong. | Very rare 19th century stamp from British Guiana sold for £5.6m in June .
114 bottles of Romanee-Conti Superlot sold for £1m - £1,100 per glass .
Record-breaking £518,000 spent on registration plate 25 O in November .
World’s most expensive auction car, Ferrari 250, went for record £22.8m .
Van Gogh's 1890 'Still Life, Vase with Daisies and Poppies' sold for £40m .
Chinese billionaire paid £28m for 600-year-old embroidery in November . |
faba075023327779668607ab87219ddbaf475f0e | By . Emily Allen . PUBLISHED: . 06:13 EST, 5 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:50 EST, 5 September 2012 . Bragging: Gregory Curtis, 19, used Twitter to tell his friends what a great time he had at a young offenders’ institution . A teenage attacker served his four-week sentence and then took to Twitter to tell his followers what fun it was. Gregory Curtis, 19, used the micro-blogging site to tell his friends what a great time he had at a young offenders’ institution. He breached the conditions of a suspended sentence for a previous offence - an unprovoked drunken attack - and was jailed for common assault. He tweeted that his time inside was 'one of the funniest months ever'. Curtis, of Barrow, Cumbria, began a sentence in young offenders institute Lancaster Farms, Lancaster, on August 7. Now . released, Curtis took to social networking site Twitter this week to . tell friends about his experiences during his time inside. 'Just got out of her majesty’s mansion hahahahaha too funny,' reads Curtis’ first tweet on release. 'Ye haha (it) was funny as,' Curtis continues. Although . he tells friends he hated HMP Preston when he had to spend three days . there, he says of Lancaster Farms: 'I’ve had one of the funniest months . ever.' He continues: 'I have too many funny stories, in my pad I could just blast the music channel.' Curtis also uses his experience to advise a friend facing a possible jail sentence. Jack . Trelore, of Dalton, is due to be sentenced for his part in an attack . that left an 18-year-old needing stitches after his lip was ripped . apart. Trelore punched his . victim in the face while holding a bunch of keys, opening a gash in his . lower lip requiring more than 20 stitches. He is due to be sentenced on . September 17. Curtis advises him: 'Lad just be confident and chat to people. It’s a laugh, way easier than I thought it was'. He adds: 'It (sic) not bad, just boring sometimes.' On August 7, Curtis sent Trelore a link a story about the attack, saying: 'Ye hahaha ‘brutal attack’.' Fun: Curtis, 19, used Twitter to tell his friends what a great time he had at a young offenders’ institution . Trelore replied: 'What haha carnt (sic) see it.' He then adds: 'Gunna go buy it me.' Curtis said he was determined to change his ways after his time inside and give up drinking. He later said: 'I am on the water now, . I am completely not drinking. It changes me into a completely different . person. Obviously, when you go into prison, you are going to be . nervous. 'Once you get past that point of thinking everybody is against you... it wasn’t bad, it was just very boring. Reformed? Curtis has claimed he's determined to change his ways and says he plans to give up drinking . 'Sometimes I do use Twitter to show . off a bit, but deep down I don’t want to go back to prison. I am glad I . had the experience of it because it is going to make me change my ways.' Curtis . was given a 42-day sentence, suspended for 12 months, in January . following an unprovoked assault when he was drunk on December 15. On . August 7 he was sent to prison after pleading guilty to common assault . near licensed premises that breached the conditions of his suspended . sentence. This activated the sentence and he was imprisoned for 28 days. Locked up: Curtis began a sentence in young offenders institute Lancaster Farms, Lancaster, (pictured) on August 7 after pleading guilty to common assault breaching a previous suspended sentence . | Gregory Curtis was jailed for common assault for four weeks and claims to have 'too many funny stories' from prison .
Advises friend facing jail to 'just be confident and chat to people' and admits prison 'isn't bad just boring sometimes' |
faba27686485905cefddc4a1ccae0eefe40d6d1a | White children are less likely to continue their eduction at university than any other ethnic group, official figures reveal. Fewer than 29 per cent leave school with the aim of starting an undergraduate course – compared with 57 per cent among Chinese children and 41 per cent of Asian pupils. Black children – once the worst-performing ethnic group in schools – are now the third most ambitious, with an application rate of 34 per cent. Fewer than 29 per cent of white pupils leave school with the aim of starting an undergraduate course . White children have long trailed behind Chinese and Asian pupils in terms of chasing university places. But the figures from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service show they have been bypassed by other groups. They also come behind two wider categories used by Ucas – mixed race children (31 per cent), and all other ethnic groups (33 per cent). Ucas chief executive Mary Curnock Cook said: ‘Our new analysis of demand by ethnic group shows that white pupils at English schools now have the lowest application rate of any ethnic group. ‘There has been significant growth in demand from black pupils.’ Chief schools inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw last month published a major report which found under-achievement is now most pronounced among white working-class children in suburbs, market towns and seaside resorts. White children have long trailed behind Chinese and Asian pupils in terms of chasing university places . Previously, black children from inner-city schools had presented the biggest problem. An anti-schools culture among white children has been blamed for a collapse in their academic performance. Professor Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at Buckingham University, said cultural difference might explain the different attitudes towards education. ‘New arrivals to this country are very keen to make use of the educational opportunities they didn’t necessarily have in their own countries,’ he added. ‘When it comes to British children – boys in particular – there are fixed expectations based on what their parents have achieved. There is more of a view that university isn’t for them because they don’t come from that sort of background.’ White children still make up the majority of undergraduates because they are by far the largest ethnic group . White children still make up the majority of undergraduates because they are by far the largest ethnic group. But the Ucas figures, which relate to 18-year-olds at state schools, show applications by white boys and girls have dropped for the last three years. The largest increase has been among black pupils, whose application rate has soared by 70 per cent since 2006. Overall, around 44 per cent of school leavers apply to go to university. But there are significant differences between the sexes, with around 49 per cent of young women trying to get into higher education compared with only 37 per cent of men. And while children from the most advantaged areas are 2.7 times more likely to seek a university education than those from deprived areas, the figure has fallen from 4.3 in 2004. Successive governments have tried to widen applications and universities have been ordered to take more deprived students in return for charging higher tuition fees – triggering accusations of social engineering. London had the highest application rate, at 41 per cent, compared with 31 per cent in the North East. | Fewer than 29% leave school with aim of starting an undergraduate course .
Compared with 57% among Chinese children and 41% of Asian pupils .
Black children – once the .
worst-performing ethnic group in schools – are now the third most .
ambitious, with an application rate of 34% . |
faba3c1719edd28a1af19a476f59933960559a15 | (CNN) -- If ever there was a place for ghost stories, it's Cornwall -- the rugged peninsula of southwest England that tumbles into the Atlantic Ocean. Already remote, this often windswept corner was further isolated earlier this year when horrendous storms severed its only rail link, prompting round-the-clock efforts to reconnect it. So it seems only fitting that, when I visit the region, I do so in the company of a long-dead novelist, playwright and poet with a penchant for the paranormal. That's not to say I'm accompanied by a ghost as I make the five-hour rail journey from London's Paddington Station, although a spectral Victorian lady would be quite at home in the retro carriages of the Night Riviera Sleeper -- one of Britain's last intercity cabin trains. Nevertheless, Catharine Amy Dawson Scott, who died in 1935 at the age of 69, is with me in spirit thanks to a vintage guidebook she penned while living on the north Cornish coast. Spooky novels . Published in 1911, the stilted prose of "Nooks and Corners of Cornwall" is a far cry from the exuberance of today's travel guides, but the book's claim that the region rewards repeat visits is enough to inspire my own return. My destination is "Wastehills," the house that Dawson Scott lived in for several years, entertaining guests such as English playwright Noel Coward, and drawing inspiration for spooky novels such as "The Haunting." A formidable literary presence, Dawson also co-founded PEN International, a pressure group that defends writers' freedom of speech, and that was a staunch campaigner for women's rights. I don't linger at my first stop, Newquay -- a party-loving gateway to the region's many beaches -- jumping in a cab and heading north. Fifteen minutes later I'm at The Scarlet (Tredragon Road, Mawgan Porth, +44 1637 861800) a luxury eco-hotel and spa with an enviable clifftop position overlooking the surfing beach of Mawgan Porth and the epic 1,014-kilometer South West Coast path, one of the world's most spectacular oceanside hikes. The hotel's welcoming, relaxed vibe leads into spa treatments in womb-like tents, green technology and paintings by local artists. 'Lovely and lonely' Next stop is Constantine Bay, a 10-minute bus or car ride northeast along the coast. This wild and windswept arc of sand and rock pools is one of Britain's best surfing beaches and was once a favorite destination for Margaret Thatcher. We're in prime Dawson Scott territory here and, although the beach is thronged in summer with splashing families, the book says it's a "lovely and lonely bay." There are great walks in either direction -- to Treyarnon Bay, with its natural swimming pool, across an easy stretch of headland, or Trevose Head Lighthouse and Booby's Bay which, despite the comedic name, is described by Dawson Scott as "somewhat eerie." Back in Constantine Bay, home for the next few nights is Sailaway (from $1,389 per week), a stylish split-level beach retreat that touts itself as eco-friendly. After I settle in, Ben, a sailor whose parents built Sailaway, takes me over the lane to Wastehills. Dawson Scott's old home, now owned by Ben's family, is set in lush and tropical gardens that feature a giant tree house. It feels like the haunt of a literary figurehead -- cozy, lived-in, casually elegant and adorned with family photographs. Ben tells me that sometimes he feels a presence in the house, often shutting doors at night only to later find them wide open. Is it, we wonder, the ghost of Dawson Scott? Later we head to Padstow, a working fishing port on the mouth of the Camel Estuary. Dawson Scott describes this popular seaside town a "little place with narrow streets all running uphill," which despite its exposure to the sea "still contrives to exist." Bitter/sweet . No stranger to unhappy endings, Dawson Scott may have seen doom and destruction here -- "The Haunting" ends with a ghost-haunted murderer awaiting a soggy fate as waters rise around him in a coastal Cornish cave. Given that she wrote a guidebook to the region, it's more likely she hoped for a thriving future. She wouldn't have been disappointed. These days Padstow attracts hordes of foodies headed for local venues such as The Cornish Arms (Churchtown, St. Merryn Padstow, +44 1841 520288), a dining pub owned by cookery writer Rick Stein. The Michelin-starred Paul Ainsworth at No. 6, (6 Middle St., Padstow, +44 01841 532093) is a converted 18th-century townhouse where I choose from a menu that includes Cornish hake with saffron Milanese, salmon with beetroot and sea emulsion. I finish with a malt espresso crème brulee with doughnuts -- a perfect blend of bitter and sweet that matches the tone of Dawson Scott's travel writing. It's a good moment to savor her verdict of Cornwall. "There is so much to interest, so much to see -- almost too much it would seem," she writes. "But Cornwall is a place to go to again and again, to go to till it seems as your own land." Perhaps, like the ghosts of her novels, she's still around doing precisely that. Jini Reddy is a freelance journalist based in the UK. Her writing has appeared in numerous web sites, newspapers and magazines. | With retro carriages, the Night Riviera Sleeper is one of Britain's last intercity cabin trains .
South West Coast path is one of the world's most spectacular ocean-side hikes .
Despite its comedic name, author Catharine Amy Dawson Scott described Booby's Bay as "somewhat eerie" |
fabba5450c75167f59cbc4aa30fbc6a9e3e73df0 | Washington (CNN) -- A Maryland man accused of making threats against his workplace and who had a large cache of legally owned weapons was charged Wednesday with a misdemeanor, according to state officials. Neil Prescott, 28, has been charged with misuse of a telephone and will be formally arrested once he is released from a hospital, where he's been undergoing a court-ordered mental evaluation. Prescott was taken into custody early Friday morning and a search of his home revealed about 25 weapons, including hand guns and assault rifles, along with 40 large steel boxes of assorted ammunition, officials said. Maryland man who called himself 'joker' taken into custody . Angela Alsobrooks, the state's attorney for Prince George's County, said that although Prescott allegedly made serious threats, it was not possible to bring felony charges. "Maryland does not have a statute on the books that makes it expressly illegal for a person to communicate generalized threats over the telephone," said Alsobrooks. She said Maryland should have a stronger law about such threats and that she would lobby for one. Alsobrooks also said no weapons charges could be brought because Prescott owns his guns legally. Prescott worked as a subcontractor for Pitney Bowes and was in the process of being fired. On July 23, he was on the phone with a supervisor and allegedly said several times, "I am a joker. I'm going to load my guns and blow everybody up," according to local police. Police officials said they took the threats seriously and were sensitive to the use of the word 'joker' in the aftermath of the July 20 mass shooting at an Aurora, Colorado, movie complex showing the latest Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises." The Joker was the villain in a previous film in the series and also appears in the comic book series that inspired the films. Suspect James Holmes was arrested in the Aurora shootings and charged with murdering 12 people and wounding dozens more. Alsobrooks said that Prescott is still hospitalized in Maryland. If convicted on the misdemeanor charge, he faces a maximum sentence of three years in jail, a fine of $500 or both. In a Friday news conference, police also revealed that when they interviewed Prescott on Thursday, he was wearing a T-shirt saying, "Guns don't kill people. I do." Later that day, a judge issued an order for Prescott to be hospitalized for evaluation. Analysis: Fewer U.S. gun owners own more guns . Democrats propose limits on online ammo sales . CNN's Ted Metzger contributed to this report. | State's attorney for Prince George's County says felony charges not possible .
Angela Alsobrooks urges stronger threat laws in Maryland .
Neil Prescott, 28, has been charged with misuse of a telephone .
Prescott is in a hospital undergoing mental evaluation . |
fabbd01ff1bab1191c9f6c530b6f9848b9f26c5f | AC Milan are continuing talks with Chelsea over a potential deal for Fernando Torres, with the Serie A giants light in attack following Mario Balotelli's £16million move to Liverpool. Milan want to take the former Atletico Madrid forward on loan but the player's camp are awaiting proposals for a permanent transfer. Roma are also said to be considering a move for Torres, who was left out of Chelsea's match-day squad for their Premier League win against Leicester. VIDEO: Scroll down to watch Jose Mourinho discuss Fernando Torres' future at Chelsea . Dropped: Fernando Torres was left out of the Chelsea team to face Leicester at Stamford Bridge on Saturday . Benched: Torres (centre) was an unused substitute in Chelsea's 3-1 win at Burnley on Monday . The Spanish striker was an unused substitute in Chelsea's 3-1 win over Burnley on Monday night and has been linked with a Stamford Bridge exit this summer. Torres has struggled for form since moving to Stamford Bridge from Liverpool in a £50million deal back in January 2011. Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has bolstered his side's attacking options this summer with the signing of Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa for £32million, while Blues legend Didier Drogba also returned to the club. Despite Torres being out of favour in London, Mourinho insisted he is 'going nowhere' in a recent press conference. The former Liverpool forward, who receives £150,000-a-week in wages at Stamford Bridge, wants Chelsea to pay up the two years remaining on his deal - totalling around £16m - if he is to leave the club. Late arrival: Liverpool completed signing of AC Milan's Mario Balotelli for £16m, which is why they want Torres . In the stands: Balotelli watched his new side lose 3-1 to his old employers Manchester City on Monday night . | Fernando Torres is being lined up by AC Milan to replace Mario Balotelli .
Torres has not featured in either of Chelsea's Premier League games so far .
He was an unused substitute against Burnley and then left out of the squad by Jose Mourinho for Saturday's victory over Leicester at Stamford Bridge .
Milan want Torres on loan, though the player is keen on a permanent move . |
fabc5df28f789cea31072abd57537b865b1a8813 | By . Rebecca Seales . PUBLISHED: . 09:17 EST, 14 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:27 EST, 14 September 2012 . Facing two years: Briton David Cecil is awaiting trial for allegedly staging a play without permission . The British producer of a play about being gay in Uganda is in jail pending his trial on charges that he had the work performed without official permission. David Cecil appeared in court yesterday charged with 'disobeying lawful orders' from the Uganda Media Council, which says he staged 'The River and the Mountain' in Uganda's capital last month despite orders to the contrary. Cecil's lawyer, Francis Onyango, said his client was not released on bail because his passport had been confiscated by the police. Cecil told The Associated Press that the play, whose main character is a gay businessman who is finally killed by his own employees, was performed eight times at little-known theaters in Kampala last month. The play, a first for Uganda, was praised by gay rights activists who said it was 'revolutionary' in the way it challenged common thinking about gays. But the play failed to make it to Uganda's national theatre, where producers rejected the script. Homosexuals are highly stigmatized in Uganda, where in 2010 a politician with the ruling party introduced a bill proposing the death penalty for what he called 'aggravated homosexuality'. Standing firm: Cecil claims he has been victimised because he has become the public face of the play, which has homosexual themes . The bill, which is currently being examined, has been condemned by some world leaders. Its author says he still believes it will be passed one day. Cecil, who faces two years in jail if convicted, said he was singled out for legal action because he had become the play's 'public face,' the man who printed posters and sent out invitations. The play was written by a British poetry student named Beau Hopkins, who has not been targeted by the police. The play takes a tragicomic view of the condition of homosexuals in Uganda, and its playwright and producers said this is the best way to look at things. The play's main character is a young businessman who loses friends after revealing his sexuality, then falls victim to machete-wielding colleagues who are stunned that 'a good man' can be gay. The gay character's mother stages an epic but losing battle to 'cure' him of his homosexuality, taking him to everyone from a Christian pastor to a private dancer. Despite the praise it won from campaigners, Cecil said at the play's premiere in Kampala that he did not believe the drama was 'a magic pill' against raging homophobia in the East African country. | David Cecil was denied bail after police confiscated his passport .
Play was performed just eight time in small theatres .
British poetry student who wrote it has not been contacted by police . |
fabc93bee8e402bb608f0f800e7972a1c14bd452 | By . Amanda Williams . A mother broke down in tears as she was cleared of causing or allowing the death of her four-month-old baby daughter today. Kelly-Marie Rayner, 26, was accused of contributing to the death of baby Kiera Conlin, on May 6 last year. But Mr Justice Royce directed the jury at Winchester Crown Court to deliver a not guilty verdict against banking advisor Ms Rayner, three weeks into the trial. Kelly-Marie Rayner, 26, was accused of contributing to the death of baby Kiera Conlin, on May 6 last year, but was today cleared by a jury . The child's father, Ross Conlin, 29, is alleged to have shaken Kiera in anger so hard that she had a heart attack and stopped . breathing, while he was looking after her alone. The charges against him remain. The . crown allege he caused her fatal injuries, including eight rib . fractures, three skull fractures and bleeding in her eye sockets. Ms Rayner was met by her family outside court where she was embraced by her stepfather Paul Rayner and mother Dawn. Mr Justice Royce told the jury of three women and nine men: 'Ladies and gentlemen, I’m sorry you have been delayed in the resumption of this trial. 'The position at the end of the prosecution case was that certain legal matters required discussion. 'The result of that is I have determined the case against Kelly Rayner should go no further. 'It’s my responsibility even though she is in your charge. Ms Rayner was met by her family outside court where she was embraced by her stepfather Paul Rayner and mother Dawn . A jury at Winchester Crown Court delivered a not guilty verdict against banking advisor Ms Rayner, three weeks into the trial. The child's father, Ross Conlin, 29, is alleged to have shaken Kiera in anger so hard that she had a heart attack and stopped breathing, while he was looking after her alone. The charges against him remain . 'In effect, you are all agreed in your verdict you find her not guilty. I take responsibility on that. 'Mr Conlin remains charged on the counts he faces.' Ms Rayner then stood, thanked the judge and the jury and left the court. Debt collector Conlin, said to be stressed out at work, denies murder and three charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent in her tragic last months. On May 6 last year, Kiera was rushed to hospital from her grandparents’ home in Farnborough, Hampshire. At the time, Conlin was alone with her while Rayner, a banking advisor, was out for a nail appointment and grandfather Paul Rayner was at B&Q. Conlin dialled 999, saying his daughter was ‘limp’ having not been breathing for four minutes. Paramedics revived the youngster and took her to Frimley Park Hospital, but she was later transferred to Southampton General Hospital, for expert treatment. Despite this, she was pronounced brain dead and a life support machine was turned off at 6.30pm the next day. She died in her mother’s arms at 7pm. The trial continues. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Kelly-Marie Rayner, 26, was accused of contributing to death of Kiera Conlin .
But jury at Winchester Crown Court delivered not guilty verdict against her .
Kiera’s father, Ross Conlin, 29, is alleged to have shaken her in anger .
The charges against Conlin remain and the trial continues . |
fabce8162604e381f38c8701547be7c7bd31ca43 | Pope Francis attacked the right to die movement saying euthanasia is a 'sin' Pope Francis denounced the right to die movement saying it was a 'false sense of compassion' to consider euthanasia as an act of dignity when in fact it's a sin against God and creation. His intervention in the end of life debate came after the Vatican's top bioethics official condemned as 'reprehensible' the assisted suicide of an American woman, Brittany Maynard, who was suffering terminal brain cancer and said she wanted to die with dignity. Francis didn't refer to the Maynard case specifically when he made the comments to the Association of Italian Catholic Doctors at the weekend. While denouncing euthanasia in general, he also condemned abortion, in vitro fertilization -or 'the scientific production of a child' - and embryonic stem cell research -or 'using human beings as laboratory experiments to presumably save others.' 'This is playing with life,' he said. 'Beware, because this is a sin against the creator, against God the creator.' While shying away from hot-button, culture war issues such as abortion, Francis has spoken out frequently about euthanasia. He considers the assisted suicide movement as a symptom of today's 'throw-away culture' that views the sick and elderly as useless drains on society. Francis urged doctors to take 'courageous and against-the-grain' decisions to uphold church teaching on the dignity of life, even if it requires resorting to conscientious objection. The Pope condemned assisted suicide, abortion, IVF and embryonic stem cell research in his recent speech . He considers the assisted suicide movement as a symptom of today's 'throw-away culture' that views the sick and elderly as useless drains on society . Monsignor Ignacio Carrasco de Paula (left), head of the Pontifical Academy for Life, condemned Brittany Maynard's (right) decision to end her own life rather than suffer for months with terminal brain cancer . | Pope Francis denounced right to die movement in address this weekend .
Comes as Vatican official condemned assisted suicide of American woman .
Brittany Maynard was suffering terminal brain cancer when she ended life .
He also criticised abortion, IVF and embryonic stem cell research .
Pope said action is 'playing with life' and is a 'sin against the creator' |
fabdc6e122e1ee8bc373780ac2875ed0fe829f4f | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 00:54 EST, 13 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:48 EST, 13 June 2013 . A potential juror in the George Zimmerman trial in Florida was dismissed from court over a Facebook post on a campaign website that said the 'justice system needed an enema'. The potential juror identified on his Facebook page as Jerry Counelis, gave rambling answers to the attorneys when asked if he would be impartial to the Trayvon Martin shooting case, on the third day of jury selection. But the unemployed painter, who said he would have no problem being sequestered if chosen to serve, was ordered to leave because of comments he made on a Facebook campaign page. Scroll down for video . On trial: George Zimmerman, right, talks with jury consultant Robert Hirschhorn in Seminole circuit court on Wednesday . Trial: Neighborhood Watch volunteer George Zimmerman, right, has been charged with second-degree murder . Jury service: Judge Debra Nelson with defense attorney Don West, left, and assistant state attorney Bernie de la Rionda, listen to a potential juror's testimony as they select the jury for George Zimmerman's trial . After the attorneys had finished questioning Mr Counelis, known as panellist E-7, they spoke to circuit judge Debra Nelson. The judge asked Mr Counelis about a remark posted to the Coffee Party Progressives Facebook page in March, according to the Daily News. The page had several other remarks about Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, and the police in Sanford, where the teenager was shot. After the judge handed him a piece of paper with an item circled on it, Mr Counelis admitted he had written the remark and was dismissed. It is not yet clear if he was struck off the list of potential jurors. So far 75 people from a pool of 200 potential jurors have been dismissed. Victim: 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot dead as he walked back to his parents' house in Sanford, Florida . According to ABC News, Mr Counelis was asked by the attorneys whether he had heard much about the case since the teenager was shot in February, and whether he had posted anything about the shooting online. He replied: 'No. Best to avoid, at times,' and said he had not formed an opinion on the case. The Coffee Party Progressives Facebook page showed a person matching the potential juror's identity had written an inflammatory comment in response to a posting about the case. After declaring that justice was coming, the Facebook comment alleged a conspiracy involving Zimmerman and local police. 'With the noise we made…it couldn't be covered up,' the commenter said. 'I only hope the Feds go farther than just this case in investigating This "Police Force"…' According to ABC the post has since been removed. Shelly Zimmerman, right, wife of George Zimmerman, watches proceedings in his trial in Seminole circuit court in Sanford, Florida on Wednesday . Justice: Sybrina Fulton, left, and Tracy Martin, parents of slain teen Trayvon Martin, watch the proceedings on Wednesday . Emotional: Trayvon's parents Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton make a statement at Seminole Courthouse . Zimmerman, 29, has been charged with second-degree murder and, if found guilty, faces life in prison. While neither side disputes that Zimmerman shot the 17-year-old as he walked back to his gated community home, prosecutors claim Zimmerman used racial profiling and followed the teenager even after a dispatcher told him not to. The defense claims Zimmerman’s actions were in self-defense after the teenager started to beat him up. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Florida judge dismisses unemployed painter over Facebook comment .
Court has struck off 75 potential jurors for trial into shooting of teenager . |
fabdf1e98921ad54694b6976146b26e231623b74 | By . John Drayton . Peter Scudamore’s position as Premier League chief executive took a severe blow after sexist emails sent from his account were described as ‘unacceptable’ by Prime Minister David Cameron. Scudamore has been under fire for the past week following the publication of sexist emails sent from his Premier League account. The Premier League was on Sunday forced to defend its working environment after the woman who blew the whistle on Scudamore said she was 'humiliated, belittled and disgusted' when reading the messages. Expressing his view: Prime Minister David Cameron has described sexist emails sent by Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore as 'unacceptable' Feeling the heat: Scudamore has been under fire following the publication of sexist emails sent from his Premier League account . A Downing . Street spokesman said Prime Minister David Cameron shared the view . expressed by sports minister Helen Grant that Scudamore's comments were . ‘unacceptable’ but that it was for the Premier League to decide on his . future. The . Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'Helen Grant ... was right to . say what she did, I have clearly associated the Prime Minister directly . with those remarks. 'But in terms of staffing decisions at the Premier League, it's for the Premier League.' A . Premier League statement said: 'We do not recognise this . characterisation of the working environment at the Premier League, nor . do we believe that it can be supported by the facts. 'The . chief executive has already apologised for any offence caused and a . proper review of all the evidence is now under way within the Premier . League's established and rigorous procedures. 'This . process is not yet concluded and it is therefore not possible to offer . comments in detail at this stage. However we will make a further . statement in due course. 'The Premier League continues to be fully committed to treating all staff fairly and on merit, regardless of gender.' Important role: Scudamore presented Man City players with their Premier League winners' medals . The emails referred to women in a derogatory terms, contained sexual innuendos, and made jokes about 'female irrationality'. The . Football Association's independent board member Heather Rabbatts, who . will chair a meeting of its inclusion advisory board to discuss the case . on Tuesday, has also issued a statement saying Scudamore should . consider his position in light of 'growing evidence of a closed culture . of sexism' at the Premier League. Abraham said she felt she had a duty to speak out about the contents of emails between her boss and his lawyer friend. 'Mr Scudamore has a huge amount of influence and is paid a vast sum of money and has behaved wrongly,' she said. 'Having . witnessed that I felt I had a duty to speak out. If I didn't then I'd . somehow be condoning his behaviour - just like the other people who saw . those messages. Pressure: Heather Rabbatts believes Scudamore should consider his position at the Premier League . 'Despite . what some people have said since the Sunday Mirror printed the story . last week, this is not the sort of thing that goes on in offices these . days. 'And . for those people who've attacked me for saying they were just 'jokes' I . wonder how they would feel if their wife or girlfriend or daughter had . to read messages like that. 'And how would they feel if those messages were written about their wife or girlfriend or daughter?' 'We've heard of casual racism and I think there's a lot of casual sexism in the game.' Sponsor . Barclays has expressed also its disappointment to the league, which has . raised the stakes ahead of Monday's meeting of the league's audit and . remuneration committee, chaired by Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck. Buck . is a friend and shooting partner of Scudamore's, but the committee only . has the power to make a recommendation and consists of four members, . the others being Manchester United director David Gill, Stoke chairman . Peter Coates and Premier League referees' chairman John Williams. | Prime Minister David Cameron descrbies sexist emails sent from Premier League account of Richard Scudamore as 'unacceptable'
Scudamore has been under fire following the publication of the emails . |
fabe199fdb3196b1228dccdc167b6aefd83f978e | London (CNN) -- As Britain segues seamlessly through feelgood summer heat from Andy Murray mania to royal baby euphoria, let us at least spare a thought for the unfortunate newborn caught, through no fault other than his ancestry, in the global spotlight. No royal arrival has been so closely scrutinized since 1688 when Mary of Modena, wife of the widely disliked James II, gave birth watched by dozens of officials amid speculation that her pregnancy was a Catholic conspiracy intended to fabricate a male heir. Even their presence was not enough to quash rumors that the child had been smuggled into the birthing chamber in a bedpan, and within months James had been deposed; his son was destined to spend his life in bitter exile in France and Rome. At least the newborn prince and his parents are unlikely to be run out of the country, even if the flag-waving royalists celebrating the birth are hardly representative of a silent majority largely apathetic about the monarchy and more inclined to treat its modern incarnation as a publicly-subsidized soap opera largely staged for the amusement of American tourists. 'Wicked' author: Royal baby stands for hope . Nor did his mother suffer the indignity of having the home secretary in the vicinity of the delivery room, a custom for royal births only formally ended in 1948. And there have undoubtedly been worse times in history to be born into one of Europe's great royal dynasties. Paris in 1789 springs to mind, or St. Petersburg in 1917. Yet the life prospects of a boy now third in line to the British crown who, if as lucky in longevity as his paternal great-grandparents, might reasonably expect to see in the 22nd century on the throne, are hardly something to be envied. The Windsors may have recovered some of their respectability after the nadir in their fortunes in the 1990s that culminated in the 1997 death of Princess Diana, thanks in no small part to the fairy-tale mega-wedding of William and Kate in 2011 and Oscar-winning propaganda such as "The Queen" and "The King's Speech." To question the role of the monarchy and Britons' attachment to it is still to risk a public flogging from more reactionary sections of the British media, as author Hilary Mantel discovered when she found herself pilloried earlier this year for describing the Duchess of Cambridge as a "plastic princess designed to breed." The resulting furore missed the point that Mantel was trying to make, which was that members of the royal family, however privileged and luxurious their lives, are essentially prisoners of their own circumstances, trapped by their supposed obligations to an archaic and largely redundant institution. "Our current royal family doesn't have the difficulties in breeding that pandas do, but pandas and royal persons alike are expensive to conserve and ill-adapted to any modern environment. But aren't they interesting? Aren't they nice to look at?" said Mantel. Opinion: Baby helps make a monarchy better . If Mantel's point was essentially true of Kate Middleton, who, like a mafia wife, married into the firm of her own volition, how much worse must the situation be for her offspring, who will become public property from the moment he is displayed to the assembled world media on the hospital steps. The mainstream media may feign responsibility, keeping a respectful distance as the young family find their feet and honoring royal requests to leave the child alone, but he will still face near constant public intrusion, living a life framed by the ubiquitous lens of the camera phone. And in an age obsessed with the oxymoronic phenomena of "reality" and celebrity, the young royal will be forced to perform a gilded simulation of a normality that he will never experience for real, ultimately embracing the stiflingly conservatism of a British establishment of which the monarchy remains the apex, and allowing their personality to be airbrushed according to public tastes. It will be "The Truman Show" with footmen. Royals, for better or worse, once inhabited worlds of intrigue, conspiracy and high drama, their lives, relationships and deaths entwined with the rise and fall of nations and empires. The feats and misdeeds of kings, queens and their progeny were fodder for Shakespearean epics. Yet it is centuries since the British royal family played anything more than a decorative role in the life of the nation -- and this new heir may have to wait the best part of this century before assuming even those diminished duties. Opinion: How to raise a royal baby . Royal heirs have traditionally passed the years waiting for their relatives to die by becoming champions of worthy causes. Prince Charles is famed for his woolly opinions on environmentalism and architecture, while Prince William has leant his support to the campaign to tackle homelessness. Perhaps, out of enlightened self-interest alone and with time on his side, the prince could one day become the first royal to embrace the cause of republicanism. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Simon Hooper. | All eyes have been on Duchess of Cambridge ahead of the birth of her first baby .
Britain's royal family is closely watched by the media and the public .
Simon Hooper: New royal should be "first to embrace the cause of republicanism" |
fabe23bf0accf1408daa01fdecd8a6f2826cc723 | Los Angeles (CNN) -- Born and raised in the Philippines to a businessman and a socialite model, Monique Lhuillier is today one of LA's most celebrated fashion designers, with a clientele that includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Kristen Stewart, Reese Witherspoon, and Scarlett Johansson. A graduate of LA's Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Lhuillier began designing wedding gowns while shopping for one for herself. She launched her first bridal collection in 1996 and today, her atelier also produces ready-to-wear evening gowns, linens and tableware, fine paper and home fragrances. Her dresses, which sell for $1,500 to $16,000, are stocked at Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue and, in a few months, she will open a flagship store -- her third outlet -- and a new showroom in New York City. Lhuillier's average day is spent convening with her design team, monitoring the progress of licensing deals and conducting fittings, overseeing PR and production, making visits to her LA flagship store and her factory. At night, after her two children are in bed, Lhuillier often attends functions too. Here, she tells CNN about building a business from scratch, working with celebrities, and having a husband for a CEO. On early ambition ... Ever since I was a little girl, I always loved fashion. I would watch my mother get dressed and suggest things she should wear. When my parents used to entertain, I would come out and perform after dinner with my little outfits that were cut up and restyled. I always thought I was going to be a dancer and then fashion kind of took over. Every young girl goes through that stage, but it didn't stop. I would go and sketch with our local tailor in the Philippines. On breaking into bridal as a bride ... When I looked at what was out there, I felt that there was a lack of fashionable options for young women so I said, 'This is what I want to do: I want to start with wedding gowns'. I was 23 years old. My husband [Tom] was like 'it's a phase.' We got married and six months later I came up with a small line of wedding dresses -- probably six of them. I went to a local trade show and had a little booth and showed my dresses and to my excitement and delight, five stores ordered pieces from me. We drove home and I realized that I actually had to make everything. On getting established ... The first year, people could barely say my name. They were like 'Monique L ... that Monique girl.' Then after a year or three, they were saying 'Monique Lu-yay' and I was like, 'Well, something's happening.' On her point of difference ... I had not worked for a storied house before, so I had to prove myself from the very beginning. I followed my gut and was always putting myself in the shoes of the ladies I was designing for. 'Would I want to wear that? Would I feel special in that? Would that flatter my figure?' Since we started in bridal, I really perfected the fit. I think, you know, that was the key to why so many women responded to it. On making the old feel new ... I do three bridal collections a year, and what's been helpful is that I do ready-to-wear in between, so when I approach bridal, I'm ready for whites and ivories again. Before, there was a point where I was like 'I can't do one more white wedding dress.' I'm injecting new color. There's blush: That's so subtle, yet it's a big commitment to go outside white and ivory. That's a trend I've been pushing for the last two seasons and now brides are embracing it. Another trend I started five years ago was adding a sash and introducing color that way. On designing for celebrities ... [It's a] platform for the world to see what my work looks like and they showcase it beautifully. They're trendsetters and that's such a positive -- to get that exposure. The downside is you don't have all the control. Sometimes when they put something on, they change the design a little bit to make it their own and our point of view is lost along the way. I love working with Taylor Swift. Kristen Stewart has been amazing. Reese Witherspoon was a dream to work with on her wedding because she knew what she wanted and has a great sense of style. It was a very easy collaboration. On having a CEO/husband ... It's hard to keep family life and workplace separated. We always say we do but we don't. When you're married to your business partner, it's very hard. I always make sure his needs are met. We bounce ideas off of each other and he is my soul mate. Yes, everybody needs to work on their marriage but I feel like he is really an extension of me. I don't know what I would do without him. On work-life balance ... I realized when we were starting our company that you have to give up everything, personally, in the very beginning. There's no balance at that point. It's all about work. The first 10 years we worked almost 24 hours (a day). I mean, obviously we slept, but if we were not in the factory doing something, we were travelling, doing trunk shows, selling the collection. We did everything and I don't think there's any other way to start. I am a perfectionist but I know how to live life. When I 'm working, it's 100%. When I'm with my friends, I put everything away and enjoy life. When I come home to my kids, it's pure joy and everything's worth it. Every time, I really focus 100 percent on one thing. I've learned how to juggle my life and I feel like now I have the perfect balance. On how to live a good life ... I don't know what tomorrow brings, but right now, I'm grateful for everything that I have. In the future, I'd like to be able to give back as well. That's part of how I think one's life should be led -- start with a career, then have a beautiful family, and then it's time to give back. That's just the way the world should be. On delegating ... That's the only way to grow so we're building our team and we do delegate but we never turn off our Blackberries or iPhones. | Monique Lhuillier is one of Hollywood's favorite fashion designers .
At 23, she started a bridalwear business that has expanded into a luxury lifestyle brand .
She believes her success is due to her ability to relate to her customers . |
fabe2ec95f800dbda72f015d6f48bc74e2c878d2 | By . Anthony Bond . PUBLISHED: . 12:58 EST, 4 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 20:08 EST, 4 December 2012 . Prosecuted: Jose Paulo Da Silveria skateboarded through a Rememberance Day parade dressed as a devil. His presence infuriated a large crowd which had gathered for the event . A man who gatecrashed a Remembrance Sunday parade on a skateboard wearing a pink outfit and horned mask apologised today for any offence he had caused. Jose Paulo Da Silveria, 38, said he had not intended to disrupt the parade at the Cenotaph in Bristol city centre and had stumbled upon the service accidentally. Da Silveria was wearing striped tights, pink frilly knickers, a corset and had a red and black face cover when he gatecrashed the event. His presence infuriated the large crowd which had gathered and led to threats of violence against him. Speaking today, he said: 'I apologise for the distress but I wasn’t really thinking,' he said. 'I ran into the middle of this thing and I didn’t realise what was going on. 'I was going to College Green and I was just skating along. 'I just came down from Nelson Street and I don’t remember seeing any restrictions and no one was stopping me from carrying on. 'It was only when I saw the photographs in the newspaper that I realised what was going on.' Outside court Da Silveria, wearing black and blue striped stockings, red shorts, a turquoise corset, blue blouse, white gloves, a lace face mask, hat and makeup, added: 'I didn’t take any notice of what was going on around me. 'I recall people being aggressive towards me when I was arrested. 'I am just so sorry for any offence I caused.' Da Silveria was speaking outside Bristol Magistrates’ Court after he received a £65 fine and was ordered to pay £85 costs and £20 victims’ surcharge when he pleaded guilty to an offence under the Public Order Act of using threatening words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress. For the brief hearing, Da Silveria, from Bristol, had removed his hat and lace mask to sit in the dock of courtroom three. Prosecutor May Lee told the court that Da Silveria was seen at 11.45am riding his skateboard towards the Cenotaph, where large crowds had gathered to watch the parade. 'He was wearing striped tights, pink frilly knickers, a corset and he had a red and black face cover,' she said. 'He was causing harassment, alarm or distress to the public and there was a strong reaction to his presence.' John Roberts, defending, said his client had stopped receiving medication for psychiatric problems but since his arrest his treatment had recommenced. Affront: Horrified onlookers shouted as he disrupted the city's Remembrance Sunday parade . Disgrace: The masked skateboarder, who was wearing pink frilly knickers and corset, was quickly stopped in his tracks by police . 'My client apologises unreservedly for any offence he may have caused to anybody,' Mr Roberts said. 'As far as he is concerned it was not any form of protest. 'His care package had come to an end in August and he was not taking any medication. 'He dresses eccentrically and his intention was to go to College Green but he seems to have got into the cordon. Insensitive: Da Silveria disrupted the parade at the Cenotaph, pictured, in Bristol city centre . Bizarre: Da Silveria was wearing striped tights, pink frilly knickers, a corset and had a red and black face cover when he gatecrashed the event . 'He says he was in a world of his own and he didn’t take in his surroundings and he had caused serious offence to a number of people. 'When he was arrested there were threats of violence towards him.' Mr Roberts said his client is in receipt of benefits and added: 'His behaviour is being monitored and supported by the caring authorities.' Tim Jeannes, chairman of the bench, said: 'For this offence we are going to fine you but we have given you credit for your early guilty plea.' | Jose Paulo Da Silveria, 38, said he had .
not intended to disrupt the parade at the Cenotaph in Bristol city .
centre .
Da Silveria was wearing striped tights, .
pink frilly knickers, a corset, a red and black face cover and horns when .
he gatecrashed the event .
His presence infuriated the large crowd which had gathered and led to threats of violence against him .
