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fc36b3f57e559cf1e14dc4a20df364b1dd22a917 | By . Associated Press . and James Rush . PUBLISHED: . 05:40 EST, 20 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 11:28 EST, 20 February 2014 . Hundreds of elderly North and South . Koreans, separated by war more than six decades ago, were being . tearfully reunited today during a rare period of eased relations between . the two countries. More . than 100 elderly South Koreans travelled through falling snow to North Korea's Diamond Mountain to reunite with . relatives they had not seen since the Korean War, which lasted from 1950 . to 1953. About 180 North Koreans were also expected, Seoul has said. Elderly . women in traditional hanbok dresses were seen on South Korean TV . talking and hugging at the resort while stooped men wiped away tears. The reunions however are due to be short lived as the families are once again expected to part in a few days. Scroll down for video . Hundreds of North and South Koreans have been reunited for the first time in more than 60 years. Pictured are South Korean Lee Son-hyang, 88, left, and her North Korean brother Lee Yoon Geun, 72, at the reunion . Elderly South Koreans travelled through falling snow with their families to North Korea's Diamond Mountain to reunite with relatives they had not seen since the Korean War. Pictured is South Korean Park Yang-gon, left, and his North Korean brother Park Yang Soo . This round of reunions over the world's most heavily fortified border, the first since 2010, comes amid a North Korean charm offensive. Pictured is South Korean Kim Sung-yoon, 96, right, with her North Korean sister Kim Seok Ryu, 80 . South Korean Lee Young-sil (right), 87, cries after meeting her North Korean sister Lee Jung-sil, 84, during their family reunion at the resort in North Korea . More . reunions are planned until Tuesday. This round of reunions over . the world's most heavily fortified border, the first since 2010, comes . amid a North Korean charm offensive. Among . the South Koreans making the journey to the reunion was octogenarian . Jang Choon, who bought a new suit before he finally made it to North . Korea to meet the family he has not seen since the war. Meanwhile, . Kim Dong-bin, a 78-year-old diagnosed with lung cancer last September, . has been undergoing chemotherapy, which he said would allow him to meet . the elder sister he was separated from more than 60 years ago, before he . dies. Kim, who fled . south when he was 16, fearing U.S. attacks on Pyongyang during the war, . said: 'I am afraid my family in North Korea might still think I came to . the South to live a good life for me alone. 'Before . I die, I must explain that I did not abandon my family, that I was . swept up by the refugee flow during the chaos. Resolving this . misunderstanding is the first thing I want to do in person with my . sister,' he said. The . reunions used to be held roughly annually, but have not taken place . since 2010 as tensions between the two Koreas spiralled after the South . said the North sank one of its naval vessels. In later months, the North . shelled a South Korean island and Pyongyang threatened nuclear attacks . last year. Kim Sun-kyum, 91, is helped by a Red Cross official as he arrives to take part in family reunions with his North Korean family members . Pictured is South Korean Lee Oh-hwan, left, 85, with her North Korean family during the reunion. The reunions are due to be short lived as the families are once again expected to part in a few days . The reunions used to be held roughly annually, but have not taken place since 2010 as tensions between the two Koreas spiralled after the South said the North sank one of its naval vessels . Millions of other Koreans have been separated from loved ones since the three-year war that ended in 1953 . South Korean Lee Young-sil (right), 87, cries after meeting her North Korean daughter Dong Myung-suk, 66, during their family reunion . 'My youngest . brother Ha-choon had not even started school when I last saw him,' said . Jang, the eldest of four siblings, one of whom has died. He said: 'But now he's an old man like me.' Jang . was conscripted by the North Korean army at 19 but ended up being . captured and, when given a choice to return to his home in North . Hamgyong Province near the Russian border, he opted to stay in the . South. Those taking part in the reunions however . were only the lucky few - millions of other Koreans have been separated . from loved ones since the three-year war that ended in 1953. Lee Hyo-Kuk (left) is checked by medical staff after arriving at the Hanwha resort as South Koreans selected to attend family reunions with the North gather in the eastern port city of Sockcho on Wednesday . Elderly people receive medical checks as they arrive at a hotel before setting off to take part in the reunions with their family members in North Korea . Kim Dong-Bin, one of the South Koreans selected to attend family reunions with the North, sits in his hotel room the night before the meeting . Medical staff visit the hotel room of Ma Jong-Tae (centre), one of the South Koreans selected to attend family reunions with the North . During . a previous period of inter-Korean rapprochement, about 22,000 Koreans . had brief reunions - 18,000 in person and the others by video. None got a . second chance to reunite, Seoul says. The . rival nations struck a deal last week to go ahead with brief meetings . of war-divided families, although there was wariness in Seoul that . Pyongyang could back out. North . Korea is pushing for better ties with the South, and has ratcheted down . harsh rhetoric that swelled last spring with a torrent of threats to . launch nuclear strikes against Seoul and Washington. Analysts say the North hopes better relations with Seoul will attract badly needed foreign investment and aid. The . six days of family reunions take place under the cloud of a U.N. report . on human rights abuses in North Korea, which investigators have said . were comparable to Nazi-era atrocities. Buses carrying South Koreans cross the border line to Diamond Mountain resort in North Korea . Millions of Korean families have been separated since the war. Both governments ban their citizens from visiting each other or even exchanging letters, phone calls and emails . The rival nations struck a deal last week to go ahead with brief meetings of war-divided families . A South Korean man selected to attend joint North and South family reunions sits in the lobby of a hotel as he prepares to depart for the North Korean border, in the eastern port city of Sokcho . South Korean Heo Kyung-ok (right), 86, waves from a bus heading to North Korea's Mount Kumgang resort to meet her family members . South Korean Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae (right) pushes Choi Jeong-ho's wheelchair, as the 91-year-old woman leaves for North Korea to meet her family members . North Korea is pushing for better ties with the South, and has ratcheted down harsh rhetoric that swelled last spring with a torrent of threats to launch nuclear strikes against Seoul and Washington . Pyongyang . has rejected the report, describing it as a concoction by the United . States and its allies, Japan and the European Union. Millions . of Korean families have been separated since the war. Both governments . ban their citizens from visiting each other or even exchanging letters, . phone calls and emails. In . 2000, South Korea created a computerised lottery system for South . Koreans hoping for reunions, and since then nearly 130,000 people, most . in their 70s or older, have entered. Only about 70,000 are still alive. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un provides field guidance to the November 2 Factory of the Korean People's Army in this image, released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency . The family reunions take place under the cloud of a U.N. report on human rights abuses in North Korea, which investigators have said were comparable to Nazi-era atrocities . Pyongyang has rejected the report, describing it as a concoction by the United States and its allies, Japan and the European Union . North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visits the factory at an unknown place in North Korea, which produces food for the North Korean soldiers . Analysts say the North hopes better relations with Seoul will attract badly needed foreign investment and aid . Those selected for aborted reunions in September get another chance this week. However, . two of the South Koreans selected and three of North Koreans have died . since then, according to South Korea's Red Cross, which is helping . arrange the meetings along with its North Korean counterpart. The . two Koreas have been in a near-constant standoff since an armistice . ended the Korean War. It hasn't been replaced with a peace treaty, . leaving the peninsula still technically in a state of war. About 28,000 . U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea to help deter aggression from . North Korea. | Hundreds of South and North Koreans reunited after more than 60 years .
More than 100 elderly South Koreans travelled to North Korea for reunions .
About 180 North Koreans are also expected, Seoul has said .
Reunions between residents of the two countries planned until Tuesday . |
fc36c6a06b12b172bf7f345522ff664d9df4af6b | By . James Chapman . and James Salmon . and Hugo Duncan . PUBLISHED: . 18:51 EST, 15 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 19:25 EST, 15 January 2014 . Bank of England governor Mark Carney last night dismissed proposals to cap bankers’ bonuses as ‘crude’ measures that will fail. He said it would simply prompt lenders to push up basic pay as they sought to keep hold of high-flying executives. His comments came amid speculation that the Royal Bank of Scotland wants to give senior staff bonuses worth twice their salaries. Mark Carney: The Bank of England chief says a bonus cap won't cut pay packages as it would simply prompt lenders to push up basic pay as they sought to keep hold of high-flying executives . And it is an embarrassing blow to Ed Miliband after Labour yesterday called on the Government to reject any request to pay higher bonuses at RBS – which is still partly taxpayer-owned. A new bonus cap introduced this year by Brussels restricts banks in the EU from paying more than one year’s salary as a bonus, rising to two times salary if shareholders approve. Mr Carney, who did not mention RBS by name, told MPs yesterday that he ‘absolutely’ agreed that the ‘crude bonus cap’ proposal backed by Labour was not the best way to rein in excessive pay. He said that after making ‘many . mistakes’ over pay and bonuses in the years leading up to the financial . crisis the UK now has now developed a ‘hard touch’ approach. Giving . evidence to the Treasury select committee, he said capping bonuses . would push up basic pay as banks attempted to keep hold of its most . highly prized staff. The Governor said the move would undermine efforts to ensure that large amounts of pay in the form of bonuses were deferred for five years or longer, paid in shares rather than cash, and were able to be clawed back if things went wrong. ‘It takes back some of the advantages of the approach that we have had because it will incentivise more cash compensation today – exactly the type of problem we had before – that we can’t claw back,’ MPs were told. ‘We would rather see more deferral, more equity [share-based payout] and this ability to take it back when those risks come to light.’ Chancellor George Osborne said: ‘These European rules will not lead to bankers being paid less. ‘What they will lead to is a Fred Goodwin-style situation where you will not be able to get money back off bankers when things go wrong. This is precisely what we have been trying to get away from in Britain.’ Mr Carney’s comments come after David Cameron told the Commons that there will be a £2,000 cap on bonuses paid in cash at RBS this year, following its introduction in 2013. He also said the Government would use its position as the bank’s main shareholder to block any increase in the overall amount paid out in salaries and bonuses. But he refused to rule out bonuses worth up to double an executive’s pay, as long as they are paid in stock and shares designed to deter the short-term risk-taking. Taxpayers own 80 per cent of RBS, meaning the Chancellor can prevent this from happening. RBS has not yet lodged a request for the higher bonus cap. It is discussing the matter with investors including UKFI, the arms-length body set up by the Government to manage taxpayers’ stakes in bailed out banks. Any request will have to be put to the vote at RBS’s annual meeting with shareholders in Edinburgh in May. Mr Cameron said: ‘I can confirm today that just as we have had limits on cash bonuses of £2,000 at RBS this year and last year, we will do the same next year as well. ‘If there are any proposals to increase the overall pay, that is pay and bonus bill at RBS, at the investment bank, any proposals for that, we will veto it.’ A Downing Street source said the . total package of pay and bonuses at RBS had halved under the coalition . Government, from £3billion in 2009 to £1.4billion in 2012 – although . this is partly because its investment banking division is far smaller. Quarrel: David Cameron refused Ed Miliband's call to . cap individual bank bonuses, but said he would use the Government’s . powers to block any rise in the overall pay pot at RBS’s investment arm . The source added that given every household had been forced to contribute £5,000 to bail out the banking giant, the top priority had to be ensuring they got the money back by returning it to the private sector. But Chris Leslie MP, Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, criticised the announcements. He said: ‘David Cameron has refused to rule out approving bonuses of up to 200 per cent at RBS. It looks like he and George Osborne would approve such a request at a time when ordinary families face a cost-of-living crisis and bank lending to businesses is falling.’ Rob MacGregor, of the trade union Unite, said: ‘The Chancellor must not rubber stamp the corporate greed at Royal Bank of Scotland. If he looks the other way as the top bankers pat each other on the back and fill their boots hard working people across the country will be appalled.’ Chairman of the Treasury committee, Andrew Tyrie MP, said there should be no political interference in RBS. ‘RBS should be run on commercial grounds. Were decision-making at RBS to be subordinated to political considerations, it would be bad for the bank, bad for the taxpayers’ stake in the bank and bad for the wider economy,’ he said. ‘The structure and scale of remuneration in banking have incentivised misconduct and excessive risk-taking. ‘Risk and reward must be much more closely aligned, as the Banking Commission recommended. ‘The Governor of the Bank of England today agreed with the Banking Commission’s conclusion that a crude bonus cap is not the answer... the structure of remuneration is more important than the absolute level and that more deferral in variable pay is required.’ | Mr Carney said a cap would simply prompt lenders to push up basic pay .
Speculation RBS wants to give staff bonuses worth twice their salaries .
Labour calls for the State to block RBS from paying staff such huge sums . |
fc36d2205b8450b4b80f165d7fa98254dd541c93 | (CNN) -- Mauricio Pochettino is the latest incumbent of Tottenham Hotspur's managerial hot seat. The London club have appointed the Argentinean after raiding fellow English Premier League outfit Southampton for his services. Pochettino guided Saints to their highest ever EPL finish last season and was credited with bringing through a talented clutch of youngsters at the club. The 42-year-old now has the task of guiding Spurs into the lucrative European Champions League, knowing failure could cost him his job. Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy sacked two managers in less than six months -- first Andre Villas-Boas then Tim Sherwood -- for failing to deliver a top-four place. In an statement on the club's official website, Pochettino said: "This is a club with tremendous history and prestige and I am honored to have been given this opportunity to be its Head Coach. "There is an abundance of top-class talent at the club and I am looking forward to starting work with the squad. "Tottenham Hotspur has a huge following across the world and I have great admiration for the passion the fans show for this team. "We are determined to give the supporters the kind of attacking football and success that we are all looking to achieve." Pochettino took over at Southampton in January 2013 with the club struggling at the foot of the Premier League and guided them to safety. This season he took them to their highest ever league placing -- eighth -- and helped develop a core of home grown talent including Adam Lallana and Luke Shaw, who are both expected to go to the World Cup with England. But expectations are much higher at Spurs, with a succession of managers being fired for not securing the top four berth that offers entry to Europe's money spinning Champions League. Harry Redknapp is the only manager in recent times to qualify for the competition, leading Spurs to the quarterfinals in 2010/11 before he was sacked in 2012. Andre Villas-Boas, the former Chelsea manager, finished fifth in his first season before being relieved of his duties in December last year with the club languishing in seventh. Tim Sherwood -- a former player at the club -- took over as caretaker but was sacked at the end of the season after Spurs finished sixth. Levy said in the club's statement: "In Mauricio I believe we have a Head Coach who, with his high energy, attacking football, will embrace the style of play we associate with our club. "He has a proven ability to develop each player as an individual, whilst building great team spirit and a winning mentality. We have a talented squad that Mauricio is excited to be coaching next season." Coaches Jesús Pérez, Miguel D'Agostino and Toni Jiménez have also followed Pochettino to White Hart Lane, with Southampton's search for a new manager now under way. In a statement on the club's official website announcing Pochettino's resignation, chairman Ralph Krueger said: "We will be looking for a manager that shares our values, our principles and our philosophy. "A manager who can continue to grow the First Team and build on our strong foundation -- a foundation led by an ambitious vision and plan that continues to build on our world-class academy, our amazing 129-year heritage and our excellent staff, and rewards our loyal and passionate fan base." Also see: Real secure 'La Decima' Also see: The $200M 'mistake' | Spurs appoint Argentinean Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager .
Pochettino joins from fellow English Premier League club Southampton .
The 42-year-old led Saints to their highest ever EPL finish last season .
Pochettino signs a five-year deal at White Hart Lane . |
fc370eed354187963c172dc6b39ce64977237e93 | Comedian Bobby Davro is at the centre of a bizarre divorce row after his friend’s wife flashed her breasts at him during an alcohol-fuelled internet video call. The comic’s friendship with Marianne Dobson is said to have devastated her husband, former TV magician Wayne Dobson, who is now divorcing his wife of seven years. When Mr Dobson confronted his friend about the incident on Skype, which allows users to make video calls over the internet, the comic said: ‘It’s no big deal.’ Scroll down for video . Comic Bobby Davro, left, is involved in a bitter divorce row involving the wife of his good friend of 30 years - former TV magician Wayne Dobson and his wife Marianne, right . It is thought their friendship has since soured. Davro and Mr Dobson, 57, became friends 30 years ago when they both enjoyed successful TV careers. Davro’s clean-cut routines made him a household name in the 1980s, while Mr Dobson’s Saturday night ITV programme, Wayne Dobson – A Kind of Magic with Linda Lusardi, attracted up to 11million viewers in the 1990s. Davro, 56, who lives with his ex-wife Trudi Jameson, a former topless model, yesterday claimed his relationship with Mrs Dobson was an innocent friendship. He told The Sun: ‘I have spent time with Marianne on my own, I gave her lifts. I’m very fond of Marianne Dobson, I’m very fond of her husband.’ He said he regretted doing ‘something silly’ but said that the incident had nothing to do with the breakdown of the Dobsons’ marriage. Wayne Dobson was a star of Saturday night television in the 1980s with his hit show A Kind Of Magic, but was forced to quit in the 1990s after developing MS. He and wife Marianne married in 2005 after meeting in hospital . He said: ‘The incident has no relevance on my friends’ split and I was terribly sad to see it happen, especially for my friend Wayne.’ Mr Dobson was forced to reduce his workload as a magician after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1988, which has confined him to a wheelchair. He met his wife when he was receiving treatment in hospital. They wed in 2005 and lived in Haslemere, Surrey. Speaking about the incident on Skype, Mrs Dobson, 54, told the Sun: ‘I think we were both really drunk. He [Davro] is just as big a culprit in this too. He is no longer a friend now.’ She blamed the marriage split on her husband’s illness, saying: ‘I could no longer cope with Wayne’s disability. I’ve had breast cancer myself which I’ve just got over.’ Davro had a run of hit Saturday night programmes on ITV including Bobby Davro on The Box, Bobby’s Sketch Pad and TV Weekly. More recently, he appeared in EastEnders as Vinnie Monks in 2008. Davro hit the headlines earlier this year when he performed at Cherie Blair’s 60th birthday party. He usually charges up to £4,000 for public appearances, but waived the fee as a favour for mutual friend Stephen Purdew, owner of Champneys health spa. Video courtesy of Anna Christian Productions. Davro who divorced from former Page Three model Trudi Jameson, left, and in 2008 he joined EastEnders as Vince 'Vinnie' Monks . | Comic involved in divorce row with wife of ex-TV magician Wayne Dobson .
Bobby Davro had been good friends with Dobson for over 30 years .
His wife Marianne allegedly exposed breasts in drunken late-night Skype call .
Wayne has since begun divorce proceedings against his wife of seven years . |
fc379941858311b698d4ba6bd9435b42fa31b051 | By . Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 11:01 EST, 18 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:48 EST, 18 August 2013 . It’s certainly not your average scene on the roadside - and would no doubt have livened up a few morning commutes for the passing motorists. Fifty lost Mallard ducks were given a single-file police escort along the hard shoulder of a main road, leading to a build-up of traffic in the morning. A police motorcyclist was captured on video ushering dozens of the birds to safety as they waddled along the A3 in Milford, Surrey, on Thursday morning. Scroll down for video . Unusual sight: A police motorcyclist escorted more than fifty ducks along the busy A3 in Milford, Surrey . Helped along: The escort of the Mallard ducks led to a build-up of traffic in the morning last week . They were found near the Eashing Moor Copse area of woodland and the River Wey. A Surrey Police spokesman confirmed that the force had received a call from a concerned motorist at 7:19am on Thursday and that an officer was sent to herd the birds to safety. He added: ‘A police officer attended and found around 50 young ducks waddling down the road. ‘With the help of a local resident and some corn, the ducks were herded to safety into a nearby shed. Attempts are now being made to locate the owner of the birds.’ The A3 road is a major 67-mile route connecting London and Portsmouth via Kingston upon Thames, Guildford, Haslemere and Petersfield. Milford is a large village, south-west of Godalming. Aid: A police escort was given to the waddling ducks along the A3 in Milford, Surrey, on Thursday morning . Caring: A Surrey Police spokesman confirmed that the force had received a call from a concerned motorist . It's not the first time police officers have lended a hand to help stranded or lost ducks on the road. 'With the help of a local resident and some corn, the ducks were herded to safety into a nearby shed' Surrey Police spokesman . In February 2011, U.S. police officer Glenn Eppler herded a family of ducks to safety after they became stuck in the middle of a road near an overpass in Fort Myers, Florida. One year later, police in Texas helped a family of the birds that had wandered onto a highway. And in May this year, police officer Mark James abandoned a high-speed chase to stop his car in Portland, Oregon, and escort a duck and two ducklings to a ditch on the side of a road. | Police motorcyclist ushers dozens of ducks to safety on A3 in Milford .
Surrey Police responded after receiving call from concerned motorist .
Ducks were herded to safety into a nearby shed on Thursday morning . |
fc37dbdabfcc13bb4fcb370b5dae1521a1ce8796 | Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Najla Habibi says she is hopeful about the future of her country. "I know we have got a lot of problems, but still I am happy that I, as a woman, can go to school to teach and hundreds of thousands of girls across the country are able to go to school," the 47-year-old school teacher said. "You know that during the Taliban this was not possible." More than a decade since the war began, Afghans now say that they feel positive about their country's future, a report released Wednesday by the Asia Foundation said. The report, "Afghanistan in 2012: A Survey of the Afghan People," found public opinion to be the most optimistic since the annual survey began in 2004. Fifty-two percent of the respondents felt that the country was moving in the right direction, compared to 46% in 2011. Improvements in security and reconstruction were the most cited reasons for the improved outlook. The Foundation interviewed nearly 6,300 Afghans from all 34 provinces, gauging their perception on security, governance, economy and other issues relating to the country's development. "This survey helps to give us a sense of citizens' priorities, needs, and views," said Abdullah Ahmadzai, The Asia Foundation deputy country representative in Afghanistan, in a news release. "We hope these findings help bridge the gap in understanding between the international community, the Afghan government, and local communities—dialogue necessary for Afghanistan's long-term prospects." Over half of the respondents feel that their families are more prosperous today than in the Taliban era and access to schools has increased. Most respondents agreed with the government's national reconciliation and negotiation efforts with the Taliban. But concerns remain. "It is good that the government is putting efforts on talks with the Taliban, but I am always afraid that if talks become positive and the Taliban come (back) to the government, would we still hold our rights or not?" Habibi said. "But generally I think we are moving towards a right direction." In the 2012 report, fewer Afghans said they experienced violence or crime over the past year, with a significant decline in violence and crime. "I feel safe in Kabul, especially in my shop because it is not on a main road or near a military compound, " a 29-year-old shopkeeper told CNN, who asked not to be named. "But I don't feel safe once I go to downtown or to any of the high profile areas of Kabul." Attitudes toward women also appear positive. Nearly nine in 10 respondents agreed that women and men should have equal educational opportunities. Two thirds of Afghans surveyed say they think women should be allowed to work outside the home. Despite the sense of optimism in the report, insecurity continues to be the biggest worry. Respondents cited security issues (28%), unemployment (27%), and corruption (25%) as the three biggest problems facing Afghanistan. Two-thirds of those interviewed said that local employment opportunities are bad. "I don't think Taliban threat is worse than corruption in Afghanistan," the Kabul shopkeeper said. "It is the corruption, which is taking Afghanistan towards calamity as we have been seeing in the last decade." The report comes at a crucial time when the NATO led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is in the process of transferring the country's security responsibilities to the Afghan National Forces. Afghanistan is also preparing for its next presidential election, scheduled for April 2014. Not all are hopeful for the future. Jan Mohammad Parwani, a 35-year-old father of three who sells mobile phone credit cards on the streets in Kabul, said he wants to leave the country. "I was really hopeful for the future of my country and the direction it was moving to when I returned from Iran with my family seven years ago, but now I regret (it)," Parwani said. "I wish I was still living as a refugee in Iran. "I know Iranian government doesn't like us Afghans and they don't treat us in a nice way, but at least I was earning enough and also there was no fear of suicide attacks, roadside bombs and rockets." | The Asia Foundation releases "Afghanistan in 2012: A Survey of the Afghan People"
Fifty-two percent of the respondents felt that the country was moving in the right direction .
Insecurity, unemployment and corruption are the three biggest problems . |
fc383796c990ddeae199484d989f663c414ee476 | By . Emily Allen . PUBLISHED: . 04:33 EST, 25 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:23 EST, 25 July 2012 . In court: Stephen Briggs pleaded guilty to causing an animal unnecessary suffering and to criminal damage . A drunk father-of-three killed a pet guinea pig by throwing it against the wall of his house in front of his three horrified children. Stephen Briggs, 31, lost his temper after one of his children burst into his garden shed where he had been drinking 16 cans of lager. He threw an Xbox games console against a door, breaking a window, before hurling the guinea pig against the wall of his family’s home in Carlisle, Cumbria. At the city’s magistrates’ court, . Briggs pleaded guilty to causing a protected animal unnecessary . suffering and to criminal damage. Pam . Ward, prosecuting, described how the defendant, who owns several guinea . pigs, had started drinking lager in his shed at 2pm on July 12. Briggs, whose children are aged seven, 10 and 11, polished off eight cans before going out to get another 10. By 6pm, he had only two cans left and was drunk, said Mrs Ward. She . continued: 'When one of the children entered the shed he became angry . and then left the shed holding one of the guinea pigs, which he threw . against the house wall. 'It didn’t die straight away.' Realising that the three children were upset, the defendant’s partner came out into the garden. When a police officer arrived, he saw one of the children holding the injured guinea pig, which moved slightly and then died. Mrs Ward added: 'The mother of the children outlined what had happened but declined to make a formal written statement.' Guilty: Stephen Briggs lost his temper and threw the guinea pig (not pictured) against the wall of his house in front of his three children after drinking 16 cans . When interviewed by police, Briggs said he had been drunk after consuming 16 cans of lager but he then became very upset, admitting that he had killed the guinea pig while the children were there. In court, Briggs, now living at Guisborough, Cleveland, blamed his actions on his drinking, saying: 'I was in the wrong.' He said he was now living with his parents and worried that his children might think he was evil. He added that he hopes to go back to his wife and family. The case was adjourned for reports and Briggs will be sentenced on Monday, August 13. | Stephen Briggs lost his temper after one of his children burst into his garden shed where he had been drinking .
He threw an Xbox games console against a door, breaking a window, before hurling the guinea pig . |
fc38e78564c90aac416e4275c9d1ea8a90b9673c | More than 20 years ago a Christian farmer had an idea – to create a maze out of trees that would spell the words of Jesus when seen from above. Peter Gunner chose a Bible verse, made a plan, then planted thousands of willows on a seven-acre field with the help of a few volunteers. As they grew he carefully pruned them so their message would be clear. The words, from John 14:6, begin with ‘Jesus’ and read, with strategically-used @ signs: ‘I am the way, the truth and the life.’ Peter Gunner has planted the trees so 'Jesus I am the way the truth and the life' can be seen from above . Sowing the seeds: The father of five planned how he would plant the trees on a computer first . Trees of life: Mr Gunner planted thousands of willows and has been mowing them for decades . The father of five’s dedication went . largely unnoticed – bar a few comments from pilots – until it was . spotted recently on Google maps. Labour of love: The Christian created the design on a computer before marking it out on the ground . Mr Gunner, 63, pictured, who lives . with his wife Faith and their dog Peace near Chiddingly, East Sussex, . said: ‘The idea just came to me one day. 'I am not even sure why I chose that part of the Bible, other than Jesus is saying a lot about himself in that passage. 'In a way the maze is a lot like life, nobody knows what it looks like from above. 'You can wander through life confused when in fact it does make sense from a different perspective.’ He only saw the words from above for . the first time in 2005 when a police officer neighbour gave him a . picture taken from a helicopter. ‘There are a couple of things I would . do differently and some tweaks I would make but overall I am happy with . it,’ Mr Gunner said. He invites friends and people from . the local church to use the maze, and there is a public footpath by the . field so walkers can stumble upon his creation. Mr Gunner added: ‘Every time I see a . plane go over I look at it and say a little prayer. I hope somebody sees . the maze and feels inspired.’ Friends and family use the maze and there is a public path on one side - but only the initiated know its secret . Strong belief: The farmer says he hopes someone in a plane above sees the message and is inspired by it . Perspective: Mr Gunner says the maze is like life, nobody knows what it looks like from above . | Heavenly message reads: 'Jesus I am the way, the truth and the life'
Peter Gunner had the idea in the 1990s and has now made his dream reality .
The thousands of trees take up seven acres of land . |
fc390b019f24660b263bdf58478ebe69e48ecddc | By . Anna Hodgekiss . With pinched noses and watery eyes, every year thousands of Indians line up to swallow live fish as a traditional treatment for asthma. Asthma sufferers gather every June in the southern city of Hyderabad to gulp down the fish stuffed with a yellow herbal paste, in the hope it will help them breathe more easily. Administered by the Bathini Goud family, . the therapy is a secret formula of herbs, handed down by generations . only to family members. Scroll down for video . 'Cure': Asthma sufferers travel from all over India to gulp down fish stuffed with a yellow herbal paste, in the hope it will help them breathe more easily . Treatment: Herbs are inserted in the mouth of a live sardine, or murrel fish, and the wriggling 5cm fish are slipped into the patient's throat, often leaving them gagging . But the family will not reveal the secret formula which they claim was received from a Hindu saint in 1845. The herbs are inserted in the mouth of a live sardine, or murrel fish, and the wriggling 5cm fish are slipped into the patient's throat, often leaving them gagging. The family maintains the fish clear the throat on their way down and permanently cure asthma and other respiratory problems - if the treatment is administered three years running. After digesting the treatment, patients are told to go on a strict diet for 45 days. Thousands of people travel from . across India for the free medicine during a two-day period, the specific . dates of which are determined by the onset of the monsoon every June. Remedy: It is claimed that the fish clear the throat on their way down and can permanently cure asthma - if the treatment is administered for three consecutive years . Patients employ various methods to get the fish down. Parents are often forced to pry open the mouths of reluctant children who cry at the site of squirming fish, while others pinch their noses, tip their heads back and close their eyes. Rights groups and doctors have complained that the treatment is 'unscientific', a violation of human rights and unhygienic, claims rejected by the family. And the crowds also appear to disagree. The Indian government arranges special trains for the 'fish medicine' festival every year and extra police are on duty to control crowds, AFP reports. | Gulping down fish stuffed with yellow herbal paste 'will help breathing'
156-year-old treatment from Hindu saint contains a secret formula of herbs .
Family claims having the treatment three years running will cure asthma . |
fc39283e211daa745332a6ba25c3cdf7d33b8b9e | By . Sharon Baker . PUBLISHED: . 04:13 EST, 25 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 07:50 EST, 25 September 2012 . At school, Zena Williams was called 'cancer face' for wearing a wig to hide her bald patches. And for over two decades she has allowed everyone to believe she has alopecia, the auto immune condition that causes hair to fall out on its own. But now, in the wake of National No Pulling Week, the 32-year-old mother-of-one from Ipswich has bravely revealed she has been pulling out her own hair since she was a child, the result of a little-understood psychological condition called trichotillomania. Zena Williams, aged 11, when she first began pulling out her hair and was left with a bald patch, left, and wearing the wig her mother bought her to stop the school bullies, right. Bald areas of Zena's scalp that won't ever grow back because of the pulling. Tormented by the condition since she was a child, Zena has, at various stages in her life, been left almost completely bald. When, age 11, having removed most of her hair over the course of a single summer, she returned to school wearing a wig, cruel classmates soon subjected her to relentless bullying. But still Zena refused to reveal the truth about her condition, believing no one would be sympathetic to the compulsion which has blighted her life ever since. Zena Williams is now 32 but there are some sections of her hair that will never grow back. She said: 'Hair pulling has been at the root of all my problems throughout my life. It's made me depressed and turned me into a recluse. 'It's made me very antisocial and I can't hold down a relationship. I just want what everyone else has, to have a job and a partner and normal things but I feel trapped in my own head.' Zena's trichotillomania (TTM) began one day at age 11 when, during a class at school, she says she went into 'a kind of trance' and when she looked down at her exercise book, it was covered in handfuls of hair. Zena - pictured, left, with her daughter Amy, six - says her secret obsession has got in the way of her enjoying a normal life. Zena Williams with her daughter Amy and, from left to right, her brothers Chris and Matt Dunnett. She said: 'I didn’t even realise I'd been doing it but I remember that day specifically because I was shocked at the amount of hair that I had pulled out. 'After that, I did it all the time. The summer came and I was pulling every day until I had a huge bald patch on the top of my head. 'I hid it from my mother under a baseball cap but eventually she spotted it and she took me to a doctor who said I had alopecia. 'I thought, "Okay, I have alopecia. That's what I will tell people", even though I knew I was doing it to myself I let everyone believe that was the case. Alopecia was a real thing and it was accepted.' Zena, aged 11, when the pulling began, left, and in happier times when the condition was less severe, right. By the end of that summer Zena had barely any hair left on my head. Due to start secondary school, she was terrified she would be bullied for being bald. 'In the end my mother went out and spent her last £50 on a hairpiece for me,' she said. 'It was all she could afford and it fooled no one. 'But instead of being bullied for being bald, I was tormented for wearing a wig.' Zena's early school days were filled with a barrage of abuse from her fellow students for her lack of hair. They questioned why she needed a wig and soon a rumour spread around her school that she had lost her hair through cancer treatment. Before long, Zena became introverted and isolated by the constant jibes. Zena, left, having just given birth to Amy, and right, using a clip to hide the fact she was wearing a wig. Zena, who has a six-year-old daughter, Amy, said: 'I was mortified about going to school wearing a wig but I didn’t want anyone to see what was underneath. 'People would point out that my hair didn’t look real and I tried to shy away from their comments. 'A couple of girls started bringing a camera to school in order to take pictures of me while I was sat in the playground. 'The cancer rumour started around the same time and I remember being cornered while a group of them taunted me, calling me "cancer face". It was horrible.' The bullying continued until Zena left school but still she could not resist the impulse to pull out her hair. Eventually, she managed to grow an inch of hair all over her head and gave up her wig. But in resisting to pull, she found herself self-harming with scissors, knives and compasses. Zena Williams and her friend Zoe Chenery who has helped her through tough times. Zena said: 'I blocked out a lot of that time in my life because it hurts too much to remember it. 'By the time I left school I had made a really good friend and she helped me through things.' At 18, Zena began a business administration course and moved out of the family home to live with a boyfriend. But while on the surface she seemed happier, Zena was still battling with her secret obsession. Zena said the hair-pulling would worsen whenever she felt depressed or upset and sometimes she would be left with such massive bald patches she would be forced to wear hairpieces again. Zena enjoying life when the trichotillomania was less severe. She said: 'I always made sure I never plucked from the front of my head so I could wear a wig and then clip the fringe over it to make it look like I had a natural hairline. 'When I split up with my boyfriend it got so much worse and I would have to hide it from everyone. 'The only time I've ever managed to stop pulling was when I was pregnant. I felt so ill throughout the pregnancy I literally didn't have the time to think about it. 'When my daughter was born was the only time since I was 11 when I've had a full head of hair.' Two years ago Zena stumbled across a video on Youtube made by a young girl with TTM, and was shocked to discover that her compulsion had a name. Until that time she had never dared tell anyone about her secret shame, and until today has only shared her condition with her closest friends. She said: 'I couldn't believe it when I saw this video made by a girl who had trichotillomania. 'My condition was a real thing with a name and I just burst into tears to discover there were others out there like me. 'Until that point I had always believed it was this disgusting thing that only I did and that no one could ever possibly understand.' Zena previously worked as a care worker, but has been unable to work for the last eight years due to her anxiety and depression issues. Now her hair-pulling has improved, and for the last two years she has avoided pulling from the hair on her head. However, years of yanking out her hair have damaged the follicles in her scalp, and Zena has been left with large bald patches which are unlikely to grow back. Asa result, Zena dyes her hair and scalp black to hide the thinning areas and always wears her hair scraped back to cover up the worst areas. She is currently on a long waiting list to receive cognitive behavioural therapy, which she believes will help her problems. Zena said: 'Now I only pull from the hair on my arms and legs. It relieves the tension but it doesn't give me the same satisfaction. 'Whenever I tell people about my TTM they always say, "Well, just stop doing it", but it’s an urge I have no control over. 'I find myself doing it more when I'm stressed and when I'm sat watching TV I find it's best to keep my hands busy as I often don't realise I'm doing it until they are filled with clumps of hair.' TOWIE star Sam Faiers revealed she lost her eyelashes to TTM. Sam Faiers, from The Only Way Is Essex, recently revealed that she lost her eyelashes due to TTM, and it is thought that around four per cent of the population will experience compulsive hair pulling at some point in their lives. Women seem more prone than males, with pulling usually starting around age 12, but it can start later in life too. Zena has found some support through social networking groups and says that simply knowing there are other sufferers out there has given her a great deal of comfort. But she hopes to finally rid herself of the condition for the sake of her daughter. She said: 'I have always been very careful not to do it in front of Amy, but I would hate it if she ever thought it was normal. 'I can never take her swimming because I’m terrified of getting my hair wet and showing my bald patches. 'I would love nothing more than to feel beautiful, have a relationship and give her the family life she deserves - but up until now TTM has held me back. 'Hopefully, if I get some treatment, that will finally change.' For more information and support on trichotillomania please visit www.lucindaellery-hairloss.co.uk or call 0208 741822. | Ipswich-based Zena Williams, 32, suffers from trichotillomania .
Psychological condition has frequently left her completely bald .
Was called 'cancer face' at school .
Has spoken about her problem for National No Pulling Week . |
fc39902fe9c78bf58d4339a7bb8cefa44fba49a4 | (CNN) -- A zip gun was found at a Houston-area high school Monday after the building was evacuated over fears of an unspecified, perceived threat, the Katy Independent School District said. The device was secured and the building was cleared. A student was taken into custody and charges are pending, the school district said in a statement on its website. It described a zip gun as any device altered to propel an object designed to cause harm. Seven Lakes High School in Katy was evacuated Monday after police "learned of a perceived threat on campus" about 10 a.m. CT, and students initially were sent to an enclosed area on the school's athletic fields, the district said. About an hour later, authorities told district officials that a possible bomb was found in the building. The FBI sent bomb technicians to help the county bomb squad in the case, said Agent Shauna Dunlap, a spokeswoman for the FBI in Houston. Video from CNN affiliate KTRK showed a number of emergency vehicles parked outside the school early Monday afternoon. Katy is about 25 miles west of Houston. Seven Lakes High has more than 3,800 students, according to its website. | NEW: Seven Lakes High School in Katy is safe for students to return .
NEW: A student was taken into custody and charges are reportedly pending .
NEW: A zip gun is a device altered to propel an object to cause harm . |
fc39a5f345a36013d62191fb73826b99d5e3719e | By . Martha De Lacey and Sean Poulter . PUBLISHED: . 05:54 EST, 3 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:53 EST, 4 December 2013 . No matter how you dress them up, Brussels sprouts are one Christmas tradition that many children could do without. Over the years, attempts have been made to improve the flavour, adding sweet glazes, chestnuts or pieces of smoked bacon, but in many, many cases to no avail. Now Waitrose has worked with growers in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire to develop two varieties that they insist are ‘kid-friendly’. Charlie Heath, four, says he likes these Brussels sprouts, but not 'the yukky ones Mummy makes' According to scientists, children are not just being fussy when it comes to the knobbly sprout - reluctance to wolf them down stems from survival instinct, as harmful toxins tend to have a bitter taste, just like sprouts . The kid-friendly sprout, which has a nuttier, sweeter taste, hits Waitrose shelves next week for a limited period, and it is hoped that children themselves will be piling them into the parental shopping trolley . Importantly, they have a milder and less bitter taste, making each mouthful a sweeter experience. The poor little sprout is often rejected by people both little and large alike due to its perceived bitter taste, so the supermarket giant has worked secretly with its farmers over the past year to create a milder flavour sprout that is low on bitterness and high on sweetness. The Waitrose 'kid-friendly' sprout will arrive in branches this week for a limited period in the run up to Christmas. Pugh . According to scientists, children are not just being fussy when it comes to the knobbly sprout. Reluctance to wolf them down stems from survival instinct, as harmful toxins tend to have a bitter taste, just like sprouts. Sweetness, on the other hand, usually indicates that something is safe to eat, which is why children adore biscuits, cakes and Haribo. But there is a good reason why parents ought to urge their little poppets to eat Brussels sprouts: they have twice as much vitamin C per 100g than oranges do, approximately 115mg as opposed to 54mg. Amy Lance, Chief Sprout Taster at Waitrose says: 'The humble Brussels sprout is a wonderful bundle of deliciousness, but so often overlooked by children or picky eaters. 'We have worked hard over the past year to develop this sprout which we believe will win over even the most ardent sprout haters. We hope it will get a massive thumbs up from children this Christmas and encourage them to "eat their greens".' Charlie Heath, age four, said: 'I like these sprouts. I don't like the yucky ones my Mummy cooks.' Over the course of the sprout season Waitrose will sell approximately 15 varieties of sprouts, including the flower sprout and red sprout. Sprouts are at their best now and this dish is packed with festive flavour. SERVES 8 . INGREDIENTS . METHOD . Boil the sprouts for three minutes until starting to soften slightly, then drain. Fry . the pancetta until crisp, then remove from the pan and set aside. Add . the chestnuts and sugar, tossing in the pan, then add the stock and . reduce by half. Add the sprouts and pancetta back to the pan and warm through to serve. Brussels sprouts sales are booming and prices are falling, which means the traditional festive favourite is set for a revival this year, new industry figures show. Better weather this season has led to a bumper crop of the vegetables that children love to hate at Christmas, which means better supplies, lower prices and bigger sales, it reveals. Year-on-year sales are up 23 per cent by volume and 18.5 per cent by value, said analysts Kantar, looking at the most recent trading period covering 12 weeks to mid November. Better weather this season has led to a bumper crop of the vegetables that children love to hate at Christmas, which means better supplies, lower prices and bigger sales . This is a major recovery on the same time last year when bad weather had led to a failed crop which in turn saw prices rise just as households were cutting budgets. But this year's glut, after warmer, drier, weather means prices are coming down in time for Christmas. The average price of sprouts from the suppliers to the shops has come down from £3.88 a kilo a year ago to £3.59 a kilo last month, said Kantar in the trade journal The Grocer. This may not seem a big fall but at a time when many food and drink products are rising in price, it will be welcomed by shoppers more used to price rises than falls. And supermarkets are expected to use the falling price in their own special deals to entice Christmas shoppers. Year-on-year sales are up 23 per cent by volume and 18.5 per cent by value, said analysts Kantar, looking at the most recent trading period covering 12 weeks to mid November . Richard Mowbray of commercial suppliers TH Clements told The Grocer: 'We have seen an increase in promotional activity versus the same period last year and also some deflation which has helped to push volume.' Andrew Ovens of suppliers Produce World Group added: 'Unless this changes as we move into the peak season, sales should continue on this trajectory.' The good news comes as the humble sprout itself is changing with innovations including a sweeter version to tempt children, an M&S sprout/kale hybrid and a sprout flavoured Christmas cake from Ocado. | New sprouts are nuttier and sweeter than standard variety .
It is thought children dislike sprouts because they are bitter .
Survival instinct dictates that bitter things are toxic and shouldn't be eaten .
Two 'kid-friendly' varieties available for a limited time only in Waitrose .
Optimum sprout-growing weather this season has encouraged growth .
Bumper crop means lower prices and booming sales .
