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fd6bf7bf72dd13ae19a27aa6de8bde99d2bb8a1b | By . Martin Beckford . PUBLISHED: . 19:55 EST, 20 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:55 EST, 20 April 2013 . A police commissioner is facing an investigation for running a private security firm on the side, prompting accusations of a conflict of interest. Kevin Hurley, an ex-Scotland Yard commander, is still advertising his company’s services online with his personal mobile phone number – even though he is now responsible for governing Surrey Police, for which he is paid £70,000 a year. Inspirational Security Solutions boasts that it provides safety advice and training in undercover investigations, and that its executives are ‘politically aware’. Mr Hurley has also caused controversy by appointing a former colleague in the Met as his £50,000-a-year deputy. Kevin Hurley was a commander at Scotland Yard and is now police commissioner for Surrey but he is being accused of having a conflict of interest over his role as a director of a private security firm . He has declared his business interests online but critics insist his second job clashes with his public role. He has the power to give contracts to his own firm or other private investigators and could share his unrivalled knowledge of force finances with business clients. It will raise fresh fears over the powers of Police and Crime Commissioners, elected last November in a bid to make forces more accountable. As The Mail on Sunday has disclosed, many have appointed friends and political cronies to well-paid posts without advertising them. Mr Hurley’s private security interests will now be investigated by the official group that scrutinises his actions, the Police and Crime Panel for Surrey. Its chairman, Councillor Dorothy Ross-Tomlin, said last night: ‘I have asked our officers to look into the rules around interests.’ A spokesman for Mr Hurley said: ‘Kevin remains the unremunerated Director of Inspirational Security Solutions Ltd. The company has not been closed, but has not generated any income since the election. The company has never worked for Surrey Police.’ Shamed: Paris Brown quit over Twitter slurs . Police have defended their investigation into shamed youth crime commissioner Paris Brown over remarks she made on Twitter. She was forced to quit her £15,000-a-year taxpayer-funded job two days after The Mail on Sunday revealed she had used homophobic and racist terms to refer to gays and travellers. The 17-year-old was visited at her family home by two officers before being asked to surrender her mobile phone. She was later interviewed under caution at a police station. Her lawyers have written to Kent Police, saying the nature of its investigation was ‘wholly disproportionate’. A police spokesman said: ‘We received more than 50 complaints from members of the public and are investigating to establish whether any criminal offences have been committed in relation to this incident.’ | Police commissioner for Surrey, Kevin Hurley, questioned over dual role .
Controversy raises fresh fears over powers of commissioners .
The former Scotland Yard commander says firm has no crossover with day job . |
fd6c0d0dceea374e0c07b15901ab0a001bdf2520 | Republican supporters led by secretive oil billionaires the Koch brothers have pledged to oust Barack Obama from power - by stumping up a $100million (£63million) war-chest. David and Charles Koch, worth a combined $50billion, have been joined by 300 of America's wealthiest businessmen in promising the cash to stop Obama from being re-elected. They met at the conservative brothers' annual three-day Californian retreat, where they gain pledges for non-profit groups that share their libertarian world view. Brotherly ambition: David (left) and Charles Koch (right) are rallying America's most powerful businesspeople to donate $100million to oust Barack Obama from the White House . But it is believed this is the first time the get-together has zoomed in one sole issue. Sources said an 'alpha-male' mentality of beating Obama at this year's election at all costs soon took over amongst the visitors. Charles, 76, will put up $40million from his personal fortune, while David, 71, has pledged $20million to the battle. As individuals can only donate $2,500 to a candidate, the $100million will almost certainly go to one of the independent Republican political action committees. Competition: Democrat Barack Obama (left) will most likely be challenged by Mitt Romney (right) in the 2012 after the Republican won the last two primaries . While they are supposed to be neutral, the committees usually ally themselves to a particular candidate and then use the money to support them. The brothers' Americans for Prosperity PAC has already spent $6.8million on adverts attacking the president. Barack Obama's campaign is returning $200,000 in contributions collected by the family members of a Mexican casino owner who fled the U.S. after facing drug and fraud charges. Obama's team said it would return donations arranged by Chicago brothers Carlos Cardona and Alberto Rojas Cardona - brothers of casino owner Juan Jose Rojas Cardona. He skipped bail in Iowa in 1994 and has since been linked to violence and corruption in Mexico. Campaign officials also said they would also return around $100,000 donated by other people connected to Cardona. Spokesman Ben LaBolt said: 'On the basis of the questions that have been raised, we will return the contributions from these individuals and from any other donors they brought to the campaign.' The pair have trodden a notoriously secretive path in amassing their wealth. But they started to gain more prominence when they helped launch the Tea Party movement. They are ranked at numbers 18 and 19 on the Forbes 100 Rich List, and have given more than $100million to right-wing causes. A total of $55million of that has gone in trying to discredit the science behind man-made climate change. The brothers are co-owners of energy giant Koch industries, the firm founded by their father Fred in 1940, and have since expanded the business to 2,600 times its inherited size. Initially involved in oil refining, the company is now one of the biggest firm in the country, producing well-known brands such as Stainmaster carpet, Lycra fiber, Quilted Northern tissue and Dixie paper. They have two other brothers, 78-year-old Fred and 71-year-old William, who were all involved in litigation against each other in the 1980s and 1990s. Obama raised $224.6million in 2011, more than the total gathered by all four of his Republican challengers. But sources said Las Vegas casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson, who has so far bankrolled Newt Gingrich for $10million, attended the event at the at the plush Renaissance Esmeralda resort, in California's India Wells, for the first time. And a group set up by George W Bush's former special adviser Karl Rove has also set a fundraising target of $200million for the election. | David and Charles Koch worth a combined $50billion .
Tea Party founders joined by 300 of America's most rich and powerful .
Obama returns $200k from casino owner facing drug and fraud charges . |
fd6c7c6836d27c60eaeef170ddd12cac510a46ef | Fishermen can be very protective over their favourite spot as these brown bears showed when they got into a fight over salmon. These images were taken by 15-year-old schoolgirl Elizaveta Tischenko as she watched the animals attempting to catch their dinner in Katmai National Park, in southern Alaska. Elizaveta said one bear was catching a steady stream of fish when the other grew jealous after hardly catching any and tried to muscle his way in. While the newcomer was tolerated for a while, eventually he began to treat on the claws of the other bear, which is when the fighting started. Elizaveta, who was watching from a grassy verge said: 'I had been watching the bear fish from a safe distance when I noticed another bear wander in. 'The first bear was not happy about the other bear being there and began to get more agitated as it began to try to catch fish in the water. 'It wasn't long before the two approached one another and began roaring ferociously to try and scare each other away. Neither one would back down for quite a while and they began to grapple with each other in the water. 'Eventually, the new bear on the scene decided to cut its loses and sulked off out of sight. When they are fishing they look quite cute and innocent but when they fight you get to see the true nature of the animals.' Anger: The two brown bears were snapped fighting over a fishing spot while trying to catch dinner in Katmai National Park, Alaska . Squaring up: Tussle broke out as one bear was catching a steady stream of fish, causing the other to get jealous and try to muscle in . Vicious! The two bears raked each other with their claws during the fight before the newcomer was seen off . Snapped: Schoolgirl Elizaveta Tischenko, 15, captured these images while watching from a grassy bank opposite the river . More bark than bite: Elizaveta said that while the bears made a lot of noise, neither of them was seriously hurt during the fight . Sightseeing: Thousands of bears live inside the nature reserve, feasting on the shoals of salmon that migrate up its rivers . Don't be fooled: Elizaveta said that the bears looked cuddly and innocent while they were fishing, but that quickly changed . Finish him: It didn't take long for the first bear to see off the challenger, after which he went back to catching his dinner . To the victor, the spoils: The brown bear continued catching salmon after seeing off the challenge of his rival . Skilled: Elizaveta Tishcenko, 15, captured these stunning images with a long lens while standing on a nearby grassy bank . | Schoolgirl Elizaveta Tischenko, 15, snapped these two brown bears fighting in a nature reserve in southern Alaska .
Scrap broke out as one bear was catching lots of salmon when a challenger appeared and tried to muscle in .
Elizaveta said it did not take long for the original bear to see off his rival, after which he went back to catching dinner . |
fd6c9406ff11fad518d53f685d2b6131e7e79ac4 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 04:58 EST, 26 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:55 EST, 26 November 2013 . His career as a powerful Democratic politician was cut short by his loyalty to mobster brother Whitey Bulger. But despite his forced retirement from the upper echelons of Boston life, William Bulger says he still visits his convicted murderer brother every week. It is typical of their relationship that has seen William Bulger remain publicly steadfast to his brother despite the damage to his career. Former president of the Massachusetts Senate William Bulger (left) has revealed he visits his mobster brother James 'Whitey' Bulger (right) in prison once a week in a show of continued loyalty . He was forced to resign as president of the University of Massachusetts system in 2003 and has kept a low profile since. But his silence has led to persistent . rumours that he knew more than he let on during Whitey Bulger's 16 years on the run. In a rare interview, the former president of the Massachusetts Senate said he just wants to be 'a brother' to Whitey and visits him weekly. William Bulger told WCVB: 'Just . because I visit him, doesn't mean I condone it'. However, he refused to . specify what he meant by 'it', saying he does not 'know what is true or . not'. Whitey Bulger was captured in 2011 and has now been jailed for life after a 40-year career of . murder, extortion, money-laundering, arms trafficking and drug dealing. William Bulger was forced to resign from president of Massachusetts university system after refusing to cooperate with the FBI over his fugitive brother and revealing he took a call from him . His notoriety and list of crimes and corrupt dealings with the FBI created large shadows over William Bulger. In 1970 the younger brother won a Senate seat and eight . years later was elected Senate president by the 40-member chamber, a . position he would hold for a record 17 years. But his relationship to a suspected multiple murderer eventually forced his resignation in 2003. His relationship with Whitey ultimately forced his resignation as president of the University of Massachusetts system in 2003. James 'Whitey' Bulger was jailed for life for murder, extortion, money-laundering, arms trafficking and drug dealing . Among those pressing William Bulger to resign from his university post was then-Republican Governor Mitt Romney. His decision came after he testified before a congressional committee investigating the FBI's ties to his brother, who by then had been revealed as an FBI informant. After receiving immunity, William acknowledged receiving a call from Whitey shortly after he fled. The tone of it was "Don't believe everything that is being said about me,"' William Bulger said. 'I think he asked me to tell everybody he was OK. ... I think I said I hope this has a happy ending.' Two years earlier, William Bulger had told a grand jury he didn't urge his brother to surrender because he didn't 'think it would be in his interest to do so,' according to a transcript of his testimony obtained by The Boston Globe. 'It's my hope that I'm never helpful to anyone against him,' the younger Bulger said, according to the transcript. 'I don't feel an obligation to help everyone to catch him.' William Bulger did not attend his brother's trial but was at court for his arraignment. During the brief appearance in federal court, Whitey smiled at his younger brother and mouthed the word 'Hi.' William smiled back. Speaking briefly to reporters as he left the courthouse after his brother's arraignment - the first time they had seen each other in 16 years - the former state Senate president appeared emotional. 'It's an unusual experience,' he said. Whitey Bulger with his younger brothers, William and Jackie . Commentators on the case say William Bulger not only sacrificed his own career, but chose loyalty over stopping bloodshed. Dick Lehr, co-author of 'Whitey: The Life Of America's Most Notorious Mob Boss', points out that it was Unabomber Ted Kaczynski's brother David who eventually led to him being caught. He told the New York Times: 'The Kaczynski brother decided it was more important that his brother be captured and not kill any more than to stay loyal to him. 'Bill Bulger, in the face of a God-awful amount of horror, has made a different choice.' Despite being damned by association, William Bulger insists it has been worse for his family, wife, Mary, and their nine children. He told WCVB: 'I've had a whole lifetime of this.' | Former senate president William Bulger visits brother Whitey weekly in jail .
Said he wants to 'try to be a brother' to the convicted murderer .
Forced to resign from high-profile post due to connections with mobster . |
fd6d694a410ee60cfb83c3ad3cf13e43745457bb | (CNN) -- A Rutgers University student commits suicide after being emotionally violated when his sexual encounter with another man is secretly streamed online. Tyler Clementi jumps in the Hudson River, and there is a general outcry accompanied by a superficial soul searching. Why is this happening? Where did this come from? Really? Seriously? Isn't it rather obvious that this cruel prank is but a reflection of a much larger social cancer? Just turn on the TV or check out a newspaper headline. "Alarm Over Homosexual 'Brainwash' " screamed Monday's New York Post. It was quoting Carl Paladino, a mainstream Republican candidate for governor of New York who said homosexuality is not an "equally valid" option and attacking his opponent for marching in a gay pride parade. A few articles in, another headline reads "Anti-Gay Riot Hits Serbia Parade" about Serbians who threw Molotov cocktails and stun grenades to disrupt a gay pride parade in Belgrade. I look up from the newspaper to see my TV broadcasting a perp walk of teenage men from the Bronx accused in a gay-bashing rampage. Cops say during the hate crime, two men suspected of being gay were sodomized with a wooden stick. All of this came on the heels of a homophobic attack, allegedly by two Staten Island men, in the restroom of the famed Stonewall Inn in the West Village of Manhattan. That's the very spot where the gay rights movement was born after a so-called "morals raid" by cops back in 1969 inspired gays to take to the streets in outrage. I have been to the Stonewall several times, and this attack gave me chills. They all do. It's easy to point in horror at these over-the-top expressions of hate. It's a lot harder to take an honest inventory of troubling attitudes toward gays, which some Americans reveal in more subtle ways such as the ubiquitous putdown "that's so gay!" I click on my BlackBerry, and a friend writes about her fears of revealing her sexual orientation while on a job interview. She writes, "I paused right before I said the word 'gay.' Yes, I was scared. I want this job badly, I do. I need this job. I said to myself, though, if they aren't going to accept me for my truth, then it isn't for me. I said the word gay and felt good about it." I don't know whether she got the job. But her fear is real, and sadly it is justified. I'm shocked at what's happening lately because I came out as gay late in life -- just a few years ago -- at a time when it seemed there was much more acceptance. I encountered no discrimination from any quarters as a result and was thrilled and filled with hope that human beings might actually be evolving to the point where they can apply that wonderful notion of "don't tread on me" to sexual orientation. Clearly this new wave of violence comes partly because equality for gays is a subject that's dominating the news. "Don't ask, don't tell," gay marriage: These issues have put the situation in everyone's face and, therefore, biases that might have been uttered only behind closed doors are now surfacing with a vengeance. Paladino used anti-gay remarks for politics . The backlash may also be in response to the enormous strides the LGBT community has made in recent years. The success of Ellen DeGeneres, who came out more than 10 years ago and remains very popular, is one example. It's inspired a growing number of Americans to come out of the closet, too. Today, it seems almost everyone knows a friend or relative who is gay. Our former vice president, Dick Cheney, whose daughter is a lesbian. That has caused a lot of Americans to open their minds and hearts. But, for others, it's turned a hypothetical antagonism into something very personal and visceral. The philosopher John Stuart Mill said every great movement must experience three stages: ridicule, discussion, adoption. I would make that last one: acceptance. Clearly we are in the anger stage of the social justice movement for gays. I can't wait for us to move past it. To that end, I would urge everyone upset over Clementi's suicide or any of the recent violent attacks to ask themselves: Do my attitudes also need an adjustment on this issue? Do I look askance if I see two people of the same sex holding hands? Would I feel uncomfortable if my child's teacher was gay? Would I be annoyed if my child's college roommate was gay? Would I be less likely to hire a person who is openly gay? Do I make jokes about people being gay? Have I talked to my child about the perils of intolerance? Why did Tyler Clementi die? If you've detected prejudice on your part after this self-analysis, you can do something about it. You can acknowledge it and perhaps realize that it's irrational. For example, the states that have approved gay marriage have not seen a social breakdown or any negative repercussions. Just because something makes one uncomfortable because it's different doesn't mean it's morally wrong. We can all learn to coexist. It's not those with extreme views, but rather those in the middle who will ultimately decide whether America's gays get to become first-class citizens or whether we will continue to be sidelined by prejudice. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Jane Velez-Mitchell. | Jane Velez-Mitchell says recent anti-gay violence and remarks point up surge in homophobia .
But, she says, the "social cancer" of such views is revealed in subtle ways, too .
Gay issues are in the news; people are forced to face their biases. It can get ugly, she says .
Writer: Backlash a stage toward social justice; we should ensure we're not complicit in hate . |
fd6da722c20934eec04f455c2c68236c3b8a3390 | Daley Blind admits the high tempo of the Premier League left him feeling 'a little tired' during his first weeks at Manchester United. The 24-year-old midfielder followed his former Holland boss Louis van Gaal to Old Trafford last summer, completing a £14million deal on transfer deadline day. Blind has made 14 appearances in the Premier League this season, netting two goals for the Red Devils and he admits he was taken aback by the pace of the Premier League. Daley Blind receives a pat on the back from Louis van Gaal after Manchester United's defeat by Swansea . Blind walks out for Manchester United training with team-mate Juan Mata . 'The biggest difference is the Premier League is played at a much higher tempo,' he told Inside United. 'When I played my first games here, I noticed the difference and was a little tired. The tempo is definitely much higher here.' 'In Holland, you have some points in a game when you can say, "Okay, let's have a rest for a few minutes and play the ball around".' Blind heads clear under pressure from Swans striker Bafetimbi Gomis during the defeat on Saturday . The Holland midfielder celebrates after scoring during the Premier League clash with West Ham . Blind was also full of praise for boss Van Gaal and appreciates his manager's honesty. 'I really admire that he's always himself,' he explained. 'He's always really honest to everyone about his ideas and what he wants. 'I think that's a good thing in a person because you know where you stand as a player. That's what I really admire about him.' | Daley Blind joined Manchester United from Ajax on transfer deadline day .
Holland midfielder admits the pace of the Premier League is much higher .
The 24-year-old was left feeling 'a little tired' after first few matches .
CLICK HERE for all the latest Manchester United news . |
fd6dcad71ceaa4e24e4bda5db7662dfabc96e3c4 | (CNN) -- Prince William and Kate Middleton have never been the stay-at-home types. A traveler could plan a royal (and royally expensive) getaway just following in their footsteps. The couple has journeyed to some of the world's most luxurious spots. Here are five places to catch the flavor of a royal vacation. Desroches Island, Seychelles . Kate and William rekindled their romance here with a getaway in 2007. The private, three-mile-long Indian Ocean coral atoll is surrounded by clear turquoise water, and is reached by private plane. The five-bedroom Presidential Villa would seem perfect for the honeymooners, but others can book a beachfront suite for a mere $1,000 per person per night. http://www.desroches-island.com/ . Lewa Safari Camp, Kenya . What better place to soak up royal romance than the spot where Wills finally popped the question? The 65,000-acre conservancy is home to the world's largest population of the endangered Grevy's zebra. But don't think the royal couple was roughing it. Camp "tents" have thatched roofs, verandas and bathrooms, and are arrayed around a central lounge with swimming pool. There's also a masseuse to work out those post-safari knots. All-inclusive nightly rates begin at $320. http://www.lewasafaricamp.com/ . Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Canada . The royal couple's first official trip will be to Canada, but it won't be all business. It's believed the active pair will end their trip in Alberta's Rocky Mountains, following in the steps of William's grandmother, great aunt and great grandmother, all of whom have stayed at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge's six-bedroom Outlook cabin -- the so-called Royal Retreat. (Cost from $2,600 to $6,200 per night.) The rest of us can at least enjoy the resort's view over Lac Beauvert. Mustique, West Indies . William's bride seems to be a beach girl at heart, and this 1,400-acre private island has been her getaway of choice in recent years. Visitors won't be checking into a Holiday Inn, though. Rental villas fill nearly the entire island. For a touch of royalty, kick-back in five-bedroom Les Jolies Eaux, which once belonged to Princess Margaret. Weekly rentals run from $18,000 to $28,000. Duchy of Cornwall, England . Kate and her family spent Christmas 2009 at her future father-in-law's place, the 133,000-acre Duchy of Cornwall. The Middletons stayed in the recently updated, 500-year-old Restormel Manor, which sleeps 18 and has a tennis court and heated swimming pool. Rates run from $1,625 to $5,700 per night, and you will be doing your part to finance the royal wedding: The Duchy helps support the Prince of Wales and his family. | You can visit the same places where British royalty has traveled .
A Canadian cottage has at times hosted the Queen, her sister and her mother .
It's possible to rent the manor home where Kate Middleton celebrated Christmas . |
fd6f8bda9c55db8f146a5633dc3b9c2463ca552f | By . Leon Watson . PUBLISHED: . 11:37 EST, 18 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:38 EST, 18 April 2013 . An inquiry is underway after an NHS van arrived at a garage for repairs with a body in the back. Horrified mechanics discovered the corpse as the specialist mortuary vehicle was taken in for a broken tail light. An NHS employee has been suspended and health chiefs have apologised to the distressed family of the deceased. The A.M Philip garage yard in Aberdeen where an NHS van arrived at a garage for repairs with a dead body in the back . Patients' campaigner Margaret Watt said the body blunder was 'absolutely horrendous'. She stormed: 'Who would have ever thought that someone's body could just be left in the back of a van? It's disgraceful. 'What were the drivers doing? Surely they must have known that they weren't just on a day out and that they actually had a body in the back of the van. 'The corpse could have been there for days if the mechanics hadn't found it. This is totally unacceptable and it should never have happened.' The van belonged to NHS Grampian and was used to transport bodies to the city mortuary in Aberdeen. The body was found on Wednesday when it arrived at the AM Phillip garage in the city. Mrs Watts, of the Scottish Patients Association, added: 'My heart goes out to the family and a simple apology from NHS Grampian isn't enough. The van belonged to NHS Grampian and was used to transport bodies to the city mortuary in Aberdeen . Patients' campaigner Margaret Watt said the body blunder was 'absolutely horrendous' An NHS employee has been suspended and health chiefs have apologised to the distressed family of the deceased . 'They need to go and face up to the family and someone's head should roll for this and I don't care who it is.' NHS Grampian said: 'This is a very serious incident and we are dealing with it as a matter of urgency. 'We have been in touch with the family of the deceased person and have apologised unreservedly for the distress that this incident has caused them. 'We have also been in touch with the garage and have apologised for the distress that may have been caused to their staff. The Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where the patient died earlier this week . 'We have very strict processes in place to ensure that we deal sensitively and respectfully with deceased patients. Clearly these did not work on this occasion. 'We have taken immediate action to commission an independent investigation to understand what has gone wrong. Pending this investigation a member of staff has been suspended. 'We are deeply sorry for this regrettable incident and we are absolutely committed to taking whatever action is required to ensure that this situation can never happen again'. Staff at the garage refused to comment. The patient died at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary earlier this week. NHS Grampian refused to say whether the deceased was an adult or a child. Lewis Macdonald, the Member of the Scottish Parliament for North East Scotland, said: 'This incident is extraordinary and unacceptable. 'It is bound to cause concern and NHS Grampian are looking into it which is the right thing to do. It must be an incredibly difficult situation for the family. 'I understand that they have received an apology but it is important that they also receive an explanation as soon as possible. 'It is obviously a difficult enough time when a family member dies without any further distress. The member of garage staff will also be as shocked as everyone else. 'It is clear that even in even the best regulated systems human error can be a factor and mistakes do happen but clearly some are more distressing than others. Incidents such as these need to be investigated quickly and that is what is happening.' | Specialist mortuary vehicle was taken in for a broken tail light .
NHS employee suspended and health chiefs have apologised .
Campaigner Margaret Watt said it was 'absolutely horrendous' |
fd701294f858521ec8be157a4143a5c831ccd18a | A Miami woman called Isis Martinez posted a video on YouTube in which she pleads with the media to please stop using her name to refer to the 'shameless excuses for human beings' who have misappropriated her appellation. The 38-year-old, who heads a non-profit in the Florida city, has created a petition urging the media and others to use the acronym 'ISIL' instead of 'ISIS' to describe the group formerly known as Islamic State of Iraq the Levant. The petition, part of a campaign that began on August 23, has so far received 352 signatures. Scroll down for video . Isis Martinez, who has been spearheading a campaign to convince media to stop using the word ISIS to describe the terrorist group occupying large parts of Iraq and Syria, is pictured here with Spanish Journalist Pedro Sevcec . Isis Martinez said she's tired of the 'awkward looks' and negative reactions of people when she introduces herself . 'I couldn't just sit back and let it happen,' she said in an interview with Newsweek. She points out in the video that the United States government uses ISIL - including President Barack Obama - to refer to the group that now calls itself simply the Islamic State, as do the UN and the Associated Press. 'The past several weeks have been overwhelming' as she's seen her name over and over again in print, Martinez said on the video. 'People's reactions aren't improving at all and i'm getting all sorts of looks.' Since starting her campaign, which now involves running a Facebook group and posting messages to Twitter, Martinez says many other women named Isis have come forward to share their own anecdotes, Newsweek reported. Some women said others ask if Isis is their real name, while others said their children with the appellation are bullied in school. 'People just cringe,' Martinez says, describing the reaction when she introduces herself. Why not just use her middle name, Theresa, instead? 'If I go by a nickname or a middle name, the terrorists win,' she says flatly. Martinez said that she was named after her mother, whose parents got Isis from the Egyptian goddess of health, marriage and love. 'I will not and cannot change my name and neither should the thousands of others who share this beautiful name,' she said. Nefertari meets the goddess Isis, left, in this fresco at a burial site in the Valley of the Queens, Thebes . | Isis Martinez started a petition on behalf of the 'thousands of others' with the name asking news outlets to use a different term to describe the terrorist group, such as ISIL .
She says her campaign has encouraged many women who are going through the same situation to come forward with their own stories or complain of their kids named Isis being bullied at school .
'If I go by a nickname or a middle name, the terrorists win,' she said . |
fd706c214eedb7ac070eaaf69935e79109489624 | By . Joshua Gardner . and Ap . Remarkable: Glen Campbell pictured here in 2012 during the farewell tour . The country music legend known as as the rhinestone cowboy Glen Campbell was honored recently as his children performed following a screening of an upcoming documentary about his farewell tour. The 78-year-old star bravely performed his final 100-plus shows after receiving a devastating Alzheimer's diagnosis in 2011. The documentary, called Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me, reveals the performer--who is now in full-time care--was miraculously able to play guitar and sing perfectly despite his illness, though he at times appeared confused on-stage. Campbell's Alzheimer's disease has . progressed to the point where he needs full-time professional care, his . wife said in June, explaining her decision to place the singer in a . long-term care facility and responding publicly for the first time to . criticism from Campbell's eldest daughter. The news madeCampbell's final tour and the brave face he keeps in the James Keach-directed documentary all the more remarkable. In . an email to The Associated Press, Kim Campbell wrote that doctors . persuaded her earlier this spring to discontinue care at the family's . home, drawing criticism from Campbell's daughter Debby. Scroll down for video . Glen Campbell is shown here in 2012 with wife Kim and daughter Ashley. Ashley and her brother Shannon performed at a recent Boston screening of her father's documentary Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me . Family man: Glen Campbell has eight children, including three with Kim Campbell, his wife of 32 years (pictured in 1975) 'It is crushingly sad to see him afflicted with Alzheimer's but indulging those feelings does not help him,' Campbell wrote, adding, 'I am his wife and no one wants him home more than me but I must do what is in his best interest.' Meanwhile, at the recent screening, the Campbell family including daughter Ashley and son Shannon--who performed for the likes of Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey--put on their own brave faces during the screening and after party, according to the Boston Globe. Debby Campbell told Country Weekly magazine last week that she objected to the move and that she and Campbell's eldest children heard about it through news media reports. She also said she did not believe family members in Nashville, where the Country Music Hall of Fame member now lives, were spending enough time with him. Campbell was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2011. He issued two albums and went on a world tour following the diagnosis. At the time, Kim Campbell said the tour was a way to help her husband combat the brain-ravaging disease and spend time with his family members, including Debby, who made up his band and traveled with him. Glen Campbell has eight children, including three with Kim Campbell, his wife of 32 years. She says she spends time with her husband every day and that two of his children who live in Nashville visit weekly. Beyond that, she says she organizes activities for the Grammy Award-winning singer of such hits as 'Rhinestone Cowboy' and 'Wichita Lineman.' 'He has longtime friends here in Nashville who come to play music for him and give him hugs,' Kim Campbell said. 'He has activities and therapies to stimulate him and help him experience daily moments of success. His life is filled with love and laughter and he is being cared for round the clock by people who specialize in Alzheimer's care and happen to adore him.' Glen Campbell, here with Ashley Campbell, was miraculously able to play guitar and still had his trademark voice during the final tour, though he sometimes appeared confused on-stage . | Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me shows the star's miraculous musical acuity in spite of on-stage confusion .
Star's family defended final tour as they announced decision to put Campbell in full-time care in June .
Campbell's son and daughter performed after the screening . |
fd708ed305a4103196df4878040857c0d21c6300 | By . Glen Owen . A £6 million party funded by the EU for 5,000 young people this weekend caused a headache for the Eurocrats: what if it all got out of hand? So, to avoid doubt, the organisers issued an edict – don’t have an orgy without the strict consent of all those involved. The three-day European Youth Event in Strasbourg is being held to teach 16 to 30-year-olds from across the EU about ‘common European values’. The 16 to 30-year-olds attending a youth event at the EU Parliament in Strasbourg were issued adivce warning them not to have sex with other participants without getting consent from all involved . But with all those hormones flying around, organisers felt obliged to warn participants: ‘Do not engage in any sexual activities without obtaining explicit and informed consent of all persons present.’ Paul Nuttall, Ukip deputy leader, called the advice 'mind-boggling' and branded the whole exercise a 'propaganda event' The advice, contained in the 171-page event guide, goes on: ‘Be aware that personal boundaries are different and not everyone enjoys the same level of physical contact. ‘Consider this in your interactions and remember that others may misinterpret your actions. Be aware that some participants are under 18. 'Act in accordance with any applicable laws and avoid situations where positions of trust can be misused.’ The advice led to ridicule from UKIP deputy leader Paul Nuttall, who said: ‘It is mind-boggling that they want to give advice about having sex on the premises.’ He added: ‘Brussels bureaucrats have a neck spending millions on a propaganda event to make young people love the EU when youth unemployment is reaching 60 per cent in Greece and Spain. It is a scandalous waste of money.’ A European Parliament spokesman did not respond to a request for comment. | Three-day European Youth Event in Strasbourg designed to teach 'values'
However attendees aged 16 to 30 were given sexual advice in leaflet .
Told not to engage in 'sexual activities' unless all parties consent to it . |
fd70a18e05580440af095baddb0bfd6e9be63489 | It is a view which is bound to make any sports fan set the countdown clock for 2016. These are the first images showing what we can expect from the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in just under three years’ time. Built on a waterfront peninsula in the Barra da Tijuca neighbourhood of the city, it stretches out over 300 acres and will help Rio host 15 Olympic sports and 11 Paralympic competitions at 34 venues across the city. Scroll down for video . Let the games begin: As well as the sports parks and venues, the Rio de Janeiro Olympic park will also feature a 12,000 capacity waterfront lawn where sports fans can watch the games on big screens . Bright lights, big city: The triangular peninsula will be lit up in the colour of the Olympic flag at night, according to this prediction by designers . Resourceful design: The peninsula upon hosted the 2007 Pan-American Games at three venues which will now be incorporated into the new Olympic Park . The 2016 Olympic Park has been designed by the same architects who created the now iconic London 2012 Park, located in Stratford, East London. London-based International Architects Studio Aecom won the bid in 2011, basing their design on classic Brazilian architecture and nature, with the aim to create a legacy for the city. The . 15 venues will be interconnected by flowing pathways, intended to . remind the great Amazon River, and for those who fail to get their hands . on the much-coveted tickets, a waterfront open green space is to be . built to host 12,000 people who will be able to follow the actions on . big screens. A specific . broadcast centre will play host to 20,000 journalists from around the . world, and the Olympic villages will be located nearby. Architects . say the construction of the Rio Olympic Park is set to be much more . straight forward than the 2012 Games, as several venues are already . operating. Paved with good intentions: What the park will look like in 2016, during the Olympic Games . Olympic legacy: Once the Games are over the Olympic site, pictured as planned in 2018, will begin a conversion from mammoth sports Mecca to a resourceful addition to the city . Complete conversion: The image shows the site plan for 2013, with many of the venues converted into housing and schools, much needed in Rio . Unlike the London Games, the main Olympic stadium is not at the park - athletes will use the famous Brazil football stadium, the Maracana, which will also be the site of the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the Joco Havelange Stadium - home to the club side Botafogo. The Olympic Park itself is centered around three original sports venues which were built for the 2007 Pan-American Games. The . vision for the future is not just to create a global stage for the . Olympic and Paralympic Games of 2016, but also, in the longer term, to . create a new legacy district with new homes, jobs and places for leisure . activities,’ Aecom said. 'Every . Olympics needs to reflect the character and ambitions of the host city . and this is where the differences between the two parks are most . pronounced. ‘While London . was about demonstrating how a short global event can lead to the long . term regeneration of one of the most neglected and deprived areas of the . city, Rio is about celebrating Brazil's emergence as a world power as . well as making sure there is a strong legacy plan in place.' Good track record: The London architecture firm which was chosen to design the Rio site, was also responsible for creating the 2012 Olympic park in Stratford . Lighting up the world: Rio's Olympic Park will be located next to the water's edge in the Barra area of the the city, built on the former Brazilian grand prix track . | Olympic Park for Rio Games is being built on a peninsula in the city's Barra da Tijuca neighbourhood .
15 of the Games' 34 venues will be located at the Olympic Park, as well as a village and media centre .
Designed by the same architects behind the London 2012 Olympic Park in Stratford . |
fd711deec3210fd79b74ca279f40ac6129edeffa | (CNN) -- Croatia international Josip Simunic will miss the World Cup after being banned for 10 matches by FIFA for his 'pro-Nazi' chants as he celebrated his country's qualification to the finals in Brazil next year. FIFA's disciplinary committee said Monday that Simunic's chants following Croatia's 2-0 win over Iceland in a playoff match last month -- were "discriminatory and offended the dignity of a group of persons concerning ... race, religion or origin." The 35-year-old Simunic had grabbed a microphone at the end of the match in Zagreb on November 19 and shouted loudly "za dom" -- translated from Croatian as "for the homeland" -- with the crowd replying "spremni", meaning "ready", four times in response. "The committee took note that the player, together with the crowd, shouted a Croatian salute that was used during World War II by the fascist "Ustase" movement," read a statement on the official FIFA website. "Given the gravity of the incident, the committee decided to suspend the player for ten official matches," the statement went on, adding the stipulation that the ban would take effect only from the start of the World Cup next June. Simunic has also been banned from the stadiums where the matches are being played and has been fined 30,000 Swiss francs ($33,530). Simunic, who was born in Australia, has always denied his chants had fascist connotations. "I was born and raised in countries with western democratic systems and any form of intolerance or bigotry is strange to me and not a part of my personal system of values," he told the official website of the Croatian football federation. "Additionally, I have devoted my entire life to doing anything I could to help my country, Croatia, and I am immensely proud of that." Dinamo Zagreb defender Simunic spent the bulk of his career in the German Bundesliga and made his international debut for Croatia in 2001. Croatia has fallen foul of both European governing body UEFA and FIFA for the actions of its supporters in the past. UEFA sanctioned its federation on three occasions during Euro 2012 involving crowd disorder and racist behavior by its fans as they exited at the group stages. World governing body FIFA has also toughened its stance on racism with its president Sepp Blatter setting up a special task force earlier this year after several high-profile incidents. | Croatia international Josip Simunic handed 10-match ban .
Will miss their 2014 World Cup campaign .
Simunic accused of 'pro-Nazi' chants in qualifying game .
FIFA finds him guilty of discriminatory behavior . |
fd711e46d9dc971a237df3d16fddf2136890dec1 | By . Jaya Narain . Last updated at 12:44 AM on 2nd November 2011 . Her courage melted the heart of Princess Diana and helped inspire fellow paraplegic Superman actor Christopher Reeve to fight back from the depths of despair. Now Gemma Quinn, who was paralysed from the neck down at the age of seven in a horrific car crash, again faces one of the biggest fights of her life after revealing she is virtually penniless. She won a £3.9million compensation settlement in 2000, eight years after the family car, driven by her father, was hit by a lorry in North Wales, severing her spinal cord. Survivor: Gemma Quinn is now facing financial strife after costly care that could have been free from the NHS . But the cost of round-the-clock medical care, mobility equipment and pioneering treatments has eaten into the payout. Now Miss Quinn, 27, is preparing to . seek legal advice after learning her local primary care trust should . have been paying for her medical care for the past nine years. She is relying on a ruling in 2002 . which said the NHS had to pay for the continuing long-term care of . patients despite multi-million pound awards or settlements. Miss Quinn . says she was not told of this change and continued to pay her . £100,000-a-year care bill herself. Although Liverpool NHS PCT is now . paying for her 24-hour care she says she hopes to get back some of the . money she paid since 2002. Miss Quinn, who lives in Woolton, . Liverpool, said: ‘It has been an utter nightmare because I have been . funding my own care since 2000. Touching hearts: Gemma, pictured in 1995, won praise from both Princess Diana and Superman actor Christopher Reeve . ‘We have been in a really bad . financial predicament, so much so that for the two years until March . this year, I had virtually no care.’ At the time of her accident in . 1992, doctors said Gemma would never live an independent life but she . was determined to prove them wrong. She learned to operate a word . processor with her mouth and gained good GCSE and A-level results. Not long after her accident Gemma . wrote to late actor Reeve after learning he had broken his spine in the . same place as her in a horseriding accident, urging him not to give up . hope. Reeve said at the time: ‘This amazing young lady showed me an . example of how to cope.’ She met the Princess of Wales, who had . heard about the letter, on an official visit to Liverpool in 1995. Later, at the age of 12, she took part in Princess Diana’s funeral . procession. Miss Quinn campaigned for spinal research charities, raising . more than £100,000, and in 1996 won a Child of Courage award. Expensive care: Gemma, aged 19, at the Mind Instructor Centre in London having a form of body and mind therapy with instructor Hratch Qgali . As well the cost of care, Miss Quinn . says a failed business venture, ill-timed share investments and a home . education means she is facing a mountain of debt. She said: ‘People ask where all the . money has gone. But more than £1million went on care, more on . specialist treatments and day-to-day living. I’ve got some property but . that is mortgaged and could be repossessed. ‘I didn’t know I could get help with . the care costs and, despite being fully aware of my circumstances and . previously providing care for me, the PCT never came forward to offer me . help.’ Miss Quinn said her financial situation had forced her to move . back with her parents, Michael and Jacqueline, who have since split. With her family: Gemma posing with her father Michael in 2001 . She is facing further medical problems . after developing a bladder stone requiring surgery which is complicated . by her paralysis. The stone triggers a blood pressure . condition called autonomic dysreflexia, which causes excruciating . headaches and can prove fatal if left untreated. She is hoping to . undergo surgery later this month after the operation was postponed. A Liverpool NHS PCT spokesman last night said they needed to speak to Miss Quinn to assess her case regarding her care. Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS . Trust, where Miss Quinn is due to have her operation, said the surgery . had been rescheduled to the next available date. | Gemma, now 27, was unaware she was entitled to free care since 2002 .