He today pleaded guilty to an offence under the Public Order Act of using threatening words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress . |
fabe644c2cff09ac4ef6b09c50468ebfb9dbd299 | (CNN) -- For years after his NFL career ended, Ted Johnson could barely muster the energy to leave his house. In healthy brain tissue, virtually no protein tangles, which show up as brown spots, are visible. "I'd [leave to] go see my kids for maybe 15 minutes," said Johnson. "Then I would go back home and close the curtains, turn the lights off and I'd stay in bed. That was my routine for two years. "Those were bad days." These days, the former linebacker is less likely to recount the hundreds of tackles, scores of quarterback sacks or the three Super Bowl rings he earned as a linebacker for the New England Patriots. He is more likely to talk about suffering more than 100 concussions. "I can definitely point to 2002 when I got back-to-back concussions. That's where the problems started," said Johnson, who retired after those two concussions. "The depression, the sleep disorders and the mental fatigue." Until recently, the best medical definition for concussion was a jarring blow to the head that temporarily stunned the senses, occasionally leading to unconsciousness. It has been considered an invisible injury, impossible to test -- no MRI, no CT scan can detect it. Watch more on what goes on in athlete's brains » . But today, using tissue from retired NFL athletes culled posthumously, the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy (CSTE), at the Boston University School of Medicine, is shedding light on what concussions look like in the brain. The findings are stunning. Far from innocuous, invisible injuries, concussions confer tremendous brain damage. That damage has a name: chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). On Tuesday afternoon, researchers at the CSTE released a study about the sixth documented case of CTE in former NFL player Tom McHale, who died in 2008 at the age of 45, and the youngest case to date, an 18-year-old multi-sport athlete who suffered multiple concussions. While CTE in an ex-NFL player's brain may have been expected, the beginnings of brain damage in an 18-year-old brain was a "shocking" finding, according to Dr. Ann McKee, a neuropathologist at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Bedford, Massachusetts, and co-director of the CSTE. "We think this is how chronic traumatic encephalopathy starts," said McKee. "This is speculation, but I think we can assume that this would have continued to expand." CTE has thus far been found in the brains of six out of six former NFL players. "What's been surprising is that it's so extensive," said McKee. "It's throughout the brain, not just on the superficial aspects of the brain, but it's deep inside." CSTE studies reveal brown tangles flecked throughout the brain tissue of former NFL players who died young -- some as early as their 30s or 40s. McKee, who also studies Alzheimer's disease, says the tangles closely resemble what might be found in the brain of an 80-year-old with dementia. "I knew what traumatic brain disease looked like in the very end stages, in the most severe cases," said McKee. "To see the kind of changes we're seeing in 45-year-olds is basically unheard of." The damage affects the parts of the brain that control emotion, rage, hypersexuality, even breathing, and recent studies find that CTE is a progressive disease that eventually kills brain cells. Chris Nowinski knows well the impact of concussions. He was a football star at Harvard before wrestling professionally with World Wrestling Entertainment. In one moment, his dreams of a long career wrestling were dashed by a kick to his chin. That kick, which caused Nowinski to black out and effectively ended his career, capped a career riddled with concussions. "My world changed," said Nowinski. "I had depression. I had memory problems. My head hurt for five years." Nowinski began searching for studies, and what he found startled him. "I realized when I was visiting a lot of doctors, they weren't giving me very good answers about what was wrong with my head," said Nowinski. "I read [every study I could find] and I realized there was a ton of evidence showing concussions lead to depression, and multiple concussion can lead to Alzheimer's." Nowinski decided further study was needed, so he founded the Sports Legacy Institute along with Dr. Robert Cantu, a neurosurgeon and the co-director of the CSTE. The project solicits for study the brains of ex-athletes who suffered multiple concussions. Once a family agrees to donate the brain, it is delivered to scientists at the CSTE to look for signs of damage. So far, the evidence of CTE is compelling. The Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, along with other research institutions, has now identified traumatic encephalopathy in the brains of late NFL football players John Grimsley, Mike Webster, Andre Waters, Justin Strzelczyk and Terry Long, in addition to McHale. Grimsley died of an accidental gunshot wound to the chest. Webster, Long and Strzelczyk all died after long bouts of depression, while Waters committed suicide in 2006 at age 44. McHale was found dead last year of an apparent drug overdose. "Guys were dying," said Nowinski. "The fact of the matter was guys were dying because they played sports 10 or 20 years before." So far, around 100 athletes have consented to have their brains studied after they die. Ted Johnson was one of the first to sign up. He said he believes that concussions he suffered while playing football explain the anger, depression and throbbing headaches that occasionally still plague him. Johnson said he played through concussions because he, like many other NFL athletes, did not understand the consequences. He has publicly criticized the NFL for not protecting players like him. "They don't want you to know," said Johnson. "It's not like when you get into the NFL there's a handout that says 'These are the effects of multiple concussions so beware.' " In a statement, the NFL indicated that their staffs take a cautious, conservative approach to managing concussions. While they support research into the impact of concussions, they maintain that, "Hundreds of thousands of people have played football and other sports without experiencing any problem of this type and there continues to be considerable debate within the medical community on the precise long-term effects of concussions and how they relate to other risk factors." The NFL is planning its own independent medical study of retired NFL players on the long-term effects of concussion. "Really my main reason even for talking about this is to help the guys who are already retired," said Johnson. "[They] are getting divorced, going bankrupt, can't work, are depressed, and don't know what's wrong with them. [It is] to give them a name for it so they can go get help." "The idea that you can whack your head hundreds of times in your life and knock yourself out and get up and be fine is gone," said Nowinski. "We know we can't do that anymore. This causes long-term damage." | NEW: Researchers find start of brain damage in 18-year old athlete who died .
NEW: Same type of brain damage found in sixth dead NFL player .
Damage from repeated concussions is called chronic traumatic encephalopathy .
Symptoms can include depression, sleep disorders, headaches . |
fabe75e3c691168fd7b55d01fceb48ba1cd3fc5b | By . Nicholas Whittaker . Man problem: Peyronie's disease leads to abnormal curvature, indentations and shrinkage of the penis . A jab used for ‘claw hand’ may offer hope to male patients suffering a common cause of sexual dysfunction. Peyronie’s disease (PD) is caused by the growth and hardening of fibrous plaques in the soft tissue of the penis, leading to abnormal curvature, indentations and shrinkage. The condition affects up to ten per cent of men, mostly white and over 40, though some are as young as 18. It is considered problematic enough . for treatment only if the abnormal curvature is more than 30 degrees – . as more than this might mean intercourse is painful for both partners, . or impossible. The drug . Xiapex, also known by US brand name Xiaflex, is a recognised therapy for . Dupytren’s Contracture, otherwise known as claw hand, a condition in . which similar fibrous plaques prevent the straightening of the fingers. Famous Dupytren’s sufferers include Margaret Thatcher. The . active ingredient in Xiapex, collagenese, is a natural enzyme which . breaks down excess collagen. It is administered in a series of . injections into the plaque, while massaging is used to encourage the . break up of problem tissue. After . effects can include bruising and swelling, and to eliminate the risk of . accidental ruptures that would lead to permanent erectile dysfunction, . it can be administered only by experienced urologists trained in its . application. Xiapex was . granted approval in the US for treatment of PD last year. Its safety and . effectiveness were established in two randomised double-blind, . placebo-controlled studies in 832 men. Participants were given up to . four treatment cycles of Xiapex or a placebo and were then followed for . 52 weeks. The drug treatment significantly reduced curvature deformity . and related problems. The European rights to Xiapex were . originally licensed to Pfizer, which has since given up options on the . drug. It has now been picked up by Swedish pharmaceutical group Sobi, . which is seeking a European licence for use in PD. However, the drug . company wranglings have been a setback. The . only treatment currently sanctioned by the National Institute for . Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is shockwave therapy, using targeted . sonic pulses. Man woes: If the abnormal curvature of the penis is more than 30 degrees intercourse might be is painful for both partners, or impossible . Reports . indicate a 50 per cent success rate in breaking up the plaque. Although . NICE is satisfied the procedure is safe, experts remain divided. Surgery . is another option but this often leads to shortening of the penis by an . inch on average and is not commonly offered on the NHS, as the . condition is benign. The cost privately is about £4,000. Xiapex is also expensive. It is estimated it would cost £2,000 for enough to treat PD. Dr Martin Gelbard, clinical trial investigator in the department of urology at the University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine, said: ‘In my practice, treating PD has been a challenge as, until now, we have had few options to offer our patients. 'I believe [Xiapex] is a significant achievement and offers a new option for urologists: the first approved treatment to be administered non-surgically that is proven safe and effective for this physically and psychologically devastating disorder.’ Suks Minhas, a consultant at London Urlogy Associates, welcomes the innovation, saying: ‘I’d like to be able to offer my patients an alternative to surgery.’ A range of alternative treatments, including supplements and mechanical gadgets, are offered by small companies on the internet but Suks Minhas, a consultant at London Urology Associates, urges caution. ‘For anyone who suspects they may have Peyronie’s, the first port of call should always be a GP or a qualified urologist,’ he says. | A jab used to treat 'claw hand' can now be used for Peyronie's disease (PD)
PD leads to abnormal curvature, indentations and shrinkage of the penis .
It affects up to ten per cent of men and can severely affect sex life . |
fabe78900808e9382cde8583e65b9e8b86408178 | (Financial Times) -- A diet of drudgery in a takeaway might seem wholesome but it does open the eye to better things. One evening last week I was in the kitchen fixing myself a cup of tea when my son put his head around the door. I have hardly seen him since he left school last summer as he spends his days working in a sandwich shop and nights taking orders in a fast-food takeaway. How's it going, I asked. Good, he replied. These jobs of yours, I said. Have they taught you anything interesting yet about or work, or life -- or anything? Yeah, he said. They've taught me I like getting paid. See also: What can CEOs can learn from football managers? My question was prompted by a recent Harvard Business Review blog arguing that humble jobs teach young people more about work than any amount of poncing around as an unpaid intern in a film production company. The author, who is now a law school professor, was once a busboy and a cleaner -- jobs which he says taught him lessons that have come in handy ever since. Already I was seeing the sense in his general argument. My son's first key takeaway from the takeaway restaurant was spot on: . ● Getting paid really is nice. It is a pity most of us get so used to it that we forget to be pleased when payday comes around. So what else had it taught him? He said he'd think about it and tell me later: he had to go or he'd be late for his evening shift. This led to the second revelation: . ● If you are earning £7 an hour you need to work longer than an investment banker to make any money at all. And that, in turn, led to the third: . ● Earning the minimum wage makes you grateful to live at home where there is a warm bed and full(ish) fridge. For everyone else, it is a game of survival and he doesn't understand how they manage. Later that evening I got a text from him saying the restaurant was quiet and that we could talk. So I went over to find the place entirely empty apart from my son, who was loafing around by the till. This led to his fourth revelation: . ● Doing nothing sucks. It's the worst thing there is. It makes you so lethargic that when things get busier you can hardly bring yourself to budge. See also: five ways to resign in style . Isn't he also learning how to be professional, I asked -- leading the witness outrageously. Obvs, he replied. And then came lesson number five: . ● You have to be punctual. And reliable. You mustn't swear, or turn your back on customers, or answer them back. If you have a hangover you still have to get to work on time, and you have to pretend that you feel fine. Listening to him recite this list led me to contribute an insight of my own: . ● A fast-food restaurant is an excellent finishing school. It has succeeded in areas where 18 years of liberal parenting and seven years of hugely expensive private education have made little impression. Yet even though he has learnt how to be civil to customers, he has not learnt to like it. In fact what he has discovered is that: . ● Dealing with customers can suck. Some of them are friendly, but there are lots who don't even look at you. That gets to you after a while. My son looked anxiously at his watch and said his boss would be in soon. But I thought you told me you liked him, I protested. He shrugged. "He's OK. In the beginning we went for a drink after the shift, but he decides how many hours I work, and he blames me for stuff like not ordering new menus, when that's not even my job. So drinking with him feels weird." In other words he has learnt invaluable lesson number eight: . ● Being friends with your manager is never a good idea. Before I left him, I told him that his lessons bore no resemblance to the ones drawn by the HBR blogger, whose stint doing humble jobs taught him great truths about humanity: that most people want to take pride in their work, and that everyone has big dreams. What did he think of that? He pointed out it was hard to take pride in your work when the restaurant is doing badly and the manager doesn't care. See also: How millennials can score the perfect job . But even with good management, some people are still useless moaners, which led him to lesson nine. ● Working with whingers is rubbish. So what should be done about them, I asked. He looked at me as if I were an idiot. "F-ing fire them," he said, momentarily forgetting lesson #5. And what about dreams? "Yeah," he said. "Everyone here has dreams." Slightly dreading the answer, I asked what were his. To my relief he replied: "To get into university and to get a skilled job." © The Financial Times Limited 2013 . | Some of the world's most successful people honed their skills in part time jobs as teenagers .
A recent Harvard Business Review blog argued young people learn more in humble jobs than internships at big companies .
Warren Buffet, Michael Dell and Jeff Bezos all started out in part time jobs for minimal wages . |
fabeb8d4b37486b35c1fe776dc16a627baf9b3b8 | (CNN) -- Tiger Woods is a long way from matching Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major titles, but he is still in with a chance of equaling the golf legend's mark of 73 PGA Tour victories on Sunday. When Woods shared the early lead during Saturday's third round of the Memorial Tournament, an event founded by Nicklaus and played on a course designed by the legendary the "Golden Bear," it seemed the script had already been written. However, the 14-time major champion faded on the back nine with bogeys at 16 and 18 to finish the day four shots behind fellow American Spencer Levin. "I've still got a lot of work to do tomorrow. Conditions will again be very difficult, so I'll need to grind it out," Woods said after signing for a one-over-par 73, his worst round of the week at Muirfield Village. "I'm a little tired, but so be it. I had my opportunities but I missed a few putts I should have made. I'm still in the ball game, and anything can happen." PGA Tour latest leaderboard . Woods has struggled in his last three starts after ending his long wait for his 72nd title with victory at Bay Hill in late March, but he carded solid rounds of 70 and 69 to be just one shot off the lead at the halfway stage in Dublin, Ohio. A birdie at the first hole put him level at the top, but four bogeys left him facing an uphill battle to move level with Nicklaus, who is second on the all-time list behind Sam Snead's 82 wins. Levin, by contrast, has only ever won on the Canadian Tour. The 27-year-old lost in a playoff at the Mayokaba Classic in Mexico last year, and his best finish this season is third at the Phoenix Open in February. McIlroy seeking solutions after another missed cut . Levin goes into Sunday's final round with a one-shot advantage over halfway leader Rory Sabbatini after scoring 69 to the South African's 71. Quail Hollow champion Rickie Fowler also shot 69 to be third on five-under 211, one ahead of Woods, while Japan's Ryo Ishikawa was tied for fifth on 213 with Sweden's Henrik Stenson and American Jonathan Byrd. World No. 1 Luke Donald was tied for 36th on 219, 11 shots off the lead. The Englishman carded five bogeys in his 75. | Tiger Woods four shots off the lead going into final round of Memorial Tournament .
Former world No. 1 seeking to equal Jack Nicklaus with 73 PGA Tour victories .
Spencer Levin claims one-shot lead as he attempts to win his first U.S. title .
Rory Sabbatini is second ahead of Rickie Fowler, with Woods fourth . |
fabed297d1b7d814b9d8503c3c1efe01790b0e98 | By . David Kent . Jan Vertonghen has no doubt Belgium can stop Lionel Messi and make it through to only their second World Cup semi-final in history. Such has been Messi's form in Brazil that Argentina have faced accusations of being over-reliant on the Barcelona star, who has scored four of his nation's seven goals. Twenty-eight years ago Argentina were heavily reliant on Diego Maradona, who scored five goals to help the South American nation to World Cup glory in Mexico '86. VIDEO Scroll down to see Vertonghen say Belgium can stop Lionel Messi . Unstoppable? Jan Vertonghen believes that Belgium can stop Lionel Messi . Belief: Belgium are aiming for their first World Cup semi-final in 32 years . Four years earlier Belgium successfully shackled Maradona by surrounding the diminutive dribbler whenever he had the ball at his feet. A picture taken of six Belgians surrounding Maradona is one of the abiding memories of that World Cup in Spain. Belgium do not plan to do the same with Messi on Saturday in Brasilia - coach Marc Wilmots prefers to mark zonally - but defender Vertonghen is sure the Red Devils will be strong enough to repel the heir to Maradona's throne. 'I think Messi has been outstanding so far in this tournament. He has been their main man,' Vertonghen told a press conference in Brasilia. 'But if we defend like we did in our previous matches we will stop him, (Sergio) Aguero, (Angel) Di Maria and (Gonzalo) Higuain. I'm convinced of that.' The plan to stifle Maradona in Barcelona worked that night as Belgium recorded a historic 1-0 win.Wilmots has had no urge at all to remind his players of the events of '82 though. 'We have never spoken about it to any of the players. It's history,' Wilmots said. Iconic: Six Belgian defenders work to crowd out Diego Maradona at the 1982 World Cup in Spain . Teamwork: Vincent Kompany, Daniel Van Buyten and Vertonghen work to stop Jermaine Jones from shooting . Belgium's recent history has been full of excitement thanks to the emergence of the likes of Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and Vertonghen, who operates as a dynamic left-back for his country. Belgium stormed through their qualifying group, dropping just four points in the process. But there were question marks as to whether Wilmots could take the individual stars at his disposal and mould them into a united and effective unit at a major tournament. So far the Belgium coach has passed the test with reasonable success. Belgium won every one of their group games and had it not been for a superhuman effort by Tim Howard in Salvador, the Red Devils would have hammered the United States in the last round. Belgium have only made it to the last four once before - in 1986 when Maradona got his revenge in Mexico - and Vertonghen is desperate for the current team to make history on Saturday. 'We don't want things to stop,' Vertonghen added. 'We are ready for the rest. We want to play even better. 'We have been working hard over the last few years and this is the reward for that hard work.' Top start: Belgium coach Marc Wilmots has led his side to four wins from four so far . Step up: Despite his country's good run, Eden Hazard has had a mixed campaign so far . Back: Thomas Vermaelen is set to return for the game against Argentina . Although Vertonghen sat alongside Wilmots at the pre-match press conference in Brasilia, the Tottenham defender appears to be a doubt for the quarter-final. Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld and Mousa Dembele were all lacking fitness, according to Wilmots, although it remains to be seen whether he was just trying to sell the Argentians a dummy. 'We are not sure (about those three), but we will train today (on Friday) and see. We hope everyone will be fit and ready to go.' One thing that seems certain is the return of Thomas Vermaelen, who is available after recovering from the hamstring injury that kept him out of the Switzerland game. For all Hazard's talents, meanwhile, the Chelsea midfielder has not been at his best in Brazil. Wilmots hopes a pep talk he gave him on Thursday night will kick the talented 23-year-old into gear though. 'I have followed Eden for a long time and in the last 18 months he has improved,' Wilmots said. 'I talked to him last night and told him how he could improve even more. 'You will hopefully see a result on the pitch. He is eager.' | Argentina set to play Belgium in World Cup quarter-final on Saturday .
Messi has scored four of Argentina's seven goals so far .
Belgium hopeful of progressing to the semi-finals for second time ever .
Diego Maradona famously stopped by Belgian defence in 1982 . |
fabf46d1fd1c94c50780d2aa49e49a469b673804 | She's famous for her conservative sense of style but that didn't stop Spain's Queen Letizia from flashing a glimpse of thigh during a reception at the Zarzuela Palace today. The 42-year-old opted for an unusually short cream shift dress for the event, which was held to honour members of the Academia de las Artes y Las Ciencias Cinematograficas - the Spanish cinema association. Letizia's daring new look represented a departure from her usual midi length, although she did take some precautions, teaming the dress with neat courts and a pair of opaque black tights. Scroll down for video . Showing some leg: Queen Letizia (centre right) flashes her thighs during a reception in Madrid . With her at the event was 46-year-old King Felipe who was dapper in a black suit and who, at one point, put his arm around his wife as he helped her into position. The Academia de las Artes y Las Ciencias Cinematograficas is one of the biggest champions of Spanish cinema and is responsible for the annual Goya awards - Spain's equivalent of the BAFTAS. The current president, film producer Enrique González Macho, was among the guests to greet the Spanish royals at the Zarzuela Palace this morning, while his predecessors include Álex de la Iglesia, a pioneering director who mentored Pedro Almodóvar. This is not the first time the Spanish royals, who are currently in mourning for the late Queen Fabiola of Belgium, have shown their support for the arts in recent months. Letizia in particular is known to be a fan and travelled to Vienna at the beginning of October to open an exhibition dedicated to Spanish court painter, Diego Velázquez. Daring: The ultra-high hemline represents a departure from her usual conservative sense of style . Stylish: The dress was worn at a reception for the Academia de las Artes y Las Ciencias Cinematograficas . Stop! King Felipe stepped in to help his wife at one point, when she appeared to be going the wrong way . Later the same week, she and King Felipe were both on hand for the launch of a new Spanish dictionary and have consistently championed the arts since ascending to the throne in June. The two have also overseen a sea-change in the way the Spanish royal family does business, with Felipe banning private employment and accepting lavish gifts last week. The new rules, which also apply to former King Juan-Carlos and his wife Queen Sofia, come into effect on New Year's Day and are intended to avoid 'compromising the dignity of the institution'. Felipe's move comes after his father's reign was blighted by accusations of extravagance - not helped by his habit of accepting gifts that included an €18m (£14m) yacht. Fortuna, which Juan-Carlos was forced to stop using last year in a nod to austerity, became a regular plaything of the Spanish royals, who used it during summer holidays in Mallorca. Felipe's new-look Spanish monarchy is closer in style to the Scandinavian system, which sees members of the royal family live relatively low key lifestyles. All smiles: Both halves of the royal couple appeared to be on good form as they met filmmakers . Changes: King Felipe is in the midst of an overhaul of the Spanish royal family's public image . Glamorous: Letizia, who will also be affected by the changes, looked fresh-faced and happy . As part of his drive to modernise the institution, the 46-year-old royal also banned members of his family from working in the private sector and insisted that all must behave in an 'exemplary manner' likely to 'earn citizens' appreciation, respect and trust.' Despite boasting fewer staff and less money than their British and Spanish counterparts, the Norwegian, Danish and Swedish monarchs and their families do accept gifts, although like the British royals, most have to be declared. In the case of the UK royal family, gifts either become part of the Royal Collection and are displayed during the summer exhibition season or are donated to the relevant museum or institution. Although the Queen is yet to benefit from a free flight or a yacht like Juan-Carlos, she has received a number of unusual gifts on state visits, including a collection of shells, a set of lacrosse sticks, sunglasses, a pair of sandals, pineapples, eggs, a box of snail shells, a grove of maple trees, a dozen tins of of tuna and 7kg of prawns. The Queen has also been given a number of horses, among them her Trooping the Colour mount, Burmese, and a series of exotic animals, including a canary, jaguars, sloths and an elephant called Jumbo - all of which were given to London Zoo. | Letizia opted for a thigh-scraping mini - a departure from her usual style .
Did take some precautions and teamed the dress with black opaque tights .
Was holding a reception for the Spanish Academy of Cinematic Art .
Organisation is behind annual Goya awards - Spain's version of BAFTAS . |
fabf561f549f0a2fc072ffa8a28ef66ccf7989df | Country rock star Billy Ray Cyrus has been duped into retweeting a picture of paedophile Jimmy Savile by a prankster who claimed it was his grandad. Twitter user 'Jake imo' sent the singer, best known for his number one single 'Achy Breaky Heart', a picture of Savile and wrote: 'Hi pal, it's my Grandad's birthday today and he's a huge fan. He'd love a RT!' The American singer, 53, who is father to global pop sensation and wild child, Miley Cyrus, sent the message on to his 1.75million followers. Scroll down for video . Billy Ray Cyrus was tricked in to retweeting a picture of paedophile Jimmy Savile to his millions of followers . The American singer, best known for his 'Achy Breaky Heart' song, was fooled into retweeting the image . The country singer performing in 2006 (left) and (right) with daughter Miley, who he starred with in the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana . But fans were quick to alert him of the mistake to tell him the image was one of Britain's most predatory sex offenders. Savile abused at least 500 victims, with the youngest allegedly just two years old, the NSPCC has reported. The most common age group for his victims was 13 to 15. He also targeted hospital patients, ranging from five-year-old children to 75-year-old pensioners, including men, women, boys and girls. He may have even committed sex acts on dead bodies in the mortuary at Leeds General Infirmary. Donald Trump, 68, was tricked into sharing this photo of serial killers Fred and Rose West after he was sent a message by a follower saying the tycoon had been a 'big inspiration' to his parents . The team who run the Apprentice US star's Twitter feed shared the message, but quickly removed it after realising the mistake. The serial killers (right) murdered young women and girls between the 1960s and 1980s . Five hours after he shared the post, the tycoon said it was evidence you should not be 'nice and trusting' The concept of 'Rickrolling' is basically sending a person a link to something that appears interesting or relevant. But it is actually just a disguise - when the person clicks on the link, it takes them to Rick Astley's uber-cheesey music video for his 1987 song 'Never Gonna Give You Up.' The clip managed to find its way into pop culture, with celebrities and even politicians 'Rickrolling' people. Donald Trump was on the receiving end of a similar joke earlier this week, when he retweeted a picture of infamous serial murderers Fred and Rose West. The US business magnate was contacted on social media by Philip Bradbury, who sent him a message saying his late parents had always considered him a 'big inspiration'- but included an image of the convicted rapists and murderers instead. The message was quickly shared on the multi-millionaire's feed by his media team to his 2.7m followers but was taken down 40 minutes later after they realised their embarrassing mistake. But hours later the tycoon responded, saying he may sue the culprit. | Country singer was tricked into retweeting picture of the paedophile .
A Twitter user said it was his grandad and he was a 'huge fan'
Donald Trump was on the receiving end of a similar joke earlier this week .
The tycoon retweeted a picture of serial murderers Fred and Rose West . |
fabfe2c5471c6e50a3ca4d5487b40b5deff571e6 | (Lonely Planet) -- From the steep slopes of volcanic Haleakala to the wealth of surf spots, Maui beckons lovers of sun, sand and surf. But venture just beyond the hotel buffet and discover what a foodie destination the Valley Island has become. Maui's culinary landscape is heavily influenced by fresh, local and 'ono (delicious) flavors. Chefs, farmers, ranchers and fishermen work together toward a sustainable future where island ingredients are the featured attraction on daily menus and reflect the agriculture and people of Maui. The Hawaiian Regional Cuisine movement started in 1991, with 12 founding chefs interested in focusing on using the freshest local ingredients to achieve the diverse flavors of island dishes. Three of those original chefs head restaurants in Maui: Mark Ellman of Mala Ocean Tavern, Beverly Gannon of Hali'imaile General Store and Peter Merriman of Merriman's Kapalua. Those and some of the founding chefs' more recent ventures -- including Ellman's newest, Honu, in Lahaina, Gannon's eponymous Gannon's and Merriman's Monkeypod Kitchen in Wailea -- are among the best places to get a sample of Maui flavor, straight from the farm to the table. Lonley Planet: Hawaii for first-timers: how to choose an island . Just like the wealth and diversity of fresh local ingredients, their availability spans beyond large restaurants to smaller establishments. Get a taste of guri-guri, a treat crossed between ice cream and sherbet, at Tasaka Guri Guri. Another sweet option is the island-style ice cream at Roselani Tropics Ice Cream, featuring local flavors such as vanilla, mango, pineapple and coffee. Home Maid Bakery's crispy manju has luscious fillings from azuki beans to coconut. Take some island style home in a bag of Maui coffee. The best place to do your shopping is on a coffee estate, where you can get a look at where your morning beverage comes from, such as MauiGrown Coffee or Kupa'a Farms. Farmers' markets and farm stands have become more than a regular shopping opportunity for locals -- they're now a common stop on a visitor's itinerary as well. Markets are an easy way to showcase Maui's farms and ranches and the food they produce. Even big-name hotels are helping lead the way in supporting local farmers by including their products in sustainable and organic menus. The stand at Kula Country Farms, as well as farmers' markets in Makawao, Kahului and other locations throughout Maui are ideal opportunities to see the variety of locally raised products and produce on the island -- and buy some to taste. Lonely Planet: Top 20 Hawaiian vistas . A visit to one of Maui's farms can be both fun and educational, especially when it's in Kula. In Upcountry Maui on the slopes of Mount Haleakala, the Kula area takes advantage of its rich volcanic soil and cool climate, and has been central to the island's culinary resurgence. Much of the produce you'll find on the tables of Maui's best restaurants focusing on Hawaiian Regional Cuisine is grown in and around Kula, including the sweet Maui onion. Start with a gourmet lunch tour and real farm-to-table experience at O'o Farm, an 8.5-acre natural farm operated by the Pacific'O and I'O restaurants. Milk a goat at the Surfing Goat Dairy, then see the cheese-making process before you sample some for yourself. Get an exotic walking tour through the sweet-smelling fields of Ali`i Kula Lavender, or wander the grounds of Maui's Winery at Ulupalakua Ranch -- before you wander right into the tasting room. Sustainable food on Maui isn't just about produce -- it also includes island-grazed beef and grass-fed lamb. Island ranching dates back to the 19th century, and is a large part of the local paniolo culture. The Maui Cattle Company produces meats from six ranch partners throughout the island, from Hana to the slopes of Haleakala. While every day is a celebration with island cuisine options, Maui food festivals offer an opportunity to get immersed in a particular food item, like the Maui Onion Festival or the East Maui Taro Festival. Others, like the 30-year-old Kapalua Wine & Food Festival, are multi-day culinary extravaganzas. Lonely Planet: Hawaii or the Caribbean: how do you choose? © 2011 Lonely Planet. All rights reserved. | The best place to do your coffee shopping is on a coffee estate, such as Kupa'a Farms .
Farmers' markets have become more than a regular shopping opportunity for locals .
Sustainable food on Maui isn't just about produce, but also island-grazed beef . |
fabff2250e298f52df449894052d97c13e7ff0e4 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Country star Trace Adkins' estranged wife has set the scene for a bitter divorce by obtaining a restraining order preventing him from 'harassing, threatening or assaulting' her. Rhonda Adkins, the mother of the singer's three young daughters, has obtained a wide-ranging temporary restraining order from a Tennessee court, in which neither she nor the singer are allowed to take their children outside the state and sell or borrow against marital property. Rhonda filed for divorce in Tennessee after the couple officially separated on Monday - but now most definitely means business after it was today reported that Trace had fallen for actress Victoria Pratt. Scroll down for video . It is over: Trace Adkins wife Rhonda, pictured here last year, filed for divorce on Wednesday . The National Enquirer claimed that Trace bragged to a friend that he cheated on Rhonda with nearly a dozen women during their 17-year marriage - even boasting he had had sex with two women in one day before going home to bed Rhonda. The publication claimed Trace - who went to rehab for drinking - had fallen off the wagon more than a year ago. It was also claimed that Trace had even told his wife he had fallen for curvaceous Canadian D-list actress Victoria Pratt, 43, who he met while filming The Virginian last spring. The blonde actress tweeted from the set: 'Gave Trace Adkins a sponge bath at work today…” Pratt boasted on March 30. “I owe the universe big time! #best job ever.' When filming wrapped and Trace, 52, went on to star on All Star Celebrity Apprentice, Victoria was his biggest fan, eagerly tweeting recaps of the show, with flirty jibes aimed at the singer. Soon it seems, Rhonda may have become aware of their flirtation. 'My Old Lady just gave me a mean look,' he tweeted on April 21, Victoria replied: 'Bahaha!! You’re lucky that’s all she gave you!!!' Rumors: Actress Victoria Pratt is said to have developed a friendship with country singer and her co-star Trace Adkins - leaving his wife Rhonda furious. Her husband, TJ Scott has denied she had a fling with Trace - and says they are 'happily married' Boast: Victoria Pratt's flirty tweet from the set of The Virginian . Flirty: Co-stars Trace Adkins and Victoria Pratt filmed The Virginian together and since then exchanged a series of tweets . Just five days later, Pratt was the country singer’s guest of honor at the Stage Coach music festival in Indio, Calif., where she watched from backstage. After Victoria posted a happy pic from the sidelines, a fan asked if she and her friend were “groupies or groupies,” and Pratt responded, “Yes and yes.” And when Trace won Celebrity Apprentice, she tweeted, “Congrats you handsome devil!” and he responded, “Thanks gorgeous! MWAH”. A source told the Enquirer this was the last straw for Rhonda, adding: 'Rhonda has put up with Trace's cheating and abuse for years, but now she knows everything he's done and she plans to use it to make him pay big time.' Victoria is married to Hollywood director and photographer TJ Scott, 53, who, when asked if they were separated, told MailOnline: 'No, we are not separated - we are very much married.' When asked if Victoria had been seeing Trace, TJ replied: 'No, that is not true, we are happily married.' Despite Trace's very public . struggles with alcohol recently, his wife did not state that as a reason . for wanting a divorce but instead said she was seeking to end their . marriage due to 'irreconcilable differences.' Seeking support: The couple was married in 1997 and have three daughters together MacKenzie, Brianna, and Trinity, whom child support is now being sought for . The divorce was first reported by TMZ and the legal documents state the couple was married in 1997 and . have three daughters together MacKenzie, Brianna, and Trinity. The girls are aged 16, 12, and 9 and Rhonda has requested 'primary residential custody'. The country singer's wide has asked the court to grant her child support and alimony. Unusually, Rhonda has also asked to be named the sole beneficiary of Trace's life insurance policy, TMZ reports. Rhonda is Trace's third wife and he shares two adult daughters with his second wife, Julie. Julie . and Trace divorced in much more dramatic circumstances after Julie . shot The Celebrity Apprentice star in the chest during a domestic dispute. Recently Trace has found himself in the headlines after he was involved in a drunken brawl in January. Bad year: The country singer, pictured in Las Vegas in December 2012, entered rehab earlier this year . The Nashville resident was taking . part in a Country Cruising cruise when he fell off the wagon after 12 . years of sobriety beating a man who works as a Trace Adkins . impersonator. At the time his rep said: 'Trace has entered a treatment facility after a setback in his battle with alcoholism.' 'As he faces these issues head-on, we ask that his family's privacy will be respected.' The . singer-actor was performing on an eight-day cruise from Miami via . Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Mexico that kicked off January 12. Trace then checked himself out of rehab in February to be with his father Aaron Adkins when he passed away aged 71. Mercy dash: Trace checked out of rehab in February so he could be with his sick father Aaron before he passed away, seen here with the singer last year . | Country star's wife Rhonda allegedly furious over his friendship with actress Victoria Pratt .
Trace and Victoria co-starred in The Virginian, filmed last year .
Victoria's husband tells MailOnline there is no truth to rumors of an affair - insisting 'we are happily married'
Rhonda obtains restraining order preventing Trace from 'harassing, threatening or assaulting' her . |
fabff3a047730d08554489782c7595b651d3cadc | (CNN) -- The selfie pandemic -- the cultural Ebola of our networked age -- is going global. It's bad enough that we've had the selfie as the word-of-year, the selfie as a "brilliant and terrible" TV show, the smiling selfie at Auschwitz, the selfie with a suicide as its backdrop and the selfie proudly blocking Rembrandt's most masterful self-portrait. But that's just the beginning of this digital disease. Now the selfie has turned its narcissistic gaze upon Islam. The selfie has gone on the Hajj and has turned up at the Kaaba, the cube-shaped black stone building in Mecca that is the holiest place in the Muslim faith. Hajj 2014 is "the Year of the Selfie" -- and Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook are all abuzz with digital self-portraits of pilgrims who, to fulfill one of the five pillars of faith in the Islamic tradition, have gone to Mecca. "Epic #selfie #hajj #Mecca," wrote @dan_a_lowe on Twitter as he posed, Ellen DeGeneres-Oscar-style, in front of a group of smiling fellow Hajjis. But, of course, not all Muslims are selfie enthusiasts -- even if camera phones are no longer strictly banned at the Kaaba. Although one pilgrim described the selfie craze as an "endemic not easy to stop," some clerics are doing their best to remind Muslims that digital self-portraits in front of the Kaaba are an insult to the Prophet. "Say no to Haj selfie!" thus implores the Arab News. "O Allah, I ask of you a pilgrimage that contains no boasting or showing off," adds Jeddah-based scholar Sheikh Assim Al-Hakeem. "Taking such selfies and videos defy the wish of our Prophet." "The hajj is all about overcoming your "self"! " reminds @yshirin on Twitter. "#hajjselfie wont bring anyone anyhere (sic)." So is anything sacred anymore? Yes. In our networked the age, the sacred -- like everything else -- is being reinvented. What Hajj 2014, "the Year of the Selfie," represents is the democratization of the sacred. In traditional religion, unique places like the black stone Kaaba or the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem represented the sacred. But in our age of digital narcissism, it's the familiar which is made most sacred and we imagine ourselves as the center of the universe. Therein explains the selfie pandemic of placing ourselves in the middle of every photograph. Everything -- or at least everything about us -- is now sacred. The sacred has been turned on its head in a world where tech has allowed narcissism to run riot. In our selfie-culture, we now thinks of the world as revolving around us. So all the hundreds of billions of images we snap -- from Auschwitz to the Kaaba -- comes with a personalized signature. The sacred has been de-mythologized. It now exists in several billion different colors and flavors. So should we expect similar selfie pandemics in the world's other major monotheistic creeds? Unfortunately, that's already happening. Back in August last year, Pope Francis authored the first papal selfie. "Make the future with beauty, with goodness and truth," Pope Francis told some of the kids who posed with him. "Have courage. Go forward. Make noise." And "make noise" is exactly what we are all doing in our technology-fuelled age of digital narcissism. From Mecca to Rome, we are all making as much noise about ourselves on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook as we can. Traditional monotheistic creeds were all about overcoming ourselves. But our selfie-centric culture is the reverse; today, Muslim pilgrims are turning the Hajj into an epic selfie. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author. | The Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia .
Islam requires every Muslim who is physically and financially able to make the journey once .
Hajj 2014 has been dubbed "the year of the selfie" and has drawn criticism from clerics . |
fac0135ff5696048a69a5198f67031205673c5ad | Johannesburg (CNN) -- Dumisani Rebombo is no ordinary advocate for women's rights in South Africa. He is a rapist. He is a rapist who sought out his victim two decades after his brutal act to ask for forgiveness. He is all this in a nation where sexual assault has become so common that a woman in South Africa is more likely to be raped than learn to read. Sexual assaults rarely shock anyone anymore, though a video of a brutal gang rape of a mentally disabled teenager went viral on the Internet last month. That touched a nerve. As the young suspects face their day in court, Rebombo spoke with CNN to tell his own story -- an extraordinary tale of violence, redemption and determination to change things in his homeland. Rebombo was 15 when he raped. The boys in his village of Blinkwater taunted him because he didn't herd cattle and instead went home to help his sisters. He didn't have a girlfriend. "Sissy," the village boys jeered, and challenged him to prove his manhood. The way to do that was by having sex. Forced sex. Rebombo had refused until that day, when he gave in to peer pressure. He recounts what happened in a quiet, steady tone. Two of his friends picked out a girl. They said she thought she was smarter than the boys; she didn't date anyone. Rebombo and his friends would set her straight. "I was afraid because I'd never had sex before," Rebombo says. At 5 o'clock in the evening, he met his friends, drank beer, smoked marijuana. Then it started. The first boy raped her; then the second. She was screaming. It was Rebombo's turn. After it was over, he felt terrible, wracked with guilt and scared that his parents would find out. He says he never gave a thought about how the victim was feeling. "It's because when the environment accepts that behavior as a norm, you don't pay to much attention to it," he says. The South African police say there were 66,196 cases of rape in 2010-2011. But many believe that number is much higher because many rapes go unreported. The girl Rebombo raped never reported what happened and Rebombo was never charged. She never even spoke about it with anyone. She was too scared of the consequences, Rebombo says. A Medical Research Council study found that 28 percent of men in South Africa reported having perpetrated rape; three-quarters of first-time rapists are like Rebombo -- under the age of 20. "This violence, there is violence elsewhere in the world, but you don't see the staggering numbers of rapes that are seen here in South Africa," Rebombo says. He is glad, he adds, that South Africans are finally talking about it. Asking for forgiveness . Rebombo eventually left his village in Limpopo Province and joined first a religious organization and later an aid agency. He learned about respecting others but strangely, he says, he rarely thought about the girl he raped. Years passed and Rebombo started working at a gender equality organization, where he spoke with rape victims about the different emotional stages they went through. That's when he thought about his victim. She did not even have an opportunity to seek counseling. Rebombo began feeling the need to make amends for his actions. He spoke to a pastor about going to see her. The pastor told him there was no need, that he was young and boys will be boys. Rebombo went back anyway. He was too nervous to go to her house. She was married now. What would her husband think? How would he react? So he arranged to meet her in the village clinic. Rapist and victim sat down together. "I'm sorry," he told her. Tears welled in her eyes. Rebombo did not know what to do. He simply stood before her. "My life has never been the same," she told him. She told him she had been raped twice more. Sometimes, she said, when her husband touches her, she cringes, even though she is happy with him. She suffers nightmares. She felt her life was dysfunctional because of Rebombo's actions. He asked for forgiveness. She told him she thought he meant well. She would try to get the bitterness out of her heart. "I felt guilt," he says. "I was embarrassed but also angry at myself that I went on with my life when she was living in misery." 'A huge monster' A woman is raped every 26 seconds in South Africa, according to People Opposing Women Abuse, a nonprofit group for the eradication of gender violence. Rape is part of a greater environment of crime -- police reported nearly 16,000 murders last year. The high rates of sexual violence have been explained in many ways. Some say it is a legacy of apartheid and the country's strong culture of violence. "There's a long history of violence," women's rights activist Lisa Vetten tells CNN. "There's a long history of responding to conflict in a violent manner, of trying to solve problems through using violence. "We also have, I think, a long history of patriarchy, of not recognizing women's rights fully, of not recognizing them necessarily as being full human beings in full -- and having all the rights of men necessarily do," Vetten says. Some activists say apartheid is just a convenient excuse. Jackie Branfield, a rape victim turned activist, asks how anyone can blame history for the acts of the seven youths suspected in the videotaped gang rape. "You can't blame apartheid here," she says on CNN. "You can't even blame the government. You can't blame anybody but our society for this type of violence. "It's just that they are doing it because they can," she says, blaming what she called inefficient, understaffed and under-resourced police departments, courts and hospitals. A Doctors Without Borders report says some have blamed an "inadequate criminal justice system, which often fails to convict, and therefore deter, perpetrators." It also mentioned alcohol and drug abuse and said lack of adequate housing and electricity make victims more vulnerable. Rebombo, now married and settled in Mpupalanga, near the city of Durban, works for Sonke Gender Justice Network as the national manager of a "One Man Can," a project to promote healthy relationships between men and women. As such, he is out to change the national mind-set so that men will no longer think it cool to disrespect women. Violent acts must stop, he says. So must the silence of men who witness such acts. "It's a huge monster we need to deal with," he says. He lives every day with that monster -- and the words of his victim. "Please teach your son not to do what you did to me." She did not know that Rebombo has a son, who is now 28. He tells his son as well as his two daughters many things about ending gender-based violence. Respect everyone. Stick to one partner. Drink responsibly. His list is long. CNN's Nkepile Mabuse reported from Johannesburg and Moni Basu from Atlanta. | Gender equity activist Dumisani Rebombo raped a girl when he was 15 .