Year-on-year sales are up 23 per cent by volume and 18.5 per cent by value . |
fc39e1cbaf46376f4c4bdd293dc6118d61e34bb9 | He lives in one of the most glamorous cities on Earth, has an estimated £600million fortune and has his pick of the world's most lavish hotels when he wants to go on holiday. But rather than join Prince Andrew and the Danish royals on the slopes in Verbier, Monaco's Prince Albert II has been enjoying a luxury break in Mumbles. The 56-year-old royal certainly proved a hit with locals, posing happily for photos with a policewoman and accepting a kiss from rugby player turned wrestler Non Evans while quaffing champagne in one of the resort's bars. Scroll down for video . Worried Albert? The royal gets a kiss from rugby player turned wrestler Non Evans in a Mumbles bar . The Monégasque prince arrived in Wales on Friday night, flying into Cardiff by private jet before joining footballer Craig Bellamy for supper at a local steakhouse and front-row seats at the rugby. Unfortunately for Albert's host, the game ended in a win for England - a result that the royal, who had been supporting the home team, described as 'disappointing'. Drowning his sorrows with £160 bottles of Dom Perignon champagne at a Mumbles bar later that evening, Albert told owner Adam Jones that he had hoped for a different outcome. 'He was supporting Wales and said he was disappointed by the outcome of the game,' explained Mr Jones, who also revealed that the royal had remained at the bar until 2am. 'I couldn’t believe how friendly and down to earth he was. He is a really nice guy and he took the time to speak to everyone, including the staff. Welcome to Mumbles! Prince Albert poses with a local policewoman during his holiday in Wales . Sporting action: Albert was left 'disappointed' by the outcome of the Wales vs England rugby match . 'It was an incredible weekend. The bar has been opened for five years, but this is the best weekend we have had so far.' Albert, who was staying at the five star Patricks Hotel, spent Saturday exploring the spectacular Gower peninsula and took in the region from the air during a 30-minute helicopter tour. Afterwards, he visited the local lifeboat station, where he was presented with a pair of knitted dolls for his two-month-old twins, Prince Jacques Honore Ranier and Princess Gabriella Therese Marie. Speaking afterwards, lifeboat captain Dai Thomas said the prince had enjoyed his tour. 'He was interested in the lifeboat station and the new system we’ve got,' explained Mr Thomas. 'He was thrilled and thought the lifeboat was one of the best he had seen.' Wrong result: The game, at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, ended with a 16-21 victory for England . Beautiful: Mumbles sits on the edge of the Gower Peninsula and is famous for spectacular beaches . Travels: Albert often travels for sport and is seen in London in 2012 (left) and watching petanque in 2013 . Mumbles, which is famous for its spectacular sandy beaches, has long been a popular holiday destination and boasts a listed Victorian pier. Although not an obvious choice of destination for a visiting head of state, the area has hosted several royal visits, most notably from Queen Alexandra in 1904. Like Alexandra, Albert ended his visit to Wales with a trip to Swansea, where he watched the local side take on Sunderland in the Premier League. After watching the teams draw 1-1, the royal flew back to Monaco to join his wife Charlene, 36, and their baby twins at the Palais Princier. Home: On Saturday night, Albert returned home to glamorous Monaco and the Palais Princier . No thanks! Albert decided not to join the Danish royals in Verbier and went to Wales instead . It might not be quite as glamorous as Monte Carlo but what Mumbles - and the surrounding Gower peninsula - lacks in glitz, it more than makes up for in natural beauty. Highlights include the curving Swansea Bay which covers a six-mile stretch of Bristol Channel coastline and ends in Mumbles itself. Along with its magnificent pier, which was built in 1898, Mumbles is also home to the mediaeval Oystermouth Castle which was built in 1203 and glowers out over the village from its perch atop a hill. The majority of visitors, however, use their Mumbles break to explore the stunning Gower peninsula, a 70 square mile finger of land that juts out into the Irish Sea. Its waters are home to an incredible array of wildlife, including whales and dolphins, while its dramatic coastline boasts a series of small rocky bays popular with daytrippers. Striking: Rhossili Bay is one of the Gower Peninisula's most famously beautiful beaches . Stunning: Three Cliffs Bay is another popular spot for day trippers hoping to enjoy its golden sand . | Albert flew into Cardiff on Friday night for the Six Nations rugby match .
Afterwards, he was driven to Mumbles where he ended the night in a bar .
Spent Saturday exploring the spectacular Gower Peninsula by helicopter .
Proved a hit with locals who described him as 'a really nice guy' |
fc39f31bd9d1b963a369465c28fcab235ddec44e | Cardiff City have agreed to sell midfielder Mats Moller Daehli to Bundesliga side Freiburg for £2million in January. The 19-year-old was signed by the Bluebirds just 12 months ago from Norwegian outfit Molde by former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the club tried to avoid Premier League relegation. The Norway international has only made two substitute appearances since Russell Slade replaced Solskjaer in the Cardiff hotseat, and will officially complete his move to Germany on January 3. Cardiff City have agreed to sell Mats Moller Daehli (left) to Bundesliga club Freiburg for £2million . 'Cardiff City Football Club can confirm that an agreement has been reached with SC Freiburg for the transfer of Mats Moller Daehli, subject to international clearance,' the Welsh outfit said in a club statement released on their website. 'The deal will be completed on January 3rd 2015 in conjunction with the start of the transfer window. 'We would like to place on record our thanks to Mats for his contribution and wish him the very best for his future.' Daehli didn't make the match-day squad for Saturday's 3-2 home loss against Brentford - a result that sees the club move down to 11th in the Championship. In his 12 months at the club, the teenager has scored once in 24 appearances. The 19-year-old (right) has struggled at the Welsh club and will move to Germany on January 3 . | Mats Moller Daehli joined Cardiff from Molde 12 months ago .
19-year-old has only made 24 appearances for the club, scoring once .
Norway international wasn't in Cardiff's matchday squad for Saturday's 3-2 Championship defeat at home to Brentford . |
fc3a5dde68bbf75bab1991468a64bccf178516e5 | It was a meeting of the minds, rather than fists, as David Haye sat for breakfast with former heavyweight rival Vital Klitschko on Thursday. Haye uploaded a photo via his Instagram account later that afternoon with the pair all smiles at a table as they dined at one of London's Park Plaza Hotels. The 34-year-old accompanied the picture with the caption: 'Great tasty @KX_Life breakfast at the beautiful @ParkPlazaHotels with Vitali klitschko, talking all things family, politics & BIG FIGHTS 2015/16,' as the British boxer hinted that he is closer to making a comeback in the sport. David Haye (right) sat down for breakfast with heavyweight boxing rival Vitali Klitschko on Thursday . The 'Hayemaker' has not fought since his fifth-round knockout of Dereck Chisora at Upton Park in 2012. But the popular Londoner, who faced the threat of retirement, is understood to be keen to return to the ring after a positive recuperation from reconstrcutive shoulder surgery. Haye's dalliance with Klitschko though will raise eyebrows after their very-much public war of words in the past. Haye (right) has not fought since his fifth-round knockout of Dereck Chisora at Upton Park in 2012 . In 2009, Haye incensed the then-WBA heavyweight champion and his younger brother Wladimir by sporting a T-shirt of him holding aloft the severed heads of the Ukrainian duo as he sought a fight with either sibling. Two years later, Haye finally got his wish as he fought Wladimir in a unification bout for for the WBA, WBO, IBF, IBO and the Ring heavyweight titles. In the build-up to that fight, which Haye lost comfortably on points, the Londoner insisted he had no regrets about that shirt hailing it one his best ever moves. 'Do I regret that T-shirt? Hell no! No way! It was one of the best things I've ever done,' he said. 'That decapitation T-shirt was one of the smartest business moves I've ever made.' Haye (left) lost to Vitali's brother, Wladimir, on points in a heavyweight unification bout in 2011 . Haye (right) incensed the Klitschko family when in 2009 he wore a T-shirt of him holding aloft the severed heads of the brothers, in a bid to get a fight with either of them . Even last year, Haye insisted his comeback to boxing would only happen if he fought either Klitschko - something Vitali was adamant would only ever happen on his terms. 'Last September [2012] I gave a proposal to David Haye to fight me in Moscow. David Haye had a contract and didn't want to do that and instead of fighting me he fought Chisora,' he said. 'How long [should] I have to wait for David Haye? I gave him a proposal and he didn't take it. 'David Haye had the chance to fight my brother. Many times he ran away but Wladimir beat him. 'David did not agree with the decision, tried to make excuses and just talked about his leg not giving him the chance to beat my brother.' But any hopes of Haye fighting the older Klitschko appear over for now at present, with the 43-year-old has vacating his title in December 2013 in order to focus on political matters in his homeland - where he is the current Mayor of Kiev. Vitali Klitschko (right) vacated his WBA heavyweight world title in 2013 in order to focus on Ukrainian politics . | David Haye sat for breakfast with Vitali Klitschko in one of London's Park Plaza Hotel on Thursday .
Haye hasn't fought since his 2012 fifth-round knockout of Dereck Chisora .
34-year-old Londoner lost to Klitschko's brother Wladimir in 2011 .
Haye's pre-fight build-up incensed the Klitschko brothers as his goading tactics including a T-shirt of him holding aloft the pair's severed heads . |
fc3a723f7b0a6ffe1aac44d875a9c3ca2261861e | Indiana, U.S. (CNN) -- North Korea will soon test its third nuclear device. Earlier tests in 2006 and 2009 drew worldwide condemnation, Security Council sanctions and led Pyongyang to withdraw from the six-party talks. In resolution 2087, passed on January 22, the Council imposed new sanctions on North Korea for its December 12 space missile launch and made clear that new violations would be dealt with harshly. In response, North Korea rejected Council legitimacy, asserted their right to nuclear weapons and deterrence and proclaimed it would soon conduct a new nuclear test. In addition the North engaged in some strong saber-rattling aimed at South Korea. Because some analysts believe this will be a uranium explosion, it is a game-changer for the region and poses new and unfavorable challenges to the Security Council. A successful uranium test indicates that Pyongyang has advanced centrifuge technologies and related support systems. It means that North Korea, if left unchecked, can both produce and export such material, raising new concerns that Pyongyang and Iran cooperate in such developments. Politically the test will reveal that the new regime of Kim Jong-Un exceeds the defiance to U.N. dictates of his predecessors in pursuing his nation's nuclear goals. Neither the prospect of stronger sanctions, nor the growing discontent of Russia and China with his behavior, appears to deter North Korea's young leader. OPINION: Rescind North Korea's license to provoke . These dilemmas confront the permanent five members of the Council with a harsh reality check regarding their unity of action and what message to convey to the north via what particular sanctions. If the Council follows the logic of resolution 2087, it will impose more extensive and punishing sanctions than ever before. Such sanctions will blacklist companies, government agencies and individuals long known for their role in illicit technology procurement and sanctions evasion. They will expand financial sanctions into areas of banking that would require substantial transnational enforcement to bite, and they may call upon countries in the region to inspect almost all North Korean trade. The economic squeeze and further isolation of the DPRK will increase substantially. These sanctions would require China to play an enforcement role against North Korean economic actors it has hitherto resisted. Seizing prohibited goods that pass through Dalian harbor and other trans-shipment points, as well as shutting down various border activities, would also fall to China. These extensive sanctions as punishment operate from the assumption that at some point the north will forego its nuclear program in order to survive as an authoritarian state. But there may be an alternative to the punishment approach that could bring Beijing on board with effective Council action. China might well accept specialized trade sanctions aimed to degrade the DPRK's ability to sustain the nuclear program for lack of material and due to prohibitive costs of sanctions busting, as a way of conveying to Pyongyang that it must return to the negotiating table. The logic of extensive new product-focused sanctions is that DPRK can make -- or jerry-rig -- only a small fraction of the advanced technologies and specialty materials that sustain an ongoing uranium enrichment program. To choke off these materials -- and the illicit means of financing them -- provides the Council with a possibility to make it technically impossible for DPRK to have a functioning uranium-based bomb program. Precise lists of dozens of the materials used in centrifuge operation that should be sanctioned are already recorded for the Council in the reports of their Panel of Experts for the DPRK. Lists of related materials have also been developed by the Nuclear Supplies Group. To date the permanent five have sanctioned only a very few of the materials on either list. The Council also needs member states to strengthen export, customs and financial controls on dual-use items that are "below grade" of those newly sanctioned items. This will stifle the North's ability to upgrade or jerry-rig these hitherto unsanctioned items as a way of maintaining their program. Also critical to the success of this choking of supplies would be stricter controls of the illicit financing that supports such trade. Putting strong enforcement behind the 2087 resolution's concern about DPRK cash flows, especially through its embassies, is also in order. Another, somewhat unprecedented, sanctions option would be a Council-issued travel ban on North Korea placed on all scientists, engineers and others with specialized expertise in centrifuge technologies and uranium enrichment. Political agreement on these measures will not be easy to attain among the permanent five nations of the Security Council. But a product-focused sanctions approach -- especially leveraged to aim for more direct diplomatic engagement with the DPRK while denying them material to grow their illicit programs -- has the best chance of gaining Council consensus. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of George A. Lopez. | Lopez: Uranium-based blast would pose new challenge to U.N. Security Council .
Indicates Pyongyang has advanced centrifuge technologies and related systems .
North Korea's young leader appears to care little about what U.N. or China think .
Product-based sanctions may stifle the North's ability to continue nuclear program . |
fc3a8c792ce62db327ebf5eb1ef38d7a09a00e8f | Parents could one day wave goodbye to the school run and pack their children off in a driverless car, a transport minister has predicted. Claire Perry said she has a 'vision' of futuristic vehicles picking children up in the morning and bringing them home at 3.30pm. But she warned of the dangers of relying on technology which could be vulnerable to a cyber attack. Scroll down for video . The future? Trials of driverless cars are to start in four towns next year, including Milton Keynes (pictured), with ministers predicting they could take over the school run . The first major trials of driverless cars in the UK are expected to begin within weeks. Bristol, Greenwich, Coventry and Milton Keynes will all host autonomous driving projects that will run for between 18 and 36 months starting from January 2015. Ministers hope to make Britain a world leader in the technology. Google has unveiled a computerised ‘hands-free’ self-driving bubble car, which has no steering wheel, brake or accelerator pedals, just buttons for start, pull over and emergency stop and a computer screen showing your route. Miss Perry told MPs she wants driverless cars to be seen as 'assisted technology' and not 'zombie robot taxis'. Giving evidence to the transport select committee, she said: 'My personal view, I think it's incredibly exciting because there is an opportunity to use time and capacity more effectively. 'We are short of capacity in terms of roads in this country, we are all short of time. Anything we can do to use capacity more intelligently and preserve safety and give people more time is a good thing.' She added: 'I have a vision of the school run driverless car where you put your children in and wave them off to school and then they come back at 3.30pm. 'Driverless buses – I know it makes everyone nervous – but anything you can do to make mass vehicles more cost effective would be interesting as well. So I think there is huge potential, but we are on an evolution.' Google has unveiled a computerised ‘hands-free’ self-driving bubble car, which has no steering wheel, brake or accelerator pedals, just buttons for start, pull over and emergency stop and a computer screen showing your route . Transport minister Claire Perry said she has a 'vision' of futuristic vehicles picking children up in the morning and bringing them home later . Coventry and Milton Keynes: Engineers involved in the Autodrive Programme will develop infrastructure to best work with autonomous cars navigating real roads. Driverless pods will ferry individuals around pedestrianised areas of Milton Keynes. Greenwich: The Gateway project will test automated electric shuttles buses and robotic valet parking. Bristol: The insurance implications of driverless vehicles will be explored by the Venturer consortium. The programme will also look at how cars cope with the city's challenging terrain and how they are received by the public. As part of the trials, Milton Keynes and Coventry will share the UK Autodrive programme, which involves Ford, Jaguar Land Rover as well as a number of universities and engineering consultancies. They will test self-driving cars on real roads as well as lightweight self-driving pods designed for pedestrianised areas in Milton Keynes. It is hoped that testing driverless cars in a real-world environment will help lead to greater levels of understanding of the vehicles and will allow the public to imagine how the cars could fit into everyday life. The Institution of Engineering and Technology has predicted that within 15 years there will be vehicles taking people and freight across the country without drivers. Miss Perry conceded that there are concerns about the security of web technlogoly which could be targeted by hackers. But she added: 'The challenge overall is more about cyber security. The more we are all dependent on cyber information to work out where we are to the road network, to have the road networks communicating that there is a particular breakdown and that is a huge challenge across Government and society.' | First major UK trials of technology to start in four towns next month .
Test will be held in Bristol, Greenwich, Coventry and Milton Keynes .
Transport minister Claire Perry cars could one day do the school run .
But admits there are concerns about risk of cyber hackers targeting cars . |
fc3aae7d666a58ba35b5e19f632e0b784ac6d8ff | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 18:08 EST, 13 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 05:33 EST, 14 January 2014 . Thanks to the generosity of readers, the Daily Mail's Christmas Appeal for Sue Ryder hospices has now raised an incredible £108,100. Over our four-week appeal, we highlighted the wonderful care and support that the charity provides to the terminally ill and their families. From offering pain relief, to bereavement counselling for children, even just being someone to talk to, Sue Ryder's staff and volunteers make a real difference. But more than 60 per cent of the charity's funding comes from voluntary donations, without which it could not continue. Money from Mail readers is enough to fund more than 3,125 home visits (posed by models) The good news is that the total donated by Mail readers is enough to fund more than 3,125 home visits from a Sue Ryder nurse to provide pain relief, or 5,405 bereavement counselling sessions for grieving children, or 13,859 hours of end-of-life care. As chief executive Heidi Travis says: ‘Most people would like to die at home or in a hospice, pain-free and surrounded by family and friends. 'Sue Ryder's vision is to make incredible care available to all, no matter where they live or what their circumstances are. The Daily Mail Christmas Appeal is a significant step towards making this a reality.' | Daily Mail's Christmas Appeal for Sue Ryder hospices raised £108,100 .
Enough to fund more than 3,125 home visits from a Sue Ryder nurse .
Equal to 5,405 bereavement counselling sessions for grieving children . |
fc3ac11b989c8af5824fbcf18b9dcf63ee3479ff | Call to action: The Prime Minister said today that SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon had made it clear she was 'up for a coalition' with the Labour party . David Cameron warned Scots that a vote for any party other than the Conservatives would let Ed Miliband into Downing Street - and allow Alex Salmond back into a position of power. The Prime Minister said today that SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon had made it clear she was 'up for a coalition' with the Labour party in the event of a hung parliament. He added this would lead to the 'very real prospect' of Alex Salmond, who is standing for election as an MP for the Scottish nationalists this May, having the 'decisive say' in the running of the country. Mr Cameron told the Scottish Conservative conference: 'If you vote for anyone else apart from the Conservatives you are voting for this outcome: Labour in government. Ed Miliband in Downing Street ... and the very real prospect of Alex Salmond coming in through the back door.' On the return of Mr Salmond, who is standing for election in Gordon, Mr Cameron said that 'like a horror movie, he's back'. The Prime Minister added: 'Only this time he's not running Scotland. He would have the decisive say in running a country he wants to see abolished, our United Kingdom.' He said it was 'appalling' that Labour and Mr Miliband had failed to rule out doing a deal with the SNP in the event of a hung parliament, branding them 'spineless, weak, unprincipled, short-termist'. He told the conference: 'That is all anyone needs to know about today's Labour Party.' He added the Conservatives were the 'bedrock' of the pro-UK campaign in the run-up to last September's Scottish independence referendum. But after 'battling' to keep the United Kingdom together, he warned that there was still a threat to Scotland's future from the prospect of a Labour government. He told the conference 'a major risk to Scotland's future remains' from the economic policies of Labour if Ed Balls succeed in becoming the chancellor after the election. He said: 'We fought to stop the risk of break-up. Now we have to fight to stave off the risk of bankruptcy.' He hit out at the economic policies of Labour and the SNP, telling the conference: 'Our opponents bleat on about "austerity" but I tell you - if we don't grip these debts, they will grip us. 'And there will be less and less money for our schools, hospitals, communities, pensions - for everything that makes life worthwhile.' After Ms Sturgeon made a speech in London where she blasted Conservative spending cuts as 'morally unjustifiable', Mr Cameron hit back at the SNP leader. Decisive say: Cameron said if Labour was to come into power it would lead to the 'very real prospect' of Alex Salmond, right, having the 'decisive say' in the running of the country. Left, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon . 'I'll tell you what is "morally unjustifiable", First Minister. And that is racking up more debt than our children and grandchildren could ever hope to re-pay. 'Passing the buck like every other hopeless left-wing administration in history. 'And that's why it will be us - the Conservative Party - who will do the right thing, clear up this mess - and leave Scotland standing taller.' The economic policies his party has pursued means 'we'll be able to look our children and grandchildren in the eye and know we did the right thing'. In his speech today, Mr Cameron also defended the introduction of the benefits reforms introduced by the Government, saying: 'We came in with a mission to restore the right values. 'No more something for nothing. No more taking without contributing. Above all - work must always pay. That's what the benefit cap is about. That's what Universal Credit is about. And it's working.' In a rallying cry Mr Cameron spoke about the country's spirit which 'really makes Britain special'. He also praised aid workers such as Pauline Cafferkey, who contracted Ebola while volunteering in Africa, speaking about their 'spirit of compassion'. The Prime Minister told the conference: 'That is Britain. No other country on earth has this combination of guts and grit, heart and brains. 'And no other country on earth is such a powerful example of how people of all different faiths and beliefs and nationalities can live together. 'None of us are just English, or Scottish, or Welsh. Or a Londoner or a Glaswegian, or West Indian or Asian. We're all British too. 'That's what we are - all of us, whatever our background, wherever we're from. We're all British. Warning: Mr Cameron, pictured today, said the Tories had 'battled' to keep the United Kingdom together, but warned that there was still a threat to Scotland's future from the prospect of a Labour government . 'And our goal in this party is to show people, over the coming weeks and months and years - how we take these ingredients and make our country an even better place to live.' But SNP deputy leader Stewart Hosie said: 'The Tories have been rejected in election after election in Scotland, and only a strong team of SNP MPs will be able to exert power at Westminster on behalf of the people of Scotland - standing up for Scottish interests, and opposing the Tory obsession with austerity. 'The Tories are right to be concerned that a strong SNP vote will stand in the way of their damaging agenda - a poll earlier this month showed that people in Scotland are backing the SNP to keep the Tories out of office.' Mr Cameron was also in Scotland to announce the backing of Scottish shipbuilding with an £859million investment in the next generation of Royal Navy frigates to be built on the River Clyde. The Prime Minister said the money will be spent on developing the Type 26 warship and sustain 1,700 jobs across the country. | David Cameron said Nicola Sturgeon was 'up for' coalition with Miliband .
Told Scots vote for any party other than Tories would let Labour into power .
Added it could lead to Alex Salmond having 'decisive say' in running of UK . |
fc3b0b7202b754470a07cfe8bc28b7062d4bf08e | LONDON, England (CNN) -- The wife of an Iranian pro-reformist activist detained as he tried to leave the country last week says she is "deeply concerned" for his safety. Fatemah Shams and Mohammadreza Jalaeipour are students together at the University of Oxford. Fatemeh Shams told CNN she hadn't heard from her husband Mohammadreza Jalaeipour since she watched him being escorted away after he was prevented from boarding a flight to Dubai on June 17. Both are students at the University of Oxford and had been returning to the UK from Iran after attending a family wedding, just as demonstrations escalated following presidential elections earlier this month which have plunged Iran into political chaos. Shams said she and her 27-year-old husband -- both activists for the pro-reformist Third Wave campaign -- planned to leave Iran on June 17. At first, everything appeared fine with Jalaeipour having his passport stamped as he passed through immigration. But he was then approached by a plain clothes official who told him to turn off his cellphone before ordering Jalaeipour to follow him. "We didn't get a chance to talk to each other -- I was watching what was happening and that was the last time I saw him," said Shams, 26, who flew to the UK via Doha in Qatar. Watch Shams speak about her husband's detention » . Shams said she hadn't heard directly from her husband since his arrest but believed he was being held in prison. "It's a very difficult mental situation for me to understand what is going on and I am deeply concerned about his health and safety," she told CNN. Both Jalaeipour and Shams were members of the organizing committee of the Third Wave campaign, a reformist youth movement formed last year to back former president Mohammad Khatami's candidacy in this year's election. Following Khatami's withdrawal from contention, the Third Wave threw its support behind Mir Hossein Moussavi, who has disputed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election, claiming that voting was rigged. In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal Jalaeipour said he had advised Moussavi on using social-networking Web sites, such as Facebook, to reach young voters. "Third Wave was a totally legal campaign with reformist tendencies that was trying to get young people involved in the elections," said Shams. "We believed we should take part to make our country better and to have a better future. We were encouraging young people to not be indifferent about their country." Shams said she thinks he may have been detained because of his political activities. "Most of the activists who have been supporting the reformist candidate, all of them are in prison now. Why should the young people who want to do something for the sake of their country and their people, why are they in prison now?" Shams said she planned to return to Iran herself if there was no change in her husband's situation in the next week or so. But she but admitted her own safety could not be guaranteed if she went back. Following more than a week of daily demonstrations in Tehran, Iranian security forces have been cracking down on protests and arresting activists including Ebrahim Yazdi, a former deputy prime minister who headed a group supporting increased freedom and democracy. Yazdi, who is 76 and has suffered prostate cancer, was later released. Moussavi and former president Khatami have sent a letter to Iran's courts urging them to release arrested activists and protesters. | Iranian activist detained at airport as he tried to leave country .
Wife says she is deeply concerned for Mohammadreza Jalaeipour's safety .
Fatemeh Shams says she hasn't heard from Jalaeipour since his arrest .
Couple are both activists for pro-Moussavi Third Wave campaign . |
fc3b2bc27e16f38063a3b648522d2f91673eadbf | Irbil, Iraq (CNN) -- A day after Britain's military launched its first airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq, the question is: Who will be next to join the U.S.-led coalition in its air campaign against the extremists who have seized a swath of Iraq and Syria? As Turkish soldiers and tanks took up position along the border with Syria on Tuesday, Turkey's government put a motion before its Parliament asking for authorization to take military action against ISIS -- the terror group that refers to itself as the Islamic State. Lawmakers are expected to debate the measure in a special session Thursday before voting, according to Anadolu, Turkey's semiofficial news agency. Australian aircraft started flying over Iraq in support of allied operations Wednesday, Prime Minister Tony Abbott told Parliament in Canberra. But the government is awaiting an invitation from Iraq before a final decision is made on whether to commit Australian forces to airstrikes, he said. The Australian mission consists of inflight refueling and electronic surveillance in support of the United States and others. The retired U.S. Marine general tapped to coordinate the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS said there is an opportunity for broad cooperation in the fight, even as the countries involved struggle to define their roles. "It's actually an important moment where so many countries from so many different backgrounds share that view (that ISIS poses a threat to the region), that this is an opportunity to create partnership across those lines of effort that would achieve real effect," John R. Allen told CNN. Poll: Americans back airstrikes, oppose use of U.S. troops . Airstrikes rain down . The United States could use the help. The airstrikes have already cost it close to $1 billion, according to the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, a military think tank. That number will only rise as costly munitions are used -- and could soar further if more U.S. forces are committed to the operation. The U.S. military said Tuesday that it was the busiest day for airstrikes against ISIS since the military campaign began, with 28 total, including the two UK strikes. More strikes were carried out Wednesday by the United States and a partner nation, the U.S. military said, including around the predominantly Kurdish town of Kobani in Syria, known in Arabic as Ayn al Arab. Other strikes hit ISIS targets in Iraq northwest of Mosul, near the Haditha Dam and northwest of Baghdad. Tuesday, British planes helped Kurdish troops who were fighting ISIS in northwestern Iraq, dropping a bomb on an ISIS heavy weapon position and shooting a missile at an armed pickup truck, the UK's Defense Ministry said. An initial assessment indicates both strikes were successful, according to the ministry. Britain joins the United States and France as countries that have hit ISIS in Iraq with airstrikes, while Belgium and Denmark have also said they also will provide planes. Of those nations, only the United States -- in partnership with some Arab countries -- have struck ISIS positions in neighboring Syria. When the first coalition airstrikes came in Iraq and Syria, Turkey's absence was noted. Turkey has said it is offering support to the U.S.-led coalition targeting ISIS, but it has stopped short of joining the 40-some countries that make up the group. Syrian town fears massacre; Obama admits underestimating ISIS . Blast hits school . In Syria, where a 3½-year-old civil war rages on between government forces and rebel groups including ISIS, twin blasts struck Wednesday near a school in the nation's third-largest city, Homs. The death toll has climbed to 39, with at least 30 children between the ages of 6 and 9 killed, according to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The toll was confirmed by the London-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which collects information about civilian casualties in the country. An explosives-packed car was detonated minutes before a suicide bomber blew himself up in front of the school Wednesday, Syria's state-run SANA news agency said. The blasts were timed to coincide with students leaving school, to inflict maximum casualties, it said. The neighborhood that was attacked is predominantly Alawite, a religious minority that is a Shiite offshoot to which Syrian President Bashar al-Assad belongs. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. It was the first such attack in months in Homs, once at the heart of the anti-Assad revolution but now firmly back under government control. Images that aired on state-run Syrian TV showed gruesome images of the aftermath of the blasts, including body parts scattered across a neighborhood in chaos. Ban described the attack on children as "an act of utmost depravity," according to a statement released by his office. Refugees flood into Turkey . Turkey's debate over whether to step into the fray comes as the flood of refugees from Syria has escalated, with 150,000 people fleeing to Turkey in recent days. Meanwhile, ISIS fighters armed with tanks and heavy weapons advance on Kobani in northern Syria, destroying villages in their path. Two Kurdish fighters told CNN that three airstrikes were carried out around Kobani early Wednesday, two to the east and one to the west of the town. If ISIS takes Kobani, it will control a complete swath of land from its self-declared capital of Raqqa to the Turkish border, more than 100 kilometers (60 miles) away. It has been fighting for months, capturing portions of northern and eastern Syria and western and northern Iraq for what it says is its new Islamic state, or caliphate. Pro-ISIS sympathies simmer in Jordanian city . And Sheikh Hassan, of the Syrian Kurdish National Defense committee, who is in Kobani, said fighting continues to the east, west and south of the town, with neither side having taken more ground. Kurdish fighters and ISIS militants are also exchanging fire near the Syrian village of Siftak to the west of Kobani, south of the Turkish village of Karaca, Kurdish fighter Alan Minbic said. Opinion: To beat ISIS, focus on young people . Meanwhile, police officials in Kirkuk, northern Iraq, told CNN that a motorcycle rigged with explosives detonated in a village in northern Kirkuk on Wednesday. At least two people were killed and 11 injured. Two roadside bombs exploded in a commercial area in Mahmoudiya, about 19 miles (31 kilometers) south of Baghdad, police officials in the capital said. At least three people died and 18 others were injured. CNN's Ben Wedeman reported from Irbil, Laura Smith-Spark reported and wrote in London. Chelsea J. Carter reported and wrote from Atlanta. CNN's Gul Tuysuz, Elise Labott, Hamdi Alkhshali, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Ingrid Formanek, Adam Levine and Barbara Starr contributed to this report. | Bomb blasts kill 39 people, including 30 schoolchildren, U.N. chief says .
U.N. chief condemns attack as an "act of utmost depravity''
Coalition is at an important moment, John R. Allen, retired general, says .
Turkey deploys troops along its border with Syria as lawmakers consider intervention . |
fc3ba6ed8823ca07f3af8de7cd6e765ebaf882bf | Abidjan, Ivory Coast (CNN) -- Hundreds of people fled a pro-Alassane Ouattara neighborhood in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, where forces loyal to incumbent President Laurent Gbabgbo have been fighting an armed Ouattara supporters for the past week. Ggagbo's Army spokesman also said their forces fought armed supporters of Ouattara Thursday night in Yamoussoukro where two insurgents were killed and several wounded. Violence sharply escalated over the last week in Ivory Coast's commercial capital Abidjan and spread to the political capital Yamoussoukro as well as the west of the country, putting more refugees and displaced people on the roads. The government imposed a curfew from Friday to Monday morning. The violence rose sharply mid-week after a mission of four African heads of state, mandated by the African Union to find a "binding solution" to the Ivorian post electoral crisis, left Abidjan. Emanuel Djaman, a teacher in Abidjan, said he saw several bodies lying on the ground when he was leaving his school after it was shut down because of the fighting. Other witnesses fleeing the area reported heavy fighting and casualties. The conflict was set off in November after a run-off presidential election between incumbent Laurent Gbagbo and challenger Alassane Ouattara -- an election in which both men claimed victory. An independent electoral commission declared Ouattara the winner of the election, but Gbagbo has refused to step aside. Ouattara is holed up in the Golf hotel in Abidjan under the protection of U.N. peacekeepers. Earlier Friday, during a rally in Abidjan, Gbagbo's minister of youth, Ble Goude, called on young supporters of the incumbent "to organize committees to impede by any means the movements of U.N. forces around the country." He also told the youth to get ready to liberate "the Golf Hotel in one week from now." In a statement released Friday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed deep concern over the deteriorating situation in Ivory Coast, deploring recent clashes between rival groups as well as threats against the United Nations, including the call to impede the movement of peacekeepers. "These developments mark a disturbing escalation which draws the country closer to the brink of reigniting civil war," Ban warned. In his Friday statement, Ban reiterated his call on both sides to exercise maximum restraint and to extend their cooperation to the African Union High-Level Panel. He said he hopes that the panel will expedite its discussions and take decisions that will help prevent further violence and facilitate a peaceful settlement to the crisis. Meanwhile, Gbagbo's government accused U.N. troops of killing a police officer in Daloa. Army spokesman Col. Babri Gohourou said on national television that the police officer went to the U.N. camp to negotiate the release of three Gbagbo supporters who were arrested during a demonstration. Gohourou said the U.N. peacekeepers shot the officer in the back while he was bringing the three young men away from the camp. Earlier this week, government spokesman Ahoua don Mello alleged that the pro-Ouattara forces were engaged in "a revolution with the help of UN forces." U.N. spokesman Hamadoun Toure denied the allegations in a telephone interview. The political standoff in the country has raised fears of a renewal of the bloodshed suffered after a civil war broke out in 2002. More than 33,000 people have fled to neighboring Liberia since the crisis began; 20,000 more have been internally displaced, according to the United Nations. | Violence spreads to Ivory Coasts political capital .
Gbagbo's government accuses U.N. troops of killing a police officer .
Gbagbo minister calls for the liberation of the hotel where opposition leader is . |
fc3bd7acac1e084aa51db6cbaf63fc7a3b5fa04e | RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistan's streets were eerily quiet and empty early Friday after a night of anger and anguish following the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Bhutto supporters grieve at the hospital in Rawalpindi where was pronounced dead. Bhutto's body arrived in the hours before dawn at her ancestral village of Garhi-Khuda Baksh for burial after a long journey from Rawalpindi, where she died, by transport plane, helicopter and ambulance. The former prime minister's family -- her husband and three children -- accompanied the body aboard a Pakistani Air Force C-130 transport plane to Sukkor but traveled by bus from there to Larkana and on to Garhi-Khuda Baksh. The funeral is planned for Friday afternoon. In Washington, White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said Bhutto's family had requested a private funeral. Bhutto, 54, was killed Thursday by the bullets of an assassin who blew himself up after firing the shots, killing at least 28 more people and wounding at least 100, GEO-TV reported. Bhutto, who was campaigning for next month's parliamentary elections, had completed an election rally minutes earlier and was leaving the rally site, Rawalpindi's Liaquat Bagh Park, at the time of the attack. As a shocked Pakistan absorbed the news of Bhutto's death, authorities called for calm and asked residents to stay inside. Many obliged, shuttering shops or rushing home from work and surrendering the streets to protesters who set fire to banks, shops and gas stations, blocked streets and pelted police with rocks, Pakistani media reported. At least five people were killed in Karachi in the violence, GEO TV reported, and dozens more were wounded. Police in Khairpur fired on an angry mob, killing two people, the station reported, and two more people were killed in Larkana. It's all mayhem everywhere," Shehryar Ahmad, an investment banker in Karachi, told CNN by telephone. "There's absolutely no order of any kind. No army on the streets. No curfew." Ahmad said that he saw dozens of burned-out cars as he drove home from work. A one-mile strip leading to Bhutto's Karachi house was a "ghost town," he said. Bhutto's body was being transported to the family's ancestral graveyard in Gari-Khuda Baksh in Sindh province, where she will be buried later Friday, said Sen. Safdar Abbasi, a leader of her Pakistan People's Party. Watch how the tragedy unfolded » . The first leg was completed when, according to Pakistani TV stations, a Pakistan Air Force plane landed at Sukkur at about 3:15 a.m. Friday (5:30 p.m. Thursday ET). Bhutto's body was accompanied by her husband and three children. Bhutto is expected to be taken the rest of the way to her ancestral home by helicopter. Authorities are avoiding road travel because it could be mobbed by grieving supporters, the television stations reported. Her coffin body was removed from Rawalpindi General Hospital late Thursday -- carried above a crowd of grieving supporters. Watch Bhutto's casket carried from the hospital » . Bhutto spent her final moments giving a stirring address to thousands of supporters at a political rally in a park in Rawalpindi, a city of roughly 1.5 million that is 14 km (9 miles) south of the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. She climbed into a white Land Rover and stood through the sunroof to wave to crowds after the speech. It was then that someone fired two shots, and Bhutto slumped back into the vehicle, said John Moore, a news photographer with Getty Images who saw what happened. Seconds later an explosion rocked the park, sending orange flames into the throng of Bhutto supporters and littering the park with twisted metal and chunks of rubble. The carnage was everywhere, he said. The assassination happened in Liaquat Bagh Park, named for Pakistan's first prime minister -- Liaquat Ali Khan -- who was assassinated in the same location in 1951. The attack came just hours after four supporters of former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif died when members of another political party opened fire on them at a rally near the Islamabad airport Thursday, Pakistan police said. Several other members of Sharif's party were wounded, police said. Bhutto, who led Pakistan from 1988-1990 and 1993-96, but both times the sitting president dismissed her amid corruption allegations. She was the first female prime minister of any Islamic nation, and was participating in the parliamentary election set for January 8, hoping for a third term as prime minister. Watch Benazir Bhutto obituary » . A terror attack targeting her motorcade in Karachi killed 136 people on the day she returned to Pakistan after eight years of self-imposed exile. Bhutto had been critical of what she believed was a lack of effort by President Pervez Musharraf's government to protect her. View timeline » . Two weeks after the October assassination attempt, she wrote a commentary for CNN.com in which she questioned why Pakistan investigators refused international offers of help in finding the attackers. E-mail to a friend . | NEW: Former PM Benazir Bhutto's body arrives at her ancestral home for burial .
Body en route to ancestral graveyard accompanied by husband, three children .
Unrest, rioting reported in Khairpur, Peshawar and Karachi .
Bhutto died while campaigning to become prime minister for a third time . |
fc3c0d187a7e41595d75143a7a385eecf874d430 | A 34-year-old carjacker who today shot to death two sheriff's deputies, injured another and gravely wounded a motorist during a 30-mile bloody spree in California has been arrested, police have said. Marcelo Marquez allegedly stole three cars as he scaled two Sacramento counties with Jannelle Monroy, 38, in a series of attacks that triggered a massive manhunt by hundreds of officials. In the first of three carjackings, he allegedly shot deputy Danny Oliver, a 47-year-old father of two, in the forehead from inside a vehicle in the parking lot of the Motel 6 at Arden and Ethan Way. Mr Oliver, a 15-year veteran of Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, was pronounced dead at the scene, reported The Sacramento Bee. He leaves behind a wife and two daughters. Scroll down for video . Victims: Marcelo Marquez today allegedly shot to death Sacramento County sheriff's deputy Danny Oliver (left) and Placer County deputy Michael David Davis Jr (right) during a bloody 30-mile spree in California . Manhunt: Marquez also reportedly injured another deputy and gravely wounded a motorist during the spree . On duty: Law enforcement officers are seen responding to the attack on Danny Oliver, who was allegedly shot by Marquez in the forehead from inside a vehicle in the parking lot of the Motel 6 at Arden and Ethan Way . Dramatic: The suspect allegedly stole three cars as he scaled two Sacramento counties with Janelle Monroy. Above, police are seen at the scene where Mr Oliver, was reportedly fatally shot in the forehead by Marquez . Chaos: The brutal series of attacks triggered a massive manhunt by hundreds of officials. Above, Placer High School students board a bus as officials stand guard in Auburn, California, following the third shooting . Response: A SWAT team arrives at the interesection of Agard Street and Stadium Way in Auburn today . Search: Law enforcement officers search vehicles leaving the area following the three carjackings today . Emotional: Two Placer County sheriff's deputies embrace after hearing of the death of their colleague Michael David Davis Jr , a 42-year-old father of four who was allegedly shot dead by Marquez in the third shooting . Following Marquez's arrest this evening, Auburn Police Department tweeted: 'The suspect is in custody. Pls respect that the surrounding areas are considered a crime scene and may still have restricted access' In a somber press conference, Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones (above) confirmed Mr Oliver's death . During the other carjackings, Marquez allegedly killed Placer County deputy Michael David Davis Jr - a 42-year-old father of four who has spent the past 10 years working as a homicide investigator -with an AR-15-type assault rifle, shot another officer in the arm and badly wounded a motorist. This morning, authorities launched a manhunt for Marquez and Monroy, during which they searched along a steep, tree-lined river canyon in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Auburn. At 2pm, they confirmed Monroy, who had a handgun in her purse, was in custody, but said Marquez was still being sought near Auburn, off Interstate 80, according toUSA Today. But now, they have arrested Marquez after surrounding a house in Belmont Drive, 30 miles west of the Sacramento area where Mr Oliver was killed, in which the suspect had been hiding for hours. Chaos: Marquez and Monroy allegedly stole three cars during their 30-mile spree, in which two deputies died . Lockdown: In the first of three attacks, Marquez allegedly shot Mr Oliver, a 47-year-old father of two, in the forehead in the parking lot of the Motel 6 at Arden and Ethan Way. Above, police at the scene in Auburn . Protective gear: Police are pictured during the search for Marquez. The suspect has now been arrested after officials surrounded a house in Belmont Drive, 30 miles west of the place where Mr Oliver was killed . Sacramento County Sheriff Lieutenant Palmer walks through the Motel 6 parking lot where Mr Oliver died . Response: Marquez and his companions' carjackings triggered a massive manhunt by hundreds of officials . Prepared: Following the third carjacking, a Blue Alert was issued by the California Highway Patrol to be on the lookout for the stolen truck. Above, an armed officer prepares to join the manhunt for Marquez today . According to officials, Marquez shot dead his first victim in the parking lot of a motel at 10.27am local time as he made off with his first stolen vehicle in Carmichael county, CBS Sacramento reported. Witnesses said at least five shots were fired at Mr Oliver, who had reportedly approached the 'suspicious' vehicle and is the first county deputy to have been killed since 2008. In a somber press conference this afternoon, Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones said: 'At about 10.22 this morning, sheriff's deputy Danny Oliver, who was working with a partner, engaged in a suspicious vehicle that was parked in the Motel 6 parking lot. 'As the officers approached the vehicle, the person inside the vehicle fired several rounds at officer Danny Oliver. At least one of those rounds struck deputy Oliver in the forehead, which caused his death. The other officer was able to return fire as the suspect fled the scene.' On duty: Sacramento County Sheriff's Detective Christie Lynn (right) tightens the protective vest of Deputy Sargent Donna Cox (left) as they prepare to aid in the search of Marquez in Auburn, California, today . Examining the scene: Police officers examine the Motel 6 parking lot where Mr Oliver was shot to death . Police on site: During the other carjackings, Marquez allegedly killed Placer County deputy Michael David Davis Jr - a 42-year-old father of four who has spent the past 10 years working as a homicide investigator . A black stripe: Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones (center) wears a black stripe over his badge while meeting with deputies near the Motel 6 parking lot where Mr Oliver was allegedly shot to death by Marquez . Action: Witnesses said at least five shots were fired at Mr Oliver, who had reportedly approached the 'suspicious' vehicle and is the first county deputy to have been killed since 2008. Above, deputies . Marquez then drove nine minutes south and carjacked another car - shooting the driver who refused to give up his keys, police said. Details of the motorist's condition are unknown. From there, the suspect and his companion drove around the corner and leaped into a truck - a red Ford F-150 - which they drove 30 miles north east to Auburn county. Following the third carjacking, a Blue Alert was issued by the California Highway Patrol to be on the lookout for the stolen truck. The suspects - whose relationship is unknown - are believed to have changed out of their blood-stained clothes en route. Action: During the manhunt, all Auburn Union School District schools were on lock down, it is reported . Auburn Police Department tweeted that Skyridge School students were being evacuated to another school . A California Highway patrol officer guards Placer High School students as they enter a bus after a lockdown . At large: All schools in Auburn County, Sacramento, were on lockdown while Marquez was still at large . On Maidu Drive in Auburn, at 1pm, Mr Davis Jr and another deputy approached the truck but the suspect opened fire, shooting both, before driving off. The pair were rushed to hospital, where Mr Davis Jr later died. During the manhunt, all Auburn Union School District schools were on lock down, while students at other schools were evacuated elsewhere, it is reported. The Placer County High football game has been postponed until Saturday following today's tragic events. During the press conference, Sheriff Jones added that the investigation remains ongoing. | Marcelo Marquez, 34, and Jannelle Monroy, 38, allegedly stole three cars .
Man 'shot dead father-of-two Danny Oliver, 47, outside motel at 10.27am'
Mr Oliver, veteran of Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, died at scene .
Suspects drove around corner and stole second car, shooting the driver .
Then carjacked third car from parking lot minutes away, drove it 30 miles .
Two deputies, including Michael David Davis Jr, approached stolen truck .
