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fbd1616b4e2deacbe170f001aadcaa35104dfdf7 | A seven-year-old girl was killed and her brother is missing after a mud geyser unexpectedly erupted. The two children were walking with their father on the boy's ninth birthday in the Maccalube nature reserve, north of Agrigento, in southern Sicily. The father, a police officer, was uninjured, but the girl's body was found shortly after the eruption on Saturday, while the boy could not be found. Members of a rescue team work at the site of a geyser eruption at the natural park of Maccalube, in Italy . A seven-year-old girl was killed and her brother is missing after the mud geyser erupted on Saturday . The Maccalube reserve offers an unusual landscape of small mud geysers that erupt sporadically . The father, a police officer, was uninjured, but the girl's body was found shortly after the eruption on Saturday - while the boy could not be found . A geyser is a hot spring that periodically erupts, throwing water into the air. Geysers are extremely rare and there are only around 1,000 that are active in the world . The Maccalube reserve offers an unusual landscape of small mud geysers that erupt sporadically. It was closed for part of August because of intense underground activity, press reports said. A geyser is a hot spring that periodically erupts, throwing water into the air. Geysers are extremely rare and there are only around 1,000 that are active. As such, tragedies such as this are uncommon. The two children were walking with their father on the boy's ninth birthday in the Maccalube nature reserve . The Maccalube reserve had been closed for part of August because of intense underground activity . Geysers are among the most rare natural phenomena on Earth and so tragedies like this are rare . They are among the most rare natural phenomena on Earth. Geologic conditions, such as hot springs and volcanoes, must be present for geysers to exist. Most of the world's geysers are spread among five countries: . United States - Yellowstone National Park . Russia - Dolina Geiserov . Chile - El Tatio . New Zealand - Taupo Volcanic Zone . Iceland - many locations . | Seven-year-old girl killed after mud geyser erupted in the Maccalube reserve .
Her nine-year-old brother is also missing after the eruption in Sicily, Italy .
Reserve had been closed for part of August because of underground activity . |
fbd1a5279b5ce1e42f0948f37709e4612631a03a | For the past decade, a trip to the cinema using two-for-one cinema tickets on a Wednesday has become a regular habit for millions of Britons. But now, it’s curtains for Orange Wednesdays, as EE is closing the popular scheme in February 2015. When it launched, the offer may have proved an enticing incentive for cinema goers to pick Orange as their mobile network of choice. No more cheap dates! EE is ending Orange Wednesdays, which for the last decade, has given customers the opportunity to buy two-for-one cinema tickets every Wednesday - making date nights cheaper (stock image) But now other networks are offering rival incentives and less people are using Orange Wednesdays, perhaps streaming films to tablets and TVs instead, leading EE to cite 'changing viewing habits' as the reason for closing the scheme. ‘Orange Wednesday at its peak was a massive success and an iconic promotion,’ EE said. EE has promised that there will be a replacement . ‘Our brand has changed and our customers' viewing habits have also evolved so it's time to move on.’ The deal currently gets EE customers a cheap meal at the Pizza Express restaurant chain too. Many fans of the scheme feared that EE might roll the credits on Orange Wednesdays, when T-Mobile and Orange merged in 2010. However, EE has promised that there will be a replacement. ‘We're working on new customer entertainment rewards and we'll provide more details soon.’ If the offer doesn’t prove as compelling for customers, they may well swap to Vodafone or O2, which offer copycat schemes of Orange Wednesday. O2's Priority Moments gives customers special offers on Odeon cinema tickets, for example. If you're planning on axing mid-week cinema trips in the New Year, a £16 gadget lets you project films streamed to a smartphone onto any surface. Made from cardboard, the simple design also claims to amplify the sound without the need for additional wires or a separate sound system. The black and white Smart Phone Projector is listed on on PrezzyBox.com and can be set up 'within minutes,' according to its maker, Luckies of London. Cheap alternative to the cinema? The Smart Phone projector costs less than two trips to the cinema and claims to project films stored on, or streamed to smartphones, onto a chosen surface . It has a 10x magnifying lens at the front to increase the video size on a wall and a grip pad on the back to securely hold a smartphone in place. The portable gadget costs £15.95 ($27), and means you can turn any room in your home into a cinema screen. But there are a number compromises. For instance, the projection is dim, small, and can often be blurry. There are also no volume controls. | EE is closing popular 2-for-1 ticket scheme in February 2015 .
Customers' 'changing viewing habits' cited as the reason for closure .
An alternative entertainment offer will be announced, EE says . |
fbd1f70bf0d36b074d384972cfcc177a6980402e | A 10-year-old schoolgirl died after being shot as she was walking home from a bible study class in Egypt. Jessi Boulus died from the single shot to the chest as she made her way through the streets of Cairo on Tuesday. Her death is yet another example of rising tensions against Christians in the country after supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood started to target Egypt's Christian minority, holding them partly responsible for his removal. Attack: In April footage emerged of men shooting guns, wielding machetes and hurling stones laid siege to the Coptic cathedral in Cairo . In the grainy footage from earlier this year a man is seen wielding a machete before he is filmed attacking the church . Jessi's mother told the BBC News she believes her daughter was targeted due to her religion. 'She was my best friend, my everything. Jessi was just becoming a young woman,' she said. 'Every woman dreams of becoming a mother, and for 10 years I was lucky enough to be a mum. I'll miss Jessi calling me mum - I know I won't ever hear it again.' Jessi's father told the website: 'Jessi was everything to us. Her . killers didn't know that Jessi was my life - my future. They killed our . future. I lived for her. We both did.' Her parents said that they had noticed rising tensions in recent months and had discussed emigrating but had decided to stay in Egypt as it was their home. Clashes: Egyptian Coptic Christians women mourn during the funeral service for four Christians killed in sectarian clashes in Al-Khusus at al-Abbassiya Cathedral in Cairo, Egypt, in April . Aggression: Egyptians throw stones towards Coptic Christians in April . Tension: Clashes began in and around the Cathedral grounds after a funeral procession for two coptic protesters . In April, a Muslim mob attacked the main cathedral of the Coptic Orthodox Church as Christians held a funeral and protested there over four Christians killed in sectarian violence the day before. Pope Tawadros II publicly blamed Morsi for failing to protect the building. Egyptian security forces stood by during a brutal attack on Coptic Christians in Luxor days after Mohamed Morsi’s removal, according to Amnesty International. Accusations: The leader of Egypt's Coptic Christians Pope Tawadros II accused police of not helping Christians . During the 18-hour-long attack on 5 July, the security forces left six besieged Coptic Christian men - four of whom were then killed and one hospitalised - to the mercy of an angry crowd. An angry mob armed with metal bars, knives, tree branches and hammers attacked Christian homes and businesses in Nagah Hassan, 11 miles west of Luxor, after the dead body of a Muslim man was discovered near the homes of Christian families. Despite local residents’ and religious leaders’ repeated calls for help, security forces on the scene made only half-hearted attempts to end the violence and sufficient reinforcements failed to arrive. The violence began at 3am, shortly after the Muslim man’s body was found in the vicinity of Christian homes. His family blamed the death on a . local Coptic Christian and by mid-day more than 100 Christian homes had . been attacked, with scores of them looted or torched. Local residents . reported calling the police and army’s hotlines throughout the day in . vain, and local religious leaders also approached security officials. The . attack went on for 18 hours, and there was not a door on which I did . not knock: police, army, local leaders, the Central Security Forces, the . Governorate. Nothing was done,'said Father Barsilious, a local priest . from Dab’iya. The . security forces evacuated women and children trapped inside a house . surrounded by an angry mob but left six men behind, apparently following . demands from the crowd that the men remain. Four of the abandoned men . were later stabbed and/or beaten to death and another required hospital . treatment. Three other Christian men were hospitalised in separate violent incidents. One woman said she had begged police officers to save her sons who were left behind, but they ignored her pleas: . 'I kissed the police officer’s hands and legs and begged him to protect my two sons and take them out … he completely ignored me and said he would only take women and children ... I buried my two sons in one day,'she said. Other female relatives said they had given men their abayas (gowns) to try to disguise them as women so that they could escape. Blame: Her death is yet another example of rising tensions against Christians in the country after supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood started to target Egypt's Christian minority, holding them partly responsible for his removal . Patrol: An army soldier stands alert over an armored vehicle near Nahda Square, where supporters of Egypt's ousted President Mohammed Morsi have installed their camp near Cairo University . Determined: Supporters of Egypt's ousted President Mohammed Morsi sleep their tent at the sit-in at Rabaah al-Adawiya mosque, which is fortified with multiple walls of bricks, tires, metal barricades and sandbags, . | Jessi Boulus died from the single shot to the chest last Tuesday .
She was making her way through the streets of Cairo .
Her mother said she believes her daughter was targeted due to her religion . |
fbd2059adb37ed9c55621edfcf42ca4bbe9c5326 | By . Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 20:46 EST, 30 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:48 EST, 2 December 2013 . The ex-girlfriend of Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins claims the paedophile rock musician had fantasies about kidnapping and murdering a baby. Joanne Mjadzelics, 38, claims Watkins' sick behaviour would have eventually degenerated into even more extreme crimes if he had not been caught. Watkins was described as a 'determined and committed paedophile' after he admitted attempting to rape a fan's 11-month-old baby son along with 10 other child sex offences on Tuesday. Horror: Joanne Majic, the ex-girlfriend of Ian Watkins, said he had fantasies about kidnapping and murdering a baby . Miss Mjadzelics had a two year on-off relationship with the rock star from 2006 and as time went on, Watkins revealed his sordid fantasies. In August 2008, after receiving emails from the singer describing sex with an 11-year-old girl and suggestive photographs of a three-year-old, she went to police. She told the Sunday People: 'I’m absolutely sure Ian wouldn’t have stopped at abuse. 'He wanted to rape and kill children. He wanted to rape newborns. 'He even wanted to get me pregnant so he could rape our baby.' The singer, a former boyfriend of BBC presenter Fearne Cotton and model Alexa Chung, also admitted to her he used his Lostprophets fame to turn young girls into ‘Superfans’ willing to allow him to abuse their children. Former lover: Miss Mjadzelics had a two year on-off relationship with the rock star from 2006 and as time went on, Watkins revealed his sordid fantasies . The former lead singer with multi-million selling band Lostprophets made a series of admissions in a last-minute change of plea ahead of what would have been his trial at Cardiff Crown Court . Miss Mjadzelics also says she warned police about the singer's depraved nature four years ago after he told her he wanted to have sex with a child, but says they refused to investigate it. She was persuaded to give up as Watkins was alerted about her claims and she was threatened with harassment charges. But a year later he was bombarding her with more sick fantasies, revealed he was now addicted to heroin and had raped a five-year-old girl. At that point, she started to gather a file of evidence that eventually led to Watkins' conviction. Miss Mjadzelics claimed besotted female fans of the paedophile are hiding the true . extent of his offending because they secretly offered their children for . abuse. Her claims come as another of Watkins' former lovers, Lostprophets fan Krysta Boyle, reveals he gushed over her tiny frame. Ms Boyle, from Orange County in . California, was 19 years old, 4'11", and wore child-size clothing when . she met the singer in Hawaii. She told The Sun on Sunday: 'Looking . back, it was obvious something was wrong with him from the moment we . met. But I was a young impressionable fan. 'I remember him commenting a lot on my body and small frame.' She added that he tried to film their sexual encounters and once choked her during sex. Today his ex-bandmates insisted they did not know about the abuse. Speaking for the first time since Watkins' last-minute change of plea on Tuesday ahead of what would have been his trial at Cardiff Crown Court, they released a statement to fans revealing they were 'heartbroken, angry and disgusted'. They said: 'Many of you understandably want to know if we knew what Ian was doing. To be clear: We did not. 'We knew that Ian was a difficult . character. Our personal relationships with him had deteriorated in . recent years to a point that working together was a constant, miserable . challenge. 'But despite his battles with drugs, his egotistic behaviour and the . resulting fractures and frustrations within our band, we never imagined . him capable of behaviour of the type he has now admitted.' The Independent Police Complaints . Commission (IPCC) is investigating claims that South Wales Police failed . to act quickly enough having allegedly been told Watkins was planning . to abuse children as early as 2008. They . have now launched a second investigation over the handling of a . complaint made against Watkins to South Yorkshire Police in 2012. Watkins . was arrested late last year after South Wales Police raided his home on . a drugs tip and stumbled upon hard drives containing images, videos and . conversations about him attacking children. From . early 2010 horrified fans who had become friends with Watkins went . online to beg for help after discovering vile images on his computer. In one post, written before his arrest, a fan wrote: ‘His on-off girlfriend reported him to police twice for being a paedophile. ‘He . sent pornographic pictures of a little girl to a few girls telling them . it was a five-year-old girl he’d raped. He also watches child porn . constantly. Sick sick man.’ Watkins allegedly boasted to obsessed female fans that he had HIV and was on a mission to pass it on to children. Watkins, 38, is due to be sentenced next month after . he admitted to a string of horrific child sex offences including . attempting to rape a fan's 11-month-old baby boy . The comments will only add to the growing . fear that Watkins's guilty pleas offer only a glimpse of the true . extent of his drug-fuelled debauchery. The 36-year-old, from Pontypridd, South . Wales, plotted the shocking abuse with the two mothers of the babies in a . series of text and internet messages. The baby's mother, Woman A, admits aiding and abetting the attempted rapes on her son. She also admits sexually touching the child and taking photographs, before sending them to Watkins. Watkins also admitted conspiring to rape and sexually touch the daughter of the second fan. He admits aiding and abetting Woman B to touch her daughter while he watched on Skype. An . earlier court hearing was told police had 72 pages of conversations . between the pair online talking about their sexual relationship. Woman B mentioned she had a daughter of a young age and Watkins said: 'Bring her along as well.' She said she was getting the child ready for their meeting together - and 'what they all will do together' when they meet up. She . admits sexual assault after touching the child, she also admits taking . an indecent photograph of the child before distributing them. Anyone who has been affected by the Watkins case, or other cases of child abuse, is urged to contact South Wales Police on 029 20634184 or the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000. | Paedophile would have moved on to murder, claims former lover .
Joanne Mjadzelics says he wanted to get her pregnant and abuse the child .
'He wanted to rape and kill children', said the 38-year-old former banker .
Went to police when he sent her a photo of a three-year-old with cocaine .
Another ex, 4'11" Krysta Boyle, said he told her: 'I love your small body'
Former bandmates today said they were 'heartbroken, angry, disgusted' |
fbd215fe2764add15c7c8b1914251fc3b26b986c | By . Nick Enoch . PUBLISHED: . 07:09 EST, 19 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:13 EST, 19 June 2013 . An 18-year-old woman was recommended for exclusion by her college 'for bringing it into disrepute' after accusing three fellow students of rape and sexual assault, a court has heard. Three men have gone on trial at Hull . Crown Court accused of abusing the woman on campus at Bishop Burton . College in East Yorkshire. The alleged victim said the men took . her by surprise, snatching her telephone and door key, before leading her . back to her room in a hall of residence and engaging in group sex at . 4am. Accused (l to r): Thomas Price, 21, from Rotherham, is . accused of rape and assault by penetration; Stephen Johnson, 21, from . Hull, is accused of sexual assault and assault by penetration; and . William Robinson, 20, of Doncaster, is accused of assault by . penetration. All pictured outside Hull Crown Court today . 'One got my . telephone and the other got my keys. One said: "Do you want a . fivesome?" I said: No! Go away! I was pushed into my room and on to my . bed. One of them went through my drawers getting all my stuff out,' she told Hull Crown Court. Thomas Price, 21, from Rotherham, is . accused of rape and assault by penetration; Stephen Johnson, 21, from . Hull, is accused of sexual assault and assault by penetration; and . William Robinson, 20, of Doncaster, is accused of assault by . penetration. The court was told a fourth man in the group had left the room before the alleged assault took place. The female student said one of the three men pulled off . her jogging pants. 'I told them to get off. My next-door neighbour heard . me say: "Get off! Get out of my room!"' the court heard. The woman said she faced exclusion from the college after reporting the men to staff, and was then forced to explain the situation to her parents, the court heard. The woman told the jury her parents persuaded her to report it to the police after she received a letter from the college recommending she be excluded. She told the court: 'I told the college I had been sexually assaulted but I didn't give the details of what had happened, I just gave them an outline. 'The college said I had brought it into disrepute by having sexual actions with a group of people. The alleged assaults are said to have happened in a hall of residence on the campus at Bishop Burton College (above), East Yorkshire . 'A couple of days later, they recommended that I was excluded. 'I was upset about it and my mum persuaded me to go to the police.' The court heard a senior member of staff at the college interviewed the alleged victim and sent her a letter which read: 'I'm writing to confirm you have received a recommendation for exclusion from the college for bringing the college into disrepute by demeaning sexual actions with a group of people.' The offences are alleged to have taken place last September. The woman told the jury all three men befriended her outside the college, took her keys and pushed her into her room, where they sexually assaulted her. She then claims they left laughing. The three men claim she consented to what happened, the court heard. Prosecutor John Thackray said: 'The Crown say these three defendants, in drink, took advantage of her and took advantage of her knowing it was without consent. 'The prosecution say it was obvious to all three defendants that she was not consenting at any time. 'The complainant [later] reported the matter to the police.' Her friend reported what had happened to the college - which covers further and higher education for those aged over 16 - and an investigation was launched. She was asked to name the men by the college and told the jury she searched Facebook to identify her alleged attackers. Mr Price's barrister Paul Genney suggested to her: 'You went perfectly willingly with those men and everything that happened with them was done with consent. 'I suggest you were angry with them for walking off and laughing and you were upset and hurt. 'You got a crime number from the police so it would back up your appeal to the college.' The jury was shown CCTV footage of the men approaching the alleged victim as she smoked outside the college that night. The woman alleges they pushed her into her room but the defence suggests she was smiling and going with the men willingly. The defendants deny the charges. The trial continues. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Alleged victim was studying at Bishop Burton College, East Yorkshire .
Three men 'took her by surprise before leading her to her room in hall of residence and engaging in group sex at 4am', court told .
Young student was recommended for exclusion because she had 'brought college into disrepute by having sexual actions with a group of people' |
fbd22fc3785b2f5f58bc18b16ed6163eee3897df | The Australian who gave up her quest to swim from Cuba to Florida because of painful jellyfish stings said Thursday that she will not make another attempt. Chloe McCardel said that she had picked June because the jellyfish danger was supposed to be low. But about 11 hours and 14 miles into her expected 60-hour, 110-mile journey, she found herself in a swarm. 'I had one coming out of my mouth. I was pulling it, this tentacle out of my mouth, but I don't remember this moment. My kayaker told me that I was doing this, 'cause I have no recollection. I'm not coming back. That's it,' she said. Scroll down for video . Lashes: McCardel, left, shows jellyfish stings to a news videographer in Key West, Florida on June 13, 2013 . Painful: Chloe McCardel shows reporters jellyfish stings on her arm as she addresses a news conference in Key West, Florida 13 June 2013 . The 28-year-old from Melbourne became the latest endurance athlete undone by the strong currents and fierce jellyfish of the Florida Straits on Wednesday night, abandoning her attempt to become the first person to swim across nonstop without a shark cage. The jellyfish caught her by surprise. 'I got smashed with them coming from every direction,' she said. 'I would not have gone to all this trouble if I had known they would be out in such numbers in June.' She was pulled out of the water and taken by one of her support vessels to Key West, where she was resting at a hotel Thursday. She said the trip back to land was excruciating. 'It was two and a half hours of the worst pain, continuously, every second, of my whole entire life. It's like fireballs in every fiber,' she said. It was the fifth failure involving three women who have tried to make the marathon swim the past three summers. Jellyfish stings and strong currents have been the main impediments. Ouch: Australian long-distance swimmer Chloe McCardel shows jellyfish stings after giving up her quest to become the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage . Not coming back: Australian long-distance swimmer Chloe McCardel vowed to never return to the jellyfish-infested waters of Cuba . Tears: McCardel wipes a tear as she addresses reporters after her failed swim . Diana Nyad tweeted her commiseration. The endurance athlete has failed three times trying to make the same crossing and says she'd like to take another shot this summer. 'It's a tough night for Chloe McCardel, a superior swimmer and an exemplary spirit,' Nyad wrote. Endurance swimmer Penny Palfrey has also tried and failed to make the swim. Australian Susie Maroney successfully made the crossing in 1997, but she did it with the benefit of a shark cage. McCardel had twice made a double crossing of the English Channel, but the most time she had spent in the water continuously was 25 hours. She attempted her Cuba to Florida swim under English Channel Marathon rules, which meant she could not touch her support boat or hold on to anything. She also wasn't allowed to wear a full-body wetsuit, which would have helped protect against jellyfish. McCardel and her team spent nine and a half months planning the trip and studying others' attempts. Box jellyfish: Experts believe the Australian was attacked by a box jellyfish, like that pictured, which are common in the Florida Straits . Off to a good start: McCardel waves to spectators as she begins her swim to Florida from the waters off Havana, Cuba, on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 but she abandoned her attempt 11 hours later . Australian swimmer Chloe McCardel had to abandon her plan to swim from Cuba to Florida after 11 hours due to a 'debilitating' jelly fish sting . McCardel had expected to spend about 60 hours in the sea before reaching the Florida Keys, a little more than 100 miles to the northeast . The repeated failures raise the . question of whether the Cuba-to-Florida swim without a cage is even . doable as a 2.5 day swim is stretching the physical limits of even elite . endurance athletes. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, . the longest open water swim without flippers was 139.8 miles by Croatian . Veljko Rogosic, who swam between two Italian cities on the Adriatic Sea . from Aug. 29 to 31, 2006. Dr. Clifton Page, a sports medicine specialist at the University of Miami . Miller School of Medicine, said he thinks the Cuba-to-Florida swim can . be done, although there are several physical obstacles to overcome. He . has advised Nyad on her swims. One . obstacle is hypothermia. While the water is more than 80 degrees in . late spring and summer, it is still well below the body's normal . temperature of 98 degrees and causes it to slowly drop. There . is also malnutrition. No matter how often the swimmer stops to eat, she . will never ingest enough calories to make up for those expended . swimming, he said. After a while, that causes the muscles to start . breaking down. Preparing: Australian swimmer Chloe McCardel adjusts her earplugs as her husband applies grease around the edges of her suit to prevent chafing . This is the moment McCardel jumped into the water at Hemingway Marina to start her swim to Florida from Havana, Cuba . Then there is dehydration, he said. Even though swimmers don't feel it, they sweat just like any other . athlete, while the saltwater acts like a wick, drawing even more water . out of the body. Finally, there is sleep deprivation -- exercising that . hard for days without sleep can result in hallucinations. 'The variable is the jellyfish,' Page . said. He said their bites are very painful and potentially fatal if not . treated. 'Chloe would have gotten a lot further into her swim if she . hadn't been bit.' Adding to the swimmer's strain are . the Florida Strait's currents. Villy Kourafalou, a University of Miami . oceanography professor, said that the swim from Cuba to the Keys 'is . very challenging as the currents are not only very strong but also . extremely variable.' But, she said, modern computer models . that utilize information from satellites, buoys and ships allow the . swimmer's support team to better predict the currents and help the . members decide the best time to start the swim, the best route to take . and then make adjustments along the way. McCardel puts on her goggles as she prepares to jump into the water and start her swim to Florida from Havana, Cuba . Failed: McCardel and her team have spent the last nine and a half months planning the trip and studying others' attempts to try to figure out why they were unable to complete the swim . Map: the treacherous route from Havana to Florida that McCardel will take for the 160-km swim . | Chloe McCardel, 29, set-off on the 160-km (100-mile)
swim on Wednesday .
She had to quit after 11 hours because of the jelly fish sting .
Had planned on trip taking about 60 hours to complete .
Since 2011, four unsuccessful, uncaged swims have been attempted .
McCardel: 'It's the hardest marathon swim in the entire world' |
fbd2952a26ad180111573da0aab2bac1358b14f6 | Many people may feel that they have spent a great deal of time on the A1 road, which connects London and Edinburgh. But the route has been in use for a staggering 10,000 years, according to newly-discovered archaeological evidence. A Mesolithic settlement, which has been compared to a modern-day service station, has been unearthed by researchers alongside the A1 near Catterick in North Yorkshire. Scroll down for video . The route, which is now the A1 between London and Edinburgh, may have been in use for a staggering 10,000 years, newly-discovered archaeological evidence suggests. Experts have discovered ancient artefacts during the widening of the road through North Yorkshire (pictured) A Mesolithic settlement has been uncovered beside the A1 in North Yorkshire. The site is believed to have been a kind of overnight shelter used by people travelling north and south thousands of years ago. A number of flint tools dating back to between 6000 and 8000 BC were also discovered at the site. Evidence of Iron Age, Mesolithic and Neolithic settlements have been found near the Roman town of Cataractonium, near the River Swale. The team has discovered buildings on the edge of Dere Street - a Roman road running alongside the A1 - including shop frontages and even a bath house. Finds during the excavations have included a complete Roman bowl called a Mortaria used for grinding herbs and spices. Roman glass from a drinking vessel has also been found at the site of the Roman town. Approximately half a mile further south from Cataractonium, is evidence of Iron Age settlements and Iron Age cremations. This means the route predates previous estimates that claimed it was built by the Romans. The site is believed to have been a kind of overnight shelter, used by people travelling north and south thousands of years ago. A number of flint tools dating back to between 6000 and 8000 BC were also discovered at the site. Steve Sherlock, Archaeological Clark for the project, said: ‘This was a place that these people knew of - a place they could return to on many occasions, to stay sheltered overnight during their travels. ‘It is telling us there is evidence for people using the route and moving through the area over periods of time. ‘It is also adding to our knowledge of the early Mesolithic period, a time we don't know very much about and this is very interesting. A number of flint tools (pictured) dating back to between 6000 and 8000 BC were also discovered at the site, which is believed to have been a kind of overnight shelter by people travelling north and south centuries . A Mesolithic settlement (pictured), which has been compared to a modern-day service station, has been unearthed by researchers alongside the A1. Evidence of Iron Age, Mesolithic and Neolithic settlements have previously been found near the Roman town of Cataractonium, near the River Swale not far from this location . ‘We found a small structure which resembled a type of shelter where they were making the flint tools that were also present at the site.’ This rare find was uncovered during the excavation of known Roman settlements in advance of plans to upgrade the A1 to motorway status between Junctions 51 and 56. Neil Redfearn, principal inspector of ancient monuments for English Heritage in North Yorkshire, said: 'I think this is really tantalising. This discovery gives us an even greater understanding of the time depth and movement through this landscape. The discovery was made along a stretch of the A1 close to Catterick in North Yorkshire (marked). It was uncovered during excavation of known Roman settlements in advance of plans to upgrade the A1 to motorway status between Junctions 51 and 56 . ‘Can we ask questions about route ways that predate the Roman period?’ he asked. The A1 is the longest numbered road in the country and is under an almost constant state of upgrade. Archaeologists have been excavating ancient monuments between Leeming and Barton, where construction work will begin to widen the road. Finds during the excavations at Cataractonium include a complete Roman bowl called a Mortaria (pictured) which was used for grinding herbs and spices . Archaeologists were surprised to find the ancient 'service station' (pictured left) which provided shelter for travellers heading north and south 10,000 years ago. A Saxon brooch (pictured right) was also unearthed at the site. Archaeologists are busy trying to find treasures before the widening of the A1 goes ahead . Roman glass from a drinking vessel, was also uncovered near Cataractonium. Finds preceding the glass by thousands of years were additionally discovered nearby . Dere Street, which was built by the Romans, runs alongside the modern A1 and the experts are focusing their efforts on a Roman town located by the road near to the River Swale, called Cataractonium. They have so far discovered evidence of Iron Age, Mesolithic and Neolithic settlements. Sherlock said: ‘The road scheme is 12 miles (19km) long and we are investigating a number of different sites. ‘It was fascinating to find that one of those was in fact a Mesolithic site, a further 8,000 years into the past, beyond the Romans. ‘We are still finding extremely clear evidence of how people used to live here almost 2,000 years ago during the Roman period.’ The team has discovered buildings on the edge of Dere Street, including shop frontages and even a bath house. This flint tool, which dates between 6000 and 8000 BC was also discovered at the site close to the busy A road . ‘We think this was a particularly industrial part of the town,’ he said. ‘Finds during the excavations have included a complete Roman bowl called a Mortaria used for grinding herbs and spices. Another was Roman glass from a drinking vessel, found in Cataractonium.’ Approximately half a mile )0.8km) further south from Cataractonium, is evidence of Iron Age settlements and Iron Age cremations. Redfearn added: ‘This is really interesting because we weren't quite expecting to find Iron Age material here either. ‘In pre-work, we have done quite a lot of studying at desktop level to try to understand what the level of archaeology of the landscape was actually like. ‘To find an Iron Age settlement with Iron Age activity and even cremations gives us an inkling again as to what life was like before the Roman period.’ | Mesolithic settlement was unearthed near Catterick in North Yorkshire .
Site beside the A1 was used as an overnight shelter 10,000 years ago .
This means the route predates previous estimates it was built by Romans .
Flint tools dating back to between 6000 and 8000 BC were found at the site .
The dig took place at known Roman settlements before the widening of a section of the road takes place .
Dere Street runs alongside the modern A1 and the experts are focusing on a Roman town where they have found fragments of glass and a bowl .
Near Cataractonium is evidence of Iron Age settlements and cremations . |
fbd38894efd2f5949d227a827b791cbaa5b94024 | By . Deni Kirkova . PUBLISHED: . 06:20 EST, 5 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:12 EST, 7 November 2013 . Kelly Brook cooked up a storm in a set of sexy pictures for her new underwear range for New Look last week. Now the curvy Celebrity Juice presenter, 33, has put some clothes on for her latest venture with the High Street fashion brand: a festive clothing line. Oozing vampish glamour, Kelly models three glitzy looks in new images and behind the scenes footage including a fitted black £40 dress with daring thigh split. Scroll down for video . Kelly wears dress (£39.99) necklace (£12.99) and shoes (£29.99) from her New Look Christmas collection . Materials include plush velvet, shimmering sequins and on-trend Aztec brocade. Kelly's . latest partywear range aims to be a modern take on . glamour and features eye-catching details such as jewelled necklines . and bold shoulder detailing. Alongside fail-safe black, she has worked with rich wine-tones and metallic effects for extra festive dazzle. The collection features everything from cute shorts and svelte midi-length pencil skirts to hit-the-floor evening gowns. Stand-out . pieces include a sequined jumpsuit suspended from delicate . lingerie-like shoulder-straps. The same pretty shoulder-strap detailing . appears on dresses and camisole tops. The star wears Brocade dress (£39.99) and jacket (£34.99) from her first Christmas clothing range . A behind the scenes sneak peek at Kelly's newest shoot for New Look Christmas clothing . In the behind the scenes video for FashTag TV, Kelly says she is not a 'typical model shape' and that it's nice when she gets people messaging her with thanks. 'I'm not a size zero. There should be different body shapes representing different bodies,' she says. In terms of inspiration for her New Look ranges, Kelly says she look to everything from music videos, movies, and the catwalk - especially Giles. Her Christmas clothing collection in particular, she says, is inspired by Balmain. Good mascara . Matte red lipstick . Eyebrow pencil . Shu Uemura hair oil for gloss and shine . Cocoa butter for skin . 'It has strong details, collars, shoulders... very 80s power woman. It's a strong, powerful look.' The TV presenter says her personal style idols include Lana Del Rey and Lily Allen. 'I love Lana's videos, style, music - everything about her. She's got that Old Hollywood vibe,' she says. Meanwhile, she admires Allen's fifties dresses, converse and gold hoops combo look. 'Chav meets fifties meets Hollywood, that's my vibe,' says Kelly. The model, actress and presenter admits she is slightly less confident how she is a bit older, as she is competing against 20-year-olds, but she doesn't let that put her down. 'I’m very accepting of getting older and I don’t know if there’s anything I’d want to change,' she tells the Express. 'My . body’s changing naturally anyway and it’s not like I want to look 20 . again. I just want to look healthy and happy. If you’re a good person, . happy and confident, then it comes through in your eyes.' Her festive fashion pieces include high heeled platform shoes (£29.99) and glitzy clutch bags (from £19.99) Kelly is proud to represent shapes other than size zero in the modelling world . She says her new clothing line, featuring strong shoulders for an 80s look, is inspired by Balmain . As well as the £39.99 twist-front maxi . dress, that could hold its own on any red carpet, . there's a modern prom frock combining black bodice and gold . sequin skirt with a chic filmy organza overlay, for . £44.99. Accessories such as hot heels in lace . or glimmering glitter at £29.99, and must-have box-bags or . clutches, from £19.99, complete the New Look Christmas party look. Posing in the boudoir-inspired lace collection, Kelly is simply smouldering . Kelly, who is single after splitting up with on-off love Danny Cipriani, is spending some time in Los Angeles. She seems to have moved on from her break-up though after getting close to Gethin Jones. The model was spotted on a dinner date with Daybreak presenter, 35, in Los Angeles. She was also seen leaving his apartment, where he has been living while looking for work in the United States. Kelly Brook Christmas clothing launches in store at New Look and online at newlook.com today. Watch the full behind-the-scenes video on FashTag's YouTube channel. Gethin Jones and Kelly Brook have been friends for years and were spotted looking close on a date in LA . | Celerity Juice presenter, 33, models 3 looks from Christmas clothing line .
Cites Lily Allen and Lana Del Ray as influences .
Vampish collection features velvet, sequins and Aztec brocade .
Prices start at £19.99 for a clutch bag and the line hits stores today . |
fbd3abe840c716ae28dfbd903542ae54b1415329 | By . Chris Greenwood . PUBLISHED: . 12:56 EST, 16 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 10:04 EST, 17 January 2014 . Ordeal: Award winning actress Juliet Aubrey . A Bafta-winning actress yesterday spoke for the first time of how she was savaged by a police dog as she hid under a bed while intruders ransacked her home. Juliet Aubrey, 47, thought her ordeal was over after she managed to dial 999 and heard officers shouting ‘armed police’. But her relief turned to horror when the unaccompanied Alsatian ran into the room and dragged her across the floor. ‘He sank his teeth into my leg through my skin, muscles and down to the bone,’ she said. ‘His . jaw was locked right down. It was pain like I had never known. I was . thinking at the time to not let it get my throat or I would be dead.’ The dog bit her three times on the arm and leg in an attack lasting up to 40 seconds that left her ‘drenched in blood’. Miss . Aubrey, who won a Bafta for her role as Dorothea in a BBC production of . Middlemarch, and starred in The White Queen, required months of . treatment for her injuries, including the wound that cut to the bone. She was also diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and was left with permanent scars. The actress spoke after a Scotland Yard inquiry found the dog’s handler should face disciplinary action. She . said as she fought the animal she turned around to see three police . officers ‘just staring at me’. ‘I was screaming, “get it off me, get it . off me”. 'I was looking into their eyes. They were frozen. They did not say a word, they just stared.’ Miss . Aubrey was alone at the £800,000 south London home she shares with her . husband and children on March 13, 2012 when she heard intruders inside, . with one shouting: ‘Get the gun, get the gun!’ She . ran upstairs and hid under her daughter’s bed. ‘I thought I was going . to die,’ she said. The dog bit Miss Aubrey three times on the arm and leg in an attack lasting up to 40 seconds . Miss Aubrey was also diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and was left with permanent scars . Juliet Aubrey was bitten by the dog after officers arrived at her London home to investigate a suspected burglary . The actress, known for her roles in The White Queen and Vera (right) was hiding under her daughter's bed when the dog attacked her . Scotland Yard has formally apologised for the incident and announced the dog handler involved will face misconduct proceedings . The actress said she was left with scars after being bitten by the Alsation. File image . As she heard the intruders on the floor below she . rang 999 on her mobile phone and stayed on the line for 15 minutes. After 30 minutes, she heard the police entering her house, shouting ‘firearms, police’, and footsteps coming up the stairs. But . then the Alsatian came in and spotted her before grabbing her in its . jaws. Eventually its handler came in and called off the dog. The police . inquiry found he had not been ‘diligent’ when the animal went out of his . sight. The force has . apologised to Miss Aubrey and the dog has been retired from duty after . suffering injuries in an unrelated incident. An 18-month investigation found the force had ‘let her down’ and officers gave conflicting accounts of what happened. The . handler, who said he was not told anyone was hiding in the house, faces . a disciplinary hearing. The intruders were never caught. A . Met spokesman said: ‘The Met has offered a formal and sincere apology. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time’ | Juliet Aubrey was attacked by the dog in her London home .
The actress had called police to investigate a suspected burlgary .
Scotland Yard has apologised for the incident in March 2012 .
The dog handler involved will face misconduct proceedings . |
fbd3faa9a683b4b4ca0d92b33c787cef03918ac5 | A woman has spoken of her terror at discovering that she harboured flesh-eating maggots inside her ear. When Rochelle Harris, 27, from Derby, returned from the holiday of a lifetime in Peru, she thought little of the headaches that she had started to develop on the flight back to the UK. But within hours she had developed excruciating shooting pains down one side of her face and had started to hear strange scratching sounds in her head. The next morning she woke to a pillow soaked with fluid from her ear. Scroll down for video . Rochelle Harris has been on holiday in Peru with her boyfriend James (pictured) when she walked through a swarm of flies. On the flight back to the UK she developed head pains and started to hear unusual sounds inside her head . Rochelle's ordeal features in a new Discovery Channel documentary, called 'Bugs, Bites and Parasites' that follows the work of specialists who are faced with patients exhibiting a variety of mysterious symptoms - more often than not from people who have travelled abroad. On her arrival back in the UK, Rochelle became increasingly concerned there may be something seriously wrong, so she visited her local Accident and Emergency department at the Royal Derby Hospital. The New World Army Screw Worm Fly (CGI pictured) laid eggs inside Rochelle's ear where they hatched and feasted on her flesh. They eventually burrowed 12mm into Rochelle's ear but luckily did not hit her facial nerve, which could have left her face paralysed . As doctors tried to get the maggots out of Rochelle's ear, they retreated further into her head. Doctors described discovering a 'writhing mass' of the creatures deep inside her ear . Initially doctors weren't concerned by her symptoms and presumed that they had developed because of a minor ear infection or an infected mosquito bite. She was referred to the ear nose and throat (ENT) team for further investigation to rule out a more sinister problem, however. Rochelle said that as her ear was being examined, the ENT specialist went silent. The doctor had found a small hole in the ear canal which needed further investigation but would not explain what the problem was. After almost an hour of silent examination Rochelle, and her mother who had accompanied her, asked if they were any closer to a diagnosis. The scan revealed that the maggots have burrowed 12mm into Rochelle's head . Also known as Cochliomyia, the fly belongs to the blowfly family. They thrive in hot, tropical countries. The larvae feed on living tissue and can cause deep, pocket-like lesions in the skin. This feeding can cause significant damage to the host animal - or human, as in Rochelle's case. She said: 'My Mum asked her "Can you see what it is?" and the doctor said "If you don't mind I'd prefer to speak to the registrar before I tell you anything". 'My Mum said "Please tell us" and that's when the doctor said "You've got maggots in your ear". I burst into tears instantly.' Doctors tried to get the maggots out but the more medics delved into her ear, the more the larvae retreated into Rochelle's head. 'I was very scared - I wondered if they were in my brain. I thought to myself "This could be very, very serious."' Doctors ordered an emergency brain scan to find out if any damage had been done by the maggots, as well as to determine how many there were and where they were hiding. Here the the moment doctors found a 'writhing mass of maggots' is captured. The tips of a maggot's head can be seen as doctors try to extract the larvae from Rochelle's ear . There was a risk that they were migrating through her head. If one reached her brain it could cause meningitis, fatal bleeding and if one ate through her facial nerve she might be left facially paralysed. Luckily, the scan showed that no damage had been . done to Rochelle's ear drum, blood vessels or facial nerve. But they did discover that the . maggots had chewed a 12mm hole into a ear canal. Doctors then tried to drown them by flooding the ear canal with olive oil. 'I had to wait overnight to see if the treatment worked,' said Rochelle. 'It was longest few hours of my life. 'I just wanted them out of me and now I knew what was causing the sensations and sounds it made it all the worse.' Rochelle Harris was given a MRI scan to see if the maggots had migrated to her brain, but luckily they had not got very far. She said the wait for minor surgery to remove the maggots was the longest few hours of her life . The next day doctors checked her ear and . astonishingly the maggots were still alive. They managed to remove two, . but doctors were concerned there might be one more left inside her. Rochelle was sedated and surgeons explored her ear using a microscope and speculum. They were shocked by what they found. As they pushed further inside the ear, they found what they described as a 'writhing mass of maggots'. The two of maggots that had been . extracted were not alone - further examination revealed Rochelle was in fact hosting a family of eight large maggots. Rochelle (pictured with boyfriend James) said she remembered walking through a swarm of flies when in Peru and a fly did indeed get inside her ear. But once she shooed it away she thought nothing more of it . The maggots were immediately sent to a lab for analysis where it was discovered that that a New World Army Screw Worm Fly had laid eggs inside her ear. Rochelle said she remembered walking through a swarm of flies when in Peru and a fly had got inside her ear. But once she had shooed it away she thought nothing more of it. Since her traumatic encounter, Rochelle has suffered no long-term problems and she says that there has been a positive side-effect of having maggots living in her head. She said: 'I'm no longer as squeamish as I was about bugs - how can you be when they've been inside your head?' | Rochelle Harris, 27, went on holiday to Peru with her boyfriend this year .
On the flight back she developed excruciating headaches, face pain, started hearing noises in her head and fluid then leaked from her ear .
Went to A&E where doctors thought she had a minor ear infection .
But closer inspection revealed a New World Army Screw Worm fly had laid eggs in her ear which had burrowed 12mm into ear canal .
Luckily they had not spread to brain or near any major blood vessels .
Surgeons removed the flesh-eating creatures and Rochelle made a full recovery .
'Bugs, Bites and Parasites' airs on the Discovery Channel starts on July 21st at 10pm . |
fbd40b5bf703eb883ae733627349a4c070588292 | PHOENIX, Arizona (CNN) -- "Always you have to run for your life," says Boo Htoo, who grew up in a refugee camp in Thailand just across the border from Myanmar. Boo Htoo and his family lived at the Maela Refugee Camp before being resettled in Phoenix, Arizona. Ethnic minorities still flee the repressive military regime in Myanmar, formerly Burma. Some 111,000 Myanmar refugees live in nine camps in Thailand, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Htoo, now 29, recalls making the long trek with his parents to cross the border when he was about 5. "[It's] a very long way," he says. "We don't have a car, a plane. We don't have a bicycle to ride. My parents just take what they can carry, and then we started walking across the jungle, sleeping in the jungle." Htoo and his family are now resettled in Phoenix, Arizona. Thanks to Carolyn Manning and her Welcome to America Project, they got a warm welcome to the big city, complete with furnishings and household items for their first apartment and toys for his two young children. "That day that I have a lot of American friends in my apartment," recalls Htoo, "this is the day that I feel very happy." For Htoo, it was a remarkable transition from "a really hard life in the refugee camp." "They have a wire fence around the camp; they put soldiers around the fence," Htoo says. "You are not allowed to go outside to work. You don't have a chance to go to university even if you are willing to go. I cannot express the feeling of how difficult it is." Watch Htoo tell his story » . According to the International Rescue Committee, about 2.7 million refugees have been resettled in the United States since 1975, and 52,000 of those have been relocated to Arizona. Through her Welcome to America Project, Manning helps legal refugees being resettled to Phoenix by the United Nations. Since 2001, she and volunteers have provided furniture, clothing and support to more than 550 refugee families. Nominate your Hero at CNN.com/Heroes . The first family Manning welcomed came to her attention in a local newspaper. Manning's brother-in-law Terence had died in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York. The family in the newspaper was from Afghanistan and had lost a relative to the Taliban. Manning immediately saw a parallel. "Knowing that Terence was killed innocently and then seeing the Afghan family who had someone killed in their family, I started to make a connection between myself and that family," Manning recalls. "We lost a family member, too. The difference was we had a safe place that we lived -- and they had to flee their country." At a time when many Americans were putting up walls and shunning foreigners, Manning reached out to them. She and her family took up a collection of furniture for them -- and The Welcome to America Project was born. "They've been invited here," says Manning. "Everybody has a right to find a place where they belong. I want the refugees to feel that this is their home." The families assisted by The Welcome to America Project typically have languished in refugee camps for 10-12 years, says Manning, and come from countries including Iraq, Myanmar, Liberia, Somalia, Sudan, Nigeria and Bhutan -- places where they were often persecuted because of their race, religion or political views. "There are a number of different things they have to learn how to do when they first arrive," Manning says. "They've never seen buildings built like ours. They've lived in huts literally made out of bamboo, with leaves on top. There's a lot of transition for them." Watch Manning describe the refugees' strikingly different backgrounds » . Over the last seven years, Manning says, she's learned a lot from the refugees and finds herself looking at American customs from a new perspective. "We brought a toaster into a family from Africa and they didn't know what it was," recalls Manning. "The woman was very dutiful in watching [when] we tried to show them how to toast bread. But then through a translator her response was, 'Why would you want to ruin bread?'" Manning says the refugees are resourceful and eager to start a new life, developing strong ties to their new communities, making active contributions, working hard and paying taxes. "It's not an 'us and them,'" she says. "We're all part of one humanity. And we're trying to do what's right, and what is fair." Watch The Welcome to America Project in action » . As word continues to spread -- the project is currently bigger than ever, says Manning -- The Welcome to America Project is nearing its 600th family donation. Manning says she isn't surprised the project has taken off. "That's how Terrance's life was," she says. "Every time he had an idea it was big and bold. He was a very, very generous person. I guess that's the legacy we're passing on with the project." Want to get involved? Check out The Welcome to America Project and see how to help. | Welcome to America Project helps refugees being resettled in Phoenix, Arizona .