She is also now languishing on waiting list for life-saving bladder operation . |
fd71a64340425384294a115d3a42bc8069ac9f67 | (CNN) -- The family of American student Amanda Knox is happy that new DNA analysis has called into question her murder conviction, but won't celebrate "until she walks out of that prison," her mother said Thursday. In an interview with CNN's "Newsroom," Edda Mellas said her daughter is "not taking anything for granted." But a priest who was visiting Knox reported the results were met with "jumping and hugging" on Wednesday. "There are many people that support her," Mellas said. "He said he could finally see the light back in her eyes, and she looked like she could finally breathe after three and a half years." Knox and her ex-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, were found guilty in the 2007 killing of Knox's roommate, Meredith Kercher. Kercher was found dead in the villa she rented with Knox in the central Italian university town of Perugia, semi-naked and with her throat slashed. In December, Knox was sentenced to 26 years in prison. But Wednesday, forensic experts told an Italian court that the DNA evidence police used to link Knox to the murder weapon may have been tainted. The next hearing in her appeal is scheduled for July 25, with further hearings on July 30 and August 1. Mellas said a decision on the appeal could come in late September. She said her daughter was "a naive, idealistic, easygoing 20-year-old" when she was arrested, but has "gone into her own little shell" while in jail. "She's definitely grown up," Mellas said. "She's had to learn how to survive and take care of herself. She has become much more closed in that environment in order to kind of survive." At the trial, prosecutors said a knife found in Sollecito's home had traces of Knox's genetic material on the handle and Kercher's in a tiny groove on the blade. Investigators also traced DNA on Kercher's bra to Sollecito. But in a 146-page report, forensic science professors Carla Vecchiotti and Stefano Conti concluded that while Knox's DNA was present on the knife handle, tests for Kercher's DNA were unreliable. "There is no conclusive scientific evidence regarding the nature of the blood," the their report states. It added, "It cannot be excluded that the result obtained from sampling the find B (knife blade) could be the result of contamination" occurring at any stage of the testing process. Investigators did not follow "international inspection procedures and protocols for gathering and presenting evidence" in testing either the knife or the bra fastening," they found. Prosecutors say the knife had been used to stab Kercher in the neck and that it had been cleaned. The DNA matter attributed to Kercher consists of flesh, not blood, they say. But the sample was so small that forensic scientists investigating Kercher's slaying were unable to double-test it in accordance with international forensic science norms, which Knox's legal team says raises doubts about its validity. Defense lawyers also say the tiny metal clasp from Kercher's bra, which was cut from her body after her murder, may have been contaminated because it was not collected as evidence until nearly six weeks later. In an appeal hearing Monday, Knox took to the stand herself following testimony from a third person convicted in the case, Rudy Guede. It was the first time the three defendants had appeared in court together since a preliminary hearing years ago. Guede, who was found guilty of murder in a separate fast-track trial and sentenced to 16 years, refused to say Knox was not involved in the killing. A prosecutor then read out a letter sent by Guede in 2010 in which he said he thought the American and her then-boyfriend had killed Kercher. An emotional Knox responded, saying: "The only time that Rudy Guede, Raffaele Sollecito and I were in one room together was in a court room.... He knows what the truth is. I don't know what happened that night." Journalist Livia Borghese contributed to this report. | A favorable DNA report was met with "jumping and hugging," Knox's mother says .
Evidence involved in Knox's conviction could have been contaminated, experts say .
Knox and her ex-boyfriend were convicted of killing Knox's roommate, Meredith Kercher .
She was sentenced to 26 years in prison, but is appealing the verdict . |
fd71c64eba9a35e3bf6bf25e5532d627e05d8413 | Big Brother, Towie, The Farm... just when you think you've seen them all, a new reality show turns up as the new kid on the block. This week, it was the turn of The Real Housewives Of Cheshire - a reality show that stars six WAGs from a county famous for footballers and excess. Each of the women had enough sparkle, slap and sass to outshine even the brassiest drag queen from London's Soho, but there was one housewife who appeared head and shoulders above the rest - Ampika Pickston. Scroll down for video . Ampika Pickston, 32, from Hale came into money after marrying a rich older man but admits she'd never date an unwealthy man. The Real Housewives of Cheshire star also claims that Brits have a stigma of hatred to people who lead luxurious lives . Ampika, 32, got married to Mark Pickston, 54, a multi-millionaire businessman in her twenties and the couple lived an an enormous mansion in Hale, Cheshire, together. But the couple have since divorced and the former glamour model has now set up her own beauty salon in order to keep the cash rolling in. Despite not actually having the only credential needed to be on The Real Housewives Of Cheshire - being a wife - it is clear why ITVBe producers picked her as part of the six-woman cast; she speaks her mind and more. In the first episode of the reality show, Ampika tells cameras: 'I'm not a little rag doll - I'll play with the toys, and when I'm done with you, I'll discard you.' And when I meet her this week at the ITV studios in London, she is exactly the same. Even though it is midday on a rainy weekday afternoon, Ampika is dressed to the nines in vertiginous heels and a tight strapless dress, and wearing more make-up and hairspray than I use in a month. Ampika with her fellow Real Housewives Of Cheshire stars . Ampika is Amazonian tall and beautiful, with a mega-watt smile... and she knows it. She is also unapologetic about how she achieved her lifestyle (by marrying a rich older man) and in the first few minutes of out conversation, freely admits that she would never again date someone with a normal-paying job like a fireman. When I ask her how she feels about being called a scrounger and a gold-digger, she smiles back, completely unconcerned. She says: 'At the end of the day, it's very sad, but beauty is currency and if you're a good-looking girl, you've got the options. 'If a guy comes along and says he is happy to look after you, and he will give you this fabulous lifestyle, if you want to engage in that, then what is the harm? 'It isn't hurting anybody. 'I have been on both sides of the coin; I have had a very privileged life where I haven't lifted a finger, but I've also come back down to earth now and I'm back to the girl that I was before I met my ex-husband - I work seven days a week. 'It doesn't make me a better person or a lesser person. 'This country has got a stigma of hatred towards people that lead very luxurious lives, they're very jealous and envious. 'I'm really sorry that your six numbers didn't come up on the lottery this week - it's not my problem.' Ampika in one of her regular Twitter pictures . Ampika was raised by her father in Oldham and went to a private boarding school, but after leaving at 18, she struck out on her own and was earning very little compared to what she has now. She met Mark in her early twenties and the couple's relationship quickly turned serious. Their 18-year age gap meant that she was heavily criticised by people in her new boyfriend's social circle though and made to feel like a gold digger. She said: 'I had a job when I first met him and I wasn't dependent on his finances, but it wasn't on the same level. 'And I know that a lot of people judged me for getting with someone a lot older. I did say to him, "You're getting involved in a relationship with me but I don't bring that much to the equation, so people automatically think that I sponge off you." 'He told me, "At the end of the day sweetheart, I'm marrying a woman who is 22 years younger than me who's good eye candy. I'm going to expect people to think that. '"But I'm happy to look after you and for you to be my wife. And if other people have a problem with that, then it is their problem. It's not our problem." 'And I thought, that's fair enough.' The couple were married for a few years, but unable to overcome certain differences, they split a several years ago. However, they remain the best of friends and talk on a regular basis. Ampika enjoys many perks of having wealth, including work outs with a personal trainer . Ampika in the beauty salon that she owns in Hale, with Tanya Bardsley and Leanne Brown . But while Ampika's ex was able to overlook the fact that she had little money compared to him when they got together, she claims that she would never be able to do the same with any future boyfriends. When I ask if she would consider dating someone with a 'normal' salary, like a fireman, she shakes her head immediately. She says: 'I would be dubious to let my guard down emotionally because I would wonder if he was coming after me for what I had. 'My natural instincts would come up and I wouldn't allow myself to fall for them. 'Because although that person could be ticking all of my boxes, and I could tick all of his, that fear of someone coming into my lifestyle, not because they want me, but because of what I have and all of the trappings that come with that, would automatically make me press the eject button.' Ampika's lifestyle definitely has trappings. She regularly attends champagne-fuelled, red carpet parties in Cheshire and also frequents A-List bashes held by the likes of Elton John. She still lives in a house that costs upwards of £1million and owns 45 pieces of diamond jewelry. Ampika Pickston and her friend Kerry Hughson at The Elton John AIDS Foundation Winter Dinner in 2013 . Even the other Housewives are impressed with the size of her walk-in wardrobe at home. She admits: 'My wardrobe is like the Harrods clearance sale - everything is crammed on every rail and there are handbags shoved everywhere.' It is this millionaire lifestyle that makes the leggy brunette convinced that their television show will become bigger than both The Only Way Is Essex and Made In Chelsea. She says: 'I look at it on a different level to Towie. 'I think that because we're a lot older than the people in Towie, our lives are a lot more interesting and varied. 'They've got to a certain point where there's only so much that you can do, whereas most of us have been there, done that, had the boyfriends, got married, bought the dream house - they've all got that still to come. 'We've done that and are on to the next chapter. 'So I think we've got huge scope. 'It has also got a few more bricks in each house and a few more bits of bling on each finger, so it ups it. 'It makes it more appealing to the eye and everyone wants a slice.' Ampika regularly attends glitzy red carpet parties in Cheshire . Ampika enjoys a champagne-fuelled lifestyle . One person who certainly doesn't want a slice is Ampika's father Paul Fawcett, who is horrified at his daughter's decision to take part in a reality show. She says: 'My father is utterly disgusted. I don't have a close relationship with my mum, I've not seen her for years, so it's just my dad and he is utterly disgusted and ashamed of the fact that I'd want to put my life on display to the public and get hurled abuse at. 'So he might not want to watch it, but I'm sure I'll have lots of other followers.' And one thing she is keen to introduce her followers to is some outrageous Cheshire style. She says: 'Cheshire is chintzy and vibrant - big shoulder pads, big hair, lots of hairspray. 'We're in your face. 'Down south they are a lot more reserved, a lot more classical and chicer. 'They look at the formation of a silhouette as opposed to being embedded in crystals and heavily jeweled, which I tend to go for.' Ampika with her fellow Housewives of Cheshire at the launch of the TV show earlier this week . But although she has a different style to most southerners, one woman she makes sure to single out for some praise is the Duchess of Cambridge. She says: 'I have got a lot of respect for Kate Middleton's style - I think that she is classically very beautiful. 'I like a lot of her choices, like the colours, the detail and the simplicity of everything - she looks like an elegant lady and I very proud that she represents our country as the Duchess of Cambridge. 'But, she would be even sexier if she went through my underwear wardrobe and got some sexy Agent Provocateur on and I tell you what Katie, you could conquer the world!' | Ampika Pickston, 32, came into wealth after marrying a rich older man .
The beautician from Hale now claims she'd never date an unwealthy man .
She says Brits have a stigma of hatred to people who lead luxurious lives . |
fd7247481c835e510c61bd86157684ade59f8642 | New doubts have been cast over Brian Williams' claims he was friendly with the SEAL team responsible for killing Osama Bin Laden during his time in Iraq. The embattled broadcaster claims he received a soldier's knife as a gift and was given a piece of the helicopter used in the 2011 operation which led to the former Al Qaeda leader's death. In interviews he also described flying alongside Navy SEAL Team Six in helicopters a number of times - a tale the U.S. Special Operations Command has disputed because they do not embed journalists with counter-terrorism units. The veteran journalist was also reporting on the conflict from Kuwait at the time he claimed to have arrived in Iraq with the elite team. The new allegations have surfaced just two days after the 55-year-old was suspended by the channel for six months without pay after lying about an RPG attack in Iraq. Scroll down for video . Revelations: Brian Williams openly talked about travelling with Nay SEAL Team Six the day after the raid which killed Osama Bin Laden on Daviud Letterman. The U.S Special Operations Command has however cast doubt on his claims . Shortly after the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks was killed in a secret operation in Pakistan, Williams started talking openly about the unit in interviews claiming he had the 'honor' of flying with them when he first arrived in Baghdad. The Huffington Post reported that during an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman the day after the Bin Laden raid in 2011, Williams said: 'We have some idea which of our special operations teams carried this out. It happens to be a team I flew into Baghdad with, on the condition that I would never speak of what I saw on the aircraft, what aircraft we were on, what we were carrying, or who we were after.' While anchoring NBC's Nightly News the following night he said: 'Now, people might be hearing about SEAL Team 6. I happen to have the great honor of flying into Baghdad with them at the start of the war.' A year later on the chat show he claimed he flew in with the military unit on March 22, 2003, three days after the invasion. However he was in Kuwait for the initial stages of the invasion and did not report from inside Iraq until April 9 - where he used a flashlight to speak to the camera. The embattled broadcaster is seen reporting from Baghdad International Airport. He claimed he arrived three days after the invasion on March 22, 2003. However he was stationed in Kuwait at the time . In another Late Show appearance in 2012, Williams told a soldier he admired his knife while they chatted over a box of Wheat Thins. He then told the host: 'Darned if that knife didn't show up at my office a couple weeks later.' It is allegedly one of the many memorabilia items Williams has been handed over the years - including signed sports memorabilia, autographs and a B-24 control panel from an American Second World War aircraft that was recovered in a field in Great Britain . Eight years after he was gifted the weapon he described how he received an un-signed thank you note with a package containing a piece of fuselage. He claims it was from the helicopter used in the raid on Osama Bin Laden's Pakistan compound. The aircraft was blown up by the commandos after the raid, fearing it contained sensitive material that could have got into enemy hands and used against the United States. In the months after the raid, John Kerry managed to secure a deal with Pakistan that saw some of the tail from the aircraft returned. United States Special Operations Command spokesman Ken McGraw told The Post Williams could only have received a piece of the helicopter after parts of it had been given back. He added: 'We do not embed journalists with this or any other unit that conducts counter-terrorism missions.' Stealth helicopter that Brian Williams claims he owns part of: The rotor blades of SEAL Team 6's damaged helicopter is seen lying near Osama bin Laden's compound after it was destroyed following the successful May 6 raid . Replacement: On Wednesday night, Williams' name was taken off the Nightly News' graphics and the program's title was officially changed . On Tuesday Williams was suspended for six months without pay after he admitted to lying about his time in Iraq. In a note sent to NBC staff, Deborah Turness, the president of NBC's news division, described his puffed-up retellings of events from 2003 as 'wrong and completely inappropriate'. Bosses at the network finally acted after deciding Williams's own decision last week to remove himself from anchoring for 'several days' was not enough. He claimed to have been insidean aircraft when it was hit by an RPG - he was actually around one mile away. On Wednesday, the network changed the name of the broadcast from NBC Nightly News With Brian Williams to NBC Nightly News. Acknowledging that it was 'an enormously difficult story' to report, the show aired a segment about Williams' six-month suspension and pledged to make itself worthy of viewers' trust. Replacement anchor Holt opened the report by saying: 'And now to the story many of you are talking about tonight and one that for us not only hits close to home but in our home.' Holt quoted from statements from Turness and Burke, in which they described Williams' actions as 'wrong and completely inappropriate,' and which jeopardized 'the trust millions of Americans place in NBC News.' Holt then added: 'Now if I may on a personal note say it is an enormously difficult story to report. 'Brian is a member of our family, but so are you, our viewers and we will work every night to be worthy of your trust.' Daily Mail Online has contacted NBC and the Special Operations Command for comment. Scandal: The newest allegations are concerning for Williams (pictured arriving for his appearance on Letterman's show in 2013) who is already facing an investigation by NBC News . Red Bank, New Jersey, 1970s . In a 2011 interview, Brian Williams recalled his time as a teenage volunteer firefighter during which he saved a puppy. However in a 2005 Esquire interview, Williams had claimed to save not one but two puppies. In the same Esquire interview Williams also revealed that he had been mugged at gunpoint while selling Christmas trees in the sleepy New Jersey town in which he grew up. A number of locals have questioned the credibility of his claim that someone 'stuck a .38-caliber in my face'. Iraq War, 2003 . Over the years Williams has told multiple versions of a story about being in an Army Chinook helicopter during the Iraq War in 2003. Last month he claimed his helicopter was hit by ground fire, an allegation he was later forced to admit was false after an outcry from soldiers who were present. Williams issued an on-air apology and wrote on Facebook: 'Nobody's trying to steal anyone's valor.' Hurricane Katrina, 2005 . Williams has told several stories about his experiences reporting from New Orleans. He has claimed to have seen a dead body float past the window of his hotel in the city's French Quarter – even though the area wasn't flooded. The accuracy of other Katrina claims, including that he caught dysentery drinking the flood waters and that his hotel was 'overrun' with gangs, have been called into question by others who were on the ground during the disaster. Israel, 2006 . In a 2007 interview with Fairfield University Student Television, Williams recalled 'Katyusha rockets passing just underneath the helicopter I was riding in' during a trip to Israel. In fact he was nowhere near enemy fire and in a broadcast segment filmed that day he described rocket fire 'six miles away'. Boston, 2006 . A Navy vet accused Williams of lying to skip an event honoring members of the Armed Forces so that he could appear on Saturday Night Live. On the day of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society event the NBC News anchor told organizers that a 'pressing engagement' meant he wouldn't be able speak at the dinner, but later that evening he appeared in a walk-on role on SNL's Weekend Update. | Broadcaster claimed he was given gifts by the elite military unit .
Told David Letterman in 2012 he flew into Baghdad with the team in 2003 .
Journalist was reporting from Kuwait on the day he claimed to have arrived .
Spoke openly about Team Six the day after the raid on Al Qaeda leader .
Told Letterman he had the 'honor' of flying with them multiple times .
U.S. Special Operations Command has cast doubt on the story .
They insisted they do not embed journalists with counter-terrorist units . |
fd727e83bfecc6f2f533ec4155f2e38e3992df5b | A computer hacker who famously stole nude photos from Paris Hilton’s cell phone and posted her contacts online has apologized some nine years after publicly embarrassing the socialite. Cameron Lacroix, now 26, was just a teenager when he cracked Hilton’s T-Mobile account in 2005 in the first example of a celebrity’s phone being hacked. Lacroix, who has spent the past 10 years carrying out a range of cyber-crimes, is attempting to put his house in order before he begins a four-year sentence in federal prison. Scroll down for video . Cameron Lacroix, now 26, was just a teenager when he cracked Hilton’s T-Mobile account in 2005 in the first example of a celebrity’s phone being hacked . ‘Paris, I’m sorry I put your information online,’ he told NBC News. ‘I should never have done it. I wouldn’t want it done to me.’ Along with embarrassing Hilton, Lacroix, from New Bedford, Massachusetts, also famously hacked Burger King’s Twitter account last year. Along with these high profiles crimes, Lacroix has also hacked federal law enforcement databases, changed his community college grades and caused more than $1 million in damage to private firms. Lacroix was just 16 in 2005 when he cracked the code to Hilton’s Sidekick phone. Lacroix hacked into T-Mobile’s computer system and decided to check if there was a phone registered in Hilton’s name since she was advertising the Sidekick . He had decided to hack into T-Mobile’s computer system because he wanted a free phone, but on realizing how easy it was he decided to check if there was a phone registered in Hilton’s name since she was advertising the product. ‘Sure enough, it was under her name. I went into it and was shocked at what I saw,’ he said. Publishing Hilton’s phonebook and nude photos online made Lacroix feel good about himself. ‘I wanted to be a celebrity,' said the computer obsessive whose mom had died of a drug overdose when he was young and who had dropped out of high school, ‘it was mind-blowing for me. … I felt famous.’ But Lacroix also got noticed by federal officials and was soon serving 11 months in a federal juvenile facility for the Hilton hacking and other offences. Over the next seven years he served several stretches inside and says that when he wasn’t in prison he was committing further cyber-crimes including steeling credit card numbers from online retailers. Lacroix's other high profile hack happened in February 2013, when he gained access to Burger King’s Twitter account and changed the logo to McDonald's golden arches . Lacroix's other high profile hack happened in February 2013, when he gained access to Burger King’s Twitter account. He replaced the fast-food chain’s logo with McDonald’s golden arches and said that Burger King had been sold to its competitor because 'the Whopper flopped.' In October he was sentenced to four years in federal prison and has vowed to go straight when he gets out of jail in 2018, by which time he will be 30. After his release, Lacroix plans to put his hacking skills to good use for the federal authorities and credit card companies that he has spent the past 10 years scamming. 'I’ve caused a lot of harm. I’ve got to fix this,' he said. | Cameron Lacroix was just a teenager when he cracked Hilton's T-Mobile account in 2005 in the first example of a celebrity's phone being hacked .
He famously posted her nude photos and celebrity contact's phone numbers online .
Lacroix's apology comes just before he begins a four-year sentence in federal prison for numerous cyber-crimes .
On his release he has vowed to go straight and help the credit cards companies that he has spent the past ten years scamming . |
fd72b9295235165c49d4b45f4371f982fb3c4a92 | By . Leon Watson . A coat owned by Beatles legend John Lennon has sold for more than $30,000 at auction. The blue cropped garment is believed to have been worn on the back cover of the Fab Four icon and Yoko Ono's 1969 album Life With The Lions. Los Angeles-based auctioneers Nate D Sanders sold the historic item, described as 'missing a button, else near fine'. This piece of rock and roll history, worn by John Lennon, has fetched $30,000 when it went under the hammer . Music history: A coat owned by Beatles legend John Lennon has been sold at auction . John Lennon is pictured wearing the coat in this photo from the back cover of his joint album with Yoko Ono, Life With The Lions . The size three coat, given to Andrew B. Harvey by Lennon's friend Jon Hendricks in 1978, fetched more than $5,000 over its reserve price. Mr Harvey said: 'This British fireman's coat once belonged to John Lennon and it was given to me in 1978 by Jon Hendricks, my (then) common-law wife's uncle. 'In 1978 we went to stay with Jon for a few weeks. 'He told me the fireman's coat hanging in the hall had been left there by John Lennon when he'd called in a few months earlier. 'I think that was the last time he saw John Lennon. 'Jon asked me if I wanted the coat, as I was off on a cross-country hitch-hiking trip and I didn't have one so I wore it through a couple of hard years.' The letter signed by Keith Marron that proves the garment's provenance . Los Angeles-based auctioneers Nate D Sanders sold the historic item, described as 'missing a button, else near fine . The size three coat, given to Andrew B. Harvey by Lennon's friend Jon Hendricks in 1978 . The label showing the greatcoat was a size three meant for someone 5ft 4in to 5ft 6in tall . A description from the auction house read: 'John Lennon personally owned coat. 'Blue cropped coat features an asymmetrical design, epaulettes and silver tone metal buttons. 'Features a brand label of Great Coat Fireman in size three. Missing a button, else near fine.' The iconic coat, designed by Great Coat Fireman, eventually ended up in the possession of Connecticut-based Beatles collector Keith Marron who put it up for sale through the auction house. Yesterday, it was revealed handwritten lyrics for Bob Dylan's . 'Like a Rolling Stone', one of the most popular songs of all time, are . going under the hammer this summer and could fetch a record $2 million. Sotheby's . is offering a working draft of the finished song in Dylan's own hand . for an estimated $1 million to $2 million. The previous record sale for . lyrics sold were from the John Lennon song 'A Day in the Life' The song is about a debutante who becomes a loner when she's cast from upper-class social circles. | The blue garment described as 'missing a button, else near fine'
The historic item was sold by LA-based auctioneers Nate D Sanders .
It was given to Andrew B. Harvey by a friend of Lennon in 1978 . |
fd731e4a0ca978b49902e8031dfc9548d0295524 | Spanking and whipping should not be banned in British-made online porn videos, Lib Dem MPs have demanded. Backbench MP Julian Huppert attacked rules revealed last week which ban a host of erotic acts considered 'harmful' by ministers. The new laws aim to bring 'video-on-demand' online porn into line with videos sold in licensed sex shops. It means around 10 acts - ranging from spanking to strangulation, aggressive whipping and being tied up – are now banned from web porn sold in the UK. Mr Huppert has tabled a Commons motion calling for the new rules – laid down in the Audiovisual Media Services Regulation 2014 – to be annulled. Mr Huppert, MP for Cambridge, said the new rules 'mean that all video-on-demand services that originate from the UK can't show various acts, such as spanking'. He said: 'It seems to me to be very odd to say that this - assuming it is consensual - is acceptable for somebody to do in their own home, for them to photograph it, film it, but not to look at it online if it comes from the UK. 'To me the case for banning things should be driven by issues around consent, and around genuine risk, not about whether we happen to like things or not.' Banned content includes 'the portrayal of sexual activity which involves real or apparent lack of consent' and 'the infliction of pain or acts which may cause lasting physical harm'. This effectively outlaws acts including physical or verbal abuse (whether or not it is consensual), physical restraint, caning and strangulation. A Government spokesman said: 'The legislation provides the same level of protection to the online world that exists on the high street in relation to the sale of physical DVDs. 'In a converging media world these provisions must be coherent and the BBFC classification regime is a tried and tested system of what content is regarded as harmful for minors.' But critics argue the change not only damages the country's porn industry, with online viewers still able to access content banned in the UK by watching videos filmed abroad, but amounts to 'arbitrary censorship'. A number of 'Fifty Shades of Grey' style sex acts have been banned from online porn made in the UK. A movie based on the erotic novel is currently being made staring Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson (pictured) Spanking and whipping, which are featured in the saucy novel Fifty Shades of Grey, are on the banned list, as well as: . Aggressive whipping . Physical or verbal abuse (regardless of if consensual) Strangulation . Jerry Barnett, founder of anti-censorship campaign Sex And Censorship, told Vice News: 'R18 is a strange thing. 'It's a set of weird and arbitrary censorship rules decided between the BBFC, the police and the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service). 'There appear to be no rational explanations for most of the R18 rules - they're simply a set of moral judgments designed by people who have struggled endlessly to stop the British people from watching pornography.' The Audiovisual Media Services Regulation 2014 came in to effect on Monday. Erotic film director Erika Lust told the Independent: 'With this legislation, the UK is in danger of finding itself back in an age where porn is simply the boring, unrealistic, male fantasy of bimbos eagerly pleasing men as if it is their duty, where women are submissive and lack ownership of their sexuality. 'Women in the industry will now fear the loss of their livelihoods as well as their sexual independence.' | Backbench MP Julian Huppert attacked new online porn crackdown .
Rules ban a host of erotic acts considered 'harmful' by ministers .
The acts include spanking, strangulation, whipping and being tied up . |
fd73db2e10ba2578f8fb4bc2a4aa5d4b6bfda740 | It took Graham Hughes nearly four years to cover 201 nations to become the first person to travel the world without flying. Now fans can undertake the same journey in only four minutes without needing to leave the house. The 33-year-old from Liverpool used . buses, taxis, trains and his own two feet to travel 160,000 miles in . 1,426 days - all on a shoestring budget of just $100 (£65) a week. Scroll down for video . Graham Hughes' madcap trip around the world has been edited into four short minutes - starting with Brazil . His mission began in South America, taking in Guyana along the way . Hughes' job of editing the footage was made a little easier by the fact that he remembered to film himself saying where he was - seen here on the Caribbean leg in Antigua . Hughes filmed his travels for a documentary after setting off from his hometown on New Year's Day 2009. By December last year, he crossed the border into the newly-created South Sudan and cracked open the champagne to celebrate completing his mission. Now he's edited days of footage into a whirlwind tour of the globe, taking in one nation every second. Handily, Hughes filmed himself announcing where he was for his tour diaries, making his task of including every stop a little easier - even if he did forget Malta on his first attempt. A whistlestop visit to Guinea-Bissau happened on his way from The Gambia to Senegal, where he made it through four African countries in noe day . The Liverpudlian adventurer filmed himself in front of the sign marking the Zimbabwean border . The 1,426-day journey started in Uruguay and ended with its 201st nation, South Sudan . The video sees him posing in the sunshine of South America and the Caribbean, wrapped up warm in Canada, and even pretending to be under arrest by locals in the South Pacific island of Vanuatu. In almost every shot he wears his trusty fedora hat, while his beard ranges from neatly trimmed, to bushy and even a handlebar moustache for his visit to Papua New Guinea. Without planes, some of the nations were harder to reach than others - but not the ones you might expect. Hughes, who has raised nearly £9,000 for WaterAid so far, said it was easier to get into North Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan than it was to reach remote islands such as Nauru in the South Pacific, the Maldives and the Seychelles. Despite going off the typical backpacker's trail for much of his trip, Hughes still found time to fit in a wonder of the world by visiting the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt . In Bangladesh, Hughes proved he was really there by holding up local currency . Hughes also filmed some of the people he met on his travels, including this woman in the Philippines . It took seven attempts to get into the Seychelles because of the threat from Somali pirates. He mainly crossed the seas by hitching lifts with cargo ships but struck lucky on the way to the Dominican Republic when a cruise ship let him come aboard. Hughes spent four days 'crossing open ocean in a leaky boat' to reach Cape Verde from Senegal without any means of communications. He was jailed for a week in the Congo for being a 'spy', was arrested trying to 'sneak into' Russia and had to be 'rescued from Muslim fundamentalists by a Filipino ladyboy called Jenn'. For his visit to Papua New Guinea, Hughes showed off an impressive handlebar moustache . Hughes also shows himself receiving a warm welcome in the Pacific island nation Vanuatu . The end! South Sudan didn't exist as a country when Graham Hughes set off in January 2009, but he crossed its border in December last year and toasted the end of his challenge . His favourite place was Palau, an island state in the Western Pacific. Other highlights included dancing with the Highlanders of Papua New Guinea, befriending orangutans in Borneo, riding through the badlands of Kenya on an 18-wheel truck, meeting the Prime Minister of Tuvalu - and 'warning schoolchildren in Afghanistan about the dangers of men with beards'. Graham Hughes visited 201 nations, including the 193 members of the United Nations, Taiwan, Vatican City, Palestine, Kosovo, Western Sahara and the four home nations of the United Kingdom. Territories are marked with a 'T' before the number. The countries are listed in the order they appear in the video, not in the order he visited. Graham Hughes' adventures were even turned into a National Geographic documentary . SOUTH AMERICA001 Brazil002 Uruguay003 Argentina004 Paraguay005 Bolivia006 Chile007 Peru008 Ecuador009 Colombia010 Venezuela011 Guyana012 SurinameTHE CARIBBEAN013 Trinidad & Tobago014 Grenada015 St. Vincent & The Grenadines016 Barbados017 St. LuciaT01 Martinique018 Dominica019 St. Kitts & Nevis020 Antigua & BarbudaT02 St. Martin/Sint MaartenT03 British Virgin IslandsT04 US Virgin Islands021 Dominican Republic022 Haiti023 JamaicaCENTRAL & NORTH AMERICA024 Mexico025 Guatemala026 El Salvador027 Nicaragua028 Honduras029 Costa Rica030 Panama031 Belize032 The United States of America033 The Bahamas034 Cuba035 Canada . Not every stop needed his fedora for shade from the sun, as seen here among the rocky landscapes in Canada . EUROPE . AFRICA . The four-minute video gives a small taste of Graham Hughes' global adventure, including a quick look at Lebanon . MIDDLE EAST & ASIA . The Seychelles, on the Oceania leg on the tour, took seven attempts to enter because of fears over Somali pirates . OCEANIA184 Papua New Guinea185 Solomon Islands186 AustraliaT08 New Caledonia187 Vanuatu188 Fiji189 Tuvalu T09 WallisT10 Futuna190 Kiribati191 Marshall Islands192 SamoaT11 American Samoa193 Tonga194 New Zealand195 NauruT12 Northern Mariana IslandsT13 Guam196 Micronesia197 PalauT14 Hong KongT15 MacauTHE FINAL FRONTIERS198 Sri Lanka199 The Maldives200 The Seychelles201 South Sudan . | Graham Hughes, from Liverpool, set off on his travels on January 1, 2009 .
He covered 160,000 miles in 1,426 days on a shoestring $100 a week budget .
Now fans can have a brief taste of his adventure with his four-minute film . |
fd73f57b859c7e96223676a02b6c9f7437482b3e | A Brazilian mathematician claims it is possible to predict the results of a lottery draw by applying complicated maths and probability theories. Renato Gianella has found it is entirely possible to predict numbers which are more likely to appear than others, by following the same behaviour patterns as predicted by the Law of Large Numbers. His study called The Geometry of Chance: Lotto Numbers Follow a Predicted Pattern, finds not all combinations of numbers have the same probability of occurring – so in short, it is possible to predict patterns of numbers with a greater chance of being drawn. The mathematician behind the study has created a website which uses colour patterns to show number combinations which are more likely to win the lottery based on previous draws in 20 lotteries from around the world - but you may need more than GCSE maths to decipher the code . The study claims that there is a pattern which is applicable in all lotteries around the world, which can be worked out using a complicated coloured template. Mr Gianella said ‘Lottery should no longer be seeing as a form of a gambling but a true representation of the probabilistic theory and the Law of Large Numbers.’ It isn’t however as simple as being able to pick the six most likely numbers to win the National Lottery, it is however possible to pick several combinations of numbers which are more likely to be drawn based on probability. The mathematician has a website www.lotorainbow.com.br/en/default.asp which allows people to view the likelihood of different numbers being drawn in 20 different lotteries around the world - but readers may need a maths degree themselves to understand it. The maths behind the theory is based on previous draws and patterns which arise from them – previous draws dictate the future probability of certain number being drawn. Combinations of certain numbers are more likely to win than others according to probability. In short not all combinations of numbers have an equal chance of being drawn - but it is still highly difficult to predict actual winning combinations . If you toss a coin you have a one in two chance of getting a head but you might not get one at all. If you toss the coin many times you’re going to move more towards a 50/50 split of heads or tails (i.e. it’ll look more like the probability you’ve been given). Combinations of certain numbers are more likely to win than others. So it’s about looking at the choices you’ve made as a whole rather than the individual numbers. Rather than saying there are 12.271.512 different possible combinations Gianella reduced it to 210 coloured templates, which represent all combinations. He’s then worked out the likelihood of getting each of these combinations. For example, If someone were to choose all low numbers (in the 1-9 range) they have a 0.0007% chance of their template coming up as there’s only 84 combinations of using these numbers. But if they were to choose one across all the different colours (with two purples) they have a 2.6403% chance of their template coming up as there’s 324,000 different combinations that use these numbers. The study says: ‘The frequentist notion states that the probability of a given event relates to the frequency at which such event is repeated. Additionally, as predicted by the Law of Large Numbers, when an event is repeated many times, the average of the results from all events should be close to the expected result. Thus, games of all kinds in which many repetitions occur (such as lotteries) are ideal labs for the study of probabilities. Now a new study shows that not all combinations of numbers have the same probability of occurring in a lottery draw. ‘The study is based on mathematics and probabilities theories applied to lottery drawings. It adopts a coloured template that determines all the possible combinations of numbers, as established by Pascal's rule. The adoption of this coloured template provides an easier understanding, and correct identification, of the combinations of numbers with highest probabilities to win. Through experimentation, the method shows that it is possible to detect that the results of a lottery draw follow the same behaviour pattern as predicted by the Law of Large Numbers. ‘For instance, using the method proposed by Gianella, templates built on previous results from a number of lottery games in different countries show that as more draws are performed, the expected result of each template is closer to the observed result, indicating that a pattern for these combinations exists. Thus, the right choice of combinations can greatly increase your chances of picking the winning combination in your next lottery ticket. ‘The method was tested with more than 20 lottery draws all over the world, and in each case it demonstrates that the probability that a given group of combinations (defined according to the coloured template adopted) will occur is not the same for all groups of combinations and that there are groups that show a higher probability to win.’ | Renato Gianella says it is possible to predict winning lottery numbers .
Theory is based on patterns as predicted by Law of Large Numbers .
Brazilian claims not all numbers have equal chance of being drawn .
He's developed website to help people select more favorable combinations .
But users may need more than basic maths to understand how it works .
Study was based on 20 lotteries around the world . |
fd742b3b1d5aca3a350cf5d99d1cbe72b8d0b184 | (CNN) -- The jarring sounds of war have longed echoed over Mogadishu. Now it's time for music to rock the Somali capital. Armed with powerful songs and bold lyrics, a daring group of hip-hop musicians has defied death threats and violent attacks from militant extremists to spread its message of peace in war-torn Mogadishu. Waayaha Cusub, a popular collective of Somali refugee musicians based in Kenya, traveled to the coastal city to stage the Mogadishu Music Festival, expected to be the country's biggest music event since the eruption of a vicious civil war in 1991. "Through this tour and our music we are trying to pass the Somali people a message to stop the killing, to stop the dying, because, there is no need for all these people dying for nothing," says Shiine Akhyaar Ali, lead singer and manager of Waayaha Cusub, a group famous for its lyrics attacking Somali warlords. "We want to finish this war for good." 'We will continue' Waayaha Cusub, whose name translates as "new era," was formed in 2004, featuring the talents of a revolving collective of exiled rappers and singers who moved to neighboring Kenya to escape the horrors of Somalia's conflict. Led by Ali and fellow singer Falis Abdi, who are now married, the group's energetic rap and soulful R&B struck a chord with the youth in East Africa. From their makeshift studio in Nairobi, they first tasted success with songs touching on themes such as love, poverty and human rights. Yet as the crisis in their homeland deepened, Waayaha Cusub's lyrics soon broke into more dangerous territory. "Shocked shocked/Who is behind this trail of destruction?/Al-Shabaab is/They galvanize people on the street for their wicked cause/They profess to be pious but they wield machetes," raps Ali in Somali on "Yaabka al Shabaab" (Reject the Extremists), one of the group's most popular songs. Al-Shabaab was once the armed wing of the Islamic Courts Union, which took over most of southern Somalia in the second half of 2006. As it expanded its reach in the East African country, the al Qaeda-linked insurgent group started implementing cruel punishments for behavior it deemed un-Islamic: women were stoned to death for adultery, amputations and beheadings became common, while in some areas Al-Shabaab banned listening to the radio. Read this: Somali women defy danger to write history . Popular musicians were also a target; Waayaha Cusub, which had caused a stir by having women dance on stage and in its videos, received several threats and was ordered to stop making music. "They sent us a lot of threatening messages and also phone calls," recalls Ali, who is from the town of Dhusamareeb. "They were saying, 'you are doing propaganda for anti-Islam or anti-jihad, so we will finish you,'" he adds. And that's what they tried to do. In late 2007, militants broke into Ali's Nairobi house and shot him several times. The rapper, who managed to escape, took five bullets and suffered internal organ injuries, as well as an arm wound. Since then, several more incidents have followed, with radical militants threatening members of the band and in some cases assaulting them. Yet all these attacks have failed to deter Waayaha Cusub. Its members have continued risking their lives, remaining on the front line to promote their message for peace. "If we stop, I think these people will win, they will reach their aim," says Ali. "So if we continue, we are the winners because we need to tell our people that terrorism is not good, that killing people is not good, that suicide bombing is not good. So we will continue." 'Blow their minds with hop-hop' Somalia moved a step closer to stability last September after picking its first president elected on home soil in decades. Following months of ironing out planning details and security arrangements, Waayaha Cusub is now set to put on an array of free concerts and other related artistic activities in Mogadishu, with the support of local and international officials. Read this: 'New hope for Somalia' Joining them, fellow Somali musicians and performers from the United States, Afghanistan, Kenya and other countries will unite their voices in a crescendo of "stealth events" that will pop up around Mogadishu over the next few days. Organizers say these events are designed to rally would-be fighters to peacefully resist extremism. Music workshops and open mic events with at-risk youth and former militia will kick-start the proceedings, followed by a solidarity show featuring international musicians such as Afghani-American folk singer Ariana Delawari, Filipino reggae fusion artist Jahm-Eye and Sudanese soul singer Alsarah. The event will culminate in the main Somali Reconciliation Concert, headlined by Waayaha Cusub and featuring cameo appearances by other Somali and international performers. "It's always been Waayaha Cusub's way to respond to violence in the community by pulling youth away from the fray and into a venue where they give them an open mic to share their feelings, and then blow their minds with Somali hip-hop about ending the war," says Daniel J Gerstle, the festival's lead producer and founder of Humanitarian Bazaar, a group organizing music events promoting peace. "Countering the terror groups and extremist rebels who use surprise bombings to destroy, these singers launch surprise flash mob concerts to bring back the message of love and peace," he adds. For security reasons, each event will be held at a different venue, organizers say. The exact locations and times will only be revealed shortly before each event by phone or text message. Even though insurgents have fled Mogadishu and guns have largely fallen silent, security is still a risk -- at least 10 people were killed in the suicide bombing of a bus outside Mogadishu's National Theater on March 18. Portions of Somalia still remain lawless as large parts of the country are under the control of militants, such as Al-Shabaab. 'Somali Sunrise' The festival in Mogadishu is the latest event in Waayaha Cusub's tour aiming to win over youth and convince them to turn away from violence. Starting with concerts in the United States last summer, Waayaha Cusub then brought its Somali Sunrise Concert Tour back to East Africa. True to their intrepid reputation and message of peace, the rappers staged a string of "stop-the-violence" surprise shows in one of Nairobi's toughest neighborhoods in November 2012 in response to a chain of blasts that had rocked the Kenyan capital. The group's performances will be featured in "Live from Mogadishu," a documentary following the band's death-defying journey to bring modern live music back to their homeland. "I have worked and supported musicians also in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq -- really, this group, they're the most willing to risk their lives and really go straight against the extremism," says Gerstle, who is also behind the documentary, set to be released later this year. "A lot of music and human rights projects around the world are just about being happy and love and stuff like that, but this one is much more specifically trying to persuade youth to make a better choice," he adds. "They are risking their lives and being much more on the front line than any of the other musicians." For Ali, the time is now right to take his music back to Somalia. "At this time, we need to start to reach the youth in Somalia to pass our message," he says. "We need to tell them that this jihad is not good, is not right, so this time I think in Somalia most people don't want the extreme ideas. I think this time it's better than before." | The Somali capital of Mogadishu is set to host its biggest music festival in over two decades .