Marquez 'subsequently opened fire, killing Mr Davis Jr, 42, father of four'
Marquez and accomplice in custody; conditions of victims not yet known . |
fc3c22726fb113e7e011fb4f38d2829f90b0bd1c | Despite its unlikely birthplace, Yamazaki's Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013 has trumped more than 1,000 challengers to be named the world's best whisky by prominent critic Jim Murray in his Whisky Bible 2015, who referred to the amber nectar as 'near indescribable genius.' He said the whisky had a 'nose of exquisite boldness' and a finish of 'light, teasing spice', and scored it an impressive 97.5 marks out of 100. The first Japanese whisky to claim the crown owes its success to adroit exploitation of climate and water, special casks and a keen awareness of the Japanese palate, the company says. Visitors take pictures in the garden of Suntory Holdings' Yamazaki Distillery in Shimamoto town, Osaka prefecture, near Kyoto, Japan . A worker takes a sample from a spirit still at Suntory Holdings' Yamazaki Distillery. Special casks help create the whisky's unique flavour . Yamazaki's Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013 beat more than 1,000 challengers to be named the world's best whisky by prominent critic Jim Murray . The Tenouzan tunnel for the Meishin highway cuts through the forest behind the distillery, far from Scotch whisky's spiritual home . A monument to founder Shinjiro Torii and his son, Keizo Saji, its second generation master blender, stands in the compound of the distillery . Workers check on casks in the distillery (left). Suntory's chief blender Shinji Fukuyo (right) samples whisky during a presentation . Nestled at the foot of wooded hills near the ancient Japanese capital of Kyoto, the whisky distillery feels a long way from the northerly glens of Scotch's spiritual home. In Yamazaki's cavernous cellar, 2,000 barrels emit a heady scent as the whiskies mature, the casks breathing as the seasons change to produce the 'genius' flavour. 'Hot summers make for a complex, deep aroma,' said Scotland-trained Shinji Fukuyo, chief blender at Beam Suntory, which owns Yamazaki. Taken from the wells of a nearby town, the distillery's water is prized for its mineral content and softness, while maturation occurs in hard-to-come-by sherry casks, specially crafted from oak in northern Spain. The popularity of whisky in Japan has ebbed and flowed since Masataka Taketsuru, the son of a sake brewer, returned from Scotland in 1918, establishing the country's first distillery at Yamazaki five years later. As the good times rolled in Japan's 1980s bubble-era, Scotch mixed with water became an indispensable part of business culture. Senior General Manager of the distillery Takahisa Fujii poses in Yamazaki's cavernous cellar where 2,000 barrels of whiskies mature . But sales slumped as the economy flopped in the 1990s, with drinkers opting for beer and clear spirits. Since the turn of the century, demand has recovered on the back of a newfound taste for highballs and growing international praise for Japanese whisky. Highlighting whisky's increased profile in Japan, public broadcaster NHK is showing a television drama inspired by Taketsuru and his Scottish wife. At a dimly lit bar in Tokyo's upmarket Ginza district, drinkers, tippling as jazz tinkles in the background, are proud of Japan's moment in the world whisky spotlight. 'There are so many famous whiskies, so for a Japanese one to become well-known, I'm very happy,' said nutritionist Miki Asakawa. The amber nectar: The 12-year-old whisky matures in an oak cask, fitted with a glass front and back for display purposes . Whisky casks are stored at the distillery. Demand has grown on the back of a taste for highballs, and international praise for Japanese whisky . Suntory Holdings' Yamazaki Distillery stands on a hillside in Shimamoto town, Osaka prefecture, near Kyoto . | Prominent critic Jim Murray named Yamazaki's Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013 as world's best .
Amber nectar trumped more than 1,000 challengers to gain accolade in the Whisky Bible 2015 .
It is the first Japanese whisky to claim the prestigious title . |
fc3c30c3f23a122c92f2c54f22f0f76ed0449bbd | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 13:15 EST, 21 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 14:53 EST, 21 April 2012 . Though Heineken’s signature colour is green, someone didn’t want any green leaves to get in the way of their massive advert on the side of a New York City building. The beer company said they would replace the trees after the tops were lopped off to make way for a ‘wallscape’ advertising the Tribeca Film Festival. The beer company is currently investigating whether the third-party advert installer lopped off the tops of the ten-year-old honey locus trees to make way for the billboard. Lopped off: The tops of several ten-year-old honey oak trees were hacked off in front of a massive Heineken advert promoting the Tribeca Film Festival . The green space: A Heineken spokesperson said the beer company would replace the trees at their own expense . Before: The trees used to line W. Houston Street - the tallest of which reached the third storey of the apartment building now adorned with the 'wallscape' As DNAinfo.com exclusively reported, the New York City Parks Department is now conducting an investigation into the mystery pruners. It is illegal to damage trees on city property, the Parks Department website reads, and is punishable by fines up to $14,000 and up to one year in prison. A Heineken spokesperson told DNA Info that the company will replace the honey oaks ‘at our expense.’ They added: ‘In no way was this action sanctioned by us. We had nothing to do with it, and we find it to be reprehensible.’ Busy streets: The advert is at the corner of West Broadway and West Houston Streets in downtown Manhattan . Mystery pruner: The New York City Parks Department is investigating who chopped the flora . A publicity representative for the Tribeca Film Festival told MailOnline ‘Those aren’t our ads, so I don’t know anything about that. 'It’s not our ad campaign.’ Billboard company Fuel Outdoor did not respond to MailOnline’s request for comment. The advert, located on the busy intersection of West Houston and West Broadway, gives a wide nod to the film industry, and reads like a script. It says: ‘CUT TO: The exterior of a New York City apartment building. From street level, we can barely make out what’s happening inside.’ The beer giant has come under fire of late for yet another reason - for being linked with illegal dog fighting in Asia. Brutal: Two dogs in a ring are shown tearing at eachother, surrounded by a large crowd and Heineken banners . The beer company launched an . urgent investigation after an internet photo of a brutal dog fight . showed the ring was surrounded by their branded banners. Thousands . have called for a boycott of their drinks because of the image from an . unknown Asian country, believed to be in Mongolia. Heineken said last week that it was 'as shocked and disappointed' as anyone who had seen their name linked to the blood sport. The picture shows people filming a dogfight in a ring with the Heineken logo hanging from pillars above the crowd. In an official statement on their own . Facebook site Heineken said: 'We are aware of images of dog fighting . circulating online including our branding. We do not support such . cruelty and are urgently investigating.' However . many people called on the firm to speak out publicly against . dogfighting, accusing them of backtracking after being 'caught out'. One . Facebook user said: 'I am so not having anything to do with your . product or events you sponsor - anywhere - until you sort this out. Disgraceful!' | Ten-year-old white oak trees mysteriously pruned along busy downtown Manhattan street .
Heineken has offered to buy replacement trees as New York Parks Department investigates .
Comes days after photos surfaced of Heineken banners in arena where illegal dog-fighting took place . |
fc3c7fca32983707d59ef0d6f0d0a093a301a41a | By . Martha De Lacey . PUBLISHED: . 04:29 EST, 8 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 06:55 EST, 8 November 2012 . Leaping, frolicking lambs are an everyday site on farms. But the Prince of Wales spotted a much older wooly jumper during a visit to a Tasmanian holding, where he was learning about Australia's world-leading wool trade. Charles, visiting the Thornbury family's Leenavale Sheep Stud as part of his six-day tour down under with his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, watched as an adult sheep almost bounded straight out of a pen in its desperation to follow his fluffy friends into the shearing sheds. Wooly jumper: Prince Charles watches a sheep bound in the air alongside farm manager Brent Thornbury during a visit to the Leenavale Sheep Stud at Sorell, some 20km east of Hobart . Charles and Camilla's six-day whistlestop trip to Australia is part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations. The Prince was visiting the farm to learn how the Thornbury family produce highly-prized merino wool, used to make luxury knitwear, jumpers and cloth for Italian suits - and even tried his hand at fleece-throwing. He was sporting a grey pin-stripe double-breasted suit by Anderson & Sheppard, made, appropriately, from a rare quality of Australian Merino wool. Charles did well to keep the mud off his expensive trousers when he was taken into a pen by Brent Thornbury who, along with brother Jason, is the fourth generation of his family to run the sheep stud. Getting the giggles: Prince Charles and Brent Thornbury watch as a sheep dog runs on top of the sheep on Leenavale farm . The farm, located at Sorell, some 20km east of Hobart, covers 5,000 hectares and has around 12,000 merino sheep. Alongside farm manager Brent Thornbury, the Duke of Cornwall watched as the sheep were moved along a narrow run into a pen before going into a shed where they would be sheared. One enthusiastic farm dog called Zig, an Australian kelpie, jumped up and ran on to the backs of the sheep, which then began leaping into the air. Give it some welly! Prince Charles throws a fleece onto the table during the visit to the sheep farm, remarking afterwards: 'I didn't do it well' Inside the shearing shed, which had a corrugated iron roof and smelled strongly of sheep droppings, the Prince and Mr Thornbury watched shearers expertly snip off fleeces in three minutes. Lucy Byers, 35, was gathering up the wool and skilfully tossing it on to a table to be graded by other workers. Charles tried his hand at throwing the fleece and sheepishly said afterwards: 'I didn't do it to well.' Royal seal of approval: Prince Charles inspects a fleece with Gerard Balbing . Suits me: Prince Charles met merino wool sheep while, appropriately, wearing an Australian merino wool suit . Woolly mountain: Prince Charles admires the piles of fleece on the farm . Walk this way: Prince Charles and Brent Thornbury watch the sheep being rounded into the shearing shed yards on the farm . It's a pile-up! Farm managers James and Brent Thornbury explain to Prince Charles how sheep farms are run . His and hers: The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall hold koalas called Kao and Matilda at Goverment House in Adelaide, Australia, on Wednesday . Are we overdressed? Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, are given an aboriginal welcome by two men in traditional dress at Government House in Adelaide on Wednesday . | Prince of Wales met merino wool sheep while wearing merino wool suit .
The Duke of Cornwall tried his hand at fleece-throwing .
Leenavale Sheep Stud has been in Thornbury family for four generations .
Six-day visit down under is part of Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations . |
fc3c9127d86744c39b80b69056fc4e773d659d88 | By . Anthony Bond . PUBLISHED: . 05:44 EST, 31 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:41 EST, 31 August 2012 . A couple and their two pet dogs have been found dead following a suspected murder-suicide. The dead bodies of Scott and Stacy Rector were found in their trailer in Commercial Township, New Jersey, on Wednesday evening. Along with a suicide note and a semi-automatic weapon, the couple's two dogs were also found shot dead. Tragic: Scott and Stacy Rector and their two pet dogs have been found dead following a suspected murder-suicide . The bodies of all four were found in a bed after a colleague of Mr Rector visited the trailer because he was concerned the 30-year-old had not turned up at work for a week. According to the New York Daily News, detectives investigating the horrific incident believe that Stacy, 28, first shot her husband before killing the dogs and herself. A police statement said: 'Investigators are waiting for medical autopsy reports to make final determinations as to who caused this tragic event and why.' Tributes have been paid to the couple from those who knew them. Horrific: The dead bodies were found in the couple's trailer in Laurel Lake, New Jersey . One woman wrote on New Jersey.com: 'Stacy and Scott were great people. They were great friends of my ex-stepson and I am sure if there were signs their friends and family would have done something.' Another friend said Mr Rector loved the outdoors and his dogs. 'He was the kind of person who put a smile on your face just being around him. He made life fun and touched so many peoples lives. ' Police have not revealed whether they have previously been called to the Rector's home for domestic violence incidents. | The dead bodies of Scott and Stacy Rector were found in their trailer in New Jersey .
Along with a suicide note and semi-automatic weapon, the couple's two dogs were also found shot dead .
Detectives believe Stacy, 28, first shot her husband before killing the dogs and herself . |
fc3cb5485d568d47ebdc10066bd41cb273b35e43 | (CNN) -- What are the odds that Jenny McCarthy and Donnie Wahlberg will give us the '90s wedding of our dreams? The former Playboy model and current "The View" co-host revealed on Wednesday's show that she and singer/actor Wahlberg are getting hitched. "I just got engaged!" McCarthy gleefully shared on the ABC morning show while revealing her engagement ring, which features a yellow sapphire stone. Wahlberg popped the question last weekend with help from McCarthy's 11-year-old son, Evan, and on Wednesday joined his bride-to-be on "The View." On Twitter, Wahlberg, 44, had only one word for the announcement: "#Happy." This will be the second marriage for both McCarthy, 41, and Wahlberg, 44. McCarthy's marriage to director John Asher ended in 2005, and Wahlberg's nine-year marriage to Kim Fey ended in 2008. While McCarthy was pretty convinced that she'd never marry again, it seems being with Wahlberg changed her mind. The couple began dating publicly last summer, and in November the TV personality said that she was starting to view marriage as a possibility. "You know, I've said on every interview that I was like, 'Never, I'll never get married again, ever,' and, of course, you never say never," she told Bethenny Frankel on her talk show, "Bethenny." "I think he would be an amazing husband, so if he does (propose), I would for sure say yes." | Jenny McCarthy announced her engagement to Donnie Wahlberg on "The View"
The couple have been dating since last summer .
McCarthy was previously unsure if she'd marry again . |
fc3da53552b943a06a2cfcc6af6d3679bf6ea15b | By . Jessica Jerreat . The FBI today released dramatic footage of the Times Square bomber, who used a bicycle to flee the scene after targeting a military recruiting center. Ten minutes of footage, showing the suspected bomber cycling away after leaving a device more powerful than both bombs used at the Boston Marathon, have been released. The early morning blast on March 6, 2008, is being linked to two earlier attacks at foreign embassies also in New York, with the belief the suspect is a serial bomber . See footage of the bike bomber: . Getaway vehicle: The bicycle police believe was used by the bomber who attacked Times Square in 2008 . 'Someone, somewhere, knows something . about a bomber who's still on the run,' FBI Assistant . Director-in-Charge George Venizelos, said. A reward for $65,000 is being offered for the first time, as the FBI confirmed it believes the attack on the Armed Forces Career Center could be linked to attacks on the UK Embassy in 2005 and the Mexico Embassy in 2007. Ten minutes of previously unreleased surveillance footage show the bomb detonating in Times Square and the suspected bomber cycling through the streets of New York on a blue Ross bicycle. The footage and photos of the attack are being put up on billboards in Times Square and across the northeast. Planted: The bike bomber left the homemade device at the Military Recruitment Center in Times Square . Explosion: A plume of smoke rises above Times Square after the bomb was detonated on March 6, 2008 . 'Today we're asking for the public's . assistance in finding those responsible and encouraging the public to . look closely at these photos and video, which could be the key to . breaking the case,' Mr Venizelos told ABC. It is possible the bomber was not working alone, the FBI said. Three figures are seen walking towards the recruiting center as the device is lit, and then walking off, seemingly with the bomber, according to the New York Times. 'Although the suspect appears to be working alone, he or she may have had a lookout or surveillance team of as many as five other individuals in Times Square at the time of the attack,' the FBI said. The force of the blast, at 3.40am, shattered the front of the recruiting center, and was heard by nearby hotel guests and subway passengers. It is not known if the suspect is a man or woman, or what age, race and height they are. Impact: No one was injured in the blast but several people were walking nearby as it went off . Escape: A cyclist believed to be the Times Square bomber is seen on surveillance video cycling in the city . Shortly after the 2008 attack, New York City Police Department Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly told San Francisco Gate: 'Although it was cold, it was not cold enough to require an individual to have everything covered. His whole face was pretty much covered.' The Times Square device was created from an ammunition tin packed with gunpowder. It was detonated in Times Square at 3:45am, damaging the iconic military recruiting station and blocking traffic for more than two hours. People who were already working in offices close to the explosion were not allowed to go home, and those arriving for work were turned away. 'The bomber narrowly missed killing or injuring passers-by who can be seen clearly in the vicinity, moments before the blast,' Mr Kelly said. 'The distance between polemics by bombing and the murdering of innocents is short.' The blue bike the bomber used to make a getaway was later found in a dumpster near Madison Avenue and 38th Street by workers, about three hours after the attack, according to Fox News. Bashir Saleh had been setting up his coffee stall near the recruiting center when the device was detonated. Wanted: The suspected Times Square bomber, who targeted the military recruitment center, is seen on surveillance footage . Crime scene: Times Square was closed off after the explosion as police searched for evidence . 'I heard a very loud explosion. It was the first time I ever heard such a thing. I thought it was some problem with the cart. I got a gas tank here. I thought it might have exploded, that’s how loud it was,' he told the New York Times shortly after the attack. 'I ran out towards the source of the noise. I saw a cloud of smoke, then I saw the police rushing towards it. In a matter of minutes there were 10 to 15 police cars. It was a scary experience for me.' The effects of the blast were felt by guests staying at the New York Marriott Marquis. 'I felt the building shaking, and then a second after, I heard the explosion,' Mercy Sepulveda, from Fort Lauderdale, Forida, said. 'It sounded like a gas tank exploding.' The recruiting center for all branches of the military, which had a $1 million redesign in 1999, had been a regular focal point for protests about the war in Iraq. The device and timing of the attack there was similar to explosions in New York at the UK Embassy in 2005 and the Mexico Embassy in 2007. In the British Embassy attack, two . devices packed with gunpowder were left in plant pots outside the . building on the day of the UK's general election. The building also served as offices for a company that had attracted protests after it supplied bulldozers to Israel. Target: The bomber attacked the US military recruiting center in Times Square . In 2007, two more hand-made devices were set off at the Mexico Embassy. Although people were in the building at the time, no injuries were reported. Like the Times Square bomb, the devices were detonated by hand between 3am and 3.45am, and witnesses reported seeing a person riding away on a bicycle. Anyone with information on any of the bombings should call the FBI at (212) 384-1000. | Explosion linked to attacks on UK and Mexico embassies in New York .
$65,000 reward to find 'serial bomber' using homemade devices . |
fc3e048b62918fab0a2b51a7d88a9d7241b7aa7f | Jersey Shore castmember Nicole 'Snooki' LaValle might not seem like the most business-savvy star in showbusiness, but the mother-of-two has surprised everyone - herself included - by selling out of a range of handmade merchandise which she created in the comfort of her own bedroom. The 27-year-old launched her own collection of personalized products, which included mugs featuring a variety of her favorite catchphrases from her MTV series, candleholders and bedazzled sunglasses, on e-commerce website Etsy last week, having spent weeks designing and crafting the items at home. And, much to her delight, her store, Nicole's Craft Room, sold out of all its products within just two days of launching. Scroll down for video . Successful businesswoman: Snooki has proved she has some serious selling power thanks to her range of handmade merchandise . Best friends forever: Much of the 27-year-old's merchandise features a reference to her best friend and Jersey Shore co-star JWoww . Business is booming: All of Snooki's products, including these two wine glass designs, sold out within just two days of launching . 'EVERYTHING IS SOLD OUT!' the would-be businesswoman gleefully posted on her Etsy page. 'Getting Xmas orders out, open soon! Check back!' It is not the first time that Snooki, who married long-time love Jionni LaValle last month, has ventured into the world of business, but never before has the reality star struck out on her own, having previously only collaborated with other brands. But it seems that DIY crafting has been a secret passion for Snooki for years - and she revealed on her website that she couldn't wait to get stuck into the creative process, particularly as it offered her the chance to create something truly 'personal' for her fans. 'I [am] opening an ETSY store!' she wrote. Feeling crafty: The mother-of-two confessed that she loved designing and creating the products from the comfort of her own home . Under the sea: Two of the most popular items for sale were these mermaid mug designs . Come back later! The Etsy store, which is named Nicole's Craft Room, currently has no stock available . 'There are a few posers on there pretending to be me and selling products! 'You know how much I love arts and crafts and just the fact I can make my own crafts for my fans is just such a cool idea. 'Like trust me if let’s say Jennifer Lawrence was making mugs in her room by herself to sell, I would buy them in a heartbeat. I would feel so awesome and special that I had a mug that Jennifer Lawrence made me, you know what I mean? 'Everything is handmade and has my signature on it. I personalize the mugs, wine glasses and making candle holders, nursery signs for baby names, and more! 'So stay tuned for more info on my store and how you can get some of my creations!' Many of Snooki's signature items, which were priced between $15 and $100, featured an ode to her best friend and co-star Jennifer 'JWoww' Farley. Happily ever after: Snooki married her longtime love Jionni LaValle last month . Partners in crime: Snooki and JWoww (pictured together) have been best friends for years and have their own spin-off reality series . Her collection included a range of mugs and wine glasses bearing the catchphrase 'You're the Snooki to my JWoww', as well as a mug which said 'Best friend in the whole universe'. Surprisingly, Snooki's new husband, with whom she has two children - Lorenzo Dominic, two, and three-month-old Giovanna Marie - doesn't appear to feature among the merchandise. No doubt he will be hoping to make the cut when Snooki debuts her new collection, which she has promised fans will arrive shortly after Christmas. 'Make sure to follow my store on Etsy!' she tweeted earlier this week, adding: 'I'll open up again soon! With new stock & new designs!' | The mother-of-two is selling a range of personalized merchandise through e-commerce website Etsy .
Snooki's handmade products sold out within two days of launching . |
fc3e56235003e5e5ebc1c9d4d6b1602a61d347ec | It was touch-and-go situation for a 16-year-old boy from Washington State on Monday night after he spent five hours stuck in a bog. The unidentified teenager was at a skate park in Puyallup when he decided to wander into a restricted section of woodland around 1pm with a friend. On attempting to cross a shallow stream he ended up sinking thigh-high into muddy ground. Team effort: It was touch-and-go situation for a 16-year-old boy from Washington State on Monday night after he spent five hours stuck in a bog . Emotional: here the unidentified teenager is seen being pulled from the mud in the dark and giving a firefighter a big hug as he wobbles on two legs . Explaining the situation, Central Pierce Fire and Rescue spokesman Ed Hrivnak told Kiro TV: 'He was trying to cross, and looking from above, you’d look like you’d sink to your foot. 'But it was very deceiving, and when he stepped he sunk all the way to his thigh.' Knowing they were in an area they shouldn't be, the teen's friend resisted calling for help. He spent several hours attempting the rescue mission himself but eventually ended up walking to a local fire department for assistance. Crews managed to free the trapped boy around 6pm. They used ladders to stabilize the area around him and used air and water pressure to free his legs. Lucky escape: According to authorities, the boy was cold and muddy but otherwise uninjured . Lesson learned: After getting the all clear from paramedics he was taken home by his mother . The emotional rescue was caught on camera. Footage shows the boy being pulled from the mud in the dark and giving a firefighter a big hug as he wobbles on two legs. According to authorities the boy was cold and muddy but otherwise uninjured. After getting the all clear from paramedics he was taken home by his mother. | The unidentified teenager wandered into a restricted section of woodland in Puyallup, Washington, around 1pm on Monday with a friend .
On attempting to cross a shallow stream he ended up sinking thigh-high into muddy ground .
Knowing they were in an area they shouldn't be, the teen's friend resisted calling for help .
Eventually the local fire department were called out .
The trapped boy was rescued around 6pm with the effort caught on film . |
fc3e58c432d8cd2b45e20fbfd5cca76ac9d046b4 | SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- A 69-year-old who was previously convicted of torching a palace has been arrested in connection with a fire that destroyed Namdaemun, South Korea's oldest wooden structure and a national treasure, authorities said on Tuesday. People on Monday look at the debris of the Namdaemun gate in central Seoul after the fire. Similarities between the Sunday night fire and the 2006 blaze led to the investigation of a man identified only as Mr. Chae, said Kim Young-Su, chief of police of the Namdaemun police station. Chae had served time in prison for the palace fire. Police searched the home of Chae's ex-wife and found a can of paint thinner and a pair of leather gloves they believe were used in the fire, Kim said. Chae confessed to starting the fire, saying he was upset by a land grievance that led him to start the 2006 fire and by the sentence he was handed in that case, Kim said. Chae was free on a suspended sentence, Kim added. Chae said he chose Namdaemun because it was easily accessible by public transportation and yet situated in a lightly populated area where the fire was unlikely to hurt people, according to police. The fire burned for hours, and more than a hundred firefighters tried to save it. Watch the reaction to the Namdaemun's destruction » . Namdaemun was more than 600 years old and stood at the center of Seoul, having served as a main gate into the capital for centuries. The gate was considered a national symbol to Koreans around the world. E-mail to a friend . | NEW: "Mr. Chae" was convicted of torching a Korean palace in 2006 .
NEW: Chae has confessed to starting the Namdaemun fire, police chief says .
NEW: Easy access, lightly populated area dictated Namdaemun choice, police say .
The more-than-600-year-old Namdaemun was country's oldest wooden structure . |
fc3e99c2cdeed9d1370f97e3a4ef723592f028fc | A father who murdered his five kids before driving their bodies around for nine days and dumping them in a field had strangled four of the children and beat one to death, it has emerged. Timothy Ray Jones Jr., 33, was arrested in Mississippi on September 6 after a deputy said he smelled the stench of death in Jones' SUV at a traffic checkpoint. The father, from Red Bank, South Carolina, then led deputies to the bodies in rural Alabama. It emerged in grand jury indictments on Thursday that four of the children - Merah, eight, Elias, seven, Gabriel, two, and one-year-old Elaine - died 'by means of strangulation'. 'Killer': Timothy Ray Jones Jr., pictured being escorted from Smith County Jail in Mississippi last September, strangled four of his children and beat another one to death, according to newly-released indictments . Another of his children, six-year-old Nahtahn, was beaten to death, according to the indictments, which have been shared by The State for the first time. It is not clear what he used to murder the children, but five belts were found in the home, the newspaper noted. After the killings, he put their bodies in separate plastic bags and into his black 2006 Cadillac Escalade SUV before driving around for more than a week and dumping them. On September 6, he was stopped at a DUI checkpoint in Mississippi and officers noted that he was intoxicated and agitated. They found maggots, blood and children's clothes in his SUV, as well as handwritten notes about mutilating bodies, and the stench of bleach and death in the air, according to police reports. Murdered: One-year-old Elaine, left, and two-year-old Gabriel, right, were strangled to death last August . Loss: Seven-year-old Elias, left, and eight-year-old Merah, right, were also strangled before their bodies were put into bags in their father's SUV and driven for hundreds of miles before he dumped them in Alabama . Killed: Nahtahn, six, was allegedly beaten to death by his father, who feared the children would kill him, chop up his body and then feed it to dogs. Social workers said he was overwhelmed looking after the children . A check of Jones' license plate showed his ex-wife had reported him and the children missing three days earlier when he failed to bring them over for visitation. He led authorities to the five bodies on an Alabama hilltop near Pine Apple, 20 miles off Interstate 65 and about 65 miles south of Montgomery. Arrest: Timothy Jones, 33, could face the death penalty for allegedly murdering his five children . Jones told authorities that he murdered the children because he believed they 'were going to kill him, chop him up and feed him to the dogs', according to an arrest warrant. Last year, Jones' attorney said he had been treated for mental illness in the past and called for a mental evaluation to be performed on him as soon as possible. It emerged that he had earned a computer engineering degree and worked at a $71,000-a-year job. But nearly two years ago, he discovered his wife Amber was putting their children to bed then going to the neighbor's house and sleeping with their 19-year-old son, according to divorce papers. A therapist who saw Jones during their divorce described him as 'highly intelligent' and responsible, yet emotionally devastated and angry over his wife's actions. They divorced in October 2013 and Jones moved out with the children, but began to withdraw to the point where the woman who lived next door thought he and his family had moved away. Social services had visited the family three times to investigate conditions in the three years before the murders, and a recent report said Jones seemed 'overwhelmed' caring for the children. Scene: The father and his five children vanished from his Red Bank, South Carolina home last August . Found: After being stopped at a traffic checkpoint in Mississippi last September, officers noticed blood in his vehicle and the smell of bleach, and he led them to the bodies of his five children on this Alabama hilltop . He was reported missing with the children on September 3. Authorities said they believed the children had been killed shortly after they were last seen at school on August 28. Jones has been charged with five counts of murder and remains in jail. Prosecutors have not said if they will seek the death penalty, but Jones' attorneys have said it is likely, The State reported. In his teenage years, Jones went on a crime spree in Illinois. He was arrested on a cocaine possession charge March 30, 2001, in Carpentersville, Illinois. Six months later, when he was 19, he was arrested for stealing a car, burglary and passing forged checks. | Timothy Ray Jones Jr. was arrested last September after Mississippi deputies smelled death in his SUV during a DUI traffic stop .
They found blood, maggots and handwritten notes about mutilating bodies in his truck and he then led them to the bodies in rural Alabama .
It has now emerged in grand jury indictments that he strangled four of the children: Merah, eight, Elias, seven, Gabriel, two, and Elaine, one .
He also beat one of the children, six-year-old Nahtahn, to death .
Jones said he feared they would chop him up and feed him to dogs; social workers noted how the father was 'overwhelmed' looking after the kids . |
fc3f0c74bd4a1007127b060f4b1daa7461470b81 | By . Sarah Griffiths . PUBLISHED: . 21:41 EST, 28 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 21:41 EST, 28 August 2013 . The world’s largest ice sheet could be more vulnerable to the effects of climate change than previously thought, according to new research. British scientists used 50 years of declassified spy satellite imagery from 1963 to 2012 to create the first long-term record of changes of where glaciers meet the sea along 3,355 miles of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet’s coastline. The East Antarctic Ice Sheet holds the vast majority of the world’s ice - enough to raise global sea levels by more than 50 metres - and the researchers warned the ice could be affected by rising global temperatures. The world's largest ice sheet could be more vulnerable to the effects of climate change than previously thought, according to new research by Durham University . Using measurements from 175 glaciers, the researchers from the Geography Department of Durham University were able to show that the glaciers underwent rapid and synchronised periods of advance and retreat which coincided with cooling and warming. The team said this suggested that large parts of the ice sheet, which reaches thicknesses of more than two-and-a-half miles could be more susceptible to changes in air temperatures and sea-ice than was originally believed. Current scientific opinion suggests that glaciers in East Antarctica are at less risk from climate change than areas such as Greenland or West Antarctica due to its extremely cold temperatures, which can fall below minus 30C at the coast and much colder further inland. British scientists used 50 years of declassified spy satellite imagery (pictured) from 1963 to 2012 to create the first long-term record of changes of where glaciers meet the sea along 3,355 miles of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet's coastline . But in a study published in Nature journal, the Durham team said there was now an urgent need to understand the vulnerability of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. Dr Chris Stokes, of the university's geography department, said: 'We know that these large glaciers undergo cycles of advance and retreat that are triggered by large icebergs breaking off at the terminus, but this can happen independently from climate change. 'It was a big surprise therefore to see rapid and synchronous changes in advance and retreat, but it made perfect sense when we looked at the climate and sea-ice data.' He explained that when temperatures rose the sea-ice decreased and most glaciers retreated, while in cooler temperatures the sea-ice increased and the glaciers advanced. A satellite image from 2000 shows several major East Antarctic outlet glaciers flowing through the Southern Cross Mountains, Victoria Land, and out across the Ross Sea. These glaciers are located in the coldest part of the study region and did not exhibit any clear trends in advance or retreat, unlike those along the much warmer western Pacific coast . 'In many ways, these measurements of terminus change are like canaries in a mine - they don’t give us all the information we would like, but they are worth taking notice of,' said Dr Stokes. The researchers found that despite large fluctuations in terminus positions between glaciers - linked to their size - three significant patterns emerged. They discovered in the 1970s and ‘80s, temperatures were rising and most glaciers retreated but during the 1990s, temperatures decreased and most glaciers advanced. The 2000s saw temperatures increase and then decrease, leading to a more even mix of retreat and advance, according to the research. Here, Valley glacier in the Transantarctic Mountains enters the Ross Ice Shelf. Using measurements from 175 glaciers, the researchers were able to show that the glaciers underwent rapid and synchronised periods of advance and retreat which coincided with cooling and warming . Trends in temperature and glacier change were statistically significant along the East Antarctic Ice Sheet’s warmer Pacific Coast, but no significant changes were found along the much cooler Ross Sea Coast, which might be expected if climate is driving the changes, the Durham researchers said. Dr Stokes said: 'If the climate is going to warm in the future, our study shows that large parts of the margins of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet are vulnerable to the kinds of changes that are worrying us in Greenland and West Antarctica - acceleration, thinning and retreat. 'When temperatures warm in the air or ocean, glaciers respond by retreating and this can have knock-on effects further inland, where more and more ice is drawn-down towards the coast. 'We need to monitor their behaviour more closely and maybe reassess our rather conservative predictions of future ice sheet dynamics in East Antarctica.' Ice Shelf and tabular iceberg formation in Princess Elizabeth Land, Antarctica. The Durham team said there was now an urgent need to understand the vulnerability of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet . | British scientists used satellite imagery to create the first long-term record of changes of where glaciers meet the sea on the East Antarctic Ice Sheet .
Durham University researchers used measurements from 175 glaciers to show they advanced and retreated to coincide with cooling and warming .
They warned parts of the ice sheet could be more susceptible to changes in air .
temperatures and sea-ice than was originally believed . |
fc40cf120af04e88bfee7cc4be972e97b6e88c7f | Most Britons have ‘lost any real connection with the land’ and many are ‘increasingly suspicious’ about farming, Prince Charles has warned. While people still treasured the countryside, he said, they should not take it for granted or benefits such as landscapes and local food could be lost. In a foreword for Country Life magazine to mark his 66th birthday this week, the prince wrote: ‘Unlike in most parts of the continent of Europe, many people in the UK are now four or more generations removed from anyone who actually worked on the land – and it frequently shows in their attitudes. The Prince of Wales, who says that many Britons have lost any real connection with the land'. He was pictured last night visiting an exhibition at Dulwich Picture Gallery in London . The Prince urged people to value and protect the countryside or risk losing its landscapes and local foods forever . ‘They have only a vague understanding of what farming is or does; and – as outsiders looking in – they are increasingly suspicious of it.’ On a more positive note, however, he maintained that people still treasured the countryside and urged them to value and protect it or risk losing its landscapes, farmers, village pubs and local foods forever. The prince wrote: ‘One of the things that strikes me most forcibly is the extent to which the majority of the population has lost any real connection with the land.' Charles also warned that if people continue to take the countryside for granted the nation risks losing an irreplaceable part of its landscape, community and economy. Charles also warned that if people continue to to take the countryside for granted, it would affect the economy . He added: ‘The rich, natural tapestry that is the countryside we value so highly does not just happen by itself. But that delicately woven tapestry is facing unprecedented challenges. ‘Start pulling out the threads and the rest unravels very rapidly indeed, and is very difficult to put back again - no farmers, no beautiful landscapes with hedgerows and stone walls; no thriving rural communities, no villages - or village pubs; no local markets, no distinctive local foods ... Somehow, we need to find a way to put a value on our countryside, with all its facets.’ And he once again highlighted the importance of farmers, insisting: ‘I simply cannot see a viable future for the countryside that does not have the farmer - and the family farmer is a vital element in this - as food producer, at the front and centre of the picture. The Prince makes the comments in a foreword he wrote for the new edition of Country Life magazine, which marks his 66th birthday . ‘It would not only be a folly to lose agricultural land, it would be equally foolish to use it in ways that are not environmentally sustainable in the long term.’ The prince is one of the few royals to personally put his money where his mouth is. His Prince’s Countryside Fund, which was established in 2010, has provided £4.4 million in grants to those who care for the countryside, helping more than 80,000 people and 140 communities. Mark Hedges, editor of Country Life, said: ‘We are delighted that the Prince agreed to mark his 66th birthday by writing a powerful leader on the importance of preserving the countryside and its way of life. ‘The Prince has a deep understanding and connection with every aspect of people working and living in rural Britain, from highlighting the hardship facing hill farmers who, last year, earned on average £8,000 to the 60,000 new entrants needed in the UK farming sector to secure its future, to the importance of preserving village schools, pubs and shops at the heart of country communities.’ A Defra spokesperson said last night said the department agreed with the future king. ‘Prince Charles is right that we need to value our countryside and protect it for generations to come,’ they said. ‘The rural economy is worth £210 billion and that’s why the government is improving the environment and providing better broadband so we can add to the almost 10,000 new countryside jobs we’ve already created. ‘Our £100 billion food and farming sector is a powerhouse of the economy, employing one in eight people.’ | Prince said people should not take the benefits of countryside for granted .
Said landscapes and local food could be lost if people don't care for land .
Says many Britons have 'lost a real connection with the countryside'
Made the remarks in a foreword for Country Life magazine to mark his 66th birthday . |
fc40d6503538383d192cb576d37f4e4d21d98701 | Port-Au-Prince, Haiti (CNN) -- Within a year that saw a massive earthquake, a spreading cholera epidemic and recurring signs of government instability, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere is gearing up for its latest battle: presidential elections. Nearly all of the 19 candidates have campaigned on similar platforms: fighting corruption, creating jobs and addressing a series of natural disasters that has left the Caribbean nation reeling and prompted many to urge for a postponement of Sunday's vote. Haiti, which has endured near constant health and environmental crises, is facing a growing cholera epidemic affecting nearly 70,000 people that many fear could further scare voters from the polls. The death toll stands at 1,603, the Ministry of Public Health and Population reported Friday. More than 29,000 people have been hospitalized, with a stunning 18.3 percent mortality rate in the country's cholera-affected northeast, it said. But Ken Merten, the United States ambassador to Haiti, said the election process was on track. He said 250,000 new voters were registered and more than 11,000 voting stations have been identified in the fifth presidential election since the fall of the Duvalier dictatorship and the first since the devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake in January. Among the candidates is perhaps Haiti's most flamboyant politician, Michel Martelly, who is perhaps better known by his street name: Sweet Micky. Martelly's penchant for dressing in drag and organizing raucous street parties in the Haitian capital has made him a popular choice among portions of the electorate. "Yes, I've been the bad boy," Martelly told CNN. "But the people of Haiti believe in that rebel status that I'm selling. You know, in able to fight the system, you must be strong, must be courageous." His style clashes sharply with that of a more soft-spoken front-runner and former first lady, Mirlande Manigat. The 70-year-old conservatively dressed Sorbonne Ph.D stands to be Haiti's first female president. Her husband, Leslie Manigat, was elected president in 1988 under the Assembly of Progressive National Democrats (RDNP) party but managed to hold on to the office only four months after his election. "It was a coup d'etat," Manigat told CNN. "A military coup against him. And we had to go again in exile for two years." Manigat ran again in 2006, losing to current outgoing President Rene Preval in a controversial election in which Preval failed to secure more than 50 percent of the vote, but managed to avoid a mandatory runoff. In a country accustomed to political upheaval, angry crowds in the Haitian capital last week tore down posters of Preval's hand-picked candidate, Jude Celestin, amid frustrations with the country's corrupt and often ineffective leadership. Celestin, whose well-funded campaign has occasionally featured airplanes dropping confetti, leads the largest bloc of politicians competing for seats in both houses of the Haitian parliament. But with no clear front-runner, elections could be forced into a runoff in January if no candidate gains more than 50 percent of the vote. Last week, days of violent protests brought Haiti's second-largest city, Cap-Haitien, to a standstill amid voter frustration about government corruption and the growing cholera outbreak. "There's a history of some violence [during Haitian elections]," International Crisis Group spokesman Bernice Robertson told CNN. "Some irregularities, some accusations of fraud, before, during and sometimes after the elections." Despite billions of dollars pledged by international donors, little has been done to clean up mountains of rubble or resettle the 1.3 million homeless people living in tents who have often suffered most from the spreading epidemic. Meanwhile, the Pan American Health Organization said it was planning to treat 400,000 cholera cases within the next year, up from a previous estimate of 270,000 over several years, as a result of the outbreak. "We need to plan for up to half of those cases occurring in the next three months because of the explosive nature of this epidemic," the organization's deputy director, Dr. Jon Kim Andrus, told reporters in Washington on Tuesday. "We need more of everything," he said. "More training for staff in Haiti, more doctors, more nurses, more treatment centers, more medications, more toilets, more clean water." Sunday's election could be among the most important in recent history, as incoming lawmakers will grapple with campaign promises meant to address the country's staggering range of problems. | 19 candidates have campaigned on similar platforms ahead of Sunday's elections .
Elections could face a runoff in January if no candidate gains more than 50 percent of the vote .
Haiti's cholera death toll stands at 1,603, the Ministry of Public Health and Population said .
Cholera epidemic affects nearly 70,000 people . |
fc410126888b9e7225a20bc43ee3055ab5213b7a | TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (CNN) -- The government of de facto Honduran President Roberto Micheletti is not ready to sign a proposed agreement to end the country's ongoing political crisis, Costa Rican Foreign Minister Bruno Stagno said in Honduras. Interim President Roberto Micheletti is reaching out to Costan Rican President Oscar Arias for a solution. His remarks came on Tuesday at the conclusion of a two-day visit by a delegation of the Organization of American States. "Although the commission concludes that progress was made during its visit, it must recognize that there still no disposition toward full acceptance of the San Jose Accord on the part of Mr. Micheletti or his supporters," Stagno said. The proposed San Jose Accord aims to resolve nearly two months of political turmoil that Honduras has faced following the June 28 coup that ousted President Jose Manuel Zelaya. The delegation, which consisted of seven foreign ministers and included the participation of OAS Secretary-General Jose Miguel Insulza, met with representatives of all branches of government, presidential candidates, the military, clergy, businessmen and representatives of various sectors of Honduran society. "The majority of the actors expressed their conformity with the foundations of the San Jose Accord, although many of them expressed concerns about the same," Stagno said. The biggest obstacles were two points in the proposed agreement: one calling for Zelaya's return to power, and another calling for a temporary political amnesty for both sides. The delegation also spoke with Zelaya supporters, including his wife, who said that the ousted president was willing to accept the San Jose Accord and abide by it immediately. Originally, Zelaya's negotiators had walked away from the proposal, offered by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, citing the intransigence of Micheletti's team. In support of the OAS delegation, the United States announced Tuesday that many visas for Hondurans would be suspended. The United Nations and the European Union have condemned the coup and have refused to recognize the provisional government led by former congressional leader Micheletti. Micheletti has insisted that Zelaya was not overthrown but instead was replaced through constitutional means. The Honduran political crisis stems from Zelaya's desire to hold a referendum that could have led to extending term limits by changing the constitution, even though the country's congress had outlawed the vote and the Honduran Supreme Court had ruled it illegal. | Proposed San Jose Accord aims to resolve nearly two months of political turmoil .
Delegation spoke with Zelaya supporters, representatives of Honduran government .
United States announces that many visas for Hondurans would be suspended .
Micheletti insists Zelaya was replaced through constitutional means, not overthrown . |
fc42375fb2ef2f92fbf319f3b6ad9ee4bd361c96 | By . William Turvill . PUBLISHED: . 10:33 EST, 4 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:50 EST, 4 October 2013 . Guilty: Giedrius Zinkevicius battered his friend, who objected to be told he had bad body odour, to death . A man was battered to death by his friend after he objected to being told he had bad body odour. Labourer Giedrius Zinkevicius, 38, attacked 41 year-old Egidijus Cepulionis after the victim became incensed when told he should take a shower. Zinkevicius inflicted at least 54 different injuries in the frenzied attack and is facing life in prison. The Old Bailey heard how he punched and kicked the victim, stamping on his head as he lay on the ground. He attacked the fellow Lithuanian in the hallway of his flat in Hackney, East London, after a night downing vodka with his girlfriend, Kristina. When Kristina told Mr Cepulionis he smelled and suggested he take a shower, a furious row erupted, the Old Bailey heard. Zinkevicius showed no emotion in the dock as a jury of eight women and four men unanimously found him guilty of murder. Judge Wendy Joseph QC adjourned sentencing until next Friday. She told him: ‘It is proscribed by law that the sentence is life imprisonment.’ Zinkevicius was convicted in February 2011 for affray after stamping on a homeless man at the Whitechapel Mission. He also admitted assault in July the same year for an attack - with Mr Cepulionis - on two men while out together in Central London. The court heard Zinkevicius moved to the UK to find a job but ended up living on the streets in 2008 because of his drink problem. He tried to cut down his boozing after moving in with Kristina in September last year, finding work alongside Mr Cepulionis on a construction site. However, after a heavy drinking session on January 18 this year, Zinkevicius attacked his friend and beat him to death. The Old Bailey heard Zinkevicius moved to the UK to find a job but ended up living on the streets in 2008 because of his drink problem . He claimed after the shower jibe he had stepped in to defend his girlfriend who Mr Cepulionis was shaking ‘like a teddy bear’. Zinkevicius also claimed that the fight started when Mr Cepulionis punched him in the head. But the jury rejected his denials, hearing blood splatters in the hallway proved Mr Cepulionis was lying on the ground when he was hit. Zinkevicius, of Pembury Close, Hackney, East London, denied murder. He was remanded in custody until sentencing on Friday, October 11. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Labourer Giedrius Zinkevicius, 38, attacked 41 year-old Egidijus Cepulionis .
The victim had 54 injuries and had objected to being told to take a shower .
Zinkevicius had been up drinking vodka with his girlfriend before the attack . |
fc424fe4992aa293d543d7a779f2b508c56301e0 | Rio's favelas are a notorious part of the city’s history, a vibrant but often troubled part of modern Brazil. I was guided around one last week and even though this particular favela, Santa Marta, is known as a place where the people’s worst troubles are behind them, it was a humbling and shocking experience. At the heart of it there is a football pitch for kids, fenced like a cage, where young people can play in safety. But you can see bullet holes in the walls of the adjoining shanty homes. Doing it by the book: Rio Ferdinand with a weighty tome (left) and talks to children in the favela (right) Humbling and shocking experience: Ferdinand visited the Santa Marta favela in Rio . My guide, a local guy named Edu, said that at the depths of the drug feuds that infested this community, rival gangs would decapitate each other and kick the severed heads around. One bloke who follows me on social media joked that I’d be fine in a favela because I grew up in Peckham. I pointed out as nicely as possible that we have it cushy in Britain. The grinding poverty and social extremes in Rio’s poorest districts is something else. Around 1.4 million people live in about 750 favelas in Rio alone. With drugs and the attendant gun culture, murder is commonplace. Santa Marta was one of the earliest cases of a favela being ‘pacified’, with a concerted effort by the authorities and local community to tackle gang culture. Doing what he does best: Ferdinand coaches children in the favela and (right) poses with one young lad . The police and community work in harmony. You can play football in the alleys, and I did have a kickabout while there. I met extraordinary people, including a guy who cleans the streets for a living and begs in his ‘spare’ time to raise money that he donates to a local scheme that provides football facilities for kids. People like that are the glue that binds communities together. | Ferdinand visited the Santa Marta favela in Rio .