Carolyn Manning founded the group after relative died in September 11 attacks .
Myanmar refugee Boo Htoo among 550-plus families the project has helped .
Nominate your Hero at CNN.com/Heroes . |
fbd430ac902b00f37619552fe720d14282764003 | (CNN) -- At least 26 bodies have been recovered from the sea after a Libyan trawler got into trouble last week, but hundreds are still missing, according to Tunisia's state-run TAP news agency. Bad weather is preventing the recovery of more bodies, the head of the Sfax coast guard told TAP Monday. The agency did not name the official. As many as 270 Libyan refugees were missing in the Mediterranean Sea after the overcrowded boat they were in encountered bad weather, the Tunisian state-run TAP news agency reported last week. The Tunisian coast guard responded to the rescue call regarding the fishing trawler, which became disabled Wednesday night near the Kerkennah Islands. The ship was reportedly taking some 800 refugees from Libya to the Italian island of Lampedusa, TAP reported. Between 200 and 270 people were missing, while 577 people were rescued, the coast guard official told TAP Monday. People on the boat began pushing each other in a panic to reach the lifeboats when they ran into high waves and winds, TAP said. Lampedusa, the closest Italian island to Africa, has become a destination for tens of thousands of refugees seeking to enter the European Union. More than 30,000 migrants and refugees from Tunisia and Libya have risked this dangerous journey to Lampedusa since last February. Lampedusa and Malta, both islands less than an hour's flight from the North African coast, have borne the brunt of the subsequent wave of migration. At one point, the population of migrants vastly outnumbered Lampedusa's residents, who number about 6,000. | 26 bodies are recovered, a coast guard official tells Tunisia's state news agency .
About 800 refugees were heading from Libya to Lampedusa, Italy .
Between 200 and 270 people are missing from the overcrowded boat . |
fbd4644282cd64b43aa0fa7bdde5d0801c993d2f | London (CNN) -- The intricate lace and embroidery of Catherine Middleton's wedding dress wowed millions as they watched her walk down the aisle with Prince William. Now, almost three months later, there's a chance for royal wedding fans to take a closer look. The ivory and white satin gown and nine-foot train, designed by Sarah Burton for the Alexander McQueen fashion house, is on display at Buckingham Palace from Friday to October 3, as part of the palace's annual summer opening. Visitors will be able to admire close-up the handiwork of the Royal School of Needlework, which made the lace applique for the bodice and skirt by hand, using techniques dating back almost two centuries. The design incorporates the rose, thistle, shamrock and daffodil, to represent each nation in the United Kingdom. The Duchess of Cambridge's ivory duchess satin and lace wedding shoes and her silk-tulle veil are also on show at the palace, in central London, presented by the Royal Collection -- a trust which looks after royal art, jewellery and valuables for the nation. And her bridal bouquet -- which included lily of the valley, Sweet William, hyacinth, myrtle and ivy -- has been recreated from artificial flowers for the display. The diamond drop earrings she wore on the day can also be seen. Commissioned by her parents as a personal gift for the occasion, the design was inspired by the Middleton family's new coat of arms. The ensemble prompted the prince to say "you look beautiful," as his bride arrived at the altar on the arm of her father Michael on April 29. The duchess worked closely with designer Burton to create the dress, which was the subject of months of speculation in fashion circles in the months leading up to the wedding. For those more interested in food, the duke and duchess's eight-tier fruit wedding cake, created by cake designer Fiona Cairns, is on show in the palace's state dining room, the Royal Collection said. The top three tiers have been made again for the display, as the couple sliced the original third tier to serve to guests and kept the top two tiers for themselves. The summer opening tour of Buckingham Palace also includes its 19 state rooms and a walk along the south side of the palace garden. | Catherine's wedding dress, veil and shoes are on show in London .
Visitors to Buckingham Palace can also see the royal couple's eight-tier cake .
The bridal bouquet has been recreated with artificial flowers for the display . |
fbd4bab770f8f371be4f4351ac272fab82822b4d | By . Tammy Hughes . PUBLISHED: . 03:30 EST, 9 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:36 EST, 9 July 2012 . An island offering a secluded beach, promises of great fishing and stunning views of the San Francisco skyline is up for sale — and at a heavily discounted price. Red Rock Island, a 6-acre mass of rock tucked away in a northern part of San Francisco Bay, is now being offered for just under $5 million after being listed for $22 million earlier this year. Its owner Mack Durning is now so desperate to flog the land he has clashed the asking price by $18. Bargain: Red Rock Island is on the marked for $5milllion after the owner slashed the asking price of $22million . Mineral rights for the property, which contains manganese in its rocky outcroppings, are negotiable. The undeveloped island has been on and off the market for years and relator Steven Higbee said he advised Mr Durning that the way to sell was by 'whittling away at the price.' Dishing out a few million dollars for a 5.78-acre property — especially one with no house or other structure — is not for everyone. But Higbee notes that if and when the island is sold, the new owner will have some unique opportunities. Sitting about six miles north of San Francisco, just off the south side of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, Red Rock Island is not just off the beaten path, it's not on any path — and doesn't even appear on some maps. Accessible only by boat or helicopter, and with no crowds of tourists swarming about, this island offers what may be the ultimate in a secluded getaway. Higbee said: 'You could go out there and have wild parties or retreat away from the wild parties,' He added that the new owner also would have the 'bragging rights' of owning their own private island in San Francisco Bay. Then there's the chance to escape San Francisco's gloomy and damp summer days with a quick trip to his or her island retreat, with a relaxing day of basking in the sun. 'Red Rock Island is out of fog bank,' Higbee said. 'If San Francisco is in the fog, you may be sitting in the sunshine.' If you want to get out of the sunshine, be sure to bring your own umbrella. There are no structures on the island. All that stands is a flagpole and its supporting wires. Tempted? The island has no structures in place but could be a good fishing spot for keen anglers . Over the years, ideas have been floated to remove dirt and rock from part of the island and sell it for use in roadway construction, and to build a hotel on the remaining land, though none of those ideas have been implemented. The only person to ever call Red Rock Island 'home' for any period was a man named Selim Woodworth who built a cabin on the island and lived there from 1851 to 1856. Possible loneliness aside, Higbee points out that the new owner also would enjoy great fishing and a distant view of the America's Cup races when the event comes to San Francisco in 2013. But taking ownership of the island may turn out to be a long-term proposition, with no guarantee of being able to sell it for a quick profit. According to Higbeen Mr Durning, a retired business owner, took possession of property from David Glickman, sometime in the 1970s. Glickman had bought the land in the early 1960s, asking $10 million for the island and another $10 million for mineral rights, with the hopes of cashing in on the then-increased demand for rock and gravel as parts of San Francisco Bay were filled in for development. Glickman never sold the island, but ended up turning it over to Durning in exchange for some debts, Higbee said. Glickman has since died, and Durning rarely visits the island. 'If somebody came up with some money, I would sell it; otherwise, I'll leave it to my sons to get even with them,' he told the San Francisco Chronicle earlier this year. | Red Rock Island in San Francisco is completely undeveloped and is accessible only by boat or helicopter .
In a desperate bid to sell the land current owner Mack Durning has slashed the asking price by $18 . |
fbd4ccb6ef420b72895af829db4f973684ed004f | Lewis Macleod insisted on Friday he would have been happy to stay at Rangers and only left for Brentford when it became clear the club weren’t trying to keep him. The midfielder completed his cut-price £850,000 move last weekend as the crisis-hit Ibrox outfit cashed in on their prize asset. Macleod, 20, has committed to the London side until 2018 but still had two-and-a-half years left on his deal in Govan and had been valued at more than double the fee he was sold for. With the Light Blues short of money and getting by on loans, they accepted the first bid that came in – and that told Macleod it was time to move on. Lewis Macleod puts pen to paper after agreeing to join Championship side Brentford from Rangers . ‘When you’re a Rangers fan, it’s hard to let go and I’ve never experienced anything else in football up to now,’ he said. ‘I definitely wasn’t eager to get out the door but when the opportunity came, with everything that was happening outside football at the club, I leant towards moving away. ‘It all happened very quickly. If things had maybe happened differently off the pitch with regards to the club trying to keep me when someone came in, I might have stayed. I didn’t have much time to process it but it’s done now and I’m looking forward to a different challenge.’ Macleod is adamant on-field results didn’t influence his decision, despite Rangers lagging 13 points behind Hearts and struggling in the fight to win promotion. The 20-year-old midfielder said he was not eager to leave his boyhood club . ‘After a couple of defeats it was maybe the case that realistically we were starting to look more at the play-offs. Obviously you go out to win every game but we knew a couple of months ago it was going to be hard to win the league. ‘Hopefully Rangers get to the play-offs at least. If I’d still been there, they would have been good games for me to play in so none of that was a factor in trying to get out. Nothing on the playing side made me want to move but a different opportunity came up.’ Macleod is looking forward to life in the English Championship with promotion-chasing Brentford - albeit a hamstring injury has ruled him out of Saturday's visit of Rotherham - but admitted he’s already pining for a return to Rangers later in his career. ‘It’s exciting to be starting out with a new team but the surroundings here are nothing compared to Ibrox. You realise how massive Rangers are when you go elsewhere but there’s still a good atmosphere at Griffin Park. Macleod claimed the Ibrox club did not try and keep him and that made his mind up to leave . ‘I’ll be thinking about Rangers this weekend and hopefully they can get a win at Alloa. I looked out for their score last week as well when our match finished and I was pleased they beat Dumbarton. ‘I’m not really thinking about what I’ve walked away from. I’m just trying to look forward instead and it will be good to get started with Brentford when I’m fit again. ‘I’d love to go back to Rangers later in my career. The most disappointing thing about leaving is the way I went. I’ve been injured so I wasn’t able to play my last game knowing that would be the case and say goodbye to the fans. ‘I’d obviously like to be welcomed back at some point but I understand why some supporters might not appreciate my reasons for going. Macleod boards the Rangers team bus before travelling to Dumfries in December . ‘Whenever I’m back up in Glasgow, I’ll try to get along to a few of the games. But I’d love to return to play for the club at some point, too, however many years down the line that is.’ Everton and Burnley were among Macleod’s suitors and would likely have paid more money. But the Bees moved first and, while Macleod couldn’t control what Rangers received, he was keen to join them because of how quickly opportunities to play might arise. Under Mark Warburton and No2 David Weir, Brentford won automatic promotion from League One last season and are well placed to challenge for a second consecutive rise. They are keen for Macleod to play an integral part. ‘The one thing I’ve always said is if I was ever to leave Rangers, I wouldn’t go somewhere where I wouldn’t really play. I wanted to give myself the best chance of getting games and Brentford seemed the right option. Macleod kisses the Rangers badge, and admits he would love to return to the club one day . ‘The club have come really far just this season alone and won a lot of games. They’ve got a new stadium to move into in two years as well and everything is going in the right direction. ‘I’m hoping to improve with playing at a higher level. That’s one of the main reasons I left Rangers. Working under the new manager and Davie, a lot of analysis goes on behind the scenes. 'It’s good for a young player to come in and see a different way of doing things. ‘Although we lost to Brighton last Saturday the boys were unlucky. I feel I can fit into the way they play.’ Macleod netted eight goals in 21 appearances in all competitions for Rangers before signing for Brentford . Macleod’s injury is short-term but he won’t rush back because he wants to be in the best condition possible to do himself justice. His lay-off will also give him time to adapt to new surroundings he admits seem strange having been with Rangers since he was 10. ‘I’m not sure when I’m going to be back playing. It’s the type of injury that can take a bit of time to heal. But with me just getting started, I don’t want to rush back and get injured again. ‘Being about a different team will be weird but everyone’s welcomed me with open arms. That makes things a lot easier.’ | Lewis Macleod left Rangers for Championship play-off hopefuls Brentford .
Midfielder says Rangers did not try and keep him at the club .
Macleod said he wasn't eager to leave Ibrox but was left with no choice .
The 20-year-old would like to return to Rangers at some point in the future .
But is looking forward to the challenge of playing in the Championship . |
fbd50db9f9f9da59f5cfc8c800dd9f7dfde91e10 | By . Harriet Arkell . PUBLISHED: . 06:06 EST, 22 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:22 EST, 22 November 2013 . Shoppers could be banned from buying hair bleach, nail varnish remover and drain cleaners under new anti-terrorism proposals. The Home Office is examining ways to restrict the availability of chemicals which would-be terrorists could use to manufacture explosives. Yesterday it published proposals to inhibit the sale of chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide, which is found in home hair dyeing kits, disinfectants and fish tank cleaner, and acetone, found in nail varnish remover and used to remove popular gel nail polish. New anti-terrorism proposals would limit the sale of hydrogen peroxide, pictured, which can be used to make explosives . Under the new proposals, the public could be banned from buying them altogether, or would be required to obtain a licence before buying them. Another suggestion is that purchasers would have to give their name and address to the retailers at the till. The plans have been published as a part of a European Union drive to limit the availability of chemicals that can be used in terrorism. Drawn up after a consultation, the Home Office proposal says: 'Further Government intervention is necessary to deter and detect terrorist acquisition of explosive precursors, and to comply with EU law.' It aims not just to prevent terrorist attacks, but to alert authorities to anyone planning such attacks. A list of chemicals whose sale would be restricted includes hydrogen peroxide, used in home bleach, fish tank cleaner, wound disinfectant, metal etching kits and swimming pool and hot tub cleaners, and nitromethane, used as fuel for model engines. Potassium chlorate and sodium chlorate, used in weedkiller and home fireworks, are on the list, which also includes acetone, used in nail varnish remover, sulphuric acid, found in drain and swimming pool cleaner, and hexamine, found in camping fuel tablets. This CCTV still shows Manfo Kwaku Asiedu, right, and Muktar Said Ibrahim buying hydrogen peroxide two dates before the 7/7 London terror attacks . The Home Office proposal says: 'In the UK and globally, explosives have been the terrorist’s weapon of choice for many years. 'Homemade explosives have been part of over 70% of UK homeland attacks since the late 1990s. They are capable of causing mass harm and significant infrastructure damage. 'Some of the chemicals used to make the explosives used in the attacks also have legitimate uses in the home. It is important that we protect against their misuse, whilst still allowing legitimate use.' Muslim extremists behind the 7/7 terror attacks on London in 2005 used bombs made with hydrogen peroxide from hair dye. The attacks left 52 people dead and more than 700 injured. These are among the chemicals whose sale might be restricted under new proposals from the Home Office, and their main uses: . Hydrogen peroxide: Fish tank cleaner, wound disinfectant, metal etching, cleaning and treatment, bleaching agent . Nitromethane: Model engine fuel . Nitric acid: Metal etching . Potassium chlorate: Pyrotechnics, herbicide . The proposed legislation would see restrictions on a raft of chemicals currently available on the open market . Potassium perchlorate: Pyrotechnics and rocket propellant . Sodium chlorate: Pyrotechnics, herbicide . Sodium perchlorate: Pyrotechnics, rocket propellant . Hexamine: Camping fuel tablets . Sulphuric acid: Swimming pool cleaner, drain cleaner . Acetone: Household solvent, nail varnish remover . Potassium nitrate: Food preservative, fertiliser . Sodium nitrate: Food preservative, fertiliser . Calcium nitrate: Fertiliser . Calcium ammonium nitrate: Fertiliser . | Anti-terrorism proposals limit sale of chemicals used in home-made bombs .
Hydrogen peroxide is used in hair bleach and to clean pools and hot tubs .
Acetone, which is widely found in nail varnish remover, is also on the list .
Home-made explosives used in more than 70 per cent of UK terror attacks .
Under new rules, shoppers would need a licence or to provide address . |
fbd58c9ffb9a7c451249dfcd2f06db9e5c9ea6ec | By . Victoria Allen . PUBLISHED: . 23:36 EST, 17 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 15:54 EST, 18 December 2012 . Leaving: Vicky Featherstone, outgoing artistic director for the National Theatre of Scotland, said she has been 'bullied' for being English . The outgoing director of the National Theatre of Scotland has revealed she almost quit over anti-English ‘bullying’. Vicky Featherstone set up the company from scratch, producing plays that travelled the world, including Black Watch and Alan Cumming’s one-man Macbeth. But now, leaving the job after six years, she has spoken out about the antagonism she experienced for being English. The Surrey-born NTS artistic director is one of those attacked by Scots author Alasdair Gray this week as being a ‘colonist’, taking one of the best jobs north of the Border before returning to England. However, she said this was not the first time critics had used her nationality against her when questioning her work and accusing her of ignoring traditional Scottish plays. She said: ‘It really upset me because, as with all kinds of bullying, you don’t have a voice – so the hardest thing for me was that if people had criticised the programme, I could have defended it, but when people are criticising the programme because I am English, that is indefensible.’ She added: ‘I had a period – not long, because I am very strong – of a few weeks where I thought, “I cannot do this job, I don’t know how to do it”, that I wasn’t the right person for it, and I questioned myself because I didn’t know how to make decisions any more.’ Twitter was abuzz yesterday with support for the mother of two, who launched the NTS in 2006. David Greig, whose play The Strange . Undoing of Prudencia Hart is one of the theatre’s success stories, . said: ‘Alasdair Gray’s got it so wrong. What people give to Scottish . culture has nothing to do with birthplace or length of residency.’ Critical praise: National Theatre of Scotland has produced many acclaimed plays which have travelled the world, including Black Watch, pictured, about Scottish soldiers in Afghanistan . Mark Cousins, a film critic who set up a mobile cinema to tour Scotland with actress Tilda Swinton, said: ‘As a Northern Irish person who’s lived in Scotland for 30 years, I’ve always felt so welcome here. Until, that is, Alasdair Gray’s recent remarks.’ Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh said: . ‘There’s obviously a point to be made but the rhetoric deployed and the . naming of individuals was just plain wrong.’ 'Anti-English bully': Scottish artist Alasdair Gray . Independence supporter Mr Gray, 77, has conceded his comments might be interpreted as ‘anti-English prejudice’ but added that ‘these colonists were invited here and employed by Scots without confidence in their own land and people’. He named Miss Featherstone, along with Chris Carrell, a former head of the Scottish Arts Council, and an unnamed director of arts funding agency Creative Scotland. Miss Featherstone, who is leaving to join the Royal Court Theatre in London, did not realise at first that her English background would cause her problems. ‘I’m sure it was a thing from the beginning but nobody ever communicated it to me,’ she said. ‘It became a thing, interestingly, because people didn’t like my programming. ‘And rather than articulating that, it was easier to say the reason my programming was wrong for Scotland was because I am English and therefore don’t understand how to programme for Scotland.’ Newspaper stories, letters and journal articles increasingly focused on her Englishness. But last year she created Staging the Nation, a series of events debating the traditional Scottish plays she had been accused of neglecting. She also met one of her fiercest critics, writer Paul Henderson Scott, and listened to his views. She decided the comments would not force her out of her job, adding: ‘I always felt it was from a small group of people and did not actually represent the relationships that we had created around the rest of Scotland.’ She will be replaced at NTS by Laurie Sansom, former head of Royal & Derngate in Northampton – and also English. He said: ‘Edinburgh is almost like a second home, as it is for most people who work in theatre, but yes, I will in some ways be coming to it with fresh eyes, which will have advantages and disadvantages.’ | Outgoing director Vicky Featherstone fires parting shot at critics who 'paralysed' her .
Surrey-born founder of National Theatre of Scotland leaving after six years . |
fbd592b3f038f2593f28facc10657f54c0f34eaf | Two new lizard species have been discovered after living for millions of years in a remote rainforest area of far north Queensland. A James Cook University researcher, Dr Conrad Hoskin, came across the Cape Melville Rainbow Skink and Cape Melville Bar-lipped Skink on an expedition to the rainforest plateau on top of the Cape Melville Range, 170 km north of Cooktown in December last year. Dr Hoskin said the two species were hidden in the isolated range, a virtual mountaintop fortress cut off from the surrounding area by piles of huge granite boulders. Cape Melville Bar-lipped Skink was discovered for the first time in December last year . Cape Melville Rainbow Skink is the lizard specie found by Dr Conrad Hoskin on his last expedition . Dr Hoskin flew into all three expeditions by helicopter to the rainforest plateau on top of Cape Melville Range . Cape Melville is a 10 hour drive from Cairns . The lizards have been officially named and described in the latest edition of the international journal Zootaxa, taking the tally of new animals discovered during Dr Hoskin's three trips to Cape Melville during to a remarkable five. Last year's expeditions to the plateau also found three other unique species: a boulder frog in February and a leaf-tailed gecko and a golden skink in March. This incredible find prompted international headlines describing Australia as host to a 'lost world' of animals isolated by a freak of geography. Dr Hoskin said that description was perfectly justifiable. 'The Melville Range has been sitting there completely isolated from other rainforest areas for millions of years. It's truly remarkable,' he said. 'It probably has more unique animal species per unit area than anywhere else in Australia.' Dr Hoskin told Daily Mail Australia that the main reason the species had not been discovered until now was because the range was difficult to get to. Dr Hoskin said although it was rare to find five species in less than a year - he expected more discoveries . The new boulder frog was discovered on Dr Conrad's first visit in February last year . Dr Hoskin reached all three expeditions in Cape Melville by helicopter last year. 'It takes about 10 hours by car from Cairns to get there but when you get there it's very hard to climb - I tried a couple of years ago,' he said. 'The area has also been overlooked because the area looks like it's very small.' Although Dr Hoskin said it was rare to discover one specie let along five in less than a year - there may well be other discoveries to come. 'We are looking in detail at another lizard that could also be new. And the invertebrate and plant collections made during the surveys are still being assessed by experts,' he said. 'This is on top of three vertebrate species that were discovered there in past decades. So that's eight animal species that are found only at Cape Melville, making their entire world distribution about the size of inner Sydney.' The scientific names of the two new lizards - Carlia wundalthini and Glaphyromorphus othelarrni - were chosen by the traditional owners of the Cape Melville region in collaboration with Dr Hoskin. The Cape Melville surveys were funded by the National Environmental Research Program, National Geographic and the Australian Biological Resources Study. Dr Conard found the leaf-tailed gecko on his second expedition . The golden skink was the other discovery on his trip in March last year . | Two new lizard species have been discovered in far north Queensland .
Hiding for millions of years in remote rainforest area behind boulders .
Dr Conrad Hoskin found the Cape Melville Rainbow Skink and Cape Melville Bar-lipped Skink on expedition in December last year .
James Cook University researcher also discovered a leaf-tailed gecko, a boulder frog and a golden lizard during other trips in February and March . |
fbd5a67b81b679a7be1b9a9333e1070f302898ba | (CNN) -- As Facebook continues the slow rollout of a tool to let users search out others by using common interests or other personal information, the site emphasized Thursday that minors will get special privacy protections. Graph Search capitalizes on Facebook's massive bank of data about its users, or "social graph," to seek out friends, or other users who have made their information public, using information about them. So, for example, you could seek out friends who "like" director Quentin Tarantino to make an invite list to see "Django Unchained" Friday night or remind yourself which of your friends are over 21 and live in Austin, Texas, to do some bar-hopping while you're in town. But privacy advocates are worried. While Graph Search won't show you any information that you couldn't see otherwise, it does pull all that data together in one place in a way that could have some creepy uses. Say, searching for the names of girls who attend a certain middle school. That's the sort of thing Facebook aims to prevent. Details including birthday, school, hometown and current city will only be available about users under 18 to their friends and friends of friends. And friends of friends will only be able to see them if they, too, are under 18. "What we really wanted to do was try to identify things that could be even more sensitive for minors -- that would identify them by their age and location," Nicky Jackson Colaco, Facebook's manager of Privacy & Safety, told CNN Thursday. "Those kind of things are more sensitive and we wanted to really make sure they had an even more restrictive experience." Of course, she noted, the extra protections only kick in if minors are honest about the age they give to register for the site. "This is true across Facebook. It's really important to us that minors represent their real age," she said, urging parents to make sure their children are doing so. "If they tell us they're 25, they're not getting these protections and a lot of other protections we offer." Separate from Graph Search, Facebook already limits some content posted by minors to "Friends of Friends" only, even if the young user has made it public. The site's minimum age is 13. The tool was announced last month by CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The new search feature lets you draw connections between people, their profile information and their interests on Facebook. In theory, it's a good recipe for finding recommendations for doctors, businesses, products, TV shows or bands. It can also be used to find people that fit a specific profile, such as "men over 30 who live in Cleveland." Users will be able to seek out people who aren't their Facebook friends using the tool. But the only information they'll see are things that a user has posted as "public" to the site. Graph Search currently has only been made available to a handful of early testers. But some of them have used it in ways they say raise privacy concerns. British tech blogger and "gadget geek" Tom Scott created a blog called "Actual Facebook Graph Searches." While some are humorous (people who like both the anti-gay marriage Focus on the Family and openly gay actor Neil Patrick Harris) others suggested something more troubling. For example, he shows a search for family members of people of Chinese descent who like Falun Gong, the religious movement banned in China. Or one for Islamic men living in Tehran, Iran, who are romantically interested in other men. (Homosexuality is illegal there). The searches could then be refined to see photos of the users, their friends and places they've worked. Facebook has emphasized privacy settings to keep such information from being publicly visible and said they're continuing to fine-tune the tool as it rolls out. In December, Facebook overhauled it's privacy controls, adding a handful of features while simplifying and clarifying how existing features work. | Facebook Graph Search to have extra protections for minors .
Info on users under 18 will be hidden from the search .
That info includes birthday, school, current city and hometown .
Graph Search lets users search for others by common interests . |
fbd5bf7fcb87bfb6df199a2f6f7a4b5395e66868 | By . Sophie Jane Evans . From flower-filled meadows to scenic lakes and quaint villages, the photos captured the sights of a newlywed couple as they travelled across the east coast of England on the eve of World War Two. Now, the astonishing set of images documenting Denys and Margaret Gardiner's honeymoon in August 1939 has been recreated in the present day. And although the pictures were taken 75 years apart, a remarkable number of things still appear the same. Then: This remarkable colour photo shows Denys and Margaret Gardiner's visit to Brayford Pool in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, during their honeymoon in August 1939 . Now: In a photo taken in present day, Brayford Pool features the same towering cathedral, scenic views and raised platform, but with a higher number of swans . Surprisingly similar: One honeymoon photo, captured by Mr Gardiner's cousin Eldred, shows a man in a cap riding his bicycle down Lincoln High Street (left). Incredibly, its present day version (right) also features a cathedral, an array of shops and a cyclist - albeit, with more road markings, better safety gear and vans instead of horses . Remarkable: Boston High Street, in Lincolnshire, cuts a startling . similar scene in both sets of images, with buildings, vehicles and St . Botolph's Church overlooking the murky brown river below. However, time . has seen the red postbox (left) replaced by a parking meter (right), . while the steps to the river have been demolished entirely . Popular: Meanwhile, the River Thames in London was seemingly a popular sight for passersby in August 1939 - just one month before the start of the Second World War . Captial: The British capital looks similar in present day, with Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament in the background. But its new additions include the London Eye . Couple: The old photos captured the sights of the newlywed couple as they travelled across the east coast of England on the eve of World War Two. Above, the wedding of Denys Gardiner, born 1916, and Margaret, born 1913, at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Finchley Road, Hampstead, London, on April 15, 1939 . One honeymoon photo, captured by Mr Gardiner's cousin Eldred, shows a man in a cap riding his bicycle down Lincoln High Street in Lincolnshire. Incredibly, its present day version features the same towering cathedral, row of shops and a cyclist - albeit, with more road markings, better safety gear and vans and cars instead of horses. Meanwhile, Boston High Street, also in Lincolnshire, is startlingly similar in both sets of images, with buildings, vehicles and St Botolph's Church overlooking the murky brown river below. However, time has seen the red postbox replaced by a parking meter, while boating enthusiasts can no longer venture into the river via a set of stairs. Well-preserved: One of the best-preserved images in the collection, this photo shows a village sign in Shernborne, Norfolk, which is situated not far from Sandringham . Faded: The photos were only recently uncovered by the couple's grandson, Barney Britton, who is himself a professional photographer, after spending years hidden away in Mrs Gardiner's attic. Mr Britton believes the sign (above) may have been taken down during the war to avoid assisting enemy forces in the event of an invasion . A sun-lit walk: The honeymoon photos were taken as the Gardiners motored through the country in their Morris Eight. Left, Monk Bar in York in 1939 and, right, today . A popular ride: The Morris Eight was extremely popular at the time and its success propelled its manufacturer to become the biggest car company in Britain in the 1940s . Idyllic: In a present day photo, Morston in Norfolk is deserted, picturesque and bathed in a yellow sunset. Mr and Mrs Gardiner visited this spot during their honeymoon . Ready to sail: Just weeks after the couples' 900-mile round trip, the peace and tranquility of the country was to be shattered by the outbreak of the Second World War. Above, a boat is moored on banks of River Thames in London in 1939 . Expensive: A modern white-coloured boat, featuring a British flag, is pictured on the river, 75 years after the original honeymoon photos were taken by Mr Britton . And the River Thames in London seemingly still proves a popular sight for passersby - but with expensive modern ships replacing old sailing boats. Other recreated images include the River Stiffkey in Norfolk, Beverley Minister in East Yorkshire, Monk Bar in York and a quiet residential street in Lavenham, Suffolk. The original honeymoon photos, which were taken as the Gardiners motored through the country in their Morris Eight, show them camping in sun-lit meadows, driving down country roads and relaxing by stunning lakes. Spectacular: Speaking of the photos, Mr Britton told MailOnline: 'I don't remember hearing my grandmother talk about the holiday.' Above, Mr and Mrs Gardiner's car is parked outside a church at upper Sheringham, Norfolk, in August 1939 . Barely a difference: He added: 'But my mother had told me about the pictures due to my interest in photography.' Above, the same church is pictured today . Camping: Mr and Mrs Gardiner are pictured camping in Kelling Heath, Norfolk, during their honeymoon across the east coast of England on the eve of World War Two . Empty: During the trip, they also visited the River Stiffkey in Norfolk and Beverley Minister in East Yorkshire. Above, today, the same field is all but empty . Taking a dip: A bather takes a paddle in the River Stiffkey outside Wells-next-the-Sea as Mr and Mrs Gardiner and their photographer tour the north Norfolk coast . Mirror image: In an almost identical shot, Stiffkey River, which travels from its source near Swanton Novers to the North Sea, reflects sun rays today . Having a stroll: A woman strolls along Prentice Street in Lavenham, Suffolk, in August 1939, while another takes her dog for a walk down the same street (right) today . But just weeks after the couples' 900-mile round trip up and down the east coast of England, the peace and . tranquility of the country was shattered by the outbreak of the Second . World War. The charming colour photos were only recently uncovered by the couple's . grandson, Barney Britton, who is himself a professional photographer, . after years hidden away in Mrs Gardiner's attic. Speaking of the photos, published on the website DP Review, Mr Britton told MailOnline: 'I don't remember . hearing my grandmother talk about the holiday, though my mother had told . me about the pictures due to my interest in photography. Grand: Mr Britton said: 'I have the equipment to be able to scan the photos and was amazed when I saw them.' Above, Beverley Minster in East Yorkshire in August 1939 . Standing tall: He added: 'Colour films in those days would have been extremely expensive and difficult to use.' Above, the stunning building is pictured today . 'When . we were going through my grandmother's things after we held a memorial . service to her, my mother said: "I bet we find those photos" and sure . enough we did. 'I . have the equipment to be able to scan them and was amazed when I saw . them. Little is known about my great uncle Eldred, as he died, also from . tuberculosis, one year after the photos were taken.' He added: 'Colour . films in those days would have been extremely expensive and difficult . to use, they were very sensitive to high temperatures and light, making . the quality of the pictures he took all the more impressive.' | Colour photos captured sights of newlywed couple as they travelled across east coast of England in August 1939 .
Just weeks later, the peace and tranquility of the country was shattered by the outbreak of the Second World War .
Now the images documenting Denys and Margaret Gardiner's honeymoon have been recreated in the present day .
They feature shots of Lincoln High Street, River Thames, Monk Bar in York and Beverley Minster in East Yorkshire . |
fbd62a54b21d215c6a33238b7296f957096bc2da | (EW.com) -- Director Baz Luhrmann's 3-D film "The Great Gatsby" will open in theaters nationwide and in Canada on May 10, then worldwide the following week. The film was initially scheduled to hit theaters on Christmas day, but Warner Bros. pushed the release back last August. The adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic 1925 novel stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, and Joel Edgerton. The film will now be able to "beat on, against the current" as it will no longer be competing with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Les Misérables, This is 40, Zero Dark Thirty, Django Unchained, and other December blockbusters. "Audiences have been looking forward to Baz Luhrmann's film adaptation of one of the most beloved books of all time, and we felt this beautifully extravagant and dramatic film would be a perfect way for us to kick off our Summer slate," president of Warner Bros. domestic distribution Dan Fellman said in a press release. See full story at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved. | The eagerly anticipated "Great Gatsby" has been pushed back .
It will now open on May 10 .
The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, and Joel Edgerton . |
fbd643fb334d6e6968d63d9ee5da229ee7d5fb15 | Newmarket trainer John Ryan can lay claims to one of the buys of the season with Tenor but has warned the winner of the Listed Fortune Stakes at Sandown will not take his chance in the prestigious Cambridgeshire Handicap if the ground turns soft. The four-year-old son of Oratorio has now won six times this year and is a 16-1 shot for the Cambridgeshire at Ryan’s local track on Saturday week. Tenor was previously with St Leger-winning trainer Roger Varian before being bought by Ryan at last season’s Tattersalls Horses-in-Training Sale for 16,000gns. Tenor, ridden by Adam Kirby, wins the Nigel & Carolyn Elwes Fortune Stakes at Sandown on Wednesday . Tenor is a 16-1 shot for the Cambridgeshire Handicap, if the ground is not too soft . Ryan said: ‘He has been gelded and had a breathing operation and we have just given him time. ‘I am so pleased Roger has had a good season as we are good friends, otherwise he probably would not be talking to me now. ‘He's in the Cambridgeshire but the ground needs to remain good for him to run. If there's any soft in the going, he won't be going there. ‘He looks like a horse we could have fun with in Dubai.’ Tenor was one of three winners – a 57-1 treble - on the Sandown card for jockey Adam Kirby. He also landed the opening Racehorse Sanctuary Remembers Moorcroft Boy Handicap on John Jenkins-trained Only Ten Per Cent, who carries the colours of soccer agent Barry Silkman. In between Kirby executed a well-timed front-running ride on Charlie Appleby-trained Latharnach in the two-year-old Novices’ Stakes. Kirby is a regular jockey for trainer Clive Cox but it was apprentice Ryan Tate who was on board Raise Your Gaze, his winner of the Support Racehorse Sanctuary Handicap. Cox said his promising two-year-old Kodi Bear, a winner at Ascot in July, is on course for the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on October 17. Tenor has proved to be one of the buys of the season by Newmarket trainer John Ryan . | Tenor has proved to be one of the buys of the season so far .
He won the Listed Fortune Stakes at Sandown on Wednesday .
Trainer John Ryan has warned that Tenor will not be risked on soft ground .
The four-year-old son of Oratorio is a 16-1 shot for the Cambridgeshire . |
fbd6878f8a84b129f610a095ea7b9ae6046e8421 | By . Chris Parsons . PUBLISHED: . 03:44 EST, 11 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:12 EST, 11 July 2012 . Britain's washout summer has been blamed on melting Arctic sea ice, as forecasters warned that the torrential downpours and thunder would continue for the rest of the month. The soggiest June since records began has been followed by an equally miserable July, as parts of the UK experienced the average rainfall for the month in just . 10 days. Academics said that layers of melting sea ice across the Arctic Ocean are partly to blame for the relentless rain, as they've pushed cold plumes of air much further south than usual for this time of year. Making a splash: A pair of ice cream vans struggle to drive through the flooded streets of Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire, as the north took a battering from the wet weather . Rescue: In the south west, the village of Croscombe, Somerset, was the latest to find itself partly underwater today as the rain showed no sign of stopping . Head for heights: A villager in Croscombe is . forced from their home via an upstairs window due to high water, as the . Somerset village suffered from this weeks deluge . All hands to the pump: Emergency crews took drastic measures to pump out the 3ft of water which had submerged Croscombe today . Making the best of it: Workers at the Farnborough International Airshow seemed in good spirits yesterday despite the relentless downpours . The Arctic sea ice began melting at a . rapid rate in line with the UK's run of dismal summers, leading many to . question the effect of climate change on long-term weather patterns. Despite the woeful conditions nationwide, however, many Britons soldiered on through the floods and showed admirable battling spirit. In Croscombe, Somerset, two ice cream vans were spotted ploughing merrily through flood waters despite the small village being devastated by 3ft-deep swatches of floodwater. The claims from academics came as the Met Office today gave a bleak outlook for the rest of the month, as more unsettled weather it predicted. No go: Fire crews arrive on the scene in Croscombe today to pump out the huge volumes of water in the village . Overflowing: Flood water laps up against a house in Croscombe, one of the areas in the south west worst affected by the deluge . A spokesperson said that until the end of July there will be mostly unsettle patches of rainfall, interspersed only occasionally with sunshine. Weather experts said up to 15mm of . rain could fall in an hour in some places as the period of unseasonably . wet weather that has brought flooding up and down the country continues. The Environment Agency (EA) today has five . flood warnings in place - three in the South West and two in the Midlands - and 26 . flood alerts in place across England. Do not cross: The George Inn, a local pub in Croscombe, remained almost inaccessible today due to the surrounding 3ft of water . Powering through: Young people in Croscombe have done their best to get through the deep swatches of water in their village, as this pair demonstrate . What a difference two years makes: The Woodhead . reservoir in Longdendale, Derbyshire, looked parched a dry in July 2010, . in contrast to its brimming condition yesterday . Rut: Our weather is stuck because the jet stream . is further south than it should be at this time of year - over France . and Spain, meaning Britain is under a blanket of low pressure on the . northern side of it . Going under: Two school children stand waist deep in flood water in Hebden Bridge earlier this week, as forecasters warned the downpours will continue . Olympic effort: The crowds gathered and so did the clouds at Windsor . Castle yesterday as the Olympic Torch was carried through an almighty . downpour . Bleak: Forecasters have predicted that as well as widespread rain today, wet weather will last beyond Friday . London 2012 bosses making contingency plans for the wet weather have ordered 250,000 ponchos to hand out to spectators during the Games. Olympic organisers made the move to battle the effects of downpours and thunderstorms on fans and athletes later this month. Several of the events, including volleyball at Horse Guards Parade and eventing at Greenwich Park, are in temporary venues completely exposed to the elements. The Olympic Stadium, meanwhile, is only two-thirds covered by a roof. Even those who paid top prices for the best seats in the house could find themselves getting a soaking if the heavens open during the opening ceremony or during events. Sports minister Hugh Robertson has said the government has been assured that most of the Olympic venues are 'reasonably waterproof'. A LOCOG spokesperson told MailOnline: 'People in the UK are used to watching sport in good and bad weather. 'Wet weather clothing will be available for spectators to buy if they come unprepared.' The Met Office today joined university academics in citing melting sea ice as a possible factor affecting Britain's weather. Dan Williams, Met Office spokesperson, . said that although they are mainly attributing the rain to 'natural . variability', sea ice being at record low levels for this time of year . was also affecting weather patterns. Jet streams of fast-moving wind have also been blamed for the constant downpours, causing the blankets of low pressure which lead to rain. Matt Dobson, forecaster at MeteoGroup, said earlier this week: 'Our weather is really stuck in a rut because the jet stream is further south than it should be at this time of the year – over France and northern Spain – and we are under a blanket of low pressure on the northern side of it. Mr Dobson said that heavy rain will also sweep through the UK from the south west on Thursday. Large parts of the region were already battling horrendous conditions, including the residents of Croscombe, where 3ft of water submerged the centre of the small Somerset village. Further north, places like Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire, which has already been pounded by relentless flooding, continue to struggle under the deluge of water. While the Met Office has issued an . amber warning of rain for south-eastern areas of Scotland and yellow . warnings across large swathes of southern and northern England. A spokesman said: 'The public should be prepared for the likelihood of localised flooding, particularly in the amber area.' Gemma . Plumb, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, warned that bursts of torrential . rain could fall on already saturated ground, increasing the chances of . flooding. She said: 'Scotland and northern England . will see spells of heavy, persistent rain today and there are . indications that there could be some torrential, thundery outbreaks. 'Elsewhere there will be showers, which could be persistent and heavy in some areas especially across southern and easterly parts of England.' Forecasters predicted rainfall totals of around 20-30mm, but said double that amount could fall in local areas. Ms Plumb said a further band of heavy, persistent rain will move in from the South West during tomorrow, increasing the flooding threat. More showers are expected in England and Wales on Friday. 'The rain is falling on already saturated ground and river catchments are already at very high levels so further problems are to be expected,' she added. Sunday could provide some respite from the rain with drier spells forecast. Showers hit most parts of the UK . yesterday, causing problems to the transport network and public events, . including the England cricket match in Manchester. The A35 in Dorset, which was shut due to flooding, remained closed in both directions between the A37 and A3066 this morning. One of the country's largest agricultural shows was also cancelled after just a day because of the appalling weather. The . annual Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate began yesterday and was due to . run until tomorrow but organisers decided to pull the plug last night. Not stopping: Residents of Hebden Bridge have not seen the back of the wet weather yet after the downpours continued this week . More on the way: Heavy rain continued to fall on an already sodden Hebden Bridge yesterday . British winemakers are bracing themselves for a poor crop as the washout summer has decimated flowering vines. Sussex was faced with 141mm of rain during the wettest June on record and winemakers are concerned for this year's harvest. Vines flower before turning into fruit, which ripens before being harvested in October. But this year's flowering season has been delayed due to heavy rain, and the Met Office is forecasting continued bad weather next week during a crucial period for winemaking. Roy Cook, who runs Sedlescombe Organic Wines in Robertsbridge, East Sussex, said: 'If it rains a lot during this period we end up with a poor fruit. 'The flowers will just not turn to fruit. Some varieties are more prone than others but it means the yield will be much reduced - the total could be just a tenth of what it could be in a good year. 'You have a decreased quantity to sell and it does cause problems with cash flow.' Peter Hall has run Breaky Bottom Vineyard near Lewes, East Sussex, for 38 years. He said: 'I've had at least 34 cropping years and it would be foolish to deny this will not be one of the more difficult ones. 'I am nervous for the wellbeing of the national crop. This year is unlikely to produce a yield equal to previous ones. In 2011 a hard winter, mild spring and late heatwave helped to produce three million bottles of English wine but next year's vintage is expected to be substantially lower. Julia Trustam Eve spokesman for English Wine Producers said: 'For the next ten days or so wine producers will have to keep an eye out. 'It's still early days and there won't be too many people willing to make a call on what will happen just yet.' | Five flood warnings still in place across UK, along with 26 flood alerts .
Experts warn that melting Arctic sea ice has sent plumes of cold air south, causing extreme weather in northern hemisphere .
Jet stream is further south than it should be for this time of year meaning Britain is under a blanket of low pressure .
Public should be prepared for 'localised flooding' experts warn .
Heavy persistent rain and thundery outbreaks expected across Scotland and northern England . |
fbd7368a53581ca577a9bf0f276ae3e649e3eda7 | By . David Charlesworth, Press Association . Hull boss Steve Bruce believes any side he chooses to field against Lokeren will be capable of overturning a 1-0 deficit in their Europa League play-off second leg - but has urged his players to show patience. Bruce made wholesale changes for the opening encounter against the Belgian team last week but an uncharacteristic error from goalkeeper Allan McGregor led to the Tigers facing an uphill task on Thursday evening. Despite the setback at the Daknamstadion, Bruce is once again prepared to shuffle his pack as he contemplates having to juggle a squad on both domestic and European fronts this season. Hoping: Steve Bruce believes Hull can overturn a 1-0 deficit against Lokeren in their Europa League play-off . That dilemma will only occur if his side can come from behind and defeat Lokeren to reach the group stages of the competition, although Bruce is supremely confident. 'We've got a squad of depth which I'm very, very comfortable with. We made wholesale changes last week, I don't think it's going to be as many this week but we'll certainly make a few,' Bruce said. 'It's quite simple, we've got to win the match and we're capable of that, no matter what line-up I pick, we're capable of winning the game. 'We know that we'd love to be in the next stages; to get in the group stages would be terrific for the club, we're aware of that. We're also aware of how difficult it is with all the pitfalls that come with it. 'We'll be going all out to try and get a result and get us through to the league situation which we'd all look forward to.' Settling in: New boy Michael Dawson trains with former Spurs duo Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore . Working hard: Following the arrival of Dawson, Bruce is very pleased with the squads depth at Hull this term . Bruce, however, is wary of his side taking Lokeren lightly and has warned them not to throw caution to the wind, as they did in the third qualifying round, when they had to come from a goal down against AS Trencin to progress. 'The one thing you can't be is gung ho,' Bruce said. 'They're good opposition, they've got some good players; you don't finish fifth in the Belgian league and win the (domestic) cup if you're not a good side. 'So of course you've got to have a bit of patience, you've got to have a bit of guile about you and if we leave ourselves exposed at the back then like we did against Trencin we'll concede after a minute.' However, Bruce was keen to add that they must dictate the tempo of the contest. 'It's vitally important that we play at a level which we're comfortable with and the one thing about the Premier League to other leagues is the pace, the tempo, the quickness to it is the main difference,' he said. Done deal: Dawson becsmr Hull City's sixth summer signing as Steve Bruce tries to deepen his squad . 'So we've got play at our pace to make sure that we are on the front foot against them.' Hull received a boost ahead of the clash on Tuesday night with the signing of Michael Dawson from Tottenham although the defender will be ineligible to make his bow against Lokeren. Bruce, though, believes the 30-year-old's experience whilst he was with Spurs will prove invaluable during the season as Hull once again attempt to remain in the Premier League. 'He's a quality player who's played at the highest level in the Premier League for the last seven or eight years,' Bruce added. 'All of the ingredients in what he brings to the table was the reason why we brought him here. 'It's going to be difficult in the second season. 'So the additions of people like himself can only help the cause. We're trying to move the thing forward and trying to get a bigger and better squad because it's a long season ahead with many games to play and when a quality addition like him becomes available we're delighted to get him.' | Steve Bruce confident Hull can overcome Lokeren in Europa League play-off .
