id
stringlengths 40
40
| article
stringlengths 48
15.9k
| highlights
stringlengths 14
7.39k
|
|---|---|---|
fc96fd9ad54ad7de2c69d0829a9e7751821c716a | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 06:24 EST, 15 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:11 EST, 15 August 2013 . The long summer months can be tiresome if you don't have any companions, but this little dog came up with a novel way to pass the hours... by playing fetch with himself. A video posted on YouTube shows the small dog at a stream in Japan picking up an orange ball in his jaws and throwing it in the moving water in Kobe. The clip has now gone viral and attracted over a million views. Scroll down for video . Innovative: The long summer months can be tiresome if you don't have any companions, but this little puppy came up with an ideal way to amuse himself... playing fetch with a steam . Amusing: A video posted on YouTube shows the small dog at a stream in Japan.He is seen picking up an orange ball in his jaws and throwing it in the moving water in Kobe . He then hops from stone to stone watching the ball float down the river. When he decides it has travelled far enough, the tiny canine picks it up in his jaw. He then moves up to the top of the stream and starts his little game again. Game: He then hops from stone to stone watching the ball float down the river. When he decides it has travelled far enough, the tiny canine picks it up in his jaw . Hurdle: But the game starts to go awry when the ball floats too far down the stream and into deeper water . Brave: The dog pauses by the side as he weighs up how to reach the ball. He tentatively puts a little testing paw in the clear water and looks around hesitantly . Doggy paddle: He leaps forward and getting the ball. He then does a small turn and doggie-paddles back to the stone . Back on dry land: The little dog glances up jubilantly and then starts his game again . But the game starts to go awry when the ball floats too far down the stream and into deeper water. The dog pauses by the side as he weighs up how to reach the ball. He tentatively puts a little testing paw in the clear water and looks around hesitantly before leaping forward and getting the ball. He then does a small turn and doggie-paddles back to the stone and before starting his game again. Apparently his owners were nearby, but the little dog decided it was more fun to play fetch by himself. | A video posted on YouTube shows the small dog at a stream in Japan .
Picks up orange ball in his jaws and throwing it in the moving water in Kobe .
He then hops from stone to stone watching the ball float down the river . |
fc9701ca54d2772081dcfb13b3354ab98908acd0 | Ched Evans was paid £20,000-a-week for more than three months in prison and was visited by Sheffield United's boss and co-owner... but will they welcome him back? Sheffield United co-chairmen Kevin McCabe and Jim Phipps have issued a statement denying reports that they have offered Ched Evans a new contract following his release from prison. Evans, 25, left Wymott Prison on Friday having served half of a five-year sentence for rape. The Sun reported that the Welsh striker was to be offered a new deal by United, but the League One club have denied those allegations. However, they say that they are continuing to 'deliberate on a new deal.' Sheffield United have denied they have offered Ched Evans a new contract following his release from prison . The Welsh footballer was pictured leaving Wymott Prison in the early hours of Friday morning . The statement, published on the club website, reads: 'Sheffield United has become aware of speculative media coverage concerning the immediate future of its former player Ched Evans. 'An article in The Sun today (Saturday 18th October) that Sheffield United has offered a contract to former player Ched Evans is false and damaging to the Club. 'We have made a statement on this matter previously and the lack of credibility and substance from this latest media report does not warrant any expansion from previous comments apart from noting that we are continuing to deliberate on any long term decision about Ched Evans.' Sheffield United boss Nigel Clough (left) and co-owner Kevin McCabe (right) both visited Evans in prison . Family and friends arrived at Evans' mother's house in North Wales following his release on Friday . It was alleged that the two-year contract offered would have been worth £500,000 for the Wales international. Evans was convicted of raping a 19-year-old girl in his home town of Rhyl in 2011, but was visited in prison by McCabe and manager Nigel Clough. He maintained his fitness in the facility in the north west, and seems to be keen to return to football with the Blades, though it is still unclear whether they will welcome him back. Sheffield United were still paying Evans' 20,000-a-week wages, Matt Lawton reports, for more than three months while he was in prison, but the chairmen refused to comment on that fact. Publicly, the League One club say they are still wrestling with the moral dilemma of having a convicted rapist in their team. Phipps, has said they are 'puzzling' through the problem and will not necessarily reach a decision any time soon. Lee Hughes (left) and Marlon King (right) both served time in prison before returning to football . Many Blades fans have called for Evans to be rehabilitated but almost 150,000 people have signed an online petition urging the Bramall Lane club not to welcome him back. Evans was jailed in April 2012 for raping a 19-year-old woman in a hotel room in Rhyl, North Wales. The footballer denied the offence but was found guilty by a jury at Caernarfon Crown Court. He admitted having sex with her but the woman told the jury she had no memory of the incident. The prosecution said the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was too drunk to consent to sexual intercourse. Evans (left), who made 13 appearances for Wales prior to his conviction, may return to the international scene . Port Vale defender Clayton McDonald also admitted having sex with the victim but was found not guilty of the same charge. An appeal against Evans' conviction was rejected by three judges at the Court of Appeal in 2012. His girlfriend, Natasha Massey, has led a campaign to have the conviction overturned. Evans' case is due to be reviewed by the Criminal Case Review Commission in the coming weeks. Sheffield United have steadfastly refused to comment on whether they will allow Evans to play again. Earlier this week manager Nigel Clough said the matter had been discussed by the club's hierarchy. He said the decision was not his to make but would be made by the club 'in good time'. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said on Thursday that the owners of Sheffield United should 'think really long and hard' before deciding whether to allow Evans back. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Ched Evans was released from Wymott Prison early on Friday morning .
Welsh striker served half of a five-year sentence for rape .
The Sun reported that Evans was to be given two-year deal worth £500,000 .
But Sheffield United have flatly denied those allegations .
Joint statement says that story was damaging to the club... however co-chairmen say they are still deliberating over a decision . |
fc9731107fd0304406d3fad912f6b36dd13d89e5 | The U.S. military went into Somalia with one goal in mind: Kill Ahmed Abdi Godane, the leader of Al-Shabaab. One day later, Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said flatly, "We certainly believe that we hit what we were aiming at." What he did not say is whether Godane is dead. The United States is "assessing the effectiveness right now" of the attack launched hours earlier, Kirby said Tuesday, including who, if anyone, was killed. He did acknowledge that U.S. Special Operations forces flew aircraft that, along with unmanned aircraft, "destroyed an encampment and a vehicle using several Hellfire missiles and laser-guided missiles." No American troops were on the ground. The attack was directed at Al-Shabaab and, specifically, its leader Godane. He has headed the network as it has terrorized East Africa, killing Somali officials, aid workers and others in a spate of suicide bombings. Godane allegedly was behind 2013's brazen, ghastly siege of a Nairobi, Kenya, shopping mall. It's not just what Godane, who has pledged his group's allegiance to al Qaeda, has done that made him a target. It's what Al-Shabaab was planning to bring through more bloodshed, chaos and terror to the region. The U.S. government can't say yet whether Godane survived the attack in south-central Somalia. But if he did not, Kirby surmised, East Africa is now a safer, better place. "If he was killed, this is a very significant blow to their network, to their organization," the Pentagon spokesman said, "and we believe their ability to continue to conduct terror attacks." An Al-Shababb Twitter account said one person was killed in the attack, but it wasn't Godane. "'Ahmed Abdi Godane' is alive and doing fine," the tweet from HSM Press Office said, calling itself an "official mujahedin account" in the Islamic land of Somalia. CNN was unable to verify the authenticity of the report. Somali official: 'Never heard such a huge ... blast' Tipped off by what Kirby called "actionable intelligence ... strong enough" to suggest Godane's whereabouts, U.S. commandos flew -- aided by drones overhead -- into an area south of the African nation's capital Mogadishu around 6:20 p.m. (11:20 a.m. ET) Monday. Lower Shabelle Gov. Abdikadir Mohamed Nur Sidii characterized the attack near the port city of Barawe as so ferocious. "It jolted the entire region." "I never heard such a huge and deafening blast as the result of the airstrike," Sidii said. Kirby didn't elaborate on exactly how much firepower was used, beyond that there were multiple Hellfire and laser-guided missiles. Somali intelligence officials counted at least four such missiles. The targets were what the Pentagon spokesman described as "an encampment" and a vehicle inside it, not to mention Al-Shabaab leaders believed to be there. Kirby said that he expects the attack -- like others U.S. forces have conducted against terror groups -- sends a message. "The operation that we've conducted, we believe, is an example of the U.S. government and our allies and partners' commitment to the people and the government of Somalia," he said, "to detect, deter, disrupt and defeat violent extremists who threaten progress in the region, as well as threaten to conduct terrorist attacks against innocent people around the world." To figure out if the operation achieved its goals, the U.S. military will need help. That's because, Kirby explained, no American forces were on the ground before or after the mission. He didn't specify who would get to the bottom of what happened, saying simply, "We continue to work with partners in the region." U.S. has gone after Al-Shabaab before . The United States has previously gone after Al-Shabaab in Somalia. That includes at least two strikes this past year ordered by President Barack Obama's administration. That's part of a long-running, multinational effort targeting the group, including an operation launched last week to cut off the group's supply lines along the Somali coast. Al-Shabaab has been on the defensive of late. Its militants have started to withdraw from the port city of Barawe in recent days. On Monday, the African Union Mission in Somalia announced that military forces had retaken several important towns in the Middle Shabelle and Hiiran regions. But no one is counting Al-Shabaab out quite yet. The group has shown its audacity and violent ways before. It has been blamed, and taken responsibility, for attacks on city streets, at markets, at prisons and a United Nations compound in Mogadishu. It's most high-profile attack came last year at Nairobi's upscale Westgate mall, when terrorists casually walked into the mall, pulled out weapons and began gunning down shoppers. The gunmen were accused of torturing some hostages before killing them. As many as 67 people died in the siege, and parts of the mall were destroyed. That and many of these other attacks occurred under Godane's watch. If he's now gone, CNN terrorism analyst Paul Cruickshank said, it would be a serious blow to Al-Shabaab. "Ahmed Godane is a very ruthless figure in the group, he dominates the group," Cruickshank said. "You could see a kind of leadership struggle emerge if, indeed, he was killed." But it wouldn't necessarily be a fatal one. Godane rose to power in 2008, after all, when a U.S. airstrike killed then-leader Aden Hashi Ayrow. "It's a network, and we understand that," Kirby said Tuesday. "We are mindful that there remain other leaders of the organization, at large." What is Al-Shabaab? | Pentagon spokesman: U.S. used manned, unmanned aircraft in Somalia attack .
It was launched based on "actionable intelligence," targeted group's leader, he says .
No details on whether Al-Shabaab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane is dead or alive .
The U.S. has targeted Al-Shabaab leaders in Somalia at least twice in the past year . |
fc98c263e91307f1ebc722ba649fc605be62d0ab | (CNN) -- Few items inspire universal teenage angst quite like the school report card, that mishmash of letters and numbers that could periodically mean the difference between family praise and punishment. Sometimes, however, it can also inspire new business opportunities. A few years back, Boniface Githinji was studying computer science at the University of Nairobi. Shortly after his return home for the holidays, he ran into one of his neighbors who started complaining about his child doing what so many other kids around the world with bad grades resort to: hiding their report cards from their parents. This got the young Kenyan programmer thinking: "I thought, we can actually come up with a solution to that problem," says Githinji. "Virtually every parent owns a cell phone in this country -- and that doesn't have to be a smart phone to receive SMSs," he adds. "And so since I was doing computer science training on how to program and make software, we came up with a simple service to make it easy for these schools to send report cards by SMS." That service has today become Sematime, a Nairobi-based SMS service provider. With just a click of a few buttons, schools can send report cards to parents on their mobile phones, allowing them to keep better track of their children's education. In addition, schools can also use the platform to distribute exam results, fee balances and general communication messages. Githinji, 26, says the service is designed to make parents become more involved. "If you are not up on how your kid is performing in school, then that kid to some extent probably feels not loved," he says. "And then as a parent I want to know how my kid is performing so I can take some measures. I can go speak to the teacher and get to know why is he not performing well." So far, more than 1,500 schools use Sematime, forming a huge percentage of the startup's clientele base. The rest is composed of small and medium businesses in Nairobi, which use the service to send information, bills and invoices to large groups through text messages. Githinji, who started the company in 2011, says the biggest problems initially were raising capital and convincing schools about the service. But he found a crucial ally in Nailab, a Nairobi-based startup accelerator that helps budding entrepreneurs develop their tech ideas. "I probably wouldn't be here if it weren't for Nailab," he says. "It's an organization that tends to start ups, people who want to do something but they don't have the facilities, they don't have the internet." Githinji has had a pretty successful start. His company made about six million Kenyan shillings last year -- that's about $68,000. But even with his financial success so far, he remains grounded. "In terms of feeling accomplished, I think it is a long, long way to that point," says Githingi. "It has not been as easy, the only thing that has been keeping us going on is a passion," he adds. "You have to have a passion for what you do because you have challenges; sometimes you run out of money, sometimes customers run away from you. "I think it is just beginning -- we have a thousand things we want to do and we can't wait to get started." READ THIS: The African company that trumped Apple . READ THIS: Orphans launch Rwandan Craigslist . | 26-year-old Boniface Githinji is the founder of Kenyan startup Sematime .
It's an SMS service provider for schools and small and medium businesses .
Clients can send report cards, bills and invoices to large groups through text messages . |
fc98f73bca687837c8cf258f62bcfe3249bc495e | (InStyle.com) -- The Cyrus family is ready to rock and always on a roll at its new L.A. home. Kick back and chill out with Billy Ray, Miley and the entire guitar-crazy clan. Billy Ray, Tish and Miley join Braison and Noah for chips and salsa in the kitchen before a rare barbecue. After months on the road, playing concerts one city at a time, Hannah Montana deserves a little R&R when she gets home. "I just Superman onto my bed," says Miley Cyrus, 15, whose Disney Channel alter ego has made her a pop sensation, with two multiplatinum sound-track albums and more than 70 sold-out concerts in the past year. "I love to sleep. I'd sleep all day if I could." Her father and Hannah co-star, country music icon Billy Ray Cyrus, prefers to think of the family's Mediterranean-style villa in North Hollywood as more than a crash pad. "I like for the house to be an escape from the insanity that is outside," says the 46-year-old singer and actor best known for his signature hit "Achy Breaky Heart." Inside, the superstars focus simply on relaxing with Miley's mom and manager, Tish, 41, grandmother Loretta Finley (who runs Miley's fan club), 72, brothers Trace, 19, and Braison, 14, and sisters Brandi, 21, and Noah, 8. "Our house is fun," says Miley. "Parts of it are really modern, but it's mostly old Italian country." She opted for a "more chill" vibe in her two-room bedroom one for sleeping, one for hanging out and playing music with friends such as dancer Mandy Jiroux and High School Musical's Ashley Tisdale. Inspired by the ultra-cool Viceroy Hotel in nearby Santa Monica, the suite has sea blue walls, coral-filled lamps and a delicate shell chandelier that hangs over her bed. "It feels beachy and Old Hollywood," says Miley. "I love the way the room is laid out." Billy Ray felt the same way about the entire house the first time he saw it in 2007, when the family decided they needed more space and privacy in the after-blast of Hannah Montana's success... "I just walked in and said, 'That's it; that's the place,'" he says. Though Billy Ray and Miley have work to do in their native Tennessee, where the highly anticipated Hannah Montana movie is filming, right now he's eager to lead his youngest daughter on a roller-skating expedition around the house. Miley sits at the foot of the stairs, teaching her brother how to break in his guitar strings. The Cyrus clan is happy to be home, even if the comings and goings of family and friends sometimes get as crazy as life on the road. "It feels like we're at the YMCA; there are so many people just in our family," Miley says with a laugh. "Then our friends come over, and it's like, OK, this is a stinkin' country club!" Get a FREE TRIAL issue of InStyle - CLICK HERE! Copyright © 2009 Time Inc. All rights reserved. | Miley Cyrus' Disney Channel alter ego is Hannah Montana, a pop sensation .
Cyrus has two bedrooms, one for sleeping and one for hanging out .
The family bought their new L.A. home in the wake of Cyrus' recent success .
Cyrus lives with her mom, dad, grandmother, two brothers and two sisters . |
fc9965693573b270b292fe57d95f6ed459c5cff0 | NEW YORK (CNN) -- Joan Baez is in a celebratory mood. And rightly so: She's survived 50 years in show business. Joan Baez says that her new Steve Earle-produced album was meant to sound like a throwback to the folk era. The legendary singer, who rose to fame during the folk movement of the 1950s and 1960s, is marking the occasion with a new album called "Day After Tomorrow." Produced by Steve Earle (whom Baez likes to call "Mister Gruff"), it's a collection of bluegrass-tinged songs reminiscent of her early repertoire. "We were looking for songs that feel like now but sound like back then," she said. Earle penned one of the album's standout tracks, "God Is God," which he describes as "recovery speak." Baez also covers "Scarlet Tide," a song written by Elvis Costello and T Bone Burnett for the 2003 film "Cold Mountain." At 67, Baez finds her voice may not have the sheer power it did in her 20s, but her political spirit is intact. She passionately expressed her support for Barack Obama during the presidential campaign, the first time the self-described pacifist has taken sides in party politics. "I haven't heard an orator like that since King," she said. Baez knew the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and famously sang the protest song "We Shall Overcome" to a massive crowd at the Lincoln Memorial during King's 1963 March on Washington. Baez spoke to CNN about sustaining her voice and finding happiness in her 60s. The following is an edited version of that interview, which was conducted before Tuesday's election. CNN: What did Steve Earle bring to the table with your new album? Joan Baez: Oh, everything but the voice. Spirit, some songs. His gruffness to my non-gruffness. He worked fast, really fast, and I like that. And he brought the musicians. I don't know who to choose for musicians. We were a good match. CNN: Is there a song on the album that speaks to you more than others? Baez: I guess the ones I go back listening to are "God Is God" and "Rose of Sharon." "Rose of Sharon" sounds exactly like an old folk song. I wouldn't have guessed in a million years that it's contemporary. CNN: How does it feel to be embarking on a new tour at such a politically charged time? Baez: I've never seen this country this politically charged. I realized something this morning. I was watching Obama on TV and I thought, "I really love this guy." I love what he's capable of, I love that he's genuine. He's a statesman, and he's brilliant. People say do you think he can change America? He already has. ... And I know most of the things he'll have to do I would battle him to the death. He's going to be commander in chief of the Army, Navy and Air Force, and I'm a pacifist [laughs]. CNN: So you would almost prefer that he didn't run for president, that his talents could be applied in other ways? Baez: Yeah. I've thought that, yeah. Part of me wishes very strongly that Obama would be outside the system and his hands would be less tied. CNN: In the '50s and '60s, you lived and breathed the causes you rallied behind. When you look at young musicians today, do you feel they're attaching themselves to charities or causes because it's hip, rather than meaningful? Baez: I think it's probably a combination of things. I think people are afraid of risk so they'll [only] go so far. But I don't think people have felt the urgency that we felt in the '60s. But it's there. The urgency is there. There's a need for community, but we don't feel it. CNN: Why is that? Baez: That we don't feel it? Because we live more and more separately. Kids are walking down the street plugged in [to personal electronics]. The only place there's community really is in the ghetto, where they need each other and they know it. We need each other, and we don't know it. CNN: You look back at all the causes you've rallied behind, and there have been so many. ... Baez: It makes me dizzy. CNN: [Do] you feel emotionally wrung out? Baez: No. It's the opposite. What happens is it starts generating energy for myself. There's some part of me that's wiped out. I feel that sometimes. CNN: Do you find you have to work harder to keep your voice in shape? Baez: Oh God, yeah. It was very humiliating to find out that I was like everybody else in the world and that I had to get coaching. And now it's a real issue. I have to do [vocal exercises] every day, especially on tour. It's pretty exhausting. CNN: Would you say that life in your 60s is easier than life in your 20s and 30s? Baez: Oh God, yes. ... I was a highly neurotic kid, not particularly happy, which probably accounts for all those beautiful songs, those beautiful sad ballads. I found my home there. And as the years went by and as the therapy went on I was holding together. And then at around 50, I decided to fall apart and find the pieces and put them back where they should've been. And I did. And I did what I thought was impossible, which was really drag the stuff up, look at it, go through all that and then each time I did that ... it became a daily thing with the therapist ... to find out something huge. Go through the terror, go through all of it and then by the end of the week something had changed a little bit. This went on for a number of years. So I am now in a stage nothing like where I was before then. There's no stage fright now. Just the joy of singing. CNN: You're happy being single, aren't you? Baez: Yeah. After all I've been through, I don't want to risk [pats her heart]. I mean I feel so extraordinary, so much better. And you know if something walked into my life that feels right ... the question is, am I ready to see it or not? I'm sure it's wandered by me a few times. But at some point maybe I'll be ready to see that in which case it would be a good thing. ... [In] Buddhism there's no real happiness without the struggle. But the struggle has to defeat you in a way [before] you get to be like the Dalai Lama. You know those monks all giggle? All the time! They've got it figured out. Because things are what they are on Earth, and you be as good as you can, and you die, it's the next life. So what's the big f****** deal? | Joan Baez has new album, "Day After Tomorrow," produced by Steve Earle .
Baez says causes generate energy, don't leave her wrung out .
Singer says she was unhappy in 20s and 30s, only recently has no stage fright . |
fc996cc5bcf8b5d188d081154ba4c54e59b8d95c | San Clemente, California (CNN) -- Joey Santley's flip-flops rhythmically clap as he strolls through San Clemente's surf ghetto, a cluster of boxy surfboard-making businesses. This chatterbox entrepreneur spouts out ideas like big waves churn up foam. Surfing is a sport with a black spot on its eco-friendly soul, and Santley thinks he found a way to cleanse it. "We're going to take the biggest pile of trash that our industry makes and we are going to figure out a home for it," Santley explains. The shaping and making of surfboards for decades has produced a chemical residue, a toxic white dust that can be found all over the surf ghetto. Santley grabs a plastic bag inside the major surfboard manufacturer Lost, and points down at a pile of polyurethane powder, excess foam that sprinkled from a surfboard-shaping machine. "I'll come in here and clean up all this stuff," explains Santley, using a broom and dustpan to put the polyurethane dust into a plastic garbage bag. "They can keep cranking [producing surfboards] because it gets too full in here. "They love it because they don't have to clean up. And I love it because I come and get material for my boards. And if I wasn't doing this, the dust would be going into the landfill over the hill." Santley estimates that 40 percent or more of each surfboard blank winds up in the dump. The flaky foam waste collects and swirls like light snow throughout the surf ghetto shops. The board makers use high-pressure air hoses to blow off the itchy powder. Santley and his partner, Steve Cox, have now recycled enough foam dust to provide the raw material for 2,000 surfboards. "It saves room for tomorrow," says Mike Giancola, the director of Orange County, California, Waste & Recycling. "We're glad that they [Santley and Cox] took the initiative and found alternatives to the waste at the Prima landfill. That's the kind of sustainability we like to see." Surfboards are made from blanks -- board-shaped foam cutouts that are finished at manufacturers such as Lost, where legendary shapers such as Matt "Mayhem" Biolos sculpt the final product. Biolos says the average cost of a surfboard is $650 and each board is custom made to the buyer's specifications in flexibility, length, width, thickness and more, down to 1/16 of an inch. "There is really no other example of it in the sporting world, so we are really spoiled about our equipment," says Biolos. "We can go and get them made in almost any surfing country in the world, to fit our exact specs. It's not like buying a tennis racket or a baseball glove with another athlete's name on it." So the question hanging ten out there is: Will surfers with spiritual connections to their beloved custom-made boards be willing to ride on recycled material? Professional superstar Cory Lopez says among the many boards he rides are some of Biolos' Lost boards, crafted from Green Foam Blanks. "Green foam, it works just the same as the other boards but it's just a little more environmentally friendly," Lopez told CNN. "So it's a win-win situation. You have to enjoy the fact that it is good for the environment and the fact that you can go out there and ride it just the same as any other board." The earliest generation of Green Foam Blanks suffered from a slight flaw that does not affect the ride, but could turn off surfers with their notoriously picky tastes. The surfboards made from recycled foam blanks were dotted with little specs, giving the boards just a slightly dirty or murky finish. But the buzz in San Clemente's surf businesses is newest batches of Green Foam Blanks are less murky and Santley showed off some visibly cleaner next-generation boards. But surfers are the last people who should worry about looks, Santley says. "I don't know many surfers that wear lipstick and makeup when they surf," he says. "I don't wear lipstick and make up, so what does it matter what it looks like if it [the surfboard] is light and strong and has the right flex and does the job under your feet?" Green Foam Blanks may have never gone from one of Santley's ideas into the water, if not for a major shake-up in what the Surf Industry Manufacturing Association calls a $190-million-a-year business (about 300,000 surfboards). The dominant supplier of surfboard blanks, Clark Foam, shut down in 2006, opening the market to new firms, including one created by some of its former employees, U.S. Blanks. Santley saw an opportunity to "green up" surfing by recycling all that blanks' dust and is now teamed with U.S. blanks. "Everyone kept saying, 'Don't waste your time, don't waste your time,'" Santley recalls. "Finally we got the opportunity to, and a blank manufacturer to do a test. After 50 years of rigid polyurethane production on Earth, we successfully proved our concept in one hour." | Joey Santley and Steve Cox sweep up polyurethene dust, make surfboard blanks .
Blanks are board-shaped foam cutouts that are finished at surfboard manufacturers .
About 40 percent of each surfboard blank winds up in the dump, Santley estimates .
Professional surfer says boards made with Green Foam just as good as others . |
fc99e8a0c5a9b7ee03e16876f647eeac3aad4c67 | By . Adrian Durham . PUBLISHED: . 03:58 EST, 7 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 02:09 EST, 8 January 2014 . If you want an example of a club lost in its own deluded world of self-importance, I give you Queens Park Rangers, ladies and gentlemen. After watching their well-paid . internationals get absolutely battered out of sight by Everton in the FA Cup at . Goodison Park on Saturday, I took the train back to London. Us minions waited in a . queue to board the train at Lime Street, while the Rangers players . ambled slowly along the platform to the first-class carriage at the . front of the train. Quite what made them so important that the rest of . us had to wait I’m not sure. United: A young Everton fan and young QPR supporter before the game at Goodison Park . Harsh: Queens Park Rangers fans who tried to speak to the players on the train were turned away by security . Easy street: Everton cruised through to the fourth round of the FA Cup with victory over QPR on Saturday . Once . on board some excited young QPR fans aged around nine or 10 ran towards . the front of the train, hoping to get autographs from their ‘heroes’. They were stopped and told that security would not let them through. They were then advised that once the train arrived at Euston if they . were quick they might catch the players then. Let’s . get this straight: QPR fans were still willing to idolise the players . who had been embarrassingly dreadful at Everton but were . denied that chance because those players apparently needed to be left . alone. Players are lost in a world where they think they’re really important, even when they’re actually being rubbish at their jobs. What kind of human being throws dangerous objects at a man who is lying injured on the ground right in front of them? And . what sort of disgusting individual throws coins at a man on a . stretcher? Worse than that, what kind of person throws coins knowing . they could hit and injure St John Ambulance volunteers as they carry . that stretcher? Crocked: Theo Walcott will be out of action for six months after injuring his anterior cruciate ligament . Cheeky: Walcott was pelted by coins as he mocked the Tottenham fans when he was taken off injured . I’m shocked . the debate centred on Theo Walcott’s cheeky, inoffensive reminder of . the score. Surely the question is why haven’t Spurs and/or their fans . been sanctioned for the disgraceful events on Saturday evening? I find it a bit bizarre that Arsenal decided to rule Walcott out of the World Cup. If . his operation is done this week there is an outside chance he will be . back in time for the World Cup, judging by recoveries other sportsmen . have made from the same injury. Arsenal say the operation will happen . ‘in the near future’ – there is no urgency from the club because they . wouldn’t see any benefit from a speedy operation. Instead the Gunners . will benefit from a fresh Theo Walcott who gets a full pre-season. The reality is he won’t make it to Brazil. It’s a shame because he belongs on that stage. Roy Hodgson needs Walcott; his pace and quality in front of goal make England better. I’m gutted he won’t be there. Blow: Walcott will miss the World Cup next summer in a setback for England manager Roy Hodgson (right) The massive gap between fans and their clubs was brought sharply into focus this weekend as not just the West Ham manager, but also the co-chairmen decided to completely disregard the club’s loyal supporters and its history. If I listed the years 1964, 1975 and 1980 to Sam Allardyce, David Gold and David Sullivan I wonder what their response would be. West Ham fans would, to a man, instantly know those were the years the Hammers won the FA Cup at Wembley. Bobby Moore lifting the famous trophy, Alan Taylor’s brace, and Trevor Brooking’s header. These are what memories are made of. Not what happens on Saturday at Cardiff. The Hammers’ European success in 1965 came about only because they won the FA Cup. So this competition is special to West Ham fans. They don’t expect to win it every year, and reluctantly accept there will be times they are knocked out by lower league clubs. But Sam got this one all wrong. He’s made a huge mess of his job and so West Ham find themselves in the bottom three. Because of his failure, he then decides to disrespect the FA Cup and the fans by fielding a team that could not win the tie. Worse still they got thrashed and the confidence and careers of some promising youngsters have been put in a vulnerable position. All this time there were plenty of senior players sitting around doing nothing, apparently too soft and pathetic to play three games in six days. Those players want to play in the FA Cup, they want to play in a semi-final, and they want to play at Cardiff on Saturday. So let them play. Allardyce, once a symbol of all that was good about old-school, no-nonsense English football, has got lost in the modern game, where finishing 17th is seen as something special. In short he’s lost touch with football and fans. Gold and Sullivan play the ‘lifelong Hammers fans’ card with relentless regularity. I appreciate they’ve got to balance the books, but no West Ham fan would back what Sam did at the weekend, so I find it shocking that the co-chairmen have declared they’re fully behind the manager. Fans still want to win the FA Cup. Players want to win it. Allardyce, Gold and Sullivan didn’t want to win the FA Cup this season. That’s not what West Ham are about. History: West Ham's Johnny Byrne, Bobby Moore and Peter Brabrook on a victory lap of after the 1964 final . Special: West Ham players parade the FA Cup at Newham Town Hall after beating Fulham in the 1975 final . Last time out: West Ham have not won the FA Cup since they beat Arsenal in the final in 1980 . Gold and Sullivan should be very worried by the manager’s relationship with his captain. Allardyce and Kevin Nolan go back a long way, and Sam persuaded the owners to give Nolan a massive contract in 2011 when they were in the Championship. But after his second unnecessary red card in the space of a few weeks, Nolan had Sam perplexed, unable to understand why he had been so ‘irresponsible.’ Has Sam lost the respect of his captain? Abject: West Ham were thrashed by Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup third round on Sunday . Losing respect: Kevin Nolan was sent off twice in four games for West Ham . Twice in recent weeks my club Peterborough United have been denied goals because officials haven’t spotted the ball went over the line – once away to Coventry on Boxing Day, and again at Kidderminster in the FA Cup on Saturday. What made it worse was that opposition players knew the ball had crossed the line – and admitted it afterwards – but pretended it hadn’t. What do I expect? How about some honesty? What would be wrong with Coventry and Kidderminster players actually saying: ‘Fair enough, our opponents have been good enough to score a goal against us, so that goal should stand’? Naive you think? Never going to happen, you reckon? Denied: Peterborough have twice seen goals ruled out after officials did not spot the ball crossed the line . You’re probably right. But if you’re saying it’s OK for players to blatantly lie about an honest goal being scored, then you’ve got no right to moan about players diving. Don’t give mixed messages to players – you either want them to play fair and honest, or you don’t. Simple. | Young QPR fans were not allowed to meet the players on the train .
Arsenal are in no rush to send Theo Walcott for his operation .
West Ham disregarded the fans' loyalty and the club's history at Forest .
Teams not admitting the ball has crossed the line is as bad as diving . |
fc9a161f56727bff695a6ce81f1699aad7986b43 | She may not have made it to the store's launch but Victoria Beckham has proven that she is no fair-weather business woman when it comes to her shop. The 40-year-old designer was spotted visiting her Dover Street store in London's Mayfair again today. Her namesake store opened it's doors four days ago to an incredibly eager crowd and since being back in the UK, Victoria has found it hard to keep away from her beloved boutique. Scroll down for video . Victoria Beckham has made her second visit to her newly opened boutique . Victoria made her first trip to the store on Saturday having flown in from America less than 24-hours before hand. After her arrival the mother-of-four, tweeted: 'So excited to visit my store today! Thank u to my wonderful team and customers I met today!! X vb .' Her store opened its doors on Thursday but on the day Victoria was unavailable to attend and David Beckham made an appearance in her place. You'd be mistaken for thinking that has been putting her feet up. Her delayed arrival to the shop was due to the fact that she was delivering a UN speech in New York as part of her role as a Goodwill Ambassador. Despite the rain Victoria was true to her Posh Spice style wearing her signature sunglasses and heels . Victoria seems determined to show that she will be entirely hands on with her store . Victoria seemed as though she was in a good mood as she laughed and joked with her team in the shop . Since her return Victoria has made it her business to stay on top of her business. Today in true Posh Spice style, despite the rain, she arrived at the store in suede shoe-boots and sunglasses. Her outfit choice was slightly more subtle than her first visit to the store where Victoria wore a statement leopard print skirt that came in at a hefty £4000. Today the mother-of-three wore a simple white shirt and full black skirt to demonstrate her professional attitude. Victoria seemed right at home as she wore her sunglasses while inspecting the store . Victoria's outfit today was slightly more demure than her bold leopard print pencil skirt that she wore on her first trip to the store on Saturday . While Victoria was away her family were sure to step in and keep an eye on the store. Her former footballer husband David Beckham was drawing a crowd after making a welcome appearance at her 6,000sq ft store launch. David wasn't the only family member keen to support Victoria since the launch. Her eldest son Brooklyn, 15, seemed proud of his mum as he visited the store yesterday. He appeared to be following in his mother's fashionable footsteps with his hair quiffed into a slicked up do, he topped off the look with a pair of designer shades and patterned trainers. Victoria's eldest son Brooklyn arrived in style at his mother's store yesterday . The luxury boutique – Victoria’s first foray into retail – has eschewed convention, embracing instead a minimalist look, with no cash registers, no display window and no rails. Speaking to MailOnline about the unique space shortly before its opening, Victoria said: 'It’s the first time people can see the brand through my eyes. ‘I didn’t want a traditional shop window, just a plain window, and a huge concrete sliding door. ‘The floors weren't connected, and I said, “Wouldn’t it be incredible to drill a hole through all three floors, so you could stand on the top floor and see the ground floor.”' Victoria's namesake boutique takes on a minimalist approach without any tills or elaborate window displays . Shoppers queue outside the Victoria Beckham store shortly before its launch . On entering the store shoppers are met by a display of colourful handbags . She added: ‘I didn’t think it would be possible, but it was.’ Victoria's store is not for those on a shoe-string budget with the cheapest items coming in at £150 for a keyring. And Victoria wanted the rest of her store to reflect the aspirational feel of her clothing line. She continued: ‘We’re not going to have any ugly tills anywhere,’ Victoria explained. ‘Payment is with an iPad, so we can go to the customer on whatever floor she’s on.’ The store is already proving popular with celebs with Ellie Goulding (right) and Amy Childs (left) making appearances at the newly opened boutique . During her absence David Beckham was on hand to see the store's launch . | Victoria Beckham made her second visit to her Dover Street store .
In true Posh Spice style she wore heels and sunglasses .
She missed her store launch as she was speaking at the UN in NYC .
However, she seems determined that she is a hands on business woman . |
fc9a3127aff62fcb3b0008894caa88018a892de0 | By . Andy Dolan . PUBLISHED: . 07:06 EST, 19 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 18:54 EST, 19 April 2012 . Jurors watched in horror as CCTV footage of a car ploughing into three men in a 'modern-day chariot charge' was played to a murder trial yesterday. Brothers Shazad Ali, 30, Abdul Musavir, 31, and a third man, Haroon Jahan, 20, were seen being catapulted up to ten feet through the air after being struck by a Mazda saloon. It happened at the height of the rioting which swept the country last August. The driving was part of a 'deliberate and co-ordinated' attack involving three vehicles, where the first car drew the victims into the road and thus into the path of the two following, the court heard. Yesterday eight men went on trial at Birmingham Crown Court, each charged with three counts of murder. Court sketch of (Top row, left to right) Joshua Ellis Donald, 27-years-old, Aaron Joseph Parkins, Ian Klim Beckford, 30-years-old and Everton Dwight Graham, 30-years-old, (bottom row, left to right), Adam King, 24-years-old, Ryan Goodwin, 21-years-old, Shaun Flynn, 26-years-old, Juan Pablo Ruiz-Gaviria, 31-years-old, who all appeared at Birmingham Crown Court today . Haroon Jahan (left), Shazad Ali (centre) and Abdul Musavir (right) were all killed when they were knocked down by a car while protecting their community from looters . Some relatives fled the courtroom while others sobbed as the 15-second clip showed one of the men somersault through the air. The . court heard how tensions between the different communities in . multicultural Birmingham had become particularly inflamed during the . riots. And jurors were also told that occupants of the Mazda were allegedly heard shouting 'Pakis, Pakis, we're coming for you,' followed by: ‘Pakis we are going to come back and shoot you,' shortly before the incident. Prosecutor Timothy . Spencer QC had earlier warned the nine women and three men of the jury . to ‘prepare to be shocked’ by the ‘shocking’ footage. As it the moment of impact was . replayed on flatscreens around the courtroom, some in the public gallery . gasped in horror, while others became embroiled in an angry exchange . which led to the case being temporarily halted. Eight men today went on trial at Birmingham Crown Court, each charged with three counts of murder. The jury watched as CCTV showed a . black Audi A3 Quattro slow down as it passed a group of men standing on . the pavement - drawing them off the pavement into the road. Yards behind, the Mazda 6 and a Ford Fiesta were seen pulling up alongside each other. As the Audi slowed, the driver of the . Mazda gestured with his arm outside the window to the Fiesta now . alongside in Dudley Rd, Winson Green. The two cars drove forward, with the . Mazda veering straight in to the group of men. Its bonnet sprung up on . impact as the victims were flung over the top of the car, which was . found burnt out around 90 minutes later. After the clip had finished, Mr . Spencer told the jury the Mazda driver’s gesture was ‘a signal, . particularly to the Fiesta, to go (forward).' He added: ‘The driving you have just seen was not chance. It was not accidental. ‘It was deliberate and co-ordinated. It was the modern day equivalent of a chariot charge. And it was deadly.’ He said the three victims were ‘killed in shocking circumstances.' Mr Justice Flaux cleared the court after a heated argument broke out in the public gallery . The court heard all eight defendants were allegedly in the three cars at the time of the incident. Ryan Goodwin, 21, Shaun Flynn, 26, . Juan Ruiz-Gaviria, 31, Joshua Donald, 27, Everton Graham, 30, Adam King, . 24, Ian Beckford, 30, and Aaron Parkins, 18, all from the Birmingham . area, were surrounded by seven dock officers as the trial began. Beckford was allegedly driving Graham . in the Mazda, Donald was said to be carrying Parkins in the Fiesta, . while King was allegedly driving the remaining three defendants in the . Audi. Mr Spencer told the jury the killings . unfolded amid high tension in an area of Birmingham where ‘a high level . of the population are of Asian origin, and almost everyone who has a . faith is of the Muslim faith.’ He said the incident took place . during the faith’s Ramadan period of fasting, in a three-day period . where there was a ‘breakdown of order across the country’, including . Birmingham. One of the important factors in that . breakdown was widespread looting of businesses, with a string of . businesses targeted in the Winson Green area. Mr Spencer said that hours before the . car ploughed in to the men, tensions were increasing in the area, . tensions which had been ‘ratcheted up’ by ‘gangs of youths driving . around in vehicles who were looking for places to raid and, on the other . hand, crowds or gangs from the community – essentially Asian males out . on the street, many armed with sticks, bats and bricks.’ He added: ‘All of the men in the dock . must have been aware of that backdrop. That backdrop was the reality in . this area of Birmingham.’ Mr Spencer said one car seen with . three balaclava-clad men in the back at the Jet petrol station close to . where the three victims were killed was likely carrying out ‘a form of . reconnaissance…looking for somewhere to target later.’ The court was told that the night . before the murders, Tariq Jahan – the father of victim Haroon Jahan – . witnessed a convoy of three cars carrying mainly black passengers who . were wearing scarves or balaclavas. Mr Jahan told police the cars parked . in a street behind the Jet garage. Up to 15 men got out and walked . towards the petrol station, moments before it came under attack from a . mob of looters who armed themselves with plastic milk crates stacked on . the forecourt. Tariq Jahan pictured the morning after his son Haroon Jahan was killed after being struck by a car . Footage of the attack was yesterday . played to the jury and showed masked men smashing through the petrol . station windows with the crates before one leapt inside to steal money . from the till. They were beaten back by a garage worker armed with a . metal pole. Mr Spencer said that the following . day, the local community ‘got together and decided they had to protect . their businesses’ when nightfall arrived, in order to ‘prevent further . looting’. Up to 100 Asian men had gathered on the streets armed with sticks, bats and batons from around 9.30pm on the evening of August 9. The court was shown footage of a rock being thrown at a Saab belonging to Beckford's brother, John, has he turned into Dudley Road. The court was told there was then a flurry of calls between the two brothers and their associates. Within minutes, the Mazda, Audi and Fiesta were on the scene. The court heard Beckford later claimed: 'We all went down there to back him (brother John) up'. Mr Spencer said 'perfectly legitimate questions' could be asked about whether the conduct of some of the Asians was lawful. But he added: 'We do suggest that there was a genuine desire amongst many if not all of them to protect their businesses and livelihoods. ‘They lived in the area, they depended on the businesses in the area to survive. ‘The prosecution are here to put before you what we say was murderous conduct. ‘Whatever one's view about the actions of both sides of the divide, the prosecution say that the driving, the heart of the case, the driving which culminated in three deaths was out of any sensible proportion to anything that had gone on before and that conduct, that driving was murder and nothing less.’ The trial continues. | Jurors see CCTV of moment Shazad Ali, 30, Abdul Musavir, 31, and Haroon Jahan, 20, were hit by car .
Prosecutor says incident was deliberate and like 'modern day chariot charge' |
fc9a71800c29e7b65fb3bbd2eee922aaebddff3e | (EW.com) -- Nate Berkus, the interior designer discovered by Oprah in 2002, is engaged to Jeremiah Brent, his boyfriend of nearly a year. People reports that the star of "The Nate Berkus Show," which aired from 2010 to 2012, proposed to Brent on Monday. The couple then celebrated with friends in Peru. 'Ready for Love': Rejected in ratings . Berkus' book, "The Things That Matter," is out now. See the original article at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved. | Nate Berkus is engaged to Jeremiah Brent .
They've been together for nearly a year .
Oprah discovered the interior designer in 2002 . |
fc9aee362499d3fb3cc77ee2ac12692c5b6f5976 | (CNN) -- Venezuelan authorities on Wednesday announced additional arrests in connection with a massive shipment of cocaine in an Air France flight from Caracas that landed in Paris. In a prepared statement, the Venezuelan Attorney General's Office said 17 people have been arrested in the drug trafficking case. The flight originated at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Caracas, the Venezuelan capital. An Air France executive in Venezuela, six airline employees, a security guard and a loading platform supervisor are among those arrested. Eight members of the Venezuelan national guard are also in custody and were scheduled to appear in front of a judge Wednesday afternoon for a preliminary hearing. On September 11, French authorities discovered 1.3 tons of pure cocaine stuffed inside 30 suitcases on the flight. The colorful bags did not match any of the passengers on board, CNN affiliate BFMTV reported. The street value of the stash is about 200 million euros, or $270 million. $2.6 million in cocaine found in British woman's luggage . French authorities didn't publicize the find until Saturday. Venezuela's Public Ministry announced the arrests of three of the national guard members Sunday. Woman busted in Spain for cocaine in breast implants . Authorities worked with Spanish, British and Dutch police on the investigation, BFMTV said. This case "illustrates the importance of strengthening International cooperation in the fight against traffickers," French Interior Minister Manuel Valls said. Suspected drug smugglers sail to jail . In Venezuela, authorities promised a swift investigation as soon as the confiscation was announced in Paris. All 17 arrests were made in less than three days. Venezuelan Interior and Justice Minister Miguel Rodriguez Torres told reporters in Venezuela that authorities think an organized crime group with Italian and British members is responsible for the shipment. "The suitcases were not taken into the plane through the regular baggage platforms at the airport. We're investigating how the drug (shipment) got to the airport," he said. CNN's Rafael Romo, Holly Yan, Christabelle Fombu and Nelson Quinones contributed to this report. | Airline executive, six airline workers, security guard, loading platform supervisor arrested .
Eight members of the Venezuelan national guard are also in custody .
1.3 tons of cocaine traveled in 30 colorful suitcases from Venezuela to France .
The bags weren't registered to any of the passengers on the flight . |
fc9c6054e37585acc574957dabafff2aaf5461a8 | Qadem Khel, Ghazni province, Afghanistan (CNN) -- The day begins with a count of the necessities for a joint operation with Afghan troops -- among them 85 halal MREs (Meals Ready To Eat). Around the tactical headquarters, soldiers of the 172nd Infantry get a taste of home before setting off into the wilder fringes of lawless Ghazni province. There's baseball televised from Fenway Park, replete with a rendition of the "Star-Spangled Banner" by Rose Newton, aged 11. One lieutenant has his mortgage approved by email; another exclaims how he just can't wait to go home. This is FOB "4 Corners." And tonight these soldiers plan an air assault into an area called Qadem Khel, where the Taliban is basically the law. Neither this unit, nor other U.S. forces, will get to do many more of these as the drawdown of Allied forces gathers pace. Adding an air of anticipation to the mission, the men at 4 Corners believe two of the men they most want to take off the battlefield are in the area. They have a photo of one of them, with and without a heavy mop of hair. The helicopters arrive and, with the assistance of night vision for the Americans and some careful footwork by their Afghan colleagues, they climb aboard. The helicopters touch down in a huge expanse of desert. The troops huddle in the coldest moment before the dawn, and then begin their approach. The mantra now is "Afghan-led," part of NATO's bid to make this an Afghan-only war. The Afghan soldiers are mostly from the north or northeast of Afghanistan and to many locals they are strangers almost as foreign as the Americans. They lead the way, set the tempo. And, for a mission that many of the Americans thought might have been one for special forces, that tempo is pretty relaxed. In large numbers, in daylight, they amble into town. They're allowed into most homes; would you say "no" when four dozen armed men arrive at your door? When they meet a locked door, the Afghans seem to turn away, particularly when a pocket knife can't prise the lock. It is remarkable to watch, and their casual attitude is contagious to the Americans, who are soon also ambling, in between the occasional grimace at how this operation is being led. Soon it becomes clear that their prey has probably fled unless they're remarkably lazy. Sergeant Richard Snader admits that "once they hear the birds they probably leave immediately." But still they carry on, house to house, the first contact this village has had with the Afghan government in over six months. At times, it has an almost random feeling. Two boys are caught riding banned motorbikes. One Afghan soldier considers shooting the bike's fuel tank as a punishment, but decides that's probably too dangerous even for him. So the soldiers let the tires down, and then the more sheepish biker is given a couple of heavy slaps around the head. Instant justice, Afghan-army style. Far from western jurisprudence, but in rural Afghanistan, this is often what passes as the law. As they pass through the village, locals seem bemused, friendly. As though visited by aliens, rather than caught in a war. This is not a place where NATO has power, or Afghanistan's government even exists. Captain Chris Barlow says he's been told by locals that when the Taliban lay booby traps for NATO, they issue a warning to villagers over the mosque loudspeakers. This is their form of law. Barlow, with eight weeks left in his tour, accepts it's likely American forces won't return to Qadam Khel soon. Eventually, the insurgency makes an appearance. The Americans are searching a house where weapons had been found previously when shots are fired. There is confusion and the Afghan army seem to relish the fight ahead. U.S. airpower arrives quickly, with one of the heavily armed A10 warplanes buzzing the likely insurgent position. But after 20 minutes, it's clear children and women are near the insurgent firing position. The Americans dispense with any idea of an assault. They head back into the village, and at dark move again -- across wide open fields to the landing zone. A whirr of Chinook blades and a cloud of dust later, the Americans are gone, perhaps for the last time. | American soldiers plan air assault into Afghan area where the Taliban is basically law .