It was a humbling and shocking experience .
At the heart of favela is a fenced-off football pitch for kids .
Ferdinand played against some children in a match . |
fc42604e9a16da471df2c17ec44a090e5086a317 | As new information continues to pour in about Wednesday's tragic shooting in Canada, gunman Michael Zehaf-Bibeau's reasons for killing a solider and opening fire on Parliament still remain very much unclear. A 2011 court statement from Zehaf-Bibeau could shed some light on the attacker's past - and perhaps his motivations - as it was revealed today he had recently applied for a passport and planned to travel to Syria after undergoing a 'radicalization process'. Zehaf-Bibeau fatally shot Corporal Nathan Cirillo at a national war memorial in the capital Ottawa on Wednesday before racing through the parliament building where he was shot dead near where Prime Minister Stephen Harper was meeting with lawmakers. It has emerged that, three years ago, he begged prosecutors to put him in jail to help him beat his drug addiction. Scroll down for video . Troubled man: Michael Zehaf-Bibeau (above in a high school yearbook photo) fought an addiction to drugs over the past decade, one he thought he could overcome with jail time . No proof: While may said Zehaf-Bibeau had terrorist ties following his shooting spree in Ottawa Wednesday, Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird currently says there is 'no evidence' of this . Zehaf-Bibeau walked into a Royal Mounted Canadian Police station on December 15, 2011, and asked to be put in jail for an armed robbery he committed ten years prior. 'I went to see the RCMP, I told them, 'just put me in so I could do my time for what I confessed,'' said Zehaf-Bibeau, in audio tapes obtained by CBC. 'They couldn't. So, I warned them, 'if you can't keep me in, I'm going to do something right now just to be put in.' So I went to do another robbery just so I could come to jail.' That robbery happened just hours later, when he went into a McDonald's with nothing but a sharpened stick and demanded all the money in the cash register. Police who arrested him on the scene said he seemed 'happy.' He then told the judge at his hearing, which happened after the incident at McDonald's but was for a likely parole violation stemming from a different robbery charge that occurred in Quebec and for which he had already served two years, 'I'm a crack addict and at the same time I'm a religious person, so I want to sacrifice freedom and good things for a year maybe, so when I come out, I'll appreciate the things of life more and be clean.' He added, 'The reason I am here is because I wanted to come in. The police said they couldn't keep me, so I went to do a crime to come to jail. So if you release me what's going to happen again? Probably the same loop and I'm going to be right back here again.' Vancouver home: Zehaf-Bibeau was staying at The Beacon (above), a homeless shelter, while living in Vancouver . Ottawa home: He was last staying at the Ottawa Mission (above), a shelter in Ottawa . Oddly enough, the prosecutor said Zehaf-Bibeau had already served his time and should not be allowed to go to prison, but the judge agreed to put him away, initially just over the holidays, and he stayed there, it appears, until his hearing in February 2012 involving the incident at McDonald's. At the time, Zehaf-Bibeau thanked the judge, and said, 'Perfect.' In the McDonald's case however, they could only charge Zehaf-Bibeau with uttering threats and, having already served 66 days in prison since December, he received just one additional day. The judge said to him, 'Good luck sir.' It comes as police revealed he had recently applied for a passport, planning to travel to Syria after undergoing a 'radicalization process.' Zehaf-Bibeau, 32, was a Canadian who may also have held Libyan citizenship, said Bob Paulson, commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). He said the suspect had no apparent links to another Canadian who killed a soldier in Quebec earlier in the week. 'We need to investigate and understand his radicalization process. He is an interesting individual in that he had a very well-developed criminality,' Paulson said. 'There is no one path or one formula to radicalization.' He had recently applied for a passport and had arrived in Ottawa on Oct. 2 to try to speed that process, but checks by the RCMP did not turn up any evidence of national security-related criminality despite criminal records indicating infractions related to drugs, violence and other criminal activities, Paulson said. In mourning: The Canadian flag flew at half-mast today in memory of Wednesday's tragedy . Meanwhile, Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird has said there is 'no evidence' linking Zehaf-Bibeau to a wider group, or network, of jihadists. What there is plenty of evidence of however, after multiple interviews with people who knew the 32-year-old shooter, is his struggle with drugs, and his desperate desire to kick his addictions. Abdel Kareem Abubakir, who became close with Muslim convert Zehaf-Bibeau as a result of their shared faith when they both lived at the same shelter, the Ottawa Mission, told the Globe and Mail, 'For two weeks he was communicative, but then when he collapsed into drugs, he became isolated.' He added, 'His intention was to get passport and get home. He had to stay away from drugs.' Zehaf-Bibeau, as it has been reported, was unable to get his passport to travel to the Middle East. Another man, who wished to remain anonymous and lived with Zehaf-Bibeau at The Beacon, a shelter in Vancouver, British Columbia, said that he met him in 2012 as he was in detox 'fighting off an addiction to crack cocaine and heroin.' He said Zehaf-Bibeau relied on 'constant prayer' to fight off addictions. Sneaking off: It was also revealed he was asked to leave his mosque, Masjid al Salaam (above), for sleeping there without permission, not extremist views . It has also been revealed that the young man was not asked to leave his mosque, Masjid al Salaam, in Barnaby, British Columbia, because he had any extremist views, but rather because he had begun sleeping there without permission. 'At some point, when he got in trouble with the law, and he didn't have a place to go to, he started sleeping at the mosque without any authorization,' said Aasim Rashid, a member of the British Columbia Muslim Association. 'When the mosque administration found out it, they asked him to leave immediately and asked him never to do that again.' The young man apparently stole the keys despite these instructions, and soon the locks were changed and he was told to never return. Rashid said there were no signs of 'radicalized behavior,' and had there been, members of the mosque would have noticed immediately as they 'don't tolerate that kind of extremist mindset.' What this reasoning does not explain however, if true, is why the young man would choose to commit such a horrific act if all he desired was to be put in jail. | Canadian gunman Michael Zehaf-Bibeau asked the RCMP to put him in jail in 2011 for an armed robbery he claimed to have committed 10 years prior .
When they refused he said if they did not, he was going to do something 'just to get put in,' and hours later tried to rob a McDonald's .
He then appeared in court a few days later, for a hearing on a previous robbery in Quebec, and begged the judge to put him away so he could 'overcome his crack addiction'
The prosecutor in the case said he should not go away, but he managed to spend 66 days in prison after pleading with the judge .
This comes as Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird says there is currently 'no evidence' of any terrorist ties in the shooting .
It is also now being reported he was asked to leave his mosque for sleeping there without permission, not for having extreme views .
Police reveal he had applied for passport and planned to go to Syria . |
fc42ac6f67df85fa710f312a01c0338f745e4473 | (CNN) -- The ongoing labor dispute between the professional basketball players' union and the league ratcheted up a notch Tuesday as the NBA said it filed a lawsuit against the players. The NBA also announced Tuesday that it has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board along with the lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in New York. These moves have one NBA expert saying the labor struggle is putting the start of the NBA season in danger. "This is just one more log on the fire that is threatening to consume the whole NBA season," said David Aldridge, a reporter for NBA TV. "I am not optimistic that season will start on time." Both actions are reactions to recent threats by the players' union that were hampering negotiations, the NBA said in a statement. "These claims were filed in an effort to eliminate the use of impermissible pressure tactics by the union which are impeding the parties' ability to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement," said NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Adam Silver. The NBA began a lockout of its players in early July. NBA Commissioner David Stern has argued that the last season was not profitable for most of the league's 30 owners and there was a need for some cost-cutting help from players. The league lost as much as $300 million in the 2010-11 season, Stern has said. One of the battles has been around the owners not agreeing to the players union's call for an average $7 million player salary in the sixth year of a new labor deal. The current salary average is about $5 million. Aldridge said other big issues are a fight over whether the NBA will strengthen its salary cap and a move by the owners to get a bigger share of revenues. The last work stoppage occurred in 1998. | The NBA has also filed an unfair labor charge with the National Labor Relations Board .
NBA official says claims are meant to "eliminate the use of impermissible pressure tactics"
NBA expert "not optimistic that season will start on time"
The NBA began a lockout of its players in early July . |
fc42ee510fab82c46414c5554d4d3aff42f4682b | Mohammad Nazri Abdul Aziz, Minister of Tourism and Culture, said the government will not put 'any more money' into the troubled airline . The Malaysian tourism minister has said the government will not inject any more money into the state-owned Malaysian Airlines after the MH370 disaster. The ailing national carrier has suffered a slump in bookings and £750 million losses following the disappearance of the flight two months ago and is undergoing 'restructuring'. Mohammad Nazri Abdul Aziz, Minister of Tourism and Culture, said the government will not put 'any more money' into the troubled airline. Malaysia Airlines - which is owned by the government through a holding company - had already suffered $1.3billion losses over the past three years as it faced stiff competition and unprofitable routes, Gulf News reports. Mr Aziz said that the government is now unsure what it can do - but he added: 'To inject new capital is certainly not an option.' It now looks unlikely that the government will sell the national carrier to private investor after the share price dropped both under the restructuring plans and the flight MH370 disaster. Aziz - speaking at the Arabian Travel Market to plug the tourism industry in Malaysia - also revealed that there has been a 30 per cent in drop off in tourism numbers from . China in the past two months. Most of those onboard the missing flight were from China. Experts . have narrowed the area where the plane is presumed to have crashed to a . large arc of the Indian Ocean about 1,600 km (1,000 miles) northwest of . the city of Perth in western Australia. The . aircraft could have flown for up to seven hours after it went missing, . meaning that even if the cockpit recorder is found, its standard . two-hour recording loop would not cover conversations during the crucial . early stages of the flight. It comes after an international panel of experts announced they are to re-examine all of the data gathered in the hunt for the missing flight to ensure search crews have been looking . in the right place. Government . officials from Australia, China and Malaysia yesterday pledged not to give . up searching for the aircraft that disappeared almost two months ago. They . met in the Australian capital to discuss the next step in the search . for the missing flight, which will centre around an expanded patch of . seafloor in a remote area of the Indian Ocean off Western Australia. A Malaysian Airlines aircraft takes off from Kuala Lumpur Airport: Questions have been raised after the airline refused to reveal details of 2.3 tonnes of cargo aboard missing jet MH370 that was not listed on its manifest . A map shows the possible path of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 as released by the Malaysian Transport Ministry last week . The area became the focus of the hunt . after a team of analysts calculated the plane's likeliest flight path . based on satellite and radar data. Starting . Wednesday, that data will be re-analyzed and combined with all . information gathered so far in the search, which has not turned up a . single piece of debris despite crews scouring more than 4.6 million . square kilometers (1.8 million square miles) of ocean. 'We've . got to this stage of the process where it's very sensible to go back . and have a look at all of the data that has been gathered, all of the . analysis that has been done and make sure there's no flaws in it, the . assumptions are right, the analysis is right and the deductions and . conclusions are right,' Angus Houston, head of the search operation, . told reporters in Canberra. Investigators . have been stymied by a lack of hard data since the plane vanished on . March 8 during a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. A weeklong search . for surface debris was called off last week after officials determined . any wreckage that may have been floating has likely sunk. 'Unfortunately, . all of that effort has found nothing,' Australian Transport Minister . Warren Truss said. 'We've been confident on the basis of the information . provided that the search area was the right one, but in practice, that . confidence has not been converted into us discovering any trace of the . aircraft.' Houston has warned the underwater search is likely to continue for up to a year. European safety officials have today put forward tougher rules for 'black box' flight recorders in the . strongest regulatory reaction yet to the disappearance of Malaysia . Airlines flight MH370. The . European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said it would propose increasing . the recording time on cockpit voice recorders to 20 hours from two to . make it easier to understand plane accidents and prevent vital evidence . being overwritten. Newly . published proposals would also bring into force recommendations made by . French crash investigators after the loss of an Air France jet in the . Atlantic in 2009, but which remain bogged down in talks among . regulators. These include . the addition of a new pinger frequency making it easier to locate the . recording devices under water, where lower frequencies travel further. The proposals appeared in an opinion published by EASA on Tuesday. They have been submitted to the European Union's executive Commission which will use them as the basis for a change in law. 'The . proposed changes are expected to increase safety by facilitating the . recovery of information by safety investigation authorities,' EASA . Executive Director Patrick Ky said in a statement. EASA . also brought forward to 2018 a deadline for extending the battery life . on black box emergency locator beacons to 90 days from 30. All . passenger aircraft have two flight recorders - one for voice and one . for data. Each is equipped with a beacon designed to start emitting . signals as soon as it enters water. The . extended battery life is so far the only recommendation from the three . year-investigation into the Air France disaster to have won full support . at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a U.N. agency . that coordinates safety standards. ICAO . agreed to back the battery life change from 2018 but EASA originally . gave European operators another year until 2019. (Editing by Laurence . Frost and Jason Neely) | Malaysia Airlines had already suffered $1.3bn losses and was 'restructuring'
Mohammad Nazri Abdul Aziz said government will not give 'any more money' |
fc431d44eea69439c1fdaab4146ef9b0a620ee92 | A new year dawns and with it there is new hope for Liverpool. Nothing extraordinary yet, nothing on a par with that remarkable run in last season’s Premier League title race. But hope all the same that the problems of the last six months are being left behind as the door closes on 2014. The green shoots of recovery were clearly evident in the win over Swansea at Anfield on Monday night. It was Liverpool’s biggest win of the season, but the manner of victory is what will please Brendan Rodgers most; a return to the high-energy, high-intensity, performances of last season when his team seemed capable of sweeping aside all before them. There was enough to suggest that even without Daniel Sturridge, Steven Gerrard and, of course, Luis Suarez, Liverpool are capable of getting back to those sort of levels using the players Rodgers signed in the summer. Liverpool celebrate their fourth goal against Swansea on Monday night as they ease to victory . Adam Lallana was excellent, producing his best performance in a Liverpool shirt to date by scoring twice. Lukasz Fabianski will not want to see the first of those two again, but the way Lallana closed down the Swansea goalkeeper’s clearance is exactly what Rodgers wants to see from his players. ‘That was what was missing from our way of working for the first period of the season,’ said the Liverpool boss. ‘We are a team that plays with a big pressure. We have got technically gifted players in the team, but that ability to press the ball allows them to create chances at the far end of the field. We ask the players to go and press and he got his reward.’ Alongside Lallana and Raheem Sterling in attack, Philippe Coutinho was imperious, looking every inch a Brazilian No 10. Jordan Henderson and Lucas were everywhere in midfield, Alberto Moreno’s constant incursions down the left flank were rewarded with his first Anfield goal, and Emre Can fitted seamlessly into a back three. Brazil playmaker Philippe Coutinho was back to his best on Monday night . England midfielder Adam Lallana scored twice as he put in arguably his best performance in a Liverpool shirt . Some of the changes might have been brought on by circumstance and necessity towards the back end of a busy Christmas programme, but Rodgers insisted that signs of a return to the high intensity displays of last season were even there in the depressing 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford earlier this month. ‘If you look at how we played against Manchester United, we conceded poor goals, but the creativity started that day,’ said the Northern Irishman. ‘We looked at a shape and system that could get us back to how we played last year. We didn’t quite get that result but I saw enough. ‘We moved on to Bournemouth and played really well. Arsenal we deserved more again, and the performance was better. We had to show a different side against Burnley but on Monday night we came out and had the intensity and work-rate to get a reward. Our creativity was very much there, but a solid base was behind it and that is key for us. ‘The last two or three weeks the performance level has been much more what we were over the course of the last 18 months. A lot of work, a lot of hours go in to find a tactical idea to get back to that. When you have the players that want to press the ball and work as hard as we did, and have the quality to back that up, then you can be a really hard team to play against.’ Brendan Rodgers gives Raheem Sterling a pat on the cheek after substituting the youngster . It would be wrong to think that everything has suddenly turned rosy for Rodgers. Elsewhere on Monday night, there were reminders of issues that still need to be resolved. On the substitutes bench, for instance, Mario Balotelli sat alongside Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini. Ideally, Liverpool would like to offload two of them in the January transfer window but only Borini is likely to go if a £6million buyer can be found. It speaks volumes that Rodgers was happy to leave out his three conventional strikers while once again asking Sterling to play out of position and lead the line. The wisdom of signing forwards like Lambert and Balotelli for a team designed to play a pressing game seems as curious now as it did five months ago. The goalkeeping situation clearly needs addressing as well. Simon Mignolet looks like a goalkeeper who knows he is only back in the team because of an injury to Brad Jones, and Mamadou Sakho’s header in the build-up to Swansea’s goal was a reminder that Rodgers is still short of top-class defenders. Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet still looks short on confidence despite being recalled . No-one is getting carried away just yet although Lallana, for one, believes Liverpool are finally heading in the right direction. ‘Expectation levels were raised after last season and maybe that all came as a bit of a shock to some of the new players,’ said the £25m signing from Southampton. ‘But we’ve settled in now and we’re just gelling that little bit more as a team. ‘We believe we’ve turned the corner in the last few weeks. In no way are we there yet – there’s still a lot of hard work to do.’ The Kop faithful will be hoping there's plenty more to cheer about in 2015 . | Liverpool beat Swansea 4-1 at Anfield on Monday night .
Brendan Rodgers' side are eighth in the Premier League and have been knocked out of the Champions League .
But signs are promising for 2015 on the evidence of Monday night . |
fc43675b36733aeef67e5fad6cc1a12854d3721c | Monaco has become a byword for expensive transfers and world-class players once again in recent years with James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao passing through the club and restoring some of the lustre of the Glenn Hoddle and Mark Hateley years. The glamour associated with AS Monaco had faded considerably when Russian owner Dmitry Rybolovlev took over in 2011, when the club were languishing in the French second division. But having finished second to Paris Saint-Germain last season, Rybolovlev has scaled back investments, selling James to Real Madrid and loaning Falcao to Manchester United as the club attempt to establish themselves on an even keel. Radamel Falcao was released by Monaco with Manchester United paying his £285,000-a-week wages . After shining in the World Cup, James Rodriguez joined Real Madrid for £63m last summer . Promotion under Claudio Ranieri in 2013 and an outlay of £140million, which also included the likes of Joao Moutinho, brought its own problem, with some French league sides complaining that Monaco’s tax arrangements — foreign players such as Dimitar Berbatov pay almost no income tax — constituted an unfair advantage. Eventually, Monaco paid £37.5m as a one-off payment to the French League to preserve their unique identity. ‘The idea was to put Monaco back on the map of French football and European football as soon as possible,’ says vice-president, Vadim Vasilyev. ‘I think we did that. I think people recognise that we’re good as we attract attention to the French league.’ Monaco’s win at Nice on Friday leaves them in fourth place. ‘Our ambition is to win the title in the next few years and stay in the top three and be an important actor of the European stage,’ said Vasilyev. ‘We can’t be in the top 10 but we can be an important player.’ Glenn Hoddle (left) and Mark Hateley (right) flank Vadim Vasilyev on their visit to Monaco . | Monaco finished second to PSG last season but let talents such as Radamel Falcao and James Rodriguez depart .
The club spent £140m in 2013 following relegation and vice-president Vadim Vasilyev is thinking big .
'Our ambition is to win the title in the next few years and stay in the top three and be an important actor of the European stage,' said Vasilyev . |
fc439cfab82d3f3ce469215e10ecc2a99c4655eb | England No 8 Ben Morgan is set to see a specialist next week in the latest phase of his recovery from a broken leg. Morgan underwent surgery after suffering the injury during Gloucester's Aviva Premiership victory over Saracens last Friday. He is now destined to miss England's entire RBS 6 Nations campaign, which starts against Wales in Cardiff on February 6. Ben Morgan (centre) is tackled during Gloucester's game against Saracens in January . The Gloucester star is taken off on a stretcher after suffering a broken leg . But the World Cup on English soil later this year will remain a target for a player who shone for England during this season's autumn campaign. 'Surgery went well and was successful, and we will look at getting him in to see the specialist next Tuesday, so we will have a better idea then,' Gloucester rugby director David Humphreys said on Thursday. 'But, so far, the reports have been encouraging. 'The mental part is probably harder than the physical part. We all know that, in the game we play, one of the inevitable consequences for any player is that he will be injured. Although Morgan has been ruled out of the Six Nations, he is hopeful of returning for the World Cup . Morgan screams after scoring a try for England against Australia at Twickenham in November 2013 . 'I am sure it will be difficult for him to sit at home and watch the Six Nations, but he has a huge goal in front of him, which is the World Cup and preparing himself to be fit for that. 'I am not sure of the detail of the operation, and I think, at this stage, he has been given the best opportunity to get back fit as soon as possible.' England head coach Stuart Lancaster will name his squad ahead of the Six Nations next Wednesday, with Saracens No 8 Billy Vunipola favourite to start against Wales. Billy Vunipola is expected to be named in Stuart Lancaster's next England squad . | Ben Morgan set to see a specialist after surgery on broken leg .
England No 8 has been ruled out of the RBS Six Nations tournament .
Gloucester star still hopes to return for the World Cup on home soil . |
fc43e8f66efb72eacaaeca5b59df9edc5405310c | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 6:30 PM on 6th July 2011 . A pregnant mother-of-four has been thrown out of her home after her children, aged just six and seven, terrorised terrified neighbours. Single mother Tania Wall, 38, did nothing as her boys, who are six and seven, made residents' lives hell for 18 months. Now a court has ordered the family to leave their terraced council house in Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire for three months. More than 90 complaints were made to council bosses while over 70 were filed to police as the children's mother struggled to cope. Picture posed by models . Initially granted for a period of . three months, the order means that no-one can enter the property, except . council and Trust officers. An application can be made to extend the order after three months if there is evidence that it is needed. Ms Wall has also been served with a . long-term Injunction, preventing her from continuing with the . anti-social behaviour, or allowing her family to do the same. The two tearaways - who are under the age of criminal responsibility - used golf clubs to hit stones, swore and screamed at people and were left playing outside on scaffolding into the early hours. The two boys attacked a gas meter with an axe in one incident while their father gave neighbours a cut-throat gesture in another. There were dozens of reports of the brothers using hand gestures to swear and mimic guns. More than 90 complaints were made to council bosses while over 70 were filed to police as their mother struggled to cope. One neighbour, Maciej Kolodziejczyk, said he and his wife were stressed out every day as a result of the non-stop nuisance and trouble. The Polish immigrant said Mrs Wall, who is expecting her fifth child, and her children had even stopped them starting a family. Welwyn Hatfield Council took Wall to court in a bid to get her out of her council house in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, and it boarded up for three months. PC Jennifer Edwards told JPs her two sons would have been arrested for racist abuse, criminal damage and harassment if they had been old enough. The police officer said: 'They were still playing out at 11.30pm, their behaviour at that time of night was quite shocking due to their age. 'They aren't at all supervised, they treat the area of Linkfield as an extension of their own home and as a playground.' She added: 'The whole family needs a police officer 24/7. 'I have been unable to carry out any other duties for the Hollybush area, I've neglected my responsibilities there.' PC Edwards said frightened neighbours could have reported even more incidents but they feared reprisals. Mr Kolodziejczyk said his wife and young child were verbally abused and had missiles hurled at them by the two youngest boys, aged just six and seven. He told magistrates he had sold his Polish house and bought a new home in Welwyn. Mr Kolodziejczyk said: 'It was a beautiful area and for a few months, this was the best months of our lives. But everything changed.' The married father said stones and food were thrown into his garden and screaming and shouting went on after midnight. He said their friends' cars had been scratched from one end to the other and shocked relatives were too scared to visit them. Mr Kolodziejczyk said the Walls even branded him a paedophile after he filmed one of the boys sticking his middle finger up at him while walking out of school. 'I could see him from about 20 metres away and he was already showing the finger.' he said. 'His mother said he never did it, so I recorded it to show he did it. 'We want to have another child, but I can't have my wife in this stress when she is pregnant. 'You can't enjoy your life in a situation like this - every day we are stressed.' Bethan Charney, representing Wall, said the mother, who is six months pregnant, disputed much of the evidence against her children. She said: 'This is a single woman, struggling to cope with boisterous children. 'She believes she has had racist abuse and discrimination - moving this problem on is not in the best interest of her young children.' But Central Hertfordshire magistrates in St Albans backed the council and ordered the Wall family out of their home for three months. A spokesman for Welwyn Hatfield Council said: 'A Welwyn Garden City woman whose family’s behaviour has caused local residents misery, has had her house closed down. 'Tania Wall of Linkfield has been the subject of ongoing complaints since moving to the area 18 months ago. 'In a move to protect other residents in the neighbourhood, Welwyn Hatfield Community Housing Trust – in partnership with Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and the police – made a successful application to St Albans Magistrates Court for a Premises Closure Order on Thursday 30 June 2011.' Chief Executive of the Housing Trust, John Briggs said: 'Action like this is a last resort, but where an individual or a family is causing a persistent problem we must act to help those affected.' | More than 90 complaints were made to local council .
Tania Wall and her children have been evicted for three months .
She has been slapped with a long-term injunction preventing her and her family from being anti-social . |
fc43eb88a4f3033224f940a10809b6b301c1b43f | London (CNN) -- Ancient Egyptian mummies kept in storage for half a century have gone on display in new state-of-the-art galleries at the Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology at the University of Oxford. Painted wooden sarcophagi decorated with charms, and carefully wrapped and embalmed bodies are now on view in climate-controlled cases following twelve months of painstaking conservation work, alongside a rich array of artifacts from the Nile Valley. They include the almost 3,000-year-old coffin of a High Priest named Iahtefnakt, which was carefully conserved over nine months before its unveiling. But these fragile artifacts haven't just received cosmetic work. The mummy of a man named Djeddjehutyiuefankh, who is thought to have been buried in during the 25th dynasty (between 712 and 770 BC) underwent a CT scan at a nearby hospital in Oxford. The scan revealed amulets in the mouth cavity and stone coverings over the eyes -- and a nearly 3,000-year-old mystery. "It's intriguing, because his heart was gone and normally you'd expect the heart to be in situ," said Mark Norman, Head of Conservation at the museum. This is because Ancient Egyptians believed they would have to endure a ritual known as "the weighing of the heart" before a monster in the underworld known as the Devourer. If their hearts were pure, they could pass into the next life; if not, the heart would be eaten. The cause of Djeddjehutyiuefankh's death is unknown, but, said Norman, there was no sign of broken bones. In addition to the CT scan of the mummy, the conservation team also used infra-red imaging to see under-drawings beneath Roman-era paintings and used forensic techniques to detect the pigments and materials that ancient artisans would have used. These discoveries were a "buzz" for Norman and the team of conservators at the museum. "We get closer to the object than anyone since the object was made -- sometimes even closer, because we use microscopy and image enhancing," he said. "The role of conservation is changing and it's much more about material forensic science," said Norman. The Ashmolean Museum is one of the leading centers for the display and study of ancient Egypt and Nubia (modern-day Sudan). Its collection contains a number of artifacts excavated by the so-called "fathers" of modern archaeology, including Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie and Francis Llewellyn Griffith, who were working in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. It even includes items excavated in the 1600s. Highlights from the collection are being displayed in the museum's recently redeveloped galleries and include 5,000-year-old limestone statues, the Nubian Shrine of Taharqa -- the only complete freestanding Pharaonic building in Britain -- and Roman-era portraits of mummies. Liam McNamara, Assistant Keeper of the Ancient Egypt & Sudan collection at the Ashmolean, hopes the museum's redeveloped Ancient Egypt and Nubia galleries, which open to the public Saturday, will showcase the reality of ancient Egypt and help dispel some of the myths surrounding the ancient civilization. "The reality of ancient Egypt is equally as exciting as some of the bizarre myths that have been created around it and hopefully the new exhibits at the Ashmolean will inspire the next generation of Egyptologists," he said. | Ancient Egyptian mummies kept in storage for years are now on display at Oxford's Ashmolean Museum .
The mummies and artifacts received careful conservation work as part of the museum's redevelopment plan .
Exhibition highlights include CT scan of almost 3,000-year-old mummy and freestanding Pharaonic monument .
The museum's ancient Egyptian and Nubian collection is considered one of the strongest in the world . |
fc43ff7a110e48bc995cb03a4f7d8f7e57abdfa7 | By . Rachel Quigley . PUBLISHED: . 08:00 EST, 15 March 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 00:31 EST, 16 March 2012 . She thought she would have been spending tonight in his arms. But after a judge denied 'Manhattan Madam' Anna Gristina bail for the third time today, the only thing she could do was mouth the words 'I love you' to her husband Kelvin Gorr as she was led away in handcuffs. Instead of being with her family, the 44-year-old will spend tonight behind bars again after a judge told her she is still considered a 'flight risk'. Dressed all in black, her toyboy husband showed up in court to support his wife and was sitting in the public gallery as the judge denied her bail again. Third appearance: Anna Gristina, centre, with attorneys Gary Greenwald, left, and Elise Rucker, right, as she appears in State Supreme Court today to be denied bail . Standing by his woman: Kelvin Gorr, husband of Anna Gristina, who has been charged with promoting prostitution, shows up at the State Supreme Court in Manhattan today as his wife is denied bail again . Plain Jane: Her husband Kelvin Gorr took her new clothes to wear for her third court appearance but even in the black and white dress she looked far from the multimillion-dollar brothel madam she is alleged to be . The relationship between her and . former lawyer Peter Gleason was also questioned today as her new . criminal defense attorney Gary Greenwald took over the case. Gleason had offered his $2.5 million . loft for Anna Gristina's bond, saying his client doesn't have 'two . nickels to rub together' and also invited the 44-year-old and her family . to move in, with the 'madam' being placed under house arrest. Judge Juan Merchan, who is hearing the case, said he won't decide today on the unusual bail proposal. Gristina . intends to file a new application 'as soon as possible' to get out of . her isolation cell at the grim Riker's Island prison. It comes as prosecutors submitted court papers that highlight the 'murky' relationship between Gristina and Gleason. In . a seven-page brief, prosecutors question the lawyer's request to put up . his own $2.5 million Tribeca loft to secure Gristina’s release from . prison and his offer to put the family up in his home. Suspicions: The relationship between Peter Gleason and Anna Gristina is questioned by prosecutors as he announced today he is no longer representing her . According to the New York Daily News, . the Manhattan prosecutors wrote to the judge: 'The arrangement would . also be fraught with potential problems. For example, Mr Gleason might . find that the defendant and her family are unpleasant house guests and . want them to leave. 'He . may also learn facts as a result of sharing living space with the . defendant that prevent him from advancing certain arguments on her . behalf.' They . also noted that his public statements about his client so far 'paint a . murky picture of the nature of his relationship with the defendant'. 'Mr . Gleason also stated that he did not care whether the defendant was . guilty or innocent, a sentiment one might expect from a close friend, . but less so from one’s defense counsel,' the papers said. Gleason also said today he's no longer representing Gristina, but the housing offer still stands. Her new criminal defense lawyer is Gary . Greenwald - who represented mobster Vincent 'Chin' Gigante. Meanwhile, it has emerged that DNA . evidence from the Upper East Side 'brothel' may reveal the identities of . the wealthy and powerful clients who were entertained there by . high-class hookers. On the same day as police busted the . pig-lover while she was meeting with a Morgan Stanley banker - who has . since been put on leave - Manhattan DA investigators raided her 78th . Street apartment and removed several items, including toothbrushes and . hairbrushes, which are considered 'vital evidence'. 'They could potentially be used for DNA . testing, hair analysis to identify people who have been using that . location,' Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Roper told Judge Juan Merchan last . month as she asked him to sign off a search warrant, according to court documents obtained by The New York Post. New Representation: Attorney Gary Greenwald leaves State Supreme Court after representing Anna Gristina, following her previous lawyer Peter Gleason stepping down . Accused of providing pricey prostitutes for 15 years and touting ties to . law enforcement, Gristina has been held on $2million bond since her . February arraignment. Prosecutors have said her wealthy clients could . help her flee the country to protect themselves, and they suggest the British citizen may . have money hidden away for such purposes. The DNA evidence from the seized items may be used to identify some of New York's elite who frequented the brothel, which are said to include politicians, hedge funders, CEOs and even royalty. So far, Gristina has refused to give up . information about her wealthy clients to investigators despite hours of grilling and demands she identify suspects from a list. She told the Post how a revolving team . of investigators, each increasingly higher in rank, showed her a list of . about ten names and demanded she told them what they needed. The 44-year-old told the New York Post in an interview from Rikers Island prison: 'I'd rather bite my tongue off before I tell you anything.' She also insisted she had no hidden stash of money or had made millions of dollars from any prostitution empire, as has been alleged. New York: The DA's office raided the 'brothel at 304 East 78th Street on the day Gristina was arrested . Double life: The suburban home Gristina and . Kelvin Gorr live in with their son Nicholas and their pigs and dogs in . Monroe, upstate New York, was also raided the day she was arrested . Gleason said on Wednesday about his unusual proposal that he'd admired people who 'were defined as much as . by what they were willing to risk as by what they accomplished', and . he'd made the offer in that spirit. 'There are ethical concerns,' Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Charles Linehan told a court on Monday. State Supreme Court Justice Merchan said he didn't think there was . an ethics problem but wanted to explore the issue further. While not unheard-of, it's certainly unconventional for lawyers to post . bail for clients. Gristina, and co-defendant Jaynie Baker, 30, have pleaded not guilty . to promoting prostitution. Their lawyers have said they were working . together to start a business as matchmakers, not madams. Baker was released on Tuesday on $100,000 bond after turning herself in following three weeks on the run. She appeared in court looking chic and sophisticated to plead not guilty to the charge. Alleged accomplice: Jaynie Mae Baker, 30, . appeared in court on Tuesday with her attorney Robert Gottlieb, left, on a . single charge of promoting prostitution . Appearance: Jaynie Mae Baker, co-defendant of . accused 'Soccer Mom' Madam Anna Gristina, in handcuffs just before her . arraignment at New York State Court on Tuesday . Gristina's husband Kelvin Gorr made a visit to Rikers Island yesterday to bring his wife a new set of clothes for today's hearing, so she 'doesn't have to wear that herringbone jacket' she has been seen sporting at the last two court appearances. Meanwhile, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly . said on Wednesday that a police sergeant had been cleared of any . wrongdoing after internal-affairs investigators interviewed him in the . matter. Support: Husband Kelvin Gorr visited his wife at Rikers Island yesterday to bring her a change of clothes so she 'doesn't have to wear that herringbone jacket' again . Sgt Richard Wall had been ordered to turn over his work log for the . past five years after someone reported he had been to the Upper East . Side apartment building where prosecutors say Gristina arranged trysts. Kelly said Wall was assigned to the area and went to the building on . police work. Wall's lawyer had said the sergeant had nothing to do with . Gristina. | Anna Gristina will go back to Rikers Island prison .
Former attorney Peter Gleason offered up $2.5m loft as collateral .
Prosecutors question 'murky relationship' between them .
Defense lawyer Gary Greenwald now on the case . |
fc447c12c155928401e1d029d9152053bf2cb7e5 | By . Wills Robinson . PUBLISHED: . 08:19 EST, 19 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:21 EST, 19 September 2013 . A two-year-old boy who was found in a hot car last week has died in hospital two days after his father was arrested . Jordan Cartee was found last Thursday afternoon outside of his family's home in Anna, Texas, after his father left him in the vehicle. The child was found alive, but unresponsive, and was taken to Children's Medical Center in Dallas by air ambulance. On Sunday, the boy's condition worsened and he died on Monday night, according to NBC 5. Scroll down for video . Scene: Jordan Cartree was found in a car (pictured) outside his home in Anna, Texas . Suspect: Joshua Cartree, Jordan's father, was arrested on Friday and has been held in custody . The boy's father, Joshua Cartree, 32, was arrested in the hospital last week and charged with injury to a child. He has since been held in the Collin County jail but police have not indicated whether he will receive more serious charges as a result. Since Jordan was found, it revealed that the . family was recently the subject of an investigation by Child Protective . Services, after Jordan was spotted walking alone by his neighbour. However the investigation is said to have ended . last week after the family installed new locks at their home so . their child would be more secure. It is rumoured the inside of the car was 108 degrees when Jordan was found on Thursday but the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Officers has not yet released the two-year-old's cause of death. On Friday, the family said the boy had been put into a medically-induced coma to try and reduce swelling in his brain. House: Investigators found Jordan's toys scattered around the garden of Cartree's family home in Anna, Texas (pictured) Map: Jordan Cartree was found outside the property on Highway 121, north east of Dallas . Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Jordan Cartee was discovered last Thursday afternoon in Anna, Texas .
He was taken to Children's Medical Center in Dallas alive but unresponsive .
His condition worsened on Sunday and he died on Monday evening .
Joshua Cartree, the boy's father, was arrested at the hospital on Friday .
The family had recently been investigated by Child Protective Services . |
fc44bed22fbf1bca0fb68df78bcfd841f72e2797 | By . Kerry Mcdermott . PUBLISHED: . 13:40 EST, 8 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:49 EST, 8 January 2013 . A Barclays manager has been jailed for stealing thousands of pounds from an elderly millionaire's account in the hope the customer would not notice the money was missing. Shaikh Khan, who handled hundreds of Premier accounts for a London branch's wealthiest customers, stole £10,000 from Jack Mautner - described as 'particularly old and vulnerable' - who had over £1million in his Barclays account. After taking the money, the 26-year-old manager tampered with Mr Mautner's account details to ensure he was not sent a statement and alerted to the missing cash. Deceit: Barclays manager Shaikh Khan handled hundreds of Premier accounts for wealthy customers . Khan, who worked in a Barclays branch on Oxford Street, also stole a further £10,000 from another customer, Lilia Vasilieva, who did not regularly check her account. The Old Bailey heard the scam was masterminded by Khan's friend Farah Mahmood, 26, and that the majority of the stolen cash was channeled through accounts belonging to Ali Bashir, another schoolfriend, also 26. Khan, who had previous convictions for dishonesty, first accessed Ms Vasilieva's account using a colleague's ID on January 13 2011, and transferred £5,000 to Bashir's account. He recorded the transfer as a 'face to face' transaction. He transferred another £5,000 on January 26. Khan changed the address on the account so Ms Vasilieva did not receive her statements, the court heard. Prosecutor Tim Devlin told the court Khan and a colleague visited Mr Mautner's home on January 26 to discuss a legitimate transfer of £50,000. 'Perhaps realising that Mr Mautner was very old, he decided to target a particularly old and vulnerable member of society,' he said. 'He must have seen how much was in that account and decided to have some of it for himself and his friends.' The court heard Khan had lied on his CV in order to get his Barclays job. Web of fraud: The scam was masterminded by Farah Mahmood, left, while the stolen cash was channeled through accounts belonging to Ali Bashir, right, the court heard . A judge at the Old Bailey described the three friends' 'web of fraud' as an offence which 'strikes at the heart of the banking system and one in which wealthy, elderly and vulnerable customers were preyed upon'. Khan, of Manor Park, east London, Mahmood, of East Ham, and Bashir, of Ealing, west London, had all denied conspiracy to steal between January 10, 2011, and February 25 2011, but were convicted by a jury. Khan had claimed he was acting under duress after being threatened by Mahmood. Judge Kramer said: 'This was a deliberately dishonest and targeted fraud. 'You, Mahmood, were at the centre of a web of fraud, arranging it and giving instructions to the others as to where the money should go. 'I am satisfied that you, Khan, abused your managerial position at that bank. You selected two accounts and withdrew £20,000.' The judge said Khan knew one account was 'rarely checked', and that the other contained a seven figure sum meaning the missing money would be 'a drop in the ocean'. Bashir's rolr was to act as a 'conduit' through whose account £15,000 of the stolen money was channeled, the judge added. Khan and Mahmood were each jailed for 18 months. Bashir was given a 12 month prison sentence suspended for two years. | Barclays manager Shaikh Khan, 26, stole £20,000 from wealthy customers .
Court heard Khan lied on his CV to get his job at a Barclays branch on Oxford Street in London .
Targeted a 'vulnerable' millionaire and a wealthy woman who rarely checked her account .
Aided in scam by old friends Farah Mahmood and Ali Bashir, both 26 . |
fc45807dd7d802d48cb9beb2e036f975be12601a | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Adele Greenacre, now 36, was just 11 weeks old when her father Derek walked out of the family home in Sherwood, Nottinghamshire, and never returned. Now, after launching a Facebook campaign to find him, the devoted daughter has finally been reunited with her father - more than three decades later. Inspired by the no make-up selfie craze, Mrs Greenacre posted an old photo of her father on the social networking site, and 21,000 shares later, was contacted by a man living in Geneva who claimed to know her father. Back together: Adele Greenacre was finally reunited with her father Derek after spending 30 years apart . An hour later, he phoned again - this time with her father's mobile number to hand. Mrs Greenacre then called the number and, within moments, found herself speaking to her father for the first time in 30 years. 'A man had seen my Facebook post, which had been shared over 21,000 times, and Skyped me all the way from Geneva in Switzerland, to say he knew my dad,' beams Mrs Greenacre. 'They . had known each other because of The Passage homeless charity that . picked up my dad a few years ago and he, too, had been homeless. 'An hour later, he called back and gave me a number. I rang it and then there he was, on the end of the phone, my dad.' Derek was 33 when he walked out on Mrs Greenacre's mother Wendy Beever, now 63, and never returned. Campaign: Adele found her father after posting this photo accompanied by a plea on Facebook . Disappearance: Derek was 33 when he walked out on Adele and her mother and never returned . Forgiveness: Adele, who has three children of her own, says she isn't looking for answers . The . family believed he was going to work at a nearby leisure centre where . he was a manager but at 11am they received a call from his secretary . saying he hadn't arrived. They . spent the day searching and discovered his car parked in front of . Nottingham Station, and concluded that he had taken a train to . London. Nottinghamshire Police . also conducted extensive inquiries at the time but were unable to find . Derek - who never made contact with his friends or family again. Speaking . about the day he left, Ms Beever said: 'On that . morning he had to be in early for a staff meeting, so he got up to . leave. 'But he forgot his keys and when he came back to get them, I was changing Adele. There were no computers back then. We had to do everything by post or by telephone. It was very hard.' Despite her father's disappearance and refusal to contact her or her family, Mrs Greenacre says she is thrilled to have found him - and isn't looking for answers. 'When . I first got to his house, I was very thrown and very scared,' remembers Mrs Greenacre. 'I knew I couldn't . go and expect anything. But it worked out amazingly. 'We spent seven hours together and got on like a house on fire. It's been amazing, the best 24 hours of my life.' Mrs Greenacre, who has three children, Callum, 18, Oskar, nine, and Kazia, five, of her own, added: 'I wasn't looking for answers. Just knowing him was enough for me. 'I want to thank each and every person who read and shared my post online, as without all of you, I would never have found him. It is a fairy tale ending and I am just so happy.' | Adele Greenacre, 36 was separated from her father for more than 30 years .
Her father Derek, now 69, walked out when she was just 11 weeks old .
Adele found him after a Facebook post was shared more than 21,000 times .
Says she is thrilled to have found him and isn't looking for answers .
Mrs Greenacre lives in Nottingham and now has three children of her own . |
fc45f2eaadaafd8786ffc2c58ba015965fd5dbd9 | If food no longer smells appetising and perfume seems less pungent, you could be seriously ill. Men and women who have lost their sense of smell are almost six times more likely as others to die within the next five years, a study found. The inability to identify fish, rose, leather, orange, and peppermint – the five scents used in the experiment – could predict death within five years, scientists said. While the finding may seem odd, a poor sense of smell raises the odds of death more than established medical conditions including cancer. Scroll down for video . U.S. scientists have found men and women who lose their sense of smell are almost six times more likely as others to die within the next five years. File picture . The U.S. researchers said that while the dulling of the sense does not directly cause death, it provides ‘early warning that something has gone badly wrong’. They believe that a simple smell test could be used to identify pensioners most at risk of an early death. University of Chicago researcher Jayant Pinto said: ‘Of all the human senses, smell is the most undervalued and underappreciated – until it’s gone.’ But British experts urged people not to panic – and said that much more research is needed to confirm the link. In the first study of its kind, more than 3,000 men and women aged between 57 and 85 were put through a three-minute smell test. They were asked to sniff the scent given off by felt tip-pen like gadgets and given four possible answers. They did this five times. The fragrances used were, in order of increasing difficulty, peppermint, fish, orange, rose and leather. The inability to identify fish, rose, leather, orange, and peppermint – the five scents used in the experiment – could predict death within five years, scientists said . Most of the men and women got at least four of the five right, meaning they had a normal sense of smell. Almost 20 per cent only identified two or three of the smells – indicating a mild loss of the sense. Some 3.5 per cent got one or none right – and were judged to be ‘anosmic’ – or to have lost their sense of smell. Five years later, 430 of the men and women had died. Those who had failed the smell test were almost six times as likely to have died as those with a healthy sense of smell, the journal PLOS ONE reports. The finding could be partly explained by age, gender and socio-economic status. But, even when these were taken into account, someone without a sense of smell was more than three times as likely to have died. The US researchers said that while the dulling of the sense does not directly cause death, it provides ‘early warning that something has gone badly wrong’ Even a moderate loss of sense of smell raised the odds of an early death. What is more the link wasn’t simply due to those with poor sense of smell having lost their appetite, or drinking or smoking more, having cancer or heart problems or being generally frail. In fact, not being able to smell things provides a more accurate warning of an early death than cancer or heart failure. Only severe liver damage is more strongly linked to dying within five years. Dr Pinto said: ‘We think that loss of sense of smell is like the canary in the coal mine. ‘It doesn’t directly cause death, but it’s a harbinger, an early warning that something has gone badly wrong.’ One possibility is that the health of the olfactory nerve, which carries information on smell from the nose to the brain, is a sign of overall health. If it has become old, worn and unable to repair itself, the brain and body may be in the same position. Another possible explanation is that infections, poisons and pollutants that we breathe in damage our sense of smell before harming the brain and body. Dr Pinto said: ‘Pollution can affect heart, lung and brain disease, predisposing to early death.’ Dr Martha McClintock, the study’s senior author, said: ‘This evolutionary ancient special sense may signal a key mechanism that affects human longevity.’ Nirmal Kumar, a consultant head and neck surgeon, described the research as interesting – but questioned the reliability of the smell test used. He would give a patient 40 different fragrances, rather than just five, to establish if they have lost their ability to identify smells. Professor Kumar, honorary secretary of ENT UK, the British association for ear, nose and throat specialists, added that people who are starting to lose their sense of smell shouldn’t panic. However, they should seek medical help as previous studies have linked the loss with the early stage of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. | Those who lose smell six times likely as others to die within next five years .
