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fdb267ba12d46992d14a827056784b71d2a78793 | LaGuardia Airport Terminal C was evacuated Tuesday afternoon after officials noticed a package being loaded onto a Richmond, Virginia-bound plane was spewing smoke. Port Authority spokesman Joe Pentangelo said some ramp workers reported the issue shortly before noon. Boarding of Delta Flight 5208 was suspended and the terminal partially emptied as authorities investigated the matter. Evacuation: Hundreds of travelers can be seen being forced out of LaGuardia airport's Terminal C after 11am Tuesday when employees spotted a package that appeared to be smoking . Cold: 'Airport officials are making us walk farther and farther from terminal C at Laguardia airport. #freezing' wrote Twitter user and evacuee Dionna Widder . Authorities have called the evacuation a precautionary measure. Pentangelo said a passenger was being interviewed, though it remained unclear at the time of the evacuation whether the package was a parcel that was simply being shipped or if it belonged to a passenger. Also unclear was what exactly caused the bag to smoke, though the New York Post reports that the Port Authority’s Police Crash Fire Rescue Unit was on hand during the evacuation and investigation. The package never made it onto the Virginia-bound fight. Hundreds of passengers were forced out into the cold, snowy thoroughfares outside the terminal and the plane was briefly called back to the gate. The day resumes: An all clear was given after 1pm and tweeted out by the New York FBI . 'Airport officials are making us walk farther and farther from terminal C at LaGuardia airport. #freezing,' wrote Twitter user Dionna Widder. By 12:30, employees were allowed back into the evacuated area. Passengers soon followed and the ExpressJet has since been cleared for takeoff. 'All clear at LaGuardia Airport following earlier reports of a suspicious package,' tweeted the New York FBI. It was expected to be a little over an hour and a half late into Richmond. Pentangelo said the bag was moved to a remote location, X-rayed and declared harmless. Precautionary: The Delta terminal was partially cleared as a precaution before noon and a passenger was questioned by authorities but authorities said nothing nefarious was suspected . | Richmond, Virginia-bound Delta Flight 5208 was called briefly back to its gate after the suspicious package was spotted by baggage loaders .
Authorities say the package never made it onto the plane .
Port Authority authorities did not immediately reveal what made the package smoke but at least one traveler was questioned during the investigation .
The precautionary evacuation ended around 12:30pm and the flight was cleared to take off . |
fdb28cb7ee0cc43d6b0945c8e76ed74a776d4a98 | (CNN)Dori J. Maynard, who as president of the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education was dedicated to expanding diversity in newsrooms and excellence in journalism, died Tuesday, according to a statement on the institute's website. She was 56. The cause of death was complications from lung cancer, her family told the Bay Area News Group, which runs the Oakland Tribune, the newspaper her father edited and later owned. Maynard was once asked what her middle initial, "J," stood for. "Journalism," she responded, and in a long career in the field she worked as a reporter for such papers as the Bakersfield Californian and the Detroit Free Press. But it was as the head of the Oakland-based Maynard Institute -- co-founded by her father, a longtime journalist who became the first African-American to own a major metropolitan newspaper -- that she had the greatest impact, colleagues said. "She's the kind of person who understood how this idea of diversity was so vital today and continues to be vital and needed to change from our old ways of thinking of what that meant and how to implement it in the production of news and the way we think about news," longtime friend Sally Lehrman told the Oakland Tribune. "She was always thinking about work because she loved it and it was such a part of her." "Dori was fearless," added Dawn Garcia, managing director of Stanford University's John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships. Maynard was concerned that there were blind spots in traditional metropolitan newsrooms and worked to correct them. "There is one often overlooked reason why the industry continues to struggle to retain journalists of color. It is because the news organizations that essentially serve as moderators of the nation's conversations have yet to learn how to talk about and across their own racial fault lines," she wrote in an essay in 2003. The Maynard Institute had a variety of programs to address these issues, including a "diversity framework that looks at diversity through the prisms of race, class, gender, generation, and geography," she told Harvard's Shorenstein Center. "African-Americans are primarily (portrayed) in crime, sports and entertainment (stories). Latinos (through) episodic coverage of immigration. Native Americans and Asian Americans apparently just don't contribute to the daily fabric of our lives. ... We're spending some time trying to raise that issue," she continued. Friends and colleagues expressed sadness at her death. "You can hardly put into words how important the work Dori and the Maynard Institute did to train young people of color for careers in journalism and how the institute trained the media to write fair stories about communities of color," wrote Bob Butler, a San Francisco radio reporter and the president of the National Association of Black Journalists, in a comment on the Maynard Institute's website. Maynard was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University in 1993. Her father had a Nieman in 1966, making the pair the first father-daughter pair to earn that honor. People we've lost in 2015 . | Dori Maynard was champion of diversity in newsrooms, journalism .