Tigers must overturn 1-0 deficit to progress in competition .
New defender Michael Dawson ineligible for Thursday's clash . |
fbd78b3f8dcc82eef70cc003ce21e44274bf10a5 | By . Hugo Duncan Economics Correspondent . Francois Hollande has been warned that high taxes are holding the French economy back as output flat-lines in 2014 . France was last night told high taxes are holding back the recovery after the economy ground to a halt. Official statistics agency Eurostat said output in France stagnated between January and March following just one quarter of growth at the end of last year. The bleak figures came as the International Monetary Fund warned that tax rises have ‘weighed on the capacity of the economy to grow’. In its annual health check on the French economy, the global watchdog said ‘very large’ cuts to public spending are required to put the country’s finances back on a stable footing. The damning assessment came just a week after Socialist President Francois Hollande claimed that the economy is ‘turning’. Dominique Barbet, an analyst at French banking giant BNP Paribas, said: ‘France is trailing the rest of Europe.’ French public spending is among the highest in the world and due to hit 57 per cent of national output this year. The six million State workers make up one fifth of France’s total employed ranks and their salaries account for a quarter of public spending. But they take an average of nearly a month off beyond annual leave – more than twice the rate in the private sector. Wage freezes in the public sector and the threat of job losses have provoked a wave of protests around the country and Mr Hollande has the lowest approval rating of any French President on record. His Socialist party faces defeat at the hands of Marine Le Pen’s far right National Front in next week’s European elections amid widespread voter apathy and a backlash against the mainstream parties. Mr Hollande’s popularity has been hammered by his failure to keep an election pledge to bring down unemployment and revive Europe’s second largest economy. Socialist Hollande has the lowest approval rating of any French president in history and is facing certain defeat by Marie Le Pen's far-right party at the next election . Unemployment in France is still above 10 per cent with more than three million people out of work including nearly a quarter of under 25s. Stagnation in the first three months of the year contrasts with growth of 0.8 per cent in both Britain and Germany. The Spanish economy grew by 0.4 per cent but output sank 1.4 per cent in the Netherlands, 0.7 per cent in Portugal and 0.1 per cent in Italy. ‘The French economy was dogged by ongoing weakness of consumer spending and business investment, revealing a sustained lack of confidence in the country’s economic outlook,’ said Chris Williamson, chief economist at research group Markit. The IMF, which is run by former French finance minister Christine Lagarde, said the French national debt has ballooned following ‘decades’ of excessive public spending. It said the attempt to plug the gap by raising taxes ‘has reached its limits’ and called for spending cuts and economic reforms to pick up the baton. The Washington-based Fund said it is ‘critical’ that the government shores up its finances so it has the money to ‘respond more flexibly in the face of future shocks’. And in a chilling warning over the crisis facing French youngsters, it added: ‘Cutting spending has become critical to help put social safety nets on a sound footing for future generations.’ Mr Hollande hiked taxes when he came to power in 2012 having vigorously campaigned against austerity across Europe. IMF president Christine Lagarde said decades of of excessive public spending has bloated France's debt and said the government had to stop raising taxes to pay for it . But earlier this year he was forced to lower taxes and outline plans to cut €50billion (£41billion) of public spending in a desperate effort to revive the economy and eliminate the deficit. The IMF yesterday said the new course of tax and spending policy ‘was appropriate’ but said it will be ‘very challenging’ and result in cuts that were ‘remarkable by historical standards’. ‘The planned reductions in taxes mean that the cutbacks to spending will need to be very large if public finances are to be brought back to balance over the medium term as they should,’ it said. The Fund also warned that the ‘recovery in economic activity is likely to remain subdued’ in France with growth of just 1 per cent this year and 1.5 per cent next year. But independent economists think it will struggle to even reach this. By contrats the IMF is expecting growth of 2.9 per cent and 2.5 per cent in Britain and 1.7 per cent and 1.6 per cent in Germany. It said the ‘major risks’ in France are that the government fails to deliver on its pledge and instead resorts to cuts to investment, higher taxes or more debt. | French growth has ground to a halt because of high taxes, IMF warns .
Adds that years of huge public spending have bloated France's debt .
Calls on Francoise Holland to cut public spending rather than raise taxes .
Hollande has lowest approval rating of any French president in history . |
fbd7a186e47c9c05e648ecdc485209e838ed431e | (CNN) -- As Norway struggles to come to terms with its greatest loss of life in decades, all eyes are on the man charged in the explosion in central Oslo and the deadly shooting rampage at a youth camp. While police have not officially named him, Norwegian television and newspaper reports have identified the suspect as 32-year-old Anders Behring Breivik. A rambling 1,518-page manifesto purportedly written by someone using that name offered a rationale and action plan for terror attacks like those inflicted on Norway last week. There are clear pictures of what Breivik looks like, at least, via images showing him with blond hair, blue-green eyes and chiseled features. In some cases, he's wearing seemingly preppy clothes, though in others he strikes a far more militaristic stance. And the suspect will "explain himself" in court on Monday, attorney Geir Lippestad -- who claimed to represent Breivik -- told Norway's TV2 late Saturday. Yet even with these photos, even with the voluminous text in his manifesto, even if he does detail his reasoning Monday, troubling questions are likely to remain. Chief among them is how and why a native Norwegian turned on his countrymen. What is known is that Breivik is a member of the Oslo Pistol Club and has three weapons registered in his name, according to leading Norwegian newspaper VG, which cited Norway's official weapons register. They are a Glock pistol, a rifle and a shotgun, VG reported. Breivik is registered as having run a company that produced "vegetables, melons, roots and tubers" -- an industry which allows access to large amounts of fertilizer that can be used for explosives -- according to state-run broadcaster NRK. An employee at a Norwegian agricultural cooperative told CNN that the man identified in media reports as the suspect in last Friday's attacks bought six tons of fertilizer from her company in May. Oddmy Estenstad, of Felleskjopet Agr, said she did not think the order was strange at the time because the suspect has a farm, but after the Oslo attack she called police because she knew the material can be used to make bombs. NRK also reported that Breivik does not have a military background and, in fact, was exempt from Norway's mandatory military service. He has not had any special military training, it adds on its website. He was a youth and adult member of the conservative Fremskrittspartiet (FrP) or Progress Party, VG newspaper reports, remaining involved until 2007. The party's most prominent manifesto pledge is to minimize immigration. His membership was confirmed by a senior party member, Jonas Kallmyr, who is quoted by VG as saying that encountering Breivik was "like meeting Hitler before World War II." In the manifesto, which police said was posted online the day of the attacks, a writer claiming to be Breivik writes positively of the Progress Party, calling it "the only major political party in Norway that has voiced any serious opposition to the madness of Muslim immigration." But he only, effusively claims membership as a "Justiciar Knight" in what he calls the pan-European "Conservative Revolutionary Movements in Europe." The philosophy presented in the document -- which also serves as part diatribe, part confessional and part action plan -- targets so-called "cultural Marxist/multicultural ideals." The writer makes clear that he not only opposes multiculturalism in Europe, including any increase in the number of in immigrants or Muslims, but that he has thought out how to use violence to combat it. The manifesto and a related video are titled "2083: A European Declaration of Independence," a date that the author later explains is the year he believes a European civil war will end with the execution of what he calls "cultural Marxists." This "civil war" would come in three phases, he predicts. The first runs through 2030 and includes "open source warfare, military shock attacks by clandestine cell systems (and) further consolidation of conservative forces." Between 2030 and 2070, he calls for "more advanced forms of resistance groups (and the) preparation of pan-European coup d'etats." The final stage features the deposition of Europe's leadership and "implementation of a cultural conservative political agenda." A vitriolic hatred of outside forces, and desire to oust them from Europe, pervades the document. But it especially targets Muslims, culminating in 2083 with their deportation from the continent. Such animosity is consistent with a post in Breivik's name on an online forum, Document.no, from December 2009, talks about non-Muslim teenagers being "in an especially precarious situation with regards to being harassed by Islamic youth." "I know of many hundred occasions where non-Muslims have been robbed, beaten up and harassed by Islamic gangs," the post reads. "I had a best friend between the ages of 12-17 who was a Pakistani, so I was one of the many protected, cool 'potatoes' that had protection. But this also made me see the hypocrisy up close and personal and made me nauseous." Such anti-Islamic sentiment is nothing new in Norway or other European nations, where there has been resistance against increasing numbers of Muslims and their practices. About 3% of Norway's population in 2010 -- 144,000 people -- were Muslim, but that was expected to more than double to 6.5% over the next 20 years, according to a report released earlier this year by The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. That is one of the largest percentage increases in Muslim populations across all of Europe, thanks in part to fertility rates significantly higher than those of non-Muslims. Another post in Breivik's name in October 2009 advises "Hans", described as the founder of Document.no, to "develop an alternative to the violent extreme Norwegian Marxist organisations Blitz, SOS Rasisme and Rod Ungdom" -- all left-wing movements in Norway. "The conservatives dare not openly express their viewpoints in public because they know that the extreme Marxists will trump them. We cannot accept the fact that the Labour Party is subsidising these violent "Stoltenberg jugend, who are systematically terrorising the politically conservative," the post reads. He is making a reference to the youth movement of Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, who heads the Labour Party. The manifesto's author does not telegraph his plan for July 22, even as he extensively delves into bomb-making techniques, evading authorities and his long-range military ambitions. But he is sharply critical of leadership of Norway, with last week's attacks targeting government buildings and a youth camp run by the ruling Labour Party, blaming them for embracing ideals that allowed the "Islamification of Europe." The writer states he was moved to action in 1999 by "my government's involvement" in NATO's strikes during the Kosovo campaign, claiming this campaign wrongly targeted "our Serbian brothers (who) wanted to drive Islam out by deporting the Albanian Muslims back to Albania." He also criticizes "my government's cowardly handling of the Muhammad cartoon issue" -- a reference to the Norwegian government's apology for the nation's private newspapers having repeatedly published the controversial cartoon. Another reference blasts Norway, home of the Nobel awards, for awarding a peace prize to late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Speaking in both specific and general terms, the manifesto's author doesn't hide his militant expertise or aims. But it is only near the end of the document that he appears willing to take matters into his own hands, citing "the old saying, 'if you want something done, then do it yourself.'" Acting National Police Chief Sveinung Sponheim told reporters Sunday said that the suspect, arrested on Utoya island after gunning down at least 86 people there after killing at least seven in the Oslo bombing, insisted he acted alone. Police still say, though, that they haven't ruled out others may not have been involved, and the manifesto does allude to like-minded right-wing revolutionaries. That said, the document's author does predict "all my friends and family (will) detest me and call me a monster," and that media will "have their hands full figuring out multiple ways to character assassinate, vilify and demonize." But ultimately, he writes that he believes he and other revolutionaries will be remembered fondly, part of his rallying cry for "the emerging Western European conservative resistance movement." "Your name will be remembered for centuries," the document states. "You will forever be celebrated by your people as a martyr for your country, protecting your culture and fighting for your kin and for Christendom." CNN's Laura Smith-Spark and Cynthia Wamwayi contributed to this report. | The 32-year-old suspect insists he acted alone, the national police chief says .
A manifesto purportedly by him details his anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant philosophy .
The head of a conservative party says she is horrified that this man is a former member .
Photos show the Norwegian with blond hair, blue-green eyes and chiseled features . |
fbd91a5d37360bf0d343a5e3f82b86a6e25c2ed7 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . A Mormon with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was killed at weekend while serving at a mission in Sweden. Church officials said 19-year-old Elder Mason Lewis Bailey, from Richfield, Utah, died in a vehicle accident on Sunday in the country's capital, Stockholm. LDS spokesman Cody Craynor said Bailey, who had been serving at the Sweden Stockholm Mission for over seven months, was walking to an appointment with a companion when the accident happened. A missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was killed while serving in the Stockholm Sweden mission on Sunday. Officials said Elder Mason Lewis Bailey, a 19-year-old from Richfield, died in a vehicle accident. Police in Stockholm are yet to release information on the incident involving Elder Mason Lewis Bailey's death . 'Elder Mason Lewis Bailey, age 19, from Richfield, Utah, serving in the Sweden Stockholm Mission since July 2013, died after being struck by a vehicle while he and his companion were walking along a road on their way to an appointment,' the statement said, according to Fox 13. 'Elder Bailey’s companion was not hit by the car and is uninjured. 'We are mindful of Elder Bailey’s family and loved ones during this difficult time and unite our faith and prayers with all Church members, who mourn at the death of a missionary.' Stockholm police are yet to release any further information about the incident. A profile on Mormon.org appears that belongs to Elder Bailey describes him as adventurous. Bailey had been working at a missionary at the Sweden Stockholm Mission since July last year. The church is based about 20 miles south of Stockholm city . 'I love the outdoors and most everything in it. I love to fish, hunt, ride my dirt bike, my horse and canyoneer,' Bailey wrote in his profile. 'I love to help people in any way I can and I love my church and all the opportunities that I get to serve in it.' Located in Vasterhaninge, a suburb of the Stockholm Metropolitan area, the Sweden Stockholm Mission is located about 20 miles south of downtown Stockholm. There are some 405 LDS missionaries organized around the world. The Mormon representatives volunteer to engage in church service, humanitarian aid and community service from the age of 18 and typically finance the trips themselves. | Elder Mason Lewis Bailey, 19, from Richfield, Utah, had been serving in Stockholm since July .
According to The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints, he was hit by a car on Sunday .
He died the same day .
A companion he was walking with was not injured .
Local police are yet to comment .
There are 405 LDS missionaries around the world . |
fbd91f2a4e49cec964135f9cd054610749acf58e | (RollingStone.com ) -- It's nothing to "whoop whoop" about: The ongoing sexual harassment lawsuit against horrorcore hip-hop act Insane Clown Posse just got a lot more disgusting, and it involves a glass sex toy reportedly owned by Kid Rock. Attorneys for the group's former publicist, Andrea Pellegrini, have subpoenaed the rocker to produce the item as court evidence, Detroit Free Press reports. RS: Gathering of the Juggalos 2013 -- Pictures . The subpoena states that "Dirty Dan" Diamond, a former employee of ICP's label Psychopathic Records, gave the item to Kid Rock after a failed attempt at passing it along to Pellegrini. According to a press release from the publicist's attorneys, Diamond admitted under oath to this disturbing gesture on Friday during his deposition in Las Vegas; he reportedly tried to give Pellegrini the glass phallus after learning she was single. Kid Rock (real name Robert James Ritchie) has 14 days to produce the item in court; both the singer and his manager, Lee Trink, were unavailable for comment for the Free Press as of Tuesday evening. RS: Insane Clown Posse 'qualified' for new TV show . Pellegrini, a three-year employee with Psychopathic Records, filed the suit in September 2013, alleging "wrongful termination, harassment, retaliation and infliction of emotional distress" against ICP (Joseph "Violent J" Bruce and Joseph "Shaggy 2 Dope" Utsler), Psychopathic Records and the group's manager, William Dale. (She also described her time at the 2012 Gathering of the Juggalos festival as "a living hell.") According to the Free Press, an attorney for ICP denied the allegations last year. In other Juggalo-related news: Last month, a Detroit federal judge dimissed ICP's lawsuit that hoped to erase an FBI report describing their fans, the Juggalos, as a "gang." But the group is planning to appeal the decision, according to The Hollywood Reporter. See the original story at RollingStone.com. Copyright © 2011 Rolling Stone. | The rocker has reportedly been ordered to produce the sex toy .
A former employee of Insane Clown Posse is suing the group .
An attorney for the group has reportedly denied the allegations . |
fbd98b3f889cbc9dc0413bb7a99708c21fb3d8f5 | By . Nick Constable . Delayed inquiry: Ben Cowburn, 18, killed himself in 2010 after falling out with the TV comedian . A gay celebrity who is alleged to have groomed a teenager before he killed himself has contacted the youth’s grieving family to ‘explain’ their relationship. But last night the parents of Ben Cowburn spoke of their dismay at the TV comedian’s use of high-profile libel lawyers Carter-Ruck to make the approach. The Cowburns have so far refused to respond, insisting the celebrity – known only as Mr X after a coroner controversially protected his identity – should first be questioned by the Metropolitan Police. They have sent a formal request to detectives asking that he be interviewed about Ben’s disclosure of homosexual rape and other sex assaults. Ben was 18 when he was found dead in his bedroom at a psychiatric unit in 2010 after telling medical staff he had been raped by the celebrity. ‘The letter from this man’s lawyer asks whether we would accept a letter giving his personal explanation,’ said Ben’s mother Sharon, 52. ‘It’s a sounding-out letter offered in a cautious manner. We would welcome an explanation and are considering this approach. But we are not used to dealing with media lawyers. ‘It makes things even harder for us. We are still grieving for Ben. The police never questioned this man and we think they now should, perhaps before any letter is sent. There remain many unanswered questions.’ Dismay: Last night his parents, Sharon and Steve Cowburn, spoke of their dismay at the TV comedian's use of high-profile libel lawyers Carter-Ruck to make the approach. Above, the grieving parents arrive at Ben's inquest . Her husband Steve, 51, added: ‘What I don’t want is for Mr X to send us a letter full of platitudes – we took him to a few parties, he had a good time, it was all fine – that kind of thing. ‘I’ve emailed the investigating officer to ask why he never interviewed Mr X, given he’d seen words like sexual abuse, cocaine and rape used by witnesses. Revealed: How Tthe Mail on Sunday broke the story . At the inquest the experts agreed Ben was suffering post-traumatic stress disorder linked to a single event or events in London.’ Before his death at Longreach House mental health unit in Cornwall, Ben named Mr X and told nurses how he had been raped and sexually assaulted during drug-fuelled parties involving group sex. The celebrity’s attempt to contact the family follows a series of Mail on Sunday exclusive stories questioning the authorities’ response to Ben’s death. We revealed how Cornwall Coroner Dr Emma Carlyon declined to call key witnesses – including the nurse in whom Ben confided about being raped – and how she concealed Mr X’s identity through an informal agreement with lawyers. The Cowburns, from Truro, want Chief Coroner Peter Thornton QC to review her handling of the inquest and explain why it took more than three years to arrange. They are also pressing for an inquiry into care standards at Longreach after three families contacted them about the deaths of their own children there. Mrs Cowburn says one case is ‘shockingly similar’ to her son’s and believes that ‘people are dying in there’. She and her husband have passed a dossier of complaints to their MP, Conservative Sarah Newton. Last month a jury returned an open verdict at the end of an eight-day inquest into Ben’s death, a result indicating insufficient evidence surrounding his death. The court heard how he was ‘groomed’ by Mr X after moving to study in London in September 2009. He was then aged 17. In July 2010 the comedian and Ben fell out and the teenager’s mental health deteriorated. He made a series of apparent suicide attempts and was admitted to Longreach where he said the celebrity gave him expensive gifts and cocaine and left him feeling ‘dirty and used’. On one occasion he said the older man climbed uninvited into his bed, engaging him in a sex act. However, Metropolitan Police Det Con David Gadsby told the inquest there was ‘no conclusive evidence’ that Ben was raped. | Comedian has contacted Ben Cowburn's family to 'explain' relationship .
But boy's parents spoke of dismay at his use of lawyers, Carter-Ruck .
'We are not used to dealing with media lawyers,' said Sharon Cowburn .
Ben, 18, found dead in 2010 after claiming he was raped by the celebrity . |
fbd993d08a0d6b0649c1619bff9ca9cc30154e61 | (CNN) -- The European Union is "shooting itself in the foot" by keeping Turkey at bay, the country's Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek says. The nation, with an economy sprinting ahead of Europe's continental countries, would be an asset for the region, he said. But Turkey's path to EU membership remains fraught, in part due to problems pitching the idea to the country and Europe. The debt crisis which has ravaged the European continent has been unhelpful for Turkey, but the key issue is feedback from European circles "that we're not loved and we're not wanted," Simsek told CNN. "It diminishes the support for change in this country because change requires leadership, but also requires a good story." The EU, Simsek added, "is shooting itself in the foot by essentially trying to keep Turkey at bay. I think that's wrong but at the same time, my party just got 50% of the vote and our platform strongly supports EU membership -- so people still support change." European recovery? Wait till 2013 (at least) There is a credible case for EU accession, but that has been dented by the question marks raised over Turkey's right to belong, Simsek said. He argues Turkey and Europe need each other. "I think for regional stability, for energy supply security, for better standards of democracy... we need each other." The country has its supporters. British Prime Minister David Cameron backs the country's accession, and points to Turkey's growing economy as a reason. But the EU wants Turkey to make further reforms, to the judicial system for example, before it can join. Turkey -- which straddles Europe and Asia -- is in a key position to improve relations in the region. But the Arab Spring, which drew in some of Turkey's biggest trading partners, has been destabilizing for the area. "Our neighborhood is quite noisy ...and right now is not stable," Simsek said. Is the Arab Spring failing its people? But welcoming Turkey into the EU would, in the midst of such volatility, send a powerful message, he said. "You can be with the west. You can be secular. You can be Muslim. You can be prosperous. And you can be stable." | Turkey's finance minister says the country would be an asset to the EU .
Turkey's path to EU membership remains fraught, in part due to problems pitching the idea to the country and Europe .
Mehmet Simsek argues Turkey and Europe need each other . |
fbd993f6846032bdf280967a1faf81e26b05f252 | Washington (CNN) -- The Virginia couple accused of crashing President Obama's first White House state dinner on Tuesday are named in at least 16 different civil suits in Fauquier County, sometimes as plaintiffs, sometimes as defendants. A trawl through court records on Thursday revealed a more complete picture of Tareq and Michaele Salahi, who have left an extensive paper trail in federal bankruptcy and state court filings. The couple was spotted rubbing elbows with the likes of Vice President Joe Biden and Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel at Tuesday's dinner, but the Secret Service says they were not invited. A Secret Service checkpoint "did not follow proper procedures" to determine if the two were on the guest list, said Edwin M. Donovan, a Secret Service special agent, in a statement. The incident represents a security breach for the White House at the Obama administration's biggest social event to date. More than 300 guests, including Cabinet members, diplomats and Hollywood celebrities, attended the dinner in honor of visiting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The couple did not respond to CNN requests for comment Thursday. "At this time the Salahis will not make any formal comments regarding the rumors and media speculation surrounding the White House state dinner," their publicist, Mahogany Jones, said in a statement. "Their counsel, Paul W. Gardner Esq., states emphatically that the Salahis' did not 'crash' this event. We look forward to setting the record straight very soon." Asked for comment on the Salahi's legal difficulties, Jones said in an e-mail, "We will begin doing press and media next week providing exclusive interviews and press junkets. If you would like to be considered in our media circuit we request that you hold your proposed published profile until then." A page on Facebook, apparently maintained jointly by the Salahis, paints them as high rollers, listing their interests as polo, wine, and diplomatic relations, among others. A separate Facebook fan page dedicated to Michaele that appears to be run by her says, "I was honored to be invited to attend the First State Dinner hosted by President Obama & the First Lady to honor India." The page in her name is full of pictures showing her at social events around Washington. But the two also spend quite a bit of time in court, records show. One of the lawsuits against the Salahis was filed by Robb Levin of Fairfax, Virginia, who held his wedding at the Oasis Winery in August 2005. "I have a judgment against them," he said by phone on Thursday. "The settlement was for $15,000, plus interest from June 2008. They haven't paid a penny." Levin contracted with the winery to provide vendors, such as florists and catering, for the event. But, he said, he discovered the winery was adding a "significant profit" to what the vendors were charging them. "Vendors told me what they were charging. They were charging me two or three times as much," he said. When he tried to use his own vendors, he said, he was fined $1,000. After he signed a contract to hold his wedding there, "They were very, very, very hard to get a hold of," he said. "I remember [the contract] being very short and it just said to hold the date. When I went back, I found it said they could charge my credit card at will. At the time I signed it I don't remember all those pages being there. I don't remember a whole 8- or 12-page document," Levin said. "There were thousands of dollars charged to my card with no explanation." He fought with the Salahis, dealing mostly with Michaele, throughout the run-up to his nuptials, he said. "They wanted more money and I wasn't releasing it," he said. "They threatened me with lawyers. They threatened to cancel the wedding." In the end, Levin said, he paid up to make sure the wedding went ahead, then sued the Salahis afterward to get his money back. Tareq and Michaele, meanwhile, were engaged in a long court battle with his parents over the winery. Court records show Tareq sued his mother, Corinne, and the case was dismissed. Corinne sued Tareq and the case went to trial. The outcome is not clear from a Virginia courts Web site. Tareq and Michaele won control of the winery in 2007, but it has run into debt since then. Oasis Winery filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in February, according to U.S. Bankruptcy Court records in the Eastern District of Virginia. Tareq Salahi is listed as company president in the filing. Creditors listed include the IRS, Fauquier County, the state of Virginia, several banks and American Express Corp., among others. The company claims about $335,000 in assets and $965,000 in liabilities. Among the debts listed are more than $60,000 in credit card debt and an "unknown" amount in federal back taxes. "Debtor has not filed corporate taxes since tax year 2006," the filing says. "Has always previously had business loss, with refund flowing to shareholders." Also listed is a $65 parking ticket in Montgomery County, Maryland, nearly $3,000 in gasoline purchases to Exxon-Mobil and more than $95,000 in legal fees. According to the February filing, Oasis made $1.7 million in 2007 but only $35,000 in 2008. The filing lists two pending lawsuits against Oasis, one for more than $300,000 for "catering services" and one judgment against the company. Under "repossessions," the filing lists a 2004 Aston Martin, which it estimates was worth $150,000 when it was repossessed in October 2008. Some $85,000 was still owed, according to the filing. In addition, a boat valued at $90,000 was repossessed in June 2008, with $56,000 still owed, according to court documents. The company also had closed a checking account, $3,800 in the red, about a year before the filing. Oasis owes $224,000 "for rental of FedEx Redskins Suite and related hospitality services," according to court documents. The Chapter 7 filing, under which a debtor's assets are sold to pay creditors, followed an apparent effort to save the winery earlier. The business had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 2008, with Salahi's mother, Corinne, listing herself as president. A Chapter 11 bankruptcy is referred to as a "reorganization" bankruptcy, according to the federal judiciary's Web site. In addition to federal bankruptcy, Tareq and Michaele may now face criminal charges. The incident represents a security breach for the White House at the Obama administration's biggest social event to date. More than 300 guests, including Cabinet members, diplomats and Hollywood celebrities, attended the dinner. If they lied to federal agents in order to get into the White House dinner, that is a federal crime, said Fran Townsend , CNN national security contributor. The agents tasked with protecting the president "did not follow proper procedures," Secret Service agent Edwin Donovan said in a statement, but said the gatecrashers went through metal detectors "and other levels of security." The Salahis are aspiring reality-TV stars who hoped to land roles in the forthcoming show, "The Real Housewives of D.C.," by the Bravo cable network, The Washington Post reported. In a statement Thursday, Bravo said, "Michaele Salahi is under consideration as a cast member, as such [series producer] Half Yard Productions were filming the Salahis on that day. Half Yard was only aware that per the Salahis they had been invited [to the state dinner] as guests." Video of the dinner showed the couple walking past journalists into the event. The couple also appears to have posted pictures on Facebook purportedly showing them gaining access to high profile events during inauguration week, according to The Washington Post's Reliable Sources gossip column. Pictures on the couple's joint Facebook account appear to show them in the first family's glass-enclosed viewing area after a concert at the Lincoln Memorial, according to the Post. "Tareq & Michaele were honored to be invited to President Obama's private viewing box at the Lincoln Memorial," the Facebook posting from inauguration weekend reportedly reads. "Naturally this picture was taken after his departure." Other pictures purportedly show them mingling with celebrities during inauguration weekend, including talk show host Oprah Winfrey at the Kennedy Center, according to the Post. CNN's Richard Allen Greene, Shannan Butler and Ashley Hayes contributed to this report. | NEW: Tareq and Michaele Salahi named in at least 16 lawsuits, filed for Chapter 7 in February .
Couple posts Facebook photos purportedly showing them at inauguration events .
Secret Service admits it "did not follow proper procedures"
Service said Salahis went through metal detectors, other levels of security . |
fbd99433875cf1d202fd490c032739d59e3efef8 | By . Daily Mail Reporter and Ap . PUBLISHED: . 00:18 EST, 8 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:29 EST, 8 September 2013 . Rapper Eminem made an unlikely and puzzling appearance on ESPN's 'Saturday Night Football' halftime show last night, in which he awkwardly ansered questions about his new album and expressed his admiration of announcer Brent Musburger. 'You’re a legend,' Eminem said to Musburger. 'You my friend, are the legend,' Musburger replied. Then it got awkward. Scroll down for video... Awkward: Eminem made an uncomfortable appearance on ESPN's Saturday Night Football . Live: Eminem told host Brent Musburger that live TV makes him uncomfortable but it was obvious from the start that something was amiss . 'I’m really uncomfortable right now,' Eminem said. The rap superstar, who has a new album out in the fall, appeared to promote his new single and video, 'Berzerk.' But 'Slim Shady' doesn't seem all that excited about the followup to his 2000 album, which is often lauded as one of the greatest rap albums of all-time. When asked by Musburger what excited him about the new album, Eminem said, 'Um, nothing. No, when it’ll be out Nov. 5, I’ll probably be . most excited to be done with it. It’s called Marshall Mathers II. It’s . kind of a revisit to the first 'Marshall Mathers’ album.' Sitting with Musburger and co-announcer Kirk Herbstreit, Eminem seemed at first slightly confused, with his mouth hanging open. Softie? Eminem is known more for his tough guy persona than his soft spot for sports announcers but the ESPN appearance proves Marshall Mathers has an Achilles Heel . What are you looking at? The rapper appeared fearful as he looked back and forth between sports announcers and later admitted he was terribly uncomfortable . He's a fan! In one of the lighter moments of his appearance, Eminem told Brent Musburger that he thinks he's a legend . Eminem rarely does interviews, and . certainly not live on ESPN. Musburger asked him questions about his . music and referred to him by his given name, Marshall Mathers. Said Eminem: 'Live TV freaks me out a little bit.' But he soon seemed to relax, saying Berzerk would be the new theme of SNF. The Detroit native also talked about his devotion to the Detroit Lions. Deer, meet headlights: At one point, Slim Shady told the announcers 'I'm really uncomfortable right now' | The Grammy-winning rapper appeared spooked and uncomfortable during an ESPN appearance .
'I’m really uncomfortable right now': Eminem expressed his respect for announcer Brent Musburger but appeared terrified on the live broadcast . |
fbd9f898ac1f71abc89f059c5019039abaa0995d | Pakistani jets and ground forces killed 77 militants in a northwestern tribal region near the Afghan border, officials said on Friday, days after Taliban fighters killed 148 people — most of them children — in a school massacre. The military said its ground forces killed 10 militants while airstrikes killed another 17, including an Uzbek commander late on Thursday night. Another 32 alleged terrorists were killed by security forces in an ambush in Tirah valley in Khyber on Friday as they headed toward the Afghan border, the military said. On Friday morning, troops killed 18 more militants during a 'cordon and search operation' in Khyber, the military said. Scroll down for video . Retaliation: The Pakistani military killed 67 Taliban militants in air strikes and ground assaulkts in response to the school massacre atrocity . The military said the army chief, Gen. Raheel Sharif, was traveling to Khyber Friday to meet with troops taking part in the ground operation. Meanwhile, a Pakistani prosecutor said the government will try to cancel the bail granted to the main suspect in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks — a decision that outraged neighbouring India and called into question Pakistan's commitment to fighting militancy. The violence at a school in Pakistan's northwest earlier this week stunned the country and brought cries for retribution. In the wake of the mass killing the military has struck targets in the Khyber tribal region and approved the death penalty for six convicted terrorists. Macabre: Pakistani Frontier Corps personnel look at bodies of militants who were killed in a military operation in Tirah, near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border . Pakistani security forces killed at least 67 suspected militants as operations against insurgents intensify in the wake of a Taliban school massacre that killed 149 people . On Friday morning, troops killed 18 more militants during a 'cordon and search operation' in Khyber, the military said. Khyber agency is one of two main areas in the northwest where the military has been trying to root out militants in recent months. Khyber borders Peshawar, where the school massacre happened, and militants have traditionally attacked the city before fleeing into the tribal region where police can't chase them. The other area is North Waziristan, where the military launched a massive operation in June. In the southern province of Baluchistan, Pakistani security forces killed a senior Pakistani Taliban leader along with seven of his associates in three separate pre-dawn raids, said a tribal police officer, Ali Ahmed. A Pakistani army soldier stands guard outside the Army Public School in Peshawar. Pakistani forces have intensified their offensive against Islamist militants . Special forces: The military said its ground forces late Thursday killed 10 militants in the Khyber region of Pakistan while another 32 alleged terrorists were killed by security forces in an ambush in Tirah valley as they headed toward the Afghan border . Airstrikes: Pakistani jets killed another 17 militants, including an Uzbek commander, in strikes on the Khyber region of the country (stock image of Pakistan Air Force F-16 war planes during a training mission) Retribution: The violence at a school (pictured) in Pakistan's northwest earlier this week stunned the country and brought cries for retribution . Army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif signed death warrants of six 'hard core terrorists' convicted and sentenced to death by military courts, the army said. It was unclear when the military planned to hang the six men, but authorities generally move quickly once death warrants are signed. Such executions are usually carried out at prisons under the supervision of army officers and then the bodies are handed over to relatives for burial. There was no information on the men or the crimes for which they were convicted. The news came after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday announced that he would lift a moratorium on executions in terrorism-related cases. The government has not yet carried out any executions. Evil: Taliban fighters who allegedly stormed an army-run school in Peshawar pose for a picture before carrying out the atrocity. The death warrants of six 'hard core terrorists' convicted and sentenced to death by military courts were also signed . Controversy: Meanwhile, a Pakistani prosecutor said the government will try to cancel the bail granted to Zaki-ur-Rahman Lakhvi (centre), the main suspect in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks . The lifting of the moratorium was aimed at demonstrating the government's resolve. But the decision by an anti-terrorism court Thursday to grant bail to the main suspect in the Mumbai attack, Zaki-ur-Rahman Lakhvi, called into question that commitment. Lakhvi is one of seven people on trial in Pakistan for the assault, but the trial has produced no results so far. It has been closed to the media. India reacted with outrage to news of Lakhvi's pending release. Special public prosecutor Abu Zar Peerzada said he would appeal to the High Court to cancel the bail and said Lakhvi had not yet been released. | 148 people, mostly children, killed when Taliban fighters stormed school .
The military said its ground forces killed 10 militants late on Thursday .
17 more, including an Uzbek leader, were killed in strikes on Khyber area .
Another 32 alleged terrorists killed by security forces in ambush in Khyber .
Pakistan to try to cancel bail for main suspect in 2008 Mumbai attacks . |
fbda5f0de6822534b021160dbc3e5c33fd5f3a9e | (CNN) -- Environmental activist Philippe Cousteau is to explore the Arctic with CNN to show how scientists in the wilderness are studying climate change in one of the coldest places on the planet. For "Extreme Science" Cousteau will see first-hand how they operate in brutal sub-zero temperatures, severe storms and high winds, collecting data on water and ice while living in a tent village on the ice. And while he's there between March 23 and April 4 he'll try to answer your questions about life at the top of the world and how the work there can impact everyone's lives. Scientists are using new radar technology to measure the thickness of sea ice without the need to dig holes. Their work will try to determine just how fast the ice is melting and what will be the effects on weather patterns, ocean currents and marine life. Cousteau, grandson of the legendary Captain Jacques Cousteau, will be CNN special correspondent inside the Arctic Circle. He is the CEO of Earth Echo International -- a non-profit organization dedicated to educating youth about environmental issues. He is also co-founder of Azure Worldwide, a strategic environmental design, development and marketing company. Cousteau, 31, reported last year for CNN International on the Gulf oil spill and has hosted green-themed specials. He founded and co-chairs the Gulf Action Network for the Clinton Global Initiative and has testified to the U.S. Congress on ocean management and off-shore drilling. He is also chief ocean correspondent at Discovery's Animal Planet and hosted "Ocean's Blue," a Discovery/BBC collaboration last year. Publications from "Sport Diver" and "National Geographic" have published Cousteau's stories from around the world. He serves on the Board of Directors of The Ocean Conservancy, the Marine Conservation Biology Institute, and the National Environmental Education Foundation. | Philippe Cousteau will lead the three-person CNN team to the Arctic .
He has previously worked on CNN environmental specials and from the Gulf oil spill .
Cousteau is also chief ocean correspondent at Discovery's Animal Planet .
He is the grandson of the legendary Captain Jacques Cousteau . |
fbda98edc965e447f42f80a2530b9e34f0b31b76 | By . Ruth Styles . Prince Harry might have spent the past few days twerking with a bevy of beauties in Memphis, but as these photos reveal, the bank holiday weekend has been far from enjoyable for his former girlfriend, Cressida Bonas. Looking pale and thin, Ms Bonas cut a sombre figure as she strode through London's Notting Hill, her eyes hidden behind sunglasses and her long, blonde hair swinging loose. Although reports over the weekend suggested the former couple are still in love and may reunite, Prince Harry's antics at the Memphis Polo Club are unlikely to have pleased the 25-year-old. Scroll down for video . Sombre: Cressida looked pale and miserable as she strode along clutching an acid-green smoothie . Cressida Bonas is spotted out and about having lunch with two male friends in London . Although reports over the weekend suggested the former couple are still in love and may reunite, Prince Harry's antics at the Memphis Polo Club are unlikely to have pleased the 25-year-old . Ms Bonas cut a sombre figure as she strode through London's Notting Hill, her eyes hidden behind sunglasses and her long, blonde hair swinging loose . Ms Bonas was originally expected to attend the wedding, but it is thought the couple separated after arguing about the trip. The . 25-year-old was spotted last week pacing the streets outside the office . in the West End where she has a job in marketing, biting her nails and . with tears in her eyes. She has also reportedly been given compassionate leave from work to consider her future and has cut an increasingly wan figure as the separation continues. By contrast, her erstwhile beau appears to have been having the time of his life in Memphis, where his best friend Guy Pelly married American socialite, Lizzy Wilson on Saturday. The prince, who was seen ‘twerking’ on the dance floor, was having such a good time at the ‘unbelievably wild’ party that he made the band play five encores as he kept the party going beyond the 1am finish time. And while his brother dominated the dancefloor, it was William who jumped on the stage singing the Isley Brothers’ Shout. Jimmy Church, whose Motown band provided the entertainment, told the Daily Mail: ‘It was a great night, it was unbelievably wild. Tearful: Cressida was spotted looking wan at the weekend and was pictured looking tearful on Thursday . Fun: Prince Harry beams as he hits the dance floor at the wedding of Guy Pelly and Lizzy Wilson in Memphis . ‘Prince William was in front of the stage moving to the music, and then all of a sudden it got to him and he got up on the stage and was singing and dancing. He was getting down and I was getting down.’ 'Mr Church said there were a number of women who tried to get close to Harry. He added: ‘Harry was dancing with the ladies. There were just so many, he was surrounded. ‘There were so many packed in around him you couldn’t tell if he was with one girl or 20 girls. ‘You think of royalty as being stuffy, but they were loose. At the end when we finished Harry came up to the stage and asked if we would play another song as he did not want the night to end. We ended up doing five encores.’ Mr Church said guests began crowd surfing as his band played: ‘I’ve been doing this 50 years and I ain’t ever seen anything like this. These guys know how to party.’ He added: ‘William came up to me and gave me a hug and said that he wants me to come to London. It was the highlight of my life.’ The wedding came at the end of three days of celebrations that included a visit to Graceland, Elvis Presley’s mansion. On Thursday night after arriving in town, the guests enjoyed ribs at a barbecue restaurant before some, including Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, partied into the night on Beale Street, the city’s iconic main strip. Before arriving in Memphis, Harry stopped off in Miami where he was seen dancing in a nightclub into the early hours. Cressida, meanwhile, remained at home alone. Texts: Prince Harry has reportedly been bombarding Cressida with up to 15 text messages a day . Love: The pair pictured together at the England vs Wales Six Nations match before the split . | Cressida looked strained as she strode along in an all-black outfit .
She has cut an increasingly wan figure since splitting with Prince Harry .
The 25-year-old has also taken compassionate leave from her job .
Her erstwhile boyfriend was photographed 'twerking' in Memphis .
According to onlookers, the eligible bachelor was surrounded by women . |
fbdae61b20142a0ce9c8f3cf8950d8858251be38 | Lampedusa, Italy (CNN) -- Shortly after dawn, an open blue wooden fishing boat from Libya limped its way into the port of this tiny island, crammed with at least 166 shivering passengers, all of them apparently migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa. Italian coast guard officers and rescue workers helped offload the passengers, wrapping an infant in a metallic blanket and taking at least one man away on a stretcher. The passengers left behind husks of bread, soggy blankets, and fluorescent life jackets, scattered in the hull of the boat. "I still have the trauma inside me. Because of the cold, the water. Because I've never tried this before in my life," said a 21-year old man from Sierra Leone who only gave his first name Abubakr. Abubakr said the boat departed from the Libyan capital of Tripoli on Thursday morning and reached this tiny Italian island after a perilous 24-hour journey. The boat was just the first of five boats that arrived Friday carrying 1,271 passengers. On Saturday, two more boats carrying more than 400 people from Libya and Tunisia reached the island, the U.N. High Commissioner for Regfugees said. Most of the refugees are from Sub-Saharan Africa, including Sierra Leone and Senegal. There are also Bangladeshis, some Egyptians and Tunisians. "The sea is really difficult ... I vomited so much," said Ibrahim Cooper, 26, also from Sierra Leone. Despite reports that a similar ship sank off the coast of Libya, killing at least 16 migrants, more than 30,000 migrants and refugees from Tunisia and Libya have risked this dangerous journey to Lampedusa since last February. Late Thursday night, Italian authorities were tracking one boat from Libya carrying 250 migrants that was said to be leaking. That vessel is believed to now be in the territorial waters of Malta. Passengers onboard Friday morning's boat said they made the journey to escape the fighting in Libya. "It's a war situation now," Abubakr said. "Anything can happen. That's why we have to run for our lives. Because we are blacks. We are not secure in that country." Cooper huddled on the pavement of the port, eating a biscuit distributed by Italian emergency workers. "We are now refugees in Italy," Cooper said. "The Italian government and the E.U. should do something to help us." The armada of leaky boats full of migrants that have flooded Lampedusa over the past three months has become a hot-button political issue both in Italy and the European Union. A diplomatic spat erupted recently when France prevented a train carrying dozens of Tunisian migrants from crossing the border from Italy. Meanwhile, this week, the Danish government announced it would begin checking passports at the border of Denmark. These measures threaten to undermine the Schengen agreement, which allows free movement across European borders. One unexpected consequence of the revolutions that have swept through North Africa is the collapse of border controls in Tunisia and Libya. Lampedusa and Malta, both islands less than an hour's flight from the North African coast, have borne the brunt of the subsequent wave of migration. At one point, the population of migrants vastly outnumbered the tiny population of Lampedusa, which numbers less than 6,000. Migrants slept in the streets of this small fishing port. Dozens of blue fishing boats from Tunisia and Libya are piled up in a boat graveyard outside Lampedusa's small commercial port. Nearby, graffiti on a wall says "Basta Siamo Pieni," meaning, "Enough, we are full." Today, the number of new arrivals from Tunisia has reduced somewhat, thanks in part to a recent agreement with Italy to improve patrolling along the Tunisian coast. But as the war rages on in Libya, the number of barely seaworthy vessels departing Tripoli for Europe has increased drastically. A local priest is planning to hold a memorial service in Lampedusa later Friday for three other migrants who washed up on the shore of this small Mediterranean island last Sunday. The boat they are believed to have traveled on lies on its side on the rocky shore of Lampedusa days after it ran aground. | NEW: More than 1,250 have arrived by sea .
Four boats make it to the island safely .
"Some people were in coma," one refugee says of the boat ride to Lampedusa .