A poor sense of smell raises the odds of death more than established medical conditions including cancer, say University of Chicago researchers .
But experts urged people not to panic – and said more research is needed . |
fc46a84d45d3dc853b289bf3668731d2f442b747 | (CNN) -- U.S. Senate nominee Alvin Greene, a political unknown who became the surprise winner of the South Carolina Democratic primary, was indicted Friday by a grand jury on obscenity charges. Greene was indicted on one felony count of "disseminating, procuring or promoting obscenity," according to the Richland County clerk of courts. He was also indicted on a misdemeanor count of "communicating an obscene message to another person without consent." Greene told CNN Senior Political Editor Mark Preston that his lawyer "is dealing" with the indictments. Following the announcement of Greene's indictment, South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Carol Fowler released a statement asking Greene to resign. "In June, I asked Mr. Greene to withdraw his candidacy because of the charges against him. Following today's indictments, I repeat that request," Fowler said. "It will be impossible for Mr. Greene to address his legal issues and run a statewide campaign. The indictment renews concerns that Mr. Greene cannot represent the values of the Democratic Party or South Carolina voters." Greene was charged by police in November with showing pornographic material to a female University of South Carolina student on a computer in the school's library. The alleged victim, according to university police, also said Greene asked if he could come to her room. The woman said the incident happened November 4. Greene's June 8 primary victory stunned politicians in South Carolina because they had never heard of him and saw no proof he had mounted any type of campaign. His Democratic opponent, Vic Rawl, tried to have the election overturned, saying there were voting machine irregularities, but the state party denied the request. The existence of the obscenity-related criminal charges didn't surface until after the primary win. State Democratic leaders called on Greene to step aside. He is believed to have little chance of running a serious campaign against incumbent Republican Sen. Jim DeMint. Greene has remained tight-lipped regarding the obscenity charges. "I'm innocent until proven guilty. ... I'm concentrating on my campaign issues: jobs, education and justice," he said in a recent interview. He refused to answer any more questions regarding the allegations. The obscenity issue is one of several controversies swirling around Greene's long shot candidacy. Observers have also questioned how the 32-year-old nominee, who is believed to have very little personal wealth, was able to afford the $10,440 filing fee required to get his name on the Democratic Senate primary ballot. South Carolina's top law enforcement agency said it determined that Greene used his own money to pay the fee, though the state attorney general's office said it did not receive a request from the agency to subpoena Greene's bank records. Greene's military record also has raised questions. Greene, according to records obtained by The Associated Press, was denied two promotions and made "mistakes as severe as uploading sensitive information improperly, and as basic as an overall inability to clearly express his thoughts and perform basic tasks." The records cover three years of Greene's service in the Air Force. Greene was discharged from the military in August 2009. Greene recently attracted attention to his candidacy by proposing to create jobs in South Carolina by making "toys of me, especially for the holidays. Little dolls. Like maybe action dolls. Me in an Army uniform, Air Force uniform, and me in my suit." CNN's Steve Brusk and Alan Silverleib contributed to this report . | Alvin Greene has been indicted on two obscenity charges .
Greene is the South Carolina Democratic Senate nominee .
Greene was charged in November with showing pornography to college student .
Greene tells CNN his lawyer "is dealing" with the indictment . |
fc46ae4552b40fe230654d6ecd2a48b9de50214f | (CNN) -- An advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday voted 19-10 to recommend placing tighter restrictions on hydrocodone, an ingredient found in popular prescription drugs including Vicodin, Norco and Lortab. If the panel's advice is adopted by FDA, it would put hydrocodone on par with prescription painkillers like oxycodone, morphine, and methadone -- drugs with high abuse potential that can lead to severe physical dependence. With its vote, the advisory panel is suggesting that hydrocodone be moved from its current classification as a Schedule III drug -- a drug with moderate abuse potential -- to a more restrictive Schedule II classification. Among a wide field of potent prescription painkillers -- which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says are fueling an epidemic of abuse in the United States -- hydrocodone may have been flying under the radar among doctors. "Most doctors are under the impression that Vicodin (whose main ingredient is hydrocodone) is less addictive than other prescription painkillers," said Dr. Andrew Kolodny, president of Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing. "When you wonder why your dentist gives you 40 hydrocodone for a toothache, or your knee doctor prescribes far more than he should, that's because they're under the impression that it's not addictive as Percocet. That's completely false." Concerns about generic painkillers increase . The panel's advice, if adopted by the FDA, would limit how much hydrocodone a patient could get between doctor visits. It would also limit refills -- Schedule III drugs can be refilled up to five times, while Schedule II drugs are not eligible for refills, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. But pain patient advocacy groups and pharmaceutical companies, among others, fear that reclassification will make it harder for patients to get medications they need. "The FDA advisory committee is considering a proposal that could make it harder for patients with legitimate health needs to obtain essential medications," according to a statement by the National Community Pharmacists Association, which represents pharmacy owners and employees. Hydrocodone is the most prescribed painkiller in the U.S.: 131 million prescriptions for hydrocodone were written in 2010, according to IMS Health, a health care information company. That number far outpaces the medical need for the drug, said Kolodny. "We've had a medical community that has been massively overprescribing the drug," said Kolodny. "There is very little difference between a hydrocodone molecule and a heroin molecule. We need doctors to prescribe much more cautiously." But it is up for question whether rescheduling hydrocodone will deter doctors from prescribing, or make it very difficult for patients to obtain it, said Dr. Stephen Anderson, an emergency-room physician in Auburn, Washington. "You'd like for providers who write prescriptions for it to think twice, you'd like people who use it to think twice," said Anderson, also a past president of the Washington chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians. "Unfortunately I think way too many providers don't draw that distinction very often." Prescription drug deaths: Two stories . And while Anderson does not wholly agree that reclassifying hydrocodone will necessarily change habits, he says that the move does underline a dire need to change the overall perception of painkillers. "Society's starting to open their eyes that there is a problem associated (with prescription painkillers)," said Anderson. "If you make a move like this...it's out there in the conversation about this epidemic, and that's a good thing." An FDA spokeswoman could not confirm when the FDA would act on the panel's recommendation. The DEA will make the ultimate decision on whether to reschedule the drug. | An advisory panel recommends that hydrocodone be more restricted .
Panel: hydrocodone, a Schedule III drug, should be under more restrictive Schedule II .
The FDA could limit how much hydrocodone a patient could get between doctor visits .
The FDA has not said when it would act on the recommendation . |
fc46da431a2c1c48d84175953fefbd4addfb6e98 | By . Ian Drury . PUBLISHED: . 19:00 EST, 3 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:04 EST, 4 February 2013 . Suspected of sickening crimes including murder, kidnapping and rape, these are the faces of the most wanted foreign criminals in the UK. The 16 fugitives have fled their own countries in a desperate bid to escape the law - and are now lying low in Britain. But Scotland Yard is determined to catch the high-risk offenders and has taken the unusual step of releasing their pictures in an attempt to bring them to justice. DRITAN REXHEPI, 32 (aka GRAMOS REXHAPAJ)CRIME: Murder and aggravated burglaryWANTED: Albania and BelgiumSuspected of shooting dead two men in 1999 and burglary in 2005. Links to London, Bedfordshire and Northants . EDVINAS JUDINSKAS, 19CRIME: MurderWANTED: LithuaniaIn gang suspected of beating man to death in 2008. Links to Woolwish, South London, Reading, Bury and Bolton . ION DRAGOMIR, 31CRIME: GBHWANTED: RomaniaAccused after fight in 2009. Links to Hackney and Edgware, both London . SERHAT ASLAN, 26CRIME: Robbery and kidnap. WANTED: TurkeyHunted of fatal stabbing of youth in 2004. Lived in Chingford Essex . Three of the on-the-run suspects are wanted for murder. The public are being urged not to approach the suspects who are considered dangerous. It is the third time the Metropolitan Police has run Operation Sunfire. The . aim is to trace and arrest the suspected criminals, haul them before . the courts and seek their extradition so they can face justice abroad. Publishing the fugitives’ photographs will increase the chance of them being spotted and caught. CONSTANTIN NICIU, 34 (aka CLAUDIN FAGAS)CRIME: Robbery and kidnapWANTED: RomaniaAccused of abducting two men. Links to Havering, East London . KRZYSZTOF PEDZIK, 25CRIME: RobberyWANTED: PolandFled sentence for robbery in 2006. Also wanted for burglaries in London. Links to North London . PAWEL JAKUB CHMIELORZ, 27CRIME: GBHWANTED: PolandFled jail term for six attacks 2006-9. Frequents Edmonton, London . HYSNI SOKOLAJ, 40CRIME: TraffickingWANTED: AlbaniaAccused of forcing woman into prostitution and smuggling her into UK. Links with London, Leicester . Extensive police inquiries have not yet found them. Detective Sergeant Peter Rance, . leading the operation for the Met Extradition Unit, said: ‘Do you . recognise these faces? Maybe you know where these people live, work or . socialise? ‘They are wanted . to face justice for a multitude of crimes in other countries and it is . in the UK’s interests to help find them.’ Police . believe it is as likely that the fugitives will be recognised from a . social networking site or chatroom, such as Facebook or Twitter, as . spotted walking down the street. LUKASZ WYRZYIEWICZ, 30CRIME: GBH, affrayWANTED: PolandSuspected of stabbing two brothers in 2009. Links to north and west London, and Glasgow . LASZLO NEMES, 52CRIME: GBH, affrayWANTED: HungaryAlleged to be involved in smuggling people across Serbian-Hungarian border. Known in east London . ROBERT GRYGORUK, 36CRIME: Gun possession, assault, supplying drugs, controlling prostitution and fraudWANTED: PolandAccused of 24 offences. Links to London . DARIUSZ FARFUS, 24CRIME: GBHWANTED: PolandFled sentence for brawl in 2007. Could be living in North London . Lord Ashcroft, the Tory peer who launched the Crimestoppers hotline, said: ‘People should have the right to live without the fear of crime and we are encouraging the public to call us completely anonymously if they recognise any of these individuals or have any information as to their whereabouts. ‘By working together and speaking up, we can all take steps towards making the UK safer.’ if you have any information, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. The photographs are also at www.crimestoppers-uk.org . VASILE VLADU, 30 (aka MARIUS CIONCA or GITMAN)CRIME: Attempted murder, trafficking and theftWANTED: Romania. Suspected of baseball bat attack in 2004. Wanted for trafficking women in 2004-5. Known in east London, Essex and Hertfordshire . KAROL KOCZMARA, 24 (aka MICHAL URA)CRIME: Kidnap, gun robberyWANTED: PolandAccused of offences in 2005-6. Links to north London . EVALDAS RABIKAUSKAS, 29CRIME: Kidnap, gun robberyWANTED: LithuaniaAccused of raping teenager in 2007. Links to London . KRZYSZTOF ZAKRZEWSKI, 38CRIME: RobberyWANTED: PolandAccused 1992. Links to east London . | Scotland Yard has released pictures in attempt to bring them to justice .
Publishing photos will increase chance of them being spotted and caught . |
fc4769a986a0a59b9668e436d8682a20e248c634 | By . Sarah Griffiths . PUBLISHED: . 12:09 EST, 22 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 13:38 EST, 22 January 2014 . An incredibly limber robo-ape that can clamber over obstacles, open doors and even drive a vehicle, has shown off its dexterity as part of a robotic challenge. U.S. scientists created RoboSimian to assist in dangerous situations from a nuclear meltdown to the aftermath of a bomb explosion so that humans no longer need to risk their lives in such perilous environments. However, in the meantime, the machine is competing in DARPA’s Robotics Challenge in Florida and has got through to the finals. Scroll down for video . U.S. scientists created RoboSimian (pictured) to assist in dangerous situations from a nuclear meltdown to the aftermath of a bomb explosion so that humans no longer need to put their lives at risks in perilous environments . RoboSimian has four dexterous arms that bend in many ways to support its weight, open doors and enable it to walk along like a spider. Two of its arms have three fingers to grip objects. The robot measures 5ft 5in (1.64m) when it . is standing up and weighs 238lb (108kg). It has 28 degrees-of freedom for . mobility and manipulation and folds into a relatively small volume. Humans . control the robot remotely using a normal computer monitor, keyboard and . mouse. The robot is designed to assist in dangerous situations such as nuclear meltdowns and the aftermath of bomb blasts. It . runs on batteries, which is useful in areas that have lost mains power. RoboSimian was built by Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Stanford University engineers with the intention of being stable and flexible, rather than fast. The robot has four dexterous arms that bend in an unusual way to support its weight, lift objects, open doors and allow the machine to walk along like a spider. It can bend them beneath itself to adopt a type of yogic pose. Two of the arms have three fingers to grip objects and open doors, which are essential skills in an emergency, as well as in the trials. To gain a place in the final, the robot battled 15 other teams to complete tasks including climbing ladders, clambering over obstacles, turning wheels and opening doors. Other more fiddly challenges include . removing debris, connecting a fire hose to a tap and breaking through a . wall, as well as driving an emergency vehicle, as it is envisioned these . robots could go to places too dangerous for humans. The incredibly limber robo-ape can clamber over obstacles like a spider (pictured), open doors and is designed to save lives, has shown off its dexterous skills as part of a robotic challenge . RoboSimian, which was created by engineers at Nasa’s Jet Propulsion laboratory (JPL) and Stanford University based in California, is controlled by humans from a distance. It is designed for stability, rather than rapid movement, which makes it more robust and reliable. The DARPA robotics challenge comprises eight tasks: Driving a vehicle, negotiating tricky terrain, climbing a ladder, moving debris, opening a door, knocking though a wall, turning a valve and connecting a hose . The robot has four dexterous arms that bend in an unusual way to support its weight, lift objects, open doors and allow the machine to walk along like a spider. It can bend them beneath itself to adopt a type of yogic pose (pictured) The robot measures 5ft 5in (1.64m) when it is standing up and weighs 238lb (108kg). It has 28 degrees-of freedom for mobility and manipulation and folds into a relatively small volume. It runs on batteries, which is useful in areas that have lost mains power. Humans controlling the robot use a normal computer monitor, keyboard and mouse, which the creators believe will make life easier in an emergency situation. The robot came fifth in DARPA’s competition - which was conceived following . the nuclear meltdown in Fukushima, Japan - and was beaten by robots that looked more human in appearance. Humans controlling the robot use a normal computer monitor, keyboard and mouse (top right), which the creators believe will make life easier in an emergency situation. Here, humans guide the robot through a series of doors, which it has to open . The robo-ape is competing in DARPA's Robotics Challenge in Florida and has got through to the finals by completing tasks such as removing debris from doorways (pictured) The highest scoring robot – with 27 points compared to Robosimian’s 14 – is called Schaft and was built by a team in Tokyo, Japan. The bipedal robot measures one-and-a-half metres tall and walks like a human and using its actuator, walking and stabilisation systems. The winning team will receive a $2million prize. Two of the arms have three fingers each to grip objects (pictured) and open doors, which are essential skills in an emergency, as well as in the trials . The robot came fifth in DARPA's competition and was beaten by robots that looked more human in appearance (pictured) | U.S. scientists created RoboSimian to .
assist in dangerous situations from a nuclear meltdown to the aftermath .
of a bomb explosion .
Robot is through to the finals of DARPA's Robotics Challenge in Florida, where it had to clamber over obstacles, remove debris and even drive a car .
RoboSimian was built by engineers at JPL and Stanford University and measures 1.64metres when it is standing on two legs and not crawling along . |
fc477133ffe17de8604802ae6efb1122f34ae24f | By . Tom Gardner . PUBLISHED: . 06:43 EST, 29 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:49 EST, 29 May 2012 . A mother says she feels like a monster after a bungled £4,000 dental procedure left her totally toothless. Gabriela Andrews, 48, now has just a few jagged bones for teeth and faces a bill for more than £15,000 to repair her smile. But she has been left powerless to get compensation for the botched treatment because the private dentist who gave her dental implants in Cornwall in January 2010 has since moved to Poland and been struck off. Devastation: Gabriella Andrews says her confidence has been destroyed since a dentist left her looking 'like a monster' following botched operation to dental implants . She said: ‘I have been left looking like a monster. I’m embarrassed when I talk. ‘I feel like people are staring at me. My confidence has been affected, my speech has been affected, I can’t eat solid food and nobody does you justice. ‘To be left like this, you can’t believe it can happen in this country. There’s nothing I can do. I have a mortgage to pay and bills. I cannot afford to fix this. I don’t want other people to fall in to this situation.’ The work had been undertaken by self-employed dentist Piotr Tadeusz Reichel. Dr Reichel’s licence to practise has been suspended by the General Dental Council ‘for protection of the public and in the public interest’ - in relation to care of several patients. Gabriela, from Keysham, Devon, said: ‘I went back to the clinic but they said the dentist is self-employed and it’s his responsibility, his insurance will pay. Anger: A legal loophole has left the mother of one unable to get compensation to help meet the £15,000 bill to repair her damaged teeth . ‘Then you go backwards and forwards, investigating and investigating.’ A letter from Gabriela’s lawyers last year stated they are unable to pursue her case due to Dr Reichel’s indemnity status. It stated that although Dr Reichel had insurance at the time of the treatment ‘the policy was not adequate to cover claims made after the relevant insurance period had expired’. They said she would have to enforce any judgement against him in Poland, which was unlikely to be successful. The mother of one from Plymouth, Devon, claims dozens of other people may also be victims of this legal loophole. Gabriela, who works as an area manager for a holiday home cleaning company, has been fighting for two years for the money to put things right. She is among campaigners calling for immediate change to laws which can leave patients powerless if dentists have no insurance, move abroad or refuse to contact their insurers. Gabriela opted for private treatment because she thought it would be the cheapest option after spending years saving the £4,125 needed for dental implants. Fight: Gabriela is calling for immediate change to laws to help patients get compensation if dentists have no insurance, move abroad or refuse to contact their insurers . She had previously had her upper teeth removed due to chronic root-canal infections because of an underlying health condition. A denture in her lower jaw was also failing. She had the dental implants - four metal rods in her upper gum. A bridge of teeth was to be attached at a later date. The procedure failed and Gabriela also lost her lower denture. Gabriela is backing national campaign ‘Bridge the Gap’, launched by the Dental Law Partnership, which calls for changes in the law. She has approached MP Oliver Colvile who has written to Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley about the issue. Mr Colvile, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said: ‘I’m horrified by what has happened to Gabriela and am very supportive of her case. ‘We have got to try and close this legal loophole because people rightly expect when they go to a dentist, to be treated properly.’ Gabriela’s work was carried out at the Tamar Valley Dental Clinic in Kelly Bray near Callington. Darren Gardiner, of Tamar Valley Dental Clinic, said Dr Reichel was self-employed and money would have to come through his insurers. He said: ‘We are sympathetic towards her plight and emphasise the real need for a change in law in this country regarding indemnity insurance.’ He said since Dr Reichel returned to Poland in May 2010 he has not replied to contact from the clinic, his indemnity insurers, the Dental Defence Union, DDU, or the General Dental Council, GDC. He said the clinic is absolutely disgusted with the indemnity insurer’s stance and believe the GDC should apply more pressure. A GDC spokeswoman said that Dr Reichel has been struck off the GDC’s register so he cannot work legally in the UK. A misconduct hearing found ‘wide-ranging failings of Mr Reichel’s practice including the planning and execution of treatment, aftercare, a failure to obtain informed consent and failings in the manner in which he has dealt with complaints and enquiries as to his indemnity cover’. The spokeswoman said: ‘While we are sympathetic to the situation Gabriela finds herself in, it is important to note that we do not have the powers to award compensation - that is a matter for the courts - nor do we have powers to make insurance providers co-operate with solicitors.’ A DDU spokesperson said they were unable to comment about individual cases or the issue in general. The Department of Health has said it aims to have a consultation on indemnity cover for all health professionals in the autumn, and it is likely that legislation will be amended. | Gabriela Andrews, 48, was left with a few jagged bones for teeth after bungled dental implant operation .
Legal loophole prevents mother of one from forcing Polish dentist to pay compensation .
Piotr Tadeusz Reichel has fled to home country and had his licence to practise suspended for public safety . |
fc477ff783eaef75bdf97686bf9cf458d4237a1b | The world can be a scary place for a seal pup less than 72 hours old. But even in the bitter, windswept bleakness of a Scottish beach, a helping hand is never far away. Sealed with a kiss, a young grey seal is seen nurturing her newborn baby through the first few days of its life. Scroll down for video . The young grey seal gives her baby a reassuring pat on the head as they contend with the elements on a windswept Scottish beach . The pair lean in close as the newborn, who is just days old, looks to his mother for reassurance . The seals nuzzle up together, with the mother never being more than a few inches away during this critical time . With a reassuring pat on the head and a nose to nuzzle up to, she will never be more than a few inches away during this critical time. Indeed the pup is so young that its fur still has a yellow tinge from the fluid of its mother’s womb. The scene was repeated all over an undisclosed location on the east coast of Scotland, which wildlife photographer Anna Henly discovered when she came across a 50-strong colony that had come ashore to bear their young. The seals were pictured together in a undisclosed location on the east coast of Scotland by wildlife photographer Anna Henly . The young seal is so young that it still has a yellow tinge to its coat due to the fluid of its mother's womb . Those first moments are crucial for mother and offspring – from the moment it is born, she licks the pup, calls to it, pets it and protects it. Around 40 per cent of the world’s grey seals breed around Britain, with numbers increasing by about 7 per cent a year. A grey seal will spend most of its life – which can be up to 40 years long – at sea. Yet they are often seen close to shore, and there are dozens of areas around Britain where seals regularly congregate to rest, moult or breed. Unlike whales or dolphins, they give birth on land. Around 40 per cent of the world's grey seals breed around Britain, with numbers increasing by seven per cent . The pup can count on the protection of its mother in its first few days before it goes splashing around in the water independently . Although some breeding grounds may appear inhospitable, that waterproof coat and a thick layer of blubber protects the seals from cold and wet. And the more inaccessible the sites are, the less likely they are to be disturbed by humans. For the meantime, this pup can count on the protection and support of its mother before it goes splashing around independently in the water. But the bond will soon be broken. In a few weeks, when it loses its cuddly white coat, the pup will be abandoned by its mother and sent off to fend for itself. After a few weeks, the seal pup will be abandoned by its mother, pictured, and it will have to fend for itself . | Two seals were pictured together on a beach on the east coast of Scotland .
Young grey seal is seen nurturing her newborn in its first few days .
Gives the baby a reassuring pat on the head and a kiss on the lips .
Images were captured by wildlife photographer Anna Henly .
Seal were on a 50-strong colony where they had come ashore to bear young . |
fc47ad911fa8fdd709f0105fb260fad8f08b993c | (CNN) -- As power couples go, they have the sparkle to supersede even Posh and Becks. He's a decorated soccer star with a World Cup title to his name; she has sold over 70 million albums worldwide. No wonder then, that Gerard Pique and partner Shakira were included in Forbes' 2013 list of the world's most powerful pairings, with David and Victoria Beckham nowhere to be seen. "Maybe it seems like it's really difficult to manage everything but we are trying to do it as naturally as we can," Pique told CNN's Human to Hero series. Read this story in Spanish . "It's true that maybe sometimes we have to deal with some paparazzi but then I think we are now four years together -- you have to accept it and deal with it and it's no problem." As a stalwart in defense for Spanish giants Barcelona, Pique can count three European Champions League crowns among his total of 19 domestic trophies, as well as the 2010 World Cup and 2012 European Championship with Spain. Shakira had a No. 1 hit single in 55 countries with "Hips Don't Lie," is a judge on U.S. talent show "The Voice" and garnered 595 million YouTube views (and counting) for her 2010 World Cup song "Waka Waka." It was during shooting for the video that the two met; four years later they now have a son, Milan, and count as one of the most internationally recognized couples on the planet. So how do they try to maintain a normal life in the midst of all the attention? "We don't do very different things than the others," Pique explains. "We are like a normal family and we try to spend a lot of time with our son and before that, just to be a good couple -- going to the cinema, going to have dinner. " Pique is no stranger to scrutiny, though. Playing for one of the world's biggest football clubs means every pass, tackle or movement is magnified and examined in minute detail by a menagerie of pundits and supporters. That intensity of spotlight can easily manifest itself into pressure, and also fear of failure -- even though that word is barely part of Barcelona's recent lexicon. But if ever the 26-year-old required a reminder that losing is not the end of the world, he only needs to look into his young son's eyes. "It changed everything," Pique says of Milan's arrival in January last year. "You can see that he is new in this world and he doesn't have negative connections -- he's all about laughing, smiling, being happy. It's so funny; I enjoy a lot playing with him. "We lost 3-0 against Bayern Munich in the semifinals of the Champions League last season and I was really worried and really sad because it was a bad game and then I arrived home, saw Milan and everything changed. "It's great because he's just 12 months now and it's unbelievable, he is starting to walk and we are enjoying this time a lot." Pique insists there will be no obligation for his son to support Barca -- even though he was enrolled as a member upon birth -- but it seems inconceivable the inextricable link between the club and his family will ever be lost. Four generations of the Pique clan have been Barca members and Gerard's grandfather, Amador Bernabeu, served as a club director for 23 years. Pique was infused with a love for the team at an early age, recently telling the club's magazine he sings Barca's anthem every night before he goes to bed, explaining that it is "the only song I know all the way through." So what exactly does Barca represent for him? "It means a lot," he replies. "It feels like I'm at home when I'm here in Camp Nou (Barcelona's stadium). "For me since I was five or six, I came here with my family to watch every game every weekend and it means a lot to me now to be a first-team player because it was my dream since I was a kid. "I'm enjoying every moment, every year I'm here, and it's good because in the last few years we won a lot of titles and I think we are having a really good moment." 'More than a club' Barcelona certainly lives up to its "more than a club" motto which is rooted in its pride of the Catalonia region it inhabits. The club's axiom allies the promotion of the area's language and culture alongside good causes (the players still bear the name of worldwide charity UNICEF on their shirts). Their fans even staged a pro-independence protest in October 2012 during one of the biggest games in world football -- "El Clasico" against Real Madrid -- by singing the Catalan national anthem mid-match. Credited with an estimated 270 million fans worldwide, Barca is a global advert for Catalonia. "I think for Catalonia, FC Barcelona means a lot because it is one of the top clubs in the world and that means that it's a way to show what Catalonia is in the world," Pique says. "Because sometimes, we are really small and Barcelona is an instrument to show to the world that we are good at a lot of things. One thing is to play football really, really well so for the Catalonian people, the team is really important. "Not only the soccer team because we have basketball, handball and a lot of sports. I think the Catalonian people really identify with Barcelona -- the fans are really proud of the team and the club." The magic of Messi . If Barcelona is a symbol of pride for Catalonia, then so is its prized possession -- Lionel Messi. The Argentina striker was crowned FIFA World Player of the Year four times in a row -- that run was ended by Real's Cristiano Ronaldo this week -- and is feted as one of the greatest footballers the game has ever produced. He moved to Spain to join the famed La Masia academy aged 11, alongside Pique, and has spearheaded Barca's assault on all the glittering prizes club football has to offer. The team has claimed 16 trophies since the start of the 2008 season, when Pique returned after a four-year spell at Manchester United in England, and Messi's mountain of goals during that time have played an instrumental part in their success. And Pique says it is a privilege to play with the 26-year-old, who netted an incredible 91 times in 2012. "I was at the Golden Boot (awards) when he won and it was just amazing what he did," he says. "It doesn't matter now if he's injured and there's some people that are saying maybe now he's not the best, but for me he always will be the best. "He made all these fans in Barcelona enjoy a lot, playing such a great football and he made us win a lot -- the Champions League, the league. "We understand each other just with a look one to the other. People like Lionel Messi or Cesc Fabregas, it's been like half of my life playing with them since we were 12 or 13 so we know each other a lot. "When we are on the pitch, we know what he will do, what Leo will do because we've known each other for a long, long time." Move to Manchester . For a spell early in Pique's career though, it looked like his Barcelona dream wouldn't be realized. He moved to join Manchester United in 2004, spending four years under the tutelage of Alex Ferguson, one of the most decorated managers in the history of the game. Pique credits his time in England as a steep learning curve, adapting to new methods on the field, and a new language and culture off it. "I went there as a kid and I think I came back here in Barcelona as a man," he says of the time he spent under Ferguson, whose 26 years at United were littered with trophies. World Cup dream . With Barca top of the Spanish league and having made it to the quarterfinals of the Champions League, another silverware-laden club season awaits. But looming large on the horizon is the World Cup in Brazil, where Spain can become only the third team in history to defend the title. "My goal is to try to win it again," Pique says. "I think our careers are not very long. You can play 12 or 15, maybe 20 years if you are a good professional and you are lucky with the injuries -- you have to try to win anything you can. "There are some really good players that didn't win anything in their careers, and we are really lucky to be part of a team like Barcelona and a team like the national team of Spain." Even if Pique's career was to conclude tomorrow, he could still look back on a litany of fond memories and several years of almost unparalleled success. And it is almost certainly his deep bond with Barcelona will persist long after he hands up his boots. "Now I'm 26 and I hope I can play here for I don't know six, seven, eight years more but you never know what will happen in the future. "Maybe as a coach; I cannot see myself now being a coach but maybe as a president, you never know." | Gerard Pique plays football for Spanish giants FC Barcelona .
Pique's partner is pop star Shakira, and they have a young son, Milan .
The 26-year-old says the couple try to maintain a normal life amid the attention .
Pique has won 19 domestic trophies and lifted the World Cup with Spain in 2010 . |
fc4808958d8e41993d4cf81c4c267eceb4952d8d | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 06:31 EST, 5 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:17 EST, 5 June 2013 . If the lady in your life is closing in on the age of 31, you may not want to make too much of a fuss of the following. According to a survey, it seems that women start adopting the same attitudes and tastes as their mothers when they are 31 – the same age as the Duchess of Cambridge. The key turning point which sees daughters become more like their mothers is the birth of their first child. Will the Duchess of Cambridge, pictured left yesterday at the Coronation celebration, begin morphing into Carold Middleton, right, now that she is 31 years old and expecting her first child? Beyonce, right and her Tina Knowles, left, have always had a close relationship, and the singer's fashion designer mother came to prominence as the costume designer for her daughter's first pop group, Destiny's Child . The early 30s are also typically the . time at which a woman gets married and starts to adjust to family life . and the need to pay a mortgage. More than half of the 1,000 women . surveyed by online gambling firm Dotty Bingo said they stopped rebelling . against their mothers in their early 30s and started mimicking them . instead. Only 5 per cent of women said they turned into their mothers in their 20s. By far the most popular age for the change was 31. The Duchess celebrated her 31st birthday in January and her first baby is due in July. She plans to live with her 58-year-old mother Carole Middleton at the family home in Berkshire following the birth. The poll’s conclusions chimed with . official statistics. Figures assembled by the Office for National . Statistics show the average age at which a woman has a baby has now . climbed to 29.7, and the typical age at which a woman marries is 30. Some 51 per cent of those in the study . named their mother as the most inspirational woman in their lives. Sisters came second with 18 per cent, grandmothers gained 10 per cent . and best friends were fourth with 8 per cent. More than a third of those polled said giving birth was the most obvious trigger for women turning into their mothers. 30-35 - 52% . 35-40 - 26% . 40-50 - 10% . Over 50 - 7% . 20-30 - 5% . Around a quarter said enjoying the same TV shows or soaps was a telltale sign. Other popular indicators included . taking up the same hobbies, using the same sayings and even being . attracted to the same type of men. Dotty Bingo's Craig Perrott said: 'Virtually all women turn into their mothers at some point in their lives and that is something to be celebrated. 'Our mums are the most wonderful people in our lives. It is interesting that the Duchess Cambridge has reached 31 - the age when most people think women turn into their mothers. 'Kate has just about the most glamorous mum in the world in Carole Middleton - and Carole will soon be the most glamorous granny.' | Duchess of Cambridge and Beyonce are both 31 years old .
Over 50% of women say mother is most inspirational person in their lives .
Indicators you are becoming your mother are giving birth and liking same TV .
Also enjoying similar hobbies and being attracted to same type of man . |
fc485b099c2a7bb1c74e5e09e0d98b2e475ab15e | By . Reuters Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 10:18 EST, 26 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:18 EST, 26 March 2013 . NASA's Mars rover Curiosity yesterday resumed analysis of a sample of rock powder following a computer glitch that suspended operations for a week. Before the computer problem, results radioed back to Earth revealed that the rock, located near Curiosity's Gale Crater landing site, contains all the chemical ingredients necessary for microbial life, the over-arching goal of the planned two-year mission. Scientists are eager for additional information about the rock sample, which was drilled out from what appears to be a slab of bedrock in an area known as Yellowknife Bay. After back-to-back computer problems, the six-wheel Curiosity rover, seen in this self-portrait, has resumed its science experiments . Curiosity automatically suspended its work on March 17 when it detected a problem with a computer data file. The glitch occurred as the rover was recovering from an earlier, unrelated computer problem. The unplanned work hiatus ended over the weekend, NASA's deputy project manager Jim Erickson said. 'It's a slow recovery process, but we're back doing science,' Erickson said. Analysis of the rock powder will continue for about another week. Beginning April 4, radio communications between Earth and Mars will be blocked by the sun for a month, suspending most of the rover's science operations again. Driller thriller: Curiosity drilled a 2.5in-hole on February 8 to take its Martian planet sample - next to it is a shallower hole where the rover conducted its test drilling . A sample of powdered rock extracted by Curiosity, shown after the sample was transferred from the drill to the rover's scoop . When the planets re-align for communications after May 1, scientists plan to drill a second hole into the rock to verify the early results and look more closely for signs of organic carbon. The £2billion rover landed on Mars on August 6 to assess if the planet most like Earth has or ever had the chemical ingredients and environments for microbial life. Scientists eventually plan to drive the rover to a 3-mile (5-km) high mound of what appears to be layered sediment rising from the floor of Gale Crater. | One of the rover's two onboard computers had become corrupted .
NASA had suspended operations, placing Curiosity in a 'safe mode' |
fc48d5b6810282499e63a0c52138bec39a46a8fc | By . Laura Pullman and Ted Thornhill . PUBLISHED: . 02:42 EST, 11 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:44 EST, 11 April 2012 . Our solar system may well have a twin - because it's thought a nearby solar system has nine planets. That's just one more than ours, which has eight, following the demotion of Pluto to dwarf-planet status in 2006. In a new report to be published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics, astronomer Mikko Tuomi re-analysed data taken of star HD 10180 with High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS), a high-precision camera mounted on a 3.6 meter telescope in Chile . Record beater: This animation shows an artist's impression of the remarkable planetary system around the Sun-like star HD 10180 . The star has been studied for years because at 130 light years away it is relatively close and therefore brighter and easier for astronomers to examine. Recent studies detected that the star, which is in the constellation of the water snake Hydrus, hosted six planets and observed a possible seventh planet. However, the latest research confirmed the existence of the seventh planet and found a further two planets orbiting the star. Extraordinary: New findings show that the sun-like star could have nine planets orbiting around it . The planets vary drastically in size and include one which is 65 times the Earth’s mass and one estimated to be only 1.4 times heavier than Earth - making it one of the smallest planets discovered outside our own solar system. The two newly discovered planets weigh in at 1.9 times and 5.1 times heavier than Earth, 'enabling the classification of them as super-Earths,' says the study. The new planets follow hot orbits, circling their star in under 10 days for the small one, and 68 days for the larger. Artist's impression: The oft-examined star is 130 light years away and in the constellation of Hydrus, the water snake . Competition: If the findings are proved HD10180's solar system will have more planets than ours since Pluto has been demoted to a dwarf planet . One of the new planets to be discovered and the seventh planet which was confirmed are particularly close to the sun-like star. The one with a mass of 1.3 times more than Earth is only 3 million km away from HD 10180, closer than mercury is to the sun, making its surface hot enough to melt zinc, tin and possibly even iron. The study explained that the star was a ‘very quiet one’ making it unlikely that the activity of the two new planets that they detected was caused by stellar phenomena. ‘Also, the periodicities we report, namely 9.66 and 67.6 days, do not coincide with any periodicities arising from the movement of the bodies in the Solar system. Therefore, we consider the interpretation of these two new signals of being of planetary origin to be the most credible explanation,' the study continued. Other solar systems generally have four or less planets orbiting a star. Watch video here . | HD 10180 lies just 130 light years away in the constellation of Hydrus . |
fc4901007f09195a99dc415e985f8b9409b3ebe0 | Last Saturday on the dot of her 11.15am appointment, a pretty young wife called Nela Molik went to see the doctor at a small surgery nestling in a parade of shops overlooking an enormous, noisy roundabout in West London. The 25-year-old was praying for good news: that her unborn child conceived five weeks ago is growing normally. Half an hour later, eyes shining with excitement, Nela emerged onto the pavement clutching a scan picture of the healthy baby which will be born next spring. It was a joyous moment for Nela and her 24-year-old husband, Lucasz. No trust in the NHS: Nela and Lucasz were happy with their Saturday morning scan . And all thanks to the surgery where last weekend, and every weekend, the doors were open wide for business. It’s open from 9am till 11pm six days a week — and from 9am till 6pm on Sundays. On Saturday, the gynaecologist at the My Medyk clinic in Hanger Lane treated 15 other patients as well as Nela, the last at 9pm. The previous Saturday, he was even busier when 20 women came to see him. Clinic Manager Radek Przypis in one of the three dental treatment rooms at the My Medyk Polish Clinic in Hanger Lane . As Nela, a private maternity nurse with impeccable English, who is settled in Britain, said as she proudly looked at the baby scan: ‘I think, personally, the NHS is rubbish. ‘They told me I could not have a scan until I had been pregnant for 12 weeks. ‘Three months is a long time to wait. Lucasz and I had a problem with a pregnancy in the past. I could not bear the worry of waiting to know if I was expecting again and all was well with this baby. ‘I am registered with a GP in North London where I live. But if you have an infection the doctors there hand out penicillin, which was on offer 30 years ago and has been replaced by more modern antibiotics. ‘Once, I went there and the GP looked at his computer and used the search engine Google to try to find out what was wrong with me. I do not trust the British state medical system.’ Among the English patients at My Medyk were Jannine Tasli, 25, a factory manager and her partner Scott Thomas, 32, an IT technician. They live in Northolt, West London, and heard of the surgery through a friend of a friend. Jannine is 25 weeks pregnant and the couple arrived just after 4pm for a scan of their unborn baby boy, due in three months. The couple had been worried because the pregnancy has been a difficult one. As Jannine explained, after the My Medyk scan showed her baby was thriving: ‘A mother is only allowed two scans on the NHS, at 12 and 21 weeks. ‘In our case, the first scan was delayed and it was at 14 weeks, which worried us. We wanted to have this one, at 25 weeks, to make sure all was well.’ Smiling and happy, she added: ‘During the scan I saw our baby boy put his fists up and wave his hands about. It is so exciting and such a relief for us.’ The My Medyk clinic offers a lifeline to patients forced to use over-burdened hospital casualty departments at weekends, evenings and night times because their GPs no longer work out of hours. It has another branch in Ealing, also in West London, and will soon open up in the east of the capital. Set up in 2008 by two Polish doctors, it has 6,000 Britons among the 30,000 patients on its books, all attracted by same-day GP and specialists’ appointments that last half an hour and cost £70 — far less than rival private medical services. There are family visit appointments: three patients including children for £190, ultrasound scans for £70, injections at £30 a time and stitches done by a surgeon for £45. The surgery’s motto is ‘put patients first’ and Radek Przypis, the manager, says the reason his doctors are so busy is that the NHS services are ‘so poor’. The facts are indeed dismal. Two thirds of NHS patients now have to wait 48 hours or more for a GP’s appointment and it is a rarity to find a local surgery open outside ordinary people’s working hours. As a crisis of cash, bad management — and even the threat of entire hospital closures — engulfs our once-proud state health service, the sick are turning to casualty departments in desperation, and in increasing numbers, finding them over-stretched with waiting times of four hours for one in every 18 patients. In a few alarming cases, the particularly vulnerable sick and old have died in ambulances waiting outside in queues. Mr Carmel Said, 63, (right) a sculpture and model maker for the theatre and TV and Julie Mess, 35, (left) a dancer working in the West End, who are both patients of My Medyk Clinic . A further problem for NHS patients is the waiting time to see a hospital specialist, because an appointment has to be authorised through a GP. The result? Some cancer sufferers don’t start treatment for two months after they first visit their doctor with suspected symptoms. This weekend the Labour Party claimed some life-saving checks in hospitals for cancer cases are also delayed because of increasing NHS chaos. No wonder, perhaps, that a new kind of private surgery offering quick appointments at a reasonable price is beginning to flourish. In central Manchester, the Green Surgery admits patients until 10pm seven days a week and will stay open until 3am if an emergency patient needs treatment. Kryzstof Zemlik, business development manager of the Green Surgery, also set up by Polish medics, said yesterday: ‘We offer appointments in a short time and they are a half an hour slot. If the examination takes longer, we let the appointment go on. The patient is the important thing to us. Now the English are coming to us too, as well as the Polish, Slovaks, Hungarians and Portuguese. ‘We are open every day of the year — the busiest are Saturday and Sunday when NHS GPs’ doors are closed. We have a lot of demand for gynaecology and dentistry. Gynecologist Grzegorz Pospiech talks about his medical practice in West London . State-of-the-art: Set up in 2008 by two Polish doctors, the clinic has 6,000 Britons among the 30,000 patients on its books . ‘We offer real quality and the cost is much less than many private medical clinics. We charge £60 for half an hour and if tests are needed we do them straight away.’ And back in London at My Medyk it is much the same story. I spent last Saturday talking to patients there. From early in the morning until the surgery closed, there was a stream of men and women, of all nationalities including English, Polish and Indian, arriving for appointments. Tomasz Ponk, a 32-year-old builder from Cricklewood, was at the clinic with earache soon after midday. ‘I got medication straight away when I saw the doctor,’ he told me as he left. ‘I feel completely confident with the treatment here and I am quite happy to pay because it is not too expensive.’ He first used the surgery a few years ago when he found a strange lump on his body that turned out to be a tumour — his life could have been in danger without swift treatment. ‘The surgery’s doctors acted very quickly. They sent me for a scan and the op was done at an NHS hospital, which I was very pleased with.’ Jannine Tasli, 25, a general manager and Scott Thomas, 32, an IT technician from Northolt at My Medyk . The My Medyk clinic offers a lifeline to patients forced to use over-burdened hospital casualty departments . Mr Ponk has an NHS surgery near his home. But he avoids it after a doctor prescribed antibiotics for his two-year-old daughter at dosage more suitable for an eight-year-old. ‘I was worried they would make her ill, not make her well,’ he said. Next through the door of My Medyk are some more Polish patients, Piotr, 37, a builder and Anna, 35, an accountant, from West Acton. They did not want to give their surnames because their family do not know that Anna is 12 weeks pregnant and has been worried about her symptoms. Anna turned to the surgery, ‘because the NHS casualty departments are so busy at weekends and to see a local doctor takes weeks’. Piotr adds: ‘We rang to see the gynaecologist here when Anna was concerned about the pregnancy. ‘We asked for an appointment today and got it immediately. Now the doctor has told us there is nothing wrong so we are relieved and happy.’ Yet another delighted customer. But that’s not surprising with the NHS in such deep trouble. One . particular attraction of My Medyk and the Green Surgery is that — . mimicking medical systems in Eastern Europe — a patient can book an . appointment directly with a specialist doctor without the often . grindingly slow process of being referred by a GP at an NHS surgery. Dr . Grzegorz Pospiech the busy 58-year-old gynaecologist who treated so . many patients on Saturday and who came to My Medyk in 2009 put it . simply: ‘We follow the Polish way here — the patient can go straight to . see a specialist without having to go through a GP or have lots of . appointments beforehand. It helps to stop a patient worrying and he gets . the right treatment fast.’ The surgery’s manager Radek Przypis added: ‘All patients want is to come to one surgery that they know and get treatment fast from a doctor that they trust.’ If only the beleaguered NHS could provide the same level of service — for all our sakes. | My Medyk clinic in West London is opened seven days a week .