She was president of notable journalism organization . |
fdb292ffb6db4d787691e94d511582409007728c | Jailed: Elizabeth Jones, 22, faces 16 months in prison after making 11 false rape claims since 2004 . A woman who cried rape was jailed yesterday after a court heard it was her eleventh false claim. Compulsive liar Elizabeth Jones, 22, was exposed when CCTV footage disproved her allegation against a man she ‘did not like any more’. She had made her first false rape claim in 2004 when she was just 13, Southampton Crown Court heard. Between 2005 and 2007 she made another eight allegations which police investigated and dismissed, although she was not prosecuted. In 2009 she was sentenced to a ten-month detention and training order for a similar offence. Jones’s latest victim was a boyfriend against whom she made the allegation after the pair had an argument. Police began an investigation after Jones, from Southampton, persuaded a friend to report she had been assaulted. She later went to the police station for a medical examination and repeated her allegation. The man was arrested and questioned for nine hours before being released without charge. Prosecutor Jennie Rickman said he denied rape and detectives later viewed CCTV covering part of the house in which Jones claimed to have been attacked. The video did not support her story that the man forced himself on her. Miss Rickman said: ‘There is a history of her making false allegations of this nature and this is the 11th incident. ‘Police had to take her allegation seriously and carried out an appropriate investigation. ‘She was later arrested and accepted she had lied about being raped. She said she did it because she did not like him.’ Jones admitted to attempting to pervert the course of justice and was jailed for 16 months. Judge Derwin Hope said the offence was . not only serious because of ‘the terrible emotional experience’ the man . she accused had to endure, but also because it struck at the heart of . the criminal justice system. In mitigation, Megan Topliss said Jones had . had a disturbed childhood and had been in care. Fabricated: Southampton Crown Court heard that her latest victim was accused because she did not like him . When confronted by police, Jones . immediately accepted she had lied and pleaded guilty at the earliest . opportunity, Miss Topliss said. Outside court, Detective Constable Tim . Blanche of Southampton’s Public Protection Department, who led the . investigation, said that Jones had a ‘complex life’. Of the case, he said: ‘There was intimate contact between the couple, but they didn’t live together.’ The pair had an argument and Jones . made the fabricated rape allegation. ‘The man was arrested and he gave a . statement. He had to live his life with people accusing him of being a . rapist,’ Detective Constable Blanche said. When the man heard Jones had been . jailed for 16 months ‘he was disappointed and felt that the time wasn’t . long enough after what she put him through’. Detective Constable Blanche added: ‘After the previous ten false allegations, Judge Hope felt that it was the final straw. ‘The evidence in the case was so . conclusive as the CCTV images were so clear. I imagine that with the . previous allegations the evidence hasn’t been there. ‘We take rape allegations very seriously and those that make false claims need to face the consequences. ‘False allegations completely . undermine the work that the police have done and make it harder for . genuine rape victims to come forward.’ | Elizabeth Jones, 22, invented her first sex attack in 2004, when aged 13 .
Her latest victim was targeted because she didn't like him .
After he was held for nine hours CCTV disproved her malicious claim . |
fdb297984c5317752648702d7773ee5a9d9d75e8 | By . James Chapman . PUBLISHED: . 18:52 EST, 16 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:43 EST, 17 June 2013 . David Cameron will today try to launch talks on a free trade deal between Europe and the US that could be worth £380 a year for every British household. The Prime Minister wants to use this week's G8 summit in Northern Ireland to launch formal negotiations on an agreement that could be worth up to £10billion to the UK and £85billion worldwide. He will argue that a free trade deal – similar to that which operates inside the EU – would 'turbo-charge the transatlantic economy'. Scroll down for video . Prime Minister David Cameron arrives at Belfast International Airport to attend the Enniskillen G8 summit where he wants to launch formal negotiations on an agreement with the U.S. 'These trade deals matter, because they mean more jobs, more choice for consumers and lower prices,' he said. Trade, tax and transparency were three vital drivers of growth that could produce 'transformative results', he said. Mr Cameron said he wanted 'a meeting where we can look each other in the eye' to solve the problems. But the most important issue is how to promote economic recovery, with action needed to boost growth, create jobs and reduce poverty, he added. 'Let's be clear, we still need to deal with fiscal deficits,' he said. 'Each country needs to press on with sorting out its public finances. Each country needs active monetary policy to kickstart the affordable loans and mortgages that businesses and families need. 'And each country needs to deal with the problem of youth unemployment by pursuing the structural reforms and flexible labour markets that are vital for competitiveness and jobs.' Special relationship: U.S. President Barack Obama (right) and David Cameron in March last year . France has urged for any trade agreement to include special protections for its film and TV industries against U.S. imports. There is also uncertainty over another of the Prime Minister's G8 priorities – an international deal to crack down on tax havens. Another key aim of the summit is a global deal on the payment of ransoms to terror groups who take hostages. Mr Cameron hopes it will 'choke off' a source of terror funding, given that some countries do still pay ransoms. 'It's an ambitious agenda. It's a very practical agenda,' he said. | PM will argue a deal would 'turbo-charge the .