The Mogadishu Music Festival is aiming to rally would-be fighters to peacefully resist extremism .
The stealth event is put together by Waayaha Cusub, a group of Kenya-based Somali rappers .
The collective is famous for its powerful lyrics attacking militant extremists . |
fd74a08fc473abefaab04739c3c7a5025c4e582e | Despite countless Whitehall campaigns and initiatives, Britons still don’t really care about the environment, a survey has found. Nearly two thirds admit to being indifferent, and one in ten young people claim not to care about recycling at all. A third of people thought they recycled as much as possible – but only one in six said they consciously bought items because they were made from recycled materials. Scroll down for video . According to research, the average UK home recycles only 250 of the 440 plastic bottles it uses every year . The survey of 1,000 people was carried out by Pledge4Plastics, the latest Government-backed initiative to tackle unnecessary use of landfill. It will undoubtedly worry bureaucrats tasked with getting Britain to hit EU targets of recycling half our waste by 2020. In September last year, England’s household recycling rate stood at 43.9 per cent – a decline from 44.1 per cent in 2012. And according to Pledge4Plastics, the average UK home uses 440 plastic bottles a year, but recycles just 250 of them. One in five people admit they don’t recycle fizzy drink or milk bottles, while a quarter don’t put juice or water bottles in the correct bin. Some 5billion plastic bottles were sent to UK landfill sites last year. The most recent figures from the EU statistics office reveal that Germany is the continent’s recycling leader at 65 per cent. Britain is on 43.9 per cent, while France recycles 39 per cent. Romania recycles just 1 per cent of household waste. | Only one in six bought items because they were made of recycled materials .
Survey of 1,000 showed two thirds admitted to being indifferent .
Average UK home recycles just 250 of 440 bottles every year . |
fd74fac554862ac13045e7356d1e5945b0707920 | Jack Wilshere insists Arsenal will recover after being outclassed by Borussia Dortmund in a disturbing start to their Champions League group campaign. Ciro Immobile and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struck in a 2-0 victory for the Bundesliga club, but the winning margin should have been a landslide after the Gunners were overwhelmed at Signal Iduna Park. It was clearly their toughest fixture in Group D but the dismal performance has raised concerns over their ability to make any meaningful impact in Europe this season. Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere shows his frustration during the Gunners defeat to Borussia Dortmund . The Arsenal midfielder looks to get the better of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during the game on Tuesday . Adding to the despondency is the ankle injury that forced Wilshere off in the closing stages. Arsene Wenger played down the severity of the sprain, but a more informed assessment is expected ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League trip to Aston Villa. 'We'll bounce back. Our next Champions League game (against Galatasaray on October 1) is at home and hopefully we'll get the three points,' Wilshere told the London Evening Standard. 'It's never nice to lose a game - we wanted to come here and win - but that was our first Champions League group game. 'We have got five more so we have an opportunity to try and get 15 points and that is what we'll try to do. 'It hasn't quite clicked for us yet but we've got a lot of quality players and I'm sure it'll come right.' Arsenal's shortcomings have left Wenger open to criticism on multiple fronts and the Frenchman faces some tough decisions. Dortmund ran amok in midfield, exposing club captain Mike Arteta's inability to shield the defence against bright opponents who think and act quickly. Once again Mesut Ozil drifted anonymously around the pitch, playing a couple of sublime passes but otherwise contributing little and his substitution on the hour mark was barely noticed. Danny Welbeck races past Erik Durm during the Champions League encounter but to no avail . Wenger will hope to have full-backs Nacho Monreal and Calum Chambers available for Villa after they missed out against Dortmund through injury and illness, but problems persist in defence. Misfortune has robbed Arsenal of Mathieu Debuchy for two to three months - the Frenchman has ankle ligament damage - but Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker were poor at Signal Iduna Park. Wenger's refusal to add quality defensive cover other than Chambers and Debuchy over the summer has now returned to haunt him, placing his transfer policy under renewed scrutiny. And the manager must hope striker Danny Welbeck begins hitting the target as soon as possible after his second outing for Arsenal was against notable for wasted opportunities. 'It was disappointing against Dortmund. They are a good team and we have got to be a bit smarter when we come to places like this,' Wilshere said. 'With their gameplan, they wanted to press us high up the pitch and we let them do it in the first half. 'We started the second half quite brightly in the first couple of minutes and then unfortunately it was the same thing again on the counter attack and then the game is over. 'We knew what they were going to do. We should have played maybe a little bit longer in the first half than trying to play our football in our half of the pitch because once you lose it there, they are straight onto us. 'We had a few chances and even at 2-0, Danny had a chance and if he had scored that maybe the last 10 minutes would have been a different game.' | The Arsenal midfielder is confident his side will recover from being outclassed in their opening Champions League .
Borussia Dortmund ran out convincing 2-0 winners at the Signal Iduna Park .
Wilshere maintains there are five games to go to make up for the defeat and get through to the last 16 of the Champions League . |
fd75104875bcc5f229eebd65886cfd088f2ff73e | (CNN) -- Norway leads the 2010 list ranking the prosperity of 110 of the world's nations by the London analytical center Legatum Institute. Norway also topped the 2009 rankings. "The Prosperity Index seeks to understand how economic fundamentals, health, freedom, governance, safety, education, entrepreneurial opportunity, and social capital influence a country's economic growth and the happiness of its citizens," the group says. Europe dominates the Top 10, taking six of the spots. The United States and Canada represent North America, while Australia and New Zealand check in from the Pacific-Asia nations. Eight of the Bottom 10 nations are from Africa, with Zimbabwe coming in last. The Top 10: . 1. Norway . 2. Denmark . 3. Finland . 4. Australia . 5. New Zealand . 6. Sweden . 7. Canada . 8. Switzerland . 9. Netherlands . 10. United States . | Index is based on economy, government, educator and other factors .
Norway tops the rankings for the 2nd straight year .
The United States is No. 10, down one spot from 2009 . |
fd755374a99f59dfb696a29f24d159f887df6745 | (CNN) -- Before the final whistle at Monday night's game between the Indianapolis Colts and the New York Giants, trumpeter Chris Botti had already won. The Grammy-winning musician was on the field at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, to perform the national anthem for November 3's "Monday Night Football." No vocals, as we've become accustomed to -- just Botti and his instrument. What transpired was so affecting that it left viewers with chills and brought Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne to tears. "I'm just blessed to be out there," Wayne later told ESPN. His performance during Monday night's game pushed Wayne to eighth place on the all-time receiving yards list, ahead of James Lofton. "It's an emotional game, man, and sometimes it comes out," Wayne continued. "An old wise guy once told me you shouldn't hold back your tears. Tonight was a night with the tears." Botti, a native of Portland, Oregon, became devoted to playing the trumpet at 12 after hearing Miles Davis perform "My Funny Valentine." Now 52, Botti's not only built a successful career as a trumpeter, he's also worked with some of the music industry's biggest names, from Frank Sinatra and Paul Simon to Joni Mitchell and Natalie Cole. His most recent release, "Impressions," won the Grammy for best pop instrumental album in 2012. After his showing at MetLife, many are also saying that Botti turned in one of the best performances of "The Star-Spangled Banner" ever heard. Perhaps, as one viewer suggested, even the best since Whitney Houston blew our minds at the 1991 Super Bowl. . | Chris Botti's national anthem was breathtaking .
It brought football player Reggie Wayne to tears .
Several viewers have called it one of the best national anthem performances . |
fd75c3e063b131f2e0225cbb7fbbc08656da056b | Three elementary teachers in a New Jersey school district have been caught having a shocking conversation about some of their special needs students, referring to them as 'morons' and 'short bus kids' - and are now set to be fired as a result. The teachers - Tyler Van Pelt, Maria Weber and Maryellen Lechelt - allegedly engaged in an inappropriate online discussion on October 23 while training in a new technology to be implemented in their school district of Edison, however were unaware that the chat room could be accessed by others in the program. Another teacher in the room suspected the trio were making fun of her after hearing them laughing and soon stumbled upon a transcript of their vulgar chat, which she then sent to her principal. The three were suspended with pay - as per procedure - and are accused of unbecoming conduct, insubordination for misuse of school technology, failure to pay attention to the training and violating the district's sexual harassment and affirmative action policies, among other charges, NBC New York reported. Board: A New Jersey school district have agreed to bring tenure charges against three teachers who were caught disparaging some of their disabled students and some other teachers . Scene: Two of three teachers work at Lincoln Elementary School in New Jersey . The teachers were learning how to use Chromebook laptops when the incident occurred. According to NJ.com, Van Pelt invited Weber and Lechelt into what he called a 'personal wiseass (sic) backchannel discussion'. 'i like the group name ''morons'',' Lechelt allegedly responded. 'they take the tart cart home.' Van Pelt then wrote back: 'short bus kids.' Van Pelt also described a group of his students as 'I hate you don't waste my time'. Lechelt, following suit, described some of her own charges as 'jesus christ, why the f--- did they place you with me?'. Weber did not contribute to that conversation, however the chat moved from students to fellow teachers. Weber is accused of speaking out of line by questioning the sexual hygiene habits of the woman running the training program. 'She looks like a poor man's Denise Richards,' Van Pelt allegedly wrote of the woman. 'poor man's anything is as good as its gonna get in edison,' Lechelt wrote back. Van Pelt allegedly then said of the woman: 'i'd like to invite her to a private backchannel discussion... all night long.' During the conversation, Van Pelt suggested he was leaving the room to masturbate, NJ.com reported. Outraged: Parents, such as Andrea Siragusa (pictured) have come forward, calling for the teachers to be fired . He was subsequently accused of Masturbating In or Around Board Property, but denies this happened. Van Pelt and Lechelt are teachers at Lincoln Elementary. Van Pelt runs a local education blog, while Lechelt won the 2012 Outstanding Classroom Teacher of the Year award from the Edison Chamber of Commerce. Weber is a teacher at James Monroe Elementary. The Edison Board of Education met on Monday to discuss the matter. They moved to terminate the teachers, but have put them on paid leave for 120 days in the interim. Their case will be decided by an arbitrator, who may also decide to keep them on or reduce their pay. Parents of the students who attend classes by the teachers involved are said to be furious. 'If you choose to be a teacher, it's a public work. You're dealing with kids. If you don't have it in you, I feel like the decent thing for you to do is to resign,' parent Andrea Siragusa told NBC New York. | Tyler Van Pelt, Maria Weber and Maryellen Lechelt have been suspended by the Edison School District in New Jersey .
All three are likely to be fired .
Three were at a training program when they started an online chat .
Referred to some students as 'morons' and 'short bus kids'
Also spoke disparagingly about the woman teaching them the program .
The three were not aware others could access their chat . |
fd75d2ca2eba86b5386e9d8ee388f4812b696ad6 | By . Maysa Rawi . Updated: . 13:08 EST, 9 December 2011 . The Pakistani model at the centre of the FHM India row says the stress caused by the scandal has aged her. Veena Malik is suing the publishers of the magazine claims cover was doctored to make her appear nude when she actually posed in clothes. But she revealed today that since launching her lawsuit, she has been threatened in an attempt to get her to drop it. The 33-year-old told the Mail Online: 'I feel completely cheated. They've added ten years to my age. 'They threatened to sue me if I don't keep quiet.' Veena Malik claims she was wearing hotpants, which were removed by Photoshop on the cover of FHM India . Malik appeared naked on the cover of the December issue of FHM India with just her arms and legs covering her modesty, sporting a tattoo of the initials 'ISI' on her arm, a reference to Pakistan's intelligence agency. The image sparked outrage in her homeland. She said: 'The . image we shot was completely different to the one on the cover. I was . wearing hot pants and they promised me they would cover my . upper body with multiple tattoos. 'Instead, they removed the hot pants.' The actress claims she was in the past approached to pose for nude pictures by other agencies, but always refused . She also claims the editor-in-chief Kabeer Sharma and . the journalist who interviewed her refused to respond to her calls . following the release of the issue, despite being in daily contact with . them prior to the shoot. FHM India is owned by Maxposure, separate to the UK-owned FHM, which is published by Bauer Media. Since then, Malik says she has received a . legal notice from FHM India which she claims was 'aggressive' in tone, . and she says threatened her with character defamation if she did not retract her allegations. Malik said: 'I did not sign any contract and refused to until I was given final approval of the images. I was never sent the pictures but I was assured they were the same shots taken on the shoot in November. 'I was cool with those pictures because I felt they were artistic and beautiful. They should have waited for my authorisation but they didn't. 'There was only one week between the shoot and publication - they were obviously in a rush to print them without my consent.' Veena said FHM India would contact her twenty times a day to convince her to pose for the magazine - and then refused to return her calls following publication . The model, who is currently in Mumbai filming, has since been disowned by her father, who said he wishes his daughter to be punished. Veena said: 'Of course I am sad and upset but hopeful too, when I go back home, I will sit down and make him understand. 'I want to speak to my father in person, my family know the kind of person I am and would never go against the personal rules I set myself. 'I am still speaking to my mother and sister, they know what the reality is, but they are upset about the way it was projected in the media. 'The way the media is projecting it, . calling it a nude shoot, the shoot is not a nude shoot.' The 33-year-old also revealed she has already been approached by an international agency in the past to do nude images. She said: 'I was approached in the past to do nude shots for money and I refused. So why would I accept to do that for FHM India for free?' Despite the fallback, Malik claims she is still being supported by her fans - and wouldn't rule out a nude shoot in the future. She said: ' I'm a very strong person. If I did something like that, I would stand by my actions. 'Would I pose nude In the future? Who knows what will happen tomorrow.' Sharma vehemently denies the pictures are doctored and that the model has been threatened, insisting Malik has given contradictory accounts of the shoot. He said: 'It's important to note Ms Malik has been dragging the magazine's name through muck by making false and baseless allegations and we look at it very, very seriously. 'I invite Ms Malik to furnish one shred of evidence, SMS or a witness to support her allegations which are as concocted as the ones she's been making all week. Veena is hoping to reconcile with her father, who has disowned her since seeing the pictures . 'No one in FHM has had any conversation with Ms Malik directly or indirectly to make this "imagined threat". 'The one message that was sent to her was one that told her she could call the office landline if she wanted to have a conversation. 'Ms Malik was more than comfortable with the filming, it was only when the cover and the grenade shots were done was the videographer asked to stop filming to make the team more comfortable (not her). 'She did not even once ask him to stop filming.' Malik claims no such video was taken and that when she noticed filming taking place, when she was fully clothed she asked them to stop as it was not in line with the previous agreement to only shoot images. But Miss Malik is no stranger to . controversy. In January she attacked attacked hardline clerics in . Pakistan who demand modest Muslims should be suitably covered at all . times. She also launched a stringent attack on honour killings, highlighting that women were always the target and not men. After making her name has a star in . 'Lollywood' movies - the term used to describe films made in Lahore - . she found greater fame when she took part in Big Boss 4, the Indian . version of Big Brother, last year. | 'I was wearing hotpants, claims Veena Malik .
Disowned by father, suing magazine for millions . |
fd769009bf63e26d93ba85435963c0c60decc029 | It appears that the job of motivating children to work harder and calm down was as much part of a teacher’s role in Ancient Egypt as it is today. A 1,700-year-old classroom complete with motivational quotations written on its walls by educators has been discovered in Egypt and dates to a time when the Romans controlled the area. The building is the first to be found that is definitely a schoolroom and features Greek writings on its walls, including a calming quotation from Homer’s ‘The Odyssey’. Archaeologists have discovered a 1,700-year-old school with Greek writings on its walls (pictured) in the ancient town of Trimithis, Egypt. It is thought the teacher wrote it very carefully in Greek for pupils to copy . Text on the wall includes quotations from The Odyssey, which tells a take of ancient drug use, when Helen of Troy gives her dinner guests a drug which ‘takes away grief and anger and brings forgetfulness of every ill.’ ‘Whoever should drink this down when it is mixed in the bowl would not let fall a tear down his cheek in the course of that day at least. Imitate,' it says - urging pupils to copy it down. Another text written by a teacher was found in a different classroom encouraging pupils to work hard and to improve their rhetorical skills to a god-like level. A quotation says: ‘Be bold, my boys; the great god [Hermes] will grant you to have a beautiful crown of manifold virtue’ while another reads: ‘Work hard for me, toils make men manly’. It bears a striking resemblance to more modern classrooms as there are benches for students to sit on and lessons written on walls in Greek, which was widely spoken, Live Science reported. The building is located in Amheida in the Dakhla Oasis, some 200 miles (322km) west of the Nile, which was once the ancient time of Trimithis. Text on the wall includes quotations from The Odyssey, which tells a tale of ancient drug use, when Helen of Troy gives her dinner guests a drug which ‘takes away grief and anger and brings forgetfulness of every ill.’ The building is the first to be found that is definitely a schoolroom from the era and features Greek writings on its walls, including a calming quotation from Homer's 'The Odyssey' The building is located in Amheida in the Dakhla Oasis, some 200 miles (322km) west of the Nile, which was the ancient town of Trimithis (marked) ‘Whoever should drink this down when it . is mixed in the bowl would not let fall a tear down his cheek in the . course of that day at least. Imitate,’ the painted script says. The word ‘imitate’ is thought to indicate that the children should copy the passage and ancient records say that the passage from the famous text has magical calming qualities to it – which could have come handy in the classroom. Another text written by a teacher was found in a different classroom encouraging pupils to work hard and to improve their rhetorical skills to a god-like level. It is thought that the school was only open for 20 years, before the room was amalgamated into a large house that belonged to a town councilor called Serenos and transformed with images of Greek gods (pictured) A quotation says: ‘Be bold, my boys; . the great god [Hermes] will grant you to have a beautiful crown of . manifold virtue’ while another reads: ‘Work hard for me, toils make men . manly’. The school was . discovered in 1979 but it was not until 2001 that archaeologists . unearthed the writing, which confirmed the building’s purpose of a . school. Excavations have been on-going since. The school was discovered in 1979 but it was not until 2001 that archaeologists unearthed the writing (pictured) to confirm the building's purpose . The building is unique as it is the only one from the era that was definitely used for educating children, Raffaella Cribiore, a professor at New York University explained in the journal Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik. Schools were often part of houses for wealthy children in ancient times and are notoriously difficult for experts to identify, but the inscriptions inside the classroom make the Amheida building a one-off. He wrote that the texts are ‘further proof that teaching and learning took place there, and confirm that they belong to the only building so far discovered from antiquity that was certainly a school and showed educational activities.' It is thought that the school was only open for 20 years, before the room was amalgamated into a large house that belonged to a town councillor called Serenos and transformed with images of Greek gods. Researchers think the closure of the school might have occurred when the teacher either moved away of died. Susanna McFadden, an author and professor at Fordham University said archaeologists have recently discovered paintings of a banquet scene and flutist as well as geometric motifs covering ‘almost every surface’ so that a person entering the room 1,700 years ago must have been completely overwhelmed. It is thought that the writings of the past teacher were preserved by the family as a sign of their cultural sophistication or that they approved of the motivational messages. | The building is located in Amheida in the .
Dakhla Oasis, some 200 miles (322km) west of the Nile, which was the .
ancient time of Trimithis .
Quotes from The Odyssey can be seen on the walls of the 1,700-year-old classroom, which later became the room of a lavishly decorated mansion .
Script is written in Greek and urges pupils to perfect their rhetorical skills to god-like levels and work hard . |
fd7719f67205a59350b2cb262a2fa1acb4e02c35 | By . Ellie Buchdahl . PUBLISHED: . 08:23 EST, 9 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:30 EST, 11 September 2013 . Thai Airways painted over its logo and name on a plane that crash-landed on a runway in a bid to protect the airline's image. The Airbus 330-300 skidded as it was coming into Bangkok's main airport at around 11pm. Thirteen people were injured while evacuating the plane, which was arriving from Guangzhou, China when it fell off the runway at Suvarnabhumi airport. Scroll down for video . Blackout: The logo and name of the Airbus 330-300 were covered up by workers . Crash: A functioning Thai Airways plane takes off with its logos in full sight while the damaged Airbus waits on the runway at Suvarnabhumi International Airport . Emergency: Slides had to be deployed so passengers and crew could escape the plane, and 14 people were injured . Officials said there had been a malfunction in the gearbox of the plane, which was carrying 288 passengers and 14 crew members. Following the incident, workers on a crane blacked out the Thai Airways logo on the tail and body of the aircraft. Thai Airways official Smud Poom-On said that 'blurring the logo' after an accident was a recommendation from Star Alliance known as the 'crisis communication rule', meant to protect the image of both the airline and other members of Star Alliance. The incident occurred less than two weeks after 20 passengers were injured when a Thai Airways Airbus A380 hit severe turbulence as it was descending to Hong Kong airport. Skid: Marks in the grass around the runway showed how the plane slipped as it landed in Bangkok on the flight from Guangzhou . Malfunction: One runway had to be closed at the airport due to the accident, which officials put down to faulty gears . Thai Airways covered up the airline’s . logo and name on one of its planes after it crashed while landing, in a . bid to protect its image. Thai Airways president Sorajak Kasemsuvan said in a statement that the landing gear had malfunctioned. A spokesman said the incident was under investigation, but it was too early to comment on what exactly caused the accident. | Airbus 330-300 skids coming into Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport on flight from China .
Plane evacuated and 14 people injured .
Workers on crane black out logo on tail and body of aircraft following Star Alliance 'crisis communication rule' |
fd771af209e737dfb74d4702c2a9295da6b47167 | (CNN) -- Two weeks since his last public appearance, presumptive Chinese leader Xi Jinping was pictured attending an event Saturday in Beijing, state media reported. The state-run Xinhua news agency, on both its English- and Chinese-language websites, published a one-line story stating that Xi had arrived Saturday morning at China Agricultural University for activities tied to the nation's annual National Science Popularization Day. An accompanying photo showed him wearing a coat and surrounded by other men as he strolled on the grounds of the Beijing university. Absence fuels intrigue before power transition . The 59-year-old vice president had not been seen in public since September 1, when he was reported to have given a speech to the Central Party School in Beijing. Images published by major news websites after the date showed Xi smartly dressed in a dark suit and purple tie. Since then, the cancellation of a number of meetings with high-profile foreign dignitaries has created a storm of speculation as rumor and hearsay fill the void of official information. For a number of days, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei has declined to answer queries on Xi at the ministry's daily press briefings. When Xi's meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton was abruptly canceled September 5, American officials said their Chinese counterparts had blamed a "scheduling conflict." No official reasons were given following the cancellation of other appointments, including a meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The lack of comment has fueled unsubstantiated rumors, including wild plot lines ranging from a car crash, to an assassination attempt. Others say Xi has been sidelined by a suspected heart attack or stroke, neither of which have been denied or confirmed. Xi has been mentioned as a possible successor to Chinese President Hu Jintao. In a matter of weeks, more than 2,000 delegates are expected to meet in Beijing for the Communist Party's 18th National Congress. During their event, China's political elite are expected to announce the results of months of political maneuvering, and the names of the five to seven new entrants to Politburo Standing Committee. Why China needs a PR makeover . | Xinhua shows Vice President Xi Jinping appearing at a Beijing university .
Media has not reported him being out in public since September 1 .
Xi is seen as a contender to become China's next leader .
His public absence has fueled speculation . |
fd779e4c2f9fd8a36e0d6740e05afb8147f9efd9 | By . Conor Sheils . PUBLISHED: . 14:13 EST, 17 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:31 EST, 17 April 2013 . A pet Jack Russell terrier is set to be given an award after saving her owner's life during a late night house fire by licking her face. Barbie the dog alerted her owner Rosemary Field, 72, to the blaze as she slept at her Bristol home. The pensioner initially shooed her beloved pet away but the determined puppy didn't give up and eventually stirred Ms Field from her sleep. Jack Russell terrier Barbie saved her owner Rosemary Field (pictured) from a late night blaze at their home in Bristol . Partially-sighted Mrs Field realised her bed was ablaze after a lit bedside lamp toppled onto the bed, burned through a quilt and several sheets and blankets before causing the mattress to catch fire. The woman first tackled the fire with a jug of water before calling emergency services to her home. Fire crews who arrived told the pensioner the blaze would probably have been fatal but for Barbie’s brave actions. Relieved owner Ms Field said: 'I can't do enough for little Barbie now – I've been giving her lots of treats since it happened. 'She usually sleeps on my bed but when she started licking my face so early in the morning I was quite annoyed. Fire crews rushed to tackle the blaze after Ms Field attempted to extinguish the fire using a jug of water . 'It wasn't until I woke up more that I saw the bottom of my bed was on fire. 'I tried to put it out but there was a lot of smoke. 'My main worry was to get all my animals out but the cat wouldn't come. 'Luckily the fire was out by the time the firefighters got here and everyone was OK. 'They told me it was very lucky that Barbie had woken me up, or I might have slept through it and died.'They said I shouldn't use the lamp anymore – I put it outside by my front door but someone has stolen it! 'I would like to warn them not to use it.' Today the RSPCA announced it would present an award to Barbie and her owner to recognise the dog’s bravery and persistence. RSPCA Bristol and district branch manager Eddie Grinham said: 'I was touched by how alert Barbie was to the danger her owner was in. 'It is an incredible story of the . strong bond between a dog and its owner - sensing danger this little dog . did not run away but overcame her own fear to persist in trying to get . her owner to come with her. 'I believe Barbie should be rewarded for her actions.' | Brave dog set to be given RSPCA award for Bristol fire rescue .
House fire could have killed dog's 72-year-old owner Rosemary Field . |
fd77a5200c02a4e8331e7a6280a398d546724a6a | By . Chris Greenwood . Hate preacher Abu Hamza plotted to set up a headquarters for the Taliban at Finsbury Park Mosque, a court was told. The hook-handed cleric wanted to use it as a London base for an operation to send up to 3,000 supporters to Afghanistan. The plan was revealed in a letter to a leader of the extremist group written by a key Hamza aide just three days after the 9/11 attacks. A court sketch shows Abu Hamsa with his legal team in Manhattan federal court in New York last month, where the letter written by Hamza's aide about the UK al-Qaeda base was revealed . In the memo, US-born convert James Ujaama, who was sent by Hamza from London to Afghanistan, offers the assistance of ‘devout Muslims’ in Britain. He told Wakil Ahmad Muttawakil, the then Taliban foreign minister, that they wanted to pledge their allegiance in person to Mullah Omar, the one-eyed Taliban leader. The letter was presented among prosecution exhibits at a courthouse in New York where Hamza is on trial for terrorism-related offences. The jury is expected to deliver its verdicts as early as today. If found guilty, Abu Hamza faces life behind bars at a maximum security American prison. On trial: If found guilty, Abu Hamz, pictured in 2003, faces life behind bars at a maximum security American prison . The plan to open a Taliban office in London is outlined in a letter offering assistance, dated September 14, 2001. Ujaama wrote: ‘We are not a very large . organisation ... however, we have supporters all around the world who . are devout Muslims and have given their bayat [oath of allegiance] to . Amir al-Mumineen [Mullah Omar], the Islamic Emirate and to Taliban. ‘In fact, 3,000 Supporters of Shariah members are waiting for us to respond on how they can travel to personally give bayat. ‘We . have even made provisions for Taliban to have an office in our London . masjid [mosque] and give advice to those who want to make hijrah [travel . to Afghanistan]; give their zakat [charity] and do work to help the . emirate. ‘Sheikh Abu Hamza . has personally given me the authority to offer whatever you want from us . in assistance in helping the emirate.’ Hamza, 56, also known as Abu Hamza al-Masri, has been accused of using Finsbury Park Mosque as a base to spread global terror. The . radical Islamist cleric devoted his life to violent jihad and told his . followers that they had a religious obligation to kill, the Manhattan . jury has heard. Prosecutors said he ‘jumped at opportunities across the globe’ in support of violence, whether in Afghanistan, Yemen or the US. But during four days of evidence Hamza has said he was misunderstood and that his words were ‘taken out of context’. He . claimed to be only a ‘mouthpiece’ for rebel groups in Yemen, and a . ‘peacemaker’ during the kidnapping of 16 tourists there in 1998 that . left four people dead. And he said that in fact he acted as an intermediary between MI5 and Islamist fanatics to ‘keep the streets of London safe.’ Hamza . is charged with helping to organise the hostage-taking to obtain the . release of several Britons who had been arrested in Yemen on suspicion . of bomb-making. He is also charged with attempting to set up a training . camp in Bly, Oregon, and of providing support to terrorist groups, . including al Qaeda in Afghanistan. | Hate preacher Hamza wanted to use London mosque as UK base .
Plans revealed in evidence given in New York trial against him .
Abu Hamza faces life in prison if found guilty of terrorism offences . |
fd7815b4dcc12e12fa2aa150fddf8676fcb41559 | LONDON, England (CNN) -- British reality TV celebrity Jade Goody died early Sunday morning following a public battle with cervical cancer, her publicist has announced. Jade Goody married her fiance Jack Tweed weeks before her death. Goody, 27, died in her sleep at home in Essex, east of London, just before 4 a.m. (midnight Eastern Daylight Time), a spokeswoman for Max Clifford Associates said. Goody's husband, Jack Tweed, who she married last month in a lavish wedding ceremony, was at her bedside when she died, Clifford said. Her mother, Jackiey Budden, who was also at the house, said: "My beautiful daughter is at peace." Goody leaves behind two sons, Bobby, 5, and Freddie, 4, by former boyfriend and TV host Jeff Brazier. "She died knowing that she had touched a lot of hearts and minds across the world," Clifford told CNN by phone from Portugal. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was "deeply saddened" by Goody's death. "Her family can be extremely proud of the work she has done to raise awareness of cervical cancer which will benefit thousands of women across the U.K. Every death from cancer is a tragedy and my thoughts go out to her two sons, husband and family at this time," Brown said in a statement. The British media has reported a rise in the number of screenings for cervical cancer since Goody announced she had the disease, a phenomenon some have dubbed the "Jade Goody effect." Goody's death marks the tragic end to a very modern tale. Images of her shrinking frame and bald head have dominated the pages of British media since she announced she had just weeks to live. However, she has openly courted the attention since bursting into the spotlight courtesy of the British version of "Big Brother" in 2002. At first the former dental nurse was a hate figure for Britain's vociferous tabloid newspapers, who attacked her for being ignorant and stupid. The public, however, warmed to her loud, honest streak. She did not win the series, but was able to parlay her popularity into a series of reality television and business deals. Her face was soon regularly boldly looking out from the cover of gossip magazines and you could buy the fragrance Shh... Jade Goody, fitness DVDs or pick up a copy of her autobiography. In 2007, with her fame starting to dip, she agreed to return for the celebrity edition of "Big Brother," with her mother and then boyfriend, Jack Tweed, joining her in the house. It was to prove an ill-fated decision. Goody was soon accused of making racist comments and bullying her housemate -- the Indian actress Shilpa Shetty. More than 50,000 complaints were received. When she was voted out of the house the show's producers took the unusual step of banning the public from attending her eviction. Goody was tearful and apologetic but British PR guru Clifford summed up the general opinion at the time by saying: "It looks like she has ruined a very lucrative career." Ever resilient, Goody had a Christmas cookbook out at the end of 2007 and in 2008 signed up for India's version of "Big Brother." Two days into the show her cancer diagnosis was revealed on air. She flew home immediately to begin treatment. Last month Goody revealed her cancer was terminal and that she only had weeks to live. With typical bravado she, with Clifford's help, organized her wedding to Tweed, who had only just been released from prison after serving a sentence for assault, selling the exclusive rights to OK! magazine for a reported $970,000. It was also filmed for her reality TV show. Read blog about how media covered wedding . The British government even stepped in to extend Tweed's 7 p.m. curfew, a condition of his release from jail, so the couple could spend their wedding night together. Watch Jade Goody's wedding preparations » . Despite her weakening state Goody continued to open her door to the media, saying she needed to keep selling her story to help secure the future of her sons. In the days leading up to her death there were newspaper stories on a hammer-wielding woman getting into her room, the baptism of her sons, her last view of "sun-kissed" fields and final farewells with family. There was also controversy when OK! published a memorial issue nearly a week before she died. The issue, with a coverline announcing "Jady Goody, 1981-2009," went on sale Tuesday. Clifford said Goody had loved her time in the spotlight. "I think they've (she and the media) exploited each other. Both have benefited. In Jade's own words, she's loved the last 7 years. They've been wonderful. All the people's she's met, all the things she's done." CNN's Glen Scanlon and Per Nyberg contributed to this report. | Jade Goody dies aged 27 after losing her battle with cervical cancer .
British PM Gordon Brown says he is "deeply saddened" by Goody's death .
British "Big Brother" star fast-tracked plans to get married after cancer spread .
Goody said she needed to keep selling her story to raise money for her boys . |
fd78c53cc898c76e24b94c498aebabebe67134bb | Russia today hinted that Vladimir Putin would grant political asylum to whistleblower Edward Snowden who leaked the American government's monitoring of phone records and the web. 'We will take action based on what actually happens. If we receive such a request, it will be considered,' said the Russian president's official spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Former CIA undercover operative Snowden's whereabouts are unknown since he checked out of a hotel in Hong Kong on Monday. Refuge: Russia today hinted that Vladimir Putin would grant political asylum to whistleblower Edward Snowden who leaked the American government's monitoring of phone records and the web . One Russian report stressed that the country has a consulate in Hong Kong where Snowden could make an asylum request. The Russian angle contrasts with its total refusal to act on Western hints that it could help solve the Syrian crisis by granting asylum to its long-time ally President Bashar al-Assad and his family. Snowden, 29, is a technology expert working for a private firm subcontracted to the US National Security Agency. Refusal: The Russian angle contrasts with its total refusal to act on Western hints that it could help solve the Syrian crisis by granting asylum to President Bashar al-Assad . Last week he told the Guardian . newspaper of a mammoth surveillance operation run by the NSA on . telephone and Internet records around the world. In the US he has been branded a . traitor and there is pressure for his extradition from Hong Kong. However, he has triggered a debate in many countries on whether state . snooping goes too far. Russian MP Robert Schlegel urged the Kremlin to look at a the possibility of granting political asylum to Snowden. 'It would be a good idea,' he said. Putin is due to see US president Barack Obama at the G8 summit in Northern Ireland next week. Snowden has said he wants to seek asylum in Iceland. Iceland's interior minister, Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir, has the final say on whether the whistleblower would receive asylum in the country but a spokesman for her denied to The Guardian that the ministry had received any requests from Mr Snowden. 'At the moment we have received no inquiry or application from Mr Snowden, and we cannot therefore speculate on whether any such application would be granted,' Johannes Tomasson said. The country of 320,000 people has served as the home base for the fundraising efforts of anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks and earlier earned a reputation as a safe haven by taking in American fugitive former chess champion Bobby Fischer in 2005. Mr Snowden's case already echoes that of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange who took refuge in Ecuador's embassy in London last summer after Swedish authorities issued an international warrant for his arrest amid allegations of sexual assault. He has been hiding there ever since. Iceland's government of newly-elected conservative Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson, may not be so generous this time around. While still untested, it is widely seen as closer to Washington than past administrations and less keen to foster the island country's cyber-haven image. But Icelandic lawmaker Birgitta Jónsdóttir and International Modern Media Institute executive director Smari McCarthy released a statement on Sunday vowing to do all they could to help protect Mr Snowden, if he was able to make it to the shores of the tiny Nordic country. 'Whereas IMMI is based in Iceland, and has worked on protections of privacy, furtherance of government transparency, and the protection of whistleblowers, we feel it is our duty to offer to assist and advise Mr. Snowden to the greatest of our ability,' their statement reads, according to Forbes.com. Checked out: Today an employee at the 5* Mira Hotel in the neighborhood of Tsim Sha Tsui, said a guest by the name of Edward Snowden had checked out of the hotel this morning . Caution: Snowden also revealed that he covered his head with a blanket when he communicates to muffle his voice . Holed up: Speaking from his hotel room, Snowden admitted he had only left his room three times since he arrived on May 20 . The pair added that they were already . working on detailing the legal protocols required to apply for asylum . and said they were seeking a meeting with the newly appointed interior . minister Mrs Kristjánsdóttir as soon as possible to discuss whether an . application for asylum, if made, can be processed as a priority. In the Guardian interview, Mr Snowden suggested Iceland was his number one option. He said his 'predisposition is to . seek asylum in a country with shared values, The nation that most . encompasses this is Iceland. They stood up for people over internet . freedom.' McCarthy told The Guardian that they . have been following the story 'with morbid fascination' and Mr Snowden's . mention of Iceland was their 'cue to take action.' 'We are working on the basis that if he were to arrive in Iceland we would have a plan in place and ready to go,' he said. Mr Snowden needs to make his way to . Icelandic soil or show up at one of its embassies in order to claim . asylum. But if he managed that, he would have the Icelandic people's . support, McCarthy said. The government would have to weigh up . enraging its major trading partner in its decision to claim or reject . asylum to Mr Snowden. 'However, it would be rather . embarrassing for the States if it cut ties with this small nation . because it had complied with its human rights duties,' McCarthy said. He would be free to live in Iceland . while immigration authorities decide his case, which could take more . than a year, according to Helga Vala Helgadottir, a lawyer specializing . in asylum cases. Iceland has an extradition treaty . with the United States, but it is unclear whether it would cover any . crimes that Snowden might be charged with. Meanwhile, Ecuador is another . possible ally. The country's embassy in London is currently harboring . WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Edward . Snowden's whereabouts were not immediately known on Tuesday, although . he was believed to be staying somewhere in the Chinese autonomous region . that has a well-established, Western-style legal system inherited from . its status as a former British colony. Empty and on the market: Edward Snowden's former home in Waipahu, Hawaii, which he fled last month for Hong Kong so he could leak details about the U.S. government's secret surveillance programs . Secrets: A neighbour said today that the garage at the home had boxes stacked floor to ceiling when Snowden was planning his escape . Snowden checked out of Hong Kong's Mira Hotel on Monday and has not been seen in public in the territory. No charges have been brought and no warrant has been issued for the arrest of Snowden. He arrived in Hong Kong on May 20 and as a U.S. citizen is legally permitted to remain for 90 days. He . can also apply for asylum through the United Nations or attempt to fly . to another country which, unlike Hong Kong, does not have an extradition . agreement with the United States. Even . if an extradition request is brought by the U.S., Snowden could contest . it on grounds of political persecution in a process that could drag on . for years. In addition, . Hong Kong's high court in a ruling on a case concerning three African . asylum-seekers ordered authorities to devise a unified standard for . assessing asylum applications. The ruling effectively puts applications . on hold until the new system is in place. Jen . Psaki, a spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department, refused to say . Monday whether the U.S. had made an extradition request or might do so . in the future. 'Necessary': The top intelligence official, James R Clapper, said the NSA's intelligence measures, carried out at sites like this one in Maryland, were 'used to keep Americans safe' Under the . terms of its handover from British to Chinese rule in 1997, Hong Kong . maintained its independent legal system, a boisterous media, and strong . civil society that would likely object boisterously to any attempt to . railroad Snowden through the legal system. And though a semi-autonomous part of China, it ultimately answers to Beijing, which is often at odds with Washington. Greenwald . said he wasn't clear about exactly how Snowden made the decision to . come to Hong Kong, but said simply evading the U.S. authorities wasn't . the only factor he considered. 'It's very difficult for me to . assess that choice because it was a very personal mix of factors that he . took into account when deciding where he wanted to go, so if his only . goal had been how can I best evade arrest, there probably would have . been other better places for him to go,' said Greewald. Greenwald said The Guardian plans to publish further stories based on information provided by Snowden. Row: A security guard stands outside the US consulate in Hong Kong today, where inside officials will be trying to extradite Snowden back to the United States . The . U.S. and Hong Kong routinely cooperate on requests to transfer . criminals; in one high-profile case, Hong Kong extradited three al-Qaeda . suspects to the U.S. in 2003. The . U.S. is also one of the largest investors in Hong Kong, a major . business center for East Asia, and at least one local politician said . she thought it best if Snowden simply left. 'Maybe he doesn't know we signed so many treaties. The . two parties have agreed to all of them. So he'd better leave Hong . Kong,' said Regina Ip, a member of Hong Kong's legislative council and . former secretary for security, was quoted as telling the Takung Pao . newspaper. While Beijing at times stands up to Washington, it may not want to for Snowden. Beijing . has often criticized foreign governments for harboring critics of its . Communist government. China also is seeking U.S. cooperation on . retrieving corrupt Chinese officials who have fled to America, often . with sizeable assets. Cyberhacking . and cyberespionage have emerged as the newest friction in relations . that presidents Barack Obama and Xi Jinping pledged over the weekend to . improve. Still, the extradition agreement gives Hong Kong ways to say no. The U.S. and Hong Kong concluded . the treaty with Beijing's blessing on the eve of the territory's hand . back from Britain to China in 1997. Provisions allow one side to refuse a . request if it's deemed to be politically motivated or if the suspect is . unlikely to receive a fair trial. Beijing . may also have a veto. The agreement allows Beijing to refuse to . extradite a Chinese national for reasons of national security. A study by the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 1997 suggests . Beijing may have wider discretion to prohibit any extradition, not just . of Chinese nationals, on national security grounds. | Edward Snowden, a former CIA technical assistant fled to Hong Kong .