Set up in 2008 by two Polish doctors, it has 6,000 Britons among the 30,000 patients on its books .
Same-day GP appointments last half an hour and cost £70 . |
fc494c4283ca78f5d497341c9b205c07f7c87a20 | By . Dan Bloom . PUBLISHED: . 18:27 EST, 15 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 18:27 EST, 15 January 2014 . Pubs and nightclubs routinely break a law which says they should refuse to serve people who are already drunk, research has claimed. Actors staggered to the bar at more than 70 pubs, bars and nightclubs in one northern English city and ordered a vodka and coke in a 'loud, slurred' voice. Some 84 per cent of the time they were served - with the success rate rising to 94 per cent on Friday nights and 96 per cent after midnight. Had a few too many? Just a sixth of actors pretending to be drunk were turned away by bar staff (stock photo) A study said the actors were often served even though bartenders recognised they were drunk - by remarking on it to colleagues or rolling their eyes. Campaigners say preventing sales of alcohol to already drunk people would protect long-term health and reduce the strain on the NHS. The study was carried out by a team at the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Violence Prevention at Liverpool John Moores University. Four student actors aged 20 to 22 - two male and two female - were recruited through auditions and taught how to act drunk. Their impersonation included slurred speech, being unsteady on their feet and having difficulty focusing and was tested on police. In each attempt to buy alcohol, one actor pretended to be drunk while a second actor took on the role of sober friend. Binge: Despite the actors staggering and slurring words, a fifth were asked if they wanted a double shot . The 'drunk' actor stumbled to the bar and used 'loud, slurred speech' to ask the price of a vodka and coke, before fumbling over their purse or wallet as they bought the drink. The attempts - made from Wednesday to Sunday evenings between 9pm and 3am - were successful at least 60 per cent of the time on every night. The hit rate was the lowest on Wednesdays when the actors were refused service two out of every five times. Before midnight, the actors would be served on average 78 per cent of the time, but this rose to 96 per cent after midnight. In almost one in five sales (18 per cent), bar staff even tried to sell the candidates more alcohol - by suggesting they 'double up' their vodka and coke. Overall, 73 randomly-selected pubs, bars and clubs were tested in an unnamed city in the north west of England. The study's authors said: 'UK law preventing sales of alcohol to drunks is routinely broken in nightlife environments, yet prosecutions are rare (three in 2010). 'Nightlife drunkenness places enormous burdens on health and health services. Lax: It is illegal to serve alcohol to people who are already drunk - or try to buy it for them - under the 2003 Licensing Act, but just three people were prosecuted in 2010. Pictured: File image of women on a night out . 'Preventing alcohol sales to drunks should be a public health priority, while policy failures on issues, such as alcohol pricing, are revisited.' The Licensing Act 2003 makes it illegal to sell alcohol to someone who is drunk, or even to try and buy it on their behalf. In theory offenders can be fined £1,000, but prosecutions are almost unheard of. The study found venues with 'indicators of poor management' - such as cheap alcohol promotions, young bar workers, young clientele, crowds, poor lighting, rowdiness, dirtiness and high levels of drunkenness - were most likely to serve the fake drunks. The actors were almost always successful in venues which had bouncers (95 per cent of the time), compared to a two-thirds success rate in those without. The authors added: 'Although our study focused on one city, a lack of prosecution for sales to drunks throughout England suggests this is typical of nightlife environments nationally. 'With policies to prevent alcohol-related harm by increasing alcohol prices failing to be implemented, increased use of legislation preventing sales of alcohol to drunks should be considered a public health priority.' The study was published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. | Study sent actors to 73 pubs, bars and clubs in the north west of England .
They were almost always served despite slurring words and staggering .
18 per cent of bar staff even asked actors if they wanted a double shot .
Just three people were prosecuted over the little-enforced law in 2010 . |
fc49de32b5a72831764e8f8d192c7291e1dfde46 | By . Daniel Martin, Whitehall Correspondent . Income tax and national insurance could be merged if the Tories win the general election, it was reported last night. George Osborne was said to have considered the proposal as part of the recent Budget, and it was suggested he was now looking to put it in his party’s manifesto ahead of the general election. However, the claims were immediately denied by Treasury sources last night. Scheme: George Osborne is said to have considered a proposal to merge income tax and national insurance . Some senior Tories believe rolling together the opaque national insurance system with income tax would remind people of the scale of the tax contribution they make. Supporters of the reform believe that it would increase popular pressure to bring taxes down. The Chancellor has long considered national insurance a ‘stealth tax’ because it can be raised without uproar. However, the move would involve merging two computer systems, and could cause another Whitehall IT disaster – leading to problems similar to those that have beset universal credit. Benefits: Some senior Tories believe rolling together the opaque national insurance system with income tax would remind people of the scale of the tax contribution they make . A source told The Times: ‘We came within a whisker of doing this at the last budget, but in the end we decided against it. ‘They are currently on two separate computer systems and we thought the risk was just too great. But it’s something we could do in the next Parliament.’ But last night a Treasury source said there were no plans at all to merge the two types of tax, and discussions had not taken place about it being part of the Conservative manifesto for next year. | George Osborne said to have considered the proposal as part of budget .
Some senior Tories believe rolling .
together national insurance system with income tax would .
remind people of the scale of their tax contributions .
Move would involve merging two Whitehall computer systems .
Claims of a planned merge were denied by Treasury sources last night . |
fc4a00b4a643078861ed5c1c22860ea8878af046 | By . Annabel Fenwick Elliott . Regardless of how slowly some weeks crawl by, and irrespective of how others whizz past, 4069 of them is all you have - if you make it to the average life expectancy of 78 that is. Lifestyle blog WaitButWhy has plotted the life of an average American week-by-week, using data from the latest US census, and confronts us with the salient truth that the vast majority of our lives will be spent on one focus: work. From the day we step into Elementary school as a fresh-faced five-year-old, to our retirement at the national average age of 62, we will spend almost 3,000 weeks - 73per cent of our lives - learning or working; and only 1,095 weeks being an infant or retired. Drowning: Americans will spend almost 3,000 weeks - 73per cent of our lives - learning or working, and only 1,095 weeks being an infant or retired . Our learning and working lives are of course, punctuated by a series of major milestones as we stagger towards a jungle of inevitable responsibilities. First up, driving; which becomes legal when you are 15 - or under certain circumstances in South Dakota, as young as 13 - followed a few years later by a bevy of new perks. By the time you are 18 - 939 weeks into your life - the government believes you have learned enough along your way to enable you to smoke cigarettes, fight in a war, vote, and be legally tried as an adult. You can also purchase a shotgun or rifle. A whole 156 weeks later, you can finally drink legally. Make the most of it: The majority of our lives are spent at school or at work, punctuated with key milestones such as learning to drive, graduating, having children, and getting divorced . When a woman reaches the age of 25 - 1,304 weeks into her life – she’s ready to birth a new one. Men wait a little longer, until they are 28, before becoming fathers. Couples are also getting married around the same age as they’re having babies - women at 26 and men at 28 - but a large number aren’t tying the knot until later, if at all. According to Pew research, just 20per cent of adults ages 18 to 29 are married today, compared with almost 60per cent in 1960. Half of those who do wed will end up getting divorced, and the average length they will stick it out before doing so is 417 weeks, or eight years. If we have made it all the way through college, we spent 17 years, or 887 weeks, being educated, to propel us into a 40-year-long career. And during the course of this career, most Americans will switch jobs every four and a half years. For Millennials - born between 1977 and 1997 - it's even less. Around 91per cent will stay in a job for less than three years, meaning they will end up with between 15 and 20 different jobs under their belts by the time they retire. The average woman will die at age 81, and the average man will shuffle off the mortal coil five years before that, at 76. The average retirement is 16 years, or 834 weeks of hard-earned leisure. As the infographic points out, to put it all into perspective, the average life expectancy in Sierra Leone, West Africa, is only 45 years old, or 2,347 short weeks. | Americans spend 73per cent of their lives at school or working .
The average .
marriage in the U.S. lasts 417 weeks, or eight years .
You can buy a gun .
and go to war at 18, but have to wait a further 156 weeks to drink .
alcohol . |
fc4a1cd011629abdb272da9b00975537bdb6a0bd | (CNN) -- The heads of both major political parties battled Sunday over the handling of Rep. Anthony Weiner's scandal, with the Republican Party boss accusing Democrats of inaction and the Democratic Party leader accusing Republicans of a "double standard." In a heated debate on NBC's "Meet the Press," Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said that "for the first 10 days" of the scandal, "the only job (House Minority Leader) Nancy Pelosi was interested in saving was Anthony Weiner's." Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz fired back that Priebus' argument failed "the straight-face test." The debate came the same day that TMZ published photos of Weiner, in various states of undress, which he apparently took of himself in a locker room. TMZ reported that they were taken in the House members' gym and sent to at least one woman. Weiner's office declined to comment on the photos, and CNN could not confirm the details reported by TMZ. See photos at TMZ.com . After apologizing last week, Weiner said he had exchanged "messages and photos of explicit nature with about six women in the last three years," communicating with them online and, occasionally, on the phone. Wasserman Schultz issued a statement Saturday calling for Weiner's resignation. Pelosi also called for him to step down Saturday. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer said Sunday that Weiner should consider resigning. "I think that certainly he has to consider that option," Hoyer said on CBS' "Face the Nation." "I don't see how he can proceed and effectively represent his constituency." In the interview on "Meet the Press," Wasserman Schultz was asked why she called for Weiner's resignation at this point in the so-called "sexting" scandal. She said Democrats had been giving Weiner "some breathing room to be able to be circumspect, do the right thing, make a decision, reach the conclusion that he needed to step back, and step down on his own." When he had not done so by Saturday, "it was important to weigh in," she said. Priebus said "it's a question of leadership." Weiner "turned this town and this country into a three-ring circus," Priebus said. "We've got leadership and a Democratic Party that are defending a guy that deserves no defense." Wasserman Schultz said Priebus' argument "doesn't pass the straight-face test from a chair of a party none of whose leaders called for Senator Vitter, who actually broke the law, to resign, who is still serving (in) office." Sen. David Vitter, R-Louisiana, admitted in 2007 to "a very serious sin" after he was linked to a prostitution scandal. Wasserman Schultz also cited former Sen. John Ensign, R-Nevada, who had an extramarital affair with a staffer's wife and later resigned. "You never called for his resignation, so it's a double standard and it's unacceptable," she said. When asked about those situations, Priebus responded he was "not defending these guys," and turned the discussion to the economy and President Barack Obama's policies. Wasserman Schultz said she spoke briefly with Weiner. She described him as "incredibly apologetic" and "devastated" about the conduct he has been engaged in. Weiner's spokeswoman said Saturday that the congressman is seeking treatment "to focus on becoming a better husband and healthier person." He will take a "short leave of absence," Risa Heller said in a statement. Wasserman Schultz said a leave of absence is not enough. A party cannot force a lawmaker to leave, however. "A member of Congress makes his own decision, and that's certainly going to be up to Anthony Weiner, but we have made it clear that he needs to resign," she said. Speaking to the media on Saturday, Weiner said he has "made some serious mistakes and I'm trying to redeem myself," adding that his "remarkable" wife -- Huma Abedin, a senior aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton -- is doing well. A Democratic source familiar with conversations among Weiner and Democratic leadership said the congressman does not want to make a decision on his future in Congress until Abedin returns from a trip with Clinton in Africa. She is scheduled to return Thursday. Meanwhile, authorities in Delaware have closed an investigation into contact between Weiner and a teenager in the state. C.R. McLeod, spokesman for the New Castle County government, told CNN on Sunday that the police concluded their investigation Friday "and at this point they won't have anything else to pursue unless further evidence comes to their attention." In a statement Friday, New Castle County Police said detectives had "conducted an interview with the teen and she has made no disclosure of criminal activity nor inappropriate contact by the congressman." Weiner told reporters the contact involved "nothing explicit, nothing indecent. Absolutely nothing inappropriate." An attorney representing the teen's family said in a statement Sunday that the 17-year-old had Twitter contact with Weiner, and that the tweets "were not salacious or in any manner inappropriate." No photographs were ever sent to her, the statement said. | NEW: Anthony Weiner's office declines to comment on the photos published by TMZ .
TMZ publishes pictures Weiner apparently took of himself in the House gym .
Republican Party chief accuses Pelosi of having wanted to save Weiner's job .
Wasserman Schultz accuses Republican leader of a "double standard" |
fc4aad56811607bcdf203b681c586903f93acb5a | Get set to press record. Two of our favourite TV shows could be battling it out on Christmas Day. At 8pm, Call the Midwife fans will settle down to watch a 75-minute festive special on BBC1. Downton Abbey viewers will be switching on to ITV at 9pm. And if you want to watch both? There will be a 15-minute clash in which you won’t know which way to turn – unless you have a recorder. Head-to-head: BBC's Call the Midwife, featuring Jessica Raine, as midwife Jenny Lee, right, will battle it out with ITV's Downton Abbey, starring Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary, left, on Christmas Day . Both dramas have pulled in some of the highest ratings of the year. EastEnders and Coronation Street, which usually broadcast specials on Christmas Day, have suffered dwindling audiences in the past 12 months. Instead, viewers have fallen for the charm of Call the Midwife, which features Vanessa Redgrave, Miranda Hart, and Jenny Agutter, and was a surprise success for the BBC when the first series aired in January. Downton Abbey, which has just completed its third series, remains a firm favourite with fans both here and in the US. Call the Midwife is based on the late . Jennifer Worth’s memoirs about midwifery in London’s East End in the . 1950s, and pulled in more than 8.5million viewers a week. Christmas special: Lord and Lady Grantham, second and third from left, will go on holiday to Scotland in the festive episiode . Ratings winner: Call the Midwife - based on Jennifer Worth's memoirs about midwifery in London's East End in the 1950s - was a surprise hit . In the festive special, viewers will see a heart-wrenching story tackling teen pregnancy, the horrors of the workhouse, and child mortality. In contrast, Downton Abbey will be in summer holiday mode for its Christmas special. Lord and Lady Grantham will be enjoying a summer break with their Scottish cousins at Duneagle Castle, accompanied by servants Bates, Anna, and O’Brien. This is the home of Lady Rose, played by newcomer Lily James, who was sent home in the last episode of series three after her dalliance with a married man. There is a suggestion of new romance for Lady Edith and even cook Mrs Patmore, and more arguments for Matthew and Mary. A BBC insider said the final touches were still being made to the Christmas schedule, adding: ‘We are still finalising schedules and will avoid any overlap if we can.’ Other festive season highlights on the BBC include a Doctor Who special and an episode of the comedy Miranda. That means viewers will have a double helping of Miss Hart at Christmas. Heart-breaking: Viewers of Call the Midwife, featuring Jenny Agutter as Sister Julienne, will see difficult stories about teen pregnancies and child mortality . Newcomer: The Christmas special will also continue the story of Lady Rose, played by Lily James, pictured, who was sent home in the last episode . | The two shows are due to overlap for 15 minutes on Christmas Day .
Call the Midwife's 75-minute festive special is due to start at 8pm, while Downton Abbey will be broadcast at 9pm . |
fc4ad159cd8c20a99c710d79e3e00403fd9ebfe1 | By . Ian Drury . Flying remote-controlled model planes might seem a harmless pastime, enjoyed in parks across the country. But police fear some of those practising the hobby could be terrorists training for an attack. An army of model aircraft enthusiasts has been enlisted to help root out anyone using the activity as cover for sinister plots. Cover up? The British Model Flying Association has been asked to look out for members using the hobby as a front for plotting sinister crimes . Counter-terror officers have spoken to the British Model Flying Association to urge its 36,000 members to look out for suspicious behaviour while enjoying their hobby in public spaces. Security chiefs are concerned extremists will use remote-controlled aircraft packed with explosives to attack buildings, causing death and destruction. Model planes can also be fitted with cheap digital cameras to record video footage as they fly past – potentially providing terrorists with invaluable intelligence. The alert follows a meeting between the Special Branch Counter-Terrorism Unit and officials from the British Model Flying Association (BMFA), the national governing body for model aircraft buffs, which dates back to 1922. The organisation agreed to ask its members to ‘increase vigilance for any signs of potential criminal or terrorist activity arising from the use of model aircraft’. An article in the BMFA News, the association’s magazine, said: ‘This is part of regional and national initiatives introduced by the Counter-Terrorism Unit aimed at gaining enhanced vigilance from those involved in all aspects of aviation.’ Dave Phipps, chief executive of the BMFA, which is based in Leicester, said: ‘We want members to come to us if they have any concerns about anyone they see with a model plane who does not seem quite right, if they ring any alarm bells. ‘Some of the people involved in the September 11 attacks had trained on aircraft simulators which rang some alarm bells, but no one said anything.’ In Germany, police raids have foiled plots to use planes large enough to carry explosive to destroy buildings, while in London model planes were banned from the skies during the Olympics (file picture) Anti-terror officers believe there is a real threat from rogue model aircraft flyers. Last year, police in Germany foiled an Islamist terror plot intending to use remote-controlled model planes filled with explosives flown into targets. In June 2013, armed officers from the specialist G9G units raided homes in Stuttgart, Munich and Dachau after receiving information that at least one assassination attempt was being planned using the model aircraft as guided missiles. Prosecutors said the arrests were linked to a plot centred on Islamist ‘holy war’. It was reported that model aircraft, some of which are powerful and big enough to carry explosives capable of destroying a commercial building, were seized in the swoop. And in 2012, an American man was jailed for 17 years for plotting to fly model planes carrying explosives into the Pentagon and the US Capitol in Washington. Spanish police have also released a video allegedly showing Al Qaeda members training for a bombing raid using a miniature plane. Model aircraft were banned from the skies over London as part of the security crackdown during the Olympics. Counter-terror chiefs feared extremists could use remote-controlled drones to launch attacks on packed sporting venues. Under restrictions aimed at foiling a terror attack, enthusiasts were not allowed to operate remote-controlled aeroplanes and helicopters weighing more than 7kg over the capital. | Officers have asked model plane enthusiasts to look out for plotters .
Attacks foiled in Germany and US to blow up buildings using model planes .
In Spain officers found video of terrorist plotting an attack using models . |
fc4bdd1d22a8143907b28e73548d7da889332ed2 | (CNN) -- A suspect has been arrested in the slaying of a 19-year-old Puerto Rican man found Friday decapitated, dismembered and partially burned, police said Tuesday. Members of the U.S. gay community are asking authorities to investigate whether the slaying was a hate crime because the victim, Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado, was gay, said Pedro Julio Serrano of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "The brutality of the slaying and the fact that he was openly gay leads us to believe it was very possibly a hate crime," Serrano said. Authorities are investigating whether the killing involved sex, Guayama police Commander Hector Agosto Rodriguez told CNN affiliate WLII TV. Guayama prosecutor Jose Bermudez identified the suspect as Juan A. Martinez, 26. Police had earlier described him as a 27-year-old man from the interior Puerto Rican town of Cayey. Martinez was scheduled to attend a court hearing Tuesday night at which charges would be lodged, said Luis Bernier, a spokesman for the Guayama police district, which has jurisdiction in the case. The hearing was postponed several times throughout the day. Officials were waiting for a prosecutor from a nearby district, causing the delay, Bernier said. The FBI was not directly involved in the investigation Monday, said FBI Agent Harry Rodriguez of the San Juan office. "The FBI is monitoring this investigation by police in Puerto Rico," Rodriguez said. "Any assistance that the police requests or requires, we would be more than happy to provide." Puerto Rican authorities may ask for help with forensics or other advanced investigative tools the FBI could provide, Rodriguez said. The U.S. attorney's office, in consultation with local officials and other agencies, would determine if the slaying was a hate crime, which is a federal offense. "It's at a very preliminary stage," said Lymarie Llovet, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office in San Juan, Puerto Rico's capital. Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, which means federal agencies have jurisdiction. "There's the potential for a federal investigation," Rodriguez said. The suspect was arrested Monday around 11:30 p.m. AST (10:30 p.m. ET) at his home in the Mogote de Cayey neighborhood, said Wilson Porrata Mariani, another spokesman for the Guayama police district. Police impounded two cars and also are investigating a home in another neighborhood, Huertas del Barrio Beatriz de Cidra. Lopez Mercado's body was found on Puerto Rico Road 184 in another part of town, Barrio Guavate de Cayey, police said. The slaying has reverberated throughout the gay and lesbian community in the United States, where supporters started a Facebook page called "Justice for Jorge Steven Lopez -- End Hate Crimes." The group demands an investigation by Puerto Rico Gov. Luis Fortuno and prosecution of the slaying under the Federal Hate Crimes Law. The law was enacted in 1969 to guard the rights of U.S. citizens engaged in any of six protected activities, such as voting, going to school, applying for a job or attending a public venue. Last month, President Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which extends federal protection against illegal acts motivated by a person's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. Gay activist Serrano said he does not believe anti-gay sentiment is any stronger in Puerto Rico's Latin culture than anywhere else. "That's a long-debunked myth, that our culture is more homophobic," Serrano said. Instead, he attributed any ill will toward gays to "hate rhetoric" by some religious and political leaders. One politician, he said, recently referred to gays as "twisted and mentally ill." "That's the kind of rhetoric that incites violence against gays," Serrano said. Equality Forum, an international gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights organization, asked for a federal investigation. "Equality Forum calls on U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to have the FBI investigate," said former federal prosecutor Malcolm Lazin, the group's executive director. "The Matthew Shepard Amendment empowers and requires the federal government to prosecute this horrific murder." Serrano said Lopez Mercado was a "very, very dear friend" he had met through a mutual acquaintance. "Jorge was a person who you only needed one minute to fall in love with," Serrano said. Lopez Mercado often volunteered for gay causes, Serrano said. The teen's family is coping, considering the circumstances. "It has been horrible, but they are very grateful that it has come to a quick resolution," Serrano said. | NEW: Activist attributes ill will toward gays to some religious, political leaders' "hate rhetoric"
Puerto Rican gay community wants police to see if slaying was a hate crime .
FBI is monitoring investigation and is prepared to offer help, agent says .
Suspect, 27, was to attend Tuesday court hearing, which was postponed several times . |
fc4bf5b7c8bfd61457b46341e4c2e0562da87745 | Prime Minister Tony Abbott wants to develop a 'red card' system to stop 'hate preachers' from groups like Hizb ut-Tahrir from coming into Australia. The radical Islamic group will hold a lecture against United States-led combat in Syria in Lakemba, south west of Sydney, on Friday night. Mr Abbott says the group is engaged in 'hate preaching' and members should not be allowed to enter Australia to attend such events. Scroll down for video . Prime Minister Tony Abbott wants to develop a 'red card' system to stop 'hate preachers' from groups like Hizb ut-Tahrir from coming into Australia . 'By all means let Australians who want to say stupid things to say stupid things but there's no point importing troublemakers from overseas to stir people up,' he told Macquarie Radio on Wednesday. 'I am sorry we haven't red-carded these hate preachers before but it will happen and it will happen quickly.' Mr Abbott said the current law doesn't allow the government to ban Hizb ut-Tahrir unless the group engages in terrorism, even though it campaigns against Australian values. New laws to be introduced before the end of the year will also make it illegal to promote terrorism. Mr Abbott said the current law doesn't allow the government to ban Hizb ut-Tahrir unless the group engages in terrorism . Friday's lecture, titled The War to End a Blessed Revolution, will accuse the US of attacking the 'noble Syrian revolution' by entering Iraq. 'America has initiated yet another war, rounding up its puppets and allies to attack the Syrian revolution, while using intervention in Iraq as a convenient excuse,' the lecture's brochure says. It comes after the group protested in Lakemba with signs reading 'terror raids cannot break the spirit of Muslims' and 'stop terrorising Muslims' following counter-terrorism raids last month. The radical Islamic group will hold a lecture against United States-led combat in Syria in Lakemba, south west of Sydney, on Friday night . The United States is leading an international coalition in a combat mission to suppress the activities of extremist group Islamic State. Australia has begun air combat missions in Iraq but is yet to drop any bombs. A 200-member unit of Australian special forces is awaiting approval to head into Iraq to advise and assist the local military. Mr Abbott says Australia has no plans to enter Syria and is in Iraq at the request of the Iraqi government. | Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir will hold a lecture against US-led combat in Syria in Sydney's Lakemba on Friday .
Prime Minister Tony Abbott says the group is engaged in 'hate preaching' and members shouldn't be allowed to enter the country for such events .
Current law doesn't allow the government to ban the group unless it engages in terrorism .
Mr Abbott said new laws to be introduced by the end of the year will make it illegal to promote terrorism . |
fc4c79944e88febddcf3e0641710bac4bae05b96 | By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 09:13 EST, 14 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 09:21 EST, 14 February 2014 . More than £2.5million . has been spent getting rid of over 100 government officials only for . them to be rehired, MailOnline can reveal. It confirms that Whitehall’s lucrative revolving door has continued to turn despite the age of austerity. The . revelation will raise fresh questions about the ability of the civil . service to manage staffing numbers when they are supposed to be making . major savings. Return: Dozens of people laid off by government departments since 2010 have been rehired . Since May 2010 at least 106 people . have retired or been made redundant from government departments with pay-offs worth . at least £2.563million before being re-employed. The . Ministry of Defence alone spent £1.6million paying-off 44 staff who . have been rehired, while the Foreign Office the bill was a total of . £647,840 rehiring 14 people and the Department for Transport shelled out . £315,000 on 10 which went back to work there. The true scale of the bill could be much higher because several government departments refused to give details of the pay-outs. Labour . shadow transport minister Lilian Greenwood, who obtained the figures, . said: ‘This is just the latest example of how the Government’s . incompetence is wasting money. Labour frontbencher Lilian Greendwood condemned the 'shambles' of departments rehiring people they had laid off . ‘Taxpayers . will be outraged that at least £2.5 million has spent on paying off . civil servants, only for them to be rehired at great expense. ‘Ministers . seem to be stumbling from crisis to crisis while failing to deliver the . major projects that the country needs. The taxpayer shouldn’t be . footing the bill for this latest shambles.’ William . Hague's Foreign Office has rehired 14 people who had already retired. Eight of them received a total of £647,840.06 before being asked back. Foreign . Office minister Hugh Robertson said: ‘Individual payments are . calculated in accordance with the civil service pension scheme rules in . place at the time of retirement and are based on salary, years of . service and age.’ The . Ministry of Defence said that of some 10,000 civilian staff to have left . under a Voluntary Early Release Scheme, of 44 have been re-employed. Between . them they received lump sums totalling £1.6million to leave before . going back. Only one had to repay their redundancy money. Defence . minister Andrew Murrison said: ‘We have saved taxpayers some £2.2 . billion from a 15 per cent reduction in the civil service which is now . at its smallest since the second world war.’ Under . the Civil Service Compensation Scheme, only staff who are re-employed . within 28 days have to return all of their redundancy package. If an employee has been out of the civil service for more than six months before returning they pay back nothing. Philip Hammond's Ministry of Defence has rehire . 44 people it spent £1.6million making redundant while William Hague's . Foreign Office rehired 14 people who received a total of £647,840 when . retiring . The . Department of Health has already faced criticism for the huge number of . NHS staff paid off as a result of its controversial reorganisation only . to turn up in other health service roles. More than 3,200 NHS bureaucrats were handed redundancy pay-offs before walking into new jobs in the Health Service. Husband . and wife Chris Reed and Karen Straughair received six-figure pay-offs . from NHS trusts but both got jobs at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Another . manager, Rob Cooper, received at least £370,000 to leave on job but . already had another role lined up at a different health trust. Family affair: Karen Straughair and husband . Chris Reed received six-figure pay-offs from NHS trusts but both got . jobs at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust . At the DoH itself one member . of staff who was made redundant was rehired 16 months later, although . health minister Daniel Poulter insisted they were paid less than before. The . Home Office said it has re-employed 23 staff who retired from the . Department since May 2010, most of whom are part of the frontline . seasonal work force. The . Department for Work and Pensions has reemployed nine people which it had . laid off, two people have been re-employed at the Department for Energy . and Climate Change, three at the Department for International . Development. The Cabinet Office refused to give details of the number of people rehired because the number was lower than five. A . Government spokesman said: ‘The Government reformed the Compensation . Scheme in 2010 so as to reduce costs and to require the recovery of . compensation payments where staff are dismissed and re-employed. ‘Across Government, savings from work force reductions have resulted in savings of £2.2 billion compared to 2009-10.’ | Costs at Ministry of Defence, Foreign Office and Department for Transport .
Labour condemns 'shambles' of officials coming and going . |
fc4ca084772c63cfcfb6dbd8253cbf78d2cdfb8a | A team of older men have celebrated completing a pioneering 35-year health study - beating killer diseases by making simple changes to their lifestyle. Health experts told volunteers to follow five simple rules - eat well, work out, drink less, keep their weight down and never smoke. They were told if they followed the healthy-living plan they would avoid heart disease, cancer, diabetes and dementia. Live long and prosper: A team of older men have celebrated completing a pioneering 35-year health study - beating killer diseases by making simple changes to their lifestyle . Leighton Jones, 80, who still cycles frequently. Right, the retired teacher when he first started the study . More than 2,500 men agreed to be monitored for the rest of their lives - but only 25 managed to stick to the rules they were given in 1979. The 'survivors' are now in their eighties and nineties and yesterday celebrated their long lives at a party held by the research team. The study in South Wales is the longest of its kind to examine the influence of environmental factors in chronic disease. From 1979 to the present day, researchers from Cardiff University followed the lifestyle habits of men aged 45-59 living in the Caerphilly area. They found that those who followed four or five of the specified healthy steps were 60 per cent less likely to develop dementia. Noel Fowler, 91, stayed the course for 35 years. Right, with his brother during his rugby-playing days (right) Putting the gloss on life: Graham Moore still paints and decorates at the age of 80 . Reaping the benefits: Mr Moore in his younger days. He was among 2,500 volunteers who took part in the study . There was a similar reduction in the risk of heart attacks and strokes, along with 40 per cent fewer cancers. There was also a 70 per cent cut in the risk of diabetes, according to evidence presented yesterday at a Healthy Ageing summit run by the university. Retired teacher Leighton Jones and former warehouse cashier Ray Grace are both in rude good health after following the healthy guide lines laid down to them by the University scientists. Keen cyclist Mr Jones, 80, rides 35 miles a week around the hills and valleys near his home and walks up to two miles every other day. His wife Dorothy, 79, makes sure they eat fresh food and they keep their minds active by playing scrabble every evening at their Caerphilly home. Still swinging: Donald Munn enjoying a game of golf at the age of 80 after steering clear of life's vices . Fit and healthy: Mr Munn pictured a few years ago during the study, which started way back in 1979 . Active: Pictured here is Bill Tudor who still enjoys regular hiking at the grand old age of 86 . Bill Tudor back in the day: Every five years the men were re-questioned and re-examined along with their medical records to identify new cases of diabetes, heart disease and strokes . Granddad Mr Jones said: 'I have followed the healthy steps for many years now and feel pretty fit. Cycling keeps my body fit while scrabble keep the mind fit. 'I do have a beer or wine most nights but I drink in moderation.' Bachelor Mr Grace, 80, travels all over Wales and the West Country refereeing college American football matches and walks and jogs two miles every day near his home in the village of Llanbradach. And Mr Grace, a member of the British and American Football Referees Association, has no intention of retiring from the sport he loves. He said: 'I'll go on as long as I am able to. I've been refereeing for nearly 30 years now and still get a thrill out of it.' Ray Grace, a member of the British and American Football Referees Association, has no intention of retiring from the sport he loves . Mr Grace said: 'I'll go on as long as I am able to. I've been refereeing for nearly 30 years now and still get a thrill out of it' Mr Grace said he was happy to co-operate with researchers throughout the life of the project saying: 'As far as I'm concerned it's been a great success. 'It has been invaluable for me and I'm pleased to have been part of it. 'I've stuck pretty well to the healthy lifestyle laid down and met with the researchers half a dozen times over the years. 'It has been invaluable for me and I'm pleased to have been part of it.' The volunteers gave researchers regular reports of their physical activity, alcohol consumption, and diet. Their wives and families helped by completing a food frequency questionnaire. The recommended physical activity was to walk two or more miles to work each day, cycle 10 or more miles to work each day, or regular 'vigorous' exercise. Glyn Prosser, age 77, who crafts walking sticks. The Caerphilly participants come from a community where consumption of fruit and vegetables was low . Green-fingered: Bert Maybury is still a keen gardener at the ripe old age of 85 . Mr Maybury pictured abseiling in his younger days. The Caerphilly research was a pilot for the much larger UK BIOBANK study involving more than 500,000 Britons . Study leader Peter Elwood, age 84 . Every five years the men were re-questioned and re-examined along with their medical records to identify new cases of diabetes, heart disease and strokes. Professor Peter Elwood, who has led the School of Medicine study since its inception, said the findings were a 'wake-up' call. 'Thirty years ago, only 30 men in our study followed all five of our recommended healthy steps,' he said. 'Although following these steps does not give them complete protection against disease, the men who, despite living healthily, developed a disease did so at a much older age than the men neglectful of their lifestyle. 'Thus the development of heart disease was delayed by up to six years and it was up to around an additional 12 years before dementia took its grip. 'On the less rosy end of the spectrum, 40 men in every 100 lived a life so neglectful that by any definition their lifestyle was unhealthy. They experienced none of the reductions in disease.' Professor Elwood added: 'The appalling fact is that recent surveys across the whole of Wales yield almost identical proportions of men and women following the healthy and unhealthy lifestyles found in Caerphilly 35 years ago. 'And the picture isn't much better in England: 53 per cent of men drink more than the recommended amount and only half of men meet the government-recommended scores for well-being.' The advice given by the project has become familiar from other research showing that staying slim, eating lots of fruit and vegetables, exercising regularly, drinking in moderation and never smoking boosts longevity. The Caerphilly participants come from a community where consumption of fruit and vegetables was low, so three or more portions a day was accepted as 'healthy'. Fat making up less than 30 per cent of calories was classed as a good diet. Those regarded as physically active were walking two or more miles or cycling ten or more to work each day, or taking 'vigorous' exercise regularly. Low alcohol consumption was defined as three or fewer units per day, with abstinence not treated as healthy behaviour. Clare Walton, of the Alzheimer's Society which part-funded the project, said: 'These studies are expensive and complicated but essential to understand how dementia can be prevented.' The Caerphilly research was a pilot for the much larger UK BIOBANK study involving more than 500,000 Britons. This is led by Professor John Gallacher, who also works at Cardiff. | The men in their 80s and 90s completed a pioneering 35-year health study .
They undertook regular exercise, did not smoke and ate well .
Low alcohol intake and healthy bodyweight are key to being disease-free .
The project of 2,500 men in South Wales is longest of its kind .
It found those following steps were 60% less likely to develop dementia .
There was a similar reduction in the risk of heart attacks and strokes . |
fc4dfc0362169e0d7e4a4d39484e873824884d15 | Faced with an opponent nicknamed 'Mad Dog', Andy Murray might have been expecting quite a fight in his second round at the Australian Open. Instead, Marinko Matosevic fairly ushered him into the last 32 this morning, going down 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 with a slew of unforced errors, detaining him for just 102 minutes. It was a highly satisfactory bit of work for Murray, who enjoyed the precious economy of getting things over and done with quickly on what was the first day of sapping temperatures at Melbourne Park. Andy Murray looks to the skies as he books his place in the last 32 of the Australian Open . Murray signs autographs for fans after his win over Marinko Matosevic . Murray looked in complete control as he beat Matosevic in straight sets . Murray won the first set in just 21 minutes and dropped just one point on his serve . Matosevic struggled to get into the game and was no real test for the No 6 seed . Murray will now face world number 55 Joao Sousa, who went through when his opponent Martin Klizan retired through injury in the fourth set of their match. The 27 year-old Scot is now 10-0 versus Australians in his career, and the contest against Matosevic went to type. Asked if he did not like Australians he replied, 'I love Aussies, I had no idea about that. With the young players coming through here I'm not sure how long I'll keep that record up. Murray dropped just six games on his way to the third round . Kim Sears was in the box on the Margaret Court Arena as she watched Murray ease to victory . 'I started extremely well today, he improved as the match went on and there were some closer games in the second and third sets that could have gone either way. I really enjoyed it even if not everyone was supporting me. 'It was nice to finish and not to be out here for too long.' Returning to the secondary Margaret Court Arena, Murray was far too solid against the world number 81, who has destructive power while also having the ability to self-destruct. This was not one for the body language purists as Matosevic continually waved his arms around in frustration while the world number six also got irritated with himself at times, despite being in control from the off. The first set took just 21 minutes as his opponent contributed 16 unforced errors. There was a small blight on Murray in him dropping serve once in the second as Matosevic lifted his level, but there were never any serious alarms. By the end Matosevic had run up 49 unforced errors, but that should not detract from the professional performance of Murray in one of his matches that will only linger very briefly in the memory. He is easing himself towards tougher tasks ahead, although Sousa should not prove too scary a prospect. Murray barely had to break sweat on the hottest day of the Australian Open so far . Murray looked very comfortable as he booked his place in the last 32 in Melbourne . Murray's fans make themselves heard despite most of the spectators getting behind Matosevic . Murray denied later that he brought any extra determination to the match after Matosevic’s comments last summer that he did not think it a good idea hiring a female coach like Amelie Mauresmo: 'No. I get on well with Marinko,' he said. 'I spoke to him a little bit about what he said. He didn't mean any harm. Everyone's entitled to their opinion on anything. If he wants to get coached by a man, that's absolutely fine. 'I have absolutely no issue with it at all. I still think he's a good guy. I wasn't trying to prove a point at all when I was playing Marinko today. I was trying to win the match.' Occasionally Murray can be a slow starter, so he was delighted today about the way he fairly sprinted to the first set: 'I definitely started quite quickly today. I was timing the ball well on the return and serving well from the beginning of the match, and it helped a lot because obviously the crowd were behind him. I managed to take the crowd out of it a little bit by starting that quickly.' | Andy Murray beat Marinko Matosevic 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 .
Murray dropped just one point on his serve in the first set .
Murray will face Joao Sousa of Portugal in the third round .
Click here for more Australian Open news . |
fc4e2e059d95b623cc3ec1f45292aba9370e2fd0 | A critically-injured man was found trapped under the dashboard of his car six hours after it was towed away from the scene of the crash. Employees from Busy Bees Auto Parts in Dayton, Ohio, were shocked when they heard the unidentified man screaming for help from inside the wrecked vehicle, initially believing it had been cleared by emergency services. They towed the car after it broke through a fence and knocked down a utility pole on a road 500ft from the yard at around 3:00am on New Year's Day. The driver was not discovered until 9:00am. Scroll down for video . Trapped: A man was found under the dashboard of his car six hours after it was towed away from the scene of a crash in Dayton, Ohio, at 3am on New Year's Day . Discovery: Employees from Busy Bees Auto Parts, located 500ft from the crash site, were shocked when they heard the unidentified driver screaming for help from inside the vehicle . After seeing the man lying on the floor, a mechanic called 911 and said: 'I towed a car last night. I went to go take care of the lot, this guy’s still in his vehicle. 'To tell you the truth, I don’t know if this guy came back to his car and climbed in it.' According to WHIO, the caller had opened a car door to throw more debris from the crash inside but stopped when he saw the injured driver and heard him complaining of leg pains. The individual was taken to Grandview Medical Center where he is in a critical condition. Capt. Jeremy Roy with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office told the station: 'Since the car was now up on a flatbed they opened up one of the doors to put some more debris into the front seat, which is what they normally do. 'At that angle they were able to see that there’s a person in there that had screamed for help.' Police officers and firefighters who finished cleaning up the scene at around 4:30am said they did not see the man. Authorities are now trying to determine whether he had been left in the vehicle by paramedics or first responders or returned and climbed inside once it had been towed. Roy added that it is an ongoing investigation and it could be a month before officials are able to determine what happened. Treatment: The man was taken to Grandview Medical Center in a critical condition after complaining of leg pains when he was found on the floor of the vehicle . | Auto-workers found the man under the dashboard in Dayton, Ohio .
They heard the unidentified individual screaming for help from inside .
Employees from Busy Bees Auto Parts called 911 after the discovery .
He was moved to Grandview Medical Center and is in a critical condition .
Investigators trying to establish if he was left in the car by paramedics . |
fc4e6b1b3f6581cab824490f6d68b12e0e9717cf | She's the bubbly pageant queen with a penchant for glamorous dresses so it made sense for KEY fashion to snap up Amy Willerton to model its new partywear collection. The model and TV star has replaced Ashley Roberts as the face of the brand and showcases the glamorous, girly styles to perfection in the new campaign. Speaking about her new campaign, Amy told MailOnline: 'I am so excited to be modelling this range, it is princess-like, sparkly and girly so I was in my element. Scroll down for video . New face: Amy Willerton has replaced Ashley Roberts as the face of KEY Fashion and showcases the glamorous, girly styles to perfection in the new campaign imagery (£160) 'I wanted to be a princess when I was younger so this is my dream come true. I come from pageantry and full-on glamorous attire is what I love to wear so the opportunity to wear all these beautiful dresses was one I couldn't turn down.' The new range is full of party dresses ideal for the season ahead and Amy says each and every design makes her feel confident, which, she says, is the most important element of getting ready for a big event. Beauty buff: Amy says it doesn't take her very long to get ready, despite what people may think, and she's really interested in organic beauty and natural remedies (£95) In her element: Amy said she loved modelling the new range because she is a huge fan of girly, feminine fashion (£160) Party perfect: The new range, which Amy launched yesterday at Chotto Matte in Soho, London, is full of party dresses ideal for the season ahead and Amy says each and every design makes her feel confident (£95) What's her secret? Amy eats a clean and lean diet - she loves protein-rich meals - and works out every other day to stay in shape (£160) 'People don't believe me but I get ready very quickly. I try to enhance myself, not change myself. It's important to highlight the best of what you've got,' she said about her beautifying regime. Amy, who describes her personal style as 'girly girl', says another misconception people have is that they think she dresses like a grandmother. 'They say I dress like an old lady but it's because I love the fifties. Everyone is so into looking cool and wearing leather and then I'm there prancing around in my dress.' When it comes to style inspiration, the 22-year-old cites her style icons as Gisele and Grace Kelly; she takes the classic Hollywood look of Grace and combines it with the strong, independent flair of Gisele. She's a pro! Amy recently landed a modelling contract and proves her worth as professional poser modelling the new dresses from the AW14 collection (left: £65, right: £175) Despite getting a taste for the world of fashion in this new campaign, Amy admits she doesn't have the expertise needed to create her own range. 'I know everyone does their own collection but I need to get a taste of it before I would ever consider it. I don't follow trends so I'd suck at designing!,' she said. One project she is considering - and one that she knows all about - is beauty. 'I would love to look into designing my own hair range or natural organic make-up collection. I am a big believer in finding alternative treatments. 'I make my own hair treatments but I can't give you the secret formula in case I develop it!'. Maybe one day: Despite getting a taste for the world of fashion in this new campaign, Amy admits she doesn't have the expertise needed to create her own range and would rather venture into beauty (£120) Beauty guru: Amy says the secret behind her glossy hair is a homemade mixture - but she won't share it in case she wants to one day develop it (left: £95) As well as sticking to an organic beauty regime, Amy swears by a clean and lean diet. 'If I want to feel good, I eat raw, natural food. If mother nature didn't make it, don't eat it,' she says. However, the lithe-limbed star does allow herself the occasional treat and says she's very flexible when it comes to eating. 'I don't let my diet control me, I would never let it rule my life and I love a good pizza. I know from first-hand experience from when I was in the jungle on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here that not eating properly is really bad for your body. I lost a lot of weight but then just piled it all back on afterwards.' The star, who just landed herself a modelling contract with a top agency, says that she exercises every other day and really enjoys it but found the London marathon 'horrific'. Fresh from her latest fashion campaign, Amy has lots of plans in the pipeline but says they're all 'top secret'. Watch this space. The AW14 Key Fashion Collection is now available from www.celebrityfashionclothing.co.uk . | Amy, 22, is new face of KEY Fashion .
Replaces Ashley Roberts and says she loves the princess dresses .
Works out every other day and eats clean and lean .
Says she treats herself to pizza occasionally and doesn't let diet rule her .