U.S. forces will likely not do many more of these as drawdown of Allied forces gathers pace .
Mission fails to find two men targeted; mood seems relaxed, says CNN's Paton Walsh .
Village is not a place where NATO has power, or Afghanistan's government even exists . |
fc9ce69547afa6554f9ce65d0af9aa4bcb255477 | A west Pennsylvania grandmother has been charged with selling up to 100lbs of marijuana per year since 2009. Candace Kelly, of Butler County, Pittsburgh, was originally charged for the crime last fall after authorities say they found 64lbs of hydroponically grown marijuana and nearly $400,000 in cash at her home. The October charges against 64-year-old were dropped as a result of search-and-seizure and probable cause issues. In the weeds: Grandmother Candace Kelly, of Butler County, Pittsburgh, has been charged with dealing up to 100lbs of marijuana per year since 2009 . State police believe Kelly has been buying large quantities of marijuana from a northern California man at $3,300 per pound, then reselling it at a profit of $100 per pound. The issues with the search-and-seizure related to the previous charges, included accusations from her family that the police had entered Kelly’s home without a warrant, threatened to Taser a 17-year-old and had held the electric shock device against a 15-year-old’s head. It was in October last year that police entered the Buffalo Township home of Mrs Kelly, where they claim they found the marijuana and the cash. According to her husband Roger, the officers said they were with the drug interdiction task force, but did not produce any identification before forcing their way into their home while he had to stay at his daughter's house. Caught in the high grass: Butler County policesay they found 64lbs of hydroponically grown marijuana and nearly $400,000 in cash at Mrs Kelly's home (stock image) The Kelly's two granddaughters were in the house at the time of the arrest and the eldest accused officers of threatening her when she tried to take a photo with her phone. ‘He pointed the Taser at me and said, “Hold it right there,” she told CBS Pittsburgh. I said, “What are you going to do? I’m 17 years old, you going to tase me?” ‘He said, “I will tase you like you’re 18 years old”.’ Tuesday's arrest includes charges based on the same allegations, but which are now backed up by a state grand jury report. Kelly's attorney have yet to return calls for comment. | Candace Kelly, 64, from Pennsylvania arrested for selling cannabis .
Police claim she had been selling 100lbs of marijuana per year since 2009 .
Officers say they found 64lbs of weed and $400,000 in cash in her home . |
fc9d31f8a7d82785b374a3a6fbaf835875692619 | By . Rebecca Camber . PUBLISHED: . 14:19 EST, 10 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:18 EST, 11 December 2013 . A policeman seen punching a student in the face during a university protest will not face disciplinary action, it emerged yesterday. The officer was caught on film swinging at hooded protester Tony Jones, throwing the 24-year-old off balance with a blow to the shoulder before flooring him with a jab to the face. Last night the Metropolitan Police said no investigation had been launched and the officer concerned remained on duty in London. Bosses at Scotland Yard said it had not received a complaint but would review any evidence. Scroll down for video . Video: The footage was taken by a freelance journalist at the university . A spokesman said: ‘As with all large . public order incidents, a range of material will now be subject to . review in order to establish the full facts.’ Student protester Tony Jones said that he was 'hit out of nowhere' The alleged assault . happened last Wednesday during clashes between police and students . occupying part of the University of London Senate House headquarters in . protest over staff pay and student debt. Mr Jones, who is known as . Tee Jay, was on his way out of the building after being evicted by . security staff when he claims he was punched ‘out of nowhere’ by the . unidentified officer. He said: ‘There had been no swearing, no . arguing. He just seemed angry. I couldn’t believe it. You see police . brutality elsewhere on the internet, but I’ve never seen it in this . country.’ The University of West London media studies student, from . Hackney, east London, said he was left with a headache and a bruised . back. Days later he said he made a complaint to police. London . Assembly member Baroness Jones, who is deputy chairman of the Police and . Crime Committee, yesterday called for an immediate inquiry. She said: . ‘The Met shouldn’t wait for a complaint to come in before investigating . what appears to be an officer assaulting a student.’ Police say they . were ‘outnumbered’ during the protest in central London last Wednesday, . during which four demonstrators were arrested and one charged. Protest: The officer appears to punch a protester during the protest at the University of London . But philosophy student Helen Singh said police were ‘punching people indiscriminately’. She . said: ‘We were walking away from the protest. I was pushed to the . ground and my glasses smashed into three pieces.’ The following day up . to 300 protesters gathered and hurled smoke bombs at police, resulting . in 39 people being arrested on suspicion of affray. Footage emerged on YouTube yesterday which appeared to show another officer hitting a protester in a separate incident. The . officer, wearing a high visibility jacket, is seen running across the . road at a hooded group of activists carrying placards, pushing them over . before landing a number of blows with his right fist. The University of . London student union said protesters were ‘kicked and punched and . dragged to the ground by their hair’. President of the union, Michael Chessum, described the officers’ behaviour as ‘like a pub brawl’. He . said: ‘I’ve seen people having their teeth punched out. The police were . not turning up with horses and batons they were just swinging punches.’ Despite a court order banning occupations of university buildings for . six months, students are planning another protest today. | Met Police arrested 39 people on suspicion of affray .
Group of 300 gathered at University of London .
Footage appears to show officer 'punching' man . |
fc9d3bc2f2465aae737f7b5ea0e7110742fec7ca | By . Associated Press Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 06:43 EST, 1 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:53 EST, 1 November 2012 . At least 14 people were killed after a fuel truck exploded today in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, causing an industrial building to collapse and injuring dozens more. The death toll could yet rise as rescue crews picked through charred vehicles and rubble near the Saudi National Guard building in an industrial area in the city's eastern district. A security official, who refused to be named, said that at least 14 people were killed and 60 were injured. Scroll down for video . Devastation: At least 14 people were killed after a fuel truck exploded after hitting part of the highway underpass in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia . Search: Officials and citizens walk through the rubble hoping to find survivors from the blast . Flaming: Fire fighters made attempts to put the flames out after the fuels seeped from the tanker and ignited, scorching the bypass above . Futile: Emergency services were on the scene and tried to snuff out the blaze after the explosion . There was no immediate suspicion of terrorist links as it appears the fuel tanker exploded after accidentally striking part of a highway underpass. Columns of smoke could be seen rising from the scene as cars were left ablaze among the debris. The multi-storey industrial building was obliterated by the blast, with only one corner left standing. Several adjacent buildings were damaged . and nearby vehicles, including a minibus on the flyover, also caught . fire after the blast. Wrecked: The explosion caused a building to collapse and left charred cars sitting amongst the debris . Carnage: More than 100 officials are sifting through the wreckage in an attempt to find anyone who could be trapped under the rubble of a collapsed building . Black clouds: Smoke could be seen streaming from the area in the eastern district of the city . Battered: This car was torn apart by the explosion in the Saudi capital . Television footage of the disaster and . pictures posted on social media showed a body lying by burnt-out . vehicles, and at least two charred bodies seated in a car. 'I was inside the building when the blast . came. Then boom, the building collapsed,' said survivor Kushnoo Akhtara, a . 55-year-old Pakistani worker, who was covered in dirt and blood from . multiple cuts over his body. Ruins: The area in the eastern district of Riyadh was left barely recognisable after the explosion and resulting fire . Mess: Debris was strewn across the road after the powerful blast ripped the area apart . Shattered: A car was left beached on the curb with its bumper hanging off and a smashed windscreen . 'Furniture, chairs and cabinets . blasted into the room I was in. My brother is still inside under the rubble. There are lots of people in there.' Over . a hundred emergency personnel were combing the wreckage on the flyover . and searching for victims in the rubble of the building, which housed . operations of Zahid Tractor, a distributor of heavy machinery. Defence officials were unable to give further information on the blast. Salvage: Security services were quickly on hand to inspect the wreckage and try to save those trapped under the rubble . Aftermath: People walk among the wreckage as ambulance crews try to rescue those caught up in the explosion . Collapsed: The tanker hit part of an underpass before the explosion, which has injured dozens more in the Saudi capital . VIDEO: The area in the eastern district of Riyadh after the devastating explosion . | Truck hit part of highway underpass before explosion in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia .
At least 60 more injured after blast caused industrial building to collapse .
No suspicion of terrorist attack as emergency personnel sift through rubble for survivors . |
fc9d9680c5013d87bed40d448e2e862525e677c8 | By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 10:18 EST, 13 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:59 EST, 13 August 2013 . Most people use their will to leave money to family and friends, charities or the church. But one mystery woman decided to donate more than half a million pounds to whoever was in power. Joan LB Edwards bequeathed a sum of £520,000 to the government at the time of her death, but with the Tories and Lib Dems in coalition the two parties had to share the cash. Cashing in: David Cameron and Nick Clegg split the money left to the government of the day . The mysterious donation emerged as the Electoral Commission published the latest donations figures for April to June this year. The huge sum left by Ms Edwards meant she was the second biggest donor to any party, behind Unite which continues to bankroll the Labour party. The Liberal Democrats said the she had left the bequest to 'the party in government of the day'. With two parties sharing power, the money was split according to their number of MPs and ministers. As the larger party, the Conservatives received £420,576 while the Lib Dems had £99,423. A Conservative spokesman said: 'We don't comment on the details of specific donations. It was out of the blue. We weren't expecting it.' It is unusual for the money to be left to the governing party of the day, regardless of who is in power. Last year it emerged dead Britons had left the Treasury £54,000 to help pay off the ballooning national debt from beyond the grave. Backer: James Palumbo, founder of the Ministry of Sound, gave £65,000 to the Lib Dems in the weeks before being made a peer . In 2010-11 members of the public gave more than £1million to the government as a gift to the nation, almost all left in wills. And £54,634.36 was specifically set aside ‘for the reduction of the national debt’. Amid growing doubts about why Ms Edwards' money was taken by the political parties and not added to Treasury coffers to spend on public services, it emerged the decision was taken by the solicitors acting as executors of her will. They consulted the Treasury solicitors and the Attorney General’s office before making the decision to treat the money as a donation to the parties, both of which were 'surprised' by the money. The decision of how to split the donation parties was made by the executors of the will. A Lib Dem spokesman said: 'The Liberal Democrats were notified that the party was a beneficiary of Ms Edwards’ will. 'The party was also informed that the executors had made the decision to split the estate between the two political parties in Government.' The Conservatives received a total of £4,116,006 during the three month period, including major donations from businessmen. The . largest gifts to the Conservatives were £280,770 from co-treasurer and . hedge fund boss Michael Farmer and £263,600 from investment banker James . Lupton. Labour said the . Tories received £1,042,970.93 in the last quarter from donors who . attended private dinners with Mr Cameron and other senior ministers. It . included £694,370 from donors in the financial sector. Sadiq . Khan MP, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, said: 'The Tories have . raked in over £1 million from private dinners with David Cameron and . senior Ministers in the last quarter. 'And more than two thirds of that comes from the City – the bankers and hedge fund bosses whose taxes David Cameron cut. 'Hardworking . families are seeing their living standards squeezed, with prices rising . faster than wages. Meanwhile David Cameron shows how out of touch he . is, standing up for the millionaires who fund his party.' Meanwhile, . the new figures show the Ministry of Sound gave £65,000 to the Lib . Dems, just weeks before the nightclub's boss James Palumbo received a . peerage from Nick Clegg. The . superclub firm made a donation of £50,000 to the central party on June . 6, and on June 30 a further £15,000 was given to the Bermondsey and Old . Southwark local association of Lib Dem deputy leader Simon Hughes. Meanwhile, unions have tightened their grip on Labour and are now responsible for three-quarters of all big donations to party coffers. The Unite union, which went to war with Ed Miliband over plans to curb union influence, gave £722,195 from April to June this year. The figures also reveal that even the Lib Dems have raised more from individual non-union donors than the Labour party since the election. Red Ed: Five of the biggest trade unions accounted for three-quarters of the total donations to Labour coffers in the three months to the end of June . The revelations will heap further pressure on Mr Miliband, who has faced growing criticism for his failure to set the political agenda in recent weeks. A new opinion poll shows 40 per cent of people now back David Cameron and George Osborne to run the economy, compared to just 24 per cent for Mr Miliband and shadow chancellor Ed Balls . The Labour leader is caught between trying to widen the appeal of his party while relying increasingly on trade unions to bankroll his campaign for Number 10. The Electoral Commission today released details of all donations to political parties over £7,500. In the three months to the end of June, . Labour received a total of £3,136,447 in such donations, of which 72 per cent . came from five of the biggest unions. Unite gave £772,195, the GMB £485,830, UNISON £458,080, USDAW £411,147 and the Communication Workers’ Union £143,121. Labour stressed that the figures did not include smaller donations, and said union money accounted for 25 per cent of total donations since the start of the year. Over the period Labour reduced its overdraft facilities by £2.5 million and took out two new loans of £1.22 million each with the Co-operative Bank and Unity Trust Bank. The party had outstanding loans of £12.79 million at the end of June. By contrast, the Tories are recorded as having £2.6 million of loans but have access to overdraft facilities of up to £10.13 million. In the money: David Cameron's Conservatives received most in donations overall, while Nick Clegg's Lib Dems had more in donations from non-union sources than the Labour party, lead by Ed Miliband . Tory party chairman Grant Shapps said: . ‘Despite Ed Miliband’s promise of change, these independent figures . prove his Labour Party is still dominated by the trade unions. ‘They choose the candidates, pick the leader and remain Labour’s biggest donors - providing three quarters of the party's money. ‘Until Ed Miliband stops taking his union paymasters’ cash, he will be too weak to stand up for hardworking people. ‘Instead, . he can only offer what the union barons want in return for their money - . the same old Labour policy of more spending, more borrowing and more . debt, exactly what got us into this mess in the first place.’ The UK Independence Party was buoyed by donations more than doubling to £160,000. It included a single payment to its Tiverton and Honiton branch worth £50,000, the second highest payment to a local association of any party. UKIP has grown hugely in the last year, picking up an extra 15,000 members. Last month Unite general secretary Len . McCluskey aid out a £63billion shopping list of left-wing policies he . says Labour must adopt or lose millions in funding. He . said the Labour leader had to be ‘bold’ and reverse the coalition’s . benefit reforms, halt spending cuts and borrowing billions to build . 1million extra homes. Labour’s reliance on union backing means it now raises less from individuals than Nick Clegg’s Liberal Democrats. In the latest three months, the Lib Dems raised £801,000 from non-union donations while Labour received only £730,000. Since the 2010 general election the Lib Dems have raised £6million from individuals compared to £4million for Labour. And Mr Miliband has struggled to widen the supporter base, with only 305 individual Labour donors, compared to 1,077 for the Lib Dems. Even with the union barons bankrolling the party, Labour still received less than the Conservatives. | Joan LB Edwards left cash to the governing party of the day .
With Tories and Lib Dems sharing power they split the money .
As bigger party Conservatives had £420,000 and Lib Dems £100,000 .
Dinners for Tory donors and Lib Dem peerage for nightclub backer .
Nick Clegg's Lib Dems raise more from non-union sources than Labour .
Five biggest unions responsible for 72% of £3,136,447 given to Labour .
UK Independence Party sees donations double to £160,000 . |
fc9da55fe3118babd5e629a2d912a7b8fea9bf7a | By . Bianca London for MailOnline . She famously shed her baby weight within weeks of having her second child and with a fitness DVD, an OK! health column and a London Triathlon under her belt since the birth of her son AJ in February, Michelle shows no signs of slowing down. So how does she do it? 'I don't know!,' she told MailOnline. 'A very understanding husband maybe and a lot of will power to get up early to work out. I do a lot of my projects at night when the kids are asleep. It's a balancing act. I don't have nannies or family nearby but we make it work.' The fitness-crazed mother-of-two, who recently shared an envy-inducing picture of her toned stomach on holiday, said exercise is extremely important to her. Fitness fanatic: Michelle Heaton has a serious passion for fitness and told FEMAIL that she loves to get a work-out in early in the morning before her children have even woken up . 'It gives me energy and makes me feel good on the inside and out and a happy mum is a happy home,' she said. Michelle, 35, revealed that she works out between four and five times a week and it's always on an empty stomach before her two children, Faith, two, six-month-old son AJ, even wake up. 'I mix up my work outs up so my body is always guessing and never gets used to what I'm doing,' she said of her fitness regime. What's her secret? Michelle, who proudly posted the picture above on Twitter, tries to have a balanced diet and mixes up her work-out regime to keep her body guessing . New campaign: Michelle, who is currently promoting the Care ViraSoothe Sing-along competition, is an extremely hands-on mother and loves singing at home with her children . When it comes to food, she says that she's tried every type of diet in the past but nothing works for her other than when she's eating really healthily at home. 'I very rarely slip up with my food in the house but I reward my hard work with date nights and eating out at weekends,' she said. 'It's all a balancing act with maintenance, if you’re good 70 per cent of the time you should enjoy the other 30 per cent. 'However, if weight loss is your goal then there's no 30 per cent margin - it's called a diet for a reason so you need to put in the hard work and have patience to lose weight effectively. It doesn’t happen overnight.' Michelle, who is currently promoting the Care ViraSoothe Sing-along competition, is an extremely hands-on mother and loves singing at home with her children. Future popstar? Michelle shot to fame in pop group Liberty-X so will Faith be a star one day too? Michelle says she will guide her daughter as best she can in whatever she chooses to do . Little one: Michelle, pictured with baby boy AJ, says that every day is a challenge and she learns something new about her children all the time . So would she want little Faith to follow in her pop star footsteps? 'She's definitely a star in my eyes, whether it translates in later life who knows. I will let her decide and guide her as best as I can along the way,' said Michelle. Michelle, who won Disney's Mum of the Year Award back in March, said to win an award which was voted for by the public was an 'unbelievable feeling'. The former Liberty-X star shared what she thinks makes a great mother, saying: 'I personally think what makes a good mum is patience, nurturing and listening to your child's wants and needs instead of imposing your own ways that you may have read about in a book - every child and family is different. 'Every day is a challenge; you learn something new about your children or parenting or even yourself. It's challenging but rewarding all at the same time as you see these beautiful people growing up before your eyes. I love learning about my children, it's fascinating.' Girl's night out: Michelle Heaton recently took a few hours off mother duty and enjoyed a night out in the city at wine experience Vinopolis, as part of the Summer Of Love events calendar, and newly opened restaurant Forge with gal pals including fellow singer Liz McClarnon, Gemma Bissix of Hollyoaks fame, Nicola Stapleton most recently on EastEnders and Melanie Cameron . Michelle was diagnosed as a carrier of the deadly cancer gene BRCA2 gene in 2012 and subsequently announced that she would have a full hysterectomy to avoid the risk of ovarian cancer, which she said she would be doing for the sake of her family. Aside from that, she is about to start filming a documentary and she has some projects coming up with the Lorraine show. She added: 'I’m also going on a trek next year in Morocco for the Genesis Trust – it’s in support of women in a similar position to me who’ve been though similar experiences. Come and join me; there are still places left!'. Finding fame: Michelle shot to fame with Liberty X, here she is pictured in 2007 . To enter the Care ViraSoothe Sing-along competition, go to Facebook page and upload a video of your little one singing their favourite song or lullaby and you can be in with a chance of winning £500. | Michelle, 35, recently uploaded snap of toned stomach .
Says she mixes up her workouts to keep her body guessing .
Preparing to have full mastectomy .
Also to star on documentary and work with Lorraine show . |
fc9dc36a5c3cfd100cb9e25068ff23c5b8d32674 | Los Angeles (CNN) -- Coroner's investigator Elissa Fleak returned to the stand in the eighth day of the trial of Michael Jackson's doctor Thursday morning to continue her testimony about what she found in searches of the pop icon's bedroom. The pathologist who conducted the autopsy on Michael Jackson and ruled his death a homicide could testify later Thursday or Friday in the involuntary manslaughter trial of Dr. Conrad Murray. Jurors should also soon hear the two-hour interview Murray gave to police two days after Jackson's June 25, 2009, death of what the coroner concluded was the result of "acute propofol intoxication" in combination with sedatives. Los Angeles Police Det. Orlando Martinez, who questioned Murray, is expected to testify Thursday or Friday that Murray told him he had been administering propofol to Jackson regularly for two months to help him sleep. Deputy District Attorney David Walgren covered a table with drug vials and medical paraphernalia taken in Fleak's searches, a visual display of Murray's in-home treatment of Jackson. Fleak identified a saline bag that was cut open and an empty 100 milliliter propofol bottle inside. The prosecution alleges Murray used it as a makeshift IV drip to administer propofol to Jackson. The defense contends Murray gave Jackson just 25 milliliters of the surgical anesthetic and used a syringe to push it in. Twelve bottles of propofol were found in the bedroom during her first search the day Jackson died, including an empty vial found on the floor next to the bed, Fleak said. Seven bottles of medications were on a nightstand next to the bed, including one with lorazepam pills prescribed by Murray to Jackson. Murray's defense lawyers say Jackson caused his own death by swallowing eight lorazepam pills and orally ingesting propofol while Murray was out of the room. Although crucial to prove that Murray is criminally responsible for the pop icon's death, Thursday's forensic testimony is not likely to match Wednesday's emotional drama when jurors heard Jackson's slurred voice telling his doctor "I hurt, you know, I hurt." A photograph of Jackson lying dead on a hospital gurney was later projected onto a large screen in the courtroom, a vivid reminder to jurors of why they will listen to a least a month of testimony. While the court camera feed focused on the disturbing image for just five seconds -- the result of an earlier decision to minimize public exposure to such shocking images -- it was displayed on a large screen in front of the jury for about two minutes. Forensic computer expert Stephen Marx, who found the Jackson audio file on Murray's iPhone, said it was recorded on May 10, 2009, when Jackson was preparing for his "This Is It" concerts set for London two months later. Prosecutors, who played a clip of the stunning audio in their opening statement last week, let the jury hear the entire recording in Murray's involuntary manslaughter trial Wednesday. "Elvis didn't do it. Beatles didn't do it. We have to be phenomenal," Jackson said. "When people leave this show, when people leave my show, I want them to say, 'I've never seen nothing like this in my life. Go. Go. I've never seen nothing like this. Go. It's amazing. He's the greatest entertainer in the world.' I'm taking that money, a million children, children's hospital, the biggest in the world, Michael Jackson Children's Hospital. Going to have a movie theater, game room." In the portion never before heard in court, Jackson talked about his life and concern for children: . "Children are depressed. The -- in those hospitals, no game room, no movie theater. They're sick because they're depressed. Their mind is depressing them. I want to give them that. I care about them, them angels. God wants me to do it. God wants me to do it. I'm going to do it, Conrad." Another voice, which the prosecutor said was Murray's, is heard saying, "I know you would." "Don't have enough hope, no more hope," Jackson said. "That's the next generation that's going to save our planet, starting with -- we'll talk about it. United States, Europe, Prague, my babies. They walk around with no mother. They drop them off, they leave -- a psychological degradation of that. They reach out to me: 'Please take me with you.'" At the end, Jackson said he was "going to do that for them." "That will be remembered more than my performances. My performances will be up there helping my children and always be my dream. I love them. I love them because I didn't have a childhood. I had no childhood. I feel their pain. I feel their hurt. I can deal with it. 'Heal the World,' 'We Are the World,' 'Will You Be There,' 'The Lost Children.' These are the songs I've written because I hurt, you know, I hurt." At the end, Jackson told the doctor, "I am asleep." His brother Jermaine Jackson wiped tears from his eyes as he listened in court. Prosecutor Walgren said in his opening statement that Jackson was "highly under the influences of unknown agents" when Murray recorded Jackson. Another recording found on Murray's phone and played in court Wednesday was a voice mail from Frank Dileo, who was Jackson's last manager. Dileo's message to Murray, left five days before Jackson's death, suggested that he "get a blood test" from Jackson because "we've got to see what he's doing." He referred to "an episode" Jackson had at a rehearsal the night before. "He's sick," Dileo said. Concert producer Kenny Ortega testified about Jackson's illness in the first day of the trial, which he wrote about in an e-mail sent about the same time Dileo was leaving his phone message. "He appeared quite week (sic) and fatigued this evening," Ortega wrote. "He had a terrible case of the chills, was trembling, rambling and obsessing. Everything in me says he should be psychologically evaluated." Murray's iPhone also contained e-mail attachments that appeared to be Jackson's medical records sent by Murray's office assistant to the doctor, who was gathering them for a British insurance agent who was arranging cancellation insurance for Jackson's London concerts. The insurers were concerned about news reports that Jackson was seen "at various times using a wheelchair" and that he suffered a back injury, lupus, emphysema and cancer, according to an e-mail from the agent to the doctor. Jackson refused to authorize the release of his medical records to the insurance company, Murray wrote back, but he added concerning the news reports of illnesses, "let me say they're all fallicious (sic) to the best of my knowledge." One record shown in court, kept under the alias "Omar Arnold," indicated that in September 2008, Murray diagnosed Jackson with insomnia and anxiety. It showed he treated him with valium and Xanax. Files from the phone suggest Murray was dealing with the insurance agent's request around the same time he said he was struggling to help Jackson go to sleep with sedatives. The prosecution wants to show jurors that Murray was distracted by a long list of phone calls and e-mails, causing him to neglect Jackson, who stopped breathing and died. Prosecutors argue that Murray, who was Jackson's personal doctor as he prepared for planned comeback concerts, is criminally responsible for the singer's death because of medical negligence and his reckless use of the propofol to help Jackson sleep. If convicted of involuntary manslaughter, Murray could spend four years in a California prison and lose his medical license. | Dr. Conrad Murray's police interview to be played in court .
The doctor who did Jackson's autopsy should testify soon .
Jurors hear Jackson's voice telling doctor, "I hurt"
"I didn't have a childhood," Jackson says in drugged recording . |
fc9dcf569b56a2d06ad31e2e1241e8fe105ce4c0 | (Coastal Living) -- From open-air tropical bungalows to luxe tree houses, let these idyllic hideaways decrease your carbon footprint as they expand your horizons. Alaska's remote Sadie Cove Wilderness Lodge has been welcoming guests for nearly 30 years. 9 Beaches, Bermuda . Bermuda is usually formal, but there's no need for evening dress at this casual out-post. Six of the 84 rooms are over-the-water cabanas that include a window in the floor so you can peer down at fish. Eco cred: Ocean breezes make using air-conditioning unnecessary, so your carbon footprint practically disappears. Insider's tip: Hi Tide, the resort's main restaurant, turns out some of the best meals on the island. Try the blackened rockfish with grilled shrimp and dill sauce. Cost: Rooms from $280 per night (over-water cabanas from $490). A special this year offers the sixth night for $9 in honor of the resort's ninth anniversary; 866/841-9009 or 9beaches.com. CoastalLiving.com: 25 eco-savvy rooms . Sadie Cove Wilderness Lodge, Alaska . Hand-built from milled driftwood, this remote inn inside Kachemak Bay State Park has been welcoming guests for nearly 30 years. With just five cabins, the hosts guarantee peace and quiet. Eco cred: Wind and hydropower mean guilt-free electricity, and all water comes from a swift mountain stream. The lodge ships out its recyclables for proper processing. Insider's tip: Take a flight over beautiful, volcanic Augustine Island. Cost: Rooms from $425 per guest per night, including meals; 888/283-7234 or sadiecove.com. CoastalLiving.com: Scenes of Seward . Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef, Australia . Stay in roomy safari tents nestled in Australia's western dunes. This resort borders a national park and offers from-the-beach access to coral reefs teeming with tropical fish. Eco cred: Ningaloo has the bases covered with solar power and composting toilets. About 780 miles north of Perth, the retreat is free from light pollution, meaning great stargazing. Insider's tip: Swim with whale sharks, which migrate through the area from April to June. Sounds scary, but they're harmless to humans. Cost: About $900 per night per tent for two, including meals and activities; 011/61/ 29/571-6399 or salsalis.com.au. Treebones Resort, Big Sur, California . Nestled between Los Padres National Forest and the Pacific Ocean, this getaway remains true to the region's hippie roots. The comfortable yurts include queen-size beds, pine flooring and decks overlooking the coast. Guests can hike through redwood forests, kayak in the marine sanctuary, or indulge in an in-yurt massage. Eco cred: Treebones heats its pool, hot tub and common areas with a clean-burning generator. Insider's tip: Is a yurt too tame for you? Spend the night up a tree in an eco-nest, a bed of woven wood, bird's nest style. Cost: Yurts begin at $155 per couple per night; 877/424-4787 or treebonesresort.com. Yediburunlar Lighthouse, Turkey . Yediburunlar means "seven noses," the Turkish description of the seven bays that make up the Turquoise Coast at the Mediterranean's eastern end. This six-room inn delivers seclusion in a big way. Though the structure isn't technically a lighthouse, guests will find sweeping views of the sea where Jason and the Argonauts once sailed. Activities include coastal hikes, local excursions and sailboat cruises. Eco cred: Solar panels heat the water, and recycling is a priority. Insider's tip: Innkeeper Semra Aydeniz welcomes guests into the kitchen to learn how Turkish specialties are prepared. Cost: From about $1,650 per couple per week, including flights from London and most meals; 011/0208/605-3500 or exclusiveescapes.co.uk. The Colony Hotel, Kennebunkport, Maine . Although nearly a century old, this New England classic can teach eco-upstarts a thing or two. Guests drawn by sweeping Atlantic views, the heated saltwater pool, and a private beach also get organic foods and a nature education program. CoastalLiving.com: Maine Getaway . Eco cred: The Colony composts waste and has banned plastic foam containers, aerosol sprays and plastic bin liners. Trash baskets in each room have four compartments, allowing guests to sort recyclables. Insider's tip: Pick up a recycled souvenir. The hotel turns worn bedspreads and linens into handcrafted dog blankets. Cost: From $99; 800/552-2363 or thecolonyhotel.com. Anjajavy l'Hôtel, Madagascar . Arrive at this Indian Ocean retreat on the hotel's private plane. Once settled into one of 25 rosewood villas, guests can take guided hikes through the tropical forest, snorkel, mountain bike or even water-ski. Eco cred: Anjajavy has brought economic development and health programs to a remote and poor corner of the island. The property is next to an 1,100-acre nature preserve. Insider's tip: Don't miss afternoon tea in the Oasis garden, where birds and lemurs are as much an attraction as the cake. Cost: Villas from about $540 per couple (higher in April), meals included, plus $680 round-trip flight per person from larger cities on Madagascar; 011/26/187/366/275-0676 or anjajavy.com. Maho Bay Camps & Estate Concordia, U.S. Virgin Islands . More than 30 years ago, the granddaddy of today's eco-resorts opened on St. John with a radical idea: Travelers would willingly stay in tents with communal baths if it allowed them easy access to a deserted beach and ocean breezes. More than 1 million guests later, no one's doubting. Eco cred: From the arts center where guests create souvenirs from recyclables to a make-your-own-bed approach to housekeeping, Maho sets the standard for low-impact travel. Insider's tip: If a safari tent sounds too close to nature, try the newer Estate Concordia Studios -- same concept but with a solid wall between you and the elements. Cost: Studios from $95; 800/392-9004 or maho.org. Morgan's Rock Hacienda & Ecolodge, Nicaragua . Going green doesn't mean giving up luxuries at this eco-chic getaway about 15 miles north of the Costa Rica border. Perched in the forest, open-sided bungalows await guests, who can fall asleep to the sound of the Pacific and wake to the calls of monkeys. Eco cred: The 4,400 acres remain a nature preserve and sustainable tree farm, where 1.5 million trees have been planted in the past decade. Insider's tip: Order a rum drink. Sugarcane is grown on site, and the resulting molasses is distilled to produce a sweet, potent spirit. Cost: From $438 per couple, including meals and activities; 011/505/670-7676 or morgansrock.com. Natura Cabanas, Dominican Republic . The Dominican Republic offers more than giant resorts and all-inclusive buffets. Natura Cabañas shows another side of the Caribbean, with a private beach for just 11 palm-thatched bungalows. The modern spa's services include a heavenly chocolate wrap. Eco cred: The cabanas are built from natural materials. Screened walls and windows keep it comfortable without air-conditioning. Insider's tip: Unwind at the resort's new yoga pavilion. Classes include one that mixes yoga and Pilates. Cost: Rates begin at $180 per couple; 809/571-1507 or naturacabana.com. Enter to win a monthly Room Makeover Giveaway from MyHomeIdeas.com . Copyright © Coastal Living, 2009 . | Sadie Cove Wilderness Lodge in Alaska is powered by wind and hydropower .
Sal Salis Ningaloo reef in Australia uses solar power and composting toilets .
Morgan's Rock Hacienda is on a sustainable tree farm in Nicaragua . |
fc9dd4400bec5f771bfb2b65768df7793feeb90a | By . Simon Jones for Daily Mail . Southampton have had a £12million accepted for Hull City striker Shane Long. Manager Ronald Koeman wants a proven Premier League performer to support Graziano Pelle and the Republic of Ireland international Long has been recommended by Southampton scouts. Long only joined Hull last January from West Bromwich Albion in a £7million deal with Nikica Jelavic joining also from Everton. VIDEO Scroll down for Southampton unveil their new manager Ronald Koeman . Wanted: Shane Long could be set for a surprise £10million move to Southampton . Hull are reluctant to sell Long so soon but recognise an opportunity to make a quick profit. They will push Southampton to raise their offer though as a replacement will not be cheap to find. Manager Steve Bruce has an interest in Liverpool's Fabio Borini. Signing: Saints boss Ronald Koeman (pictured) wants a proven Premier League striker . The Italian is the subject of a £14m bid from Sunderland but remains to be convinced it is the right move as Gus Poyet struggles to get the other players he wants in. Bruce will struggle to match that bid and will evaluate other possibilities with the likes of Connor Wickham, Diafra Sakho and Nicklas Bendtner possibiities. Southampton have agreed a £450,000 fee with Leeds United for striker Billy Sharp. Recruit: Southampton have agreed a £450,000 fee with Leeds United for striker Billy Sharp . | Southampton have £12m bid for accepted for Shane Long .
Saints boss Ronald Koeman wants a proven Premier League striker .
Southampton agree a £450,000 fee for Billy Sharp . |
fc9df0773421eacbb48ef9c39665383702551139 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 06:24 EST, 26 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 03:34 EST, 27 August 2012 . A benefits cheat who claimed he was so disabled that he could not turn over in bed was caught out after officials spotted him playing in the local football league. Pete Iron pocketed more than £48,000 after telling welfare officers that he could only walk with a stick for 40 yards and fell frequently. But undercover investigators filmed the 43-year-old – nicknamed Pistol Pete – putting in energetic performances as the star midfielder for Sunday league team Solent Lions FC. Scroll down for video . 'Crippled': Pete Iron claimed he could only walk with a stick - but was seen sprinting around a football pitch in video footage captured by undercover investigators . The clip also proves Iron, pictured far right, is capable of sprinting and rolling over after receiving a direct blow to the groin from a football. Iron, from St Helens, on the Isle of Wight, admitted failing to notify changes of circumstances to obtain benefits between 2005 and 2011 when he appeared before magistrates. However, the bench decided its sentencing powers were not enough and he was committed to Newport Crown Court. Sentencing him to six months in prison, suspended for a year, and a six-month community supervision order, Recorder John Trevaskis said: ‘I accept this claim did not start out as a fraudulent one but it was incumbent on you to notify your circumstances had changed.’ Iron is repaying the sum in £25 a week instalments, meaning he will be nearly 80 by the time his debt is cleared. Team player: Iron was filmed chasing the ball in midfield in his appearance for Solent Lions FC . Scam: The 43-year-old, who claimed his condition made even turning over in bed impossible, was seen falling to his knees after being hit in the groin by the ball during the rough and tumble match . Ouch: Iron is shown crouched on the ground, apparently winded after being hit by the football . 'Active team member': Iron can be seen taking a throw-in while playing in another Solent Lions match earlier in the same month . Prosecutor Rob Griffiths said Iron had claimed disability living allowance with a care component and mobility allowance. Barry McElduff, defending, said Iron's GP confirmed his condition warranted the benefit when he first started claiming in 2000. He admitted it later improved but said it had eased only to a point where his client would have still been entitled to a lower level of benefit. | Pete Iron, 43, claimed he struggled to walk unaided without falling over - yet he was captured on camera playing in midfield for Solent Lions FC .
Fraudster claimed a total of £48,000 in disability living allowance and other benefits .
Court has ordered Iron to repay the sum at a rate of £25 per week, meaning he will be 80 before the debt is cleared . |
fc9e24d7c3a2a12dd048191f035ff407806b9e29 | (CNN) -- FACETIME: Russian Railways president Vladimir Yakunin . Russian Railways is making major tracks into the Middle East. The state-owned rail operator recently unveiled a number of multi-billon dollar projects across the Middle East, from a light metro line in Kuwait to a high-speed cargo/passenger network in the UAE and a cross-national project in Iran. MME met up with the Russian Railways president at the Moskovsky train station in St. Petersburg. IN FOCUS: Russians love UAE . More and more Russians are calling the UAE "home." In fact, it's estimated that some 50,000 live in the Emirates. No surprise then that cultural and business ties between the two countries are increasing all the time. MME explores this growing community by visiting a Russian restaurant, university and property development -- as well as the UAE's Russian National Day party and a Russian Othodox church -- the only one in the Arab peninsula. Marketplace Middle East airs weekly at the following times (all GMT): . Thursday: 1545, . Friday: 0845, . Sunday: 0515, 1545 . | Russian Railways has announced multi-billon dollar projects in the Middle East .
MME meets up with Vladimir Yakunin, the Russian Railways president .
Some 50,000 Russians live in the Emirates and MME explores this growing community . |
fc9ee50849f945b0c6a0133f6e0290ceec84f258 | (CNN) -- Military intervention in Mali has been swift -- it took only a few months for foreign forces to step in to start helping the population. Yet 10 years ago, the conflict in Darfur began. Many Darfuris are still waiting for the international community to help stop the bloodshed and ethnic cleansing. Civilians are still being systematically targeted, raped and killed and a recent upsurge in state-sponsored violence and human rights abuses is particularly worrying. Yet the response from the international community is to look the other way. Watch video: Warning of new Sudan disaster . Why the rush to help Mali while Darfur has suffered for a decade? Quite simply, the answer is fear. As British Prime Minister David Cameron claimed this January, all of North Africa is becoming a "magnet" for jihadists from other countries. The West is worried about the possibility of an Islamist-aligned state, one that could offer a base to jihadist groups, allowing them to promote and export its extremist ideology -- a new Afghanistan, just when the international community's intervention there is set to wind down. But the international community already confronts a similar reality in Sudan -- it just fails to truly understand the ugly nature of President Omar al-Bashir's regime. You only have to take a look at the friends he keeps, including Iran -- designated by the U.S. government as a sponsor of international terrorism. And let's not forget Sudan's long history of harboring global terrorists. In the early 1990s this included international terrorist "most wanted, Osama bin Laden. Even today, analysts think elements of al Qaeda and other international jihadists still linger in Sudan, and at the beginning of this year, an al Qaeda student wing was established at Khartoum University. Domestically, the Sudanese government promotes a violent, extreme form of Sharia law. At the very least this means anyone who fails to live by their strict and extreme interpretation of Islamism is castigated with public floggings and jail sentences. Moderate Muslims who signed the New Dawn Charter in January -- separating religion from state -- were labeled non-believers and infidels. At worst, Khartoum's attempt to establish a racially pure Islamic state involves waging war against its own unarmed civilians, systematically and with impunity. In Darfur this has lasted a decade. The U.N. estimates that 300,000 Darfuris have died since 2003, but it hasn't bothered to estimate casualty numbers since 2008. With fighting continuing to this day, the number is likely to be far higher. However, since these human-rights violations occur in a media vacuum the world assumes "Darfur is over." It isn't -- and won't be until the international community stops applying a lesser standard to Darfuris than to others who have needed its help. That's why a coalition of Darfuri organizations, like the Darfur Union and NGOs like Waging Peace -- which campaigns against genocide and human rights abuses in Sudan -- are launching a new campaign, Darfur10, to bring this war-torn region back onto the international agenda. Taking action need not require lengthy international negotiations. Let's just start by finally implementing the numerous U.N. resolutions against Sudan since 2004. Targeted smart sanctions against the personal finances of the architects of Darfur's genocide would help. As would travel bans for high-ranking officials, stocking up on luxury goods from Paris. And no-fly zones would stop the government's Antonovs from bombing Darfuri citizens. But addressing the underlying cause of Sudan's troubles means ensuring al-Bashir and others in his regime are brought to the International Criminal Court to stand trial for crimes against humanity. Media outlets are already publishing retrospectives on Darfur, 10 years on. But for the inhabitants of this blighted land, we are still staring the conflict in the face -- every day. It's time to take action. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Hussain Begira . | 10 years after conflict began, Darfuris still waiting for end to bloodshed, says Hussain Begira .
International community ignoring a recent upsurge in violence there, he says .
He argues that U.N. should implement its sanctions and impose no-fly zone .
'Darfur 10' campaign aims to put the crisis back on the international agenda . |
fc9f02de64b026c2c40d9b5ba7edce02465c9214 | Out and proud: António Simões said the 'emotional intelligence' of being gay helped him to the top . HSBC's top executive in Britain has said he owes his success to being gay because he has better 'emotional intelligence'. António Simões spoke out as he was named the country's top gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender executive by a panel including shopping guru Mary Portas and Tory peer Lord Black. The 39-year-old's comments came just two months after he said fellow business leaders still in the closet had a 'huge personal responsibility' to reveal their sexuality. Mr Simões told the newspaper Expresso, based in his home nation of Portugal: 'Being gay is a plus for me. It made me a more authentic person, with better empathy, better emotional intelligence. 'If I wasn't gay, I probably would not be CEO of the bank'. Praising the City's tolerance, he joked that being gay was less likely to have held him back than being a '39-year-old, short, bald, Portuguese' man trying to make his way in the City of London. Mr Simões joined HSBC just before the financial crisis from the London office of financial consultancy McKinsey & Co. He was named the bank's deputy chief executive and head of UK banking in 2012. The wide-ranging interview with Expresso examined how quickly the City, renowned for its male-dominated macho culture, is changing its attitude to diversity. It is just eight years since former BP chief executive Lord Browne embarked on a protracted court battle to hide a gay relationship from the public. Changing times: HSBC's headquarters in London's Canary Wharf. Mr Simões said attitudes have shifted . Mr Simões, who married his Spanish husband Tomas in 2007, said he had spoken extensively since then to Lord Browne and he agreed it was easier to come out now than ever before. The pair credited Apple's chief executive Tim Cook, who was hailed in October for declaring: 'I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me.' In doing so Mr Cook became the only openly gay chief executive of any of the 500 biggest companies in the U.S. Barely a week after the Apple boss came out, Mr Simões - who holds the number one spot on the Out at Work list of Britain's top 50 executives - made a searing speech aimed at closeted colleagues. Praise: Mr Simões told a Portuguese newspaper the coming-out of Apple's Tim Cook (left) had changed everything, seven years after Lord Browne (right) fought a lengthy court battle to hide his gay relationship . 'We're in London, we're in 2014', he told a summit in November. 'It's not acceptable that we take for granted all the work done by others on issues such as marriage equality. ‘I am the short, bald, Portuguese, gay guy. I have started to use it as a positive element of my personality.' | António Simões, 39, spoke as he was named UK's top LGBT executive .
'If I was not gay, I probably would not be CEO of the bank,' he said .
He has slammed closeted chiefs, who have 'responsibility' to come out . |
fc9f4201c0d43c97421256a65eead56039d62e33 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 15:30 EST, 18 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 15:34 EST, 18 March 2014 . For nearly two weeks, Robert Manning was sitting on a goldmine and didn't realize it. The Virginia father recently cleaned out his wallet and checked his stack of Powerball tickets. To his shock, one of the tickets he'd purchased at 7-Eleven at Rolling Rd, Springfield, on March 5 was worth $1 million. Winner: Robert Manning had the winning Powerball ticket in his wallet for 11 days before he finally checked it . Lucky guy: Robert Manning said, with a child in college and another planning to go next year, the win has come at a good time . 'It feels crazy,' he said, as lottery officials presented his winning ticket yesterday, NBC reported. 'It feels like there's nine million things going through my mind'. Numbers from the ticket he bought (3-7-9-26-54) matched the first five numbers for the drawing. If the ticket matched the final Powerball number (19), the federal employee would have won the $40 million jackpot, officials told WUSA9. Manning said, with one . child in college and another planning to go next year, the . win came at a good time. Still amazing: If the final Powerball number on Manning's ticket match, he would have won $400m (his ticket not pictured) | Virginia's Robert Manning had the winning ticket for 11 days before he discovered he had won .
He bought it on March 5 at a Springfield 7-Eleven .
If his ticket matched the final Powerball number, he would have won $400m . |
fc9f7ec062e12e20a38f44e01b6f2eb0d0afcf48 | Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has been convicted of corruption charges today, ensuring a return to prison for a man once among the nation's youngest big-city leaders. Jurors found Kilpatrick guilty of a raft of crimes, including a racketeering conspiracy charge. He was portrayed during a five-month trial as an unscrupulous politician who took bribes, rigged contracts and lived far beyond his means while in office until fall 2008. Prosecutors said Kilpatrick ran a 'private profit machine' out of Detroit's City Hall. Scroll down for video . Convicted: Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, pictured leaving court today, has been convicted on corruption charges . The government presented evidence to . show he got a share of the spoils after ensuring that Ferguson's . excavating company was awarded millions in work from the water . department. Business owners said they were forced to hire Ferguson as a subcontractor or risk losing city contracts. Separately, fundraiser Emma Bell said she gave Kilpatrick more than $200,000 as his personal cut of political donations, pulling cash from her bra during private meetings. A high-ranking aide, Derrick Miller, told jurors that he often was the middle man, passing bribes from others. Profit machine: Prosecutors said Kilpatrick, pictured, ran a 'private profit machine' out of Detroit's City Hall . Racketeering: Jurors found Kilpatrick, pictured center, guilty of a raft of crimes, including a racketeering conspiracy charge . Internal Revenue Service agents said Kilpatrick spent $840,000 beyond his mayoral salary.Kilpatrick, . who now lives near Dallas, declined to testify. He has long denied any . wrongdoing, and defense attorney James Thomas told jurors that . Kilpatrick often was showered with cash gifts from city workers and . political supporters during holidays and birthdays. The government said Kilpatrick abused the Civic Fund, a nonprofit fund he created to help distressed Detroit residents. There was evidence that it was used for yoga lessons, camps for his kids, golf clubs and travel. Sexting: Kilpatrick, pictured with his wife and actress Gabrielle Union at the 2007 Bermuda Music Festival, resigned in 2008 amid a sexting scandal with his chief of staff . Low: The government said Kilpatrick, pictured right while he was mayor, abused the Civic Fund, a nonprofit fund he created to help distressed Detroit residents . Kilpatrick, 42, was elected in 2001 at age 31. He resigned in 2008 and pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in a different scandal involving sexually explicit text messages and an extramarital affair with his chief of staff. The Democrat spent 14 months in prison for violating probation in that case after a judge said he failed to report assets that could be put toward his $1 million restitution to Detroit. Voters booted his mother, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, from Congress in 2010, partly because of a negative perception of her due to her son's troubles. | Kwame Kilpatrick has been convicted of corruption charges today after a five month trial .