transatlantic economy'
It would be similar to that which operates inside the EU . |
fdb29db86677c9cfa307e253f3d0ff0bb14ea2e4 | Protests have turned violent in Berkeley, California after demonstrators hit the streets for the second consecutive night to speak out against the chokehold death of Eric Garner in New York. A crowd of 750 protesters swarmed freeway overpasses at two locations in Berkeley, near San Francisco, prompting police to move in to clear the roadways and handcuff some protesters. Three officers and a technician were hurt and six people were arrested. Some protesters hurled objects at police, who responded by firing gas, the California Highway Patrol's Golden Gate division said on . its Twitter feed. It said demonstrators threw unspecified 'explosives' while protesters targeted them with rocks and bottles and tried to light a patrol vehicle on fire. Fighting back: Protesters retreat after police officers deploy teargas to disperse a crowd during the second night of protests against police violence in Berkeley, California on Sunday night . Flames: Police deployed the gas after some of the protesters through objects they called 'explosives' Anger: Protesters chant outside Berkeley City Hall during the march. The rallies following the failure of two grand juries to indict white police officers in the deaths of two unarmed black men in recent months . Fiery: A demonstrator takes a photograph while holding an upside down U.S. flag during the demo on Sunday . Destruction: An image shows a police car with a smashed windscreen following Sunday's protests . Some demonstrators said on Twitter that police had fired . rubber bullets, but this could not be confirmed. West Coast cities had braced for trouble after clashes in . nearby Berkeley and Seattle, Washington on Saturday. Protesters . in New York and other cities have staged demonstrations every . day since a grand jury's decision on Wednesday not to bring . criminal charges against the white police officer whose . chokehold contributed to the man's death in New York in July. Saturday's looting and rock-throwing on the West Coast . contrasted with the mostly peaceful demonstrations that have . taken place elsewhere. New York was quieter over the weekend. The killings of Eric Garner in New York and Michael Brown, . an unarmed black teen, in Ferguson, Missouri, have highlighted . the strained relations between police and African-Americans and . rekindled a national debate over U.S. race relations. The decision by a grand jury not to return an indictment inBrown's killing ignited two nights of arson and rioting in theSt. Louis suburbs. Speaking out: Demonstrators chant outside Berkeley City Hall during a march on Sunday against the New York City grand jury decision to not indict a police officer in the death of Eric Garner . March: Protesters march along Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley on Sunday . Hands on: Police officers scuffle with protesters during the protest - the second - in Berkeley on Sunday . Staying put: A demonstrator lies on the ground as another draws a line around him to symbolize a crime scene like those after the deaths of Eric Garner in New York in July and Michael Brown in Missouri in August . Hurt: Medics tend to an injured protester after he was hit in the head while attempting to stop others from vandalizing a Radio Shack during a march in Berkeley, California on Sunday . Turning violent: Another police image shows rocks allegedly thrown at officers during the march . Damage: A police car's smashed windscreen following the protests in northern California over the weekend . Earlier on Sunday evening hundreds of protesters began . marching down a main thoroughfare in Berkeley after massing on . the campus of the University of California. Officer Jenn Coats of the Berkeley Police Department said . the crowd, estimated at 500 to 600, was peaceful. On Saturday evening, what had begun as a peaceful march . ended in an extended confrontation between demonstrators and . police, resulting in six arrests, damage to local businesses and . a minor injury to a police officer. 'There were definitely a group of people that were intent on . violence,' Coats said. In downtown Seattle, about 200 people gathered on Sundayevening, a day after a demonstration drew more than 1,000protesters, with some throwing rocks and attacking police inclashes that resulted in seven arrests. Their numbers haddwindled to about 60 by 10 p.m. with only one arrest. Out in force: Members of the California Highway Patrol form a line on a freeway entrance after protesters ran onto Highway 24 during the march on Sunday. Police made several arrests overnight . Battle ground: Three officers and a technician were hurt and six people were arrested overnight . Fire: Residents attempt to extinguish a trash fire lit by protesters during the demonstration on Sunday . Standing up: A protester holds up a flag speaking out against police violence on Sunday . New York Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said on Sunday the . department's internal investigation into Garner's death could . last four months. He said he would review the results to decide . if officers involved in Garner's arrest had violated department . policy. The Justice Department is doing its own investigation. In Chicago, church-affiliated protesters marched through the . city, carrying signs and chanting, 'I can't breathe' and 'Hands . up, don't shoot,' television news footage showed. Protesters in Miami blocked a portion of Interstate 195 on . Sunday afternoon, clogging traffic to the Art Basel show in . Miami Beach, CBS-TV Miami reported. The outcry over the recent killings surfaced in NFL stadiums . as well. Detroit Lions running back Reggie Bush was among . several players donning pre-game practice jerseys reading 'I . can't breathe,' Garner's dying words. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Six people were arrested in Berkeley overnight and three officers were hurt .
Some protesters threw unspecified 'explosives' at cops, police said .
Officers responded by firing teargas at the crowds .