Italian coast guard officers and rescue workers help offload the passengers . |
fbdaf1ff0a127e0f4528870a9611c7c627b3a464 | In some quarters it was hailed as a victory for computer ‘nerds’ over the world of celebrity. Music super couple Jay Z and Beyonce were reportedly outbid in their quest to purchase the most expensive mansion in Beverly Hills by the creator of the popular online video game Minecraft. Markus ‘Notch’ Persson is thought to have paid $70million for the eight-bedroom house, which boasts 15 bathrooms, a 16-car garage, an infinity pool, wine cellar, private theater and a sweet shop. Scroll down for video . A super-fan has created a Minecraft version of the luxury cliff-side compound, which mimics an official tour video (inset) in impressive detail . Markus ‘Notch’ Persson, the creator of Minecraft, is thought to have paid $70million for the stunning eight-bedroom house . The home boasts 15 bathrooms, a 16-car garage, an infinity pool (pictured), wine cellar, private theater and a sweet shop . And now UK web developer - and passionate Minecraft user - Dan Bovey has paid a fitting tribute to the Swedish billionaire's coup, by recreating a stunning video tour of the property in Minecraft itself. Imitating the real-life promotional video for the property, the Minecraft version walks the viewer through the luxury cliffside compound, mimicking the original in stunningly close detail. The video swoops over the pool and garden with its panoramic views of Malibu and downtown LA and hovers over the huge infinity pool, before guiding the viewer through the property's lavish interior. Bovey, who is currently studying Web Development at Staffordshire University, has painstakingly copied the tour with the software that uses individual blocks to create 3D virtual worlds. After swooping over the pool and garden, the virtual tour switches to the property's lavish interior . The painstaking reconstruction was the handiwork of UK web developer - and passionate Minecraft user - Dan Bovey . Minecraft users must build their virtual worlds with individual building blocks, like an online form of Lego . It was reported that Beyoncé and Jay Z had their eyes set on the lavish compound but were beaten to it by Mr Persson . Views of the city's landscape are visible from one of the giant floor-to-ceiling windows from the extensive living area . It was reported that Beyoncé and Jay Z had their eyes set on the lavish compound and were reportedly 'on the verge of closing a deal' earlier this month after visiting the home six times. Minecraft was created in 2009. At the start of the game, a player is put into a 'virtually infinite game world.' They . can then walk around different terrains, including mountains, forests . and caves and are . given blocks and tools to build towns and cities. The game was initially made for the PC but there are now Xbox 360 and mobile versions available. It is the top online game on Xbox Live, with more than two billion hours played on Xbox 360 in the last two years - and almost 17 million copies sold in total. In September, Microsoft snapped up Persson's company, Mojang - and the game - for an estimated £1.5billion. There is an annual Minecraft convention, Minecon, which is set to continue. But according to TMZ, Persson - who previously sold his company Mojang to Microsoft for $2.5 billion - won the bidding war and bought the impressive home completely furnished, with each of the 15 bathrooms equipped with Toto Neorest toilets at a price of $5,600 each. Also included in the sale was an 18-foot onyx dining room table for 24 guests with place settings by Roberto Cavalli at a staggering $3,700 each. TMZ reported that the 33-year-old pop diva and the 45-year-old rap mogul had been 'the frontrunners in a bidding war'. There were four offers in total on the mansion and real estate agent Branden Williams was previously expected to close the $70 million deal with Bey and Jay 'by Christmas.' It is unknown what lead to the turn of events, which found Markus closing the deal 'in a lightning-fast six days,' according to real estate brokers John Aaroe Group. The impressive residence sits on 23,000 square feet and includes an attached 16-car garage and backyard patio with panoramic views of Malibu and downtown LA. Even when inside, views of the the city's landscape are visible from one of the many floor-to-ceiling windows, and fold-able doors off the living room. The master bedroom features his and hers walk-in closets with plenty of mirrors and storage space for A-List-worthy wardrobes. Home movies take on a new meaning in a private theatre with seating for 24, while snacking on treats is right at your fingertips with a sweet shop stocked with cascading candy dispensers. And the grown-ups can store a substantial amount of bottles in the house's large wine cellar, which would have come in handy if the stars ever hosted a party for their famous mates. Beyonce and Jay Z (left), who had looked at the home on more than one occasion, were outbid for the estate by Markus Persson (right) Also included in the sale was an 18-foot onyx dining room table for 24 guests with settings by Roberto Cavalli at a staggering $3,700 each . | UK web developer Dan Bovey recreated a stunning video tour of the eight-bed property in Minecraft .
Swedish billionaire Markus ‘Notch’ Persson now owns the most expensive property in Beverly Hills .
Beyonce and Jay Z were reported to have been 'on the verge of closing a deal' on the lavish home . |
fbdb5e9047330f06666540b412a2aac9d8ee7977 | Forty photographers joined forces in London to create the biggest ever crowd-sourced timelapse in just one day. The diversity, atmosphere, pace and buzz of the city make London the perfect canvas for any timelapse, and its unique flavour is captured over 80 clips in the official LapseLondon film produced by Triggertrap. Under the expert guidance of professional timelapse photographer Chad Gordon Higgins and award-winning urban photographer Nicholas Goodden, the gang of eager photographers set out across the city to capture London from their own perspective. Forty photographers joined forces in London to create the biggest ever crowd-sourced timelapse in just one day . The photographers were keen to shoot varying locations in London which helped produce the spectacular timelapse . The photographers were under the expert guidance of professional timelapse photographer Chad Gordon Higgins . Starting from Triggertrap's headquarters in King's Cross, the photographers found themselves in all four corners of the capital. Speaking to MailOnline Travel, Triggertrap Head of Photography Thomas Langley said: 'It was a very tiring day, but at the same time such a good day, it was exceptional. 'We all met at the office, and then the photographers all went to their chosen locations; what was brilliant is that we had a group who wanted to spread far and wide throughout London. 'It wasn't a case of everyone all wanting to do the London Eye or the other more famous sites; in fact we had only two at the London Eye and the results from each were very different.' Starting from Triggertrap's headquarters in King's Cross, the photographers found themselves in all four corners of the capital . The diversity, atmosphere, pace and buzz of the city make London the perfect canvas for any timelapse, and this is shown clearly here . The 80 clips were assembled from well over 35,000 individual photographs, representing a total of over 40 hours spent timelapsing . On thoughts for the next project, Langley added: 'Now we are thinking how we can go bigger and how we can do better, maybe we can do a timelapse of the world!' By the end of the day the team of photographers had created clips shot from a whole range of London's landmarks, from Tower Bridge to Camden Market, Oxford Circus to the Thames Barrier, and even gained access to the BBC Newsroom in full swing. The LapseLondon photographers managed to cover a huge variety of London views and experiences, highlighting the amazing and diverse city it is. The 80 clips were assembled from well over 35,000 individual photographs, representing a total of over 40 hours spent timelapsing across the capital - all in a single day. The final video is an ode to London, showing the beauty of one random day in December in London through the eyes of 40 photographers. The assembled photographers had a huge range of experience - from professional timelapse creators to amateur photographers attempting their first ever timelapse. The final video is an ode to London, showing the beauty of one random day in December in London through the eyes of 40 photographers . Some of the stills from the biggest ever timelapse shows off the beauty of London at dusk at various locations in the capital . As people went about their everyday lives, a team of photographers were on hand to capture scenes around London . Triggertrap also produced a behind-the-scenes documentary about the event, interviewing a number of the photographers involved to find out what they love about London and how they're using timelapse photography to capture the pulse of the capital. 'The crazy thing about being a photographer is that your art has a huge audience, but when you are creating, you're on your own, operating in a vacuum. I think bringing together a load of people who shoot timelapse is up there with one of the most awesome things I've ever done.' said Haje Jan Kamps, CEO of Triggertrap . Triggertrap's Helena Viera added: 'Bringing together a whole bunch of photographers from different skill levels and seeing how everyone helped each other to create such awesome clips must be one of the most rewarding things I've done all year.' The finished timelapse and behind the scenes documentary are available on the Triggertrap website, http://tri.gg/lapselondon, and their Vimeo channel, vimeo.com/triggertrap. | Unique flavour is captured over 80 clips in the official LapseLondon film produced by Triggertrap .
Group were under the expert guidance of professional timelapse photographer Chad Gordon Higgins .
Head of photography at Triggertrap Thomas Langley describes the day as 'tiring, but exceptional' |
fbdbb9713e0c596323494c4d3f85bdaf40a9a295 | Wayne Rooney moved joint-third alongside Jimmy Greaves on England's all-time scoring list after netting from the penalty spot during his 100th cap in the Three Lions' 3-1 victory over Slovenia. The England captain stormed into the box and was tripped as he won the penalty himself just moments after Jordan Henderson's own goal had put Slovenia ahead at Wembley on Saturday. But the Three Lions' 29-year-old skipper smashed in the equaliser from the spot to move on to 44 goals for his nation - just five shy of Sir Bobby Charlton's England record of 49 and level with Jimmy Greaves. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Roy Hodgson on Rooney's 100th cap performance . Wayne Rooney leaps in the air after equalising from the penalty spot on his 100th appearance for England . Rooney uses power to smash home the penalty and level the scores at 1-1 within minutes of conceding . Rooney was awarded a glass cased commemorative 'gold cap' by record-scorer Sir Bobby Charlton . 1) Sir Bobby Charlton - 49 goals (106 caps) 2) Gary Lineker - 48 goals (80 caps) 3) Wayne Rooney - 44 goals (100 caps) =3) Jimmy Greaves - 44 goals (57 caps) 5) Michael Owen - 44 goals (89 caps) Before the match, fellow-centurion Charlton had presented the Manchester United forward with his golden cap for his 100th appearance for England. And Rooney was overwhelmed by the occasion and delighted to walk out at Wembley with his children Kai and Klay before the game to become a centurion. He told ITV: 'It's a special night for me. It's an honour to represent England 100 times and hopefully many more times to come. Chelsea defender Gary Cahill (centre) congratulates Rooney after the captain scores his 44th England goal . England skipper Wayne Rooney receivde the above cap for his 100th international appearance on Saturday . The England captain wheels away with a clenched fist after getting England back into the game at Wembley . 'Walking out with my boys (at the start of the game) is something no-one will ever be able to take away from me.' Danny Welbeck bagged a brace to ensure England continued their 100 per cent record in 2016 European Championship qualification. And Rooney was pleased with the result in the end, believing his side showed great character to come back. Rooney warmed up at Wembley wearing specially designed boots to commemorate his 100th England cap . England supporters at Wembley showed their appreciation for the Manchester United striker . He continued: 'A good day in the end. It was tough because they took the lead and we had to show our character but that's good for us because we haven't had that since the World Cup. 'I think at the minute we've got a good winning mentality and I think we showed that once we went 1-0 down. Once we went behind I think we showed that by coming back and winning the game we are in a good place right now.' The England captain also reserved special praise for his striking partner Welbeck. Rooney explained: 'He (Welbeck) doesn't have to prove anything to anyone. He's shown he's a top forward and the more games he's playing, he's getting better. 'He's a fantastic player and he's showing it for England and Arsenal.' Danny Welbeck scored the second of his two goals as England maintained their perfect qualifying record . Welbeck's shot hit the ground before beating the keeper to give England the lead for the first time . | England beat Slovenia 3-1 at Wembley in Euro 2016 qualifier .
Wayne Rooney equalised from penalty spot during his 100th cap .
He moved joint-third on England's all-time scoring list with 44 goals .
Rooney presented with a golden cap before game by Sir Bobby Charlton .
Manchester United striker just five shy of Charlton's record of 49 goals . |
fbdc19aaaaac48e0fd737e853039bbec3637a571 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 12:12 EST, 15 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:16 EST, 15 November 2013 . Extradited: Former Playboy model Brandi Brandt was extradited to Australia today to face cocaine conspiracy charges . Former Playboy model Brandi Brandt was extradited to Australia today to face cocaine conspiracy charges. The 45-year-old actress and Playmate of the Month for October 1987 appeared in a Sydney court after her arrival this morning on a flight from the United States. The former wife of Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx did not apply for bail or enter pleas. She was remanded in custody to appear in court in December. She is accused of being involved with a cocaine importation syndicate that hid packages of the drug on Qantas and United Airlines passenger planes that flew from California to Sydney. Employees of an airline catering company allegedly then collected the packages in Sydney. Court documents filed in Sydney allege that Brandt conspired with others to import a commercial quantity of cocaine between July and December 2007 at Sydney airport. It is also alleged that California-born Brandt dealt with more than AU$130,000 ($120,000) in proceeds from criminal activity between July and November of the same year. It is not clear what prison sentence she potentially faces if convicted. Her former boyfriend, Crusty Demons motorcycle stuntman Rusty Setser, was extradited to Sydney from Los Angeles to face charges over the alleged drug importation last month. Brandt was also the cover model for the August 1989 issue of Playboy. On screen: Brandt appeared on the TV show 'Married... with Children' in the early 90s . | The 45-year-old actress appeared in Sydney court after her arrival from US .
She was remanded in custody to appear in court in December .
Accused of being involved with a cocaine importation syndicate . |
fbdc9c86dab2489ca2a9b85f17a3cc9a6320be77 | (CNN) -- Storm-related power outages hit across the Northeast, leaving some chopping breadcrumbs by flashlight, cooking turkeys on the grill and watching Netflix on phones. Many New Englanders were without power -- but this was nothing new for the region. Tens of thousands spent Thanksgiving just as others did in New England when Turkey Day was first observed in the 17th century: without electricity. In New Hampshire, more than 133,000 customers were still without power early Friday. "They're saying it will be a multiday event," said Fallon Reed, the assistant operations chief for the New Hampshire Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management. In Maine, there were as many as 110,000 customers without electricity on Thanksgiving morning, but milder Turkey Day temperatures allowed for workers to cut that number down by more than two thirds by night's end. Central Maine Power Co. reported that less than 32,000 customers had no power, while Emera, the state's second-largest utility company, reported that less than 1,000 customers were without electricity after a Wednesday nor'easter dumped more than a foot of snow across a dozen Maine cities, WMTW reported. "Heavy, wet snow brought down power lines and tree limbs interrupting service to thousands of people throughout Maine," Emera posted on its website. "Crews will remain in the field through the overnight hours and into Friday until all customers are fully restored." Despite the setback, the heartiest of New Englanders wouldn't let the lack of electricity prevent them from enjoying the heartiest of meals. Lots of Mainers took to Twitter either to poke fun at or moan about the weather. Most showed remarkable resilience and seemed reluctant to let the weather ruin the holiday. "Power is out at parents house in Maine, so my mom is chopping breadcrumbs with a flashlight," Brooklyn copy editor Kelly Gordon tweeted. She later told CNN that the meal turned out perfectly. "My mom would never let no lights (or) no heat keep her from Thanksgiving prep work," she said. CNN's Eliott C. McLaughlin and Teri Genova contributed to this report. | New Hampshire hardest hit by outages: more than 133,000 still without power Friday .
More than 100,000 in Maine had no power for Thanksgiving .
"My mom is chopping breadcrumbs with a flashlight," Maine resident tweeted . |
fbdd0f235ce0135e30fde9c8a8e350e0da75cc96 | By . Victoria Woollaston . Concept images of Apple's Cupertino headquarters only reveal one part of a story which began in 2011 when co-founder Steve Jobs laid down plans for a futuristic new campus. During an interview with Architectural Record, chief architect Sir Norman Foster gave an additional insight into how Apple's 'spaceship' will be built - as well as the inspiration behind its circular and 'organic' design. This includes cars being 'banished and buried' in underground car parks, tarmac being replaced by greenery and windows that stretch the full height of the four-storey main building that slide open. Scroll down for video . During an interview with Architectural Record, chief architect Norman Foster gave an insight into how Apple's 'spaceship' headquarters in Cupertino, illustration pictured, will be built - as well as the inspiration behind the circular design of the main building on the 175-acre site. Work is expected to be completed in 2016 . He also revealed that there will be room for 1,000 bikes and the tricks he is using to make the giant campus seem compact. 'It's interesting how it evolved,' explained Foster. 'First of all, there was a smaller site. Then, as the project developed, and the Hewlett-Packard site became available, the scale of the project changed. The reference point for Steve [Jobs] was always the large space on the Stanford campus - the Main Quad - which Steve knew intimately. He would reminisce about the time when he was young, and California was still the fruit bowl of the United States. It was still orchards.' With this in mind, Foster said he wanted to add a series of 'organic segments' to the Cupertino building - nicknamed . the Apple spaceship because of its vast circular shape that covers 175-acre and features a man-made forest of more than 7,000 trees. He also wanted the circular building to surround a private space in the centre, designed to replicate the California landscape, and mimic the orchards that Jobs remembered fondly. As a result, Foster told Architectural Record: 'The car would visually be banished, and tarmac would be replaced by greenery, and car parks by jogging and bicycle trails.' The ring-shaped structure was Jobs’ brainchild, yet after his death British designer Jony Ive took the . project on with the help of Sir Foster, and the local council approved their ambitious plans last year. Foster said he wanted to add a series of 'organic segments' to the Cupertino building because co-founder Steve Jobs wanted the circular building to surround a private space in the centre, designed to replicate the California landscape, and mimic the orchards that Jobs remembered fondly as a child. The plans feature underground parking hidden from view, illustration pictured. Sir Foster told Architectural Record: 'The car would visually be banished, and tarmac would be replaced by greenery' During his initial proposals, Apple's co-founder Steve Jobs said he wanted the building to be covered in 40ft floor-to-ceiling panes of curved glass so that all of the building's four storeys would be visible from the outside and offer a large amount of natural light, pictured. Sir Foster said these glass panels 'can literally move sideways and just open up into the landscape' to make the building seem more open . This room-sized mock-up of the planned new Apple headquarters in Cupertino was released in November last year before executives submitted their final plans to the council . Apple's Campus 2 was designed by Sir Norman Foster, pictured, and his firm Foster and Partners. The architectural experts also designed Wembley Stadium, London City Hall and The Gherkin . When Jobs first submitted the plans . back in 2011 the campus was billed as 'the best office building in the . world'. It has taken since then to get approval from the local council . and its likely the campus won't be completed until 2016. Reports . in April 2013 claimed the project had already exceeded its budget by . around $2 billion (£1.32bn), pushing the total cost up to around $5 . billion (£3.14 billion) and putting it a year behind schedule. Earlier . this year Apple was asked to submit new plans with updated landscaping . designed, a slightly revised floor layout, renderings, and a bicycle . plan, however the overall main design wasn't changed. Under these . updated plans, the campus was renamed Apple Campus 2. Appearing as a giant saucer, the Silicon Valley site near the 280 Highway will be home to 13,000 Apple employees. When asked how these employees will make their way around the huge campus, Sir Foster said: 'The proximity, the adjacencies are very, very carefully considered. 'Remember also that the scale is broken down by cafes and lobbies and entrances. You have four-storey-high glass walls, which can literally move . sideways and just open up into the landscape. So the social facilities . break down the scale.' Sir . Foster added there will also be jogging and cycling trails, with . more than a thousand bikes kept on site at all times, which staff can . use to make their way around. The . Spaceship will have 360-degree curved glass fronted walls and central . courtyard as well as a 1,000-seater auditorium, a gym and 300,000 square . feet of 'research' space. Apple Campus 2 will additionally have . underground parking hidden from view, meaning 80 per cent of the site . can be covered in trees. The site was previously owned by Hewlett Packard and the majority of the area is currently covered in asphalt. The . new images also show access roads that lead into tunnels that take cars . into the underground car park. They also show the parts of the car park . that will be on show pictured covered in plants and greenery to help it . blend in with the natural surroundings. This image shows the Apple Campus 2 from above. The site will be surrounded by a man-made forest featuring 7,000 trees. It was previously owned by Hewlett Packard and is currently covered in around 80 per cent asphalt . Among the 7,000 trees that will be planted around the campus, the firm intends to plant species that blossom at different times of the year. This includes apple trees, as well as cherry blossoms, plum trees and other fruit trees and bushes similar to the ones pictured . Inside the third-of-a-mile wide building will be 1,000-seater auditorium where Apple's CEO Tim Cook will present the company's keynotes ahead of product launches, for example. This auditorium will be covered with a circular glass pavilion, pictured, that will also be an access point for employees and guests . Elsewhere . underground, the auditorium will be where Apple's CEO Tim Cook will . present the companies keynotes ahead of product launches, for example. This auditorium will be covered with a circular glass pavilion that will . also be an access point for employees and guests. Natural gas will, primarily, provide . the building's power and the local energy grid will only be accessed in . emergencies. The glass structure will also be fitted with solar panels. ‘You see the energy and the love and . the attention to detail that we've put into this,’ said Apple CFO Peter . Oppenheimer at an unveiling of the top secret spaceship plans. ‘We have treated this project just as . we would any Apple product. And this will be a place for the most . creative and collaborative teams in the industry to innovate for decades . to come.’ The circular, four-storey building will be around a mile in circumference and a third of a mile wide and was recently described by the San Fransisco Weekly as a ‘massive glass doughnut’. The . building stays eco-friendly with natural ventilation that works instead . of air-conditioning for 70 per cent of the year, low energy LED . lighting where natural light doesn’t reach, and on-site recycling. Much of the inside of the futuristic building will also be made of glass with stone-coloured walls to add to the building's natural-looking design, pictured. The 175-acre Silicon Valley site near the 280 Highway will house 13,000 staff . Not all of the parking spaces will be hidden. The parts of the multi-storey car park that will be on show, according to this latest image from Apple, will be covered in plants and greenery to help the concrete structure blend in . ‘This will be one of the most environmentally sustainable developments on this scale anywhere in the world,'’ said Apple’s Whisenhunt. In the centre will be an enclosed . arboretum and orchard complete with thousands of fruit, oak, and olive . trees according to the San Jose Mercury-News. ‘We . love California, and by adding over 2,500 new and indigenous trees that . truly belong here,’ Oppenheimer said, ‘we're bringing back the . beautiful orchards that once made up this valley.’ Campus . 2 was designed by Sir Foster's firm Foster and Partners. The . architectural experts also designed Wembley Stadium, London City Hall . and The Gherkin. 'The . concept of the building,' Oppenheimer said, 'is collaboration and . fluidity. It'll provide a very open-spaced system, so that at one point . in the day you may be in offices on one side of the circle and find . yourself on the other side later that day.' Apple has also factored in a 90,000-square-foot cafeteria, part of which is pictured. It will cover at least two storeys of the predominantly glass building and will feature oak tables and chairs . The cafeteria will also feature an outside dining and picnic area, pictured. Apple's Campus 2 additionally comes with a fitness centre in the northern part of the building . Apple’s . current office building at 1 Infinite Loop will remain and the new . offices down the road will be built in addition to the current . offices, which house around 2,600 workers. When Jobs first presented the plans in 2011, he said his firm was 'growing like a weed.’ 'We . do have a shot at building the best office building in the world,’ he . said. ‘I really do think architecture students will come here to see . this.' Employees will additionally be given a 90,000-square-foot cafeteria that connects to an outside dining and picnic area. This will be a short work from the fitness centre in the north of the building. | Apple founder Steve Jobs originally submitted the application for the Cupertino headquarters back in 2011 .
The campus will be a mile in circumference, feature glass .
walls and solar panels and cover 175 acres .
In an interview with Architectural Record, Sir Norman Foster gave an insight into how the 'spaceship' will be built .
He said cars will be 'banished and buried' in an underground car park and tarmac will be replaced with greenery .
Glass walls the height of the building will slide open, and cafes and restaurants will help break up the vast scale .
More than 1,000 bikes will be kept on site to help staff make their way around the circular campus .
Apple plans to build it in Cupertino in California and it will be surrounded by a man-made forest of 7,000 trees .
The 'organic' nature of the site was inspired by Steve Jobs and his memories of California as he was growing up .
It is expected that the building will be completed by 2016 at the earliest . |
fbdd8352f8ae2f50843c0b11c2a5dc397e987aae | (Budget Travel) -- With rates as low as $36, these flashy new European hotels take the convenience of the pod concept and expand it with style. Qbic hotels have a clever lighting concept -- Deep Purple Love, anyone? You can pick the color you like, or turn them off altogether. YOTEL . Where: Inside terminals at London's Gatwick and Heathrow airports (in Terminal 4), and Amsterdam's Schiphol airport. The concept: Catering to those with a long layover, these glossy, no-nonsense capsule hotels are small but convenient for business travelers -- or someone just looking for a nap and a shower. What you get: A windowless room (about 75 square feet) that looks like a cruise ship cabin -- there's a shower, a TV, a fold-out work desk and an overhead storage rack; Wi-Fi is free. Bonus: a 24-hour room-service menu of snacks and drinks delivered within 15 minutes. What it'll cost: There's a four-hour minimum, which costs about $36 for a standard cabin in the London locations. After that, pay by the hour (about $10). Premium cabins are probably better for shares -- those start at $57 for four hours. yotel.com. QBIC . Where: Antwerp, Belgium; Maastricht and Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The concept: A completely self-service hotel. You check yourself in at the kiosk and buy everything with your hotel key card. What you get: In the center of each room is a Cubi, a 75-square-foot enclosed platform for the bed, a bar-like work-and-dine space and the bathroom. The lighting is at your discretion -- Mellow Yellow, Deep Purple Love -- it's all pretty club-like. There's a vending machine in the lobby filled with drinks, locally made snacks such as organic bread and things you may have forgotten -- like neckties. What it'll cost: From $91. qbichotels.com. CITIZENM . Where: Near Amsterdam's Schiphol airport and in central Amsterdam's posh Zuid neighborhood, which started taking guests this April. The concept: Keeping prices down by using prefabricated everything -- the 150-square-foot rooms are built in a factory, stacked up and then shot through with plumbing and electrical wiring. Budget Travel wrote about citizenM in a February 2009 story on boutique hostels. Budget Travel: See photos of the boutique hostels . What you get: Only single-bed rooms are offered, each with an ultramodern cylindrical shower. Use a control panel (called a moodpad) to manage the room temperature, blinds, alarm clock, stereo and lighting -- there are clever choices like "I'm here to party," with intense colored lighting and dance music. There's also a 24-hour self-service cafeteria; if you're craving a martini, a bartender is on duty in the evenings. What it'll cost: From $109. citizenm.com. EXPANSION PLANS . All three of these mini chains have plans to expand -- some more than others. CitizenM will open a third hotel in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2009, and plans to expand into London and New York City in the next five years. Yotel will open in London and then at all major airport hubs in Europe and the U.S., but there are no fixed dates. Qbic hopes to pursue a franchise model -- if you (really) like what you see, apply to be a franchise-owner on the Web site. Get the best travel deals and tips emailed to you FREE - CLICK HERE! Copyright © 2009 Newsweek Budget Travel, Inc., all rights reserved. Note: This story was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip. | Pay just $36 for four hours in one of Yotel's London locations .
At Qbic hotels, colorful lighting schemes give the rooms a club-like feel .
CitizenM rooms feature an ultramodern cylindrical shower . |
fbdd95d2f0df5db9a63932165f33370ecc8ce0c9 | (Mashable) -- Nokia has taken Apple to task for comments made by Steve Jobs about how users experiencing reception problems on their new iPhone 4 devices should "avoid holding it that way" ("that way" meaning a grip that blocks the antenna). The maker of Symbian-based smartphones authored a post on its blog called "How do you hold your Nokia?" -- featuring step-by-step instructions on a variety of grips such as "the cup," "the balance" and "the four edge grip." The company goes on to note, "One of the main things we've found about the one billion plus Nokia devices that are in use today is that when making a phone call, people generally tend to hold their phone like a ... well, like a phone." Obviously, this is all a jab at the iPhone (though Apple is never specifically mentioned) and its supposed reception issues, as Nokia concludes its post by writing: "Of course, feel free to ignore all of the above because realistically, you're free to hold your Nokia device any way you like. And you won't suffer any signal loss. Cool huh?" On a more serious note, however, you may recall that the two companies are currently embroiled in patent lawsuits and looking to keep the other's devices out of the U.S. That seems unlikely to happen any time soon, but for the moment, at least we have a fun aside in the battle between the two companies. © 2010 MASHABLE.com. All rights reserved. | A post on The Official Nokia Blog is titled "How do you hold your Nokia?"
"People generally tend to hold their phone like a ... well, like a phone," the blog says .
The two companies are currently embroiled in patent lawsuits . |
fbddd0c59e981b87702e212bb919ee1d4f6086b9 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 18:05 EST, 9 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:05 EST, 9 March 2013 . A Vermont newspaper accused of being racist after it published a poster with the words 'fry Rice' written in an oriental-style typeface claims the slogan was just a play on words and wasn't meant to offend. The Caledonian Record in St Johnsbury sparked outrage after it printed the back-page poster on Thursday to support local high school St Johnsbury Academy against Rice Memorial High School in a state championship basketball game. But the newspaper published an editorial today defending the decision, claiming the words did not constitute racism. Offensive: The Caledonian Record in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, has been criticized for the poster, pictured . 'We sought a simple play on words in support of an extraordinary group of local student athletes. Indulging our critics for a moment, the outcry reminds us that racial and ethnic stereotypes can offend - regardless of intent,' the editorial, presumably written by publisher Todd Smith, said. It acknowledged that the chosen font, 'evoked a particular ethnic cuisine' but did not constitute a racist slur. 'We don't concede, however, that the use of imagery with any racial, ethnic or religious inference is to inherently debase that race/ethnicity/religion,' the newspaper said. 'A fair accusation of racism would at least pre-require the reference to actually be demeaning or degrading,' the editorial said. 'Simply invoking ethnic customs (food, dress, design) doesn't do that, nor does it suggest any kind of characteristic about the culture, its people or a history of oppression by the majority.' But the editorial missed the point, said the president of the Asian American Journalists Association, who had criticized the poster after it was published. Support: The poster used a print type associated with Chinese calligraphy for the words 'fry Rice' to urge a local school to beat its opponent Rice Memorial High School, pictured, in a state basketball game . 'I'm not criticizing the Caledonian Record for rooting for their home team,' said Paul Cheung, the association's president. While Cheung does not believe the newspaper's intention was to be racist, it showed 'a lapse of judgment and poor taste.' 'It evoked a racial undertone and a negative stereotype,' said Cheung, who is also interactive and graphics editor for The Associated Press. Cheung's original letter to the publisher of the Caledonian Record on Friday said that the slogan by itself might be considered clever, but was offensive when written in that particular typeface. 'It became offensive when published in a typeface mimicking Chinese calligraphy,' wrote Cheung. 'We'll assume that your use of that typeface was not meant to offend. But we'll also assume that if that is the case, the Caledonian Record will publicly acknowledge its lapses in taste and judgment,' he said in the letter. St. Johnsbury Academy's high school basketball team played Rice Memorial, of South Burlington, for the championship Thursday. Rice Memorial won 48-40 in overtime. School: The top of the page read: 'Go "Toppers,"' referring to the nickname of St Johnsbury Academy's high school, pictured . The newspaper ran the poster on the . back page of Thursday front section. The top of the page read: 'Go . "Toppers,"' referring to the school's Hilltoppers nickname. Across the bottom of the page were the words 'fry Rice' in the style meant to resemble Chinese calligraphy. St. Johnsbury Academy, a private school, serves local students and also has . boarding students from across the world, including Asia. Academy . Headmaster Tom Lovett said Friday the school had nothing to do with the . poster, its design or its publication. 'We . appreciate the Caledonian-Record's support of our teams, and we know . for a fact that its intention was to support our boys in their . championship run by using a clever play on the name of our opponent,' Lovett said. He said none of the school's Asian students were offended by the poster. 'Overall, our students often see such things as a way to celebrate their culture, not demean it. And in this case, we chose to follow our students' lead and look at the Caledonian's intent, not taking offense where none was intended,' Lovett said. Once Academy officials saw the posters at the game, they did their best to remove them from the cheering section, he said. | The Caledonian Record in St Johnsbury published a poster using an oriental-looking typeface for the words 'Fry Rice'
The poster was designed to cheer on St Johnsbury Academy against Rice Memorial High School in a state championship basketball game .
The Asian American Journalists Association labelled the poster 'offensive'
But editorial today claims the words did not constitute racism . |
fbddd784539a6eef2ed54f2db2366818779a1d98 | Moscow (CNN) -- The computer contractor who exposed details of U.S. surveillance programs was on the run late Sunday, seeking asylum in Ecuador with the aid of the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks, the organization and Ecuador's Foreign Ministry announced. Edward Snowden left Hong Kong after Washington sought his extradition on espionage charges, according to WikiLeaks, which facilitates the publication of classified information. "He is bound for the Republic of Ecuador via a safe route for the purposes of asylum and is being escorted by diplomats and legal advisers from WikiLeaks," the group said. Ecuador's foreign ministry said it had received a request for asylum from Snowden, and a CNN crew spotted a car with diplomatic plates and an Ecuadorian flag at the Russian capital's international airport. Ecuador has already given WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange refuge in its embassy in London for a year after he unsuccessfully fought extradition to Sweden in British courts. In Washington, the response was swift. The Obama administration asked Ecuador, Cuba and Venezuela, not to admit Snowden or to expel him if they do, a senior Obama administration official told CNN on Sunday. It also urged countries through which he might pass not to accept him. The Justice Department said it was "disappointed" in the decision by Hong Kong authorities to allow Snowden to leave the semi-autonomous Chinese territory, arguing it had followed the proper legal steps to have him held and sent back to the United States. U.S. and Hong Kong officials had "repeated engagements" over the case, and Attorney General Eric Holder discussed the matter with his counterpart in Hong Kong last week, the department said. "At no point, in all of our discussions through Friday, did the authorities in Hong Kong raise any issues regarding the sufficiency of the U.S.'s provisional arrest request," a statement from the department said. "In light of this, we find their decision to be particularly troubling." And a source familiar with the matter told CNN that the U.S. government has revoked Snowden's passport. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said it was routine to revoke the passports of people charged with felonies. She would not comment specifically on the status of Snowden's passport but said anyone wanted on a felony charge, "such as Mr. Snowden," should be stopped from "any further international travel, other than is necessary to return him to the United States." Among those accompanying Snowden is former Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon, now the lawyer for WikiLeaks and Assange, according to a statement from the organization. "The WikiLeaks legal team and I are interested in preserving Mr. Snowden's rights and protecting him as a person," Garzon said. "What is being done to Mr. Snowden and to Mr. Julian Assange -- for making or facilitating disclosures in the public interest -- is an assault against the people." Garzon added in a statement Monday that Snowden has sought his legal advice. Garzon said he has not yet decided whether to represent Snowden. Assange sought asylum in June 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning over allegations that he raped one woman and sexually molested another. He has repeatedly said the allegations are politically motivated and that he fears Sweden would transfer him to the United States. There are no charges pending against Assange in the United States. But a U.S. Army private who military prosecutors say leaked a vast cache of classified documents to WikiLeaks is now being court-martialed on charges of aiding the enemy, and he faces life in prison if convicted. Snowden has admitted he was the source who leaked classified documents about the NSA's surveillance programs to the British newspaper the Guardian and to The Washington Post. The documents revealed the existence of programs that collect records of domestic telephone calls in the United States and monitor the Internet activity of overseas residents. NSA chief: Snowden 'betrayed' our trust . Snowden gave up a comfortable life "in order to bring to light what he believed was serious wrongdoing on the part of our political officials," said Glenn Greenwald, the Guardian columnist who co-authored the stories. "And he's now at best going to spend the rest of his life on the run from the most powerful government on Earth." The disclosures rocked the Obama administration and U.S. intelligence, raising questions about whether the NSA was infringing on American civil liberties. Snowden told the Guardian that he exposed the surveillance programs because they posed a threat to democracy, but administration officials said the programs are vital to preventing terrorist attacks and are overseen by all three branches of government. "We have not in a single case had a place where a government official engaged in willful effort to circumvent or violate the law. Zero times have we done that," Gen. Keith Alexander, the NSA's director, told ABC's "This Week." Snowden was a Hawaii-based computer network administrator for Booz Allen Hamilton, an NSA contractor. Alexander said Snowden "betrayed the trust and confidence we had in him" and is "not acting, in my opinion, with noble intent." "This was an individual with top-secret clearance, whose duty it was to administer these networks," Alexander said. "He betrayed that confidence and stole some of our secrets." He said the super-secret communications intelligence agency has changed passwords and procedures since Snowden's disclosures -- "But at the end of the day, we have to trust that our people are going to do the right thing." Greenwald said Snowden has been extremely judicious about what he has revealed. "I know that he has in his possession thousands of documents which if published would impose crippling damage on the United States' surveillance capabilities and systems around the world. He has never done any of that," Greenwald told CNN. "If his goal were to harm the United States, there were all sorts of things he could have done, from uploading those documents on the Internet to selling them to a foreign intelligence service." Hong Kong: Extradition request didn't comply with requirements . Snowden left Hong Kong "through a lawful and normal channel," the government of the semi-autonomous Chinese territory said Sunday. The U.S. government announced Friday that it was charging Snowden with espionage and theft of government property and asked Hong Kong to hold him for extradition proceedings. In a statement Sunday, Justice Department spokeswoman Nanda Chitre said Hong Kong authorities had informed U.S. officials of Snowden's departure. "We will continue to discuss this matter with Hong Kong and pursue relevant law enforcement cooperation with other countries where Mr. Snowden may be attempting to travel," she said. Hong Kong said the American request for a provisional arrest warrant "did not fully comply with the legal requirements under Hong Kong law" so it asked for additional information. Because Hong Kong didn't have enough information, "there is no legal basis to restrict Mr. Snowden from leaving Hong Kong," the government said. But a Justice Department official said Sunday that the United States had met requirements and disputed the assertion from Hong Kong's government. "They came back to us with a few questions late Friday and we were in the process of answering those questions," the official said. "We believe we were meeting those requirements. As far as the relationship with Hong Kong goes, this raises questions and we will continue to discuss with authorities there." Hong Kong's lack of intervention came after Snowden told the South China Morning Post that U.S. intelligence agents have been hacking computer networks in Hong Kong and mainland China for years. The territory's government said it has requested "clarification" about that in order "to protect the legal rights of the people of Hong Kong." Snowden 'told the truth in the name of privacy,' Paul says . President Barack Obama, top legislators and national security officials defend the surveillance programs Snowden detailed as necessary to combat terrorism and argue that some privacy must be sacrificed in a balanced approach. In a chat session moderated by the Guardian last week, Snowden said he went ahead with the leak because Obama worsened "abusive" practices instead of curtailing them as he promised as a candidate. Obama has been receiving updates on the Snowden case from national security aides, a senior administration official told CNN. But Snowden's revelations also sparked criticism from U.S. spy chief James Clapper, who told the Senate Intelligence Committee in March that the NSA didn't "wittingly" collect data on millions of Americans. After Snowden's revelations, Clapper told NBC that he answered "in what I thought was the most truthful, or least untruthful manner" to the question from Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon. Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky told CNN's State of the Union that both Clapper and Snowden will be judged by history. "Mr. Clapper lied in Congress, in defiance of the law, in the name of security. Mr. Snowden told the truth in the name of privacy," said Paul, the son of former Libertarian-turned-Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul. Paul said that unlike civil rights protesters who broke the law and submitted to the courts to make a statement, Snowden faces a "disproportionate" penalty. But he added that Snowden's actions may be judged more harshly if he "cozies up" to an oppressive government overseas. "If he goes to an independent third country like Iceland and if he refuses to talk to any sort of formal government about this, I think there's a chance that he'll be seen as an advocate of privacy," Paul said. "If he cozies up to either the Russian government, the Chinese government, or any of these governments that are perceived still as enemies of ours, I think that that will be a real problem for him in history." CNN's Phil Black reported from Moscow. CNN's Matt Smith and Catherine E. Shoichet reported from Atlanta. CNN's Jill Dougherty, Nic Robertson, Holly Yan, Jake Carpenter, Joe Johns, Dan Lothian, AnneClaire Stapleton, Carol Cratty, Melissa Gray and Steve Brusk contributed to this report. | NEW: Justice says it's "disappointed" in Hong Kong's refusal to arrest Snowden .
Snowden faces "the rest of his life on the run," columnist says .
The United States has yanked Snowden's passport and asks countries to turn him away .
He "betrayed the trust and confidence" of the NSA, director says . |
fbde3c1bba37c34e04e18c0fde4fcd53dd542a8f | Tokyo, Japan (CNN) -- It was not a quiet weekend for the prime minister of Japan, facing a diplomatic test abroad from China and questions at home about his leadership. Sitting down with CNN -- his first interview with an international television network -- Prime Minister Naoto Kan answered wide-ranging questions from pressing economic issues leading up to the upcoming APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit, to the diplomatic challenges from economic superpower China. Kan is a leader looking for a path out of a maze of domestic and international hurdles. He faces the monetary monster that is the sharply rising yen, that's prompting corporations like Toyota and Nissan to push production and jobs outside of Japan. Diplomatically, he is in the middle of a major test with China, a country wielding growing strength in the world economy, and a superpower that's just surpassed Japan in economic might. Japan is in an ongoing dispute with China over islands in the east China Sea. The islands, called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, are claimed as territories by both countries. "As far as Japan is concerned," said Kan, "there is no territorial issue connected to the Senkaku islands. In fact, the Senkaku islands are the inherent territory of Japan. That is recognized in our history and also by international law." On September 7, the Japanese coast guard encountered a Chinese fishing crew in the islands' waters. The Chinese fishing vessel collided with two of the coast guard ships. Japan arrested the Chinese crew, quickly releasing the fishermen, but detaining the captain. His detention drew diplomatic fire from China, resulting in the cancellation of high-level ministerial meetings, most recently the abrupt cancellation of a scheduled meeting between Kan and Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Japan eventually released the captain, but relations continue to be strained. At the time of the September 7 incident, the Japanese coast guard captured both collisions on video. The video, deemed highly sensitive by the prime minister's office as it sought a smooth diplomatic out with China, was not released to the public, but shown to a select group of parliamentary lawmakers. Last Friday, the video appeared on YouTube and quickly went viral, sending Prime Minister Kan's office on the diplomatic defensive. Members of the prime minister's own party publicly began to question his handling of the matter. "The fact that the video was leaked is a big mistake for the government," said legislator Hiroshi Kawauchi, of the prime minister's ruling Democratic Party of Japan. "It is totally different from presenting it to the public in an official manner, and it leads (to) the people's further erosion of faith in Japan's government." In the weekend interview with CNN, the prime minister defended his actions. "I believe in any country that matters that relate to its territory provoke strong sentiments among people of that country. But I trust five years, 10 years down the road, people then will appreciate my cabinet dealt with the issue in a calm manner." While the prime minister must try to contain the diplomatic damage with China, the most pressing matter in the week leading up to the APEC summit will be economic issues. Kan strongly defended his government's right to intervene in the currency market, in attempts to weaken the yen's sharp rise against the U.S. dollar. Japan had little choice, he suggested, since U.S. policy has been to boost the U.S. economy. "With regard to the strong yen, the basic cause is the U.S. economy was undergoing changes with everything being skewed to a weak dollar," said Kan. "Should there be excessive fluctuations in exchange markets, then we need to take resolute actions. In fact, we've already intervened in the market once. This remains an option we can take again." How long Kan remains in his job is a constant question lobbed publicly by many pundits in Japan. The topic is a natural one, as there have been five Japanese prime ministers in four years. Prime Minister Kan asserted he's shown leadership and results, producing a rare-earth minerals partnership with Vietnam and the deepening of an economic pact with India. "As we move forward by achieving concrete results, one after another, these will become more visible to the Japanese people. I still have three more years in my term in office. If I firmly implement policies, I trust I will be able to have the support of the Japanese people," Kan said. | Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan faces a maze of domestic and international issues .
Economic issues are at the forefront in the week leading up to the APEC summit in Japan .
In a CNN interview, Kan defends his government's intervention in the currency market . |
fbdee9485e2865daffacfb5ada471237ee2dfdb7 | By . Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 13:13 EST, 16 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:00 EST, 16 October 2013 . The case of a 15-year-old girl arrested by police in front of fellow pupils so she could be expelled to Kosovo with her family as illegal immigrants has caused outrage across France. The government, trying to save face, is now investigating the case of Leonarda Dibrani who wants to return to the country, and has described her shame when she was escorted by police from a school bus after a field trip. Immigrants' rights groups and even members of the governing Socialist Party are calling the conditions of the expulsion shocking. Leonarda Dibrani, 15, sits at her home with her family members in the town of Mitrovica in Kosovo earlier today. She was deported after French police hauled her off a bus during a school trip . The teenager's case has angered many French people, who feel her treatment was heavy-handed . The Dibrani family fled Kosovo about five years ago because they are Roma, or Gypsies, and face discrimination and few opportunities, according to activist Jean-Jacques Boy who works with immigrant families in the Doubs region in eastern France, where the family lived. The Interior Ministry said the family's application for asylum had been rejected and it no longer had the right to stay in France. It said they repeatedly refused to leave, so police detained the father and deported him to Kosovo on October 8. They also detained the mother and five of their children, but Leonarda was away on a school field trip. Police met her bus when it returned. The teenager 'was crying, she was upset... she was discouraged' when she got off the bus, Mr Boy said, and teachers and other children were shaken by the incident. Removed: French policemen stand guard as members of the Roma community leave a camp in Roubaix last week . Leonarda, her siblings and mother were sent to Kosovo on October 9. She later described being escorted from the bus. A teacher 'told me to say goodbye to my classmates. I told her it wasn't fair,' she said. Leonarda said her life was now 'a nightmare' and that all she wants is 'to come back to France with my family'. Prime minister Jean-Marc Ayrault ordered an investigation into how she was taken into custody and said that if any errors were found, the family will be allowed back to France for further examination. The Education Without Frontiers Network said the expulsion was a setback for their efforts to keep illegal immigrants in school and to protect them from police intervention. It is also an embarrassment for Socialist president Francois Hollande's government, which has portrayed France as a haven for the world's oppressed and distanced itself from his conservative predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy's tough policies toward Roma and other immigrants. PR disaster: The incident has embarassed Francois Hollande's government, which has portrayed France as a haven for the world's oppressed . Thousands of Roma are living in squalor around French cities and are getting involved in a wide range of crimes including armed robbery and aggressive begging. Earlier this month French police began a major crackdown on Roma families and raided gypsy camps around the country, carrying out identity checks. Meanwhile dozens of Roma families took up a French government offer of a free ticket out of the country. Last month Manuel Valls, the Interior Minister, said it was ‘an illusion to think that we can solve the Roma problem through integration.’ Mr Valls wants to do everything possible to keep the Roma out of France, as he associates them with crime and public health problems. His views were supported by a BVA poll which revealed that 77 per cent of French people agreed that Roma were inherently ‘different’. On October 6 Five Eastern Europeans were held in Paris after a £1million jewellery raid by up to 15 men brandishing sledgehammers and axes. Police believe a Roma gipsy gang was behind the well-organised robbery at a Swiss luxury watchmaker’s store in the French capital. | The case of teenager Leonarda Dibrani has shocked French society .