He returned to see her 20 years later to ask for forgiveness .
Sexual violence is common in South Africa . |
fac09e101126a542e10f9e875449155332b063eb | New York (CNN)A New York City police officer has been indicted in the death of Akai Gurley, an unarmed man shot and killed in a Brooklyn housing project in November, a law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation has told CNN. The charges against Officer Peter Liang were not revealed Tuesday. Gurley, 28, was "a total innocent who just happened" to run into Liang in a "pitch black" stairwell at the Louis H. Pink Houses in Brooklyn, New York Police Commissioner William Bratton told reporters the day after the killing. At the time, the NYPD said the fatal shot was an "accidental discharge." Liang, with less than 18 months on the job and on probationary status, had been placed on modified assignment and stripped of his gun and badge pending an investigation. "This officer deserves the same due process afforded to anyone involved in the accidental death of another," Patrick Lynch, head of the police union, said in a Tuesday statement. "The fact the he was assigned to patrol one most dangerous housing projects in New York City must be considered among the circumstances of this tragic accident." Liang's attorney declined comment. Scott Rynecki, an attorney for Kimberly Ballinger, Gurley's domestic partner and mother of their child, said, "She is at this point feeling that this is the first step in the fight for justice for this wrongful and reckless shooting." In a statement, Mayor Bill de Blasio said, "It has been reported that a Brooklyn grand jury has acted in this case. No matter the specific charges, this case is an unspeakable tragedy for the Gurley family. We urge everyone to respect the judicial process as it unfolds." Liang and his partner were part of a "violence reduction overtime detail" at the Pink Houses, where a spate of serious crimes have been reported in recent months, including two robberies and four assaults, Bratton told reporters after the shooting. The officers had taken an elevator to the building's top floor to check on the roof and were taking the stairs down from the 8th floor, Bratton said, when the officer discharged the weapon. There were no lights in the stairwell leading up to the roof. Liang drew a flashlight and his weapon "for safety reasons," the police commissioner said. The other officer did not draw his gun. In the darkened stairwell, Liang's gun discharged about the same time that Gurley, the father of a 2-year-old child, and his girlfriend were entering the seventh-floor landing, Bratton said. Shot once in the chest, Gurley died at a hospital. The lights on the seventh and eighth floors were not working, Bratton said. The police commissioner said the decision on when to draw a weapon is the discretion of officers "based on what they are encountering or believe they may encounter. So there is not a specific prohibition against taking a firearm out. But again, as in all cases, an officer would have to justify the circumstances that required him to or resulted in unholstering his firearm." The shooting also is being investigated by police internal affairs. "This is a tragic situation," de Blasio told reporters after the shooting. "It does appear to have been a very tragic accident." The Brooklyn District Attorney's Office had no comment on the indictment, but District Attorney Ken Thompson, in a statement days after the incident, called the shooting "deeply troubling." Gurley's shooting occurred at a time of strained police/community relations after the July death of Eric Garner at the hands of police on Staten Island. The chokehold death of the unarmed 43-year-old man sparked street protests, a review of police procedures and calls for a federal civil rights investigation. A grand jury declined to prosecute the officer. A few weeks after Garner's death, the police shooting in Ferguson, Missouri, of unarmed teenager Michael Brown thrust into the forefront the issue of law enforcement's use of deadly force. A grand jury declined to prosecute Officer Darren Wilson, a decision that led to national demonstrations. | Charges against Officer Peter Liang are not revealed .
Akai Gurley, 28, was shot and killed at a Brooklyn housing project in November . |
fac1462220f6b5cb3b023a75720dc386a6c90650 | WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Faulty electrical wiring is already suspected in the deaths of several U.S. troops in Iraq. Now contractors who worked in Afghanistan are reporting similar problems at American bases there. In July, Sen. Byron Dorgan held a hearing on troop electrocutions. He wants a faster response to the problem. "In general, the electrical power systems in the camp can be described as a disaster waiting to happen," electrician Noris Rogers wrote to his bosses at military contractor KBR about conditions at one base in 2005. The letter warned of "extreme dangers" of electrical shock and fire hazards at the facility. Rogers, who left Afghanistan shortly after writing that letter, told CNN that the work done by KBR at one U.S. base in Kabul was "by far" the worst he has seen in 20-plus years in the trade. "As a complete whole, the electrical work at the camp was very dangerous," he said. "And I don't think it would be an exaggeration to say that I don't believe any of it was done safely." Jeff Bliss says he saw similar electrical hazards when he worked as an electrician in Afghanistan. Bliss, also a former KBR electrician, told a Senate Democratic Policy Committee meeting in 2008 that "the carelessness and disregard for quality work at KBR was pervasive." In one case, Bliss said, a soldier at a field command post received a 400-volt shock from wiring that other soldiers told him had been installed by a plumber and a security guard. The 20-year veteran of the trade said KBR hired many unqualified or unlicensed electricians, and relied heavily on non-American workers who were unfamiliar with U.S. standards and spoke little or no English. "I saw firsthand how KBR's carelessness unnecessarily put people's lives in danger," he testified. Bliss, Rogers and three other experienced electricians who worked for KBR in 2005 and 2006 told CNN that their warnings to supervisors were ignored. The electricians showed CNN photographs they say show dangerous wiring, and overloaded or badly wired circuit panels that have caused fires at U.S. installations. And several U.S. soldiers who were stationed in Afghanistan said they received electrical shocks themselves or knew soldiers who suffered them. The soldiers said they preferred to not be identified because of possible retribution from the Army. KBR would not comment on specific criticism about the company's work in Afghanistan, but it has consistently denied any improper electrical work or responsibility for deaths or injuries. "The electrical standards in Iraq are nowhere near those of Western standards," it told CNN in a written statement. "So we are adapting to an environment that existed long before KBR got on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan." In Iraq, at least 18 U.S. troops are known to have died by electrocution -- many while on U.S. bases being managed by various military contractors, including KBR. The Pentagon would not say whether there were any fatalities or serious injuries from electrocutions in Afghanistan, telling CNN it would not comment on an ongoing investigation by the Defense Department's inspector general. But the Pentagon said it considers electrical dangers to be "a very serious issue," and has launched widespread inspections in Afghanistan and Iraq to fix any electrical hazards and ensure that future installations comply with U.S. electrical code. Sen. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, who leads the Democratic Policy Committee, said the accounts from Afghanistan show "some of the same problems exist in both war theaters." "I don't think the problem has been fixed," Dorgan said. "I don't think at this point the Pentagon has bitten the bullet to say, 'We're going to fix these problems in a very significant way, and we're going to cause contractors to be accountable for their work.' I think, as a result of it not being fixed, I think there are risks." Dorgan said he was "outraged" at the Defense Department for not moving faster to fix electrical hazards. "Our soldiers shouldn't be taking risks by taking showers," he said. "They ought to be able to expect that the electrical work at their military base is not going to result in their death or injury because of shoddy workmanship." KBR has already come under fire for its work in Iraq. The Army's lead investigator into the death of Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, recently wrote that she would recommend Maseth's cause of death be changed to "negligent homicide." Her report accused KBR of failing to properly supervise or inspect its work, but the Army has yet to make a final ruling on the case. Maseth was found dead in the shower in his Baghdad quarters in January 2008. Two of the soldiers who told CNN that they suffered shocks in Afghanistan said they were in showers at the time as well. Army inspectors recently found KBR failed to do proper electrical wiring on bases in Iraq. Their report found that incidents of electric shock were happening an average of every three days for nearly two years, and that the company was in serious violation of its contract. | Electrician called power systems at Afghan base "a disaster waiting to happen"
Electricians who worked for KBR say supervisors ignored their warnings .
U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan said they received shocks or knew soldiers who did .
KBR has denied improper electrical work or responsibility for deaths, injuries . |
fac16f9d6c4589175a7f1c48758d00686964a8a1 | Hotel chains and booking websites have been accused of working together to ‘fix’ prices for consumers looking for a discount. Websites such as Expedia and Booking.com have joined forces with hotel groups to protect their profit margins by ensuring the rates on ‘discount’ websites are actually the same as the normal price, an industry insider has said. Dorian Harris, CEO of discount hotel site Skoosh.com, has said he was forced out of the market after attempting to undercut his rivals by offering cheaper prices. Intercontinental Hotels Group, which operates luxury hotels such as the Intercontinental London Park Lane (pictured) is under investigation by the OFT . Mr Harris has even said he was threatened with violence by hotel owners angry at the possibility of their rooms being sold at rates cheaper than those agreed with the major booking portals. Usually if hotels have spare rooms available, they sell the capacity on to estate agents and discount booking agencies, which then mark up their prices by about 25% before offering them to the public. As well as earning the hotels more money overall, these high prices also protect the reputation of the hotels, and let them keep their prices high. But Mr Harris says that when he decided to beat the competition by offering rooms on Skoosh.com at a smaller mark-up he lost 70% of his business after hotel chains demanded he raise his prices to stay in step with the rest of the industry. He told The Sunday Times: ‘We started getting some calls from angry and confused hoteliers insisting that we were selling their rooms too cheaply ... I realised a [rival] website had been on to them threatening all sorts of nonsense if they didn't either remove their hotel from Skoosh or force Skoosh to raise its prices.’ In a phone call recorded by Harris, a hotel manager in Prague whose hotels he had discounted told him: ‘You're gone. You will see what's going to happen to you in one week. If you are in Prague then you will see what it means to be threatened.’ Expedia is also under investigation for its practices around offering discount hotel rooms . The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) opened an investigation into Expedia and Booking.com in 2010, looking at allegations they had colluded with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), the world's biggest provider of hotel rooms. It opened a public consultation on new industry proposals, which ended on Friday. In them the three companies proposed a set of commitments, which would allow discount sites cut into their profit margin to offer cheaper rooms. However, the companies added that offering these commitments was not an admission of any past wrongdoing. Anti-competitive business agreements, such as price-fixing, are illegal in the UK, and in the most severe cases can result in an unlimited fine and up to five years in prison. Legal action has also been launched in America. Papers filed in Texas claim that a British conference firm organised seminars where hoteliers would meet with discount site representatives to agree prices for their rooms. Searches of discount websites for hotels in the InterContinental portfolio in London and Chicago have shown that several discount websites offer the same prices as booking directly. Another insider told The Sunday Times: ‘Most people know this is going on but the big firms are benefiting and the small operators are often too scared to speak up for fear of repercussions.’ The OFT said it could not comment while its investigation was going on. However, the watchdog has said in the past that it would like hotels and websites to be more transparent about the discounts they offer. It has not yet been determined whether Booking.com, Expedia or IHG have broken the law. Booking.com declined to comment on the OFT probe. IHG said it had ‘worked closely with the OFT’ to agree commitments on how to operate in future. Expedia said that it welcomes the draft commitments, and said it expects the OFT to close its investigation without taking any action. IHG declined to comment on Mr Harris's allegations, but has said previously that it has 'worked closely with the OFT' during the probe. | Dorian Harris, CEO of discount site Skoosh.com, said sites and hotels were working together .
He claimed they prevent competition by keeping prices high .
OFT launched investigation in 2010 and will report back soon .
Booking.com, Expedia and InterContinental hotel chain has offered to commit to new measures enabling greater discounts . |
fac2d4d81a78775c544d7e101fc87da61d27c8ee | By . Jaya Narain . PUBLISHED: . 03:48 EST, 13 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:18 EST, 13 December 2012 . It was billed as a luxurious cruise around the romantic and atmospheric traditional Christmas markets of northern Europe. Instead hundreds of passengers have been left quarantined in their cabins after a severe outbreak of norovirus – the winter vomiting bug – swept through the P&O cruise liner Oriana. Travellers who paid up to £1,429 for the Baltic trip say the liner has turned into a 'plague ship' and describe themselves as angry and mutinous. Scroll down for video . Outbreak: Passengers on board the P&O cruise liner have been struck down by the winter vomiting bug . 'It's outrageous': Paul and Carolyn Gilman pictured in front of the cruise liner . They say around 400 holidaymakers have . been struck down by varying forms of the vomiting bug and claim they . were rudely ordered to stay in their cabins. Oriana has been hit by bouts of . norovirus several times in recent years and in 2009 one passenger on a . Baltic cruise died from the disease soon after docking in Southampton. In the latest outbreak some passengers . say they have waited hours to be seen by the ship's doctor, while . others claim they have had to put up with an overwhelming stench of . vomit below decks. And one man, who had to be treated by the ship's . doctor, was told he had racked up more than £1,000 in medical bills. Passengers also claim they have been told that if they catch the virus it is their own fault for not being clean enough. Although cruise bosses say no staff are sick, one passenger said they found a steward vomiting in her cabin toilet. Tour: The ship was visiting Christmas markets around Europe, starting in Zeebrugge and Amsterdam before moving on to Hamburg (pictured inset), Copenhagen and Oslo then returning home to Southampton . Up to 300 passengers angry at a lack . of information about the situation congregated to demand action only to . be told by an officer that it was an illegal meeting and they should . disperse. Those on board said passengers began . to fall ill on the first day of the cruise and it quickly mushroomed . into an epidemic. More cleaners and two nurses are said to have gone on . board to help and extra sick bags were placed in corridors. Passenger Brian Weston, 67, a retired . security officer from the Isle of Wight, said: 'It's been a shambles . from start to finish. Passengers became ill almost immediately we set . sail and the outbreak swept like wildfire throughout the ship. 'Feelings have been running high and people are pretty mutinous.' P&O Cruises has said only a tiny . minority of the 1,843 passengers on board have become ill, but . travellers have disputed this and say compensation claims will be . launched. Oriana, captained by Robert Camby, has called at Bruges, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Oslo and Hamburg and is due to return to Southampton . Mr Weston added: 'At one stage there . were dozens and dozens of people falling ill, though the ship's senior . officers were trying to play it down.' His wife Denise, 60, a finance . manager, said: 'A viral specialist who is a passenger told us the ship . should not have set sail for 48 hours and should have gone through a . thorough deep clean. 'However we set sail the same day and . as a result the health of everyone on board has been put at risk. It's . pretty outrageous, especially given there are some very elderly people . on board.' Another passenger said: 'They flew in . extra cleaners to meet the ship in Copenhagen and picked up two extra . agency nurses in Amsterdam. They have put out extra sick bags.' In May this year around 170 passengers on board luxury cruise liner the Boudicca had their dream holidays ruined by sickness. The Fred Olsen owned ship was greeted by NHS staff and ambulance crews when it docked in Scotland after a 13-day tour of the Canary Islands that was marred by a suspected norovirus outbreak. In February 3,000 passengers on board the Crown Princess had their Caribbean trip cut short when the Princess Cruise liner was ordered back to port after the vomiting bug swept through the ship. Just a week earlier two other Princess Cruise ships had been struck by the highly contagious illness, which causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Graham Hodgson, 68, a retired sales . manager from North Wales travelling with his wife Karen, said: 'All . those who fell ill were quarantined to their cabins so it felt like a . plague ship. People have been going round wearing masks.' Passenger Paul Gilman said: 'It has . been outrageous from start to finish. People were falling like flies, . yet the crew were trying to insist everything was fine. P&O Cruises . has a lot to answer for. This hasn't been a pre-Christmas treat.' The 62-year-old retired accountant, . who is travelling with his wife Carolyn, added: 'Everyone is saying this . a plague ship. It's a living nightmare.' On its ten-day Christmas market cruise . Oriana, captained by Robert Camby, has called at Bruges, Amsterdam, . Copenhagen, Oslo and Hamburg and is due to return to Southampton . tomorrow. Tickets cost £1,429 for passengers in a balcony cabin, up to . £949 for an ocean view outside cabin, and £799 for an inside cabin. Carnival, P&O's parent company, . said all medical expenses would be covered. A spokesman said: 'There has . been an incidence of a mild gastrointestinal illness among the . passengers on Oriana. 'This illness is suspected to be norovirus, which is highly contagious and typically transmitted from person to person. 'Enhanced sanitation protocols have already been implemented to help minimize transmission to other passengers.' Southampton Port Authority, which will . carry out a full inspection of Oriana when it docks, said it believes . 340 passengers have been affected by norovirus. The Oriana passenger who died in 2009 . was Mary Smith, 67, who was on a Baltic ports cruise with her family . when she became ill. She saw the ship's doctor but died three days after . disembarking at Southampton. | Passengers paid up to £1,429 for 10-day Baltic tour of Christmas markets .
Travellers complain of 'overwhelming stench of vomit' and demand refunds .
Cruise operator denies norovirus epidemic and says just a few passengers were affected by illness . |
fac2e2f004045088fd27a9d25d916afcc4256400 | SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- South Korea bade farewell to former President Kim Dae-Jung Sunday in a ceremony attended by thousands of citizens, dignitaries and politicians. South Korean Buddhist monks pray in front of a portrait of former president Kim Dae-jung during his funeral Sunday. The solemn Sunday afternoon ceremony was held outside parliament, with a large portrait of Kim placed on a shrine surrounded by flowers. The funeral followed six days of mourning for Kim, who died Tuesday of a heart failure. Kim's age at the time of his death was in dispute, with some reports saying he was 85 while others placing it at 83. Kim's state funeral was the second such ever given in the country, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said. Another president, Park Chung-hee, was also accorded a state funeral after his assassination while in office in 1979. Kim -- who was president from 1998 to 2003 -- won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for trying to foster better relations with North Korea. The watershed moment of his presidency came in June 2000 when he met North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, becoming the first South Korean leader to do so since the Korean War unofficially ended in 1953. But rapproachment talks between the two sides hit a wall after conservative South Korean President Lee Myung-bak took office in early 2008 with a tougher stance toward the North than Kim and his successor, Roh Moo-hyun. Ahead of the funeral, President Lee met with a visiting North Korean delegation, who delivered a message from Kim Jong Il expressing hopes for improved relations between the two countries. Lee, in turn, reiterated his government's firm stance, presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan was quoted as saying by Yonhap. But in a possible sign that icy relations between the two rival nations are nevertheless thawing, South Korean Unification Minister Hyun In Taek met with North Korean unity leader Kim Yang Gon on Saturday. It was the first high-level, cross-border contact in nearly two years. The meetings between officials of the two Koreas are in stark contrast to the tense public statements they made about each other earlier this year. Tensions between the two were heightened in July when North Korea launched seven short-range missiles toward the Sea of Japan. The launches came after North Korea conducted a nuclear test on May 25 and threatened the United States and South Korean ships near its territorial waters. South Korea condemned the action, calling the launches "provocative" and "unwise." CNN's Jake Perez contributed to this report. | South Korea bade farewell to former President Kim Dae-Jung .
Kim won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for fostering better relations with the North .
Report: Top unification officials of the rival nations met Saturday .
North Korean delegation in Seoul to mourn the death of Kim Dae-Jung . |
fac3688cf6fa12e70369904e9cfaf78acd232ea5 | Nicole Uvieghara is only 18, but that's old enough to remember the good old days on Facebook. "I used to log in to Facebook every day," said Uvieghara, a Murrieta, California, native and freshman at Arizona State University. "Now, I go, like, once a week. On my news feed, I rarely see posts from my friends and I have not posted things on my wall in the past year." Her experience isn't unusual. Teens are cooling on Facebook, a trend suggested by recent research and acknowledged, this week by Facebook itself. The shift was confirmed time and time again in e-mail and phone interviews with dozens of teens and their parents in CNN's reporting of this story. While the social-networking juggernaut continues to chug along among adults, boasting more than 1 billion active users, younger users are flocking to newer, and arguably hipper, networking tools. Sherman Watson of San Francisco said he's noticed a dip in Facebook use by both his 18-year-old son and the younger employees at the retail store he manages. "I think his generation, and definitely the younger ones, view Facebook as boorish and -- let's face it -- something that their parents use," Watson wrote in response to a Facebook post seeking thoughts on the issue. "Funny how history repeats itself in this regard." Instead, he said, mobile apps like Facebook-owned Instagram, and Vine, Twitter's video tool, are where teens increasingly go to share. For the first time this week, Facebook confirmed the trend is real. "We did see a decrease in (teenage) daily users, especially younger teens," Facebook Chief Financial Officer David Ebersman said Wednesday during a quarterly earnings call. It was just months ago that Ebersman called the decline of teens using Facebook an "urban legend," saying they were active on more sites, but not cutting back on their Facebook visits. CEO Mark Zuckerberg added that it "just isn't true" that Facebook has a teen problem. But even then, there were signs of a slide. In May, a survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project included focus groups with teens who said their enthusiasm for Facebook had waned. They cited the increasing presence of adults on the site, as well as stressful "drama" among friends. The survey showed use of Twitter among teens jumping from 11% to 26% between 2011 and 2012. Teen Facebook use, on the other hand, remained essentially flat. (Albeit at a massive 93-94%). Instagram use, which wasn't measured in the 2011 survey, was at 11% in last year's. Most teens in the focus groups said they kept their Facebook pages, but had migrated to new tools and sites for most of their activity. That sounds about right to Alex Hager, 16, a high school junior in Darien, Connecticut. He said the rise of new networks -- video-clip app Snapchat and messaging tool KiK are other popular choices -- has met a desire among his peers who would rather communicate directly than broadcast to hundreds of Facebook friends. "Everybody was Facebook friends with everybody in my grade, regardless of how well they knew each other," he said. "This meant that whenever somebody publicly interacted with somebody else in your grade, you would see it instantly." Now he'll post things like the YouTube videos he and some friends make about his school's sports teams to the site, but said "I rarely ever use Facebook to post statuses or photos anymore." While Facebook has downplayed the importance of the trend, the site simultaneously appears to be taking steps to address it. Earlier this month, Facebook changed privacy settings for teens, allowing them for the first time to make their profiles public. Teens may now also turn on the site's "Follow" feature, which allows people to view their posts whether the teen has accepted a friend request from them or not. Teens who join the site will still have their settings default to "Friends Only" and, if they switch to public, they will get pop-up warnings explaining what having a public profile means. The public nature of Twitter has been appealing, teens say, because they can build bigger followings and interact with people up to and including their favorite celebrities. The same goes for other apps. "It makes you feel relevant and wanted because of the number of followers a person can have and the likes you can have on your photos," Uvieghara said, describing Instagram. She said she doesn't think her Facebook use will ever pick back up. Hager, meanwhile, wasn't so sure. His thoughts might provide a ray of hope for Facebook. Because, given enough time, the teens who are fleeing Facebook become the adults who still flock to it. "I hope that my peers continue to use Facebook in the future," he said. "It will be a valuable means of staying in touch as we move on to college and careers." | Facebook acknowledges that teen users are becoming less active on the site .
Newer social tools like Snapchat, Instagram and Vine are picking up steam instead .
Surveyed teens said "drama" and the presence of adults have cooled them to Facebook .
But teens who don't use Facebook as much don't close their accounts . |
fac37032b900724ade9f41708e1f47406ef4e74e | By . Tom Gardner . PUBLISHED: . 12:01 EST, 25 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:01 EST, 25 April 2012 . Behind bars: Adam Khan Ahmadzai was at the very heart of the looting and rioting in Croydon last August, according to the Attorney General . A riot ringleader who was at the heart of last year’s Croydon disorder had his sentence of four years detention nearly doubled today because it was too lenient. Adam Khan Ahmadzai, 20, attacked police, robbed, pillaged and looted during a shocking orgy of ‘mayhem and carnage’ during last August’s mass disorder. He was given 48 months in a young offender institution when he appeared at Inner London Crown Court in January. But Attorney General Dominic Grieve . referred the case to the Court of Appeal on the basis that the total . sentence imposed for offences of violent disorder, robbery, burglary and . criminal damage on the evening of August 8, 2011 was unduly lenient. Today, . the Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge, sitting with Mr Justice Openshaw and . Mr Justice Irwin, agreed and said it should be increased to seven . years. Lord Judge said: ‘These were offences of great seriousness.’ The . Attorney General, who presented the case to the court, said later: . ‘Adam Khan Ahmadzai was at the very heart of the looting and rioting in . Croydon last August. ‘Consider . the extraordinary list of crimes that he committed: he led an attack on . a police line; robbed a bus driver who he had forced to halt; armed . himself and ransacked a shop, forcing the petrified owners to flee, only . to rob them moments later in a hijack of their van; repeatedly attacked . and mugged a terrified man at a cash machine, acting as if pushing a . gun into his neck; led a gang into a supermarket, looting and . vandalising; and finally directed his group into a betting shop, . destroying a fruit machine and looting the office behind the counter. Lives at risk: Images from the rioting in Croydon became iconic of the mass violence and crime committed across London . 'Mayhem and carnage': Adam Khan Ahmadzai, 20, led an attack on a police line; robbed a bus driver who he had forced to halt; armed himself and ransacked a shop during an orgy of criminality which left Croydon devastated . ‘For this catalogue of mayhem and . carnage he received a four-year sentence. I’m very pleased that the . Court of Appeal has today quashed that sentence and replaced it with one . of seven years.’ CPS London . chief crown prosecutor Alison Saunders said: ‘We referred this case to . the Attorney General as one that had attracted a sentence which was . unduly lenient. 'Unduly lenient': Attorney General Dominic Grieve QC took action to increase Ahmadzai's sentence because it was too lenient . ‘I welcome the strong message that the Court of Appeal has now sent out as a result of this ruling. ‘Adam . Khan Ahmadzai was a ringleader during the riots in Croydon and his . conviction for 10 offences committed that night shows the extent of his . criminality. ‘His offences . were amongst the most serious which CPS London has prosecuted in . relation to the summer riots and this increased sentence reflects that.’ Ahmadzai, . of Feltham, west London, buried his head in his hands as he sat in the . dock of the court while Lord Judge recounted the ordeal of a convenience . shop owner, who was beaten up in front of his wife and and saw his . business ransacked. When the couple tried to escape in their van, they were both pulled out of the vehicle and a knife was held to his stomach. Lord . Judge said the man had moved into Croydon to make a fresh start and . build a new life in the community, and that was beginning to happen . before the riots. But what . had happened had affected him more than he ever thought possible, so he . had pulled out of the business and was now unemployed and in great . financial difficulty. This offence on its own was of the ‘greatest possible seriousness’, he added. Ahmadzai, who used a brick, a wooden and a . metal pole, a hammer and a waste bin as weapons, had pleaded guilty in . the context of his identification on CCTV footage and from blood found . on the cash machine. Wrecked: Croydon saw some of the fiercest violence and disorder during the London riots, with an entire row of shops and buildings on London Road, Croydon, gutted after widespread looting and arson . The judges went on to dismiss an . appeal against a five-and-a- half-year prison sentence imposed on . 23-year-old Zac Challinor for offences of arson, burglary and violent . disorder in the riots in Manchester on August 9 last year. Challinor, . of Wythensawe, Manchester, was part of mob violence which left 49 . police officers injured and resulted in a BBC Radio Manchester van being . torched in Salford Shopping City, causing £60,000 damage. Confronted with CCTV footage, he admitted his guilt and expressed disgust at what he had done. Rejecting . the appeal, Mr Justice Openshaw said the sentence handed down at . Manchester Crown Court in January was severe, as intended to be, but not . manifestly excessive. Blaze: While Adam Khan Ahmadzai led a rampage through Croydon, emergency services found themselves overstretched by the scale of the disorder . | Adam Khan Ahmadzai, 20, led an orgy of violence and criminality including hijacking, burglary, looting, mugging over a few hours in Croydon .
Britain's top judge extends his jail term from just 48 months in a young offender institution to seven years in prison . |
fac38f6009989eaa940c8e44e53c005b29ac67f0 | As Juno took the U.S. by storm, all most East Coasters could see was snow, but the view from space was entirely different. These images have been captured by Terry Virts, an American astronaut on the International Space Station, nearly 250 miles above the earth. He captured the the storm as it moved in on the coast, blurring the bright lights of the big cities below. Last night, forecasters warned that two separate weather systems may bring more snow to New England over the coming days. Scroll down for video . Nice view: The movement of storm Juno along the US east coast, capture by Terry Virts, an astronaut on the International Space Station . Extraordinary: The images, posted by Mr Virts on his Instagram, shows how the storm moves in from the right over the East Coast . Dizzying: As the storm moved in over the coastline, it blurs the bright lights of the cities below . A storm arriving in the region late Thursday and lasting off and on through Friday night will most likely bring 2 to 4 inches of snow to Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, said Frank Nocera, a senior meteorologist at the National Weather Service. Eastern Massachusetts, including Boston and Cape Cod, has an 'outside chance' of seeing up to six inches — adding significantly to the 2 to 3 feet of snow already dumped in parts of Massachusetts earlier this week, Nocera said . Forecasters are also monitoring a storm heading into the region over the weekend. Depending on how it tracks, that storm could bring several more inches of snow - or snow turning into rain - from late Sunday into Monday in Connecticut, Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, Nocera said. During the blizzard that pounded New England Monday and Tuesday, the central Massachusetts city of Worcester saw a record 34.5 inches, according to the National Weather Service. Boston saw just over 24 inches, and Providence, Rhode Island, had about 19 inches. It's coming in: A satellite image shows the East Coast on Monday as the storm hit . Bright white: As Juno made its move on the United States, seen on Monday afternoonm, the East Coast became covered in snow . The extent of the snowfall from this week's blizzard can be seen in this satellite image taken on Wednesday afternoon . | Astronaut on the International Space Station captures storm Juno moving in over the East Coast .
NASA's Terry Virts captured the the storm as it moved in over Boston and New York . |
fac39507ef952a23699f262d588674eb88265088 | Even in the world's war-torn nations, there are moments of joy, and in the case of these Afghani children, it's the Kabul amusement park. City Park, an oasis of colour in the otherwise grey concrete of Kabul, has attracted tens of thousands of visitors since opening last month. For families in Kabul, who have suffered war for the past three decades, Afghanistan's first amusement park offers a rare escape from their everyday lives blighted by conflict, death and misery. Scroll down for video . Happy days: An actress wearing a giant Minnie Mouse head makes a young boy laugh at City Park, Afghanistan's first amusement park . As families walk through the gates of the amusement park, they are met by their favourite cartoon heroes, Minnie Mouse and Tom the Cat from Tom and Jerry. Minnie might not look as authentic as the one walking the boulevards of Disney World Paris, but the children of Kabul do not care, or know the difference. The excited children scuttle round the actors' feet, as they hug and dance with children, before they run off to go on a ride or have their face painted. City Park, located at the foot of the snow-capped Hindu Kush mountains, next to the filthy Kabul River and near a zoo famous only for its abused, one-eyed lion. It has all the traditional fairground rides, including carousels, a Ferris wheel and bumper cars, although the paint is chipped in places. Light at the end of the tunnel: Tens of thousands have already visited City Park since it opened in October . Oasis: City Park is located at the foot of the snow-capped Hindu Kush mountains, next to the Kabul River . Bright joy: Sadaf, 6, gets his face painted at Afghanistan's first amusement park called City Park . Scream if you wanna go faster: Children enjoy a carousel horse ride at Afghanistan's first amusement park . Contrast: The brightly coloured train carts stand out against the grey concrete of the homes in Kabul . It is is one of few places where residents of the Afghan capital can take their children for a relaxing day out. 'It's very nice, everything is very beautiful, the carousel horse ride is nice,' said 6-year-old Sadaf through a gap-toothed grin as she had her face decorated like a mouse. The city of almost 6 million people is a virtual fortress. Major buildings are protected by concrete and barbed wire, roads are choked with traffic as former thoroughfares are blocked to prevent suicide bombers reaching potential targets like the Presidential Palace. Gun-toting security forces guard almost every street corner. Afghanistan has been at war for more than 30 years, and while U.S. and NATO combat troops prepare to leave next month, the Taliban insurgency shows no sign of abating. Few families in Kabul have been untouched by the violence, said Almas Qaseemi, the park's deputy general manager. 'The park is a place for entertainment, and there is not much of that in Afghanistan.' A group of children enjoy a spinning teacup ride City Park during a runny day in Kabul . Both for children and the older generation, City Park offers space to breathe and forget the war . Bringing joy: £960,000 has been invested in the park, which sees thousands flock to its gates every day . 'We have a great feeling when we see our people forget their sorrows for a few minutes and smile when they come here,' Qaseemi said. Thousands come every day, he said, peaking on the weekly Friday holiday at close to 10,000. The park is set on 24 acres of land owned by the Kabul Municipal Government and leased for five years to a private company called Mufkora - which means 'concept' in English. Rahela Kohistani, the municipality's cultural director, said that $1.5million(£960,000) has been invested in the park with the municipal authority taking 26 percent of profits and the rest going to Mufkora. 'So far we are happy, and it seems that people are happy, too,' she said. For Ishfaq Ahmad Adeb, 20, who spends his days at City Park as Tom the cat, and 18-year-old Omid who plays Minnie Mouse, the children's joy rubs off. 'When the children see me in this outfit, they really believe that Minnie Mouse has come to Kabul,' said Omid. 'They laugh and try to shake hands with me, they really enjoy it.' | City Park is a fairground located in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan .
It opened last month and offers traditional rides, games and entertainment .
Afghanistan's first amusement park has has tens of thousands of visitors . |
fac3a041f4bed2c2c64399c6855b2d5e88c7adde | By . Ian Drury . Graphic photographs of the Iraqis that British soldiers are said to have ‘tortured and murdered’ in cold blood were shown to an inquiry into alleged war crimes yesterday. On the opening day of the long-awaited Al-Sweady Inquiry, film footage of ambulances taking the bodies of the dead from a British base to a nearby hospital and mortuary – and of distraught relatives identifying their loved ones – was also played. Retired High Court judge Sir Thayne Forbes is examining claims that UK troops executed up to 20 prisoners, including a 14-year-old boy, and abused nine others after a battle at an Army checkpoint in May 2004. Stand-off: A British soldier guarding Iraqi prisoners in 2003. Graphic photographs of the Iraqis that British soldiers are said to have 'tortured and murdered' in cold blood were shown to an inquiry into alleged war crimes yesterday . Iraqi death certificates for some of the victims documented signs of torture, including mutilation with several having missing eyes, broken bones and one man’s penis had been removed. The inquiry was told that one Iraqi witness said he saw one of the dead men have his eyes gouged out by a soldier with a bayonet. The allegations have been vehemently denied by the Ministry of Defence, which says the victims were insurgents killed in battle. The inquiry is named after 19-year-old Hameed Al-Sweady, one of those who died after a firefight between UK soldiers and insurgents at a checkpoint three miles north of the town of Majar Al Kabir. According to Army accounts, the soldiers from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were heavily outnumbered in the ambush but fought back heroically, mounting a bayonet charge at one point until the attackers were defeated. The inquiry is looking at claims that Iraqis were unlawfully killed at Camp Abu Naji and that five Iraqi detainees were tortured and ill-treated there, and at a detention facility at Shaibah Logistics Base. Long-awaited: Thayne Forbes, the chairman of the Al-Sweady public inquiry, arrives for the first day of the hearing into claims British soldiers mistreated and murdered Iraqi detainees during the Iraq War in 2004 . Jonathan Acton Davis, lead counsel for the inquiry, said in his opening statement that enemy dead would normally have been left on the battlefield. But soldiers were apparently given an order to identify the dead to try to find a man thought to be involved in the murder of six British military policemen in 2003. Examining evidence: Counsel to the inquiry Jonathan Acton Davis QC (pictured) said in his opening statement that enemy dead would normally have been left on the battlefield . The Iraqis claim the British troops took bloody revenge for the Red Caps massacre a year earlier. Mr Acton Davis said: ‘It is the claimants’ case that not all of the 20 died on the battlefield, but that at least one of them was murdered by a British soldier after he had been returned alive to Camp Abu Naji, while other Iraqis were tortured and ill-treated.’ The inquiry began after a team, including 12 former Metropolitan Police detectives, spent more than three years compiling evidence. The hearing, in central London, was shown the photos of 20 blood-stained corpses taken by a British army captain for identification. Several were wearing insurgent uniforms and one was identified with the help of a card in the name of the Movement of the Mujahideen of the Islamic Republic of Iraq. The inquiry, ordered in 2009, follows a legal battle by Mr Al-Sweady’s uncle and five Iraqis who claim they were abused by British troops after the firefight. Some 15 Iraqis will travel to the UK to give evidence to the inquiry later this month. A further 45 Iraqis, including relatives and medical staff, will give evidence via video-link from the British Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. Evidence from military witnesses is due to start around September, continuing until February next year. It is hoped the inquiry report will be finished by the end of 2014. | Hearing to probe deaths of up to 20 prisoners in May 2004 .
Death certificates for three documented signs of torture, while several had lost eyes and one man's penis was missing .
Inquiry was told one Iraqi witness said he saw one of the dead men have his eyes gouged out by a soldier with a bayonet . |
fac3c6f94628cc307fd255dce5ff5aafce29412b | They work together and play together but Cara Delevingne and Jourdan Dunn are about to get competitive as they battle for the prestigious title of Model of the Year 2014. The two young supermodels have been shortlisted in the Model of the Year category ahead of this year's British Fashion Awards. The duo will compete for the title, along with Sam Rollinson, and the winner will be announced at the glitzy event on December 1. Scroll down for video . Who will be this year's winner? Best friends Cara Delevingne, left, and Jourdan Dunn have been shortlisted in the Model of the Year category at 2014's British Fashion Awards . Cara, arguably the world's hottest model right now, claimed the title in 2012 and newcomer Edie Campbell took the crown last year. While 22-year-old Cara has been busy working on her budding acting career, she's still managed to squeeze in a campaign for Topshop and several catwalk appearances. Jourdan, 22, meanwhile, fronting Maybelline New York's latest beauty campaign and walked in countless shows over fashion month. One model who is notably absent from the shortlist, despite her stellar success this year, is Cara's best friend, Suki Waterhouse. The 22-year-old is currently the face of Burberry's beauty range but failed to make the contenders list. Big names: Cara and Jourdan, pictured with Burberry boss Christopher Bailey, who is up for Menswear Designer of the Year, work together and play together . This year’s British Fashion Awards will be hosted by British comedian, actor, author and television presenter, Jack Whitehall, at the London Coliseum. The nominees and winners are voted for by members of the global fashion industry. Another familiar face who made this year's shortlist is Victoria Beckham, who opened her first standalone store in London this year and will compete with Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney to win Brand of the Year. Other awards on the night include the Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator, which recognises a British stylist, make-up artist, photographer, art director or producer whose creativity has been a major inspiration and influence in the past year; and the BFC Outstanding Achievement award, which recognises someone whose work has had an exceptional impact on global fashion. Model behaviour: Sam Rollinson, left, has also been shortlisted with Cara and Jourdan for Model of the Year but Suki Waterhouse, right, is notably absent from the list . A good year for Mrs Beckham: Victoria, who opened her first standalone store in London this year, will compete with Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney to win Brand of the Year . Emerging Womenswear Designer . 1205 . Marques’Almeida . Thomas Tait . Emerging Menswear Designer . Astrid Andersen . Craig Green . Lee Roach . Emerging Accessory Designer . Fernando Jorge . Prism . Yunus & Eliza . New Establishment Designer . Emilia Wickstead . Peter Pilotto . Simone Rocha . Establishment Designer . Margaret Howell . Preen . Roland Mouret . Womenswear Designer . Christopher Kane . Erdem . J.W. Anderson . Menswear Designer . Christopher Bailey for Burberry . J.W. Anderson . Paul Smith . Tom Ford . Accessory Designer . Anya Hindmarch . Charlotte Olympia . Nicholas Kirkwood . International Designer . Hedi Slimane for Saint Laurent . Nicolas Ghesquière for Louis Vuitton . Raf Simons . Red Carpet Designer . Alexander McQueen . Mary Katrantzou . Roksanda . Brand . Alexander McQueen . Stella McCartney . Victoria Beckham . Model . Cara Delevingne . Jourdan Dunn . Sam Rollinson . Creative Campaign . Lanvin . Louis Vuitton . Vivienne Westwood . | Both girls shortlisted for Model of the Year .