The crowd of 750 were protesting against police violence after a NY grand jury's decision not to indict the cop in Eric Garner's chokehold death . |
fdb2ea8fd6cc4dd767d84734d622bbb07b3a24ba | In the tunnel at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, it was easy to reminisce and think back to the time when Jose Mourinho told Frank Lampard he had become the world's greatest player. The sad thing about these two, texting buddies when Mourinho was at Inter Milan and Real Madrid, is that they appear to have lost touch. Sometimes life moves on, too quickly in this case. There was an uneasy handshake with Chelsea's manager, some skin on skin as Lampard settled into the visitors' technical area before the 1-1 draw, but it was not the same. Frank Lampard (left) and Jose Mourinho awkwardly shake hands before kick-off at Stamford Bridge . Lampard, pictured under pressure from friend John Terry, returned to face his old club Chelsea on Saturday . Mourinho stays focused on the game as Lampard prepares to come off the bench for the champions . The Premier League board will decide whether to fine Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho for his latest vow of silence. The Portuguese did not speak to the press following Saturday's clash with Manchester City after the FA banned Diego Costa. Last Friday's press conference was also cancelled. Premier League chiefs will write to Mourinho and Chelsea for their reasons before the case is taken to the board. 'I don't want to try to say that there's any issue at all,' admitted Lampard after his 13-minute appearance as a substitute for Manchester City. 'I got a text at Christmas, I texted him back. We spoke in the dressing room, 'How's the family?,' the usual. 'We are grown men, you know what I mean? We are at different football clubs. I'm sure we are big enough that none of this is going to get in the way of our relationship and how we are personally. 'We remain close. This is football, it's sport and I haven't spoken to him that much recently. 'I don't think there's room for bitterness and if there is then I'll deal with that down the line.' Lampard dealt with his return to Stamford Bridge in the way that anyone who has come across him during his professional career would expect him to: unruffled, polite, respectful and courteous. There were a few dissenting voices at Stamford Bridge when he appeared as a 77th-minute substitute for the champions but his return home went as well could be expected. Chelsea fans unfurled a banner in tribute to Lampard as the midfielder made his return to Stamford Bridge . The former England midfielder was given a largely positive reception from the home fans . But this Chelsea was unhappy with Lampard's decision to join title rivals Manchester City . In the end, after these title rivals went away with a point each, Lampard went into the Chelsea dressing room to share some memories of the three Barclays Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the Champions League that they won together in Chelsea's golden era. 'It was lovely to get that reception at the end from the fans,' he added. 'I really appreciate that and I'm a lucky boy. 'I was nervous in general, to come here and be part of the away team is a bit nerve-wracking. 'I went in the dressing room afterwards and saw all the people behind the scenes, loads of faces, it was brilliant.' Lampard still has the drive and the desire to add another Premier League title before he leaves City at the end of the season to move to New York City. Loic Remy places the ball past Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart to put his side in the lead . Chelsea striker Remy celebrates with the home fans after being given a chance in the absence of Diego Costa . This result, if not the performance, suited leaders Chelsea and Manuel Pellegrini's team have their work cut out to retain the Premier League. Five points is a lot of ground to make up. 'Chelsea finished the first half of the season with 45 points, so it could be 90 or more,' admitted Pellegrini. 'Of course the more points we drop the more difficult it is. We have to close a gap of five points, so it's important not to drop more points. But I'm sure all the teams will drop points.' There is rarely any conviction or authority in Pellegrini's voice, but he knows what it takes to win the title after his side saw off the challenge of Liverpool last season. Lampard has been there before and although his loyalty to Chelsea remains rock-solid, there were signs on Saturday that there is some genuine affection for City. David Silva pokes home Manchester City's equaliser after a shot from team-mate Sergio Aguero . Aguero and Silva celebrate following the Spaniard's goal just before half time . He agreed with the reaction of City's dressing room — they were convinced they should have won this game. Lampard's assessment was about right. 'In terms of chances in the first half, City were the stronger team and possession-wise in the second half,' he said. 'The result is probably better for Chelsea in terms of the league. We were in the dressing room there feeling that we probably might have won the game. 'It kind of leaves a nice balance. You lose that game and some people would write you off. This keeps the league ticking over. 'The race is on and you are talking about the two best teams in the country.' | Frank Lampard returned to Stamford Bridge with Manchester City .
The midfielder left Chelsea last summer after 13 years with the club .
Lampard wouldn't deny that there is an issue between with Jose Mourinho .
But Lampard insists he is still close with the Chelsea manager .
City are still five points behind leaders Chelsea after Saturday's 1-1 draw . |
fdb2ec2fcf5e6ccaa71b7cf04fd22e9ff2bab165 | Cue "Thus Spoke Zarathustra." The first half of the seventh, and final, season of "Mad Men" ends Sunday night with the characters continuing to grope with a new world -- one with a computer in its center. The computer may not be HAL, and the world is a far cry from the fictional future of "2001: A Space Odyssey," but as the show's many references to that film have made clear, the characters are in transit, trying to get their bearings. It's a mad, mad, mad, 'Mad Men' world . What direction will they go? You've got Don Draper (Jon Hamm), who has spent these early months of 1969 demoted from creative director to copywriter (copywriter!) in hopes of forcing him out of Sterling Cooper & Partners altogether. He's been spending his weeks jetting back and forth between the agency in New York and Los Angeles, where his wife, Megan, has been pursuing her acting career. As a couple, they're adrift. Indeed, about the only time this season Don's felt the grounding of family is during an outing with daughter Sally (Kiernan Shipka), which ended with an actual profession of love, and a trip to Burger Chef with Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) and Pete (Vincent Kartheiser). And Peggy? She's a manager, essentially No. 2 to the grouchy and limited new creative director, Lou Avery (Allan Havey). She's smarter than he is but gets no respect. Between spending his nights with his orgiastic hippie friends and his days wondering about life, Roger (John Slattery) has practically checked out. Bert (Robert Morse) is a figurehead. The guy pulling the strings appears to be Jim Cutler (Harry Hamlin), who's as sleek and deadly as a certain "2001" computer. No wonder Ginsberg (Ben Feldman) cut off his nipple. It's almost the only way to relieve the pressure. The reviews for this year have ranged from respectful to laudatory. Even though ratings have been down from last season, there's a sense that "Mad Men" has found its footing again. About the only episode that really took hits was "The Monolith," which had the most heavy-handed references to "2001" -- but, then again, what other show would bother with such references at all? "Mad Men" being "Mad Men," there are all kinds of theories about how this half-season will conclude. Megan is going to cross paths with Charles Manson; Don will mount an office coup. You have to wonder how the moon landing will figure into things -- especially since it appears the series' timeline is nearing July 1969. Fans, however, will have to hang on. The second half won't air until next spring. The series could end on a down note, but keep in mind: In 1969, miracles do happen. What do you think of this season of "Mad Men"? Tell us in the comments. | "Mad Men" half-season finale set for Sunday night .