She was met by officers after trip and hauled off in front of her friends .
Now the French Government has backtracked and ordered a probe . |
fbdf2af89f3daef269241119b8110a4fc3373fb0 | Former Chelsea boss Ruud Gullit has revealed that the feud between Robin van Persie and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has resurfaced, and it's damaging Holland's squad. The Dutch legend claimed the pair's relationship has been strained ever since the 2010 World Cup, and said old problems came to the surface in Holland's recent 3-1 Euro 2016 qualifying win over Kazakhstan. The Manchester United forward and Huntelaar, who plays for Schalke, have competed for a starting spot in the national side for the best part of a decade, with successive managers failing to find a system that can fit both in at the same time. Dutch strikers Robin van Persie and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar train ahead of their clash with Kazakhstan . Now, the tensions caused by this competition have reached boiling point once more. 'There has been irritation between them since the 2010 World Cup in South Africa,' Gullit told The Mirror. 'It was simmering at Euro 2012 and it all exploded. The problems have far from disappeared. 'Huntelaar was mouthing off again against Kazakhstan and his old confrontation with Van Persie surfaced straight back up.' Guus Hiddink's side are currently third in their qualifying group, six points behind both the Czech Republic and Iceland, who they lost to 2-0 in their last qualifier. Van Persie's relationship with Huntelaar has been strained ever since the 2010 World Cup in South Africa . Ruud Gullit said the tensions have resurfaced after Huntelaar was 'mouthing off again' against Kazakhstan . | Robin van Persie and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar have a strained relationship .
Ruud Gullit said it started at 2010 World Cup in South Africa .
Dutch legend said the problems have resurfaced recently . |
fbdf5592fcda7bca0ec816b8040f75c841397647 | (CNN) -- An Alaska judge has denied Bristol Palin's request that her court fight with ex-boyfriend Levi Johnston over custody of their son be kept private to avoid a "media circus." The daughter of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is seeking full custody of 1-year-old Tripp, contending that Johnston is too immature to be a responsible father and that his mother's felony drug conviction makes her a danger to the child. Bristol Palin filed for full custody in November, but Johnston is seeking shared custody. Both parents are 19. Their teenage relationship fell under an intense public spotlight after Sen. John McCain picked Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate in August 2008. Court documents, now unsealed, were published online Monday by the Anchorage Daily News. Johnston joined the family at the Republican National Convention after the campaign confirmed that Bristol, then 17, was five months pregnant with his child. The couple broke off their engagement about two months after their son's birth in December 2008. Johnston has asked that the case conducted in public to protect himself from Sarah Palin, whom he said was "powerful, politically ambitious and has a reputation for being extremely vindictive." But Bristol Palin's request that the case be sealed said public proceedings "will turn this custody case into a media circus which is not in Tripp's best interest." "In this day and age of the Internet, media stories remain available for years, even decades, after they are first published, and anything printed in the media (whether it is true or not) will be available to Tripp when he is old enough to read," Palin said in a sworn affidavit. She said Johnston wanted a public case so he could "continue to make a spectacle of this custody dispute for his own self-promotion." Johnston was set to take part in a reality show in Alaska, she said. "I do not believe that it would be in Tripp's best interest for Levi's reality show to be filming this case as it unfolds, or for Levi Johnston to be capitalizing off of this custody case through his reality show," Palin said. Johnston's sworn statement said he feared what Sarah Palin might do against him if the case were kept secret. "I really think that closing the court could make this matter very uncivil and potentially open the door for poor influences on Bristol and her attorney that may be extremely inappropriate and potentially harmful to Tripp," he said. While Johnston said his former girlfriend would never be malicious toward him, "her mother is powerful, politically ambitious and has a reputation for being extremely vindictive." "So, I think a public case might go a long way in reducing Sarah Palin's instinct to attack and allow the real parties in this litigation, Bristol and I, to work things out a lot more peacefully than we could if there is any more meddling from Sarah Palin," Johnston said. Bristol Palin's affidavit said her mother is not involved in the custody case, except as a grandmother. But Johnston's lawyer, Rex Butler, said in his own affidavit that his client does not trust closed proceedings because "Sarah Palin is known to deal forcefully with those she perceives as political enemies." "He feels Sarah Palin, through her lawyer, under the guise of Bristol Palin's name, would run roughshod over his very bones," Butler said. The judge's ruling, signed last week, concludes that Bristol Palin "failed to demonstrate that this case involves 'matters of a sensitive and highly personal nature' of such a magnitude that 'protection of the party's name outweighs the public's interest in disclosure.' " Her filing for full custody argued that Levi was "not ready for the demands of parenthood and the sacrifices that would entail to a 19-year-old aspiring actor/model." "Levi remains without a regular job or steady source of income," the petition states. While he's not enrolled in school "to learn a trade or earn a degree," he has made money by selling stories about his son and the Palins to news outlets and engaged in "risque modeling for Playgirl magazine," it states. The photos published last month showed Johnston in semi-nude poses, not with the full frontal nudity that's Palin's filing cited. The petition cited a series of messages posted on the online social network Twitter.com as evidence that Johnston "may have substance abuse issues, based on statements he has made about seeking 'weed.' " Johnston's response said he does not have a Twitter account "and has made no such statements about the use of marijuana." But Palin's harshest attack was on Levi's mother, Sherry Johnston, who pleaded guilty to a felony drug charge earlier this year. Palin asked that the paternal grandmother be barred from having any unsupervised visitation with Tripp. Her petition said she "may re-offend, keep medications around the house which could be accessible to the baby, have illegal drug users come to the house (or she could take the baby in her car during a drug sale)." Palin also said that since Sherry Johnston "could fall asleep or be too drowsy to appropriately monitor the baby." "She is also a chronic pain patient and undergoes daily, regular and sustained narcotic infusions," Palin's petition said. Johnston's response said his mother's "chronic pain condition is currently being managed in coordination with the Department of Corrections." "Sherry Johnston will not be left to take care of the minor child alone, but will simply be there to assist to the best of her ability," Johnston's filing said. She was released from an Alaska prison last week to serve the remainder of her three-year sentence under house arrest at her home in Wasilla, Alaska. She must wear an ankle bracelet for electronic monitoring, Corrections Department spokesman Richard Schmitz said. | Levi Johnston is seeking shared custody of Tripp Palin, now a year old .
Bristol Palin requested that proceedings be closed to prevent a "media circus"
Johnston wanted case kept public to protect himself from ex-fiancee's powerful mom .
Unsealed court documents were published online by the Anchorage Daily News . |
fbdfab47c5c94c9e5b550be90fd2c00d300fe29f | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 12:26 EST, 31 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 06:15 EST, 1 November 2012 . These pictures of a surfboard with a large chunk missing are testament to a terrifying shark attack that left a 25-year-old man with wounds up and down his torso. The unidentified man was attacked off the coast of North Jetty in South Bay, California, and rushed to hospital for surgery. His board shows how lucky he was in the shark attack with a large bite mark taken out of the center of the board. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . What was left of the surfboard after the shark attack . Fortunately for the victim there was an off-duty EMT nearby and he jumped into action, using his body to compress the wound until the ambulance could take him away. He told NBC Bay Area: ‘He was really gashed up and he had four or five serious gashes from his nipple down to his hip, and was bleeding out pretty good.' The surfer was rushed to St John’s Hospital where he underwent surgery on Tuesday. He remains in fair condition today. Witnesses told the Eureka Times-Standard that the attack occurred around noon on Tuesday at Samoa Beach, near Eureaka. One witness, Jason Gabriel, saw the surfer coming out of the water, with 12-inch gashes along his ribs. An off duty EMT who was surfing at the same beach administered first aid to the injured surfer until help arrived . The helper carries away the surfboard bearing the scars of the attack . ‘He was going, “Oh my God, oh my God”,’ Mr Gabriel said. Only last week, 39-year-old surfer Francisco Javier Solorio Jr. was attacked by a Great White shark in front of his friend in Santa Barbara. An expert has determined that Mr Solorio was killed by a 15- to 16-foot Great White shark which bit in to his upper torso in the waters off Surf Beach on Vandenberg Air Force Base. Mr Solorio died at the scene despite his friend's desperate efforts to save him. Only last week a surfer died in a shark attack in Vandenberg Air Force Base surf beach . Solorio's friend who was surfing with him witnessed the shark bite or hit the man, said sheriff's Sgt. Mark A. Williams. The friend ended up swimming over and pulling him from the water onto the beach, where he received first aid. The friend started first aid while another surfer called for help. Paramedics who arrived on the beach took over the CPR, but the 39-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials said a shark bit Solorio in his upper torso. Shark attacks surfer off the coast of Calrfornia . View more videos at: http://nbcbayarea.com . | Surfer suffered 'four or five gashes between his nipple and hip' after attack on Samoa Beach, near Eureaka .
A off-duty EMT was able to help the man until an ambulance arrived .
Only last week a man died after being bitten by a Great White shark off Surf Beach on Vandenberg Air Force Base - also in California . |
fbe0b07a0814e7863eb8b75d65b25ce18079c212 | After successfully racing the tube, James Heptonstall and Noel Carroll are back and ready to amaze us with their next stunt. On November 3, 2014 at 10:08 am, the two men decided to #RacetheBoat - from the London Eye to Bankside Pier. The 1.3-mile (2.2km) journey included five bridges and countless pedestrians to dodge as the athletic pair ran along the South Bank of the River Thames in London. On your mark, get set, go! James Heptonstall and Noel Carroll attempt to race a boat along the River Thames . The two men raced from the London Eye to Bankside Pier in just over 8 minutes . In order to successfully beat the river boat, the men had to run the length of the path in eight minutes and 30 seconds. James is a 30-year-old England touch-rugby player and Noel is a strength and conditioning coach at Arsenal Academy. The duo recorded their Race the Tube video in September of this year. Noel recorded the video while James raced the Circle Line train from the Mansion House stop to Cannon Street, successfully completing the 415-yard platform to platform sprint in 1min 18secs. The 2.2 km journey on foot included five bridges and countless pedestrians to contend with . Earlier this year, the pair successfully completed the Race the Tube challenge on the Circle Line route . Two for two! James and Noel also succeeded in beating the river boat - on their first attempt, no less! | The duo ran 2.2km along the South Bank of the Thames River on Nov 3 .
To beat the river boat, the pair had to reach Bankside Pier in 8 min, 30 secs .
The path included 5 bridges and countless pedestrians to contend with . |
fbe0d8828c046982ddcfc9d68f4aa0adb0c1d21f | (CNN) -- It's not just for French kissing or for showing your dissatisfaction. Besides showing off at concerts, licking lollipops, and teasing, the tongue could help people gain mobility. Aside from everyday functions of chewing, swallowing, talking and tasting, the tongue has new uses such as steering wheelchairs and helping blind people see. Also in Spain last month, doctors transplanted a tongue as part of a face transplant surgery. "The tongue is considered very much like the trunk of an elephant or the tentacle of the octopus. It's the same kind of structure with how many shapes, configurations the trunk or tentacle can assume," said E. Fiona Bailey, an assistant professor of physiology at The University of Arizona in Tucson. "Researchers realize there is a lot of potential there." Transplanting tongues . A team of surgeons in Spain last month performed a face transplant, which is considered the first to include the tongue and jaws. A 43-year-old man who lost his jaws and tongue after a cancer battle 11 years ago received a transplant for the bottom third of his face, according to the Hospital La Fe in Valencia, Spain. Dr. Pedro Cavadas, the surgical team leader, said the objective was for the patient to recover feeling in his face and also to swallow, talk, feel and taste with his tongue again. But the first tongue transplant in 2003 had short-lived results. Doctors in Austria transplanted a tongue to a 42-year-old cancer patient. The cancer returned and the patient died 13 months after the surgery, according to a 2008 article written by his doctors in the journal Transplantation. A transplant recipient has to take immune suppressing drugs so he or she won't reject the new organ. But this puts the person at risk for cancer recurrence because of the weakened immune system, said Dr. Douglas Chepeha, a head and neck surgical oncologist at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center in Ann Arbor. Unlike liver or kidney transplants, reconnecting the tongue is also more complex because of its nerves, said Chepeha, who is the director of the microvascular program. "A nerve is not like a single wire in your house," he said. "When we say a nerve, there are literally thousands if not hundred thousands of tiny little fibers. It'll be like taking a fiber optic cable and cutting it -- let's say that cable had 100,000 fibers in it -- how do you realign it?" Chepeha said: "If we can get some way of knowing which way to hook the nerves up, someday it'll work better. Right now, we're not there." Driving wheelchairs . A new kind of wheelchair allows people who cannot use their hands and feet to steer using simple tongue movements. This technology can assist people who have spinal cord injuries, said Maysam Ghovanloo, an assistant professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Unlike hands and feet, the tongue has a distinct advantage because it doesn't connect to the spinal cord, he said. To use the wheelchair, a magnet the size of a lentil sits on the driver's tongue affixed by edible glue. When the person in the wheelchair touches a certain tooth with his or her tongue, the wheelchair moves -- for example, a left tooth, the wheelchair will turn left. Magnetic sensors trace the movement of the tongue and transmit the directions to get the wheelchair moving. "The tongue is always moving, but the technology is smart enough to tell the difference between natural movements and the tongue movements [meant to steer the wheelchair]," Ghovanloo said. Researchers conducted clinical trials this summer in which people with spinal cord injuries navigated through an obstacle course using their tongues. Those who had recently been injured were more receptive to driving with their tongues than others who have gotten used to the existing technology, Ghovanloo said. The tongue-driven wheelchair is not available to the public yet, pending more clinical trials in 2010. Aiding vision . Researchers devised an instrument to allow users to "see" through the tongue. Called the BrainPort, the vision device sits on the tongue to help blind people get a sense of their environment. The device, which is the size of a postage stamp, connects to a digital video camera. The camera paints the visual scene in front of a person by turning it into gentle stimulations on the tongue that feel like bubbles. For example, when a person moves across the room, the device creates vibrations across the tongue to resemble the movement. Aimee Arnoldussen, a neuroscientist at the device maker's company, Wicab Inc., said scientists turned to the tongue because "the tongue has a high density of nerve endings, which makes it sensitive." Other parts of the body, such as the back, were not sufficiently sensitive. The fingertips were sensitive enough, but people wanted full use of their hands to grip a cane or to grab objects. Placing the device "on the tongue inside the mouth, frees the hands to interact with environment," Arnoldussen said. Plus, the device can be hidden in the mouth. The device is still in development, but Arnoldussen said the company hopes to make it available to the public within the next year. E-tongue senses sweet . Scientists at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign developed a handheld device the size of a business card, which can taste the sweetness in food and drinks. This could lead to the first electronic tongue that would be able to identify sources of sweetness. "We could determine what sweetener would be in your tea," researcher Christopher Musto told CNN Radio. The device can distinguish among 14 kinds of sweeteners, from natural sugars to artificial ones such as Splenda. Musto described two possible applications: This would be a first step toward an electronic tongue and second, it could be a handheld device that would determine what sweetener and the amount. | Researchers turn to the tongue for new ways to help people with disabilities .
Spanish doctors performed face transplant including tongue this summer .
Engineers are testing a wheelchair that can be steered by the tongue . |
fbe1025d3832eebe6e27a0995fb033c28ae9f541 | By . Ryan Lipman . Proud Melbourne mum Hiranthi Wijesinha is still pinching herself after specialists successfully performed a rare life-saving operation on her unborn twins Polly and Lucy in the womb. The need for surgery arose during Ms Wijesinha's pregnancy because her girls were sharing the same placenta. The Melbourne Royal Women's Hospital Dr Stephen Cole and a team of specialists from two other Victorian hospitals from the Victorian Fetal Therapy Service worked together on the operation. Hiranthi Wijesinha is feeling grateful after specialists successfully performed a rare life-saving operation on her unborn twins Polly and Lucy in the womb. She is pictured at Melbourne Royal Women's Hospital nursing daughter Polly, while Lucy remains in an isolette . 'Essentially blood can flow freely between the babies and that can cause problems,' Dr Cole told MailOnline of twins sharing a placenta. This can affect how much blood the babies can get and also means what happens to one baby can affect the other. In Ms Wijesinha's case, Polly had a larger share of the blood supply, which meant Lucy was at risk of not surviving in the womb. 'Had Lucy passed away, because of the blood flow, it could have impacted on Polly, who would have been at risk of passing away,' Dr Cole said. 'It would have been a disaster.' As part of the surgery, doctors inserted a telescope into Ms Wijesinha's abdomen and into her uterus. On average just two of these life-saving operations are performed in Victorian hospitals each year . 'Through the telescope, we could look and see blood vessels that connected the two babies through the placenta. We passed a laser fibre through the telescope to seal off the connecting vessels,' Dr Cole said. 'This ends uneven sharing of blood between the babies.' The operation also meant that if Lucy had still died in the womb, Polly would not be affected. 'That was the aim,' Dr Cole said. While the surgery is not unheard of, Dr Cole said there were only up to two a year completed in Victoria each year. 'It worked well and what we hoped to achieve, although we did not necessarily expect it, it was what we were working towards,' Dr Cole said. The surgery also enabled the pregnancy to progress longer, which benefited the development of the babies, but due to Ms Wijesinha's pre-eclampsia, doctors endued a premature pregnancy on May 6. Dr Stephen Cole and a team of specialists from two other Victorian hospitals worked together on the operation . Ms Wijesinha, 42, said she had serious doubts that Lucy would survive the pregnancy. 'Right until the night before they were born, we were talking to palliative care about Lucy and we didn't expect her to be here today,' she said. 'We talked about resuscitation if she wasn't breathing.' 'It was definitely a relief,' she said of both girls being born alive and healthy. Polly was born weighing 1.4 kilograms and is now 2.3 kilograms, while Lucy was just 568 grams at birth. But Ms Wijesinha said with both girls born premature, they had done exceptionally well. 'Lucy is pretty much doing really really well. She had a stomach infection but she's over that now,' she said. 'She's now nearly a kilo and that was a few days ago so I'm hoping she hits a kilo next week. From the picture we took when they were two days old, til now is completely different.' The Melbourne Royal Women's Hospital where Ms Wijesinha's life-saving pregnancy operation was performed . Ms Wijesinha said she also had to opportunity to see Dr Cole after the girls were born. 'He came in the day the day after they were born to see me in the room and he was very surprised that little Lucy was still going and quite well,' she said. 'I was really quite grateful he took time out to see how I was and how the girls were.' Despite being discharged four days after the birth, Ms Wijesinha has returned to hospital everyday since to be with her girls. 'Polly is very close to coming home, potentially Monday. They were born at 31 weeks, so she'll only be 37 weeks when she goes home so its surprising everyone,' she said. 'She's started feeding occasionally when she was 34 - 35 weeks.' But she said although Lucy was doing well and progressing, she was expected to be in hospital longer. 'It will be a little while yet before she gets to feed the way Polly is... and it will still be a while before she comes,' she said. 'It's still too early to discuss because she's in the isolette'. | Rare life-saving operation performed on Australian twins in the womb .
The operation stopped the uneven flow of blood to the twins .
Both twins were born 31 weeks and are progressing well .
Doctors only perform up to two of the surgeries in Victoria each year . |
fbe117dee501af80debf83d5e39536a9d4aca147 | By . Emily Allen . PUBLISHED: . 05:31 EST, 12 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:04 EST, 13 July 2012 . The John Terry racism trial will follow his accuser Anton Ferdinand ‘for the rest of his career’, a court heard yesterday. Duncan Penny, prosecuting, said it had taken courage to make a criminal allegation against a fellow footballer. He said Terry must be judged guilty if the court was satisfied he said ‘f***ing black c***’ as an insult, regardless of his motivation. Scroll down for video . In court: John Terry, pictured today, is accused of calling Anton Ferdinand a 'f****** black c*** during a Premier League game but he denies a racially aggravated public order offence claiming he was repeating a slur . Denial: Terry denies a racially aggravated public . order offence, and claims that he was sarcastically repeating the slur . that Ferdinand mistakenly thought he had used. A verdict is expected tomorrow . The Chelsea defender, and former . England captain, is accused of lashing out verbally in a Premier League . match after being goaded about an extra-marital affair with a . team-mate’s girlfriend. Terry, 31, admits using the offending . words, but claims he was simply repeating back the slur he thought . Ferdinand had directed at him, and denies a racially aggravated public . order offence. Making his closing speech at . Westminster magistrates’ court, Mr Penny said Ferdinand, who plays for . QPR, did not have the ‘motivation or frankly the sophistication’ to make . up the allegation. He said the brother of Manchester . United star Rio did not even believe he had been abused until he saw . footage of October’s incident on YouTube. ‘This case will follow him for the rest of his career. He made it clear he did not wish to be here,’ added Mr Penny. George Carter-Stephenson, QC, defending, said there was an abundance of evidence to prove ‘this is not a case about racism’. He said Ferdinand’s evidence was . inconsistent and unreliable and argued that Terry may have misheard the . word ‘black’ or been confused by a shout from the crowd. Support: Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho denied Terry was a racist in a statement read at court. Yesterday, team mate Ashley Cole, right, said Terry should not have been brought to court over the claims . Mr Carter-Stephenson rejected claims . that Terry lost his temper to goading about the alleged affair, taunts . which he had faced 'hundreds of times before'. The barrister asked: 'Can it really . be right that Mr Terry totally loses his cool, as suggested by the . prosecution, in relation to a further taunt by Mr Ferdinand about . s******* his team mate's missus? 'The defence suggests that there is an inherent implausibility in that, given the evidence before this court. 'Mr Terry has 600 games behind him by . way of professional top-level football experience, spanning 14 years. He . has been sent off on four occasions, never in relation to his language. 'It is inconceivable to suggest that . the taunt from Anton Ferdinand, that Mr Terry has heard hundreds of . times before, and you may think he's heard far worse in relation to his . mother, made him snap in the way suggested.' After hearing the speeches, magistrates adjourned the hearing until tomorrow afternoon when they will deliver a verdict. The court heard yesterday that some fans have chanted sexual insults about Terry's mother. Expert lip-readers were called in by both the prosecution and defence as part of the trial. However Mr Carter-Stephenson said lip-reading even in controlled conditions only has an accuracy of 60 to 80 per cent. Key moment: Terry and QPR's Anton Ferdinand clash during the Barclays Premier League match at Loftus Road . Terry, 31, is accused of using the racial slur on the pitch during a game on October 23 last year. He denies a racially aggravated . public order offence, and claims that he was sarcastically repeating the . slur that Ferdinand mistakenly thought he had used. Earlier, England and Chelsea team mate Ashley Cole said Terry should not have been brought to court over the claims. Cole, also 31, told Westminster Magistrates' Court: 'I think we shouldn't be sitting here.' He said while racism should never be tolerated, repeating what you thought someone said was 'completely different'. Cole said: 'If I repeated something that I thought you said, that's totally different than if someone just says something.' The court was read a statement from former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who denied Terry was racist. Mourinho, . who manages Spanish champions Real Madrid, said Terry had an excellent . relationship with all the players regardless of ethnicity when he was . Chelsea boss between June 2004 and September 2009. Terry also championed . the FA's anti-racism campaigns. Mourinho said: 'I never once . witnessed any demonstration of racism or racial abuse or behaviour. I am . certain that John Terry is not a racist.' Several . players - including Frank Lampard, Fernando Torres and Petr Cech - had . signed copies of a prepared statement that said: 'I have never heard . John Terry use any form of racist language and have never heard any . suggestion that he may have done so.' Earlier, Cole told the court that on the day of the match at Loftus Road, he saw Ferdinand make a fist gesture to imply sex and could see him saying something. He said: 'I can't make out - him either saying Bridgey (Cole made the fist gesture) or black.' This has been taken as a taunt about Terry's alleged affair with Wayne Bridges' ex-girlfriend. Cole did not hear Terry say anything in reply to the goading, he said. After the match, Cole was present when Terry asked Ferdinand what had happened. 'I think John said, "did you think I called you a black c***, did you think I was being racist?'".Then I said, "did you think John was being racist?". Anton said, "no, no".' The two players then shook hands and went their separate ways. It is expected that prosecution and defence counsel will give their closing speeches today, and Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle will give his verdict tomorrow afternoon. A verdict is expected today. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Terry claims he was sarcastically repeating a slur Ferdinand thought he used .
Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho denies Terry is a racist .
Verdict expected tomorrow after today's closing speeches . |
fbe1b5c2fab2969a9901789c0d2007487c86a4c8 | (CNN) -- Jim Carrey has been making audiences laugh for years, but the star says he's really a "weird, serious person." Jim Carrey is a star on the big screen, but he says he would love to do a play on Broadway. He says he's battled depression and loves to do drama as much as the funny stuff. Fans of his lighter side, though, may be glad to see his latest film is a comedy, "Yes Man," which opens in theaters Friday. Carrey spoke with CNN's Larry King about his life on and off the screen. King: How did you get this project? Carrey: I think projects find me. You know, it's really interesting. Everything I've done, from "The Truman Show," the "Eternal Sunshine" to "Yes Man" and "Bruce Almighty," always come into my life at the perfect time. King: So have you turned down anything you regretted? Carrey: I never regret. ... [But] you know, "Meet the Parents" was something that I was developing. King: You turned that down? Carrey: Yes. I actually created the Fockers in a creative meeting. Yes. But, it was perfect that Ben Stiller did it. When I saw it, I went, "That's the way it's supposed to be done." King: The premise of "Yes Man" is what? Carrey: It's a gentleman by the name of Carl Allen, who has kind of stopped living. He got hurt in a relationship and he just kind of went into his shell, and he decided to say no to life. And he decides that, at a certain point, that he's kind of losing touch with everything. He runs into a guru -- a new-age master played by Terrence Stamp. ... And he makes a covenant with this man that he will say yes to everything no matter how ridiculous it is. King: Isn't "no" the hardest word to say? Carrey: It is hard for me. Especially when you've got money. It's like, you know, there's so many people, man. Watch Carrey's interview with Larry King » . King: Are you the most comfortable with comedy? Carrey: No, I love it all, honestly. I love -- I love being creative. ... I feel so lucky to be given all of these opportunities, to be able to do a movie like "Ace Ventura" and then do "The Truman Show" and "Eternal Sunshine," and to be able to do the "Yes Man," which is flat-out comedy and that has a little something to think about. King: Ever want to do Broadway? Carrey: Sure, sure. I'll do that. King: Do a play? Carrey: I would love to do it. I hope I could do it. King: How did you and [girlfriend Jenny McCarthy] -- how did that happen? Carrey: It's funny how that happens when you're in a place that's really wonderful. I had already gotten to a place in my life where I felt at peace, and I was invited to David Spade's birthday party. And I went out there that night and I was just in a zone. And I just felt wonderful. It was one of those times when you don't have to be anywhere but where you are. King: And you had no girlfriend? Carrey: I had no girlfriend at the time. I mean, I was just knocking them off one after another. It was just sick. But -- so I went to the party. And I just stood there in the middle of the room and kind of had that feeling like I was everything I felt. And she looked at me, and she said, "You just looked so peaceful that I had to come and talk to you." King: What did you think when you saw her? Carrey: I went -- well, I mean, I'd seen her a bunch of times, never in person. But I just thought -- well, she's nothing like the persona, like the "Singled Out" person that I met -- or that I knew, that I had seen. Because I don't think I wanted to go out with that person. You know? She was brilliant, but that wasn't the choice I would make. She was completely different than that. She was really sweet. King: And that's magic when it hits? Carrey: Yes. Beautiful. King: You can't predict it? Carrey: No. You're just lucky while it's there, you know. That's all, just lucky. King: Are you going to marry Jenny? Carrey: No. I am married to Jenny. I love Jenny very much, and we have a great relationship. And we've both been married a couple times. ... I like it the way it is, and I think she likes it the way it is. You know? And that's all we need. I really don't, at this point of my life, feel like I need to have the approval of someone in the collar or a judge to tell us that our relationship is sacred. King: Didn't you suffer from depression? Carrey: Yes. King: How did you get through that to this? Carrey: Well, that's another thing. You know at the risk of like opening up the whole Tom Cruise Prozac argument, you know, I don't disagree in many ways. I think Prozac and things like that are very valuable to people for short periods of time. But I believe if you're on them for an extended period of time, you never get to the problem. You never get to see what the problem is, because everything is just kind of OK. And so, you don't deal. And people deal when they get desperate. King: So how did you do it? Carrey: I take supplements. ... It's a wonderful thing. It's amazing. I'm going to talk a lot about it in the near future. King: You're going to write about it? Carrey: Yes. | Jim Carrey: Projects always come into my life at the perfect time .
The actor says he likes comedy and drama equally .
"I love Jenny [McCarthy] very much, and we have a great relationship," he says .
Carrey says he and McCarthy don't plan to marry . |
fbe1c8196077433dc52e9f085a0c105809ed28d2 | Immigration is responsible for 84 per cent of the surge in Britain’s population this century, a report claims today. It suggests the true impact of immigration has been ‘substantially understated’ because the Office for National Statistics did not count 1.3million children born to foreign parents as migrants. The report concludes that of the 4.6million population rise between 2001 and 2012, 3.8million is due to the biggest wave of immigration the country has faced. Not including children born in the UK meant net migration was recorded at a much lower 2.5million. Sir Andrew Green, chairman of MigrationWatch UK, pictured, said official figures underestimated the scale of immigration as they do not count the British-born children of recent migrants as immigrants . MigrationWatch UK, the think-tank that carried out the study using official data, said it was ‘undeniable’ that migration had driven population growth, putting pressure on public services and depressing wages. It shows how Labour’s decision at the turn of the century to make it easier for migrants to come to Britain has changed the face of the country. In its most recent publication, the ONS said that, on average, 57 per cent of the UK’s population increase since 2001 has been due to net migration. The statisticians, whose figures comply with international standards, attribute the remainder to the excess of births over deaths – the ‘natural increase’ – as people live longer. But research by MigrationWatch UK has revealed the figure does not include children born to immigrants arriving over the last decade. When counted, the figure rises to 84 per cent. The report criticised the ONS prediction that 60 per cent of future population growth until 2037 will be down to migration as a ‘serious understatement’. This suggested 43 per cent of the increase would be due to immigrants arriving after 2012, and 17 per cent to any children they have. But this did not take into account the future children of migrants already here, which would make the figure ‘much higher’, the think-tank said. Moreover, the estimate was based on net migration of 165,000 a year, while it is currently at around 245,000. MigrationWatch UK pointed out that the birth rate is 1.83 children per woman, compared with the 2.1 needed to sustain the population. The ONS said 57 per cent of the UK's population increase since 2001 is due to immigration . Official figures have shown that birth rates among migrants often increase when they arrive in the UK, possibly as a result of better living conditions here. MigrationWatch UK said the birth rates meant that within 25 years any population increase would ‘be entirely due to net migration’. ONS figures to be released tomorrow will confirm that the Government is missing its target to reduce net migration to the ‘tens of thousands’. Sir Andrew Green, chairman of MigrationWatch UK, said: ‘This is about population growth, not about citizenship. ‘Those born in the UK to settled immigrant parents are British citizens, irrespective of their parents’ country of birth. ‘That said, it is now undeniable that the massive scale of net migration has been the main cause of our population growth and that, in the future, our population growth is likely to be almost entirely due to migration.’ He added that official ONS statistics did not make this clear. An ONS spokesman said: ‘In accordance with the UN international standards, the ONS does not define children who are born in the UK as immigrants. ‘MigrationWatch UK has used a different definition which produces a higher total.’ | MigrationWatch UK said 1.3 million children have been born to immigrants .
The think-tank complains that these children are not counted by the ONS .
A report claims the population has increased by 4.6 million since 2001 .
MigrationWatch UK said immigration placed services under pressure .
They also claimed that large numbers of immigrants were lowering wages . |
fbe1fc0df875ebe04dc1851aac6727e1d45c1bb5 | Former X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos is set to seek damages for libel from The Sun newspaper over claims that she dealt cocaine. The N-Dubz singer has lodged a High Court application in Dublin for permission to sue Rupert Murdoch's News Group Newspapers, publishers of The Sun, The Sunday Times and The Times. The Sun on Sunday used undercover reporter Mahzer Mahmood – also known as the 'fake sheikh' for his habit of disguising himself in Arab clothes – to pretend to be a Bollywood producer who tried to get the X Factor judge to star opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in a new movie. The reporter then set up a cocaine deal. Legal action: Tulisa Contostavlos (pictured) has lodged a High Court application for permission to sue Rupert Murdoch's News Group Newspapers, publishers of The Sun, The Sunday Times and The Times . But the criminal case against Ms Contostavlos was thrown out by Judge Alistair McCreath after a year-long criminal investigation. In the meantime, she lost her job, reportedly worth £470,000 a series, as an X Factor judge, as well as endorsement contracts worth more than £725,000 a year. After the criminal case against her was thrown out, Ms Contostavlos claimed to have been abandoned by some of her friends, to have lost a stone in weight and to have attempted suicide. Ms Contostavlos, 26, failed to bring a case for libel against News Group Newspapers within a 12-month deadline for such cases in the UK. However, an extension to that deadline can be obtained in Ireland, where The Sun, which has a daily circulation of 2.2 million, sells around 60,000 copies a day. It is this extension that Ms Contostavlos has asked for from the court and her request will be heard later this month. Damages: The case against Ms Contostavlos was thrown out after a year-long investigation but she lost her X Factor job reportedly worth £470,000-a-year during that time . Libel damages in Ireland are considerably higher than in other jurisdictions and the law is much more favourable to plaintiffs. The star's Belfast lawyer, Paul Tweed, has represented a string of celebrities who chose to sue for libel in Ireland rather than in their own countries, including Britney Spears, Whitney Houston, J-Lo, Harrison Ford, Reese Witherspoon and Nicolas Cage. A spokesman for The Sun declined to comment. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | The former X Factor judge to seek damages for libel from the Sun newspaper .
Undercover reporter known as the 'fake sheikh' set up a cocaine deal with her .
But the criminal case was thrown out after a year-long criminal investigation .
During that time Tulisa Contostavlos lost £470,000-a-year job on hit TV show .
She claims her friends abandoned her and she even tried to commit suicide . |
fbe23da52069549ed8fb1e30f14619ed82102a2b | By . Sara Malm . PUBLISHED: . 01:06 EST, 13 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:51 EST, 13 June 2013 . Men’s new favourite chore, believe it or not, is washing and cleaning, but only if they get to do it with their most beloved tool - a jet washer. It is now the top choice for DIY tools for men in Britain, replacing the power drill, the powerful cleaning device is now the most popular gadget. It is the first time in almost 40 years that the power drill has been pipped to the top slot. Real men clean: The jet washer has bagged the top spot as the most popular DIY tool among British men . Littlewoods Retail Director Gary Kibble said: ‘Men have to have an excuse to use a power drill, such as putting up shelves or making a cabinet. 'The pleasure of using the drill is, unfortunately, only a brief part of a much longer procedure, and imposes other less enjoyable responsibilities. ’However using a jet washer is an end in itself. Men can blast away the dirt from a drive for hours at a time. 'And when they stop using it, there is no requirement to possess other skills such as woodwork or construction.' Bigger is better: The jet washer replaced the power drill as the most popular tool, and according to sales figures the most powerful devices are the ones men love the most . ‘Also, a jet washer can be combined with the nation’s second favourite weekend hobby - washing the car.’ Powerful jet washers which come with a water lance and a special circular patio cleaner are the biggest sellers according to Littlewoods. Some have air cooled motors, dirt blasters, and can develop over 110 bar pressure - enough to shift even the most stubborn piece of moss, the retailer said. As well as cleaning drives and patios, jet washers are also used for more unconventional purposes such as cleaning the barbecue, stripping old paint from garden furniture, weeding paths and blowing holes in tough soil to plant flower bulbs. | Jet washer is the most popular DIY tool among British men .
Device took crown from the power drill after a 40 year reign . |
fbe2930991fa8b14afa7390457468de198ed7179 | Tarbuck spent 11 months on police bail, during which time he was unable to work . Comedian Jimmy Tarbuck has said accusers in sexual assault cases should be named, after his harrowing ordeal when he spent nearly a year on police bail. The entertainer said he had suffered the 'worst year imaginable' since his arrest in April 2013 as part of the £2.7million Operation Yewtree triggered by Jimmy Savile's abuses. Tarbuck spent 11 months on police bail, during which time he was unable to work. But in March he was told there would be no charges over an allegation of child sex abuse in the 1970s made by six individuals. Tarbuck, said he was relieved that his name has been cleared, but disturbed that those who pointed the finger at him remain anonymous while he was held in a blaze of publicity. In an interview with the Sunday People, he said: 'What can you do? The only thing that annoyed me, other than the lies, the total lies, is that they remain anonymous and no one knows who they are. 'It upset me. It upset my family. It was a lot of stress, but you do find out who your friends are at a time like that. 'You wake up at seven o'clock in the morning with a knock on the door and there are 14 policemen up your drive and you've gotta go, "What?" 'One day when I write it out people won't believe it and will say, "It wasn't like that, was it?" I'll say, "Yes it was." It was blatant, total lies.' Tarbuck said a group of women 'jumped on the bandwagon' after his arrest became public last year. 'They claimed I had made inappropriate sexual advances during Top of the Pops in 1963, he said. 'Not only have I never met these women, I have never appeared on Top of the Pops – which in any event didn't start until 1964. 'I would think on certain areas it's a witch-hunt. Maybe there has been a bit of a witch-hunt. And why? Is it envy? Is it greed? Is it illness? Is it mistaken identity? I don't know.' Scroll down for video . Jimmy Tarbuck pictured outside the London Palladium in 1969 - he will return to the venue tonight . Now, with his name untarnished, Tarbuck will mark a triumphant comeback on tonight's London Palladium show. And it has a special place in his heart, as it was the stage from where he hosted Saturday Night at the London Palladium for two years from 1965. He said: 'It's just a thrill walking on that stage. You're playing in the Premier League and the Palladium is that - it doesn't get any better than that. 'The Palladium is the most famous theatre in the world.' The Liverpudlian comedian said he had suffered the 'worst year imaginable' but will make a comeback at the London Palladium tonight . Known for his gap-toothed grin, broad Liverpudlian accent and love of golf, 'Tarby' began his showbusiness career aged 18 as a member of a touring rock and roll show and then as a Redcoat for a Butlins holiday camp in Brighton. After leaving school at 15 his first jobs were as a mechanic and sweeping the floor of a ladies' hairdresser. He recalled: 'It was a brilliant way to meet girls.' Tarbuck was classmates with John Lennon at Dovedale Junior School in Liverpool. He claimed the former Beatle once spiked his drink with speed. The entertainer's first taste of mainstream success came in 1964, when he presented It's Tarbuck 65! on ITV. He went on to host numerous quiz shows, including Winner Takes All and Full Swing. In the 1980s, he hosted Sunday night variety shows Live From Her Majesty's, Live from the Piccadilly and Live from the Palladium. He was awarded an OBE for services to showbusiness and charity in 1994. Operation Yewtree was launched in October 2012 after Jimmy Savile, who died aged 84 in 2011, was exposed as a predatory paedophile who abused hundreds of victims. David Lee Travis - The former Radio 1 star was given a suspended sentence of three months for indecently assaulting a woman in 1995 last month. At an earlier trial, he was cleared of 12 counts of indecent assault, alleged to have taken place between 1976 and 2008. William Roache - The Coronation Street actor was cleared of sex charges dating back to the 1960s. He always maintained his innocence and blamed hysteria after the Jimmy Savile scandal for 'money-grabbing' women who falsely accused him of sex offences. Gary Glitter - The former pop star was arrested on October 28, 2012, on sex abuse allegations. The convicted paedophile was charged with six counts of indecent assault, one of unlawful sex with a girl under 13, and one count of administering a drug to obtain sex. He is awaiting trail. Freddie Starr - The comedian was initially arrested on November 1, 2012 and has since been rearrested three times after fresh allegations emerged from further alleged sex assault victims. On May 6, the Crown Prosecution Service announced that Starr would not be prosecuted . Wilfred De’ath - The former BBC producer was arrested on November 11, 2012 on suspicion of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl, but was released without charge after a woman withdrew a complaint against him. The 76-year-old has blasted police for being ‘overzealous’, pursuing ‘spurious’ claims, and failing ‘lamentably’ to stop Jimmy Savile’s reign of terror while he was still alive. Jim Davidson - The comedian was arrested on January 2 last year on suspicion of sexual offences, but the Big Brother winner was later told he would not face further action. Mike Osman - The radio DJ was arrested on January 2 last year on suspicion of sex offences but was told he will not face any charges last August. Max Clifford - The public relations expert was arrested on December 6, 2012. In April the 70-year-old was charged with 11 counts of indecent assault on teenage girls. He was jailed for eight years. David Smith: The former driver who worked for the BBC was found dead at his home on the first day of his trial in October last year. The 67-year-old was arrested in December 2012 and charged in April last year with abusing a 12-year-old boy in 1984. Ted Beston: The former BBC radio producer was arrested on December 19, 2012. In May last year it was announced that the 77-year-old would not face any further action. Rolf Harris: The 84-year-old Australian entertainer was convicted of 12 indecent assaults on June 30 at Southwark Crown Court, one on an eight-year-old autograph hunter, two on girls in their early teens and a catalogue of abuse of his daughter's friend over 16 years. He was jailed for five years and nine months for the sex abuse . Paul Gambaccini: The radio presenter was arrested on October 29 last year on suspicion of sexual offences. No further action has been taken. Chris Denning: The Radio 1 DJ was first arrested on Monday, June 3. He has since been re-arrested twice over alleged sexual offences. He was charged with 41 sex offences. He has pleaded guilty to 29 counts and the trial on remaining counts will begin in November. | Jimmy Tarbuck said accusers in sexual assault cases should be named .
The comedian was arrested in April 2013 as part of Operation Yewtree .
In March he was told there would be no charges over allegations .
He said it had been the 'worst year imaginable' and that it was 'total lies'
Tarbuck makes a triumphant comeback on tonight's London Palladium show . |
fbe2af69b40a747ed1608077c93515b6288a59fe | An image being shared by the NYPD supposedly showing uniformed officers gathering for the funeral of Rafael Ramos was actually taken in 2007. The picture posted on Twitter by many of the department's precincts was actually taken from coverage of the funeral of Russel Timoshenko rather than of the thousands of officers who gathered in Queens on Saturday. The tweet uploaded by the 72nd Precinct read: 'Over 20,000 police officers pay their final respect to Detective 1st Grade Ramos.' The tweet uploaded by many of the NYPD's precincts, including the 72nd, actually showed crowds gathered for the 2007 funeral of Russel Timoshenko, rather than those gathered to pay their respects to Rafael Ramos . Another posted by the 34th read: 'To all who traveled or sent condolences for Officer Ramos. Thank you. Your support is overwhelming, and inspiring.' Timoshenko, 23, was shot and killed after pulling over a stolen BMW in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. It first appeared in a New York Times article covering the service for the Belorussian immigrant who died when he was in his second year on the job. His funeral in Flatbush Avenue in the Flatlands was attended by 10,000 people. The NYPD Commissioner at the time, Raymond W. Kelly said in his eulogy: 'Russel was a remarkable young man, Disciplined, ambitious, enthusiastic, inspired by love of his new country, motivated to serve his beloved city, and dedicated to the mission of the New York City Police Department.' On Saturday, tens of thousands of police from cities across the United States arrived in New York and lined the streets to pay respect to Ramos, 40, who was murdered alongside his partner Wenjian Liu last week. A number of dignitaries including Joe Biden, former New York mayor Rudy Guiliani and NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton. Embattled Mayor Bill de Blasio also made a speech during the service, during which officers turned their back as it was shown on the big screen. Many have criticized his dealing of the protests in New York City this month. Pictured on Saturday, the casket of New York Police Officer Rafael Ramos is carried out of Christ Tabernacle church in front of uniformed officers in salute . Members of the NYPD stand to attention in silence during the service which drew thousands of officers from all around the United States to the streets of Queens . | Photo of uniformed officers lying the street was shared by 72nd Precint .
However the photo is from another slain officer's funeral from 2007 .
The picture was from the coverage of the service for Russel Timoshenko .