The politician took bribes, rigged contracts .
and lived far beyond his means while in office until fall 2008 and ran a 'private profit machine' out of Detroit's City Hall . |
fca051635f7a1ea94199fbf8ccad724f75df9671 | By . Emma Glanfield . The teenage sons of a former French president and his successor’s mistress have been at war with each other on Twitter – exchanging insults over everything from their parents to the World Cup. Louis Sarkozy, the 16-year-old son of former President Nicolas, even challenged Leonard Triérweiler, the 15-year-old son of ex-First Lady Valérie, to a fight after the name-calling escalated. The spat has left much of France transfixed, with several Twitter users and media commentators calling for the boys’ parents to intervene. Louis Sarkozy (right), the 16-year-old son of former President Nicolas, even challenged Leonard Triérweiler (left), the 15-year-old son of ex-First Lady Valérie, to a fight after the name-calling on Twitter escalated . The teenagers started exchanging insulting tweets earlier this month and continued this week after it was revealed Valérie Triérweiler - the former live-in girlfriend of French president Francois Hollande - cost taxpayers at least half-a-million pounds last year. The money was spent mostly on security, with Ms Triérweiler at the time using four bodyguards, five personal aides, and regularly using state planes and official homes. After Sarkozy posted a picture on his Twitter page to a news article of the report, the ex-first Lady's son responded with: ‘But this is not my mother who had a credit card of the Elysee for his personal expenses...' To which Sarkozy retaliated: ‘Mine either.’ Sarkozy sent one tweet to Triérweiler after it emerged his mother - the former live-in girlfriend of French president Francois Hollande - had cost taxpayers at least half-a-million pounds last year . Sarkozy responded to the taunt with: 'Mine either!' Sarkozy, who attends a US military school, touted the idea of a fight after it was suggested by another user . The spat continued when Sarkozy junior appeared to support the idea of settling the fall-out with a fight - after it was suggested by another Twitter user who had apparently been following the quarrel. The teenager, who attends a military school in the US, said: ‘Whenever you want! We soldiers learn how to fight.’ Several French media commentators have shared their opinion on the matter, and today the website of news magazine Le Nouvel Observateur appeared to criticise the social media spat. ‘Neither Louis Sarkozy nor Leonard Triérweiler have any right to get involved in such complex political questions’, it said. | Louis Sarkozy, 16 - the son of former President Nicolas - is embroiled in spat .
Has been exchanging insults with Leonard Triérweiler - son of ex-First Lady .
Several commentators have called for parents to step in and put end to spat . |
fca0b4aa32bd0df663e94ad3c9776de477a8ebea | A millionaire socialite who is on trial for force-feeding her autistic son a fatal dose of drugs emailed her financial adviser as she watched him die, a court heard yesterday. Gigi Jordan, 54, forced a cocktail of crushed pills and orange juice down the throat of eight-year-old Jude Mirra in a $2,300-a-night suite at Manhattan's exclusive Peninsula hotel. As he lay dying on the bed next to her, she then reportedly emailed adviser Patrick Walsh, saying: 'Hi Pat, can you please wire $125,000 to Bruce as requested below?'. Mother and son: Gigi Jordan (right), 54, forced a cocktail of crushed pills and orange juice down the throat of her eight-year-old son, Jude Mirra (left), in a $2,300-a-night suite at Manhattan's exclusive Peninsula Hotel . Standing trial: As Jude (right) lay dying on the bed next to her, Jordan (pictured, left, in court) then reportedly emailed adviser Patrick Walsh, saying: 'Hi Pat, can you please wire $125,000 to Bruce as requested below?' She hoped to siphon the large sum of cash from her son's trust fund into one of her business accounts, prosecutors said. Although Jordan has never disputed feeding the fatal drugs to Jude, she has described her actions in the luxury hotel room on Fifth Avenue in February 2010 as a 'mercy killing'. However, prosecutors said the pharmaceutical executive's emails contradicted her defense lawyer's assertions that she was 'emotionally distraught' at her son's autism. Instead, Jordan wanted to live the life of the socialite and not be tied down by a young son who required so much attention because of his condition, said lead prosecutor Matthew Bogdanos. Aim: Jordan hoped to siphon cash from her son's trust into one of her business accounts, prosecutors said . Scene of the crime: Although Jordan has never disputed feeding the drugs to Jude, she has described her actions in the luxury hotel room on Fifth Avenue as a 'mercy killing'. Above, the Peninsula hotel on Fifth Avenue . During yesterday's trial, Mr Walsh claimed that Jordan was a demanding, high-maintenance client who often made 'unreasonable' requests, according to the New York Post. 'My job was to deal with that, but most requests she would make I think would be considered unreasonable,' he told the court. When asked about the times Jordan reportedly transferred money from her son's account into her own, Mr Walsh replied: 'If she wanted to use it for her own personal use, we would not stop her from doing that.' Jordan currently has a pending civil suit against the financial adviser, whom she claims helped her ex-husband steal millions of dollars from her. Devastating: Prosecutors said the pharmaceutical executive's emails contradicted her lawyer's assertions that she was 'emotionally distraught' at her son's autism. Above, emergency crews take away Jude's body . Allegations: In addition to his medical condition, Jordan alleges that her son's (pictured) biological father, and her second husband, Emil Tzekov, had been sexually abusing the boy since he was an infant . During an earlier hearing, the court heard that Jordan had also balanced her checkbook after forcing the lethal concoction of pills down her son's throat. 'Ms. Jordan is so distraught, so emotional, so emotionally disturbed that she balances her checkbook in that room on her bed with her dead child only a few feet away,' Mr Bogdanos told jurors. The mother then reportedly attempted to take her own life by consuming a mixture of pills and Grey Goose vodka. Jordan, who faces up to life in prison if convicted of murder, is pictured at an earlier court appearance . But she was foiled when members of law enforcement kicked down the door to the room and found her on the floor incoherent and babbling. She immediately said to one officer, 'I want a lawyer', the court heard. In his opening statement, Allan Brenner, defending, said Jordan was a caring, loving and devoted mother who was terrified of the suffering her son was going through. In addition to his medical condition, Jordan alleges that her son's biological father, and her second husband, Emil Tzekov, had been sexually abusing the boy since he was an infant. She also claims that her first husband, Ray Mirra, had threatened to murder her and the boy if she turned him in to authorities for selling black market prescription drugs. Neither Tzekov, who has strongly denied the allegations, nor Mirra have ever been charged with a crime. Mr Brenner plans to argue that Jordan killed her son while in the grip of an extreme emotional disturbance, which would allow the jury to convict her of manslaughter rather than murder. Killing a person to save them from future abuse has never been a recognized defense to murder in the state of New York. Jordan, who according to the New York Times has gone through 11 defense lawyers since she was charged over four years ago, faces up to life in prison if convicted. The trial is expected to last until November. | Gigi Jordan, 54, force-fed her son Jude Mirra fatal cocktail of pills and juice .
She then emailed financial adviser as he lay dying next to her, court heard .
She wrote: 'Can you please wire $125,000 to Bruce as requested below?'
Socialite 'hoped to siphon cash from son's trust fund into her own account'
Jordan claims she fed her autistic son, eight,the drugs as a 'mercy killing'
She also reportedly tried to kill herself after taking son's life, but was saved .
Incident occurred in $2,300-a-night suite at luxury Peninsula hotel in 2010 .
The pharmaceutical executive faces up to life in jail if convicted of murder . |
fca0e791b19ca18ada60462083146096ad2a338b | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 11:41 EST, 17 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:39 EST, 17 April 2013 . The Zumba instructor in Maine who admitted to being prostitute had sex with as many as five different men per day and took only 15 minute breaks in between each one. Text messages revealed that the former fitness instructor-turned-prostitute Alexis Wright would not meet with her clients unless her business partner, a 57-year-old man who lived 100 miles away, was watching the trysts in real time via Skype. The messages between Wright and insurance agent Mark Strong Sr. were obtained Tuesday through a records request by the Portland Press Herald. They were shared with the jury but kept from the public by the judge during the trial, and have only been released today. Busy: Text messages that prostitute Alexis Wright sent allege that she had sex with up to five men per day . On trial: Strong has pleaded not guilty to 12 charges of promoting prostitution and one count of invasion of privacy . The communications included spreadsheets Wright used to keep track of her clients, with names, dates, times, sex acts and payments. Messages from February 9, 2012, show how busy Wright was having sex with men for money, with as little as 15 minutes between encounters, the newspaper reported. 'I had sex with Larry, Pete and Paul on Thursday,' she writes. 'And Michael, Pete, Pat, Jason and Mike today. ‘Wow. Two days, ten clients.’ Wright pleaded guilty last month to 20 counts including prostitution for using her studio in Kennebunk, a village known more for its sea captains' homes and beaches than for crime, as a front for prostitution. Strong was convicted of 13 counts relating to the promotion of prostitution. Video and testimony during Strong's trial indicated Wright's trysts were captured by a hidden video camera in a sophisticated operation featuring meticulous ledgers and calendars and the use of license plates to identify clients. Explicit: Prosecutors played a video of Alexis Wright, 30, stripping off and teasing construction workers across the street from her exercise studio . For all to see: The video played for jurors shows Wright stripping out of her towel while standing in the window of her Pure Vida Zumba exercise studio in downtown Kennebunk, Maine . Strong, who has acknowledged having an affair with Wright, monitored the sex acts from his office. In one text, Wright wrote: ‘I love you Mark :-)’. Only texts sent by Wright were released, and none that Strong may have sent to her in response. Video recordings that were aired during the trial show Wright approaching the camera and checking that it was hidden under a pile of lingerie before each client came into the studio. On January 25, 2012, she sent a string of texts to Strong when a client was due to arrive but she would not meet with him until she know that Strong was watching via Skype. 'You must have gotten tied up somewhere. I can't reach you and Jared is already in the area. I won't see a client without your permission and viewing so I'll wait to hear from you I guess,' Wright wrote in a text. Admission of guilt: Zumba instructor Alexis Wright appears with her attorney, Sarah Churchill, to plead guilty to 20 counts, including prostitution, theft and tax evasion . Putting on a show: Dressed to the nines and sporting heavy makeup and bright manicure, Wright quietly answered 'guilty' 20 times when the judge read the counts . 'I can see him sitting across the street. 'I'm sure he can see my car but if he knocks, I won't answer unless you're in your office. :-(' 'Jared is sitting across the street waiting to hear from me. I'll wait until 1:30 but I'm assuming that you're not heading into the office,' she wrote at 1.13pm. The Kennebunk prostitution scandal attracted international attention in the fall after it was reported that Wright's ledgers indicated she had more than 150 clients and made $150,000 over 18 months. Authorities then set the town abuzz with word that they would be charging each of the johns, leading residents to wonder who they were. 'He's weird. He doesn't like things that feel good. He likes to be tortured,' Wright wrote of one unidentified client. Wright's alleged clients include wealthy and well-known figures in southern Maine. So far, 18 men have pleaded guilty to paying Wright for sex . 'To each his own I guess, but there is something about him that is very strange.' The scores of people charged with engaging Wright's services include a former mayor, a high school hockey coach, a minister, a lawyer and a firefighter. Wright, a 30-year-old single mother, pleaded guilty under an agreement that calls for 10 months in jail. Her sentencing is set for next month. Strong, 57, served 15 days in jail and was released this month. His defense lawyers had characterized him as being infatuated with a younger woman and making bad moral decisions but never profiting from the prostitution operation. | Alexis Wright, 30, plead guilty to charges of prostitution .
Her 'manager' Mark Strong Sr was found guilty as he watched all of the trysts via Skype as they happened .
Texts that she sent to Strong released today including one where she wrote: 'Wow. Two days, ten clients' |
fca116a0bba10b0a6782d2234bb580f0ae84d912 | Lagos, Nigeria (CNN) -- Some 80 years after its first launch, the iconic board game of Monopoly has finally released its first African city edition. A Lagos-themed version of the popular real estate game was unveiled earlier this week, making Nigeria's bustling economic capital the first city in the continent to have a dedicated Monopoly edition. "Lagos is special, it's a megacity, one of the fastest-growing cities in Africa," says Nimi Akinkugbe, head of Bestman Games which is distributing the Lagos edition. "But apart from that, Lagos also holds a very special place for Nigerians all over the world. There are about 15 million Nigerians in the diaspora who are very nostalgic about Lagos; it's not just for Lagosians but for people all over the world," she adds. Read related: Lagos of the future . The affluent Banana Island, a man-made waterfront community boasting multi-million dollar mansions and manicured lawns, was revealed as the game's most expensive property, joining Boardwalk in the standard U.S. edition and Mayfair in the London version. Many of the squares for the game's upmarket locations feature sponsorship from banks, radio stations and shopping centers. In contrast, the square dedicated to the floating shantytown of Makoko, which is the cheapest piece of real estate in the Lagos edition of the game, was left unsponsored. Watch video: Monopoly adds first African city . Local officials were heavily involved in bringing Monopoly to the sprawling metropolis of some 15 million people. Their goal was partly to promote the city's rich history and landmark sites but also to encourage responsible behavior and inform citizens about laws that are often overlooked. "You've been caught driving against traffic. Report for psychiatric evaluation," is the message on one Chance card, which issues a fine -- in line with the laws introduced recently by the local government to deal with the city's major traffic problem. Read related: Africa's daily commuting grind . Another card reads: "For using the overhead pedestrian bridge on Worodu Road, move forward three spaces." Akinkugbe explains that many lives have been lost as people tend to cross the express highway by running across the road. "By rewarding the person that uses the overhead bridge by moving forwards three spaces, slowly it begins to sink in," she says. And there are also references to Nigeria's corruption problem: "For attempting to bribe a law enforcement agent, pay a fine," says another card. "This gives us an opportunity to educate the public about those things," says Akinkugbe. "[It's about] penalizing negative behavior and rewarding good behavior but in a fun and enjoyable way. We all know that learning through play is one of the most powerful forms of learning because it is not forced but is done in a relaxed, easy way." Akinkugbe says that two other African countries -- South Africa and Morocco -- have a version of Monopoly, but Lagos is the only city in the continent to have its own edition. She says that the Lagos game was sold out within 24 hours of its release, as about 4,000 people got their hands on it. "Thousands of Nigerian families they are going to be playing Monopoly over Christmas, having a good laugh and learning at the same time, and just appreciating the city," she says. The first patented version of Monopoly was launched in the United States in 1935 at the height of Great Depression. It has since become arguably the most popular board game in the world, with several localized editions released over the years. | Lagos is the first African city to get its own edition of Monopoly .
The city's Banana Island named the equivalent of Boardwalk - the game's most expensive property .
Local authorities were involved in the game to promote the city and educate the city's population . |
fca150de356f4514284e4107f4bbf4463401396b | (CNN) -- Over the past decade, Luo Changping has built a reputation as one of China's most respected journalists. The 33 year old has exposed alleged financial wrongdoing by more than 100 senior government officials during that time. "We know the smog is terrible in Beijing now but worse than the real smog is the political smog," he says. "Chinese tax-payers have no idea where their money goes." Luo's most high-profile scoop came last December when, in a series of articles, he accused a powerful official at China's top economic planning body of illegal financial dealings. The stories ultimately resulted in the official's dismissal from office. Luo published the allegations on his own microblog, under his real name. It was a risky move in a country where both independent bloggers and state-run media are subject to intense censorship. Beijing's corruption crackdown . On Friday, he received international recognition for his work from anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International, which has honored Luo with an Integrity Award. "Luo's success was a rare victory in the struggle for transparency in China," the organization said. "His actions have demonstrated the important role for investigative journalism and social media in the fight against corruption." Modest man . A deputy managing editor for the financial magazine Caijing, Luo is modest and says he got lucky with his investigation of a key official in China's top economic planning body. "I wouldn't even be able to duplicate it again today, because there were so many coincidences," he told CNN. He says he spent a year painstakingly collecting evidence. "At the beginning it was very difficult," Luo said. "Not a lot of media wanted to touch the story. Also, a lot of officials have their own connections within the government, and they sometimes can be very powerful." So Luo acted alone. He named the official accused of corruption as Liu Tienan, who was then a director of the National Energy Agency and deputy head of China's National Development and Reform Commission, a body that sets China's economic agenda. At first, he wasn't afraid. "Many (journalists in China) are worried about their safety, that's understandable. But for me, I didn't think the danger was fatal. Reporters in China won't be killed, but they sometimes do suffer from bigger threats." But Luo said he became worried when his reporting attracted the attention of the official Liu, who, Luo says, started a search into his family background. "I'm not afraid of myself being in danger, but I am concerned about my family." Opinion: In China, 'everyone is guilty of corruption' When Luo's investigation became public, Liu denied the charges and threatened to sue for libel. The story spread across social media but there was no reaction from the government for months. However, in May, Liu was officially dismissed over what authorities said was his suspected involvement in "serious disciplinary violations." Liu was also expelled from the Communist Party. An investigation is still ongoing. CNN has been unable to reach Liu for comment. Luo had an early role model in his father, whose honest character was well-known in his local community and in local politics in the province of Hunan, Luo told Transparency International. "Tell the truth," his father instructed. "Don't do evil," was his mother's advice. He organized a school newspaper and was in charge of the school radio station. Corruption is still the main focus of Luo's reporting, and he hopes others will be inspired to take up the cause. "We are in shortage of people who are willing and passionate about investigative pieces. I hope we can have more people get into this field," he said . With reporting by CNN's Beijing bureau . | Chinese journalist Luo Changping exposed illegal financial dealings by top official .
A risky move in a country where state-run media is subject to intense censorship .
He has received international recognition for his work from Transparency International .
He says China needs more investigative journalists . |
fca16a21f488a8409eee75137b2781d4abf1805b | (CNN) -- The Arab League was negotiating an extension of its fact-finding mission in Syria Thursday, with its members due to report over the weekend on what they have witnessed of a months-long government crackdown on protests. Ambassador Adnan Al Khudeir, the Cairo-based head of the monitoring operation, said the league and the Syrian government were negotiating an extension to their mandate, which was scheduled to end Thursday. A senior Arab League official, who could not be named because he was not authorized to speak on the matter, said the monitors would remain in Syria while the issue was discussed -- and that all signs pointed to an extension being agreed to by both sides. A handful of Arab League members will meet Saturday, led by Qatar, before the full 22-state body meets Sunday in Cairo to discuss the monitors' final findings, the official said. The United Nations is not sending monitors itself but is providing technical training to the Arab League observers, he added. The uprising, driven by calls for President Bashar al-Assad's resignation, reforms and democratic elections, is in its 10th month. It has prompted a bloody government crackdown that has claimed at least 5,000 lives since it began in March, according to the United Nations. Opposition groups put the death toll at more than 6,000. The Arab League has called on Damascus to stop violence against civilians, free political detainees, remove tanks and weapons from cities and allow outsiders, including the international news media, to travel freely around Syria. The purpose of its month-long fact-finding mission was to see if the government was adhering to an agreement to end the violence. But opposition activists and human rights monitors say the Syrian government has not stopped its aggressive actions against protesters since the mission began December 26, and have questioned the mission's effectiveness. Meanwhile, opposition activist groups continue to report outbreaks of violence elsewhere around the country. The Local Coordination Committees of Syria, an opposition umbrella group, said 25 people were killed Thursday, including seven in Idlib, six in Hama and four in Homs. Four people were killed in Deir Ezzor and three in the Damascus suburbs, with one more death in Qameshly, the group said. Gunfire was reported in many neighborhoods in Hama, with mourners at a mosque also coming under fire. Some roads out of the city have been closed off, while snipers are positioned on rooftops, the LCC said. In Douma, a suburb of Damascus, the naked body of a young man bearing signs of torture was found in the street, the group said, adding that government security forces took the body and arrested several people. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights earlier said one civilian was killed and seven wounded in Homs Thursday by mortar rounds fired at the neighborhood of Baba Howd. Another four activists, who were in hiding, were shot dead in the Idlib region when security forces ambushed them in a mountain village, the Observatory said. The LCC said 21 people were killed by government troops Wednesday. The Arab League monitors have been greeted ecstatically in some Syrian cities, where residents have recounted tales of government brutality. In the town of Kisweh, which monitors visited Tuesday, one demonstrator spray-painted the letters "S.O.S." on a wall. On Sunday, crowds in Zabadani carried the monitors on their shoulders and urged them to stay to prevent reprisals. Syrian activists said Wednesday that opposition forces had wrested control of Zabadani from government troops. They maintained control of the city Thursday, activists said. "There was massive protests in Zabadani, so the Syrian Army tried to disperse them. But our troops were very organized and aggressive with a counter attack that left them fleeing and they withdrew completely out of the city," said Lt. Col. Mohamed Hamdo of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), a group made up of former government soldiers. "Our forces raised the flag of independence in Zabadani." Hamdo said, though, that the opposition fighters "expect another confrontation" as the government forces regroup outside the town. Although a number of journalists have been allowed into the country in recent days to travel with Arab League monitors on their fact-finding mission, CNN cannot verify many accounts of what is happening in Syria because the government restricts the activities of journalists. The European Union announced Wednesday it was planning new sanctions against companies and individuals in Syria, as it seeks to put pressure on the al-Assad regime. While Western powers have imposed sanctions on Syria during the 10-month crackdown, opposition by Russia and China has kept the U.N. Security Council from following suit. The al-Assad government says it is fighting armed terrorist groups, which it blames for the violence. CNN's Nic Robertson, Salma Abdelaziz, Lonzo Cook and Samira Said contributed to this report. | NEW: Opposition activists report 25 deaths across Syria Thursday .
The monitors will stay in Syria while an extension to their mission is discussed, an official says .
Arab League member states will meet over the weekend to discuss the mission's findings .
Critics say the monitors' month-long fact-finding mission has done little to protect civilians . |
fca1983ce847d66b4efcec497723c017612bc0a5 | Ryam Schmidt's wife - who is not named in the video - was covered in pus . This is the stomach churning moment a loving wife goes above and beyond the call of duty - and gets hit with flying pus from her husband's 32-year-old cyst. Ryan Schmidt's poor wife - who is not named in the video - is on hand to help out as he squeezes the pus-filled cyst. But what neither of them were expecting was the force with which 32 years of pressure would release from Mr Schmidt's leg. After a few squeezes producing not much, Mr Schmidt encourages his wife, who is holding the camera, to 'get up close on it'. Less than a second later, a stream of flying pus rockets from his leg - hitting his phone, and his screaming wife. Worse, after the first stream of putrid liquid, Mr Schmidt continues to squeeze, so it can only be assumed his very patient wife continued to be covered in the yellow pus. But he doesn't seem to worried. 'Wow, oh my God,' he is heard saying. 'It sprayed everywhere. I don't even know what to say right now.' Initially, his wife - dressed in an appropriate 'beginners luck' t-shirt - seems more worried about his phone, before taking a closer look at her arms. 'God, this is horrible," Mr Schmidt finally concedes, before adding: 'It's not done either. 'What is this thing?' But, despite his disgust, he isn't to be put off from filming the aftermath - asking his wife to go and get the camera. Scroll down for video . The disgusting explosion was caught on camera - and then uploaded to YouTube . 'Get your phone and look at this,'he can be heard saying on the video, which has been viewed more than 110,000 times. When his wife returns, he finally reveals the true carnage: a covering of lumpy pus on the phone the couple were filming with. And finally, he manages to apologise to his wife, who is seen mopping the floor with a tissue. 'Sorry babe,' Mr Schmidt says. But remorse doesn't seem to last long. 'This is the greatest day of my life,' he says. This is the latest in a line of 'spot' videos which have both disgusted and enthralled the internet in recent months. Andy Peppers - a pseudonym - possibly produced the most revolting video of the year, when he filmed the squeezing of a spot on his neck . Like Mr Schmidt, he also roped his poor wife in to help. Mr Peppers told MailOnline he decided to get squeezing after noticing whiteheads appearing, and the spot starting to hurt. And despite it looking quite horrendous, it didn't hurt at all. ‘'It just felt like pressure releasing,' he said. ‘Once a significant amount of stuff had come out, it felt way better, and soon stopped hurting altogether.’ | WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT .
Ryan Schmidt had a cyst on his leg for 32 years .
When he finally decided to squeeze it, a jet of pus hit his squealing wife .
Mr Schmidt describes it as 'the greatest day of my life' |
fca24544def2eae7b4c1bd3c7d490ac50bd07fd1 | The body of Choi Chi-Man, 48, who died when an AirAsia flight crashed in the Java Sea on December 27 has been recovered . The body of a British man who died when an AirAsia flight crashed in the Java Sea in December has been found. Choi Chi-Man, 48, was travelling with his two-year-old daughter Zoe on flight QZ8501 from Surabaya, Indonesia to Singapore when it disappeared on December 27 with 162 people on board. Mr Choi, a university of Essex graduate who has family in Hull, was managing director of an energy company in Indonesia. He purchased his plane ticket and that of his two-year-old daughter Zoe on Boxing Day - according to the passenger manifest - and they were seated in the first row, in seats 1B and 1C. Mr Choi's wife, Mei-Yi Wee and son Luca, five, had caught an earlier fight to Singapore's Changi Airport. AirAsia flight QZ8501 departed Surabaya at 5.30am local time and was scheduled to land at Changi Airport at 8.30am local time. However, it lost contact with air traffic control during the flight, just after the pilot reportedly asked to deviate from the flight path due to bad weather. The Airbus A320 was last seen on radar at 6:16am local time but vanished less than a minute later. All 155 passengers and seven crew on board flight QZ8501 died. In 30 seconds, it rose from 32,000 feet to 37,400 feet. The flight then dipped to 32,000 feet, before descending for around three minutes after which the plane's black boxes stopped. Mr Choi and his two-year-old daughter Zoe were only on the flight as he could not get enough seats to fly with his wife and son - they were waiting at Singapore's Changi Airport for them to arrive . All 155 passengers and seven crew on board AirAsia flight QZ8501 died when it crashed on December 27 . Flight QZ8501 departed Surabaya, Indonesia, at 5.30am local time and was scheduled to land at Singapore's Changi Airport at 8.30am local time. However, it lost contact with traffic control over the Java Sea . An investigation into the cause of the crash is still continuing. Last month, in a statement to an Indonesian parliamentary committee, the country's transport minister Ignasius Jonan said the plane was believed to have stalled after climbing too fast to avoid a storm. At least 47 bodies have been recovered so far from the crash. In a statement the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: 'We can confirm the identification of the British victim of Air Asia flight QZ8501, Choi Chi-Man . 'Our thoughts are with his family and we continue to provide them with support at this difficult time.' | Body of British passenger Choi Chi-Man, 48, recovered from AirAsia flight .
He was travelling with daughter Zoe, two, when flight QZ8501 disappeared .
Only on flight as could not get enough seats to fly with his wife and son .
Purchased tickets on Boxing Day and they were seated in the first row .
AirAsia flight crashed in the Java Sea on December 27, killing 162 people . |
fca2e6847eb22eef8af530347073bce0bf2b1c21 | Cairo (CNN) -- Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf said Monday that clashes hours earlier between army forces and pro-Coptic Christian protesters had "brought us back" to the tense, violent period at the onset of the recent revolution. "Instead of going forward, we found ourselves scrambling for security," Sharaf said on state television in an early morning speech, noting that the incident had produced "martyrs, both civilian and from the military." The bloodshed in Cairo occurred just over a week after the burning of a Coptic Christian church in southern Egypt. The burning prompted the Sunday protest demanding equality and protection of Coptic places of worship. Dr. Sheriff Doss, the head of Egypt's chief association of Coptics, said 17 civilians died and 40 were injured. An additional 12 army troops were killed and over 50 were injured, according to Lt. Col. Amr Imam, an army spokesman. Meanwhile, health ministry spokesman Adel Al Dawi said late Sunday that there were a total of 23 people dead and more than 180 injured. The protesters -- many of them Coptics or supportive of their cause -- said they had been marching peacefully toward the Egyptian state television building when the violence erupted. "Suddenly, we were attacked by thugs carrying swords and clubs," one protester, Magdi Hanna, told CNN. According to Alla Mahmoud, an interior ministry spokesman, some protesters began "firing live ammunition at the army." "This is the first time protesters fired at the army," added Imam, the military spokesman. "There must be a hidden hand behind this. Egyptians don't do that." Mohammed Abdel Jabaar, a spokesman for the Egyptian Rebels Coalition that claims to have been part of the movement that led to former President Hosni Mubarak's ouster, blamed "interference from outside" for spurring the violent chain of events. The January 25 youth revolution coalition, which has been involved in various anti-government protests including Sunday's demonstration, denied that any participants shot at the Egyptian forces. Samir Bolos, one of the demonstrators, added Sunday that "some unknown people may have fired at the army, but not us." Witnesses said the army forces fired on the protesters near the state television headquarters. Meanwhile, military trucks could be seen burning on the street. Hundreds of demonstrators also went to Tahrir Square, the hub of the revolutionary movement earlier this year, according to Bolos. He claimed military police stormed the square with sticks, while protesters fought back with rocks. A curfew has been imposed for between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m. Monday around Tahrir Square and central Cairo, said Imam. Egypt's National Justice Committee also plans to hold an emergency meeting Monday involving representatives from the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, the al-Azhar mosque and the Coptic church to discuss the developments, prime ministry spokesman Mohamed Hegazy said. Those talks will be held in the prime minister's building. Meanwhile, state TV reported Sunday night that Ahmed al-Tayyeb, a prominent Egyptian Muslim leader and grand imam of Al-Azhar, has been reaching out to Coptic church leaders in hopes of containing the crisis. The protests and clashes follow the September 30 burning of the Mar Girgis church in Edfu, a city in Aswan governorate in southern Egypt. That attack marked the latest of several examples in which Coptic Christians have been targeted in the North African nation. About 9% of Egypt's 80 million residents are Coptic Christians. They base their theology on the teachings of the Apostle Mark, who introduced Christianity to Egypt, according to St. Takla Church in Alexandria, the capital of Coptic Christianity. The religion split with other Christians in the 5th century over the definition of the divinity of Jesus Christ. In Egypt, they have been targeted of late, including the New Year's Day bombing of a Coptic church in Alexandria that left 23 people dead. There have also been sectarian clashes, including one in Cairo on May 7 in which at least 12 people were killed. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent bipartisan federal agency, earlier this year added Egypt to a list of countries named as the worst violators of religious freedom. Sunday's incident also marks the latest skirmish between protesters and government forces. An incident last Tuesday outside a military court in Nasr City resulted in the arrests of two protesters. Journalists covering the demonstration were assaulted, according to witnesses. The same day, military police fired shots into the air to disperse about 400 pro-Coptic demonstrators who had attempted to stage a sit-in in front of the state television building after marching through the streets of Cairo. | NEW: The Egyptian Rebels Coalition blames "interference from outside" for the violence .
Egypt's prime minister says the clashes "brought us back," forces are "scrambling"
The army says 12 troops died; a Coptic leader says 17 civilians died; one official says 23 total .
An emergency meeting with army and Coptic leaders will be Monday, an official says . |
fca34f409abb6a938d8b67992e3a06a3b09ff6e2 | By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 06:12 EST, 25 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:16 EST, 25 October 2013 . Britain’s ageing population is more to . blame for the nation’s housing crisis than the influx of immigrants, . the government has claimed. Tory minister Nick Boles said the rise . of great-grandparents meant more homes were needed to accommodate more . generations of families who do not want to live together. He said that two thirds of growth in population was ‘not from immigration but from ageing’. Pressure: Britain's ageing population is responsible for the bulk of housing demand because different generations of families do not want to live together, the government claimed . The planning minister's claim came as . Tory MPs staged a revolt against plans to build thousands of homes on . the Green Belt, saying it would lead to ‘planning anarchy’ and lose . them votes at the next election. Angry backbenchers criticised Planning . Minister Nick Boles for forcing a major building programme on councils . to meet a chronic housing shortage. But he said they had to respond to a . housing crisis caused by an ageing population and uncontrolled . immigration under the last Labour government. Mr Boles conceded that one source of population growth was immigration ‘which was uncontrolled for a long time’. Warning: Planning Minister Nick Boles said the population has grown, and Britain has not built enough houses to keep pace . He went on: ‘We as a party rightly criticised that, and are now doing something to control it. ‘However, it is important to remember . that the majority—about two thirds—of the growth in population and in . the number of households in the country has resulted not from . immigration but from ageing. ‘One way that I ask people to think . about it is by considering how many people now are part of families in . which four generations are alive. ‘Quite a lot of them are. It used to . be rare to have a great-grandparent or great-grandchild in a family; it . is now common, because people are living longer, and they do not all . want to live in the same house.’ Last year, Mr Boles told councils to find the land to build 270,000 homes by 2018. He has claimed an area of greenfield land the size of London must be built on to solve the crisis. Yesterday he told MPs it was better to . build on former industrial land, but this could only be used for 70 per . cent of the homes needed, adding: ‘Our population has grown, and we . have not built enough houses to keep pace. He was backed by Tory MP Damian Hinds . who said that ‘not all, or even nearly all’ of increased demand for . homes is about immigration. ‘If we strip out future net migration, . the projected requirement is still 149,000: people are living longer; . households are smaller, for all sorts of wider social reasons; kids live . away at university and have a place at home; hardly anyone has a lodger . anymore; and so on,’ Mr Hinds said. ‘There are lots of pressures, and they will not go away.’ Meanwhile backbenchers said ministers had promised that they could decide where to build homes and draw up local plans. But they claimed developers were . being allowed to ride roughshod over the wishes of local planners and . foist housing developments on unsuitable areas. Under threat: Mr Boles has claimed an area of greenfield land the size of London must be built on to solve the crisis . Former planning minister Sir Tony . Baldry said four developments proposed in his Banbury constituency were . refused by the council, only to be given the green light by Local . Government Secretary Eric Pickles. Sir Tony said the decisions ‘rode a . coach and horses though protection for the Green Belt’, adding: ‘This is . not a sensible planning policy, this is planning anarchy.’ Laurence Robertson, MP for . Tewkesbury, said there was no shortage of homes in his constituency, but . developers planned to build 50 per cent more within 20 years. He added: ‘I question the . Government’s assertion that they must built so very many houses that . local authorities have to designate green-belt land to meet these . arbitrary and as yet undefined housing targets. Our policies on planning . are losing us many votes.’ Former Home Office minister Nick . Herbert insisted that despite government rhetoric about empowering . councils, home-building was ‘developer-led and effectively amounts to a . free-for-all on our countryside’. | Planning Minister Nick Boles says families do not want to live together .
He says an area of greenfield land the size of London must be built on .
Blames ageing population and uncontrolled immigration under Labour . |
fca46c2730e640ff67a037a6e545a24a1acc3491 | Amazon.com is expanding its online grocery delivery program to Brooklyn's well-heeled Park Slope neighborhood in a bid to take on New York grocery stores and bodegas. The AmazonFresh program offers same-day or next-day delivery on more than 500,000 items including fresh and frozen groceries. The firm said it will soon expand to other areas in Brooklyn, and the service is also available in Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Amazon.com is expanding its online grocery delivery program to Brooklyn's well-heeled Park Slope neighborhood in a bid to take on New York grocery stores and bodegas. The AmazonFresh program offers same-day or next-day delivery on more than 500,000 items including fresh and frozen groceries. It offe3rs everything from fresh fruit to washing powder. The firm also collects and delivers form local stores. The move is part of Amazon's slow build-out of its 'Fresh' program, targeting one of the largest retail sectors yet to be upended by online commerce. Amazon declined to say if it will expand to Manhattan or other parts of the New York metro area. 'Currently, we are offering AmazonFresh in Brooklyn and will continue being thoughtful and methodical in our expansion,' an Amazon spokeswoman said in an e-mail. Groceries have proven to be one of the toughest sectors for technology companies to manage, and Amazon faces competition from established companies like FreshDirect as well as fast-growing startups like Instacart. But a successful foray in Park Slope could help Amazon cement customer loyalty and boost sales, especially among wealthy and middle-class families, analysts have said. The top 10 to 20 percent of wealthiest Americans spend between 3 and 4 times more on food than the average American family, according to Bill Bishop, chief architect at Brick Meets Click, a consulting firm focused on retail technology. 'They are the sweetest of shoppers so anybody who attracts that business is taking the cream of the market,' Bishop said. A successful foray in Park Slope could help Amazon cement customer loyalty and boost sales, especially among wealthy and middle-class families, analysts have said. Amazon could also use its Fresh program to experiment with its own delivery service, analysts have said. Amazon tested Fresh in Seattle for five years before adding Los Angeles and San Francisco in 2013. The New York metro area presents very different logistical challenges, including a much higher population density. Fresh will be offered for free to Brooklyn-based members of Amazon's $99-a-year Prime program through the end of the year. After that, Amazon will charge $299 a year for its 'Prime Fresh' program, which combines grocery delivery with free two-day shipping and other perks of Prime. | Service rolling out in Park Slope area of Brooklyn .
Expected to expand across Brooklyn and Manhattan .
Offers same-day or next-day delivery on more than 500,000 items .
Range includes fresh and frozen groceries . |
fca4e78d4cff1a8577837f66b145612a826645ab | By . Simon Jones . Crystal Palace have signed free agent goalkeeper Chris Kettings. The 21-year-old previously played for Birmingham City and he was released from Blackpool earlier this year. Kettings has also represented Scotland at U21 level three times. Stopper: Crystal Palace have signed 21-year-old free agent goalkeeper Chris Kettings . In demand: Palace also hope to rival AC Milan for Arsenal's Costa Rican striker Joel Campbell . Manager Tony Pulis is also keen on a loan deal for Arsenal's Joel Campbell who is starring for Costa Rica in the World Cup. However, AC Milan also have an interest in Campbell as part of a £28million deal should Arsenal bid for their striker Mario Balotelli. Campbell scored eight goals in 32 league appearances while on loan at Olympiacos last season. Scorer: Palace want Campbell on loan after he scored eight goals in 32 league appearances for Olympiacos . | Kettings is free agent having left Blackpool, with three Scotland U21 caps .
The 21-year-old previously played for Birmingham City and Blackpool .
Palace boss Tony Pulis also hopes to sign Arsenal's Campbell on loan .
Costa Rica striker scored eight goals in 32 league games for Olympiacos .
He is also wanted by AC Milan as part of £28m deal for Mario Balotelli . |
fca4e94357faa6f2dbeb6d5bb50200a86bc16320 | (CNN) -- An Indiana man told police he "messed up" by killing a woman in Hammond, then came clean, leading them to several more bodies in nearby Gary, Hammond Police Chief John Doughty said Monday. Doughty stopped short of calling Darren Deon Vann a suspected serial killer, but left the possibility open if police are able to connect the convicted sex offender to any of the six women found in Gary over the weekend. "If we directly attach him to it, we can make that assumption," he said, adding that Vann's statements lead authorities to believe there are "possible other victims." Some cases may date back 20 years, based on what Vann has told police, the chief said. Text messages would be Vann's undoing, Doughty said. Vann, 43, ordered a prostitute through the backpage.com site serving Chicago and arranged a Friday meeting at a Motel 6 in Hammond with Afrikka Hardy, 19, the chief said. The person who arranged the meeting, whom Doughty described only as "a facilitator," later texted Hardy and received "suspicious texts" she believed were from Vann, the chief said. She and another person went to the motel to check on Hardy, according to a probable cause affidavit. They found her body in a bathtub. Using a phone number provided by the facilitator, police electronically tracked Vann down, the chief said. A search warrant obtained for the vehicle police believe Vann drove to the motel as well as his home yielded a number of items that connect him to the scene, according to the affidavit. The search turned up clothing similar to the clothing worn by a man captured on surveillance video leaving the motel room, the same brand of condoms found inside the room and a cell phone that matched the description of Hardy's. In addition, Vann was wearing a shirt with a missing button. A button was found inside the room where Hardy was killed. The police affidavit said the shirt Vann was wearing when police questioned him matches the button from the room. Vann told police he "messed up" and expressed surprise that he was found so quickly, Doughty said. "He admitted his involvement in the Hammond incident" and began leading police to other bodies in Gary, Doughty said, adding that at this point, Vann is charged in only Hardy's death. According to the affidavit, police found signs of a possible struggle in the motel room: a broken fingernail on the floor and the beds moved away from the headboards. A former boyfriend of Hardy remembered her as a terrific person and friend. Michael Moore said they had dated in high school and continued to keep in touch. "She was a really loving person. She was very funny, very outgoing. She always was pretty lively," he said. "It's crazy because, I mean, she was really -- she was an amazing person." Seven women total . Police found three bodies at three abandoned houses in Gary early Sunday morning, and later that night were able to find three more bodies, one at a new location and two at one of the places where bodies were found earlier Sunday, Doughty said. Hardy and three other women have been identified. Doughty and the Lake County Coroner's Office identified two of the women as Teaira Batey, 28, and Christine Williams, 36. Earlier Monday, Chelsea Whittington, a spokeswoman for Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson, identified the other two as Hardy and Anith Jones, 35, of Merrillville, who had been missing since October 8. Only Jones had been reported missing, Doughty said. The coroner's office said Williams and Hardy were strangled to death. The coroner listed two of the Jane Does as homicides but didn't elaborate on the cause of death. Doughty declined to say how the other five women died. As for a motive, Doughty told reporters, "I don't have a specific reason he does this." The Gary homes where the bodies were stashed were all within a 5-mile drive of each other. Vann cooperated, gave police descriptions and accompanied officers to certain locations, the chief said. Asked why Vann chose to cooperate, Doughty said he wanted to cut a deal with prosecutors but didn't provide further details. "It was just something he wanted to do. That's all I can say," he said. A man living next door to where one of the bodies was found told CNN affiliate WSBT that he believes the crimes occurred recently. "Somebody had to come in there like last week or something, because (Northern Indiana Public Service Company) and the water company were there turning off the power and stuff, so there was no one in there," Justin Jones said. Vann has a record . The Indiana-born Vann is a convicted sex offender from Austin, Texas, police said. Records show he was arrested on unspecified charges while living in Cherry Point, North Carolina, in 1993. He was convicted of aggravated rape in 2009 from a 2007 case, the Austin Police Department said in a statement. After serving five years in jail, he left for Indiana in June 2013, police said. Vann is not a registered sex offender in Austin. The police department there said detectives would be conducting a review of potentially related cases, asking anyone with information to contact its missing person and homicide cold case units. Vann also had a conviction in Lake County, Indiana, that was "not in the sex offender category," Freeman-Wilson said. Court records show Vann was accused of breaking and entering and intimidation in 2004. "He certainly was cooperative. He led (police) to the locations of these bodies. Whether he was eager or not, I'm not in a position to say that," she said. Several police agencies are now working the case, which could grow larger and expand to at least one other state, the mayor said. CNN's Miguel Marquez, Marina Carver, Chuck Johnston, Ronni Berke and Joe Sutton contributed to this report. | A motel crime scene showed signs of a struggle, police say .
Suspect Darren Deon Van, 43, was convicted of aggravated rape in 2009 .
Indiana authorities have found seven women's bodies since Friday; Vann is in custody .
The suspect's confession led to the other possible homicide victims, police say . |
fca4fe2cf208152f7f97263f344587db7980b3bd | By . Tamara Cohen . PUBLISHED: . 20:02 EST, 12 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:23 EST, 13 August 2013 . David Cameron’s spokesman refused ten times yesterday to say whether the Prime Minister would support fracking near his home in Oxfordshire. After Mr Cameron said gas drilling should be welcomed across the country, his spokesman would not be drawn over the prospect of wells in the Prime Minister’s own backyard where there are shale rocks. The spokesman would say only that ‘ultimately the Prime Minister supports fracking’ and there should be a ‘dialogue with local people’ about any attempts to extract the fuel. David Cameron: 'Ultimately' the Prime Minister supports fracking and there should be a 'dialogue with local people', according to his spokesman . Asked several times whether, as a local resident, Mr Cameron – MP for Witney in Oxfordshire – would support such an application, the spokesman added: ‘While I’m unwilling to get into a hypothetical of where a well may or may not be opened, the point is anywhere in the country where there is that possibility of shale gas exploration taking place it is important for dialogue to take place with local people, and that is as relevant in his constituency as it would be in any area of this country.’ In a newspaper article published yesterday, the Prime Minister urged communities to ‘seize’ the chance to have shale gas exploration near their homes, saying drill sites are only the size of a cricket pitch and there is little evidence the process causes environmental damage or contaminates water supplies as campaigners have claimed. Fracking could create 70,000 jobs and lower energy bills for millions, while communities which accept it will be given sweeteners of £100,000 for their area, he said. Mr Cameron points to the US where a decade of fracking has seen gas prices plummet and the country is now virtually self-sufficient in energy. But independent experts say it is still unclear whether it will lower bills at all in Britain. Anti-fracking protest at the Cuadrilla fracking site in Balcombe, Sussex, yesterday . Earlier this year, the British Geological Survey released its report on shale reserves in northern England, predicting there could be 1,300trillion cubic feet of gas underground – in theory enough to meet Britain’s needs for more than a century. But Richard Sarsfield-Hall, an energy markets experts at Pöyry Management Consulting, said the gas which could be extracted would at most produce 25 per cent of what is needed in the UK and would ‘not lead to a collapse in prices’. In contrast, the US had a ‘glut’ of gas which saw prices plummet. Fracking – short for hydraulic fracturing – involves drilling a well up to 3,000ft deep and pumping water and chemicals into it at high pressure to crack the rocks and release fuel trapped inside. It has so far taken place in Lancashire after a delay of some months following two small earthquakes. Dozens more wells could be drilled there in the next two years. In the South, across Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex and Kent, there is also thought to be plentiful shale oil or gas, but fierce protests have accompanied the drilling of an exploratory well in the village of Balcombe, West Sussex. Last night Ian Hudspeth, leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: ‘Any applications would be considered on a case-by-case basis, but we haven’t had any so far. ‘Personally I feel we have got an energy crisis in this country and we’ve got to look at all forms of alternative energy, if the relevant safeguards are in place and it is not in an area of outstanding natural beauty.’ ÷ Downing Street said Mr Cameron would support England when they play Scotland in a football friendly at Wembley tomorrow. His spokesman initially deflected the question, but it was later conceded that he would back Roy Hodgson’s team. | Mr Cameron said gas drilling should be welcomed across the country .
Prime Minister urged communities to ‘seize’ the chance to have shale gas exploration near their homes .
Fracking could create 70,000 jobs and .
lower energy bills for millions .