Characters seem a little lost, dealing with computer world .
"Mad Men" will conclude next spring . |
fdb3359eb84ad24708f8c5d4eaca57ce5ba39a44 | By . Associated Press . and Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 18:10 EST, 28 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 18:12 EST, 28 January 2014 . An alleged Philadelphia mob boss has walked free after beating two racketeering trials in a case that the Justice Department began pursuing more than a decade ago. Joseph 'Uncle Joe' Ligambi, 74, quietly left the city's federal courthouse Tuesday morning with his brother and nephew and took the front seat in a waiting black car. He said he planned to 'relax' Tuesday night after spending 2 1/2 years in prison. Justice Department officials decided not to take Ligambi to trial a third time. Clearly excited: Joseph 'Uncle Joe' Ligambi, 74, left the federal courthouse Tuesday and smiled after it became clear that the District Attorney was dropping their case against him . Free: The alleged mobster faced non-violent charges mostly related to localized gambling rings . 'It was a non-violent case. They were not looking to put away blood-thirsty criminals,' defense lawyer Ed Jacobs told The Associated Press. 'These were, at most, economic crimes, if they were crimes.' The indictment, described by one defense attorney as 'mob lite,' detailed relatively small-scale loansharking and gambling operations, such as efforts to control illegal poker machines inside South Philadelphia bars and collect sports bets in the neighborhood. Defendants could be heard on tape complaining that the mob was broke, and that the spread of legal casinos had taken a toll in their enterprise. 'Reasonable people can disagree on whether this was racketeering conspiracy,' Jacobs said. Out in the open: Ligambi already spent two and a half years behind bars for other charges but he was never found guilty of the central racketeering charge . 'Ten of 12 jurors said it was not.' Ligambi . allegedly took over Philadelphia's La Cosa Nostra after the younger, . flashier Joey Merlino went to prison in 1999. Mob observers said he . focused on business, not mayhem, unlike the bloody reigns attributed to . earlier bosses Merlino and the imprisoned Nicky Scarfo. Back in the day: 'Uncle Joe' is seen entering court in 2001 . Federal prosecutors unsealed a sweeping indictment in 2011, charging more than a dozen people in an investigation begun about a decade before. Two juries deadlocked on the central racketeering charge against Ligambi while acquitting him of lesser counts. The second trial ended Friday. A judge on Tuesday dismissed the remaining counts, given the Justice Department's decision. Overall, 11 defendants were convicted in the case, including Ligambi's alleged underboss and enforcer. Reputed underboss Joseph 'Mousie' Massimino was sentenced to 15 years in prison. The Italian mob 'is not just a rag-tag bunch of guys hanging on a corner in South Philadelphia,' Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Labor argued at his sentencing. 'It's a large, well-established, entrenched criminal enterprise' around the world. Yet Jacobs and other questioned the resources devoted to the 14-year FBI investigation. Jurors, . speaking to The Philadelphia Inquirer over the weekend, doubted the . reliability of mob turncoats and debtors who testified for the . government. Ligambi's only . co-defendant at the second trial, his nephew and alleged consigliere . George Borgesi, was acquitted Friday and released. Mind for business: Mob observers said after reportedly taking over La Cosa Nostra crime family, he focused on business, not mayhem, unlike the bloody reigns attributed to earlier bosses . Retired: A judge on Tuesday dismissed the remaining counts against the 74-year-old, given the Justice Department's decision not to try the case for a third time . He had been accused of helping Ligambi from prison, where he's spent the last 14 years in the Merlino case. U.S. Attorney Zane Memeger said Friday that the 11 convictions were an 'excellent result.' 'The government has shown throughout this prosecution that members of the Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra family have engaged in substantial criminal activity that warrants serious punishment,' he said. | Joseph 'Uncle Joe' Ligambi has had the remaining charges against him dropped after a second jury couldn't reach a verdict .
Ligambi, 74, has already spent two-and-a-half years behind bars for other charges but the prosecutors couldn't make a racketeering charge stick .