Will compete with Sam Rollinson for title .
British Fashion Awards will take place in December .
Victoria Beckham will compete for Brand of the Year . |
fac3d050236148a5f55d1a8eb6da3d187c79df53 | By . Ashley Collman . PUBLISHED: . 23:44 EST, 18 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 01:27 EST, 19 February 2014 . Charges: Pregnant teen Megan Grunwald is facing first-degree murder charges after her 27-year-old boyfriend shot dead a police officer in Utah last month, and she tried to help him flee . Prosecutors say a 17-year-old girl was pregnant and high on meth when she and her boyfriend shot and killed a sheriff's deputy who was just trying to help them with car trouble on the side of a Utah road last month. Deputy Cory Wride was sitting in his patrol car when Megan Dakota Grunwald's 27-year-old boyfriend Jose Angel Garcia-Juaregui opened the rear window of their truck and shot him dead on January 30. That murder set off a hours-long car chase across Utah that eventually ended in officers shooting Garcia-Juaregui in the head, and he died the following day. But Grunwald survived, and now she's being tried as an adult for a dozen felonies and two misdemeanors related to Wride's death and the ensuing car chase - though she never pulled a trigger. Documents filed in court shed light on the dramatic crime spree that ended in death on I-15 roadway last month. Wride stopped to help Grunwald and her boyfriend around 1pm because he thought they were having car trouble and wanted to help. Grunwald was driving the car with her boyfriend in the passenger's seat. She gave Wride her driver's license but Garcia-Juearegui gave the officer a false name. Wride went back and forth between the pick-up truck registered to Grunwald's mother and his squad car three times, trying to figure out Garcia-Juaregui's actual identity. Unprovoked: Utah County Sheriff's Deputy Cory Wride was shot dead by Grunwald's boyfriend after trying to help the couple he thought was having car troubles . Crime couple: The chase ended when sheriff's deputies shot Jose Angel Garcia-Juaregui (left) in the head and his girlfriend Grunwald (right) was arrested. Garcia-Juaregui died the following day in the hospital . Mourning: Family, friends and fellow police officers attend the funeral of Cory Wride in Spanish Ford Cemetery on February 5 . Tragic loss: Wride's wife Nanette (right) is comforted by her son Shea at the funeral . It was while sitting in his squad car that Garcia-Juaregui opened the rear window of the truck's cab and started shooting at the officer and his girlfriend sped off. Wride died and his body wasn't found until 45 minutes later when another deputy was sent out to check up on him. Fellow deputy Greg Sherwood tracked the couple's truck down around 3pm and attempted to pull the couple over. But Grunwald wouldn't stop, and actually 'aggresively applied the brakes' to shorten the distance between the two vehicles while her boyfriend started shooting. Garcia-Juregui hit Sherwood in the head, critically injuring the officer. Sherwood eventually recovered from the injury and returned home Tuesday after spending 19 days in the hospital. Attempted murder: Garcia-Juaregui also shot at Deputy Greg Sherwood (pictured with wife Gina above), and critically injured the officer . Recovery: Sherwood spent 19 days in hospital but was finally allowed to go home on Tuesday . After hitting Sherwood, the couple hit another roadblock when their truck crashed after hitting spikes laid on the road near Nephi, Utah. Instead of surrendering to police, Grunwald helped flagged down a minivan and her boyfriend carjacked the vehicle from a woman who was on her way home from a parent-teacher conference. This is just one of the instances prosecutors are using to argue that Grunwald was not being forced by her boyfriend to take part in the crime spree. After abandoning the truck, prosecutors say Grunwald 'on her own accord, follows Mr Garcia-Juaregui after leaving the vehicle without appearing to be coerced by him'. The couple didn't get far with the hijacked car and crashed again on a second strip of spikes. After hitting the spikes, police say Grunwald crossed into traffic and tried to strike another vehicle on purpose. End of the road: The hours-long chase finally came to an end when the couple's hijacked car hit a second set of spikes and they crashed . Juab County sheriff's deputies were finally able to stop the couple when they shot Garcia-Juaregui in the head. Justice: Grunwald has her first hearing scheduled for next Monday. She is being held on $1million . While he was lying on the ground, Grunwald yelled at officers: 'You f****** shot him' The officers kept the couple seperated as they arrested Grunwald and redied her boyfriend to be taken to the hospital, which displeased a dying Garcia-Juaregui. 'You not going to let me kiss my girl with my last dying breath,' he asked. He died the following day at the hospital . Grunwald, meanwhile, was booked in jail and is still being held on $1million bail. Her first court hearing is scheduled for next Monday. Friends who knew the couple told investigators that Grunwald was carrying Garcia-Juaregui's child and the two planned to marry in August when she turned 18. On her Facebook page, Grunwald posted a . cover photo which reads:' I'm just a girl who is in love with the most . annoying, cutest, funniest, nicest, and completely perfect guy in the . world'. After their . marriage, the couple planned to move to Mexico. They had been living at . Grunwald's mother's home in Draper 'for several months'. Grunwald . had allegedly been buying meth for her boyfriend and tested positive . for the drug after her arrest. Prosecutors have not yet said whether . Garcia-Juaregui had meth in his system during the car chase but drug paraphernalia was found in the truck. She . faces 12 felony charges which include the first-degree murder of Wride, . attempted aggravated murder for critically injuring Sherwood and . aggravated robbery for the car jacking. | Megan Grunwald is facing more than a dozen charges for a fatal car chase last month .
Sheriff's deputy Cory Wride approached Grunwald and her boyfriend on the side of the road because he thought they were having car trouble .
While sitting in his squad car, 27-year-old boyfriend Jose Angel Garcia-Juaregui opened up the rear window and shot Wride dead .
The murder set off an hours long car chase which ended in officers fatally shooting Garcia-Juaregui .
Now Grunwald is being charged with Wride's first-degree murder and several other felonies as an adult . |
fac3f88eac66afbc3e8c750f145ee1863815e9aa | By . Martin Robinson . PUBLISHED: . 10:23 EST, 14 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:47 EST, 14 October 2013 . Killer and rapist: Marvin Samuels who has been jailed for life with a minimum of 33 years after he murdered his on-off girlfriend hours after brutally raping a stranger . A man convicted of murdering his on-off girlfriend hours after brutally raping a stranger has been jailed for life with a minimum of 33 years for the 'horrifying' attacks. Marvin Samuels, 31, stabbed Sharlana Diedrick, 32, 16 times and would have continued the frenzied attack if he had not hurt his hand. Hours earlier he attacked a 43-year-old woman as . she walked her chihuahua around a reservoir in Brent, north London, because she looked like Ms Diedrick. The victim was dragged into the undergrowth before being ordered to strip naked and was then raped. The Old Bailey heard he tried to strangle her with her scarf, before repeatedly . beating her over the head with a bottle and tree branch. He then left her . for dead. He was found unanimously guilty of murder at the Old Bailey last week and had admitted two other charges of rape and grievous bodily harm. Sentencing Samuels today, Judge Timothy Pontius told him: 'These three crimes are all individually horrifying in the extent of the mere brutality with which they were committed. Taken together, they represent a level of violent behaviour carried out during a period of just a few hours that I have rarely encountered. 'You went out armed with at least one knife that day and by the time you murdered Sharlana Diedrick you had two knives.' The judge said it was noted that he did not use a knife on his rape victim. 'Nevertheless, you raped her brutally and beat her savagely with a tree branch and, on your own admission, a bottle,' he said. 'Furthermore, you used a scarf to strangle her.' Victim: Sharlana Diedrick was stabbed 16 times and Samuels would have continued the frenzied attack if he had not hurt his hand . The woman 'remains so traumatised by the extent she suffered at your hands that she has been unable to describe any of it', the judge added. 'It was only six hours or so later that you killed Sharlana Diedrick, the mother of your young son.' Powerfully-built Samuels, of Stonebridge, north west London, showed no emotion as he was told he would serve three concurrent life sentences for the three counts. He denied murder, claiming he was not 'mentally responsible' at the time. Crime scene: The 43-year-old woman was attacked as she walked her chihuahua around Welsh Harp reservoir - also known as the Brent reservoir - in north-west London . The judge went on: 'In all the evidence the jury and I have heard, in particular the number of blows and the force with which they were inflicted on a wholly defenceless woman sitting at the wheel of her car, I am not of the slightest doubt that you intended to kill her. Terrible crimes: Hours before Sharlana Diedrick was murdered, Samuels brutally raped a woman because she looked like her . 'Furthermore, whatever your mental state at present, there is no doubt in my mind that on September 29 last year your mind was not so afflicted as to lessen the culpability of what you did to any extent.' Jurors heard he launched the terrifying attack on a 42-year-old woman who was walking her pet chihuahua by Welsh Harp Reservoir in Neasden, north west London, at around 5pm. He battered the woman, who looked like Ms Diedrick, with a bottle and a piece of wood after dragging her into undergrowth. He strangled her with her scarf, rendering her unconscious, and then left her for dead. The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was unable to give information about what happened to her but forensic evidence was found linking Samuels to her. Her naked and badly-beaten body was found when her worried husband and others carried out a search after she did not return home. Ms Diedrick, with whom Samuels had a 'volatile' relationship, was found at 11.16pm that night with her body slumped halfway out of her Hyundai car, which was parked near his home. Witnesses said they had heard her screaming. She suffered 16 stab wounds to the chest and abdomen. Samuels, who the court heard has suffered from an anti-social personality disorder and paranoia since childhood, was also charged with the attempted murder of the rape victim but was cleared by jurors. | Marvin .
Samuels, 31, murdered Sharlana Diedrick, 32, in frenzied knife attack .
Hours earlier he raped a dog walker because she looked like his ex-girlfriend .
Samuels was jailed at Old Bailey for life today for the 'horrifying' attacks . |
fac43ce9483d19e26228ac52fb852ed41b859c74 | It was an unexpectedly human gesture, more often used by racetrack touts and X Factor contestants than newly appointed pontiffs. Yesterday, at a conference for the world’s media, Pope Francis gave a double thumbs-up to the audience confirming, in no uncertain terms, that this is going to be a very different style of papacy. We already know Francis has a refreshing disdain for the trappings of office – preferring the bus to the papal limousine and rejecting the red kangaroo-leather shoes which were specially handmade for his predecessor Benedict XVI (also a fan of Gucci glasses) in favour of a pair of scuffed black lace-ups. Man of the people: The then Cardinal visits a village in Argentina in 2000 . Yesterday, in a 15-minute speech, the . former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires underlined this . unassuming approach, setting out his plans for a ‘church for the poor’. At the same time, he proved he could . work even the toughest of crowds by instantly charming 4,000 journalists . who had gathered at the Aula Paolo VI centre in the Vatican. The hall was filled with reporters . from around the globe – as well as children and babies in buggies after . he told them to bring their families. Francis was gracious, addressing the . hacks as ‘dear friends’ and thanking them for their work covering the . conclave that led to his election as the first non-European, first Latin . American pontiff. ‘You worked hard, eh,’ he joked. ‘You worked hard.’ Pope Francis gave a thumbs-up to the audience confirming that this is going to be a different style of papacy . Pope Francis revealed to journalists his hopes for the church, and how he came to select his name . Despite losing the larger part of one . lung due to a teenage infection, his voice was strong while he seemed . younger than his 76 years. Often departing from his script, . typed on a couple of A4 sheets, Francis folded it up at one point so he . could talk more freely. He showed a surprising sense of humour and has . an almost mischievous giggle. Recalling the moment when the . cardinals were counting the votes of the secret ballot, Francis said he . was sitting next to Cardinal Claudio Hummes, Archbishop Emeritus of Sao . Paulo, Brazil, ‘when the matter became dangerous’ – in that it was . becoming clear he could win. When he won the two-thirds majority . needed, Francis – the first Pope to be elected from the Jesuits – said . Hummes ‘embraced me and kissed me and said, “Don’t forget the poor.” Pope Francis I sits in the Paul VI general audience hall during an audience for members of the media . The pope thanked the media and told them how he had come to choose his name, saying he wanted Francis of Assisi who represented 'poverty and peace' Pope Francis I greeted a blind journalist and his guide dog, and warmly greeted those who had come to hear him speak . ‘And that word went in here,’ Francis . said, pointing to his head and confirming that Francis of Assisi had . been the inspiration for his papal name. A humble sole... ‘That’s how in my heart came the name . Francis of Assisi... for me he is a man of poverty, a man of peace, . a man who loved and protected Creation. Right now our relations with . Creation are not going well. ‘Francis of Assisi gives us this . spirit of peace, the poor man who wanted a poor church,’ he explained. ‘How I would love a church this poor and for the poor.’ Two cardinals in red, seated either . side of him, didn’t know what to make of it all. But there were no . questions allowed, meaning we couldn’t ask him about the Falklands, . which he has declared Argentina’s. Yet there is a genuine air of . hopefulness around St Peter’s Square. One Vaticanista, as the Vatican . watchers and correspondents are called, said: ‘Francis is a breath of . fresh air. He’s said more in 15 minutes than Benedict did in eight . years. Everything about this guy is different – it’s like a whole new . world. He’s the real deal.’ The new Pope concluded by offering his apostolic blessing... in silence. He then received a select group of . correspondents. In true Pope Francis-style, the line-up included the . receptionist from the Vatican press office. The final correspondent was a blind . man with a guide dog. The Pope bent down and patted his head before . exiting to a standing ovation. There was no encore. Although such was . the jokey nature, I half-expected Michael Palin to leap out shouting: . ‘No one expects the Spanish inquisition.’ That must be left for another . time. Additional reporting: Alessandra Maggiorane . | In a 15-minute speech, he set out his plans for a 'church for the poor'
Explained why he chose 'Francis of Assisi' to be his papal name . |
fac47d21479014ce79040a16d899398d20a7d9be | Oprah Winfrey insisted that she WAS a victim of racism and she experienced what 'people of black or brown color experience daily', in an interview with a Swiss newspaper published today. Oprah, one of the world's richest women, revealed on Entertainment Tonight last week that she felt discriminated against when a sales assistant in a luxury Zurich Boutique refused to show her a $38,000 handbag designed by Tom Ford and named after Jennifer Aniston. 'I was asked if I am confronted with . racism,' she told Swiss daily Blick in an interview in Los Angeles on . Monday night but not published until today. Casual 'racism': Oprah, who said she was dressed nicely, told the newspaper that what she experienced was what 'people of black or brown color experience daily' 'My . answer - not in the same way as others because I am so well known. Except on Twitter, no-one dares confront me with the N-word. I feel . discrimination in a different way. 'My antenna receives an underlying "what is going on here?" I called . Zurich an example, because it was happening.' Asked . if she was being 'particularly sensitive,' she said: 'No! I know of no . black man who was never stopped by police because of his skin color, or . persecuted, but it's different for women. What I've experienced in . Switzerland happened only once before in my life. 'So . I didn't want to indict Switzerland. It was a single incident. An . incident that people of black or brown color experience daily. She even added that she was tempted to call her friends Ford or Aniston as she stood in the store. 'That damn bag': Oprah said that if she had known the cost of the bag when she asked to see it - she probably would have thought it was too expensive . 'Snub': Oprah said in the interview that shop assistants 'usually . rejoice when she enters a store', owned by Trudie Goetz, above. Oprah . added: 'People usually press their noses flat against the windows to see . me shopping' 'It . was however uncommon for that to happen to me. Believe me, usually . sales people rejoice when I come to them in their business. It is very . unusual that I'm not really involved when in a boutique. Outside, people . usually press their noses flat against the windows to see me shopping.' Oprah . had claimed in the original Entertainment Tonight that the Italian-born sales . assistant refused to show her the crocodile leather bag, the suggestion being, . she implied, that as a black woman she could not afford it. The . incident happened at the Trois Pommes Boutique in Storchengasse, a . street behind the ritzy Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich, one of the world's . wealthiest and most expensive cities. Oprah . was invited to be a guest in July at the wedding of soul singer Tina . Turner in Switzerland and wanted a handbag to compliment her outfit. She . went on: 'I was the only person in the store. I had dressed myself up . extra special because I know that things can get very snobby in these . kinds of stores. 'The . employees first check out what clothes you're wearing. Therefore I chose . a Donna Karan outfit - and even washed my hair even. So nobody could . mistake me for a homeless person who got lost in the store. 'The . woman did not want to get down the bag which I wanted to look at. The . effort was too much for her. She said to me, that the bag was simply too . expensive. And I said: "I want to see it anyway." Instead she tossed . me cheaper bags. 'I said: "Okay, thank you very much! But I really want to see the others." She still kept showing me the cheaper ones. Friends: Oprah said she felt like calling Tom Ford - who designed the bag - or Jennifer Aniston - who it was named after, as she stood there in the store . Touchy: Oprah denied claims that she was being 'over-sensitive' about race after the incident at the upmarket store in Zurich, above . 'To . be honest, if I had known upfront what this damned bag cost, do you . know what? The woman was right: I would not have bought the thing - far . too expensive! Too expensive! $38,000! I would have fainted when I saw . the price tag.' She . continued: 'The saleslady said it was the Jennifer Aniston bag that was . created by Tom Ford for Jennifer. The idea went through my head that I . should call Jennifer or Tom - I know them both very well. Instead I said . to the saleslady: "Okay, I understand. The bag is just for Jennifer, . and only she is allowed to buy it, right? 'The . woman said "no, no" and tried to explain something. But I was no longer . listening. I just said: "Thank you very much, you're probably right . that I can't afford it." 'I . went. I didn't want to make a scene. Really not. That's why it annoys me . now too, that it has become this major international story. And that . the names of Tom Ford and Jennifer Aniston were pulled in too. The whole . thing is really quite annoying.' She . acknowledges the apologies of the owner Trudie Goetz and the anonymous . saleslady but added: 'But I don't know whether the apology brings . something. Discrimination is there, anywhere around the world, every . day. As I said, I did not want to bring the whole of Switzerland into . disrepute. 'Perhaps she . never wanted to reach for the bag because it was too high up. Does . anyone know? Anyway, I had a great time in Switzerland. My friend Tina . Turner got married, I went for a walk every day. It's a pity that such a . big deal is now being made out of this other thing.' The . publication of the frank interview will do nothing to quell the war of . words currently raging between the TV talk show queen and Goetz. Yesterday . Goetz said she wanted to speak personally to Winfrey and defended her . employee to the hilt, adding: ‘I don't know why she talked of racism. I . am sorry, but perhaps she is being a little over-sensitive here. Maybe . she was somewhat offended because she was not immediately recognized in . the store.' Regrets: Oprah says she is sorry that he vacation to Switzerland was overshadowed by what happened as she had a lovely time walking and at the wedding of Tina Turner and Erwin Back, above . | Oprah gave extraordinary interview to Swiss newspaper Blick claiming she experienced what 'people of black or brown color experience daily'
Oprah has accused a store assistant at a Zurich store of 'racism' for refusing to show her a $38,000 Tom Ford Jennifer handbag .
Said she was dressed nicely and 'didn't look like a homeless person' and usually people are 'pressing noses against glass to watch her shopping'
Admits she wouldn't have bought the bag if she knew its price before she asked to see it .
Oprah regrets that it has become a 'national affair' in Switzerland . |
fac4de279d341e88cebb28be9b270fdf7a20f589 | For most women, having both their breasts removed and putting on 12kg would be a time in their life they would want to forget. But not for 24-year-old Allison Snare. After having a double mastectomy and undergoing five months of chemotherapy Ms Snare, from Launceston in Tasmania, decided it was an experience she wanted to document. 'A lot of women don't want to remember this part of their life but it is part my life and it's shaping who I am today,' Ms Snare told Daily Mail Australia. Allison Snare, 24, had photos taken following a double mastectomy and five months of chemotherapy . In May last year, at 23, Ms Snare was diagnosed with the most aggressive form of breast cancer there is . The Launceston woman decided it was an period in her life that she wanted to document . Ms Snare decided to do a photo shoot in which she bared all – including her bald head and post-surgery chest – in order to show other young women that cancer can affect people of all ages. 'I put on about 12 kilos since my diagnosis, so it was a bit confronting getting topless because of that aspect,' she said. 'I was conscious of my weight but I thought it was more important to get the message out there that young women do need to get checked. 'That's why I wanted to get the photos out there, so people could see it on a young body and know they're definitely not immune.' In May last year, at 23, Ms Snare was diagnosed with the most aggressive form of breast cancer there is. Ms Snare decided to do a photo shoot in which she bared all – including her bald head and post-surgery chest – in order to show other young women that cancer can affect people of all ages . 'I was conscious of my weight but I thought it was more important to get the message out there that young women do need to get checked,' she said . She always knew she was high risk because her mother had breast cancer in her early 30s and ovarian cancer in her early 40s. 'That's what took her in the end unfortunately,' Ms Snare said. 'I was always really conscious of my risks because I saw what Mum went through, and I'd check at the start of every month. 'I knew the risks the closer I got to 30 but I never imaged I'd be diagnosed at 23.' Ms Snare checked herself in April of last year and was fine, but when she checked in May she felt a lump the size of a marble. She got a scan and doctors confirmed that she had stage two breast cancer, and would need to have a double mastectomy. But removing her breasts didn't worry her. She always knew she was high risk because her mother had breast cancer in her early 30s and ovarian cancer in her early 40s . She has been deeply touched by the feedback her photos have gotten since photographer Bruce Moyle shared them on his Facebook page . 'I basically told my doctor I'm fine with you taking them,' Ms Snare said. 'They were no longer my breasts, they were like ticking time bombs attached to me.' She had discussed taking photos of her body post-surgery with photographer Bruce Moyle, but once she started chemotherapy in July she was too exhausted to go through with it. Then, earlier this month, Mr Moyle got back in contact. She had a breast reconstruction surgery planned for January 22 and so it was 'now or never'. For Ms Snare said there was another important reason she wanted to have the photos – she wanted her future children to understand what she had been through – so she said yes. 'It's one part of my life I'm closing, and I wanted the photos to show my kids,' she said. Ms Snare is pictured with drawn on eyebrows, make-up and a wig during chemotherapy . Ms Snare had 12 embryos frozen before she started chemotherapy, and hopes to start trying for children with partner Dwayne Darcy, 19, at the end of this year . 'I just wanted them to see just how hard me and my partner fought for them.' Ms Snare had 12 embryos frozen before she started chemotherapy, and hopes to start trying for children with partner Dwayne Darcy, 19, at the end of this year. For now she is NED - no evidence of disease - but she knows there is a risk the cancer could return. 'A lot of people think as soon as you're out of treatment you're all better but that's a perception that's not correct,' she said. 'If it does come back that's usually when it has metastasised and it's gone to your brain or liver or bones or lungs or another part of your body, and once it's metastasised it's classed as stage 4 and stage 4 is incurable. 'That's what's so scary about it.' She said her partner had stuck by her side and been totally supportive ever since her diagnosis . .Ms Snare said removing her breasts didn't worry her: 'They were no longer my breasts, they were like ticking time bombs attached to me' But Ms Snare plans to get through life the way she handled her cancer diagnosis – with confidence and a positive attitude. She has been deeply touched by the feedback her photos have gotten since photographer Mr Moyle shared them on his Facebook page. 'Before Bruce released it I did put a status on Facebook saying a trigger warning, they are confronting images, don't look if you know you'll be affected by it,' Ms Snare said. 'Because my self-esteem is probably at its lowest with no hair, no eyelashes and eyebrows just growing back. 'I wanted to tell people to be kind because I don't think I could take any unnecessary nasty comments. 'But people have been so amazing and so positive. 'I'm glad that I did it.' | Allison Snare, from Launceston, did a photo shoot post chemotherapy .
At 23 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy .
She shared the photos to encourage other young women to get checked . |
fac4e66dae8d6d254e2115e59ce4add464bd56a3 | By . Pete Jenson . Follow @@petejenson . Most of England gathered in prayer to help mend David Beckham’s metatarsal in 2002 - now the whole of Colombia is willing star striker Radamel Falcao to make his own miracle recovery from injury. Colombia has been waiting for Falcao’s knee to improve since he damaged ligaments playing for Monaco in a French Cup tie in January. A final decision on whether or not he will go to the World Cup will not be made until Sunday, when the team’s Argentine coach Jose Pekerman finalises his 23-man squad. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Falcao trains with Colombia squad in Buenos Aires . Star man: The whole of Colombia are praying Radamel Falcao will recover from injury in time for the World Cup . Setback: England gathered in prayer back in 2002 after David Beckham broke his metatarsal playing for Manchester United against Deportivo La Coruna in the Champions League following a tackle from Aldo Duscher . Falcao, who scored nine goals in 13 . matches as Colombia finished second to Argentina in the South American . qualifying group, said: ‘The reaction in Colombia to my recuperation . really made an impact on me. It has reminded me how important I am for . the country. I wouldn’t say it has put more pressure on me. It’s more a . case of an extra motivation - wanting to do things not just for me but . for all the people who willed me to get fit. ‘The closer the World Cup gets, the more I am thinking I don’t want to be just watching in Brazil. I have worked hard to make sure that is not going to be the case but with an injury it’s not just how hard you work, it’s also how patient and calm you can be.’ England fans will continue to watch his recuperation carefully. If Colombia emerge from Group C, which features Greece, Japan and Ivory Coast, they could face Roy Hodgson’s team in the second round. Comeback trail: Falcao has stepped up his recovery and trained with the Colombia squad on Wednesday . Trick shot: Falcao will be wearing the Puma evoSPEED Tricks boots in Brazil . It would be a repeat of the 1998 World Cup group game when Glenn Hoddle’s England brushed aside one of Colombia’s best-ever teams in the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens. ‘I remember watching the England game with my dad,’ said Falcao. ‘Darren Anderton scored and David Beckham scored with a free-kick and we were going home early again. ‘We have paid the price in the past for not being as advanced in many areas of the game as other countries. That has left us poorly prepared for big tournaments but now, with so many Colombian players playing in big clubs all over the world, that has changed. We have improved our mentality.’ Memory: Falcao remembers watching Beckham score against Colombia at World Cup '98 with his Dad . If his knee stays strong, Falcao could benefit from being sidelined for so long. ‘I don’t come into the tournament with the weight of a long season in my legs so that could be an advantage,’ he said. ‘Providing my knee is fine, the rest of me is well rested and fresh.’ Back of the net: Falcao celebrates scoring a penalty against Chile during World Cup qualifying . To get out of the group Colombia may have to get past the Ivory Coast and one of Falcao’s striking references, Didier Drogba. ‘It’s no surprise that he is still there at the top,’ said Falcao. ‘If you are as professional as he has always been and you look after yourself you extend your career at the top. ‘We have a real chance in this group because it’s even.’ Not that Falcao believes Colombia merit their shorter odds than England going into the tournament. ‘You underestimate yourselves,’ he said. ‘I see England as favourites with Germany and Spain in terms of the European contenders and obviously Argentina and Brazil from South America. I would put England ahead of ourselves in terms of favourites. ‘You have one of the best leagues in the world and it’s extremely competitive, so the players who play in it are elite players. Maybe they would benefit from a little emigration as well, to experience other leagues.’ Falcao shunned the Premier League for a lucrative contract at Monaco last summer, but the 28-year-old says he will end up in England one day. ‘I hope to be playing for many more years in Europe and I want to play in the English league at some time,’ he said. ‘I watch the Premier League and I see how competitive it is and how teams are very direct in terms of looking for the opposition’s goal. The football is very physical; it’s a very interesting league.’ Big-money move: Falcao, who joined Monaco for £51m, says he will end up playing in England one day . Time will tell if it is attractive enough to tempt Falcao; next season he will be playing for Monaco in the Champions League. ‘It is very important to be playing in this competition. I know that people want to see me competing in the Champions League,’ he said. He also understands why people questioned his decision last year to move to a club who average crowds of under 15,000. He scored 52 goals in 67 games for Atletico Madrid but justifies the switch to Monaco, saying: ‘Everyone decides what he wants for his own life. Everyone has to do what they think is best for them. When you are a professional sportsman you always want to win regardless.’ There must have been some regret at witnessing Atletico enjoy such a superb season. No regrets: Falcao says he was overjoyed to see former club Atletico Madrid win La Liga and reach the Champions League final this season . ‘I’m a little bit surprised at just how well they played and I’m overjoyed at what they have achieved,’ he said. ‘Diego Costa had an incredible season. He was decisive when he needed to be in the league. People say we are similar because we played the same position in the same team but they forget we also played together last season. He can play wide when necessary. He prefers to go out wide to look for space, I prefer to stay central.’ Costa looks set to move to Chelsea if Jose Mourinho does not act on his long-standing admiration for Falcao, who believes the magic will remain at Atletico as long as Diego Simeone stays. He was coached first at River Plate and then at Atletico by the manager who Fifa neglected to put in their top 10 coaches last season. ‘I think they forgot him,’ said Falcao. ‘He is one of those coaches who has everything. He knows how to motivate players but it’s a lot more than that. People think it’s all inspiration but there is an awful lot of work done, too. He knows how to analyse the games and he knows where to take advantage of the opposition’s weakness.’ Radamel Falcao will play in the Puma evoSPEED Tricks boot at the World Cup. It's been a while since we've seen Colombia. Where have they been? After success in the 1990s with midfielder Carlos Valderrama and his wonderful hair, Colombia have failed to reach the last three World Cups. They have a colourful past... Colombia were highly fancied for the 1994 World Cup but finished bottom of their group afterAndres Escobar’s own goal. On his return to Colombia, Escobar was shot dead. How did they qualify this time? Impressively. Colombia had the best defensive record in their group. They thrashed Uruguay 4-0 and got as high as third in the world rankings. | Falcao damaged ligaments whilst playing for Monaco in January .
Colombia willing star man to recover in time for World Cup in Brazil .
England gathered to pray for Beckham's injured metatarsal in 2002 .
Monaco striker says he will play in England one day .
Falcao was overjoyed to see former club Atletico Madrid win the La Liga title and reach the Champions League final . |
fac5061850ba90cc701b763f6346e94055dfce91 | Sticking out his tongue and licking his lips these are the hilarious portraits showing a dog enjoying a treat of peanut butter. The images of eight-year-old Doberman Arnaque were snapped by his owner Catherin Arsenault and show him lapping up the attention in front of the camera. The pet photographer from Quebec in Canada has been taking pictures of Arnaque since he was just a 10-week-old puppy. Eight-year-old Doberman Aranque who has been snapped sticking his tongue out by his owner Catherin Arsenault . And now she is determined to show off her pet's wild side to the rest of the world. Ms Arsenault said: 'I received a new backdrop that I wanted to test in my studio and I've been doing tests with my dog since he was 10-weeks-old. 'When he sees my camera he knows he will have a lots of treats and he starts to salivate. 'To get those licking pictures I gave him peanut butter and just shot plenty of images. 'It was a surprise each time I looked at the picture on my camera - I couldn't stop laughing. 'When people look at those pictures they are surprised at first - they aren't pictures you see every day. The pet photographer captured the images of her dog after allowing Aranque a treat of peanut butter . 'Then they laugh and are intrigued. They don't understand how it is possible because they've probably never seen their own dog like this. 'People take their time to look at those tongue and mouth details and I am sure they think about it when they see their dog's tongue - it's very amusing to see.' The 32-year-old first started taking pictures of Arnaque while studying for her degree in linguistics. The self-taught photographer continues to take snaps of her beloved pet on a daily basis and is determined to show him off to the world. Ms Arsenault says that most people are surprised at first by the pictures of Aranque with most finding them funny to look at . She added: 'I have a lots of ideas and trying new things gives me more ideas for new shoots. 'A year before I graduated I got my first dog and I bought a better camera and started practising with him - I haven't stopped since. 'Eight years on and he still loves to play the model and patiently wait for his treats. 'It's been a great experience and I'm hoping to carry on for many years to come.' | Images show Doberman Arnaque sticking his tongue out after a treat .
Show him licking his lips and opening his mouth after eating peanut butter .
Were snapped by his owner and pet photographer Catherin Arsenault .
Says people are surprised by her pictures with many finding them funny . |
fac6030d68d6b99cb86729bc1ae3ca03ee61fb00 | There are many benefits of being a successful Formula One driver: fast cars, a multi-million pound salary and experiencing life in a multitude of countries and cities. Lewis Hamilton can now add a trip to the White House and a meeting with the President of the USA, Barack Obama, to that list. The Mercedes driver, who is vying to win the World Championship for the second time in his career, took advantage of a four-week gap between races to join girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger in Washington DC on Thursday. Scherzinger, the singer and X Factor judge was invited by the President to celebrate the work of Special Olympics, for whom she is a Global Ambassador. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg argue about who is best . President: Lewis Hamilton and Nicole Scherzinger at the White House with Barack Obama and Stevie Wonder . The sports organisation helps children mostly with, but also some without, intellectual disabilities to train and compete in a wide variety of sports and activities. They also hold the Special Olympics World Games both in summer and winter. Last week’s function saw a concert from Katy Perry, who performed hits including ‘Firework’ and ‘This Moment’, before dedicating her performance to a ‘unified generation’. Hamilton and Scherzinger took to their respective Instagram accounts to show themselves rubbing shoulders with the likes of Stevie Wonder, as well as a shot of President Obama’s speech. The pair can also be seen together enjoying a drink and sitting at their table. The British driver appeared most excited about meeting the President and the First Lady, calling the experience both an ‘honour’ and a ‘pleasure’. He added how proud he was of his partner and the work she does for the organisation. Hamilton currently stands 11 points behind German team-mate Nico Rosberg in the drivers’ standings. Second: Lewis Hamilton is currently second in the F1 drivers' standings, behind team-mate Nico Rosberg . Mercedes: The British driver is enjoying a resurgent season after moving from McLaren . VIDEO Hamilton should have obeyed team orders . | Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton met Barack Obama at the White House .
Hamilton was attending event hosted for the Special Olympics .
F1 driver's girlfriend, Nicole Scherzinger, is Special Olympics ambassador . |
fac607625f3d78ff0c696127479db7d239e32c08 | ROME, Italy (CNN) -- The Vatican says it has ordered a controversial bishop who denies the Holocaust to "distance himself" from his views "in an absolutely unequivocal and public manner." In the interview, Bishop Williamson denied the Nazis had used gas chambers at concentration camps. The Vatican has been under fire since Pope Benedict XVI lifted the excommunication of Bishop Richard Williamson almost two weeks ago, days after Swedish Public Television broadcast an interview in which Williamson said the Nazis had not systematically murdered 6 million Jews during World War II. Israel Wednesday blasted the rehabilitation of Williamson. "The reinstatement of a Holocaust denier by the Holy See offends every Jew, in Israel and around the world, and humiliates the memory of all Holocaust victims and survivors," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. It said the Church's distancing itself from Williamson's position was "the first step in the right direction" and said it expected "more explicit and unequivocal decisions and statements on this issue." Israel's statement appears to have been made before the Vatican's secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, said Williamson would not be allowed to perform priestly functions if he did not recant. Williamson's position on the Holocaust is "absolutely unacceptable and firmly rejected by the Pope," Bertone said. He added that Williamson's views on the Holocaust "were unknown to the Holy Father at the time of the excommunication's remission." Williamson was rehabilitated on January 21 along with three other members of the ultra-conservative Society of Saint Pius X. The move was announced three days later. Bertone's order comes only two days after he declared the matter "closed." "The Society of Saint Pius X has distanced itself from its bishop and apologized to the pope for this embarrassing incident. The pope spoke clearly on Wednesday (January 28). I think the question can be considered closed," Bertone, said, according the Catholic daily Avvenire Tuesday. But on Tuesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel demanded that the pope firmly reject denial of the Holocaust. Earlier on Wednesday, a German district attorney said he had launched a criminal investigation into Williamson's remarks. "I believe that the historical evidence is strongly against -- is hugely against -- 6 million Jews having been deliberately gassed in gas chambers as a deliberate policy of Adolf Hitler," Williamson said in the Swedish interview, which also appeared on various Web sites after broadcast. "I believe there were no gas chambers." Regensburg District Attorney Guenther Ruckdaeschel said authorities were investigating whether the remarks can be considered "inciting racial hatred." Denying the Holocaust is a crime in Germany, punishable by up to five years in prison. American Jewish leaders have also expressed outrage that Williamson, who was excommunicated in 1988, was welcomed back to the church days after the interview. Williamson and three other bishops who belong to the Society of Saint Pius X were excommunicated by Pope John Paul II in 1988. The society was founded by Archbishop Marcel Lefebrve, who rebelled against the Vatican's modernizing reforms in the 1960s, and who consecrated the men in unsanctioned ceremonies. Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said when the controversy erupted that the Vatican's decision to accept Williamson was part of its desire to normalize relations with the ultra-conservative group, and had nothing to do with the bishop's personal views. Ruckdaeschel decided to launch his investigation in Regensburg because the Williamson interview was conducted at a seminar of the Society of Saint Pius X, of which Williamson is a member, in the nearby town of Zaitzkofen. Ruckdaeschel told CNN that a legal representative for Williamson contacted him and said the bishop denied the allegations. Williamson apologized last week for the "distress" his remarks caused the pope, but did not retract them. According to the legal representative's account, Williamson had told the Swedish reporters he did not want the interview aired outside Sweden -- and therefore, the remarks would not fall under German criminal law. According to the German criminal code, comments glorifying or denying crimes committed by the Nazis, or National Socialists, are a crime only if they are made publicly. Ruckdaeschel says he will attempt to question the two Swedish reporters who conducted the interview. He said it was unlikely Williamson would have to appear in court because he is currently in Argentina, but the bishop may be required to submit a written statement in the case. The pope -- who was born in Germany and was a child during the Nazi period -- rejected Holocaust denial in public statements on January 28. After his 14th birthday in 1941, Benedict -- then called Joseph Ratzinger -- was forced along with the rest of his class in Bavaria, southern Germany, to join the Hitler Youth. However his biographer John Allen Jr., said Ratzinger's family was strongly anti-Nazi. CNN's Hada Messia and Alessio Vinci in Rome and Frederik Pleitgen in Berlin contributed to this report. | Vatican orders bishop who denies Holocaust to "distance himself" from views .
German police launch criminal probe into Bishop Richard Williamson .
Williamson denied Nazis intentionally murdered 6 million Jews.
Pope recently rehabilitated Williamson, who was excommunicated in 1988 . |
fac60eeeedf0d00cd0a25d6c1049ed3e4b3b5908 | (CNN) -- Lost in the laughter over the past two weeks has been GOP presidential candidate and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's core point about America's future in space. We shouldn't just explore space, we should develop and even settle it, using the same enterprise-friendly approaches that helped open the West and the skies. As a former NASA executive, it is clear to me that most commentators don't understand this is now possible, let alone necessary. David Frum's recent CNN viewpoint is eerily similar to what critics have said about other visionary ideas during America's history. In 1844, Asa Whitney (cousin of cotton gin inventor Eli Whitney) proposed to the U.S. Congress that America build a transcontinental railroad. U.S. Sen. Thomas Benton of Missouri responded that it was "an imposture, a humbug; it could have emanated only from a madman ... science was unequal to overcome the Allegheny Mountains -- and now Whitney proposed to scale the Rocky Mountains, four or five times as high! Why sir, it's madness!"... "You are one hundred years before your time." The golden spike was pounded into the ground in Utah just 25 years later. In 1867, Secretary of State William Seward proposed that America purchase Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million. Horace Greeley of the New York Tribune mocked Seward, calling it "a frozen wasteland." Alaska became known as "Seward's Folly." It was one of the best investments America ever made. David Frum: A moon colony is a waste of money . To be fair, Frum makes a point that must be addressed: . "With the greatest respect," Frum wrote, "'the wonder and glory of it' is not a very compelling answer to the question: 'What do I get for my hundred billion bucks?'" The answer is that we shouldn't spend that much, and certainly not for "wonder and glory." Gingrich's core point is that we must change how and why we do space by leveraging the power of free enterprise. Whatever misgivings you might have about Gingrich, in this case he is right. American history proves that smart, focused action by the U.S. government can jump start entire new industries that open new frontiers -- from western railroads, to the air, to the Internet - and that is exactly where we are today in space. In 2011, I led a NASA team that designed a strategy that could return America to the moon in 10 years for $40 billion. We can do so by using existing launch vehicles. More importantly, this strategy could also enable a new commercial space-plane industry and fundamentally enhance U.S. national security. Space launch today costs about $10,000 per pound. Our national security space systems are dominated by small numbers of multibillion-dollar satellites. Innovation is slow. It takes over a decade to plan, develop and introduce new systems. A large army of people watches over each satellite. If this reminds you of mainframe computers in the mid-1970s, then you know this sector of our economy is ripe for innovation. Reusable space planes will forever change the space industry. The ability to launch frequently, reliably and at much lower cost will promote experimentation and enable new solutions. NASA's Office of the Chief Technologist concluded that America has the basic technology to build space planes now. The primary problem is the proven market is not large or certain enough to justify the investments required. A Wall Street investment advisory firm, Near Earth LLC, independently validated our conclusion. We've been here before. In the 1850s, it was not possible to close the business case for a transcontinental railroad. The size, cost and risk of the private investment was too large. Then Congress passed the Pacific Railroad Act of 1862. American entrepreneurs connected a continent and provided rapid, reliable, low-cost access across the country. They quickly accomplished what had been deemed impossible two decades earlier. America was never to be invaded again; no one would dare. We were firmly on the path to become a world superpower. Fast forward to the 1920s. Airline entrepreneurs were unable to raise the capital to purchase new airplanes because the passenger travel market was considered speculative. Then Congress passed the Kelly Airmail Act of 1925. With airmail contracts in hand, private airlines sprouted up all over America. Passenger travel grows exponentially. Less than two decades later, U.S. airpower helps win World War II. Today, we are at a similar juncture. We have lost world leadership in commercial space transportation. But we can recapture it with totally reusable space planes. Space planes are the transcontinental railroad of our generation. Space planes will open the next frontier -- the greater Earth-moon system -- to economic activity and bind it together. Space planes will radically lower launch costs leading to new applications, new industries and new jobs. The growth in demand will lead to even higher flight rates, lower costs and new opportunities. As this virtuous cycle takes hold, America's role as the preeminent world leader in space will be assured for the next 50 years. U.S. national security will be permanently enhanced. And we will get a little wonder and glory, too. Follow @CNNOpinion on Twitter. Join the conversation on Facebook. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Charles Miller. | Ex-NASA official: Political pundits don't understand Newt Gingrich's space vision .