Communities which accept it will .
be given sweeteners of £100,000 for their area, the PM said . |
fca509969882b41d33911d510cbbb1f24b230757 | North Chungcheong Province, South Korea (CNN) -- It's not everyday someone asks you if you'd be prepared to ride in a fighter jet but when my producer put the question to me several weeks ago I jumped at it. Roaring engines, heat haze on the tarmac, fighter pilots in Aviator sunglasses: What's not to like? The South Korean Air Force was offering CNN rare access to its T-50 -- a training fighter developed in South Korea in conjunction with U.S. military contractor Lockheed Martin. In 1997, just before the Asian financial crisis hit, the government in Seoul made a decision to develop its aerospace industry. The intention was to develop and produce military aircraft to protect the nation's national security and create a lucrative export industry. The T-50 is their first supersonic training fighter jet. Indonesia has already purchased 16 and at least half a dozen other countries, including the United States, are also interested. Top Gun . But my Top Gun moment in this $25 million dollar jet would have to wait until I completed a tough preparatory course at the South Korean Aerospace Medical Training Center based in North Chungcheong Province. This is where the country's fighter pilots come to train. A group of instructors greet us and take us into a briefing room where they run through the checklist for the next four hours. Then after a series of medical questions, my blood pressure is tested and I'm put into a contraption similar to the "Gravatron," an amusement park ride I went on as a kid that spins and sucks you to the wall, to test my body's aptitude for the pressures of flying at supersonic speeds. "If you don't pass 6Gs in the simulator you won't be able to go up in the fighter jet," my instructor informs me matter-of-factly, referring to the simulator's force of acceleration -- six times that of the normal force of gravity. Extreme forces . Dressed in my pilot's fatigues, I follow the instructor along the long corridor to a room housing an enormous contraption that looked like something belonging NASA. It was a capsule suspended on a long arm pinned to the floor in the middle of room. The basic idea was that it would spin really fast in one direction creating extreme forces of gravity I would have to endure while strapped in. The instructor runs through the bizarre breathing exercises required to help endure the G-forces and stop me blacking out. "Do this ... say the word 'HICK' ... hold your breath for 3 seconds ... then quick breaths in and out. Now you practice," he orders. My attempt results in a choking sound that send me into a fit of giggles, provoking a concerned look from my instructor. After reassuring him that I would keep practicing, I climb the stairs of the simulator and am strapped into the seat with my helmet on. Ahead of me on the screen, I'm presented with an enormous virtual runway, the horizon and a vast blue sky spanning 270 degrees. I was ready to fly. At least that's what I thought. Take off . The commander in the control room speaks to me through my headset. He can see me in his monitor. "Now don't forget to clench your body and breathe," he says. The capsule starts moving as a computer-generated voice counts down to "take off." Suddenly I'm spinning and there's an enormous weight on my body. I'm trying to breathe but the pressure is overwhelming. Then the room goes black and my head jolts forward -- I've lost consciousness. The simulator grinds to a halt, and I awaken to the concerned voice of my instructor. "Are you alright? Coren can you hear me?" I come to and ask him what happened. "You got to 6Gs but you only lasted two seconds before you blacked out," he informs me. "You need to last 20 seconds to pass the test." As I climb out of the simulator feeling sick, the instructor smiles at me with a knowing look. "Don't worry this is normal. Everyone blacks out the first time. You'll get it on the next go -- trust me." Utter dread . Twenty minutes later I'm back in the simulator but this time there's no sense of excitement, just utter dread. I take deep breaths as the capsule picks up speed. "3,2,1 ... HICK ... breathe, Coren keep breathing!" my instructor's voice commands. I'm trying to breathe but it feels like a building has collapsed on my chest. I'm gritting my teeth, clenching my body, desperately trying to fight the G-forces and stop the blood rushing from my brain but I can't hold on. I black out again -- this time my eyes roll back in my head. "Coren, Coren are you ok? That was better ... you got to 10 seconds," the voice in the control room says. Only 10 seconds? How the hell am I going to do this? As I climb down from the simulator with my legs shaking, the instructor suggests a break and some other tests. I head for a pressure chamber where I have to sit for 40 minutes breathing through a mask to simulate a climb to 25,000 feet. But I'm feeling cold, struggling to breathe, feeling anxious and desperately fighting the panic that wants to invade my mind and body. Once we reach the desired altitude, the control room asks me to write my name continuously on a piece of paper. By the seventh attempt my writing looks like that of a five year old. I have no control over my hand and I feel like vomiting. But all I can think about is having to get back in the simulator and battle the G-forces. The team decides that I should watch the video of myself during the G-force test to see what I'm doing wrong. I'm shocked as I watch the footage of me blacking out -- it's disturbing. First test passed . Determined not to let this happen again I climb back in the simulator. "Are you ready Coren? Let's do 5Gs and see if you can make it," the voice from the control room suggests. One less G could make the difference. My heart is racing -- I have no choice -- I have to do this. The capsule starts moving and the computer-generated voice is back again. "3,2,1..." The spinning becomes intense within seconds. "You're at 5G, let's go to 6G ... push back Coren ... hold it, breathe, push back!" The seconds pass so slowly, the capsule feels like it's spinning out of control and I'm seeing stars. Suddenly the instructor yells "Release! Coren you've made it. You held on for 23 seconds. Good job!" I'm overwhelmed with relief. I finally passed the test and conquered my fear. But the real test was still to come -- up in the heavens. READ MORE: South Korea to pull out citizens from joint industrial zone . READ MORE: Threats of annihilation normal for South Koreans . | South Korean Air Force offers CNN rare access to its T-50 fighter jet .
Training involves rigorous testing, including surviving G-force simulator .
Anna Coren passes out twice trying to withstand 6Gs for 20 seconds .
Simulator is designed to replicate extreme forces of gravity in a jet . |
fca53a455ac676f6fbc6f8703fa2e1503f33247b | Terror atrocities committed by so-called 'lone-wolf' fanatics could be prevented by identifying and treating mental illness, new studies suggest. A growing body of research has found a significant link between psychological problems and extremist attacks - challenging decades of thinking that they play only a minor role. The studies looked at dozens of cases including a radical Muslim who killed a soldier outside Canada's Parliament, a right-wing extremist who opened fire on buildings in Texas and an Al Qaeda-inspired assailant who hacked an off-duty soldier to death in London. Police said all three were terrorists and motivated by ideology, while authorities and family members said they may have been mentally ill. But the latest body of research suggests they might well have been both. 'It's never an either-or in terms of ideology versus mental illness,' said Ramon Spaaij, a sociologist at Australia's Victoria University who conducted a major study, funded by the U.S. Justice Department, of lone wolf extremists. 'It's a dangerous cocktail.' Scroll down for video . Horror: A terrified hostage flees the Sydney hostage siege in Sydney on Monday after 'lone-wolf' gunman Man Haron Monis stormed a cafe while making a series of fanatical demands. New studies have found a link between mental illness and terror attacks which experts are now using to try to prevent future atrocities . Terrified: An injured hostage is carried out of a cafe in the central business district of Sydney after police stormed the building where a gunman had taken hostages and displayed an Islamic flag . Killer: Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the gunman — Iranian-born Man Haron Monis — had 'a long history of violent crime, infatuation with extremism and mental instability' Now academics and law enforcement officials are working to turn that research into tools to prevent deadly attacks. The study preceded Tuesday's end to a deadly 16-hour siege involving a gunman who took hostages in a cafe in Sydney. Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the gunman — Iranian-born Man Haron Monis — had 'a long history of violent crime, infatuation with extremism and mental instability.' With groups like Islamic State spreading violence in Syria and Iraq — and bloodthirsty rhetoric on the Internet — authorities around the world have issued increasingly insistent warnings about the threat posed by lone wolf attackers. They can be difficult to stop with a counterterrorism strategy geared toward intercepting communications and disrupting plots. A CCTV image shows Michael Zehaf-Bibeau running towards the Parliament buildings in Canada after shooting dead a soldier in October before he himself was shot dead by a parliament official . An Ottawa police officer runs with his weapon drawn outside Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada after a soldier standing guard at the National War Memorial was shot by gunman Michael Zehaf-Bibeau . After the attack by Michael Zehaf-Bibeau (above), Jocelyn Belanger, a psychology professor at the University of Quebec at Montreal, told the Canadian Senate's national security committee that 'to believe that radicalized individuals are crazy... will be our first mistake in developing effective counter-terrorism strategies' Solo terrorism 'doesn't take an awful lot of organizing. It doesn't take too many people to conspire together. There's no great complexity to it,' London Police Chief Bernard Hogan-Howe told the BBC recently. 'So what that means is that we have a very short time to interdict, to actually intervene and make sure that these people don't get away with it.' Police forces and intelligence agencies are examining whether insights from research by Spaaij and others could help. Spaaij said a number of law enforcement and intelligence agencies have shown interest in his work. In Britain, a police counterterrorism unit is using a major study of lone wolf terrorists to develop risk-assessment analysis. A British security official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to talk on the record said many attackers display warning signs, but that recognizing them is easier in retrospect. He said British intelligence officials are studying the link between mental illness and lone-actor terrorism. Most people with mental health problems are neither terrorists nor violent, and mental illness alone can't explain lone wolf attackers. Some experts dispute whether there is a link at all. After Michael Zehaf-Bibeau's deadly attack on a soldier October 22 in Ottawa, Jocelyn Belanger, a psychology professor at the University of Quebec at Montreal, told the Canadian Senate's national security committee that 'to believe that radicalized individuals are crazy or not playing with a full deck will be our first mistake in developing effective counterterrorism strategies.' But the new research suggests that solo terrorists are much more likely to have mental health problems than either members of the general public or participants in group terrorism. Spaaij and Mark Hamm of Indiana State University studied 98 lone wolf attackers in the U.S. They found that 40 per cent had identifiable mental health problems, compared with 1.5 percent in the general population. Their conclusion? Mental illness is not the only factor that drives individuals to commit terrorist acts, but it is one of the factors. Spaaj said mental illness can play a part 'in shaping particular belief systems and in constructing the enemy, externalizing blame for one's own failure or grievances onto this all-threatening enemy.' MI5 agents suggested that Michael Adebowale — who is now serving a life sentence in a psychiatric hospital for the murder of soldier Lee Rigby — be assessed by the agency's Behavioral Science Unit, a team of psychologists and social scientists, but the assessment was never done . A second study by Paul Gill and Emily Corner of University College London looked at 119 lone wolf attackers and a similar number of members of violent extremist groups in the U.S. and Europe. Almost a third of the lone wolves — nearly 32 percent — had been diagnosed with a mental illness, while only 3.4 percent of terrorist group members were mentally ill. 'Group-based terrorists are psychologically quite normal,' the researchers said. They said one reason may be that terrorist recruiters are likely to reject candidates who appear erratic or mentally ill. Mental illness could make lone wolf attacks easier to foresee: Gill said 60 percent of the attackers he studied leaked details of their plans, sometimes telling friends or family. He and Corner are working with a British counterterrorism unit as police try to develop ways of distinguishing genuine threats from hot-headed talk. The unit declined to discuss the project, but recent cases suggest determining who really is a threat is fraught with difficulty. More than a year before he hacked a soldier to death in London in 2013, Michael Adebowale's online extremism drew the attention of Britain's intelligence services. Domestic intelligence agency MI5 told a parliamentary inquiry into the murder that it uses a range of factors to assess the threat from potential lone wolves, including an inability to cope with stress and anxiety, social isolation and mental health problems. MI5 agents suggested that Adebowale — who is now serving a life sentence in a psychiatric hospital — be assessed by the agency's Behavioral Science Unit, a team of psychologists and social scientists, but the assessment was never done. The most lethal lone-wolf attacker in recent years was anti-Muslim extremist Anders Behring Breivik, who killed 77 people in a bombing and gun rampage in Norway in 2011 . Floral tributes and candles at the entrance to Oslo Cathedral in memory of the 76 people killed by Breivik . The lawmakers' report called that a missed opportunity, and recommended that 'MI5 should ensure that the unit's advice is integrated more thoroughly into investigations.' Signals also were misread in the case of Nicky Reilly, a 22-year-old convert to Islam who walked into a restaurant in the English town of Exeter in 2008 with a homemade bomb. The device went off in the restroom, injuring Reilly and no one else. At his trial, jurors were told that Reilly had learning difficulties and had had many years of contact with mental health services. In 2003, he talked to a psychiatrist about making a bomb. The information was passed on to the police, who judged that Reilly wasn't a serious threat. American authorities, in contrast, have been accused of being too aggressive in pursuit of lone attackers. The FBI has foiled several alleged attacks through sting operations in which agents posed as terror supporters, supplying advice and equipment. Critics say the strategy can amount to entrapment of mentally vulnerable people who wouldn't have the wherewithal to act alone. Meanwhile, the fundamental question of whether there is a link between mental health problems and terrorism remains controversial. The most lethal lone-wolf attacker in recent years was anti-Muslim extremist Anders Behring Breivik, who killed 77 people in a bombing and gun rampage in Norway in 2011. Breivik was unrepentant. One psychiatric report found him to be insane, while a second concluded that he was sane — and judges agreed, sending him to prison indefinitely. The killer was happy with the outcome. For Breivik, it was recognition that his views were legitimate and not those of a madman. | New studies challenge thinking that mental illness plays only a minor role .
Dozens of attacks analysed including soldier shot by Canada parliament .
Found that fanatics are often motivated by both ideology and mental health .
Researcher: 'It's never an either-or... it's a dangerous cocktail' |
fca59572ca1956c45699f66b17197a6df666ce91 | A huge fire has brought to end a mock Mars mission being held in the middle of the Utah desert. The mission involved four 'astronauts' living in isolation for two weeks in the hope of recreating the psychological effects of life on Mars. But instead, they were dealt with a real-life emergency when an accidental fire destroyed part of the Mars Desert Research Station, with flames reaching 10ft (3 metres) high. A huge fire has brought to end a mock Mars mission being held in the middle of the Utah desert. The mission involved four 'astronauts' living in isolation in the hope of recreating the psychological effects of life on Mars . The Mars Society, who runs the missions, said that no one was hurt among the crew who attempted to battle the flames on their own for over an hour. According to Space.com, crew Commander Nick Orenstein, spotted smoke billowing from the greenhouse and ran outside to take a look. 'This is a moment where instinct took over, the instinct of fight or flight, and we had fight,' Orenstein told Space.com. 'There really wasn't a question at the moment.' The Mars Society, who runs the missions, said that no one was hurt among the crew who attempted to battle the flames. Pictured on the right is the damaged it caused and the left image shows the MDRS . The middle of the greenhouse (pictured), which was called the GreenHab, was destroyed and an investigation found that an electrical heater placed too close to shelves caused the flames . The middle of the greenhouse, which was called the GreenHab, was destroyed and an investigation found that an electrical heater placed too close to shelves caused the flames. Orenstein's crew stayed in Hanksville, four miles from the habitat, and commuted back and forth to MDRS and coordinated with emergency officials before deciding to end the simulation on December 31. The GreenHab that was destroyed was the second greenhouse built at MDRS, after the first one collapsed under heavy winds. 'The GreenHab fire was very unfortunate, and the crew that bravely dealt with the incident ended their simulation early,' Michael Stoltz, the Mars Society's Director of Media told MailOnline. During their stay, the astronaut's home is the Habitat Module, a two storey silo-shaped building with lab areas and living spaces, eight metres in diameter . 'But the Mars Desert Research Station is up and running, albeit temporarily without greenhouse experiments, which is just one aspect of the important research being done at the facility. 'Another crew arrived at the Utah station a week or so after the fire to begin their two week Mars field simulation. We're back to preparing for Mars exploration and settlement.' A volunteer for the mock mission, Elizabeth Howell, had previously told MailOnline that the mission can be overwhelming. 'When I was in a spacesuit I felt like I was in an outside world,' she said. 'It makes you think and behave differently.' During their stay, the astronaut's home is the Habitat Module, a two storey silo-shaped building with lab areas and living spaces, eight metres in diameter. The Mars Society said they will aim to have a replacement structure ready in time for next batch of 'astronauts' to live at the Utah station . sending a manned mission to Mars is 'necessary if the human race is to survive', Nasa chiefs have said. Speaking at the Humans to Mars summit in Washington, head of the US space programme Charles Bolden, said last year: 'If this species is to survive indefinitely we need to become a multi-planet species, we need to go to Mars, and Mars is a stepping stone to other solar systems.' Mr Bolden revealed plans for the series of 'stepping stones' to the red planet, which included 'lassoing' an asteroid.It also included growing plants in space, and using 3D printers for onboard repairs. Nasa plans to capture an asteroid by 2015 and take it into the moon's orbit, send a spaceship to it and collect samples before returning home in less than a month round trip. The experiments being conducted in Utah and a sister station in the Arctic are designed to help scientists learn more about what astronauts would endure on such a trip . Leaving the Habitat Module requires a request to Mission Support a day in advance. Even then, they have to put on an unwieldy spacesuit. The suits worn by the scientists come with their own air-conditioning, radio units, heavy helmets, and boots. Contact with the outside world is strictly limited, with a very slow internet connection restricted to allow just a few emails in and out each day. Most communication is with 'mission control', who asked the crew for reports on every aspect of their lives during their two-week shifts. That includes details on their food intake, exercise, and psychological status. The experiments being conducted in Utah and a sister station in the Arctic are designed to help scientists learn more about what astronauts would endure on such a trip. The shortest possible journey to Mars is 140 million miles, a trip that is thought to take around seven months. Leaving the Habitat Module requires a request to Mission Support a day in advance.Even then, they have to put on an unwieldy spacesuit. The suits worn by the scientists come with their own air-conditioning, radio units, heavy helmets, and boots . | The fire was caused by an electrical heater placed too close to shelves .
Volunteers were living on their own for two weeks in the Utah desert .
They were attempting to recreate the psychological effects of life on Mars . |
fca5d3215c78cbbd28e1d586ade2f0935162e3d9 | (CNN) -- Political and anti-war activists in the Midwest said they were the target Friday of searches the FBI called part of an investigation into the "material support of terrorism." Warrants led to the search of five residences and one office in Minneapolis, Minnesota, said FBI spokesman Steve Warfield, who said there were no arrests. Two other searches were conducted in Chicago, Illinois. Activist Tom Burke in Chicago said he and others in Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan were served subpoenas to testify before a grand jury. He also said computer hard drives were taken from locations in both cities, as well as a cell phone in Minneapolis. Warfield would not comment on that statement or provide details of the searches. He also would not discuss the investigation, other than indicating it is the work of a joint task force on terrorism. The Minneapolis searches were concluded by mid-afternoon Friday, Warfield said. Burke said many agents were still at a Chicago location Friday afternoon. A coalition of groups represented on the Fight Back website released a statement condemning the raids as "harassment." "We see them as a way to impair our freedom of speech," said Burke, a member of the Colombia Action Network. "We've done nothing wrong." The coalition came together after a large anti-war protest at the Republication National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul in 2008, Burke said. "We agree the U.S. should treat neighbors in peaceful ways," said Burke, pointing to conflict in the Middle East and Colombia. "We think they [the FBI] are on a fishing expedition." Among the groups the activists are involved with are the Palestine Solidarity Group, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, the Twin Cities Anti-War Committee, and Students for a Democratic Society, which was active during the Vietnam War. One of the apartments searched in Minneapolis belongs to Mick Kelly, an anti-war and government protestor, CNN affiliate KARE reported. Kelly said the search warrant indicated agents were looking for evidence of his travels to Latin America and Palestine. Jessica Sundin of the Twin Cities Anti-War Committee told CNN agents took a hard drive, paper files, photos, a cell phone and her passport during a search of her Minneapolis residence Friday. Denying any wrongdoing, Sundin said she was given a subpoena to appear next month before a grand jury in Chicago. She said she will not cooperate with federal investigators, but will talk to lawyers before deciding whether to appear. Sending American weapons and troops abroad is not the solution to international problems, Sundin said. "We've been unapologetic in our opposition to U.S. intervention," she said. The task force carrying out the raids comprised a number of local and federal agencies, KARE said. CNN's Katherine Wojtecki contributed to this article . | FBI searches homes, office in Minneapolis and Chicago .
The searches are part of a joint task force probe of terrorism, the FBI says .
An activist says hard drives were taken during the searches . |
fca6056b0f137e07b83a0a14b84ae0d04af3dfe0 | Hot-stepping his way into the hallowed halls of Downton Abbey, the popular ITV drama's newest star Jack Ross made quite the impression when he made his debut on Sunday night's episode. Audiences had been eagerly awaiting the jazz singer's first appearance, and although Ross looks set to shake up the Crawleys, his antics will likely pale in comparison to those of the real-life musician on who Downton's newest resident is said to be based. The show's first black character, played by actor Gary Carr, is thought to have been inspired by Leslie 'Hutch' Hutchinson - the Twenties cabaret star who charmed a string of women, and became embroiled in a scandal with Edwina Mountbatten, Countess Mountbatten of Burma. Scroll down for video . Newest star: Jazz singer Jack Ross, said to be based on Leslie 'Hutch' Hutchinson made his Downton debut on Sunday night . First impressions: It remains to be seen if Jack Ross, played by actor Gary Carr, makes the same impact on Lady Rose as real-life singer Hutch had on the women of the 1920s . Huge star: Singer Leslie 'Hutch' Hutchinson found fans among the rich and famous including the Prince of Wales and infamously Edwina Mountbatten . As one of the biggest stars in Britain during the 1920s and 1930s, Hutch lived the life of an upper-crust aristocrat - enjoying hunting, fishing and trips to Savile Row in his chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce, according to the Daily Telegraph newspaper. He found fans among the rich and famous, including the then Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII, and infamously Edwina, the wife of the Prince's cousin Lord Louis Mountbatten, much to the horror of her royal in-laws. Downton's creator, Julian Fellowes, may find that some of Hutch's escapades prove a little too much for cosy Sunday evening audiences - one of his boasts that may not make the Downtown storylines was that he had a larger 'endowment' than any other man on earth. Born Leslie Arthur Julien Hutchinson in Grenada in March 1900, Hutch moved to New York as a teenager to study for a degree in medicine, but became sidetracked when he started playing the piano and singing in bars. Instant attraction: Wealthy Edwina Mountbatten, married to the Prince of Wales' cousin, was introduced to the talented young singer following a performance of his West End show One Dam' Thing . After moving to Paris to further his musical career, in 1927 he found himself in London where he swiftly became a society darling, and was for a time the highest-paid star in the country. Despite his success, Hutch found that his rise to the top was hindered by the prejudice of British society at the time, and as a black man he was barred from sharing a stage with white women. His West End show One Dam' Thing, which boasted costumes designed by Coco Chanel, garnered fantastic reviews - despite the fact that Variety magazine would not include his name in them. Hutch was one of the first stars in Britain to volunteer to entertain the troops at home and abroad during World War II, but he received no formal recognition for his service, and his name would never appear in any Honours list. When he entertained at lavish Mayfair parties, his fee was large, but he was often obliged to go in by the servants' entrance. It was during his performances in One Dam' Thing that Hutch first attracted the attention of his royal fans, after the Prince of Wales, Lord Mountbatten - and Edwina - were watching from the theatre's boxes on opening night. Wealthy Edwina, the daughter of King Edward VII's banker Sir Ernest Cassel, was said to be instantly enthralled and at the post-show party she was introduced to the talented young singer, according to biographer Charlotte Breese. A few nights later Hutch, who was himself married to wife Ella Bird, was said to have sung directly to Edwina when he performed a late-night set at a London nightspot. Screen icons: Hutch enjoyed affairs with high-profile actresses Tallulah Bankhead, left, and Merle Oberon, right . 'He sang directly to Edwina,' Ms Breese said in the Daily Telegraph. '[She] took off her chiffon scarf and put it round his neck and kissed him while he was playing.' At the time Hutch was living with society belle Zena Naylor, and had enjoyed affairs with screen sirens Tallulah Bankhead and Merle Oberon, as well as another bright young thing, 'Babe' Plunkett Greene. The West End's leading matinee idol, Ivor Novello, was also rumoured to have been one of bisexual Hutch's lovers, and in 1930 Hutch made debutante Elizabeth Corbett pregnant. When the child was black Elizabeth's Guards-officer husband was appalled, and the baby was given up for adoption. None of that seemed to deter Edwina, however, with one BBC producer Bobby Jay telling Ms Breese: 'I was at a grand party. 'Edwina interrupted Hutch playing the piano. She kissed his neck and led him by the hand behind the closed doors of the dining-room. There was a shriek, and a few minutes later she returned, straightening her clothes. 'Hutch seemed elated, and before he returned to the piano, told me that, with one thrust, he had flashed [propelled] her the length of the dining-room table.' Edwina was said to have showered Hutch with presents, including a jewelled gold cigarette case, a gold ring with her coat of arms engraved on the inside, and a gold and diamond watch. She was even thought to have commissioned a jewelled sheath for Hutch's aforementioned manhood. The singer would proudly show off the sheath to his fellow musicians. Although the affair caught the attention of American gossip columnists, the British press were doing their best to ignore the scandal, even when Hutch took Edwina with him to perform for inmates at Dartmoor prison. Happier times: Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, married wife Edwina in July 1922 . Eventually, in 1932, The People newspaper cracked. It launched a thinly veiled attack on a 'leading hostess' who was been 'caught in compromising circumstances' with a black man. Many took the article to mean that Edwina was having a relationship with another black singer, Paul Robeson, and the resulting High Court libel case caused a furore when Edwina boldly told how she had never met Robeson - which he confirmed. Facing the wrath of the King, The People eventually backed down and shelled out damages to charity, with its barrister Sir Patrick Hastings forced to make a grovelling apology - 'genuine and deep regrets' - on behalf of the newspaper's owners. The Mountbattens were invited to lunch at Buckingham Palace the next day in a public show of marital solidarity. New arrival: Audiences have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Downton Abbey's new character Jack Ross . Though still a celebrity, without his royal approval Hutch began to fall from grace. He was dropped from BBC radio shows and found that he could no longer win bookings at many theatres. He was struggling to make ends meet and when his wife Ella died in 1958 she was buried in an unmarked pauper's grave at a cost of £12. By that time, he had six children by different mothers, and was to father a seventh at the age of 64.With his fortune squandered on gambling, he was forced to sell his house in 1967 for £13,037. Of this, £10,000 went to pay off his debts, leaving him just £3,000 out of the millions he had earned.On August 18, 1969, he died 'virtually penniless' at the Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead, from 'overwhelming pneumonia' at the age of 69. He left £1,949 and no will. Only 42 mourners showed up at his funeral. | Downton character Jack Ross based on singer Leslie 'Hutch' Hutchinson .
Singer Hutch charmed a string of women, including Edwina Mountbatten .
Caberet star embroiled in High Court libel scandal over rumoured affair .
Hutch died 'virtually penniless' after losing riches to gambling debts . |
fca66477c5801ea7d9c6f02f0ae622b7e3d94afc | By . Ruth Styles for MailOnline . Popping the question while dressed as anime character Dr Franken Stein and in front of hundreds of people might not sound like the ideal proposal but for Matt Dunn, 23, from Guisburgh in Yorkshire, that's exactly what it was. Girlfriend Molly Turner, who was dressed up as 'saucy' fantasy character Ikaros, got the surprise of her life when Mr Dunn grabbed the microphone during an appearance on stage. Luckily, the 22-year-old cosplay fan was thrilled with the very public proposal and said yes straightaway. Romantic: Matt Dunn dressed as Summoner (left) and Molly Turner in her Ikaro outfit (right) are engaged . 'She said "yes" and the whole room cheered for us,' said Mr Dunn, a graduate in computer games studies. 'Beforehand my heart was beating so loudly I couldn't really hear anything else. There were rivers of tears afterwards!' The couple, who have been together for two years, first met at another cosplay convention called NemaCon at Middlesborough Town Hall. According to a smitten Mr Dunn, his bride-to-be, who was dressed as Japanese character Nema-Chan, stood out in her bright pink wig and homemade green dress. Thrilled: Computer gaming graduate Mr Dunn said that the couple cried 'rivers of tears' after the proposal . Bond: The couple met at a Cosplay convention in Middlesborough and plan to have a 'traditional Gothic wedding' 'Molly has . an obsession with wigs and she looked brilliant,' he said. 'We met . during a challenge on computer game Soulcalibur IV. 'I was dressed as Dr. Franken Stein from the anime Soul Eater in white lab coat with a bolt through my head.' The couple now regularly attend Cosplay events across the north of England and still enjoy dressing up as their favourite cartoon, anime and gaming characters. At the Sunderland convention where Mr Dunn took to the stage to pop the question, Miss Turner was wearing a favourite ensemble, while her new fiance chose to dress as Summoner from The League of Legends computer game. Popular: Cosplay - or costume play - began life in Japan but now boasts fans all over the world . 'When she was Ikaros from the anime Heaven's Lost Property she looked really beautiful. She made these incredible wings,' said Mr Dunn. 'Cosplay is all about going to a place with like minded people,' added the lovelorn gaming fan, who will move into a new home with his fiancee in the coming months. 'It's just a lot of fun.' However despite their love of Japanese cartoons and computer games the wedding will be traditionally Gothic - an idea of Miss Turner's. | Molly Turner, 23, was surprised on stage at Sunderland Cosplay convention .
Matt Dun, 23, grabbed the microphone in front of hundreds for the proposal .
Miss Turner said yes and couple are planning a 'traditional' Gothic wedding . |
fca70edc9e6a855ce6724ee87958cec1cf57d886 | In a move to compete with fast-casual restaurants like Chipotle and Five Guys, McDonalds is testing a new tablet ordering system which allows customers to customize their burgers with 20 mix-and-match ingredients like guacamole and tortilla chips. McDonald's started testing the new system last year at two Orange County stores and recently expanded to two restaurants in San Diego, but the project could be rolling out to other stores soon as the chain battles its lowest sales slump in more than a decade. Experts say the Build Your Burger feature is designed to appeal to younger customers, which have stopped patronizing McDonald's in favor of fast-casual restaurants like Chipotle where they can chose the ingredients that go into their order. McCustomizable: The Build Your Burger feature allows customers to choose from 22 different ingredients to make their sandwich the way they want it. Above, a picture of the fast-food chain's signature Big Mac . 'The problem for chains like McDonald’s is that with this generation, the Millennials in particular, the standard of expectations has risen,' John Gordon, owner of Pacific Management Consulting Group, told U-T San Diego. 'The standards that were OK for our parents, aren’t necessarily OK for us.' The ordering system still has a few kinks it has to work out, like the fact that customers who want to also order off the main menu must submit their order at the counter, instead of just using the Build Your Burger tablet. At the restaurants currently offering the DIY burger option, employees stand at the front of the store explaining the tablet ordering system. All burgers are made with patties used for the Quarter Pounder sandwich, and are freshly grilled for every custom order. Customers then have a choice of buttered and toasted bun (artisan or brioche), cheese (American, sharp white cheddar, pepper jack), and an assortment of other mix-and match toppings like guacamole, grilled mushrooms, pickled jalapenos and garlic aioili. Can I have your order please? Above, Build Your Burger ordering systems seen above in one southern California McDonald's restaurant . Touch start: Customers start the Build Your Burger ordering process by using a tablet, as seen above . Beef: All of the Build Your Burgers are made with the same beef pattie used in the Quarter Pounder sandwich . Bun: Customers have a choice between an artisan bun and a brioche bun. Both are buttered and toasted to order . Cheese: Instead of plain American, which McDonald's uses on its other cheeseburgers, customers can opt out for sharp white cheddar or natural pepper jack . Extras: Other toppings include guacamole, grilled mushroom and tortilla strips . Spreads: Spicy mayo, creamy garlic sauce, ketchup, regular mayo, mustard and special sauce are among the choices of spreads . Smoky: Bacon is the only addition that costs extra in the Build Your Burger process . The only topping that costs extra is bacon, which adds 80 cents to the order. The total cost of these burgers average around $5.49. When the burger is prepared, employees deliver it to the customer's table in a metal basket instead of handing it out on a plastic tray at the counter. And when the customer is finished eating, an employee comes out again to bus the able and to ask about the experience. The new ordering program appears to be an attempt to address dropping sales at the fast-food chain. Experts say McDonald's is trying out the program to compete with fast-casual restaurants like Chipotle, which give customers more options on their orders. Above, a line at Chipotle shows how customers choose their burrito toppings . This month, McDonald's posted its worst same-stores sales decline since 2003, and sales at stores open at least 13 months dragged 3.7 per cent in August. The slow sales may be due in part to the young Millennial generation's preference for fast casual restaurants. The percentage of customers aged 19 to 21 has fallen each month by 12.9 per cent since the beginning of 2011, and has remained flat for the 22 to 27 age group. 'McDonald's sales are declining, so they're looking for another way to generate revenues and reach a different crowd,' Joel Cohen, president of the Cohen Restaurant Marketing Group, told the Chicago Tribune. | The fast-food chain started testing the program at two Orange County, California restaurants last year and recently expanded to two more .
Customers order from a tablet and choose from 22 different toppings like guacamole, tortilla chips and garlic aioli .
Experts say McDonald's is trying out the program to compete with fast-casual restaurants like Chipotle, which are popular with younger people . |
fca7c3745d0ad905f7cffff80218a3c06bc7749d | Sam Rush stopped short of a bunch of flowers and a candlelit dinner for two but, one year on, the Derby chief executive clearly remains enamoured with his head coach. Happy anniversary Steve McClaren, who will be hoping to swap the tradition cotton gift for something a little more glittery in eight months time. A warm and glowing tribute in the match programme from Rush and three more Championship points will have to do for now. Will Hughes looks to get things ticking for Derby during the first half against Bournemouth . Hughes slotted home confidently to give the Rams the lead late on against Bournemouth . The 19-year-old wheels away in celebration after giving Derby the advantage at the IPro Stadium . Derby (4-3-2-1): Grant 6; Christie 7.5, Shotton 7, Keogh 6.5, Forsyth 7; Bryson 7, Eustace 7.5 (Best, 73, 4), Hughes 8; Ward 8 (Hendrick, 73, 4) Ibe 5 (Russell, 46mins, 6 ); Martin 7. Subs not used: Mitchell, Naylor, Whitbread, Mascarell . Scorers: Hughes 81, Martin 90 . Bournemouth (4-5-1): Camp 7; Francis 6.5, Elphick 7, Cook 7, Harte 6.5; Ritchie 6.5, Arter 8 (Kermorgant, 85) , O’Kane 6.5, Surman 6.5, Stanislas 7 (Pugh, 55 mins, 5.5); Wilson 6 (Flahavan, 67 mins, 5) Subs not used: Gosling, Pitman, Daniels, Smith . Sent off: Camp. Referee: Scott Mathieson 6 . Attendance: 26,725 . Man of the match: Hughes . They were hard-earned points too, with late goals from Will Hughes and Chris Martin after Bournemouth goalkeeper Lee Camp (right) was sent off for handling outside the area. Camp is a lifelong Derby fan, having been born and brought up in the city. He will be cast in the role of villain forever at the iPro Stadium, because he once also played for Nottingham Forest. There was little sympathy, therefore, when Camp went rushing out of his area to stop Jamie Ward, who emerged from the clash to shoot into an empty net. That is when the trouble started. Referee Scott Mathieson pulled the play back, disallowed the goal and dismissed Camp. Both sets of players argued for several minutes before Chris Martin took the free kick and hit a post. ‘We feel quite hard done by,’ said Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe. ‘We would have preferred to go one goal down and keep 11 men on the pitch.’ McClaren’s verdict was similar, although from a vantage point of fourth in the table. ‘We’ve put down a big marker, a big statement,’ said the Derby manager. Craig Bryson takes aim at goal during Derby's goalless draw against Bournemouth . On-loan Liverpool forward Jordan Ibe takes control off the ball as he looks to set up an attack for Derby . ‘The sending off was a bizarre decision. We would have taken the goal and kept it at 11-11. The players knew that this was important and they were a little nervous. But we were patient and controlled the game and it’s all about the result.’ Even down to 10 men, Bournemouth defended well and made it difficult for the home side. Hughes finally made the breakthrough after a one-two with Martin, who then scored his seventh of the season deep into injury time after a great cross from Russell. McClaren joked afterwards that Hughes has been practising his shooting ‘and his shots reach the goal now’. Bournemouth had to perform with a tiny band of followers as the Football League piloted a scheme in which the match was broadcast live at the Goldsands Stadium. When the sides meet again in February, the same will apply for Derby fans. McClaren will be hoping to be in the automatic promotion places by then. Prolific forward Chris Martin doubled Derby's lead deep into stoppage time . Derby midfielder Craig Forsyth looks to get the Rams on the attack against Bournemouth . Derby forward Jamie Ward fights to get possession of the ball against Bournemouth's Lee Harte . Hughes finally made the breakthrough after a one-two with Martin, who then scored his seventh of the season deep into injury time after a great cross from Johnny Russell. McClaren joked afterwards that Hughes has been practising his shooting ‘and his shots reach the goal now’. Bournemouth were tough to break down. The players had to perform with a tiny band of followers too, as the Football League piloted a beam-back scheme in which the match was broadcast live at the Goldsands Stadium. When the sides meet again in February, the same will apply to Derby fans. McClaren will be hoping to be in the automatic promotion places by then. | Two late goals from Derby secured a home victory over Bournemouth .
Will Hughes and Chris Martin both struck in the last 10 minutes of the game .
The Rams are now unbeaten in their last seven Championship games . |
fca7e8937b49e85a22d2b1b776dad121d5eb4d40 | Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish came under fire from Liverpool supporters on Sunday night after making a comment on Twitter about their celebrations following the FA Cup win. Making reference to his own club’s progress since he took over at Selhurst Park in 2010, Parish tweeted: ‘When we took over we just avoided going to the third tier. Yesterday #LFC beat us. They are celebrating like they won the league #progress’ However, several Liverpool fans on the social media site took offence and accused Parish of being bitter and classless, forcing the Palace owner to defend his statement, insisting he was simply paying tribute to how far the Eagles have come in the past five years. Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish (left) came under fire from Liverpool supporters on Sunday night . Parish tweeted this about Liverpool's celebrations following the FA Cup win over Palace . Parish was forced to defend his statement to Liverpool fans on Twitter . Parish insists he was simply paying tribute to how far the Eagles have come in the past five years . Fraizer Campbell gave Palace the lead at Selhurst Park on Saturday before goals from Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana saw Liverpool come from behind to win 2-1. It means Liverpool qualify for the FA Cup quarter-finals and will be in the draw on Monday night. Palace will switch their focus to the Premier League as they look to avoid being drawn into a relegation battle with the London club sitting 13th - five points above the bottom three. Parish made a comment on Twitter about Liverpool's celebrations following the FA Cup win . Several Liverpool fans on the social media site took offence and accused Parish of being bitter and classless . | Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish was forced to respond to Liverpool fans after making a comment on Twitter about their celebrations .
'When we took over we just avoided going to the third tier. Yesterday #LFC beat us. They are celebrating like they won the league #progress,' he wrote .
Parish insists he was simply paying tribute to how far Palace have come .
Liverpool came from behind to beat Palace 2-1 in the FA Cup on Saturday . |
fca82347edb5394675ea92ff00532eb30b8e0532 | "Horsey!" scream the children staring in awe at the glossy chestnut thoroughbred towering above them. Their tiny hands press against the glass encasing Australia's most beloved race horse -- Phar Lap. But despite their excited squealing and impatient jostling, the impressive 1.74-meter tall gelding will never lower his glassy stare in their direction. He'll never twitch his ears, flick his tail, or gallop down the race track with the remarkable speed which made him a national hero during the darkest days of the 1930s Depression. Phar Lap has been dead for 81 years. His body however, looks barely a day over six-years-old, frozen in time thanks to taxidermy -- the art of stuffing animal skins for display. The champion thoroughbred is one of many legendary taxidermy horses exhibited in museums around the world -- forever ready to run their next race, charge onto the battle field, or star on the big screen. "Taxidermy is a way to immortalize their story, as well as their actions and deeds," said Michael Reason, curator of the Phar Lap exhibition at Australia's Melbourne Museum. "Museums are all about experiencing `the real thing,' so presenting a preserved specimen is a way of doing that." Equine legends live on . From Napoleon's horse, Le Vizir, on display at the Army Museum in Paris, to actor Roy Rogers' trusty sidekick, Trigger, exhibited at a U.S. TV network, the intriguing world of equine taxidermy is far from, well, dead. "What makes preserved famous creatures so different from hunting trophies or natural history specimens, is that most taxidermy is about preserving the animal's form -- you're not really trying to capture the spirit of the animal," said Rachel Poliquin, author of The Breathless Zoo: Taxidermy and the Cultures of Longing. "With famous creatures such as Phar Lap, you're preserving it because the animal has done something which is more than animal -- it has qualities such as courage, fortitude, endurance, which we like to think are in the human domain." Enter Comanche . There is perhaps no horse which embodies those virtues quite like Comanche. The gelding gained legendary status as the sole survivor on the U.S. Cavalry side of the 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn -- fought between General Custer's troops and native American Indians. Two days after the clash which killed hundreds of combatants, Comanche was discovered on the battlefield -- badly injured, but alive. When he died from colic 15 years later he was buried with full military honors, while his skin was preserved. Today, long after the soldiers who rode him have turned to dust, Comanche's taxidermy body remains standing to attention at Kansas University's Natural History Museum. "Comanche stands for many more things than being the lone survivor on the Cavalry side -- he stands for the relentless march of the European settlers across the great plains and the war against the Indians," said Leonard Krishtalka, director of the Biodiversity Institute at Kansas University. "Why do we taxidermy animals, or make wax models, or copy archaeological monuments, or hold historical re-enactments? I guess it's a way of understanding history better, of bringing it to life." Strike a pose . But taxidermy, much like history, is never free from our own manipulation. When cowboy actor Roy Rogers had his sidekick, Trigger, stuffed in 1965, it was in a pose befitting a screen star. Rearing on his hind legs and wearing an elaborately studded saddle, the golden palomino who appeared alongside Rodgers in dozens of films, was auctioned for a whopping $266,500 to cable company RFD-TV in 2010. It appears that in death, Trigger had become larger than life. "A taxidermy animal is just the skin of the animal, and of course the skin has no inherent shape or pose." Poliquin said. "And that's where the artistry and the human manipulation become involved." "Are you going to pose the lion sleeping or attacking an antelope? All those decisions come in manufacturing the ultimate spectacle." Art imitating life . While taxidermy attempts to recreate animals, it actually uses very little of their original parts. Instead, the skin is usually stretched over an artificial skeleton and preserved with chemicals. Features such as glass eyes or synthetic tongues are also added. "You have to have a solid knowledge of anatomy," said Krishtalka. "One of the big problems with early taxidermy, was that the skin was susceptible to insect infestation. "Virtually all the animals that have been stuffed before 1960 have great quantities of arsenic on them and still have to be handled with gloves." Alluring animals . There is something both disconcerting and mesmerizing about coming face-to-face with animals who teeter in the realm between life and death. In the case of our hero horses, there is also a deep emotional turmoil at play -- we hold these animals in such high esteem that we feel compelled to stuff them for display. Perhaps Poliquin sums up the enduring allure of taxidermy best: "There's a psychological twist that you can never fully get to the bottom of." | From race horses to war horses, museums display taxidermy equines .
Includes Comanche, lone survivor of 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn .
Taxidermy involves stretching real animal skin over artificial frame .
Enduring allure as animals teeter in realm between life and death . |
fca894707a8e1b828025a5c50345b56aaa041e1c | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 19:44 EST, 5 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:44 EST, 5 November 2013 . Lord Thomas, the Lord Chief Justice, has backed Home Secretary Theresa May's campaign to tighten deportation laws . The Government drive to tighten laws on the deportation of criminals and illegal immigrants was backed by the Lord Chief Justice yesterday. Lord Thomas said ministers were ‘quite right’ to be looking at abuses of the judicial review system by immigration lawyers. And he wished success to the efforts by Home Secretary Theresa May to stop criminals and illegal migrants from using the right to family life to persuade judges that they should not be thrown out of the country. Lord Thomas made his views known at a time when Mrs May and Justice Secretary Chris Grayling are both engaged in efforts to limit the use of what they see as loopholes in the laws. The new Lord Chief Justice may have to take major court decisions in the most controversial areas of immigration law over the coming months. He has already denounced the way immigration lawyers frequently make last-minute applications to overturn deportation decisions on grounds which some think spurious. Last year he spoke out in the case of a Bangladeshi student whose lawyers made two last-minute applications to keep him in the country on the eve of his deportation. He said that the procedure was ‘an intolerable waste of public money’, an abuse of the courts, and ‘totally without merit’. Lawyers who acted in the same way in the future would face ‘vigorous action’, he warned. Yesterday Lord Thomas said that judicial review has been ‘a huge success story’ over the past four decades. But he added: ‘It is realistic to say that sometimes people do bring judicial review proceedings which are wholly unmerited. ‘I, during the course of the summer, . sat on a number of cases arising out of the use of it to delay . immigration deportations, and I gave a number of judgments on which I do . not wish to add. ‘So there are areas of the system where there is abuse, and the Government is quite right to be looking at it.’ Theresa May has been campaigning for 18 months to regulate the use of Article Eight of the European Convention which grants the right to a family life, and has been used by immigrants to remain in the UK . Lord Thomas also said he wanted Mrs May to win her battle to limit the way Article Eight of the European human rights charter, which sets out the right to a family life, is used by judges to prevent foreign criminals and illegal immigrants from being deported. The Home Secretary has spent 18 months trying to set down rules which mean that judges do not allow criminals or illegal migrants to stay in the country on the thinnest of claims that they have a family life in Britain. Some judges ignored a Parliamentary vote to tighten the rules, so full legislation saying ‘little weight’ should be given in court to claims of a newly-established family life are included in the Government’s Immigration Bill, now going through Parliament. Among successful claims have been those of a Nepalese man guilty of manslaughter who stayed in Britain even though he had no partner, no children and lived with his parents. In another notorious case, a judge allowed a visa overstayer to remain in the country after hearing that he had a pet cat. Lord Thomas said: ‘In relation to Article Eight and immigration, I think the Government has taken a course which is interesting and I hope will be successful, which is namely to legislate setting criteria by which the courts should proceed. ‘I cannot comment on that at all, because obviously the way the criteria are to be applied, and the compatibility of the criteria for Article Eight, will be something that may come up in future court cases.’ | Lord Thomas said ministers were 'quite right' to look at abuses .
Controversial right to family life used by criminals to remain in country .
Also criticised last-minute appeals as 'intolerable waste of public money' |
fca8cd974b3550bd50c693ff32defdc83561d3c3 | North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has inspected a live-fire artillery drill near the sea border with the rival South in a show of defiance believed to be timed ahead of annual U.S.-South Korean exercises. The drill, which was reported by state media today, involved artillery and anti-ship rockets and was focused on striking and capturing an enemy island, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Analysts in Seoul said North Korea was attempting to demonstrate its military capabilities ahead of next month's U.S.-South Korean drills, which Pyongyang has condemned as a rehearsal for an invasion. Scroll down for video . North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un looks on in amusement as his military conducts a live-fire exercise . The military drills conducted near the border with the South involved artillery (pictured) and anti-ship rockets . Land to air missiles are launched into the air, in pictures broadcast by official state media . Analysts say North Korea's military drills are usually conducted to reassure citizens they are protected . The military exercise (pictured) was reported to have been a mock attack and invasion of an enemy island . The exercise involved the Korean People's Army's 4th Corps, which led the 2010 shelling of the South Korean border island of Yeonpyeong that left four South Korean soldiers and civilians dead. Kim expressed 'great satisfaction' during the exercise and urged his army to be prepared for battle against the U.S., KCNA reported. The official Rodong Sinmun published photos of the tyrant watching the exercise with binoculars and projectiles being fired from what appeared to be multiple rocket launchers and other weapons. State media outlets did not disclose the exact time and location of the drill. The U.S. and South Korea have repeatedly said that their war games are defensive in nature, and they have no intentions of attacking the North. North Korea told the United States last month that it was willing to impose a temporary moratorium on its nuclear tests if Washington scraps the military drills with South Korea this year, but the allies have refused to cancel the exercises. North Korea routinely conducts drills in weeks prior to the U.S.-South Korea exercises and they are believed to be a significant burden for a country in desperate need of cash. Kim Jong Un watches on and asks questions of the footage of the live-fire artillery drill . Explosions land in marked out targets on the mock enemy island during the military drill . Rockets were fired as analysts said the drill was carried out to showcase the country's military technology . South Korean professor Koh Yu-hwan said the North's military drills were using fewer and fewer troops in recent years due to the excessive costs involved . Koh Yu-hwan, a professor of North Korean Studies at Dongguk University in Seoul, said that the North had been reducing the number of soldiers in the drills in recent years and is instead increasingly focusing on showcasing its newer weapons in an apparent attempt at controlling costs. He said: 'North Korea considers it important to display its military capabilities ahead of the U.S.-South Korea drills to give its people the impression that it is well-prepared for an invasion attempt.' South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok told reporters early this week that the U.S. was planning to send a larger number of soldiers than it did last year to the 'Key Resolve and Foal Eagle' exercises beginning in early March, but did not provide a specific number. About 12,700 American troops participated last year. | The North Korean tyrant watched a military drill near border with the South .