Leaked details of Prism, which he says harvests personal data from web .
US government allegedly targeting Google, Facebook, Microsoft and others .
Snowden said he wants to seek asylum in Iceland but has not made contact .
Russian MP Robert Schlegel urged the Kremlin to look at a the possibility . |
fd78cb717ceb0ed4b96a937d55652e297fb8aede | (CNN) -- When the Battle of Gettysburg was over after three days, the Civil War's bloodiest battle had claimed 51,000 casualties. The Union Army of the Potomac clashed with Gen. Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in July 1863. The battle turned against Lee and his invaders on July 3, and Confederate forces returned to Virginia. The ferocious battle, considered a turning point in the war, occurred 150 years ago this week, on land that is now a national military park. Gettysburg anniversary provides a bigger story . With soldiers' graves on the battlefield and near a former hospital site, Gettysburg residents pleaded with state officials to create what is now called the Soldiers' National Cemetery. At the cemetery's dedication on November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln gave his epochal two-minute Gettysburg Address, reminding listeners "that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." In 1864, a group of citizens established the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association to preserve part of the battlefield as a memorial to the Union soldiers who fought there, according to the National Park Service. In 1895, the association transferred its land holdings to the federal government. The NPS took over administration of the park in 1933. This week, the park will continue to mark the 150th anniversary of the battle with a series of commemorative events. At least 25,000 visitors per day were expected from June 28 through July 7, according to the Gettysburg Convention & Visitors Bureau. Park stats: Gettysburg National Military Park welcomed about 1.2 million visitors last year. The nearly 6,000-acre site includes 1,320 monuments and memorials, 148 historic buildings, 410 cannons and the Soldiers' National Cemetery (with 7,756 total interments). (About 3,500 are Civil War burials. The rest came from subsequent wars.) The location: The site is in Adams County, Pennsylvania, about 35 miles southwest of Middletown's Harrisburg International Airport. If you go: There's no fee to enter the park but there is an admission fee for the Gettysburg Museum Experience, the film "A New Birth of Freedom," narrated by Morgan Freeman, and the Gettysburg Cyclorama. (National Park passes are not accepted for entrance to the museum and visitor center.) Visitors can book licensed battlefield guides for private tours for a fee, and reservations are recommended. During the summer months, bus tours are available for a fee. Meet our ranger: Seasonal park ranger Caitlin Kostic fell in love with the history of the Civil War in the fifth grade, when her teacher played the 1993 movie "Gettysburg" as part of a history lesson on the war. "After watching it, I couldn't get enough of it and bought books and watched specials," said Kostic, 24, who lived in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, about 120 miles northeast of Gettysburg. "As a result, my parents brought me to Gettysburg that summer for a one-night stay. I told my mom that someday I would be giving tours of the battlefield at Gettysburg." Kostic started interning at the park in college and is working her third summer as a seasonal ranger, having just completed a master's degree in applied history. "I love getting up every day and coming to a place that is rich in history, and I love spending my time reading, researching and teaching the public about things that are so much bigger than myself. It's a very humbling experience." For a day trip, don't miss: The battlefield. "That's the reason we are here." A basic introduction to the battlefield can take two or three hours, Kostic said. "You step out onto the field, and you are walking in the footsteps of the soldiers. "You get a sense of what they saw and their struggles. It gets pretty hot and humid in the summer. You experience that heat and humidity in that terrain, putting yourself in the mindsets of the soldiers who fought here. That helps place (people) back in time. " During the summer, there are about 20 free park ranger programs each day, every day of the week. Visitors can also purchase an audio CD to help navigate the field, take a bus tour or hire a licensed guide for a private tour. Favorite less-traveled spot: Power's Hill, located on the Baltimore Pike, was part of the Union army's artillery line and the site of Gen. George Gordon Meade's temporary headquarters on July 3. At the time of the battle, the hill was about half-covered in trees, while the other half was bare. Over time, the hill has been completely covered by trees. A park effort is underway to remove some of the trees "to recapture the historic landscape" of 1863, Kostic said. "It's a very strategic part of the field. It's hard on a program to imagine those trees not there," she said. "When the battlefield is rehabilitated, we can give more effective programs." Favorite historical spot: Soldiers' National Cemetery. Created after the battle, but before the war ended in April 1865, there are 3,500 Union soldiers interred in the cemetery where Lincoln came to deliver his Gettysburg Address. It also contains the graves of soldiers of subsequent conflicts through Vietnam, Kostic said. It was closed to new burials in 1972. "It shows that sacrifice is a generational thing," she said. "Every generation has been called to sacrifice something. That sacrifice can be linked throughout the years ... and you can capture a lot of American history in that cemetery." Favorite nature spot: Little Round Top. Part of the Union position on July 2-3 and perhaps the most visited part of the battlefield, the entire western slope of Little Round Top (which is also a hill) is void of trees. "You can see the entire battlefield from this hill," she said. "You can see the South Mountain range and part of the town, and you get a whole sense of the area. People enjoy going in the evening because they can watch the sunset. "We look upon these fields as beautiful landscapes, but the only reason we look at them is because of the carnage that took place 150 years ago. At one point these fields were ugly because of the wounded and dead that littered the field." Most transformative moment in the park: Last year on July 2, 2012, it was the anniversary of the battle. During anniversary days, the rangers give programs in real time, sharing history at the time it was actually being made on the battlefield. Located at Little Round Top, Kostic was giving her first-ever real time program at 4 p.m., at the time fighting had occurred at that spot. "The actions of the people 149 years ago made the site important [that anniversary day]," she said. "Knowing the stories of the men, knowing that many of them were wounded and dying ... it's an extremely humbling experience." Favorite other park to visit: The National Mall in Washington, D.C. "I love the fact that there is so much to do, and it's free," Kostic said. If she had to pick one site at the mall, it's the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. "That's my favorite spot at the mall." | Battle of Gettysburg took place 150 years ago at a site that is now a national military park .
Don't miss a visit to the battlefield, "the reason we're all here," says ranger Caitlin Kostic .
At the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery, Lincoln gave historic Gettysburg Address . |
fd7948c22be8fe5046bd2bb3dea71fa1accec02d | The much-maligned security perimeter at New York’s busiest airport has failed again after two kayakers claim they washed ashore without being detected by police. Anthony Giglio, of suburban Inwood, and Jordan Crooms, of Queens, were kayaking through Jamaica Bay Friday evening when their kayak rolled over and they swam to a pier on the property of John F. Kennedy International Airport near a scant-used runway. No one knew the pair, both 21, was there until they found a construction worker to call for help because there are no security patrols at night, critics claim. No other options: Jordan Crooms (left) and Anthony Giglio (right) claim they had no choice but to go to airport land after their Kayak rolled and they were left with only one paddle . Crooms told the New York Post that they were ‘just kayaking at night’ when their three-man vessel rolled over and they lost two paddles. ‘We had one paddle left,’ Crooms continued. ‘We were going toward the closest spot to shore.’ The two men found a dock just off runway 41, and made their way to safety without being detected by the $100million security system in place to thwart such breaches, sources told the paper. ‘We were almost drowning. We couldn’t hang onto the boat, and we were getting pulled under and out,’ Giglio told WCBS. ‘We found a construction worker, and he said, ‘are you guys alright? Thank god you’re alive.’ Where they landed: On this pier just off runway 41 on the airport's southern shore . On the water: JFK Airport is bordered to the south by Jamaica Bay, a waterway with boaters and other locals looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city . The same runway was breached only two . years ago when a jetskier ran out of gas, swam to shore, scaled an . eight-foot fence and walked across two runways into the airport seeking . help, according to the station. That man also eluded detection by the perimeter ‘fence’s motion sensors. ‘You’ve got a system that is supposed to provide protection, and what happened?’ Counterterrorism expert William Vorlicek asked the station. ‘Once again a perimeter security breach at JFK Airport raises serious concerns about the Port Authority’s Perimeter Intrusion Detection System,’ a Port Authority police union spokesperson told the Post, ‘a system the PAPBA believes is a failure.’ The Port Authority insisted to WCBS that ‘kayakers did not breach the secure airfield. They were seeking help in a restricted water area and at a light pier. Both men were treated for hypothermia at a nearby hospital and charged with trespassing. | Anthony Giglio and Jordan Crooms, both 21, made their way to shore after their kayak tipped Friday night in Jamaica Bay .
They scrambled onto a pier at the end of a runway at JFK International Airport .
The airport's $100million security system failed to detect them . |
fd79d419004d0956c8aa6c9a96ebe2c3494f0ada | Washington (CNN) -- If you're looking to rub elbows with celebrities in D.C. for the inauguration this weekend, you won't have to look too far. Hollywood movie stars, Grammy award winning musicians and professional athletes will be all over Washington in celebration of the 57th Presidential Inauguration. Here's the latest list of celebs in town and where you can catch them: . Friday, January 18, 2013 . UNITE: Inauguration Kick-Off Reception and Celebration . Anthony David . Mya . Saturday, January 19, 2013 . National Day of Service Summit . Eva Longoria . Chelsea Clinton . Yolanda Adams . Ben Folds . Star Jones . Angela Bassett . OurTime.org: Generation Now party . Wil.I.Am . Tate Donovan . John Legend . T-Pain . Common . Jessica Alba . Green Inaugural Ball . Peter Winter . Trombone Shorty . Onree Gill . Camp Freddy . Sheila E . Mayer Hawthorne . Nicholas David (The Voice) DJ Neville C. Darryl Green . Lorenzo Alexander . Chris Wilson . Kedric Golston . Bill Nye the Science Guy . Antwaan Randle El . Derrick Dockery . Stephanie Miller . Melissa Fitzgerald . Les (Survivorman) Stroud & Gina Gershon . Tate Donovan . Leilani Munter . From Sinatra to Aretha Franklin, the role of music in the inauguration . Sunday January 20, 2013 . Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball . La La Anthony . Zach McDaniels . 2 Chainz . John Legend . Eva Longoria . Swizz Beats . Pharrell Williams . Jadakiss . Brandy . LOS . Tank . Lance Gross . 9th Wonder . Raheim Devaughn . DJ D-Nice . Doug E. Fresh . Damien Escobar . Wayne Brady . Meek Mill . Marsha Ambrosius . Charles "ROC" Dutton . MC Lyte . Yo-Yo . Smooth . Lil Mama . DJ Lil Mic . HBCU Inaugural Gala Ball . Finesse Mitchell . Vivian Green . Latino "In Performance" at the Kennedy Center . Eva Longoria . Raúl Esparza . José Feliciano . Juan Diego Flórez . Melanie Griffith . George Lopez . Mario Lopez . Rita Moreno . Monday January 21, 2013 . Official Inauguration Ceremony . Beyonce . Kelly Clarkson . James Taylor . The Official Inaugural Balls . Alicia Keys . Usher . John Legend . Katy Perry . Far East Movement, FUN. Smokey Robinson . Stevie Wonder . Soundgarden . The cast of Glee . Brad Paisley . Nick Cannon . Jamie Foxx . Jennifer Hudson . Marc Anthony . Chris Cornell . The Creative Coalition's 2013 Inaugural Ball . Tim Daly . Johnny Galecki . Eric Stonestreet . Connie Britton . Paula Abdul . Matt Bomer . Giancarlo Esposito . Melissa Leo . John Leguizamo . Alfre Woodard . Taraji P. Henson . Evan Handler . Omar Epps . Marlon Wayans . Alan Cumming . David Arquette . Richard Schiff . Wayne Knight . Richard Kind . Lynn Whitfield . Wayne Brady . Goo Goo Dolls . Victory Inaugural Ball . Maxwell . Musiq Soulchild . Maze featuring Frankie Beverly . Are you attending inauguration? Share photos on iReport. | Musicians, actors and athletes will be in Washington, D.C. this weekend for the inauguration .
Beyonce, Jamie Foxx and James Taylor are among those expected .
Eva Longoria serves as a co-chair of the Presidential Inaugural Committee . |
fd79f7914d54d718b780d7f8e5302d63f9499738 | (OPRAH.com) -- Every holiday season we are cursed with the same challenge: to articulate exactly how fond we are of our friends and family in the language of purchasable objects. Appreciate specific virtues of the people you're buying for and connect those qualities to fabulous presents. This begs a couple of questions, like, "How do I shop for gifts that please both my brother and his wife without offending my own soul?" Even if you love your brother dearly, you might spend way too much and give him a French designer tablecloth covered with a really terrific artichoke print, which would prompt his cute but rigidly uptight wife to say something like "Artichokes? Wow. Ha ha; only you would give us something like that! No, really, it's great!" And another deep and philosophical question: "How the hell am I supposed to express fondness for my extremely fancy friends when I have only $40?" Deciding I needed a psychic obstacle course that would train me to emerge victorious in this upcoming battle, I arrived at a strategy: I would theoretically buy gifts for people who were absolutely impossible to shop for. Oprah.com: Free (or really cheap!) gift ideas . If I could climb these holiday Matterhorns, I could find presents for anyone. I asked myself: "Who in the world would best represent my worst nightmares in the area of budget holiday shopping?" And I came up with a holy celebrity trinity: Carla Bruni-Sarkozy (the mind-bogglingly fashionable, ex-supermodel wife of the president of France), Brad Pitt (the half-Brangelinian father of six, at last count), and ultracouple Jay-Z and Beyoncé (who I technically counted as one since I wanted to get something they'd both like). My budget for each: around $40. Obviously, this mission was going to require an insane level of creativity -- especially in a city like New York, where everything is so monstrously expensive. So I called women's clothing designer Gary Graham at his new boutique inside ABC Carpet & Home, a posh yet quirky department store filled with enormous golden Buddhas and strange chandeliers, and asked him to accompany me. "We should get my friend Charlie to take us to Flatbush," he offered. I knew immediately what Gary was getting at. The Flatbush section of Brooklyn is a fertile mix of Caribbean families, art school hipsters, neighborhood discount stores, and specialty shops crammed to the ceiling with exotic imports. Charlie -- writer and artist Charles Beyer -- met us at Phat Albert, a legendary discount store that sells everything from leather baby pants to Lucite shower fixtures. We agreed that when shopping on a budget for people rich enough to buy their own islands, the goal was to find objects that would underline qualities we liked about them, and let them know we understood their particular needs. "I think Brad Pitt would appreciate something that helps him control his children," I suggested. "I mean, he has so many of them. We need to find him a six-headed lollipop, or something that can keep the kids consolidated in space for a few minutes so he can rest." Oprah.com: The secrets of thrifty shoppers . We found a gift that, with just a little bit of creative doctoring, might do the trick: an XXX-large T-shirt featuring the late hip-hop artist Tupac Shakur. "We could cut five more neck holes in it and call it a six-pac," said Charlie. It was tempting. This masterpiece of modern babysitting cost only $8.99, which would enable us to buy more child management aids. But I wasn't satisfied that Brad would be as thrilled with it as I wanted him to be. "Hey, check this out," said Charlie, having already moved on to Carla. "It's a camouflage duffel bag featuring a fake McDonald's logo." Even more beguiling was a secret pocket outside the bag, the fabric of which was printed with the image of a cheerful, anthropomorphic French fry. The price: only $4. Oprah.com: Gifts that give back . True, Madame Sarkozy might love it. She is, after all, a tastemaker. Still, we wanted to see what they had at a few smaller shops. Hmmm. A bobble-headed decoy owl? Perhaps Carla could use it to keep pigeons off statues of her husband? No... Then we came upon the Goodwill Gospel Store, which promised that we'd be able to "Give a Gift with Spiritual Importance." "Look, hanging in the window!" I screamed. "It's the gift that perfectly reconciles Carla Bruni-Sarkozy's rock 'n' roll, freewheeling past, her new diplomatic role as a high-profile political wife, and her much-maligned singing career!" It was perfect: a tambourine in the shape of a peace dove. It really said it all, and for the low, low price of $21.99. Score! With that, we turned to the grueling task of shopping for Jay-Z and Beyoncé. Since they are quintessential show people and are no doubt on the road a great deal of the time, living out of Louis Vuitton steamer trunks in six-star hotels with SWAT teams of hair and makeup artists, we wanted to find them something that would strike the right balance of sophisticated flair and down-home comfort. We came upon a $14 pair of boxer shorts covered with bags of money hanging on a rack in front of a clothing store (unlike Phat Albert, many of the smaller places have no visible names), which we thought Mr. Z might appreciate. Another nameless discount store had a fantastic 3-D chart for identifying the different hair bun attachments it sold. Perhaps, we agreed, we could buy Beyoncé half a dozen of the various $7 "donut buns" and throw them into a Krispy Kreme box for extra whimsy! But neither of these options was really singing to us, maybe because they didn't speak to the couple's celebrated togetherness, which was the original sentiment behind buying them one gift. "Oh, stop -- these are it," Charlie suddenly enthused as we passed a small, anonymous shoe store. "These bandanna slippers are absolutely Runway Collection 2009!" "Actually," said Gary, "they are really nice." The price: $19.99. We decided to buy red slippers for Beyoncé and blue for Jay-Z. Besides satisfying our criteria (snazzy yet relaxing), since Mr. and Mrs. Z "tied the knot," this matching-scarf footwear could serve as a lasting symbol of a peaceful Hollywood marriage. I was very pleased so far ... but I didn't feel we'd completely succeeded with Brad, so we wandered into a store called Gran Bwa that featured items of a West Indian nature. "Hey, these could be great for Brad," said Gary. The air in the room started shimmering, because he had, indeed, found some divine objects: a stack of six child-size straw porkpie hats. They were utterly hip, as if designed for miniature jazz musicians. We figured if Brad could manage to get all of his adorable children to wear the hats at the same time, like a global version of the Partridge Family, he could sell the photo to a tabloid for more than $4 million and donate the proceeds to the charity of his choice. At $10 each, the hats were a tad beyond our price range. But we decided we'd splash out and spend the extra $20, since eventually they could end up housing, say, 30,000 displaced persons. We'd put Angelina on the gift card, too, and then we wouldn't have to buy her anything at the last minute. We were suffused with the joy of giving. Mission accomplished, we found ourselves considering the plight of the Three Kings. Even with an unlimited royal budget, it still must have been difficult to shop for a newborn Messiah. But they looked around their respective kingdoms and gathered up the swankiest stuff they could find. In the earliest example of holiday gift giving, it was the thought and the effort that counted. All in all, I came away with one really valuable lesson. You can learn a lot by shopping outside your ordinary consumer comfort zone. And during our practice pilgrimage, Gary, Charlie, and I remembered what's important about the whole insane gift hunt: appreciating specific virtues of the people we're buying for, and connecting these qualities, with love, to fabulous presents. And you gotta figure your brother's wife is going to hate everything you give her anyway, so you may as well save a few bucks, right? 'Tis the season! By Cintra Wilson from "O, The Oprah Magazine," December 2008 . Subscribe to O, The Oprah Magazine for up to 75% off the newsstand price. That's like getting 18 issues FREE. Subscribe now! TM & © 2009 Harpo Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Author decides to buy three gifts under $40 for have-it-all people .
She picks Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, Brad Pitt and ultracouple Jay-Z and Beyoncé .
Author and friends buy six child-size straw porkpie hats for Pitt .
They also buy Jay-Z and Beyonce matching slippers . |
fd7a638990e0931a2f2225a9cb59a6207374f839 | (CNN) -- Kellie Pickler calls them her favorite shows. "When you get up onstage and you look out and you see a sea of soldiers or sea of marines or just a sea of your military in general, it's just so overwhelming, and it just really makes you feel good," Pickler says. The 26-year-old country music star has been singing for the troops as a USO volunteer since 2007. She has taken part in six USO tours to bring "a little piece of home" to servicemen and women stationed overseas, including those in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. "I've met so many amazing people on these USO tours," Pickler says, recalling one of her most memorable moments from a Memorial Day trip to Afghanistan in 2012. "It was myself and my band and maybe 12 other soldiers that play guitar, drums, keys," she remembers. "We all met at the chapel on the base, and we sat there all night, I mean probably two or 2:30, three in the morning playing old Johnny Cash songs to just everything you could think of. We just had a pickin' party." Pickler's connection to the military is deeply personal. Her grandfather, a retired Marine, helped raise her. She says she developed "a great deal of respect" for the troops growing up in a military family, which inspired her to get involved with the USO. "[The troops] need to know that we haven't forgotten about them and what they do," she says. "And they need to know that we're back home supporting them and that we have their back because they have ours." Pickler even tattooed three stars on her left arm as a reminder of her first few USO tours and her gratitude to those who serve. She encourages all Americans to find their own way to express their appreciation. "Something as simple as when you pass someone in uniform in the airport or you're at Starbucks getting coffee and someone in uniform walks in, just go up and say, 'Thank you.' Shake their hand. 'Thank you for your service. Thank you for what you do. Because you do what you do, I'm able to do what I do.'" For more information about the USO and how you can get involved, visit USO.org. | Country singer Kellie Pickler has been on six USO overseas tours .
USO tours help boost the morale of military men and women stationed far from home .
Pickler: They need to know we haven't forgotten about them and what they do . |
fd7b5af122545d5c1fafa7da0f4c167764134a75 | By . Anthony Bond . PUBLISHED: . 05:25 EST, 4 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:49 EST, 4 September 2012 . Off the road: Football icon Patrick Vieira tried to escape a driving ban by claiming he and other Premier League stars living in an upmarket village weren't getting their post. The star is pictured leaving court after being banned from driving . Football icon Patrick Vieira tried to escape a driving ban by claiming he and other Premier League stars living in an upmarket village were not getting their post. The former Arsenal and Manchester City star was caught doing 61mph in a 50mph zone on the M60 near Stockport in his Bentley Continental Supersports. The World Cup winner admitted he had been driving the £160,000 supercar at the time. But he said he did not receive the original prosecution notice at his £2.2 million home in Alderley Edge, Cheshire. His lawyer claimed that should have rendered the case null and void. Vieira, 36, said he and other City players living nearby - including Sergio Aguero, Adam Johnson and Emmanuel Adebayor - often had mail delivered to the wrong house. But magistrates in Stockport booted out his defence - and banned him for six months, with a £1,000 fine. The punishment was suspended after he lodged an appeal. Vieira already had nine points on his licence after being caught speeding three times in less than four weeks in September 2009. The former France international, who still works for City, claimed he only knew of the speeding case after receiving a final notice on December 15 - six weeks after the initial letter was sent out on November 3. His solicitor, Gwyn Lewis, said that meant a 14-day time limit to start legal proceedings had been breached. Vieira said he and other City players and staff living nearby in the millionaires’ row were often forced to deliver each other’s post because of Royal Mail mix-ups. He said: 'We have lived there for around two years and we’ve had things go to the wrong address three or four times. 'Often the neighbours would have to bring round my mail. I had Adam Johnson, David Platt, (Sergio) Aguero and (Emmanuel) Adebayor all living next door and we all had similar problems. Banned: The former Arsenal and Manchester City star was caught doing 61mph in a 50mph zone on the M60 near Stockport in his Bentley Continental Supersports. He is pictured driving the vehicle . Mix-ups: Vieira said he and other City players and staff living nearby in the millionaires' row were often forced to deliver each other's post because of delivery problems. This image shows shops in the village . 'Just last week my wife was supposed to receive a box of shoes from the U.S but we didn’t receive anything.' When asked by Mr Lewis whether it was . possible a fan had taken the notice of prosecution, Vieira said: 'Yes, . especially in Manchester and especially in Alderley Edge as you have . lots of Man City, Man United and Blackburn players so it’s often quite a . busy area. 'It can be possible for someone to put their hand inside [the letterbox] but I have no guarantees that’s what happened.' Mr Lewis added: 'Most of us don’t have people outside our houses wanting a piece of memorabilia and that is a theoretical possibility. Problems: Vieira, 36, said he and other City players living nearby - including Sergio Aguero, left, Adam Johnson, right, and Emmanuel Adebayor - often had mail delivered to the wrong house . Star: Patrick Viera is pictured playing for Arsenal . 'What I can tell you for definite is that Mr Vieira did not receive that letter.' Vieira, who played 48 times for City between 2009 and 2011 and currently works as the club’s Football Development Executive, said he didn’t know how to deal with the threat of legal action and had put the matter straight into the hands of club bosses. He said: 'I was quite scared when I saw it was a final notice, I didn’t know what was going on. 'Working for Manchester City we have a department which if we have any problems, they deal with that situation. 'I’m not used to dealing with these situations so I took it to the department because I know when a letter says something is a final notice it is serious.' The village of Alderley Edge is situated in Cheshire and is a mecca for the rich and famous of the north west. Lying 12 miles south of Manchester, the area - which has a population of 4,409 - is known for its expensive houses and affluence. Plush: Alderley Edge is a mecca for the rich and famous. David and Victoria Beckham, left, previously lived there and Peter Crouch and Abbey Clancy, right, are current residents . Denise Welch also lives in the village . It is one of the most sought-after places to live in the UK outside of central London. With its section of cafes and designer shops, it is a natural haven for Premier League footballers, actors and businessmen. People who live or have lived in the village include: . | The former Arsenal and Manchester City .
star was caught doing 61mph in a 50mph zone on the M60 near Stockport in .
his Bentley .
The World Cup winner admitted he had .
been driving the £160,000 supercar at the time .
But he said he did not .
receive the original prosecution notice at his £2.2 million home in .
Alderley Edge, Cheshire .
Vieira said he and other City .
players - including Sergio Aguero, Adam Johnson and .
Emmanuel Adebayor - often had mail delivered to wrong house . |
fd7ba7dc5145e48a6837ceb27e500988ba220a44 | When Lauren George was shot in the head outside her apartment building in Alabama earlier this year, no one thought she would make it. Five months later, the 20-year-old who has survived against overwhelming odds is learning to speak and walk again. 'I'm glad I'm here, that I'm alive, even though it's been hard,' George said in her halting voice. Scroll down for video . She's a fighter: Lauren George, pictured left in July and right in March, is on the road to recovery five months after a stray bullet shattered her skull . Clinging to life: The 20-year-old was rushed to University of Alabama hospital January 20 in critical condition after becoming the victim of an attempted robbery . Devastating injuries: A bullet shattered the right side of Lauren's skull, leaving her with two brain injuries . Lauren's world was turned upside down at around 10.30pm on January 20 when a stray bullet struck her in the head in the parking lot of the Falcon Mano apartment on Overton Road in Montevallo. Shots rang around a short time after a pair of armed men came to the apartment building with the alleged intent to commit a robbery, the station WBRC reported. Lauren George was rushed in critical condition to University of Alabama Hospital, where she spent a few days in a coma before she finally opened her eyes and called for her parents. The 20-year-year former veterinary clinic worker suffered two brain injuries when the bullet shattered the left side of her skull. Nearly six months after the shooting, Ms George still has swelling in her brain. Eventually, she will have to undergo surgery to replace a part of her damaged skull. Happier times: The 20-year-old brunette beauty, pictured here in 2012, graduated from Pelham High School and was living with her fiance in Montevallo . Step by step: Lauren still has some swelling in her brain and is now learning to walk again . Setback: Lauren's doctors recently have found blood clots in her lungs and legs . For Lauren and her parents, her recovery has been an uphill battle punctuated by setbacks. Recently, Lauren’s doctors have discovered blood clots in her legs and lungs. Her speech is still slow and she moves around the house with a walker, but Lauren and her mother, Kameron George, are certain that she will come out on the other side stronger than ever. ‘Because God had more than one opportunity to take her if he wanted her,’ the mother said. ‘If she gets no better than she is now we are so lucky. She is so lucky.’ On her part, Lauren George said she 'shouldn't have survived,' and that the only reason she is still among the living is because she has a greater purpose in life. Justice or Lauren: Kevin Gutierrez (left) and Terry Searcy (right), both age 18, have been charged with robbery and assault in connection to the shooting . The two suspects in the shooting that nearly ended Ms George’s life, Terry Searcy and Kevin Gutiérrez, both 18 years old, have been charged with first-degree robbery and assault. According to a witness account, Lauren got into an argument with one of the suspect before she was shot in the head. Her mother said this week that no prison time for the alleged robbers would satisfy their family. 'Because of the life-altering events that have taken place, their punishment can never be enough for what we've endured and what we will still endure,’ she said. | Lauren George, 20, had the left side of her skull shattered by a stray bullet outside her home in Montevallo, Alabama, in January .
She has since regained the ability to speak and is now learning how to walk again .
Police have arrested two 18-year-olds in connection to the robbery and shooting that left George with two brain injuries . |
fd7be549c97a514041c2bb3b6f3194ab5eb4aafa | The lawyer representing a Michigan man accused of killing a driver in an apparent road rage incident revealed this week she is planning to mount a defense based on the state's controversial 'stand your ground' law. Martin Zale, 69, has been charged with an open count of murder for shooting Derek Flemming, 43, in the head September 2 in Livingston County's Genoa Township. Zale's attorney, Melissa Pearce, said she will argue self-defense when the case goes to trial. Deadly confrontation: Martin Zale, 69 (left), has been charged with shooting dead Derek Flemming, 43 (right), in what police described as a road rage incident . School run: Flemming was on his way to pick up his two kids, aged five and seven, from school with his wife when the attack happened . Speaking Tuesday outside Howell District Court, Pearce said ‘the whole story has not been told.’ The next court hearing is scheduled for October 7. Pearce expressed confidence that upon hearing all the evidence in the case, the jury will exonerate her client, CBS Detroit reported. Police said Zale confronted Flemming at a stoplight and shot him once in the face from a handgun as his wife, Amy, watched from their car just a few feet away. The victim was unarmed. According to state Sen Rick Jones, a Republican from Lansing Township who drafted Michigan's ‘stand your ground law,’ the legislation applies only to cases of imminent death, great bodily harm or sexual assault. From the standpoint of the prosecution, Zale’s shooting of the unarmed father of two cannot be classified as self-defense. Amy Flemming's lawyer, William Moore, said the family was considering a civil suit against Zale. On September 2, Derek and Amy Flemming had just had lunch together and were driving along Grand River Avenue to pick up their children after the first day back at school Tuesday when they ran into Zale in his 2012 Dodge pickup. Minutes later, Derek Flemming was shot in the head by Zale, police saidy. A representative for the Flemming family, attorney William Moore, said Zale was 'screaming down a side street' so fast that Amy Flemming believed he was going to hit their 2014 Ford Escape. Defense strategy: Martin Edward Zale, appears in District Court September 9 with his attorney Melissa Pearce, who said she plans to use Michigan's 'stand your ground' law . He told the the Detroit Free Press that Zale then tailgated the couple, then as they tried to pull to the right to let him pass, he passed them in the right lane, forcing them to jerk back into the left. Amy Flemming told Moore that Zale then pulled in front of the couple and slammed on his brakes. When both cars pulled up at a set of traffic lights on Grand River at Chilson, Derek Flemming got out of his vehicle and approached Zale's window. A loud argument ensued, witnesses told WXYZ, but it doesn't appear there was any physical contact between the men. Zale then lowered his window and shot Flemming once in the face. 'His wife was forced to witness this act from the front seat of her car,' Moore said in a statement on behalf of the family. Speaking to Detroit Free Press, the victim's widow recalled how Zale appeared emotionless after gunning down her husband. Heartbroken: Amy Flemming, 40, said Martin Zale appeared stone-faced after shooting her husband in the face . Never forget: Mrs Flemming holds a photo from 2012 of her late husband Derek, who stepped out of their SUV September 2 at a traffic light to confront another motorist that had been speeding and almost hit their vehicle . Broad daylight: Flemming was allegedly shot by Martin Zale, 69, at 3:35pm in full view of many witnesses . 'Shock and extreme grief': Amy Flemming witnessed her husband's shooting as the couple went to pick up their children from the first day back at school . 'He was just sitting in his truck and when I was kneeling on the ground with my husband who was profusely bleeding, I looked at Mr. Zale and he had his head turned and was just watching,' said Amy Flemming. She has told police that her husband was shot in the head after getting out of his vehicle to ask why Zale was driving aggressively. Amy Flemming holds the wedding ring she wears on her necklace belonging to her late husband Derek . She told the newspaper her husband walked up and asked the other driver: 'What's your problem?' 'And it was a second or maybe two after Derek said that to when there was a gunshot,' Flemming said. 'As soon as I heard the gunshot and I saw him fall, I was getting out of the car and running to him.' Witness Jenna St Clair told WXYZ that Amy Flemming was on the ground next to her stricken husband, begging him to live. 'She said, "You've got to stay! You've got to stay alive. Stay alive for your kids. We need you, we need you!"' said St. Clair. Alleged killer Zale reportedly stood calmly by his car waiting for police to arrive after the shooting. Calls to 911 came thick and fast from people who had witnessed the altercation, which happened around 3.35pm. One 911 caller said she 'heard a large pop and somebody screaming.' 'Mrs. Flemming is overcome with many emotions, but primarily shock and extreme grief. In addition, her young children are asking where their father is,' the statement from Moore says. WXYZ reports that neither man had any criminal record. Flemming owned his own small landscaping business. He leaves behind his wife and two children - son Julian, 8, and daughter Lily, who turned 6 two days after her father's killing. It's unclear if Zale had a permit to carry a concealed weapon. | Derek Flemming, 43, was allegedly shot dead by Martin Zale, 69,September 2 .
Flemming and his wife Amy were driving to pick up their two children after their first day of school .
Zale drove so fast down a side street that he almost hit the couple's car .
Derek Flemming got out of his car and asked, 'What's your problem?'
Zale allegedly lowered his window and shot Flemming in the face in front of his wife . |
fd7d07085b960464f5c864dae39076d79f55da2f | Washington (CNN) -- President Barack Obama signed a two-month extension of the payroll tax cut Friday, ending what had been a heated political stalemate and sealing a hard-fought win for Democrats on an issue -- taxes -- that has historically favored the GOP. Earlier in the day, the measure cleared the Democratic-controlled Senate and the Republican-controlled House of Representatives by unanimous consent, a procedural move allowing the measure to pass even though most members of Congress were already home for the holidays. "This is some good news just in the nick of time," Obama said shortly before departing the White House for Hawaii. But "we have a lot more work to do. This continues to be a make-or-break moment for the middle class in this country." Among other things, the $33 billion bill also includes a two-month extension of emergency federal unemployment benefits and the so-called "doc fix," a delay in scheduled payment reductions to doctors who treat Medicare patients. Congress will consider a longer extension of all three measures when it reconvenes in January. Obama also signed a separate appropriations bill funding the government through September 2012, wrapping up a legislative year marked by repeated partisan brinksmanship and declining public approval of a seemingly dysfunctional Congress. Political analysts believe the showdown over the payroll holiday extension has eroded Republican strength on the party's core issue of lower taxes. While GOP leaders first questioned the merit of the tax holiday and then complained that a short-term extension would be more trouble than it's worth, Obama used the standoff to portray the Republicans as defenders of the rich with a callous attitude toward the burdens of the middle class. The episode also called into question Speaker John Boehner's control over the House Republican caucus. The speaker, according to multiple accounts, initially favored the two-month extension, which had passed the Senate with an overwhelming bipartisan majority. He was then apparently forced to retreat from that position last weekend in the face of a tea party-fueled revolt in which freshman conservatives in particular demanded an immediate 12-month extension. In a virtual party-line vote, the House on Tuesday passed a measure calling for the creation of a House-Senate conference committee to consider ways to pay for an immediate year-long continuation. But congressional Democrats and administration officials, noting previous legislative maneuvering over the issue and a looming December 31 deadline, called the House's terms unrealistic and refused to budge. Top Senate Republicans were also enraged by the actions of their House counterparts, believing that House GOP leaders had backed out of a deal to support the temporary two-month plan. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, was among those who ultimately called for House Republicans to relent. Facing rising Republican establishment fears that the GOP was squandering its political advantage on taxes, the speaker again reversed himself on Thursday, this time essentially consenting to the Senate's terms. According to GOP sources, Boehner held a conference call Thursday afternoon with his fellow House Republicans in which the speaker refused to allow any members to ask questions or raise objections. One Republican House member on the call described the speaker as "tired and ticked off." Boehner, in announcing the deal to reporters later in the day, insisted the House GOP's prior opposition to the Senate plan was the right thing to do, even if it turned out to be politically questionable. "It may not have been politically the smartest thing in the world," the Ohio Republican conceded, but the end result was "we were able to fix what came out of the Senate." Boehner also acknowledged the pressure he was under, saying: "I talked to enough members over the last 24 hours who say we don't like the two-month extension and if you can get this fixed, why not do the right thing for the American people even if it's not exactly what we want." The final bill is virtually same Senate proposal House Republicans rejected earlier this week. House Republicans were given slim political cover through the addition of legislative language designed to ease the administrative burden on small businesses implementing the plan, as well as a commitment to continue negotiations on a one-year extension of the tax cut and other benefits. Under the deal, the payroll tax will remain at the current 4.2% rate instead of reverting to the 6.2% rate it was at before the cut enacted last year. Without congressional action, the higher rate would have returned in 2012, meaning an average $1,000 tax increase for 160 million Americans. The typical worker's take home salary would have been reduced by about $40 per pay period without the tax cut. Analysts said Boehner had little choice but to back down. "It became increasingly obvious he had to fold," said CNN Senior Political Analyst David Gergen, using poker terminology. Boehner was under "intense pressure from senior Republicans" over a situation that "became so botched," he said. Darrell West , the vice president and director of governance studies at the Brookings Institution, said the issue has worked in the favor of Democrats because they had Republicans "seemingly willing to accept a tax increase" by opposing the Senate extension of the payroll tax cut. The conservative Wall Street Journal, in an editorial earlier this week, warned that House Republicans had lost the political advantage of advocating tax cuts to Obama and the Democrats. Some tea party Republicans, however, are now livid that Boehner backed down. "The House has caved yet again to the President and Senate Democrats," freshman Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kansas, said in a written statement. "We were sent here with a clear set of instructions from the American people to put an end to business as usual in Washington, yet here we are being asked to sign off on yet another gimmick. No wonder the American people are left with a bad taste in their mouths when it comes to Congress." Asked about Boehner's performance, Huelskamp later told CNN he was "disappointed in our entire leadership team." While the congressman told Wolf Blitzer he didn't anticipate a conservative revolt against Boehner, he did expect "a lot of discussion" about what the GOP stands for. A number of Republicans have said the party should have declared victory after winning an agreement by Obama -- as part of the larger tax cut package -- to make a decision within the next 60 days on whether to proceed with the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. Republicans and some Democratic union leaders say the controversial pipeline will create thousands of new jobs; critics question its environmental impact. CNN's Jessica Yellin, Ted Barrett, Dana Bash, Kate Bolduan, Lisa Desjardins, Matt Hoye, Xuan Thai, Brianna Keilar and Deirdre Walsh contributed to this report . | Obama signs 2-month payroll tax cut extension .