Change how and why U.S. does space by leveraging free enterprise, says Charles Miller .
Commercial space planes would fundamentally enhance national security, author says .
Miller: U.S. has lost world leadership in commercial space transportation . |
fac619d563fc752774c24ed9449ce5a2318eb561 | Istanbul (CNN) -- Turkey's judicial system faced an uproar this week after one of the country's highest courts upheld a decision to reduce sentences against 26 men convicted of having sex with a 13-year old girl. Public outrage stemmed from a court ruling that the 13-year old girl had willingly engaged in "consensual" sexual relations with the 26 men. Among the growing chorus of critics was Turkey's President Abdullah Gul. "I take particular care not to make any direct statements on issues that are in the judicial process," Gul wrote in a series of statements on his Twitter account on Friday. "[But] the decision about reducing the punishment related with what happened to a young child of ours made me deeply uncomfortable... there is still the possibility for an appeal. I am hoping for an outcome that will comfort the public conscience." The case in question dates back to 2002, when 26 men from the southeastern Turkish town of Mardin were accused of repeatedly having sex with a 13-year old girl identified only by the initials "N.C." According to Turkish media reports, the men, who included village 'muhtars' [mayors] and a gendarme officer, were accused of paying money to two adult female intermediaries during a 7-month period for repeated access to the girl. Turkey's Supreme Court of Appeals has now found itself under fire from women's rights groups, lawyers' associations, and senior government officials. In response, the head of the Supreme Court's 14th Criminal Office adopted a somewhat contradictory position. "The evaluations of the court were correct. We made a decision. This decision is not definite, it is also not possible for this decision to be changed by making noise," said Fevzi Elmas of the Supreme Court of Appeals, in an interview with the semi-official Anatolian Agency on Friday. The courts sentenced the 26 accused rapists' according to an earlier version of the country's penal code, which underwent significant revisions in 2005. The older penal code entailed lesser punishments for defendants found guilty of sexually assaulting children. "In the old penal code there was a very clear article which said it didn't matter if you were under 15 [years of age] or over 15... if any rape or sexual assault happened with the consent of the girl or the woman, then the sentence would be reduced," said Pinar Ilkkaracan of the group Women for Women's Human Rights, who lobbied for the 2005 revision of the Turkish criminal code. "In the new Turkish penal code there is no question of consent, that is incredibly important for us," Ilkkaracan added. "In terms of girls and boys under 15 it says very clearly any violation of the body for sexual purposes is defined as sexual abuse in the new code. Which means that sexual assault or the violation of the body should have a higher sentence." According to Turkish media reports, some of the 26 defendants were acquitted, while others received jail sentences of one to four years. "This decision is an outright scandal," said Ilkkaracan, the women's rights advocate. In his statement to Anatolian Agency, Elmas, the official from the Supreme Court of Appeals, argued that the court had no choice but to sentence the defendants according to the pre-2005 version of the penal code. "We don't have any other option," Elmas said. "This is an undebatable rule of law." But that decision was challenged by the Union of Turkish Bar Associations on Friday, which called the ruling "legally inappropriate." Meanwhile, in a written statement released on her ministry's web-site, Family and Social Policies Minister Fatma Sahin argued the ruling violated not only the current criminal code, but also the older version which had been in force in 2002 at the time when the 26 men were accused of having sex with the 13 year old. "I find the decision of the Supreme Court of Appeals 14th Criminal Office to approve the verdict of the local court that a 13-year old child 'got together with the defendants of her own free will' unacceptable and worrying," Sahin wrote. "I would like to remind the judiciary that its primary task is to protect the victim and the rights of the one who was sexually abused," she added. | Sentences for 26 men convicted of having sex with a 13-year-old were reduced .
The ruling said the girl had engaged in "consensual" sex .
Turkey's president said the ruling made him "deeply uncomfortable" |
fac6bd5df7996a17b10b5c8bd2f240cda9f5e3ec | A housemaid in Dubai has been jailed for life for murdering the 11-month-old daughter of her British employer. Dubai Criminal Court found the 29-year-old Indian woman guilty of strangling the girl by wrapping a scarf around her neck after gagging her to stifle her cries. After initially confessing the crime to prosecutors, the nanny switched her plea to not guilty to premeditated murder saying she loved the girl ‘like her own children’. Trial: The 30-year-old Indian nanny is accused of strangling the 11-month-old baby girl with a scarf in their Dubai home as an act of revenge on her British employer when she was not allowed holiday (stock image) She said that following her arrest she suffered torture while in custody and made her confession under duress. But the court decided that she had in fact killed the child out of anger at her employers for not giving her time off to go to her mother's funeral. The maid's mother had died a month before the murder. But her employers, who were unable to get time off work, told her to delay her trip until her residency documents for staying in the United Arab Emirates were completed. The prosecution alleged that after being refused time off, the maid killed the baby to ensure she would not be needed for childcare duties and would therefore be allowed to travel. On January 18 the maid waited for her sponsors to leave their Al Nahda, Sharjah, home for work at 10am. She then wrapped the scarf around the baby's neck, strangling her. The court hear that the maid continued with her chores as the child lay dying. The victim's aunt told the court in May how the maid had called her to say the baby was not waking up and had breathing difficulties. The aunt had called her sister and rushed to the home, where she found the girl unresponsive. 'I tried to wake her up, calling her name, but she did not respond,' she told the court in May, according to The National. Pleading: The babysitter told presiding judge Ezzat Abdul Lat at Dubai Court of First Instance that she had loved the 11-month-old 'like her own' Doctors at Zelukha hospital in Dubai reported the matter to police, suspecting foul play. A post-mortem examination found a bruise around the child's neck from a tightened scarf. It also found bruising around her mouth that indicated she had been gagged to stop her from crying out. The 36-year-old mother of the baby, who is also originally from India but who holds a British passport, told a previous hearing of her relationship with the nanny. The mother said: 'We treated her so well, she was like a sister to me, we ate on the same table.' Her husband, who has asked for the death penalty added: 'We celebrated her birthday and took her out for an ice-cream treat after we bought her some gifts. 'I often told her that I would pay for whatever her children need back in India and I was even looking for a job for her husband to bring him here so they can be together.' The verdict remains subject to appeal within 15 days. | Babysitter strangled 11-month-old girl with a scarf after gagging her .
She murdered baby when her British employer denied her leave .
She had switched plea from guilty to not guilty, claiming she was tortured . |
fac7503410746fe6590c969c385804b89aaab414 | A six-year-old schoolgirl spent more than five years with a hole in her heart before the life-threatening condition was discovered when her parents thought she had a cold. Sophie Smith from Gateshead was only given the diagnosis of having a an atrial septal defect after she was taken to her GP by her grandmother Janice, who thought she was suffering from a common cold. The grandmother, 55, had become concerned about Sophie when the youngster fell ill during a drama class at her school and took her to see a doctor, who discovered a murmur. Six-year-old Sophie Smith from Gateshead with her grandmother Janice, who is recovering from open heart surgery after it was discovered she had been living with a 2.5cm hole in her heart . The youngster, who lives with her sister Erin at her grandmother's home was then referred to Newcastle's Freeman Hospital, where it was found she was living with the serious heart defect, called atrial septal defect (ASD). Almost immediately, she was then whisked off for life-saving open heart surgery, which involved repairing the 2.5cm hole with mesh. Mrs Smith, an assistant medical administrator, said: 'I took Sophie to see the GP after the incident in school and he picked up a mumur. 'We were referred to the hospital but were assured it would be nothing serious but then the cardiologist said: "You do realise Sophie has a hole in her heart?" 'We couldn't believe it. The hole was quite a size and we had no idea until it was found by luck. Sophie underwent the operation at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle after being referred there when her GP diagnosed her with a heart murmur . 'We were told that a hole in the heart usually forms at birth, so she will have been living with it her entire life. 'The hole was found in October and a month later, she was having the surgery. 'It was a bit of a whirlwind coming round to it after I thought both my granddaughters were fit and healthy. Sophie's family first grew concerned about her health after she repeatedly suffered from colds and fell ill while at school . Now following the operation Sophie's grandmother says she was back at school within five weeks and is as 'fit as a fiddle' 'She seemed absolutely fine for the first five years of her life. 'Surgeons had to repair the hole by using a mesh material so the muscle would regrow to close the hole. 'They had to stop her heart at one point so it was worrying for me and her family.' Artial septal defect is a congential heart condition that suffers are born with although the cause is unknown. The condition usually means that there is a hole in the upper chambers of the heart, which means that the oxygen-rich and the oxygen-poor blood, instead of being kept separate, are allowed to mix and flow from the heart to the body and lungs. Children with ASD only show mild symptoms but can be prone to more chest infections and can sometimes cause breathlessness and a heart murmur. Some small defects just require close monitoroing as they can sometimes close on their own. However, larger holes require surgery to correct the defect, although after surgery, most children do not need further operations, and go on to lead normal healthy lives. A hole in the heart is a defect usually formed from birth which changes the flow of blood through the heart. ASD is a hole in the upper chambers of the heart and allows blood to pass from one side to the other, with some oxygen-rich blood moving to the lungs instead of the entire body. Throughout her whole life, Janice never saw any reason to be worried about Sophie's health, except that she suffered the odd cold more than usual. She would often attribute the frequency of the colds to Sophie's pale skin and red hair. After Sophie fell asleep in school, teachers called Mrs Smith and suggested that her granddaughter may be unwell. She spent five days in hospital recovering from her life-saving surgery and is now back to school and living a normal life. The 55-year-old added: 'Sophie would have runny noses and colds quite often but we thought it was just part of childhood, especially with her being at school around other children. 'She was back to school within five weeks and now she is fit as a fiddle. 'When I look at Sophie now I do see a difference in how much more energy she has. 'The unit at the Freeman hospital was fantastic. The staff were so supportive and it was an ideal place for Sophie to have the operation. 'Without them she would still be suffering with a defect that could have endangered her life, so I'll be eternally grateful to them.' | Sophie Smith had been suffering from a cold and had fallen ill at school .
Grandmother Janice took her to GP and was diagnosed with heart murmur .
Six-year-old was referred to hospital and found to have a hole in her heart .
Almost immediately whisked off for surgery to repair the 2.5cm defect .
Sophie of Gateshead, had been living with the hole for more than 5 years .
Has now recovered and is back at school with her grandmother saying she is as 'fit as a fiddle' |
fac759fa03a4353bb2106143bba80f2e9c4c0eac | By . Ruth Styles . From dealing with the menopause to battling empty nest syndrome, life isn't always easy for women beginning their sixth decade. Looking good: Life coach Rebecca Perkins has written a guide to handing mid life in style . But that could all be about to change thanks to an unusual new self-help tome penned by over-50's blogger and life coach, Rebecca Perkins. In Best Knickers Always: 50 Lessons For Midlife, Perkins reveals how women in their 50s can be happier, healthier and sexier than ever before - even if divorce has left them to navigate the murky waters of later-life dating. 'I’ve spoken to a number of women about later life dating and their experiences vary incredibly,' explains Perkins. 'Many are terrified of having . sex again, they are worried about their body shape and they fear this . level of intimacy. 'For others it’s the not knowing what to say or how to . be on a date, it’s been such a long time since they dated. 'They are . worried about online dating as they focus only on the horror stories . they’ve heard from others. They worry about being hurt as they may well . still feel bruised from the ending of their previous relationship.' That, however, doesn't mean their worst fears are founded and Perkins, who is divorced herself, has a wealth of tips to share. 'I’d say firstly know why you are dating: Are you looking for a long term partner, companionship or perhaps some no strings fun? 'That . way you’ll know what type of person you’re looking to date. Don’t go on a . date with a person who says they want no strings when you are looking . for a long term relationship. It will end in tears. 'Secondly, . make this fun, relax and enjoy it. You might make some really good new . friends. Thirdly, have a positive attitude and be open-minded. You . never know who you might meet.' Still gorgeous: Sharon Stone and Michelle Pfeiffer, both 56, still look as amazing as they ever did . 1. Learn to love yourself, truly accepting who you are. 2. Do what you love. Rediscover your passion and pursue it. 3. Nourish your body - feed it well and exercise. 4. Meditate or find time for solitude . 5. Make gratitude for all that is good in your life a daily habit. But it's not just the challenges of dating later in life that confront today's over-50's. There's the question of maintaining your looks, reappraising long term relationships and most importantly of all, carving out a new role in the family once adult children have left home. The solution, says Perkins, is to approach things positively and see them as an exciting challenge rather than the end of life as you know it. 'Midlife can be a very exciting time if you choose to look at it in a different way,' she explains. 'You need to ask: "How do I . want to live the second half of my life?", "What have I been putting off . doing that now I can get started on?", "What dreams have I put on hold . because of my responsibilities to everyone else?" 'Yes, this takes courage . but it’s also important to ask these questions because you really . don't want to get to the end of your life filled with regret.' Next comes learning to appreciate yourself for who you are - grey hair, wrinkles and bulkier bodies included. 'We look in the mirror and expect to see . the girl we once were,' explains Perkins. 'The media is full of youth, vibrancy, . skinny bodies and shiny white teeth and if you compare yourself with that, then it's no wonder you have low self-esteem. 'The women you should look up to in . midlife are those with an inner beauty. Their self esteem and . wisdom comes because of the life they have lived. 'I have lines on my . face, I have a shock of silver hair, my body bears witness to the three . children I carried and bore. 'Do I wish I was 21 again? No! I have accepted who I am and my self esteem does not depend . on what my body looks like.' Yummy mummies: Andie MacDowell, 56, and Julianne Moore, 53, both remain incredibly beautiful . Top tips: Rebecca's book: Best Knickers Always: 50 Lessons For Midlife is out now . And there's certainly no shortage of glamorous over-50s women seemingly bent on proving that good looks aren't just for 20 and 30-somethings. Sharon Stone, 56, becomes more of a bombshell with each passing year, while Michelle Pfeiffer, 56, Julianne Moore, 53, and Andie MacDowell, 56, all look better than ever. Nevertheless, for many over-50s, dealing with midlife is something they need to be supported through and for this, nothing beats enlisting the help of grown-up children. 'My children have been amazing,' says Perkins. 'They have . loved and supported and encouraged me on this journey. 'I think showing your . vulnerability to your children is vital. I think you become more . approachable when you say: "I can’t do this alone" or "I need some help". 'The children of the midlife woman can really help just by being there . for her, listening and understanding what she’s going through, even if it’s tough for them too. Change is never easy.' Nevertheless, Perkins, who says that the main thing holding over-50s women back is fear, says that with a little belief and courage you can become the person you always wanted to be. 'If I could offer just once piece of advice to those women hitting their 50s, it would be: "You . have more courage than you believe",' she says. 'Courage is sometimes simply finding the strength to face . another day. Courage is learning to let go and to start again. Courage is . having faith in yourself. Smiling, she adds: 'It’s one of my favourite lessons in the book.' Best Knickers Always: 50 Lessons For Midlife, £7.99, Orion is available now . | Life coach Rebecca Perkins reveals how to navigate middle age .
Says confidence and having faith in yourself is key to making it work .
Reveals how to deal with post-divorce dating and relationships .
Also says making sure adult children offer emotional support is key .
Approaching things positively and seeing ageing as a good thing helps . |
fac7fb1b1cc6da8eb04385c9fa72e959f534c16d | Oso, Washington (CNN) -- Among the mounds of mud and ripped-down trees, you see an occasional appliance, a tire here and there, the twisted cables that used to be part of the telephone system. What you don't see are homes. They are gone. And it is difficult to even figure out where they once stood and what became of them. The sheer force of a landslide on March 22 pulverized this neighborhood in rural Washington, leaving behind a graveyard in the debris where 28 bodies have been recovered and where crews painstakingly search for people who are listed as missing. On that awful Saturday, a rain-saturated hillside along the north fork of the Stillaguamish River gave way, sending a square-mile rush of wet earth and rock into the outskirts of the town of Oso in Washington's North Cascade Mountains. Since then, rescuers have trudged through the muck -- 70 feet thick in some places -- looking for bodies, though some cling to hope someone might be found alive even 10 days later. The death toll in the massive landslide rose to 28, the Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office said Tuesday afternoon. The latest victim identified was Adam Farnes, a 23-year-old who died at a hospital on the day of the slide. His name was not on the list of the missing. Authorities so far have released the names of 22 deceased victims, ranging in age from 4 months to 71 years. Twenty people remain missing, down from 22 on Monday, authorities said. 'These are our people': Residents unite to help Washington landslide victims . Tough, nasty, dangerous conditions . About 600 people, including more than 100 volunteers, and cadaver dogs are involved in the search, officials have said. The debris field is full of toxic sludge -- a combination of human waste, toxic chemicals from households, propane tanks, oil and gas that make the search extremely dangerous, according to Lt. Richard Burke of the Bellevue Fire Department, who is the spokesman for efforts on the western side of the mile-wide slide. Every person, animal and thing that comes out of the field has to be decontaminated. Some of the workers have come down with dysentery, while supervisors are concerned that others may be at risk for tetanus. Some of the areas in the search zone are too unstable for crews to work there. It would be like working in quicksand, Burke said. It smells of sewage, but more than a week after the slide, it's not a strong odor, and the dogs, who can detect humans 10 feet under the surface, are undeterred. Two of the nine dogs involved in Monday's search were suffering the effects of hypothermia, the coordinators of the landslide recovery teams said in a statement on the Snohomish County website. Some of the volunteers are aiding in the recovery of family mementos from the debris. The sounds of chainsaws fill the air, as do the rumbling motors of the excavating equipment, which grabs large objects like trees and moves them to the side. Then other people move in for a hand search or a visual inspection of a plot. Orange ribbons mark the grid, indicating areas that have been checked, while some indicate a find of interest. Boards are placed over the thick slop, making a wooden path for workers to walk. One of the biggest challenges has been standing water, but warmer temperatures and a lack of rain have helped workers, who are running pumps all day long to drain areas of the debris field. Areas that were submerged 24 hours prior were able to be searched on Tuesday. Two U.S. flags fly among the men and women working in the field. One, recovered from the debris, hangs in remembrance of lives lost. The other is at half-staff on the lone tree left standing in this part of the slide zone. Who are the victims? CNN's Jason Hanna and Steve Almasy contributed to this report. | Two U.S. flags fly above the workers in the field, one was found in a debris pile .
Excavators move large objects to the side, then teams go in for a hand search .
Large appliances and tires are part of the scene of devastation .
Twenty people still are missing, authorities said . |
fac8543867b48ef6f976a6f7b3043babb179e906 | This artist enjoys a trip down memory line - drawing some of the world's most famous cities from memory. Stefan Bleekrode, 28, uses his memory to sketch cities such as New York, London and Paris after he has visited them. The artist, from Eindhoven, Netherlands, draws in such detail people find it hard to believe he wasn't in each city while drawing or copying a picture. Stefan Bleekrode, 28, uses his memory to sketch cities such as New York, London and Paris after he has visited them . Impressive: Mr Bleerode brilliantly recreates the majesty of the Manhattan skyline . Remarkable: Bleekrode has trained his mind to pick up certain details in a given location. This drawing is of Washington Square in New York . Art of the matter: This is a Mr Bleekrode did of London's famed Shard tower by the River Thames . The series, called Cityscapes, stemmed from impressionist drawings of places in France and Belgium which he started experimenting with aged 10. Since then he has trained his mind to pick up certain details in a given location and sometimes jots down notes about specific points. The smallest canvas he uses can take up to five days to complete. Labour-intensive: The smallest canvas that Mr Bleekrode draws on can take up to five days to complete . Detailed: This is an intricate drawing of Bern in Switzerland, complete with the mountainscape in the background . Skyscraper's the limit: Mr Bleekrode is able to recall hundreds of buildings from memory . Illuminating: This is Mr Bleekrode's drawing of New York at night. His large canvasses sell for £3,800 . Escapism: Mr Bleekrode said that he produces the drawings so he could 'drift back to those... inspiring places' Imagination: Some of Mr Bleekrode's drawings are invented, such as Metropolis By The Sea (pictured) This bustling urban scene is called City By The Med and shows off Mr Bleekrode's amazing ability to pencil-in fine detail . The pictures are mostly of real cities, with a small number being city scenes that he's invented. Large-scale drawings take Stefan up to half a year to complete and sell for between $1,800 (£1,150) and $6,000 (£3,800). Mr Bleekrode said: 'At the age of 10 I wanted to recapture my impressions of places in France and Belgium I'd visited during a holiday the previous summer. 'Where I live there's very little that pleases the eye - just 1960's housing estates and offices. 'By doing these small pencil drawings I could drift back to those sunny and inspiring places where the world was colourful and eager to be explored. 'I continue to do the Cityscape drawings for as long as I enjoy it or until I run out of ideas.' New York has been a huge inspiration for Mr Bleekrode. Pictured is a drawing he produced called Central Park Sunset . Mr Bleekrode said that he likes drawing epic city scenes partly because he finds the architecture where he lives uninspiring. This drawing is called Spacca Napoli . | Stefan Bleekrode uses his memory to sketch cities such as New York, London and Paris after he has visited them .
The artist, from Eindhoven, draws in such detail people find it hard to believe he wasn't in each city while drawing .
The 28-year-old Dutchman has trained his mind to pick up certain details in a given location then recall them later . |
fac8aaa898e357ba08f0a08aa629ad484e0b9046 | (CNN) -- Newly formed Tropical Storm Debby hovered in the central Gulf of Mexico late Saturday as coastal communities from Texas to Florida waited for it to make a decisive turn. The storm, packing winds of 50 mph, was located about 220 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River, according to the National Hurricane Center's 8 p.m. ET advisory. Forecast models did not have a consensus on Debby's long-term track, and it was nearly stationary Saturday evening. Outer rain bands lashed portions of west-central and south Florida. Nine oil and gas production platforms were evacuated, equivalent to 1.5% of the 596 manned platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, the federal government said Saturday. One of 70 rigs was evacuated. The Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness in Louisiana was in touch with parishes and the National Weather Service, said spokeswoman Veronica Mosgrove. "Our concern is if it were to ... head west we could get some coastal flooding and high tides," she told CNN. If needed, the office could coordinate shelter, transportation and assistance with sand bags. Plaquemines Parish on the southern tip of Louisiana planned to declare a state of emergency Sunday morning, said emergency preparedness director Guy Laigast. The parish expects a slow rise of water pushed by the winds. Crews will place sand bags along a back levee in Myrtle Grove, Laigast said. Louisiana Highway 23, a main road in the parish, could be affected. St. Mary Parish planned Monday to place warning signs at two communities built at sea level, said Duval Arthur, director of emergency preparedness. "We're anticipating a 3- to 4-foot high tide. Water would be over the road in those areas." Charles Roeseler, meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Houston-Galveston office, said Debby "could really go in a number of directions" -- Florida, Louisiana and Texas. "It would be a welcome rain" in Texas, he said. Tropical storm warnings were posted from the mouth of the Pearl River, west to Morgan City, Louisiana, but do not include New Orleans. Such warnings indicate tropical storm conditions are expected within 36 hours in the warning areas. A slow northward movement was expected Sunday morning, followed by a gradual westward turn by late Sunday or early Monday. Some strengthening is expected over the next two days, the center said. The hurricane center predicted a possible storm surge of up to 3 feet along the coast, with estimated rainfall amounts between 3 and 6 inches. Debby's formation marks the first time in history that four named storms have formed before July 1, according to CNN Meteorologist Monica O'Connor. First day of summer, and the Northeast sure feels it . CNN's Phil Gast contributed to this report. | NEW: Louisiana parish plans to place sand bags along levee .
Debby is the fourth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season .
Tropical storm warnings are in effect along the Louisiana coast .
Evacuations ordered on Gulf oil platforms, rig . |
fac95f2c1a10f361c5e924490fe8e94b9f4b2150 | The curve of a person's lower spine is unique, like a fingerprint, scientists say . The age old advice to help people safely lift heavy objects - 'bend your knees and keep your back straight' - is flawed, a group of scientists claim. New research by a team at Aberdeen University has found how a person should lift is determined by the shape of their spine. An individual's curvature of the spine is unique, like a fingerprint, the study found. As such, a 'one size fits all' approach to advising on how best to lift heavy objects is not effective, the scientists said. The new research suggests the mantra approach of 'bend your knees and keep your back straight', will not suit everyone. Anastasia Pavlova, lead author of the study, said: 'The bones making up our lower back - the lumbar spine - form an inward curve that makes the hollow of our back. 'Some of us are more curvy than others. 'What we showed was that the curve of our backs is specific to each individual, a bit like a fingerprint. 'Interestingly, this affects the way we life objects from the floor, so that those with 'curvy' spines tend to bend over, or stoop, to lift a box whereas those with straighter spines tend to bend their knees and squat.' The study examined pain-free volunteers aged between 18 and 65. Images of their spines were taken using MRI scans in six postures ranging from leaning backwards to bending forwards, as if to touch their toes. A special computer method known as 'shape modelling' was then used on each of the images to describe the shape of their lumbar spine, whether curvy or straight. The volunteers were then examined at a motion analysis laboratory, where special cameras were used to video them while they lifted a box, with weights inside it, from the floor in the way they found most comfortable. A weight that was 'moderately heavy' was chosen by each person, varying from six to 15kg. Researchers then compared how people with different spine shapes moved when lifting the box. Professor Richard Aspden, said: 'Our research showed that not only is the curve of our lower back specific to each individual but it also affects the way we lift objects from the floor. 'The degree to which spines were curvy or straight correlated with whether the volunteers stooped or squatted to lift the objects from the floor. The team at the University of Aberdeen studied pain-free volunteers, concluding that the age old advice of 'bend your knees and keep your back straight' is flawed . 'We're clearly not all the same, so should guidelines be telling us to lift in the same way? 'Giving more attention to our individual spine shape could allow these guidelines to be better tailored to individuals. 'Back pain is costly to the NHS and employers. 'It is common in manual occupations involving lifting and it can be devastating for the patient when they are no longer capable of performing their job. 'Understanding the mechanisms behind occupational back pain can allow for more appropriate prevention strategies.' Dr Jude Meakin, from the University of Exeter said: 'For many years we have ignored the fact that our spine are all slightly different and work in slightly different ways. 'Our research highlights these differences and paves the way for improving our understanding of what causes people to be injured when they lift and carry loads.' The paper was recently awarded the best paper at the annual meeting of the Society for Back Pain Research. The scientists said depending on whether a person has a curved or straight lumbar spine will dictate the best way for them to lift a heavy weight. Those with curved spines found it more comfortable to bend over or stoop while people with straighter spines found bending the knees and lifting was most effective . | Scientists at the University of Aberdeen found how a person should best lift is determined by the shape of their spine .
An individual's curvature of the spine is unique, like a fingerprint .
So a 'one size fits all' approach is not effective, scientists say . |
faca229075bd1b3fcf4df7545aee8805105399cc | By . Sophie Jane Evans . PUBLISHED: . 10:45 EST, 19 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:12 EST, 19 October 2013 . Police have condemned drunk students who brought Newcastle city centre to a standstill for 10 minutes by singing a cult football chant. On a night out after England qualified for the World Cup, dozens of youngsters spilled on to the streets at 3am to sing Manchester City's famous chant about Yaya Toure and his brother Kolo. Drivers furiously beeped their horns as the drinkers sang loudly and enjoyed themselves. Scroll down for video . Chanting: A huge group of Newcastle students stopped traffic as they sang about Yaya Toure in the street . Dangerous: Police have criticised the youngsters' 'rowdy' behaviour, claiming it could have resulted in injuries . Now, Northumbria Police have criticised the youngsters for their antics - claiming the 'rowdy' behaviour could have resulted in injuries. 'This type of . drunken and disorderly behaviour will not be tolerated by police in . Newcastle city centre,' central neighbourhood inspector Caroline Ord told the BBC. 'We want young people to come into the city centre and have a good time but they must behave responsibly.' The chant, which is well-known among supporters of the Manchester club, is sung to the tune of 2 Unlimited's smash hit, 'No Limit', which topped the UK charts in 1993. Fame: Manchester City's much-loved chant refers to footballer Yaya Toure, left, and his brother Kolo, right . And it's not just Pellegrini's club . who chant to the song released by the Dutch group 20 years ago - Everton . and Liverpool have their own versions of it too. The blue half of the Merseyside sing about defender Tony Hibbert to the tune of . 'No Limit', while the red side chant the song about their former . midfielder Momo Sissoko. City fan Joe Friar, 20, told the Manchester Evening News: 'One of my flatmates is a Chelsea fan and he loves the Yaya/Kolo Toure chant and the actions after seeing me do it. 'We came out of a club and he started doing it in the middle of the road for some reason. Pleased: Yaya tweeted the video to his followers, adding: 'Thank you for the dedication from Newcastle lol!' 'I'd . had a few so I joined in, being a Blue, and then loads of other people . who were coming out of clubs started doing it as well and it seemed to . catch on. It's pretty easy to pick up. 'It ended up going on for about 10 minutes - it was bizarre.' Toure . himself has shown his support for the Newcastle students by tweeting the video. He tweeted: 'Thank you for the dedication from . Newcastle lol! It will take me to get to the kolo dance yaya.' | Drinkers brought Newcastle city centre to a standstill for 10 minutes .
Sang Manchester City's famous chant about Yaya Toure and his brother Kolo .
Police have criticised students for their 'rowdy' behaviour . |
faca6df9f429aae2e049e0cd2ccc30666fef7f66 | (CNN) -- A total of nine athletes, including Olympic bronze medalist Nataliya Tobias, have tested positive for "sophisticated doping" offenses, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has confirmed. Six of those athletes were caught using a new "biological passport" method, which builds up a profile of each individual over a prolonged period of time. The remaining three, including Tobias who came third in the women's 1500 meters in Beijing four years ago, were suspended after further analysis of samples they gave at the World Championships in Daegu last year. "Today's announcements underline the IAAF's continued and unwavering campaign against doping in athletics," IAAF President Lamine Diack said in a statement on their official website. Greek athlete suspended from Olympic team for offensive remarks . "They demonstrate the IAAF's commitment to use advanced methods to detect doping and to enforce increased sanctions when justified. "We will not stint in our resolve to do everything in our power to eradicate cheating." The IAAF said they had been collecting samples from various athletes in the build up to the Olympics and would conduct 200 more biological passports during the Games. That method accounted for six bans, for Morocco's Abderrahim Goumri, Greece's Irini Kokkinariou, Turkey's Meryem Erdogan, and three Russians -- Svetlana Klyuka, Nailiya Yulamanova and Yevgenina Zinurova, the 2011 European Indoors 800m champion. Along with Tobias, fellow Ukrainian Antonina Yefremova was charged after synthetic testosterone was found in their systems, while Bulgaria's Inna Eftimova tested positive for a synthetic growth hormone. All three athletes admitted the offense and waived their right to a "B" sample, meaning their four-year bans were halved. The six caught via the "biological passport" method were flagged as suspicious in 2009 and were found to have persistently used banned substances over a long period, the IAAF said. Four of the six -- Erdogan, Klyuka, Yulamanova and Zinurova -- admitted their offense and waived their right to a "B" sample, meaning their original four-year bans were cut in half. The IAAF said Goumri had recently received a four-year ban by the Moroccan Athletic Federation, but was permitted to appeal as the decision had not yet been ratified by the IAAF. Kokkinariou has been banned for two years by the Greek Athletic Federation but the IAAF said they were appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to have it doubled on the grounds of "aggravating circumstances." It was not immediately clear whether any of the nine athletes were part of Olympic teams set to participate in London 2012. Hero or villain? Ben Johnson and the dirtiest race in history . North Korean women's team stage walk out in row over flag mix up . The 10 strangest Olympic sports . | Nine athletes banned for doping by the International Association of Athletics Federations .
Among them is Ukrainian Nataliya Tobias, an Olympic bronze medalist in the 1500m .
Six of the nine athletes caught using the "biological passport" method of testing .
Other three banned after further tests of samples from 2011 World Championships . |
faca8d6fce98697447d78cac6ba927af22d827b4 | By . James Gordon . A hunter from Maine has shown off his softer side as he managed to deliver a baby porcupine after seeing its mother flattened by a car. Jared Buzzell was on his way to search for mushrooms with medicinal properties in woods near Minot when he saw the car in front strike the porcupine dead. At the time of its death, he did not know the animal was pregnant but decide to slice her open in his search for a rare stone found in the animals stomach. Saved: This cute little fella was found inside his pregnant mother and was saved by a passing motorist on the roads in Maine . Savior: Jarred Buzzell Maine inadvertently delivered a baby porcupine by what amounted to emergency C-section after its mother was killed by car . Attention: Now Jarred has taken it upon himself to look after the baby porcupine and nurse it back to health . First steps: The little animal will be with the Buzzell family for a few more days before being handed over to a rehabilitation center . Time consuming: Baby porcupines require feeding every two to three hours . Jared had been told by his uncle that a valuable mineral forms in a porcupine's stomach, so when he realized the animal was dead, he said he cut it open to have a look inside - and it was then he found a baby Porcupine. The mineral deposit is called a bezoar stone that forms in the stomach of porcupines. Jared Buzzell said he was on his way to search for mushrooms in Minot, which he collects for medicinal purposes . He said he saw the car in front of him hit a porcupine and slowed down to check on it . Buzzell said his uncle had told him a valuable mineral will form in a porcupine's stomach, so when he realized the animal was dead, he said he cut it open to look inside . Hunter: He said he knows the story sounds bizarre, but is glad he checked to see if his uncle's story was true, because it saved the baby animal's life . A bezoar stone, or 'date,' is a tightly packed undigested or partially undigested mineral deposit stuck in the stomach or intestinal tract of animals. They can consist of hairs, fruit and vegetables, seeds or other hardened objects and are used in Chinese herbal medicine, as they are thought to cure a range of illnesses from diabetes to cancer. Bezoar literally means . 'antidote' in Persian. Bezoars were sought because they were believed to have the power of a universal antidote against any poison. It was believed that a drinking glass which contained a bezoar would neutralize any poison poured into it. Porcupines are herbivores that feast on plants and tree bark. They also love salt and are 'attracted to objects that have salty human sweat on them, such as ax handles, boat oars,' as well as frequently gnaw on dropped deer antlers for minerals. Hunters are permitted to trap porcupines year-round in Maine, but not permitted to keep them as pets without a license, the Maine Wildlife and Fisheries Department. Instead of a bezoar stone, Jared found a baby porcupine inside . 'I . cut the sack open and out fell the porcupine. I cut the umbilical cord, . put it in a hat. We thought it was dead - then I started massaging it . and all kinds of stuff starting coming out of its lungs so it started . breathing,' he said. Jared is now looking after the cuddly creature that he delivered by c-section, until it can be given to animal rescue in the next couple of days. The baby porcupine requires a great deal of attention and needs to be fed every two to three hours. He has been using baby formula and his daughter's toy baby doll bottle to help it regain its strength, according to ABC News. Jared says that he is glad his uncle told him the story about the rare stone because otherwise he would not have bothered to look inside, nor have saved a life. Although his wife and kids want to keep the adorable animal, Jared believes the 'pocupette' stands the best chance of survival if it is handed over to a wildlife rehabilitator. Saved: Buzzell said his uncle had told him a valuable mineral will form in a porcupine's stomach, so when he realized the animal was dead, he said he cut it open to look inside . He's now taken it upon himself to look after the baby until it can be given to an animal rescue in the next couple of days . Buzzell said the porcupine will be taken to an animal rescue in the next couple of days even though his wife wants to keep it as a pet . | Jared Buzzell saw the mother porcupine get hit by a car and stopped to investigate .
Uncle told him porcupines form something called bezoar stones in their intestines .
They're thought to have healing qualities in traditional medicine .
Upon opening up the mother, the little baby porcupine was waiting inside . |
facaa2af00052d93e2203a716efc6b066cd4ba0e | It is a war that has been raging since the beginning of agriculture, but now farmers have a new weapon in the battle to keep birds from eating their crops - laser shooting robots. Farmers in Holland have been trialling a new type of scarecrow that fires green laser beams across fields to keep birds away from crops. The system, called Agrilaser, uses an automated robot that can be programmed to sweep lasers at random across areas ranging from 200 acres to more than 3,000 acres. Scroll down for video . Agrilaser, seen here being trialed in an apple orchard in Holland, fires beams of green light at random across fields, tricking birds into thinking there is something moving around the field that may pose a threat to them . Researchers have been developing the robotic scarecrow in an attempt to produce bird repellents that are more socially acceptable than noise based methods that are commonly used. Most farmers combine these loud noises, usually from propane canons or firecrackers, with traditional scarecrows that mimic the shape of humans, to keep birds away from their crops. It appears the Dutch are at the cutting edge of zany uses for laser technology. Rail company Nederlandse Spoorwegen is fitting powerful lasers under two of its trains in a trial to beat the problem of leaves on the line. It is working with researchers at Delft University of Technology to use lasers mounted in front of the train wheels to vapourise leaves that are compacted onto railway tracks to leave a slippery Teflon-like surface. Left untreated this can double stopping distances and make it hard for trains to restart. They have tested the lasers successfully at speeds of up to 50mph and hope it could eventually make the old excuse of leaves on the line for delays a thing of the past. However, the new device, developed by Dutch bird control researchers at the Centre for Agriculture and Environment, in Culemborg, Holland, chases birds away with no noise. Natural England recently approved handheld versions of the laser and it has been used on farms in Devon and have been used to scare away seagulls in Gloucestershire. The automatic version of the lasers have yet to be used here in the UK. The trajectory of the lasers can be programmed from a laptop and it then makes random sweeps across fields. Tests at an apple and pear orchard saw losses due to birds almost entirely disappear over a three week period, according to Arnold Bosgoed, the farmer who has been trialing the system. He said: 'After the deployment of the laser, the orchard became a lot quieter. The large groups of crows disappeared. 'The system is noiseless and the birds do not seem to get used to the laser beam. The installation was easy and it requires no maintenance.' Depending on the crops, losses due to birds can range between five per cent and 50 per cent of what is planted. The laser is fired from a robotic system mounted on top of a tower to provide maximum coverage of a field . Scary: The random movement of the green laser frightens birds away from crops . The developers of the robotic laser, which looks a little like a CCTV camera and can be mounted on top of a tower to provide maximum coverage. Researchers at the Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CLM) also hope the system can be used to keep birds away airports, where they pose a risk to aircraft, and oil rigs. The laser's trajectory can be programmed using a laptop to ensure it says within field boundaries . Gijs Kuneman, director of CLM, said: 'The damage caused in the fruit industry by birds is well known and seems to be increasing. 'It can lead to substantial reduction in production. The smallest hole in a pear means it can rot and infect the whole crate. 'We've been looking for different methods of chasing the birds away with as little disturbance as possible. 'We had heard about the handheld lasers, which are like a torch which people carry around to scare off birds. 'But now that has been put on a robot that has a pre-programmed field in which it will move, so you can set it up to protect part or all of the orchard.' Mr Kuneman added that the system worked by creating the impression of movement on the field, which scares the birds away without harming them. He said: 'They don't understand the light. 'They consider it a physical object moving through the trees which they can't hear but they can see. 'We tested it on crows - jackdaws and rooks - and they were all scared away. They tend to be the smartest birds so if it works on them it should work on other birds. 'The system is random so there is no pattern they can discern.' However, the laser may create some unwanted light shows in rural areas that may be opposed by some locals. Mr Kuneman added: 'It is only during the few weeks that the fruit is ripe on the trees. 'In a densely populated country like the Netherlands there is already much light pollution so it probably will not lead to many complaints. 'Anything would be an improvement on the traditional way of chasing birds - a cannon that makes a loud boom.' 24-hour operation: Once programmed, the robotic laser,pictured, can be left to scare birds away through the day and night while fruit ripens. It is hoped the device will save farmers a great deal of money . The laser is mounted on top of a tower to ensure it can cover an entire field of up to 3,000 acres . | The lasers sweep at random across an area from 200 acres to 3,000 acres .