It's believed the exercise was a mock attack and invasion of enemy island .
The dictator watched from a distance while artillery and rockets were fired .
Kim Jong Un then urged his army to be prepared for battle with the U.S.
Analysts say it was timed ahead of upcoming U.S.-South Korean exercises . |
fca96faabfe648c64e2adb70ecf2d373240ead3b | By . Chris Wheeler . Follow @@ChrisWheelerDM . Manchester City's Premier League title hopes have faded dramatically following Wednesday’s 2-2 draw at home to bottom-of-the-table Sunderland, a result described by midfielder Fernandinho as 'a complete disaster'. A team that not so long ago were chasing an unprecedented quadruple now look like finishing Manuel Pellegrini’s first season in charge with just the Capital One Cup to show for their efforts. Sportsmail assesses where it has gone wrong for City, and what Pellegrini must put right in the summer. Falling short: Manchester City's title hopes have taken a tumble following a difficult week on the pitch . Living on a prayer: Manuel Pellegrini needs a minor miracle to overtake Liverpool and Chelsea now . TWO'S KOMPANY . The failure to sign a world-class central defensive partner for captain Vincent Kompany has dogged Pellegrini from the start. Having spent more than £100million in other positions and then failed to prise Pepe from his old club Real Madrid, the City boss settled on Martin Demichelis, a cut-price alternative at £4m. Inspiration and exasperation: Vincent Kompany (left) is world class but Martin Demichelis (right) is a liability . The criticism levelled at the Argentine has not always been entirely fair, but he has emerged as the weak link in the team, despite the almost blind faith shown in him by the manager. City are already making plans to address the issue with talks over a £35m deal for FC Porto’s Eliaquim Mangala well advanced. FLAIR PLAY . Pellegrini insists that he will not curb his attacking instincts but he might have to think again if he wants to get City over the line next season. You cannot fault his team's attacking flair this season in terms of entertainment; they have put six past Arsenal, seven past Norwich, 11 past Tottenham over two games and demolished Manchester United twice in the derby. Blow: City were outfoxed by Chelsea at the Etihad in February, when Branislav Ivanovic scored the winner . However, all six Premier League defeats this season have been by one goal. Against Chelsea at the Etihad in February, Jose Mourinho outfoxed Pellegrini with a counter-attacking masterclass while, at Anfield on Sunday, City’s refusal to sit on a 2-2 draw that would have suited them far more than Liverpool cost them dear. A little less cavalier, a little more caution might go a long way next time. ANCHORMAN II . No-one can question that the £30million deal for Fernandinho last summer was money well spent. The Brazilian has been a key figure for City this season, anchoring the midfield and allowing Yaya Toure the freedom to shine. But City need another defensive midfielder, either to fill in for one of those two or to give Pellegrini the option of pushing Toure into a more advanced position where he can do more damage. Javi Garcia has shown a slight improvement but Jack Rodwell has never settled since moving from Everton, and both players could be offloaded in the summer. City pursued Fernando from FC Porto in January and it would be a surprise if they did not try to resurrect that deal. Set him free: Yaya Toure has been City's driving force... but only when he is allowed to roam the pitch free . STRIKE-OUT . It’s a sign of how much City’s breathtaking goal output has dropped off since the end of January that Sergio Aguero was still the team’s top scorer when he returned to the starting line-up against Sunderland despite a third lengthy layoff of the season. Keeping Aguero free of soft tissue injuries will obviously benefit the team in future, but they may also need to look at bringing in a world-class striker to help him. Fragile: Sergio Aguero is City's star striker but the Argentine has spent three long spells on the sidelines . The Beast, Alvaro Negredo, seems to have lost his bite after a ferocious start, Edin Dzeko continues to divide opinion and may well be sold in the summer despite talk of a new contract, and a succession of injuries have prevented Stevan Jovetic from living up to expectations since his arrival from Fiorentina. Edinson Cavani, Radamel Falcao and Diego Costa could all be on the market this summer, and it will be interesting to see if City are among the bidders despite the constraints of Financial Fair Play. MATTER OF TRUST . Pellegrini acknowledged at the start of the season that he had the strongest squad in the Premier League; he has two top players in each position. And yet, when it has come down it, the manager appears to have had a problem trusting fringe players like Javi Garcia, James Milner, Joleon Lescott and Micah Richards. On the fringes: James Milner has not been trusted by Pellegrini, despite several crucial contributions this term . With City chasing trophies on four fronts for much of the season, it has piled the workload onto his key men, and it is perhaps no coincidence that Yaya Toure, David Silva and Vincent Kompany are among those struggling with injuries as the title race hits the home straight. Pellegrini must either learn to trust his squad players or replace them with some he can. | Manchester City are now third favourites to win the Premier League .
Vincent Kompany has no support in central defence .
Manuel Pellegrini has been too cavalier in his approach .
Fernandinho needs top-class partner in defensive midfield .
Sergio Aguero carries too big a goalscoring burden .
Key players have been overworked by Pellegrini . |
fca999bcffa25c9830033fe40642cb4993dde12e | By . Hayley Peterson and Associated Press Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 14:09 EST, 11 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:28 EST, 11 June 2013 . Legal clerk and environmental activist Erin Brockovich - who was famously portrayed by Julia Roberts in a movie about her life - threw a cell phone into a lake and then slapped her husband just before she was arrested for drunken boating, according to a police report. Brockovich, 52, appeared 'highly intoxicated' as she argued with her husband, Eric L. Ellis, aboard a boat docked at the Las Vegas Boat Harbor on Lake Mead in Nevada last Friday, the arresting officer, Kasen Haslem, wrote in the report obtained by MailOnline. The mother of three later registered a blood alcohol content of .190 - more than twice the legal limit of .08. Haslem was fueling up his own boat when he spotted the couple around 7:30 p.m. 'I watched as she threw a cell phone form the boat into the water,' he wrote. 'She then walked by her husband and she appeared to slap him.' Legal clerk and environmental activist Erin Brockovich has apologized for her drunken boating arrest last Friday . When the officer approached the . couple, Brockovich 'started the boat and began backing out of the slip,' Haslem stated. He ordered her to return the boat to the dock, at which . point Brockovich stated 'that she was not very good at driving her . boat.' Brockovich, (right), allegedly threw a cell phone into the water and then slapped her husband, Eric Ellis, (left) The officer then helped guide her vessel toward the slip and he began asking her questions about their argument. 'Her answers were very slurred,' Haslem stated. 'She also kept straying from the conversation and repeating herself.' 'I could also smell an alcoholic beverage on her breath,' he added. Haslem performed field sobriety tests . and she failed nearly every one of them, he said. She was later booked . into jail and released on a $1,000 bail. Brockovich has since apologized for . her arrest, though she denies the officer's claims that she backed her . boat away from the marina. 'At no time was the boat away from . the dock and there was no public safety risk,' she said in a statement, . denying police claims that she operated the boat in open waters. 'That being said, I take drunk driving very seriously, this was clearly . a big mistake. I know better and I am very sorry,' she added. 'After a day in the sun and with . nothing to eat it appears that a couple of drinks had a greater impact . than I realized.' Under Nevada law, a first-time offense of boating while intoxicated is a . misdemeanor that draws fines from $1,000 to $2,000 but no jail time. Authorities were unsure whether it was Brockovich's first arrest on the . charge. Brockovich, who married her third . husband, Eric L. Ellis, in 1999, became a worldwide celebrity after the . 2000 Steven Soderbergh film about her life. As a legal assistant she helped win a . record $333 million settlement from a power company after dozens of . people were poisoned by chemicals released into the water supply in the . California town of Hinkley. After suffering an injury in an auto . accident, Brokovich hired the California law firm Masry and Vititoe to . represent her in a civil lawsuit against the other driver. While the . firm won her a small settlement, the single mother needed a job to . support her family. Boating blunder: Brockovich, famous for acting as an advocate for residents of Hinkley, California, against the Pacific Gas and Electricity Company, was recently arrested for DUI . Case closed: Julia Roberts won an Oscar for her portrayal of Erin Brockovich in the movie of the same name . The law firm hired Brokovich as a . file clerk, which is what ultimately launched the former Miss Pacific . Coast's career in law and public advocacy. While organizing files for a pro-bono . real estate case, Brokovich uncovered medical records that would lead . to the largest settlement ever paid out in a direct action lawsuit in . U.S. history. Brokovich's investigation found that . the Pacific Gas and Electric company had been poisoning Hinkley . residents for more than 30 years. Between 1952 and 1966, the company . used the chemical hexavalent chromium (often referred to as Cr-6) to . fight corrosion in the cooling tower in the Hinkley compressor, which . was part of a natural gas pipeline connecting much of northern . California to the San Francisco Bay area. Brockovich is pictured in March 2000 in her home in Agoura Hills, California . The waste water dissolved the Cr-6 and it ended up in unlined ponds near the cooling tower. The Cr-6 then found its way into the groundwater, contaminating a two-by-one-mile area around the plant. Because of Brokovich's research, more than 600 Hinklley residents shared the giant $333 million settlement. For her work, Brokovich was given a $2 million bonus. Julia Roberts won a Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of Brockovich in the self-titled movie about the case. Brokovich and Masry then became the . face of environmental litigation and went on to file several lawsuits . against various corporations for pollution issues. Since the film, Brockovich has become a high profile campaigner and TV star with her own series, 'Final Justice.' Just last year, Brockovich was back . on the big screen in the documentary 'Last Call at the Oasis,' which . explores challenges related to the planet's dwindling and increasingly . polluted water supply. Brockovich was released from jail after posting $1,000 bail . | The 52-year-old was spotted arguing with her husband aboard a boat on Lake Mead in Nevada when game wardens became suspicious .
Brockovich failed a sobriety test and was booked into jail .
She has been released on $1,000 bail . |
fca9f53ef48f876b53524249e212f12c026b8485 | Police and protesters in Ferguson, Missouri, clashed once again Wednesday night as tensions boiled over during a planned demonstration against the shooting of Michael Brown by police officer Darren Wilson in August. Between 100 and 150 protesters marched to the police station from just blocks away from Brown was shot. They chanted, demanding justice for Brown and calling for the arrest of Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson. When the group finally arrived at the police station, the march then turned ugly and into a stand off against Ferguson police, who brought out riot gear and protective shields as they erected a barricade on the opposite side of the street. The spark for the rise in tensions came after Michael Brown's official autopsy was leaked and shows how the 18-year-old was shot in the hand at close range during a struggle with the Ferguson police officer who fatally shot him. Demonstrators march toward the police station as protests continue in the wake of 18-year-old Michael Brown's death in Ferguson, Missouri . Police police move in to arrest a demonstrator outside the police station as protests continue . Accounts: Details emerged earlier this wee Darren Wilson (left), the police officer who killed Michael Brown (right), describes a violent encounter in which Wilson was allegedly hit in the face several times before firing a gun which Brown was trying to wrest away from him . The St. Louis Post-Dispatch obtained the St. Louis County medical examiner's autopsy and an accompanying toxicology report that shows Brown had used marijuana. The newspaper reported that St. Louis medical examiner Dr. Michael Graham and another pathologist not involved in the investigation reviewed the report and said it indicates a wound to Brown's hand came at close range. Activists said the leak of the report to the newspaper simply added to tensions in the community, which has been the site of numerous protests, including last nights where there have been regular clashes between demonstrators and police, in the 10 weeks since the shooting. Yesterdays protest was scheduled to coincide with a day of action planned to take place nationwide to draw attention to police brutality . It was on August 9th when the shooting happened. It was shortly after noon when Brown was walking down the middle of a neighborhood street with a friend and Officer Wilson, who was driving by, ordered them out of the street. Accounts then differ but witnesses and law enforcement officials have agreed that Wilson and Brown became embroiled in an altercation through the window of the Wilson's vehicle and Wilson exited his vehicle and shot Brown several times. Brown was shot once in the hand and was eventually killed outside the vehicle. Graham told the Post-Dispatch that the autopsy report 'does support that there was a significant altercation at the car.' Aftermath: Pictured above in a grainy cellphone photograph grab, Wilson stands over Brown after the fatal - and hotly-disputed incident . Michael Brown's official autopsy shows the 18-year-old was shot in the hand at close range during a struggle with the Ferguson police officer who fatally shot him, two experts said in a published report . The leaked report indicated a wound to Brown's hand came at close range . Brown family attorney Benjamin Crump said that the autopsy offers no insight into why Wilson killed Brown . Brown family attorney Benjamin Crump told the Associated Press that the autopsy offers no insight into why Wilson killed Brown. The newspaper posted a copy of the autopsy and toxicology report on its website. Medical examiner's office administrator Suzanne McCune confirmed the posted information was accurate but said her office won't officially release the documents until the investigation is complete. The newspaper did not say where it obtained the documents. Wilson remains on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation into the shooting that has sparked sometimes violent protests in Ferguson. On Tuesday, Gov. Jay Nixon appointed a special commission to look at how the region can move forward after the concerns raised by the shooting and its aftermath. Wilson confronted Brown and Dorian Johnson as they walked back to Brown's home from a convenience store. After the shooting, Brown died at the scene. Between 100 and 150 protesters marched from the corner of Canfield Drive and Florissant Avenue, a few blocks from where Brown was shot . The protestors demanded justice for Michael Brown and called for the arrest of Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson . Some witnesses have told authorities and news media that Brown had his hands raised when Wilson approached with his weapon and fired repeatedly. The leaked report comes days after the New York Times, citing federal government officials briefed on a civil rights investigation, reported that Wilson told investigators he feared for his life and battled with Brown in his vehicle over his gun. A grand jury is considering charges against Wilson, who has not spoken publicly about the shooting. Protesters have said they expect widespread unrest if he is not charged and local and state authorities have said they are preparing for that possibility. "There is a lack of trust. That is why people are protesting every single night," said Rashad Robinson, executive director of Color of Change, a civil rights organization. "They have a fundamental belief that the system is stacked against them. These continual leaks raise a lot of suspicion." Ferguson, Missouri, police and protesters clashed on Wednesday night after tensions escalated during a scheduled demonstration, part of the Ferguson October movement . Michael Brown's gunshot wounds included a shot in the hand at close range, his official autopsy shows, according to an analysis reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper . At least two people were detained after demonstrators threw water bottles at the police barricade . Wilson told investigators that during a struggle for his pistol inside a police SUV, Brown pressed the barrel of Wilson's gun against the officer's hip . The officer tried to prevent Brown from reaching the trigger, the source told the newspaper, and when he thought he had control, he fired . Once the group arrived at the Police Department the march turned into a standoff against Ferguson police, who had erected a barricade on the opposite side of the street . Ed Magee, a spokesman for the St. Louis County prosecutor's office, said a decision is expected sometime in mid-November. Brown's death has sparked protests across Ferguson, a primarily black community with a mostly white police force and city government, and has drawn global attention to race relations in the United States. The St. Louis County medical examiner's autopsy indicates that Brown's hand was close to Wilson's weapon, according to forensic experts interviewed by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The autopsy said a microscopic examination of Brown's hand tissue showed particles "consistent with products that are discharged from the barrel of a firearm." The medical examiner also found that Brown tested positive for marijuana. A representative for the county medical examiner verified the authenticity of the autopsy report the newspaper posted and said the office did not provide the report to the Post-Dispatch. Wilson said he fired two shots, and Brown was hit in the hand and ran. Wilson told investigators he fired again when Brown turned back and charged at him . Immediate response: In this image investigators crowd round Brown's body immediately after the shooting . Wilson said he had no choice but to draw his pistol when faced with the 'incredibly strong' teen. Brown was 6-foot-4 and nearly 300lb at the time of his death. Wilson said he couldn't use his pepper spray in the close quarters because it would have hit him too. His baton was out of reach at the back of his belt. In the statement Wilson told how Brown grabbed at the pistol and continued to hit him in the face. The officer, who said he almost passed out in the attack, then told how he felt Brown, whose strength he found remarkable, twisting the barrel towards his own body. At one point, the muzzle of the gun was pointed at Wilson's own hip. Wilson went on to describe how he jerked back inside the car, loosening Brown's grip on the gun enough for him to squeeze the trigger. Vigils: Demonstrators - pictured on October 20 - have continually held vigils for Brown since the shooting in August. They are pictured above on Canfield Street, where he died . But, he said, the first time nothing happened - because Brown had his finger in the gun's hammer, which stopped it from firing. Separate accounts of the events which have been made public have also claimed there was a scuffle of some sort inside the police car - citing blood and skin samples picked up in investigations. When Wilson pulled the trigger again, the pistol went off, hitting Brown's hand and sending glass cascading around the car. Evidence presented by the Post-Dispatch from the autopsy report also seems to support a close-range impact. The document told how the entry wound in Brown's hand had no 'stippling' - a feature of mid-range impacts - suggesting a point-blank release. In his account, Wilson then described firing a second shot - which missed. Brown then ran away. Response: Police have donned riot gear to meet the protesters in ugly confrontations . Wilson said he was left unable to radio for backup because his transponder had been knocked away from the right setting in the chaos. So, on his own, Wilson said he got out of the car and gave chase. It was at that point when Brown turned. Wilson said Brown then 'charged' at him and wouldn't stop when he yelled. He started firing, and hit four times. One shot, Wilson said, hit Brown's forehead and brought him down. He also denied - as many witnesses have claimed - that Brown had his hands up in a gesture of surrender. Wilson's extensive account is at odds with several others which have emerged in the wake of the killing, which has sparked widespread and ongoing protests in the Missouri town. Others have said Brown was fleeing, or had unambiguously surrendered. It has also been suggested that Wilson himself was more aggressive toward Brown than suggested in the latest account. | Scheduled demonstration turns tense as protesters and police clash .
An official autopsy says Michael Brown suffered six gunshot entrance wounds .
Brown's blood was on the officer's uniform and in his car .
Officer Darren Wilson's full grand jury testimony leaked to media .
He still has to explain why he fired all the shots .
A separate leaked autopsy report claims that Brown had marijuana in his system . |
fcaa134970b57b600d37da598f33adfcb1a2da37 | (CNN) -- MS Dhoni continued his winning streak after guiding the Chennai Super Kings to a nail biting victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening clash of the Indian Premier League. The seven week 20-over tournament offers yet more action for the cricket-loving Indian public after Dhoni led them to a World Cup triumph on home soil less than a week ago. And he masterminded an opening win in Chennai as Kolkata failed to record the four runs they need off the final delivery of the match to lose by two runs. Batting first, Chennai made 153-4 off their 20 overs. Srikkanth Anirudha got them off to a fast start as he smashed 64 off just 55 deliveries. Indian pair Suresh Raini and Dhoni then added valuable runs at the end of the innings, finishing with 33 and 29 respectively, as the Super Kings posted a challenging total. An opening stand of 64 between Manvinder Bisla and South African Jacques Kallis looked to have put Kolkata in the driving seat but when Kallis went for 54 their innings faltered. English batsman Eoin Morgan was stumped for just six runs but Manoj Tiwary got Kolkata back on track with a quick fire 27 runs, including two sixes, before he was stumped by Dhoni off the bowling of Randiv. The Knight Riders needed nine runs from the final over but lost Laxmi Shukla off the second ball. Rajat Bhatia was charged with hitting a boundary off the final ball to win but Kolkata could only manage a leg bye. After the game Dhoni told reporters: "It was a first game with a new team, and when you get a new car you want to break it in, but you don't want to break it. Even if we did not win this game, we would have got a lot out of it." Meanwhile, the 147-year-old Wisden Almanack -- known as the cricketers' bible -- has strengthened its social media presence by joining Facebook. The historic publication joined Twitter in December posting: "A humble 147-year-old takes its first tentative steps into the blogosphere. Any older Twitterers out there?" Their new editor, Lawrence Booth has been tasked with developing their digital presence, and Wisden has already chalked up a quintuple century -- in Facebook 'likes'. | Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata in the opening game of the Indian Premier League .
Super Kings win by two runs as nail biting 20-over clash goes down to final ball .
Srikkanth Anirudha top scores for Chennai with 64 runs .
147-year-old cricket digest the Wisden Almanack joins Facebook . |
fcaab74b8bd91f861bf49e6c599033b71e3b4b2a | Sir Alex Ferguson believes Louis van Gaal is the right choice to lead Manchester United forward and describes the Dutchman as a 'formidable' figure. The legendary United manager, writing in updated chapters of his autobiography, admits he struggled to deal with leaving his Old Trafford last season, but seems happy to have a man he calls an 'ultra-professional' at the helm now. Ferguson played a part in appointing his successor David Moyes, but now says United's board made the right choice in going with Van Gaal after a difficult transitional season last year. Sir Alex Ferguson has praised Louis van Gaal as the right man to manage Manchester United . The legendary United boss and their current manager come face-to-face in the Champions League in 2010 . Ferguson and Van Gaal talk as United faced Barcelona in a 3-3 Champions League draw in 1998 . The front cover of Ferguson's autobiography, which will be released on Thursday after being updated to include chapters on his life after retirement from management. Price: £8.99 . The 72-year-old Scot adds in the new edition of his book, extracts of which were leaked on Tuesday, that he sees Ryan Giggs as a great choice as Van Gaal's assistant, saying that the pair can learn a lot from each other. 'Louis is what I would call a managers’ coach,' Ferguson writes. 'He’s one of those committed ultra-professionals. If I had to choose one word for him it would be "formidable". 'Football is his life. Wherever he has managed, every footballer will have learned from him. He was a good choice.' And Ferguson calls Giggs' appointment: 'a terrific decision. Louis could help Giggs learn about this business; Ryan could help Louis in understanding the inner workings of United.' The two-time Champions League winning boss was often seen sitting in the stands at Old Trafford last season, with critics saying that his presence heaped more pressure on Moyes during troubled times. But Ferguson says he found the transition difficult, admitting that he felt 'a little bit disorientated,' and writing: 'I had been the United manager for the best part of 27 years, and now I was in a directors’ seat with fans asking me for autographs.' Looking back on last season, with United languishing in seventh place in the Premier League, Ferguson also reflects on one of the most contested title races in recent years. Ferguson calls Van Gaal an 'ultra-professional' in his updated autobiography chapters . Ferguson retired from management after leading United to the Premier League title in May 2013 . Ferguson (centre) says Ryan Giggs' (right) appointment will allow him and Van Gaal to learn from each other . Ferguson often found himself sat in the stands as he struggled to get to grips with leaving his role . * I spoke to Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra about their Manchester United futures... but dressing-room was out of bounds . * I tried to convince David Moyes to keep Mike Phelan as Manchester United assistant manager . * I had nothing to do with David Moyes' sacking - I found out by reading the paper . * Manchester United were not in decline when I left... David Moyes was sacked because his team were too slow . He calls Liverpool's ultimately unsuccessful title charge 'brilliant' but cast doubts on the ability of Manchester City to add to their second Premier League title. City, currently five points behind early leaders Chelsea, only took the lead in the title race last season late on after Liverpool's defeats to Chelsea and Crystal Palace. City eventually claimed the crown by two points. And Ferguson says that narrow margin of victory - as well as the City's title triumph in 2012, when they pipped United on goal difference - could show a weakness in City's armour. 'There was no question that City possessed the best group of players,' Ferguson writes. 'Though the fact they have twice won the league so narrowly leaves a question mark. Why is that?' Like our Manchester United Facebook page. Steven Gerrard slipped up against Chelsea, eventually handing Manchester City the Premier League title . Ferguson is not completely convinced by Manchester City - picking up on how narrow their title wins were . | Sir Alex Ferguson has updated his controversial autobiography .
Legendary boss has backed Louis van Gaal as a 'good choice' for the role .
Ferguson also says Van Gaal and Ryan Giggs can learn from each other .
He labels the new Manchester United boss an 'ultra-professional'
Ferguson casts doubt over Manchester City repeating their title success . |
fcaacf40ed4dafb1134b25ec2f0d89ce8a9629c0 | Vows people who swear at police will be arrested . By . Emily Allen . Last updated at 3:18 PM on 4th October 2011 . Boris Johnson tried to dodge photographers this morning as he went for a run in what appeared to be last night's shirt. Asked by photographers how he had initially managed to avoid their long lenses when he left the Midland Hotel in Manchester, the London Mayor declared: 'I'm like a whippet.' Mr Johnson, who addressed the Tory party conference this morning, left for his 15-minute run around the secure zone just after 6.30am wearing a white shirt, khaki knee-length shorts and trainers. It begs the question whether the mayor is trying to keep pace with his rival David Cameron who is regularly photographed running before work. Phew, made it. Boris Johnson returns to his hotel after this morning's run . This weekend the PM was spotted stretching his legs along the banks of a Manchester canal at sunrise. Mr Johnson's run appeared to pay off as he launched into a barnstorming speech shortly after 10am, speaking of the 'need to put the village back in the city'. He spoke of how his administration . had planted 50,000 trees and had identified thousands more growing . spaces in wasteland around the capital. He . also spoke of building affordable, decent-sized homes for families with . rooms 'big enough for humans rather than hobbits, as none of us are . getting any smaller', and expanding his cycle hire scheme. Speaking of the scheme - dubbed Boris Bikes where cyclists can hire bikes from docking stations around the centre of London - Mr Johnson said: 'There's nothing more . villagey than the sight of someone sailing elegantly past, bolt upright . on one of these big, blue, burly bicycles.' However, he conceded he he did not know whether to be 'pleased or offended' that not one was stolen during the London riots, saying that only bookshops were safer than his bike stands. Mr Johnson also contrasted the £140million bike scheme with the problems its French equivalent has encountered. He said just three bikes were stolen . during the first two months in London where as in Paris . hundreds were taken. Mr Johnson said he believes this proves there is a growing sense of 'civility and trust' in the capital' and 'respect for property that is public'. What's on the horizon? Mr Johnson spoke today of the 'need to put the village back in the city' during his speech . Hobbits? Mr Johnson spoke of building affordable, decent-sized homes for families with rooms 'big enough for humans rather than hobbits, as none of us are getting any smaller' Thumbs up: Mr Johnson said he believes there is a growing sense of 'civility and trust' in the capital' and 'respect for property that is public' He quipped: 'Does it tell you that the . people of London are more honest than the light-fingered Parisians? I . would point out in Paris over a comparable period they managed to lose . 500 bicycles. 'I don't want to violate the "entente . cordial" but it seems to me there are obvious comparisons to be drawn . between our population and the light-fingered Parisians. 'What I do think it shows is a growing sense of civility and trust in London, and respect for property that is public.' Mr Johnson said the 'village' mentality, where people know each others names, was key to fighting crime. Rival? Mr Cameron stands to applaud Boris Johnson's barnstorming speech this morning. Many believe Mr Johnson harbours hopes of succeeding Mr Cameron . On the economy, Mr Johnson said . that the capital could drive Britain's economic recovery if . investment in transport continues. He urged the Government not to scrap spending projects in the city despite the tough financial climate. Mr Johnson urged the Government not to scrap spending projects in the city despite the tough financial climate . He said: 'Thanks to the common sense of this coalition Government, the . settlement we got last year, we not only have the Tube upgrades, we have . Crossrail and Thameslink, which is going to be as fantastic as . Crossrail. 'I will not allow that investment and these vital improvements to be jeopardised for a short-term political gain.' And addressing the prime minister directly, he added: 'I say to my friends in the Treasury - not . all of whom I see here; well, Dave's here - Franklin D Roosevelt offered . a new deal. 'I give you the wheel deal: you help . us to invest in transport infrastructure and we in London will supply . the locomotive of the UK economy.' Mr Johnson said cutting crime and . improving transport would attract businesses and called for 'the right . tax and regulatory framework - I will say no more than that', believing . 'British enterprise will do the rest'. He told party members: 'I reckon we have a record to be proud of. 'We . have effectively cut the council tax by 10% over the last three years, . we have put Oyster on the overground, we have delivered a 24-hour . freedom pass for the people of London - a fact I hardly dare mention in . Manchester in case they get jealous - (and) the last bendy bus will . leave our streets by Christmas. Spotlight: Mr Johnson takes to the stage at the party conference. He told activists he wanted to make sure people who swear at police officers are arrested . 'In the new year we will see a generation of Routemaster-style bus with the open platform.' Mr Johnson, who previously criticised the Government's plans to cut police numbers, said he would not allow the number of officers in the Metropolitan Police to dip below what he deemed 'safe and reasonable'. In addition, he said he was changing guidance given to the Met to make sure people who swear at officers are arrested. Activists gave the mayor a standing ovation as he closed his speech saying he had delivered 'sensible, moderate, one-nation Conservative government in London', but there was 'so much more to do'. Boris Johnson leaves the conference hotel ahead of his speech this morning . He added: 'I have no doubt it is going to be a tough fight, but with your help we can do it again.' Mr Cameron, who was in the hall for Mr Johnson's address, earlier praised the Mayor, who many believe harbours hopes of succeeding Mr Cameron as Tory leader and Prime Minister. Mr Cameron told LBC 97.3 Radio today: 'At a time of economic difficulty, I think he brings strong, charismatic leadership, he brings people together, he cheers people up. 'I am right behind him because I think the last thing London needs is a return to Red Ken.' Mr Livingstone later blasted Mr Johnson's speech, branding him 'out of touch'. The Labour candidate said: 'Today we saw the real Boris Johnson - an out-of-touch Conservative, failing to put ordinary Londoners first on the issues that really affect them, from rising fares to police cuts. 'He gave no hope to Londoners facing another steep fare rise this January, which will mean bus fares are up 56% under a Tory mayor, and gave no hard commitment on police numbers, which are in fact due to fall by 1,800 according to his own Metropolitan Police figures. 'Under the Conservatives, Londoners are less well-off and increasingly less safe, under a moonlighting mayor who meets bankers more than the police. 'People in London are feeling the squeeze but Boris Johnson doesn't see it.' | London Mayor pledges to 'put the village back in the city'
He said the capital could drive Britain's economic recovery if .
investment in transport continues .
Vows people who swear at police will be arrested . |
fcaaeee60bbf36558af9327d8fbd127ccc59ce74 | The Chinese Swimming Association (CSA) has defended the three-month ban handed out to world and Olympic swimming champion Sun Yang for a doping offence. The CSA released a statement on Tuesday saying it believed Sun had made a mistake but never intended to cheat. 'Sun took the drug without an intention to improve his result, but both he and the Zhejiang swimming association had made mistakes,' said the statement. The Chinese Swimming Association has defended the three-month ban handed to world champion Sun Yang . Sun, who competes for the Zhejiang swimming association, secretly served the suspension earlier this year after testing positive for the banned stimulant trimetazidine during the Chinese national championships in May. The China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) could have imposed a longer ban but said it decided on three months because Sun had been given medication by a doctor to treat a heart issue and was unaware it had been added to the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) banned list this year. 'We believe Sun did not intend to cheat,' said Xu Qi, team leader of the Chinese national swimming team. Yang won four medals at the London 2012 Olympics including two golds (400m freestyle, 1500m freestyle) 'The punishment was in accordance with related rules and reasonable.' Swimming's world governing body FINA issued a brief notice confirming the three-month ban and also a 12-month suspension that was handed out to Sun's doctor, Ba Zhen. Sun served his suspension in time to represent China at the Incheon Asian Games in South Korea in late September, where he won three gold medals. But news of the ban was only announced on Monday, prompting questions as to why it was not released earlier. In China, where Sun is regarded as a national hero after winning two gold medals at the 2012 London Olympics, the media were looking for answers. World champion yang served his ban between May and August this year, but nobody knew about it . The People's Daily, the official newspaper of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, raised several questions in a commentary. The paper asked why Sun did not declare his medication to the doping control officer and why star athletes 'still do not understand the rules.' 'Perhaps society cannot demand that public figures maintain excellence in everything, but to ask that public figures pass every test in every undertaking, that standard is not too much,' the paper wrote. 'Clearly Sun Yang has shortcomings and those closest to him have not helped him improve.' On Weibo, China's version of Twitter, the hashtag 'Sun Yang's punishment for doping' was viewed more than 67 million times. | Sun Yang served three month ban after testing positive for trimetazidine .
Ban was served between May and August 2014 but it wasn't announced .
Yang won four medals at London 2012 Olympics, including two golds . |
fcab56cbbb943797e652df18270b803675977cbc | Apple's iPhone 6 will have a virtually indestructible screen made of sapphire, it has been claimed. A YouTube videomaker claims to have acquired one of the screens - and has subjected it to a barrage of abuse, from stabbing it with a knife and keys to bending and twisting it. In the video, the screen emerges totally unscathed - raising hopes is could lead to a far more resilient handset from Apple. Scroll down for video . The iPhone 6 screen being repeatedly stabbed by a knife: The sapphire glass emerges unscathed from the video trial which also sees in being bent and scratched with keys . Synthetic sapphire is a hard, transparent material made of crystallising aluminium oxide, produced at high temperatures. As . the material is heated, it forms disks that can be sliced . using diamond-coated saws. These round disks are ground into shape, and . polished, to become glass. The technology is traditionally used in watch displays because it is thin, super-strong and scratch resistant. Apple already uses sapphire crystal in . the Touch ID fingerprint scanner on its latest iPhone 5S and to protects the phone's camera. As a result, sapphire glass could potentially replace Gorilla Glass currently used in most high-end smartphones. Marques Brownlee, a popular YouTube host claims to have got the screen from well known Apple leaker Sonny Dickson, who recently made his own video showcasing the screen. In the video he can be seen bending and twisting the screen. 'I slowly realized there is absolutely no way I can break this display under my own power,' he said. 'The worst blemish on the surface was actually my fingerprint marks and the dust from handling it so much.' The glass is also extremely high-quality, Brownlee noted: 'There’s absolutely no color shift while looking through the sapphire glass.' It is claimed the screen is made from sapphire crystal. Apple already uses a small amount of sapphire glass for the 'Home' button and camera lens in the iPhone 5S, but the rest of the current iPhone front display is made of Gorilla Glass. The new glass display is 'paper thin,' Brownlee said in his video. Brownlee shows his screen measures 4.7 inches diagonally, keeping with rumors that Apple will release two different-sized iPhones this year: A 4.7-inch model and 5.5-inch one. Reports Apple was experimenting with sapphire displays began last year, yet sources claimed at the time Apple found the technology ‘infeasible.’ In the video, Marques Brownlee stands on the thin screen and bends it. When released, it goes back it its normal shape, raising hopes the new handset will have an almost indestructible screen . The screen is also shown being repeatedly stabbed by a knife - and emerging with no scratches, although it has not been confirmed to be the 'official' screen that will feature in the new handset . This was because sapphire glass is more expensive to produce than normal screens. However, Apple recently announced plans to open a mineral plant in Arizona with sapphire glass experts GT Advanced Technologies. The facility is expected to employ around 700 people to manufacture sapphire crystal and sapphire glass, and this technology could make its way onto the screens of the next iPhone. The screen is described as 'paper thin'. It is claimed to be made from thin man-made layers of sapphire, which enables the material to be flexible, giving it a change of withstanding knocks and falls that shatter other types of toughened glass . In the video, the screen survived having keys scratched across its surface - a common problem for iPhone owners who keep their handsets in their pocket . In a statement about the announcement, GT Advanced Technologies said: ‘Although the agreement does not guarantee volumes, it does require GT to maintain a minimum level of capacity.’ While an Apple spokesman added: 'We are proud to expand our domestic manufacturing initiative with a new facility in Arizona, creating more than 2,000 jobs in engineering, manufacturing and construction. ‘This new plant will make components for Apple products and it will run on 100 per cent renewable energy from day one, as a result of the work we are doing with SRP to create green energy sources to power the facility.’ Earlier this week iPhone maker Foxconn revealed Apple's new iPhone 6 could be the first to be made using its 'robot army'. The firm has pledged to have a million robot workers by the end of the year - and CEO Terry Gou has revealed the robots, dubbed 'Foxbots', are in the final stages of testing. It is believed Foxconn will install 10,000 robots as a test. Workers are seen inside a Foxconn factory in the township of Longhua in the southern Guangdong province. The firm is believed to be installing thousands of robots to help build Apple's latest iPhone . Lines dedicated to Apple devices getting first priority, according to IT Home. It says Gou told a shareholder meeting that Apple would be the first company to take advantage of the new robot workers meaning that its next product - the iPhone 6 - will be manufactured in this way. Each $25,000 Foxbot can complete an average of 30,000 devices per year it has been claimed. Foxconn, which currently employs more than 1.2 million workers at its various factories across China. However, the firm's robot initiative has been delayed since it was first announced in 2011. A leaked image, posted on Twitter by SonnyDickson in June, shows the difference in size between the current iPhone 5S (left) and the 'iPhone6' (left) At the time, Gou said the company had about 10,000 units already in operation, a number that was supposed to rise to 300,000 in 2012, then one million by 2014. However, the firm is also ramping up human workers for the iPhone 6, with 100,00 being hired according to some reports. Prolific Apple-tipster, Sonny Dickson, has got his hands on leaked images of the front and back of a possible Apple LCD backlight panel that measures 5.5 inches (14cm). The photos suggest Apple is already producing components for its anticipated 5.5-inch phone . Dozens of pictures have leaked online claiming to show Apple's iPhone 6. They all show a thin, curved device with distinctive white 'bars' across the back. However, a Japanese news agency has claimed that in fact, the finished product will look very different - and that it could even have a curved screen. | Video shows the 4.7inch screen being bent, twisted, scratched with keys and even stabbed with a knife .
Screen emerges totally unscathed - raising hopes is could lead to a far more resilient handset from Apple.
iPhone 6 believed to come in 4.7in screen and 5.5in screen versions . |
fcaba2afd2f8f5162e9ddfd59baf3bb80ed979c3 | Former TVAM presenter Mike Morris died after NHS staff failed to spot warning signs following bladder cancer surgery, an inquest has heard. Mr Morris, who made his name alongside Lorraine Kelly and Anne Diamond on the breakfast show, was only 66 when he died two years ago. He had been fully expected to recover from an operation at East Surrey Hospital, to correct bleeding following bladder cancer surgery. But an inquest in Surrey heard that a succession of failures by doctors, over many hours, led to a cardiac arrest in the early hours of the morning. Former TVAM presenter Mike Morris died after NHS staff failed to spot his deterioration following bladder cancer surgery, an inquest has heard. Mr Morris made his name alongside Lorraine Kelly on the show . Medical witnesses told the coroner how his condition had deteriorated with no action taken to move him from a general ward to a high dependency unit. Coroner Karen Henderson said: 'Mr Morris died from complications of necessary surgery when post operative deterioration in his condition was not recognised and consequently went un-treated.' His death had been completely unexpected and no members of his family were present when he died in early hours of the morning at the Redhill hospital in October 2012. Morris, who got a world exclusive interview with Nelson Mandela on his release from jail, had undergone surgery a week earlier but had developed bleeding in his urine and been re-admitted for surgery to stem significant blood loss. He was given 5 units of blood and placed on a ward to recover. An early warning system which monitors vital signs such as pulse, blood pressure, breathing and heart rate, soon showed that Morris needed more intensive help than was available on the ward. But a succession of nurses and doctors failed to act on the warning signs, the inquest was told. Pictured with Christine Talbot on Yorkshire TV News. He was only 66 when he died two years ago . Mr Morris went into cardiac arrest at around 6am and died at 7.10am. Gregory Armon-Jones, who is married to Mr Morris's daughter, Helen, said the family was shocked by his diagnosis but they had taken heart from the fact his cancer was a low grade and could be easily treated. He said: 'He had various health problems, including heart problems. He also had bladder cancer but, as far as we were concerned, this was under control.' He said that the news of his death shocked the family. Mr Armon-Jones, said: 'He was a larger than life character. 'You only have to watch some of the old videos of him presenting to see that. He had separated from my mother-in-law and lived on his own. 'His whole life revolved around his family, especially his two daughters Helen and Sarah, and his grandchildren. 'One of the reasons myself and Helen moved to Hersham in Surrey was to be closer to him. TV-am presenters and guests Rula Lenska, Dennis Waterman, Jane Irving, Elizabeth Carrol, Anne Diamond and Mr Morris. An inquest in Surrey heard that a succession of failures by doctors, over many hours, led to his cardiac arrest . He had been fully expected to recover from an operation at East Surrey Hospital, to correct bleeding following bladder cancer surgery . Dr Des Holden, medical director at Surrey & Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, said: 'The review shows aspects of Mr Morris' care after his emergency surgery were below that which he and his family were entitled to expect. 'The trust has apologised to Mr Morris' family and has introduced a range of measures to improve the post-operative care for high risk patients. 'The capacity in both the Intensive Care Unit and the High Dependency Unit have been increased to cope with demand and changes have been made to the way the ICU and outreach teams are staffed and the work patterns within the teams.' Mr Holden said no members of staff had been disciplined as 'our investigation showed everyone involved in Mr Morris's care was trying to do their best for him.' Famous for his distinctive moustache, Morris joined TV-am as a sports presenter, eventually becoming the host of Good Morning Britain in 1987. He remained with TV-am until 1992. During his stint as main weekday anchor, he presented alongside Anne Diamond, Kathy Rochford, Kathryn Holloway, Kathy Tayler, Linda Mitchell, Maya Even and Lorraine Kelly. | He'd been fully expected to recover from operation at East Surrey Hospital .
Mr Morris had been experiencing bleeding following bladder cancer surgery .
But a succession of failures by doctors, over many hours, led to a cardiac arrest in the early hours of the morning, an inquest has heard .
Mr Morris made his name alongside Lorraine Kelly and Anne Diamond . |
fcad1da0e26118aa21912cf6fc0710d678260178 | (CNN) -- Jimmy Fallon left us with great memories after five years on "Late Night," but the pressure was on for his first time hosting "The Tonight Show" on Monday. Yet at the end of the hour, we were left with a "Tonight Show" that offered both surprising moments and big laughs, although it might've included a lot more than we'll see on an average night, since it was Fallon's first show. Will Smith was the night's guest, U2 provided some music, and house band the Roots was as sharp as ever. (As Fallon said during his opening monologue, they're "the most talented band in all the land," and he "couldn't do the show" without them.) That alone was a set-up for a great show, but Fallon also called on celebrity friends like Tina Fey and Stephen Colbert to help him get his version of "Tonight" off to a good start. Jimmy Fallon's 'Tonight Show' debut: New show, same Jimmy . The effort paid off, as early reviews have been quite positive, with TVLine calling the show "vibrant and fresh" and USA Today saying Fallon was "easy to like." Fallon was a hit online as well, with tweet after tweet praising his performance, even from Jay Leno fans: . If you missed the premiere or want to relive some of the best moments, here are our five favorite scenes from Fallon's first "Tonight Show." 1. Will Smith and the "Evolution of Hip-Hop Dancing" Right away, it was clear that several of Fallon's "Late Night" staples weren't going anywhere, including his occasional "Evolution of Dancing" sketches. Fallon's first guest, Smith, helped him during an "Evolution of Hip-Hop Dancing" sketch, with both performers wearing '90s-style overalls and gamely showing off a number of hip-hop moves like the "Running Man," "Kid N Play" and -- of course -- "the Carlton." Smith was on fire during the whole episode. He later gave Fallon some heartwarming words of wisdom: . 2. A family affair . Fallon's dad, whom he jokingly referenced in his final "Late Night" episode as being disappointed in him, showed up along with the 39-year-old comedian's mom. Seeing his parents in the audience was a sweet moment for a guy who probably only dreamed he might ever host "The Tonight Show" as a kid. It was a nice way to start the show before getting into the typical monologue jokes. 3. The parade of cameos . Moments after sitting down to his desk for the first time, Fallon made reference to a "buddy" who owed him $100 after betting he would never host "The Tonight Show." The next thing you know, Robert De Niro (Fallon's first "Late Night" guest) showed up with a $100 bill. Then Tina Fey followed with yet another $100 bill. And then Joe Namath, Mariah Carey, Lindsay Lohan, Tracy Morgan, Seth Rogen, Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga, Mike Tyson and Joan Rivers (not seen on "The Tonight Show" since the Carson years, when she was banned) also showed up to slap down their Benjamins. Finally, Stephen Colbert arrived with $100 in pennies, took a selfie and announced "Welcome to 11:30, b***h!" It was a jaw-dropping moment to say the least, and we have to say we agree with this viewer: . 4. U2 at the Top of the Rock . All of these moments show how Fallon is planning to make "The Tonight Show" his own, but none presented his perspective quite like having U2 perform on the roof of the Rockefeller Center. The band set up came even before Smith was officially brought out as the night's guest. The sunset above the New York skyline during U2's performance looked beautiful, and it made for an original and unexpected moment. 5. U2, unplugged . Yep, U2 was so awesome on Fallon's "Tonight" that the band is taking up two moments on this list. Fallon said that if he ever had them on the show, he'd have them perform a song stripped down, with just acoustic guitars and Bono singing. On Monday night, U2 did just that, performing the Oscar-nominated "Ordinary Love" for the audience in a memorable, fitting end to the very first "Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon." Fallon's 'Tonight Show': A throwback or new guard? | Jimmy Fallon's first night as host of "Tonight" was well-received .
Critics have called him "easy to like" and "fresh"
Online, social media were filled with praise .
Some of the episode's best moments included Will Smith and U2 . |
fcad62fe5dced60d468bb7c2f5e36cd95e80813f | By . Jennifer Newton . Fists were flying at a New York zoo when these two young gorillas starting throwing punches in a fierce fight. The brothers, who are both blackback western lowland gorillas, punched, nipped and pushed each other around in their enclosure in the Bronx Zoo. The animals, which can weigh up to 150kg (330lbs) and are the largest of all the primates, also chased each other through the trees as they tried to win the fight. The two young blackback gorillas square up to each other as they prepare to fight . The two brothers get their fists ready before the the punch up between them begins . The first gorilla makes his move by grabbing his brother's head and holding him back . But he retaliates and hits back forcing his sibling to try to jump out of the way . The images capturing the moment the gorillas clashed were snapped by Dr Michal Samuni-Blank, who has been monitoring them. But despite the seeming sibling rivalry, the Israeli-born zoologist says the primates rarely hurt each other and are a close family. Dr Samuni-Blank explained: 'Blackbacks need to practice and develop their fighting skills in order to become successful adults. One gorilla gets the upper hand and starts to rain punches down on his brother . The images capturing the moment the gorillas clashed were snapped by zoologist Dr Michal Samuni-Blank . According to Dr Sumani-Blank, the gorillas rarely hurt each other, despite their fierce fighting . Get off!: One of the gorillas decides to tease his brother and nip his head as they continue their brawl . One of the primates launches himself on top of the other during the battle at the Bronx Zoo in New York . 'The gorillas were fighting on and off for an hour, biting, punching and pushing each other around. 'Although gorillas are very big and strong, they are mainly vegetarian and will rarely harm other creatures. 'Between fights they sit close to each other in a very friendly fashion.' Gorillas are the closest living relative to humans after the chimpanzee and display many human-like characteristics . This gorilla decides to sink his teeth into his sibling's arm . Gorillas are the closest living relative to humans after the chimpanzee and the young males share an exhibit at the Bronx Zoo, meaning they are separated from the females, babies and silverbacks. The zoologist, who now lives in New York, added: 'The gorillas tend to fight in rounds, so once I noticed their chasing pattern, I was able to aim the camera in the best possible direction. 'In my eyes they will always be gentle giants.' Zoologist, Dr Sumani-Blank says he will always see gorillas as gentle giants despite their fun of fighting . | The two brothers threw punches at each other at the Bronx Zoo in New York .
The animals also chased, nipped and pushed one another around .