House GOP's defeat raises new questions about Boehner's leadership .
The House and Senate passed the bill by unanimous consent .
The procedural move allowed the measure to pass even though most members have left town . |
fd7d1cc3bc47b7046c6b9e6fc1b2641e6dff0fc5 | Russia's annexation of Crimea, and what many fear is its apparent threat to invade Ukraine, has riveted international attention since the crisis erupted with February's revolution in Kiev. Excitable talk has proliferated as fast as North Korean missiles. Pundits obsess about a new Cold War, a showdown with "mad bad Vlad" Putin, and the resulting need to boost military spending (always a Pentagon favorite). The talk is all Ukraine, Ukraine. Politicians and diplomats have put everything else on hold. Including Syria, which is a big mistake. Far more than an argument over an obscure shard of territory on the edge of Nowhere-on-Don, the catastrophe now taking place in and around Syria ranks as a fundamental challenge and threat to the current world order. Syria, not Crimea, directly affects western security in very basic ways. What's happening there is changing the power balance in the Middle East. And unlike in Ukraine or the Baltic republics or other post-Soviet lands, a vast human catastrophe is unravelling, apparently without end. In Syria's real, not phoney, war, more than 100,000 people have died so far. The total number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, for example, has now passed the 1 million mark, according to the U.N.'s refugee agency -- and that does not include the tens of thousands who have not registered with the agency. About 12,000 are fleeing Syria for Lebanon each week. The refugee outflow is also affecting Jordan, Turkey, Egypt and Iraq. As the war enters its fourth year, the overall refugee total is around 2.5 million. A further 6.5 million Syrians are internally displaced, and 9.3 million are in need of humanitarian assistance, according to the U.N. The suffering concealed behind these bald figures is appalling, as any visitor to the refugee camps will testify. Children are particularly badly affected. Yet even if they are not swayed by the human cost of a conflict that has become depressingly familiar, basic considerations of self-interested realpolitik suggest governments, politicians and diplomats should be paying more attention to Syria. One obvious reason is the way the war has been exploited to facilitate the spread of Islamist fundamentalism. Large areas of northern Syria are now under the control of jihadi groups and militias who, whatever else they may disagree about, are united in their opposition to western values and interests. Syria is in the process of becoming a bridgehead to Europe for al Qaida and like-minded fanatics. It is already a magnet for young European Muslim men who want a piece of the global jihad. They then bring their new "skills" home. A second reason to take a second look at Syria is the way instability there is steadily spreading outwards to affect neighboring countries. Turkey's neo-Islamist government, having initially tried to broker a peace deal, now regards itself as virtually at war with Bashar al-Assad's regime. Last week the Turks very deliberately shot down a Syrian warplane they said had violated their airspace. The threat of a Syria-Turkey conflict aside, the impact on Turkey's politics and people has been considerable. The increasingly authoritarian behaviour of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's prime minister, to some degree reflects the pressure the country is under. Kurdish militants trying to make common cause with their divided Syrian counterparts is one concern. Another is that border areas inundated with refugees are becoming less governable. Growing instability and consequent political uncertainty are also affecting pro-western Lebanon and Jordan, while apparently reviving Shia-Sunni conflict in Iraq is being fed by the Syrian flames. Recent reports suggest many Iraqi Shia fighters are now inside Syria, determined (like the Hezbollah fighters from Lebanon) to bolster the Assad regime against its mostly Sunni foes. In geopolitical terms, the Syrian collapse has provided Iran with an opportunity to extend its influence into the heart of the Arab world, opening up a new front in its proxy war with the Sunni monarchies of the Gulf led by Saudi Arabia. No doubt to Iran's delight, Riyadh's displeasure at the Obama administration's refusal to get directly involved in Syria has caused a rift between the two long-time allies. Given the current state of western relations with Tehran, handing Iran a free boost in this way is a serious diplomatic own goal. The ongoing failure to address and resolve the Syrian conflict has numerous other far-reaching consequences. What goes for Iran goes for Russia, too. Its obstinate and unprincipled support for Assad has come cost-free as the U.S. and Europe dither and the Geneva "peace process" leads precisely nowhere. Perceived American weakness over Syria may even have encouraged Vladimir Putin in his Crimean misdemeanors. Al-Assad's continued survival as Syria's head of state is an egregious affront to the U.N. Security Council and its various related Syria resolutions, to the U.N. charter, to international law, and specifically to international war crimes legislation. Al-Assad stands accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, not least over the use by his forces of chemical weapons against civilian populations. But once again, nothing much is done, and the credibility of such institutions and laws suffers as a result. The moral example set by such dereliction is shocking. A lot has been made of the bad precedent Russia set by annexing the territory of an independent sovereign state. And it is fair to say such behavior is unacceptable and illegal, and should not be emulated by others. But in the overall scheme of things, the Crimea problem fades into insignificance when set alongside the dreaded ramifications and implications, short and long term, of the international community's plain inability or its lamentable lack of will to halt the Syrian war. | Russia's annexation of Crimea, and feared threat to invade Ukraine, has grabbed attention .
Simon Tisdall says Syria, not Crimea, directly affects western security in more basic ways .
Much of northern Syria under control of jihadi groups, united in opposition to West - Tisdall .
Syria is in the process of becoming a bridgehead to Europe for al Qaida, he adds . |
fd7d36708a77358508a9f433f24c286ed948bb5e | By . Damien Gayle . A BBC tennis commentator said sorry to former GB Davis Cup captain David Lloyd after suggesting he could be prevented from leading the Lawn Tennis Association because of alleged 'personal problems' Andrew Castle was forced into the official apology after his comments during a rain delay chat with Sue Barker at the Aegon Championships at Queen’s Club in Kensington, London. He has agreed to pay undisclosed damages to Mr Lloyd. Tennis commentator Andrew Castle, 49, has apologised to former player David Lloyd, 65, right, after suggesting alleged 'personal problems' could rule him out of becoming chief executive of the Lawn Tennis Association . Mr Castle made the remarks during the AEGON tennis championships at London's Queen's Club on June 12 . Interest around succession at the LTA . has been heightened by the widespread disbelief at recent revelations . that current chief executive Roger Draper was earning £640,000 a year. He is due to stand down in September and leaves what is regarded as a generally under-performing organisation. A statement published on the BBC website said: 'BBC commentator Andrew Castle suggested there were issues in the personal life of David Lloyd which made him unsuitable to be considered for the role of CEO of the LTA. 'Mr Castle would wish to make clear that his comments were without foundation and apologises to Mr Lloyd for any embarrassment or distress caused.' It is understood businessman Mr Lloyd was alerted about the disparaging remark by his brother John, a BBC tennis pundit who will be working alongside Mr Castle at Wimbledon. A joint statement release by the men today, seen by The Guardian, said: 'The parties have now agreed terms to bring the matter to a close, which involves the payment of damages and legal costs. Andrew Castle's apology to former tennis champion Mr Lloyd was put on the broadcaster's website . Sue Barker, left, and Andrew Castle, right with French player Jo-Wilfied Tsonga, cover Wimbledon for the BBC . 'However, Mr Castle would like to put the record straight and express again his personal apology to Mr Lloyd. He made his remarks, which were completely without substance, in the hurried exchanges of a live debate. 'Mr Lloyd has accepted Mr Castle's apology and the payment of damages. Mr Lloyd and Mr Castle are pleased to have been able to resolve matters amicably and now consider the matter to be behind them.' Mr Castle's gaffes didn't end there. He was accused of causing ructions by announcing at Queen’s that Andy Murray was donating his winnings to the Rally Against Cancer charity fund when the Scot wanted to keep it private. Murray said: ‘I haven’t spoken to anyone about it.' Roger Draper will stand down from his £640,000-a-year job at the LTA in September . Andrew Castle was speculating over the future head of the Lawn Tennis Association, based in Roehampton . Mr Castle was a professional tennis player for six years from 1986 and was a regular member of the British Davis Cup team. He represented England in the Olympics twice, and reached the third round in the 1987 US Open, losing to Boris Becker. He became a television presenter after retiring from tennis in 1992, and hosted GMTV for a decade. He has commentated on tennis for 10 years, working alongside Tim Henman, Boris Becker, Sue Barker and John Lloyd. David Lloyd, who was born in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, was one of the most successful British tennis players of the 1970s and 1980s, alongside his younger brother, John. He captained the British Davis Cup team, and went on to found a successful chain of eponymous health and leisure clubs. He has coached Tim Henman, and is a keen art collector. | Castle, 49, made comments during rain delay with colleague Sue Barker, 57 .
He paid undisclosed damages, legal costs and made apology to Lloyd, 65 .
The apology was made in an official statement on the BBC Sport website . |
fd7d54dd2a6545cafcd1395441edc37750bd0649 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . and Ap . A California firefighter who disappeared two weeks ago after chasing after his dog during a backpacking trip was found dead Friday, authorities said, less than a week after his dog was found alive. The body of Mike Herdman, 36, was found in a rugged cliff area about three-quarters of a mile and 1,200 feet above the river bottom where he was last seen June 13, Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean said. Authorities theorized that he may have fallen off of a cliff, but his remains could only be identified by his dental records after being exposed to the elements for such a long period of time. Scroll down for video . Sad end: The remains of firefighter Mike Herdman were found Friday after being missing for two weeks . Safe: Duke, pictured after his ordeal, was found Sunday in the parking lot where Herdman had parked his car . Rescue: This picture shows the moment search crews finally rescued Duke after spotting him multiple times over the past week . 'He’s probably the only one that can answer those questions about why’d he'd go so far in the middle of the night like that,' Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean tells NBC LA. Authorities will have to wait until an autopsy is performed to determine an official cause of death. Herdman and a friend were backpacking in the Los Padres National Forest river bottom when his dog, Duke, ran off. The firefighter chased after his pet barefoot and wearing only shorts and a T-shirt. Herdman's . friend made his way back to a trailhead June 15 to alert authorities, . setting off a large-scale search. Dean said search crews put in about . 5,000 hours and scoured 50 square miles on foot, on horseback and by air . — including the use of two drones. Herdman had experience backpacking in the backcountry, officials said. Dean . said searchers focused on areas they thought Herdman could get to . because they didn't think someone without shoes would scale a 1,200-foot . mountainside. 'Nobody could imagine that he was able to travel that far,' the sheriff said. Tragic: Mike Herdman, pictured, was a paramedic with the Arcadia Fire Department whose body was found Friday . Scene: Rescuers spent two weeks looking for Herdman after he was reported missing in the rough terrain of the Los Padres National Forest . Missed: Herdman was described as a good friend and dedicated fireman by those who knew and worked with him . Firefighters . from the Fire Department in Arcadia, a suburb east of Los Angeles, . looked for Herdman for more than a week, Fire Chief Kurt Norwood told . KABC-TV. 'We're . glad that he was found, but at the same time we're sad that we lost a . family member, so obviously we got heavy hearts here,' Norwood said. Duke was spotted twice during the search but eluded capture. A hiker spotted the exhausted dog Sunday in the parking lot where Herdman had parked his car. Co-worker . Taylor Byars, who was also on the trip, unsuccessfully looked for him . before he left the park and was able to contact authorities two days . later, the paper said. Ventura . County Sheriff's Captain Luis Obregon told the Daily News last week an . air crew was used to search for Herdman as well as volunteers on . horseback. Herdman was 'an elite athlete and family man who planned to be home on Father's Day,' NBC Los Angeles reported. 'He's in incredible shape,' Sgt. Eric Buschow said of the firefighter prior to authorities finding his body. 'But even with experience in the back country, if you don't have the right clothing and you don't have the right gear, it can be a tough situation to get out of.' | Authorities found Mike Herdman's body on Friday in California's Los Padres National Forest .
His dog, named Duke, was found Sunday in the parking lot where Herdman had parked his car .
Herdman and a friend were camping June 13 when the dog ran off and the 36-year-old chased after the pet barefoot and wearing only shorts .
Search crews put in nearly 5,000 hours and scoured 50 square miles on foot, horseback and by air .
His remains were found in a rugged cliff area of the park .
Herdman's cause of death is yet to be determined . |
fd7d56455b153c7eedc5178499128216242f2e8f | New York (CNN) -- If President Obama had been forthright last week at the health care summit, he would have opened the meeting by stating: "If you have health coverage, under our reform bills you are going to pay more and get less. If you are one of the 45 million elderly or disabled people on Medicare, you are going to get less. There is no such thing as free medical care. Somebody has to pay! And in the end it is you." Those are the facts! And as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid stated to the Republicans : "...you're entitled to your opinion, but not your own facts." However, the facts, as the president has found out, are not exactly a compelling message to persuade a reluctant Congress and public to overhaul nearly one-fifth of the nation's economy. Adding 31 million people (45 million now don't have coverage) to the health care system will cost the taxpayers trillions over time. Many of that uninsured group can't afford health insurance, and if this legislation passes, the government will create an entitlement program to subsidize them. In the end, like the entitlement programs that have gone before them, they will far exceed any cost estimates on the table today. Just to remind you, Mr. President and members of Congress, the taxpayers have a right to know the full fiscal consequences of this legislation. The United States is spending this year nearly $2.5 trillion on health care. That is 17.3 percent of the U.S. economy and it's rising at a rapid rate. We spent $134 billion more in the past year than in the year before. To put $2.5 trillion into perspective, that is more money than the federal government received in taxes and revenues this year. The problem is nobody knows (and especially the Congress) what a trillion dollars really means. A trillion is a million million. Still means nothing to most of us. If you spent a million dollars a day since the birth of Jesus Christ, it wouldn't even equal a trillion. If you stacked up a trillion dollars in dollar bills, it would reach 68,000 miles into the sky, about a third of the way from the Earth to the moon. Those numbers are too big for any of us. Somebody has to pay for the most expensive health care in the world. Many experts would argue it is also the very best health coverage in the world. Health care today is paid for by three entities. The government (federal, state and local) pays more than 50 percent of the costs. That is us, the taxpayers. The insurance companies pay about one-third of the costs. That again is us. We pay the premiums and the insurance company pools the risk, and distributes our monies back for the medical services. They obviously add an overhead cost as does any business, but it's still our money being paid out. The third payer is again us. Out-of-pocket reimbursements or additional fees come directly out of our pocket and paycheck. Health care has changed as dramatically as anything in our society in the last half century. First, we are living longer. In 2007, American men could expect to live 3.5 years longer and women 1.6 years longer than in 1990. We are long past the days when you walked into a doctor's office and the doctor -- armed only with a stethoscope, blood pressure monitor and a thermometer -- listened to our symptoms and made a diagnosis. Maybe in a rare case an X-ray was called for. We paid our bill and went to the drugstore and got our prescription. There were no MRI's, no heart diagnostic tests, no CT scans or any of the wonder drugs that have extended our lives and in many cases made the quality better. It's not that people aren't seeing doctors. In the last several years, more than 1.2 billion annual visits to a physician's office have taken place, averaging more than three a year per person. Certainly, some efforts must be made to provide some insurance reform -- but that also means malpractice insurance reform. Some massive efforts need to be made to curb Medicare and insurance fraud. And efforts must be made to create more competition among insurance companies across state lines. The president's attempt to add some of the better suggestions from the Republicans addressing these issues is not going to add any support from that side of the aisle. They are minor changes that are positive but don't tackle the fundamental cost issues or address the new entitlements and mandates that Republicans object to most. Reducing costs in most cases means reducing services. Who doesn't want an MRI for their child injured in a car wreck? Who doesn't want tests done on a spouse or parent who has chest or abdominal pain? But if Reid and Pelosi shove this legislation through Congress against public opinion, they and their party will pay a price. Yet the price Democrats will pay at the polls in November won't be nearly as big a price as our kids and grandkids will pay when the bill comes through years hence. If you're going to have reform, make the system better. Take your time and do it right. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Ed Rollins. | Ed Rollins says President Obama should have explained that health bill will cost taxpayers dearly .
He says health care consumes 17 percent of the nation's economy .
He says costs are rising at a rapid rate, and consumers are footing the bill .
Obama's attempt to add some GOP ideas doesn't go nearly far enough, Rollins says . |
fd7d87b0b998147881c3c938907f8dc39dbd56f5 | London Irish have announced the signing of New Zealand World Cup winner Ben Franks. Prop Franks, 30, has agreed a three-year deal and will join Irish from the Wellington-based Hurricanes. He has won 42 caps and was part of New Zealand's 2011 World Cup-winning squad. Franks has made more than 100 Super Rugby appearances. London Irish have confirmed the signing of Ben Franks (right) from Wellington-based club Hurricanes . New Zealand prop Franks, 30, was part of the All Blacks squad in 2011 that went on to win the World Cup . 'I am really looking forward to joining London Irish,' Franks said. 'I have been to have a look around Hazelwood (Irish's training complex) and was very impressed with the set-up. 'After speaking to the board and seeing the facilities, the ambition of the club is clear. 'It is a family-friendly club, which played a big part in my decision to move my family over, and London Irish also has a link with St Mary's University, where I will be able to study alongside playing rugby for the club. 'There is still work to be done in New Zealand, but my family and I are looking forward to joining the club next season.' Franks in action for New Zealand against Australia during the second Bledisloe Cup Test in Auckland in 2012 . Franks pictured here with his brother, Owen (left) at a New Zealand press conference in Wellington . Franks' signing comes hot on the heels of Tom Coventry being confirmed as Irish's head coach next season, with rugby director Brian Smith having departed the club. 'Ben is a world-class player, and we are delighted that he has decided to sign with London Irish,' Irish's operations director Bob Casey said. 'He is a family man with great rugby values. 'It is a real statement of intent that a player of his class and experience has signed, and shows the ambition of the club and our owners.' Ronnie McCaw (left) trains with Franks at an open New Zealand training session in Cardiff last year . | Ben Franks signs for London Irish from Wellington-based club Hurricanes .
The 30-year-old prop has agreed a three-year deal .
Franks was part of New Zealand's World Cup-winning squad in 2011 .
London Irish director Bob Casey describes Franks as a 'world-class player' |
fd7da5044101cca18bbb3cc10a3e92c6de59bb54 | (CNN) -- When it comes to football, the New York-New Jersey divide is a long and complicated one. Both New York-branded NFL teams -- the Jets and the Giants -- share fans from across the tri-state area, blurring state lines and loyalties. And both teams play at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey, where the Super Bowl will be held February 2. The official Super Bowl Host Committee estimates the game will bring in between $550 and $600 million in revenue to New York and New Jersey. In addition to the influx of Super Bowl-goers eating and staying in the region, there will be concerts, meet-and-greet events with the players and even a toboggan set up smack in the middle of Times Square. But James Cassella, the mayor of East Rutherford, New Jersey, where the game will be played, said it's unlikely his town will cash in much. "I'm hoping that we at least break even," said Cassella, who has been mayor of the town of 9,000 for 19 years. Tax revenue from the town's five hotels will provide a slight bump for East Rutherford, but Cassella is skeptical that it will reap many more benefits. Game-day transportation is set up so visitors must enter MetLife Stadium by bus or train. Cassella said he doubts local businesses will see significant gains from spectators. The town also has had to ramp up its police presence for the week. "This has already cost us," he said, adding that even though the event is in New Jersey, "It's a New York event." "People (of East Rutherford) are proud to say there will be 150 million people watching and looking at East Rutherford, even though all the outside shots will be of New York City," Cassella said. The NFL dismisses the theory that the Super Bowl is a New York-centric event. "There are more activities in New Jersey than New York," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said. The players are staying in Jersey City and all their media appearances and training will be held in the state. Still, the issue is sensitive for some. On Monday, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey corrected one of his Twitter followers who tweeted the incorrect location of the game. "NO! The Super Bowl is in New Jersey," he responded. At a press conference on Thursday, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey scoffed at the NFL's official Super Bowl program cover, which shows the Vince Lombardi trophy with New York as its backdrop. A small sliver of New Jersey can be seen in the background. "For all of those who are geographically challenged, welcome to New Jersey, welcome to the home of Super Bowl XLVIII," he said. The so-called Super Bowl Boulevard will be across the Hudson River from MetLife Stadium, in midtown Manhattan. Parts of Manhattan, including the stretch of Broadway from 34th to 47th streets, will be closed to traffic from January 26 through February 2 to make room for a toboggan run, a concert stage and an exhibit featuring the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Mayor Bill de Blasio said the Super Bowl is "hugely important" for New York and he believes the event will be "an extraordinary moment for New York City." De Blasio will be involved in Super Bowl festivities in some capacity, although it's unclear whether he will attend the game, said Marti Adams, chief spokesperson for the mayor. Cassella, East Rutherford's mayor, said he has not been invited to the game. He plans to attend a community tailgating party and then watch from home. "I'll be sitting in my recliner," he said, "enjoying the game." | New York and New Jersey fight for profits from Super Bowl XLVIII .
Organizers estimate game will generate at least $600 million for the two states .
East Rutherford, New Jersey, where game will be played, hopes to break even . |
fd7e559ea035e4e570d5266c328e9d6ce5e7e756 | Tottenham, Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid have all made enquiries about Everton forward Kevin Mirallas. The Belgian is stalling over discussions on a new contract and that has alerted rival clubs who are keen to see if there is a deal to be done either now or in the summer. Mirallas wants to play Champions League football. He is a firm favourite at Goodsion and manager Roberto Martinez insists he wont countenance any sale. Tottenham have opened discussions over a move for Yevhen Konoplyanka of Dnipro and have asked to be kept informed about Sassuolo striker Simone Zaza who wants to remain in Italy for the season. Everton's Kevin Mirallas is stalling over contract discussions as he looks for Champions League football . Mirallas scored a free-kick against West Ham in the FA Cup third round replay last week at Upton Park . Tottenham are maintaining contact with Espanyol for Mexico defender Hector Moreno although Arsenal have also made contact after Brian McDermott went to watch the 27-year-old against Valencia last week. As reported by Sportsmail, Arsenal have interest in Gabriel Paulista of Villarreal and have spoken to his representatives but a work permit would prove difficult. Tottenham have expressed an interest in both Villarreal's Hector Moreno (left) and Yehven Konoplyaka (right) | Everton forward Kevin Mirallas is attracting interest from a number of clubs .
Tottenham, Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid have all enquired .
Spurs have also opened discussions over a move for Yehven Konoplyanka .
Arsenal have an interest in Villarreal centre-back Gabriel Paulista . |
fd7e70e9c4970eab36efb1e5948aeb89565dcea9 | Tucson, Arizona (CNN) -- U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords on Thursday continued her dramatic recovery from a gunshot wound to the brain by going outside for physical therapy, one of her principal doctors in Tucson, Arizona, told CNN. "Today actually, we were glad to say that we were able to take her outside and she was able to do her physical therapy," Dr. Peter Rhee told John King. "We gave her some fresh air and also gave her some sunshine," said Rhee, speaking from outside University Medical Center. "She was able to see the Arizona mountains." Behind Rhee, flowers left by well-wishers filled a portion of the hospital lawn. A day before she was to be flown to a Texas hospital, the husband of Giffords, shot in the head less than two weeks ago at a public event, described his wife's progress as "remarkable." Mark Kelly said Thursday he is hopeful the Arizona congresswoman will make a full recovery. "I've told her that," Kelly told reporters at University Medical Center. "She recognizes it ... she is a fighter like nobody else that I know." Giffords is able to stand with assistance, but is not yet able to take steps or walk, said Rhee, adding therapists are helping Giffords with ways to express her thoughts and, eventually, speak. "[We are] holding her up so she can train herself to hold her head up," Rhee said. "She is learning to balance and learning all the little things we can take for granted." Giffords, 40, was shot in an assassination attempt and mass shooting that killed six and wounded 13 at a Safeway grocery store in Tucson on January 8. The congresswoman is the only person still hospitalized after the attack, the hospital has said. Giffords will be taken by ambulance Friday morning from University Medical Center in Tucson to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Giffords will be flown to Houston, where she will receive further treatment at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, her office said in a statement. On Wednesday, the public learned that Giffords was able to rise from her hospital bed and stand with assistance. Kelly said that while what physical therapists classify as "standing" or "steps" and the clinical definition of it are "a little bit different," he said his wife "can bear her own weight, which is a big step, I think. Just speaking for the doctors here, I think she's made a remarkable recovery at this point." He said he believes she has tried to speak, although she is prevented from doing so by a breathing tube in her neck, and believes she is aware of her surroundings, saying he can look in her eyes and tell. She will smile at him and pat him on the face -- something she did before the shooting, he said. "Every time I interact with her, there's something quite inspiring," he said. "We've seen her moving her lips," acknowledged Dr. Michael Lemole, chief of neurosurgery at the hospital. But, he said, it's hard to say whether Giffords is actually trying to speak. He said Giffords has been able to scroll through an iPad and interact with her husband, so she does appear to be aware of her surroundings. But, Lemole cautioned, she has a long road ahead of her that will take months, at least. Kelly has discussed the shooting incident with Giffords, Rhee said. "She can probably put some of that information together on her own." Kelly said he believes his wife would be proud of how the Tucson community has reacted to the shootings. "She's going to need to continue to be strong," he said. "She will really appreciate the support of this community." He said Giffords' family looked at several different rehabilitation facilities and liked Memorial Hermann for several reasons. The medical team there specializes in penetrating head injuries like the one Giffords has suffered, and its closeness to Tucson is also helpful. Giffords has undergone other "minor procedures" this week, Lemole said, calling it "housekeeping. It's really getting her to a position where she can graduate from this hospital." Investigators have charged Jared Lee Loughner in the attack. A federal grand jury indicted Loughner on Wednesday on three charges of attempted murder. The indictment charges Loughner, 22, with attempting to kill Giffords and two of her aides, Ron Barber and Pamela Simon. Legal experts said that more federal charges against Loughner are likely. "This is really a placeholder indictment," CNN senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin said Wednesday. "The grand jury investigation will continue; there's a long way to go in this case and these charges will be there but I'm certain there will be more as well." Loughner is next set to appear in court on Monday in Phoenix. "I don't think we're ever going to fully understand the whys and the how and, you know, the reason for what happened on the 8th of January," Kelly told reporters. "It's a loss of innocent life. The injury of a dozen people, the death of a 9-year-old girl, a federal judge and the serious traumatic injury to my wife Gabrielle -- we'll never fully understand that." CNN's Paul Vercammen, Susan Candiotti and Roni Selig contributed to this report . | Wounded congresswoman does physical therapy on hospital grounds .
Mark Kelly predicts his wife will make a full recovery .
"Every time I interact with her, there's something quite inspiring"
Giffords will be moved to a Texas rehabilitation facility on Friday . |
fd7e8493fc79da6bcd45e88d93ddb579d9232d62 | By . Fiona Macrae . PUBLISHED: . 14:14 EST, 10 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 14:52 EST, 10 October 2012 . If you must talk to your plants, make sure you do it properly, pet. A ground-breaking experiment has concluded that plants like being spoken to - and are particularly partial to a Geordie accent. Essex and Welsh tones also bear fruit. Alreet pet? Plants played music by Geordies Cheryl Cole and Ant & Dec grew more than those subjected to other accents . However, Scots and Mancunians might . want to keep quiet while in the garden, as flowers and foliage played . Susan Boyle songs and snippets of reality show The Only Way Is Essex . failed to thrive. Prince . Charles, who in 1986 was widely ridiculed for telling the nation how he . liked to talk to his plants, should also perhaps garden in silence. The . fun experiment, carried out at an Essex nursery over the summer, found . that for reasons only known to themselves, plants don't like upper-class . accents. Gardening website . owner Chris Bonnett began by creating ten groups of bedding plants, . each containing around 100 plants, and placing them in different areas . of his nursery. At an Essex nursery, the plants spoken to in a Geordie accent grew almost 10 per cent than the others . Then, he and his staff started to speak to the plants in a variety of accents. Appropriate TV programmes and songs were also played. For . instance, the plants in the Newcastle group were spoken to in a Geordie . accent and played songs by Cheryl Cole and Ant & Dec. Episodes . of Coronation Street gave a taste of Manchester, Desperate Housewives . and Brookside were used for Liverpool voices and the TV show The Only . Way Is Chelsea provided upper-class tones. In all, eight UK accents were tried, plus American and Australian ones. Class barrier: Episodes of Made in Chelsea (cast pictured) were used for upper-class tones and the plants on the receiving end seemed to struggle . But it was the Newcastle accent that triumphed, with these plants growing almost 10 per cent more than some others. Mr Bonnett, who runs the Gardening Express website, said: 'It's long been thought that plants thrive if you talk to them so we decided to find out once and for all which dialects they respond to best. 'After just a few weeks we started to see differences emerging with the Geordie and Welsh groups shooting up while the Chelsea and Mancunian plants seemed to particularly struggle. 'We kept all other variables as constant as possible. So the plants all had the same amount of sunlight, water and nutrients. 'By the end of the summer it was clear that the accents had a huge effect. There was, more or less, average growth across the Australian, Liverpudlian, Yorkshire and American groups. 'The Geordie and Welsh groups visibly thrived and displayed enhanced growth while the Scottish, Chelsea and Mancunian plants were stunted.' | Plants spoken to in a Geordie accent grew 10 per cent more than others .
The ones spoken to in Chelsea and Mancunian accents struggled . |
fd7f16d418690b2d8e46b055c76962dc6c7f36e4 | (CNN) -- When Tiger Woods won the Players Championship for the first and only time, he was at the peak of his powers. In 2001, the tournament known as golf's unofficial "fifth major" was held the week before the Masters -- and Woods won both events as he became the only modern-day player to hold all four major crowns at the same time, albeit not in a calendar year. This week, at the age of 36 and struggling to rediscover his best form, the American will again line up at TPC Sawgrass -- but without the help of the man who helped him become the dominant force he was: coach Butch Harmon. Already he has had to fend off questions about his painfully long process of swing changes, and a disappointing showing at Augusta last month and then again at Quail Hollow last week, where he missed the halfway cut. Hopes had been raised by his pre-Masters victory at Bay Hill, his first on the PGA Tour in more than two years, but since then his work with current coach Sean Foley has been questioned by former players such as Nick Faldo and Brandel Chamblee, both now TV pundits. Chamblee offered: "He needs to fire Sean, call Butch. He's literally lost the art of the game, and I think Butch could help him." Faldo, who unlike Chamblee can call himself a major champion -- six times over -- is troubled by Woods' apparent lack of confidence. "He just doesn't have the self-belief, the self-confidence that he obviously had, the Tiger of old -- simple as that," the Englishman said. Woods, for his part, insists that his work in progress is similar to previous frustrating periods rebuilding his swing with Harmon and then Hank Haney -- and he rebounded from those in a stellar career featuring 14 major titles and more than 80 professional victories. "I went for probably almost two years without doing much with Butch before it kicked in, and about a year and a half with Hank," he told reporters ahead of Thursday's opening round. "With Sean it's been almost two years. But I've been hurt for a majority of that, so I haven't been able to put in the time. In essence, it takes time. "The fruits have been pretty good on the back side of it, and I think so far I've shown some nice consistency, and I'm still working. I just haven't had the time because obviously the injuries I've had." Woods did admit that he might be thinking too much about his game, rather than just playing. "Certainly it is (like that) when you're making changes," he said. "I've done this before. I've been through this. I went through those periods where I wasn't quite where I wanted to be. I had some pretty good runs after that, and this is no different. "It takes a little bit of time, and I keep building, and things eventually come around to where they feel natural and efficient. I think that's probably the most important word, is that you get out there and you feel efficient in what you're doing." Woods' recent performances have highlighted another part of his game that needs work: his putting -- having needed 33 in the second round at Quail Hollow, and also struggling in finishing 40th at Augusta. "Absolutely. I'm not quite 100% comfortable with it. I've had to make some tweaks and some little bit of changes," he said. "Augusta was nice to have happen, actually, in the big scheme of things. Just like it was at Dubai a couple of years ago when I couldn't cut the golf ball. I felt like I could have won that golf tournament, but not being able to cut it cost me eight or nine shots that week. "Augusta was one of those things where it was just pretty glaring, some of the things I needed to work on. So get back to work and try and get ready for this week." Woods will be in a high-profile grouping on Thursday and Friday as he lines up alongside FedEx Cup series leader Hunter Mahan and another "Golf Boy" in Rickie Fowler, who won his first PGA Tour title at Quail Hollow last weekend. Rory McIlroy, who returned to world No. 1 by reaching the playoff on Sunday, will partner Steve Stricker and another veteran American, Phil Mickelson -- who was inducted into golf's Hall of Fame on Monday and was champion at Ponte Vedra Beach in 2007. Luke Donald, who the lost the top ranking after skipping Quail Hollow, will play alongside fellow former No. 1 Lee Westwood and 2011 FedEx Cup champion Bill Haas in the $9.5 million Florida tournament. Masters champion Bubba Watson has decided to stay home with his wife and newly-adopted baby son. | Tiger Woods is struggling for form ahead of this week's Players Championship .
Former world No. 1 missed the cut at Quail Hollow on return to PGA Tour .
He says the changes he is making to his swing will take time to bear fruit .
Woods will play alongside Quail Hollow victor Rickie Fowler at TPC Sawgrass . |
fd7f97e4a682b7a3dfa6e0c637e53ac6fce7acd4 | The wife of hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin is demanding $300,000 a month to pay for around-the-clock access to a private jet, according to a recent court filing in their contentious divorce. Even though Griffin says he has already given his wife Anne Dias $35 million as outlined in their pre-nup, she is demanding $1 million a month for 'child-related expenses', he claims. He outlined her most recent alleged demands in a brief filed in court in Cook County, Illinois on Thursday as he seeks a definite trial date to resolve the divorce, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. As part of the extra $1 million a month, the mother of three is demanding $160,000 a month for vacation rentals, and $60,000 for an office space and staff for the children, according to his filing. Scroll down for video . Messy: Kenneth Griffin (right), who filed for divorce from wife Anne Dias (right) in July, claims she is fighting for $1 million a month for childcare expenses, including a private jet and professional staff . He said she is demanding such high figures because she realizes 'that she might have to start spending some of her own substantial wealth to support herself in the opulent lifestyle she desires'. Dias has already accrued $35 million from the divorce and has a reported net worth of $50 million, according to the Chicago Tribune. But a spokesperson for Diaz insisted that the filing was 'riddled with falsehoods'. It is 'just another vindictive attempt by Ken Griffin - Illinois' richest billionaire - to punish his family and avoid his clear responsibility under Illinois law to maintain his children's lifestyle,' they said. The spokesperson added that the children are being 'penalized' by failing to receive what is theirs. In the pre-nup, Griffin, the CEO of $20 billion Chicago-based investment giant Citadel LLC, agreed to pay his wife $25 million plus $1 million for each year they were married, leaving her with $35 million. Dias Griffin claims she was coerced into signing the prenup, and has filed a petition with the court saying she did not have a chance to fully read the document before agreeing to it back in 2003. She has argued that the settlement leaves her with no real estate titles or any of the couple's costly possessions, including an extensive art collection. Honeymoon is over: The couple married at Versailles (above) with a performance by Donna Summer . Last year, Griffin hired a lawyer to represent his three children, aged two, four and six, in the settlement. He is trying to ensure his family remain in Chicago, while his wife, who is seeking full-time custody, intends to move to New York. In earlier court papers, Dias claimed she has been banned from the marital residences in New York City, Aspen and Miami, and that she will not longer have control over the Chicago home she was promised half of in their prenup. Among the real estate holdings Dias does not have any claim to, according to the prenup, are a $15 million penthouse condo at the Park Tower in Chicago, four Palm Beach properties worth $130 million, and a vast Balinese-style, beach-front property at the Hualalai resort in Hawaii which was purchased in 2011 for around $17 million. Furthermore, she says he husband will commit to no financial support 'on paper' but will give her money 'off paper' as long as she is a 'good girl'. Dias claimed that she has been shouldering all the expenses for the couple's three children. 'Kenneth should be required to pay monthly child support to cover all of the children's expenses, fixed overhead expenses for the household, as well as child care, security, household and administrative staff, who should be reporting to Anne and under her control, not Kenneth's,' Dias Griffin said in her filing. Luxe living: Mr. Griffin has been living in a $15 million penthouse condo at the Park Tower in Chicago . A rep for Griffin said the money man 'focused on the well-being of his children, and that has guided his every decision.' They then added: 'He has willingly paid all reasonable, and frankly, many unreasonable expenses throughout the separation, including millions in cash to Anne and a $10 million gift to Harvard in Anne's name. But when Anne takes things to a ridiculous level of extravagance and demands things like a $450,000 vacation to St. Bart's, enough is enough.' Griffin's worth is estimated to be around $5.6 billion. He founded the hedge fund Citadel LLC in 1990. Mrs. Dias-Griffin was a prominent name in the financial world herself, starting Aragon Global Management, LLC in 2001, but she left in 2009 to focus on her family. Their wedding ceremony took place in Versailles, France, as a two-day blowout that featured performances by Cirque du Soleil and Donna Summer. The couple separated in February 2012 and Griffin filed for divorce in July 2014 while his wife was on vacation in London with the children. | Kenneth Griffin, 45, CEO of $20 billion Chicago investment firm Citadel LLC, filed for divorce from his wife of 11 years, Anne Dias, last year .
Per a prenup, Dias has no right to anything but a $25 million payout and $1 million for each year they were married .
But she is also demanding $1 million a month for expenses for their three children, including staff, vacation rentals and a jet, her husband said .
Dias hit back at the claims and said he is trying to avoid his responsibilities .