Robot fires intense beams of green light from on top of a tower across field .
Laser works by creating movement in the field that birds cannot identify .
Dutch farmer reports laser kept flocks of crows away from his orchard . |
facaf6a31cd2404aca8555b2350bdf5c886d4aa2 | Washington (CNN) -- The government of Saudi Arabia expressed concerns about American security regulations that included Saudis in a list of nationalities that warranted additional screening at airports. Transportation Security Administration regulations included the kingdom in a "limited group of countries for additional airport screening" adopted in the aftermath of the attempted airline bombing December 25, according to a cable published by WikiLeaks. Deputy Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Torki Al-Saud Al-Kabir raised the issue in a meeting with Jeffrey D. Feltman, assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, according to a January State Department cable published by WikiLeaks. According to TSA regulations passed January 3 in the aftermath of the failed terrorist attack, citizens and travelers from 14 countries would get enhanced screening when they fly to the United States, possibly including full-body pat-downs, carry-on bag searches, full-body scans and explosive detection swabs. The countries on the list include those officially designated as supporters of terrorism -- Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria -- as well as other countries of interest, including Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen. Torki told Feltman that the issue had caused "a lot of difficulties and embarrassment for Saudi Arabia," to the point that Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal would raise the issue himself with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at a meeting in London, England, the next day. According to the cable, Torki said that the issue was not the regulation itself but the kingdom's "inclusion on the list with the likes of Cuba, which causes Saudi Arabia's friends and enemies to question how strong its bilateral relationship with the United States really is." He also noted the difficulty of explaining this policy to Saudis, considering that the flights would not have originated in the kingdom while other countries with recent terrorist incidents on airplanes -- he identifies the United Kingdom, Egypt and Turkey, according to the document -- are not included in this group. Torki noted that although the provisions were only temporary, Saudi Arabia wanted to know how and when they would be amended. The cable also points out that he implied "the longer they remained in effect without any public explanation from the [United States government], the more it was likely to prompt the Saudi Government to re-evaluate areas of cooperation, including counter-terrorism cooperation." Feltman promised to "convey the spirit and strength of the message" and welcomed "any specific Saudi suggestions to address the security gap regarding nonmetallic explosives exploited in the December 25 incident." The TSA updated its guidance in April, noting that travelers coming into the United States from abroad might notice enhanced screening and security measures, regardless of country of origin. This new guidance would apply to all countries and "supersede" the list of 14 countries that offended the Saudis, which the TSA described as "an emergency measure." On the WikiLeaks documents' release, Osama Nogali, the spokesman for the Saudi foreign minister, said that "these documents do not concern the kingdom of Saudi Arabia nor the kingdom has any role in producing them, nor is it aware of its authenticity. Therefore Saudi Arabia cannot comment on them, however, the policies and positions of the kingdom have always been clear." CNN's Jeanne Meserve and Rima Maktabi contributed to this report. | Saudis were on a list of nationalities warranting additional airport screening .
Prince discussed the matter with assistant secretary of state .
He says Saudi government could be prompted to rethink its counterterrorism cooperation . |
facb5a7732d083c66484c9b3dbb274ff1d6a1ee1 | New York (CNN) -- Spider-Man's alter ego cannot escape the harsh realities of the current economic times and will lose his job in an issue of the Amazing Spider-Man hitting stores this week. Peter Parker, official photographer of the mayor by day and New York City crime fighter by night, is going to face new challenges, including unemployment. "He's going to struggle with unemployment and trying to save the city while he can barely afford to keep a roof over his head," said Steve Wacker, Marvel Comics senior editor. Parker has always been a grounded character with real-world problems, Wacker said. His aunt is frequently sick, he has girlfriend troubles, and he sometimes struggles to find work. In addition, Spider-Man story lines are often set against a backdrop of current events. In the near future, Parker will have to juggle paying bills and buying "web-fluid" and other materials to fix his superhero costume in addition to keeping his dual identities under wraps. Parker's work history includes photographer, assistant high school coach, science teacher and scientific researcher, according to his biography on the Marvel Web site. His education includes a college degree in biophysics and some postgraduate work in biochemistry. It was at a science exhibit he attended as a teenager that he was bitten by a radioactive spider and acquired the creature's strength, agility and weaving ability, says Marvel Comics. And although Parker has skills few other others can claim, he probably won't list these on his resume: superhuman strength, ability to cling to most surfaces, fast traveling ability aided by web-slinging and spider-sense danger avoidance system. The Amazing Spider-Man comic was first published in 1963. | Spider-Man's alter ego, Peter Parker, will lose his job this week .
Parker's going to struggle with unemployment, try to save city, pay his bills .
Marvel comics tries to have story lines set against backdrop of current events . |
facb5aeba468867bfec8165b6b9bfa526f4f42a7 | A 22-year-old accused of gunning down his parents and brother at their home was planning a Columbine-style massacre at a local high school, police revealed. Trey Eric Sesler, an online animation enthusiast and critic from Texas, was arrested on Tuesday after a daylong manhunt following the the discovery of the three bodies, which had multiple gunshot wounds. Under questioning from police, he told them he and another former Waller High School student were planning a mass shooting at the school and now investigators are questioning the friend concerning the plot. Plans: Trey Eric Sesler was said to be planning a Columbine-style massacre at the local school with a friend . Obsessed: Sesler appears to have had a fascination with guns and rifles and he posted many pictures of himself posing with them. he is believed to have shot his family with a high-powered rifle . According to the Houston Chronicle, Sesler had an obsession with the 1999 massacre in which two students shot dead 12 students and one teacher before killing themselves. He was also obsessed with guns and is believed to have had several - including handguns and high-powered rifles - at his home. He has been charged with capital murder in the deaths of Lawton Ray Sesler Jr, 58, his wife Rhonda Wyse Sesler, 57, and their son, Mark Alan Sesler, 26, who were found dead at their one-story, ranch-style home. Writing was said to have been written over the walls of the home expressing remorse. Michael Williams, a crime scene investigator and detective with the Waller Police Department, told the Chronicle that two weeks ago, Sesler made a strange call to police. He said: 'He just called us one day about something bizarre. He said he was sitting in the backyard and that a bullet whizzed by his head and that he had gotten his guns and he was ready.' Someone reported gunshots coming from the home on Monday evening but when police arrived they discovered nothing. Waller County Sheriff Glenn Smith said: 'This was a scene that had a lot of violence. The house was ransacked. 'Evidence was obtained and it was pretty . obvious the connection of the other brother and son to these people.' Trey . Sesler has no criminal record, according to the Houston Chronicle. Suspected killer: A family member described Sesler as 'peculiar' but he has no criminal record and was an amine enthusiast who posted reviews online . Crime scene: The bodies of Sesler's parents and brother were discovered around 1pm at their Houston home after police received a call from concerned relatives . Waller Police Chief Phil Rehak said: 'The best way for me to describe the residence is it looked like a war zone – a tremendous amount of damage inside the residence, the crime scene was not contained to one area of the residence. 'It was from one end of the residence to the other, front to back, which is unusual.' He was arrested at a friend's home just hours after the bodies were found. Investigators said Sesler had several guns with him at the time. Police have said they don’t know why . Sesler would want to kill his family, but that it was an exceptionally . violent, angry crime. For the last four years, he has used an . online alter ego called Mr Anime, the star and producer of several short . films and also a reviewer of Japanese animation. He . has a YouTube channel, with more than one million views which he calls . Lenscap productions. Some of the amateur movies he made star his . brother. A large number of the anime he . reviews have violent themes. For example, in one, which is called . Highschool Of The Dead, Sesler has a large rifle in . his hands while he talks to the camera. YouTube: His onscreen persona is Mr Anime. He has more than 4,000 subscribers and more than one million video views . Dangerous props: In one of Sesler's YouTube videos, he waves around a large rifle while reviewing an anime called High School Of The Dead . At one point he seems to get very excited when talking about . the zombies killing the mortals as there is 'blood everywhere'. Yet another one is called Death Note . and another one is called Slayers. The beginning of all of his reviews, . he plays a short clip in which he shoots someone in the chest. On his Facebook page he wrote: 'I . really like to take it easy and have a nice time. I'm really interested . in my education as a college student and am really excited about . graduating in a few years. 'I plant things sometimes in the spring like peppers and strawberries. My car is currently the most exciting part of my days.' Aunt Weda Frierson called her nephew 'peculiar' when interviewed by the Houston Chronicle. She said: 'I'll have to admit, he was quite . strange. But naturally, I wasn't going to tell Trey's parents that he . acts peculiar. 'His father was a very private person and . never really discussed him with me at all.' She said she believed he was on some kind of medication for a health condition but didn't know what. Lawton and Rhonda Sesler were married 34 years. She worked at the Waller Times. He taught at Robinson Elementary in the Cy-Fair Independent School District and grew up in Waller. District officials said staff and students at Robinson were saddened by the news of Lawton Sesler's death. 'With more than 30 years of teaching experience, he made the difference in the lives of hundreds of students during his career,' officials said in a statement. 'He was a Spotlight teacher in 2000 and 2006, selected for his outstanding contributions as a teacher.' | Trey Eric Sesler was arrested after a daylong manhunt .
Was obsessed with Japanese anime and made amateur movies online .
Made a call to police two weeks ago that someone shot at him .
Was obsessed with guns and had a large collection at home . |
facb8d2e08a83279d7761665d5fa7738b29e8ee7 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 17:00 EST, 11 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 17:00 EST, 11 January 2014 . Killed his father: Jonas Nelson, 18, shot his dad at close range as he slept on the couch on Monday night . A Minnesota teenager shot his father in the head as he was sleeping on the couch so he didn’t have to 'deal with him’ anymore. Jonas . David Nelson, 18, took his father’s tall, silver bolt action 300 rifle . from the gun cabinet and then ‘did it to him’, according to police. The incident happened just after 11pm on Monday in their small two-story house on five acres southeast of Montgomery. The boy initially told investigators that someone else had shot his father, Richard Nelson, 47, as he was upstairs in his bedroom, but eventually admitted to the crime. ‘Nelson explained that when he came . downstairs to get some water, he saw his dad sleeping on the floor and . he doesn't know for sure why, but he went into the gun cabinet and got . one of the rifles and then "did it to him",’ the complaint said, . according to The Mankato Free Press. Nelson's . father and mother, Kristina Singer, were divorced and he had been . living with his mother in Prior Lake until August. He told . investigators he moved into his father's house after having a . disagreement with his mother. ‘As . the conversation continued, Nelson explained that his dad was blaming . his mother for the divorce when actually it was his dad's fault for his . mother leaving him,’ the complaint said. He told the investigators things had . been ‘weird’ since he moved back. He also described his father as being . ‘harsh’ with religious views that ‘screwed him up as a parent’, the . complaint said. The past month had been rough because his father was . acting like a ‘probation officer’. 'Did it to him': Nelson, pictured here with his father's tall, silver bolt action 300 rifle, took this same gun from the gun cabinet and shot him . Richard . Nelson had already left the house Monday morning when Nelson junior got . up at about 8:30 a.m. He said he added a load of wood to the wood . burner in the living room because the furnace wasn't working properly. His dad returned home at about 1:30 pm and questioned him about keeping the wood burning furnace going, the complaint said, according to the Free Press. The boy then went upstairs and did not come down until dinner time, which is when he saw his father sleeping. ‘Nelson explained he got the tall silver bolt action 300 rifle from the gun cabinet, he got some cartridges from the drawer and the "took his time" walking into the living room and stood in front of the stove and "took his life".' Nelson also told the investigators he had never been driven to rage before, but he ‘just snapped’ because of the way his dad had been treating him. Family issues: Nelson's father and mother, Kristina Singer,center, were divorced and he had been living with his mother in Prior Lake until August. Nelson is pictured far right . He said he thought about killing his father in his sleep while he was sitting upstairs, according to the complaint. He allegedly said he shot his father at close range and that he placed the two fired cartridges in a bucket in the basement. The investigators reported they asked Nelson how he felt about shooting his father. ‘He replied that part of him feels good because he doesn't have to deal with him, but the other part realizes his dad isn't there anymore,’ the complaint said. Nelson appeared briefly in Le Sueur County District Court, along with his mother, just before noon Wednesday for a charge of second-degree murder. His bail was set at $2 million. | Jonas David Nelson, 18, killed his father, Richard Nelson, 47 .
The incident happened just after 11pm Monday in their small two-story house southeast of Montgomery .
Nelson was sleeping on the couch when his son shot him at close range .
Teenager told investigators his father was 'too harsh with religious views' |
facc2c0ad09df819c87b0c40303b44d1cea4b129 | When you click "Like" on your friends' Facebook posts, do you really mean it? If seeing your Facebook friends living wonderful, fun-filled lives gives you a case of the blues, you're not alone. A new University of Michigan study found that the more people checked Facebook, the more likely they were to feel worse about their own lives. To measure people's feelings and Facebook usage, the team enlisted a small group of young adult Facebook users in Michigan and texted them five times a day for two weeks. Each text linked to an online survey that asked how they were feeling. In addition to reporting how much they were checking Facebook, the subjects rated their worry and loneliness levels at that moment as well as their overall satisfaction with life. The authors also asked people to rate their level of life satisfaction at the start and end of the study, and found that the more participants used Facebook over the two-week study period, the more their life satisfaction levels declined. By contrast, the study found that face-to-face interactions with others led people to feel better over time. "Over a billion people belong to Facebook, and over half of them log in every day," said University of Michigan social psychologist Ethan Kross, lead author of the study. "On the surface, Facebook provides an invaluable resource for fulfilling the basic human need for social connection. But rather than enhancing well-being, our findings demonstrate that interacting with Facebook may have the opposite result for young adults." What is it about the social network that bums some people out? One theory is that people are comparing themselves to their friends' seemingly fantastic digital lives and feeling inferior. Though the sample group of 82 people was small, the findings are similar to other studies about Facebook use and mental health. Facebook has become a tempting subject for researchers because of its role as a constant presence in so many people's lives. Psychologists, sociologists and other academics are curious about what kind of impact it has on its users' brains, emotions and self-worth. Some researchers have tapped directly into the gold mine of data generated by the social network (Facebook has its own staff of data scientists and sometimes teams up with universities), while others conduct their own independent studies. In early 2012, a study out of Utah Valley University also found that many people had a case of the blues after checking Facebook. The researchers talked to a group of 425 students and found correlations between the amount of time people spent checking Facebook and negative feelings about their own lives. The more time their subjects spent on the social network, the higher probability that they would think their friends lived better, happier lives. In January, a study from Germany found that a third of people felt worse after spending time on Facebook. Seeing updates of friends' successful careers, cute babies and fabulous vacations inspired feelings of envy, loneliness and even anger. | Study: The more people check Facebook, the worse they feel about their lives .
Researchers at University of Michigan queried 82 young adults .
Authors of study say people may compare their lives to friends' and feel inferior .
Study is not the first to find negative effects of frequent Facebook use . |
facc4fe2891f0e2accb3463b0bca26584d0f891d | Jordan Henderson made his 150th appearance for Liverpool on Tuesday night. Considering the midfielder was doubted early on in his Liverpool career, after a £16million move from Sunderland in 2011, he quickly amassed that total in just over three years at the club. That form has earned him a spot as an England regular. VIDEO Scroll down for Sportsmail's Big Match Stats: Leicester 1-3 Liverpool . Jordan Henderson scores against Leicester during the 3-1 win for Liverpool on Tuesday night . Henderson celebrates scoring on his 150th appearance for Liverpool at the King Power Stadium . Emile Heskey was in the BT Sport studio working as a pundit — pictured with fellow Foxes hero Gary Lineker — having played a decade of his career at Leicester and Liverpool. At Leicester he was a powerful, pacy striker who filled defenders with fear. At Liverpool he became known for falling over a lot. Gary Lineker tweeted this photograph of him and Emile Heskey on Tuesday night at the King Power Stadium . Heskey was a pundit on Tuesday night, having played for Leicester City and Liverpool . Click here to find out why Mario Balotelli has made the headlines yet again . There were short, one-line descriptions of every Liverpool player on the back of Tuesday night’s match programme. Mario Balotelli, absent due to injury, was described as an ‘enigmatic Italian international striker’. Referring to him as perplexing and mysterious — definitions of enigmatic — is putting it mildly, especially given the latest storm surrounding the player. One of many since his summer move. Mario Balotelli, absent due to injury, was described as an 'enigmatic Italian international striker' Simon Mignolet – Liverpool's Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde player – had one of his off nights. At times for Liverpool he has been magnificent, at others he has been diabolical. He had already gifted Esteban Cambiasso an open goal, which the Leicester player missed, before being beaten twice until the ball cannoned off the post and went in off the hapless keeper. Liverpool's Simon Mignolet (right) sees Leicester score through an own goal by the unfortunate goalkeeper . Mignolet had already gifted Esteban Cambiasso an open goal, which the Leicester player luckily missed . This was the 100th meeting between the two sides. Including Tuesday night, they have met 89 times in the league, 10 in the FA Cup, and once in the League Cup. Leicester have 35 wins and 126 goals to Liverpool's 42 victories and 155 strikes. The leading scorers in this fixture are Leicester's Ernie Hine, a forward who was prolific in the early 1900s, Liverpool's Gordon Hodgson, from the same era, and Merseyside legend Ian Rush, all on nine. This was the 100th meeting between the two sides, with Ian Rush (right) among the top scorers on nine . | Jordan Henderson was doubted when he first joined three years ago .
The £16m buy from Sunderland made his 150th appearance on Tuesday .
Mario Balotelli described as an 'enigmatic Italian international striker' in Leicester City match-day programme .
Ex-Liverpool and Leicester striker Emile Heskey at King Power Stadium . |
facda59af09f8dae1d8e47fcb3556fe21c22609a | TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- A top Iranian general said government troops are "ready to sacrifice our lives" rather than back down in the face of protests over June's disputed presidential election. Iranians have held mass protests, such as this one on June 15, over the recent disputed presdential election. Gen. Sayyed Hassan Firouzabadi, chief of Iran's Joint Armed Forces, said Iranian soldiers were willing to die as they did in the brutal eight-year Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, according to the state-run Fars News Agency. "Some may think that by protesting and chanting their slogans against us, we will back down, retreat and give up," Firouzabadi said. "We are ready to sacrifice our lives, as we showed during the time of the Sacred Defense [the Iran-Iraq war]." The government has cracked down on Iranians who protested the outcome of the June 12 election in which hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the winner over his chief rival, reformist Mir Hossein Moussavi. Moussavi called the vote fraudulent and his supporters took to the streets by the thousands, sparking clashes between demonstrators and government troops, and members of a pro-government paramilitary force. "The military uniform, in the system of the Islamic Republic, which is the system of the holy Quran, is the uniform of the Prophet's faithful, Firouzabadi said. "It is the uniform of service to the supreme leadership and the people." Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Azizollah Rajabzadeh, Tehran's police chief, announced the creation of a 50,000-strong constable-like force called the "honorary police officers" that will assist police units, state-run Press TV reported. Rajabzadeh said the honorary police force could eventually expand to 300,000 nationwide. | Iranian general: Soldiers refuse to back down amid protests .
Protests stem from June's disputed presidential election .
Tehran police chief recently announced creation of constable-like force . |
facdfe89441e2a7860c7ad7e36cc987409c9412d | By . Associated Press . and Daily Mail Reporter . The mummified remains found in a Tucson, Arizona manhole last month likely sat there for more than a year before being discovered, an autopsy has revealed. Investigators found an identification card belonging to a 51-year-old man on the body, but have yet to release a name pending DNA results. Tucson Electric Power crews discovered the body the morning of May 19, following a power outage. Death underground: Mummified remains were found in this Tucson, Arizona manhole last month, following a power outage. An autopsy report released this week revealed the body likely sat there for more than a year before it was found . Still a mystery: The report said the man likely died of electrocution. The remains were found with an identification card belonging to a 51-year-old man, but a name has not been released pending DNA results . It is believed the man died of electrocution since he was found holding a pair of bolt cutters in a high-voltage utility volt, near cut copper wires. The electricity it what caused the man's remains to become mummified. 'The amount of electricity that went through his body essentially cooked his body, and removed all of the moisture out of it,' Lt David Theel told KVOA. The damage done to the remains is what made it difficult to identify the man, who is thought to have died underground one to to years ago. The manhole was last officially opened in 2009. Last month, investigators were looking into identifying the man by re-hydrating his hands for fingerprinting, or dental records. The manhole is located at the intersection of Tanque Verde Rd and Tanque Verde Loop near a junior high school. The manhole is located at the above intersection near a junior high school and was last officially opened in 2009 . | The remains were found on May 19 by Tucson Electric Power crews following an outage .
An autopsy report released Thursday finds the man died of a likely electrocution one to two years before being found .
The body was found holding box cutters, near copper wiring .
No identity has been released, but an identification card belonging to a 51-year-old man was found on the body . |
face35860cbd038a049b069016cb419602e1272f | The family of a married couple found stabbed to death at their village home have spoken for the first time about their loss. Police launched a murder investigation after Patrick and Gillian Kettyle, who were both in their 50s, died at their detached property at The Copse in Fetcham, Surrey, shortly after midnight last Thursday. Their family have today said 'our world has been dimmed with their loss' as they spoke of their 'horrendous' ordeal. The family of Patrick and Gillian Kettyle (pictured) who were stabbed to death last week at their home in Fetcham, Surrey, have paid tribute to a 'wonderful couple' and say 'world has been dimmed with their loss' Lithuanian builder, Viktoras Bruzas, 38, who was arrested in nearby Oxshott after the discovery of the bodies, has been charged with two counts of murder. Their deaths had sparked a police search for Bruzas, 38, who was arrested 18 hours later in nearby Oxshott. The self-employed builder, from Walton-on-Thames, appeared at Guildford Crown Court on Tuesday charged with two counts of murder. He had appeared briefly at South East Surrey Magistrates' Court in Redhill, Surrey, on Saturday, where his case was sent straight to the crown court. Lithuanian builder Viktoras Bruzas, 38, (pictured) has been charged with two counts of murder . Judge Christopher Critchlow, Honorary Recorder of Guildford, transferred the case to the Old Bailey in central London. Bruzas, who moved to England in 2008, was remanded in custody. Initial post mortem examinations show the couple died as the result of multiple knife wounds. A weapon was found near their home after detectives began a forensic search of the area. Today, the family of the Kettyles have paid tribute to the couple, who were known as Pat and Gilly. In a statement issued through Surrey Police, the family said: 'On behalf of the family of Patrick and Gillian Kettyle we would like to thank everyone for the overwhelming amount of kindness and support that has been shown to all of us during this most difficult time. 'Our special thanks also go to the paramedics and police. 'Pat and Gilly were a wonderful couple who loved each other dearly.' They added: 'It is true to say that the light in our world has been dimmed with their loss.' Police say Bruzas and the Kettyle family were known to each other. Mr Kettyle had employed Bruzas’s ex-wife, Kristina Bruziene, 37, as a secretary at his million-pound building and property development firm. He ran the company from his home, while his wife worked as a facilities manager at Cargill Plc in Cobham, Surrey. Bruzas will appear at the Old Bailey in front of Mr Justice Sweeney on December 19. He has been remanded in custody. Police launched an investigation after the couple were found stabbed to death at The Copse in Fetcham, Surrey, (pictured) shortly after midnight last Thursday. Viktoras Bruzas has been charged with their murders . Police and forensics officers attended the scene following the discovery of the two bodies in Fetcham . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Viktoras Bruzas, 38, charged with murders of Patrick and Gillian Kettyle .
'Loving' couple died from stab wounds at home in Fetcham last week .
Family paid tribute to 'wonderful' pair and thanked emergency services .
Bruzas will appear before Criminal Court at Old Bailey on December 19 . |
face877463783c43572be4d498ddcb8a6b158456 | Mohammed Rafiq (pictured) 80, organised a horrific revenge acid attack on his teenage ex-girlfriend . A pensioner who organised a revenge acid attack on his teenage girlfriend after she broke up with him was jailed for 18 years yesterday. Mohammed Rafiq, 80, paid Steven Holmes £50 to spray a corrosive liquid in the face of Vikki Horsman in April. The care worker, who was 19 at the time and had coverted to Islam for him, spent five days in intensive care after suffering burns to her face, neck and body. Rafiq, Holmes and Shannon Heaps, who identified the house in Tividale, West Midlands, where Miss Horsman was staying, were found guilty last week of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. Judge Nicholas Webb, sitting at Wolverhampton Crown Court, said the attack was a ‘wicked’ act. Jailing Holmes, 25, for 14 years, he described him as ‘callous and lacking in true remorse’. Heaps, 23, was jailed for 12 years. Rafiq persuaded the pair to carry out the attack after he became convinced that Miss Horsman had a new boyfriend. Judge Webb told the pensioner: ‘She had decided she didn’t want to continue her relationship with you and you became jealous and angry. ‘You obtained the acid and left it at the front door of the house for Holmes to pick it up and throw.’ He added: ‘Acid attacks are not uncommon in certain parts of the world. Thankfully, they are rare in England. Quite often they are to punish a woman who has refused to bow to the demands of a spouse. ‘In such cases it is done to leave a permanent reminder of what happens when a woman rejects attempts to control her.’ Vikki Horsman, pictured before the attack (left) and leaving Wolverhampton Court (right) was sprayed with a corrosive liquid after answering the door to Holmes on April 15 this year, and later spent five days in intensive care after suffering burns to her face, neck and body . The judge pointed out that Miss Horsman had been vulnerable when she met Rafiq following the death of both her parents. Speaking of the attack, she said she thought it was ‘the end’ and could feel her skin lifting ‘layer by layer’. She said: ‘I could feel my airways going tight, my lips blistering and just swelling ... agonising pain.’ Doctors told her she faces years of reconstructive surgery. Rafiq was also convicted of perverting the course of justice after he lied to police and blamed innocent people for the attack. An artists' representation of defendants (left to right) Shannon Heaps, 22, Steven Holmes, 25, and Mohammed Rafiq, 80, at the sentencing . Co-defendants Steven Holmes (left) and Shannon Heap (right) have also been jailed after they were found guilty last week, along with Rafiq, of causing grievous bodily harm with intent . | Mohammed Rafiq, 80, paid two men just £50 for 'wicked' attack on his ex .
Vikki Horsman, 20, had converted to Islam for the jealous pensioner .
She chose to wear a headscarf and changed her name to Aleena Rafiq .
But she ended relationship when he became 'too controlling'
Acid was thrown over her when she answered door at friend's house .
Rafiq was jailed alongside defendants Steven Holmes and Shannon Heaps .
All three had been found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent . |
faceb627772381b9b1ed1f03cd22767e83ced1bd | East Hampton, NY (CNN) -- In three debates by the presidential candidates and one by the vice-presidential hopefuls, no one could bring himself to utter the words "climate change." Hurricane Sandy said what all four White House contenders were afraid to say. I've heard that some voters are undecided. Watching the debates, I became undecided over what's worse: Republicans, who not only don't acknowledge reality, but who genuinely seem not to believe reality. Or Democrats, cowed into silence on issues of enormous importance like climate change and its solution: clean renewable energy. Sandy said things no candidate in America could voice without blowing away their own political career. She said: "Enough! Wake up. Take a reality check. And if you don't get it, it will get you; then you'll get it." Now, we got it. Sandy is probably the first storm to change an ongoing presidential campaign. Katrina changed the shape of a campaign to come, contributing significantly to George W. Bush's unpopularity and tarnishing his legacy ("Heckuva job, Brownie") with lingering images of unpreparedness. But unpreparedness requires, one might say, quite a lot of preparation. We build in places prone to flooding. We do that largely because subsidies encourage it. Federal flood insurance is a way the entire country subsidizes building and rebuilding in places destined for repeated hits. We rely on overhead lines to bring electricity, lines vulnerable to falling trees. And when they fall, we put them right back. Underground lines are more expensive. But if you have to keep repairing the overhead lines... News: Marshes and malls -- Migration to U.S. coast heightens impact of storms . We've created coastal bowling-pin communities; we set 'em up and the weather takes 'em down. I live in one. I'm guilty. In my defense, I'll claim entrapment, because I have federal flood insurance. You made me do it. So I just want to take this opportunity to thank you. But I'd like to also tell you, it's OK with me if you withdraw your generosity. In fact it would be better if you did. You help make us lazy. And by us, I mean millions of people living along the coast, whistling in the dark. And you help our politicians look away from the oncoming truth. Sea levels are rising. They've been rising since the last ice age and that rise has been accelerating since the Industrial Revolution. We've had fair and continual and increasing warning. And yet, small coastal communities and cities as large as New York have done essentially nothing to prepare. Over decades, we filled many wetlands that are the natural buffers to floods. Shrinking the area of our wetlands has left adjacent areas more prone to flooding. As the world continues warming, the warming tends to intensify storms. New York has been hit with two hurricanes in two years. That's unusual. And since at least Katrina, scientists have warned that hurricanes take their strength from the heat of the ocean's surface. Opinion: Climate change is real . Hurricane Sandy—and being an independent—has given New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg the political cover to simply repeat what Sandy herself has so loudly said: "global warming." Now Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy is joining in, too, telling NPR's "Science Friday" host Ira Flatow on November 2 that, "I've been talking about global warming for years." But was Sandy just a hurricane, or an angrier child spawned of unusually warm ocean waters? In one sense, it doesn't quite matter. David Roberts cast it colorfully in his Grist column, saying, "When the public asks, 'Did climate change cause this?' they are asking a confused question. It's like asking, 'Did steroids cause the home run Barry Bonds hit on May 12, 2006?' There's no way to know whether Bonds would have hit the home run without steroids. But who cares? Steroids mean more home runs. That's what matters." These questions remain: Will the storms that come our way get stronger, more damaging? Will we experience more frequent damage from storms? We'd better prepare ourselves for the answers to be yes. That's because, even if the answer is no, this storm, like last year's, exposed the Northeast's soft underbelly and our recklessly erected vulnerability. The world is warming. Warming intensifies storms. Warming raises sea levels. You tell me what we can expect. News: Experts warn of superstorm era to come . So, was the storm caused by global warming? Soon we'll have a more interesting question: Was the outcome of the presidential election caused by global warming? Did global warming affect the course of human events enough to make a difference in what we say, in what we think, in how we free our politicians to decide what they can do next? The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Carl Safina. | Carl Safina: Presidential candidates afraid to talk of impact of climate change .
Sandy may be first storm that could change an ongoing presidential campaign, he says .
Federal flood insurance enables development in environmentally threatened areas, he says .
Safina: We've had warnings before, but haven't acted to deal with rising sea level . |
facef42c6493220a86647658aef43702bc2dc045 | Rory McIlroy received plenty of criticism when he switched club manufacturers almost two years ago and he has now conceded that it took nearly 12 months to feel totally at ease with his new equipment. The Northern Irishman was flying high at the top of the world rankings when he signed a 10-year contract with Nike in January 2013 that, according to media reports, was worth $250 million. A host of fellow golfers and media pundits lined up to tell McIlroy he was taking a gamble with his career and he went through a torrid time before ending a 12-month title drought by landing the Australian Open crown at the end of the year. Rory McIlroy celebrates after winning the US PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in August . McIlroy poses with the European Tour's Race to Dubai trophy in Dubai in November . McIlroy has not looked back since and an outstanding 2014 season yielded two major triumphs, a World Golf Championship win, victory in the European Tour's flagship event, a memorable Ryder Cup display and a return to the no. 1 spot in the rankings. 'The Australian win at the end of a very lean 2013 was a welcome bit of form,' the 25-year-old said. 'It was the coming together of some hard work on many aspects of my game and becoming completely comfortable with the club changes I'd made. 'I then had the confidence to get the job done. I'd say it was worth the wait to get things properly in place. 'The major wins were really a continuation of that process. And, of course, hugely important, satisfying and evidence that I could win majors when I had to dig deep, rather than by comfortable margins,' said McIlroy who has been voted the 2014 Reuters Sportsman of the Year. 'But don't get me wrong. I've nothing against a comfortable margin.' McIlroy's first two major triumphs, in the 2011 U.S. Open and 2012 U.S. PGA Championship, were both runaway eight-shot victories. McIlroy (left) celebrates Euope's Ryder Cup victory alongside team-mate Sergio Garcia . McIlroy also won the PGA Championship at Wentworth in 2014, the European Tour's flagship event . His third and fourth major wins, achieved this year, were much tighter affairs. He won the British Open at Hoylake by two strokes in July and had only one shot to spare when he lifted his second U.S. PGA Championship trophy, in Kentucky in August. McIlroy also had a stellar season in 2012, winning five times around the world, but believes he is a much more mature player these days. 'Two years on tour is quite a long time, even (or especially) as a 25-year-old,' he explained. 'I also think my game and mental approach are in many ways linked. 'With my swing, clubs and fitness in place, I feel confident enough to go out and win. 'Perhaps a lot of the maturity is just an extended learning curve, with each experience, good or bad, another lesson in patience, course management and knowing when, or when not, to take a risk.' McIlroy gave an exemplary exhibition of course management during Europe's victory over the United States in Scotland in September. Pitting his wits against an in-form Rickie Fowler in the final-day singles at Gleneagles, he simply blew the American away with a performance that showed just why he is the world no. 1. McIlroy reeled off four birdies and an eagle in a stunning six-hole start and went on to record a 5 & 4 demolition job on a dazed Fowler. McIlroy poses with his two major trophies, the US PGA Championship and The Open (right) 'That was really down to a confidence thing,' said the Northern Irishman. 'I'd been playing really well, my swing was in great shape and I felt I knew what I needed to do to get a win on the board -- get off to a fast start. 'The early birdies that day came as a result of some excellent driving, which effectively took any trouble out of the equation on the opening holes and allowed me relatively easy approaches. 'I thought that if I was well under par by the turn I would be difficult to catch.' The quality of McIlroy's golf this year has helped him establish a sizeable lead over closest pursuers Henrik Stenson, Adam Scott and Bubba Watson and he will certainly be difficult to catch at the top of the rankings in 2015. | McIlroy won two majors during a breathtaking 2014 campaign .
He said a barren 2013 season was tough as he adjusted to Nike clubs .
McIlroy feels he has matured a lot in the past two years out on tour . |
facf255a60f50a6c420e38bf9e4b2799af9c8537 | American was frozen this morning, as temperatures plunged below freezing in every single state for the first time this winter. From the mountains of Hawaii to northern Florida, through the frigid Midwest and, unsurprisingly, Alaska, thermometers read 32 degrees or below. The Great Lakes have been the epicenter of the latest rush of winter weather, with parts of upstate New York deluged with an incredible five feet of snow in a matter of hours.. In western New York, authorities were forced to close down the New York State Thruway after snow piled up by the foot overnight. More than three feet of snow has fallen in and around Buffalo, New York. Watertown, New York, has been hit almost as hard. Nearly two feet has piled up in northern Wisconsin. Northern and western Michigan expects one to two feet. Dozens of drivers were stranded and officials declared a state of emergency in Buffalo and the surrounded suburbs. Authorities were enforcing a travel ban and urging residents to stay home, according to the Buffalo News. Scroll down for videos . Piled on: Good Morning America host Gio Benitez showed off thigh-deep snow that had fallen overnight in Buffalo, New York . Stranded: Dozens of motorists were stranded on the New York State Thruway overnight after snow took driver by surprise. Elsewhere in Buffalo, a state of emergency was declared . Bitter cold: Commuters across the country had to bundle up against the brutal temperatures. Here, a woman wears a hat, scarf and hood to protect against temperatures in Philadelphia that hit 21 degrees . Covered: Lake effect snow hammered Buffalo, New York, and the surrounding suburbs - dumping up to five feet between Monday night and Tuesday . Marching on: The wall of snow could be seen from miles away as it brought yet more snow to the pounded city . Almost the entire country is experiencing temperatures well below normal for this time of the year. In the Midwest, South, and Northeast, it's 15 to 25 degrees colder than it should be for mid-November. In Northeast Ohio, temperatures hit record lows for November as wind chills dropped to -8 degrees. Lows in Chicago dropped to 12 degrees with a wind chill of -6. On Monday, parts of Upstate New York experienced thundersnow, the rattling early winter phenomenon, and could see it again. Accuweather meteorologist Tom Kines said big snowfall is contained to a few places experiencing lake effect snow from the Great Lakes. 'Those places that are getting hit by lake effect are measuring snow by feet not inches,' he said. Snow last week ensured that nearly half of the nation is now blanketed in snow - which might not be a record, but it's rare for November, Mr Kines added. The arctic blast is expected to bring temperatures well below freezing as far south as Houston on Tuesday morning. Northern Florida and the southeast have even dropped below freezing. In Mariana, Florida, the low this morning was 31 degrees. Even lower temperatures are expected for tomorrow in the southeast - where even New Orleans could drop to 31 degrees, setting a record low for this time of year, according to Accuweather.com. The winter weather has caused 17 deaths - mostly from car crashes because of slippery roads - since Saturday. More crashes are expected as commuters re-learn how to drive in the snow. Chilly: By Tuesday afternoon, much of the country was still under deep freeze. Even parts of the south remained below freezing . More of the same: Wednesday promises to severely cold all over again, with freezing temperatures dipping all the way into central Florida and south Texas . Warming slightly: Thursday will be slightly less cold as the weather warms ahead of the weekend. Lows in most places will still be unseasonably chilly . Colder than is should be: Nearly the entire country is experiencing below-average temperatures. In the South, Midwest and Northeast, it's 15 to 25 degrees colder than it normally is this time of year . Snow-vember: Nearly half of the country is covered in snow - from Washington to Texas, Tennessee to Maine there is at least a trace of snow on the ground right now . Whiteout: Snowy clouds can be seen swirling over the Great Lakes, center, and expanding into New York State and New England . Snowed in: One family is Buffalo will have a hard time getting outside thanks to the giant snow drift on their front lawn . Alternative transportation: A firefighter left his truck behind and got on a snowmobile in Depew, New York, on Tuesday . Even in Buffalo, a city that knows snow, the winter pounding took some residents by surprise. A Buffalo News photographer captured this young man wearing shorts while helping a driver dig out . Digging out: One Buffalo resident had to dig a trench just so she could open the door to let her dog out . Roll on: A semi tries its best to heave itself up a steep street in Kalamazoo, Michigan . Firefighters worked to free a car stuck in the snow in Depew, New York, which was also socked on Tuesday . In the major northeast cities, residents broke out their heavy winter coats early and bundled up against the bitterest temperatures so far this season. In New York City, the low hit 27 degrees, 18 with the wind chill. Washington, DC, hit 28, with a wind chill of 17 degrees. The low in Philadelphia was 27 with a wind chill of 13 this morning. And Boston was a comparatively toasty 38, with a wind chill of 30. The temperature is expected to drop even lower tonight - hitting 21 in New York and Philadelphia, 24 in Washington and 23 in Boston. Mr Kines, of Accuweather, said the cold temperatures are due to the jetstream settling in the far southern US, which is bringing cold air south from the arctic to blanket nearly the entire country. The country is in for more cold the rest of the week - and it will possibly get colder on Wednesday. However, by the weekend temperatures will warm - possibly all the way into the 60s by Monday in the northeastern US. The weather forecasts show milder temperatures and few storms on the horizon for the busy Thanksgiving holiday travel, Mr Kines said. Coming down: Western Michigan was also hard hit by lake effect snow. Grand Rapids, Michigan, where as much as 10 and a half inches fell on Tuesday . Surprise! Kapone the pooch is about to get a cold introduction to winter from owner Lauren Hansen, who shoveled off her porch in Grand Rapids Tuesday . Fun in the snow: Like any good western New York residents, Brooke Driscoll (left) and Buffalo Bills wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (right) enjoyed their snow day . Buried in Buffalo: Residents were urged to stay home and keep off the streets in the midst of the deluge . Sledders, from left, Kaitlin Crawford, Casey Brugh and Kyle LeBarron trek across the snow-covered Helfrich Hills Golf Course in Evansville, Indiana in search of the perfect hill on Monday morning . Cold-lanta: Even residents of normally-balmy Atlanta had to bundle up against the cold as temperatures dipped into the 20s . High winds mixed with the heavy snowfall to cause-near whiteout conditions in much of Buffalo . Three feet: This Buffalo resident measured 34 inches of snow on Tuesday morning - and two more feet could fall before it stops . Silver lining? The cold weather is great news for those in the ski industry - pictured are snow cannons getting to work on Roundtop Mountain in Lewisberry, Pennsylvania . Even cold down south: Two students in Jackson, Mississippi, bundled up on their way to school after temperatures hit 27 degrees. A low of 24 is expected tonight . Surf's not up: Even on the sands of Dania Beach, Florida, the chilly weather kept all but a hardy few out of the sea . Thunder and lightning are more usually associated with warmer climates but under certain conditions they can occur in cold ones too. Thundersnow starts out like a summer thunderstorm - the sun heats the ground and pushes masses of warm, moist air upward, creating unstable air columns. As it rises, the moisture condenses to form clouds, which are jostled by internal turbulence. Lightning is caused by this rubbing of the clouds against each other - thunder is the sound of lightning but as sound moves more slowly than light we hear it later. The tricky part for making thundersnow is creating that atmospheric instability in the wintertime. When it is cold, and particularly in air conducive to snowfall, the lower atmosphere is dry, cold and very stable. For thundersnow to occur there needs to be a very precise set of circumstances - the air layer closer to the ground has to be warmer than the layers above, but still cold enough to create snow. When this happens warm air rises, snow falls and thunder, lightning and snow all occur at the same time. | Every single state experienced below-freezing temperatures Tuesday .