23-year-old was shot after pulling over a stolen BMW in Brooklyn . |
fbe321cbbafda62018f58ffe422262151206d58f | Washington (CNN) -- President Barack Obama renewed his push for comprehensive immigration reform Thursday, calling for bipartisan cooperation on an issue that has repeatedly proven to be a major cause of deep social and political division. The president tried to find what has often proven to be an elusive middle ground on the subject, highlighting the importance of immigrants to American history and progress while also acknowledging the fear and frustration many people now feel with a system that seems "fundamentally broken." He asserted that the majority of Americans are ready to embrace reform legislation that would help resolve the status of an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants. "I believe we can put politics aside and finally have an immigration system that's accountable," Obama told an audience at Washington's American University. "I believe we can appeal not to people's fears, but to their hopes, to their highest ideals. Because that's who we are as Americans." The president targeted Arizona's controversial new immigration law, which requires immigrants to carry their alien registration documents at all times and requires police to question people if there's reason to suspect they're in the United States illegally. It also targets businesses that hire illegal immigrant laborers or knowingly transport them. The measure -- currently under review by the Justice Department -- has "fanned the flames of an already contentious debate," Obama said. It puts pressure on police officers to enforce rules that are "unenforceable" while making communities less safe -- in part, by making people more reluctant to report crimes. It also has "the potential of violating the rights of innocent American citizens and legal residents, making them subject to possible stops or questioning because of what they look like or how they sound." Arizona's Republican governor, Jan Brewer, responded Thursday that Obama was failing to secure the border with Mexico, which forced her state to act on its own. "Do your job. Secure the border," Brewer said of the president in a speech to a Republican group. She pledged to "defend this law against every assault, including attacks by the Obama administration." In his speech, Obama warned that rounding up everyone in the country who has entered illegally would be both "logistically impossible" and "tear at the fabric of the nation." At the same time, the president indicated it would be wrong to offer blanket amnesty for people who came into the United States unlawfully. To do so "would suggest to those thinking about coming here illegally that there will be no repercussions for such a decision. And this could lead to a surge in more illegal immigration. ... It would also ignore the millions of people around the world who are waiting in line to come here legally." Ultimately, he said, "our nation, like all nations, has the right and obligation to control its borders and set laws for residency and citizenship. And no matter how decent they are, no matter their reasons, the 11 million who broke these laws should be held accountable." Obama said those who entered the country illegally must admit they broke the law, register with the appropriate authorities, pay taxes, pay a fine, and learn English. They must "get right with the law before they can get in line and earn their citizenship." The president urged Congress to tackle immigration reform legislation, but stressed that it would require support from both Democrats and Republicans. "That is the political and mathematical reality," he said. Obama's remarks, however, immediately received a cold reception from one top Senate Republican. Obama and congressional Democrats "made a strategic decision to put immigration on the back burner, and they now claim they can't even propose immigration legislation without a Republican," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. "It's time for the president and congressional Democrats to stop the charade. Op-eds, outlines and speeches won't cut it anymore." Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, in turn lashed out the GOP, arguing that "instead of matching the leadership of Democrats to solve this problem and engaging in good faith negotiations, Republicans continue to engage in political grandstanding and polarizing rhetoric that encourages intolerance of our vibrant immigration population." Reid, who is facing a tough reelection fight this year, is hoping for a strong turnout among Latino voters in November in his home state. Despite Obama's call for bipartisan immigration reform, several senior Democratic sources said Thursday that they see virtually no chance of Congress taking up such a measure before November's midterm elections. Though some hold out hope for potential movement during a lame-duck session of Congress after the election, most sources say the more realistic earliest target is next year. But even that, according to one source, may be "happy talk." Still, these sources said that, politically, it was crucial for the president to give a speech like he did Thursday in order to put pressure on Republicans and, more importantly, to reassure angry Latino voters that Democrats haven't forgotten about the issue. A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation national poll conducted in late May indicated that public support for beefing up security along the U.S. border with Mexico had grown significantly. According to the survey, nearly nine out of 10 Americans want to beef up U.S. law enforcement along the border with Mexico. Eight in 10 questioned also supported a program that would allow illegal immigrants already in the United States to stay here and apply for legal residency if they had a job and paid back taxes. But only 38 percent say that program should be a higher priority than border security and other get-tough proposals. Six in 10 said border security was the higher priority. Obama's speech followed a highly anticipated meeting this week in which the president discussed immigration reform with grass-roots reform advocates. "From our meeting, it is clear that the president is committed to comprehensive immigration reform and understands that congressional action is needed urgently," said Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum and a meeting attendee. Other topics discussed at the meeting included concerns the grass-roots leaders had about reforms to current detention and deportation procedures, Noorani said. CNN's Dana Bash contributed to this report . | Arizona governor challenges Obama to secure the border with Mexico .
Sen. Reid, D-Nevada, hits GOP for "polarizing rhetoric"
Sen. Cornyn, R-Texas, says speeches "won't cut it anymore"
Obama calls for bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform . |
fbe365f7b07911e369fbcbf2d5e31963f0494832 | A school netball team have been banned after reaching the national finals of a tournament - because of a 10p debt. Central Newcastle High School's under-16s and under-18s teams made their way through county and regional heats earlier this year, but as the girls trained for the upcoming national finals, they were told they had been disqualified. The private girls' school pays an annual subscription to be affiliated to England Netball and enter the competition, open to all schools. The under 18 netball team of Central High School in Newcastle, with student Farah Hasan holding a 10 pence piece - the root of their dispute with England Netball . The under 18s, pictured and the under 16 netball teams of Central Newcastle High School, reached the national finals of a schools tournament, but have been banned because they underpaid on their subscription . For the 2011/2012 they paid £24 of the £24.10 fee and were put on a debtors list without their knowledge. This meant they were not sent an invoice to pay their subscription for 2012/13. Once staff found out about the outstanding money, the school paid up. Despite appeals over the ban, England Netball have refused to back down, meaning the girls cannot fight for the title at next month's finals in Basildon, Essex. Headmistress Hilary French said: 'It all seems very petty to me. We have always paid our subscriptions for all the different sports played here. 'We . weren't made aware of the small underpayment and we didn't get any . further bills - either about the 10p or the fee for affiliation to . England Netball the next year. 'It was only when two teams reached the finals that we were told about the problem.' Mrs French said: 'We paid straight . away once we found out. It was only raised once we reached the finals, . that's when we were told we were disqualified. 'I guess they make extra . checks before the finals but we have paid and it's very unfair on the . girls.' 'Our PE teachers are some of the busiest staff in the school and because they didn't receive a bill, the payment was not made. 'We made a mistake and we did everything we could to rectify it immediately. Headteacher Hilary French said her students were 'very upset' after England Netball refused to let them compete in the national finals after they settled their debt . 'All of this has happened because of an unpaid 10p. The girls are very upset - they've trained a lot and they reached the finals.' Mrs French said: 'They've been able to compete so far, I guess technically they were not supposed to have but we didn't know at the time. 'Yes we made a mistake, but we paid at the earliest opportunity and they should take that into account. 'It's frustrating. It feels like the girls are being unfairly penalised for something that is not their fault.' The school's Head of PE, Jackie Atkinson, was named England Netball's Coach of the Year in 2009. Mrs French added: 'Jackie is a coach to the girls and she's a netball fanatic. 'She is so disappointed and hopes something can be done before March.' The school also won the sporting body's Endeavour Award in 2010 to acknowledge the number of times its teams had reached the finals. Mrs French said: 'We've hosted competitions for England Netball for free before and two of our staff are due to go on a training course with them. England Netball said Central Newcastle High School was the only school not to pay their annual subscriptions properly . 'They had to give our school's affiliation number and that all seemed to go through fine.' A spokesperson for England Netball said: 'England Netball has eligibility criteria for its National Schools Competition. "This includes schools responsibility to affiliate to England Netball prior to the start of the competition. 'Central Newcastle High School failed to affiliate in accordance with these time scales and therefore it is with much regret that England Netball was unable to accept their entry into the National Schools Final. 'All other entrants to the National Schools Final adhered to England Netball's affiliation process.' | Central Newcastle High School's under 18s and under 16s made the finals .
But they had underpaid last season's fees by 10p and not paid for this year .
England Netball refuses to back down over ban after school settles debt . |
fbe3c827e0758fb34ff9ab8786713ade94cbe233 | A Whitehall mole has sabotaged hundreds of raids against immigrants working illegally in Britain by leaking sensitive government documents to activists, it was claimed last night. Small businesses suspected of illicitly employing foreigners were tipped off after a radical protest group was covertly handed the hit-list. The Home Office launched a two-week crackdown – codenamed Operation Centurion – to target workplaces, including care homes, hotels and restaurants and construction sites that were believed to be employing illegal immigrants. Crackdown: Illegal workers were targeted . But the Anti Raids Network, a left-wing pressure group, said it had warned the companies to expect officials to bang on the door after being passed the paperwork by the mole, Channel 4 News claimed. The leak threatens to scupper the crackdown by allowing illegal workers to escape capture. The Anti Raids Network said it was justified because the swoops were ‘racially-profiled and unfair’ – a claim the Home Office said was ‘abhorrent and completely without foundation.’ It said the raids were ‘intelligence-led’. Activists said they had seen 225 pieces of operational intelligence in what they claimed was the biggest Home Office leak in recent years. One document seen by Channel 4 News highlighted nationalities in specific industries who are being targeted. Labour MP Keith Vaz, chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, said he was concerned the document listed 'particular nationalities and races' One entry described Nigerians working illegally in barber shops and another talked about laundries employing Eritrean nationals, described as ‘not the best nationalities for us, but a new sector nonetheless’. The documents reportedly said there were phone stalls in Northern Ireland which ‘appear to have foreign nationals working on them, some of which don’t speak fantastic English’, and there were ‘nail bars with a Vietnamese connection’. Yesterday morning, men waiting to be picked up in Ilford, Essex, for cash-in-hand work on construction sites were arrested as part of the operation – suggesting the sabotage might not have worked. The Anti Raids Network said the crackdown was ‘a clear attempt to demonise migrant labour and satisfy the right-wing political agenda on immigration and the EU’. It claimed the operation had been launched in the wake of the electoral gains made by Ukip in last month’s council and European elections – a suggestion vehemently denied by the Home Office, which said it had been planned some time ago. Labour MP Keith Vaz, chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, said he was concerned the document listed ‘particular nationalities and races’. Westminster sources said the details were suspected of being leaked by one of the agencies it worked with to crack down on illegal workers. A Home Office spokesman said: ‘I should like to be very clear that the Home Office does not engage in racial profiling and any suggestion to this effect is both abhorrent and completely without foundation.’ He added: ‘Our enforcement activity, conducted in conjunction with other government agencies, is intelligence-led and targets sectors of the economy where illegal working is suspected. 'We do not perform “fishing expeditions” and in the case of the current operation, we have worked carefully with employers who share the public’s concerns about illegal working.’ | Mole allegedly handed sensitive government list to radical protest group .
Anti Raids Network warned business employing illegals before raids .
It said the operation was a response to gains made by Ukip in Euro elections . |
fbe43e5a6d698c4159d4cd0cf5e439d664814edb | By . Chris Pleasance . Marco Pierre White’s flagship restaurant in Birmingham has been given a zero food hygiene rating from environmental health officers. The four-star Marco Pierre White Steakhouse, which is on the 25th floor of The Cube, although it has now been revealed they failed a visit by the Food Standards Agency in March. The abysmal rating relates to either poor standards of hygiene structure, confidence in management or a combination of these factors and now means urgent improvement is necessary. Marco Pierre White's flagship steakhouse, on the 25th floor of The Cube in Birmingham (pictured), has been given a zero rating by food safety inspectors . A restaurant spokesman has confirmed the rating, but said staff are working with the council to address the issues . The restaurant boasts stunning views of Birmingham, and costs around £50 per head. A Birmingham City Council spokeswoman said: 'Marco Pierre White was informed their FSA rating would drop and it has been published on the FSA website. 'A certificate and window sticker confirming their zero rating was sent to the restaurant on March 25, 2014.' Despite the bad review, a spokesman from Marco Pierre White said they have acted on what needed addressing and continue to work closely with the council. The spokesman said: 'We can confirm that we received a visit from the Environmental Health Department of Birmingham City Council earlier this year. 'The feedback was provided in an informal manner by the EHO with some recommendations. 'These were acted on by the management team and subsequent revisits have been very positive. 'We continue to work closely with Birmingham City Council and have appointed a third party food safety consultant to ensure we remain up to date with the rigorous industry regulations and the ongoing changes in legislation and practice.' White trained with Albert and Michele Roux at La Gavarouch and Albert once described him as 'my little bunny' The zero rating will remain valid, until the date of the next inspection, which could be between six and 18 months’ time. The restaurant can call inspectors back in the meantime if staff believe standards have improved, but so far the FSA have not revisited. The Marco Pierre White Steakhouse joins a list of 140 eateries in Birmingham with a zero rating. The Birmingham City Council spokesman added: 'In Birmingham most food business operate to a good standard, but if they fall below satisfactory standards, our officers carry out revisits and take proportionate enforcement action to ensure that standards are improve. 'Where premises pose an imminent risk to health - eg where there is an active rodent infestation, severe drainage problems or filthy conditions - officers will act to close a business down immediately until it has rectified the problems. The restaurant, where meals cost roughly £50 per head, serves up 28 day aged 'native beef' steaks (file pic) 'This usually only takes a few days to allow the business to bring in proper systems and carry out necessary treatment and repairs. 'On average, we will take emergency action on about 40 food businesses - from between 3,000 and 4,000 inspections - each year. 'Therefore a very small proportion of serious problems are found in food businesses and the public can be assured these are dealt with quickly.' The news comes just a week after it was revealed Jamie Oliver's upmarket butcher Barbecoa, in the City of London, was forced to close after failing a health inspection. On that occasion food inspectors found mouse droppings, out of date wagyu steak and mouldy cow carcasses. Barbecoa, next to St Paul's Cathedral in the City of London, shut down for 24 hours when officers gave it the worst possible hygiene rating - branding it 'hazardous'. Mould was found growing on carcasses in the basement chillers and expensive meats including wagyu beef, oxtail, onglet, and Spanish-style pork called lomo de cana. Dirty slicers and vacuum packers were also found, as well as a 'heavy presence' of mouse droppings. Old chicken which had been de-boned and vacuum packed was found to be relabelled with a later use-by date. Sirloin steak (file pic) which will set diners back £27.95 at Mr White's steakhouse . STARTERS . Slow Roasted Tomato Soup £5.95 Pea and Ham Soup £5.95 Cocktail of Prawns,Sauce Marie Rose £9.95 Baked Camembert,Crusty Bread £8.75Traditional Cured Ham with Melon £7.75Potted Duck with Piccalilli £7.50Finest QualitySmoked Salmon £10.00 Crispy Fried Calamari £8.50 Tomato and Mozzarella Salad £7.50Beetroot and Goat Cheese Salad, Walnut Dressing £7.00Crab Cakes, Lemon and Herb Mayonaise £9.00 . FISH MAINBOARDS . Wheeler’s of St. James’ Fish Pie £15.50Fried Haddock with Real Chips, Mushy Peas £17.00Fresh fish of the day - 'market price'Smoked Haddock with Poached Egg, New Potatoes, Beurre Blanc £17.50Fillet of Sea Bass with Saffron, Chorizo, Lemonand Chilli Butter Sauce £18.25 Garlic King Prawns, Provençal Rice £21.95 . FINE QUALITY NATIVE BREED BEEF . 10oz Ribeye Steak £27.9510oz Sirloin Steak £27.958oz Fillet Steak £31.0016oz T-Bone Steak £30.50 . Our finest quality beef is aged for 28 days. Garnished with grilled beef tomato, onion rings & real chips in beef dripping. Sauce Béarnaise or Sauce au Poivre £3.00. THE REST . Steak and Ale Pie with Minty Garden Peas £14.25Traditional Rare Breed Pork Sausage and Mash with Crispy Onion £17.95Beef Bourguignon with Creamed Potatoes £14.75Belly Pork, Bramley Apple, Bubble and Squeak, Mustard Sauce £16.65Chicken Kiev, Slow Roasted Tomato, Real Chips, Garlic Butter Sauce 18.25Lemon and Rosemary Free Range Chicken, Truffle Chips, Rocket & Parmesan Salad £17.50Roast Rump of Lamb, à la Dijonnaise, Potatoes Dauphinoise £19.50Duck Breast, Confit Leg, French Style Peas £22.50 . SALADS / VEGETARIANS . Cobb Salad – Chicken, Bacon, Eggs, Avocado, Blue Cheese £13.25Fresh Salmon Nicoise Salad £17.25Cheshire Cheese Crumble Tart (v) £12.50Linguine with Smoked Salmon and Chive Cream £14.50 . SIDE ORDERS 3.50 . Real Chips Sauté Rosemary Potatoes Creamed PotatoesOnion RingsCreamed SpinachFrench Beans Minty Garden Peas House Salad Rocket & Parmesan SaladGarlic Mushrooms . PUDDINGS £6.75 . Cambridge Burnt CreamClassic Bitter Chocolate MousseSherry Trifle Wally LaddBread & Butter PuddingSticky Toffee PuddingBox Tree Eton Mess . | Marco Pierre White's flagship steakhouse given zero rating by inspectors .
Score means poor standards of hygiene or lack of confidence in managers .
Menu includes 28 day aged steaks and costs around £50 per head .
Restaurant says it is working with council to address the problems . |
fbe498e2eb605344f9d7b16510aec9bd1dc84004 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Billionaire oil tycoon William 'Bill' Koch has revealed he splashed out about $5 million on rare French wines which turned out to be fake. Many of the counterfeits were produced by convicted fraudster Rudy Kurniawan who re-marked bottles of cheap wine with photocopied labels of top vintages. 'I just had to have them,' Koch, 74, told ABC News' 20/20 program. 'Then I’d open it up and . drink it and it was dish water or moose piss.' Ripped off: Billionaire William Koch, 74, has admitted he spent $5 million on counterfeit wines . Koch, an avid wine collector, admitted he bought about 500 bottles at up to $100,000 each, thinking they were from the finest French chateaus. Although he said there would be little sympathy for a wealthy person who'd been conned, Koch choked up while describing the debasement of 'the art, craftsmanship' of fine wines being faked. Koch, who lives in a waterfront mansion in Florida, is estimated to worth $4 billion from oil and other investments. 'I cannot stand to be cheated,' Koch told 20/20. 'I want someone to know they sell me a fake, . man, I’m coming after them no matter how much it costs.' Koch, whose twin brother is billionaire David Koch, has spent millions on lawyers and private detectives to expose the fakes. Koch’s team worked with the FBI, and he agreed to testify against Kurniawan at his criminal fraud trial. Convicted: Rudy Kurniawan (pictured) conned savvy, competitive rare-wine collectors, with the biggest hoax in history taking place right under their noses . Fake labels: When the FBI arrested Mr Kurniawan, his Californian home contained explicit evidence of the scam, including thousands of photocopied wine labels and used corks . Fraud: Investigators found detailed instructions for fabricating labels as well as sealing wax and rubber stamps with vintages at Rudy Kurniawan's California home . Rudy Kurniawan took the wine world by storm by claiming he had access to wines many thought had long since disappeared. Many experts gave his vintages glowing reviews. But the Indonesian-born conman slipped up when he tried to sell fakes purportedly from France’s Domaine Ponsot at a New York auction. When the FBI raided Kurniawan’s California home in March 2012, they discovered he created his fine vintages in his kitchen, attaching photocopied labels from top producers to bottles of cheap Napa Valley wines. Kurniawan’s lawyer, Jerome Mooney, said his client is sorry for what he did but that the harm to wealthy collectors such as Koch was minor. 'Nobody was hurt by this, absolutely nobody was hurt by this,' Mooney told 20/20. 'It not that it’s less of a crime but that it’s less of an impact.' Kurniawan was convicted in December and will be sentenced on July 17. | William 'Bill' Koch, 74, was cheated out of $5m on rare vintages .
Many of them were supplied by Rudy Kurniawan who was convicted in December .
Koch worked with the FBI to expose the fakes, saying 'I cannot stand to be cheated'
He is estimated to be worth $4bn from oil and other investments . |
fbe53f96d5c05febf538b05f68f490bd831ef8fb | Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has turned to Twitter to help find an earring she lost on Monday morning before doing a live TV interview. Ms Bishop appeared live in the Sky News studio in Sydney's Martin Place with one pearl earring noticeably missing. Later on Monday morning she tweeted: 'Hi Twitter I lost earring in Martin Place today - if found grateful contact me 02 62777500.' Scroll down for video . Julie Bishop appeared live in the Sky News studio in Sydney's Martin Place with one pearl earring missing . Ms Bishop appeared on Sky to talk about the Bali Nine members on death row in Indonesia and an asylum seeker hunger strike on Manus Island. Ms Bishop may be one of the most powerful women in Australia but she often uses her Twitter account to show a more personal side. The Foreign Minister took to Twitter on Christmas morning to wish everyone a happy holiday with the help of a few emojis. Her message included Christmas trees, presents, Santa Claus, family and music. Many humorously opted to relate Ms Bishop's tweet to same-sex marriage equality after she included emojis of two women and two men holding hands. The earrings are a favourite pair of the foreign minister's - she has been seen wearing them numerous times . Ms Bishop may be one of the most powerful women in Australia but she often uses her Twitter account to show a more personal side . At work and play: Julie Bishop arriving at the House of Representatives (left) and in Melbourne for Cup Day channelling Carrie Bradshaw . The Foreign Minister took to Twitter on Christmas morning to wish everyone a happy holiday with the help of a few emojis . '@JulieBishopMP I like how you have included same sex couple emojis in your Christmas tweet #marriageequality #auspol,' one person tweeted. 'Nobody tell Julie that these aren't brothers and sisters,' another wrote. It wasn't the first time the politician took over Twitter with emojis. She spent three hours replying to her thousands of Twitter followers using nothing but the small pictures last year. Ms Bishop's popularity has doubled in recent months ranking her on par with the prime minister as preferred Liberal leader and she was named 'Woman of the Year' by Harper's Bazaar magazine in November. Julie Bishop leaving a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra . Prime Minister Tony Abbott (left) and Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop in Canberra . The surge in support for Ms Bishop could be a result of her strong performance in relation to foreign diplomacy and national security last year. Ms Bishop fiercely confronted Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit in Italy to question him over the MH17 disaster over the Ukraine. The Foreign Minister was further regarded for pushing the resolution the United Nations Security Council passed back in July to allow Australia and other countries access to the Malaysian Airlines crash site to retrieve the bodies. Ms Bishop was also listed as one of the 50 most powerful women in Australia of 2014 by the Australian Women's Weekly. She told Daily Mail Australia last month she was 'living then dream and loving the job'. 'I am in the best job I could ever wish for,' she said. 'It's the job I wanted to do when I went into politics.' The 58-year-old politician is a fan of ‘investment pieces’ such as Armani suits . Ms Bishop accessorises with brooches in a look inspired by US politician Hilary Clinton . She's a big fan of Louis Vuitton and Christian Louboutin heels - particularly the red stiletto kind . Ms Bishop revealed due to high demanding job, she only gets four hours sleep a night but still manages to fit in a workout each day. While she famously wears Giorgio Armani suits and has a love for pearl necklaces, a departmental document reveals many of the other requests that follow Ms Bishop all over the world in her role as Foreign Minister. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade document contains insider information on her non-stop professional life and personal preferences when travelling. The note shows that Ms Bishop leads a healthy lifestyle, saying that she is a 'non-smoker', and 'prefers to eat healthily but not a fussy eater and open to try local foods. The document also makes note of her love of running, saying under 'Personal Time' that she requests '1 hour (early morning) for exercise.' Ms Bishop, seen here with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, believes it's her duty to dress in a way that promotes the best image of Australia . Julie Bishop arrives looking glamorous at the Midwinter Ball at Parliament House in Canberra . During her treasured half an hour 6km daily run she dons 2XU and Asics sports gear . Her morning jogs have become known among other foreign staff, who often join her in her precious sole hour of 'alone time' in her hectic day. The minister is also not a coffee drinker, despite only sleeping for four hours a night, noting that 'We don't have time for that'. She prefers 'English Breakfast tea with skim milk or peppermint tea', but isn't demanding, noting that there is 'no need to provide in hotel room.' Ms Bishop 'Prefers sparkling water, however will drink wine or Champagne at appropriate functions,' the document states. The Foreign Minister also likes to be prepared for small talk as well as large issues, with the document revealing that she likes to be given a 'snippet' of local information 'to start conversation with interlocuters', and gives the example of meeting New York Mayor as 'Yankees scraped into the finals this week'. It is also important for her to have gift wrap, scissors, and tape on hand, in order to wrap presents she might need to present to hosts or other leaders. Julie Bishop thanked her staff with this emoji-filled tweet earlier this month . The Foreign Minister is a big fan of brooches like those worn by Hillary Clinton . The Foreign Affairs Minister spent three hours entertaining her 85,000 Twitter followers by replying in nothing but emojis . The requests continued to roll in, pushing the Foreign Affairs Minister to see just how far she'd take the online joke . The jokes continued on until just after 11pm when the Foreign Minister, clearly knackered from keeping up with today's youth, wrote the following Tweet . | Foreign Minister Julie Bishop turned to Twitter to find a lost earring .
Ms Bishop appeared on Sky News at Sydney's Martin Place on Monday .
She gave an interview with one pearl earring noticeably missing . |
fbe55ab07d9f50f914279950904b954f98e306cf | By . Jenny Awford for MailOnline . Texas Governor Rick Perry's mug-shot has gone viral after he turned himself in at Travis County Courthouse in Texas . He turned himself in at a Texas courthouse after being indicted on two counts of abuse of power. But after posing for a smirking mugshot, Texas Governor Rick Perry's police photograph has gone viral, inspiring hundreds of memes. From starring in his own movie, to gracing the cover of GQ for the annual indicted governors issue, people have been quick to add their own special touches to the smug shot. He arrived at the Travis County Courthouse on Tuesday for booking on one felony count of abuse of official capactiy and one count of coercion of a public servant. The Republican governor formally entered a not guilty plea and said he would 'fight this injustice with every fibre of my being' and prevail. 'I'm here today because I believe in the rule of law. I'm here today because I did the right thing. I'm going to enter this courthouse with my head held high knowing the actions I took were not only lawful and legal but right,' he said. 'This issue is far bigger than me, it's about the rule of law, it's about the constitution which allows not just the governor but every citizen to speak their mind free of political interference or legal intimidation. 'This indictment is nothing short of an attack on the constitutional powers of the office of governor. There are important fundamental issues at stake and I will not allow this attack on our system of government to stand.' Perry even made the cover of this spoof GQ for the annual indicted governors issue and was given a pair of comedy glasses in one of the memes after removing his own for the picture . Perry was indicted by a jury in Austin last Friday over his veto of $7.5million in funding to a public integrity unit headed by Rosemary Lehmberg, the district attorney for Travis County. The Texas Governor called for her resignation after she was convicted of drunk-driving in April last year and carried out the veto when she refused to step down. Austin Police Department released his mug-shot to the public and people quickly took to twitter to correct the lack of glasses and add their own special touches. There was even a reference to Robert Burt, the Maine teen who showed up for his booking photo wearing a T-shirt bearing his mug shot from a previous arrest. His mug shot quickly prompted a meme, with the (left) picture inspired by the Maine teenager who turned up for his booking photo wearing a t-shit with the picture from his previous arrest . The Texas Governor was given a starring role in his own movie and inspired a spoof election poster . The Texas Governor said he would 'fight this injustice with every fibre of my being' and prevail . Minutes after he was fingerprinted at the courthouse, the Texas Governor posted a photo from his official Twitter account of him outside Sandy's Hamburgers in down-town Austin. The photo shows Perry holding an ice cream cone, with his arm around a woman. His attorneys, David Botsford and Tony Buzbee, are standing nearby with their own ice cream cones. Rick Perry posed for an ice-cream immediately after his mug-shot was taken at the Texas courthouse . | Texas Governor Rick Perry posed for a mug shot at a Texas courthouse .
The smirking photo went viral overnight, inspiring hundreds of memes .
He was given comedy glasses and put on the front cover of a spoof GQ .
Perry handed himself in after being indicted over abuse of power charges . |
fbe55ee646506deb16031f092c0bd2cae728a1e4 | The identity of Mr WH has been puzzled over for centuries after it appeared in Shakespeare's book of sonnets . The identity of the man Shakespeare's book of sonnets was dedicated to - a enigma that has puzzled scholars for centuries - may now finally have been established. The first edition of Shakespeare's sonnets, published in 1609, were dedicated to a 'Mr W H', whose identity has never been proven - leading to claims it could have been a male lover. But an American researcher has now uncovered evidence to suggest he was not, in fact, a male lover or nobleman, but a recently deceased friend of the sonnets' publisher. Inscribed in the first published edition of the sonnets is a dedication to the man, whose identity has been subjected to fierce debate for centuries. The message reads: 'To the only begetter of these ensuing sonnets Mr W H. All happiness and that eternity promised by our ever-living poet wisheth the well-wishing adventurer in setting forth.' It ends with the letters 'TT' - believed to be the mark of the sonnets' publisher, Thomas Thorpe. The Guardian reported researcher Geoffrey Caveney has now found evidence linking the initials to William Holme, who was an associate of Thorpe's. The two were both publishing apprentices in London, had theatre connections and came from prominent families in Chester. Mr Caveney said evidence for his conclusions included that Holme died two years before the sonnets were published and it would have been an insult to refer to an aristocrat as 'Mr' - ruling out Mr W. H's identity as a nobleman. His theory, that it was a tribute to someone deceased, would also explain the spiritual theme of the message. Researcher Geoffrey Caveney has now found evidence linking the dedication 'Mr W H', whose identity has never been proven, to William Holme, an associate of Shakespeare's publisher . Mr Caveney said: Nobody was aware that there was [also] a publisher of that name who had died in 1607,' said Caveney. 'Seeing the dedication as a memorial makes a lot of sense,' according to the Guardian. Throughout the centuries since the sonnets were published, speculation about Mr W. H's identity has varied wildly. The most likely candidates were often thought to have been his friends Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton, or William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke. Oscar Wilde explored a different theory, writing a fictional 1889 story about whether it could be a cross-dressing boy actor called Willie Hughes - and the same person as the 'fair youth' of the sonnets. That could also help explain punning references to the name 'Will', it was claimed. A rare copy of William Shakespeare's First Folio (pictured), the first ever compilation of the Bard's plays, was uncovered in a provincial library in northern France last year . The world's most famous playwright has long caused controversy among literary scholars. Last year, a new debate broke out between some of the world's top Shakespeare experts over whether the playwright's sonnets prove he was attracted to men. Sir Brian Vickers, a visiting professor at University College London, began the row by condemning a book review which suggested Sonnet 116 appears in a 'primarily homosexual context'. In a letter to the Times Literary Supplement, he said the claim was 'anachronistic' because scholars now accept there were forms of rhetoric that allowed men to express love without implying sexual attraction. But the most enduring debate about the Bard is whether or not the playwright wrote everything that has been attributed to him. Doubts have surrounded Shakespeare's authorship for 150 years, with Francis Bacon, Christopher Marlowe and Edward de Vere named as the likely writers of his sonnets and plays. And recently, Shakespeare's well-delivered lines have even been blamed for creating a painful stigma for millions of people suffering skin disease. Researchers from Nottingham, Leicester and Derby, analysed Shakespeare’s language and found that it reflected the Elizabethan obsession with perfect, unmarked, pale skin. One of the most graphic examples occurs when King Lear insults his scheming daughter Goneril, declaring: 'Thou art a boil, a plague sore, an embossed carbuncle'. | Identity of Shakespeare's 'Mr WH' has been puzzled over for centuries .
The playwright's book of sonnets was dedicated to the mystery man .
Previous theories have claimed he was an aristocrat or male lover .
But new research shows he may have been an associate of the publisher .
Geoffrey Caveney found evidence linking the initials to William Holme .
Holme died two years before the book of sonnets was published in 1609 .
He mixed in the same circles as the book's publisher Thomas Thorpe . |
fbe570ecb028509a04909b57ab09d24cf1b90099 | By . Claire Bates . PUBLISHED: . 10:53 EST, 18 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:09 EST, 31 January 2013 . A football-mad four-year-old boy has been refused an operation to enable him to walk and play his favourite sport due to an NHS postcode lottery. Jack Rooke suffers from cerebral . palsy but a procedure available at a hospital just seven miles away could make a dramatic difference to his life. His family have now launched an appeal to raise £35,000 to pay for the surgery privately after his local NHS trust refused to provide funding. Jack Rooke, 4, with his mother Hannah Trimby. They live just seven miles from a hospital that performs the surgery Jack needs to walk, but NHS Bristol won't fund it . His parents Hannah Trimby, 26, and Sam Rooke, from Whitchurch, Bristol, are angry that his fate has been decided by a postcode lottery in which some primary care trusts provide funding while others do not. Selective dorsal rhizotomy is a neurosurgical technique used to treat spasticity (increased muscle tone) in the lower limbs. The lower vertebrae are opened to reveal the spinal cord which contain the neurones of the central nervous system. These neurones (bundles of nerve fibres) channel messages between the brain and different areas of the body. Electrical stimulation is used to identify and sub-divide sensory and motor nerves. This process continues until the specific nerves and nerve roots affecting the spastic muscles and which may not be 'transmitting' properly are identified and cut. Due to the size of the nerves and rootlets, this is a very precise procedure and therefore the surgery can last several hours and requires a general anaesthetic. Many months of physiotherapy are needed after the surgery to retrain the legs. Source: SCOPE . Full-time mother Hannah, said: 'I'm fuming that living so close to the hospital doesn't mean that Jack will get the surgery. 'You would think you would have to be in the area to get the surgery.' Jack suffers from spastic cerebral palsy, meaning muscle tightness in his legs makes it impossible for him to walk unaided and he relies on a specialist frame. He needs an operation known as an SDR - selective dorsal rhizotomy - which involves cutting the tight muscles and nerve endings in order to loosen the legs and make them more agile. Frenchay Hospital in Bristol has carried out 37 of these procedures since they became available in May, but around 20 of these have been funded privately. After the operation, patients need months of intensive physiotherapy to strengthen their legs. Hannah added: 'It is his dream - it would be amazing for him to be able to walk on his own, and hopefully the surgery will help prevent him from needing more orthopaedic surgery in the future.' Neurosurgeon Kristian Aquilina, who performs the operation at Frenchay, believes Jack is eligible for the treatment. Unfortunately for Ben his local primary care trust - NHS Bristol - does not fund the procedure. Sam, a plumber, said: 'Jack loves football and loves music. He knows he can't walk and that other children his age can and he knows he has cerebral palsy and about the operation. 'Jack doesn't let it hold him back and is the happiest kid I know. But because at the moment he crawls, he cannot kick a ball unless you hold his hands.' Fundraising: Jack is hoping that next year he will be able to walk unaided and kick a football for the first time . Later this month, Hannah and a friend are hoping to raise money by sitting in a bath of porridge while having their hair washed in gravy. Jack was born prematurely, at just 28 weeks, weighing 2lb 12oz, and after spending the first 11 weeks of his young life in neonatal intensive care, doctors discovered he had developed cerebral palsy due to brain damage he suffered in the womb. He suffers from a form of cerebral palsy called spastic diplegia, which means he cannot stand or walk unaided. Bristol-based charity Cerebral Palsy Plus helps local sufferers and their parents cope with the debilitating condition. Spokeswoman Cathy Truman said: 'A . number of our members are individually fund-raising to get the surgery . themselves, because Bristol NHS won't pay for it. We will support them with that as much as we can. 'What they are doing at Frenchay is cutting edge - it's one of the few places in the country that can perform the surgery. 'It is ironic that this cutting-edge surgery is based here in Bristol and yet is not funded locally.' The Frenchay Hospital in Bristol is one of just four centres in the UK that perform selective dorsal rhizotomy . A spokesperson for NHS Bristol said: 'The Primary Care Trusts have been in discussions with North Bristol NHS Trust which is keen to establish a service for SDR. 'During the course of these discussions, it became clear that this was a high cost specialist procedure which required regional or national commissioning rather, than locally, to avoid inequitable access to the treatment. 'The newly formed National Commissioning Board is currently consulting on a draft policy across England on the provision of Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy for children with spasticity secondary to Cerebral Palsy.' Donations can be made to Jack online through www.justgiving.com/Jacks-will-to-walk . | Jack suffers from spastic cerebral palsy, meaning muscle tightness in his legs makes it impossible for him to walk .
An operation that cuts the faulty nerves in the spine could improve his condition .
However, his NHS Trust has refused to fund it, despite Jack only living seven miles from the specialist hospital that performs the surgery . |
fbe5ec3ef0e8026dfffcc36dc385907d67a6133c | Port-au-Prince, Haiti (CNN) -- In January 2010 a seven-point magnitude earthquake rocked Haiti, killing more than 250,000 people and damaging its infrastructure, including some water systems. Even before the quake, Haiti's water systems were fragile, and just months after the quake the country was hit with a devastating cholera outbreak -- the first in nearly a century. By the time the outbreak subsided, more than 8,000 people had died and hundreds of thousands more had become sick. Independent studies suggest the outbreak was caused by U.N. peacekeepers who improperly disposed of fecal matter that ended up in Haiti's Artibonite River, a main tributary, where people bathe. In its own report, the U.N. concluded that the outbreak was "the result of bacteria introduced into Haiti as a result of human activity" -- but the organization says water and sanitation and healthcare system deficiencies allowed the bacteria to spread. "A cholera patient excretes the cholera bacteria in huge numbers and, if that excreta gets into the water or the food supply and other people consume it, they too will become ill and they'll amplify that by contaminating more water and more food," explains Dr. Eric Mintz, an epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in Atlanta. "That's where you see these incredibly rapid epidemics of cholera, and that tells you that the water is unsafe." Today, Haiti's Mirebalais University Hospital is training new doctors for another cholera outbreak. "That could happen again, particularly in parts of the country where people have not had a lot of cholera," says Mintz. "They may not have the experience to recognize it. They may not know what to do in terms of treatment. We certainly can't stop now and declare victory." Watch the video above to find out more. | Haiti still recovering from cholera epidemic that left 8,000 dead .
Hospital is training doctors to prepare for new outbreak .
Poor water and sanitation infrastructure mean Haiti is still at risk . |
fbe630bb3c935de84111ab12446af3c05da0e883 | By . Jaymi Mccann . PUBLISHED: . 14:54 EST, 19 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:50 EST, 19 July 2013 . They are the bane of every driver's life, but today one traffic warden proved that they can be kindhearted after all. On an upmarket street in Kensington a traffic warden made the decision to help a driver that had parked in the wrong place. The brown Volkswagen Passat was parked in a bay that had been suspended while work was carried out. Unusual: The car was taken to a different parking space 30 metres down the street . Tow: The driver was given a ticket, meaning he avoided the £200 release fee from a council car pound . Warning: Eyewitnesses say there were signs showing that the bay had been suspended . Kensington and Chelsea council workers then moved the car at 11am to another space rather than take it to the pound. Witnesses say that the bay was marked off with signs and that the car was taken approximately 30 metres. The driver was left with a standard £60 parking ticket,saving the costly sum of the £200 pound release fee. Luxury: The street is one of the most upmarket in the capital with residents such as Liz Hurley and Hugh Grant . Suspension: Kensington and Chelsea Council temporarily suspend bays when construction work is being conducted in the vicinity . One eyewitness said: 'There was a suspended bay for a removal van or something and the car was parked there. But they picked it up and moved about 30 metres up the road. 'Ive never ever seen anything like it before in my life. It was really quite unusual. 'They did the same to another car and took it round the corner.' The car was parked in an upmarket area in the borough where Liz Hurley, Shane Warne and Hugh Grant live. Kensington and Chelsea Council temporarily suspend bays when construction work is being conducted in the vicinity. | Brown Volkswagen was taken from one space to another in the same street .
Car had been parked in a bay that was suspended due to work taking place .
It was moved 30metres and given a ticket rather than taken to the pound .
Upmarket area has residents such as Liz Hurley and Hugh Grant . |
fbe6e0dbfe7327e711e408f9c7afaa99fcc7c951 | By . Erin Van Der Meer . and Sarah Michael . The father of Heath Ledger has said he is saddened to hear of the drug scandal surrounding Australian actor Ryan Corr, who received a scholarship named after the late Hollywood star. Kim Ledger, who presented Corr with an Australians in Film Heath Ledger Scholarship in 2011, also said he had no 'empathy' for people who take drugs. Corr has been charged after being found in possession of heroin in a laneway in Bondi, Sydney, in May. 'It does make me sad to hear that because we have enough problems with alcohol and drugs,' Mr Ledger told The Sydney Morning Herald. Scroll down for video . Photos have emerged of the actor, who has just been charged with drug posession, from May 2013, where he can be seen at bus stop in Sydney's Kings Cross . The images show Corr pacing the street while talking on the phone . Kim Ledger (right), whose son Heath (left) died from an overdose in 2008, says he is saddened by Corr's arrest . 'I have some empathy for what happens around that situation with families but very little empathy for people that put it in their own mouth. 'We do what we can to help people but we're not involved in the pro-active side of it.' The 25-year-old former Packed To The Rafters star was arrested on May 27 after he was found in Castlefield Lane by police. A New South Wales court case officer confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that Corr was due to appear in court on Tuesday in relation to being in possession of drugs and illegal substances. He did not appear and is due back in court on September 2. Corr can also be seen smoking cigarettes while moving around the area, leaving a blue bag on the seat of the bus stop . At times the actor is shown sitting while still having a conversation with the person at the other end of the line . Pictures and video footage of Corr have also emerged from May last year of him smoking, pacing back and forth and talking on his phone near a bus stop in Sydney's Kings Cross. 'The man was allegedly in possession of a small amount of a prohibited drug,' New South Wales police told Daily Mail Australia. 'He was issued with a Field Court Attendance Notice for possession of a prohibited drug and appeared at Waverley Local Court on July 8. The matter was adjourned for mention on September 2'. It was confirmed the substance was heroin and he was found with one freezer bag containing white powder, court documents say. Corr stays on the move most of the time he's on the phone, pacing up and down the street . Later the actor picked up the blue bag he had with him and was on the move again . Castlefield Lane, where it is alleged Ryan was found by police in possession of heroin in May . The lane runs parallel to Bondi Rd and is in close proximity to a school . Corr was allegedly found in Castlefield Lane which runs off Imperial Avenue and Castlefield Street, parallel to Bondi Rd and is close to a school. According to court documents seen by the Daily Mail Australia, Corr is likely to plead guilty when he appears in court on September 2. Five days after the arrest Corr won a Best Performance award for his role in Wolf Creek 2 opposite John Jarratt at Nocturna, the Madrid International Fantastic Film Festival. Corr is a well-known rising star in the industry, having had roles in Underbelly: The Golden Mile, Lovechild and Blue Water High as well as Packed To The Rafters. The Logie Award nominee is set to star alongside Russell Crowe in the upcoming film The Water Diviner. The 25-year-old is currently overseas filming new British drama series Banished, which is set in the eighteenth century when England established a penal colony in Australia. Corr was allegedly found in possession of heroin in the laneway on May 27. He was due to face court on Tuesday but did not appear. He is now expected to appear on September 2 . Rubbish piles up on the side of the road on Castlefield Lane . The young actor was praised by critics for his performance opposite veteran Australian actor John Jarratt in Wolf Creek 2 . A Logie Award and former CLEO Bachelor of the Year nominee, Corr is currently filming British period drama series Banished and is set to star in The Water Diviner opposite Russell Crowe . On June 2 he tweeted that he was heading to the UK for three months and asked fellow social media users for their suggestion on neighbouring countries to visit while he's away. Corr was widely praised by critics for his recent performance in Wolf Creek 2 opposite veteran Australian actor John Jarratt. Variety described the up-and-comer as 'a strong, witty match for the affably repulsive Jarratt in their scenes together.' A former CLEO Bachelor of the Year nominee and recipient of the Heath Ledger Scholarship, Corr has also held roles in Love Child and Underbelly: The Golden Mile. Still active: Two days after the arrest Ryan was back on social media, re-tweeting a message from a fan . The Logie nominee with Wolf Creek 2 director Greg McLean . Corr is set to play Art in upcoming historical drama The Water Diviner which stars Russell Crowe . On June 4 Corr told his Twitter followers he was heading to the UK for three months and asked for recommendations for places he should visit. He is currently filming new British drama series Banished . Corr has starred in many Aussie dramas including Love Child, which is due back for a second season next year . His last tweet was on Monday when he thanked fans for their response to Wolf Creek 2. 'Thanks for all the WC2 love guys! Glad DVD release is bringing more audiences and Joy! Well... Horror.. But Joy horror. Much love.' Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Corr's local management, Catherine Poulton Management, for comment, while his US management, William Morris Endeavor, declined to comment. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | 'We have enough problems with alcohol and drugs,' Kim Ledger said .
Corr was the recipient of the Heath Ledger Scholarship in 2011 .
He was found by police with heroin and arrested on May 27 .
Corr is due in court on September 2 .
The actor had a long-running role in Packed To The Rafters . |
fbe6e3356f85d13d038fb82a52f3c93f0c40f508 | Luke Batty's father told ambulance workers to let him die after he killed his 11-year-old son at a Victorian cricket oval during a custody visit. Greg Anderson was covered with blood and holding a knife when he lunged at emergency services workers called to the Tyabb oval on February 12, an inquest into Luke's death has heard. The 54-year-old was shot by police and said 'let me die' as paramedics attempted to treat him, the Victorian Coroners Court heard on Monday. Scroll down for video . Greg Anderson, 56, killed his son Luke Batty, 11, on the Tyabb oval in Victoria on February 12 . Mr Anderson and Luke were practising in the cricket nets, 'substantially on their own', when the attack happened, but it was witnessed by an eight-year-old boy, the inquest heard . Mr Anderson and Luke were practising in the cricket nets, 'substantially on their own', when the attack happened, but it was witnessed by an eight-year-old boy, the inquest heard. Luke died after Mr Anderson struck him with a cricket bat and attacked him with a knife. The boy saw Mr Anderson raise the bat over his right shoulder but did not see it connect with Luke. Luke died after Mr Anderson struck him with a cricket bat and attacked him with a knife during a custody visit . He ran and told his father, who called paramedics. When emergency services workers arrived they saw Mr Anderson kneeling by Luke. At first they thought he was helping him, the inquest heard. When ambulance workers tried to approach Luke, Mr Anderson said 'he's in heaven now'. Mr Anderson died in hospital from gunshot wounds and self-inflicted knife wounds. The inquest heard that in the months before he killed his son, Mr Anderson once held up a knife while talking to Luke and said: 'This could be the one to end it all.' Luke reported the incident to police and a child protection officer, but told them that he loved his father and was not in fear of him, the inquest heard. Luke's mother, Rosie Batty, said she had always wanted her son to have a relationship with his father. 'For me it's really important a child should know his father,' she told the inquest. 'Greg was really loving and keen to be involved in Luke's life. 'But I said to myself this is a journey, I'll keep doing things that feel right until they didn't feel right anymore.' Ms Batty said she changed her mind in April 2013 when Luke revealed his father had shown him the knife while Anderson prayed in his car. 'I was so alarmed I knew I could no longer support his relationship with his father,' Ms Batty said. Mr Anderson's contact with Luke was restricted by an intervention order from May 2012, but that was changed to block access to his son in April 2013. An inquest into Luke's death has heard Mr Anderson begged Ambulance workers to 'let him die' Counsel assisting the inquest, Rachel Ellyard, said the order was changed again in July 2013 to allow Mr Anderson access to Luke at football and cricket matches on the weekend. Ms Ellyard said Mr Anderson was technically in breach of that order by seeing Luke at cricket training on a weekday. The inquest heard Ms Batty was not told Mr Anderson had failed to appear in court on charges of assault and not answering bail. She learned that Anderson's housemate sought and was granted an intervention order in January this year through media reports. Ms Batty said when she saw Mr Anderson at the cricket oval on the night of Luke's death it occurred to her to call the police, but she decided not to. When ambulance workers tried to approach Luke, Mr Anderson said 'he's in heaven now' Luke's mother Rosie Batty (pictured) said she had always wanted her son to have a relationship with his father . She said she had previously had unpleasant situations trying to get the police involved at the cricket club. Ms Batty said she didn't trust the situation, and previous attempts had been traumatic, stressful and unpredictable. She said she thought: 'This will be the third time I've tried to get this man arrested in front of Luke and his friends at that bloody oval.' The police had Anderson's address, so she thought it would be better if they arrested him there, discretely, Ms Batty told the inquest. Ms Ellyard said key issues to be explored during the inquest included the assessments of Mr Anderson made by police and the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the supervision orders dictating Mr Anderson's contact with Luke. The information sharing between Ms Batty, the DHS and police, and any changes DHS and police have made to their procedures since Luke's murder, would also be investigated. More broadly, Ms Ellyard said the inquest would look into whether there were any signs Anderson had the potential for violence towards Luke and whether they could have been acted on. *Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467. | Greg Anderson, 56, was shot by police after lunging at emergency workers .