Griffin is also demanding that his wife be a 'good girl' to get more money from him and refused her access to their marital home she claims . |
fd7fd3560cfe8f143797c8cdb3c6ced930cf02b0 | By . Rupert Steiner . PUBLISHED: . 19:19 EST, 17 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:44 EST, 18 January 2013 . Primark showed yesterday that it is not all doom and gloom on the high street as it delivered bumper Christmas sales figures. The discount fashion chain was the star performer over the festive period as others around it collapsed into administration. The good news was echoed at Argos while soaring sales of tablet computers helped Currys and PC World to a bumper Christmas. Success: Primark showed yesterday that it is not all doom and gloom on the high street as it delivered bumper Christmas sales figures . Primark bosses hinted that the chain had won yet more middle-class customers from troubled rival Marks & Spencer. Shoes, scarves, Christmas-themed jumpers and ‘onesies’ helped Primark to a 9 per cent rise in sales, excluding recently opened stores. When the group’s 14 store openings in Europe, including its second shop on Oxford Street in central London, are taken into account the figures are even better. There was a 25 per cent increase in total sales at the chain over the 16 weeks to January 5, compared with the same period of 2011-2012. This was a much stronger performance than M&S which disappointed with a 3.8 per cent fall in clothing sales compared with the same period of the year before. Its boss, Marc Bolland, refused to slash prices in an attempt to boost profit and shoppers flocked to other cheaper chains such as Primark. Boost: The good news was echoed at Argos while soaring sales of tablet computers helped Currys and PC World to a bumper Christmas . John Bason, finance director of Primark’s parent company Associated British Foods, said: ‘It has wide appeal for Middle England and is as popular with young people and across all socio-economic groups. ‘Primark has a wide range of prices and items on offer so to try and pigeon hole our success on one group of customers is missing the point.’ The past seven days has seen an extraordinary rash of retail chains collapse into administration with HMV, Blockbuster and Jessops all failing, placing more than 10,000 jobs at risk. But Argos, Britain’s biggest household goods retailer, was a surprise success. It launched an enhanced website which allowed its customers to pay for their goods online and pick them up in-store. Internet sales now account for 42 per cent of the total. Yesterday the chain credited that – as well as the popularity of new tablet and smartphone applications – for its strong Christmas performance. Worrying: The past seven days has seen an extraordinary rash of retail chains collapse into administration with HMV, Blockbuster and Jessops all failing, placing more than 10,000 jobs at risk . After a recent spate of profit warnings, Terry Duddy, boss of parent company Home Retail Group, said annual profit would be £10million ahead of the £73million expected. Rival Dixons, the owner of PC World and Currys, also benefited from the drive to technology.It said it shifted five tablet computers a second in the week before Christmas. The firm, which benefited from the demise of rivals BestBuy and Comet, saw an 8 per cent increase in sales excluding recently-opened stores for the 12 weeks to January 5. But it was a different story at struggling Mothercare which said its sales fell over Christmas. The group has closed 11 loss-making stores – but said that sales in remaining shops were still down 5.9 per cent in the 13 weeks to January 12. | Primark was the star performer over the festive period .
Shoes, scarves .
and ‘onesies’ helped the store to a 9 per cent rise in sales . |
fd8043048b24e683ac9aa57fa3e49ca2d4cd9e7b | By . Victoria Woollaston . PUBLISHED: . 05:53 EST, 3 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:21 EST, 3 September 2013 . A designer has come up with a handy invention by creating the world's first bike that lets you pedal with your feet and arms. The unique device called Varibike looks like a regular bicycle, with traditional foot pedals, but additionally comes with a set of cranks that the rider turns with their arms to make it easier and faster when cycling. It was designed by 43-year-old Martin Kraiss, from Ulm in Germany and costs £4,000. Scroll down for video . German cyclist Martin Kraiss, pictured, is shown riding his Varibike design. Varibike looks like a regular bicycle, with traditional foot pedals, but additionally comes with a set of cranks that the rider turns with their arms to make it easier and faster when cycling . The aluminium bike weighs 15kg, costs £4,000 and can be bought in white, black and gold, pictured . The Varibike allows the rider to use their whole body to ride the bike and the person behind the invention is confident it goes faster than regular bicycles. Kraiss said: 'Cycling had always been too one-sided for me as the power only comes from the legs. 'The upper body is static, it gets no exercise and is completely neglected. 'Our objective was to create a bicycle which is driven by the whole body that is even faster than a conventional bicycle.' A recent study by the New Mexico State University found that although the same heart rate is achieved with an arm- and leg-powered drive, the cyclist can achieve 31 per cent more power. In addition, the continuous power output is higher so the overall workout is more effective. The aluminium bike weighs 15kg, costs around £4,000 and can be bought in a one-sized frame in white, black and gold. A recent study by the New Mexico State University found that although the same heart rate is achieved when arm cranks are added to a bicycle, like those on the Varibike, pictured, an arm- and leg-powered drive gives a cyclist 31 per cent more power . Mr Kraiss added: 'Because you have 30 per cent more power it is easier to climb hills and the rider can go faster. 'It is also easier on longer rides as you can use arm and leg drive in varying intensity, allowing individual muscle groups to relax repeatedly while riding. 'It is more fun when you can vary between different cycling styles and alternate by using your arms and legs. 'You have more drive power and you are faster, particularly when climbing hills. 'You can choose to do high intense work out, cardio training or just cruise around. Wherever you go with the Varibike you exercise your whole body.' Kraiss, pictured, said: 'Cycling had always been too one-sided for me as the power only comes from the legs. The upper body is static, it gets no exercise and is completely neglected. Our objective was to create a bicycle which is driven by the whole body that is even faster than a conventional bicycle.' The 43-year-old designer claims the bike wasn't designed solely for pro-cyclists and can also be used by anyone during 'leisure time when cycling with friends and family' Mr Kraiss also revealed he uses it in his spare time and the Varibike hasn't been designed solely for pro-cyclists. 'When you're riding the bike it feels amazing. It's incredible fun powering the Varibike with the whole body. 'I use it when ever I need a transportation device, or in my leisure time when cycling with friends or family.' Kraiss has also designed an indoor version of his Varibike to 'beat the lousy weather.' This indoor version comes with tilting technology that lets the rider lean left and right, to mimic cycling outdoors, and costs around £1600. | Varibike has foot pedals and arm cranks that are connected to the wheels .
A cyclist can power the bike with both, or either, of these pedals .
The dual-pedal options can increase speed by around 31% .
It weighs 15kg, comes in white, black or gold and costs £4,000 . |
fd80589bed7b381ab8f21b0b5833cbfd1a7d45ab | Hurricane Fly will try to extend his 4-2 advantage in clashes with Jezki when the pair go head to head in Sunday’s BHP Insurances Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown. Hurricane Fly, who boasts an unbeaten nine-race record at Leopardstown, will surpass the record of the great Istrabraq if he can win the Irish Champion Hurdle for a fifth time. The Willie Mullins-trained 11-year-old is also chasing his 22nd success at Grade One level. He has beaten Jezki, winner of Britain’s Champion Hurdle last March, on both his runs this season, most recently with a half-length success in the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting. Ruby Walsh rides Hurricane Fly on the gallops at Cheltenham in March 2014 . In last year’s Irish Champion, Hurricane Fly and jockey Ruby Walsh were over three lengths in front of fourth-placed Jezki and AP McCoy. Other entries for the race includes Mullins-trained Arctic Fire plus Plinth and Tiger Roll, both of whom were well beaten in the Ryanair. Mullins is expected to run highly-rated Un De Sceaux in the Grade One Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novices’ Chase on the same card. Up against him should be Enda Bolger’s Gilgamboa, winner of both his novice chases. | Hurricane Fly is 4-2 up in head-to-head clashes between him and Jezki .
Fly boasts an unbeaten nine-race record at Leopardstown .
The 11-year-old horse is also chasing a 22nd success at Grade One level . |
fd80b0a85b967e1f27952d7f166a568bfaa9ba4a | A shopper who told a mother to calm down her child during a loud tantrum was assaulted as a result of her polite request. Natalie Bree Hajek-Richardson was at a Nordstrom Rack in Colma, California, when the infant, aged between four and six, started screaming next to her. She turned to the child's mother and asked her to quieten him down. However the woman responded by saying she shouldn't be telling her child what to do. Scroll down for video . Confrontation: CCTV footage shows Natalie Bree Hajek-Richardson (top left) being approached by a woman in a red dress (right) who she had just told to 'go to hell' following a fight over a child's tantrum in a Nordstom Rack in Colma, California . Hajek-Richardson told KPIX 5: 'I told her that I didn't ask your child what to do, I asked you very nicely to calm down your child just a little bit.' Then she told the mom off and said she should 'go to hell' before walking away. As she walked into the car, Hajek-Richardson said the woman then followed her and cut her off. '[She] Was asking me, 'Where'd you tell me to go?' So I repeated again what I said to her, and I toldher that I told her to go to hell.' Face off: As the pair come together, the unidentified woman asks 'where did you tell me to go?'. Hajek-Richardson tells her again to go to hell . Tussle: They then both end up on the ground after Hajek-Richardson is twice punched in the face . CCTV footage from outside of the store shows a woman in a red dress approaching Hajek-Richardson. After coming together the woman seems to hit Hajek-Richardson and the pair fall onto the ground. Hajek-Richardson claims she was punched in the face twice. 'My teeth hurt, my elbow hurts, I got a bruise on my thigh,' she said. Hajek-Richardson's gums are black and blue and she may lose three of her teeth. Authorities are now analyzing the tape to see if they can identify the suspect. Aftermath: Hajek-Richardson says her teeth and elbows hurt and she has a bruised thigh as a result of the attack. Police are analyzing the footage in a bid to find the attacker . | Natalie Bree Hajek-Richardson was at a Nordstrom Rack in Colma, California when the child started screaming beside her .
She turned to the child's mother and asked her to try and keep him quiet .
However she replied by saying she shouldn't be telling her son what to do .
After telling the woman to 'go to hell' Hajek-Richardson walked to her car .
Before she arrived she was confronted and punched by the mom twice . |
fd80e93912a51f1e4a7604351e0a89fe6b1a907b | By . Louise Boyle . Cleveland house of horrors survivor Michelle Knight revealed today how her captor Ariel Castro would keep her and the other women locked in an upstairs room when guests would come to visit - blocking them in with piles of furniture. Using a model reconstruction of the Ohio home, the 33-year-old, who has changed her name to Lily Rose Lee, explained how Castro 'would take speakers, a couch, chairs and block anyone from getting up the stairs at all'. As the one-year anniversary of her miraculous escape approaches, Miss Knight, who spent more than a decade locked up, revealed that she has moved into her own apartment and started cooking classes as she dreams of becoming a chef. She told Today: 'Sometimes in life you have a dark past that makes you who you are but doesn't define who you are.' Scroll down for video . Cleveland house of horrors survivor Michelle Knight points to a reconstruction of the home where she was kept prisoner for more than a decade. She showed how Ariel Castro would move the women to an upstairs room when visitors came and block the path with furniture . Cleveland survivor Michelle Knight pictured at the trial of her captor Ariel Castro in August 2013. She revealed in an interview this week that she has moved into her own apartment and started cooking school . The 33-year-old is now known as Lily Rose Lee, a . name she picked after her favorite flower. She explained her decision, saying: 'I felt like every brand new start needs new beginnings.' She escaped on May 6, 2013, . along with Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Miss Berry's six-year-old . daughter from the Ohio home. She explained how at times during those long years in the house she contemplated suicide but that her friendship with fellow captor Gina DeJesus kept her strong. Miss Knight said: 'There were days like he'll come in and he'll just do bad things in front of me, and I'll take her hand and I'll tell her everything's gonna be OK. One day we'll get out. One day we'll be free. One day we won't be voiceless.' The 33-year-old earlier revealed that she has cut ties with the women she was held captive with for so many dark years. She told People that the three survivors have put distance between each other as they all come to terms with the ordeal they suffered. Michelle Knight's memoir will be released on the first-anniversary of her escape on May 6 . Miss Knight said: 'I love them and they love me. Hopefully we'll all get back together again.' The 33-year-old has written a memoir Finding Me which comes out on May 6, the one-year anniversary of the women's escape. In her book, she tells of the abuse she suffered at the hands of Castro, who killed himself in prison in September just weeks into his life sentence. Knight had made a brave and defiant . appearance at Castro's sentencing in August in which she told him: 'I . spent 11 years in hell, your hell is just beginning.' Ms Knight also reveals in her book the . close bond she developed with the other women, who were all snatched . off the streets of Cleveland by Castro between 2002 and 2004. Ms Knight, who is 4'11, said that her hellish ordeal has taught her to enjoy every moment of her life. She told People: 'I don't take things for granted . anymore not even the little things like looking out a . window. I went through years of torture, and now I'm back. I'm free to . fly.' Knight was . the only one of Ariel Castro's three victims to appear in person at his . trial. Gina DeJesus and Amanda Berry's victim impact statements were . read by members of their family. The . 33-year-old described how the days turned into weeks, weeks into . eternity and said when she was 'dying' from the abuse she suffered, her . friendship with Gina was the only thing that kept her going. Ohio Governor John Kasich leads the applause for Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight after they received a courage award from the state in February . The three women were held captive in the Cleveland home of Ariel Castro for more than a decade . Michelle Knight spoke of Castro's hypocrisy as he attended church every week and then came home to torture them. 'I remember all the times you came home talking about what everyone else was doing wrong when you were doing the same thing,' she said. 'I cried every night. I was so alone. I worried what would happen to me and the other girls every day.' Speaking of her 'teammate' Gina, she said: 'She never let me fall, I never let her fall. She nursed me back to health when I was dying from her abuse. My friendship with her is the only good thing to come out of this situation. 'I will overcome all this that happened. I will live on, you will die a little every day,' she said to him. 'I will forgive you, but I will never forget.' Ariel Castro weeps at his trial in August as he was sentenced to life for holding the three women captive for more than a decade. He killed himself in prison just weeks into his sentence . Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy . | The 33-year-old is now known as Lily Rose Lee, a name she picked because it is her favorite flower .
In an interview with Today, she said: 'Sometimes in life you have a dark past that makes you who you are but doesn't define who you are'
Miss Knight is also attending cooking school and has a memoir coming out on May 6 called Finding Me .
She escaped the home of Ariel Castro along with Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Miss Berry's daughter on May 6, 2013 .
She is no longer in contact with her fellow survivors, saying: 'I love them and they love me. Hopefully we'll all get back together again' |
fd80fb0fd7ab0f921e7b0714e335e70f963dd8c1 | By . Andrew Levy . Daniel Ubani is confronted by his victim's sons at a medical conference in Lindau, Germany . A foreign doctor who killed a patient while working in Britain was branded ‘grotesque’ yesterday for taking legal action against one of his victim’s sons because he called him an ‘animal’. Daniel Ubani was on his first shift in the UK providing out-of-hours cover when he injected David Gray, 70, with ten times the safe amount of pain killer diamorphine. An inquest later found he was unfamiliar with the drug and had poor English. The Nigerian-born medic was struck off by the General Medical Council but was able to continue working in his adopted country of Germany after the authorities there let him off with a nine-month suspended prison sentence and a small fine. Mr Gray’s furious sons Stuart and Rory, confronted their father’s killer at a medical conference in Lindau, Bavaria, where he was plugging his cosmetic surgery clinic the day after snubbing the GMC hearing. In dramatic scenes, the brothers called him a ‘charlatan’ and a ‘killer’ and demanded he explain his ‘colossal blunder’. Shortly before they were thrown out, Rory muttered to his brother that Ubani was an ‘animal’ – something he believes he was unaware of until it was mentioned in legal documents long after the incident. Ubani, 71, is now suing Rory, who lives in Germany and works for the country’s weather office, for lost earnings. Daniel Ubani on his first shift in the UK, David Gray (left), 70, with ten times the safe amount of pain killer diamorphine; Rory Grey (right) arriving at court in the German town of Kempton to watch the trial of Daniel Ubani who killed his father David . He is claiming €1,148 for the loss of a speaking fee after leaving the conference in 2010 and €2,250 for legal fees – a total of around £2,700. The action also includes a demand that Rory will not describe him as an animal in future after he ignored a lawyers letter insisting he confirmed in writing he would not use the word again. Bizarrely, the case is almost identical to one Ubani brought against the Grays in August 2010. On that occasion his claim for compensation was thrown out and he had to pay the brothers’ legal costs. The German court also ruled they could refer to him as a ‘charlatan and a killer’ but not describe him as an ‘animal’. Ubani later lost an appeal at Munich High Court. Rory, 49, told the Daily Mail: ‘It is grotesque. He has already taken this to court once and lost everything except the bit about calling him an animal. He wasn’t even aware of that until I produced a transcript from a camcorder recording I made at the conference. ‘Four years later his lawyer sent me a letter demanding I promised to pay him a lot of money if I ever called him that again. I am not going to write to him. This is the man who came into my dad’s house and killed him. ‘I don’t understand the case and my lawyer can’t understand it either. It’s an abuse of the legal process. ‘Ubani’s just trying to extract money from the family of his victim. He seems to think he’s invincible since the German authorities took action that stopped him being prosecuted in the UK.’ Stuart Gray, a 54-year-old GP from Worcestershire, added: ‘This guy is obviously morally and ethically corrupt. ‘He killed my father through gross negligence but obviously he is not happy with that and wants to take my brother to court as he claims he missed a meal and payment for a conference. I consider him to be a weasel.’ The case is due to be heard on Monday at Lindau District Court, although Rory Gray’s lawyer has requested an adjournment.David Gray’s death in 2008 prompted a review of out-of-hours services, . particularly a loophole which allowed doctors from the EU with poor English to practise here because of rules on the free movement of labour. Last week new laws were introduced that allow the GMC to withhold a licence if they have concerns about an individual. The regulator wrote to the Grays congratulating them on their efforts to have the law changed. Tanja Schubert, its head of European and international affairs, said: ‘We could not have achieved this without your support.’ | On first shift in UK Dr Daniel Ubani over-prescribed diamorphine to David Gray, 70, causing his death .
Nigerian-born medic was struck off by the General Medical Council in UK .
German authorities allowed him to continue with a nine-month suspended jail sentence and fine .
Mr Gray's sons confronted Ubani at a medical conference in Germany .
Ubani, 71, is now suing Rory Gray, who lives in Germany, for lost earnings . |
fd812a37f001b6ef99c649561e7dae891c795202 | NEW YORK (CNN) -- President Obama mixed policy discussion with personal reflections on his daughters and, yes, a few jokes in an appearance on CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman." President Obama jokes with David Letterman in New York in an interview taped Monday afternoon. It was the first time a sitting president has been a guest on the popular late-night entertainment show, according to the CBS Web site. It was taped Monday afternoon. After taking the stage to a huge ovation, Obama teased Letterman about being surprised to see the event on his daily schedule, saying: "That's one of those where you ask your advisers, 'Who's responsible for this?' " Later, when talking about summer activities of daughters Malia, 11, and Sasha, 8, Obama said that they "goofed off," which he added was something he couldn't do. Letterman quickly quipped: "Well, others have," prompting a big laugh from both the audience and the president. On topical issues, Obama promised to ask "tough questions" before deciding whether to send additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan, saying it was necessary to have a clear strategy in place before deploying resources. Watch Obama talk with Letterman » . He said his "No. 1 job" is to make sure the terrorists responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks can never harm the United States again. Asked about the economy, Obama called the $787 billion economic stimulus package passed in his first month in office a "tourniquet" that prevented the recession from getting worse. Complete economic recovery will take time, he warned, but added that the situation appeared to be getting better. On the hostile debate over his push to overhaul the nation's health care system, Obama disagreed with the analysis by some that the public anger against him is fueled by racism. He drew a big laugh by pointing out he was black before he became president, then noted that his election by the American public "tells you ... a lot about where the country is at." "I think that what's happened is that whenever a president tries to bring about significant changes, particularly during times of economic unease, then there is a certain segment of the population that gets very riled up," Obama said. Previous presidents including Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan also generated emotional opposition, Obama said. "This is not untypical," he said. "One of the things you sign up for in politics is, folks yell at you." | President Obama's visit first time a sitting president has been "Letterman" guest .
Obama says he'll ask "tough questions" before sending more troops to Afghanistan .
President says he doesn't think racism fuels opposition to health care overhaul .
What did daughters Malia and Sasha do this summer? They "goofed off," he says . |
fd817c7703f151255c52ae4fa3b5f7541ab22c63 | The debate over the "Redskins" name in sports isn't just at the professional level. Students at an Oklahoma City high school were refusing to go into Capitol Hill High School on Wednesday morning because their mascot no longer has the controversial name, according to CNN affiliate KOCO. Dozens of students stood on the lawn outside the building rather than heading into class. The city's public school board voted Monday to change the name in response to Native American students' feelings that the mascot name was offensive. The vote to change the mascot, which has been in place since the 1920s, was unanimous. School administrators will immediately start phasing out the Redskins mascot and will create a committee of current and former students and community members to pick a new mascot before the end of the spring semester, spokeswoman Tierney Tinnin said in a statement, according to The Oklahoman. In the NFL, Washington Redskins football team owner Dan Snyder has repeatedly defended his team's use of the name and wrote in a March letter that the name "captures the best of who we are and who we can be, by staying true to our history and honoring the deep and enduring values our name represents." The support of a handful of Oklahoma City high school students isn't likely to help Snyder's cause. President Barack Obama said last year that he might change the name if he were the team owner. In June, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office found that six team trademarks were offensive and canceled them. The team appealed, and the patent office ruled that the Redskins could use the logos until the years-long appeals process was complete. The National Congress of American Indians has spoken out against the use of "Redskins" and other Native American mascots. | High school students protested over removal of mascot name .
The Capitol Hill High School mascot is no longer the Redskins .
An NFL team has been repeatedly criticized for keeping the name . |
fd817f321476372b560ac64ca646fc35cec17f36 | Britain’s families are set to face a hike in the cost of popular fish and chip meals, according to a new report. Food industry experts are warning that the price of fish and chips are about to go up as cod prices are on the rise as a result of tightening supplies and soaring demand. Commodity analysts Mintec reported yesterday that the price per tonne for wholesale Norwegian cod has leapt by 25.7% year on year to £1,060. Food industry experts are warning the price of fish and chips is set to go up as cod prices take a battering . Mintec analyst Mark Kozlowski said that increased demand, particularly from China, and a drop in supply - fuelled in part by a 10per cent reduction in the Barents Sea quota - has led to a sharp price rise for cod. With Norwegian cod accounting for around 20% of cod consumed in the UK, he warned that the current stock situation could lead to ‘tighter supplies’ with potential price increases being felt by Britain’s consumers. Mr Kozlowski told trade magazine The Grocer: 'Prices in Norway will indirectly influence cod prices from other producers.' But the report says that cod is not the only fish and seafood species to experience price rises with the price of Norwegian coldwater prawns soaring by 57% to £2,387 a tonne over the past 12 months with lower Canadian quotas leading to a tightening of supplies across the market. However, The Grocer says that British consumers are unlikely to have to start paying more for prawns any time soon as most of the prawns sold in the UK are warmwater prawns and prices for those are falling. The price per tonne for wholesale Norwegian cod has leapt by 25.7% year on year to £1,060. File photo . | Price per tonne for wholesale Norwegian cod has risen to £1,060 .
Cod prices are on the rise due to tightening supplies and soaring demand . |
fd8198c920f20fbefb4195ab9ef3540da421fe87 | A legal high was found being sold on the counter of a petrol station - next to children’s sweets. ‘Poppers’ - a slang term given to the chemical called alkyl nitrites, which is inhaled for recreational purposes - were on sale at a Shell garage in Hoyland Common area of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. They come in small bottles - often called Liquid Gold or Pure Gold - and users report getting a short but quick head rush from them, which is caused by a sudden surge of blood to the heart and brain. Available: 'Poppers' - a slang term given to the chemical called alkyl nitrites, which is inhaled for recreational purposes - were on sale at a Shell garage in Hoyland Common area of Barnsley, South Yorkshire . Side effects can include chemical burns to body tissues, sickness, faintness or weakness, and even death if swallowed. Possession of poppers is not illegal - but supplying can be an offence. The gold bottles, which cost around £4 each, claim to be ‘room odourisers’. They have a child-proof cap and read ‘highly flammable’ and ‘toxic’ with the skull and crossbones logo. But despite claiming to be air fresheners, the bottles were not found to be among the cleaning products in the garage - but alongside other items including e-cigarettes and sweets. A local resident, who did not want to be named, said she was ‘appalled’ that they were so readily available. The mother of two added: ‘I’m shocked that you can buy something like that at a garage. Popular: The chemicals come in small bottles - often called Liquid Gold or Pure Gold - and users report getting a short but quick head rush from them, which is caused by a sudden surge of blood to the heart and brain . 'Children are going to see them and grow . up thinking it’s normal to buy them. There should be stricter laws in . place to stop legal highs being so readily available and sold in clear . view of kids.’ 'I'm shocked you can buy something like that at a garage. Children are going to see them and grow up thinking it's normal to buy them' Local resident . The petrol station's owner Ayub Mitha said the product was not sold to anyone under the age of 21 and only supplied from behind the counter. A member of staff, who did not want to be named, later said that the poppers were taken off sale. A Shell spokesman told MailOnline: 'Shell does not condone the sale of these products - and is actively pursuing their removal at any other sites.' The news comes one week after Stephen Lowe, 41, was found dead at his home in Barnsley after smoking a legal high called Exodus. Police said it was the first case of its type in the town. Legal highs are defined by the NHS as 'substances used like illegal drugs such as cocaine or cannabis, but not covered by current misuse of drugs laws, and so legal to possess or to use'. | 'Poppers' found on sale at a Shell garage in Barnsley, South Yorkshire .
It's a slang term given to alkyl nitrites, inhaled for recreational purposes .
Chemicals come in small bottles - often called Liquid Gold or Pure Gold . |
fd819d613053f7b112b27b7a8bc70aef50622e8e | A stowaway fell thousands of feet from a plane on to a quiet suburban street after apparently hiding in the landing gear. The body of the victim, in his thirties and from North Africa, was discovered in an affluent London neighbourhood under the Heathrow flight path. Aviation experts say he was probably dead before he hit the ground either because he had been crushed by the retracting landing gear shortly after the plane took off or because of the extreme cold at high altitude. Detectives initially believed Mr Matada was from Angola as he had the country's currency on him when he was found in the street in Mortlake, pictured . Probe: Forensics were on the scene in the affluent London suburb after the extraordinary incident . It is thought the man’s body dropped from the aircraft undercarriage as the plane came in to land. Residents on the tree-lined road in Mortlake, on the south bank of the Thames less than ten miles from the airport, yesterday spoke of their shock on finding the body after hearing a loud bang. Billy Watson, 26, a security guard who lives opposite where the man fell, said he saw the body ‘all twisted up’. He said: ‘It is unbelievable. The first thing I thought when I saw the body was that it must have fallen from quite a height. Location: Home: The only evidence left on the scene in Mortlake, south west London, was dark smears on the pavement where the blood was cleared up . ‘You could tell by the way his body was mangled. There was a big pool of blood coming from his head.’ Last night, others said they were . amazed blood could still be seen on the family street. Catherine . Lambert, a mother of two, said it was ‘disgusting’ that the scene had . not been cleared up. ‘It’s shocking you can still see . splatters of blood,’ she said, adding that the body was left uncovered . by police for ‘a good few hours’ after it was found. She said: ‘We just wonder what made . him get in that plane and want so badly to escape.’ Another resident, . who did not wish to be named, said: ‘No one saw him fall because it was . early on a Sunday morning. ‘Whatever he was trying to escape from must have been horrendous to make him do that.’ Richard Taylor, of the Civil Aviation . Authority, said a stowaway in an aircraft undercarriage was unlikely to . have survive as he would either be crushed by the wheels after take-off . or freeze in temperatures as low as minus 40C (minus 40F). He said: ‘The chances of survival for a stowaway are very slim, particularly in the recess of the landing gear. ‘I don’t know of anyone who has survived being stowed away on a long-haul flight. ‘When the landing gear comes down at . the other end, a few miles from the runway and about 2,000ft in the air, . if there is a person who had died they would fall out.’ Police said they were investigating whether the body was that of a stowaway.’ The discovery comes just over a . fortnight after the body of a stowaway was found in the landing gear . recess of a BA plane arriving at Heathrow from Cape Town. London district: Mortlake lies on the south bank of the River Thames near Barnes and Kew (file picture) | Police say man, believed to be in 30s, could have fallen thousands of feet .
Found on car parked on road in affluent London suburb of Mortlake .
Street is around 10 miles away from Heathrow Airport and on flight path .
Aviation expert believes he froze to death; it appears body fell out of the landing gear .
Man thought to be from North Africa and suffered multiple injuries .
Residents described 'monstrous bang' and body parts flying 20ft away . |
fd81fb07d0f4b50e184f1a72aed8a068312963a2 | (CNN) -- Popular literature would have it that the vampire's preferred habitat is Transylvania (or, if you're under 15, the slightly less glamorous Forks, Washington). But modern day vampire hunters might better focus their attention on a little-known area of northwestern Poland, where earlier this month a suspected vampire grave was exhumed. Slawomir Gorka, who led the dig at a marketplace in the small West Pomeranian town of Kamien Pomorski, told local website kamienskie.info that several unusual aspects of the burial "indicate that it is a vampire burial". Teeth had been removed, a fragment of rock was inserted in the mouth, and a leg had been staked (presumably to prevent the body rising from the grave). And this isn't the first time an interment in Poland has been deemed vampiric. Last July, archaeologists uncovered four decapitated skeletons, their heads placed between their legs, at a construction site in Gliwice, southern Poland. Both the Gliwice and Kamien Pomorski graves are estimated to date back to the 16th century. The burials may sound gruesome, but they are befitting of early medieval Polish folklore's particularly grisly interpretation of the vampire myth. "Specific to Polish vampires is that they are known for eating their own flesh and burial garments when they rise from the dead," says Titus Hjelm, who convenes a course on vampires for the School of Slavonic and Eastern European Studies at University College London. He adds that this may explain the stone placed in the mouth of the skeleton. Fear of vampires was strong among Eastern Europeans in the medieval period. Professor Martyn Rady, a colleague of Hjelm's, posits the folk tales spread from Serbia to surrounding countries following a report sent by Austrian military authorities to their superiors in Vienna. It told of a mercenary soldier who had been turned into a vampire and infected his victims, who when exhumed from their own graves were found to have fresh blood in their cavities. The report was intercepted before reaching the Austrian capital and published in newspapers. The Polish had particular reason to fear vampires rising from their graves, Hjelm explains. "According to some sources, Poles thought that vampires were born, rather than 'made'," he says. "They were normal people who could live normal lives, not aristocrats living in distant castles. The problems only started when these people died. They could come back to live with their families and even impregnate their wives." This may account for the precautions taken during burial. Hjelm adds the notion of vampires being creatures of the night only appeared relatively recently in the 1922 film "Nosferatu". However, some experts warn against presuming all such unconventional burials were because of a fear of vampires. Kamil Kajkowski, an archaeologist with the West-Cassubian Museum in Bytów, northern Poland, admits a number of strange medieval mortuary practices have been discovered during digs in Poland, the most common being those where the body is in the prone position, decapitated, or covered with stones. But the idea is these burials may just as well represent punishment for criminals rather than suspected vampires. That said, Kajkowski concedes the most recent discovery "is certainly unusual". "The pierced thigh-bone and a stone inside the mouth clearly indicate that a range of atypical practices with ritual undertones were performed," he says. "(The stone) might reflect the desire to create some kind of supernatural 'barrier' between the dead and the world of the living." Such peculiar last rites are not confined to medieval Poland. Kajkowski says the last recorded instance of this kind of deviant burial was in 1913. As with the skeletons found in Gliwice last year, the head had been cut off and placed by the legs. "Perhaps such a placement of the head ensured the dead would not be able to 'reach it' and put it back on his neck," he suggests. Vampiric or not, the strange range of historical graves in Poland indicate the country held deep beliefs around the ritualistic burial of certain citizens. Leszek Gardela, from the Institute of Archaeology at the University of Rzeszów, is currently working on a research project into the phenomenon. "Unusual mortuary practices have fascinated Polish scholars since the 1950s (when the first were discovered)," she says. "But so far they remain unknown to a wider international audience. It is high time to change this." 6 destinations with a dark side . Send in your best shots from Poland . Read more about CNN's sponsorship policy . | Exhumed skeleton in Poland revealed unusal bural practices .
Some believe medieval burial was connected to fear of vampires .
Vampire folklore strong in the Eastern European country . |
fd820e4cfeaa3a1181c2493a76f5c6d4d544861d | By . Chris Hastings . PUBLISHED: . 18:50 EST, 12 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:44 EST, 13 October 2013 . Greta Scacchi has revealed a film director failed to recognise her as the sexy star of hit films Heat And Dust and White Mischief. The 53-year-old mother of two, once regarded as one of the most beautiful women in the world, said she had no problems with getting older but was mortified at not being recognised. She said: ‘I was chatting to a young film director and he asked my name. After I told him he said, “Like the actress?” and I said, “Yep, that’s me”. Really? Greta Scacchi, pictured at her East Sussex home, has revealed a film director failed to recognise her as the sexy star of films Heat and Dust and White Mischief . ‘But then he said: “No, I mean Greta Scacchi, the actress who did all those films.” ‘I had to say to him, do I look so bad? I said you are describing me but you are not recognising me. Then he was mortified. That was a low point for me. To be unrecognisable as yourself is disturbing.’ The star spoke hours before being awarded the Cavaliere dell’Ordine al Merito della repubblica Italiana – Italy’s equivalent of a knighthood, for services to the arts, at the Italian Embassy in London last night. The actress, born to an Italian father and English mother, has dual Italian and Australian citizenship after being refused British citizenship at 18. Despite the director’s faux pas, Scacchi says she is positive about the future and, although she used to resent the sex symbol tag, she now regards it as a help. ‘The fact people might still think you are sexy is quite helpful when you are of an age when most women are dismissed.’ Attractive: The 53-year-old, pictured playing Diana Lady Broughton in White Mischief, was once regarded as one of the most beautiful women in the world . Hey day: Greta Scacchi starring alongside Tim Robbins in the 1992 film The Player . | Star of White Mischief said she had no problems with getting older .
But the 53-year-old said she was mortified with not being recognised .
Actress spoke hours before being awarded Italy's equivalent of a knighthood . |
fd8222e0147b5342369a520945391427077a6e73 | 'Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope,' says Princess Leia via a 3D hologram in Star Wars - and that technology has come a step closer to reality today. A human-sized 3D video-conferencing pod has been unveiled on May 4th - known as 'Star Wars Day' because of its similarity to the phrase 'May the force be with you.' 'Why Skype when you can talk to a life-size 3D holographic image of another person? says professor Roel Vertegaal. Scroll down for video . The 'telehuman' pod creates a convincing 3D 'human' inside the glass tube, using a 3D projector and a specially shaped pane of glass . 'Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope,' says Princess Leia via a 3D hologram in Star Wars - and that technology has come a step closer to reality today . The technology Dr. Vertegaal and researchers at the Queen's Human Media Lab have developed is called TeleHuman - and while it's bulky, it works. All you need is a six-foot tall glass tube with a convex mirror inside, and a 3D projector. Two people simply stand in front of their own life-size cylindrical pods and talks to a 3D hologram-like images of each other. Cameras capture and track 3D video and convert it into the life-size image - although for the full effect you need several 3D cameras to capture both back and front of each sspeaker. Since the 3D video image is visible 360 degrees around the Pod, the person can walk around it to see the other person's side or back.While the technology may seem like it comes from a galaxy far, far away, it's not as complicated as most would think. Dr. Vertegaal and his team used mostly existing hardware – including a 3D projector, a 6-foot tall translucent acrylic cylinder and a convex mirror. How the 'telehuman' creates a convincing 'hologram', using a 3D projector onto a specially shaped pane of glass . The researchers used the same Pod to create another application called BodiPod, which presents an interactive 3D anatomy model of the human body. The model can be explored 360 degrees around the model through gestures and speech interactions. | Six foot glass tubes contain 'holograms' for 3D teleconferencing .
Like 3D communicator in Star Wars .
Created using 3D cameras, 3D projectors and convex mirrors . |
fd825eb08dc9dff15b7073b6c0d8e005d4f5cb9b | Argentinian model Fiorella Castillo claims to have defeated 800 men on Ipanema beach at freestyling, but isn't done putting her opposite sex to shame just yet. The 24-year-old has set her sights on arguably the best player on the planet - Lionel Messi - and wants to show the Argentina and Barcelona maestro her silky skills. You wouldn't put it past Castillo, either, given her latest video that shows her juggling the ball and doing tricks on the sand in Brazil. VIDEO Scroll down to see Argentinian model Fiorella Castillo do keepie ups in high heels . Flick: Fiorella Castillo shows off her skills on Ipanema beach in Brazil in front of stunned onlookers . Not bad: The Argentinian beauty shows off her control in the country where the World Cup is being held . Juggling: The Argentinian model does keepie uppies with the ball while sat on the beach . Challenge: Castillo would like to face her Argentina idol Lionel Messi at freestyling . Not quite: A fan wears an Argentina top on the beach and freestyles with Castillo in Brazil . Winner: Castillo says she's beaten 800 men so far and is looking for the ultimate challenge . Who's next? Castillo welcomes all challengers and will take on 'whoever wants to face me' VIDEO Life's a beach: Rio's World Cup Hot Spots . 'I love it,' said Castillo. 'First of all because of Ipanema beach and to be here in Brazil is beautiful, and then to face 800 men and beat them all is for me a great joy, so I will go back home very happy.' And the Brazilian beauty was eager to take up her next challenge. 'And whoever wants to face me, they are welcome,' she said. 'There are only three (players) left, the ones you can see behind me playing, I don't know if you can see them. 'Would I win against Messi? Obviously!' It isn't the first challenge Castillo has taken on, after the model wowed crowds by doing keepie uppies - in high heels. Talent: Castillo showed off her impressive freestyle skills in Argentina for the camera . Juggle: Castillo entertains fans in Mar del Plata, Argentina as crowds gather to watch . | Argentinian beauty Fiorella Castillo claims to have defeated 800 men on Ipanema beach in Brazil at freestyling .
Castillo set sights on Argentina and Barcelona maestro Lionel Messi .
The model previously did keepie uppies - in high heels! |
fd82d7b04d7f2bc2f1309f5fcbfe77365be2131b | By . Kerry Mcqueeney . Last updated at 8:53 AM on 20th October 2011 . Killed: Northampton University student Nabila Nanfuka died in the nightclub . A university student was killed in a nightclub stampede as revellers were told their coaches home were about to leave without them. Nabila Nanfuka, 22, is believed to have suffered a heart attack after being crushed on a landing area halfway down a staircase as bodies piled on top of her. Two others were critically injured in the tragedy, which happened at an ‘urban music’ night attended by students from all over the country. Yesterday there were claims that the event at the Lava & Ignite club in Northampton was overcrowded and tickets had been oversold. The stampede followed an announcement that students had ‘ten minutes to get on the coaches or they will go without you’ at around 3.30am yesterday. A fire alarm was then also triggered, which caused the crowd surge to escalate further. One 19-year-old who passed out in the crush said that when she regained consciousness, she saw the lifeless body of a woman trapped under other fallen clubbers. The student, who travelled to the ‘Wickedestwickedest’ event from London, said: ‘People were pushing, pushing, pushing to get out. A lot of us just couldn’t breathe. ‘I ended up on my front, trying to find a gap to breathe through, but there were so many people on top of me. ‘Every time somebody was pulled out of the pile of bodies, more people fell forward on top of us. It was awful. I thought I was going to die. ‘I’m sure I passed out for a few minutes. When I came around, I saw a girl’s body below me, to my left. ‘Her eyes were closed and she had people lying on top of her. Everybody else was trying to move or screaming, but she was motionless.’ The event was attended by students from universities as far away as Canterbury, as well as others across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Birmingham and the East Midlands. Promising: Northampton University student Nabila Nanfuka died in the crush, which also injured two others . Grief: Friends of Nabila Nanfuka comfort each other at the scene of where she died in the early hours of this morning . Distraught: Mourners gather outside the nightclub to pay their respects and lay flowers in memory of the student . Students paid £15 for a ticket to the event, which included coach travel. But some of those attending alleged . that although the event was a sell-out in advance, extra tickets were . sold on the door, pushing the attendance well above the venue’s 1,300 . capacity. By 1am, it was so busy staff were said to be turning away even those who already had tickets. One clubber claimed as many as 2,000 people may have been inside by the end. Miss Nanfuka, from Neasden, North-West London, was in the third year of a leisure and tourism degree at Northampton University. 'Trapped': Police stand outside the Lava and Ignite Club this morning following the tragedy. The venue will be closed today and tomorrow . Inquiry: An officer enters the nightclub as police begin their investigation into the incident (left) while a woman stands over the floral tributes left at the scene . Crowded: A picture of Lava and Ignite, taken at the same event last year. Students travelled from all over the country to attend the Wickedest Wickedest night, featuring hip hop, r&b and afro-beat DJs . Poignant: A pair of women's shoes are left in the alleyway next to the Lava and Ignite club . Her best friend, Birungi Nakiwala, . 22, a law student at Essex University, attended the event and described . feeling ‘suffocated’ in the ‘really overcrowded’ venue even before the . crush. She added: ‘Everyone was panicking about missing the buses. ‘There were hundreds of people rushing down the stairs and there was no other exit. It was like a stampede.’ The event was in its fourth year and . headlined by DJ DNA with other acts including DJ Kapital, Docta Cosmic . & Fatz and Kopeman. Tributes: Two women are seen fixing flowers to a pole outside the club following the death of Nabila Nanfuka . 'It could have been any one of us': One message of condolence appears to have been written by someone inside the club last night . Miss Nanfuka’s family come from . Uganda. Her brother Fahad, who works in the music industry, said: ‘It . sounds like something very, very irresponsible has happened here. What . happened to my sister is wrong. 'Nabila touched so many lives. She was everyone’s friend.’ Yesterday two women remained critically ill at Northampton General Hospital. Police, who are heading up a . ‘multi-agency investigation’ into the tragedy, said a third person was . also injured in the incident. A spokesman for Luminar, which runs the club, pledged to ‘cooperate fully with police to find out exactly what happened’. Crowds: Party-goers packed into the same event last year . Popular: The event was a second anniversary bash for the club night Wickedest Wickedest . | Police received calls clubbers were trapped in venue in early hours this morning .