Five feet of snow is expected around Buffalo, New York .
Half of the nation is blanketed in snow .
Authorities shut down the New York State Thruway in western New York .
Dozens of drivers are stranded on the Thruway after getting caught in incredible pile-up of lake effect snow .
Temperatures are 15 to 25 degrees lower than normal for this time of the year across most of the country . |
facf399b1e42b398975616dfd5afaed5a45fa920 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . A 65-year-old former bartender from New South Wales has described the incredible moment he was shot in the stomach and left for dead by two armed robbers. Dick McGuigan endured 15 surgeries and was left with a disfigured stomach wound after the two hooded men stormed the Water Board Bowling Club in Newcastle where he was working at the time. Ryker Jenner and Joel Barton entered the club on a Sunday evening as a local meat raffle was finishing up, armed with a Ruger .223 mini-assault rifle and a screwdriver. Scroll down for video . Dick McGuigan has shared his survival story about the day he was shot in the stomach after trying to protect patrons from an armed robber at a Newcastle bar he worked at . In an effort to defend his clientele, which included families with their young children, Mr McGuigan told Nine News that he tried talking to the robbers in an attempt to stall them before police arrived. However Jenner and Barton only briefly verbally abused the man before attempting to flee the venue with a bag full of money. Mr McGuigan said he and a few others then begun to follow the two men, hoping to record their number plate for police, when they noticed him. 'The gunman came back in. We stopped in our tracks and he was aiming the gun directly at me,' he said. The 65-year-old said that he was shot after the two men caught him and a few others trying to get a glimpse of their number plate, with one of the men saying: 'Put one in the old guy' After a clear direction from Jennar to 'Put one in the old guy', Barton shot the rifle directly into Mr McGuigan's stomach. 'I saw the flash, heard the bang and felt something hit me in the stomach. I put my hand down and there was blood on my fingers.' Amazingly, after numerous surgeries and time in the intensive care unit, Mr McGuigan managed to survive to tell the tale. The hollow bullet only just managed to miss his spine as he turned to the side moments before being shot. Now, Mr McGuigan gives talks at other pubs and clubs across NSW about how to handle similar dangerous situations. CCTV from the event shows children were in the bar when the retiree was shot: Ryker Jenner and Joel Barton were found guilty of the shooting and robbery earlier this year . The retiree is also adamant for the scar on his stomach to be the only one he's left with, saying: 'They've ruined their lives. They're not going to ruin mine'. Jenner and Barton were hunted down by police and found guilty of the shooting as well as robbery earlier this year. Jennar has been sentenced to a minimum of 12 years in jail while Barton’s sentence will be handed out later in the year. | Dick McGuigan, 65, has undergone 15 surgeries since the day he was shot .
The incident occurred after he tried to record the number plate of two armed robbers who had been terrorising clients in his workplace .
Ryker Jenner and Joel Barton were charged earlier this year . |
facf45e43c146ebfdddffed9910982468b1901a2 | Abdullah bin Bayyah met with members of the Obama administration's national security team on June 13, despite his close ties with a Muslim Brotherhood leader who advocates for the destruction of Israel and has been banned from the U.S. since 1999 . The White House's National Security Council has confirmed that staffers held a June 13 meeting with Shaykh Abdallah bin Bayyah, an Islamist cleric who shares leadership of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, where he is vice-president and the terror supporter Yusuf al-Qaradawi is president. The meeting occurred on the same day the Obama administration announced plans to arm Syria's rebel factions, in the wake of a determination that President Bashar al-Assad had used chemical weapons against his own people. The Investigative Project on Terrorism, . which released a report Late Tuesday covering the circumstances of the meeting, wrote that bin Bayyah has referred to the anti-Semitic . Islamist al-Qaradawi 'as "a mountain upon whose peak there is light” and . as "a great reformer" who "spreads knowledge and wisdom."' MailOnline . saw a late draft of that report. 'Like many in the global Muslim . Brotherhood movement who pose as moderates to the press and to liberal . intellectuals by issuing condemnations of al-Qaida,' it read in part, . 'Bin Bayyah refuses to label the acts of groups such as Hamas, Hizballah . or Palestinian Islamic Jihad as terrorism.' He . has also issued 'an endorsement of the push by Muslim intellectuals to . criminalize blasphemy against the Muslim prophet Muhammad and Islam,' the group reported. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEOS . Gayle Smith, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Development and Democracy at the National Security Council, met with Shaykh Abdallah bin Bayyah on June 13 . Bin Bayyah (2nd L) released this photo on his website, showing the June 13 meeting with Obama administration officials including Gayle Smith (2nd R) and Rashad Hussain (4th L) Bin Bayyah wrote on his website in . the days following that meeting that he 'visited the White House where . he met with Ms. Gayle Smith, a senior aide to President Barack Obama, . and Mr. Rashad Hussain, U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of the . Islamic Conference.' 'He . also met with a number of experts,' that claim continued, 'including the . director of public relations in the White House, the national security . adviser, and representatives from seven government agencies.' Smith is Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Development and Democracy at . the National Security Council. Hussain is the lawyer tapped to . implement the 'new beginning with Muslims around the world' which . President Obama promised during a June 4, 2009 speech in Cairo, Egypt. Bin . Bayyah cultivates an image as a Muslim moderate despite his views. Al-Qaradawi, meanwhile, is a more vocal proponent of Muslim suicide . bombers killing Jews, especially in portions of Israel that Palestinians claim as their territory. Yusuf al-Qaradawi (R), shown with Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh (L), leads the International Union of Muslim Scholars. His second-in-command, Abdallah bin Bayyah, was welcomed into the White House on June 13 . Al-Qaradawi . is generally considered the leading Islamic scholar affiliated with the . Muslim Brotherhood. He has called openly for the destruction of Israel . and the deaths of all Jews, called Adolf Hitler a divine punishment for . the 'misdeeds of the Jews' and claimed the Nazi Holocaust has been . popularly exaggerated. Al-Qaradawi has also said he wants to . die 'in the service of jihad' by blowing himself up in Israel and . killing Jews in the process. 'I have supported [suicide bombings] for the past 20 years,' he said in 2008. 'I . do not automatically support martyrdom operations,' he continued. “I . permit them under specific constraints, when necessary, like in the case . of our Palestinian brothers who are forced to defend themselves by . turning themselves into bombs.' The . two clerics' close association has caused reputational trouble for bin . Bayyah among Western governments, and the U.S. State Department has . denied al-Qaradawi entry into the country since 1999. But the Obama . administration welcomed bin Bayyah into the White House. Bin . Bayyah's own views about Palestinian terror attacks on Israeli targets . may have made inviting him to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue a difficult call. Barack Obama has made overtures to the Israel lobby since the days of his first presidential candidacy, but members of his national security team met secretly with the vice president of a leading anti-Israel group this month . Shaykh Abdallah bin Bayyah, circled in red, is shown at the December 2012 International Union of Muslim Scholars' board meeting in Doha, Qatar. Yusuf al-Qaradawi is shown to his left (camera-right). The meeting ended with a call for the destruction of the state of Israel . 'That the Obama Administration would . invite to the United States a radical Muslim cleric whose organization . supports terrorism and whose leaders have issued fatwas calling for the . killing of Americans and Jews is beyond comprehension.,' Investigative . Project on Terrorism executive director Steve Emerson told MailOnline. Emerson called on Congress to investigate 'immediately.' 'In . my 30 years of covering terrorism, I have never in my life been so . appalled and outraged at what can only be called criminal behavior by . this administration,' he said. NSC communications director Caitlin Hayden told MailOnline in an email that she was 'unfamiliar with this meeting,' but later allowed that she was 'not disputing it.' Separately, a senior administration official confirmed to MailOnline that 'Gayle Smith and members of the National Security Staff met with Shaykh Bin Bayyah to discuss a wide range of issues including poverty, global health efforts, and Bin Bayyah’s efforts to counter the al Qaeda narrative.' 'Ms. Smith stated that she looked forward to working with him,' the official added, 'and with other faith leaders on issues of mutual interest.' Abdallah bin Bayyah's English-language website initially reported that 'the national security adviser' of the U.S., Tom Donilon, was a participant in the June 13 meeting . After MailOnline inquired with the White House, but before bin Bayyah's organization was approached, the 'national security adviser' language disappeared . Yusuf al-Qaradawi claimed in 2009 that the Nazi Holocaust was a 'divine punishment' directed at Jews. Abdallah bin Bayyah, who met with National Security Council staff in the White House, is al-Qaradawi's deputy as vice president of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, which al-Qaradawi leads . The account of the meeting on bin Bayyah's website also mentions that he 'called for the protection of the Syrian people and the Muslim minority in Myanmar.' But less than 12 hours after MailOnline made inquiries with the NSC, that account was . altered to remove any reference to National Security Adviser Tom . Donilon having attended the meeting. The site still claims 'the director . of public relations in the White House' - likely a reference to . communications director Jennifer Palmieri - did attend. There . has been no confirmation from the White House or from bin Bayyah that . either Palmieri or Donilon participated in the June 13 meeting. A second web page on bin Bayyah's site was also changed within hours of MailOnline's inquiries. According to translations provided by . the Investigative Project on Terrorism, an Arabic language account of . the June 13 meeting originally mentioned the 'Director of Public . Relations in the White House' and 'the National Security Adviser.' It . was changed to refer to 'Deputy Director of Public Relations in the . White House' and 'Deputy National Security Adviser.' The National Security Council would not confirm the attendance of any specific West Wing deputy. Rashad Hussain, US envoy to the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, is the Obama administration official tasked with rebooting America's relationships in the Muslim world . During an April 2013 TV interview, prominent International Union of . Muslim Scholars member Tareq Hawwas wished openly of Europe's Jews that 'Hitler had finished them off, thus relieving humanity of them' Any connection with the International . Union of Muslim Scholars could be problematic for the Obama . administration, since that organization ended its December 2012 board . meeting by calling for all of Israel to be returned to Palestinians, and for the return of . those Palestinians who were exiled after the Israeli War of Independence in . 1948. Its most prominent members have also expressed openly anti-Semitic views. Lebanese . Islamic scholar Tareq Hawwas, for instance, said in April on Al-Quds TV . that Jews 'are cowards' and 'the most miserly of all peoples ... If . only Hitler had finished them off, thus relieving humanity of them.' And Hamas parliament member Marwan Abu Ras, another International Union of Muslim Scholars member, claimed on the Hamas-run Al-Aqsa TV that 'Jews are behind each and every catastrophe on the face of the Earth. This is not open to debate. ... Any catastrophe on the face of this Earth, the Jews must be behind it.' That assessment came on Sept. 12, 2012, as the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya lay in ruins and ashes. The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for information about whether it recommended against issuing a visa to bin Bayyah for his June 13 meeting. Typically, a former DHS official told MailOnline, that agency would have been consulted before the state Department began the process to clear him for entry into the country. Speaking of the International union . of Muslim Scholars, the Investigative Project on Terrorism's Emerson . claimed 'the United States Government has just . legitimized a group that is basically no different that Hamas or . Hizbollah, except that this group is the one issuing the religious . edicts . to those Islamic terrorist groups to carry out jihad against Israel and . the United States.' 'This is the equivalent of inviting Al Qaeda to the . White House.' | The UK and U.S. have banned Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who leads the anti-Israel International Union of Muslim Scholars.
The Obama administration invited that group's VP, Abdallah bin Bayyah, to a private meeting on the day it announced support for Syria's rebels .
The organization ended its December 2012 board meeting by calling for the end of Israel and the return of its lands to the Palestinians .
Hours after MailOnline began inquiring with the National Security Council about its meeting with bin Bayyah, the cleric's website was edited to remove the claim that National Security Adviser Tom Donilon attended . |
facf978f8ef57937b98dce8dc93d2932636735f4 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 19:28 EST, 13 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 07:24 EST, 14 March 2014 . Washington has lifted its ban on British oil company BP bidding for federal government contracts in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico disaster in 2010, the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history. BP said it had reached agreement with America's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which will also see it withdraw a lawsuit challenging the suspension and open the way for it to enter into new leases in the Gulf. Britain backed efforts to lift the ban and in December filed a statement to a U.S. court considering the case that it 'may have been excessive'. Fatal disaster: The 2011 Deepwater Horizon accident killed 11 workers and spilled millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico . BP had been suspended from performing any new government work in America since November 2012, after it agreed to plead guilty and pay a $4.5 billion (£2.8 billion) fine for criminal charges over the Deepwater Horizon disaster. The oil rig accident killed 11 workers and spilled millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.BP has been banned for 16 months from leasing more offshore oil and gas properties and renewing fuel contracts with the U.S. military. But under the new agreement, 25 BP . entities and its Houston-based oil production and exploration arm have . been cleared to secure new government contracts. For five years, BP will have to abide by a . series of ethics, safety and other requirements. An independent auditor . will also verify its compliance with the deal. It comes just before the . U.S. Department of Interior will offer more than 40 million acres for oil and . gas exploration and development in the Gulf of Mexico in March lease . sales. The company said the lifting of the embargo cleared it to enter into new deepwater leases in the Gulf of Mexico. The deal also means that, for five years, the company will have to abide by a series of ethics, safety and other requirements, while an independent auditor will also verify its compliance with the deal. The company's prospects are seen as important to UK jobs and pension funds. John Minge, chairman and president of BP . America, said: 'After a lengthy negotiation, BP is pleased to have . reached this resolution, which we believe to be fair and reasonable. 'Today's agreement will allow America's largest energy investor to again compete for federal contracts and leases.' Dark clouds of smoke and fire emerge as oil burns during a controlled fire in the Gulf of Mexico, May 6, 2010 . A fire aboard the Deepwater Horizon oil rig raged for days before sinking . A team of federal regulators concluded that BP has to bear the ultimate responsibility for the spill . Senate Energy Committee chair Sen. Mary Landrieu, praised the agreement. She said: 'BP . has rightly been held responsible in a court of law and should continue . to make whole the individuals and businesses that were impacted by the . oil spill, but barring them from entering new contracts on top of that . amounted to double jeopardy and set a terrible precedent that I hope . will not be repeated. 'The . good news is that BP will now be able to participate in next week's . lease sale that will bring much-needed revenue to Louisiana and other . oil-producing states along the Gulf Coast." Upsetting: A brown Pelican covered in oil sits on the beach at East Grand Terre Island along the Louisiana coast six months after the explosion . Disaster: Thick crude oil from the spill being collected near Port Sulphur, Louisiana in 2010 . However Tyson Slocum, director of Public Citizen's Energy Program, criticized the move for letting BP 'off the hook.' He said the company 'has failed to prove that it is a responsible contractor deserving of lucrative taxpayer deals'. BP continues to grapple with the costs of the spill, with annual results last month showing the total charge recognised to date stood at $42.7 billion (£26.2 billion). It is appealing against a court ruling over bogus claims on its compensation scheme and is asking for an injunction 'to prevent awards to claimants whose losses are not traceable to the spill'. Stock watch: BP shares have not recovered since the Deepwater disaster in April 2010 . Shares rose around 0.5 per cent on a day when the wider FTSE 100 Index headed downwards in the wake of overnight gloom on world markets. The April 2010 spill occurred after . BP's Macondo well blew out, causing the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig . to explode, killing 11 workers. Millions of gallons of oil spewed into the Gulf, with crude soiling shoreline and beaches from Louisiana to Florida. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | BP reaches agreement with America's Environmental Protection Agency .
2010 oil rig accident killed 11 workers and spilled millions of barrels of oil .
Firm was banned from performing government work since November 2012 .
It agreed to pay a $4.5 billion fine for criminal charges over the disaster . |
facfe082e567bcb724f6311016a1c6f379170a63 | (CNN) -- Thursday brings one of the biggest slates of Hollywood entertainment to open on Christmas Day in many years. Tom Cruise stars as would-be Hitler assassin Col. Claus von Stauffenberg in the World War II drama "Valkyrie." Stars such as Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Adam Sandler are featured in a slew of big-budget movies hoping to lure people into theaters this holiday season. Here are the top five movies opening Thursday: . 1. "Valkyrie" -- Tom Cruise stars in the true story of a German military officer who conspires to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Cruise plays Col. Claus von Stauffenberg, a proud military man who realizes that Hitler must be stopped before Germany and Europe collapse under Nazi rule. Joining Cruise are three-time Oscar nominee Kenneth Branagh as Maj. Gen. Henning von Tresckow and twice-nominated actor Tom Wilkinson as Gen. Friedrich Fromm. United Artists is releasing the film. 2. "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" -- Brad Pitt stars in this fantasy drama about a man who ages backward. He's born in his 80s and then gets younger as the years pass. "Button" is based on the 1920s story by F. Scott Fitzgerald and runs two hours and 47 minutes. The cast includes Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett, who is creating Oscar buzz this year as well for her portrayal of Daisy in "Button." The film, released by Paramount Pictures, already has won several film critics' awards. 3. "Marley & Me" -- Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston learn life lessons from an out-of-control canine they decide to adopt. This comedy-drama is adapted from the best-selling novel by John Grogan. Some audiences expecting a feel-good comedy such as "Turner & Hooch" or "Beethoven" may be surprised by this painfully realistic portrayal that could leave audiences teary-eyed at the end. The supporting cast includes Alan Arkin and Kathleen Turner. The PG-rated film gets a 20th Century Fox release. 4. "Bedtime Stories" -- Funny guy Adam Sandler shoots for the family crowd with this fantasy comedy about a hotel handyman who tells his niece and nephew a bedtime story, only to find out that his fantasy stylings are coming true. Sandler's film, which also stars Guy Pearce, Courteney Cox and Keri Russell, is getting mixed reviews so far. It's rated PG for mild rude humor and mild language. 5. "The Spirit" -- Based on a graphic novel about a masked crusader, "The Spirit" will cater to the so-called fanboys who hope the film's PG-13 rating will push the envelope on violence and other cool stuff. iReport.com: Will you see any of the new movies on tap during the holidays? Gabriel Macht plays Denny Colt, aka The Spirit, in this story of a man who fakes his death so he can fight a coldblooded killer known as the Octopus (Samuel L. Jackson). Eva Mendes is along for the ride, which could be a plus for the film's desired demographic of young men 13 to 21. Lionsgate is distributing. | Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt among group of stars with films opening on Christmas Day .
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" already is generating Oscar buzz .
"Valkyrie" and "The Spirit" expected to appeal to action-movie fans .
Family films include "Marley & Me" and "Bedtime Stories" |
fad03850f2cc9a9670d74e69b02d8b8123e69994 | The King of Spain is a serial womaniser who once made a pass at Princess Diana while she was on holiday with Prince Charles, a book has claimed. It also alleges that Juan Carlos is a ‘professional seducer’ who has had numerous affairs and has not shared a bed with his wife for the past 35 years. And it reveals that age has not stopped the 74-year-old, with the monarch regularly receiving vitamin injections and anti-ageing treatments. Tactile: Princess Diana being kissed in 1987 by the King of Spain, who according to a new book, is a serial womaniser . Together: Diana, Prince Charles and their boys with King Carlos, Queen Sofia and members of the Greek royal family on board a yacht in August 1990 . The Solitude of the Queen by Pilar Eyre, which is likely to prove controversial in the Catholic country, claims the king made a ‘tactile’ advance to Diana while she and Charles were on holiday in Majorca in the 1980s. It follows much-derided allegations made in 2004 by Lady Colin Campbell that the princess had a fling with Juan Carlos while on a cruise in August 1986 and then again the following April. Controversial: The Solitude of the Queen by Pilar Eyre claims the king made a 'tactile' advance to Diana while she and Charles were on holiday in Majorca in the 1980s . During a 1987 visit, in which Charles . and Diana went to Madrid, the king was pictured smiling as he kissed . the princess on the hand – a gesture which left Diana looking . embarrassed. Miss Eyre’s book also alleges that Queen . Sofia has not slept in the marital bed since 1976 and only remains in . the marriage out of ‘a sense of duty’. She even claims the queen stumbled upon her husband with one of his alleged lovers, the Spanish film star Sara Montiel, at a friend’s country house in Toledo in 1976. Sofia, now 73, was forced to attend a football match the day afterwards ‘as protocol demanded’, before storming out of the Zarzuela Palace, their official residence, with her children. Advised to stay with her husband, she was told a break-up would mean she would ‘end up being paid to liven up the parties of the newly rich’. Miss Eyre adds: ‘The role of the queen is sad, she is the loneliest woman in Spain.’ Distant: Carlos and Queen Sofia have allegedly not slept in the marital bed together since 1976 . She also told Spanish gossip magazine Vanitatis: ‘Queen Sofia is a woman betrayed and hurt with a married life that has been a real tragedy. The king’s closest friends I have spoken to say they don’t like her.’ And she alleges that, as recently as last year, when the monarch was recovering from the removal of a benign lung tumour, he was seeing a 25-year-old German translator. After writing the book, Miss Eyre was informed she would no longer appear on Spanish TV channel Telecinco. She said she was told: ‘The station has banned talk about your book and does not allow you to continue working. You are banned, Pilar, we are sorry.’ | Book claims Juan Carlos has had numerous affairs and has not shared a bed with his wife for 35 years . |
fad0d072e652d071020313f16b0ff156bf167a5a | By . Bob Smyth . PUBLISHED: . 15:19 EST, 12 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:06 EST, 13 January 2013 . A convicted murderer has protested his innocence in an unprecedented YouTube video filmed behind bars. Luke Mitchell, 24, is serving a life sentence in a Scottish prison for the brutal murder of his teenage girlfriend Jodi Jones. But now, in a landmark move, prison authorities have given permission for footage shot in jail to be made public. Scroll down for video . Unprecedented: Convicted murderer Luke Mitchell is pictured in prison denying killing his girlfriend Jodi Jones while hooked up to a lie detector in a YouTube video . Protesting his innocence: Mitchell - who is serving a life sentence for the killing of Jodi Jones who was found dead near her home in Easthouse, Dalkeith, Midlothian, in June 2003 - has always being involved in her murder . The dramatic video clip - which is today being broadcast on the internet - shows Mitchell denying his involvement in Jodi’s murder while wired up to a lie detector machine. The extraordinary move is believed to be the first time a convicted criminal has ever been seen taking - and passing - a polygraph test while in prison. Mitchell, who has consistently denied killing 14-year-old Jodi, hopes that releasing the clip onto the internet will persuade the public that he is the victim of a miscarriage of justice. Found guilty: Mitchell was found guilty of murdering his girlfriend Jodi Jones by a jury in 2005 . At the end of last week, he told his mother: 'I want the world to see that I actually went through this process and it backed what I have always said - that I didn’t kill Jodi.' As revealed in the Scottish Mail on Sunday, Mitchell passed a lie detector test carried out by an independent expert in a prison visiting room last April. As is normal practice, the test was filmed. Campaigners backing Mitchell applied to the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to use the footage to help clear his name. Permission from the SPS was required because the clip was filmed within prison grounds. And last week the governor of Shotts Prison, the top-security jail where Mitchell is being held, gave the go-ahead. The footage shows Mitchell dressed in a standard prison-issue blue tee-shirt being asked a series of questions - including three key questions related directly to the murder. Mitchell, jailed for a minimum of 20 years in January 2005, was shown to be telling the truth when he denied being involved. The convicted killer was interviewed by experienced polygraph examiner Terry Mullins, secretary of the British Polygraph Association, who has carried out a string of lie tests in English prisons although the examination of Mitchell has been his only work in a jail north of the border. The release of the video is the first time footage of one of his prison tests has been shown publicly. Mitchell’s mother Corinne said her son was delighted that the public can now watch him passing the test. Ongoing battle: Luke Mitchell, pictured on Sky News shortly after the discovery of Jodi Jones' body, has always maintained his innocence and repeatedly asked for polygraph tests . Family support: Luke Mitchell with his mother Corinne, 53, has always stood by her son . Murdered schoolgirl: Mitchell was ordered to serve a minimum of 20 years for the murder of his 14-year-old girlfriend Jodi Jones, pictured . Mrs Mitchell, 53, who visited him on Thursday, said: 'He says he has never had anything to hide so he didn’t hesitate when he had the chance to take it. In fact, he had asked for a polygraph since day one. 'Luke told me he believes the test is a crucial indication of his innocence to go along with other issues, such as the lack of forensic evidence linking him to the crime.' Mrs Mitchell has also passed a lie test, backing her claim that she was with the convicted killer at their home at the time of the murder. Missing: Jodi Jones was found murdered in June 2003 near her home in Dalkeith . During his polygraph examination, the camera focuses on Mitchell, who tries to remain still throughout as any movement can affect the monitoring process. On the advice of the examiner, he keeps his eyes closed throughout. Mr Mullins is heard putting a series of questions to Mitchell three times, changing the order on each occasion. Answering the three questions directly relating to the murder, Mitchell clearly says “No” when asked: “Were you present when Jodi was stabbed?” In answer to the question: 'Did you stab Jodi on June 30, 2003?', Mitchell responds: 'No' in a strong voice. He speaks more quietly as he repeats: 'No' when asked: 'Did you know for certain where Jodi’s body would be found?' The question was asked in light of evidence in court that Mitchell led searchers to Jodi’s body because he knew where it was. He has always claimed his dog alerted him to the gruesome discovery. After the tests were carried out last year, Mr Mullins concluded that Mitchell had been telling the truth. He said: ‘I’m certain of the test result. It’s absolute. I can’t believe Luke Mitchell was convicted on the evidence that was available.’ He said Mitchell appeared confident but slightly nervous as he arrived to undertake the test process, which took nearly two-and-a-half hours. Mr Mullins explained: ‘Most people are nervous because of the unfamiliar technology rather than the fear of failing. Luke Mitchell's mother Corinne Mitchell at Edinburgh High Court when he was found guilty of murder, left in 2005, and after he was refused leave to appeal his conviction to UK's highest court, pictured right in 2011 . Results: The test found that Mitchell was telling the truth when he said he had no involvement in the murder of Jodi Jones . 'I spoke to him at length about what happened on the day of the murder, from before leaving school, and up to the next day. 'He got very upset when he began recalling the moment when he found Jodi’s body. During the test I asked him to close his eyes so he could concentrate and not be distracted by the prison officers who were observing through the glass walls of the meeting room. 'At the end I asked him how he thought he’d got on. He confidently said: “I’ve passed”. He was right.’ Young: Luke Mitchell was just 14 when his girlfriend was murdered near their homes in Midlothian . Mitchell was just 14 when Jodi was brutally murdered near their homes in Midlothian after she had gone out to meet him. He was 16 when he was found guilty after a marathon trial that culminated in 2005. Jodi was found behind a wall beside a lonely path near her home in Easthouses. She had suffered a slashed throat and post-mortem cuts to her eyelids, right cheek, left breast, abdomen and right forearm. There was also a penetrating wound to her mouth and her hands had been tied. Mitchell has always insisted he wasn’t guilty of the horrific slaying but failed to have his conviction quashed on appeal. His case is currently being examined by the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission, which investigates potential miscarriages of justice and can recommend a fresh appeal. Polygraph tests are inadmissible in Scottish courts but the report on Mitchell’s test was included in his submission to the SCCRC. Criminologist Dr Sandra Lean, who has spearheaded the campaign to free Mitchell along with his mother, said the lie test provided important evidence. 'The polygraph result in Luke’s case reinforces what the other evidence has been telling us all along – there is not a scrap of evidence that Luke Mitchell murdered Jodi Jones,' she insisted. She criticised Mitchell’s prosecution, insisting: 'The case against him was "purely circumstantial" – bits and pieces cobbled together to try to make a justifiable case. 'Yet the real evidence shows the prosecution case to be untenable,' she claimed. A Scottish Prison Service spokesman confirmed: 'The SPS had no objection to the release of the footage, with the consent of Mr Mitchell.' | Jodi Jones, 14, was found dead in woods near her Midlothian home in 2003 .
Luke Mitchell, also 14 when Jodi died, was found guilty of her murder in 2005 .
Mitchell - who is serving life in prison - has always maintained he is innocent .
YouTube video shows Mitchell denying murder in lie detector test in prison . |
fad11958018e7e594a2baa366160dcd9a5d0c679 | By . Steve Robson . PUBLISHED: . 01:43 EST, 27 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:34 EST, 27 February 2013 . On paper it looked like an F1 fan's dream come true - a 'VIP trip' to the Belgium Grand Prix courtesy of Red Bull. But the competition winner has since had a complaint to the advertising watchdog upheld after his experience turned out to be far from glamorous. The man, who was accompanied by his brother, was flown on a budget airline via two different countries, had to arrange his own travel for the 150-mile round trip and the pair ended up sharing a hotel bed. Drama: Lewis Hamilton crashes during the Belgium Grand Prix last year - one of the most prestigious races of the year - though the competition winners had to leave early . Missing out: The 'VIP' competition winners missed Jenson Button lift the trophy after winning the Belgium Grand Prix because they had to catch a flight 90 miles away . The pair, who have not been named, were flown to Cologne, Germany, ahead of the race on August 31 last year. They then had to pay their own way to Maastricht in Holland to arrive at their hotel and then travel a further 45 miles to the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. After carrying their suitcases to the track, they were forced to leave early, missing Jenson Button's winning performance, in order to catch their flight home from Brussels Airport another 70 miles away. The competition had promised: 'We're giving one winner a pair of tickets to watch the action as well as flights and accommodation at the four-star Beaumont hotel for two nights.' After their travel woes the brothers had to share a bed because the hotel had ignored their request for two singles. At the race they found their tickets were in grandstand rather than the VIP area. The winner complained to the Advertising Standards Authority, questioning whether the competition had been properly represented and whether the VIP description of the prize was misleading. Red Bull said that the conditions were made clear prior to entry, and pointed out that the Belgium Grand Prix was one of the most prestigious races on the F1 calendar. The ad did not claim that event tickets were VIP and that the VIP headline referred to the entire package which included tickets to the event, flights and accommodation at a four-star hotel. Embarrassing: Red Bull has been rapped after the winner of this 'VIP trip' competition suffered a dreadful experience . Race: The competition winners were flown to Cologne, Germany, and had to pay their way to Maastricht in Holland to arrive at their hotel and then travel a further 45 miles to the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (above) in Belgium . Because the flight was short haul only one class of travel was available and the tickets to the race cost £300 each. Red Bull accepted that the winner flew into Cologne Airport in Germany and was then required to travel to the hotel which was located in the Netherlands and, after travelling to the event in Belgium, returned home from Brussels airport. But the company pointed out that he been informed beforehand that he would have to organise his own travel. Not quite four-star treatment: The pair were forced to share a bed for two nights after a mix-up at the Beaumont hotel in Maastricht, Belgium . The company apologised that despite specifying to the hotel two single beds on behalf of the complainant and his companion, they had failed to provide this. And once it became clear they had to leave early for the return flight they had offered to cover the complainant’s expenses. But the ASA upheld the complaints saying the pitfalls of the holiday had not been made clear. It said: 'We considered that information relating to the different locations of the event, airport and hotel, and that travel to and from them was not included, was significant information likely to influence consumers’ understanding of the promotion and should therefore have been stated clearly in the promotional material.' 'We considered that the term “VIP”, in the context of the ad, was likely to be understood by readers as exclusive, and specifically non-standard, and that they would not expect, unless otherwise stated in the promotion, for the flights to be with a budget airline. 'We also considered that “VIP” had a specific meaning in the ticketing industry and that, given that the Grand Prix issued tickets that included admission to a VIP area, readers would expect the winning tickets to include this. 'The ad must not appear again in its current form.' At least someone had something to celebrate: McLaren technical director Paddy Lowe and Jenson Button shared the champagne after winning the Belgium Grand Prix in September . | Two competition winners had been promised 'VIP' trip to Belgian Grand Prix .
Had to pay for travel via Holland and Germany themselves to watch race .
Shared bed at four-star hotel after mix-up .
Missed Jenson Button lifting trophy to catch flight home 90 miles away .
Complaint upheld by watchdog who said ad must not appear again . |
fad1713868d3f388a7697e5ec871fa5f332320e4 | (CNN) -- James Holmes called a University of Colorado switchboard nine minutes before he allegedly opened fire at a movie theater in a Denver suburb on July 20, public defender Tamara Brady said in court Thursday. The number can be used to get in contact with faculty members during off hours, she said. Holmes, 24, is accused of opening fire during a midnight premiere of the latest Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises," killing 12 people and injuring 58 others. He has been charged with murder and attempted murder and faces two weapons charges. On Thursday, Holmes appeared before a packed court hearing, which included survivors of the shooting. Dr. Lynne Fenton, his psychiatrist, testified that her contact with Holmes ended on June 11, and that she later contacted campus police because she was "so concerned" about what happened during that last meeting, though she declined to elaborate. Colorado shooting victims' families criticize relief charity . Officials said Holmes mailed a notebook to her before the shooting, though it's not clear whether its contents will be considered admissible in court. Fenton testified that Holmes' defense team contacted her after the shooting and asked that she send the notebook back to Holmes via them. In 2011, the University of Iowa rejected Holmes' graduate application, with one official saying "Do NOT offer admissions under any circumstances," according to documents obtained by CNN. A second university official agreed not to make the recommendation for Holmes' admittance. The suspected gunman was a doctoral candidate studying neuroscience at the University of Colorado's Anschutz campus in Aurora. But he was "denied access to the school after June 12, 2012, after he made threats to a professor," according to court documents. Subsequently, Holmes "started the process to voluntarily withdraw from his graduate studies program." The University of Colorado said this month that it hired a former U.S. attorney to conduct an independent review into how the school handled Holmes. Holmes said earlier that he wanted to study "the primary source of all things, our own minds," according to a personal statement he submitted as part of a graduate studies application at the University of Illinois. The application included the statement, professional references and test scores. Prosecutors: Theater shooting suspect told classmate he wanted to kill people . The documents were released by the university, where Holmes applied to the neuroscience department before later opting to attend the University of Colorado. While the documents do little to answer questions about the suspect's possible motive, they offer insight into Holmes as a student and his aspirations to study the human brain. In the statement, Holmes wrote that he has long been "fascinated by the complexities of long lost thought seemingly arising out of nowhere into stream of awareness." "These fascinations likely stemmed from my interest in puzzles and paradoxes as an adolescent and continued through my curiosity in academic research," he wrote in the statement, submitted in early 2011. He titled his resume "aspiring scientist." Holmes was described as taking "an active role in his education, and brings a great amount of intellectual and emotional maturity into the classroom," according to a letter of reference that appeared to be from one of his former professors. Shackled Holmes in court . CNN's Chelsea J. Carter and Michael Cary contributed to this report . | NEW: Holmes called a university switchboard nine minutes before he allegedly opened fire .
Holmes, 24, is accused of killing 12 people in a theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado, last month .
He is charged with murder and attempted murder and faces two weapons charges . |
fad1a83a0b0b72fd8d1e51ae47fca3cc9f57312a | (CNN) -- Although residents often like to joke that it is, the mosquito isn't actually Alaska's official state bird. (That'd be the willow ptarmigan.) You also won't see many coconut trees growing in the far north. Judging by signage along Grande Drive in Denali, Alaska, however, you might not necessarily know those things. Appearing along the steep, winding ascent to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, road signs depicting giant mosquitoes carrying off human prey and warning of falling coconuts are clearly meant to get a laugh out of drivers. Just less than a mile long and costing about $1 million to build, the mostly dirt road (some sharp corners are paved) leads to the Grande Denali Lodge. Construction on the road began in 2000; the hotel opened in 2002. Installed in stages over the past four or five years, according to Grande Denali Lodge general manager Joe Merrill, the signs were the brainchild of Dennis Brandon, a marketing consultant for the hotel who has a long history in the hospitality industry in Alaska. "The collection has been added to each year," says Merrill. "The ideas (for the signs) now come out of different peoples' minds." Tiny town, big mountains . More a small collection of businesses than a town, the bulk of Denali (also unofficially referred to as "The Canyon" and Glitter Gulch) is located less than two miles from the entrance to Denali National Park and Preserve. The park is home to some of the greatest wildlife viewing opportunities in the world -- grizzly bear, moose, Dall sheep, caribou, 35 other species of mammals and 169 species of birds are often visible from the park's single road in spring, summer and fall. The park's centerpiece is Mount McKinley (also called "Denali"), North America's highest peak at 20,237 feet (6,168 meters). The village of Denali has only about 160 year-round residents. Those numbers swell during the summer season when area hotels, restaurants and shops reopen with the spring thaw and start of the tourist season. Located at the top of Grande Drive, Grande Denali Lodge is one of the area's largest hotels. It's Alpenglow Restaurant and Lounge has an outdoor deck from which visitors can take in monster views facing southward toward the park entrance. As for the broader purpose of the signs, Merrill suggests it's about more than just laughs. "I guess they're also a way to take peoples' attention away from the side of the road with the cliffs," he says. "I'm pretty sure we're not done with the signs. Stay tuned to see what our warped minds come up with next." | Drivers ascending Grande Drive in Denali, Alaska, are kept entertained by a succession of unexpected signs .
Sings warn of falling coconuts and killer moose. One is more likely than the other .
The near mile-long dirt road up Sugarloaf Mountain cost about $1 million to build . |
fad1b19bedda74c64fc205d590532eded5efa088 | Sam Peters exclusively reveals how Stuart Lancaster's refusal to guartantee Steffon Armitage a place in his EPS was a factor in his move to Bath breaking down . Steffon Armitage showed just what Bath and England will be missing with the try that sealed a 12th successive win in Europe for Toulon on Sunday. Armitage’s proposed move to Bath that would have opened the door to him getting a place in England’s World Cup squad collapsed last week. But the Toulon No 8 showed no sign of being distracted by all the speculation aas Toulon began their defence of the Champions Cup at Stade Felix Mayol . Toulon's flanker Steffon Armitage celebrates after scoring in the 28-18 victory in France . Armitage's proposed move to Bath broke down earlier in the week, and he'll remain at the French side . European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 3 . Toulon (18) 28. Tries: Giteau, Mermoz, S. Armitage. Cons: Halfpenny 2. Pens: Halfpenny 3. Scarlets (13) 18. Tries: Barclay, K. Phillips. Cons: Priestland. Pens: Priestland 2. Att: 15,300 . With nine minutes left, he scored his side’s decisive third try after being set up by a good break from Aussie Matt Gituea. But Toulon were made to battle hard by Scarlets, who were reduced to 14 men after just six minutes when Rory Pitman saw yellow for a high tackle on wing David Smith, allowing Leigh Halfpenny to kick the home side in front. Scarlets fly-half Rhys Priestland brought the visitors level with a penalty before Giteau lit the contest up with a wonderful individual try. Halfpenny bizarrely failed to add the simple conversion after the ball fell off its tee halfway through his run-up and the Scarlets picked the ball up. The visitors hit back with a converted try from flanker John Barclay after good work by Scott Williams and Liam Williams. Toulon's Australian fly-half Matt Giteau celebrates after scoring for the defending champions . Giteau goes over, with last year's Heineken Cup winners 18-13 up at half-time at the Stade Felix Mayol . But straight from the restart Scarlets skipper Scott Williams took too long over a clearance and Maxime Mermoz charged his kick down and went under the posts, with Halfpenny adding the extras. Wales internationals Priestland and Halfpenny exchanged penalties before the interval to give Toulon a slender 18-13 lead at the break. Toulon put the Scarlets under pressure at the beginning of the second period but were finding it difficult to break through the visitors’ defence. Toulon's winger David Smith (L) challenges Llanelli Scarlets' Welsh flanker Aaron Shingler with a hand-off . Hooker Emyr Phillips became the second Scarlets player sent to the bin for using his hands on the floor after Smith had made a dangerous break for Toulon. But after going to touch with the penalty, Toulon lost the line-out and the Scarlets were able to clear. Halfpenny added a long-range penalty with 15 minutes remaining to settle home nerves but they had to wait for the third try from Armitage. With Toulon chasing the bonus point the Scarlets were able to end on a high with a Kristian Phillips try in the final minute. | The defending European champions beat Scarlets at the Stade Felix Mayol .
Steffon Armitage scored a try, days after his move to Bath broke down .
It is thought the lack of guarantee of England action was a significant factor .