Pictures were captured by zoologist Dr Michal Sumani-Blank .
Says despite the pictures the gorillas are 'gentle giants' |
fcad9b2a9e67bdaf2e0385292ecfe2b4a049aa02 | Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- Television producer Stephen J. Cannell, known for his work on shows including "21 Jump Street" and "The A-Team," died Thursday, his publicist said. Cannell was 69. Cannell died from complications associated with melanoma at his Pasadena, California, home surrounded by family and loved ones, said a family statement. He created, wrote and produced several iconic TV series, starting in the 1970s with "The Rockford Files." His other hit series included: "Greatest American Hero," "The A-Team," "Hunter," "Riptide," "Hardcastle & McCormick," "21 Jump Street," "Wiseguy," "The Commish," "Profit," and syndicated shows "Renegade" and "Silk Stalkings." Viewers may best remember the trademark closing for Cannell's productions, which showed him at a typewriter tossing a sheet of paper over his shoulder. He also acted, sometimes appearing in his own shows. Cannell had a recurring role on ABC-TV's hit series "Castle." Cannell authored 16 novels, including the "Shane Scully" series. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Marcia, three children and three grandchildren, the family said. Cannell overcame severe dyslexia as a child growing up in Pasadena, and later became a spokesman for the International Dyslexia Associationand an advocate for children and adults with learning disabilities. He formed an independent production company, Stephen J. Cannell Productions, in 1979, which gave him control and ownership of his shows. His studio is developing feature film versions of several of his hit TV shows, including "21 Jump Street" and "The Greatest American Hero." "The A-Team" movie was released in theaters last summer. CNN's Jack Hannah contributed to this report. | His family says Cannell died from complications associated with Melanoma .
Cannell's long list of iconic TV shows dates back to the 1970s .
Shows include "The Rockford Files," "The A-Team," "21 Jump Street" |
fcae19e8cf8227afcee29b6668f129878e9cc62f | (CNN) -- It was one of the most memorable scenes in recent Champions League history -- Jose Mourinho running along the touchline to celebrate with his Porto side at Old Trafford after a late goal knocked out Manchester United in 2004. Ten years later Mourinho made another long dash on the touchline in the Champions League, this time after his Chelsea scored an 87th-minute goal through Demba Ba to take control against Paris Saint-Germain in the quarterfinals. He wasn't overly celebrating but instead giving instructions to his team on how to protect the lead in the dying stages. Chelsea did hang on, winning 2-0 at home to overturn a 3-1 first-leg deficit and advance on away goals in a battle of the rich versus the rich in European football. Mourinho thus will be managing a team in the Champions League last four for the fifth consecutive campaign. "Demba made a crucial finish for us and I think (it was) very much deserved," Mourinho told ITV. "The team that decided to defend was punished and the team that played with their heart deserved to go to the semis." A Champions League winner with Porto and Inter Milan, Mourinho is seeking to achieve the feat with his beloved Blues. Chelsea will be joined in the semis by Mourinho's previous club Real Madrid, which survived -- barely -- without Cristiano Ronaldo against 2013 finalist Borussia Dortmund. Dortmund won 2-0 at home Tuesday but was eliminated 3-2 on aggregate. "It was a night of suffering but at the end of it we are happy as we are through to the semifinals," Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti told UEFA.com. The opening 25 minutes in London suggested the visitors would comfortably cope with Chelsea. But after Salvatore Sirigu had to scramble to get a hand to Frank Lampard's deflected free kick, the game changed. Andre Schurrle, only on the field after an injury to Chelsea's offensive star, Eden Hazard, converted from David Luiz's flick in the 32nd minute. Stamford Bridge awoke, and Schurrle and Oscar struck the crossbar seconds apart shortly after the break. Edinson Cavani skied over the bar in the 77th minute and substitute Ba made PSG pay for the miss when he netted into the roof of the net. Mourinho has openly criticized his strikers this season, with Ba not seeing much playing time, but the Senegal international finished impressively with his left foot while falling to the ground. "I saw the ball and it was in the goal," he told ITV. "I just do what I have to do when I get chances. I didn't have chances this season but tonight I took it." Beaten in injury time last week to give PSG the two-goal advantage, Chelsea keeper Petr Cech preserved his team's passage Tuesday by pushing away Marquinhos' effort in added time. How PSG must have rued the absence of injured striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Dortmund, meanwhile, has history in engineering miracles in the Champions League quarterfinals against Spanish opposition, scoring twice in injury time last year to overcome Malaga 3-2 on aggregate. But things took a turn for the worse for Jurgen Klopp's men when fullback Lukasz Piszczek gave away a penalty for handball. Without Ronaldo, duties were left to Angel di Maria. Di Maria slipped, though still managed a good shot, but Roman Weidenfeller dived to his left to thwart the Argentina winger. The save ignited Dortmund, which had inspirational striker Robert Lewandowski back in its ranks following a first-leg suspension. Dortmund -- which ousted Real Madrid in last season's competition -- also got help from the Madrid back four. Pepe's poor touch meant for keeper Iker Casillas was intercepted by an alert Marco Reus and the German international held his nerve to make it 1-0 in the 24th minute. Another Real Madrid gaffe led to another Dortmund break: Casillas tipped Lewandowski's shot onto the post but Reus was there for the rebound in the 37th minute. Real Madrid coped slightly better in the second half, although Dortmund midfielder Henrik Mkhitaryan hit the post after rounding Casillas. Casillas -- not the starter in La Liga -- then had to be alert to stop Mkhitaryan and Kevin Grosskreutz, with Reus booked for a dive in the box. "We were clearly the better side today and we really should have scored more goals, but because the game and our performance was so extraordinarily good I really will not make accusations to anyone today," Klopp told UEFA. On Wednesday, Manchester United visits defending champion Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid hosts Barcelona. Both ties are leveled at 1-1. | Chelsea overcomes 3-1 first-leg deficit against PSG to reach Champions League semis .
Demba Ba scores a late goal in London as Chelsea advances on away goals .
Real Madrid withstands a Borussia Dortmund fightback to also go through .
Borussia Dortmund wins 2-0 at home but loses 3-2 on aggregate . |
fcae5584c6b9bfdb45b934944411e59938a7870d | (CNN) -- Former tennis star Jennifer Capriati is batting down accusations -- which led a Florida police department to seek an arrest warrant -- that she stalked and punched an ex-boyfriend. An incident occurred on February 14, Valentine's Day, at the Oxygen Health & Wellness gym in North Palm Beach, Florida. A report from that southeastern Florida community's Police Department said the ex-boyfriend claimed Capriati "started screaming" at him before punching him "with a closed fist four times in the chest." The 28-year-old accuser, Ivan Brannan Jr., said he was eventually able to lock himself in the men's locker room, according to the police report. Four days later, he went to police headquarters and outlined what he said were "seven other incidents pertaining to Capriati stalking/harassing/following" him. Brannan said he'd dated the American tennis player from May 2011 to February 2012. North Palm Beach Police subsequently requested an arrest warrant against the 36-year-old Capriati, the department's Aubre Stroud said Saturday. As of that time, no arrest warrant had been issued -- something the state attorney's office would decide. Capriati's camp highlighted this fact, in a statement issued Friday, saying the case "has not yet been assigned in Palm Beach County and has not been reviewed." "The current facts being circulated by Mr. Brannan are an overexaggeration and the police report is one-sided in (his) favor, since they failed to get Ms. Capriati's side of the story," said the statement, which was attributed to the ex-tennis player's legal representative. "We will make sure that Ms. Capriati's side of the story is fully conveyed, and when the truth comes out, she will be vindicated from these charges." Capriati burst on the tennis scene as a teenager, breaking into the sport's ranking of top 10 players by 14 and advancing to the semifinals of the French Open in 1990. She remained a force on the tour into the early 1990s, highlighted by a gold medal win at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. But Capriati's star status faded the next few years, a time that included widely reported arrests on shoplifting and marijuana possession charges. She remained off the court into the late 1990s. The New York-born tennis player came back strong at the end of the decade, and in 2001 won the Australian Open and the French Open on her way to becoming the world's No. 1 player that year. Another Australian Open title came the following year. The 2004 season was Capriati's last. Eight years later, she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. | Police report: Jennifer Capriati had a run-in with an ex-boyfriend at a Florida gym .
Police say he accuses her of repeatedly punching him and having stalked him previously .
Capriati's camp calls his account an "overexaggeration," says she'll be vindicated .
Inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 2012, Capriati won three Grand Slam titles . |
fcb04cc087aae3909904cb5ff748e67b07781f40 | By . Victoria Woollaston . If you don't have time to go to the gym before work, you can now combine your workout with your commute by riding this cross-trainer on wheels. Called the Walking Bicycle, the vehicle is powered by the user's steps as they 'walk' on the pedals. It reaches speeds of up to 15mph (24km/h) thanks to a built-in motor, and goes on sale in July for $3,000 (£1,780). The standing-style Walking Bicycle, pictured here being tested by Japanese journalists, features an electric motor capable of speeds of up to 15mph (24km/h). It comes in silver, pictured left, red, pictured centre, and pink, pictured right and goes on sale in July for $3,000 (£1,780) The Walking Bicycle resembles the German-built Scrooser. Scrooser is a cross between a scooter, Segway and a bike that riders can either stand or sit on and costs €4,250 (£3,500). Each . time the rider kicks the ground, an impulse drive provides . electric power. This impulse drive kicks in automatically when a speed of 2mph (£3.2km/h) or greater is reached. It was developed by Japan’s auto parts . maker Katayama Kogyo for its new Walking Bicycle Club. The bike was unveiled at an event in Tokyo earlier today by company . president Masayuki Katayama. The standing-style trike has traditional handlebars with gears, a brake and a bell. Its battery sits on the central column and this is attached to the motor behind the front wheel. Walking on the steps not only powers the vehicle forward, it also charges the electric motor to tackle hills, for example. It . comes in pink, red and silver and goes on sale in Japan in July - although international customers will be able buy the vehicle . online. Models illustrate how to use the electric motor-assisted vehicle at an event in Tokyo, pictured. The bike was developed by Japan's auto parts maker Katayama Kogyo for its new Walking Bicycle Club . Masayuki Katayama, president of Japan's auto parts maker Katayama Kogyo, is pictured riding the company's electric bike. It has traditional handlebars with gears, a brake and a bell. Its battery sits on the central column attached to the motor behind the front wheel . The Walking Bicycle resembles the German-built Scrooser unveiled last year, for more extravagant commuters. Scrooser is a cross between a scooter, Segway and a bike that riders can either stand or sit on and costs €4,250 (£3,500). Each time the rider kicks the ground, an impulse drive provides electric power support and this impulse drive kicks in automatically when a speed of 2mph or greater is reached. The engine is a direct drive motor integrated into the rear wheel rim, which means that there are no gear belts, linkages or any other additional elements that could break. | The standing-style tricycle is powered by steps made on its two pedals .
It also features an electric motor capable of speeds up to 15mph (24km/h)
Called Walking Bicycle, the vehicle was made by Japan’s Katayama Kogyo .
It launches in Japan in July for $3,000 (£1,780) with international shipping . |
fcb1530fb33c538801fdd9b8b82cacac50abe653 | By . Chris Pleasance for MailOnline . Abdul Hanif, 30, from Bradford, has been sentenced to 17 years in jail after being found guilty of keeping a woman as a sex slave . A McDonald's worker has been found guilty of keeping a student as a sex slave for four months while repeatedly raping and beating her. Abdul Hanif, 30, from Bradford, also planned to force his victim into prostitution to help repay his gambling debts. He was today sentenced to 17 years in jail at Bradford Crown Court after being found guilty of three charges of rape and one of causing actual bodily harm. During his trail, the jury at Bradford Crown Court heard that Hanif's 26-year-old victim was a virgin before he kidnapped and raped her. Jurors were told that the female student had moved to London from Bangladesh to study accountancy. She first met Hanif in February when she was working in a sandwich shop in London and he 'began to groom her', the judge said. The pair exchanged numbers, and after the woman was made homeless Hanif offered to take her to 'a nice new home' in Bradford. In reality the pair spent several days sleeping in Hanif's car and moving between his friends' flats before he moved her to a rented apartment. During this time Hanif took away her credit cards and mobile phone, effectively making her a prisoner, while forcing her to have sex with him every day. The victim said she was made to cook his meals, adding that he would fly into a rage if he was unhappy with what she served. She said Hanif wanted to use her as a prostitute to pay off his gambling debts, and when she refused he tore a phone charger from the wall and strangled her, leaving marks on her throat. She was only freed after managing to contact one of Hanif's former friends, Stephen Naylor, saying she was unwell and had been the victim of domestic violence. He alerted police who went to Hanif's flat in June last year where they battered down the door and found the victim inside. Mr Naylor told the court: 'She said he was treating her like an animal.' He described Hanif as 'charismatic' but added: 'He is a very frightening man and he trusts no-one.' The court heard the victim has had to seek help with counselling after suffering from depression, flashbacks and suicidal thoughts as a result of the treatment she suffered at the hands of Hanif. In a victim impact statement read out to the court, she said: 'I feel as if my life is totally ruined because of what Abdul Hanif did to me. 'Everything in my life has now changed. I can't smile or go anywhere like I could before.' The jury convicted Hanif after just 90 minutes of deliberations following his trial. Jailing him, Judge Peter Benson said: 'Your victim was a young woman who came to London where she had no family and a limited number of friends and she struggled to find her feet. Bradford Crown Court (pictured) heard that Hanif had groomed the student while she worked in a sandwich shop in London. When she became homeless he offered her a place to stay before making her a prisoner . 'You seized this opportunity and lied to her and pretended you had found her a home owned by a friend. Instead of that you brought her against her will to Bradford and when she realised you were leaving London you frightened her and told her you would abandon her. 'This was a young lady who was virtually alone in a big foreign country. You wickedly exploited that vulnerability. You forced her into having sex against her will and when she refused you struck her and threatened her. 'You used her as a sexual resource and you controlled her and isolated her by restricting the use of her phone and locking her in. 'You took her bank card so you had control of her finances, such as they were, and you repeatedly raped her on an almost daily basis using no contraception. 'You treated her like a slave and went off to work, taking the only key. She was a prisoner and had no life at all as you made her cook and clean for you. 'You humiliated her by rejecting the food she cooked while you satisfied your sexual appetite. 'Eventually when you had gambled away any money that you had, you offered her to a friend for sexual purposes but you then threatened to turn her into a prostitute for funds to feed your gambling addiction. Your threats to turn her into a prostitute finally caused her to find the courage to escape.' Detective Constable Brett Carter, of Protective Services at West Yorkshire Police, said: 'Hanif befriended his victim when she was vulnerable, but then went on to repeatedly rape and assault her. 'This must have been a harrowing ordeal for her and we would like to thank her for the courage she has shown in coming forward and reporting Hanif's crimes. 'We hope the sentence which has been passed down on him today will be of some comfort to her and will help to give her some closure. 'We also hope it will encourage other victims of sexual abuse to speak to our specially-trained officers, who will investigate all reports, no matter how historic, sensitively and thoroughly with the aim of securing a conviction against offenders.' Hanif was also ordered to sign the sex offences register for life. | Abdul Hanif jailed for 17 years after being found guilty of rape and ABH .
Hanif, 30, met his victim while she was studying accountancy in London .
When 26-year-old was made homeless he offered her 'nice new home'
Drove her to Bradford and imprisoned her while forcing her to have sex .
Tried to sell her for sex to pay debts and strangled her when she refused . |
fcb1c0280d2d4635328d0eb3e60b5becef1b59a0 | By . Sportsmail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 10:24 EST, 12 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 14:16 EST, 12 April 2012 . Kenny Dalglish has been assured his job is safe after Damien Comolli was forced out on a dramatic day at Anfield. Director of football Comolli has left in the start of a shake-up at the club. He was later followed out of the club by . Liverpool's Head of Sports Medicine and Science Peter Brukner. The . Australian also leaves the club with immediate effect. Comolli was told by owner John W Henry that he was no longer wanted alongside manager Dalglish. On his way: Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish said he was sad to see director of football Comolli leave . But chairman Tom Werner insists they are happy with Dalglish despite the club's difficult season. The position of the Reds boss has . come under scrutiny in recent weeks after a woeful run in the league in . which they lost five of six matches, ending their hopes of qualifying . for the Champions League. Werner said: 'We've got great confidence in Kenny. We feel the team is going to make strides in the future and he enjoys our full support.' Dalglish will also be handed money to spend this summer as they attempt to catch the likes of the Manchester giants United and City. Werner said: 'We've had a strategy that we have agreed on. There was some disconnect on the implementation of that. That strategy is a strong one and it will continue. 'We need to build a strong system under the first team. We're hard at work identifying transfer targets and we will be better next year.' Werner also admitted they have decided to ring the changes as they attempt to improve for next season. He said: 'I think it's fair to say no supporter would be delighted with the results we've achieved this year. We feel we are a club that needs to be perceived as the strongest club in football and we want to get there. 'Frankly, we make these decisions with a great deal of care because it's our track record in Boston to give people authority and we've had great success with our manager, who was there for eight years, and our general manager, so we prefer stability. Moving on: Liverpool owner John Henry (L) and chairman Tom Werner (C) thanked Comolli after the Frenchman dramatically departed Anfield . 'But when it's time to act, we need to act. We're coming close to the end of the season and the transfer window for the summer, and we felt it was important to make this change expeditiously.' Liverpool have spent £105million under Kenny Dalglish and Comolli's watch and Werner admitted the return on the pitch wasn't good enough. He said: 'I would say we certainly have the resources to compete with anybody in football. I wouldn't want to get specific about any particular decision that's been made. 'We feel there is enough talent on the pitch to win and, as I said, we've been dissatisfied, as most supporters have been, with the results so far. But we're also talking about the future - we have a strategy we need implemented and we felt Damien was probably not the right person to implement that strategy.' Asked whether the would appoint another director of football, he added: 'We're still confident the structure we've discussed is the right structure. That doesn't mean we won't look at tweaking it, but we feel a collective group of people making football decisions is healthy. 'The debate is healthy. Part of the reason we made this decision now is because we want to start the process of finding an excellent replacement. 'We don't have any specific candidates in mind. Part of the reason we made this decision yesterday was to be in the best possible position to move forward as quickly as possible.' Axed: Comolli, pictured at Ewood Park on Monday alongside ex-Arsenal chief David Dein, has left Liverpool by mutual consent . Jan 2011Andy Carroll - £35mLuis Suarez - £22.8m . June 2011Jordan Henderson - £16m . July 2011Charlie Adam - £9mStewart Downing - £20mDoni - free . August 2011Jose Enrique - £6mSebastian Coates - £7mCraig Bellamy – free . Jan 2012Danny Ward £100,000Jordan Ibe – £500,000+ . The Frenchman, who cited family reasons for his departure, was responsible for finding new players for the club - including the £105million they spent last year. In a statement on the club's official website, Comolli said: 'I am grateful to have been given the . opportunity to work at Liverpool and am happy to move on from the Club . and back to France for family reasons. 'I wish the Club all the best for . the future.' Owner Henry said: 'We are grateful for all of Damien's efforts on behalf of Liverpool and wish him all the best for the future.' The club's chairman Tom Werner added: 'The Club needs to move forward and we now have a huge game on Saturday. Under-fire: Carroll and Downing were two of Comolli's two high-profile signings . 'It is important that everyone joins us in supporting the manager and gets behind Kenny and the team and focuses on a strong finish to the season.' Initially brought in by new owners American Fenway Sports Group in November 2010 to help ease their first move into football, Comolli's appointment preceded Dalglish's by nearly two months but, once the Scot replaced Roy Hodgson, there was no doubt who was in charge. Even Comolli`s promotion from director of football strategy to a wider role the following March failed to alter the balance of power that club icon Dalglish controlled. And while Comolli has been criticised for his role in Liverpool's recent - and so far unsuccessful - transfer policy, the Reds boss stressed he had the final word on signings. When FSG took over in October 2010 much was made of their intention to employ the moneyball theory, which had been so successful at their other high-profile acquisition of the Boston Red Sox baseball franchise, to transfers. That essentially meant finding players who were potentially underachieving at other clubs but who could be signed relatively cheaply, made into a success and therefore have a much higher re-sale value. However, in the three transfer . windows Dalglish has overseen, the owners have forked out the best part . of £125million, with a net spend of about £70million. Out you go: Peter Brukner (right) quickly followed Comolli out of the door . Those deals included an eye-watering . £35million for Andy Carroll, £20million for Stewart Downing, £16million . for Jordan Henderson. Dalglish's best deals have been for Craig Bellamy, who came in on a free . but has no re-sale value because of his age, and Jose Enrique . (£6million from Newcastle), with only Luis Suarez, at £22.8million, . coming close to justifying his price tag. With the owners' pre-season ambitions . of regaining a place in the top-four ended by a run of woeful league . results it appears the director of football experiment has been ditched. The responsibility now lies solely . with Dalglish, who has come in for his fair share of criticism recently, . and while that may not actually have changed much behind the scenes it . is now more transparent and there can be no hiding behind anyone else. Dalglish insisted Comolli was at Anfield with his blessing and was sad to see him exit. He said: 'He's been really helpful in every transfer target we've gone for. Big money: Adam and Jose Enrique (R) were signed by Comolli last summer . 'Everyone who has come into the club since Damien has been here was of my choice. Once I made the choice who I wanted. 'Damien . went away and did a fantastic job of bringing them in. It's sad to see . anyone leave the club and he goes with my best wishes.' As . well as playing a part in the signing of Carroll, Comolli also . contributed to one of the most dramatic days in the history of the . Premier League by helping along the deal that took Fernando Torres to . Chelsea for £50million late on the same day. Earlier in his career, the 39-year-old Comolli had held a similar post at Tottenham. He was heralded for securing deals for players such as Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Dimitar Berbatov but, much like his time at Liverpool, not all his dealings were well thought of. The likes of David Bentley and Adel Taarabt were never able to make their mark at White Hart Lane and former manager Martin Jol was outspoken about his uneasy relationship with Comolli. Meanwhile, managing director Ian Ayre and Dalglish thanked Brukner for his work at the club as he packed up his things. Staying on: Dalglish thanked Comolli and Brukner for their work . 'We are grateful to Peter who has been the catalyst for the transformation of our Sports Medicine and Sports Science capability at the Club since he joined two years ago,' said Ayre. 'He has been instrumental in re-defining our requirements and bringing first class people into the team, providing us with a great platform to move forward. We wish him all the best for the future.' Dalglish added: 'The framework Peter has established has allowed us to see some very real results in relation to our overall levels of fitness and a reduction in injury levels. Peter acted as the key advisor to the club in this regard, and we wish him well in the future.' Brukner insisted he was not bitter at the departure, and claimed his work at the club had been done. 'It has been an honour to work at Liverpool Football Club. I am very proud of what we have achieved over the past two years, as can be seen by the reduced injury rate and improved fitness levels.' he said. 'With a world class staff now in place, I feel I have accomplished what I was asked to do by Liverpool in 2010 and the club is in good hands. I wish the Club every success in the future.' | King Kenny survives on dramatic day at Anfield .
Director of football Comolli axed over failed transfers .
Medical chief Brukner follows him out of the door .
Werner vows to make Reds top force again . |
fcb2b9b19b1a75fe1b2fe7d2d02cfcd15fb21f88 | New Zealand-born Gareth Anscombe has been named in the Wales squad for this season's RBS Six Nations Championship. The Cardiff Blues fly-half, 23, moved to Wales earlier this season and has made just nine appearances for his regional side. Anscombe, whose mother was born in Wales, is among four uncapped players in a 34-man group announced by head coach Warren Gatland. Gareth Anscombe (left), pictured in action for Cardiff Blues, has been called up to the Wales squad . Wales head coach Warren Gatland has named his 34-man squad for the RBS Six Nations . Backs: L Halfpenny (Toulon), L Williams (Scarlets), G North (Northampton), A Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), H Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons), T Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons), S Williams (Scarlets), J Davies (Clermont Auvergne), J Roberts (Racing Metro), C Allen (Cardiff Blues), G Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), R Priestland (Scarlets), D Biggar (Ospreys), G Davies (Scarlets), R Webb (Ospreys), M Phillips (Racing Metro). Forwards: G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), P James (Bath), R Evans (Scarlets), A Jarvis (Ospreys), S Lee (Scarlets), S Andrews (Cardiff Blues), R Hibbard (Gloucester), S Baldwin (Ospreys), K Dacey (Cardiff Blues), A-W Jones (Ospreys), J Ball (Scarlets), B Davies (Wasps), L Charteris (Racing Metro), D Lydiate (Ospreys), J King (Ospreys), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), J Tipuric (Ospreys), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons). Anscombe will be joined by fellow Test rookies in Newport Gwent Dragons centre Tyler Morgan, Scarlets prop Rob Evans and Blues hooker Kristian Dacey. There are no places, though, for 95 times-capped Blues prop Adam Jones or Gloucester fly-half James Hook. Hook's omission is not a surprise - he was left out of Gatland's autumn Test squad earlier this season - yet 33-year-old Adam Jones had been tipped for a recall after Scarlets forward Rhodri Jones suffered a shoulder injury. But Gatland has chosen Samson Lee, Aaron Jarvis and Scott Andrews as his three tighthead props, raising fresh question marks over Jones' international future. Anscombe, meanwhile, offers Gatland options at fly-half and full-back, although it remains to be see whether he features in the match-day 23 for Wales' Six Nations opener against England in Cardiff on February 6. Elsewhere in the squad there is a recall for fit-again Scarlets scrum-half Gareth Davies, who joins fellow number nines Rhys Webb and Mike Phillips, with Morgan featuring among the centres. Morgan, who is among seven players to have signed a national dual contract in Wales, has also been named in the Wales Under-20 squad for their Six Nations campaign, and he will be released from the senior camp to link up with the age group side. Prop Adam Jones has been left out of the Wales squad despite winning 95 caps for his country . Glucester fly-half James Cook (right) has also missed out on a place in Gatland's squad . Gatland said: 'It's great to be able to name such an experienced squad that also boasts some exciting young talent. 'The four uncapped players have all been going well for their respective regions, and it will be good to see them in this environment and we hope they take the opportunity. 'They come into a squad packed with experience, and that experience will be important to us over the next eight weeks and the year as a whole. Newport Gwent Dragons centre Tyler Morgan is another of the uncapped players in line to make his debut . 'We all know how tough the Six Nations is, and we kick the tournament off with a huge game against England, and that is something you have to be excited about and look forward to. 'We were pleased on the whole with the autumn campaign, and this is another opportunity for us as we look ahead to a very big year in the rugby calendar.' Wales will also face England in their World Cup pool later this year, while their Six Nations campaign features away games against Scotland, France and Italy, plus a Millennium Stadium appointment with Ireland. | New Zealand-born Gareth Anscombe moved to Wales earlier this season .
Test rookies Tyler Morgan, Rob Evans and Kristian Dacey also included .
Adam Jones and James Hook both miss out on place in Wales squad . |
fcb2d63a5dcb2cc4964d2dd0c1ccdcdbea88f570 | By . Chris Greenwood . and Jaya Narain . 'Torture': Kyle McArdle, 26, was Tasered five times by police and has won a five-figure compensation award . Two police officers have been sacked after an innocent man was Tasered five times in their van, it was revealed last night. Kyle McArdle, 26, said he passed out from the excruciating pain inflicted by the 50,000-volt weapons after he was dragged from the street. He was shot in the chest, stomach and leg at point-blank range as up to three officers assaulted him. After four years of wrangling, in which Merseyside Police insisted they did nothing wrong, PC Simon Jones and PC Joanne Kelly were fired for gross misconduct. A third officer involved in the incident, Sgt Charlie Tennant, had already been sacked in 2011 for gross misconduct over a separate matter. The case, believed to be the first in which officers have been fired for misusing a Taser, raises questions about the trend to arm police with the potentially deadly weapon. Last night, Mr McArdle said: ‘I have never come across such brutality, and for that to be at the hands of the police – people I would have expected to trust – has been really disturbing. ‘I wasn’t offering any resistance when they launched an unprovoked attack, hitting me on the head and choking me. 'When I raised my hands in self-defence I was Tasered five times and dragged to a police station like a criminal.’ The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said the officers used unnecessary force and ignored national guidelines. Mr McArdle was arrested during a night out for his brother-in-law’s birthday in Liverpool on December 19, 2009. He was grabbed by the three officers after relieving himself in an alley. The car engineer, who works at the Ford Halewood plant, was dragged into a police van. He was Tasered twice – with barbs . attached to charged wires being fired into his body – and had the . pistol-like Tasers themselves pushed directly into his body three times and . discharged, an agonising technique known as a ‘drive stun’. One officer ripped the metal barbs from his body, despite rules that this must be done by a doctor. Mr McArdle said: ‘I just sat on the seat and then I felt a blow to the side of my head from one of the officers, then another blow and I was repeatedly insulted. ‘At no stage was I resisting or even trying to defend myself. ‘Then I was hit again on the temple and choked by one officer using his forearm. I was petrified. I couldn’t breathe and thought I was going to pass out. In self-defence I pushed the officer and that’s when all hell broke loose. ‘One got her Taser out and drive-stunned me to the shoulder and then another aimed his Taser at me. I put my hands out and said, “I’m not doing anything”, and then he shot me. It was absolute agony. All my muscles tensed like I was in cramp – it was excruciating. Questions remain over the proliferation of Tasers among the UK's police forces. Use of the weapon has proved fatal in the past . ‘Then the driver turned round and Tasered me on the shin. ‘I couldn’t believe it - it felt like I had been kidnapped for having a wee in an alley and now I was being tortured in the back of the van. I was in agony and in shock. ‘I tried to grab the Taser to stop it happening again and he Tasered me in the hand and then I was Tasered yet again. I must have passed out because when I came round I was in handcuffs.’ Mr McArdle was charged with assault but was acquitted in September 2010 by a magistrate who questioned the officers’ account. But his ordeal was not over as he fought the force for justice. The IPCC upheld two appeals as the force first recommended ‘management advice’ over the arrest and then said the Taser use was ‘necessary and proportionate’. It criticised police for not giving enough weight to the victim’s account or CCTV footage contradicting what the officers said. Finally, a misconduct hearing led to the sacking of the two officers. Mr McArdle, who had not been in trouble with police before, has won a five-figure compensation sum after suing the force. He said: ‘None of those officers belonged on a police force. They were a disgrace.’ His mother, Christine McArdle, 56, said: ‘To be Tasered while offering no resistance is torture.’ James Dipple-Johnstone, of the IPCC, said: ‘There is public concern over the increase in Taser use. Incidents such as this do nothing to alleviate that concern.’ Merseyside Police said: ‘All officers issued with Tasers are required to complete training and annual re-qualification. 'Since this incident, Merseyside Police has introduced a procedure which requires each use of Taser to be reviewed by a senior officer, prior to submitting details to the Home Office.’ | Kyle McArdle passed out from the pain after he was Tasered in Liverpool .
He was Tasered twice and 'drive stunned' a further three times .
Two officers have now lost their jobs four years after the incident . |
fcb301dc78f2235de90caeca6d84bc2b624796cd | David Silva played his 200th game for Man City on Saturday. The club have spent a fortune on players, but if you want value for money, you need look no further than the little Spanish magician. In terms of consistency, his performances are hard to match. He doesn’t cause any problems, he looks like he trains hard and he is a fantastic, technical player. He must be a manager’s dream. City are so much better with him in the side, as the table below shows, and he is the kind of player you are happy to pay to watch. With West Brom, Burnley and Sunderland to come over Christmas, Silva could be just the man to help City get through their striker crisis. VIDEO Scroll down to see Harry Redknapp on QPR striker Charlie Austin . Spaniard David Silva struck a brace for Manchester City as they beat Crystal Palace 3-0 on Saturday . Silva heads out for Manchester City's Christmas meal on Saturday night after their victory . BENTEKE BACK WITH A BANG . It was good to see Christian Benteke back to his best against Man United. He is a class act and an absolute monster and I’m pleased he’s overcome his injury problems. Damaging your achilles tendon is always a worry — players don’t always get back to those same levels again. But Benteke is flying and I’m a big fan. It’s good to see players like him catching the eye now. It’s not just your Costas and Agueros who are shining: there’s Benteke, Austin, Wilfried Bony, Saido Berahino, Harry Kane. There’s a lot of striking quality in the Premier League this season and those players are scoring a high percentage of their team’s goals, as the table below shows. Even Andy Carroll has come back in and proved himself when it looked as if he might not get a game at West Ham. It’s so vital to have a front man who can lead the line well and score goals, and this season almost every team have one. All I know is I wouldn’t want to be a defender this Christmas. Christian Benteke struck in the first half of Aston Villa's 1-1 draw with Manchester United . Charlie Austin scored a hat-trick as QPR came from two goals down to beat West Brom on Saturday . GOAL MACHINE AUSTIN KEEPS ON MOTORING . What a vein of form Charlie Austin has hit. He can’t stop scoring. He doesn’t seem to get many chances but when he does, he sticks them away. He is an arch goal poacher and saved QPR in a fantastic game against West Brom. That’s 11 Premier League goals now this season, but as our map shows, the majority of them have been scored on or around the penalty spot. He loves to sniff out opportunities and pounce. His conversion rate is impressive, too. He’s seventh in the league in that respect, and behind top man Diego Costa. But he is above Sergio Aguero, which shows just how Austin is more than capable of coping at this level. Argentine Erik Lamela celebrates after giving Mauricio Pochettino's side the lead against Burnley . ERIK'S BIG CHALLENGE . Erik Lamela has taken plenty of stick from people, myself included. There was a feeling the £30million price tag didn’t add up to the quality we’ve seen. He’s scored two world-class goals this season, including the winner on Saturday, as our graphic shows. But one was in the Europa League and, no disrespect intended, the other was against Burnley. I still feel he’s a bit lightweight but credit where credit is due. The key for Lamela now is to go and affect big games. He needs to score in a derby match or do something where we can all sit back and say: ‘So that’s why they paid £30million.’ That’s the next challenge. VIDEO Goal will boost Lamela - Pochettino . Per Mertesacker appeared to duck out of the way for Liverpool's late equaliser at Anfield . NO DEFENCE FOR SLOPPY GOALS . Aside from Philippe Coutinho’s goal, the others conceded at Anfield summed up Liverpool and Arsenal’s seasons: too many sloppy mistakes. Both sides can be a joy to watch but they concede so softly. Martin Skrtel’s header was good but Kieran Gibbs showed no urgency to get back on the line and Per Mertesacker ducked out of the way. I’m sorry, but that’s just not good enough. I saw a lot of positives for Liverpool and it would have been a travesty if they had lost. They conceded goals last year but the difference then was they kept scoring — at the same stage they had 42 goals, twice as many as 2014-15, and Luis Suarez had 19 of them. That’s only two fewer than the whole squad this season. Daniel Sturridge’s return will help and on Sunday there were signs of improvement. AWAY THE LADS... Three wins in a row at St James’ Park is an amazing achievement for Sunderland and since they lost 8-0 at Southampton, they are undefeated away from home. That form is so important for the teams who are scrapping at the bottom of the table because it eases the pressure on your home games. Watching Adam Johnson, you always feel you want a bit more from him because he’s got so much ability. But scoring big goals against your rivals is the kind of thing that can make you an icon at your club. Liverpool's Martin Skrtel celebrates after scoring a dramatic late equaliser against Arsenal in injury time . Adam Johnson watches on as his powerful strike flies past the dive of Newcastle goalkeeper Jak Alnwick . ALL SYSTEMS GO . It didn’t take long for people to ditch 3-5-2 at the start of the season but it was back in fashion this weekend. Liverpool, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Hull and Southampton all played it and I wouldn’t be surprised if others join in. It can help you get more possession, rotation and movement so it’s definitely not dead yet. BOURNEMOUTH STRIKE IT RITCH . Last week my old club Bournemouth did OK against Liverpool but when Eddie Howe made six changes for that game, the next one was always going to be interesting. It made no difference. They hit Blackpool for six and Matt Ritchie scored two. I’d be surprised if he’s not in the Premier League soon, either with Bournemouth or another team. Andy Carroll races away to celebrate after scoring his first league goal with his feet since April 2013 . Spurs have won their last four Premier League games 2-1 when Harry Kane has scored . NUMBER CRUNCHING . Nine - Though Silva was undoubtedly the man of the match for Man City, much of the team’s second-half attacking impetus on Saturday came through full backs Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksandar Kolarov. The defenders — who both laid on goals — have provided nine assists each since the start of last season — a total betteredonly by Everton’s Leighton Baines. 27 - Andy Carroll scored his first Premier League goal with his foot since April 2013 — a period of 27 games. His last four goals have all come from his head. Eight - Following their 3-0 win against Crystal Palace, Man City have won eight matches in a row in all competitions — a run stretching back to late November. One - The pressure may be on Leicester manager Nigel Pearson with his side sitting bottom of the league, but Steve Bruce hasn’t fared much better this season — his Hull team are only three points better off than the Foxes, with just one win in their last 16 games. 2-1 - Spurs have won their last four Premier League games 2-1 when Harry Kane has got his name on the scoresheet — as he did against Burnley. 1,510 - Erik Lamela finally scored his first league goal for Tottenham on Saturday. The Argentina midfielder had to wait 1,510 minutes for his duck to end. One - Philippe Coutinho has been Liverpool’s best player on occasions this season, but his opener against Arsenal on Sunday was his first goal at Anfield since the 3-2 win over Man City last April. He is also yet to provide an assist in the PL. | David Silva has excelled for Manchester City this season .
Christian Benteke has scored 18 per cent of Aston Villa's goals so far .
Former Burnley man Charlie Austin has scored more than half of QPR's .
Erik Lamela needs to turn his talent into consistent performances . |
fcb30cd36718de08ef54e75c06a417d1fbb9390c | The flu epidemic is raging across the country with 36 states reporting high levels of the outbreak, according to authorities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared a national flu epidemic on Tuesday as this year's, virulent mutated strain, the H3N2 virus, swept from coast to coast. The Midwest and southeast of the country were being hardest hit with cases. The CDC said the flu vaccine currently on the market doesn't prevent that strain's spread. Between October 1 and December 20, CDC figures show that 15 children have died from the virus and four in the week before Christmas. Scroll down for videos . The flu epidemic was raging across the country with 36 states seeing high levels of the outbreak . Six children in Tennessee have died this year from the flu, according to the state's Department of Health and so far East Tennessee Children's hospital has seen 442 children with flu this month. On Monday, Anne Arundel Medical Center in Maryland announced that an increased number of patients were coming to the hospital and visitors would be limited. Other Maryland hospitals including Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, Northwest Hospital in Randallstown and Johns Hopkins, also put precautions in place, according to CBS. Delaware has seen nearly ten times the number of flu cases this year compared to the same time period last year. Fever, chills . Cough, sore throat, runny nose, . Muscle aches . Headache . Fatigue, . Nausea . Source: CDC . The Delaware Division of Public Health says there were 632 reported flu cases through December 20. For the same time period last year, there were just 70 flu cases. Health officials say the uptick reflects earlier influenza activity being reported throughout the country. Those particularly at risk are those over 65 and younger than four. Across the nation, 2,500 people have been hospitalized because of the growing crisis. According to the CDC, data from 122 U.S. cities showed deaths from influenza and pneumonia exceeded the national baseline and is at the epidemic threshold of 6.8 per cent. About 90 per cent of flu cases so far this year have been the virulent H3N2 sub-type, the CDC reported. Another state hit hard has been Minnesota, where health officials have made it clear to parents that this year's flu strain is particularly strong. The flu has proved fatal to children with no apparent underlying health problems and statistics from the Minnesota Department of Health have revealed that in some parts of the state up to 50 per cent of students have been absent in December while battling the illness. Shannon Zwanziger, a 17-year-old senior at Owatonna High School in Minnesota died at the Mayo Clinic in early December from the flu. Initially falling ill with a fever and sore throat, Shannon deteriorated at home and her heart stopped beating while she was in her mother's arms after being sick for one week. Despite the paramedics and best efforts, she passed away. The CDC admitted earlier this month that the vaccine does not protect well against the dominant strain, H3N2. That strain tends to cause more deaths and hospitalizations, especially in the elderly. 'Though we cannot predict what will happen the rest of this flu season, it's possible we may have a season that's more severe than most,' said CDC director, Dr Tom Frieden. Shannon Zwanziger, 17, from Minnesota, passed away in early December after contracting the flu . CDC officials think the vaccine should provide some protection and still are urging people to get vaccinated. Flu vaccine effectiveness tends to vary from year to year. Last winter, flu vaccine was 50 to 55 per cent effective overall, which experts consider relatively good. Among infectious diseases, flu is considered one of the nation's leading killers. On average, about 24,000 Americans die each flu season, according to the CDC. Nearly 150 million doses of flu vaccine have been distributed for this winter's flu season. Current flu vaccines are built to protect against three or four different kinds of flu virus, depending on the product. The ingredients are selected very early in the year, based on predictions of what strains will circulate the following winter. The ingredients always include a Type A H3N2 flu virus. The most severe flu seasons tend to be dominated by some version of that kind of flu bug. The three most deadly flu seasons of the last 10 years — in the winters of 2003-2004, 2007-2008, and 2012-2013 — were H3N2 seasons. Ineffective: A man receives a free flu shot from a Walgreens employee during a free flu shot clinic at Allen Temple Baptist Church on December 19, 2014 in Oakland, California . In March, after the H3N2 vaccine strain was vaccine production was underway, health officials noted the appearance new and different strain of H3N2. 'This is not something that's been around before,' Frieden said. But health officials weren't sure if the new strain would become a significant problem in the United States this winter until recently, they said. Lab specimens from patients have shown that the most commonly seen flu bug so far is the new strain of H3N2. Specifically, about 48 percent of the H3N2 samples seen so far were well matched to what's in the vaccine, but 52 percent were not, the CDC said. An official with one vaccine manufacturer — GlaxoSmithKline — emphasized that about half the samples do match the strain in the vaccine. He also noted flu seasons can sometimes involve a second wave of illnesses caused by a different strain. 'We're at the very beginning of flu season, and it's quite possible different strains will predominate,' said Dr. Leonard Friedland, director of scientific affairs for GSK's vaccines business. | The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared a national flu epidemic on Tuesday .
The flu vaccine currently on the market does not prevent spread of mutated strain of H3N2 virus .
Fifteen children have died since October 1 and four before Christmas Day . |
fcb35bfbb2f9f4bcdb1f426272a2ea7f779473eb | LONDON, England (CNN) -- Forty seven-year-old Australian "adrenaline junkie" Sean Langman will attempt to break the 50-knot sailing speed barrier with his half sailboat, half plane, after a serious crash last summer. The half sailboat, half plane uses technology known as supercavitation -- sailing just above the water's edge. Langman, a shipyard owner and yachtsman, is intent on beating the French-set record within the next few weeks, with the "Wot Rocket," a canoe-style pod with a nine meter-long rigid sail. The Wot Rocket is waiting for confirmation from the World Sailing Speed Record Council to attempt, once again, an unprecedented technology known as "supercavitation" -- sailing just above the water in a gas bubble created by the deflection of water. This is to to reduce the drag which is around 1,000 times greater in the water than in the air. "Wot Rocket is so exciting as we push to sail up to three times the speed of the wind," Langman told CNN. In October last year Langman and his co-pilot crashed when they lost control of the vessel at 42 knots -- over 60 miles per hour. But after re-building and perfecting the vessel at a cost of half a million dollars, Langman is ready to try again. "The exhilaration of sailing/flying is so big, you don't think about danger," he told CNN. Langman is certain that this time around he will beat the record. "My only concern is we won't be able to keep control of the craft." In case the pilots crash again, Langman says the most thing is to remain calm. "Last time I felt a mild panic as we were underwater. I just hoped the paramedics would get there in time. "But really I feel very safe doing anything on water as that what I've done my whole life. I feel most 'in tune' when I'm on water," he added. The idea for Wot Rocket was conceived four years ago by Langman after he was inspired by the story of Burt Munro, the New Zealander who set a world land speed record on his modified Indian Scout motorcycle in 1967 -- played by Antony Hopkins in the 2005 Hollywood movie "The World's Fastest Indian." Do you think the wotrocket can beat the record? "I came up with the idea in the shower. So I presented it to a group of engineers and said 'this is what I believe.' Most said I'm a lunatic but one said 'I want to work with you'." Langman joined forces with leading Australian designer Andy Dovell and sought input from Boeing 747 pilots for their aeronautical knowledge. He then had the "Wot Rocket" built using the staff and facilities at his various Shipyards. Finally, he teamed up with Wotif.com founder Graeme Wood who invested in the project because, as he explained, he "likes leftfield ideas." "My family think I'm crazy, but every time I've had an idea it's taken me somewhere. It's really about ideas versus science and trying to make it work," Langman explained. "And no one remembers the second man to walk on the moon." | Half sailboat, half plane will attempt to break the 50-knot sailing speed barrier .
Pilot Sean Langman crashed dangerously last year but is confident he can make it .
"Wot Rocket" uses technology called "supercavitation:" sailing just above the water . |
fcb3acc0b2ff46db3b289e761d7ffe32796961eb | (CNN) -- "Style -- all who have it share one thing: originality." With her heavily rouged cheeks, hawk nose, fondness for costume jewelry and quotable musings delivered with a smoker's rasp, Diana Vreeland is certainly regarded as an original. Under her editorial watch, some of the most iconic images of our times were published: The first picture of the Kennedys as a presidential couple in Harper's Bazaar, Barbra Streisand's pronounced profile on the cover of Vogue and 19-year-old up-and-comer Mick Jagger on the pages inside. Lisa Immordino Vreeland is the director of the new documentary "Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel," an intimate reflection and celebration of Diana Vreeland's remarkable life and clout in the fashion scene. The film goes into limited U.S. release today. In 1936, Vreeland was hired as the fashion editor for Harper's Bazaar -- a position she would hold for 25 years before being named the editor-in-chief at Vogue. At 70, after being fired from Vogue rather brusquely and disdainful of the idea of retirement, she became a special consultant to The Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art until she died in 1989. Lisa Immordino Vreeland is married to Alexander Vreeland, Diana's grandson, but never got to meet Diana before she died. Immordino Vreeland spoke to CNN about the renowned tastemaker, her fabled life and how we could all dare to look at the world with a more astute eye. CNN: What made Vreeland's concept of beauty so revolutionary? Lisa Immordino Vreeland: I think that Diana Vreeland's definition of beauty was so open because she was such an open person. I think she understood what low and high culture was, and I think that's one of the most important outlooks that she had because beauty doesn't have to be just physical. Beauty has to be deep down, it has to be soulful. It's not about the dress you wear, it's about the life you lead in the dress. I feel that is very important for what life is about. Beauty transcends fashion, and in a sense, she transcended fashion. For her, it was an awareness of people, of people's personalities, and that was one of the most important aspects that she had. CNN: In the case of '60s icons such as Penelope Tree, Twiggy and Mick Jagger, she was known for seeing things in them before they saw it in themselves. She also wasn't afraid of pushing people's "faults." Why was this so significant? Immordino Vreeland: I think it's about being your true self. Whatever was real was what she was ultimately striving for. She was always looking at the layer underneath everything, even if that layer contained faults. For her, it was about the depth of a person that counted. She, of course, understood what real beauty was. For her, somebody like Penelope Tree, who was brought up in a good family in New York, she saw a girl under there that was totally different. She was not the normal beauty. She really represented the '60s, which was original thought. CNN: She once said of style, "It helps you get down the stairs. It helps you get up in the morning. It's a way of life. Without it, you're nobody. I'm not talking about lots of clothes." What can people learn from Vreeland about this concept of personal style? Immordino Vreeland: I think you're going to have to go with yourself -- especially today when you travel throughout the world and you find all the same stores everywhere. When Diana was around, it was about when you go to Milan, you can get certain things. It was about having your own sense of identity and, for her, that's what counts. It's about how you're living your life in that dress. It's about the decisions that you're making. If you're comfortable with this, then everybody else should be comfortable with this. Don't forget, she was not this remarkable beauty -- and that was one of her driving forces. She grew up with a mother who was very difficult -- she not only called her "her ugly little monster" but then continued to challenge her. In fact, when she was married to Reed (Vreeland), and he was just unbelievably handsome, the same day in the gossip columns in New York, it was announced that her mother was having a huge affair. So, all the attention was taken away from Diana Vreeland on her wedding day and put on her mother. She understood you have to trust yourself, believe in yourself and that, for me, is fundamentally what her message is. CNN: On "The Dick Cavett Show" in the late '70s, Vreeland said, "Fashion is part of the daily air and it changes all the time, with all the events. You can even see the approaching of a revolution in clothes. You can see and feel everything in clothes." What do you think she meant by that? Immordino Vreeland: It's interesting because shoes and clothes are like this. You can see what's going on in history through all of these things. It shows and marks what's going on socially, culturally and politically during that time and in the end, when she was doing these shows at the Metropolitan Museum's Costume Institute, she was educating us on those periods of history. If you look at the '60s, it's clear it's the '60s. If you look at Balenciaga, you know that it's the '40s and the '50s. She's making us aware that clothes show us so much more of history. CNN: Why do you think her legacy has remained relevant? Immordino Vreeland: This is a message of life. This is the oracle side of her. She is talking about life, about passion, about being driven. We shouldn't be driven by ambition, but for a discovery of the world. I think that the title of the film, "The Eye Has to Travel," it's about the mind traveling, it's about having imagination, it's about fantasy. And this is not anything that has to do with fashion; she transcends fashion. This is about life. I think we could stand to be inspired. I think we're living in such a moment of lack of inspiration; I think it's crazy. It's not only because we're all stuck behind computers all day, including myself. We're not looking, we're not observing, there's so much more to life. She used fashion to give a message. | Diana Vreeland was a fashion editor for Harper's Bazaar and editor-in-chief of Vogue.