Hundreds of youngsters attend Wickedest Wickedest event at nightclub .
Crush happened after 'DJ announced coaches had arrived to take students home'
'There were just too many people', says witness . |
fd83b030397b72101ac2162b10ff6d35e452ad9b | Everton boss Roberto Martinez is busy looking for a new goalkeeper but has played down talk linking him with Cardiff's David Marshall - and emphasised that neither Samuel Eto'o nor Seamus Coleman are about to leave Goodison Park. Martinez has wanted to bring in a shot-stopper since first-choice Tim Howard picked up a calf injury on Boxing Day that is set to rule him out until well into February. Reports have suggested the manager is interested in Marshall, but when asked on Monday if there was anything in the stories about the Scotland international - who missed Cardiff's match at the weekend due to an injury of his own - potentially joining Everton, Martinez said: 'No - nothing at all.' Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall has been linked with a move to Roberto Martinez's Everton . Despite the reports, Martinez has claimed that Marshall (pictured) is not on Everton's radar . The Spaniard did, however, confirm he had made some enquiries about goalkeepers this month, adding: 'It is something we have done for a while now, but nothing has been conclusive or done in a way that we can announce any names. 'I'm not interested in bringing in a short-term goalkeeper - we'll look at the options, but if we bring in anyone, it has to be someone who can stay with us for the long term. 'We are going to explore that avenue and if we find the right personality, we'll act on it.' With regard to potential outgoings from Everton in the current transfer window, there has been speculation that striker Eto'o could move to Italian side Sampdoria and full-back Coleman make a switch to Manchester United. Speaking at his press conference to preview Tuesday's FA Cup third-round replay at West Ham, Martinez also dismissed those suggestions, insisting there would be no 'big sales' made by the Merseysiders this month. Martinez has said that there is 'nothing at all' in the Marshall rumours, while stating that Seamus Coleman and Samuel Eto'o will both stay at the club beyond the January transfer window . Coleman (right) has been linked with a move to Manchester United, but Martinez says there will be no big exits . On Eto'o, Martinez said: 'I know there has been a lot of speculation, but we haven't been contacted - we have had no conversations about that issue at all. 'At the moment Samuel is working really well and is always a really strong influence in the day-to-day work, and there is nothing to comment on really.' And when asked about there being any truth in the Coleman reports, Martinez said: 'No. 'I have said before that we are in a position where all that matters is to get good momentum in the league and be as strong as we can in the cups. 'We are not entertaining that speculation of big sales. We are not going to sell our big assets in the window, so I think all those stories and admiration from the outside are just a waste of time.' Everton have struggled for 'good momentum' in recent weeks - indeed, prior to the original cup tie against West Ham last Tuesday they had lost four games in a row and won only one in nine in all competitions. It has been reported that Samuel Eto'o (left) could be set for a move to Serie A side Sampdoria in January . Martinez has played down reports of Coleman (left) moving to Louis van Gaal's Manchester United . The rot has been stopped with 1-1 draws in that match and then against Manchester City in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday; performances Martinez believes have provided a platform from which his side can now build for a decent second half of the season. Although he accepts questions have been asked of his players, the 41-year-old has stressed he has never doubted them himself. And that includes striker Romelu Lukaku, the £28million club record summer signing who has bounced back from starting two successive games on the bench to put in eye-catching displays as part of the first XI against the Hammers and City. Lukaku's last-gasp equaliser against the London outfit last week means he has scored a goal in each of his last four encounters with West Ham. There were doubts over Romelu Lukaku, but he proved his worth with two eye-catching displays for Everton . Lukaku scored a last-gasp equaliser against West Ham to nick a draw for Everton in the FA Cup last Tuesday . Martinez will be hoping for more of the same on Tuesday, and said of the Belgium international: 'Romelu is now performing at a very good level, but he has always showed real desire to help the team and strong responsibility. 'I have always known that Romelu, fully fit, is in my eyes one of the best strikers in world football. 'Now he is in the right place and it has been very pleasing to see him enjoying his football and being so effective in the last two games.' Everton will on Tuesday be without the same seven players who missed the City contest - Howard, Sylvain Distin (groin), Tony Hibbert (unspecified), Leon Osman (foot), Darron Gibson, Steven Pienaar (both knee) and James McCarthy (hamstring). Martinez has confirmed he intends to include 22-year-old forward Conor McAleny in the squad to face West Ham. | Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard picked up an injury on Boxing Day .
He will be out until February and Everton are looking for a new goalkeeper .
Cardiff shot-stopper David Marshall has been linked with the Merseysiders .
Martinez has played down rumours over Marshall, while also emphasising that neither Samuel Eto'o nor Seamus Coleman will leave Goodison Park .
The Everton manager also heaped praise on forward Romelu Lukaku . |
fd83f051020eb206fc12190a017d644e3eb5e398 | Anthea Raymond no longer has to break the law to kayak on the Los Angeles River. This week, the namesake waterway of the nation's second-largest city opened for unrestricted public recreation for the first time since the 1930s -- when devastating floods prompted officials to close public access to the river and pave its banks with concrete to improve storm drainage, officials said. Raymond was the third person to paddle a 2.5-mile section that's now wide open for public use. Even the name of this stretch of the 51-mile river captures its natural allure: Elysian Valley. "My experience was, 'wow,'" said Raymond, who plied the waters as a representative of the Los Angeles River Expeditions and the Los Angeles Kayak Club. "There's always the sound of water. That's what's so awesome." Unlike other big city rivers -- such as New York's Hudson River or the Chicago River -- the Los Angeles River is more a seasonal desert waterway: It's flush with rapids during the rain season but becomes a modest stream in the hot summer, slowing to a trickle in some places. Except for guerrilla kayaking by river lovers such as Raymond and others in the expedition club, the concrete-lined river has been strictly off-limits since the Depression era because the river is technically an Army Corps of Engineers flood control channel, officials said. After public pressure and leadership from a local councilman and the corps' commander, officials at several levels of government created the Los Angeles River Pilot Recreation Zone along a lush segment that features tree-lined islands, vistas of the San Gabriel Mountains and abundant wildlife such as herons, egrets, hawks and kingfishers. Oasis parks are colorfully named Rattlesnake, Steelhead and Egret. And, yes, there are even fish in the river -- carp, catfish and bass -- and anglers can drop a line as long as they have a state permit. Opinion: When the audience paddles a canoe to the play . In this recreation zone, the public can launch a kayak, canoe or other nonmotorized boat without a permit or cost, said spokesman Dash Stolarz of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, which manages the pilot recreation zone. This soft-bottom portion of the river is also called the Glendale Narrows. The pilot program allows for the open recreation between Memorial Day and Labor Day, a period when local storms are unlikely. Officials expect the program to be renewed in subsequent years, Stolarz said. Accompanied by government officials, kayakers such as Raymond celebrated the river's opening Monday, and her kayak club even made a video. Raymond, who's in her 40s, compared the Los Angeles River to New York City's Hudson and East rivers, where she took up kayaking. New York's rivers are vastly larger and indeed are major commercial corridors, she said. The Los Angeles River, however, has a history of ridicule and neglect: A state legislator in the 1980s wanted to build a highway on it. It's better known as the cinematic home for violence and car chases in films such as "Grease" and "Terminator 2." In the 1990s, the conservation group American Rivers placed it six times on the list of the country's 20 most threatened and endangered rivers. In 2010, however, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency declared it a "traditional navigable water," allowing for Clean Water Act protections, officials said. The river ultimately ends in the Pacific Ocean at Long Beach, California. Another maiden kayaker this week, Councilman-elect Mitch O'Farrell, almost capsized during his adventure. "People were downright giddy to get into a kayak on the Los Angeles River," he said. "Even that 2.5-mile has rapids. It takes some concentration. It's a real river. It does take certain risks." Alissa Walker, a blogger who wrote about her experience Monday, said she was among a small group of enthusiasts who received federal permits last year for trips on another stretch of the river just to prove it was safe. Kayakers earn bragging rights in Green River Narrows . Like others, she hopes officials will open other sections of the river to the public. "'Cool' is a good word for it," Walker said. "The difference about kayaking here is that we're going under major freeways right in the city. That was the most jarring part of the whole experience. "You never would have guessed we were in L.A. It was so lush. There were so many birds. And it didn't smell, which many people worried about," she said. "There were a couple parts where we had to get out and hop over a rock because it was pretty shallow." For the past two years, another portion of the Los Angeles River has been open to kayakers for short periods in the summer, but access was strictly limited under permits from the Army Corps of Engineers. Those tours were on a 1.5-mile section in a 2,000-acre park called the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area, and the permits sold out in a matter of hours, denying large numbers of river lovers a legal chance to ply the waters. The Elysian Valley section was able to open without restrictions because of government cooperation, infrastructure improvement and public safety measures, said Councilman Ed Reyes, whose district includes the west bank of the river. The city relocated homeless people from riverside encampments, and the bicycling and running trail provides passersby a way to keep an eye on one another, Reyes said. For Reyes, the river opening is a capstone to a long campaign and elected office career. He's entering his last month of his 12-year tenure on the City Council, forced to step down because of term limits. He's now 53, but he recalls illegally swimming in the river and bicycling its banks as a 10-year-old boy with other youths -- until they discovered how filthy the water was, he said. About a decade ago, local AM radio shock jocks mocked Reyes' grand vision to revitalize the river: his school-age daughter even came home upset, Reyes said. But now there's been a shift in the Los Angeles culture and the way Angelenos view themselves. They can truly identify a river in the city, he said. "They had me in the loony bin talking about my efforts as a mad man," Reyes said of the public mockery against him. "For many years, it's been the butt of jokes and used as a throwaway and undesirable location and used as a backyard. "Today, it's a front yard," Reyes declared. 15 ways to see the world on water . | Since the 1930s, the Los Angeles River has been an off-limits flood control channel .
But this week, officials open a 2.5-mile section of the 51-mile river to the public .
Now kayakers and others can legally paddle past the islands, birds, fish in the river .
For decades, the Los Angeles River had been ridiculed as a backwater . |
fd83f9c1a14a5883910475d32e2faa62c14ee268 | The number of confirmed dead keeps rising in a Mumbai, India, building-collapse -- a tragedy that may have never happened if the warnings had been heeded months ago. A council had warned that the five-story building was rickety. It was visibly dilapidated and worn. Vacate it, they advised in a notice in April. But when it pancaked down into rubble and dust on Friday, over 100 people may have still been inside. Fifty people are confirmed dead and 33 are so far known to have survived the collapse, officials said. Officials had previously said 60 people were injured in the collapse. Another dozen or more people may still be buried -- either dead or alive -- under the mounds of brick and concrete and the rescue operation continues, officials said. Now sniffer dogs and rescuers offer the only way out. They were able to pull an 11-year-old girl from the debris, when she cried out to them that she was alive. Rescue personnel "are closely monitoring any noises or movement from under the debris that can lead us to people trapped inside," said Sachidanand Gawde, deputy commandant at the National Disaster Response Force. But they haven't heard a sound from beneath their feet since midday Saturday. The rescuers are digging with their hands, as heavy machinery stands aside out of fear it could crush pockets in the rubble where survivors may be clinging to life. The residents of the collapsed building may have stayed, because they had no place else to go. They likely did not want to let go of the roof over their heads in a city where demand for housing far exceeds supply. Living space is expensive in Mumbai, India's financial hub. Many residents of the makeshift building were poor, unskilled workers for the Bombay Municipal Corporation, which ironically, had issued a notice that the building had gone bad. Repairs followed the warnings, and there were plans for future repairs, a spokesman for Brihanmumbai Municipal Council, which owns the building, said. The rubble and lost lives have put an end to those plans. Several buildings in the Mumbai area have crumbled this year, one of them with disastrous consequences. In April, scores of people were killed in the collapse of a multistory building in Thane, a city in the Mumbai region. Deadly collapses have occurred in the city in past years, as well. Housing rights groups say many old buildings in the city are rundown and neglected, while newer ones are often built illegally, using substandard materials and have structural defects. | A council urged residents to vacate the building months ago .
It was rickety and dangerous, a notice warned .
The old residential building in southern Mumbai gave way early Friday .
Around 22 apartments were occupied on the building's upper floors, the owner says . |
fd8416026fe2359df5772170cee54e3d804d185a | Admission: Former US Air Force psychologist Dr James Mitchell . The man at the centre of the CIA’s brutal interrogation regime has revealed British agents were present at torture sites around the world where detainees were questioned. The admission by former US Air Force psychologist Dr James Mitchell comes after an explosive report by the Senate Intelligence Committee appeared to go to great lengths not to implicate MI5 or the Secret Intelligence Service in the torture programme. Mitchell, 62, who went by the alias Grayson Swigert, not only personally carried out countless torture sessions including waterboarding, on detainees, but was also responsible for devising the methods used. He set up a company, Mitchell Jessen and Associates, with former USAF colleague Bruce Jessen, which was paid £50 million to run the CIA interrogation programme. Last week, The Mail on Sunday asked him if British agents were present during his torture sessions, or were aware of the methods used. At first he said: ‘You will have to ask the CIA about that. I was moving around a lot.’ He then admitted: ‘I would see their [British] special operations people at the sites I would visit.’ The admission came as other allegations emerged pointing to British knowledge and collusion in the CIA’s torture programme. An MI6 agent who reported abuse of detainees in Afghanistan by his American colleagues in 2002 to his superiors in London was ordered not to intervene, according to a memo. The telegram from ‘Head Office Secret Intelligence Service’ to an agent working with the US in Afghanistan in January 2002 said: ‘It appears from your description that they may not be being treated in accordance with the appropriate standards. Torment: A prisoner of US forces is bound and hooded in Iraq following a raid in Baghdad . ‘Given that they are not within our custody or control, the law does not require you to intervene to prevent this.’ The telegram emerged last year during a truncated inquiry headed by retired judge Sir Peter Gibson. Sir Peter raised 27 a number serious questions over the UK’s involvement in the abduction and torture of terrorist suspects, and flagged up 40 cases needing ‘particular attention’. But the Gibson probe was replaced by an inquiry by the parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee, which may not report until 2016. Former Security Minister Lord West also acknowledged British agents could even have been present during torture. He said there may have been the ‘odd case’ where agents knew about torture and failed to alert their superiors. He told the BBC: ‘Would we – as we dug around and had some huge inquiry– find that one agent or maybe two agents were once in a room when somebody was waterboarded? Possibly we might.’ Mitchell and Bruce Jessen, who also went by the name Hammond Dunbar, developed their murky skills at the USAF’s Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape school, where they taught servicemen how to resist torture. Their chance to turn the tables came when they became involved in the CIA’s ‘black site’ torture programme in 2002 after Al Qaeda suspect Abu Zubaydah was arrested in Pakistan. He was reportedly taken to Thailand, where a prison known as ‘detention site Green’ was set up. When he pitched to the CIA, Mitchell had proposed 12 key techniques to be used in interrogation: The attention grasp, [of the detainee’s collar] ‘walling’, [forcing the detainee against a wall], facial hold, facial slap, cramped confinement, standing, stress positions, sleep deprivation, waterboarding, use of nappies, use of insects and mock burial. Last week, Mitchell claimed his treatment of detainees did not constitute torture. ‘Waterboarding is not torture,’ he said. ‘If it was torture, why does the military subject thousands of service personnel to waterboarding as part of training?’ | Dr James Mitchell was responsible for devising waterboarding methods .
Said: 'I would see (British) special operations people at sites I would visit'
Comes as other allegations point to British knowledge of CIA programme .
MI6 agent who reported abuse by Americans was ordered not to intervene .
Lord West also said British agents could have been present during torture .
Report by Senate Intelligence Committee did not implicate MI5 or Secret Intelligence Service . |
fd8494a0667cfff1e460529b0030ba3f397f49b4 | By . William Turvill . PUBLISHED: . 08:58 EST, 5 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:35 EST, 5 October 2013 . A peckish crook was caught by police after he took a bite out of a cucumber and left it at the scene of the crime. Billy Joe Donnelly, 22, burgled a greenhouse and sampled the owner’s home-grown produce - leaving his DNA all over it. Sentencing him to two and a half years in jail at Hull Crown Court, Judge Michael Mettyear said: 'You were caught by a cucumber.' Burglar Billy Joe Donnelly was caught after he took a bite out of a cucumber and left it at the scene . Donnelly ate a variety of produce and then burgled the home on August 21. Prosecuting, Jharna Jobes said: 'The owner was going to sell the items he was growing in the greenhouse, but someone had been in there and eaten most of the vegetables and a cucumber. 'A cucumber was found with his DNA on it. 'The occupants were in bed asleep at the time and there must have been some planning involved in this.' Donnelly then broke into the house next to the greenhouse in the village of Preston by breaking a window. He ransacked the house, stealing treasured possessions including the retirement watch of the owner. His wife woke up to discover her car was missing. In a victim impact statement, the couple said they now felt they needed to sell their home of more than 20 years because they no longer felt safe. They said: 'It has been very distressing. 'He stole two keyrings, which were of sentimental value given to me by my mother after my father died in 1972.' Donnelly, of Wimbourne Close, Bransholme, Hull, also stole £77 of meat from a shop. When the police arrested him on August 25, two cannabis plants were found in his airing cupboard. He pleaded guilty at Hull Crown Court to two burglaries, theft and to producing cannabis. His barrister Stephen Robinson said: 'The burglary has had a profound effect on the complainants. 'He was just not thinking about that at the time. 'He is sorry for what has happened and he bitterly regrets his actions. 'He had been drinking heavily at the time and was riding around on his bike when he entered the greenhouse and he ate some of the produce from there. 'It was foolish behaviour and he was identified by a cucumber.' Donnelly has previous convictions for a burglary and shop thefts. Donnelly was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail by Judge Michael Mettyear at Hull Crown Court . The judge told him: 'Burglaries are regarded as serious by the courts because, often, people who are the victims sometimes never fully recover from what happens to them and they have been in this case. 'They have been left so upset by what has happened they are going to have to move. 'It is absolutely ghastly and why courts regard it as so serious. 'I have absolutely no doubt you were out looking for something to do and the consequences have been ghastly.' He added: 'Only custody can be justified the only question is how long the sentence should be. 'The only real mitigation was your plea of guilty.' | Billy Joe Donnelly burgled greenhouse and home in August .
Ransacked couple's house and caught after leaving DNA .
Sentenced to two and a half years in jail after pleading guilty . |
fd8595f29d5cc5fa8c1d3522ca69b85a1c126995 | It has been a week of joy for Sonia Kruger after announcing she is expecting her first child with partner Craig McPherson. And the 49-year-old Mornings presenter has opened up about how she has been dealing with the rollercoaster of emotions that come with her exciting news made possible by a close friend offering to be an egg donor. Speaking to the Australian Women's Weekly, Sonia has revealed the couple of five years and her friend have undergone counselling in order to prepare for the birth of the child and determine her friend's involvement in the baby's life. 'All of these things have to be discussed at length and agreed before the egg donation process begins,' she told the magazine. Scroll down for video . Opening up: Sonia Kruger has opened up about how she has been dealing with the emotions that have come along with her exciting news of being pregnant . It has undoubtedly been a tough journey for the Channel Nine personality, having fallen pregnant naturally a few times before the pregnancies ended in miscarriage. With her strong desire to start a family, the blonde beauty decided to give IVF a go at the age of 45. But having found little luck with the fertility treatment, the next stop was to look at options overseas. Last year Sonia travelled to South Africa for an egg donor, however the embryo didn't take. Proactive: The 49-year-old presenter has revealed she and her partner of five years Craig McPherson have undergone counselling sessions with Sonia's friend who kindly offered to be the egg donor . It was then the option of speaking to someone closer to home that became more of a reality. Appearing on A Current Affair on Monday night, Sonia revealed to presenter Leila McKinnon she is expecting a girl thanks to her friend's kind gesture. 'The egg came from a very good friend of mine…we were having conversation about it one day and she knew that I had struggled, and I said "Look it’d all be fine if you would just give me one of your eggs!"' 'She said, "okay!," and that's how it all came about.' When asked if having an egg donor will affect her emotionally, the Channel Nine presenter seemed far from phased. It's a girl! Appearing on A Current Affair on Monday night, Sonia revealed the sex of the baby . 'The idea of having an egg donor didn’t feel unusual to me...I'm not that in love with my own DNA to be honest with you!' And she had similar sentiments when it came to her age, which she said 'is irrelevant when it comes to being a good or loving parent.' The Big Brother host announced on social media on Saturday that she and her partner of five years Craig McPherson would be having a baby . Just days later, showing off her small baby bump in a figure-hugging black-and-white gown on Monday's show, Kruger was candid as she spoke about her IVF treatment and fertility fears. 'When you get to my age, to use your own eggs to have a baby...you're not really going to be successful,' she reasoned to guest co-host Richard Wilkins. 'The odds are sort of one in a million and my doctors had been very clear with me because I'd had IVF before. Congratulations: Sonia Kruger was given a cute gift on Tuesday in the form of a giant cake made out of rolled up nappies, topped with colourful balloons . At four months pregnant, she said that during her first trimester 'it was almost as if I couldn't let myself feel happy because it had happened before: I had fallen pregnant before but the pregnancy hadn't progressed.' 'When I went for the first scan and saw a heartbeat that I had never seen before, that was incredible,' she added. Also reflecting on the heart warming experience with the Australian Women's Weekly, Sonia said: 'I even Googled buying a personal ultrasound machine so I could check it at home.' The news was particularly exciting for Kruger's co-host David Campbell, who already has one young son and whose wife Lisa is expecting twins. Kruger joked that she 'felt so sorry for David' because he has to deal with two hormonal pregnant women at home and at work.' Big news: The Big Brother host announced on social media on Saturday that she and Craig would be having a baby . Read more: Sonia's interview is in the latest issue of The Australian Women's Weekly with Samantha Armytage on the cover . | Expecting a baby girl due in February .
Travelled to South Africa in 2013 for an egg donor .
Undergone counselling with partner Craig McPherson and close friend . |
fd85bde721ac3b84da9a218452fdb63c759f8376 | (CNN) -- The publisher of a firsthand account of the raid that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden said Tuesday it was moving up its release date by one week to September 4. Dutton, a subsidiary of Penguin Group USA, said the book will come out early because of "overwhelming excitement in the marketplace." The first printing of the book, already an Amazon best seller, is now 575,000 copies, according to Dutton. It was written by a Navy SEAL under a pen name, Mark Owen. The book's publisher said the special operations forces team member did not want to reveal his real name in order to protect himself and his family. Owen said in a statement Tuesday that he had a "strict desire not to disclose confidential or sensitive information that would compromise national security in any way." Questions raised after SEAL's identity revealed . At the request of Pentagon officials, CNN is not naming the SEAL who wrote the book, out of concern for his former colleagues who could still be active. The book is entitled "No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission That Killed Osama bin Laden." The serviceman was on the Bin Laden raid, according to Pentagon officials. The 36-year-old chief petty officer left the Navy as a highly decorated commando in April, but he could be subject to criminal prosecution, they said. The book account includes the stealth helicopter crash that could have killed the author and his teammates, his publisher said. Officials only recently became aware the former SEAL was writing a book, but were told it encompasses more than just the raid and includes vignettes from training and other missions. They wanted to see a copy, a Defense Department official said, to make sure no classified information is released and to see if the book contains any information that might out one of the team members. Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said officials are reviewing the publication. Are 'Swift Boat' attacks on Obama bogus? CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr contributed to this report. | Publication of account moved up to September 4 .
The author uses a pen name, publisher says .
At the request of Pentagon officials, CNN is not naming the SEAL . |
fd85c07f80bf141ece47c00bf7a602a7adbef805 | Washington (CNN) -- Hillary Clinton used her Tuesday appearance in Colorado, where experts see the female vote deciding a number of statewide races, to court women with a personal message about her life and her hopes for the future. Clinton usually targets women voters in her appearances. But in Colorado, the former secretary of state and likely presidential candidate in 2016, spoke about how fortunate she felt to be born in America and the message she hopes to be able to leave with children. The personal remarks, while focused on turning out voters for Democrats Mark Udall, John Hickenlooper and Andrew Romanoff, sounds a great deal like a presidential candidate and resembled a message Clinton could use should she run for president. "I have had a great set of experiences. I have been very fortunate in my life, but the most fortunate thing besides the parents to whom I was born, is that I was born in America," Clinton said. "I, from the moment of my birth, was blessed because of that. And I grew up believing with all my heart that if I worked hard, if I did was I was supposed to do, go to school, get an education, that I would have opportunities that were never available to my mother." Clinton added, "Indeed that came true for me. I don't want that ever to be lost. I want everyone in this room to be able to look at any baby, any child and truthfully say, 'You have the same right to the American dream that I did.'" Pro-Clinton group adds $2 million to its war chest . This was Clinton's second trip to Colorado in a week. She spent a few hours with Udall last week at a private fundraiser and at a local coffee shop and market to meet voters. Udall is in a tight race with Republican Rep. Cory Gardner, who some polls have slightly ahead. "The only poll that counts is that poll on election day," Udall said, warming up the crowd for Clinton by using a tried-and-true campaign cliche. Democrats in the state and nationally see Clinton as someone who can turn out women in Colorado, a key demographic that some experts see the election turning on. "This election is important to everybody, but it is especially important to the women of Colorado," Clinton said, touching upon a woman's right to choose, personhood laws and availability of birth control - all topics the race between Udall and Gardner have focused on. "Women's rights here at home and around the world are clearly at risk," Clinton said, arguing those rights "are like the canaries in the mine." Is Hillary Clinton ready for marijuana's 2016 push? Although Clinton was there to endorse Democrats and increase excitement, her presidential aspirations weren't far from the minds of many. Before Clinton went on, Romanoff tried to pep up the crowd by asking, "Are you ready to hear from the next president of the United States?" Even Udall got into the hinting at 2016 action when he said, "I think we hope she [Hillary Clinton] is going to come back over the next few years." | Hillary Clinton, who regularly pitches female voters, got personal in her plea on Tuesday.
The personal remarks resembled a message Clinton could use should she run for president.
"You have the same right to the American dream that I did," Clinton said Americans should be able to tell children .
This was Clinton's second trip to Colorado in a week. |
fd868e7a0cf9a5dfb3e780d48249bb751fbb94ff | Curitiba, Brazil (CNN) -- More than any single soccer player, the fans took center stage during the World Cup. During the summer, each team's devotees donned their country's colors, painted their faces, shouted their songs, rejoiced in their victories and cried bitter tears of defeat. "Whether you're in a host city or back at home watching it on TV ... it captures you," said Jon Burns, a lifelong fan of English football. "I just love the passion." Burns has made it his mission to turn that fan fervor into something more. His UK-based nonprofit, Lionsraw, mobilizes soccer fans to volunteer in cities hosting the World Cup and other major tournaments. "We do football tours with a difference," said Burns, 48. "They get to watch games, drink beer in a bar ... but for a huge chunk of our time, we go out to people in need." It's an idea that struck Burns nearly 10 years ago, while sitting in a packed stadium during a game. "I suddenly saw all the fans around me and ... it was like an untapped army," he said. "And I started asking myself, 'What could I do if we could mobilize some of these people to do some good?' " Since 2006, Burns' group has enlisted more than 500 volunteers to work on construction projects, educational programs and soccer clinics that have helped nearly 6,000 children. "Football's always had the ability to break down barriers," he said. "We're taking it a step further." Giving back in Brazil . In June, Burns and his team brought almost 300 volunteers to Curitiba, one of the 12 host cities for this year's World Cup. The group's main project was constructing an education complex for Futebol de Rua, an after-school program that serves children from poor areas just outside the city center. Oscar Muxfeldt Neto, one of the program's founders, could not believe it when Burns offered in 2012 to help his organization. "To come and to do this for us, for the children ... it is still a dream, you know?" he said. "This is the World Cup spirit." The facility -- where academic tutoring, soccer instruction, art and music classes will be provided to more than 500 at-risk youth -- should be up and running by the end of the year. Burns and his volunteers will return there to teach English and coach soccer for years to come. "When we invest in a place, it's not for a project. It's for the long-term," Burns said. "The World Cup is just the first step into a country. It's a launchpad for us." Like many countries that have hosted major sporting events, Brazil has seen protests during the past year about the estimated $11 billion spent on projects that have not necessarily improved the country's public services. While Burns makes a point to avoid politics, he believes his work helps communities that have not benefited economically from the games. "We try to create opportunities for the local people," Burns said. "We're not here to save anybody or solve anything. We're here to do our bit." Igniting a passion . While Burns wants to assist those in need, he's also hoping that giving back sparks something deeper within his volunteers, many of whom have never done anything like this before. Volunteers from 12 countries came to Brazil to work with Lionsraw; most are from the UK, France, Australia and the United States. Burns finds that a shared love of soccer gives them an instant bond that gets stronger as they work toward a common goal. "Within a couple days, they're just part of a team. And it's a tight team. There's a lot of fun, a lot of joking, and guys become friends for life," he said. Dominic Casciata, 27, had never volunteered before participating with Lionsraw in Brazil. The London-born soccer coach, who now lives in New York, spent eight days working with the group. "It's just a brilliant feeling," Casciata said. "Me and some friends who are volunteering here actually plan on coming back once the project is finished to see it in all its glory." Chris Hearn, 48, helped build an orphanage with the group in South Africa during the 2010 World Cup. This time, he brought his 20-year-old son along. "When I came back from South Africa, he saw the difference that it made to me," Hearn said. "That's why he wanted to come, too." Hearn and his son had such a good experience that Hearn now plans to bring his wife and daughter on the next Lionsraw trip in France in 2016. For Burns, that's the whole idea. "Lots of guys come and kind of get it in their blood," Burns said. "That's what we're about. ... And that is a movement." "We're trying to harness the passion of football fans to make a difference." Want to get involved? Check out the Lionsraw websites and see how to help: UK | U.S. | Jon Burns' nonprofit lets soccer fans volunteer in cities that host major tournaments .
He says the love of soccer creates a bond; almost 300 volunteers went to the World Cup .
They're building a complex for a program serving kids from poor areas just outside Curitiba, Brazil . |
fd869694861f16de592668304fd8ab15ea94a13a | Ever wondered if you're akin to the rest of the fans who support your team? Well thanks to a survey from YouGov you can discover if you like the same food, hobbies as well as a lot more. Based on a sample size of 648 fans, below Sportsmail have picked out 12 of the most eye-catching responses from Manchester City supporters. Manchester City fans were surveyed as part of a large-scale YouGov poll . What are their favourite foods? A very festive bunch are City fans, putting Yule Log top of their food preferences. This is followed by jerk chicken and a simple cheese and tomato sandwich . What are their favourite hobbies? When not at the Etihad, City fans spent their time collecting, doing pottery and buying and selling things online. What pet are they most likely to own? The pet they are most likely to own is a dog. What are their political views? City fans are left-leaning in their views. Personality-wise what are they like? City fans describe themselves as communicative, conscientious and funny but they can also occasionally be stroppy and bad listeners. What car are they most likely to drive? City fans are most likely to be seen driving around in a Citroen. What are their top five favourite movies? The favourite films listed by the Manchester City fans in the survey include Escape from New York, Pacific Rim, Carry on Again Doctor, Moulin Rouge and LA Confidential. What are their top five favourite TV shows? City fans will tune in to Total Wipeout, Family Fortunes, Coronation Street, Avatar: Legend of Korra and Dynasty. What are their top five favourite music artists? It's little surprise that Oasis top this list, followed by Ed Sheeran, Jason Orange, Kiri Te Kanawa and Eternal. Who are their top five favourite celebrities? The top five celebrities listed by City fans were Colin Murray, Brad Pitt, Chloe Moretz, Kay Burley and Lucy Meacock. Who are the top five people they follow on Twitter? A real mixed bag in the Twitter stakes with City fans following Oprah Winfrey, Ben Stiller, Perez Hilton, Phil Tufnell and Britney Spears. What newspapers and magazines do they prefer to read? City fans like reading The Mirror and Closer magazine, according to the poll. | Results based on a survey from YouGov who asked 648 City fans .
Bizarrely, Yule log came out on top in the food survey .
They enjoy TV shows like Total Wipeout and Family Fortunes . |
fd86e0fd5f77fc14051bc309807870d401fde18f | Millions of Android handsets have been exposed to malware through malicious apps being offered on Google Play. The apps include the Durak card game, along with a history game and IQ test, which combined have been installed more than 15 million times. The apps cause unwanted adverts to display on users' phones and their abnormal behaviour sometimes doesn't appear until a month after installation. Millions of Android handsets have been exposed to malware through malicious apps being offered on Google Play. The apps include the Durak card game, along with a history game and IQ test, which combined have been installed more than 15 million times . The apps were discovered after Prague-based antivirus provider, Avast, received a user complaint. 'This impression remains until you reboot your device and wait for a couple of days,' wrote Filip Chytry, an Avast mobile malware analyst. 'After a week, you might start to feel there is something wrong with your device. Some of the apps wait up to 30 days until they show their true colours.' As well as Durak, the other other games included a Russian IQ test with up to five million installs, and a Russian history app game, which has been installed up to 50,000 times by Android users. These apps have now been removed from Google Play. Each time a user unlocks their device an advert is shown warning them about a fake problem, such as their phone is full or porn. The apps cause unwanted adverts to display on users' phones and their 'abnormal behaviour' sometimes doesn't appear until a month after installation. Each time a user unlocks their device an advert is shown, warning them about a fake problem, such as their phone is full or porn . The app then asks them to take action, and if the user accepts, they will get re-directed to other services. Each time a user unlocks their device an advert is shown, warning them about a fake problem, such as their phone is full or porn. The app then asks them to take action, and if the user accepts, they will get re-directed to other services. The scam could then potentially provoke victims to download apps from untrusted sources to resolve the issue. Their abnormal behaviour sometimes doesn't appear until a month after installation. Unfortunately, there is no way to know for definite if an app available in Google Play is malicious. The scam could then potentially provoke victims to download apps from untrusted sources to resolve the issue. 'An even bigger surprise was that users were sometimes directed to security apps on Google Play,' Mr Chytry revealed. 'These security apps are, of course, harmless, but would security providers really want to promote their apps via adware? 'Even if you install the security apps, the undesirable ads popping up on your phone don't stop. According to Dan Goodin at Arstechnica, there is no way to know for definite if an app available in Google Play is malicious. Genuine apps, however, often have a large numbers of downloads developed by well-known developers. Google Play has been plagued by app problems in the past. It has previously offered titles that provide secret remote access as well as ones that are malicious advertising networks. Google has yet to respond to MailOnline about malware on Google Play. The scam could then potentially provoke victims to download apps from untrusted sources to resolve the issue. Pictured is a screenshot of the Durak card game when it was available on Google Play . | Apps include Durak card game, along with a history game and IQ test .
They will cause unwanted adverts to display on users' Android phones .
Behaviour sometimes doesn't appear until a month after installation .
The scam provokes victims to download apps from untrusted sources .
There is no way of knowing which apps on Google Play are malicious . |
fd8785ed7a4b2cdbea40ee57d0882cd0bf087fb6 | Former Newcastle United manager Glenn Roeder is a leading candidate to be the new sporting director at Crystal Palace. Chairman Steve Parish has been looking to fill the position since August when Iain Moody left following allegations of misconduct during his time at Cardiff. Roeder has been out of the game officially since 2009, but remains an influential figure and he recently recommended Russell Slade to be the next Cardiff boss. Glenn Roeder is the top candidate to become the next sporting director at Crystal Palace . Neil Warnock's Eagles side lost 1-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday . Palace currently sit one spot above the relegation zone in 17th after 11 games of the season. Neil Warnock's side lost 1-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday thanks to a second half Juan Mata goal. And next up for the Eagles is Liverpool in two weeks time after the international break. | Former Newcastle boss Roeder leading candidate for Crystal Palace role .
Chairman Steve Parish has been looking to fill position since August .
Crystal Palace lost 1-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday . |
fd878704a91aa0aa6e6c783d86025d66df980256 | Luther Burrell ran in the only try as Northampton crept back to the summit of the Aviva Premiership after labouring to victory over London Irish at the Madejski Stadium. Just hours after Bath had underlined their title credentials with an empathic victory over Saracens, Saints toiled to their fourth win of the season. England centre Burrell's 36th-minute try was the solitary touch down of a drab spectacle short on highlights. Luther Burrell ran in the only try as Northampton crept back to the summit of the Aviva Premiership . Burrell showed strength to breach the whitewash, but it was an otherwise disappointing afternoon notable for some poor handling that will not have strengthened his claims to selection in this autumn's QBE Internationals. Fly-half Stephen Myler finished with a 14-point haul made up of four penalties and a conversion. Northampton led 10-0 at half-time but resurgent Irish hit back through the kicking of Shane Geraghty, who finished with four penalties, to secure a deserved losing bonus point. Samu Manoa showed his power with a muscular early run through the heart of the Exiles' defence, but when Saints sought to exploit an overlap Burrell flung out a poor pass. Northampton, who were missing injured England forwards Tom Wood and Dylan Hartley to injury, turned the screw at the scrum before Myler landed his first penalty. Shane Geraghty finished the game with four penalties to secure a deserved losing point for London Irish . A scruffy quarter continued with Geraghty missing a simple three points and the former England fly-half was flattened by Courtney Lawes shortly after. Ken Pisi's thunderous midfield hit enabled the champions to turn defence into attack, but the Exiles recovered quickly and the deadlock continued. Once again Northampton began pounding at the Irish 22 and once again they were let down by their handling with Burrell culpable. But the England centre then made amends, showing his strength to slide over and touch down after the speed of a Saints counter-attack that began with a loose kick outwitted the Exiles. Northampton's James Craig beats his London Irish rival to take a catch at the lineout . Myler, Ken Pisi and George North were involved before Burrell chose to go it alone with Lawes outside him and he had the tenacity to stampede over Geraghty and ride a despairing tackle from Tomas O'Leary. The third quarter was dominated by a kicking duel from the tee between Geraghty and Myler as a poor match continued to disappoint. North and Andrew Fenby collided, but the Irish full-back came up with the ball after plucking a superb catch from the air. The third quarter was dominated by a kicking duel from the tee between Geraghty and Myler . There appeared to be little chance of a second try being added to Burrell's touch down with a fourth Geraghty penalty keeping the scoreboard ticking over. Irish continued to snap at the heals of Northampton, although their cause was not helped when Geraghty failed with a simple drop-goal and long-range penalty. At last the game opened up with Burrell almost forcing his way over for a second time before his poor pass butchered a chance for Ben Foden. Fittingly, the final act of the afternoon was a penalty from Myler. | Northampton beat London Irish 19-12 .