Matt Giteau and Maxime Mermoz scored the other two tries . |
fad1f77e8e714c876dbb7551b0e6559b2bd57a0c | Cutting back on fry ups could cut your risk of dementia, according to new research. A ‘compelling’ study has linked compounds found in fried meat and eggs with one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. Bacon is particularly problematic and the suspect chemicals are also found in many cakes, biscuits and pastries. Warning: Frying bacon and eggs causes fat and sugars to react in a way that could be gravely damaging . The researchers said that reducing intake could help prevent the crippling condition – and may even help restore memory that has been lost. British experts said that with drug cures for Alzheimer’s still many years away, attempts to prevent the disease are of extreme importance. Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia affect some 800,000 Britons and the number is predicted to double in a generation as the population ages. Existing medicines are of limited use and several highly-promising pills and potions have failed to live up to their promise. The research, from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, focused on compounds called advanced glycation end products, or AGEs. They are formed when fat, protein and sugar react on being heated and are found in particularly high levels in bacon, sausages, pizzas and burgers. Frying and grilling is particularly bad, while boiling does not lead to them being made. Alternative: Scientists advise people to poach their eggs instead. They insist we do not have to turn to raw food . Recommended: Carrots and boiled brown rice are also healthy options better for our brains, the study found . The researchers tracked the progress of a group of mice fed food containing levels of AGEs proportional to those in a Western diet and another group fed half the amount of the compound. Their calorie intake was the same but only the mice on the AGE-rich diet suffered problems with memory, learning and co-ordination as they get older. They also made less of an anti-ageing protein and their brains contained beta-amyloid, a sticky protein considered a hallmark of Alzheimer’s. Results of experiments on people were similarly striking. Tests on healthy pensioners showed that only those who had high amounts of AGEs they had in their diet became more forgetful over the coming months. Steps: Professors accept this is not a cure but a small step as they move towards developing drugs . More work is needed but the researchers said cutting back on the compounds might help improve mental sharpness and ‘combat the epidemic’ of Alzheimer’s disease. Diabetes might also be helped, the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reports. Researcher Professor Helen Vlassara, who also wants to test a drug that mops up excess AGES, advises that people steam and boil food rather than grill or fry it. She suggests that fans of a fried breakfast ditch the bacon all together and poach their eggs. The professor said: ‘One should sue some inventiveness. One does not have to eat raw or tasteless food.’ Tom Dening, professor of dementia research at Nottingham University, said that the studies needed to prove that cutting back on AGEs helps prevent Alzheimer’s would be lengthy. He said: ‘In the meantime, crunch those carrots and reach for the brown rice.’ Professor Derek Hill, of University College London, said: ‘These results are compelling. Because cures for Alzheimer’s disease remain a distant hope, efforts to prevent it are extremely important.’ Professor Simon Lovestone, of Oxford University, said that the solution will not be as simple as cutting back on one type of food and eating more of another. Instead, he hopes that learning more about what goes wrong in the body and brain will lead to new drugs. Dr Simon Ridley, of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: ‘This research is at an early stage, and continued investment in research is crucial to understand the significance of results like this. ‘The diseases that cause dementia are complex, and our risk of the condition is likely to be affected by a number of genetic and environmental factors that are not yet fully understood. ‘In the meantime, the best evidence suggests that a balanced diet can help lower the risk of Alzheimer’s, as part of a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, not smoking, and keeping blood pressure and weight in check.’ | Fats and sugars stunt short-term memory and stop brain developing .
Study by Mount Sinai School of Medicine recommends poaching eggs .
Frying and grilling creates compounds that boiling does not . |
fad22852af7b8d3cd30b6868c596bca1bb8e3699 | Many football managers nowadays pay more attention to statistics and sports science than ever before, but few will have ever gone this far. Professor Stephen Hawking has produced a mathematical formula to guarantee England success at this summer’s World Cup in Brazil - and also on how to take the ‘perfect penalty’. The Cambridge physicist analysed data from every tournament since 1966 - but he believes the heat, the altitude and the distance from home could all scupper England's chances. Scroll down for video . Technical: Professor Stephen Hawking unveils a new scientific formula to predict the chances of England succeeding in the World Cup - and another on how to take the perfect penalty, in Cambridge . Professor Stephen Hawking has produced a mathematical formula, pictured, to guarantee England success at this summer's World Cup in Brazil - and also on how to take the 'perfect penalty' Numbers game: The Cambridge physicist analysed data from every tournament since 1966 - but he believes the heat, the altitude and the distance from home could all scupper England's chances . However, he thinks prospects for manager . Roy Hodgson's men will be improved if they get a European referee for . their group stage match with Uruguay on June 19. He . said match officials from the northern hemisphere will be less . sympathetic to the on-pitch dramatics of the country’s mercurial striker . Luis Suarez of Liverpool. Professor . Hawking, whose analysis was commissioned by bookmakers Paddy Power, has . also come up with ‘a formula for the perfect penalty’. He said: ‘Ever . since the dawn of civilisation, people have not been content to see . events as unconnected and inexplicable. They have craved an . understanding of the underlying order in the world. The World Cup is no . different.’ The professor, whose book A Brief . History Of Time was a best-seller, has appeared in shows such as The . Simpsons and The Big Bang Theory and even starred in an advert for the . website Go Compare. Graphical: The effect of home and away kits on England performances in the European Championships and World Cup . Historical data: This graph shows how England have fared in matches against opponents from each continent . Line up: Professor Hawking said that England should play 4-3-3 rather than 4-4-2, based on its success . He said . England's chances of success could be worked out by examining . ‘environmental, physiological, psychological, political and tactical . variables’. Falling over: Professor Hawking took a swipe at 'ballerina' Luis Suarez of Liverpool and Uruguay . Professor Hawking added: ‘Statistically England's red kit is more successful and we should play 4-3-3 rather than 4-4-2. ‘Psychologists . in Germany found red makes teams feel more confident and can lead them . to being perceived as more aggressive and dominant. ‘Likewise, 4-3-3 is more positive so the team benefits for similar psychological reasons. ‘The . data shows we also need to hope for a European referee. European . referees are more sympathetic to the English game and less sympathetic . to ballerinas like Suarez. ‘Like . all animals, the England team are creatures of habit. Being closer to . home reduces the negative impact of cultural differences and jetlag. We . do better in temperate climates, at low altitudes with kick-off as close . to the normal three o'clock as possible. ‘The . impact of environmental factors alone is quite staggering. A 5C rise in . temperature reduces our chances of winning by 59 per cent. ‘We . are twice as likely to win when playing below 500 metres (1,600ft) above sea . level. And our chances of winning improve by a third when kicking off at . three o'clock local time.’ Professor . Hawking also outlined his formula for taking penalties. He said the key . to success was a run-up of more than three steps and giving the ball . ‘some welly’, but ‘velocity is nothing without placement’. Looking back: The physicist analysed data from every tournament since 1966 - when Bobby Moore lifted the trophy for England . Three Lions: England's Frank Lampard, Danny Welbeck, Joe Hart, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Leighton Baines celebrate victory after a World Cup 2014 qualifying match against Poland at Wembley last October . 'This will remain one of science's great mysteries': Professor Hawking said there is no evidence that it's advantageous to be left or right-footed but bald players and fair-haired players are more likely to score . Goalkeeper mobility: Players should place the ball in the top left or right hand corner when taking a penalty . He said: ‘If only I had whispered this in Chris Waddle's ear before he sent the ball into orbit in 1990. Use the side foot rather than laces and you are 10 per cent more likely to score. 'A 5C rise in temperature reduces our chances of winning by 59 per cent. We are twice as likely to win when playing below 500 metres above sea level' Professor Stephen Hawking . ‘The statistics confirm the obvious. Place the ball in the top left or right hand corner for the best chance of success - 84 per cent of penalties in those areas score. ‘The ability of strikers to place the ball results in them being more likely to score than midfielders and defenders. ‘There is no evidence that it's advantageous to be left or right-footed but bald players and fair-haired players are more likely to score. The reason for this is unclear. This will remain one of science's great mysteries.’ Paddy Power, spokesman for Paddy Power, said: ‘The modern game is so full of statistical analysis that for us it was a no brainer to call on Professor Hawking to give England some help.’ Famous: Paul the Octopus correctly predicted the outcome of eight matches at the 2010 World Cup, including Germany's thrashing of England and Spain's victory over the Netherlands in the final. He died later that year . Four years ago at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Paul the Octopus gained legendary status after correctly predicting the results of various games. 'Bald players and fair-haired players are more likely to score. The reason for this is unclear. This will remain one of science's great mysteries' Professor Stephen Hawking on penalties . The tentacled creature correctly predicted the outcome of eight matches at the 2010 World Cup, including Germany's thrashing of England and Spain's victory over the Netherlands in the final. He cost bookmakers thousands after floating languidly towards boxes of mussels draped in the colours of competing teams in the tournament. He died in his sleep in October that year, but his former carers at the Sea Life Centre in Oberhausen, Germany, decided he should be given a shrine to mark his seemingly expert predictions. Formula for success: Professor Stephen Hawking and Paddy Power, spokesman for Paddy Power . Professor Stephen Hawking, 72, has lived with debilitating motor neurone disease since the age of 22 but despite this cruel struggle he still became the world's most renowned astrophysicist. He is a sufferer of the most common form of motor neurone fisease - amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - which has robbed him of almost all physical movement . He is an exceptional case, having survived for more than 40 years, despite doctors giving him just two years to live when first diagnosed. In his incredible life his countless scientific papers, best-selling books and numerous awards have earned him comparisons with Albert Einstein and Sir Isaac Newton. But he is as much a celebrity as he is a scientist, appearing on TV cartoon The Simpsons, starring in Star Trek and providing narration for a British Telecom commercial that was later sampled on a Pink Floyd album. In the 1970s, already confined to a wheelchair, he produced a stream of first class research, including probably his most important contribution to cosmology. This was the discovery of Hawking radiation, which allows a black hole to leak energy and gradually fade away to nothing. By applying quantum mechanics to black holes, he had taken the first steps to combining quantum theory and general relativity. One describes the universe at the sub-atomic level, and the other at very large scales. Bringing the two theories together is one of the great unfulfilled goals of modern physics. In the 1980s, Professor Hawking and Professor Jim Hartle, from the University of California at Santa Barbara, proposed a model of the universe which had no boundaries in space or time. The concept was described in A Brief History Of Time, which sold 25million copies worldwide. In recent years, Professor Hawking has examined the relationship between science and religion, writing a 2010 book, Grand Design, which argues that evoking God is not necessary to explain the origins of the universe. He met the Pope at a scientific event hosted by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in 2008. | Chances could be scuppered by heat, altitude and distance from home .
But England would be helped if referee for Uruguay match is European .
The physicist says 5C temperature rise reduces winning chances by 59% .
England twice as likely to win when playing below 1,600ft above sea level . |
fad3459331922dcb82a2c4b9da8d2594ee4e4e02 | By . Simon Tomlinson . PUBLISHED: . 07:22 EST, 8 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 08:50 EST, 8 January 2014 . A shopper bit down on a hard object in his bag of peanuts only to discover it was a human tooth. Teenager Graham Calder inadvertently crunched the molar into three pieces before spitting them out. He noticed it still had the root attached. The 18-year-old was concerned it may have been his own, but after feeling around his mouth he realised it wasn't. How to lose your appetite: Pieces of a human tooth with the root still attached which Canadian teenager Graham Calder claims he found in his bag of peanuts . His girlfriend, Michaela Epp, said it looked like the tooth had been pulled right out of the gum. 'It definitely didn't look like someone's tooth had just broken off,' said the 18-year-old, who is a student at the University of Manitoba in Canada. Mr Calder claimed he found the tooth in a brand of Spanish peanuts distributed by Safeway Inc, which operates out of Calgary, it was reported by The Winnipeg Sun. He said he bought the sealed bag from a Safeway store in Osborne Village in Winnipeg while on a break from studying at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta. Investigation: Mr Calder claims he found the tooth in a bag of Safeway-brand Spanish peanuts . He was celebrating the New Year when he decided to tuck into the snack around 15 minutes after midnight. Miss Epp said: 'My boyfriend looked me and said "that's one way to start things".' Betty Kellsey, a spokeswoman for Safeway, said the company would properly look into the claims once the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) had investigated the complaint. She added: 'Safeway is committed to industry leading food safety standards and we will co-operate fully with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in their investigation.' The CFIA has taken the bag away for testing. | Graham Calder claims he found tooth in Safeway-brand Spanish nuts .
Girlfriend said it looked like it had been pulled right out of person's gum .
Canadian food standards agency has launched an investigation . |
fad3d360b09b623081cc965d7b89f14c7f817bf7 | Roy Hodgson has assured Jack Wilshere he will be in England’s World Cup squad even if he does not play again for Arsenal this season. The England manager, who will be without Andros Townsend after Tottenham confirmed the winger needs surgery on his left ankle, has confirmed he will take Wilshere to Brazil. Hodgson insists he is picking his squad on the basis of their performances over the past two years in qualification and is unlikely to spring surprises. On the plane: Jack Wilshere suffered a hairline fracture in his left foot after this challenge with Denmark's Daniel Agger in March . He said: ‘Wilshere has been training with the others at Arsenal and, while he is not being thrown back into the fray, he is there. He has been training with the team, as far as I know, for a while.’ Wilshere has not played since aggravating a foot injury during England’s 1-0 friendly win over Denmark on March 5 at Wembley.The Arsenal midfielder has started training again, but Arsene Wenger is refusing to rush him back into action after more than two months on the sidelines. Hodgson said: ‘I am not prepared to have a 100 per cent rule that you either play in the last game of the season or you don’t go — I am not prepared to do that. ‘I have spoken to Arsene and they have been holding him back because they don’t want to push him too early.’ Hodgson has a number of other injury concerns ahead of the World Cup, but he claims to know his 23-man squad. Southampton attacker Jay Rodriguez would have been in Hodgson’s squad but he has been ruled out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury and Townsend is also out of contention. Ruled out: Andros Townsend was inspirational in getting England to Brazil, but will miss the World Cup . ANDROS TOWNSEND, Tottenham, 5 capsSet to have surgery after ankle ligament damage against Stoke last Saturday ended his season. THEO WALCOTT, Arsenal, 36 capsRuled out of the World Cup in January when he damaged his cruciate ligament in an FA Cup victory over Tottenham.JAY RODRIGUEZ, Southampton, 1 capWorld Cup dream was shattered at the beginning of April after rupturing his cruciate ligament against Manchester City. READY TO STEP UP... Raheem Sterling, Liverpool, 2 capsThe in-form winger with three goals in his last three games. Playing a huge role in Liverpool’s title tilt. James Milner, Manchester City, 45 capsOften preferred by Roy Hodgson to bring a defensive balance to the midfield and has been a consistent performer for City this season. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arsenal, 14 capsHas occupied a more central role for Arsene Wenger but will still be an option out wide once he has fully recovered from a groin injury. Tottenham full back Kyle Walker has a niggling pelvic injury, while Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (groin) and Phil Jagielka (hamstring) are concerns. But Hodgson is optimistic. ‘My decisions will be based on the information I get from clubs’ managers and medical staff. I’m rather hoping we go with everyone basically fit,’ he said. ‘Kyle is a bit more of a difficult one because it is a long time since he has been fit. We are still monitoring the situation and we haven’t been told for certain that he will be out for the next six weeks but we’re concerned it has been a long time. ‘He has not been able to do any training and I know he has had another injection. We are waiting to find out about that.’ Townsend left Stoke last Saturday wearing a protective boot after he had come on for 12 minutes of Tottenham’s 1-0 win. He will have surgery on his ankle today after the results of an MRI scan confirmed serious ligament damage. The 22-year-old will require a 10-week recovery period. Townsend looked a certainty to go to the World Cup after making an explosive impact for England in their final two qualifiers against Montenegro and Poland which clinched their place in Brazil. But a loss of form saw him lose his place in the Spurs starting XI, while the emergence of Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling and Southampton’s Adam Lallana had put further pressure on his squad place. Bright young thing: Raheem Sterling has dazzled for Liverpool this season and looks a shoo-in for Brazil . Hodgson said: ‘I am very disappointed for him in particular. He had a fantastic debut bursting on to the scene and he did really well. ‘I have been a bit disappointed that he has not had as much playing time over recent months. To see him ruled out like this with a serious ankle injury is a cruel blow. ‘My thoughts are very much with him and the only thing I can say is that he is young and there will be lots of other opportunities.’ On the comeback trail: Phil Jagielka (right) returns for Everton this weekend . Jagielka’s World Cup chances could improve this weekend as he prepares to return for Everton in their Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester City. Hodgson added: ‘We have had good reports back for the last few weeks. He has had a problem but he has been participating to a decent level in training. They have been keen not to throw him back in but we don’t have any fears. He might be back in on Saturday.’ | Jack Wilshere will be in Roy Hodgson's 23-man squad for Brazil .
Arsenal midfielder has not played since injuring his ankle in the March friendly against Denmark .
Andros Townsend will miss the World Cup .
Hodgson has said he will reward players who got England to the finals . |
fad3d90c5a9d66dd88e9f0c0269ac23810f8b542 | By . Associated Press Reporter . and Daily Mail Reporter . Five men, including four fraternity brothers, died in a fiery, head-on collision on a southwest Florida highway early this morning. A Ford Expedition heading south in the northbound lanes of Interstate 275 in Tampa collided head-on with a Hyundai Sonata about 2am. As the Ford burst into flames, killing the unidentified driver, the Hyundai's four young passengers succumbed to their injuries. Victims . Victims: Jobin Joy Kuriakose, 21 (left) and Ankeet Patel, 22 (right) died when an SUV plowed into their vehicle . Victims: Dammie Yesudhas (left) and Imtiyaz Ilias, 20 (right) were University of South Florida students . Due to extensive fire damage, officials are working to identify the male driver of the Ford who was in his early 20s. Police have identified the victims in the other car as Jobin Joy Kuriakose, 21, Ankeet Harshad Patel, 22, Imtiyaz 'Jim' Ilias, 20 and Dammie Yesudhas, 21 - all members of University of South Florida's Sigma Beta Rho fraternity. News of the horrific crash has rocked the close-knit fraternity, with condolences rolling in after Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity, Inc posted this touching message on the Facebook page: . 'RIP to four of our brothers from Mu Chapter at USF in Tampa who we lost early this morning from a car crash. - Dammie Yesudhas, Brother Netflix - Imtiyaz Ilias, Brother Rodnac - Jobin Kuriakose, Brother Ambition- Ankeet Patel, Brother Facetious . 'May you rest in peace and remain in remembrance. Please pray for the families.' NBC 2 reported the death of young Ilias, a Cypress Lake High School graduate, has devastated the Cypress Lake community. His former wrestling coach Paul Rothenberg said Ilias was one of the most determined kids on the team. 'Jim . was an amazing guy. In everything, school, wrestling, he worked hard, . had fun, was a pleasure to be around always entertaining Always wanted . to joke,' he said. The newspaper reported Ilias was only the second wrestler in school history to place in the state tournament twice - coming 6th in 2011 and 4th in 2012. Yesudhas was an engineering intern at QTM Incorporated and was completing a Bachelor of Science and Mechanical Engineering at USF. He . had completed a Bachelor of Arts last year and was formerly the . president of the university's chess club. He also loved playing a . variety of sports, including basketball, tennis and volleyball. Scroll down for video . Scene: The driver of the Ford SUV, a male in his 20s, has not yet been identified due to the fire damage to the vehicle . Witness Crystal Fountain said she dodged the Ford SUV just moments before the crash. 'It was a car going directly at me in the same lane,' Fountain told Bay News 9. 'It was going straight, it was going fast, all I could think of was the car was on a death mission.' Fountain said as soon as she swerved out of the way and the Ford SUV sped by, she looked in the side mirror and knew something terrible was about to happen. 'It’s just so painful and hurt that innocent people lost their lives and we still don’t know why or what the reason is,' she said. Another witness captured the burning vehicle on camera, and she can be heard screaming as she drives past the crash site. Authorities said they are investigating whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash. The tragic news comes after six people, including a family of four, were killed in a head-on collision in California today. Witness footage of the scene . | Unidentified Ford SUV driver traveled on wrong side of Interstate 275 in Tampa, Florida about 2am .
Collided with Hyundai Sonata carrying four University of South Florida students .
SUV burst into flames after collision .
Investigators determining if drugs or alcohol was involved .
In a separate accident today, six people were killed in a head-on collision in California . |
fad48ed119c1844369d6d023c34af1cf81d6bad5 | WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Republicans were facing pressure Tuesday to vote for a rollback of across-the-board cuts in Medicare payments to health providers after a major doctors' group said the cuts could lead to a "meltdown" of the government's health care system for the elderly. Doctors say they would take on fewer Medicare patients if the cuts go into effect. On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, called several Republicans trying to persuade them to support a bill that would reverse a 10.6 percent cut in Medicare payments to doctors. The cuts in Medicare payments -- part of a scheduled cost-saving formula -- went into effect July 1, although the Bush administration said it will hold off on processing claims until mid-July to give Congress time to reach a compromise. The Medicare system pays for the health care of roughly 40 million elderly Americans. Rising health care costs have made Medicare a growing part of the federal budget, and the stress on the system is increasing as more baby boomers reach retirement age. Similar cuts have been scheduled to go into effect on July 1 in previous years, but Congress always has voted to stop the cuts before they went into effect. Gerald Harmon, a family physician who practices in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, said the cuts could lead to doctors taking fewer Medicare patients, making it difficult for the program's elderly patients to get the care they need. "This Medicare access problem is a real issue, not just a political football," said Harmon, who said 35 percent of his patients were eligible for Medicare. "It affects your dad, when he's sick. It affects my patients in my practice. This has to be addressed." A vote on the bill last week fell one shy of the 60 needed to clear a Republican filibuster and advance in the Senate. Senate Republicans joined the White House in objecting to the Democratic-back bill because it paid for the increased payments to doctors by trimming government support for private insurance programs that provide coverage to Medicare patients. The private Medicare programs are a top policy initiative for Republicans. The issue has become the subject of an intense election-year lobbying and advertising campaign aimed primarily at its GOP opponents. The American Medical Association, a powerful doctor's group, said its members may be forced to reduce service to Medicare patients if the cuts go into effect. According to a recent association survey, 60 percent of physicians will be forced to limit the number of new Medicare patients they can take on if the July 1 cuts go into effect. "We stand at the brink of a Medicare meltdown. ... For doctors, this is not a partisan issue -- it's a patient access issue," AMA President Nancy Nielsen said in a statement after the Senate vote last week. The AMA ran radio and TV ads over the July Fourth congressional recess targeting 10 Republican senators, seven of whom are up for re-election. The AARP, the nation's largest organization of retired persons, and other groups also are weighing in against the cuts. Reid has "no idea" if the pressure has changed any minds, but the "proof will be in the pudding" when senators vote again to break the filibuster, said Jim Manley, a spokesman for the speaker. That vote is likely to occur Wednesday. "There is clearly a lot of pressure," Sen. Max Baucus, D-Montana, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said Monday. Baucus said he has talked to several Republicans and "there are a few" who could switch their votes. But GOP lawmakers and aides gave no indication the intense lobbying had changed any minds, and even if the bill does pass the Senate, it may still face a presidential veto. Republicans "are holding out for a compromise that can pass and the president can sign," said a top GOP leadership aide. At the heart of the dispute is the decision by Democratic lawmakers to pay for the "doctors' fix" by cutting funds for Medicare Advantage, a program administered by private insurance companies that is generally favored by Republicans and opposed by Democrats. The program, which has more benefits than traditional Medicare, is also more expensive. Republicans -- joined by the insurance industry -- fear Democrats are trying to weaken the Medicare alternative by draining funds away from it. President Bush has threatened to veto the legislation because of the cuts to Medicare Advantage -- so that even if Democrats get one additional vote to beat a filibuster, they will need several more to override a veto. The House of Representatives passed the bill 359-55 with broad Republican support in June, but the two-thirds vote needed to override a presidential veto appears, at the moment, to be an insurmountable barrier in the Senate. "Our goal is to get a result," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky. "A vetoed bill is not a result." McConnell on Monday pressed for a monthlong extension of the current fee schedule so senators could work on a compromise. CNN's Ted Barrett and Miriam Falco contributed to this report . | Medicare cut payments by 10.6 percent to doctors on July 1 .
Bush administration delays implementing cuts until mid-July .
Cuts could lead doctors to stop taking Medicare patients, advocacy groups argue .
Bill rolling back cuts stalled in the Senate due to Republican objections . |
fad4957d4cd5024361946d6fa2e7f2c46ef562b8 | By . Adam Shergold . PUBLISHED: . 11:42 EST, 18 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:42 EST, 18 November 2012 . Henry was meant to be a miniature pony - but he was getting bigger and bigger by the minute. The owners of the two-foot tall pony just couldn't figure out why he had become so bad-tempered, until they noticed his stomach was all bloated. It wasn't the result of eating too much hay, however, that was causing the problem, but Henry's strange habit of swallowing sand. Snacking on sand: Henry the 2ft high Shetland pony became ill after grazing on sand in an all-weather paddock . He had been left to exercise in an outdoor all-weather paddock and, it seemed, had taken to the taste of its grainy covering. Unfortunately, his new meal had blocked his large intestine and this was having an effect on his other organs. His owners and other horse-lovers rallied round to quickly raise £6,000 for life-saving treatment and Henry is now making a full recovery. Owner Caroline Howarth, from Coppull near Chorley, Lancashire, bought Henry when he was six months old for her eight-year-old daughter Madison. Escape artist: Henry, seen here with her eight-year-old owner Madison, needed emergency surgery to flush out the build-up of sand . 'As soon as I saw him I knew we had to have him,' Mrs Howarth said. 'But after a while we noticed his tummy was getting bigger and bigger. Day-in, day-out it just kept swelling. 'I thought he might need worming and I kept a firm control on his food intake. 'It did not stop and the vets took a blood sample which said his liver wasn't working properly. 'They gave him more tests and my horse insurance level of £1,000 ran out. 'We had to fund any future treatment ourselves.' Happy again: The miniature pony is now making a full recovery after the emergency treatment, which was paid for by local horse lovers . Fellow horse lovers at the Seven Stars Stables at Standish, where Henry lives, decided to raise money for treatment by going on a sponsored walk. Henry was taken to the Equine Hospital at the Leahurst Campus of the University of Liverpool, which specialises in rare illnesses and serious injuries to horses. Vets there decided to flush Henry's stomach and found a build up of sand was causing all the problems. They carried out surgery to save his life and placed him on a special diet as he recovers back to health. Mrs Howarth added: 'He is a cheeky little horse and at the horse hospital they had to put a notice on his stable saying he was an escape artist. 'He now has a special diet - but no sand!' | The tiny Shetland pony, who lives in Lancashire, had become bad tempered and his stomach was getting bigger and bigger .
Vets discovered he had swallowed a load of sand while grazing on an all-weather paddock and this had blocked his large intestine .
Henry is now making a full recovery after horse lovers raised money for a £6,000 emergency operation . |
fad4ffdff278bff8ef70305f4578fafd04750a5d | Hong Kong (CNN) -- International auction houses Sotheby's and Christie's have a history that stretches back to the 18th Century. But a little-known Chinese rival could now pose a threat to their global dominance of the sale of fine art and antiques. China Guardian said last week that it would hold its first auction outside mainland China in Hong Kong on October 7. Although the sale will be conducted in Mandarin Chinese, Yannan Wang, China Guardian's president and director, said the company hoped to target overseas customers. Future auctions will be held in both English and Mandarin. "We have a very strong base of Chinese collectors and some loyal Western buyers," she told CNN in an emailed response to questions. "Hong Kong is an international city, we expect to see an increase of international collectors," she added. Deadbeat art buyers on the rise in China . China's art market has boomed in recent years as the country's newly affluent look to collect their own art and heritage. According to the website Artprice, Chinese painters Qi Baishi and Zhang Daqian now outsell Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso at auction. China Guardian has been holding sales in mainland China since 1994 and according to French auction body Conseil des Ventes now ranks as world's fourth largest. Another Chinese auctioneer, Beijing Poly, ranks third after Christie's and Sotheby's. The Hong Kong auction, which will feature ink paintings, calligraphy and classical Chinese furniture, marks the first time a Chinese auction house will compete with Sotheby's and Christie's on their home turf. Chinese law prohibits foreign auction houses from auctioning cultural relics in China but Sotheby's and Christie's hold regular auctions of Chinese art and artifacts in Hong Kong, London and New York. | Chinese auction house to hold first sale outside China .
Move may pose a threat to Sotheby's and Christie's market dominance .
China's art market has boomed in recent years .
Chinese painters now outsell Warhol and Picasso at auction . |
fad6241fa60bebb353e9167f956eddd9decbbd53 | When it comes to mathematics, reading and science, young people in Shanghai are the best in the world, according to a global education survey released Tuesday. In all three subjects, Shanghai students demonstrated knowledge and skills equivalent to at least one additional year of schooling than their peers in countries like the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom. The findings are part of the 2012 Program for International Student Assessment (or PISA) -- a leading survey of education systems conducted every three years by the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a grouping of the world's richest economies. More than half a million students, aged 15 and 16, sat a two-hour exam last year as part of the study. The pupils came from 65 countries representing 80% of the global economy. East Asian economies performed best overall, claiming seven of the top 10 places across all three subjects. In math, Shanghai had the highest score with 613 points -- the equivalent of nearly three years of schooling above the average for the 34 OECD member countries of 494, and six years above Peru which ranked last with a score of 368. The city also came top in 2009 rankings. Singapore came second in mathematics with a score of 573, followed by Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and Macau. But the math performance of most countries has not improved since the PISA tests were launched more than a decade ago. Around 60% of the 64 countries who participated in previous studies performed at the same level or worse in 2012, and nearly a third of all students scored in the lowest band for the subject. TRY THE PISA TEST YOURSELF . U.S. lags . The United States ranked 36th, performing below the OECD average in mathematics with 481 points, and a score indistinguishable from the average for reading and science. The United Kingdom did slightly better, ranking 26th, equaling the average score for OECD countries in math and reading. The UK performed above average in science with a score of 514. Part of the reason pupils do so well in Shanghai, according to the OECD's deputy director of education, Andreas Schleicher, is that they have the drive and confidence to fulfill their potential. "In China and Shanghai, you have nine out of 10 students telling you, 'It depends on me. If I invest the effort, my teachers are going to help me to be successful'," Schleicher told CNN's On China program, which will air later this month. Similarly, in Japan -- which ranked 7th overall -- more than 80% of students disagreed or strongly disagreed that they put off difficult problems, and 68% disagreed or strongly disagreed that they give up easily when confronted with a problem. Hard work . "Practice and hard work go a long way towards developing each student's potential, but students can only achieve at the highest levels when they believe that they are in control of their success and that they are capable of achieving at high levels," the PISA report said. PISA tests students near the end of their compulsory education in areas that are "essential for full participation in modern society," as well as their ability to apply what they have learned in new situations. "This approach reflects the fact that modern economies reward individuals not for what they know, but for what they can do with what they know," the report said. In reading, East Asian economies also topped the league table. Shanghai ranked first, with a score of 570 -- the equivalent of one and a half years more schooling than the OECD average. Hong Kong ranked second, followed by Singapore, Japan and South Korea. Half the countries that took part in previous assessments saw an improvement in reading comprehension since 2003. Shanghai also topped the list in science, with a score of 580 compared to the average of 501 -- the equivalent of nearly two more years of schooling. In fifth place, Finland was the top performing country outside Asia, behind Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan. Data on other Chinese provinces and cities is not yet published by PISA because not enough regions take part in the tests to be considered representative, a spokesman said. However, China as a whole is expected to be included in the 2015 assessment. Shanghai has been at the forefront of education reforms in the country in recent years. Rote learning? Shanghai's outstanding performance defies preconceptions about China's education system being based on rote learning, according to Schleicher. "The biggest surprise from Shanghai ... was not that students did well on reproducing subject matter content but that they were very, very good in those higher order skills (that reflect) what you can do with what you know," he said. Around one in four Shanghai students performed in the top two reading bands compared to the average with just under one in 10. Jiang Xueqin, deputy principal at the Tsinghua University High School in Beijing, told CNN that Shanghai's education system invests in teaching staff by offering training and high salaries. "The teachers are very well-paid, very professional," Jiang said. "The Shanghai government will spend a lot of resources in making sure that each teacher is well trained, has opportunities to go abroad, (and) has opportunities to learn from the best teachers." Other countries whose performance improved in PISA this year, such as Brazil, Colombia and Poland, have implemented policies to raise the quality of teaching staff by increasing requirements for education licenses, providing incentives for high-achieving students to enter the profession and ongoing on-the-job training, according to the report. Jiang also told CNN that Shanghai's success is a product of a culture that prioritizes academic achievements over other pursuits. "A lot of it is that the students are engaged in learning. The parents, the students, the community are engaged in making sure their child succeeds," he said. | Shanghai ranks first in math, reading and science among 15- and 16-year-olds .
East Asian economies performed better than other regions in all three subjects .
The United States ranks below average for the 65 countries assessed .
Math scores have stalled or deteriorated in most countries . |
fad848d12fbdb1c362549303ac3162a738dd8576 | ISIS extremists have cancelled all classes except religious studies in Syrian schools - with even the two-times table banned in its new curriculum. Militants have closed all schools in the eastern area of the country pending a religious revision of the syllabus to replace the current 'infidel' education, it has been revealed. Activists in the area say ISIS has attempted to justify the move by claiming that 'all knowledge belongs to the creator'. ISIS extremists have cancelled all classes except religious studies in Syrian schools - with even the two-times table banned in its new curriculum . Islamic State has been tightening its rules on civilian life in Deir al-Zor province, which fell under near-complete control ofthe Islamist group this summer. The government still . controls a military air base and other small pockets. The announcement came after Islamic State held . a meeting with school administrators at a local mosque on the . outskirts of Deir al-Zor city, according to the British-based . Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors all sides of . the conflict. 'Islamic State informed them that teachers shall undergo a . religious instructional course for one month, and that Islamic . State officials were currently developing a new curriculum . instead of the current 'infidel' education,' the Observatory . statement said. At the start of the academic year in September, Islamic . State revised the school curriculum in areas it controls, . eliminating physics and chemistry while promoting Islamic . teachings. Their latest move aims to further reduce the school day into . several hours of religious learning at the expense of academic . subjects, according to local activists. Militants have closed all schools in the eastern area of the country pending a 'religious revision' of the syllabus aimed at replacing the current 'infidel' education, it has been revealed . 'They've announced that they will only teach religion and a . little bit of mathematics. 'Their rationale is that all knowledge . belongs to the creator, so even the multiplication table . shouldn't be taught,' said an activist called Abu Hussein al . Deiri. Some locals protested when the school shutdown, according to . footage posted online by activists. It showed two dozen girls . and boys appearing to be under 12 years of age marching with a . few female teachers clad in black veils as required by Islamic . State since the beginning of the academic year. The children chanted: 'we want school'. But activist al Deiri said that the protests were muted . because most people were 'too afraid to demonstrate'. Islamic State has detained, crucified, executed and beheaded . hundreds in recent months in Deir al-Zor for 'apostasy', a crime . of which it accuses anyone who disobeys or opposes Islamic . State. | Militants close all schools in eastern Syria as they revise 'infidel' education .
ISIS wants to replaced the current 'infidel' education, activists have claimed .
Chemistry and physics were axed from its new curriculum in September .
A number of children and teachers staged a demonstration, it has emerged .
But protests were muted because many were 'too afraid to demonstrate' |
fad9618bcc2aa3627593c381789aee3b710e4e8c | By . Kate Lyons . Mady White shared a picture of herself with one of Moo's kittens before Moo was gruesomely killed . The woman whose cat was decapitated in a gruesome attack last month has fled the Gold Coast after a sustained hate campaign against her. Mady White, 20, was the owner of a cat named Moo, whose head and paws were cut off and whose blood was used to write a threatening message on a garage door in Arundel on the Gold Coast on June 17. The message 'Whers [sic] my money? Tik tok!' was found daubed on the garage door, in what was believed to be a revenge attack against the homeowners. Jordan Isaiah Christie, 19, was charged with injuring animals, wilful damage and arson after Moo's body was found on the doorstep of a house. Christie faced court on July 1 and was denied bail because he was deemed an 'unacceptable risk' of him reoffending. Ms White told Daily Mail Australia that she was shocked to discover the dead cat in news reports was hers and said she didn't believe her cat had been specifically targeted. 'Pretty much it was my cat being in the wrong place at the wrong time,' she said. Ms White, who suffers from cystic fibrosis, said she was deeply affected by the death of her cat and spent two to three weeks in hospital after Moo was killed. 'The stress makes me sick. Whenever I get put under too much pressure I get sick,' she told Daily Mail Australia. Ms White said her problems have continued in the month since her cat was killed. Her home has been broken into twice since the incident and her car was stolen, which Ms White thinks is part of a sustained hate campaign against her, leading her to flee the Gold Coast. Scroll down for video . Ms White said her cat's death was the first in a series of 'payback' crimes against her . Ms White's cat was used in a gruesome crime last month, though Ms White believes her cat was just in the wrong place at the wrong time . Ms White said her black Holden Cruze was stolen on Wednesday after she gave a lift to someone she knew. 'I was doing a friend a favour, I was giving him a lift, he held a weapon to me and told me to get out of the car,' Ms White said. The theft was particularly devastating because her car contained a month's supply of an experimental drug worth $30,000 that treats cystic fibrosis. Ms White has now gone six days without the medication, Kalydeco, which must be administered 12 hours apart and she said her condition has already begun to deteriorate. As well as her car being stolen, Ms White's house was broken into twice – on the night of carjacking and on the following night. 'Phones, money, jewellery, clothes – all were taken. As was my wallet, my ID, my Medicare card, my health care card, cash,' she said. At the time of the break-ins Ms White had a friend and her friend's baby living with her. 'She was very terrified for her child,' said Ms White. Jordan Christie, 19, has been charged with killing Ms White's cat, as well as arson, extortion and wilful damage to property . Ms White is convinced the three events, which she has reported to police, are related and are part of a sustained hate campaign against her. 'I don't think it's about the cat thing,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'The person who took my car thinks I've done something to him, which I haven't done.' She believes the person who stole her car also orchestrated her house burglaries and 'wants to get more people to target me'. Ms White has fled the Gold Coast and is now staying with family. 'I just want to get away and get healthy. I don't even want to be in the Gold Coast anymore.' Ms White says she is not scared, but she wants the abuse to end. 'I don't know what to feel. I haven't personally been threatened, but everything of value to me has been taken.' Police are searching for Ms White's car, which was involved in a petrol drive-off at a service station on Sunday night. Yesterday morning the car was spotted in the Arundel area but police were not successful in apprehending the offenders. homeowners removed the threatening message from the Arundel home . CCTV footage of the house being painted and a car being set on fire was used by police to help make an arrest . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Mady White, 20, is the owner of a cat killed on the Gold Coast last month .
Her cat Moo had its head and paws cut off and a threatening message was scrawled in blood on her garage door .
Ms White has now fled the Gold Coast after a 'hate campaign' against her .
Her house was broken into twice and she was carjacked last week . |
fad99b747f6df3dbf239cf481305190901ede586 | By . Sara Malm . The polar bear may be a terrifying predator, but it is hard to feel fear when looking at this little fella playing with his mother. The fluffy little polar bear cub lived with mother Gerda in Novosibirsk Zoo in Siberia, central Russia. It is the first-born cub of Gerda and her ‘partner’ Kai, and also the first polar bear to be born at Novosibirsk Zoo in 42 years. Mother's love: Polar bear Gerda cuddles her young cub in the den at a zoo in Novosibirsk, Siberia . Total diva: The polar bear cub is the first to be born at Novosibirsk Zoo in more than 40 years . Mummy, I fell over: The unnamed polar bear cub tumbles in the snow with its mother . The cub arrived in early December, and . is now old enough to be able to play outside, albeit under the watchful . eye of its mother. The zoo, . located some 1,750miles east of Moscow, acquired the two adult polar . bears in 2008, Gerda from a zoo in Moscow and Kai from Leningrad Zoo. ‘Since . the polar bear is a solitary animal, we occasionally split them up into . different enclosures. 'It had the desired effect. In November, the . female started to make itself a ’maternity den’ and lay out a bed of . hay,’ a Novosibirsk Zoo spokesperson told Sib.fm. Safe with mum: The cub cuddles up close to mother Gerda in their den at the Siberian zoo . First steps: The polar bear cub was born in December last year and is only just now starting to venture outside . Number one: The cub is not just the first to arrive at the zoo in decades, it is also the firstborn of Gerda and her polar partner Kai . ‘In . early December, she stopped coming out of the shelter. To our great . joy, Gerda showed herself to be a responsible mother and never showed . aggression towards the baby.’ Polar . bear cubs are born between November and February, weighing less than . 2lbs (0.9kg) and remain in the den with their mother for several months . while nursing. When they . exit the den the cubs have grown to eight about 22 to 33lbs (10-15kg) after which - in the wild - they stay with their mother until they are . two-and-a-half years after which she abandons them or, if need be, . chases them away. Cuteness overload: The adorable fluffball plays in the snow while staying warm and snuggly next to its mother . Omnomnomnom: Mother and cub have a playful biting-match in their pen at the Siberian zoo . Mama's cub: The young bear will stay with its mother for two-and-a-half years before it is weaned off . | Polar bear cub is the first to be born at Siberian zoo in 42 years .
The tiny bear played with its mother as it ventured out of the den .
Born at Novosibirsk Zoo, more than 1,700miles from Moscow . |
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