Supposedly took over Philadelphia's La Costa Nostra crime family . |
fdb340890f17d55c38c0ba62e771700b9c9190bc | Police have banned two Chinese pro-democracy activists from Brisbane's G20 security zones - virtually the city's entire CBD - after they unfurled a protest banner near the Chinese president's hotel. The 'furious' activists now say Australia is ruining its democracy after police punished them for wielding their banner near the Stamford Plaza Hotel on Thursday evening. Queensland University of Technology students Tony Zhang, 21, and Nardo Wai, 23, said they had unfurled the banner for 'just ten seconds' when police swooped. Scroll down for video . Tony Zhang, 21, (front) and Nardo Wai, 23, (behind) have been banned from Brisbane's G20 exclusion zone for protesting . The pair unfurled this banner outside the Chinese president Xi Jinping's hotel on Thursday afternoon before being swooped by police . Mr Zhang (far left) and Mr Wai (second from left) were questioned by police before being issued Exclusion Notices . Mr Zhang (left) said he had been arrested in China before and moved to Australia out of dislike of the Chinese government . The banner was a reference to pro-democracy protests that broke out in Hong Kong in September, pictured . Their bright yellow sign said 'Support HK Umbrella Revolution', a reference to pro-democracy protests that broke out in Hong Kong in September. After intense questioning involving around half a dozen police, witnessed by Daily Mail Australia, the pair were handed Exclusion Notices which barred them from the entire G20 Security Area and insisted they leave immediately. If they returned to the Security Area they would likely face charges. Mr Zhang (right) is on a hunger strike until the G20 finishes, here with Mr Wai (left) holding their notices . The men say they believe Australia is becoming less democratic and losing its precious freedoms . The students also revealed they would have been happy to simply leave the area if asked to by officers . They revealed all they wished to come from the exercise was for the Chinese president to see their protest . The notices said they were in 'possession of a prohibited item' - the banner - 'without lawful excuse' Mr Zhang, an IT student who has been arrested in China before said: 'The reason why I come to Australia to study (is) because I don't like Chinese government, because I think there's no democracy in China.' But now Mr Zhang - who is on a hunger strike until the G20 finishes - said he believes the country he arrived in earlier this year is losing its precious freedoms. 'Before what happened today I did not really believe [rumours Australia was becoming less democratic], but now I believe Australia is losing its democracy,' he said. The notices said they were in 'possession of a prohibited item' - the banner - 'without lawful excuse'. Mr Wai said they would have just left the area if they had been asked. The Queensland State Government introduced tough new security laws - criticised as draconian by civil libertarians - specifically for the G20 Summit, which will hold its leader's meeting at the weekend. Several other items are prohibited in G20 areas under the Security Act, including weapons, antique firearms, replica guns, bows, cattle prods, urine, nails, eggs, tacks, a reptile, an insect, metal cans and fireworks. Brisbane is in lockdown with thousands of police patrolling the area on land, sky and sea . Mr Zhang did say that Australian police were more understanding and willing to listen than those in China . A flotilla of 18 boats took to the Brisbane River on Thursday in preparation for the huge event this weekend . The exclusion zone encompasses Brisbane Airport, the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, and many of the hotels where leaders will be staying . In Hong Kong people have been protesting for months now blocking main thoroughfares in the city . Brisbane went into lockdown on Thursday as thousands of uniformed police patrolled the area. Some officers manned steel fences, which protect the hotels of visiting leaders such as President Obama and Russian President Putin. Some took to the Brisbane River to show off a police flotilla of 18 boats. Others still monitored the city from helicopters buzzing in the sky. The protesters told Daily Mail Australia they had a simple intention. They wanted the Chinese president to 'see our protest', which they thought would last longer than it did. Xi Jinping, the Chinese leader, is expected to touch down in Brisbane tomorrow. Mr Zhang said Australian police were more understanding and willing to listen than those in China. Some officers are stations at different points across the city, with many in front of visiting leaders' hotels . Much of Brisbane's CBD is inside the exclusion zone for the upcoming summit . Queensland Police refused to comment on the activists' remarks about democracy . In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, a spokesman for the Queensland Police Service said it understands the right for people to protest lawfully and peacefully. 'However behaviour that threatens the safety and security of the communities in Brisbane will not be tolerated, nor actions that pose a risk to the safety and dignity of those attending the Leader's Summit.' The spokesman said all G20 protesters need to be aware of and adhere to 'specific requirements' and that liaison officers are available to help people organising protests. Twenty-seven protest groups have formally registered with police. As for Mr Zhang, he said that if he had a conversation with the Queensland Premier Campbell Newman or his ministers: 'I would say I am very angry about that and say he's helping China's government. 'He just want to make Chinese government happy (sic). In an interview with the ABC on Thursday evening, Mr Newman said the government just wanted people to protest peacefully. 'All we're after is for people to be peaceful... But protest their hearts out, shout their lungs out in terms of what they want to say. 'But we do have to run a safe, secure G20.' Queensland Premier Campbell Newman said he wants people to be able to protest but in a safe and non-violent way . | Chinese democracy protesters banned from Brisbane CBD after unfurling a protest banner .
The furious activists exclusively told Daily Mail Australia the country's democracy is at risk .
Protesters said they would have just left the area if police had asked them .
Their sign was in support of the Hong Kong's Umbrella Revolution .