Vreeland advised Jackie O and fostered the careers of '60s "it" girls Twiggy and Penelope Tree .
A new documentary, "Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel," follows the renowned style arbiter's life . |
fcb46902917754071fd2c730c1346c8ba4803353 | Her husband has been the family’s resident artist – until now. Today the Duchess of Cornwall proved she can also rattle off a passable cartoon when the occasion requires. Camilla was visiting Exeter Library in Devon to open a new facility and promote its Summer Reading Challenge when she was challenged to put pen to paper in front of a group of schoolchildren. The youngsters from St Leonard’s Primary School had themselves been working with award-winning illustrator, Sarah McIntyre, to create their own imaginary ‘mythical monsters’. Scroll down for video . Showing off her skills: Camilla puts pen to paper during a visit to Exeter Library this afternoon . The Duchess was shown a picture of a cartoonish Medusa by Oliver and the Sea Wigs illustrator Sarah McIntyre, who was, appropriately, wearing a fascinator covered in green furry snakes, and asked to draw a naughty sea monkey next to it. Aides looked slightly askance as the drawing demonstration most definitely had not been part of the planned engagement. But giggling Camilla gamely took up a green marker pen and offered up her best effort - complete with large ears, goggly eyes and a slightly toothy grin. 'Here you go,' she said, winking, before finishing the tail off with a flourish. Drawn by a Duchess: The sea monster penned by Camilla for a group of excited schoolchildren this afternoon . A right royal selfie! Camilla has her photo taken with illustrator Sarah McIntyre during the library visit . Standing in the children’s section of the library, which re-opened in May this year after a £4 million refit, she then tapped her foot and nodded her head as Miss McIntyre got out a ukulele and played her a tune about naughty sea monkeys. Camilla is patron of the National Literacy Trust, Book Trust and First Story, all of which promote literacy in young people. The Summer Reading Challenge is being rolled out across the country and hopes to reach more than 800,000 young people. She and her husband, the Prince of Wales, are currently on a three-day visit to the West Country where they are known as the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall. Earlier, they met TV chef turned environmentalist Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall during a visit to River Cottage, although no one there seemed inclined to ask Camilla to draw. For more information on the Summer Reading Challenge see readingagency.org.uk . Can one forage at Highgrove? Prince Charles and Camilla get a lesson in wild food from Fearnley-Whittingstall . Environment: Both Prince Charles and Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall are known for their passion for all things green . | Camilla was visiting Exeter Library where she met schoolchildren .
The youngsters challenged her to draw a picture of a sea monster .
She agreed to put pen to paper - much to her and their delight .
Duchess is on the second day of annual tour of the West Country . |
fcb474216f9b06d93675dd2637f7fc374620857c | A warm-blooded man in Russia is being hailed a 'hero' for plunging into a frozen pond to save a drowning dog. The thick-skinned swimmer, known only as Ivan, was filmed as he dragged the canine to shore. Footage shows the shirtless 21-year-old using his arms to smash through the ice to catch the dog. The animal bobs just above the surface around ten meters away. Scroll down for video . Caught on camera: A warm-blooded man in Russia is being hailed a 'hero' for plunging into a frozen pond to save a drowning dog . Chilly: The thick-skinned swimmer, known only as Ivan, was filmed as he dragged the canine to shore . In safe hands: Footage shows the shirtless 21-year-old using his arms to smash through the ice and get to the dog which is stranded around ten meters away . Ivan eventually grabs the animal by its body and makes his way back to dry land. According to the local Russian news channel m24.ru, Ivan had stopped his car near the pond to help a motorist who had broken down. But as he was talking to the driver, he heard the dog barking for help. The pup apparently didn't have an owner and Ivan later adopted him, naming him Rex. The duo now appear to be inseparable. Indeed, as they were interviewed safe and dry at home Rex affectionately wandered around Ivan. To date the video of Ivan diving into the ice cold pond has attracted more than 130,000 hits. New pet: According to the local Russian news channel m24.ru Ivan later adopted the dog and named him Rex . Best of friends: The duo appeared to be inseparable as they were filmed safe and dry at home . Many have applauded his actions however, some have highlighted that it could have potentially proved fatal for both parties. 'I don't think physically I could of done that. Even if I tried,' one viewer mused. It's believed the incident took place last March in a village outside of Moscow. The Russian capital is currently experiencing lows of minus 12 Celsius. | The thick-skinned swimmer from Russia known only as Ivan, was filmed as he dragged the canine to shore .
According to local media, he later adopted the dog and named him Rex . |
fcb48083d8652092380fd2eb0b1c026b6bf8bea0 | Liverpool will have to move quickly to land Fiorentina goalkeeper Norberto Neto as the Brazilian goalkeeper has a verbal agreement to join Juventus at the end of the season – and is being offered around £1.5m a year net salary to join the Serie A Champions. Liverpool are searching for a goalkeeper to provide competition for Simon Mignolet and Brad Jones and the 25-year-old Brazilian is high on their list with the club examining their options this month after missing out on former Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes, who signed for Manchester United. But Neto has also attracted attention from Juventus – though he would be up against club legend Gianluigi Buffon for the No.1 shirt there - while at Liverpool he would have a clearer route to first-team football. Fiorentina goalkeeper Norberto Neto has verbally agreed to join Juventus at the end of the season . The Brazilian has been offered a £1.5m net salary to join Juventus but Liverpool remain keen . Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers wants to sign competition for goalkeeper Simon Mignolet (above) The Reds missed out on signing Victor Valdes (centre) who instead joined Manchester United . Neto is out of contract at the end of the season at Fiorentia and so attracting attention from major clubs. Liverpool’s best hope would be to convince him that he more chance establishing himself in the first-team at Anfield – but they would have to top Juve’s wage offer, which equates to around £55,000 a week in the UK. Having missed out on Valdes, Liverpool’s options are limited but Sampdoria’s Sergio Romero, the Argentinian No.1, is also out of contract this summer and therefore available for a limited fee this January. | Norberto Neto has verbally agreed to sign for Serie A champions Juventus .
Liverpool are keen on landing the Fiorentina goalkeeper .
Brazilian is high on the list of targets this month . |
fcb4c7ac90ef5b4cdbf31cf057e41eae07d66e35 | WATERTOWN, South Dakota (CNN) -- Sen. Barack Obama linked Sen. John McCain Friday with what he called "the failed policies" of the Bush administration, accusing the presumed Republican presidential nominee and the White House of "bombastic exaggerations and fear-mongering" in place of "strategy and analysis and smart policy." "What we've done over the last eight years does not work," the Democratic front-runner said. Obama accused McCain of supporting a track record from the Bush administration that included the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, a longer and more expensive war in Iraq than was initially projected, the continued freedom of September 11 mastermind Osama bin Laden and the strengthening of Iran after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. "The American people are going to look at the evidence," he said. "We don't get a sense that this has been a wise foreign policy or a smart foreign policy or a tough foreign policy. This has been a policy that oftentimes revolved around a lot of bluster and big talk, but very little performance, and what the American people want right now is performance." In a speech at the annual meeting of the National Rifle Association in Louisville, Kentucky, on Friday, McCain defended his foreign policy positions, saying the United States has a realistic chance of success in Iraq after four years of costly mistakes. McCain called some of Obama's ideas "reckless" and questioned his understanding of America's standing in the world. Watch McCain take on Obama's comments » . "It would be a wonderful thing if we lived in a world where we don't have enemies," the Arizona Republican said. "That's not the world we live in. And until Sen. Obama understands that reality, the American people have every reason to doubt whether he has strength, judgment and determination to keep us safe." The verbal sparring took place a day after President Bush suggested in a speech before the Israeli Knesset that those who want to shift American policy to include direct talks with what he called "terrorists and radicals" were appeasers and delusional. Watch more of the controversy surrounding Bush's speech » . "I don't take what Bush says personally, but I was offended by what is a continuation of strategy from this White House, now mimicked by Sen. McCain, that replaces strategy and analysis and smart policy with bombast, exaggerations and fear-mongering," Obama said. Watch more of Obama's comments » . "The speech yesterday was not about an actual policy argument. It was about politics and scaring the American people, and that's what will not work in this election," he said. Obama said he would offer "tough diplomacy" to the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela and North Korea "without preconditions, although with preparation, and I would present to them very clearly what my expectations would be in terms of them changing their behavior." On Thursday, McCain spoke warily of Obama's willingness to meet with dictators and "state sponsors of terrorists." "I have some news for Sen. Obama," McCain told the NRA Friday. "Talking, not even with soaring rhetoric ... will not convince Iran to give up its nuclear program. It is reckless to suggest that unconditional meetings will advance our interests." Speaking to reporters earlier, McCain said he disagreed with Obama's desire to talk with Iran's president. "What you do, if you sit down face to face, as Sen. Obama wants to do, is you legitimize a regime that's dedicated to the extinction of Israel, supports terrorist organizations and is responsible for deaths of brave young Americans," McCain said. McCain also said he would not meet with representatives of Hamas, the Palestinian organization listed as a terrorist group by the United States and Israel, which won elections in 2006 and now controls Gaza while U.S.-friendly President Mahmoud Abbas controls the West Bank. Obama agreed with that position, calling Hamas a terrorist organization that has vowed to destroy Israel. But Obama said McCain and Bush have to answer for Iran's benefiting from the invasion of Iraq, Hamas' gaining control of Gaza and Iran's continued funding of terrorist organizations, all of which, he said, have affected U.S. security. "That's the Bush-McCain record on protecting this country," he said at a Watertown, South Dakota, town hall meeting. "Those are the failed policies that John McCain wants to double-down on." "I am happy to have a debate with John McCain and George Bush about foreign policy," Obama said. "I believe that there is no separation between George Bush and John McCain when it comes to our Middle East policy, and I think their policy has failed." In Kentucky, McCain said he would also welcome a debate about "protecting America." "No issue is more important," he said. "Sen. Obama claimed all I had to offer was a quote 'naive and irresponsible belief' that tough talk would cause Iran to give up its nuclear program. He should have known better." CNN's associate political editor Rebecca Sinderbrand and political producer Ed Hornick contributed to this story. | McCain blasts Obama's comments in NRA speech .
Obama slams Bush over attack "that alienates us from the rest of the world"
He blasts McCain for "embracing" Bush's attacks . |
fcb56b4df278dd4091d56293ea96b11dc4c0c73c | By . Madlen Davies for MailOnline . A ten-year-old boy who can barely walk due to a rare spine condition is hoping to complete a 4km run - and step out of his wheelchair to walk across the finish line. Dylan Marshall will join thousands of other children tackling the Junior Great North run in Newcastle this weekend . But for the 10-year-old, just reaching the start line is an achievement. Dylan, from Lynemouth in Northumberland, was born with Larsen’s syndrome, a rare genetic condition which causes dislocation of the bones. Dylan Marshall, 10, can barely walk due to Larsen's syndrome - which causes dislocation of bones - but that won't stop him completing the 4k Junior Great North Run this weekend, and stepping out of his wheelchair to cross the finish line . His mother Victoria Marshall (pictured left) was terrified when Dylan (pictured left and right) had to undergo a seven-hour operation in which doctors predicted there was just a 15 per cent chance he would survive without dying, being paralysed, or requiring a ventilator for the rest of his life . After seeing his mother Victoria Marshall, 33, complete the Great North Run last year he decided that although he may finish last, his condition would not stop him stepping over the finish line. 'I love the Great North Run,' he said. ‘On Saturday I’ll come in last - I hope I still get a medal - but I want to get up and go across the finish line.’ At just 14 months old Dylan’s spine became dislocated and his vertebrae began pushing down on his spinal cord, threatening to paralyse him. He underwent pioneering surgery at Newcastle General Hospital, in which four of his neck bones were removed and replaced with one of his lower left ribs. A second operation then attempted to fuse the rib to the rest of his spine, meaning he was forced to wear a ‘halo’ to ensure he could not move his head for months on end. Larsen syndrome is a rare genetic condition that affects the development of bones throughout the body. Affected individuals are usually born with inward and upward turning feet and dislocations of the hips, knees and elbows and flexible joints. Some people with the condition experience respiratory problems as a reuslt of weakness of the airways, that can lead to partial closing and short pauses in breath. The condition affects around one in 100,000 newborns. Other symptoms of the disease include: . His neck became so fragile that, aged three, he tripped over a plant pot and snapped the newly-grafted rib. Doctors fitted him with metal rods to support his head, but the procedure led to further problems. ‘When he broke the rib doctors put in metal rods at the front of his neck to support it, but when he grew the metal couldn’t change and he ended up with both a compression and decompression of his neck,’ said Mrs Marshall. He went under the knife again, with surgeons at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital predicting just a 15 per cent chance that he would survive the procedure without dying, being paralysed or requiring a ventilator for the rest of his life. Mrs Marshall said she was terified, not knowing what would happen to her son. She said: ‘The operation took seven-and-a-half hours and when he came out he couldn’t move - we didn’t know what would happen.’ Months of physiotherapy and orthopaedic therapy followed, with support from friends and his family. Now Dylan is all set for the run this weekend. He is fundraising to say thank you to the Sick Children’s Trust, which in both Newcastle and London provided a ‘home away from home’ for his mum and dad while he was undergoing treatment. He has already raised £500 smashing his fundraising target of £150. By the time he steps out of his chair on Saturday, he hopes to have raised hundreds more. Visit Dylan's Just Giving page to donate. | Dylan Marshall, 10, was born with Larsen's syndrome, a rare genetic condition, which causes dislocation of the bones .
He has faced multiple surgeries over many years to correct vertebrae that were pushing down into his spinal cord .
In one operation doctors predicted just a 15% chance of Dylan surviving without dying, being paralysed, or requiring a ventilator for life .
This weekend he is set to complete the 4k Junior Great North Run, and will step out of his wheelchair to cross the finish line .
Has already smashed his fundraising target and raised £500 for The Sick Children's Trust, which helped his mum and dad during his treatment . |
fcb6deac457e86e9e48e2f8f3d28de0075be0d50 | (CNN) -- The weekend massacre at an upscale shopping center in Kenya is shining a new light on an old concern for Western counterterrorism officials: the recruitment of jihadist fighters from Somali communities in the United States, Canada, and Europe. It's a concern all too familiar for many Somali-American families in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where young men have been slipping away to join the al Qaeda-affiliated guerrilla group Al-Shabaab for the past few years, sometimes in groups. Several have died, their relatives learning of their deaths in cryptic phone calls or in messages posted online. One of those killed was Burhan Hassan, who was killed fighting in Somalia. His uncle, Abdirizak Bihi, told CNN that members of the city's Somali community have been trying to counteract the recruitment efforts. "What we have learned for the last five years is we have to speak out against this," Bihi said. Al-Shabaab breaks new ground with complex Nairobi attack . In a message on its now-suspended Twitter page, Al-Shabaab named nine people it said were among the gunmen who stormed Nairobi's Westgate Mall on Saturday. Three of them were from the United States and one each was from Canada, Finland and the United Kingdom, it said. "It isn't totally surprising, given the fact that we know Shabaab has recruited in the United States," CNN terrorism analyst Peter Bergen said Sunday. "We also know they have recruited in a number of European countries." Bergen noted that the group's Twitter page includes tweets in colloquial English, "the kind of English that an American, or perhaps somebody who grew up in the UK, would be using." Al-Shabaab is fighting to implement a stricter form of Islamic law in Somalia, a struggle in which Kenyan troops have been directly involved since 2011. Kenyan troops wrested control of the key Somali port of Kismayo from the jihadists in 2012, and Somali government and African Union troops drove the group out of its strongholds in the capital Mogadishu in 2011. As early as 2008, the FBI warned that more than a dozen youths, some of them American citizens, had left Minneapolis, home to the largest Somali population in the United States. At least three are believed to have carried out suicide bombings in Somalia, where an internationally backed interim government has taken tenuous root after two decades of civil war and near-anarchy. Minneapolis' Somali community "is 100% against terror," said Bihi. But he said a lot of families arrive owing "a lot of debt," and community youth programs were "almost nil." Al-Shabaab recruiters engaged teens by providing them entertainment and role models, then "brainwashed" them, he said. A senior State Department official told CNN that U.S. officials are trying to confirm whether the names released by Al-Shabaab are Americans, but said they are becoming more confident American citizens were involved in the Kenyan attack. The official said the administration has been concerned and raising alarm bells about Al-Shabaab recruitment in the Somali-American community for years and would be making decisions in coming days about additional efforts to stem the flow of recruits. How Al-Shabaab picks its targets . In 2010, a federal grand jury charged 14 people in the United States with aiding Al-Shabaab. Two women in Rochester, Minnesota, were convicted of soliciting more than $8,000 for the group under false pretenses, telling contributors the money was for the poor, and received 10- and 20-year prison terms. The rest of those named in the indictment had already gone overseas, including Omar Al-Hammami, who became something of a jihadist rock star before falling out with the group and dying in a fratricidal ambush in 2012. Hammami differed from many of the other recruits. He was raised a Baptist in Alabama, but converted to Islam as a young man and created rap-style recruiting videos that bridged American and Somali culture. Another man, Mohamed Ibrahim Ahmed, was sentenced to more than nine years in March after pleading guilty to aiding Al-Shabaab. Ahmed was a native of Eritrea who had been living in Sweden before joining Al-Shabaab, prosecutors said. He was arrested in Nigeria and transferred to New York for prosecution. CNN's Elise Labott contributed to this report. | Several young Somalis from Minneapolis have died fighting for Al-Shabaab .
Al-Shabaab says Kenya attackers came from the U.S., Canada and Europe .
"We have to speak out against this," Minneapolis Somali leader says . |
fcb6e2abe0588171e0b0d931abd0226e193005a2 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (CNN) -- After a month of searching, investigators now have their "most promising" lead yet in finding Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. A pinger locator in the Indian Ocean has detected signals consistent with those emitted by aircraft black boxes, the head of the Joint Agency Coordination Center said Monday. The sounds were heard at a depth of 4,500 meters (about 14,764 feet), retired Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston said. "We've got a visual indication on a screen, and we've also got an audible signal. And the audible signal sounds to me just like an emergency locator beacon," Houston said. But it could take days before officials can confirm whether the signals did indeed come from the plane, which went missing March 8 with 239 people on board. "Nothing happens fast," Houston said. "We have a promising lead, but we have yet to get confirming evidence." The search official said Monday he was much more optimistic in finding the plane than he was a week ago. Still, Houston said, "I would like us to find some wreckage." Along with the hints that searchers may be getting close to the plane, a fresh mystery surfaced. The aircraft skirted Indonesian airspace as it went off the grid and veered off course, a senior Malaysian government source told CNN Sunday. The new analysis of the flight's path means the plane may have been taken along a route designed to avoid radar detection, the source said. But why would someone steer the plane that way, and where is it now? Those are key questions that investigators are trying to answer -- and fast. The HMS Echo, a British navy ship equipped with advanced detection gear, sailed into the area of the southern Indian Ocean on Monday morning (Sunday afternoon ET) where a Chinese crew had detected two audio signals. And an Australian navy vessel carrying sophisticated U.S. listening technology is investigating a sound it picked up in a different patch of the ocean. Investigators hope the signals could be locator beacons from the plane's data recorders, but they're not sure yet. Time could be running out. It might be only a few hours or a few days before the pingers aboard the plane stop transmitting for good. The batteries inside the beacons, which are designed to start sending signals when a plane crashes into water, last about 30 days after the devices are activated. That 30th day has come -- though experts have said it's possible that they could last several days longer if they were at their full strength. Plane said to have flown around Indonesia . As searchers tried to find the aircraft, investigators pieced together new details about the plane's path. After reviewing radar track data from neighboring countries, officials have concluded that the passenger jet curved north of Indonesia before turning south toward the southern Indian Ocean, a senior Malaysian government source told CNN on Sunday. Whoever was flying the plane, the source said, could have been trying to avoid radar detection. But why? Like most details in the case that's baffled investigators ever since the plane dropped off Malaysian military radar, it depends on whom you ask. CNN law enforcement analyst Tom Fuentes cautioned against assuming a nefarious reason for steering the plane around Indonesia's airspace. "I think the plane's being intentionally flown there, but I think it's still a mystery as to why. ... I think they would probably guess they're not avoiding anybody's radar, because there's a lot of radar in the area," he said. "I think they're avoiding getting shot down or colliding with another airplane." CNN aviation analyst Miles O'Brien said the new route includes designated waypoints that pilots and air traffic controllers use. "This particular route that is laid out happens to coincide with some of these named intersections," he said. "So what it shows is an experienced pilot somewhere in the mix on this." Investigators haven't yet said who they think might have flown the plane off course or why. The possibility that the plane was hijacked by someone who knew how to fly a commercial jet is still on the table. Authorities have also been investigating the plane's captain and co-pilot. And they haven't ruled out mechanical problems as a possible cause of the plane's diversion. So far, no physical evidence of the plane's eventual whereabouts has been found, leaving many relatives of those on board trapped in uncertainty. Time is running out . The arrival of the Echo will be critical to the search for the missing Boeing 777. It has state-of-the-art sonar and is capable of mapping the ocean floor, which is about 4,500 meters (2.8 miles) deep in the focused search area. It should be able to help determine more confidently whether audio signals picked up on Friday and Saturday by the Chinese patrol ship Haixun 01 have any connection to the pingers from MH370. But officials urged caution. In the lengthy search for the missing plane, promising discoveries nearly every day have fizzled out, with few facts to support them. "This is an important and encouraging lead, but one that I urge you to continue to treat carefully," Angus Houston, the head of the Australian agency coordinating search operations, said Sunday. The Chinese said the electronic pulses -- detected only 2 kilometers (1.25 miles) apart -- were consistent with those emitted by pingers on an aircraft's black boxes, but search officials said they haven't been verified as coming from Flight 370. Sounds travel long distances underwater, Houston said, making it difficult to ascertain their sources. If detectors were near a pinger, they would pick up the signal for a more sustained period. Houston also said that search authorities were informed Sunday that the Ocean Shield, an Australian naval vessel equipped with sophisticated listening equipment, has detected "an acoustic noise" in another area of the ocean to the north. The signals are the latest leads in a huge, multinational hunt for Flight 370, which disappeared almost a month ago over Southeast Asia. 'Most promising lead' The Ocean Shield, which has a high-tech pinger locator borrowed from the U.S. Navy, will continue to pursue the sound it heard. If that lead turns cold, it will move to the other detection area, a journey that will take at least a day, officials said. On Monday morning, the Ocean Shield was "continuing investigations in its own area," Australian authorities said. "At the moment, the most promising lead appears to be the one associated with Haixun 01," Houston said at a news conference in Perth, the Western Australian city serving as a hub for search operations. The pulses registered by the Chinese ship are of particular interest because they occurred in an area that fits with the latest calculation by experts of roughly where the plane is likely to have entered the water, Houston said. The area of detection is roughly 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) west-northwest of Perth, according to coordinates reported by Chinese state media. Caution urged . Several analysts on CNN said the information from search officials gave cause for optimism. "We've got to be a little careful about groupthink here, but right now the evidence seems to point towards the Chinese vessel's location," said Alan Diehl, a former accident investigator for the U.S. Air Force. What's more, white objects were spotted floating on the surface of the water about 90 kilometers (55 miles) from where the sounds were detected, authorities said. But Houston warned that the latest discoveries could turn out to have no connection to the missing plane. "In the days, weeks and possibly months ahead, there may be leads such as the one I'm reporting to you this morning on a regular basis," Houston said. "I assure that we will follow up and exhaust every credible lead that we receive," he said. The Chinese vessel detected the second signal for a total of 90 seconds on Saturday, according to authorities. "It's not a continuous transmission," Houston said. "If you get close to the device, we should be receiving it for a longer period of time." A former longtime Navy oceanographer said the Chinese equipment shown on TV didn't appear to be very sophisticated. Van Gurley told CNN that the gear was designed to be held by human divers and only had short-range capabilities. "The fact that they're deploying it right over the side near the ocean surface, they're getting hits a mile apart, kind of doesn't add up -- but it does require investigation," said Gurley, now a senior manager at a consulting firm that uses complex mathematical methods to solve problems like finding a missing plane. Australian authorities are still working on understanding the technology used regarding the data generated by the Haixun 01 as it searches for the missing plane, a source with the Australian Defense Force told CNN. CNN's Catherine E. Shoichet and Steve Almasy reported and wrote from Atlanta, and journalist Ivy Sam reported from Kuala Lumpur. CNN's Jethro Mullen, Holly Yan Ralph Ellis and Ben Brumfield contributed to this report. | NEW: Official: "We have a promising lead, but we have yet to get confirming evidence"
It could still take days to confirm the origin of the signals, he says .
A Chinese search ship picked up two signals in the Indian Ocean, authorities say .
The plane flew around Indonesian airspace, a Malaysian source says . |
fcb784f6ff9fa4aed78d413f52f51a380d4f084e | By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 05:52 EST, 10 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:26 EST, 10 October 2013 . Nick Clegg today hit out at the Guardian for publishing secret files which served ‘no purpose’ other than to aid terrorists who want to harm Britain. The Lib Dem leader joined the barrage of criticism that the newspaper released UK’s intelligence secrets of no interest to readers but highly-valued by fanatics and foreign spies. It follows MI5 director-general Andrew Parker’s warning this week that the leaks are a ‘gift’ to terrorists. Scroll down for video . Criticism: In a highly-unusual move, Nick Clegg criticised the Guardian's decision to publish secret files which would only have been of interest to terrorists . The publication of secret files leaked by US fugitive Edward Snowden are said to have caused huge ‘harm’ to the capability of Britain’s intelligence services. Security officials fear the data will be used by terrorists to avoid detection when plotting an atrocity. The Guardian has argued its revelations have ‘prompted a debate which was both necessary and overdue’. But Mr Clegg rubbished the idea that highly-sensitive intelligence needed to be released in order to prompt discussions about the scale of the surveillance state. In an unusual attack on the left-wing newspaper, Mr Clegg said: ‘I think it’s a totally legitimate debate about the power of these technologies, about how you get the balance right, how do you make sure these technologies are used in a proportionate and accountable way. ‘But, I don’t think just giving technical secrets, if I can put it that way, to people who want to do us harm serves any purpose.’ Speaking on his weekly phone-in on LBC 97.3, he added: ‘I’ve got no doubt that there were some parts of what was published which will have passed most readers of the Guardian completely by, because they were very technical, but would have been of immense interest to people who want to do us harm. 'I certainly agree that if what you end up doing is just basically publishing very technical information, that actually most Guardian readers, or most of us wouldn’t frankly understand, but the only people who will understand are the sort of technicians if you like amongst the terrorists, then what’s the public interest in that?' Fury: The spy chief: MI5 director-general Andrew Parker has blasted the Guardian's publication of Britain's espionage capabilities . His comments came after Mr Parker warned that the disclosure of the ‘reach and limits’ of the GCHQ's capabilities was a gift to terrorists. In a speech this week Mr Parker said: ‘It causes enormous damage to make public the reach and limits of GCHQ techniques. Such information hands the advantage to the terrorists. 'It is the gift they need to evade us and strike at will. Unfashionable as it might seem, that is why we must keep secrets secret, and why not doing so causes such harm.’ Guardian newspaper editor Alan Rusbridger was described as 'naive' Mr Parker dismissed suggestions that . the agencies were trawling through people's private lives for anything . that looked interesting as ‘utter nonsense’. Yesterday . David Cameron backed Mr Parker. A No 10 spokesman – when asked whether . Mr Cameron agreed with Mr Parker’s comments – said: ‘The Prime Minister . thinks it was an excellent speech and we are, as you would expect, . always keeping under review the measures that are needed to contribute . to keeping our country safe. I would happily point you to all parts of . the director general’s speech.’ Mr Clegg argued that secrecy was vital in order to keep the country safe. ‘We have legislation, and regulations, which were designed for an age which is quite different now, and both terrorists and States and security agencies, now conduct this battle, if you like, online in a way that was unimaginable just even a few years ago. ‘And, what that means for privacy and proportionality, I think that’s a totally legitimate area for debate. ‘How you hold the secret parts of any State to account is an incredibly important issue, because secrecy is necessary, of course it is, you absolutely must defend the principle of secrecy from the intelligence agencies without which they can’t keep us safe. ‘But, you can only really make secrecy legitimate in the eyes of the public if there is proper form of accountability.’ Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger denied putting lives at risk and – defying security officials – said he would continue publishing top secret information, which the paper has been splashing across its front pages since June. In an interview yesterday he said: ‘We are working slowly and responsibly but as we discover further stories that we think merit the debate, the debate that everyone says is necessary, then we will go on publishing.’ The first Guardian revelations came in early June, when it detailed how the NSA – which supplies intelligence to GCHQ, the organisation which gathers intelligence for MI5 and MI6 – had ‘direct access’ to the computer systems of AOL, Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Paltalk, Skype, Yahoo and YouTube. The newspaper also revealed how GCHQ has access to a network of cables carrying international phone calls and internet traffic and is processing vast amounts of ‘personal information’. By the time his identity as the source of the leaks emerged, Snowden had fled his home in Hawaii for Hong Kong. After a week in hiding, he travelled to Moscow, where he remains out of the reach of US authorities. | Lib Dem leader said readers would have been baffled by the leaks .
MI5 chief Andrew Parker called paper's expose a 'guide book' for terrorists .
He said the coverage is a gift to 'thousands' of UK-based extremists .
David Cameron backed the criticism of the Guardian's publication . |
fcb8020cf97cb0de72e20536c24a847ff479c29f | By . Snejana Farberov . Two teenage girls from West Virginia who were handed lengthy prison sentences last year in the stabbing death of their best friend had repeatedly claimed they killed 16-year-old Skylar Neese simply because they didn't like her anymore. But the contents of Skylar’s personal diary suggest that the straight-A student may have known a salacious secret about her two friends and was threatening to reveal it. Rachel Shoaf, along with her friend Sheila Eddy, lured Neese out of her house in July 2012, before stabbing her multiple times and hiding her body in a Pennsylvania wood. Did she know too much? It has been suggested that Skylar Neese, 16 (left), was killed in 2012 by her friends Sheila Eddy and Rachel Shoef (right) because they feared she would tell about their lesbian tryst . 'Dark secret': Skylar allegedly wrote in her diary (pictured) that during a sleepover in her house she walked in on Sheila and Rachel having sex together . Taunt: In June 2012, Skylar sent out this tweet, possibly reminding her friends that she knew about their sexual relationship . Skylar may have sealed her fate with a couple of tweets alluding to a secret she had been keeping . It was not until six months later that the accomplices finally confessed to the savage murder and led officers to the remote location where Skylar's body had been concealed. When interviewed by police, Rachel, a high school drama star, told investigators that she and Sheila stabbed Skylar to death because they no longer liked her as a friend. But according to a new book 'Pretty Little Killers,' which details the horrific murder, the girls may have been scared that Skylar was planning to out them as a lesbian couple. The lesbian affair theory has been detailed by the authors of the new book 'Pretty Little Killers' This theory was repeated on Friday's episode of 20/20 on ABC dedicated to the shocking case. In her diary obtained by authors Daleen Berry and Geoffrey Fuller, Skylar Neese reportedly wrote in graphic detail about walking in on Sheila and Rachel having sex during a sleepover in her home. And in the weeks after the incident, the 16-year-old University High student apparently made sure her friends were aware that she knew their secret. 'Just know I know,' Skylar tweeted on one occasion, while on another she wrote about her desire to tell 'everything' to everyone - if she thought she could get away with it. However, neither Skylar’s parents nor police investigators have embraced the idea that Shoef and Eddy murdered Skylar in cold blood just to stop her from speaking out about their alleged sexual tryst. Mary Neese, Skylar’s mother, told ABC’s 20/20 that her daughter had many gay and lesbian friends, and she would not have taunted someone because of their sexual preference. On their part, investigators involved in the case got the impression from their interactions with Shoef and Eddy that the teens stabbed Neese ‘for the thrill of it’ and to see if they could get away with murder. When they finally confessed to the crime long after Skylar's disappearance, the two accomplices said they had planned the friend's murder in science class, discussing in detail which weapon to use and where to hide the body. Before that fateful night on July 6, Shoef and Eddy bought cleaning supplies and tools for digging. The girls then stashed several knives in their hooded sweatshirts and drove to Skylar's home, according to police. Eddy and Shoaf . lured Skylar out of her ground-floor bedroom in Star City and took her . to a secluded spot across state lines to Pennsylvania. Dismayed: Skylar's parents, Mary and Dave Neese, said in the days after their daughter's disappearance, Sheila came to their house looking distraught and asked to sit in her friend's room . All smiles: This photo was allegedly taken just a day after the murder showing Rachel (right) looking carefree at the beach with a friend . The . trio spent some time smoking marijuana in the woods. When Skylar got up to grab a lighter, Shoef and Eddy trailed her with knives at the ready, and . on count three they began stabbing her. The 16-year-old tried to run away, by Rachel tackled her to the ground, and one of the teens then slashed her jugular vein. All along, the . plan was to bury Skylar's body, but the ground proved too hard. So, according to authorities, the girls covered their murdered former friend . with branches and left her in a wooded area for months. As Skylar's distraught parents, police and the entire community were frantically searching for the missing girl, Sheila kept up a disturbingly normal social media presence. On July 7, 2012, just a day after she and Shoaf killed Miss Neese, Eddy tweeted a 'happy birthday' message to a friend. Eddy kept up a steady stream of . tweets about watching Law And Order on TV, doing homework and going to . parties, according to the new episode of ABC's 20/20 that aired Friday. She . also tweeted about how close her friendship was with Shoaf, writing: . 'no one on this earth can handle me and rachel is you think you can . you're wrong.' But away . from social media, Sheila played the role of a heartbroken friend, . going to the Neeses' home to spend time with her parents. In retrospect, what stood out – and . horrified - Skylar’s parents the most is the time when Eddy came over and asked . to sit on the missing girl’s bed. Tribute: Sheila Eddy posted this tribute to Skylar Neese (on the left in each photo) on Twitter in March 2013 before being arrested for her murder . Eddy posted this message months after she and friend Rachel Shoaf murdered 16-year-old Skylar Neese . In the 20/20 interview, Mrs Neese . described how her daughter’s killer wept in Skylar’s room. The mother even sat down next to her and comforted her, gently rubbing her back. ‘Oh my Lord, and we believed that garbage,’ Mrs Neese said. Dave Neese added: ‘Skylar trusted those two little witches and it cost her life.’ When . investigators questioned the Neeses about their daughter’s circle of . friends, Dave Neese asked police to leave Sheila alone. From one . police interview to the next, Shoef and Eddy repeated the same version . of events, insisting that they did not take Skylar on a ride away from . Star City on the night the went missing. The first clue came when police obtained surveillance . video from the night of July 6 showing Sheila's car driving away from the town towards the Pennsylvania border, which directly contracted Shoef and . Eddy’s perfectly rehearsed story. Sheila Eddy volunteered to take a . lie detector test, which police said she failed. When it was Rachel’s . turn to face the polygraph, the high school drama star jumped out of her . father’s moving car on the way to the test. Cold-hearted: The girls told police they just didn't like Skylar anymore . Duplicity: Mary and Dave Neese welcomed Sheila Eddy into their home after Skylar's disappearance and even comforted her as she sobbed in her 'friend's room . Meanwhile, the Neese . family and the girls’ friends started putting pressure on the duo to . come clean about the night of Skyler’s disappearance. In January 2013, six months . after Skyler vanished without a trace, 16-year-old Rachel had a nervous . breakdown and had to be sent to a psychiatric hospital. Upon her . release, she headed straight to police. ‘The first words out of her mouth were, ‘”We stabbed her,”’ an investigator working the missing person case recalled. A few days later, Sheila Eddy was back on Twitter, posting messages about watching her favorite TV shows. In March, authorities announced that the remains found belonged to Skylar Neese. Even then, Eddy was still keeping up the act. She posted a picture montage of the girls together with the message: 'Rest easy Skylar, you’ll ALWAYS be my best friend.' She then tweeted that it was the 'worst day of my whole life'. For a time, Eddy refused to cooperate with the investigation. Police decided to . put a wire on Rachel hoping to incriminate her accomplice, but Sheila . said nothing during their encounter. Eddy tweeted this message shortly before her arrest for the murder of Skylar Neese. Fellow murderer Rachel Shoaf had already admitted to police that the girl's decided to count to three and then stab the 16-year-old . Eddy posted a stream of inane messages to her Twitter account in the months after she fatally stabbed her 'best friend' Skylar Neese . Eddy posted happy birthday greetings to a friend the day after she and Shoaf murdered Skylar Neese and left her body in the woods . Days after Rachel Shoaf admitted to killing her friend Skylar Neese along with Eddy, the latter was back on Twitter posting messages about TV . A break in the case came when police officers found traces of blood in Sheila . Eddy’s car. A DNA test confirmed the blood was Skylar’s. That same day, Eddy was arrested in the parking lot of a Cracker Barrel restaurant in front of her mother. On March 30, 2013, just before she was taken into custody, Eddy tweeted: 'We really did go on three.' Eddy pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced in January to life as part of a plea agreement that makes her eligible for parole after 15 years. Shoaf, 17, pleaded guilty last May to second-degree murder in the July 2012 slaying. She'll be eligible for parole after 10 years. During . her sentencing, a tearful Rachel read a statement from the stand . apologizing to Skylar’s parents, but Mary and Dave Neese did not believe . a word she said. Rachel Shoaf pleaded guilty to murdering her friend Skylar Neese in July 2012 for no apparent reason other than she didn't want to be friends with her anymore. She was sentenced to 30 years in March (pictured) Sheila Eddy, pictured in court in October, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of her friend in March this year . ‘You don’t apologize for murdering somebody in cold blood,‘ the father told 20/20. Eddy refused to address the court . other than to say 'guilty' - something that Mr Neese found 'unacceptable' at the time. Dave Neese now only has one thing to say to his daughter’s killers: ‘Rot in hell.’ Sheila and Rachel could be released from prison on good behavior by the time they are in their 30s. | Rachel Shoaf, 17, of Morgantown, West Virginia and her friend, Sheila Eddy, lured 16-year-old Skylar Neese from home, stabbed her to death and dumped her body in the Pennsylvania woods .
Shoaf told police they committed the July 2012 murder 'because they didn't want to be friends with Skylar anymore'
Skylar Nesse wrote in her journal she had seen Sheila and Rachel have sex at a sleepover .
The 16-year-old honor student wrote tweets alluding to a secret she had been keeping prior to her death .
Eddy kept up a stream of inane tweets following the brutal murder, wishing friends happy birthday and chatting about TV .
In November 2012, Eddy tweeted: 'No one on this earth can handle me and rachel if you think you can you're wrong' |
fcb80689ab9ad240074fd85b9aa00ab69be7df35 | The exterior of this abandoned aircraft hangar is unlikely to feature on any holiday postcards but appearances can be deceptive. Inside the giant dome is a water park the size of eight football pitches, boasting its own beaches, lagoons and tropical rainforest. Tropical Islands resort is housed within the largest free-standing hall in the world, which measures 66,000 square metres and is so tall the Statue of Liberty could fit inside it. Scroll down for video . Unlikely location: The resort is housed in an old aircraft hangar near Berlin and doesn't look particularly tropical from the outside . Sunny all year round: Inside, the hangar is home to pools, beaches, balmy lagoons and the world's largest indoor rainforest . Blue skies thinking: The resort has even erected a fake blue sky complete with fluffy white clouds, though it will never rain inside the dome . Making a splash: Tropical Islands is home to Germany's highest water slide tower which stands at a vertigo-inducing 27 metres tall . The water park is located in Krausnick, near Berlin and claims to offer tourists all the elements of a tropical holiday destination in the middle of Europe. The huge hangar once housed Zeppelins but its owners went bankrupt in 1992 and the building fell into disrepair. It was transformed 10 years ago into an indoor paradise by a Malaysian company. Inside, the temperature is always a pleasant 26C which means the attraction can host the world's largest indoor rainforest, along with pools, beaches and giant water slides. Among them is Germany's highest water slide tower which stands at a vertigo-inducing 27 metres tall. Up to 700 people an hour can zoom down a 21-metre undulating stainless steel slide before going on the 112-metre Crazy River steel tube slide and then reach a top speed of 70 kmph on the power turbo slide. Regeneration: The huge hangar once housed Zeppelins but its owners went bankrupt in 1992 and the building fell into disrepair until it was transformed 10 years ago . In a spin: The resort's multi-coloured slides tower over the dome and are one of the main attractions for families . Don't look up: Holidaymakers can pretend they are lounging on a tropical island, as long as they ignore the ugly grey dome above . Up to 700 people an hour can zoom down a 21-metre undulating stainless steel slide before going on the 112-metre Crazy River steel tube slide . The resort's indoor rainforest has a one-kilometre walkway and 50,000 plants, of which there are 600 different species. The complex also offers bars, saunas, lagoons and grottos to entertain a capacity of 6,000 visitors, along with 522 beds in various rooms and lodges, and hundreds of tents. There are 400 sunloungers to accommodate guests on the world's largest indoor beach and, although they won't be able to soak up real tropical rays, at least they can be sure that it will never rain. In the Bali Lagoon pool, swimmers can enjoy water temperatures of 32C while they are surrounded by palm trees, Balinese huts and even a waterfall. The park is also home to Europe's biggest tropical spa and sauna complex which is spread over 10,000 square metres. The six different treatment areas are modelled on various cultural sites, including the Elephanta Temple, which is a scale model of the original temple in India, and the Angkor Wat Temple based on the world-famous temple complex in Cambodia. Meanwhile, the Jungle Village sits on stilts five metres above the ground and houses a range of saunas and steam baths. Controlling the weather: The sun peeks through the dome's windows but it will never rain inside the tropical water park . World on your doorstep: One of the resort's zones features a Balinese-themed area complete with palm trees and Balinese huts . Huge project: The giant dome measures 66,000 square metres and is so tall the Statue of Liberty could fit inside it . Some visitors on TripAdvisor said the resort was great for winter trips and was the perfect place to entertain children, while others complained about high prices, long queues and a lack of sunbeds. Ravita wrote: 'The island is an amazing place - feels like a real tropical island and there are lots of things to do with tots', while HenrikKragh wrote: 'Lovely bathing, cool action, nice temperature, unique location and setting.' However, other customers were not so satisfied. Borszczuk wrote: 'Visited for one day during national holiday and the place was a bit overcrowded - forget about finding free sunbed, finding free spot on sand was quite hard too. In general, the place is great for kids. Adults will most likely find it OK but boring.' And Viswakumar A warned: 'The sauna area of the park has a nude dress code. So be prepared!' Soaking up the artificial rays: Tropical Islands has only 400 sunloungers to accommodate 6,000 visitors . Relaxation zone: The park is also home to Europe's biggest tropical spa and sauna complex which is spread over 10,000 square metres . Stay the night: The complex also offers visitors the choice of 522 beds in various rooms and lodges, along with hundreds of tents . Take a souvenir back with you: Tropical Islands' gift shop is well-stocked with family games and activities . Light fantastic: Bathers can chill out in different zones, several of which are modelled on other countries . Life's a beach: If you squint - and ignore all the screaming children - you can pretend that you are lounging on the beach in Bali . Home from home: Along with cheaper stays in tents and lodges, the resort offers families and couples more luxurious accommodation . Take the plunge: The resort's tropical spa and sauna complex is spread over 10,000 square metres and offers guests a range of treatments . Soak it in: In the Bali Lagoon pool, swimmers can enjoy water temperatures of 32C and are surrounded by palm trees, Balinese huts and even a waterfall . Family fun under one roof: The resort offers a host of activities and even has it's own mini-golf course . Mixed reviews: Visitors on TripAdvisor said the resort was great for winter trips while others complained about high prices, long queues and a lack of sunbeds . | Tropical Islands resort is housed within the largest free-standing hall in the world .
Space measures 66,000 square metres and is so tall the Statue of Liberty could fit inside .
The water park is home to the world's largest indoor rainforest, along with pools and beaches .
Holds a capacity of 6,000 visitors, along with 522 beds and 400 sunloungers .