Mr Anderson killed his 11-year-old son, Luke Batty, with a cricket bat and knife on a Victorian cricket oval on February 12 .
He begged paramedics to 'let him die' and told them his son 'was in heaven'
An inquest heard Mr Anderson threatened Luke's life months before the murder .
Mother, Rosie Batty, wanted Luke to have a relationship with father . |
fbe7358801935572a25e907f73be5eb3c2f7e216 | This is the moment an Afghan police officer dramatically apprehended a man suspected of throwing a grenade in the diplomatic quarter of Kabul this morning. The blast shook houses in the Wazir Akbar Khan area of the city, which is home to embassies, international media offices and aid groups, but there were no casualties, police said. Minutes after the grenade attack, plain clothed officers from the Afghan special forces raced to a small hillside on the outskirts of Wazir Akbar Khan, where they were able to arrest a suspect - leading him away from the scene with a shawl wrapped around his head. Held: A plain clothes Afghan police officer dramatically apprehends a man suspected of throwing a grenade in the diplomatic quarter of Kabul . Restrained: The Afghan police officer pins to the terror suspect to the floor as he waits for back-up to arrive in Kabul's diplomatic quarter . Captured: Armed Afghan police officers wearing their distinctive blue uniforms arrive at the scene and the man is formally arrested . 'Someone threw a hand grenade and he was apprehended,' said Sediq Sediqqi, a spokesman for the interior ministry. The suspect was being interrogated but his motive and target were still unclear, he added. Earlier today, a remote-controlled bomb exploded on the outskirts of Kabul as a bus carrying Afghan army personnel passed by, said Zahir Azimi, a spokesman for the Afghan defence ministry. Seven of the bus passengers were injured. In an email to journalists, the Taliban insurgency claimed responsibility for that attack. Kabul has suffered a growing number of bombings by the Taliban and other jihadist militants as foreign combat troops withdraw from a 13-year-long war, leaving behind a smaller support mission. Yesterday a magnetic bomb killed two U.S. troops in the capital. Hidden: Police officers carry the suspect awat from the scene of the grenade attack with a black shawl wrapped around his head . Led away: 'Someone threw a hand grenade and he was apprehended,' said Sediq Sediqqi, a spokesman for the interior ministry. The suspect was being interrogated but his motive and target were still unclear, he added . This morning it was claimed that the United States is preparing to increase the number of troops it keeps in Afghanistan in 2015 to fill a gap left in the NATO mission by other contributing nations, according to three sources with direct knowledge of the situation. The final numbers are still being agreed, but there will be at least several hundred more than initially planned, one of the sources said. 'If they hadn't done that, the mission would have lost bases,' the source said. Under the U.S. commitment, described as a 'bridging solution' until other nations fulfil their pledges later in the year or the troops are no longer needed, Washington may provide up to 1,000 extra troops. That figure was confirmed by all three sources, who said the final number was still under discussion and depended on when other countries stepped forward with their commitments. An Afghan police officer stands guard at the blast site after a grenade attack rocked the capital Kabul this morning but caused no casualties . Hunt: Afghan investigators search the blast site for evidence and to ensure the suspect hadn't left a hidden bombs in the area . The additional U.S. troops will be assigned to a 12,000-strong NATO force staying in Afghanistan to train, advise and assist Afghan forces through a new mission called Resolute Support, said the sources, who declined to be indentified. The bulk of Western combat troops are to leave the country at the end of this year when the mission officially winds up after 13 years of war against a stubborn Taliban and its al Qaeda allies. President Barack Obama had announced in May that U.S. troop levels would be cut to 9,800 by the end of the year, by half again in 2015 and to a normal embassy presence with a security assistance office in Kabul by the end of 2016. 'There will be 9,800 troops, plus at least a few hundred above and beyond that,' the same source said. Of the 9,800, some 8,000 had been earmarked for the NATO force and the remainder for a separate anti-terrorism operation. The move to increase the U.S. presence left in Afghanistan comes shortly after Obama approved plans to give the U.S. military a wider role to fight the hardline Islamist Taliban movement alongside Afghan forces after the mission expires. | Grenade blast shook houses in the Wazir Akbar Khan area of Kabul - home to embassies and media centres .
Nobody hurt in blast and plain clothes officers from the Afghan special forces quickly arrested a suspect .
He was led from the scene with shawl covering his head as police investigate motive for the grenade attack .
Earlier seven passengers were injured by remote-controlled bomb targeting bus carrying Afghan army personel . |
fbe78951f0713f70a6e699c25aaf3556e1207a0b | By . Graham Smith . PUBLISHED: . 09:42 EST, 3 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:43 EST, 3 July 2012 . A mother almost died after losing an astonishing 12 pints of blood while giving birth to a boy weighing more than 11lbs. Rachel London, 29, is lucky to be alive after having a blood transfusion followed by emergency surgery at Ipswich Hospital just minutes after welcoming baby Jacob on April 7. She was only able to hold the newborn for a few moments before being rushed to theatre with a torn cervix and vaginal wall. Close call: Rachel London almost died after losing an astonishing 12 pints of blood while giving birth to baby Jacob. Also pictured is her daughter Eloise . There doctors performed a transfusion, but the mother-of-two continued to leak blood. She was then transferred to surgery where doctors operated to stem the blood flow. Her devastated husband Michael feared she would die after she lost over seven litres of blood, the equivalent of 12.3 pints. The average woman has eight to ten pints in her body. And baby Jacob, who weighed a hefty 11lb 2oz, was also fighting his own make-or-break battle. Seriously ill with a vomiting bug, the newborn was taken straight to the hospital's special care baby unit. Mrs London, who also has a three-year-old daughter, Eloise, has now saluted nurses, including midwife Geraldine Davies, in the hospital's maternity ward for saving her life as well as her son's. Mrs London, of Ipswich, said: 'There were times when they didn't know if I would survive because I was losing so much blood. 'Without the nurses and doctors I wouldn't be here today - they were brilliant. I can't praise them enough for everything they did for me.' Survivor: Jacob, who weighed a hefty 11lb 2oz, was rushed straight to a special care baby unit seriously ill with a vomiting bug . She added: 'I was given a blood transfusion. But I was even losing that blood and in total doctors said I lost seven litres of blood - which is actually more than is in the average human body. 'It was all a bit of a blur because one minute I'm giving birth and the next I'm going through to theatre. 'My husband thought he was going to have to explain to our three-year-old daughter Eloise that her mummy wasn't going to come back.' Mrs London was kept in intensive care for two days before undergoing further surgery. She then spent three days recovering on the maternity ward. Jacob was transferred to Norfolk and Norwich Hospital to be assessed by specialists but was allowed to return to his mother's side after eight days. Nurses on the maternity ward even took pictures of Jacob in the special care baby unit so grateful Mrs London could see how her baby was coping. Maternity manager Frances Bolger said: 'It's great to hear Rachel and baby Jacob are doing so well. Their thanks means a lot to the team here who work incredibly hard every day to provide quality care to mothers and babies.' Mrs London also urged people to give blood to save lives all over the country. She said: 'It saved my life and it is so important because giving blood can save so many people. 'I didn't realise the importance of giving blood until this happened to me but now I would urge everyone to give blood.' | Average woman has 8 to 10 pints of blood in her body .
Rachel London lucky to be alive after losing 12 pints while giving birth to Jacob, who weighed 11lbs 2oz .
She had blood transfusion, then emergency surgery to stem blood flow .
Jacob taken to special care unit with vomiting bug . |
fbe849b53ce62cad8c927db65052eed5b9b22c03 | The U.S. has ordered diplomats' families and non-essential staff to leave its embassies in Sudan and Tunisia as protests against an anti-Muslim video continue to rage across the Islamic world. American citizens have also been warned not to visit either country due to the dangers posed by anti-U.S. riots. The announcements came as the Libyan government revealed that Al Qaeda might have been responsible for the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi that killed the American ambassador and three others. The terrorist network has urged Muslims around the world to step up their protests and kill more diplomats in Islamic countries. Scroll down for video . Fierce: Protesters in downtown Cairo gather round a burning car as anti-U.S. riots continue . Starting young: Youthful protesters joined the demonstrating throng in Cairo on Saturday . Violence: Protests against a U.S.-made video mocking the Prophet Mohammed have not died down . 'Given the security situation in Tunis and Khartoum, the State Department has ordered the departure of all family members and non-emergency personnel from both posts, and issued parallel travel warnings to American citizens,' a U.S. government spokesman said on Saturday. In Tunisia, the warning advised Americans that the international airport in Tunis is open and encouraged all U.S. citizens to depart on commercial flights. It said Americans who chose to remain in Tunisia should use extreme caution and avoid demonstrations. On Friday, protesters climbed the walls into the U.S. Embassy in Tunis, torching cars in the parking lot, trashing the entrance building and setting fire to a gym and a neighboring American school that is now unusable. In Sudan, the warning said that while the Sudanese government has taken steps to limit the activities of terrorist groups, some remain and have threatened to attack Western interests . The terrorist threat level remains . 'critical' throughout Sudan. The department noted that U.S. officials . are already required to travel in armored vehicles and to get permission . to travel outside Khartoum, where crowds torched part of the German . Embassy and tried to storm the U.S. Embassy on Friday. Trashed: The U.S. embassy in Tunis after it was targeted by furious anti-American protesters . Destruction: Non-essential staff have been evacuated from the embassy (pictured) following the riots . Bombed out: Cars in the embassy's parking lot following a U.S. warning not to travel to Tunisia . A U.S. official said on Saturday that Sudan's government is holding up the deployment of an elite Marine team that the U.S. planned to send to Khartoum to boost security at the embassy. The head of Libya's national congress told al-Jazeera that Tuesday night's attack which killed U.S. ambassador Chris Stevens was the work of Al Qaeda. 'If you take into account the weapons used, like RPGs and other heavy weapons, it proves that it was preplanned,' Mohamed Al Magarief said. 'It's a dirty act of revenge that has nothing to do with religion.' But in Egypt, the prime minister claimed that far from all being radical jihadists, some protesters admitted they had been paid to attend demonstrations. Some members of Congress have hit out at the billions in aid paid to Arab countries, arguing that countries with populations hostile to the U.S. should not benefit from American funding. 'Our Treasury is bare,' said Kentucky senator Rand Paul. 'There is a multitude of reasons why we should not continue to send good money after bad.' On guard: A Tunisian soldier outside the embassy in Tunis in the wake of the attacks . Innocent: But rioters also looted and burned an American-run school next to the embassy compound . Rampant: Children look at the remains of a burnt-out school bus in which was targeted by demonstrators . Al Qaeda made its bloodthirsty appeal to Muslims as riot police clashed . with around 200 protesters at the U.S. Consulate in Sydney on Saturday whilie demonstrations against the anti-Islam film 'Innocence of Muslims' spread across the world. The Al Qaeda statement said; 'Whoever comes across America's ambassadors or emissaries should follow the example of Omar al-Mukhtar's descendants [Libyans], who killed the American ambassador,' the group said. 'Let the step of . kicking out the embassies be a step towards liberating Muslim countries . from the American hegemony,' a statement posted on an AQAP website on Saturday said. In Australia, Ten Network television . news showed a policeman knocked unconscious as the mostly male crowd . hurled bottles and other missiles. Many of the protesters were wearing . Muslim dress. Police used pepper spray against . the protesters, who chanted 'Obama, Obama, we love Osama' and waved . placards saying 'Behead all those who insult the Prophet.' Fury about the . film swept across the Middle East after Friday prayers, with protesters . attacking U.S. embassies and in protests that killed at least seven . people and prompted Washington to send troops to bolster security at its . missions. Protesters clash with policemen on a street in Sydney's central business district, on September 15, 2012 . A policeman, injured by protesters, is assisted by colleagues in central Sydney today after anger over an anti-Islam video spread to Australia . Police confront a group of protestors in central Sydney as an injured demonstrator lies on the ground in the Australian city . 'The film . published in America which insults our Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon . him, comes as part of the continuing crusader wars against Islam,' AQAP's statement said, referring to European wars in the region some . 1,000 years ago. Al-Qaeda . in the Arabian Peninsula is a group of militants mainly from Yemen and . Saudi Arabia, and is regarded by the United States as the most . dangerous branch of the network founded by Osama bin Laden. The . group has used Yemen, a key regional U.S. ally, to plot attacks on the . United States. Washington has backed a Yemeni army campaign that drove . al Qaeda and its allies from their southern stronghold this year. Muslims . have blamed the U.S. government for the amateurish film of obscure . origin. Washington has condemned the film and said it does not condone . any insult to any religion. A protester holds a home made sign during a rally in Sydney's central business district as anger over a film that insults the Prophet Mohammed spread to Australia on Saturday . An injured protester is detained by a policeman in Sydney's Hyde Park . Praising the . attacks by angry demonstrators in Libya, Egypt, Yemen and Sudan on U.S. and other Western missions as 'natural responses to a huge insult', the . statement said that American embassies should be burned and diplomats . killed. It said defending the Prophet's honor was a 'religious duty and obligation to the Muslim nation, each according to his ability'. The group also said that Muslims living in the West have an extra duty to be involved in attacks on key targets. 'They are more capable of doing harm and reaching the enemy is easier for them,' it said. Mourners shout slogans as they carry the coffin of Mohammed al-Tuwaiti, a protester shot dead on Thursday as riot police dispersed protesters who stormed the U.S. embassy's compound in Sanaa, Yemen . Yemeni mourners carry the coffin of a protester who was killed two days ago during clashes with security forces at the US embassy in Sana'a, Yemen . Kashmiri Muslim students shout anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans during a protest against a low-budget US film that depicts the Prophet Mohammed in Srinagar today . Indian muslim women shout slogans against United States of America because of the film made in US called 'Innocence of Muslims' which ridicules Islam's Prophet Muhammad, in Chennai, India today . Impoverished Yemen is struggling against challenges on many fronts since mass protests forced president Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down last year after decades in power. The United States, eager to help the country recover from the upheaval that has pushed it to the brink of collapse, has said it would provide $345 million in security, humanitarian and development aid this year, more than double last year. A . total of six police officers were injured, including two who were taken . to a hospital. Two protesters were treated for police dog bites and 17 . others for the effects of pepper spray, police said in a statement. There were no details of their condition. In Australia, eight people were arrested on charges including assaulting police and resisting arrest. Police said they were unsure who organized the protest. 'There . was little or no organization or control of what they were doing, and . their actions were disgraceful,' police Superintendent Mark Walton said . in a statement. Shoppers watch from a glass bridge between shopping centres as police pursue protesters in Sydney's central business district on Saturday . Police officers prevent anyone from approaching the building that houses the United States consulate in Sydney on September 15, 2012 . Prime Minister Julian Gillard said the protest was unacceptable. 'Violent protest is never acceptable - not today, not ever,' she said in a statement. Several hundred people took to the streets of Sydney on Saturday, throwing rocks and bottles during clashes with police. The demonstration that began with about 200 people outside the U.S. consulate in Sydney swelled to more than twice that number, with protesters appearing to catch police off guard as they marched through the centre of the city. Several streets, usually thronging with weekend shoppers, were blocked off by police as the protest grew. Police, many wearing anti-riot equipment and some on horseback, used dogs and chemical sprays, including tear gas, as they tried to control the protest. A man and woman struggle with their stroller while other shoppers attempt to move out of the way as police pursue protesters in Sydney's central business district . A protester hits a policeman with a pole in in Sydney today as anger of the anti-Islamic video produced in the U.S. spread to Australia . Protesters pray in front of a line of police officers in Sydney's Hyde Park today . Television pictures showed one policeman with a head injury being led away by colleagues. A spokesman for paramedics said there were no serious injuries. A police spokesman said the protest was being monitored, with demonstrators gathering in a central Sydney park. A Muslim leader addressed the protesters in the park, calling for calm. Australia, a staunch U.S. ally with troops still fighting in Afghanistan, has a Muslim population of about 476,000, or 2.2 percent of the population, according to 2011 census figures. The violent protests in Australia follow four days of demonstrations across the Arab world, stretching from Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Lebanon, Palestinian territories, Israel, Sudan, Nigeria, Tunisia and Pakistan. | Diplomats' families and non-essential staff ordered to return to the U.S.
Violent protests continue in Tunisia, Sudan and throughout Muslim world .
Officials in Sudan prevent U.S. from deploying Marines to protect embassy .
Libyan government says Al Qaeda may be responsible for attack which killed American ambassador on Tuesday night .
Terrorist group urges Muslims to murder more U.S. diplomats .
Congressmen call for end to billions of dollars in aid to Arab countries . |
fbe97f6e0e81634a1f4089e402aab0509409c796 | Boasting a private tasting room, a cinema and an on-call personal trainer, this lavish London penthouse is more like a top hotel than a home - and it comes with a price tag to match. The lavish Marylebone apartment has gone on sale for £25 million and comes complete with a local in the shape of top celebrity hangout, the Chiltern Firehouse which sits next door. Part of a new development called The Chilterns, the four-bedroom property also has David Bailey artworks, a sauna and an in-house chef. This slice of uber luxury is the most expensive ever to come on sale in London's Marylebone . The £25 million property, which is being sold off-plan has a roof terrace, which at 2,519 sqft is the largest private terrace in the West End . Other perks include an on-site gym and a 24-hour hotel-style concierge which will take care of everything from travel arrangements and theatre tickets to dry cleaning and shopping. However, the property, which covers two floors and has a 2,519 square foot roof terrace, isn't yet complete and has to be bought off-plan. For those who can't afford the lavish price tag, the neighbouring penthouse - which offers similar perks - is currently on sale for a relatively modest £12.6m. Despite the hefty fee, top independent property expert, David Williams, says the apartment is likely to be purchased by a foreign buyer. The penthouses have been designed by top architect firm Squire & Partners and interior designer Rabih Hage . The lobby will contain photographs taken by David Bailey of nearby Regent’s Park . 'It's Chinese and Russians who have been fuelling London's top prime property market for the last few years,' he explains. Mr Williams also says the artworks are unlikely to impress potential buyers. 'I don’t think David Bailey’s favourite picture hanging on the wall is going to make a big difference to how much this will sell for,' he says. 'In my experience, if you've got £25million to spend, it's not by accident - you've done something smart to accrue it. 'So buyers will be looking at the capital growth of the property - but of course they'll want something fully serviced and well appointed.' The master bedroom suite, which is the same size as an average one-bed flat, has a bedroom with a living area opening onto two private terraces . The walk-in dressing room is lined with bespoke built in cupboards . Is it his or hers? The master suite has two ensuite bathrooms, both decked in marble . The penthouses have been designed by top architects Squire & Partners, while the chic interiors are the work of designer, Rabih Hage. Inside the £25m four-bedroom duplex, which has 5,047 square foot of internal living space, is a grand reception room that spans the building and has a raised ceiling and windows. Folding glass walls open onto three private rooftop terraces - the first, a vast outside reception room and garden, the second, an outside dining room and the third, a sun deck for loungers. On the other floor is a large family kitchen and breakfast room, a sitting room with feature fireplace and a 16-seater formal dining room opening onto another private terrace. The 775 sqft private cinema can seat up to 10 people with an interior designed in the style of the luxurious Electric Cinema in Notting Hill . The development has a gym (gym reception pictured above), sauna, 24-hour hotel-style concierge (to take care of travel arrangements and theatre tickets to dry cleaning and shopping) and valet parking . The master bedroom, which at 200 square foot is the same size as the average one-bedroom flat, has a separate living area opening onto two private terraces, a walk-in dressing room lined with bespoke built-in cupboards and his and hers ensuite bathrooms. As well as three further bedroom suites, the duplex also features a studio flat with bedroom, kitchenette, living area and bathroom, which the agent suggests is suitable for staff - or teenagers. The two floors of the duplex are linked by a private glass lift but there's also a staircase for those happy to make the hike. In all, there are 44 residences behind the contemporary seven-storey glass and stone façade. From the outside, the building also has a striking stepped roofline and glass-fronted balconies. There may be a chef on site but that doesn't mean you'll have to do without a kitchen . The second of the penthouse's lounges looks over the dining room and has a cosy feel and stylish fireplace . The apartments overlook the greenery of Paddington Street Gardens, and front onto Chiltern Street, home to celebrity hotspot, The Chiltern Firehouse . The 775 sqft private cinema can seat up to 10 people with an interior in the style of the luxurious Electric Cinema in Notting Hill. Developers are currently in discussions with a number of leading cinema operators with a view to them providing the latest films and documentaries for the cinema, in addition to Netflicks, Sky, BBC and ITV and other channels. The lobby will contain photographs taken by David Bailey of nearby Regent’s Park and has also created a book featuring 44 specially commissioned prints of the local area. Each owner of an apartment at The Chilterns will be given a framed original David Bailey print from this series, together with a copy of the book. In all there are 44 residences behind the contemporary seven-storey glass and stone façade. From the outside, the building also has a striking stepped roofline and glass-fronted balconies . Celebrity favourite, The Chiltern Firehouse, is on the doorstep for some priceless celebrity spotting . | The penthouse is part of The Chilterns, a development in Marylebone .
London's top celebrity hotspot, The Chiltern Firehouse, is on the doorstep .
The apartment is the most expensive ever in the Marylebone area .
Also has a gym, sauna, private cinema, 24-hour hotel-style concierge . |
fbe9c3419104bdcc6594bf16b96a76de8623440c | By . Becky Evans . PUBLISHED: . 14:23 EST, 3 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:47 EST, 3 January 2013 . Two men have been arrested under the Terrorism Act after a suspect package was found today. Fifteen homes were evacuated in Torquay when police were called to a house in Lymington Road at about 11am after residents raised the alarm. Two men, aged 18 and 20, both for Torquay, were initially arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. Residents in Lymington Road, Torquay, (pictured) raised the alarm and police evacuated 15 homes . But Devon and Cornwall Police rearrested them on suspicion under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act - the preparation of a terrorist act. The road was cordoned off as police searched the house and the area was closed for about five hours. Devon and Cornwall Police said the first arrest led officers to search a property where 'potentially dangerous' items were found. Bomb disposal experts and the fire service were also involved in the operation. Devon and Cornwall Police originally arrested the men on suspicion of criminal damage before rearresting them under the Terrorism Act . The area was later reopened and residents allowed to return to their homes, but police remain at the site. A . spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: 'Police have spent much . of today searching an address in Lymington Road, which required the . evacuation of a small number of neighbouring properties. 'The 20-year-old man and 18-year-old man, both from Torquay, remain in police custody at this time.' Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 allows a police officer to arrest anyone he 'reasonably suspects' to be a terrorist. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | The 18 and 20-year-old men arrested in Torquay today .
Neighbours raised the alarm and 15 homes evacuated .
Area cordoned off for five hours during police search . |
fbe9eba15229c5e132bb33aec156858f303e1f3a | At first glance, this copper rockfish may not seem out of the ordinary. But the ageing fish does look a little different, after undergoing eye surgery to remove cataracts. Vets in Vancouver carried out the first-of-its-kind surgery at an aquarium to stop the fish being attacked by others. Scroll down for video . Medical eye opener: An ageing copper rockfish has been fitted with a fake eye (pictured) by vets in Vancouver, who carried out the first-of-its-kind surgery to take place at the aquarium to stop the fish being attacked by others . The copper rockfish lives in the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre’s Strait of Georgia exhibit. Like other animals, rockfishes often encounter some health issues as they age, and this particular fish was found to have developed cataracts in its left eye, according to the aquarium’s head veterinarian, Dr Martin Haulena. The fish's damaged eye was replaced with a taxidermy eye for cosmetic reasons, as well as in a bid to keep it alive in an environment where competition is fierce. This is because, without an eye, other fish in the tank would have acted aggressively towards, or 'bullied' the partially blind fish, assuming it to be sick and weak. The fish's damaged eye was replaced with a fake eye for cosmetic reasons, as well as in a bid to keep it alive in an environment where competition is fierce. This image was taken mid-way through the procedure . Copper rockfish are relatively common from the Gulf of Alaska to the Pacific side of the Baja California peninsula. They swim in both deep and shallow waters, from 33 to 160 ft (10 to 183 metres). The fish come in many colours from reddish dark brown with pale copper blotches along the sides, to a light pink/brown with yellow and white mottling. Males are known to mature between three and seven years, while females mature between four and eight years. They give birth to live young after a gestation period of 10 months. The oldest copper rockfish is known to have reached 55 years old, with many living into their 40s. They typically reach a maximum length of 23 inches (58cm) and weigh up to 6lbs (2.7kg). While the cosmetic surgery may keep the creature alive for further years, it is now partially sighted and at a disadvantage to its completely healthy peers. Dr Haulena, and Seattle Aquarium’s head vet, Dr Lesanna Lahner, fitted the new eye to the bone above the fish’s eye socket by sewing it on with nylon sutures, and attaching it with titanium clips. The copper rock fish was anaesthetised for the procedure. Another rockfish - a yellowtail - underwent the same procedure and will soon return to the exhibit. Dr Haulena said in a blog post: ‘Some people don’t realise how much effort we give fish.’ It is perhaps unlikely that the fish would have survived in the wild without medical attention. Copper rockfish are relatively common from the Gulf of Alaska to the Pacific side of the Baja California peninsula, swimming in both deep and shallow waters. The oldest copper rockfish is known to have reached 55 years old. Dr Haulena, and Seattle Aquarium’s head vet, Dr Lesanna Lahner, fitted the new eye to the bone above the fish’s eye socket by sewing it on with nylon sutures (pictured) and attaching it with titanium clips . | The copper rockfish had its eye removed after developing cataracts .
The damaged eye was replaced with a fake taxidermy eye .
It was replaced for cosmetic as well as health reasons, said the vet .
Losing an eye can make fish appear weak, causing other fish to attack it .
It wasfirst time the surgery has been carried out at Vancouver Aquarium . |
fbe9f3636cc4199ebaa8f3486958aedca6daddbf | (CNN) -- The music isn't new, but the discovery that a young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart "almost certainly" composed it is a stunning revelation. A researcher in Austria says the works were probably transcribed by Mozart's father, as young Mozart played. The two compositions -- a concerto in G and a prelude in G -- have long been in the files at the International Mozarteum Foundation in Salzburg, Austria, as anonymous works and were even published in the book "New Mozart Edition" in 1982. Now Ulrich Leisinger, director of the foundation's research department, believes the works actually were composed by Mozart before he was old enough to write music, and that Mozart's father, Leopold, transcribed them. The foundation said in a statement that Leisinger analyzed the handwriting and other "stylistic criteria" to determine the music was "almost certainly unknown compositions by" the young Mozart. The compositions were found in a book, compiled by Mozart's father, that was used for practice and the musical education of both Mozart and his sister, according to the statement. Leisinger's analyses "support the claim that they were actually composed by the young Mozart, who was not yet versed in musical notation, and transcribed by his father as the boy played the works at the keyboard," the statement said. Jeffrey Kimpton, president of the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan, called the works "a remarkable historical find." He said Leopold Mozart transcribed his son's early works as a way of preserving them. "When parents go to a piano recital of an early student, a young student, who's playing for the first time, they get a video tape, they get a DVD, that's a way of recording it," Kimpton said. "I think what's exciting is that Mozart's father wanted to preserve this incredible genius. The young boy at this time didn't know how to write music, but he sure could play it. It's like a family photo or video album." Finding such historical treasures is like detective work, Kimpton said. "You're kind of putting together a DNA picture," he said. "This particular museum has hundreds of manuscripts. Over time as you learn more and more by various scholars working on this, you might turn the page and you may have looked at it a hundred times before but suddenly begin to see some things or understand some things that make some sense." Mozart was born in Salzburg in 1756 and started composing when he was 5 years old. By the time of his death in 1791, he had written more than 600 pieces of music. | Researcher: Two pieces likely composed by Mozart before he could write music .
Mozart's father probably transcribed the music, researcher says .
Compositions have long been known but as anonymous works .
Pieces were in book compiled by Mozart's father . |
fbea04519b1a014e0718344e70586b558a9955b0 | ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- In spite of prevention efforts, new cases of some of the most common sexually transmitted diseases are going up, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Much of the burden of STDs falls on adolescents and people in their early 20s, the CDC says. The report, "Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance 2007," also said that women and minorities in particular are more likely to have sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs. That fact isn't surprising, experts say, as studies on STDs in the past have also shown that women and minorities bear the greatest burden of STDs. The age of those affected hasn't changed much either -- nearly 19 million new sexually transmitted infections occur each year, and almost half of those affect 15- to 24-year-olds. The CDC began a national syphilis elimination program in the late 1990s, targeted at African-American heterosexuals, especially women and their babies. As a result, the condition was nearly eradicated as an ongoing health problem in the United States. But in the last two years, the trend has reversed, said Dr. John Douglas, director of the CDC's Division of STD Prevention. "The success we've been experiencing for a number of years in African-American heterosexual populations, particularly women, is beginning to be eroded," he said. Watch more on the CDC's report » . Syphilis resurfaced as a danger in 2001, and cases went up by 15.2 percent between 2006 and 2007, the CDC said. Reported cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea together surpassed 1.4 million in 2007, the report said. Both of these conditions can cause infertility when left untreated. The CDC will address HIV rates in the United States in a later report. A record number of chlamydia cases were reported nationally this year, the report said. But Douglas noted that a major strategy is detecting infection before it spreads, so each case is an opportunity to prevent ongoing transmission. Chlamydia is the most common reportable STD and infectious disease, he said. Since the early 1980s, there has been a dramatic downturn in gonorrhea cases, but for the last 10 years, the rates have leveled off, especially in African-American populations. The CDC is looking at a number of ways to create awareness of the problem, he said. STDs affect not only individuals' health, but also the economy, the CDC said -- the conditions cost the U.S. health care system as much as $15.3 billion annually. The report reflects what Dr. Yolanda Wimberly, assistant professor of clinical pediatrics at the Morehouse School of Medicine and the medical director for the Center for Excellence in Sexual Health, sees in the clinics where she works. In her 14 years of practicing, she has been diagnosing more and more cases of chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhea, she said. Based on the report and her own observations, it's safe to say that some of the prevention efforts are not working, Wimberly said. New, innovative methods will be required to get through to this generation of young people, for whom text messaging and the Internet are integral parts of daily life. Many people hold the misconception that STDs come along with a visible sign, such as irregular discharge or a rash or bump. But, in fact, most STDs do not present symptoms, she said. "That's how STDs are so easily spread," she said. "It's not people who know they have gonorrhea and who go out say, 'I'm going to spread it to all these people.' It's the people who don't even know, who maybe don't get checked up regularly." It's important to be screened at least once annually, even twice a year for younger people, Wimberly said. She offers to test everyone who comes into her office for STDs, even if they do not have any symptoms or came to see her for a different reason, if they haven't been tested in at least the last six months. However, not all doctors are so conscientious about STD testing, Douglas said. Particularly in nonminority populations, doctors are inclined to think, "The young woman sitting in front of me looks pretty healthy, she looks pretty respectable -- she wouldn't have a sexually transmitted disease, right?" Douglas said. "We simply miss those screening opportunities." Other doctors simply don't want to broach the subject of sex with their adolescent female patients, he said. There's also the problem of access to health care -- some women do not have physicians for this reason. Current prevention efforts include promoting awareness of STDs, personal protective behaviors such as limiting partners and using condoms, and screening programs, Douglas said. A key area to work on is normalizing conversations about STDs and sexual health, he said. "If the parents assume that's the doctor's business, or the teacher's business, and don't roll up their sleeves and get in there themselves, and if our schools aren't giving comprehensive education, and if our clergy and other community leaders who are interested in youth well-being aren't including sexual health on the agenda, we're going to create missed opportunities." | CDC: Women, minorities, 15- to 24-year-olds bear greatest STD burden .
Progress in eliminating syphilis has, to some extent, been reversed .
STDs cost the U.S. health care system as much as $15.3 billion annually . |
fbead4de324cae59290e80a7254ad41965e93f96 | (CNN) -- The 14-year-old victim of Tuesday's school shooting in Oregon was a sweet kid who sometimes put on a tough front, friends said. Emilio Hoffman was shot in a locker room at Reynolds High School in Troutdale. The motive of the shooter, identified as 15-year-old Jared Padgett, is not known. Padgett died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound elsewhere at the school. There is no known link between Padgett and Hoffman, authorities said Wednesday. Almost as soon as the news spread that Hoffman was the victim, a candlelight vigil was quickly organized. Hundreds of students and parents showed up Tuesday night to remember the teen, who was a standout soccer player. Hoffman's parents attended. They wept as the mass of people circled around them, trying to comfort them, singing songs of praise and hope. "Emilio loved his friends, and his friends loved him. To those friends we say -- be happy like Emilio. Smile like him. Laugh like him," his mother, Jennifer Hoffman, said in a statement. "To the parents out there -- Love your kids. Hug your kids every day. And live with no regrets. I don't have any regrets with Emilio. None. And he knew that," she said. Hoffman had one sister and three brothers, plus a number of foster brothers and sisters. He enjoyed science and history, but loved sports -- especially soccer. "He was a sweet boy," friend Savannah Rowe told CNN. "He acted all cool around his friends, but when you got to know him he was just sweet and always there for you if you needed someone to talk to." They got to know each other in middle school, and they were in choir together, Rowe said. Hoffman "didn't deserve what he got," a close friend, Kaylah Ensign, told CNN affiliate KGW. As soon as the lockdown was lifted, Hoffman was the first person she tried to reach by phone, she said. When she got no answer, she joined Hoffman's mother, and together they continued their search. It was then that they learned that the young man had been shot dead. "I wish I could have said goodbye, or told him how much he meant to me, but I know he knows," Ensign said. Hoffman was the person who could make Ensign smile on her hardest days. "He's just so amazing and great, and it really hurts to know that I'm going to wake up tomorrow and he's not going to be here," she said. Student Cody Gleason was close to where the shooting happened, and he heard and watched it unfold. He heard the shots, which he initially mistook for firecrackers, and then saw people running. That morning, he was supposed to see Hoffman in a class where he was his teacher's assistant. "He was a great kid, I loved him," Gleason said. "He was always respectful to his teachers. He was a great student." Oregon shooting: 'This is becoming the norm' -- but will anything change? | NEW: "Be happy like Emilio. Smile like him. Laugh like him," his mother says .
Emilio Hoffman was killed in the school shooting in Troutdale .
He was 14 and a standout soccer player .
Friends remember the sweetness beneath a tough persona . |
fbeb35f35e272aedb0638854220b9158637841e2 | By . Simeon Gholam . Follow @@SimGholam . Edwin van der Sar believes that Louis van Gaal and Ryan Giggs are the perfect match to take Manchester United forward from their dismal campaign. The 43-year-old former goalkeeper, who made 266 appearances for the club in a six-year spell, told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek that Giggs can only improve working under the veteran Dutch manager. 'I'm sure under the guidance of Louis he [Giggs] can become an even better coach or manager in the future,' Van der Sar said. VIDEO: Scroll down for Van Persie and Van Gaal lead Netherlands Algarve training session . Old guard: Ryan Giggs and Edwin van der Sar during their playing days at Man Utd . Winners: The two won four Premier League titles and a Champions League whilst they were together at the club . Oranje: Louis van Gaal was Van der Sar's manager at Ajax and for the Netherlands . 'Even when I played with him he was busy with his coaching badges and the philosophy of the club is in the right hands with him. 'Ryan is going to be there as assistant manager and that should be enough, with his experience, to bring United in a better frame than this year.' As well as playing for Man Utd, Van der Sar also played under Louis van Gaal at Ajax in the mid-90s and during his first spell as Netherlands manager between 2000-02. 'The main thing is he has the pedigree,' Van der Sar said of his old boss. 'He's won trophies in Spain and he did an excellent job in Germany with Bayern Munich, that's also not an easy club to go to with all the powerful people that are there in the stands. 'He also has experience with the national team being at the World Cup so he has the respect of the players I presume. 'He likes attacking football, he's tactically very strong and he likes to prepare teams to the smallest detail. 'He has a very clear vision on how he wants to play and I think that's very important at United. 'I've been there six years and the way the supporters want Man Utd to play, I think that's very important to bring United back to the place where it belongs.' Cohorts: Van Gaal (centre) and Van Der Sar (bottom left) from their Ajax days in 1995 . Struggle: Giggs will be hoping for a more successful future beside Van Gaal than he managed beside Moyes . | Van der Sar believes that Van Gaal and Giggs are the right men for the job .
The former keeper played with the Welshman for six seasons at Man Utd .
And he played under the manager for both Ajax and Netherlands .
Van Gaal is set to take charge of Man Utd after the World Cup . |
fbeb39fdb55d24b827bdd578cd6a471a0a1063b4 | By . Meghan Keneally . PUBLISHED: . 19:17 EST, 29 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 21:02 EST, 29 August 2012 . The longterm girlfriend of Steven Ercolino, the victim in last week's Empire State Building shooting, talked at length about her slain ‘soulmate’. 'When we were together, we weren’t two adults. We were big kids,' Ivette Rivera, 38, said at the funeral on Wednesday. The emotional service was held Our Lady of Sorrows church in White Plains, New York just five days after he was shot by a disgruntled former employee outside of the busy tourist destination. Remembrance: The emotional service was held Our Lady of Sorrows church in White Plains, New York just five days after he was shot by a disgruntled former employee outside of the busy tourist destination . Emotional: Ercolino's girlfriend Ivette Rivera (center) was flanked by her long-time boyfriend's parents, Rosalie and Frank Ercolino as they exited the church following the service on Wednesday . Support: Ms Rivera spoke at the service, but the eulogy was given by Ercolino's sister . 'He saved me. I saved him,' Ms Rivera said at the service, though she didn't specify in what ways they helped one another. The New York Daily News reports that Ms Rivera, who began dating Mr Ercolino eight years ago after being set up by her mother, had to stop because of tears several times during her speech. The couple moved in together four years ago and while they had put off marriage- assuming they had more time together- Ms Rivera was thought of as a accepted member of the family. 'You fulfilled him. You were his soulmate,' Mr Ercolino's sister Mary Rashford said of Ms Rivera. 'He referred to you guys as the Evie and Stevie show.' Mr Ercolino, 41, and shooter Jeffrey Johnson previously worked together at Hazan Import Corp before Johnson was fired over a year ago. Johnson appeared to blame Mr Ercolino . for his economic troubles and purposefully tracked him down when he . fatally shot him last Friday. Johnson was shot on the scene by police . officers. In the wake of the shooting, a group . photo from a company gathering shows both Mr Ercolino and Johnson, . proving that they were acquaintances well before the shooting. 'The Stevie and Evie show': The sister of Steven Ercolino (right) said that their family considered Ivette Rivera (left) a close member of their clan . Together: The couple had been dating for eight years after being set up by Ms Rivera's mother and moved in together four years ago . Predictably, Wednesday's funeral . focused on Mr Ercolino's warm heart and generous personality, with his . sister talking at length about how much her brother cared for their . family. An avid sports fan, whose casket was . adorned with a flower arrangement in the shape of the Mets' logo, his . last correspondence with his father was a teasing text about an upcoming . Jets game. He recently spoke to his mother, who . is ailing from lung surgery, and told his sister how lucky they were to . have such caring parents. 'He was the epitome of how a son . should treat and respect a mother. He was my dad’s best friend,' Ms . Rashford said according to The New York Post. Pictured together: Steven Ercolino, left, and Jeffrey Johnson, right, are seen at an office gathering at Hazan Import. On Friday Johnson fatally shot Ercolino, who he blamed for his firing from the company two years ago . Though . he was not a father himself, he continued that tradition with his . nieces and nephews, who he toured around the city and hosted for . sleepovers. Mr Ercolino's two brothers, Peter and Paul, did not speak at the service but stood beside their sister during her eulogy. 'We . will forever be chipped away at and left with a hole, but we are not . broken. We will honor his life by living as he did: with laughter and . with love,' she said. | Steven Ercolino, 41, was shot and killed outside of the Empire State Building on Friday .
Was the target of a disgruntled former employee . |
fbeb629bc13a1902c31644171df150d4a93c60ac | MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- Hurricane Ike made landfall on the north coast of eastern Cuba Sunday as a Category 3 storm that weather experts were calling a "major hurricane." The eye of the hurricane made landfall in the province of Holguin near Punto de Sama, with maximum winds near 125 mph. Earlier Sunday, Ike hit Turks and Caicos Islands, leaving a trail of devastation. Rains and flooding from Ike also killed at least 73 people in Haiti. "It pretty much looks like an episode of 'The Twilight Zone,' " said Audley Aftwood, a reporter for a radio station on Grand Turk Island. "It's like the end of the world." Aftwood estimated at least 90 percent of homes he saw on the island were missing roofs and hundreds, if not thousands, of people had been made homeless. "This is definitely similar to Katrina in New Orleans or worse," Aftwood said. "It's going to take years to bring this island back to the way it was." Watch Aftwood describe the damage » . The possibility of similar devastation prompted state and local officials in Florida and Louisiana to prepare for what may be the third major storm to affect the Gulf Coast in less than a month. "Let's hope it's all a false alarm," Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said Sunday as he preemptively issued a state of emergency. His state is still recovering from Hurricane Gustav; more than 370,000 people there are still without power, nearly a week after Gustav made landfall, he said. "There continues to be much uncertainty about the predicted track," he said of Ike. On Sunday, President Bush declared a state of emergency in Florida. The hurricane's outer bands could start affecting the Florida Keys by Monday afternoon. Watch Floridians react to the threat of Ike » . Evacuations began in the Lower Florida Keys and Key West at 8 a.m. Residents of the Upper Keys and mainland Monroe County began evacuating at 4 p.m. Keys residents can evacuate their pets to a shelter at Florida International University as long as the pet is properly caged, Monroe County Emergency Management Director Irene Toner said in a statement. Watch residents prepare to evacuate » . About 15,000 tourists left the area Saturday as a hurricane watch was issued for the Florida Keys from Ocean Reef southward, Key West Mayor Morgan McPherson said. iReport.com: Fleeing the Keys as Ike nears . "We understand the inconvenience to the residents, to the tourists, to the businesses," Monroe County Administrator Roman Gastesi said. "But this one is just too close, folks. It's just too close to say, 'Bunker down and we'll be OK.' " At 11 p.m. ET, Ike had sustained winds near 120 mph (195 kph), with higher gusts. It was located about 135 miles (100 km) west of Cabo Lucrecia, Cuba. The storm was moving westward at about 13 mph (20 kph), and forecasters expect it continue on that track and turn west-northwest Monday. Ike has raised fears about flooding, as rain from Tropical Storm Hanna saturated the ground when it struck last week, he said. The hurricane's eye never touched Haiti. But the storm system did bring heavy rains and winds. Jean Pierre Guiteau, executive director for the Red Cross in Haiti, said 52 people were killed when a river burst its banks in the mountain town of Cabaret --not far from the capital Port Au Prince. Watch groups struggle to deliver aid to Haiti » . He said those people died in their homes or as they tried to flee surging flood waters. Another 10 people were missing in the town and 22 people were injured. Another 21 bodies -- presumably those of fishermen -- were pulled from the sea at Fort Liberte, Haiti, close to the border with the Dominican Republic. "It's a very grim picture," Guiteau said. "Things certainly are getting no better." Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, at a news conference Saturday, urged residents to begin evacuating the Florida Keys Sunday morning. "We continue to watch with much concern the track of Hurricane Ike," Crist said. "Ike has grown rapidly into a dangerous storm." Miami-Dade County has not issued an evacuation order and has not opened shelters, Mayor Carlos Alvarez said Sunday, noting that plans are subject to change. Copyright 2008 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report. | NEW: Rains and flooding from Hurricane Ike kill at least 73 people in Haiti .
NEW: Ike makes landfall on north coast in province of Holguin as Category 3 storm .
Ike tears up Turks and Caicos, drawing comparisons to damage from Katrina .