Queensland introduced tough security laws for the G20 . |
fdb38dffe20543d88d78c0363d09aa1eb3719911 | A British dog breed which was rarer than the giant panda has been saved from extinction following a concerted effort by breeders. There were only 52 Sussex spaniels registered with the Kennel Club in 2011, compared with 50,000 labradors. And there are believed to be up to 2,000 giant pandas living in the wild and more than 250 in captivity. Numbers of the dogs - first bred in Hastings in the 1800s for hunting - have been fragile since, dropping to only seven after the Second World War. But now the Sussex spaniel has increased by 29 per cent to 74 registrations to meet demand for the compact dogs. Finley takes off in wintery weather - Sussex spaniels are very active dogs . Megan Bowe plays in the garden with Sussex puppies bred by her granny . The Sussex spaniel breed has hazel eyes, a liver-coloured nose and a frowning brow . They are expected to hit three figures this year, after a group of breeders clubbed together to save the spaniels. It is hoped last year's births will help the population into a sustainable future as they become old enough to be used for breeding. Sheila Appleby, secretary of the Sussex Spaniel Association, said: 'It is a small breed so most of us know each other and we all love and care about our dogs. 'In 2011, a group of people who knew the breed just all together decided to have a litter in 2012. 'There were eight litters in the first quarter of 2012, six in the second and two in the third. It is not that many litters compared to other breeds, but it is progress. Okimat of Fourclovers (left), a fine example of he breed, was born 1930 and owned by Mrs Freer. Show champion Creswelshaw Hannibal (right) was born in 1976 . John Appleby with his working dogs at the Sussex Country Fair, where he took part in the parade . Grin, Bertie and Tollie all belong to Sheila Appleby, secretary of the Sussex Spaniel Association . These Sussex spaniels are drawing breath among the bluebells . 'The population of Sussex spaniels has been struggling since the Second World War, for some reason - we're not sure why. 'They don't seem to be very popular and they are not easy dogs to breed. People tend to go for cocker spaniels or English springers instead. 'We are doing more and more to spread the word about them and it seems to be working. There were quite a few people waiting for puppies so the demand was there.' The Sussex spaniel is believed to have been founded by Augustus Elliott Fuller in the 1800s in Rosehill, Sussex. The breed was identified by the Kennel Club in 2004 as a vulnerable British breed. The Sussex Spaniel Association was formed in 1924 for the 'protection of the Sussex Spaniel'. The association has 220 members. The Sussex spaniel is a happy healthy dog. He makes a good gun dog, a show dog, or a pet and is very adaptable. It is a guarding breed and the dogs are quite possessive of their owners. They . are fine with people and children but they need plenty of . socialisation, puppy classes, obedience classes, time and patience. They live happily with other dogs, though they are usually top dog! He bred the dogs to work on his large estate until the 1850s, when he died. Other breeders took up Sussex spaniels and the population remained healthy but small until the Second World War, when many stopped their breeding programme due to rationing. Only seven Sussex spaniels are known to have survived the war, living with animal-lover Joy Freer, who devoted her life to keeping the breed going. The population has remained fragile ever since, with Sussex Spaniel Association members attempting to maintain the breed. Mrs Appleby, who is based in Emery Down, Hampshire, added: 'I don't know why they are not popular because they are lovely dogs. 'They are happy and healthy and are very adaptable. "They're lovely dogs but can be a bit bossy. I often get that look which says "This is my sofa". 'I would certainly recommend them as a loyal and loving pet.' She said the rich golden-coloured dogs, which cost around £800 each, have a unique look, being smaller, lower and more compact than some other spaniels. 'They especially enjoy being around people.' A slightly different version of the breed is popular in America. New playmates: Martin and Sophie with a litter of Sussex puppies owned by Sheila Appleby . Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club secretary, said: 'Everybody is talking about the post-Olympic baby boom but perhaps the celebration of our British heritage in 2012 has helped lead to a revival of some of our native breeds. As a result of farming, deforestation and other development, the giant panda has been driven out of lowland areas in China . 'Fashion and profile have the most influential impact on dog choice and we are pleased to see there is still a place in people’s hearts and homes for our British vulnerable breeds. 'Many are still at risk but there has been significant improvement in some breeds. 'It is great to see responsible breeders rallying together to support the breed they love. Kennel Club registrations for the Sussex Spaniel have increased by 29 per cent since 2011 largely thanks to these dedicated breeders, who are helping the Kennel Club to raise awareness about the breed amongst people who might not previously have heard of its existence. 'We would thoroughly recommend anyone thinking about buying a pedigree dog to consider the Sussex Spaniel, a wonderfully charming breed, and would suggest visiting the Discover Dogs area of this year’s Crufts, in Birmingham from the 7th to the 10th of March, to meet the breed and to chat to current owners about the many fantastic qualities these dogs possess. 'People need to make sure that any dog that they choose is a good fit for their lifestyle but we hope that by highlighting these lesser known breeds people will do their research thoroughly before they buy to see if these dogs might be for them.' Other breeds that have significantly increased in popularity include the English toy terrier (black and tan) which has seen a 25 per cent increase to 126 puppy registrations and the Irish water spaniel which has gone up by 32 per cent to 148 registrations. Historic shot: From left, Mrs D. Bailey's Quintic Cloverleaf of Daelyb, Creswelshaw Oriel of Daelyb,Topjoys Bisto Brown and Topjoys the Brazen Raisin . The English setter has come off the Kennel Club’s list of native dog breeds that could be at risk of extinction after registrations increased by 25 per cent in 2012. However, the significant decline of the smooth fox terrier by 46 per cent to 94 registrations and of the Clumber spaniel by 56 per cent to 151 puppy registrations, means that the overall number of dogs within the 35 breeds on the Vulnerable and At Watch lists has increased by 1 per cent. Summer training with John Appleby and his Sussex spaniels in the New Forest . | Only 52 Sussex spaniels were registered with the Kennel Club in 2011 .
In 2012 the figure leapt to 74 - a 29 per cent increase .