May consider developing a natural beauty range . |
fc4ee62c22b7c67ebf44fbed52264df130d991ad | South Africa's deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa pointed out the group of whites as proof that the ANC appealed beyond its core black constituency . South Africa's ruling African National Congress has been accused of bribing poor white people to attend a party rally in an attempt to bolster its multi-racial credentials. The ANC's alleged 'hire a white' scheme was exposed after more than a 100 poor white people sat in the front few rows of a political rally in the north of the country. Speaking at the conference, on Saturday, South Africa's billionaire deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa pointed out the group of whites as proof that the ANC appealed beyond its core black constituency. 'This is the proof [we are] the party for everyone', he said. Despite it being 19 years since the end of apartheid in South Africa, the country remains divided by race, especially when it comes to politics. Photographs of Saturday's ANC rally in the Free State town of Welkom showed the small group of white people sitting together at the front of a large marquee which was otherwise filled with black people. The pictures showed how many of the white people at the rally had pulled yellow ANC T-shirts featuring pictures of South Africa's president Jacob Zuma over their normal clothes. Despite this show of apparent support for President Zuma, some of the whites in the T-shirts told a local newspaper that they did not know who he was. The Afrikaans language Volksblad newspaper reported that many of the group seemed 'confused', saying they only attended the rally in order to obtain free food parcels. 'I did not even know that we would be brought to the conference,' one of the white visitors was quoted as telling the newspaper. Although South Africa's ruling ANC is overwhelmingly popular among the country's blacks - who make up 80 per cent of its population - it struggles for votes among the country's other apartheid era race groups: namely whites, Indians and mixed race people. However, in recent years some black . voters have abandoned the party of liberation in frustration with high . levels of corruption and unemployment. South African President Jacob Zuma (left) with deputy Cyril Ramaphosa, pictured last year in recent years some black voters have abandoned the party of liberation in frustration with high levels of corruption and unemployment . As they have started to desert the party - whose figurehead Nelson Mandela became the country's first black president in 1994 - the ANC has started to look for support elsewhere. It appears to have turned South Africa's small population of poor, rural, Afrikaans-speaking white people, some of whom may sympathise with the party's message of fighting exploitation with strong labour laws. Sandlana Smit, a local ANC politician with responsibility for minorities denied that the white delegates were part of a 'hire-a-white' election strategy or that the group had been promised food parcels. She explained that some of them may not have know who President Zuma was because they were too poor to have access to the media. She went on to claim that many white South Africans support the ANC. | Group of white people photographed at the front of ANC rally .
They had allegedly been promised free food parcels to attend the event .
ANC .
struggles for votes from minority white, Indian and mixed race groups . |
fc4f5cad7eb7ad8963a38486bb7804979ba63a55 | A U.S. defense official on Thursday dismissed North Korea's claim of testing newly developed missiles. "There is no indication of new North Korean technology," said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The U.S. military monitored what the defense official described as the routine launch of short-range missiles. Earlier, North Korea's state-run news agency KCNA reported that leader Kim Jong Un had "guided the test-fire of newly developed cutting-edge ultra-precision tactical guided missiles." "At the central monitoring post he acquainted himself with the tactical and technological information of the newly developed guided missiles before giving an order to test-fire them. "The moment the guided missiles soared into the sky with thunderous roar," the report read. According to the U.S. and South Korean governments, North Korea launched three projectiles from its southeastern coast. "I think we're always concerned whenever North Korea launches anything," said U.S. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf. She added: "We're monitoring the situation, and we're still evaluating the available information to identify the exact type of projectile that may have been launched." Kim Min-seok, a spokesman for the South Korean Defense Ministry, said Friday that what North Korea launched appears to have been an improvement of an existing weapon, rather than an entirely new technology. The improvements were in the weapon's range and the guided technology, he told a regular news briefing. From the North Korean military's point of view, the weapon may be new, Kim said, "but if you look at the international trend, this weapon technology was developed before." North Korea ups stakes with latest missile launch . INTERACTIVE: North Korea's missile capacities . | South Korea says the launch showed improvements in an existing weapon .
KCNA: North Korea fires "cutting-edge ultra-precision tactical guided missiles"
"There is no indication of new North Korean technology," says a U.S. defense official .
According to the U.S. and South Korea, North Korea launched three projectiles . |
fc4f6649b522c33ffebff0028a15d0ef5064ed25 | By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 05:31 EST, 8 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:27 EST, 8 August 2013 . The UKIP politician under fire for referring to ‘Bongo Bongo land’ today offered up yet another explanation for his remarks – he was talking about an antelope. Godfrey Bloom faced repeated accusations of racism after condemning foreign aid being sent to ‘Bongo Bongo land’, seen as a derogatory reference to Africa. But he insisted that a bongo is a ‘white antelope, lives in the forest, there is no connotation of racism about it whatsoever’. Critics were quick to point out that the bongo antelope is not white, it is brown. Scroll down for video . Excuses: UKIP MEP Godfrey Bloom insisted a 'bongo' is an antelope, so 'Bongo Bongo Land' is the home of the antelope, not a racist term . The bizarre justification for his remarks is just the latest in a long list put forward by the MEP since a recording of a speech to UKIP activists emerged this week. He was slapped on the wrist by party leaders after he was secretly recorded making what critics immediately branded racist comments. He told supporters in the Midlands that foreign leaders who received aid spent the money on ‘Ray-Ban sunglasses, apartments in Paris, Ferraris and all the rest of it’. In the recording, the MEP for Yorkshire . and the Humber says: ‘How we can possibly be giving a billion pounds a . month when we’re in this sort of debt to Bongo Bongo land is completely . beyond me.’ UKIP leader Nigel Farage ordered Mr Bloom to stop using the term and the under-fire MEP issued a carefully-worded statement apologising if he had caused ‘genuine offence’. However, in a fresh round of media interviews he again sought to explain his choice of words. He told ITV’s Daybreak: ‘These have been interpreted as racist comments, they are not racist at all. ‘If anybody would care to take the trouble to get out the Oxford dictionary this morning and look it up, you’ll find that bongo is a white antelope, lives in the forest, there is no connotation of racism about it whatsoever. ‘Bongo land is the land of the antelope. ‘Some people have interpreted it as a racist remark but there is no evidence in any dictionary at all that it implies racism.’ Bongo bongo land: Mr Bloom insisted he was referring to the rare east African Mountain Bongo, seen here at Woburn Safari Park in Bedfordshire . There is just a few dozen of the bongo antelopes left in Kenya. They are hunted for their reddish-brown coat with white stripes, and their long spiralled horns. There are thought to be only around 100 left in the wild. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed the the western or lowland bongo on the ‘near threatened’ list. In addition to the threat posed by poachers, numbers of fallen as logging wiped out their habitats. But his explanation was dismissed by Labour's foreign aid spokesman Rushanara Ali. She said: 'It’s offensive for sure and the public . have shown that they find it offensive so I think Mr Bloom should . apologise, it would do him good, it would do his party good. 'This is a . party that is trying to show that they are reasonable but his comments . are completely unacceptable and objectionable and that’s what the public . are saying. 'Nigel . Farage ought to step in and sort this out because this just shows what . his party is really about and it’s not a party that’s inclusive, it’s an . intolerant party and it’s defined by Mr Bloom. 'There . are legitimate views about how we should spend aid and so on but I . don’t think the vast majority of people accept the term bongo bongo land . - that is offensive.' The 63-year-old has spent the last 24 hours fielding questions about the comments, insisting he has the broad support of the public away from the ‘Westminster bubble’. His office has revealed 3,000 emails since the storm erupted and ‘half a dozen’ disagree with him, he claimed. Repeatedly quizzed on whether he is a . racist, Mr Bloom told Channel 4 News interviewer Krishnan Guru-Murthy: . ‘Move on, there’s a good fellow. If you’re not going to move on to . serious issues, I’m not going to continue – I can’t be bothered with . it.’ He then tore off his earpiece and stormed off. It . was an abrupt ending to a day of Whitehall farce as Mr Bloom engaged in . a whirlwind tour of radio and television studios, repeatedly defending . himself and making the case against overseas aid. Going: Mr Bloom starts to get annoyed during interview with Channel 4 News... Going: The MEP whips off his earpiece... Gone: And waves goodbye to interviewer . Asked by the BBC yesterday where ‘Bongo Bongo land’ was, Mr Bloom said: ‘I don’t know where Ruritania is either – there is no such place of course is there? Like the Third World. Where is the Third World?’ Later he suggested: ‘It might have been misconstrued by President Bongo of the Gambon, he may have thought I was talking about him. ‘If he is offended, I shall write to his excellency in short order and say, “I’m very sorry I wasn’t talking about you”. Ali Bongo is president of Gabon, not Gambon. David Cameron weighed into the row today, branding Mr Bloom's remarks 'offensive' and defending the use of British taxpayers' money for overseas aid. He said: 'I think it is an offensive remark anyway, but what I think is wrong is this sort of "stop the world, I want to get off" approach just doesn't work. Unrepentant: Mr Bloom, his wife Katryna and their terrier chippy yesterday . 'Britain is a very open international country. The problems elsewhere come and visit us. So it makes sense I think to have an overseas aid programme that helps solve these problems at source,' he told BBC Breakfast. However, Mr Bloom stood by his central argument that it was wrong to send British taxpayers’ money to foreign countries while making cuts at home. He claimed: ‘We’re closing our A&E wings of our hospitals, we’re cutting our police, we’re cutting our defence, we don’t have enough dialysis machines and we're sending £1 billion a month away without even an audit trail. ‘We don’t even know where most of it goes. It’s treason and it’s a disgrace and that’s the point I made in my speech which incidentally wasn’t clandestine recorded, it was an open meeting in Birmingham and lots of people were there - there was nothing clandestine about it.” Asked if he has been pressured to resign by the UKIP leadership, Mr Bloom replied: 'Good Lord no, not with the amount of support that I’ve had - it’s massive. 'What I have promised Nigel is I won’t use that phraseology in the future so it can’t be misinterpreted and I’m quite happy to obey that rule.' The . son of a Second World War fighter pilot, Mr Bloom – known to friends as . ‘Godders’ – grew up in London and spent 40 years working as an . economist in the City. He has been married to Katryna, a . physiotherapist who hails from Poland, for nearly 30 years. Mr Bloom . drifted into politics after being asked to write a research note on the . single currency in the mid-1990s. ‘I gave it ten years before it started to inwardly collapse,’ he recalls. ‘I’ve been proved right in spades.’ Mr Farage, then a City colleague and drinking companion, persuaded him to join the party. He was elected as an MEP in 2004. Men are from Mars and women are from Venus. Or in Godfrey Bloom's case, men are better at reversing cars while women can find condiments in the pantry and fret about wet towels left on beds. The bowler-hat wearing 63-year-old as gained a reputation for his outspoken views. His latest musings on the differences between the sexes emerged in an article railing against setting quotes for the number of women on the boards of FTSE 100 companies. Mr Bloom argued that women have a 'genetic predisposition' to prioritise family over working hard. 'Most women can find the mustard in the pantry quicker than a man, most men can reverse a car better than a woman,' he said in an article. 'Men and women care about different things on a micro-scale. Leaving the lavatory seat up, wet towels on the bed and the top left off the toothpaste will drive a wife mad. 'A man simply cannot understand what the problem is. Most wives do not regard putting petrol in the car as any part of their responsibility. 'Men cannot see the point in making the bed if you are going to get back in it tonight.' He also boasted of being 'just about as Alpha' as a man can be. 'I am not a 'new man', would not be caught dead at the birth of a baby and [would be] happy to punch the first man who tries to steal my beer,' he said in the article last month. He also lashed out at modern feminism 'spawned in the bra burning 1970s by rather shrill, bored, middleclass women of a certain physical genre'. He said they represented few women but are now supported by 'the slightly effete politically correct chaps who get sand kicked in their face on the beach'. | Godfrey Bloom confused why 'Bongo Bongo land' might be seen as racist .
Insists the dictionary shows a 'bongo' is an antelope living in Africa .
'I'm 63, that's the sort of phraseology we used years ago,' MEP said .
He stormed off Channel 4 News when repeatedly asked if he was racist .
He called aid programmes 'treason' when the UK is making cuts .
David Cameron condemns 'offensive' remarks and defends aid spending . |
fc4f7239273a8c411af67fa339aed3bab689ef8b | By . Alison Boshoff and Annette Witheridge . PUBLISHED: . 18:24 EST, 5 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 18:57 EST, 5 August 2012 . Fallen star: A dishevelled Culkin, pictured near his New York home earlier this year . On a hot night in June, Macaulay Culkin is DJ-ing at Le Poisson Rouge, a nightclub with arty pretensions in Greenwich Village, New York. Culkin - famous at ten, a millionaire at 12 and a has-been at 15 - lives not far away in a magnificent £2 million loft apartment and can be found at Le Poisson Rouge once a month plying what passes for his trade these days. On this night, there are absences to visit a back room, and when Culkin and his coterie of friends return, they smell of marijuana. People who know him say he’s worlds away from the character of Kevin McCallister, the joyful young boy in Home Alone who charmed millions of movie-goers. Today, skinny to the point of skeletal, Culkin looks far older than his 31 years. His alabaster skin appears papery and his green eyes framed with blonde lashes add to the air of vulnerability which clings to him. A neighbour at the Shakespeare Book Shop near his home said that Culkin now looks so bad she could easily confuse him with a tramp. He wears ‘vintage’ clothing from secondhand stores, in particular a brown leather women’s jacket, and goes everywhere with his small group of friends. Indeed, it transpires that Culkin, a multi-millionaire thanks to his career as a child actor, has fallen into some unwholesome company. One New York source said: ‘He mixes with a crowd of rich kids who split their time between Miami and New York. They are a fast crowd.’ One fairly new development is a friendship with a rocker Adam Green, from a punk band called the Moldy Peaches. They are so close that Culkin joined the group on a two-month tour of Europe recently, and took to the stage to duet with Green on some of their dates. Green is a fan of the drug ketamine (originally designed to sedate horses). Disturbingly, he persuaded Culkin to star in a ‘ketamine-inspired’ film, The Wrong Ferrari, last year. Shot on an iPhone, it is both puerile and incomprehensible. Green giggled: ‘I was on a lot of ketamine at the time ... It’s a ketamine classic.’ He’s since laid off the drug somewhat, saying: ‘I feel that it’s given me brain damage.’ Green, who lost a bandmate to a drug overdose, has brought Culkin into the orbit of the notorious and hopelessly addicted Pete Doherty, another of his chums who also appeared in the film. So what are we to make of all this? This February, Macaulay Culkin was pictured looking desperately unwell. In the photo, taken in New York, he clutched a tin of Red Bull and looked as if he was ill or suffering some kind of addiction, although his publicist said he was ‘in perfectly good health’. Last week, his story took a dramatic . turn when the National Enquirer published a claim that he is ‘close to . death’, thanks to addictions to prescription drugs and heroin. Then, . photos appeared of a pale and dishevelled Culkin walking along a . Hollywood street clutching his stomach and appearing to retch against an . ivy-clad wall, adding fuel to the rumours that all is not well. Heartbreak: Culkin with his ex-girlfriend, actress Mila Kunis . Culkin’s PR, Michelle Bega, denies it all, calling the report ‘ridiculously and impossibly fictitious’. The staff at a Duane Reade pharmacy store in Manhattan confirmed that Culkin comes in ‘fairly regularly’, but declined to comment further. However, the magazine’s account of Culkin’s alleged addictions is extremely detailed. It claims he is spending £3,800 a month on drugs, a habit which has grown since he was dumped by his girlfriend of eight years, actress Mila Kunis, at the end of 2010. The magazine contends that Culkin is ‘hopelessly hooked’ and quotes sources who say they have seen him use a mixture of drugs. They say he regularly shoots up heroin and the painkiller oxycodone - a semi-synthetic opiate sometimes used by cancer patients. He invites friends for poker parties, which turn into drugs binges with a ‘close circle of whacked-out pals’. A supposed insider told the magazine: ‘He’s been hooked for a year and a half ... Mac is surrounding himself with junkies and lowlifes.’ Another pal allegedly said: ‘Macaulay Culkin is surely dying. He’s addicted to heroin, Oxycodone and the painkillers Percocet and Vicodin. I have witnessed his drug-taking, which has escalated over the past year and a half to the point where he needs serious help.’ The friend says Culkin buys 300 to 400 Vicodin and Percocet painkillers every ten days at $5 per pill. But the high is no longer enough, so he’s shooting up heroin and Oxycodone, too. According to medical experts, the dangers are of a cardiac arrest or cardiac arrhythmia. Why would Culkin play such a deadly game with his health? Rich at 10: The former child star made $70,000 for the first Home Alone movie and £3 million for the sequel . According to the National Enquirer, his descent began when he split with Kunis. He is apparently even more depressed since she started dating fellow actor Ashton Kutcher, who broke up with wife Demi Moore last year. But there are other tragedies in the story of the fall of Macaulay Culkin. Raised with six siblings in a one-bedroom apartment, he started landing movie roles at eight. His father Kit, an actor, started him out on his career when he was only four. He was a millionaire by ten, thanks to the first Home Alone film. He was paid £70,000 for that and £3 million for the sequel. ‘I’d made enough money by the time I was 12 to never have to work again,’ he told an interviewer. At the time, his Home Alone director, the late John Hughes, said of Culkin: ‘He’s got a nice family who care about him, and he certainly hasn’t suffered from all this working.’ But this was a woeful miscalculation. Culkin later said that Kit ruled the family - ‘his kingdom’ - by humiliation, and that even when they all moved into a huge house in New York, which was paid for by Macaulay, the bullying did not stop. In 2004 he said: ‘My father was overbearing. Very controlling. He was always the way he is, even before my success. He’d play mind games to make sure I knew my place.’ At 14, Culkin announced that he was quitting acting. The following year his father left, after which his mother Patricia filed for custody of Macaulay and his siblings, igniting a bitter public battle with Kit. Eventually, Culkin had his parents legally blocked from controlling his £11 million fortune — a move that estranged him for good from his father, who now lives in Arizona. All this - the overbearing father, the lawsuits - calls to mind parallel experiences in the life of Michael Jackson, who became a friend of Culkin’s just after the Home Alone films. Culkin later recalled that Jackson simply rang him up and invited him to come over and play video games. The reason for the friendship, he said, was that they were both eternally eight years old. Culkin loyally testified during a 2009 trial, in which Jackson was accused of molesting another boy, that the singer had never touched him inappropriately. Having skipped his final year of high school, at 17 Culkin married his sweetheart, Rachel Miner. By the time he was 20, they were divorced. There followed a period of promiscuity which ended when he met Mila, a stunning brunette whose big break came in the sitcom That 70s Show. Bad influence?: Culkin has developed a friendship with Moldy Peaches musician Adam Green, a self-confessed drug user . In real life, Culkin played her househusband - walking the dog and keeping house. She said in interviews that he cooked for her every night. There were a couple of forays into the public eye. In 2000, Culkin took on a role in a London play called Madame Melville, and while he was in the UK he wrote a memoir, Junior, which came out in 2006. Part biography, part meditation on fame, it was a curious book which he had wanted to present without putting his name on it. He explained that he felt as if the world owned ‘Macaulay Culkin’ and he didn’t want anything to do with that character. In 2003 he was in the indie film Party People, playing a drug user. The following year, in a case of life imitating art, he was arrested in Oklahoma for marijuana possession. He also had prescription drugs on him. He was fined and given three one-year suspended prison terms. If that was not bad enough, four years ago his sister Dakota was killed in a car accident - a tragedy which his brother Kieran said they had all struggled to cope with. She left a nightclub in Los Angeles and was struck by a car, dying in hospital the following day. Her death didn’t bring the family together. Culkin remains unreconciled to both parents. For the past three years, he has lived in a large apartment in the trendy NoHo area of New York. He has the entire eighth floor. One neighbour is a supermarket magnate. A close friend of Macaulay’s pal Adam Green says that the former child actor is not a recluse, just someone who values his privacy. As Culkin once said: ‘I had all the fame anyone could want, and I ran away from it.’ But the question now is whether running away is doing him even more damage than the fame that he grew to loathe. | Sources say he has been 'hooked for a year and a half'
'Driven to drugs' after split from Mila Kunis . |
fc4fe71ca7d7494f2bafb5f9f923e7d69dbcda60 | (CNN) -- A grey day in Brussels provided an apt backdrop for addressing the bleak job prospects facing Europe's younger generations. With a quarter of their 16 to 25 year-olds out of work, youth unemployment has become one of the most pressing issues facing EU leaders today. Among the potential solutions tabled was using the European Investment Bank as a mechanism for providing small businesses with loans, so they can hire. Job and training guarantee schemes were also agreed by member states as well as a plan to roll out 6 billion euros ($7.8 billion) to the hardest hit countries like Greece and Spain where more than half of the young workforce is standing idle. But the funds committed so far are a drop in the ocean compared to the size of the problem. And unless the initiatives are backed up by complementary policies in individual nations, the EU's June summit is likely to deliver patchy results. Youth unemployment is a tricky subject, especially for the EU which was partly conceived to ensure free movement of labor, goods and services. Without growth it's hard to see companies hiring at the moment. But even when the economy improves there's no guarantee the region's so-called lost generation will get on the job ladder either. Studies by the International Labour Organization have shown those who have trouble finding work initially often end up stuck with lower wages for years to come as they give up on their dream and settle for a different career. Speaking on the sidelines of the summit, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said he reckoned at least half of the EU funds agreed will be directed towards Greece, Spain and Italy where the issue is more acute. Whilst, throwing money at the problem may alleviate the symptoms, it won't necessarily provide a cure. EU Employment Commissioner Lazlo Andor says 'there is no silver bullet' for the region's jobless problem. And he's right. It's up to each member state - not the commission - to create the conditions for hiring. Yet Brussels is paying the price for its obsession with austerity. After demanding cuts in the age of austerity, politicians didn't seem to realize they'd have to support the private sector to provide jobs for people left unemployed in the public sector. Cutting red tape for businesses and covering employers' social security contributions would be one way of encouraging firms to take on staff, as Lithuania has learned. Such measures helped the Baltic state to slash its under-25 jobless tally by 4%, the most anywhere in the EU. Yet just as the EU tries to tackle a sorely neglected subject, its unemployment numbers are set to swell again, as Croatia - with 51% youth unemployment - joins the club. A reminder for Europe's leader there's much work to be done -- even as 7.5 million of their young have none. | A quarter of the European Union's 16 to 25 year-olds are out of work .
Member states have agreed to job and training guarantee schemes .
They also plan to roll out 6 billion euros to the hardest hit countries .
EU Employment Commissioner Lazlo Andor says 'there is no silver bullet' |
fc503f2bf5b1f630b06befc84e2a607fd70e141c | By . Daily Mail Reporter . UPDATED: . 16:37 EST, 27 September 2012 . A chef on trial for . his wife's murder told investigators that they couldn't find his wife's . body because he had cooked it for four days in boiling water until . little was left but her skull. Los . Angeles Superior Court jurors heard David Viens make the statement in a . recorded interview with sheriff's investigators that was played in . court on Tuesday during his murder trial. 'I . just slowly cooked it and I ended up cooking her for four days,' Viens . could be heard saying on the recording, according to the Los Angeles Times. 'For some reason I just got violent': David Viens has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife Dawn . Viens . gave detectives the interview as he lay in a hospital bed in March . 2011, after leaping off an 80-foot cliff in Rancho Palos Verdes when he . learned he was a suspect in the late 2009 disappearance of his wife, . Dawn Viens, 39, whose body was never found. Viens, . whose injuries from the leap have him attending his trial in a . wheelchair, said in the interview that he stuffed his wife's body in a . 55-gallon drum of boiling water, keeping it submerged with weights and . mixing what remained with other waste before disposing of it. He said the only thing left was his wife's skull, which he stashed at his mother's house. But . a search of the house turned up nothing, nor did an excavation of his . restaurant Thyme Contemporary Cafe in Lomita, Los Angeles. On . the recording played in court, sheriff's Sgt. Richard Garcia asked . Viens what happened on Oct. 18, 2009, the night his wife disappeared. 'For some reason I just got violent,' said Viens, who has pleaded not guilty to murder. The trial against Viens opened last week, with his daughter . Jacqueline telling the court that her father had previously joked that cooking someone was a good way to get rid of the body. Body search: Police excavated the Thyme Contemporary Cafe but found no trace of Dawn Viens . On trial: David Viens told investigators they couldn't find his wife's body because he had cooked it for four days in boiling water until little was left but her skull . Jacqueline, 22, recalled the conversation . she had with her father one night in 2009. She recalled him saying that . Dawn Viens had been needling him and he just wanted to sleep. He'd tried barricading their bedroom . door with a dresser but when that didn't work, he tied her up and taped . her mouth. The next morning, Dawn Viens was dead. She said her father told her, through tears, that her body would never be found. When he was arrested, he told investigators a similar story. Defense attorney Fred McCurry . questioned Jacqueline's account of the conversation, saying she had both drank . and smoked marijuana the night it took place and her memory was 'fuzzy'. She did testify that she had never seen the couple argue and they 'seemed like they loved each other'. Viens claims his wife ran away to the . mountains from their restaurant 16 months ago after an argument over . whether she should go for drug rehabilitation. Viens had claimed his wife ran away 16 months ago after an argument over whether she should go for drug rehabilitation . But . authorities were suspicious because of ‘inconsistent statements’ he . gave and the fact she left behind her wallet, mobile phone and other . personal belongings. His new girlfriend, Kathy Galvan, then . took over Mrs Viens’s job and moved into her home, before he was seen . throwing out his wife’s belongings into a dustbin behind his restaurant, . police said. Speaking about this, Jacqueline said . she had been asked by her father to bag up Dawn's clothes and take them . to a storage unit. The rest were thrown out. The 22-year-old also said that Dawn Viens was no saint. 'She'd wake up in the morning and drink all day long,' adding that the pair had done cocaine together. She also told jurors that . after the 'drunken confession', her father asked her to send a text . message from Dawn Viens' phone to one of his wife's friends saying: . 'This is Dawn. I'm OK. I'm in Florida and I'm here to start over.' Then she got rid of the phone to protect her dad. Suicide bid? The cliffs near the Point Vicente Interpretive Center in Rancho Palos Verdes in California. Viens jumped over cliffs in the area as he was being chased by police, falling 80ft, but 'amazingly' survived . Police upgraded the case from a missing person case to a homicide after they found blood inside Viens apartment. They . had been looking for him when they saw the suspect and Kathy Galvan in . his car on a road near the coastline by Point Vicente Interpretive . Center near Rancho Palos Verdes. He . sped off to a lighthouse car park, jumped out and began grappling with . Ms Galvan before officers tried to intervene. But Viens broke free and . seemed to purposely leap off the cliff to the beach below. ‘Viens . dove off a 100ft cliff to avoid talking to our detectives, and that is . somewhat telling,’ Sheriff's Department detective chief Bill McSweeney . said. He was placed in a medically-induced coma but ultimately survived the attempt - though with critical injuries. | Dawn Viens went missing in October 2009 .
Husband David says he cooked her body in boiling water until only the skull remained, it has never been found .
Viens tried to commit suicide before he was arrested and has pleaded not guilty to her murder . |
fc50b04ade3bb8779af1c64bb5fc66ee424a8cdf | Police have released footage of two passengers viciously attacking a Melbourne bus driver. It shows the women being asked for their fares as they were exiting the bus. Instead, they became verbally abusive and then punched and bit the man before spitting on him. Police say the women failed to produce their Myki cards - used for Melbourne's public transport - to pay for the ride. Scroll down for video . A Melbourne bus driver was assaulted by two passengers on Saturday, November 29 after 2.50pm . Police released footage of two women attacking the man as he asked them for their fares . Instead, the women became verbally abusive and then punched and bit the man before spitting on him . Police say the women failed to produce their Myki cards - used for Melbourne's public transport - to pay for the ride . The bus was travelling from Cranbourne Shopping Centre to Dandenong Railway Station - both southeast of Melbourne. He picked them up at the Dandenong Plaza Shopping Centre bus stop at about 2.50pm. Police have described both women to be of Caucasian appearance. They believe one of passengers is aged in her 50s and was wearing a dark coloured top. The other was aged in her 20s and was wearing a pink top. Investigations are continuing and police urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Police say the driver picked the two women up at a shopping centre bus stop at about 2.50pm . The bus was travelling from Cranbourne Shopping Centre to Dandenong Railway Station - both southeast of Melbourne . | A Melbourne bus driver was assaulted by two passengers on November 29 .
The two women became abusive towards the man when he asked for their fares .
Police say the women exited the bus without paying for the ride .
The passengers were picked up from Dandenong Plaza Shopping Centre bus stop - southeast of Melbourne - at about 2.50pm .
Police described the women to be of Caucasian appearance, aged in their 20s and 50s . |
fc50d4e4e4de2774c100e61a1e69cd9565853126 | Culpeper, Virginia (CNN) -- When the Library of Congress comes to mind, most of us don't think of movies, TV shows or old-school vinyl. But the federal library has been collecting analog recordings of sound and moving images since the late 1800s: Early film reels from inventor Thomas Edison's lab of the 1890s. Audio recordings of Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech. The original 35mm film stock of "Star Wars." These national treasures are among the millions of cultural artifacts being stored in secure vaults in the Library of Congress' National Audio-Visual Conservation Center in Culpeper, some 90 minutes southwest of Washington. The center occupies the Packard Campus, a former bunker for storing federal currency, and measures an amazing 415,000 square feet. Its artifacts are housed in dozens of temperature-controlled vaults and on 90 miles of storage shelves. With more than 5 million items, it's an impressive collection. There's just one problem: Despite the best efforts of preservationists, some of them are physically decaying and in danger of being lost forever. "Any physical artifact is just that, a physical artifact," said Mike Mashon, head of the Library of Congress' moving image section. "These things can shrink, they can fade, they can crumble to dust in less than a lifetime." Going digital . The solution, said Mashon, is to convert these artifacts to digital files. It's an exhaustive job. Between 1.5 million film, television and video items, and another 3.5 million sound recordings, the 114 staff members here have their work cut out for them. Collecting and cataloging over 120 years of recorded American history may seem to be a daunting task. But the preservation of these deteriorating items is currently one of the most pressing missions for the library. Years ago, when analog began to degrade, staffers would make a new copy. But that process has its limitations. "Think about back when you were making your mix tapes," said Gene Deanna, head of the library's recorded sound section. "Every time you made a copy of that tape, it didn't sound as good." Digital technology, he said, is now the best way to preserve the past. "The great thing about digital is that it can be migrated (to copies) without loss." Going digital doesn't solve the problem entirely if the data isn't stored properly. When the compact disc was released to consumers in the early 1980's, many people felt the new format could last forever. Leave a CD on a car's dashboard on a hot summer day, however, and its weakness is revealed. But digital files have the advantage of flexibility, because they can be converted easily into pretty much any other available digital format. Because of advancements in technology, these artifacts in the library's massive vaults will now have a chance to live forever. "Our work in the future is going to be migrating the files and transcoding them to make sure that they're always going to be available to be played back on whatever the next generation software is," Deanna said. Preserving history . Every year, music and movies from all genres in the Library of Congress collection make their way into the digital archives of the National Recording Registry and the National Film Registry to be preserved as national treasures. "We have this entire campus ... for the preservation of the audio-visual heritage of the United States," said Gregory Lukow, chief of the library's Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound division. "We're still acquiring very large-scale collections," he added. "It forces us to think very deeply about how we prioritize what we choose to put through this incredible technological machinery. That's a big challenge, and it means that we'll be at it for decades because we have more than we're capable of putting through the production pipelines at this time." Film stock, especially cellulose nitrate film from the early 20th century, sometimes decays faster than the library's staff can preserve it. "There are inevitably going to be films that we just can't get to," Mashon said. "We try to inspect the film as regularly as we can. If it's seen to be deteriorating rapidly, we want to get it up into the laboratory, but sometimes it's just going to be too late. It's a cultural loss." But thanks to new international standards for audio formats -- a 97-kilohertz, 24-bit, broadcast wave file -- audio snippets catalogued here will be playable around the world. Mashon said the next step in the process is to make many of these audio items available to the public via the Internet. More than 10,000 historical recordings are already available to listeners on the Library of Congress' National Jukebox page. Librarians feel a duty to preserve as many audio and visual artifacts -- more than a century of American life -- as possible. "There is so much to learn from the past from a historical sense," said Deanna. "What people sounded like, what our leaders actually said in their speeches, what the radio broadcast of the day actually consisted of. And without that actual recording, you only have someone else's interpretation of it. "It's absolutely critical that we don't let this legacy fall from the soundscape, fall from our memories." | The Library of Congress stores historic audio and video recordings in secure vaults .
Many cultural artifacts are decaying and must be transferred from analog to digital .
With more than 5 million items, it's an impressive collection .
Artifacts include Martin Luther King Jr. speech, original 35mm film of "Star Wars" |
fc5165b9ccbd2caacbde471850764c1243d51e71 | By . Louise Eccles . UPDATED: . 03:13 EST, 15 February 2012 . Experimental: Artist Olafur Eliasson has created the bizarre 'Take A Deep Breath' art work which could be part of the London 2012 Festival . It is a suggestion likely to cause sharp intakes of breath all round. An artist wants £1million of public money to fund a bizarre project asking people to ‘take a deep breath’ in aid of the Olympics. Participants will be encouraged to inhale and exhale on behalf of ‘a person, a movement or a cause’ and then share details of the experience on a website. The concept will apparently promote ‘interconnectivity’ rather than rivalry, challenging the ‘egocentricity’ of the Games. It has been proposed by Berlin-based artist Olafur Eliasson, whose previous work has involved putting a giant sun in the Tate Modern. But despite being earmarked for inclusion at the London 2012 Festival – an Olympics-based arts celebration running from June to September – his new project rails against the event. In a video about the commission, the Danish-Icelandic artist apparently said: ‘The Olympics reflect the state of the world – the obsession with elite, the obsession with winners, rather than participatory ideas. I was asked by the Olympics to make a work of art that celebrates the Olympics. ‘There’s not a lot to celebrate in the . Olympics and I thought I would make a work of art that exposes some of . the weaknesses of the Olympics.’ Mr Eliasson, 44, has applied to the . Olympic Lottery Distributor (OLD) for £1million – although it is not . known why such a large sum is needed for the website-based project, . called simply Take A Deep Breath. OLD is a body set up to support Olympics projects using money raised by the National Lottery. Previous work: Mr Eliasson created 'The Weather Project' which beamed a giant sun across the Tate Modern . According to the artist, participants . would be asked to take a deep breath and then post a message on a . website about who they did it for and why. A film of people inhaling and . exhaling could also be created. Each ‘breath bubble’ would form a . virtual ‘bubble Earth’ creating ‘a world map defined by shared . aspirations and dreams, rather than national borders’, Mr Eliasson said. Incredibly, the artist hopes 10 per cent of the Earth’s population – 700million people – would take part. Last night Emma Boon, of the . TaxPayers’ Alliance, said the project would certainly ‘win a gold medal . in the money-wasting event’. ‘At a time when budgets are tight and many . households are struggling, it doesn’t seem right to spend so much public . money on this concept,’ she said. Olympics organisers Locog insisted the plan was ‘still in development and subject to funding’. A spokesperson said: 'In late 2011 Manchester International Festival were brought in to produce this project; CREATE are also involved as partners with curatorial support from the Serpentine Gallery.' And Ian Brack, chief executive of the . OLD, said: ‘We have pledged £16.5million of funding for the Cultural . Olympiad, and Mr Eliasson’s application would come from this. ‘Our board will now decide whether they are prepared to let their money be used for this purpose.’ Mr Eliasson declined to comment. Legacy: Examples of the inhalations and exhalations could be kept in a 'permanent archive capsule' near the Olympic Stadium if the project is approved . | Danish artist Olafur Eliasson's online project could receive funding this week . |
fc517374210e2df36c01933d2d6908b3a1cb3d2d | Madrid (CNN) -- In Spain's deep economic crisis, the lucky ones could hardly believe their good fortune on Saturday --- holding a $26 share of a winning lottery ticket pays out a return of $528,000. The country's annual Christmas lottery pays out this year $2.2 billion to thousands of winners, but those holding the winning number for the top prize -- 76058 -- for El Gordo, or "the fat one," reaped the biggest rewards, according to Spain's state-run lottery. The first prize paid $950 million overall, or 43 percent of the total prizes, and most of "El Gordo" was won by some residents of the historic university town of Alcala de Henares, just east of Madrid, the lottery administration said. There, in a working class neighborhood with public housing and many immigrants, Spanish media reported that champagne bottles were popping at the lottery office that sold many of the winning tickets. Spaniards typically buy a share of a ticket, among friends or family, at the local bar or workplace, so the joy was spread around. Is praying for a lottery win frowned upon? Depends on who you ask . A man in Alcala de Henares bought 10 shares -- an amount known as a "full ticket," and now worth $5.2 million -- and had given them away other family members. One recipient, the father of a young child, said he would try to buy a decent home and a car. Another winner was a cafe owner who said he'd still probably open for business on Monday, after going to collect his earnings at the bank, Spanish media reported. The second biggest prize mostly went to residents in the town of Aranda de Duero, north of Madrid. Numerous towns across the nation also got a piece of the action, and some portions of the top El Gordo prize were sold in 15 Spanish provinces. But Spain's recession and the unemployment rate that tops 25% clearly had an impact on the lottery intake this year. Spaniards spent 8% less on lottery tickets this year than last, with the average Spaniard laying out only $68 for lottery ticket shares, down from $73 last year, the lottery administration said. The biggest winner is the state, which keeps $976 million, or 30% of the entire lottery intake, which reached $3.2 billion this year. The remaining 70% was distributed for prizes. This was the last year that Christmas lottery winnings over $3,300 will be tax free. Next year, anyone winning $3,300 or more will see their good fortune taxed at 20 percent, making the cash-strapped Spanish government even a bigger winner. Clock ticks on unclaimed £64 million lottery ticket . | Spain's annual Christmas lottery paid our $2.2 billion to thousands of winners .
The biggest prize -- El Gordo -- was won by residents in Alcala de Henares .
The lottery intake was $3.2 billion, but the government keeps 30% .
Spaniards spent less on lottery tickets this year . |
fc5177cb3dcc71a975c0b8ab2cbc6ae89ca45091 | By . Gavin Madeley . PUBLISHED: . 03:19 EST, 6 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:08 EST, 6 August 2013 . 'Loveable rogue': Thomas McAnea pictured leaving the the High Court in Edinburgh in 2007, when he was jailed for six years . On the face of it, he ran a tiny printer’s shop, apparently producing nothing more exciting than menus for Chinese restaurants. Behind the scenes, however, Thomas McAnea was a master forger at the centre of a major counterfeiting operation with the power to threaten Britain’s economic stability. Nicknamed ‘Hologram Tam’, McAnea relied on just a few simple tools – a pair of spectacles, a magnifying glass and an engraving pen – to produce the detailing on fake banknotes so authentic that by the time he was caught nearly £700,000 worth were in circulation. Yet, despite his fabled ability to conjure up dodgy currency, McAnea, whose death from lung cancer at the age of 63 was reported yesterday, could scarcely be said to have cashed in on his dubious talents. Police sources say he appeared to have barely two pennies to rub together at his death and, in the greatest of ironies, the illness which killed him is believed to have been caused by a lifetime spent inhaling toxic printing fumes. A family friend said: ‘Tam was a lovable rogue but one of the biggest names in crime. ‘It’s a bit ironic he got lung cancer from printing – the job where he made his name as the forgery master. There will be a big turnout at his funeral.’ McAnea, who died at his home in Glasgow on Friday, was jailed for six years and four months in 2007 after he was unmasked as the ringleader of a professional gang which had the capacity to pump out £2million worth of fake notes a day. His tiny shop, Print Link (Scotland), at St George’s Cross, Glasgow, appeared to offer small-scale printing, mainly menus for Chinese restaurants. But its proximity to the M8 allied to the forger’s peerless skills with holograms made it attractive to criminals from all over the UK. Handiwork: Thomas McAnea's dubious services were much sought after the length and breadth of the UK . Rich pickings: At his height Thomas McAnea was churning out up to £2million in forged notes a day . Police became interested in the shop after a tip-off from the Metropolitan Police that an unusually large number of fake Bank of Scotland £20 notes were in circulation in London. McAnea, who became the number one target of Operation Fender launched in October 2005, was already on the police’s radar. Convicted: This picture, taken in 1998 when McAnea was aged 48, was at his trial for forgery which landed him a 10-year stretch, although this was later overturned . In 1998, he and sidekick John McGregor were sentenced to ten years in prison for an earlier plot to flood the market with £1.6million of fake notes via unwitting Scottish fans attending the Euro 96 football championships in England. In 2000, however, both were freed on appeal and had their convictions quashed on a technicality – ironically related to a misprint on a warrant. In 2007, they were not so lucky. When detectives from the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA) raided Print Link, McGregor was caught red-handed printing £500,000 in Bank of Scotland £20 notes. The gang also had in their possession €500,000 (£350,000) in forged notes. Following the raid, another £672,880 worth of counterfeit notes was recovered from the banking system, although one police source said at the time: ‘Some of Hologram Tam’s money is still out there. If I gave you one of his notes, you wouldn’t know it.’ Detectives also found templates for other forgeries including passports, driving licences, ID cards, bank statements, utility bills, MoT certificates, postage and saving stamps and TV licences. A photograph of judge Lord Cameron, who had freed McAnea and McGregor on appeal seven years earlier, adorned the wall of the print room, below which was scrawled: ‘Go on yersel big man’. At the High Court in Edinburgh, McAnea admitted delivering, selling and disposing of fake money between October 2006 and January 2007. Five other gang members were also jailed for a total of 16 years. McAnea’s defence counsel said that he turned to drink after losing two sons, one aged two, and the other aged 22 after a drugs overdose. He had also run up debts and a previous business collapsed owing £15,000. To make ends meet, he offered to help organised gangs. Gangs: The proximity of McAnea's dodgy business near the M8 made it an attractive proposition with criminal gangs all over the country . Yet, as the gangs profited, McAnea had no assets worth seizing at the time of his arrest. All officers could find was a battered old BMW, while his flat in Glasgow’s Yorkhill area was mortgaged to the hilt. One SCDEA source said: ‘We expected to see him drinking champagne or going to lap dancing bars. But the only place he went was the pub or to buy messages.’ Scottish Labour Justice Spokesman Graeme Pearson, who was director of the SCDEA when McAnea was caught, said the former print union official ‘had the touch of the geek about him’, but added: ‘People think it’s a bit of a wheeze, a B movie, producing banknotes in your kitchen, but in actual fact what we have is something that enables criminal gangs to profit. ‘This counterfeiting gang had the ability to destabilise the British economy.’ McAnea’s funeral is due to take place tomorrow at Anniesland, Glasgow. Last night, his partner Lesley-Anne McKinnon was too upset to comment. Cover: To the outside it looked like a small printing firm specialising in Chinese menus, but on the inside it was churning out forged bank notes, passports and MoT documents . | Forger at the centre of a multi-million pound racket dies penniless .
Big turnout expected at funeral of 'loveable rogue' Thomas McAnea .
Nicknamed 'Hologram Tam', McAnea could churn out £2million a day .
His reign came to an end in 2007 when he was caught red-handed by police . |
fc51d5857d28409245453f67f25fc7c899381d7a | By . Anthony Bond . PUBLISHED: . 08:24 EST, 5 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 01:42 EST, 6 April 2012 . With its windows smashed-in, and an overgrown garden surrounding it, nothing better represents the sad decline of Ireland's economy than this unfortunate house. Set in 2.32 acres, and with five-bedrooms, it was bought for €3.3million (£2.7m) during a fierce bidding battle at the height of the property boom. But now, following a disastrous period for the country's economy, the property is on the market for just €395,000 (£325,500). Sad decline: This five-bedroom house was bought for 3.3million euros during a fierce bidding battle at the height of the property boom but is now worth just 395,000 euros . On the market: This 4,080 sq ft house in Tullamore, Co. Offaly, was bought in 2006 by developers intent on building a 60-bed nursing home . It represents the appalling state of the current housing market in Ireland and its wider economy, which has required a £70 billion bailout from the EU and International Monetary Fund. The 4,080 sq ft house in Tullamore, Co. Offaly, was bought in 2006 by developers intent on building a 60-bed nursing home. However, Property Partners Richard Cleary are now advertising the house for €395,000 – an 87 per cent drop in price. ‘I have a great degree of sympathy with the purchasers, they were very unfortunate as through no fault of their own the entire property market turned in 2007,’ Mr Cleary said. While €3.3million might seem like a . colossal price in hindsight, it was an accurate reflection of the market . value at the time, he said. The . buyers planned to take advantage of generous Government tax breaks on . offer for nursing home developments. Permission was granted for a 60-bed . nursing home at the site. Popular: The house, on the market at a knock-down price, is now attracting a lot of interest . For sale: The 4,080 sq ft house is in Tullamore, Co. Offaly, in Ireland . ‘Tax breaks for nursing homes ceased in 2009, but seeing as the site has been discounted by as much as 90 per cent, coupled with the fact that stamp duty has fallen from the previously outlandish rates of nine per cent to one per cent, it may still appeal to nursing home operators,’ said Mr Cleary. There is now intense interest in the house, but most buyers are looking for a home rather than a development site, he said. A survey at the beginning of the year . which looks at the performance of the world's mainstream housing markets . placed Ireland firmly at the bottom. While . at the end of last month, new data from the Central Statistics Office . revealed that residential property prices fell by almost 18 per cent in . the year to . February. At the end of last year, The Irish Taoiseach revealed tough new austerity measures . including hiking VAT to 23 per cent in a bid to save €3.8billion. Abandoned: The property crash has resulted in more than 1,600 ghost estates across Ireland, including the Glenall development in Borris-in-Ossory, Co. Laois . Enda Kenny pledged to get Ireland's budget deficit under an EU limit . of 3 per cent of GDP by 2015 and said this budget would be the toughest . in a four-year run of belt-tightening. The proposals included rises in indirect taxes - . including a 2 per cent hike in VAT, increases in excise duty, cuts in . social welfare and reduced child benefit. It also featured an increase in VAT, as well as a new property tax, taxes on luxury items and raising the pension age. The property crash has also resulted in more than 1,600 ghost estates, with houses completely abandoned, across Ireland, including the Glenall development in Borris-in-Ossory, Co. Laois. Meanwhile Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Ireland has kick-started the Cork property market, real estate agents claim. Skibbereen-based Charles McCarthy estate agents said UK inquiries are up by 40 per cent. ‘We have seen interest from the UK pick up hugely over the last 12 months, which has been in part due to a return of value to the market and a strong sterling,’ they said. | House represents the sad decline of Ireland's economy .