Evacuation order prompts 15,000 tourists to flee Keys, mayor says . |
fbeb7aac153d0b2e19e9bde998a39f14c867a426 | The former pupils of a school which used a historic stately home as its base during the Second World War have returned after nearly 70 years. Penrhos College, a girls’ school in Colwyn Bay in Wales, moved to Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, East Midlands, for around seven years during the war while the government used its grounds. In 1939, staff and students were moved to the Chatsworth Estate – which has been handed down through 16 generations of the Cavendish family. Former pupils of Penrhos College in Colwyn Bay, Wales, who were moved to Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, East Midlands, during the Second World War while the government took over the school grounds . The pupils of Penrhos College in Colwyn Bay, Wales, were at Chatsworth House between 1939 and 1946, with rooms in the house turned into dormitories. Ex-pupil Nancie Park, pictured, was one of 48 who returned to view the estate as it is now . The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire also attended the reunion at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire and the couple could be seen viewing the Second World War displays . Ex-pupil Pat Laurie, left, attended the reunion where the pupils' old beds were on display as well as the former school uniform worn by those at the girls-only boarding school . The stately home is the seat of the Duke of Devonshire, and has been home to his family - the Cavendish family - since Bess of Hardwick settled at Chatsworth in 1549. During the Second World War, the home housed the girls’ boarding school and saw the State Drawing room turned into a dormitory. The house was reverted to its original appearance when the girls moved out in March 1946. However now, nearly 70 years later, part of the estate has been transformed back to how it looked when it was used by the school. Rooms have been reverted back to dormitories, old school uniforms have been hung on mannequins and memorabilia including books from the war and never-before-seen paintings have been put on display. It is part of an exhibition which has been opened to mark the centenary of the First World War and the 75th anniversary of the Second World War. The Duchess of Devonshire, right, with former pupil Nancie Park, left, who is talking the Duchess through how the beds were made when she was at the boarding school in the 1900s . The Wartime exhibition, currently on display at Chatsworth Estate, looks at the role of aristocrats and estate workers during both of the wars as well as the ways in which the estate helped the war effort . The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire looked around the exhibition which marks the centenary of the First World War and the 75th anniversary of the Second World War . And 48 former pupils of the girls’ boarding school have returned to the Chatsworth Estate to view the unseen archive collection of objects and photographs from the period. The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire also attended the reunion and spent time viewing the First World War and Second World War memorabilia displays. The Chatsworth in Wartime exhibition looks at the role of aristocrats and estate workers during both of the wars as well as the ways in which the estate helped the war effort. The pupils of Penrhos College were moved to Chatsworth House between 1939 and 1946 after the government took over the school buildings during the Second World War . During the Second World War, the home housed the girls' boarding school and saw the State Drawing room turned into a dormitory, pictured. It has been recreated to replicate how it looked back then . The stately home is the seat of the Duke of Devonshire, pictured with the Duchess of Devonshire, and has been home to his family - the Cavendish family - since Bess of Hardwick settled at Chatsworth in 1549 . Penrhos College was established in 1880 as a private Methodist school for girls . Penrhos College was founded as a private Methodist school for girls in . 1880 and started with just 12 girls in a couple of three-storied houses . on Colwyn Bay promenade. In 1895, the school moved into the premises . of a former hydropathic spa purchased from the Pwllycrochan Estate. The . site was a prime location near the beach with good views. Over the . following 80 years a number of buildings were built and developed around . the original hydropathic building and a games field, tennis court and . garden area were completed. The school expanded greatly during this period. In 1939, principle Miss Constance Smith . undertook the considerable task of evacuating the school to Chatsworth . and then moving back to Colwyn Bay in 1945. This was due to the government taking over the Penrhos College school grounds and site during the Second World War. In 1995 the school merged with nearby Rydal School for Boys and the Penrhos College for Girls site was officially closed in 1999. The former school buildings have since been demolished and the site has since been turned into a substantial housing development. The pupils of Penrhos College in Colwyn Bay, Wales, were moved to Chatsworth House in 1939 and rooms in the stately home were turned into dormitories - as depicted in this painting of the house . The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire with Nancie Park, left, and Lesley Baker, centre, who are both former pupils from Penrhos College who moved to Chatsworth during the Second World War . A painting showing Penrhos College pupils in the makeshift dormitory in Chatsworth House hangs on the wall of the stately home and can be viewed by those attending the Chatsworth in Wartime exhibition . | Pupils at Penrhos College in Wales were moved to Chatsworth during war .
They spent seven years at stately home while government used buildings .
Exhibition featuring collection of photographs now on show at Chatsworth .
Around 48 pupils have returned to reunite and mark anniversary of war . |
fbeb8501ffe067740a541fa2e53c6b48f35c1c97 | (CNN) -- The distraught mother of a missing five-year-old girl broke down in sobs Wednesday as she pleaded for help to find her daughter, April Jones, who was snatched from a street in Wales as she played. Coral Jones' televised appeal for information was brief but heart-rending in its desperation. "It has been 36 hours since our April was taken from us," she said, her voice shaky with emotion. "There must be someone out there who knows where she is and can help the police find her. "We are desperate for any news -- April is only five years old. Please, please help us find her." Coral Jones was led away from the news conference in tears. Police urged the public to share any piece of information that could lead them to the little girl, who was last seen playing with a friend near her home in a small mid-Wales town Monday. No trace of April has been found since she apparently got into a vehicle that stopped on the street and then drove off. Wednesday, police identified a man arrested the day before on suspicion of abduction as 46-year-old Mark Bridger. The force also released images of Bridger and a vehicle and appealed for help to trace his movements between Monday evening and Tuesday afternoon. Detective Superintendent Reg Bevan, of Dyfed-Powys Police, said officers "are pursuing a number of lines of inquiry, and Mark Bridger is one of them." He also called on anyone who has any information about the case to contact authorities and end the family's nightmare. "Please call us," he said. "Don't assume someone else has contacted us -- even the smallest piece of information could be crucial to the investigation." Meanwhile, police, mountain rescue teams and dozens of volunteers continue to scour the town of Machynlleth, the surrounding countryside and the nearby River Dyfi -- fast-flowing after recent rain -- for any trace of the girl. One photograph released by the police shows a pretty, brown-haired child smiling as she shows off a pink summer dress, another has her peering up at the camera shyly, her arm colored with paint. Her abduction from the street as she played on her bike with a friend has stunned what police say is a close-knit local community. The only witnesses were other children, who police had to question sensitively. And the usually quiet market town of just over 2,000 people, set in a remote corner of rural Wales, is now at the heart of a manhunt that has gripped the nation since the first reports that the little girl had gone missing. The owner of one local garage, Nerys Zjalic, told CNN by telephone Tuesday that she had opened her garage to supply fuel to motorists who were searching for the girl, and had not closed it since. "Last night people were coming all the way from Caernarfon, which is 80 miles away in North Wales, after hearing about the abduction on Facebook," she said. Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Powell said Tuesday that police were following several lines of inquiry. "April was last seen playing on a bicycle near her home address at around 7.30 p.m. and was seen getting into what we believe was a light-colored van which then drove off," Powell said. Police are expected to give another news conference later Wednesday. Coral Jones' latest plea for help comes only a day after she and April's father made a direct appeal to whoever had taken their daughter to bring her back. "Last night our lives were shattered when our beautiful little girl April... was taken from us. We are devastated and our lives have stopped," a statement from them said Tuesday. "Please, please, if you have our little girl let her come home to us." | "There must be someone out there who knows where she is," says April's mother .
Coral Jones sobs as she pleads for information leading to the missing five-year-old .
April Jones was abducted from the street near her home in a small mid-Wales town .
Police appeal for details on the movements of 46-year-old Mark Bridger . |
fbebf46524d827d450ac4e5c29431ec86be1e863 | (CNN) -- It's bad enough that the recovery from the Great Recession has been slow and uneven. What's much worse is that several key indicators were heading in the wrong direction well before it started. Median income in the U.S. has been stagnant or worse for at least 15 years, even as the big-ticket items of college, health care and housing have become more expensive. The middle class has for decades been getting "hollowed out" by job loss and wage decreases. Social mobility -- the odds that children will do better than their parents -- is now lower in America than in most European countries, an uncomfortable truth for the land of opportunity. Entrepreneurship is declining (the amazing recent successes in the tech industry are the exception, not the rule), as is the percentage of GDP getting paid out in wages and benefits. This dour economic litany has helped give rise to movements of discontent like the tea party on the right and Occupy on the left. It's also led to a flood of proposed solutions ranging from a return to the gold standard to confiscatory taxes on high levels of income and wealth. We don't think such radical fiscal or monetary measures are warranted. The main pilings of our economic system are not so rotten that they need to be replaced. What we need instead is to return to excellence at two of our historical strengths: coming up with important innovations and finding ways to include a great many people in our journey of progress. When it comes to technology, innovation is astonishingly robust these days. Recent digital advances are truly the stuff of science fiction: fully autonomous cars and planes, artificial intelligence systems that can understand and produce human speech, robots for everything from painting cars to milking cows, printers that can make industrial-strength 3-D objects and so on. Technology is racing ahead so quickly, in fact, that it's leaving a lot of our institutions, organizations, policies and practices behind. It's in these latter areas where we must increase the pace of innovation. The solution is not to slow technology down but instead to speed up the invention of new jobs. That requires unleashing entrepreneurs' creativity. It also requires a host of other conditions. • Are our regulations keeping up with new companies that let people summon a ride on the fly or rent out a room in their house? • Are large employers able to look beyond the traditions of resume, transcript and interview when evaluating job candidates and learn how to value alternate signals like performance in a massive open online course? • Will our primary education system decrease its current emphasis on rote learning and standardized testing and start teaching skills computers don't have, such as creativity and problem-solving? • Can we remove the Kafkaesque barriers in place today that prevent so many of the world's most talented, tenacious and ambitious people from immigrating to the United States? Will the government start spending adequately in the areas where we know it pays off, like infrastructure and basic research? Too often today, the answers to questions like these are "no" or "not enough." We're quickly heading into what we call the second machine age: a time of transformation brought on digital technologies that will be as big a deal as the Industrial Revolution. To succeed in it, we'll need to address the questions above and innovate widely and deeply, for two reasons. The first is to maximize this age's benefits and bounty. The second, more important reason is to include as many people as possible in both producing its fruits and sharing them. The greatest flaw with our current path is the fact that a large group is being left out in every important sense. Too many people aren't getting the skills and support they need in order to participate in a rapidly changing economy and don't feel that they have any stake in a society that's being created around them and without them. As a result, many are dropping out -- of education, of the work force, out of their communities and out of family life. Whether or not the growing ranks of the unincluded and disaffected ever cause social unrest, they're still a deep problem. America's history of assimilation and participation is far from perfect, but it's still impressive. It has contributed to a thriving democracy and a large, stable and prosperous middle class, both of which have been the envy of the world. The evidence is mounting, however, that our great successes of inclusion are starting to reverse themselves. We need to harness our unmatched powers of innovation to make sure that this does not happen. | Authors: Economy is generating tech innovation, but too many people are left out .
Are immigration laws welcoming to innovators? Are employers flexible in hiring?
Will schools replace rote learning with the teaching of problem-solving skills?
Authors say U.S. economic system isn't faulty but needs wider inclusiveness . |
fbecd870a1d80354098a2198716b13e27cc8b571 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 00:56 EST, 15 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:42 EST, 15 August 2013 . A 58-year-old woman died after crashing her Jeep through the fence of her apartment complex and plunging into the swimming pool yesterday - one day before she was moving interstate. Diane Lobel was trapped underwater in her silver Jeep Cherokee for up to five minutes after driving into Massachusetts' Castle Village Estates pool just after 12.30pm yesterday. She was pronounced dead at the hospital. Neighbors said Lobel was planning to move to Florida today to 'escape New England winters' and her car was packed with most of her belongings. Scroll down for video . Tragic: Diane Lobel, 58, died after crashing her jeep through her apartment complex fence and plunging into the swimming pool in Boston . Devastating: Diane Lobel's SUV was packed with most of her belongings when she drove it into the pool of her apartment complex . Good Samaritan: Vito Martello pulled Diane Lobel from her submerged car . Condominium complex visitor Vito Martello had just had a swim at the 59 Highland Glen Drive complex pool when Lobel's car plunged through the fence and into the water. The West Newbury resident told CBS Boston he dived into the pool and tried to pull the woman from the driver's seat, but she was trapped by the airbags. 'I heard the crash and I just jumped right into the water the minute the car hit the water so I was in there the same time as her trying to get her out and I couldn’t do that,' he said. 'When I tried to open the doors and everything was locked there. I said oh my God. 'I came on the passenger side and just kept yanking her out and finally she came loose a little bit I knew I could get her and I pulled her and I held the back of her head and up like this and everybody helped me get her out of the water.' Lobel, from Randolph, had been underwater for up to five minutes when Martello began performing CPR on her. Emergency services rushed the woman to Good Samaritan Medical Center in . Brockton, where she was pronounced dead. Police Chief William Pace said he could not confirm whether the . woman had a medical episode before the incident, which was under investigation. High impact: Diane Lobel, 58, crashed through the condo's fence and dived into the swimming pool . Neighbors said Lobel was a longtime . resident of the complex who was planning to move to Florida today. They said her car was packed with most of her belongings and she was running last minute errands, according to WCVB.com. 'She showed me the house [in Florida]', close friend Mary Sheehan told Boston.com. 'She loved the house. She . couldn’t wait to get there.' Sheehan, 64, said her friend had . health issues, including two prior strokes, and that she hadn't been . feeling well recently, although they enjoyed their night out on . Saturday. She said she regretted not pushing Lobel to visit the doctor. 'I didn’t push it...Maybe if I had pushed it, maybe this wouldn’t have happened,' she said. Curious: Lobel was parked at the front of the complex before she crashed through the fence . Another neighbor, Kim Mayberger, 45, said Lobel was a dedicated member of the apartment complex’s board of trustees. 'I'm just in total shock right now,' Mayberger told Boston.com. Neighbors said the woman was originally from Long Island and worked as an administrative assistant at a local hospital. She had no children, was unmarried, and had no family in the area. She lived alone with her dog, Willy, who was 'like a son'. In 2007, the Patriot Ledger reported that Lobel was a staunch opponent of a permanent lifeguard at the condo's pool, saying the proposal was expensive and unnecessary, since the pool was used by a small number of people. 'It’s extremely restricted who gets in the pool. And everyone who lives there is a watchdog,' she said. Martello, who pulled Lobel from her car yesterday, was the only person at the pool at the time and was a visitor at the complex. Other neighbors came out to help him after hearing the crash. | Diane Lobel, 58, died after crashing her Jeep through the fence of her apartment complex and into the pool .
She was underwater for up to five minutes before she was pulled out and taken to hospital .
The long-time resident of Massachusetts' Castle Village Estates planned to move to Florida today .
Her car was packed with most of her belongings . |
fbed20be2949260a13f3a8f9e9348124f24ec5ef | A Wichita childcare worker and her boyfriend have been charged with murdering the woman's three-year-old daughter, who police believe had been beaten for weeks before her death. Monica Krueger, 24, and Evan Schuessler, 23, were arrested on child abuse charges after her daughter Emma Krueger was rushed to hospital last week. They have now been charged with first degree murder and are each being held on $150,000 bond, The Wichita Eagle has reported. Monica Krueger, 24, (left) and Evan Schuessler, 23, (right) were arrested on child abuse charges after her daughter Emma Krueger was rushed to hospital last week . Emma Krueger was taken to Wesley Medical Center, where doctors told authorities she had bruises covering her body and swelling to her brain . Krueger called the emergency services on June 2 because her daughter had stopped breathing. The little girl was taken to Wesley Medical Center, where doctors told authorities she had bruises covering her body and swelling to her brain. She died from her injuries on Wednesday night. Police believe the girl had been abused for about a month. Krueger and Schuessler appeared before a judge via video camera on Monday. Their preliminary hearings have been scheduled to be held on June 24. Krueger called the emergency services on June 2 because her daughter had stopped breathing . Police have said Schuessler had been living with Monica Krueger and Emma for about three months, KWCH has reported. Lt Todd Ojile has said it is an 'extremely difficult' case to investigate. More than 40 people attended a prayer vigil for Emma outside the hospital where she died last Wednesday night, according to KAKE.com. At the time, Emma's cousin Jacob Rufe said: 'It just shows how many good-hearted people are really out there and how many people really care.' | Monica Krueger and Evan Schuessler were arrested on child abuse charges .
They have now been charged with murder of three-year-old Emma Krueger .
Police believe little girl had been abused for about a month before her death . |
fbed2469a972da6bbf8c2973e3ef4395cffd971b | By . Victoria Woollaston . PUBLISHED: . 09:34 EST, 7 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 11:21 EST, 7 March 2014 . We've already had apps and gadgets that stop you from posting Facebook statuses or sending texts when you're drunk - but the latest actively encourages it. Called Livr, it is a social network that is only available through an app, and users can only access that app when they’re drunk. It works with a breathalyser that plugs into the charging port of an iOS or Android device. Livr is a social network that is only available through an app, and users can only access that app when they're drunk. It works with a breathalyzer, pictured, that plugs into the charging port of an iOS or Android device. To open the app, users blow on the breathalyzer to get a blood alcohol content (BAC) reading . Truth or Dare: A game in which users get points for . participating in certain tasks . Drunk Dial: This feature randomly . calls a number of another Livr user - even strangers. Hot Spots: A map that plots the nearest bars and clubs. Large . spots are busy venues, based on how many people using . Livr are currently at that location. Each ‘spot’ on the map is also . colour coded based on how drunk the user at the venue is. Blackout: Pressing the Blackout button wipes all evidence, including photos and call history, from the device. Morning After Report: This can be sent to other users showing off any antics from the previous night. To open the app, users blow on the breathalyser to get a blood alcohol content (BAC) reading. If their BAC is above the legal limit for driving, the app and social network opens. The higher the BAC, the more features that are unlocked. These features include a Truth or Dare game, in which users get points for participating in certain tasks, and a Drunk Dial option that randomly calls the number of another Livr user - even strangers. The Hot Spots feature is map that plots the nearest bars and clubs. Large spots are busy venues, and this is taken from how many people using Livr are currently at that location. Each ‘spot’ on the map is also colour-coded based on how drunk the user at the venue is. The higher the BAC, the more features, pictured, are unlocked. These features include a Truth or Dare game, in which users get points for participating in certain tasks, and a Drunk Dial option that randomly calls a number of another Livr user - even strangers . The final feature of the app, designed to be used at the end of a night, is the Blackout button, pictured. Pressing the button wipes all evidence, including photos and call history, from the device. Alternatively, a Morning After report can be sent to other users showing off any antics from the previous night . Photos are only uploaded to the app and can only be seen by other drunk people. Creators Kyle Addison and Avery Platz said: ‘The current state of social media is not a fun place to be; your Mum’s on there, your boss is on there. ‘People are only putting up baby photos, and engagement photos, and nothing else. '[We] think everyone is trying to put their best face forward and showing themselves as this perfect person - but no-one is perfect. ‘People get a little wild, people do stupid things and that’s what makes them interesting. 'That’s what Livr is here to capitalise on.’ The final feature of the app, designed to be used at the end of a night, is the Blackout button. Pressing the button wipes all evidence, including photos and call history, from the device. ‘The beauty of the Blackout button is that encourages anybody using Livr to just go nuts; to have a real good time; to be themselves - to not censor themselves,’ explained Platz. Alternatively, a Morning After Report can be sent to other users showing off any antics from the previous night. The Livr app isn't available for download yet, and the website claims it will be available from 'spring.' It is unclear whether the app is a concept, or even a parody, and MailOnline has contacted the developers to find out more. A disclaimer at the bottom of the Livr site says: 'The app is intended for responsible adults of legal drinking age. It is purely intended for entertainment purposes. 'Do not drink and drive. Do not drink excessively. Excessive consumption of alcohol may cause irreparable damage or harm to your body and may be lethal.' | Livr is a social network accessed via a breathalyser plugged into a phone .
It only allows access when a user's blood alcohol level is high enough .
The app features a Truth or Dare game as well as a Drunk Dial option .
Hot Spots helps users find nearby bars based on how busy they are .
Photos are uploaded to the app and can only be seen by other drunk users .
A Blackout button is then used to wipe all evidence from the app . |
fbed55611bd73231cdece8d149a5f1ee9dd6da83 | WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Barack Obama's victory Tuesday over John McCain capped an unprecedented rise in American politics. Barack Obama, addressing supporters after his victory, was an unlikely nominee not that long ago. The obscure state legislator with, as he put it, "a funny name" propelled himself onto the national stage at the Democratic National Convention four years ago with a speech so electrifying that commentators declared he would become America's first black president. Election Day showed that, in this case at least, you can believe the hype. But Obama did not win the White House on hype, any more than he won it on hope. He won it with an organization that even opponents called brilliant. He won it with a clear strategy that was stuck to with remarkably little internal drama. He won it with unparalleled fundraising and an overwhelming ground game. And he won it after facing various challenges and turning them to his advantage. Turning points . Winning Iowa: Obama's victory in the Iowa caucuses knocked almost all of his Democratic competitors out in the first nominating contest, and it pushed the "inevitable" Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, back on her heels. He'd built an organization strong enough to haul supporters out of their homes on a frigid January night to debate, harangue and cajole their neighbors into backing him. Tens of thousands of new voters became the key to his Iowa win and revealed the outline of a general election plan: Create a wide coalition to bring new voters to the polls in record numbers. Ted Kennedy: Within weeks of Iowa, all of Obama's Democratic competitors had dropped out of the race except for Clinton, who split the races with him in the run-up to Super Tuesday. It was then that Ted Kennedy, head of the only Democratic family to outrank the Clintons, came out for Obama, comparing the Illinois senator to his assassinated brother, President John F. Kennedy. The move was deeply symbolic, not just for the public but also the party. The Obama-Clinton battle then hinged on who could sway more superdelegates -- the party leaders who could decide the winner if the primary voters could not -- and few superdelegates had the stature of Ted Kennedy. Addressing race: Race was always going to be a factor in Obama's campaign, even if he hoped his candidacy would transcend it. Clips of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, his longtime pastor, making hateful remarks hit the Internet and television and put Obama on defense. He responded with a speech in March hailed by commentators as among the most thoughtful ever delivered on race by an American politician. When Wright went further, so did Obama -- condemning him outright and later quitting his church. All this time, black voters were rallying behind Obama, switching their allegiance from Clinton in such large numbers that party elders, such as civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, had to do the same. Fundraising: Flush with cash from a nationwide network of small and large contributors, Obama announced in June he would opt out of public financing -- the first presidential candidate to pay for his campaign with donations rather than government money since the system began in 1976. McCain hammered Obama for reneging on a promise to stick with public financing, but the issue failed to resonate with voters. Obama kept raising and spending record amounts of money, using it to send staff across the country -- even to dozens of states Democrats hadn't won in years -- and to swamp the airwaves with advertising. Working with Clinton: The long and bitter primary battle turned many Clinton supporters off Obama. A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll a month after Obama sealed the nomination found that nearly 50 percent of Clinton's supporters did not plan to vote for Obama in November. McCain tried to exploit the Democrats' divisions and attract Clinton supporters to his side, but the former rivals came together to stop that. Obama and Clinton worked behind the scenes to create a show of public unity, epitomized by Clinton dramatically marching onto the convention floor in Denver to call for the party to nominate Obama by acclamation. The debates: Obama won all three debates in the eyes of the public, polling for CNN suggested, even if he came up with few, if any, memorable promises or knockout blows. The debates showed the classic Obama -- thoughtful, deliberate and steady. Critically, Obama made no gaffes, rounding out a campaign that was remarkably free of them. Barack Obama may have looked an unlikely candidate and an even unlikelier victor only a year ago. But his campaign had a different look. It started small but with big ideas and worked, inexorably, to make them reality. Like any candidate, Obama faced challenges, but he always seemed to take the path that would make him stronger. And, by the end, the campaign and the support was so large, so well organized and so powerful that nothing could prevent Obama's march to victory. CNN's Richard Allen Greene, Rebecca Sinderbrand and Laura Haring contributed to this report. | Barack Obama seemed unlikely to be Democrat nominee a year ago .
Well-planned and well-executed campaign helped fortunes soar .
Fund-raising, support of Kennedy clan important in his success . |
fbed78b58817a421122e7adf48f2cbe1c4eb6ef9 | (CNN) -- Spain have won the Davis Cup for a fifth time, and the third time in four years, after Rafael Nadal recovered from dropping the opening set to defeat Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro in Sunday's penultimate singles rubber in Sevilla. The hosts won Friday's first two singles matches, but Argentina claimed Saturday's doubles to give them a foothold in the final going into the final two matches, . And del Potro started like a man on a mission, crushing the world number two 6-1 in an impressive opening set. Resurgent Federer hungry for more major titles . But in the same stadium where Nadal became the youngest Davis Cup winner in 2004, the world number two fought back in impressive fashion to secure a 1-6 6-4 6-1 7-6 (7-0) triumph to spark scenes of wild celebration. Nadal told reporters: "It was a very emotional match and I am happy for the team. "It was the most amazing atmosphere I have ever played in. The crowd were crazy. and everything was perfect for us," he continued. "It was complicated at the start of the match, but the beginning of the second set was very important and at 1-0 and 40-0 that was the turning point for me." Spanish captain Albert Costa added: "It was an unbelievable match. These guys are great and that's why we were in the final. "Rafa tried to play deeper and harder because at the start Del Potro was inside the line and hitting so hard. He fought hard so that's why we won." The result handed Argentina an unwanted record fourth Davis Cup final defeat, but Spain's fifth victory still leaves them trailing the United States (32) and Australia (28) in overall successes. | World number two Rafa Nadal beats Juan Martin del Potro to win Spain the Davis Cup .
Nadal fights back from dropping the opening set to secure the point Spain needed .
Spain's victory over Argentina ensured they won the Davis Cup trophy for a fifth time . |
fbedb5b3db52500e25cb1887604296c77e4f3fc2 | By . Alex Ward . PUBLISHED: . 05:00 EST, 18 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:02 EST, 18 January 2013 . It seems that Hillary is not the only Clinton to be in the wars lately as daughter Chelsea stepped out with a plaster on her leg. But despite the unsightly fashion faux-pas,Chelsea was all smiles in New York yesterday after speaking about mother and U.S. Secretary of State, who was hospitalised earlier this month when doctors detected a blood clot in her head during a routine checkup. The spotlight has been on the 32-year-old from New York following rumours that she may be considering moving into politics after accepting the role of honorary chair for the National Day of Service tomorrow. In the wars: Chelsea Clinton stepped out in New York with a plaster on her leg yesterday as rumors swirled that she may be considering moving into politics after accepting the role of honorary chair for the National Day of Service tomorrow . Speaking on the TODAY show she said of her mother: 'She is exuding the energy, the vibrancy and certainly the mental acuity that she always has. 'I’m so grateful that she is not only fine, but healthy and vibrant and strong and, God willing, will be for the next 65 years of her life.' New role: Chelsea will be the honorary chair after participating in the festivities as an adolescent when her father was in office . Acting as the all-day summit’s . honorary chair is a new role for the woman who participated in the . festivities as an adolescent, standing next to her father, Bill Clinton, . as he was sworn into office in 1993 and 1997. She will headline a service summit on . the National Mall for the president's call for Americans to honor the . legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the holiday weekend celebrating . his birthday. She will join other participants . including actresses Eva Longoria and Angela Bassett, singers Ben Folds . and Yolanda Adams, television personality Star Jones and Delaware . Attorney General Beau Biden, the vice president's son. Hillary is in such excellent shape that ‘she had time for three more husbands’, Bill Clinton said. He said: 'She's always been very, very healthy and she has very low blood pressure, very low standing heartbeat. 'I tell her that, you know, she's still got time to have three more husbands after me. So, I think she'll live to be 120.’ Chelsea was often seen but not heard as a youth growing up in the White House, but increasingly has made her public voice heard in recent years. She campaigned for her mom, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's, 2008 presidential primary campaign against Obama and now is an NBC News special correspondent. Mother and daughter: Chelsea with mother Hillary Clinton who was hospitalised earlier this month when doctors detected a blood clot in her head during a routine checkup . Last fall she traveled to Nigeria on . behalf of her father's charitable foundation, meeting with the country's . president and promoting the Clinton Health Access Initiative's efforts . to reduce child mortality there. A week after Election Day, she . appeared at the Glamour Women of the Year awards in New York with a . stage full of women who had been involved in races across the country, . noting that gender progress was made in 2012 although there still is a . long way to go. She has promoted efforts to allow gay marriage and assisted in raising money for victims of Hurricane Sandy. Chelsea said: ‘When I was growing up, both my parents and grandparents instilled a commitment to service in me. ‘They taught me that helping our neighbors and serving our community were essential parts of being a good citizen and a good person.’ First daughter: Chelsea is pictured aged 11 in January 1992 before her father won the presidential election . | Chelsea will be the honorary chair for the National Day of Service tomorrow . |
fbee177ada2133b036359b96f6e1893e50c7d311 | (CNN) -- Maya is about to become the most famous CIA operative since Valerie Plame. Except that's not her real name. We're not allowed to know her real name. Maya is the name of her character in the film "Zero Dark Thirty", which is already generating controversy for its depiction of the hunt for Osama bin Laden. This has an only-in-Washington feel, a collision between our celebrity culture and the need to protect our spies from having their identities exposed. So the operative somehow becomes a movie star (played by Jessica Chastain) while remaining in the shadows. Perhaps inevitably, questions are mounting about the CIA employee, her personality and her contacts with the filmmakers. And she can't properly defend herself because she's not allowed to talk to the press. Thus it was that the Washington Post ran a highly unusual front-page profile of someone whose name is unknown. The woman was passed over for a promotion, the story says, and is an abrasive sort who e-mailed colleagues saying they didn't deserve to share in a prestigious award she received for her role in the mission. (By the way, what does it take to get a government promotion if helping eliminate the world's top terrorist doesn't qualify?) Watch: Is Zero Dark Thirty coverage unfair to female CIA operative? In the movie, Maya seems to have a messianic streak, saying after a female colleague was killed during an attack in Afghanistan: "I believe I was spared so I could finish the job." Did the real-life Maya actually say that? Who knows? Kathryn Bigelow, the director, says she tried to approach the project as a journalist. But even the best docudramas tend to mix reconstructed facts with cinematic liberties. 'Zero Dark Thirty's' screenwriter on interrogation debate . Zero Dark Thirty is generating plenty of controversy, before its opening next week, because it spends roughly half an hour showing an al-Qaeda detainee being waterboarded, beaten and stripped naked in front of Maya in the quest for information on bin Laden's whereabouts. CNN analyst Peter Bergen says the film could provide "the misleading picture that coercive interrogation techniques used by the CIA on al Qaeda detainees -- such as waterboarding, physical abuse and sleep deprivation -- were essential to finding bin Laden." It's hardly surprising that this has become the film's flash point. Liberals and conservatives in this country spent much of the Bush years arguing over whether waterboarding is torture and whether such coercive techniques, whatever they are called, helped or hurt in the war on terror. Watch: Jon Stewart, media critic, takes on Fox News . From a filmmaker's point of view, torture scenes are obviously more exciting than a CIA staffer quietly piecing together clues. And the controversy will spur box-office sales. But Bigelow and screenwriter Mark Boal deny taking a stance about the role of torture in the pursuit of bin Laden. "This movie has been and will continue to be put in political boxes," Boal told The Wrap. "Before we even wrote it, some people said it was an Obama campaign commercial, which was preposterous. And now it's pro-torture, which is preposterous." Watch: From Joe Scarborough to Rush Limbaugh, the conservative media meltdown . But the pro-Obama suggestion is, well, less than preposterous. Bigelow made this film with the help of officials at the Pentagon, CIA and White House who provided her with extraordinary access. President Obama makes only a brief appearance, but the movie highlights the biggest success of his first term, culminating a manhunt that began after the 9/11 attacks. The film can only help burnish his reputation, and the cooperation began soon after one of the most classified missions in U.S. history. When a director gets that kind of official help, it raises troubling questions about the objectivity of those rendering the instant history. Opinion: Did torture really net bin Laden? In an e-mail to the Pentagon last year, CIA spokeswoman Marie Harf wrote: "I know we don't 'pick favorites' but it makes sense to get behind the winning horse. ... Mark and Kathryn's movie is going to be the first and the biggest. It's got the most money behind it, and two Oscar winners on board. It's just not a close call." Watch: The Pope tweets -- how Twitter scours the globe for VIPs . Bigelow has every right to work whatever sources she can, and every administration tries to influence media coverage, but rarely do Hollywood and government work so obviously hand in glove. As for Maya, we may never learn whether she liked her portrayal in "Zero Dark Thirty." Valerie Plame was outed against her will; even if Maya's real-life counterpart decides to resign and go public, she would be prohibited by secrecy agreements from discussing her role in the mission. The most likely outcome is that the CIA operative who helped nab bin Laden will remain an unknown if flawed heroine. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Howard Kurtz. | Howard Kurtz: 'Maya' in new film on finding bin Laden is based on real, but anonymous, operative .
He says questions are mounting about the CIA employee but she can't speak to the press .
"Zero Dark Thirty" producers had unusual access to real story of bin Laden operation, he says .
Kurtz: Giving filmmakers such access raises questions about way they portrayed the story . |
fbeeeac0845c0f31723113176410754db287376b | Washington (CNN) -- Less than 100 feet from where a hijacked airplane slammed into the Pentagon, Muslim military personnel bring prayer rugs on weekday afternoons for group worship. On Fridays, a local imam conducts a service in the Pentagon Memorial Chapel built after the September 11, 2001, terror attacks by al Qaeda that killed 184 people at the U.S. military headquarters. The chapel, with stained-glass windows, burgundy carpeting and a wooden altar, provides a place of prayer and religious observance for anyone regardless of faith or culture. Its welcoming calm and nondenominational culture are in stark contrast to the emotional debate over plans to build an Islamic cultural center and mosque two blocks from ground zero in New York City, where planes flown by al Qaeda hijackers destroyed the World Trade Center, killing more than 2,700 people. To chaplains who work in Army chapels around the world, the tolerance and openness represent the support and camaraderie of military culture. "What happens here is normal," said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Carleton W. Birch, spokesman for the Army Chief of Chaplains. The Pentagon chapel opened in November 2002 as part of the reconstruction of the complex from damage caused by the 9/11 attack. Behind the altar, a large stained-glass display depicts the Pentagon, an eagle and the American flag, with a double row of 184 ruby-red glass pieces representing the victims killed when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the building. "United in memory, September 11, 2001," it reads. The chapel contains 80 seats and has regularly scheduled religious services on weekdays, including Catholic confession and Mass, a Jewish service and Torah study, a Hindu service, a Mormon service and services for other Christian denominations, along with the Muslim prayer service. On average, 300 to 400 people visit the chapel each week, either to take part in group services or on their own. Army officials interviewed Wednesday said they were unaware of anyone ever protesting against Muslims' use of the chapel. "I've never had a question about it" in four-plus years at the Pentagon, Army spokesman George Wright said. The Army culture of religious freedom dates back to the Revolutionary War, Wright said, describing it as "a big tent." "We're very tolerant here of one another and our faith," he said. "We don't keep track of who comes in." CNN's Chris Lawrence contributed to this story. | The military chapel near the 9/11 crash site is nondenominational .
Officials say the tolerance is part of military culture .
184 people died when a hijacked plane crashed into the Pentagon .
Christians, Jews, Muslims and Hindus use the space . |
fbef47a50f03a15a01ecf279cbdbe308f88cea16 | By . Kerry Mcqueeney . PUBLISHED: . 04:53 EST, 3 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:20 EST, 3 July 2012 . Theft: Roberts took a bag when he got in to the warehouse (file picture) A thief who burgled a factory returned to the scene of his crime just days later - when he turned up for a job interview. Robert Anthony Roberts was captured on CCTV leaving Elements Europe, based in Oswestry, Shropshire, with stolen goods. However he was recognised by one of the managers when he returned to the premises three days later as a candidate for a job there. He was arrested after the boss called police. Roberts, 28, pleaded guilty to burglary he appeared before magistrates in Shrewsbury. The court heard how, on March 12, Roberts entered the factory, on the Mile Oak Industrial Estate, as a trespasser. He gained access to a washroom and stole a rucksack containing a wallet, £30 cash and ID cards. When staff realised the items had been taken the firm’s production manager Nick Davies checked CCTV footage. It showed Roberts leaving the washroom with the rucksack accompanied by a Staffordshire bull terrier-type dog. John Barnett, prosecuting, said it was shortly after the burglary that Mr Davies had been carrying out job interviews at the firm. When he recognised one of the candidates as the man he had seen on CCTV footage he contacted the police. Roberts, of Newtown, Powys, Wales, admitted the burglary and told police he did it to feed his £40-a-day heroin addiction. Martin Rogerson, defending, said Roberts had suffered from an 'appalling heroin habit' which was so bad he had lost his job as a roofer working for his uncle. Caught: The burglar was recognised by a manager who saw him on CCTV . He added that, at that time, Roberts had been living in a room in Oswestry and had been walking around the industrial estate looking for work when he got into the room and helped himself to the bag. The court was also told that, since the burglary, Roberts had made efforts to turn his life around. Magistrates heard how, for the first time since childhood, the defendant had been reconciled with his father. Mr Rogerson added that Roberts had - with the support of his family - got himself clean of heroin by completing a self-detoxification programme at his father's home. While the ordeal had been a 'dreadful' experience for the defendant's family, Mr Rogerson added, it was one that had ultimately got Roberts clean of drugs. It emerged during the hearing that a warrant for Roberts' arrest was outstanding, relating to the non-payment of fines. The offence had resulted in Roberts being in breach of suspended sentence order which carries a 45-day custody sentence. However, Mr Rogerson argued that, having finally got clean of drugs and now living and working with his father in a supportive stable environment, prison would be the worst place Roberts could be sent. Magistrates allowed Roberts’ suspended sentence order to continue, but ordered him complete a 12-month community order, with 40 hours of unpaid work, £85 costs and £63 compensation. | Heroin addict was captured on CCTV leaving the premises with stolen goods .
He was rumbled when he returned for a job interview and a manager recognised him from the footage . |
fbef7ef752965d2592dd188618a178d867ca6fc1 | By . Laura Clark . Former Labour Education Secretary David Blunkett has drawn up a raft of proposals on improving schools . Schools would face tighter admissions rules and close scrutiny from ‘standards tsars’ under sweeping Labour proposals for reforming state education. Ministers accused Labour of attempting to bring back tiers of bureaucracy after the party unveiled plans for dozens of new local directors overseeing heads and governors. Schools would also face an admissions crackdown to stop middle-class pupils dominating places at sought-after schools. Watchdogs will be able to force governors to rewrite their admissions policies. Schools will also be required to operate within local rules amid evidence of ‘widespread non-compliance’ with a national code designed to prevent covert selection. The plans represent Labour’s answer to the academy and free school revolution led by Education Secretary Michael Gove, which has freed hundreds of heads from local authority control. Under Labour’s blueprint, all schools in an area – including academies and free schools – will be overseen by ‘directors of school standards’ with the power to intervene. They would be responsible for . driving up performance in struggling schools - including those merely . coasting or ‘fragile’ - and responding to the views of parents and the . wider public. They would be expected to team up failing schools with stronger neighbours and ultimately force changes of leadership. Parents concerned about standards in schools will also be able to demand that directors take action. They will be able to call in a new . standards supremo to tackle under-performance under plans expected to . form the centrepiece of Labour’s manifesto for education. The plans were drawn up by David Blunkett, Tony Blair’s first education secretary, who said the overhaul was aimed at reversing the ‘ridiculous situation’ of schools being run from Whitehall.‘New local Directors of School Standards will monitor, support and challenge schools to improve, driving up standards in underperforming and “fragile” schools – irrespective of the status of the school,’ he said . But a spokesman for Mr Gove said: ‘We are taking power over schools from politicians and giving it to the heads and teachers who know the children’s names. Sadly, Labour’s announcement today means going in the opposite direction.’ Failing schools would be forced to team up with stronger neighbours and could see headteachers fires under Mr Blunkett's reforms (file picture) In . further measures proposed by Mr Blunkett, recommendations for . tightening admissions would lead to the Office of the Schools . Adjudicator being able to direct schools to change their policies. His . report also said schools should be barred from opting out of . locally-agreed admissions rules, although they would still be able to . set their own policies. Shadow . Education Secretary Tristram Hunt yesterday accepted Mr Blunkett’s . proposal to introduce standards tsars, while other plans remain under . consideration. He claimed that under Mr Gove schools were being left to . ‘sink or swim’. Mr Hunt said: 'David’s record on raising school standards speaks for itself. This is an incredibly important report. 'Under . Michael Gove schools are being left to ‘sink or swim’ – more than 1.5m . children are in underperforming schools. That's why Labour will . introduce new and robust local oversight of all schools to raise . standards. That’s what new Directors of School Standards will bring.' Mr . Blunkett told the Mail his proposals were aimed at ending the ‘current . ridiculous situation where the Secretary of State is gradually . contractually overseeing thousands of schools’. Labour's shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt is understood to have accepted the ideas . ‘Putting . the glue back into the system means overturning the fractured and . “atomised” landscape, as Sir Michael Wilshaw, Chief Inspector of Schools . has put it,’ he said. But . he said there would be ‘no going backwards under my recommendations’ and . no return to the days of local authorities running all schools. ‘Instead, . we would want to build on what’s already there, ensure there is . absolutely transparency, fairness and, above all, that everyone knows . who is responsible for school improvement - world class head teachers . and the highest quality classroom teachers, supported by the new local . Director of School Standards.’ The . directors would also work with local authorities to plan new schools . and provide extra places, with an expectation they would allow popular . schools to expand if they wished to. They would oversee competitions between providers to open new schools where needed. Mr Blunkett was asked by Labour leader Ed Miliband to oversee education policy development. The proposed reforms draw on the London Challenge initiative which has been credited with transforming standards in London schools. The scheme used measures such as heads collaborating to raise standards and changes of leadership where required. There was also a concerted attempt to break the link between poverty and poor results with ‘zero tolerance’ of low expectations. The independent directors would be a statutory appointment made from a shortlist of candidates. Councils would join together to appoint a shared DSS across a local area or sub-region. Mr Blunkett says memory tests - something Mr Gove has pushed strenuously - are 'important' but warns the education system must offer 'much more than this'. He adds: 'Schools and colleges are not factories to instil facts, and then hope that young people somehow make sense of them and become function and creative adults. 'We have to provide the opportunity to build those think or critical skills, which allow the analytical faculties to develop - to be able to challenge, as well as to make sense of the ever-changing world around us.' The report recommends the creation of temporary 'education incubation zones' where the latest teaching methods and technology would be used to help raise standards and the introduction of a duty on government to represent the interests of pupils and parents. It underlines Labour's existing calls for teachers to be properly qualified and an end to the ability of some schools to opt out of local admissions codes. Mr Blunkett said the emphasis of Labour's policy was 'entirely on delivering inspiration teaching and aspirational learning'. | Ex-Education Secretary sets out plans to tackle poor standards .
Wants a new standards supremo who can be called into schools .
Plans expected to form centerpiece of Labour's manifesto for education . |
fbef93759dbe9be79967ca482e099b8d109f2de6 | Beijing (CNN) -- In recent years Halloween has become a big deal in Beijing, with locals and foreigners hitting up dozens of themed parties around the city in their wackiest costumes. Some, however, seek out something truly macabre -- an authentic haunted house. Among the freakier options in the city is a building simply called "no. 81." Unlike your average haunted house, found hidden in some dark alley or unlit street, this one sits on one of Beijing's busiest thoroughfares -- Chaoyangmen Inner Street. The area is famous for its Western-style clubs, restaurants and concerts. But these days No. 81 has been giving the street a ghoulish boost due to its alleged ghostly residents. Decrepit is kind of scary . "The only word to describe that house is 'decrepit'," says Guo Tao, a former resident of the neighborhood. "The broken windows, the crawling ivies ... not many people want to stop at that place." The building has grown in infamy. Beijing taxi drivers have no trouble finding it when you tell them you're looking for the haunted house on Chaoyangmen. Numerous mentions online have made it a popular site for young adventurers. "I came here to celebrate my birthday," said a middle school girl visiting the building last week. "Almost all of my friends have been here, and I thought it would be nice to come here for some fun, especially as Halloween is approaching." With theme parks getting more expensive, more young people are opting to get a "free ride" in the city's old, broken buildings, ignoring 'Danger! Do not enter' signs in the front. Next to the "danger" sign at No. 81, there's a more intriguing handwritten warning on a window pane: "There are ghosts." Is the place even haunted? Building no. 81 was built in 1910 to serve as a language center and rest area. When the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949, administrative departments moved in and used the building for offices. Local resident Guo says that in the 2000s, the building was abandoned due to a lack of funding. Over the last decade, it's deteriorated to its current state, giving the building an eerie edge that's led many to assume -- or hope -- that it's haunted. Where do the ghost tales come from? Various accounts are making the rounds, but the commonly accepted yarn has it that a number of people have unexpectedly died on the property, including workers, adventure-seekers and other innocents who for some reason or other made their way into the building. Spooky as it all sounds, a recent Xinhua state-run news agency interview with local police attempted to clear up the rumors, saying no deaths were reported to have ever taken place in the building. Meanwhile, the company that currently owns the building told Xinhua that its famously haunted space isn't actually haunted at all. Ghosts or no ghosts, for young adventurers the place is still a spooky destination -- especially around Halloween. "I heard the building is going to be demolished or renovated soon," said one student who recently visited the site. "I'm not sure if it's true, but I really wanted to take a look before it changes." Not freaky enough for you? Other ghoulish options in the Chinese capital include a haunted walking tour or the Beijing ghosts tour. Susan Wang contributed to this report. | A century-old 'haunted' building on busy Beijing road is attracting Halloween thrill seekers .
Legend says building haunted by people who died mysteriously on the property .
Current owner claims it's not really haunted, police say no record of deaths . |
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