Also boasts Germany's highest water slide tower, which stands at a vertigo-inducing 27 metres tall . |
fcb861abde7a34973641511c633d53745b23b15c | By . Matt Blake . PUBLISHED: . 07:50 EST, 15 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:34 EST, 15 October 2012 . Rapist: Graham Kelly, 59, jumped over a fence armed with the kitchen blade and raped the woman in a stable in Driffield, near Hull, East Yorkshire, after stalking her for weeks . A rapist who attacked a woman while armed with an eight-inch carving knife was snared after his quick-thinking victim tricked him into coming back to her home for coffee. Graham Kelly, 59, jumped over a fence armed with the kitchen blade and raped the woman in a stable in Driffield, near Hull, East Yorkshire, after stalking her for weeks. But, in an attempt to save herself, the woman convinced Kelly she liked him and asked him back to her house so police could arrest him. The victim, who can not be named for legal reasons, said: 'It was coffee or kill me. I chose coffee.' She cried as a jury at Hull . Crown Court took just 30 minutes to return a unanimous . verdict, convicting Kelly of rape on Friday. During his trial, the woman told how 'obsessive' Kelly would wait for her in lay-bys, stalk her in supermarkets and 'shower ' her with texts. But when she spurned his advances, his lust turned to rage. 'He left a letter saying he was going to end his life and he had chosen the tree where he was going to do it,' she said. And in a sinister twist, the woman knew Driffield murder victim . Linda Merigo, the mother stabbed to death in front of her young son in September 2010, . and she feared Kelly was going to kill her. 'When he jumped over the fence with the knife in his hand, Linda Merigo flashed through my mind,' she said. 'I didn’t have time to think, I couldn’t get Linda off my mind. 'I was going to bleed to death in a field and never see my children again.' With the carving knife held to her side, the woman tried frantically to come up with a plan to save her life. 'I was thinking how can I get out of this without him getting me,' she said. Waiting for sentence: Kelly's victim cried as a jury at Hull Crown Court (pictured) took just 30 minutes to return a unanimous verdict, convicting Kelly of rape . 'I was trying to convince him not to kill me. He had just raped me and said he was going to kill me. 'He asked for a coffee and I said . "Yes, I will make you a coffee". I was safer knowing where he was and . that the police were coming.' She told Kelly to come back to her . home for coffee. But, as she cycled home, she saw an elderly neighbour . and asked him to call the police. Kelly was waiting for her outside her home and she let him in, making him a coffee. Rural: Kelly attacked the woman in a stable in the picturesque town of Driffield, near Hull, East Yorkshire . Sinister twist: The woman knew Driffield murder victim Linda Merigo, the mother stabbed to death in front of her young son in September 2010 by her husband Alfredo (pictured together) He was arrested when the police arrived ten minutes after the neighbour called 999. Judge Mark Bury deferred sentence for reports. He said: 'This could be a one-off . piece of behaviour, which will never be repeated but I’m concerned this . man does have an obsession with her and if he were to be released after . an ordinary sentence, he might still harbour resentment. 'I want to know more about him before I sentence him. 'If it is the case he is a ticking timebomb, the sentence will be indefinite.' After the verdict, Detective Constable Claire Burnett said Kelly had a dangerous obsession with his victim. DC Burnett said: 'He pursued her . relentlessly. He followed her, waited near her home and sent her text . messages. Finally, he confronted her at knifepoint in an isolated . location. The victim was understandably put in a terrified position. 'I am delighted with the verdict. Kelly will now be looking at a long term of imprisonment.' Kelly, from Driffield, East Yorks, will be sentenced next month. As he was remanded in custody to await sentence, DC Burnett said the woman was relieved Kelly had been convicted of rape. She said: 'Throughout this ordeal, the victim has dealt with it in a dignified, respectful and brave manner. She is very relieved with the verdict.' | Graham Kelly, 59, jumped over a fence .
armed with the kitchen blade and raped the woman in a stable in .
Driffield, near Hull, East Yorkshire .
She cried as a jury at Hull .
Crown Court on Friday took just 30 minutes to return a unanimous .
verdict, convicting Kelly of rape .
She said: 'It was coffee or kill me. I chose coffee'
She told how 'obsessive' Kelly would wait for her in lay-bys, stalk her in supermarkets and 'shower ' her with texts in weeks leading up to the attack .
After the rape he asked for coffee and she agreed secretly alerting a neighbour as they returned to her home . |
fcb87546b7877ddd09f7384cfddf964b643f9db6 | Nigerian troops backed by civilian vigilantes reclaimed the northeastern town of Chibok late Saturday, a military spokesman and a community leader said Sunday. The town had been seized by Boko Haram militants on Thursday. Chibok is the scene of the April 14 abduction of over 200 schoolgirls by Boko Haram, which sparked global outrage. "Our troops have recaptured Chibok from Boko Haram terrorists who invaded it on Thursday," said Col. Sani Usman, military spokesman for Borno state. "The town was retaken late Saturday by troops working alongside civilian vigilantes after crushing the terrorists. "Troops are still conducting mop-up operation in nearby villages to flush out remnants of the terrorists," Usman said. Scores of Boko Haram militants drove into the town around 4:00 p.m. Thursday and engaged soldiers protecting the town and local vigilantes in a fierce gunfight, forcing residents to flee. The militants blew up all telecommunications towers in the town with rocket-propelled grenades, making the town unreachable by telephone. Pogu Bitrus, head of the Chibok Elders Forum, confirmed the takeover of the town from Boko Haram but gave credit to the vigilantes for the victory. "I can confirm that Chibok has been reclaimed from Boko Haram by our vigilantes with the assistance of soldiers," Bitrus said. "I spoke with the leader of the vigilantes via satellite phone and he confirmed the good news to me," said Bitrus, who lives in Nigeria's capital, Abuja. "The vigilantes entered Chibok and fought Boko Haram from inside while soldiers laid siege outside the town and take down any fleeing militants," he said. Chibok was strewn with weapons, vehicles and other personal effects abandoned by the defeated insurgents, Bitrus said. Civilian vigilantes have in recent days taken center stage in the fight against Boko Haram Islamists, who have seized over two dozen towns and villages in northeastern Nigeria in the past two months. Bitrus said soldiers fled when Boko Haram attacked Chibok, leaving the vigilantes to fight. The vigilantes had to withdraw when they ran out of ammunition for their shotguns. On Thursday over 200 vigilantes and local hunters clawed back the town of Mubi, the commercial hub of Adamawa state, which was seized by Boko Haram two weeks ago. The vigilantes on Wednesday reportedly took back the town of Maiha after a prolonged gun battle in which scores of the insurgents were killed. The fleeing Islamists regrouped and took over the towns of Hong and Gombi as well as Chibok. Hong and Gombi are still under Boko Haram control, according to residents. | Nigerian troops backed by civilian vigilantes reclaim the town of Chibok .
Chibok had been seized by Boko Haram militants two days earlier .
The town of Chibok is where 200 schoolgirls were abducted by Boko Haram in April . |
fcb94dbd67ab3ab73a7a158ad9afc0ee598d1785 | The final stockpile of Syria's chemical weapons has been shipped out of the country, according to the OPCW, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. Ahmet Uzumcu, the chief of the international watchdog organization, said the weapons were loaded Monday aboard the Danish ship Ark Futura and departed the Syrian port of Latakia. "A major landmark has been reached today," Uzumcu said, qualifying that that meant all "declared" weapons were out of the country. "We cannot say for sure it has no more chemical weapons," Uzumcu said. "All we can do is work on the basis of verifying a country's declarations of what they have. I would not make any speculation to possible remaining assets, substances, chemical weapons. ... " It has been more than a year since the Obama administration said that Syria had crossed a "red line" with its use of chemical weapons during the nation's civil war, which has raged since 2011. In August 2013, U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky told reporters that a team of experts had gathered to go to Syria to investigate reports of chemical weapons. Later that month, video and witness accounts appeared to support the allegations that scores of people killed outside the Syrian capital of Damascus had been poisoned with chemical weapons. The nonpartisan Doctors Without Borders then reported that three hospitals near Damascus treated more than 3,000 patients suffering "neurotoxic symptoms." In September, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon released the inspectors' report, which says there is "clear and convincing evidence" that sarin, a nerve agent developed for chemical warfare, was used in the Damascus attack. Later that month, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution requiring Syria to eliminate its chemical weapons arsenal, and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad promised to adhere to the resolution. The following month, Syria began dismantling its chemical weapons program. The OPCW reported that Syrians were using torches and grinders to destroy or disable weapons such as missile warheads and aerial bombs. But in February, the OPCW told CNN that Syria had shipped out only 11% of its chemical weapons stockpile. That happened after a February deadline ordering that all chemical arms be removed from Syria had passed. While Monday brought an apparent end to a chapter regarding Syria's chemical weapons, talks to achieve some semblance of peace in the country continue and, on the ground in Syria, trauma and bloodshed continue. On June 20 in New York, Ban gave an impassioned speech about the war in Syria. It's possible that more than 150,000 people have died since the war began, but the U.N. chief said it may be impossible to get an exact count of how many have lost their lives. Half of Syria's population of 22 million has been displaced, and a flood of refugees are struggling to put their lives back together in neighboring countries such as Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan and Iraq, Ban said. "The international community must not abandon the people of Syria and the region to never-ending waves of cruelty and crisis," he implored. "The greatest obstacle to ending the Syria war is the notion that it can be won militarily. ... "No one is winning; no one can win. Even if one side were to prevail in the short term, the devastating toll will have sown the seeds of future conflict." | Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons: Stockpile has left Syrian port of Latakia .
"A major landmark has been reached," OPCW chief says .
It's been more than a year since Obama said Syria crossed "red line" with use of chemical arms . |
fcb99fc6cab1cf729c8145bc12da093510787ac4 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 16:22 EST, 22 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:27 EST, 22 November 2013 . Behind bars: Florida resident, John David Baker, 29, who is a British citizen, has been sentenced to 25 years for using a fake persona online to solicit child pornography . A Florida actor and talent judge who helped audition young people for the entertainment industry has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for engaging in internet child pornography. John David Baker, 29, who lives in Celebration, Florida, but is a British citizen, was arrested for creating a fake online persona and persuading children to send him sexual images of themselves. According to court documents, beginning around November 2008 through August 2010, Baker engaged in online conversations with several minor children over the internet. During this period, Baker worked as an actor and helped train and audition adults and children who were attempting to pursue careers in the entertainment business, according to Florida's District Attorney's office. Working at the same time as a judge for a talent competition in Florida, Baker met minor children who were auditioning to obtain work in the art and film industries. Federal agents began investigating Baker after concerned parents told authorities he had contacted their child online. Baker told investigators he chatted with children from a talent competition online and that many of those conversations were sexually oriented. He admitted he sent or traded numerous sexual photographs of himself during the chats, and that he ‘meant no harm’. He stated that through his work in the talent industry he received photos of individuals, some through his request and some not solicited by him. According to Baker, he had solicited photos from at least 10 children in the talent competition. Abused his power: Baker worked as a judge for the Celebration Talent Competition in Florida, where he met minor children who were auditioning to obtain work in the art and film industries . In one instance, he had pretended to be a 15-year-old girl online and used the fake identity to persuade at least two children to send pictures and videos of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Investigators found chat logs on Baker's computer which showed he watched one girl perform sex acts via a live web camera. When questioned by detectives in March 2012, Baker did not deny his online interactions with that girl. He blamed drinking, depression and poor relationships for his actions, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Baker, who was arrested on September 7 last year, pleaded guilty in April. In addition to prison, Baker was ordered to serve a 15-year term of supervised release following his incarceration and to register as a sex offender. | UK citizen John David Baker, 29, who lives in Celebration, Florida, was arrested for persuading children to send him pornographic images .
He pretended he was a 15-year-old girl online .
Investigators found live webcam videos of children performing sexual acts for him .
Baker worked helped train and audition adults and children attempting to pursue careers in entertainment .
He says he ‘meant no harm’. The judge didn't agree . |
fcb9e51e22d2f588b857b08f07f32a85c18db22f | By . Rob Cooper . PUBLISHED: . 03:53 EST, 10 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:23 EST, 10 April 2012 . Tory donor: William Ives, 68, was arrested for harassing his ex-wife. He accepted a police caution . A major Conservative Party donor and friend of the Prime Minister has received a police caution for harassing his ex-wife. William Ives, 68, who has a £266million fortune, is alleged to have bombarded Pearl Adams, 56, with telephone calls for years after their divorce. The steel tycoon was arrested at his Essex mansion and was released after he agreed to accept a caution. The donor has given more than £560,000 to the Conservative Party and has attended lunches and Downing Street garden parties with the Prime Minister. He gives more than £50,000 per year to the party and as a member of the 'Leaders Group' of donors has regular meetings with Mr Cameron and George Osborne. His ex-wife Pearl, a Marks and Spencer shop assistant, was allegedly abused and threatened during a string phone calls. However, Ives, who is chairman of Rainham Steel which he founded in 1973, says he only called his ex-wife a few times. He told police he was only trying to win her back. Pearl attended lunch in Mr Cameron's Commons office after Prime Minister's Questions and a private dinner for donors in London while she was with Ives. She was diagnosed with cancer last year and was forced to undergo gruelling chemotherapy sessions. Ives was arrested at his mansion on April 2 and taken to the nearby Basildon police station for questioning after police refused his offer to come in for questioning voluntarily the following day. Tycoon: Bill Ives, founder and chairman of Rainham Steel, has an estimated £266million fortune . Officers suggested he had been bombarding his ex-wife, from Southend, Essex, with 30 calls per week for two years - but Ives dismissed the claims as rubbish. The Tory donor met his future wife through a dating agency in October 2004 and wooed her by picking her up in a chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce with champagne on their second date. He also tried to give her a gold bracelet but she refused to take it. He also took her on a series of lavish foreign holidays. They stayed in the Ritz Carlton in New York together after flying to the U.S. in First Class. Pearl, resigned as an account manager at an IT company in 2006, to marry the steel tycoon. Donor: David Cameron, pictured in Japan today, is a friend of William Ives who he has met on a number of occasions . Pearl, who has two adult children from her previous marriage, had a row with the tycoon on a Caribbean cruise and they split a few months later. Ives admitted phoning his ex-wife on a number of occasions but denied he had harassed her. He told the Daily Mirror: 'I accepted a caution on the advice of my solicitor but my gut reaction was not to accept it because I hadn't harassed her in my opinion. 'She's been sending me Valentine's cards for the last few years and, I believe, calling the house up late at night but withholding her number. I've done nothing wrong whatsoever. 'I accept I have made a few calls but nothing like on the scale I have been accused of and I've never left a threatening message.' He admitted he would still like to be with her - but accepted their relationship was over. Ives regularly dines with Communities and Local Government Minister Eric Pickles and has given over £10,000 to support his Brentwood constituency party. The steel tycoon, who left school at 16, has ploughed money into Scunthorpe United football club as their main sponsor. A spokesman for Essex Police said today: 'Police were contacted on Monday March 19 by a 56-year-old woman from Southend who was reporting that she was being harassed. 'An investigation was launched and a 68-year-old man was arrested at his home in the Brentwood area on April 2. 'He subsequently accepted a police caution after admitting to harassing a woman through a series of telephone calls since July 2009.' A spokesman for the Conservative Party said they did not comment on private matters. | William Ives, 68, has given the Conservatives £560,000 since David Cameron has been leader .
He was accused of bombarding ex-wife Pearl Adams, 56, with 30 telephone calls per week .
The steel tycoon denies doing anything wrong but accepted a caution .
He still wants to get back together with her .
Rainham Steel chairman has £266million fortune .
He wooed Pearl with champagne in a chauffeur driven Rolls Royce on their second date .
But they broke up months after marrying in 2006 . |
fcb9e9aa2a654a41c48d3437c240e113289983af | Disgraced former Internal Revenue Service official Lois Lerner got $129,300 in bonuses between 2010 and 2013, during the years when she allegedly supervised a program targeting conservative nonprofit groups with intrusive levels nad scrutiny that liberal group managed to avoid. Lerner, then in charge of the IRS's Exempt Organizations Division, drew a top-tier salary that reached $177,000 – plus a 25 per cent 'retention bonus.' That's a federal workforce perk designed to keep high-ranking officials from retiring or jumping to more lucrative offers in the private sector. Those annual bonuses, valued at an average of $43,000, only stopped because continuing them would have pushed her over the legal limit of how much a government employee can earn. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEOS AND DOCUMENTS . Former Internal Revenue Service official Lois Lerner received massive cash bonuses from the federal government while her department was targeting conservative nonprofit groups for extra scrutiny based on political-sounding words in their names . Lerner famously appeared before Congress in May 2013 and offered an opening statement pleading her innocence – but then invoked her Fifth Amendment rights and refused to answer any questions . The Washington Free Beacon obtained documents through a Freedom of Information Act request showing the shocking payouts, which came in the same three years – 2010, 2011 and 2012 – when her department was throwing up roadblocks that stopped hundreds of tea parties and other right-wing groups from obtaining the tax-exempt status they needed to operate and raise money. Steven T. Miller first recommended Lerner for a $42,000 retention bonus in December 2009, the Free Beacon reported, when he was the Acting IRS commissioner. She got $43,050 and $44,250 in the next two years. But in November 2012 the IRS determined that continuing to make the payouts each year would violate a federal regulation that sets a hard limit on federal workers' earnings. With another retention bonus, she would have been earning more than the maximum allowed, which was $230,700. But at the end of 2009 she had become eligible for retirement, and Miller wanted to keep her on the job. 'Ms. Lerner is eligible for retirement and as an attorney with extensive experience would likely command a much greater pay and benefits if she left the Service,' he wrote then. 'Without a retention incentive she will leave the (Internal Revenue) Service.' 'Her unique blend of specialized technical expertise, broad organizational knowledge, and leadership skills cannot be matched,' he added at the time. Joseph Grant, Lerner's immediate supervisor as deputy commissioner of the tax-exempt division, approved the massive check along with Miller himself. Grant would later resign in disgrace in May 2013, at President Barack Obama's specific demand, after the depth of Lerner's alleged scheme became known Grant 'retired' one day later. Lerner waited until September 2013 for her own retirement, letting the calendar advance to the point where she earned a full federal government pension. In May 2013 Lerner launched one of the Obama administration's most political damaging scandals by planting a question during a tax accountants conference about how her subagency scrutinized right-wing tax exemption applicants that the administration thought might be political groups in disguise. She acknowledged that organizations with words like 'tea party' or 'patriot' in their names were processed differently, on a schedule that could stretch out for years. CRYING ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK: Lerner retired with a full federal government pension . Lerner knew at the time that the IRS Office of Inspector General was ready to release an audit report exposing the practice of singling out conservatives. That report came out just four days later. The IRS, the inspector general wrote, 'used inappropriate criteria that identified for review Tea Party and other organizations applying for tax-exempt status based upon their names or policy positions instead of indications of potential political campaign intervention.' A congressional investigation, now nearly two years old, stalled in 2014 after IRS Commissioner John Koskinen claimed years' worth of Lerner's emails were lost during a hard-drive crash. Emails tha twere recovered showed Lerner caomplaining that political conservatives were 'crazies' and 'a**holes.' Lois Lerner FOIA on Bonuses (Free Beacon) uploaded by DailyMail.com . | 'Retention' bonuses were paid in 2010, 2011 and 2012 in order to keep Lerner from leaving the IRS .
Payouts were later canceled because continuing them would have put her over the legal limit of how much a federal employee can earn .
Bonuses came in the same years when Lerner's IRS subagency was targeting tea parties and other conservative groups with extra scrutiny .
Liberal groups sailed through, however, and the practice was later condemned by Republicans in Congress .
The IRS higher-ups who approved Lerner's bonuses ultimately resigned in disgrace, and Lerner was allowed to retire with a full pension . |
fcba4f36f889396ca843e12da6cc977911d2e921 | By . Zoe Szathmary . Chris Sutter, son of LA Kings head coach Darryl Sutter, had his moment in the spotlight after the hockey team won the Stanley Cup on Friday night. Sutter, 21, was seen kissing the Cup and lifting it up in the air - as onlookers smiled and clapped. Sutter, who was born with Down syndrome, was featured with player Anze Kopitar in a post-game interview with NBC. Let's do it again! Chris Sutter, son of LA Kings head coach Darryl Sutter, is seen lifting up the Stanley Cup after the LA Kings' win on Friday night . Pucker up: Chris Sutter kissed the Stanley Cup after the LA Kings' victory . 'Well my dad, it's like a great year for him,' Sutter said. He added, 'Let's do it again!' The LA . Kings beat the New York Rangers 3-2 in double overtime. It was the . team's second Stanley Cup championship in three years. In the interview, Kopitar referred to Sutter as 'like a brother.' 'He feels like a brother to me,' Kopitar said. 'When we get down during the season, since it's such a long time, he comes in the room and he jokes around with us, we play a little basketball with him and he always lightens up the mood and it's so, so nice to have him around now.' Brothers: LA Kings player Anze Kopitar, center, said Sutter 'feels like a brother to me' Family man: LA Kings head coach Darryl Sutter, seen here holding the Stanley Cup, regularly communicates with other families whose members have Down syndrome . Darryl Sutter spoke to the Toronto Sun this week and explained his close relationship with his son. 'I can stand and talk to Chris and know what he’s talking about, but you might not be able to,' he told the paper. 'It’s the same thing when you talk to the other challenged children; you can pick up what they’re trying to do, right?' The Sun also reported that the hockey coach regularly keeps in touch with families who also have members with Down syndrome, many of whom reach out to him directly. 'You feel almost responsible to do it,' Sutter told the paper. 'You feel responsible, like you should do it. And that’s a good thing. It makes you feel good, too.' | Chris Sutter, son of LA Kings head coach Darryl Sutter, had his moment in the spotlight after the team's win and lifted the Stanley Cup into the air - as onlookers smiled .
In a post-game interview, he said 'Let's do it again!'
Darryl Sutter also regularly keeps in touch with families who also have members with Down syndrome .
The LA Kings beat the New York Rangers 3-2 in double overtime and it was the team's second Stanley Cup championship in three years . |
fcba9e746ea0126f54946ec88ae7e0a693142f49 | RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (CNN) -- The death toll from flooding that has covered large parts of Brazil continued to rise Friday, with the government reporting seven new fatalities, bringing the total to 38. Floodwaters reach almost to the tops of some homes in Piaui state in Brazil. The rain-induced floods left nearly 800,000 people displaced, according to the Brazilian civil defense agency. Rain has fallen steadily in some parts of the country for more than two weeks and is forecast to continue for another 10 days. World Vision, a relief agency working in Brazil, predicted it could take 30 days for flood waters to recede. Communities in 10 states have been swamped by the floods, though most of the fatalities have occurred in the country's northeast, officials said. The Brazilian government was working with local governments Friday to deliver food, cleaning materials and other supplies to the affected areas -- using helicopters to reach some areas made impassable by flooded roads. Meteorologists and other weather specialists are divided over the cause of the downpours, particularly in the normally dry northeastern section of the nation. Some say ocean temperatures are to blame, while others say deforestation has led to the climate change. Brazil has been devastated by rain-swollen rivers for months. Flooding in the southern part of the nation in November and December killed more than 120 people and left about another 30 missing. Journalist Fabiana Frayssinet contributed to this story from Rio de Janeiro . | Seven more people perish in Brazil floods, bringing government's death toll to 38 .
Nation's civil defense agency says nearly 800,000 have been displaced .
Government was working with local governments Friday to deliver food, supplies .
Rain has fallen steadily in some parts of the country for more than two weeks . |
fcbaa1c04e91e317bd3c190942c805fae47400df | By . Mark Duell and Sean Poulter . PUBLISHED: . 04:49 EST, 28 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:56 EST, 28 May 2013 . Women's leather belts sold by the fashion website ASOS have been recalled after the metal studs in them were found to be radioactive. About 50 of the belts, retailing at £28, are known to have been bought from the company. They were made using cheap contaminated scrap metal in India. The peplum leather belts, which tested positive for Cobalt-60, could injure people if worn for more than 500 hours - and are currently in a radioactive storage facility, an internal company report said. It said that one of the belts tested positive after being pulled by U.S. border control officers, which led to them being withdrawn across the world reported The Guardian. The firm issued a recall in January, but details have slipped out only now and ASOS cannot say how many have been returned. Withdrawal: The peplum leather belts, which tested positive for Cobalt-60, could injure people if worn for more than 500 hours - and are currently in a radioactive storage facility, an internal Asos company report said . But the number of studded belts - which were described in the report called Project Purple Flower as being unsuitable for ‘for public use or possession’ - that have been returned is not yet known. The report, which was produced by an external regulator, said that the incident is ‘quite a common occurrence’ and that during the refining process of scrap metal, ‘orphaned radioactive sources are sometimes accidentally melted at the same time’. This contaminates the process and ‘traps the radioactivity in the metal as an alloy or in suspension’. Haq International, the Indian group which the firm said supplied the belts, has been supplying Asos for more than a year - and allegedly sold 641 radioactive belts to them, reported The Guardian. Retailer: An Asos spokesman said the company 'continues to work with the relevant regulatory authorities and is in dialogue with the supplier and the factory workers involved to ensure a satisfactory outcome' The firm had withheld £64,000 owed to the supplier’s boss Faizan Haq, who said his factory has had to be shut for five months. 'There's no business left, I'm just sitting at home. It's bad and it’s a financial headache' Faizan Haq, supplier Haq International . He said that this has left 18 Indian . workers unemployed at the Royal Ascot Leather factory in Uttar Pradesh - . and that his car has had to be sold so he can hire a legal team. Asos has since offered to pay Mr Haq . £24,000 of the £64,000 he is owed, but he told MailOnline: ‘There's no . business left, I'm just sitting at home. It's bad and it’s a financial . headache. An Asos spokesman said in a statement emailed to MailOnline: ‘A product supplied to Asos did not meet UK health and safety standards. ‘Asos worked with all relevant authorities and undertook a precautionary product recall, in line with our high standards of quality and customer care. No other Asos product lines are affected. ‘Asos continues to work with the relevant regulatory authorities and is in dialogue with the supplier and the factory workers involved to ensure a satisfactory outcome.’ The Guardian also reported that Mr Haq has been refused permission to inspect the goods. But the Asos spokesman said it had also been restricted from inspecting the belts due to 'standard regulatory procedure' on the part of U.S. authorities. | Leather belts positive for Cobalt-60 after tests by U.S. border control .
Withdrawal on product which has had 49 units sold over 14 countries .
Belts could injure people if worn for more than 500 hours, report says . |
fcbacd04466b054bef9bca104e7aee0bfa442bda | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 13:53 EST, 17 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 14:02 EST, 17 December 2012 . A controversial New York Jets player is being sued for child support for the second time in two years after fathering another love child with a different woman. Fashion blogger Ashton Whittington is taking wide receiver Braylon Edwards, 29, to family court in Manhattan after she gave birth to their son last year, the New York Post reported. Model Nik Pace successfully sued Edwards in 2010 after she also had a child by the player. Lightning strikes twice: Ashton Whittington (right) is suing New York Jets star Braylon Edwards (left) for child support. Edwards lost a similar case to model Nik Pace to 2010 . Fashionista: Ashton Whittington who is suing Braylon Edwards for child support shows off her collection of leather pants on YouTube . Ashton Whittington, the latest claimant against Edwards, gave birth to a baby fathered by the NFL star that very same year. The boy, called Ashton Arthur Whittington, is now 18 months old, according to the Post. 'Braylon and Ashton had a relationship, and around the time he was arrested in September 2010 [for DWI], she became pregnant,' a source said. 'They are no longer together. He knows about his son and is paying interim child support, but Ashton is suing for a more formal child support agreement.' Edwards’ lawyer told the Post that his client is 'honoring his financial obligations, and there is an agreed . [temporary] order in place.' Success: Model Nik Pace won her child support case against Braylon Edwards in 2010. He is now facing another action from a second woman who gave birth to his baby . But Whittington has hired Lauren Mallin, the same top attorney who had previous success against Edwards in a similar case. In 2010 Mallin represented Nik Pace, a finalist on America’s Next Top Model in 2005. Pace also sued Edwards for child support. His legal team tried to hold the case in Georgia, an act described by Pace's lawyers as a 'cold, calculated act to pay less money' as that state generally awards less in child support payments. But the litigation was held in New York and Pace won the case, though it was reported that she was awarded less than her $70,000-a-month demand. Edwards has settled down with new girlfriend, Victoria Bow. On Bow's birthday in March he tweeted a series of messages of undying love to her. New love: Victoria Bow is Braylon Edwards' latest girlfriend. Edwards claimed in March that 'I've never felt like this' Making it official: Braylon Edwards has tweeted extensively of his love for Victoria Bow . 'I've never felt like this. I don't deserve her. Victoria I will never let you down. You are my world and it's official,' he said. Edwards acknowledged his bad-boy history in another tweet: 'It's not about a past or a perception it's about the live she gives to me and I give to her.' The NFL player has regularly made negative headlines. He has been in trouble with police for speeding violations, drink-driving incidents and allegedly punching a friend of NBA star LeBron James outside a nightclub. Edwards recently rejoined the New York Jets after leaving the team in August 2011. He was resigned by the club last week, despite calling the Jets' management 'idiots' on Twitter at the start of December. He is expected to make his debut against the Tennessee Titans tonight. | Braylon Edwards, 29, sued for child support twice in the last two years .
Fashion blogger, Ashton Whittington, taking New York Jets wide receiver to family court in Manhattan . |
fcbb2b522e9a55c4ec54eefc25998175c07e0486 | Hong Kong (CNN) -- For at least 10 minutes, it looked as if it could have been a fairytale night for the home side. Within only the first few minutes, Hong Kong's league winner Kitchee found itself in the jarringly unfamiliar position of being a goal to the good against star-studded French football champion Paris Saint-Germain. Natural order reasserted itself shortly after, however, with PSG winger Hervin Ongenda scoring a well-taken goal as the crowd erupted. It was the first of six for the Ligue 1 side, including a hat-trick for star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. As the wisdom of arduous preseason tours is being questioned in some quarters, especially as exhausted players return from the World Cup, PSG was in bullish form here in Hong Kong, and its growing popularity in evidence. Indeed, wading through the crowds before kickoff, it was almost impossible to tell which team held home advantage in Tuesday's match, with PSG replica shirts -- mostly sporting the number 10 and Ibra's name splayed across the back -- easily outnumbering any other sartorial choices. "This is the first time I've seen them live," says Calvin Lee, a finance professional who wears his navy-blue PSG jersey over his white business shirt. "I've been a fan for around two years, ever since they started buying up international stars." Regular trips . The Asia preseason tour has become an annual ritual for many of Europe's top teams, although this year many English high-flyers, having won over Asian fans through years of visits, are instead turning their attention to that other great untapped market, the United States. The popularity of English teams in Hong Kong, as in so many other Asian markets, far outstrips that of their European neighbors, even Champions League winner Real Madrid and fellow Spanish giant Barcelona, as well as German titleholder Bayern Munich. "It's exciting to see these matches live (in the stadium)," says 16-year-old Mok Lui Ngai, who is wearing a PSG replica shirt with Beckham's name on the back, a throwback to when the English superstar played half a season in the French capital. "I'd also come and watch if it was Arsenal or Manchester United, though." It is through tours like PSG's mini-excursion into Hong Kong, and onto China, that the marketing departments of these clubs hope to redress this balance. Playing catch-up . "We are quite lagging behind the English Premier League clubs and you need to catch this distance so I think it's important to be here, even though it's a long (way to) travel," PSG's executive vice-president of business operations Frederic Longuepee tells CNN. It's not just the clubs that are targeting Asian fans as the financial future. The French league moved this season's traditional opener, the French Super Cup, in Beijing, echoing the Italian FA's decision to hold its version, the Supercoppa, abroad in recent years. It is the the first time the French curtain-raiser has gone to Asia. Previously, the trophy winners had met in Canada (2009), the U.S. (2012) and Africa (2010/11/13). These games, featuring the league and domestic cup winners, are a step up from preseason friendlies like PSG's match against Kitchee. Saturday's Trophée des Champions clash with cup-winning Guingamp presents an opportunity for PSG to cement the allegiance of soccer fans in the Chinese capital. Despite the travel time from France, and the relative lack of recuperation time that the players have had in this World Cup year, Longuepee says it makes "perfect sense" to serve up an exhibition match in Hong Kong, en route to Beijing. "Since the French Ligue 1 decided to come to Asia to play the French Super Cup it makes sense to come earlier," he says. "To come here and to meet with our partners and sponsors." Tours criticized . This year, there has been criticism of the demands of summer tours from other top managers, including English side Arsenal's Arsene Wenger and new Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal. PSG's head coach Laurent Blanc, however, argues that the commercial aspects of the club's summer plans do not interfere with his players' fitness, or their preparation for a grueling season ahead. "It was always ... a good opportunity for the squad to come to Asia, especially Hong Kong, ahead of the Champions' Trophy (Super Cup) in Beijing so it was all planned, there is no problem at at," the 1998 World Cup winner told CNN. He also said that the team didn't need to stoop to scrapping for the allegiance of fans in Asia. "Without any (arrogance), PSG is one of the greatest football teams in Europe, so it's already (a jewel) of the football world ... there's nothing to pretend, nothing to compete." Visiting fans . While other top managers bemoan the travel time and physical demands that these tours put on their squads, PSG is a relative newcomer to the Asian market and welcomes the opportunity to meet potential devotees -- and convert some undecideds. "It's part of being a great football club," says Longuepee. "You have to come and see your fans, otherwise you cannot expand and you cannot compete." He added that there were further plans to travel to the Middle East, home of the club's wealthy Qatar backers, in the French season's winter break, a time traditionally reserved for teams to recuperate. And with a 6-2 scoreline to take to Beijing for next week's French Cup, and a host of potential fans who will be increasingly likely to tune into PSG's French and Champions' League games next season, overseas detours like this aren't going away any time soon. | French Ligue 1 champion beats Hong Kong's Kitchee 6-2 in a friendly in the Asian city .
Overseas tours -- especially to Asia -- are part of the landscape of modern football .
This year's French Super Cup, the traditional season-opener, was moved to Beijing . |
fcbb7a55a51a8858336fbb46eacab55ec0f05265 | For most politicians, image is everything. Not a hair out of place, no grimace or gurning caught on camera, each public appearance carefully stage managed. Unless, of course, you are Boris Johnson, who today added to his bulging photo album of absurd PR stunts strutting his stuff with Strictly star Darcey Bussell and a group of Bolivian Folk Dancers. Scroll down for videos . Boris Johnson gets some dancing tips from Darcey Bussell (second right) and Bolivian Folk dancers . As he raised his hand in the air, it seemed like even Boris himself knew this was a particularly silly stunt . The ballet star-turned Strictly judge put the Mayor through his paces outside City Hall, as the media and a small crowd looked on . Ed Miliband's grim experience wrestling with a bacon sandwich or Nick Clegg's habit of looking glum in all pictures have attracted widespread ridicule. And yet for Boris, it seems, there is no dance routine too ridiculous, no uniform too ill-fitting, no sport too demanding and, famously, no zip-wire too high for the wannabe Tory leader to turn to his advantage. To mark Jeremy Paxman's final appearance hosting Newsnight, Boris took him for a ride on a tandem around London and outed the presenter as 'the last one-nation Tory working at the BBC' I'll be bike: Boris persuaded Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger to mount a Boris Bike during a photocall in London in March 2011 . The political heavyweight appeared piled on the pounds when taking part in the Ridelondon Grand Prix in August last year, although aides blamed an unflattering billowing t-shirt . To get away from the heat of the political battle, he experienced a real 'firehouse' at the London Fire Brigade's new training facility in Beckton in June this year . Never one to shy away from using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, the London Mayor offered some muscle to help with improvements to a new square at King's Cross station . Never quite pulling off the action man look, the Mayor launched last years London Poppy Day at HMS Severn after speeding down the Thames on a poppy branded Royal Navy RIB . The Tory high flier donned captain's hat inside an A380 flight simulator at the Opening of The Emirates Aviation Experience . Visiting a new Hindu temple where his head was wrapped with white material before he was given the ceremonial red dot mark, or tilak, on his forehead . The Tory big gun later joined members of the armed forces and volunteers for a gun salute in front of Armoury House . While most politicians might have just posed next to a crushed car outside Scotland Yard, Boris climbed on top of it to dwarf Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe . There is almost nothing he will not happily try his hand at, including making a Gu chocolate souffle . When not trying to stitch up the Tory leadership, Boris had a go at sewing on a visit to a clothing factory in East London in February last year . Always keen to be in the driving seat, he tried Go-Karting at a project in Brixton, ostensibly to promote a new volunteering programme . In November 2012, Boris clambered up a high chair wrapped in tinsel at Oxford Circus, apparently to promote shopping in the West End . During a visit to China in October last year, he insisted he was beating the drum for British business . Always keen to show off his sporting prowess - or lack of it - he rarely misses a change to pick up a cricket bat, as he did during a game with local Mumbai school boys on Juhu Beach in India in November 2012 . He also joined in with the 'Ball Game' with former rugby player Lawrence Dellaglio and local children involved in the Magic Bus Project in Mumbai . He has also had a go at wheelchair rugby to launch the World Wheelchair Rugby Challenge at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park . As far back as 2011 the Mayor of London was showing off his basketball skills to launch NBA Basketball Week . Using a rather old-fashioned wooden tennis racket, he took part in a celebrity tennis match at Queen's to raise money for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity in June last year . To mark the London Paralympics, he bizarrely joined Eastenders star Barbara Windsor to have a go at sitting volleyball at the ExCel Centre . Always keen to be seen as a friend of the stars, during the 2012 Olympics Boris performed the mobot almost as often as Mo Farah himself . In October last year he got a lesson in how to use a light sabre from Sir Christopher Lee, who was receiving a BFI Fellowship at the 57th BFI London Film Festival . Boris hoped to clean up in the publicity stakes, posing with a broom and actress Keeley Hawes to promote efforts to get London ready for the Olympics . Feeling the squeeze, the Mayor risked getting stuck on a rope bridge at the Olympic Park during a visit with Prince Harry earlier this year . Politicians normally settle for kissing babies, but Boris was happy to pucker up for a saltwater crocodile George, at Darwin International Airport, Australia . The London Mayor looked uncomfortable in the saddle as he rode a horse at the launch of the Longines Global Champions Tour in May last year . The new London Overground extension connecting Clapham Junction with Canada Water also provided an opportunity to lark about for the cameras . Only Boris could make the opening of London Overground's new East London route quite such a spectacle . Celebrating Chinese New Year in London's Chinatown is guaranteed to provide a photo opportunity . Bright colours, feathers and dancing girls? Boris is never far away from a Notting Hill carnival PR stunt . As the world's gaze turned to London ahead of the Olympic Games, what finer advert for the nation than the Mayor of the greatest city in the world stuck up a zipwire clutching a flag and pleading with his aides to get him down . | London Mayor joins Strictly star to strut his stuff on the Southbank .
The pair were promoting a scheme to use dancing to get fit in London .
It is just the latest ridiculous publicity stunt in Boris's back catalogue .
From kissing crocodiles to go-karts and zipwires, no stunt is too daft . |
fcbd955c7e4e59d3daea497f017bb9fe739934b4 | A female employee at an Oklahoma zoo who almost lost her arm after being attacked by a tiger on Saturday morning was 'at fault' according to the park's owner. The attack occurred at the GW Exotic Animal Park in Wynnewood at around 10am. The owner of the park, Joe Schreibvogel, told the Mail Online that the employee 'violated safety protocol' by placing her arm inside the tiger cage. He said there was 'no other way of avoiding this other than handcuffing my employees' hands behind their backs'. 'All I can do is train them and work with them as an employer. I can’t babysit them,' he said. Scroll down for video... Attack: An employee at the G.W. Exotic Animal Park in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, was injured when she was attacked by a tiger at the park Saturday morning . Closed for a time: The zoo was expecting lots of visitors this weekend because of the cooler temperatures . It is believed the accident happened after the female worker placed her hand inside a male adult tiger cage. She was wearing a large goose down jacket which became bunched up inside the cage wire. It meant the tiger was able to grab her hand and pull her left arm through a 4-inch square hole. The Garvin County Sheriff's Office said the woman was mauled by an adult . tiger and was air-lifted to OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City. The employee, who has not been identified, is said to be in stable condition. 'Her fault': The park's owner, Joe Schreibvogel, said the employee violated safety protocol by placing her arm inside the tiger cage. She almost lost her arm in the incident on Saturday . Joe 'Exotic' Schreibvogel, said there was 'no other way of avoiding' incidents like today's other than 'handcuffing' his employees' hands behind their backs . 'I can't babysit them', says Schreibvogel about his employees . The eccentric owner, who sometimes wears sparkly clothing as he poses with his wild beasts, told the Mail Online that the animal would not be put down because 'it was not the tiger's fault'. According to Schreibvogel, the employee had 'three comments' before she was air-lifted to OU Medical Center. 'She . said it was her fault, that she wanted to come back to work and asked . us not to release her name until she had spoken to her family,' he said. The park was closed after the incident but reopened only a few hours later. An update on the park's Facebook page said the woman was out of surgery and that her arm had been saved. ‘She . has a long road of repairs ahead of her but this is a miracle and . thanks for the prayers everyone,’ said the post on Saturday evening. The park's owner said the animal would not be put down because 'it was not the tiger's fault' Schreibvogel said he did not know why the employee put her hand into the cage with the tiger . This is not the first time the GW Exotic Animal Park has been at the centre of controversy, and the 54-acre park, which is located outside Oklahoma City, has had previous run-ins with regulators. GW . Exotic is licensed by the federal government because it's open to the . public - charging admission to come very close to what Schreibvogel . calls the largest 'refuge' for 'unwanted' animals in the world. The . park is home to nearly 170 big cats: lions, tigers, leopards, and about . 800 other animals, including camels, monkeys and exotic birds. He . also runs a controversial breeding programme, selling tiger cubs - only . to zoos, he says - for up to $5,000 each and, at the same time, . cross-breeding exotics like ‘ligers’, a cross between a lion and tiger, . and even what he calls a tuliger, a mix of a liger and a tiger, . according to CBS News. However, Schreibvogel admits he does not have a background in zoology or veterinary medicine. ‘I grew up a farm kid, and that's pretty much my background,’ he told CBS. Over . the years, GW Exotic has come under scrutiny by the U.S. Department of . Agriculture (USDA) for concerns ranging from 'public contact with . dangerous animals' to a 'lack of physical barriers'. The park is home to nearly 170 big cats: lions, tigers, leopards, and about 800 other animals, including camels, monkeys and exotic birds . Records show that, in 2006, it had its license suspended for two weeks and paid $25,000 for 'facilities violations'. It is currently under investigation by the USDA for the death of 23 tiger cubs between 2009-2010, according to CBS News. The Humane Society of the United States sent an activist undercover into GW Exotics in 2011, posing as an employee. The . video, which the Humane Society calls ‘alarming’, shows Schreibvogel . smacking a cub to make it walk and other tigers being hit and dragged . across gravel. In another incident on tape, a boy was suddenly attacked while interacting with a young tiger, and began screaming. They . say at least five tigers died at the facility during the investigation – . two of them had been sick for months and ‘may have been shot by GW . employees’, according to their website. The . society also says a number of visitors at the park have suffered bites . from tigers, including one child whose bite became infected. 'Dangerous': Critics of the park, such as the Humane Society of the United States, says several people have been bitten by tigers at the park. But Schreibvogel says it is not true . However, Schreibvogel says that they have 'never had an accident here at this facility'. 'I . most confident that our visitors here at the park are safe. We have . spent milions on building our cages to where our park is safe. No one . is allowed to go into a cage with an animal,' he told the Mail Online on Saturday evening. According to Schreibvogel, today's incident should 'not reflect on exotic animals or on any zoo being safe or not'. 'We don’t know why she stuck her arm into the tiger.' Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society, says GW Exotic is ‘a ticking time bomb’. According . to CBS News, Schreibvogel responded to the comment saying, ‘It is a . ticking time bomb - if somebody thinks they're going to walk in here and . take my animals away, it's going to be a small Waco.’ He . said: ‘I have poured my entire life into what I do, to care for . animals. Nobody is going to walk in here and freely shut me down and . take my rights away from me as long as I am not breaking the law.’ The owner says he has 'poured his life' into the park 'to care for animals' A . Waco-type tragedy in Zanesville, Ohio, in October 2011, saw the owner of an . animal park, Terry Thompson, release 56 dangerous animals into the wild . before committing suicide. Forty-eight . of his animals were eventually killed by authorities concerned over . public safety, pushing Ohio lawmakers to author a bill restricting . private ownership of exotic pets. The . Humane Society is currently urging the US Department of Agriculture to . adopt regulations banning public contact with dangerous wild animals no . matter the age of the animals. Current . regulations generally allow public contact with tiger cubs between the . ages of 8 and 12 weeks, and encourage the reckless over breeding of . tiger cubs and surplus of captive adult tigers. Baby cubs: Current regulations allow public contact only with tiger cubs up to the age of 12 weeks . The . HSUS is also urging Congress to pass H.R. 4122, the Big Cats and Public . Safety Protection Act to prohibit the private ownership and breeding of . tigers and other dangerous big cats. However, Schreibvogel says a ban would not stop accidents happening. 'You . can ban public contact with animals till the cows come home, but that . doesn’t mean it stops employees from breaking protocol,' he told the . Mail Online. According to Schreibvogel, the accident was 'not the zoo’s fault'. 'An . employee made a mistake and we’re paying for it. She was an excellent . employee, and she is more than welcome to have her job back.' He said it was 'next to impossible' to hire more staff members because it was 'hard work' being employed at the park. 'You come to work here to clean cages and scoop poop. This is not about cuddling with full grown tigers, and a lot of people think that it is.' 'We have a high turn over because this is very hard work,' he told the Mail Online. Schreibvogel . said he is planning to release a six-song country-western music album, . titled Joe Exotic – The Tiger King, with music videos, on November 15 to . ‘help fund tigers in the wild’. Schreibvogel says the accident was 'not the zoo's fault' and banning contact with wild animals was not the solution . The HSUS is also urging Congress to pass H.R. 4122, the Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act to prohibit the private ownership and breeding of tigers and other dangerous big cats . Stable condition: A female employee was mauled by an adult tiger on Saturday but survived the attack and did not lose her arm . | The zoo owner, Joe Schreibvogel, says the worker 'violated protocol' by sticking her hand inside the cage at GW Exotic Animal Park in Wynnewood, Oklahoma .
He says he does not know why she stuck her hand inside the cage .
She is in stable condition after surgery and did not lose her arm .
Schreibvogel says the tiger will not be put down as it was 'not the tiger's fault'
The park was closed after the incident but reopened only a few hours later .
The woman had worked there for a year and plans to return .
GW Exotic runs a controversial breeding programme selling tiger cubs to zoos .
In 2006, it had its license suspended by the USDA for two weeks and paid $25,000 for 'facilities violations'
It is currently 'under investigation' by the USDA for the death of 23 tiger cubs between 2009-2010 .
The eccentric owner, dubbed 'Joe Exotic', is sometimes pictured in sparkly clothing posing with his tigers and other wild animals .
He plans to release an album next month called The Tiger King to help fund tigers in the wild . |
fcbe945daf45a7da5cdfcc3fbb7ded4fcdec2999 | Dhaka, Bangladesh (CNN) -- Polls closed in Bangladesh's parliamentary elections Sunday amid a boycott by major opposition parties and violence that left at least 16 people dead, officials said. Officials announced some results Sunday night. But disputes over the vote appeared to be far from over, with the country's largest opposition party calling for a fresh round of protests starting Monday against what they called "farcical polls." Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, Bangladesh's chief election commissioner, said cold weather and the opposition boycott fueled a low turnout nationwide. But a senior leader of the ruling Awami League said people "spontaneously cast votes and rejected (the) opposition's violent activities." "It's a victory of democracy," Tofail Ahmed told reporters. Police officials reported violence in many parts of the country as opposition activists hoping to foil elections clashed with officers. Police in some areas told CNN they fired tear gas and shots at protesters who tried to attack polling stations. The capital of Dhaka was largely peaceful, but voter turnout was low. "Presence of voters today is lower than any other time of voting," said Gazi Aslim Uddin, a presiding officer at a voting station in old Dhaka. Opposition protesters don't trust Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her administration and want a neutral caretaker government to oversee the vote to make sure it is fair. But that caretaker system was scrapped a few years ago. With mistrust mounting, Bangladesh has seen a series of incidents of deadly street violence over the elections in recent months. Local civic groups and international communities urged the government to cancel the voting and reschedule the elections. The largest opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, and its allies boycotted Sunday's elections and enforced a general strike to thwart voting. Attackers torched about 150 polling centers and election materials nationwide. The boycott was expected to ensure a victory for the ruling Awami League party. Violence stopped voting at some centers, the country's chief election commissioner said, and officials plan to hold new polls at those locations on January 24. Senior BNP leader Osman Farruk demanded cancellation of the elections results and called for fresh elections under a neutral caretaker government. The election unrest underscores persistent problems in the South Asian nation, a country grappling with grinding poverty, political instability and development challenges. Bangladesh protesters torch schools marked as voting centers . Journalist Tania Rashid contributed to this report. | NEW: Election-related violence nationwide leaves at least 16 dead .
NEW: The country's largest opposition party protests against "farcical polls"
NEW: A leader of the ruling Awami League says vote was "victory of democracy" |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.