New data reveals that residential property prices fell by almost 18 per cent in the year to .
February . |
fc51ddec78d78a4c0a179035970f8027b7daeb4a | By . Bianca London . PUBLISHED: . 05:23 EST, 8 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:11 EST, 8 July 2013 . A woman was shamed into losing weight after being horrified by a picture of herself in her bikini. But Becky Latham is back in a skimpy two-piece for the first time in 18 months after shedding three stone, and she's so proud of her size-eight figure she's even taken part in a bikini contest. Becky, who lives in Birmingham, said: 'I was 11 stone when I saw the picture of me in a bikini and I was disgusted with myself. 'And I didn't have the confidence to wear one again until now but I'm in the best shape of my life and I'm proud to show my figure off.' New woman: Becky Latham, 32, shows off her new body in the Bikini Diva category of Miss Galaxy Universe after losing three stone . Before and after: She was originally a size 14 . but was so horrified by this bikini photos that she embarked on a grueling . fitness programme and worked out six times a week . Last month, 32-year-old Becky took to the stage in front of hundreds of people to compete in the Bikini Diva category of beauty and fitness competition Miss Galaxy Universe. She said: 'Putting on the bikini really did make me feel like a million dollars for the first time in my life and I loved every single second on stage. 'It was emotional and I think I cried when I had finished but I was so pleased I had done it. 'The blood, sweat and tears of the last 18 months had really paid off.' New confidence: Becky was shamed into losing weight after being horrified by a picture of herself in her bikini but now she is back in a skimpy two-piece for the first time in 18 months . Becky says she had always been a slender size eight through her teens and twenties but noticed the weight creep after moving to Catral, Spain with her husband Jason, 41, in 2008. At her heaviest, Becky weighed 11 stone and was wearing size 14 clothes. She said: 'I tried to be careful about what I ate but the weight crept up. I'd restrict myself to a tin of tomato soup or beans on toast in the day but at night I would sink endless glasses of wine and munch on crisps and chocolate. 'I hated my body more than anything and I hate the way it made me feel. I ended up being so negative despite living in our Spanish paradise. Working out: For the next four months Becky spent five to six days each week in the gym at spin and circuit classes and then teamed up with husband Jay to train with weights . 'My turnaround really came in 2011 when I was looking at photographs taken from the summer. I decided enough was enough and I had to do something.' For the next four months Becky spent five to six days each week in the gym at spin and circuit classes and then teamed up with husband Jay to train with weights. And she continued after they moved back to the UK in November last year. She said: 'The weights area was surrounded by mirrors and I couldn't bear to look at myself but Jason was so supportive, he really helped me. 'With weight training I was able to burn more calories and within three months I'd lost a stone, the rest fell off really quickly. Support system: Becky says her husband Jason, 41, was so supportive and really helped her after she became too insecure to even look in the mirror . 'I began reading up on female weight training and changed my diet. Before then I was starving myself but I began eating more protein and carbs and fats. 'I even went up to six meals a day and made sure I had lots of vegetables and natural food - never any packets or ready meals. 'It gave me so much more energy and I really felt alive, refreshed and strong.' Today eight and a half stone Becky pumps iron four days a week and is able to lift 60 kilos - more than she weighs. And she's even joined UK Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation, which holds bodybuilding contests. She said: 'I now feel in better shape than I was when I was a teenager. 'And . I can hopefully inspire others who are feeling low about themselves by . showing them if you really want something it is achievable.' How she was: Becky, pictured here in 2011 and 2010, used to eat ready meals and packaged food but now she feels much healthier on a diet of fresh fruit and vegetables . Lean: Becky has even joined UK Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation, which holds bodybuilding contests . | Becky Latham, 32, went from size 14 to size 8 after seeing bikini snaps .
Went to gym up to six times a week and did weights with husband .
Ditched ready meals for fresh fruit and vegetables .
Recently competed in Miss Galaxy Universe bikini contest . |
fc51e6b4780f82a4135d61397108195616e53acb | Editor's note: This post was created as a collaborative effort between the editorial staffs of BuzzFeed and CNN. (BuzzFeed/CNN) -- There's probably no wrong way to ask the person you love to spend the rest of their life with you. There are, however, some methods that are way more awesome than others. When it comes popping the question, a special few went above and beyond to prove their love not only to their significant others, but to the world. A recent viral proposal video starring Zach Braff was so adorable we decided to dig through the vault and find some of our favorites from over the years. If you are reading this on mobile or some outdated browser, click here instead. . | Some go above and beyond to prove their love to significant others, everyone else .
Zach Braff stars in man's proposal video .
Follow CNN Living on Facebook and Twitter . |
fc5236504c67518383185aacf3f6f3cd8e6c4041 | By . Steve Nolan . PUBLISHED: . 12:01 EST, 12 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:30 EST, 12 December 2013 . Police are searching for Kyshan Van Der Zanden, right and his daughter Lylah, centre, after he allegedly snatched her from her mother Gemma Mountney, left . Spanish detectives have launched a hunt for a Belgian man who snatched his toddler daughter away from her British mother. Kyshan Van Der Zanden, 22, made sure that his partner Gemma Mountney was out of the house all day by treating her to shopping vouchers and a trip to the spa. He then packed up his and his daughter Laylah's belongings from their Alicante home and fled before the 21-month-old's mother returned. Ms Mountney believed that Van Der Zanden had dropped the little girl off at nursery earlier, but instead he had hidden her with friends while he got her mother away from the house and packed. Although Ms Mountney called the nursery after noticing some of Van Der Zanden's belongings were gone when she returned home at lunch time, her partner had told nursery staff to lie to her because he had planned a surprise family day out. It wasn't until early evening when she went to pick up her daughter that Ms Mountney discovered the ploy and called police. Ms Moutney, who moved to Spain from Thame, Oxfordshire, ten years ago with her family, said: 'It is absolutely heartbreaking. 'He was the single person in the world who I thought would never do something like this - I'm devastated. 'I . miss Laylah so much and I just want her back in my arms and to be . giving her a huge hug. I thought he loved and cared for me and Laylah - . clearly not. Van Der Zanden told Ms Mountney that he had taken the couple's daughter to nursery school . 'If I could speak to him I would just urge him to bring her back. Bring her back to her mum so I can just hold her in my arms.' She met Van Der Zanden on a night out three years ago. They . set up home together in the coastal town of Calpe, and as far as Gemma, . a full-time mother, was concerned, everything was perfect. Speaking today she said: 'It was absolutely fine. When he came back . from apparently dropping her off at nursery he gave me a kiss and told . me he loved me. Ms Mountney's family have been appealing for information on Facebook . '[I went out . for my facial and went to the shoe shop he had given me vouchers for - . looking back he was doing his best to make sure I was out of the house . all day.' 'He had called the nursery in the morning and told them she wasn't going to be coming in. 'He said he had a surprise for all of us as a family - to go and have a lunch and a family photo shoot - and to lie if I called up.' The Guardia Civil - the Spanish police force - has issued alerts to airports and ports all over Europe. Ms Mountney said they are now treating it as a kidnap case and her family has taken to Facebook in a bid to track down Laylah by publishing family pictures. She noticed Laylah's passport and identity cards were missing two weeks ago, but when Van Der Zanden said he thought they had been lost and offered to organise replacements, she took his word for it. She fears Laylah and her father might be on the run in his home country of Belgian where his parents Nancy and Peter Van Der Zanden still live - or in Dubai where his father has business links. Two days after Laylah went missing, Ms Mountney's family finally got through to Van Der Zanden's mother who at first claimed she had no idea anything was wrong - but then slammed the phone down. Hours later she admitted she 'knew where Kyshan was' but put the phone down and has not been in touch since. Van Der Zanden distracted Ms Mountney, pictured with Laylah, by giving her shoe shopping vouchers and treating her to a spa trip . A spokeswoman for reunite International Child Abduction Centre, confirmed the charity was working with the family. He said: 'It's so sad every time we see it, but what is particularly upsetting in this case is how young the little girl is. 'She must be very confused at the moment and probably doesn't understand what is going on. 'The . first step we need to take is to establish exactly where her father has . taken her, which the Spanish police are currently assisting with. 'Once . we know where the little girl has been taken we can then help the . mother decide what the best option is with regard to getting her back . safely. 'Unfortunately cases . like this are rising and we are now seeing over 500 cases per year of . children being abducted by their parents.' A spokesman for Guardia Civil in Calpe said they were aware of the case and were investigating. Police believe that Van Der Zanden may have returned to his native Belgium with his daughter . | Kyshan Van Der Zanden is thought to have taken 21-month-old Laylah .
He told her mother Gemma Mountney that he'd taken Laylah to nursery .
Van Der Zanden distracted his partner with shoe shopping vouchers and a spa trip .
While she was out of the house he packed up his belongings and fled .
Ms Mountney went to pick Laylah up from nursery and was told she never arrived . |
fc528ae222fafee9eb1afca0e7f11b82d1cc288d | (CNN) -- From the moment I was admitted to my first psychiatric ward, I was desperate to get out. I hated the smell, the food, most of the staff, the routines, the magazines. I hated the sagging mattresses, the glassless funhouse mirrors, the furniture, the isolation rooms. But as much as I despised the place, there was one saving grace for me there: the other patients. Many had absolute horror stories. Stories of abuse, self-mutilation, combat, rape, starvation. Stories that made this liberal lawyer reconsider taking up criminal prosecution. But others had stories like mine. Happy childhoods. Mild traumas possibly but nothing extreme. In the end though, we were all the same. We were all seriously ill; we all desperately needed help, and we all resented the fact that we needed it. What's more, we were all acutely aware of the classified, top-secret nature of our conditions and whereabouts. This wasn't paranoia. It was self-preservation. People tend to look unfavorably upon the mentally ill, especially those of us who've ever been hospitalized. Nevertheless, some of the most brazen, brave and brilliant figures in history have struggled with sickness of the mind. Sadly, many have also died at their own hands because of those same sicknesses. From Vincent van Gogh to Sylvia Plath to Kurt Cobain to countless others. Like them, roughly 90 percent of those who take their own lives suffer from psychiatric illnesses. Thus, any efforts to combat suicide promise to fail miserably unless and until we begin to engage in more open and honest discussions surrounding mental illness. Not in whispers and not as gossip, but in strong and steady voices and as an issue that deserves as much attention, compassion and funding as cancer or HIV/AIDS or any other deadly disease. So on Friday, which is World Suicide Prevention Day, I am addressing the living in an effort to honor and respect the dead. I am asking those of you who have experience with mental illness to speak up, and I am asking those of you who have no such experience to hear us out. I know that it's not easy to speak in the midst of so much stigma or listen amid so much misinformation, but I assure you that it's worth it. The true sin of suicide is not the act itself. Rather, it is the insidious silence and insensitivity that surrounds so many of the most excruciating diseases of the mind that so often trigger suicide. The dangerous thing about silence is that it breeds shame and isolation, both of which can be much more devastating than any singular psychiatric condition alone. It's one thing to be crazy. It's quite another to think that you're the only crazy person on the planet. By the time I made it to the hospital, I felt more alone than ever. After months of unsuccessfully wrestling with a seemingly relentless bout of depression, I finally just gave up. Within a few days, I had a well-planned exit strategy in place: go far away from home, leave a note full of love and apologies, take a sharp knife to a femoral artery and do it outside so that no one would have to clean up the mess. But, as with most events involving life and death, things did not go according to plan. The reality of my suicide attempt couldn't have veered any further away from the fantasy of that clean, controlled and speedy departure. Ultimately, I slit my wrist on the floor of my psychiatrist's waiting room with a dismally dull pocketknife. Having bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depression) means not only that you can experience the opposing poles of mania and depression, but also that you can experience aspects of both concurrently. Translation: The "poles" don't always stay in place. In my case, my manic impulsivity had shattered the careful plans of my depressive deliberations and left me bleeding from the wrist on the floor of my psychiatrist's waiting room instead of from the leg on the floor of some faraway forest. Whatever the case, plan or no plan, by the grace of God, I failed miserably in my attempt. And today, thanks to a proper diagnosis, medication, therapy, health insurance, faith and a supportive family, I am well. And by that, I do not mean that I am cured. There is no cure for bipolar disorder, although there are many excellent treatments. Even with medication, therapy and lifestyle adjustments, I still have highs and lows that extend far beyond those of most everyone else I know, and I still occasionally suffer from acute bouts of depression, mania and mixed episodes that can and have landed me in the hospital. Nevertheless, since my unfortunate encounter with that pocketknife, I've yet to make any more attempts on my own life. Nor have I ever felt nearly as alone as I did upon my first hospitalization. Speaking openly about my mental illness and meeting other talented, creative and productive individuals who also happen to share similar circumstances has played an invaluable role in my healing. Entering that first psychiatric ward, I felt cut off from the earth, drowning in a sea of despair. All the people I loved -- all the sane, strong and sturdy people who wanted to save me -- were stuck on steady shore. But getting to the hospital was like noticing all these other people drowning around me -- all within reach. It wasn't just me in the abyss anymore, and now that I knew I wasn't alone, I had a reason to tread water. Killing myself meant I couldn't save them. Killing myself meant killing them. Suddenly, I had no choice. I had to swim. So, I swam to save the others, only to find, upon reaching the shore, that they had saved me. If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. | Melody Moezzi writes about trying to kill herself .
Moezzi says medication and continued therapy have helped with bipolar disorder .
Moezzi asks "those of you who have experience with mental illness to speak up"
Friday marks World Suicide Prevention Day . |
fc52f13c79447604f87517ce08673f82864aa283 | Celebrity Big Brother star insists she doesn't judge Ryan Giggs' wife Stacey for staying with the footballer . Thought Imogen Thomas was treated unfairly in the aftermath of her affair with Ryan . Is hopeful she and Rhodri may be able to rebuild their relationship romantically again in the future . By . Emily Sheridan . Last updated at 3:45 PM on 19th January 2012 . When Natasha Giggs was photographed kissing and cuddling her estranged husband Rhodri this week, many assumed the couple were back together. But the Celebrity Big Brother star, 29, insists they aren't a couple, but are building a friendship for the sake of the children. Speaking on This Morning today, Natasha spoke of her regrets over her eight-year affair with brother-in-law Ryan, 38, and her hopes that Rhodri, 34, will be able to trust her again. Setting the record straight: Natasha Giggs spoke about her eight year affair with brother-in-law Ryan on This Morning . Referring to photos taken of them in a Bolton park this week, she said: 'The pictures are a bit misleading. We've been speaking for a long time. We've spent a lot of time together over the past few months. 'We both want to move on it from it. We both want to move on a friendship. 'Nobody is saying we're going to get back together. We're working on things for our children. 'In an ideal world, we will be together, we will be a family again. Whether or not we'll get over it, time will tell.' Grilling: This Morning co-host Phillip Schofield gave Natasha a succession of tough questions . Natasha admitted the pair had been trying to work through their problems since they split in June in the aftermath of her confession. She insisted: 'Rhodri can trust me. That's what we're working on now. Its a huge thing to get over. If we do get back together is because we want to be together and we can 100 per cent trust each other... 'I love Rhodri. People have affairs for various different reasons. I do love Rhodri and I've always loved Rhodri.' But when quizzed by This Morning host Ruth Langsford why she fled to Spain the day she sold her story instead of tell her husband face-to-face, Natasha admitted she was scared. She explained: 'Rhodri and I had a really fiery relationship. I honestly thought he was going to kill me. 'It's one of my biggest regrets. I wish I had told him myself.' Stern words: This Morning agony aunt Denise Robertson told Natasha she didn't believe she had fully realised the consequences of her actions . Natasha had already had a brief romance with Ryan - while he was dating now-wife Stacey - when she first met Rhodri in 2003. Despite her sleeping with the Premiership footballer on and off during an eight year period, she pointed out that there was a three year period they didn't see each other. But she ended up meeting Ryan during a night out in 2010 - just two months before she wed Rhodri in Las Vegas. She said: 'Nothing had happened with us for a good three years beforehand. We bumped into each other on a night out and it just happened. Back on track? Natasha and Rhodri Giggs enjoy a romantic walk in a park near their Bolton home earlier this week . 'I don't expect sympathy. Nobody will ever think of me for anything else except what I did. I've always held my hands up. It wasn't just me. I do feel like a lot of the stick that comes my way... 'I wasn't the only person involved.' When . asked what she thought of Ryan's wife Stacey - who she was involved in a . slanging match with in a Manchester street in November - Natasha . insisted she didn't judge her for forgiving the Manchester United star. She said: 'I can't really say anything to her apart from what happened. I can't judge her for staying with him. 'I had four conversations with her during our (Rhodri and my) eight year relationship. We didn't really socialise together.' Glossy locks: Natasha popped into Tatiana Hair Extensions in Kensington, London last night to get her hair done for her TV appereance . Despite a Twitter row with Imogen Thomas - another woman alleged to have had an affair with Ryan - Natasha insists she actually felt sorry for the Welsh model. Former Miss Wales Imogen was banned from . speaking about her six-month fling with Ryan after he got d a court . injunction to silence her. Sympathy: Natasha said she felt sorry for Imogen Thomas, who was wrongly labelled a blackmailer by Ryan . Last month, the High Court found Ryan had withdrawn his previous claim that suggested Imogen had tried to blackmail him. The judge accepted Imogen did not ask Ryan for £100,000 to buy her silence over their affair. Speaking today, Natasha said: 'I have absolutely no problem with her. It was unfair the way she was treated. To be publicly labelled a blackmailer.' She insisted the only reason she hit back at Imogen on Twitter was because the model had started writing things about her first: 'I've never mentioned her, I've never tweeted on her and I felt there was no reason for her to say anything about me.' Natasha vehemently denied This Morning agony aunt Denise Robertson's accusations that she didn't fully understand the fall-out of her affair. She insisted: 'I've lived through this the past six months. Its easy for people outside to say that. Unless you're living through it you don't know what's going on.' Natasha's Television appearance came after she denied tabloid claims she slept with a barber on holiday last summer. Although single at the time following . her split from Rhodri, the Celebrity Big Brother star has denied having . sex with Graham Griffiths. Denial: Natasha hit out at Griffiths' claims this morning on her Twitter page, insisting she didn't sleep with him . The 23-year-old barber, from Somerset, alleged he had slept with the brunette during a holiday in Ayia Napa last August. Griffiths . told The Sun: 'I only knew her for three nights and I slept with her . every one. She wore me out - she let me do everything with her and I . couldn't help myself. 'Natasha's a man-eater and I think the only chance of their marriage working is if Rhodri keeps her locked up.' She wrote on Twitter this morning: 'Pathetic! Last August as a single girl on holiday... With no sex involved. Sad little boy.' Gimme volume: Natasha gets her hair boosted by a stylist at Tatiana Hair Extensions . Clearly supporting his wife, Salford . City F.C. manager Rhodri - who has now called off plans to divorce her - . retweeted her comment on his Twitter page this morning. She later added: 'If someone wants to . cash in on what's goin' on around me that's fine, it's hardly news! I . don't really care tbh... Send him his chq n get it over with! I am a . single girl at the end of the day.... There's obviously not much else . goin on in the world at the mo!!' Natasha's . holiday to Cyprus came two months after she confessed her affair with . her brother-in-law to Rhodri in an emotional letter - written before she . fled to Spain with their son Louis, five. Sticking by her man: Stacey Giggs has continued her marriage to husband Ryan, despite the revelations . She decided to come clean two months . after Ryan's alleged six-month affair with Welsh model Imogen Thomas had . been revealed, despite the footballer getting an injunction on the . latter. Last weekend, . Rhodri finally broke his silence over the affair and admitted his . brother was yet to apologise to him for the betrayal. He revealed he hadn't spoken to the Manchester United player since a short conversation last July. Rhodri told The Sun: 'Ryan's a great footballer, but he is nothing as a man. Natasha was my whole life and he was supposed to be the closest person to me. 'He wasn't sorry. He said it was about the sex, nothing more than that, which was nice of him.' Meanwhile, Rhodri and Natasha ended up in a Twitter row with Jade Goody's widower Jack Tweed. After seeing photos of the reunited . couple, Tweed, 24, wrote on his micro-blogging page: 'How has Giggs' brother taken her back after an 8 year affair. One word come to mind. #mug.' In response, Natasha wrote: 'Of all the people I would've thought u would not believe everything u read #mug #jogon.' And . Rhodri added: 'Mug.... Hopefully we bump into each other then we'll see . who the mug is...little f***ot #peopleinglasshouseswhoareyoubytheway??' Tweed then replied: 'Just picture ur brother hangin out the back of ur bird every time u are #whosshethinkinabout.' The . crude response then prompted Natasha to tweet: 'What a little rat u . r.... #nomark what's up? Not been in the papers for a while?? Get a . grip!' Romance: Rhodri leans in for a kiss with his wife . | Celebrity Big Brother star insists she doesn't judge Ryan Giggs' wife Stacey for staying with the footballer .
Thought Imogen Thomas was treated unfairly in the aftermath of her affair with Ryan .
Is hopeful she and Rhodri may be able to rebuild their relationship romantically again in the future . |
fc531dac77eff51b26d3823b05ae53c24eca9ed9 | (CNN) -- Why has the Obama administration been so reluctant to intervene in Syria? There are a host of reasons -- American fatigue with war, President Barack Obama's disinclination to start another conflict in the Middle East, and the splintered, fractured opposition to Bashar al-Assad. But one reason looms large: al Qaeda. Al Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, Jabhat al-Nusra, is generally acknowledged to be the most effective force fighting al-Assad. Its fighters are willing to sacrifice themselves for the cause, are widely viewed as uncorrupt and are not involved in looting as other opposition forces are. A number of them are battle-hardened from other conflicts such as the Iraq War. Al Qaeda's Syrian affiliate is also well supplied as it benefits from the support of Sunni ultra-fundamentalists in the wealthy Gulf states such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Jabhat al-Nusra, which means the "Victory Front," was listed as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department in December and is essentially a splinter organization of al Qaeda in Iraq. Al-Nusra's military prowess and close ties to al Qaeda make it a potentially serious threat to U.S. interests in the region, and the group has shown it has the ability to conduct massive suicide bombings. In November, al-Nusra claimed responsibility for 45 attacks in the provinces of Damascus, Deraa, Hama and Homs that killed dozens of people, including one suicide bomb that reportedly resulted in 60 casualties. It was the first insurgent organization in Syria to claim responsibility for attacks that caused civilian casualties. Despite these civilian casualties, the group has been able to garner considerable support from Syria's Sunni population, not only because it is the premier fighting force in the campaign to topple al-Assad but also because it is involved in providing critical services such as food, medical services and Sharia courts to the embattled population. Also, for the moment, al-Nusra is not imposing Taliban-style rule in areas that it controls as al Qaeda did in Iraq's massive Anbar province during the first years of the Iraq War. Al Qaeda's harsh rule in Iraq precipitated the 2006 "Sunni Awakening" in which Iraq's Sunni tribes rose up against the group. Al-Nusra seems to have learned from this mistake and is operating in a Hezbollah-like manner as a large-scale provider of social services, and with the consent of the population in the areas it controls. There is some confusion about how exactly al-Nusra fits into the larger al Qaeda network. Al Qaeda in Iraq released a statement in April announcing its official merger with al-Nusra, proclaiming that their joint organization would be called the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. A leader of al-Nusra later rejected the merger but pledged the group's support for al Qaeda's overall leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri. On June 9, Al Jazeera obtained a copy of a letter from al-Zawahiri annulling the merger. But a week later, in an audio recording posted online, al Qaeda in Iraq rejected al-Zawahiri's annulment of the merger, likely adding to the confusion of al Qaeda cadres. Syria is a particularly agreeable environment for al Qaeda. During the Sunni insurgency in Iraq that began in 2003, it was a key base for training and supporting foreign fighters. Al-Assad is also the perfect al Qaeda villain. He is an Shia Alawite and therefore a heretic in the eyes of the Sunni fundamentalists. He is a secularist and therefore an apostate in their view, and he is conducting a war without quarter against much of his Sunni population. Some 2,000 to 5,500 foreign fighters are believed to have traveled to Syria since the beginning of the Syrian conflict to join the rebels who aim to topple the Assad regime. Not all of them have necessarily joined jihadist factions of the rebel forces, but because most foreign fighters are drawn to the conflict because of a perceived religious responsibility, it is likely that these groups have drawn the lion's share of the foreigners. Even at high-end estimates, foreign fighters make up a small portion of the forces arrayed against the Assad regime: no more than 10%. Al-Nusra is the opposition group in Syria that attracts the most foreign fighters. It is believed that there are about 100 foreign fighters from the United Kingdom fighting in Syria. Experts say the number of Americans fighting in Syria is likely less than 10, and only a couple of instances of Americans fighting with al-Nusra have been confirmed. Eric Harroun, a former American solider, was charged in 2013 with conspiring to use a rocket-propelled grenade in Syria, and he admitted to fighting with al-Nusra. | Peter Bergen: U.S. may be reluctant on Syria due to role of al Qaeda-linked group .
He says group has emerged as most effective rebel force and helps fill social needs .
Bergen: Al Qaeda's Syrian affiliate attracts the most foreign fighters in conflict .
He says group has shown ability to stage suicide bombings, threatens U.S interests . |
fc532cb44d6ba2cca0f894d11c0bc6485bb655bc | By . Wills Robinson . Attack: Detective Paul Whiteley, 51, told a holidaymaker: 'I'm a copper, I can do what I want' as he attacked him in a pub after drinking for seven hours . A murder squad detective’s career lies in tatters today after he was convicted of a shocking attack on a holidaymaker in a pub while shirtless and completely 'legless'. Detective sergeant Paul Whiteley, 51, of West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, is set to lose his job after saying: 'I'm a copper, I'll do what I like' before drunkenly assaulting another customer at Fylingdales Inn in Whitby, North Yorkshire. The 51-year-old told the mother of an autistic child to 'f*** your f***ing disabled child' during the outburst which could end his 22-year career. Witnesses described how Whiteley ripped off his shirt during the argument before shouting: 'Come on outside you bald-head b*****d'. He was staying at a campsite and had been drinking for seven hours with his girlfriend, Claire Hughes, 43. Scarborough Magistrates' Court heard electrician Carl Sarsfield, 41, was asked to have a word with the couple when a barmaid spotted them heading for their car, still carrying open bottles of wine. He said: 'I went out there and asked him politely "You are not drinking and driving are you?"' He claimed Whiteley, who was getting in the passenger side, replied; 'I’m not driving - she is.' The electrician objected, saying: 'She is legless as well.' Mr Sarsfield said Whiteley and his partner then came back into the pub to wait for a taxi, but things became 'heated'. Whiteley slapped him in the face, prompting Mr Sarsfield to defend himself, leaving the police officer on his back. He said: 'He was absolutely legless. He could hardly stand up. He was falling all over the place. 'I could have burped on him and he would have fallen over.' He then ripped his shirt off after the slap and slung it towards the bar before shouting 'Come on then - outside you bald headed b*****d.' Miss Sarsfield, who was with her autistic daughter at the time, to,d the court: 'He was shouting "I’m a copper - I will do what I like". He was paralytic. My initial reaction was to get my daughter away from what was going on. I told them to calm down and there was no need to behave in that way.' The full-time carer said: 'My daughter was hysterical. I saw Carl and the man fighting. The man was very drunk and fell over.' The court heard police were called and Whiteley told the people in the pub: 'Let them come. I’m a police officer. I will sort it out.' Miss Crossley said as they waited for police to arrive Whiteley shouted abuse about her daughter. She added: 'My daughter was absolutely beside herself. It affected her for weeks afterwards.' Reputation: The decorated officer who has served with West Yorkshire Police for 22 years was 'so drunk he could hardly stand up and kept falling over' Partner: Whiteley had been drinking with his girlfriend Claire Hughes, 43, for seven hours. A customer interfered when he spotted the pair walking to their car with open bottles of wine . Mark Kelly, defending Whiteley, told the court how the conviction 'will be simply catastrophic for him, in terms of his reputation built up over many years, employment and any future prospects.' Fining Whiteley £1,455 in court costs, Magistrate Delia Liddle said: 'The level of fine is more serious, having being committed on licensed premises and you were in drink.' The court heard Whiteley was arrested and bundled in a police van after the incident around 9.30pm in May last year. Martin Hawes, prosecuting, described both attacks as 'unprovoked' and denied Whiteley was acting in self-defence. Miss Hughes was charged with assaulting Miss Crossley but she was found not guilty. During the drunken row at the Fylingdales Inn in Whitby, North Yorkshire, he threatened another customer, saying: 'Come on then - outside you bald headed b*****d' Whiteley, of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, was found guilty of assault by beating after four hours of deliberations. He denied the charge throughout and speaking after the case, his barrister confirmed his client intends to appeal. Whiteley had been suspended for the force for the 14 months that the case has been waiting to come to trial. Detective . Chief Superintendent Clive Wain, of West Yorkshire Police's . Professional Standards Department, said: 'We are aware of the decision . of the court in relation to this officer. West Yorkshire Police expects . the very highest standards of its officers and staff, both on and off . duty. 'The officer remains suspended from duty and an internal misconduct investigation will now commence.' | Det Sgt Paul Whiteley, 51, fined almost £1,500 after 'unprovoked' attack .
Had been drinking at a pub in Whitby, North Yorkshire, for seven hours .
Tried to get in his car with partner Claire Hughes still holding bottles of wine .
Slapped Carl Sarsfield, 41, after he said they were too 'legless' to drive .
Falling all over the place Whiteley then ripped off his shirt and shouted: 'Come on then - outside you bald-headed b*****d'
Mr Sarsfield said if he had burped on Whitley he would have fallen over . |
fc53b2290dffe4e029ce89aac4a2891fa9c27052 | (CNN) -- A frog that eats birds and a gecko with leopard stripes are among the 163 new species discovered last year in the Greater Mekong region of southeast Asia, according to a report by the World Wildlife Fund. The Cat Ba leopard gecko is found exclusively in Cat Ba Island National Park in northern Vietnam. The discovery of 100 new plants, 28 fish, 18 reptiles, 14 amphibians, two mammals and one bird species highlights the extent of the biodiversity in the region, said Barney Long, head of the WWF's Asian Species Conservation program. "It's a melting pot of diverse habitats. It has some of the wettest forests on the planet, high mountains, and a diverse array of terrestrial and marine habitats, including the Mekong River," he said. "We continue to find new species of fish, primates and mammals, and nowhere else compares to the amount of large mammals that have been discovered in the region. It shows how little we know about species in the region," he said. "From a biodiversity perspective, there are still huge amounts to discover about region." The Greater Mekong consists of the countries through which the Mekong River flows: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and Yunnan Province of China. With 16 global ecoregions -- areas defined by their shared ecological features and animal communities -- the Greater Mekong has more protected spaces than anywhere else on mainland Asia, according to the WWF. The colorful Cat Ba leopard gecko of northern Vietnam has large, orange-brown "catlike eyes" and a body of leopard stripes, according to a report released Friday. Its name refers to its place of origin, Cat Ba Island, the largest of 366 islands in Cat Ba Archipelago and home to many rare species that can only be found on the island. Scientists believe the high number of species unique to the island might be due to the long separation of the island from continental Vietnam, the report says. Limnonectes megastomias -- a fanged frog with an appetite for other frogs, insects and birds -- has only been found in three remote areas of medium-to-high altitudes in eastern Thailand. Globally, new species of mammals are rare finds, but in 2008 alone, new species of the mouselike musk shrew and a tube-nosed bat emerged from the region. See photos of newly discovered species » . War and political unrest have kept large parts of the region, particularly Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar, off-limits to scientific exploration up until the past two decades, Long said. Since 1997, nearly 1,200 new species have been discovered, many that cannot be found anywhere else, said Dekila Chungyalpa, director of WWF's Greater Mekong Program. But the rapid pace of development in the Mekong region, coupled with the effects of climate change, are threatening to drive the species into extinction, Chungyalpa said. "As we become familiar with more species in the region, our understanding of climate change and how it impacts these new species is changing," she said. Chungyalpa said conservative estimates by the WWF project a 1-meter rise in sea level on the delta's coastline over the next decade, which will affect not only marine life, but also people who rely on the delta as a source of sustenance and employment, she said. In 2007, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its Fourth Assessment Report, which projected that global sea levels could rise from 18 to 59 centimeters (7 to 23 inches) over the next century based on six possible scenarios. Already, Chungyalpa said, the area has been affected by an increase in tropical storms off the coast, which brings in more seawater and changes the flooding patterns in the delta. Some researchers, however, have questioned the link between climate change and more intense tropical storms. Apart from climate change, construction of dams and hydropower plants along the delta could further disrupt its waters, potentially displacing millions, destroying sources of drinkable water and disrupting the production of rice, Chungyalpa said. "The delta is the rice bowl of the region. What will happen to people who depend on it if it's no longer there?" she said. The WWF says it supports the idea of an agreement among the Mekong countries on how to respond to infrastructure development and climate change in terms of protecting its natural resources and people. "Climate change is making it obvious that we can't treat development like it's a separate issue," she said. "We need to be addressing this issue now. It's such an immediate issue for us and it's going to change everything in this region if we don't address it." | Discoveries highlight extent of region's biodiversity, World Wildlife Fund says .
100 plants, 28 fish, 18 reptiles, 14 amphibians, two mammals, 1 bird species found .
WWF: Pace of development in region, climate change threaten species to extinction .
Since 1997, nearly 1,200 new species have been discovered in Greater Mekong . |
fc54a85aec1e17fec37f109265a04827d5e93dc3 | By . Chris Paine . and Sarah Dean for Daily Mail Australia . Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek has revealed her leader and 'friend' Bill Shorten has had a 'pretty bad week' following historical rape allegations levelled against him. Ms Plibersek opened an address to 400 Queensland Party members at a Brisbane conference on Saturday, where she admitted Mr Shorten's revelations had played a toll on him. The Labor leader said on Thursday he was the subject of an investigation into rape claims stemming from a Young Labor camp he attended near Geelong in 1986. Scroll down for video . Mr Shorten fronted the media this afternoon to address the claims stemming from a Young Labor camp near Geelong in 1986 . Bill Shorten revealed the matter had been investigated by police and dropped . Bill Shorten and his wife Chloe Bryce, pictured here attending the funeral of Mr Shorten's mother in April this year . Addressing the Queensland Australian Labor Party's 51st state conference in Brisbane, Ms Plibersek said: 'My friend Bill Shorten would have loved to have been here with you today.' 'Bill's had a pretty bad week but he's had a wonderful year.' Aside from this week's allegations Mr Shorten had to deal with the death of his mother Ann in April but has performed well in the opinion polls, especially in light of an unpopular budget. A police investigation cleared the Labor leader who called the rape allegations 'untrue and abhorrent.' Tanya Plibersek told Labor Party members in Queesnland ALP leader Bill Shoten has had a tough week . Mrs Plibersek's comments come after Mr Shorten addressed the media on Friday to confirm Victorian Police had investigated claims made by a woman on Facebook last year. Mr Shorten today released a brief statement in Melbourne which confirmed police had dropped their investigation into claims he described as 'untrue and abhorrent'. 'I will not go into the details, except to say that the allegation was untrue and abhorrent,' Mr Shorten said at a press conference. Mr Shorten revealed the investigation had been difficult for he and his wife Chloe Bryce, the daughter of former Governor-General Quentin Bryce. 'This has been deeply distressing for my family,' he added. 'I'm thankful for the love and support of Chloe and the support of my staff and parliamentary colleagues.' The alleged victim made claims on Facebook last year that they were assaulted at a Young Labor camp near Geelong in 1986. 'Investigating police sought advice from the Office of Public Prosecutions, which advised there was no reasonable prospect of conviction,' read a statement from Victoria Police. 'All parties have been notified that Victoria Police will not be proceeding with criminal charges.' According to Mr Shorten's lawyer, the claims 'go back about 30 years to when he was a teenager' Richard Marles, the Shadow Minister for Immigration and Border Protection and a longtime friend of Mr Shorten, told 2GB on Thursday afternoon that it had been 'one of the worst moments of Bill's life'. 'I first met Bill in 1987 and I have been a close friend of Bill since that time. I know that these allegations are not true, because the person I've known is simply not capable of undertaking the allegations that have been made against him,' he told Ben Fordham on his radio program on 2GB. 'I have no idea what the motivations are behind the allegations that have been made. 'There's just no way that any of this was possible. These allegations surface almost immediately upon Bill becoming the leader of the Labor Party. 'It's been a really difficult time for Bill. I think this has been one of the worst moments of Bill's life. I think with this being dealt with in the background shows how tough a guy he is.' Mr Shorten's longtime friend Richard Marles said this afternoon it had been 'one of the worst moments of Bill's life' Earlier Mr Shorten's lawyer issued a statement earlier, saying the claims were 'unsubstantiated'. 'My client has maintained from the outset that the claim, which goes back about 30 years to when he was a teenager, was untrue and that he would be cleared,' he said. 'I fully cooperated to clear my name and that is what I’ve done. I freely answered all the questions that the police asked of me,' he added. 'The easy option would be to say nothing, but that is not who I am. I want to address this myself directly.' The woman was reported to be a nurse who now lives in NSW after she made a formal complaint to police last year. 'The police have conducted an investigation they have vigorously and thoroughly investigated it and the matter is now closed,' Mr Shorten added. 'The decision speaks for itself I have no intention after this statement to talk about it any further.' Late last year I learned that a claim had been made about me, going back to when I was nineteen. It was made on social media, when I was elected Opposition Leader. I will not go into details, except to say that the allegation was untrue and abhorrent. The allegation was made by someone I knew briefly at that time. There is absolutely no basis for the claim. The claim has now been thoroughly and rigorously investigated by police, as is entirely proper. I fully cooperated to clear my name. And that is what I have done. I freely answered all questions the police asked of me. Now the police investigation has concluded, I can make this statement. This has been deeply distressing for my family. I am thankful for the love and support of Chloe, and the support of my staff and parliamentary colleagues. Others who were aware of the investigation have acted with the utmost integrity by leaving the police to do their job. The police have now concluded the investigation. The decision speaks for itself. It is over. I have no intention of making any further comment. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Tanya Plibersek said Bill Shorten has had a 'pretty bad week'
The Deputy Labor Leader told a packed party conference on Saturday .
Bill Shorten reveals he was the Labor figure investigated by Victoria Police .
Claims stem from a Young Labor camp near Geelong in 1986 .
Mr Shorten says the matter has been dropped by the police .
'The allegation was untrue and abhorrent'
Richard Marles: 'This has been one of the worst moments of Bill's life' |
fc54c3ddf692e608906d3094365148cf62c57faa | BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The one-star general almost yells when asked to talk about the infamous Abu Ghraib photos showing U.S. soldiers abusing Iraqi detainees. An Iraqi detainee grips a fence at Camp Cropper, one of the few U.S. detention centers remaining in Iraq. "If we had had a company commander doing what he was supposed to be doing, a battalion commander doing what he was supposed to be doing ...," Brig. Gen. David Quantock said. He carried on -- growing more and more angry. So the next obvious question was, "It makes you angry?" "It does make me angry," he said. "Because I think we lost a lot of American lives because of those photos." And there it is -- the issue of detainee abuse and what the U.S. military struggles with, and has struggled with, since the release of those photos in 2004, some of which showed naked prisoners being humiliated, stacked in piles or subjected to mock torture. Quantock, the head of detainee operations in Iraq, is echoing a debate raging in Washington. Another round of photos allegedly showing further abuse of prisoners was to be released by the end of this month. But President Obama asked that the photos be held back. Obama said he believed the release of the pictures could put American lives in danger. That is Catch-22 situation No. 1: on one hand transparency; on the other, the safety of U.S. troops. Quantock agreed with his commander in chief. "The jihadists have used those pictures. And it has spurred some of the violence," he said. Walking through Camp Cropper -- one of the last remaining U.S. detention centers in Iraq -- it is clear the damaging photos have forced the United States to become more transparent in its dealings with prisoners. Detainees are now checked before and after interrogations to ensure the guards have not abused them. Officers who walk the catwalk, the long metal walkway that surrounds the sprawling yard housing the detainees, have more oversight. These institutional checks reduce the possibility that abuse could reach the same scale as it did in Abu Ghraib in 2003. The camp itself has a strange feeling to it. Visitors are told to put on sunglasses before entering some of the holding areas. Many of the detainees spit and even throw their own fecal matter at the guards, officials said. Inmates in American detention with arrest warrants against them will be turned over to Iraqi authorities under the terms of the U.S.-Iraqi security agreement. All others will be released. But the United States has signed the international treaty against torture, which compels a nation to keep suspects detained rather than send them to another country if that other country might ill-treat them. "Iraqi detention facilities are not good; they are not like American facilities," said a woman who had just visited her detainee husband at Camp Cropper. "There is a lot of witness testimony from detainees who suffered maltreatment in Iraqi detention facilities." A U.N. report examining the second half of 2008 agreed, saying that detention centers run by Iraqis are using torture and physical abuse to extract confessions. The lingering questions about Iraqi detention facilities create Catch-22 situation No. 2. The United States very much wants not only to get out of Iraq, but to get out of the detainee operation business. But it has a legal bar to satisfy. For its part, the U.S. military said it is inspecting and monitoring nine of the Iraqi facilities where its detainees will go. Iraqi government authorities maintain that they are treating all prisoners in accordance with international law. But when the United States pulls its last troops form Iraq, the monitoring is likely to stop. Nongovernmental organizations have been denied access, and CNN recently has not been allowed into any Iraqi prison. | U.S. head of detainee operations in Iraq is angered by Abu Ghraib photos .
The pictures showing abuse of Iraqi prisoners continue to cause problems .
U.S. military faces tough choices over future of detainees in Iraq . |
fc54ccf025f1839851e5415e4368db8fef4181b4 | Two orphaned baby wombats have picked up an unlikely skill after a tragic start in life, learning to play soccer in the back yard of their temporary home. Dudley and Moria-Joy were rescued by Judy Bailey around 12 months ago on the NSW South Coast after their mothers were killed by cars. 'They were both found on the side of the road in their mums' pouches after their mums were run over by cars,' Judy’s niece Kirsten Bailey told Daily Mail Australia. Soccer is now ‘a regular hobbie’ for the marsupials. ‘It’s how they get exercise,’ Kirsten explained. When they were first rescued, Dudley weighed just 720g but now they are both a healthy 8kg. Scroll down for video . Two orphaned baby wombats have learnt to play soccer at their temporary home on the NSW south coast . Dudley and Moria-Joy love to have a kick around after being rescued when their mothers were hit by cars . 'Judy will look after them on her enclosed property on the South Coast until they are 22kg and old enough to be released into the wild. 'Besides soccer, they enjoy digging dirt to make burrows, eating grass and lots of sleeping,' Kirsten said. Judy has been rescuing wildlife for around a decade, but it’s not just wombats – she also takes in injured kangaroos, wallabies, birds and possums and cares for them until they are strong enough to be released into the wild again. Judy Bailey has been rescuing wildlife for around a decade, caring for them until they are strong enough to be released into the wild again . They were found in the pouches of their dead mothers but are now enjoying a happy life at Judy Bailey's home until they are old enough to be released into the wild . Kirsten said they wombats love to play around and 'bond with humans quite easily' Kirsten said the little wombats have ‘a lovely big area for them to play in’ out the back of Judy’s home. One day, Judy threw a soccer ball to them and they’ve been playing with it ever since. Their sporting antics were filmed and published on YouTube last week, with Kirsten’s husband Luke describing them as ‘too cute for words’. ‘The wombats are her babies, they are so cute,’ Kirsten said. The mini marsupials have formed a strong bond since being orphaned . ‘They are very affectionate; they love a cuddle and playing around and bond with humans quite easily. It can make it dangerous to release back into the wild but it’s OK if the location is far away from the roads,’ she added. Dudley and Moria-Joy will be driven out into the bush and released as soon as they are big enough, in the wild wombats are usually weaned after 15 months. Whether they’ll take their ball with them remains to be seen. Judy volunteers with Wildlife Rescue South Coast, to make a donation go to www.wildlife-rescue.org.au/donate . | The wombats were found as babies in their mothers' pouches after their mothers were killed by cars .
Judy Bailey cares for them at her home on NSW's South Coast .
Her niece Kirsten says soccer is now a 'regular hobbie' for the cute pair . |
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