Saints go to the top of the Aviva Premiership table .
Luther Burrell scored only try of the game . |
fd87d3c3464733708beb53bc5f114ef0d6e7a376 | The RSPCA is under pressure to drop its right to bring prosecutions after it spent £22.5 million on prosecutions over two years. The cost includes £10 million for vets fees and taking care of animals during the prosecution process. The rest covers legal fees, administration and expert witness costs. An independent review that uncovered the cost also showed that the RSPCA has been paying excessive legal fees. Lawyers were paid up to £1,200 a day in some cases – higher than the amounts paid to state prosecutors in child cruelty cases. In the doghouse: The RSPCA spent £22.5 million on legal bills over two years and have been spending excessive amounts on legal fees . The review was undertaken by Stephen Wooler, a former Chief Inspector of the CPS Inspectorate. He was asked by the charity to examine its prosecution policy after several controversial cases, including £326,000 spent on one against the Heythrop hunt in David Cameron’s constituency. Although the case was successful, the judge suggested the public might feel the cash ‘can be more usefully employed’. A key recommendation of the report is for the RSPCA to pass cases straight to the police and the CPS, rather than bringing their own prosecutions. But, two days after the review was published, the charity launched a prosecution against the Cattistock hunt in Dorset. On October 3, a summons was served to Will Bryer, joint master and huntsman, to appear in court later this month. In court: The Cattistock hunt in Dorset . Wooler’s report found that typical RSPCA payments were £90 to £190 an hour for a solicitor to bring a case in the magistrates court, where a day is up to five-and-a-half hours, at a total of £495 to £1,045. This excludes hours spent in preparation. By contrast, a Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) lawyer is paid from £200 to £250 a day, and this includes preparation time. Fees were even more generous for barristers hired by the RSPCA, with typical payments of £800 to £1,200 a day. A shocked Mr Wooler said the cases in question would not qualify for the CPS rate for a category B offence – a category that includes child cruelty. In such cases CPS lawyers would be paid £1,000 for preparation and one day in court, plus £480 a day for the rest of the trial. Fees paid by the RSPCA to lawyers accounted for more than £8 million of the charity’s legal costs in 2012 and 2013. Mr Wooler declined to make further comment but told The Mail on Sunday he stood by his report. Sir Edward Garnier QC, Conservative MP and former solicitor-general, said: ‘I would like to see the RSPCA reporting offences to the police rather than deciding to investigate and prosecute themselves. When you see the potential for vast differentials in legal charges, that sense of unfairness is apparent. Where is the equality of arms?’ Jonathan Rich, a barrister who has defended hundreds of people prosecuted by the charity, said: ‘The RSPCA’s largesse provides strong financial incentives to advise prosecution in cases which the CPS would never touch. I’ve had cases where RSPCA prosecutors have been on more than ten times my fees.’ Tim Bonner, Countryside Alliance director of campaigns, said: ‘Charities have a duty a duty to spend donations prudently, but the RSPCA’s prosecution operation is profligate. It would be far better if the RSPCA left prosecution to the CPS, like every other charity.’ The Charity Commission will meet RSPCA chiefs to discuss the findings and an RSPCA spokesman last night confirmed that its legal fees are to be scrutinised. The report coincides with a turbulent period for the RSPCA which has lost £7 million in donations from supporters incensed by its contentious campaigns. Mr Wooler’s six-month review is estimated to have cost up to £50,000. | The RSPCA spent £22.5 million on legal bills over two years .
More than £325,000 was spent on case against the Heythrop hunt .
Barristers hired by the RSPCA were paid £800 to £1,200 a day . |
fd87f886a7fb44a0a82ea328f31eeb40744175b5 | The digital revolution continues to have a huge impact on all aspects of modern life and home cooking is no exception. Cutting edge innovations are transforming our behavior in the kitchen. Here are six technologies and tools that are turning us into smart cooks. Tablets and mobile devices . While we all love the feeling of buying and beholding a brand new cookbook, the wealth of recipes and cookery tips that can now be accessed online means that we are increasingly turning to our tech to find new content. Savvy chefs and publishers are ensuring that their recipes are available online in mobile and tablet friendly formats, appealing to today's "always on" consumers. Social media . The proliferation of social platforms including Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook have unleashed our sharing culture, making it easier to share recipes, foodie news and top hints and tips with our followers. In addition, social channels are making it possible for the public to interact with professional cooks and industry experts, in a more direct and immediate manner than ever before. YouTube videos are being used by chefs as a way of bringing recipes to life and bridging the gap between cookbooks and cookery classes. It's now also possible to join in with live cookery demonstrations using Google Hangouts, allowing for even greater interaction between the pros and their audience at home. Google Glass . Google Glass is a piece of wearable tech that could really shake things up in the kitchen. This smart eyewear has the ability to put users in the shoes of their favorite chefs, watching live or filmed tutorials as they cook. It also allows users to find and share recipes. The device is hands-free, making it ideal for the kitchen. The iSpoon . With more and more of us following recipes on our tablets, the iSpoon kitchen stylus is a must for any contemporary kitchen. Cooks can now scroll through recipes and photos without getting their tablets dirty. The Prep Pad . Described as a "kitchen nutritionist," Prep Pad is a smart food scale that connects with the iPad over Bluetooth to show the nutritional value of food. It offers a breakdown of calories, fat, protein, carbs and vitamins, helping users create balanced meals. The saucepans of the future . Flare with Fin-X technology is the name of a new range of saucepans that claim to cook 40% faster than traditional pans, thus saving both time and energy. We're starting to see a large number of innovations being developed for the home kitchen. While some have been overdesigned, others serve a real purpose and are already becoming commonplace in the home. The important thing is to ensure that we are using new technologies and tools as a way of enhancing the cookery experience and not as a way of replacing the skill and fun of cooking. Used in combination with our natural senses and instincts, they really are a recipe for success. Hari Ghotra is founder and chief cookery officer of Hari Ghotra Ltd. | Chef Hari Ghotra explores new digital innovations in home cookery .
Tablets and mobile devices are making their way into the kitchen, providing handy recipe hints .
Futuristic saucepans can cook food 40% faster than our traditional utensils . |
fd87fd806c44a6302f04e98ee2ab5867f931e16b | (CNN) -- The director of a battered women's shelter in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, was being held Wednesday on charges that she forced the women she cared for to commit sex acts with strangers, local authorities told CNN. Authorities were also investigating if children who lived at the shelter -- some as young as 5 years old -- were forced into prostitution as well, Arturo Sandoval, spokesman for the state attorney general's office, told CNN. "That is an aspect of our investigation, but that's still yet to be determined," Sandoval, whose office has taken the lead of the investigation, said. Soledad Griensen Porras, 50, of Juarez was arrested Tuesday afternoon after one of the women in the shelter stopped police in the street asking for help, according to Adrian Sanchez, spokesman for the Juarez municipal police department. "Our officers responded immediately and that's when they found the shelter, which had pretty much become a brothel," Sanchez said. Officers found "several irregularities" at the shelter "as well as five other women...and eight children," Sanchez said. The children had been beaten and had "chile put on their private parts" according to a press release from the Juarez municipal police department. "Griensen is the only person being held in relation to these charges," Sandoval told CNN. "She is currently in our custody. I can't give you anymore details about her since our investigation is ongoing," he added. It was unclear how long Griensen had owned the Mujeres Unidas Contra la Violencia ("women united against violence") shelter or how long its residents allegedly had been forced to perform sex acts, Sanchez said. "That is all part of the investigation," he added. | "The shelter ... had pretty much become a brothel," says a Juarez police spokesman .
One of the women living at the shelter stopped police in the street and asked for help .
A 50-year-old woman heading the shelter is in police custody . |
fd8928b55d9c16785fd479a5757b16a08ba235c7 | By . Suzannah Hills . PUBLISHED: . 09:59 EST, 25 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:38 EST, 25 September 2013 . A driver has been jailed for four years after leaving his friend to die at the side of the road after he was thrown from his car in a head-on smash. James Maughan, 20, was driving a Suzuki 4x4 when he failed to stop at a road junction and smashed into an oncoming VW Golf. The impact caused his passenger Travis O’Neil, who was riding in the back without a seatbelt, to be thrown from the car. But as witnesses gathered to give 19-year-old Mr O’Neil first aid, Maughan reversed his 4x4 off a grass verge and drove away. Jailed: James Maughan, pictured left, has been sentenced to four years at a young offenders institution for causing the death of his friend Travis O'Neil, pictured right, by dangerous driving . Scene: Maughan was behind the wheel when he crashed his Suzuki 4x4 into a VW Golf in Sheffield. Mr O'Neil was in the backseat without a seat-belt and was thrown from the car . The 4x4, bought by Mr O’Neil earlier . that day, was later found burned out, prosecutor Michael Rawlinson told . Sheffield Crown Court. Mr O’Neil, whose girlfriend Chelsea Lynch was expecting a baby, was rushed to hospital but died from his injuries an hour later. In a victim impact statement read out in court Miss Lynch said: 'How am I going to explain to my daughter she has to grow up without a daddy?' Maughan was due to stand trial but changed his plea to guilty to causing death by dangerous driving last November. Mr Rawlinson told the court the junction was clearly marked but he went straight across, spun out of control and hit a road sign. Maughan, of no fixed address and who has a three-year-old daughter, claimed he abandoned the vehicle nearby and did not set it on fire. Serious injuries: Maughan fled the scene of the crash, leaving Mr O'Neil lying on the road. Witnesses called an ambulance but Mr O'Neil died an hour later in hospital . He handed himself in to police after a public appeal for information following the smash on Arbourthorne Road, Sheffield. He told police he blamed NHS support worker June Jones who was driving the Golf for the crash. The public gallery was packed as family and relatives of both Travis and Maughan waited for the sentence. Michael Blakey, defending, said: 'Travis was his close friend, he is devastated and it will live with him for the rest of his life. He apologises.' While awaiting the court case in July this year Maughan was jailed for 13 months for possessing an imitation offensive weapon. He also admitted assaulting a prison warder with a pan of hot water while in custody. Recorder David Gordon sent him to a young offenders’ institution for four years and banned him from driving for five years. He will serve at least half of his detention. The judge told him: 'You will have to live with this on your conscience for the rest of your life.' Sentenced: Maughan had denied the charge but changed his plea to guilty at Sheffield Crown Court, pictured . | James Maughan, 20, crashed his Suzuki 4x4 into an oncoming VW Golf .
His friend Travis O'Neil, 19, was thrown from the 4x4 on to the road .
Maughan drove off, leaving his friend who died in hospital later that night .
He admitted causing death by dangerous driving at Sheffield Crown Court .
Maughan was sentenced to four years at a young offenders institution . |
fd8a5d8dc3dabc536be3dd998eb0675913eff474 | Manchester United have opened negotiations with David de Gea over a new contract. The Spaniard's contract expires next summer and he has been linked with a move to Real Madrid. But the 24-year-old's agent, Jorge Mendes, denied speculation De Gea had agreed a deal to move to the Bernabeu confirmed he has started negotiations with United. David de Gea (right) shows his frustration after West Ham score against Manchester United on Sunday . Manchester United goalkeeper De Gea stretches to make a save from West Ham's Enner Valencia . De Gea has been in commanding form for United this season - and was so against West Ham too . 'I am negotiating with Manchester United about De Gea’s renewal,' Mendes told Cadena Ser on Sunday night. 'It is not true that De Gea has found a deal with Real Madrid. I’m negotiating with Manchester United his extension.' Last week, Mendes also claimed that De Gea was happy to stay at Old Trafford despite the arrival of former Barcelona keeper Víctor Valdes on a free transfer last month. 'He has one year left on his contract and I think that he will stay in Manchester,' Mendes told the BBC. 'The player will decide, but he's happy there, at the moment.' De Gea's agent Jorge Mendes has denied claims the keeper has agreed a deal to join Real Madrid . Louis van Gaal signed De Gea's fellow countryman Victor Valdes on a free transfer in January . De Gea has been in stunning form for United this season and pulled off a series of brilliant saves to help Louis van Gaal's side rescue a point against West Ham on Sunday. The Spaniard joined United in 2011 for £17.8million from Atletico Madrid and has grown into a integral part of United's team, with manager Van Gaal admitting he would like him to stay. When asked about the keeper's future, Van Gaal last week admitted 'everything is possible' but added: 'We would like to keep him.' | Man United ace David de Gea has been linked with a move to Real Madrid .
However his agent Jorge Mendes insists De Gea is keen to stay at United .
De Gea was in impressive form during 1-1 draw with West Ham . |
fd8aaf16e975e560f2667056d822d453decbc9e8 | By . Harriet Arkell . PUBLISHED: . 04:12 EST, 28 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 19:07 EST, 28 February 2014 . Romanian immigrant Simon Calin, 37, stole 54 bottles of Famous Grouse worth more than £1,000, magistrates were told . A Romanian who stole 54 bottles of . whisky told a court it was his first mistake since he’d arrived in the . UK – just nine days earlier. Simon . Calin had been lured to the UK with the promise of good job to support . his wife and child, Furness Magistrates’ Court heard on Thursday. The 37-year-old arrived in Britain on January 2 but by the 11th he found himself in Barrow, Cumbria, with no job or money. He . then loaded 54 bottles of Famous Grouse whisky, worth £1,080 in total, . into a shopping trolley along with tissues and some bags before walking . out of the Tesco store in Barrow without paying. Peter . Kelly, prosecuting, said: ‘‘He told police he was on his own and had . been here one week, two days, his money had run out and this was the . first mistake he had made.’ CCTV cameras caught Calin, of Leigh, Cumbria, getting into a car which drove off but was later stopped by police. He . pleaded guilty to theft and failing to surrender. He was given an . eight-week curfew and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a £60 victim . surcharge. But in a final . twist, the court was told he could not be sentenced to unpaid work as . his English was not good enough to understand health and safety . information. Trystan Roberts, defending, said: 'What Mr Calin tells me is he arrived in the UK about one week before this incident. The Romanian pushed a trolley loaded with bottles of whisky out of this Tesco store before police caught him . 'He was coming, as people do, in order to find work and to provide for his wife and child in Romania. 'He had been told when he came over here there would be a job available for him and that work would be well paid, but the reality was very different.' Mr Roberts told the court Calin had been cajoled into being the ‘fall guy’ by a group of others who said by stealing the whisky it would answer his money troubles. The goods were all recovered in a re-saleable condition, and the court was told Calin now had the promise of a job in a car wash in Leigh, where he is living with his sister. Calin was given an eight-week curfew from 7pm to 7am, and ordered to pay court costs of £85 and a £60 victim surcharge. The court was told he could not undertake unpaid work as his English was not good enough to understand health and safety information. | Simon Calin, 37, from Barrow-in-Furness, stole £1,108 of Famous Grouse .
Pushed trolley out of shop and loaded up car, which was stopped by police .
Calin, who came here from Romania on 2 January, had no job or money .
He admitted theft and failing to surrender and was given curfew and fined .
But the married father of one escaped doing unpaid work as his English was not good enough to understand health and safety instructions .
Furness Magistrates Court heard he is now hoping to work in a car wash . |
fd8b04b388f1385d5f34f07e2b5fb2205e548abd | Stuart McCall quit as Motherwell boss - two weeks after being talked out of leaving by his employers. The second-longest serving manager in Scottish senior football was, Sportsmail understands, ready to walk after losing 3-1 at home to Dundee a fortnight ago. Convinced to stay on in the hope of turning around a horrific early-season run of form, McCall ultimately had his spirit broken by successive away defeats to Aberdeen and St Johnstone. Stuart McCall has resigned as Motherwell boss having been convinced to stay on just two weeks ago . Motherwell players hold their heads in their hands as they succumb to another defeat on Friday . With his team sitting second bottom of the Premiership and worried that his own darkening mood had become a drag on the squad’s spirit, 50-year-old McCall - described by Motherwell directors as one of the most successful managers in their history - broke the news of his decision to club officials following a youth game against Celtic at Greenock on Sunday. Despite further attempts to talk him round, the former Scotland and Rangers star insisted that it was time to move on. Board member Derek Weir insisted that the directors had been willing to stand by a coach who had regularly over-achieved on a shoestring budget, finishing second in the top flight in consecutive seasons. ‘We have been acutely aware of results this season - but everyone at Fir Park was confident in his and the team’s ability to turn things around,’ said Weir. ‘However, following a long conversation this afternoon, Stuart felt it was better for all concerned if he stepped down with immediate effect and we respect that.’ McCall, pictured after the 1-1 draw with Celtic in September, believed he could no longer take the club forward . Sportsmail understands that there was no pressure from within the club on McCall, whose record of success had made him as close to fireproof as it’s possible for any manager to be. But the man himself felt that he was running out of enthusiasm for the job, fearing that he couldn’t get any more out of the group - and confessed to friends that he was beginning to dread matchday. He was willing to hang on even after that Dundee loss, however, because he felt he owed the club his best effort to improve. Last Friday night’s 2-1 defeat to St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park appears to have been the last straw. An official club statement released last night heaped praise on the departing head coach, saying: ‘Motherwell FC can announce Stuart McCall has resigned from his position as manager. McCall was the second longest-serving manager in Scottish football before his resignation on Sunday . ‘McCall , who was appointed in December 2010 and was the second longest serving manager in Scottish senior football (after Forfar bos s Dick Campbell) informed the board of his decision late this afternoon. ‘The 40-times capped former Scotland midfielder has overseen a period of incredible success at Fir Park, including taking Motherwell into the Scottish Cup Final in 2011, then three ‘Best of the Rest’ finishes in the Scottish top flight. ‘As manager, he smashed a number of long-standing records, including for games won, goals scored, clean sheets and points accumulated; the 50-year old also led Motherwell into the UEFA Champions League for the first and only time back in 2012. ‘In contrast, the current season hasn’t started as well as anyone would like.’ Weir, who was instrumental in McCall’s appointment almost four years ago, confirmed that assistant manager Kenny Black will act as caretaker until a new manager is found. He added: ‘Everyone at Motherwell FC would like to sincerely thank Stuart for his contribution to the club, which will go down as one of the most successful managerial tenures in our 128-year history.’ St Johnstone's victory over Motherwell on Friday proved to be the final straw for long-serving McCall . There are echoes of McCall’s resignation from Bradford City in 2010, when he stepped down under very little pressure from the board - arguing that he couldn’t take the team any further. Under his guidance, Motherwell regularly left clubs with bigger finances trailing - as well as turning Michael Higdon into Scotland’s Player of the Year. Each summer brought fresh cuts to his budget, however, and McCall spent almost every close season bidding farewell to the previous campaign’s best performers. He has become a valued member of Gordon Strachan’s Scotland staff since his appointment, on a part-time basis, in January 2013. Bookies immediately installed former Ross County boss Derek Adams as favourite for the Fir Park job, followed by Terry Butcher, Gary Locke, Ian Murray, Owen Coyle and Jimmy Calderwood. | Stuart McCall resigned as Motherwell manager on Sunday .
He was the second longest-serving manager in Scottish football .
Board convinced him to stay two weeks ago but he has now left the club .
McCall described as 'one of the greatest Motherwell managers in history' |
fd8b3bd3b30140c04d421309a624acb2326504d2 | Parts of a sickening video released by Islamic State militants that shows members of the terror group beheading 21 Coptic Christians have been faked, experts have claimed. The footage, which lasts five minutes, shows the Egyptian Christians dressed in jumpsuits being marched one by one along a lonely beach, each held by a fighter clad in black. The captives, their faces uncovered, are made to kneel before being forced to lie down. The masked jihadists then behead them simultaneously. While experts believe the men were killed by the terrorists, questions have been raised over whether some scenes - including one where the militants appear to be 7ft tall - have been manipulated. Scroll down for video . Doctored? The executioners appear to be seven-foot tall in this still taken from the sickening footage . Experts believe that the scene of ISIS terrorists marching 21 Coptic Christians to their death was faked . It is believed the actual murders were filmed in a different location and the sea was added at a later stage . There are also doubts as to whether the men were all murdered on the beach and whether they were all killed at the same time. It is thought sections of the footage might have been shot on a 'green screen' in a studio - a technique used in Hollywood blockbusters - and that the beach background was added at a later stage. Veryan Khan, of the Florida-based Terrorism Research and Analysis Consortium, told Fox News that there are several technical mistakes in the video that show it was manipulated. She said that in the shot of the terrorists marching their prisoners along the beach, the jihadis appear to be 7ft tall - towering as much as two feet above their victims. This observation was supported by Hollywood director Mary Lambert who described it as the shot with the 'really tall Jihadists and the dwarf Christians.' Ms Khan added that the terrorist who speaks in the clip - dubbed 'Jihad Joseph' - appears much bigger than the sea in some shots, while his head looks out of proportion to his body. The sickening image of blood in the sea is believed to have been created using special effects . Ms Khan explained that this meant it was likely he had been filmed indoors and the sea scene, believed to be in northern Libya, had been placed behind him at a later stage. Meanwhile, Lambert said that the scene that apparently shows the sea turning red with the blood of the beheaded men 'was obviously special effects'. The experts claimed that only a few Jihadis would have been on the beach along with a 'less talented crew' than the ones responsible for some of the group's more high-production videos. Earlier this week, local media reported that militants from the Islamic State and Ansar Al-Sharia were understood to have rounded up dozens of farm workers in the wake of bombings by Cairo. It raises the chilling prospect of yet another mass execution in what is being seen as ISIS's bid to announce its presence in a new region where it is gaining influence. Initial reports said seven men had been seized, but that figure had risen to more than 35 by mid-afternoon yesterday, according to The Libya Herald. It came as Egypt blitzed ISIS training camps, weapons stockpiles and fighters in two waves of air strikes following the gruesome murder of captured Egyptian workers. Meanwhile, the Egyptian government called for the US-led coalition to also target ISIS in Libya. | Isis released a video last week showing the murder of 21 Coptic Christians .
The five-minute film showed the men being marched along a beach .
The victims are then shown lined up and beheaded in sequence .
Experts believe the Egyptian victims were not murdered at the beach .
Instead, they were murdered elsewhere with the background added later .
The shocking scene of the sea turning red is believed to be special effects .
The scene where the sea turns red with blood is also thought to be faked . |
fd8b4d5ed305e3a535629d76d32067dd270b884f | Two sex therapists have sparked outrage in the Netherlands by calling for 'virtual' child porn to be legalised to relieve the urges of paedophiles. Amsterdam hospital sexologists Rik van Lunsen and Erik van Beek claim allowing perverts to view drawings or computer-generated images of children would 'regulate their desires'. The Netherlands outlawed all sexual representation of children in 2002 as technology made imaginary images too realistic. Controversial: Two sex therapists have sparked outrage in the Netherlands by calling for 'virtual' child porn to be legalised to relieve the urges of paedophiles . Reaction: The comments from the pair who run the sexology department at Amsterdam's Univeristy Hospital have sparked shock on Dutch Internet forums . But Mr Van Beek told the Dutch media:'I think that repressing you fantasies can lead to frustration and ultimately, for some types of paedophile, to a greater likelihood of doing something wrong. 'If you make virtual child pornography under strict government control with a label explaining that no child was abused, you can give paedophiles a way of regulating their sexual urges.' Horror: The idea of sexualising children has provoked shock and outrage . Mr van Lunsen added:'We don't make enough of a distinction in public debate between 'healthy' paedophiles, people who are not paedosexually active, and delinquent paedosexuals. 'We're not responsible for our thoughts or our fantasies, we're only responsible for one thing - our actions.' But the comments from the pair who . run the sexology department at Amsterdam's Univeristy Hospital have . sparked shock on Dutch Internet forums. Psychotherapist . Jules Mulder of the prestigious De Waag clinic said:'The proposal isn't . really pertinent and for some people it will certainly increase the . likelihood of going through with sexual abuse. 'It . would also be very difficult to cover all tastes. Some want photos of . naked children, others want children having sex while someone else wants . an eight-year-old boy with dark hair and a certain look in his eyes. 'It's not possible to satisfy these different desires with a bit of virtual child pornography.' Former parliament speaker Gerdi Verbeet added:'It's really not a good idea. 'It . would be an enormous responsibility for the government, and it also may . not be possible to tell the virtual images from the real.' A . spokesman for the Dutch branch of the Defence for Children . International charity said it was opposed to the proposal, adding: 'It's . preferable for paedophiles to learn to control themselves in a . different way.' MP . Myrthe Hilkens from the left-wing PvdA party said he had agreed to put . questions on the issue to justice minister Ivo Opstelten and expected a . written reply in the coming days. | Amsterdam hospital sexologists claim allowing perverts to view drawings or computer-generated images of children would 'regulate their desires'
The Netherlands outlawed all sexual representation of children in 2002 as technology made imaginary images too realistic . |
fd8b6577c119b9773645ea97e2facd3cb2b082c9 | British actor and film director Richard Attenborough, who died at the age of 90 on Saturday, won the imagination of millions over his 60-year career on the screen. In the early years he was best known for his roles in Brighton Rock and The Great Escape, and later for his behind-the-scenes part as director and producer of Gandhi, which won him critical acclaim for his 'typically sympathetic and sure-handed' direction of the movie. Meanwhile his role as the 'best Santa ever', according to his co-star Dylan McDermott in the remake of Miracle on 34th Street in 1994, moved a generation of children born in the Eighties. And in his part as the eccentric millionaire in Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park in 1993 and later in the 1997 sequel, Lord Attenborough continued to win the hearts and minds of cinema-goers. 1. Jurassic Park . Attenborough became a cult figure for youngsters in the 1994 film and 1997 sequel with his role as John Hammond, a sympathetic grandfather who builds a dream-come-true dinosaur park. Welcome to Jurassic Park: Many people know him as the eccentric millionaire and sympathetic grandfather, John Hammond, in Steven Spielberg's dinosaur blockbuster . 2. Gandhi . Produced and directed by Attenborough, the 1982 film looks back on the leader of India's independence movement against the UK's rule of the country during the 20th century. The biographical movie bagged eight Academy awards - a record for British film - including best director. 3. Brighton Rock . Attenborough first appeared on the screen in this 1947 film as psychopathic gangster Pinkie Brown. It was a role that cast him as a hoodlum for the next few years until he moved on to play more sympathetic characters. Merry Christmas: Richard Attenborough won the imaginations of New Yorkers in the 1994 remake of Miracle on 34th Street in his role as Santa Claus . 4. Miracle On 34th Street . Attenborough's brilliant performance convinces the children of New York that he is Santa Claus. But when he ends up in court, his trademark twinkle and white beard doesn't cut the mustard and he relies on help from six-year-old Susan to prove he's the real deal in this 1994 remake. 5. The Great Escape . During the Sixties, Attenborough showed a fondness for military roles, playing the POW mastermind Bartlett in The Great Escape in 1963. He later went on to play the ship's engineer Frenchy Burgoyne in The Sand Pebbles in 1966 and Sergeant Major Lauderdale in Guns at Batasi in 1964. | British actor died on Saturday leaving a 60-year cinema legacy behind .
Earlier generation remember him for military roles in The Great Escape .
Youngsters recall a sympathetic grandfather in Jurassic Park . |
fd8bb06a0173c428f0cdc7d13cd29006d7b29abe | By . Rosie Taylor . World record: Bolt produced more than 2,600 watts of power to hit his 100m time of 9.58 seconds . Olympic champion Usain Bolt produced 50 times more energy than that of a speeding bullet during one of his record-breaking 100metre runs, scientists have revealed. Physicists studying the secrets of Bolt's success announced the findings after a detailed study of the Jamaican sprinter's 100m performance during the 2009 World Championships in Berlin. They discovered that he produced a remarkable 81.58kJ of energy - compared to just 1.6kJ of energy a bullet produces when it leaves the . barrel of a 0.44 calibre Magnum handgun. They also calculated that he reached a top speed of 27mph during the race. But unlike a bullet - which can reach . 1,000mph - Bolt's huge 6ft 5ins frame meant more than 92 per cent of his . energy was absorbed in battling air resistance. The researchers found he . had to produce an 'extraordinary' amount of power to reach his 100m . world record time - and because he's so tall he is less aerodynamic than the average human. They made the discovery after taking into account the altitude of . the Berlin track, the temperature at the time of the race and the . cross-section of Bolt himself. Bolt reached a maximum power of 2,619.5watts - a . horsepower of 3.5 - within 0.89 seconds when he was only at half his maximum speed, which shows the effect the drag had on his acceleration. Jorge Hernandez, co-author of the study which was published in the European Journal of Physics, said: 'Our calculated drag coefficient highlights the outstanding ability of Bolt. 'He . has been able to break several records despite not being as aerodynamic . as a human can be. The enormous amount of work that Bolt developed in . 2009, and the amount that was absorbed by drag, is truly extraordinary. 'It . is so hard to break records nowadays, even by hundredths of a second, . as the runners must act very powerfully against a tremendous force which . increases massively with each bit of additional speed they are able to . develop. Fastest: Bolt, pictured at London 2012, had to exert an 'extraordinary' amount of power to make the time because his large frame makes his less aerodynamic . 'This is all because of the 'physical barrier' imposed . by the conditions on Earth. Of course, if Bolt were to run on a planet . with a much less dense atmosphere, he could achieve records of fantastic . proportions.' The researchers, from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, claim their equations can be used to calculate the effect of a tailwind, which can vary between races and significantly reduce running times. They compared Bolt's time in Berlin with his . previous world record time of 9.69 seconds, set during the Beijing . Olympics a year earlier. In Beijing Bolt was running with no tailwind, but in Berlin there was a tailwind of 0.9 metres per second. According . to the researchers' new equations, Bolt would have clocked a slower . time in Berlin if there was no tailwind, but would still have beaten his . world record from Beijing - they predict that he would have run a time . of 9.68 seconds. Resistance: Bolt developed more than 80kJ of energy but more than 92 per cent of it was absorbed by the drag . The calculations in the study were tested for accuracy by fitting real-life experimental data into the equations. The figures were from the . International Association of Athletics Federation's (IAAF) laser . velocity guard device, which recorded Bolt's position and speed every . one-tenth of a second during the 2009 race in Berlin. Dr . Hernandez added: 'The accurate recording of Bolt's position and speed . during the race provided a splendid opportunity for us to study the . effects of drag on a sprinter. 'If more data become available in the future, it would be interesting to see what distinguishes one athlete from another.' Usain Bolt is in London at the Olympic park today to take part in a anniversary games to mark a year since London 2012. | Researchers analysed physics of his record-breaking 2009 race in Berlin .
He produced more than 80kJ of energy but 92 per cent absorbed by drag .
A speeding bullet has around 1.6kJ of energy when it leaves the barrel .
His huge 6' 5" frame means he is less aerodynamic than average human . |
fd8be23b20c6918d4d351ea87262d034201f8f87 | Every artist has their own way of dealing with their critics, but it seems that architect Frank Gehry's is more direct than most. When asked at a press conference how he felt about people calling his buildings a 'spectacle', he stared silently for a few moments before raising his middle finger. He then went on to rant about how 98 per cent of the world's buildings are 'pure sh*t' saying the designers had 'no sense of design, no respect for humanity or for anything else'. Frank Gehry, the architect behind the iconic Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, gave a journalist the middle finger during a press conference in Spain, before branding 98 per cent of modern architecture as 'pure sh*t' Gehry launched the attack after being asked about critics who describe his buildings as little more than a spectacle. He later apologised, saying he was 'jet lagged' Gehry, the man behind the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, was speaking to reporters after unveiling his latest construction, the Fondation Louis Vuitton in the Bois de Boulogne park, Paris. After making the crude gesture early on, he was then asked if he thought 'emblematic buildings' had a place in modern cities. He replied: 'Let me tell you one thing. In this world we are living in, 98 per cent of everything that is built and designed today is pure sh*t. 'There’s no sense of design, no respect for humanity or for anything else. They are damn buildings and that’s it. 'Once in a while, however, a group of people do something special. Very few, but God, leave us alone. We are dedicated to our work. 'I don’t ask for work … I work with clients who respect the art of architecture. Therefore, please don’t ask questions as stupid as that one.' He then went on to praise his own buildings, saying that Bilbao was an example of how good architecture could turn a town from an industrial waste ground and into a cultural hub. The well-known designer was giving a press conference following the opening of his new building, the Louis Vuitton Foundation art museum, in Paris . Gehry's fame was cemented by his eccentric Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, which he went on to praise as an example of how good architecture can turn an area around . He later apologised for the remarks, saying that he was jet-lagged and that the reporters had caught him 'in a bad mood', according to El Pais. Born Frank Owen Goldberg as the son of Polish Jewish immigrants in 1929, Gehry attended the prestigious University of Southern California and Harvard before moving to California. 1) Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain . 2) Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles . 3) Dancing House, Prague, Czech Republic (right) 4) 8 Spruce Street, New York . 5) Gehry Tower, Hanover, Germany . 6) Experience Music Project, Seattle . There he made a name for himself designing Easy Edge furniture, made from cardboard, and before taking on his first building by remodeling a house for his family in Santa Monica. The design, which involved cladding the property with corrugated iron and splitting the roof with a huge skylight, caught the attention of the design world, and he soon moved on to bigger projects. The Exhibit Center, Merriweather Post Pavilion, and Rouse Company Headquarters was his first large building project in 1974. His most famous work, The Guggenheim Museum, was inaugurated on October 18, 1997. Works since include the twisted Gehry Tower and the Dancing Building, in Prague. Critics of Gehry have accused his buildings of being a distracting spectacle for corporate backers keen to improve their image. Hal Foster was particularly scathing about his Walt Disney Concert Hall, in LA, saying it was nothing more than a 'media logo'. Gehry is currently working on an 800-apartment complex to be built next to Battersea Power Station in central London - his first buildings in England. Gehry is currently working on an 800-room apartment complex which will sit next to Battersea Power Station in London - his first building in England . | Gehry made crude gesture after being asked what he thought of his critics .
Attacked modern works with 'no sense of design, no respect for humanity'
Later apologised for comments, saying he had been caught in a bad mood . |
fd8c0d0ae3ac0dc066fa9918f9fa58c5cf5f2eb5 | (CNN) -- Local favorite Andy Murray was a man under pressure but it seldom showed as he kept his ATP World Tour Finals bid alive on Tuesday. The Scot knew that anything other than victory against Canadian Milos Raonic would have eliminated him from the prestigious season-ending event in London. After losing his opening match to Japan's Kei Nishikori on Sunday, Murray raised his game as he won 6-3 7-5 while Raonic, who suffered his second straight defeat, hit 33 unforced errors. "On Sunday, there wasn't much magic," Murray said on court after victory. "Today, I came up with some good shots at the right moments. Milos didn't serve as well as he can. "I played a solid match." The Scot now needs to beat an in-form Roger Federer in both players' final Group B game on Thursday to be sure of reaching the semifinals. Federer tops the group with a 100% record, while both Murray and Nishikori have won one and lost one. "It's always a pleasure to play against Roger," Murray added. "He's one of the greatest players that's ever played the game so to get the opportunity to play him in an atmosphere like this is excellent." Murray may well find that he doesn't receive all the support at the O2 Arena given the sizable Swiss contingent that greeted their favorite's 6-3 6-2 victory over Nishikori earlier on Tuesday. With two wins out of two in Group B, following a straight sets win over Raonic on Sunday, Federer is on course to continue his dependable displays at the tournament. 993 and counting... The 33-year-old, who needs just one set to go through, has reached the semifinals on all but one of his 12 previous appearances at the World Tour Finals. Should he reach the last four, he will match the record of Ivan Lendl -- who reached the semis on 12 occasions. A masterly display against Nishikori, the first Asian man to qualify for the World Tour singles, also took Federer to within seven wins of 1,000 career victories. Currently boasting 993 triumphs from 1,219 matches, only Jimmy Connors (1,253 wins) and Lendl (1,071) have previously broken a barrier that is testament to both longevity and class. "It would obviously be cool to get there -- I think it's a great number," said the 17-time grand slam champion, to cheers and the sound of cowbells from a vocal Swiss contingent. He also has the chance to finish the year as No. 1 for a record-equalling sixth time, although any possibility of doing so will be dashed should Djokovic, who beat U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic in his opener on Monday, win all three of his Group A games. Nishikori, who lacked the poise he showed when beating Murray on Sunday, showered praise on the evergreen Federer afterwards. "I never feel that he's 33," said the 24-year-old, who finished runner-up at this year's U.S. Open. "He still looks young and plays amazing tennis." On Wednesday, Group A hosts its second round of matches as Djokovic meets Stan Wawrinka while Cilic and Tomas Berdych both go in search of their first wins. | Andy Murray maintains World Tour bid with straight sets victory over Milos Raonic .
Defeat for the Scot would have spelled early elimination .
Roger Federer rolls back years with vintage display against Kei Nishikori .
All four players in Group B can still qualify for semifinals . |
fd8c4ed368c071246a9bfd70f8ee86e6b6667ce5 | By . Chris Wheeler . Burnley's players have been seeing a psychologist to prepare them for the mental battle of staying in the Premier League. Sean Dyche’s team were promoted against the odds in April and are favourites to go straight back down again ahead of their opening game against Chelsea at Turf Moor on Monday night. Burnley captain Jason Shackell revealed that Dyche has called in sports psychologist Simon Clarkson since taking over nearly two years ago, and the players are now ready for what promises to be a season of struggle. VIDEO Scroll for Dyche: Burnley fans haven't always called me the 'ginger Mourinho' Simon says: Burnley captain Jason Shackell revealed manager Sean Dyche has called in a sports psychologist . ‘He delivers a little presentation with quite powerful messages and I think the lads buy into everything he’s done,’ said Shackell. ‘There are key messages and he thinks a little bit outside the box, which is nice. ‘The general message is we’re not going to get it all like we did last year, but it’s not getting too low with the lows and not getting too high with the highs. It’s just trying to keep it on a nice even keel and take one game at a time.’ Tough start: Burnley boss Dyche will take charge of his first game in the Premier League against Chelsea . Burnley were strongly tipped for relegation from the Championship last year as well before going up in second place, and Shackell believes his side thrive when they are written off. ‘It brings a certain freedom and freedom can be a powerful thing,’ he said. ‘With the pressure off, there’s no weight on our shoulders.’ | Burnley squad have been seeing sports psychologist ahead of new season .
Sean Dyche guided Clarets to promotion to Premier League last term .
Burnley kick off new season against Chelsea at Turf Moor on Monday night . |
fd8d34aa7c12756217b4e313c61ad7e9b93a2789 | By . MailOnline Reporter . A young California couple were found dead in their Anaheim Hills home on Friday morning, in a suspected murder-suicide that left their 7-month-old daughter orphaned. The parents of 32-year-old Natalie Rangel-Diaz made the gruesome discovery when they went over to the couple's home around 8:30am to babysit their granddaughter. The bodies of Mrs Diaz and husband John Thomas Diaz, also 32, were located on the first floor of their home on the 700 block of S Morningstar Drive. Both suffered gunshot wounds, with a handgun near their bodies. Gruesome end: Natalie Rangel-Diaz (left) and husband John Thomas Diaz (right) were found shot to death at their Anaheim Hills home on Friday. Police suspect the couple died in a murder-suicide . Parent-less: The Diaz's leave behind a 7-month-old baby girl. She was found in an upstairs bedroom unharmed . Scene: Natalie Rangel-Diaz's parents made the gruesome discovery when they went over to the house early Friday to babysit . Their baby daughter was left unattended, but unharmed, in an upstairs bedroom. Police are still investigating the homicides, but say they are not seeking any suspects. No arrests have been made, . The 7-month-old has been placed in protective custody. Still investigating: The Diaz's daughter has been placed in protective custody. The double homicide is still under investigation by local police . | The bodies of Natalie Rangel-Diaz and John Thomas Diaz, both 32, were found at their Anaheim Hills, California home on Friday morning .
Police suspect the couple died in a murder-suicide .
They leave behind a 7-month-old daughter . |
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