Breed dates from 1800s but numbers dropped after the Second World War . |
fdb3a1f44202facc2670993e0a2345f606f6904a | Washington (CNN) -- "If we had been a split second slower, he could have been hit in the head." It has been 30 years since the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan. But for retired Secret Service agent Ray Shaddick, the memories of that gray, rainy day in Washington remain clear. It was 2:27 p.m., March 30, 1981. The 70-year-old president, barely two months into his term, exits the Washington Hilton after delivering a speech to leaders of the AFL-CIO. He walks out a side door to the hotel -- a door used more than 100 times by presidents in the previous decade. Waiting roughly 15 feet away stands a disturbed John Hinckley Jr., holding a .22-caliber revolver. The president waves to the crowd as he approaches the open door of his armored limousine. In less than two seconds, Hinckley fires off six shots. Press secretary James Brady is hit. Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy and D.C. police officer Thomas Delahanty are also wounded. One bullet hits the limo's armored glass; another ricochets off the car. Lead agent Jerry Parr grabs the president's shoulders and pushes him down into the limo. At the same time, Shaddick shoves the president in the small of his back and slams the door shut. The motorcade bolts from the scene. "I thought we got him out of there unscathed," Shaddick recalls. Halfway to the White House, Parr sees bright, frothy blood on a handkerchief pressed to the president's lips and announces a change of plans. They're headed to George Washington University Hospital. Shaddick, the shift leader riding in the follow-up car, doesn't ask for details because the radio's not encrypted. When they arrive at the hospital, Shaddick opens the door to the limo. The president gets out and says he's OK, but he's gone pale. "You could see the ashen color to his face," Shaddick recalls. "He was not all right." Reagan walks on his own power through the emergency room doorway before collapsing. He says his rib hurts and complains that it's tough to breathe. A medical team quickly discovers that the bullet that ricocheted off the car struck the president below the left armpit. It looked like someone "took a paring knife and jabbed him," Shaddick says. Reagan maintains his composure, famously telling his wife that he "forgot to duck" and asking the attending doctors if they're Republicans. In surgery, it takes an hour to reach the bullet and pull it from his chest, where it's lodged about an inch from his heart. Reagan loses more than 2½ quarts of blood. Doctors say he would have been within minutes of going into shock and dying had they not been able to replace the lost blood so quickly after the shooting. Opinion: How the shooting helped Reagan politically . Three decades later, what has been learned from Hinckley's assassination attempt? All of the normal Secret Service procedures were followed that day, Shaddick recalls. But Hinckley exploited a weak point in presidential protection: the fact that, at the time, it was still easy to get close to the president at certain points. Since the attempt on Reagan's life, magnetometers have been a more regular feature at presidential outings. People can no longer get so close without being thoroughly scanned. And while security perimeters have been pushed farther out, tents are now frequently used to shield presidential entrances and exits, according to journalist Del Quentin Wilber, author of "Rawhide Down," a newly published book about the attempted assassination. Wilber also notes the regular, rigorous training that members of the presidential security detail undergo at the Secret Service facility in Beltsville, Maryland. Agents now train for roughly two out of every eight weeks. Enhanced training actually started in the late 1970s, but its importance was hammered home by Hinckley's attack. "They don't want to risk agents thinking," Wilber says. "They just have to act." "You wonder how the hell you respond that fast," Shaddick says. The training makes it "almost instinctive." If Parr and Shaddick had been even a second slower reacting to the attack, Reagan's skull probably would have been struck, Wilber says. In contrast, look at footage of Arthur Bremer's attempted assassination of Alabama Gov. George Wallace in 1972, he says. Agents assigned to the governor -- a presidential candidate at the time -- were much slower to respond, leaving the initial responsibility of trying shield him to others. Secure communications also became a more standard component of presidential and vice presidential life after the Reagan assassination attempt. Then-Vice President George H.W. Bush was en route to Texas when Hinckley struck. Bush immediately headed back to Washington, but the lack of a secure phone line between his plane and the White House contributed a brief sense of confusion within the administration. The result was Secretary of State Alexander Haig's infamous declaration that he was "in control ... pending the return of the vice president." Under the law, then-House Speaker Tip O'Neill, not Haig, followed Bush in the chain of succession. Test your knowledge of the shooting . Shaddick says that more extensive information-gathering on potential presidential assailants has become possible in recent years, partly because of the rise of the internet. None of the assailants of presidents or presidential candidates since 1960 -- Hinckley, Bremer, Lee Harvey Oswald, Sirhan Sirhan, Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme and Sara Jane Moore -- were on a Secret Service watch list at the time they attacked, according to Congressional Quarterly. In Hinckley's case, he had been arrested for trying to bring a gun on an airplane in 1980. How close is Hinckley to freedom? Since Andrew Jackson survived a misfiring pistol in 1835, guns have been the No. 1 threat to U.S. presidents. Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley and John F. Kennedy all died at the hands of assassins with firearms. Theodore Roosevelt survived a chest shot from a .38-caliber revolver in 1912 when the bullet first struck a glasses case and manuscript in his front suit pocket. Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman and Gerald Ford also survived would-be assassins with firearms. Nine U.S. presidents attacked since 1865 . But the range of threats to the commander in chief has expanded dramatically in recent years. Certain high-impact explosives now "can take a city block out," Shaddick says. You've got to be "vigilant as hell" to constantly be on guard against potential attacks. And still, mistakes happen. In 2009, Tareq and Michaele Salahi managed to slip into the White House, shaking hands with President Obama during his first state dinner. In 2005, a live grenade was thrown within 100 feet of a podium holding George W. Bush during a presidential visit to the former Soviet republic of Georgia. "All a man needs is a willingness to trade his life for mine," Lyndon Johnson once said. Thirty years after the attempt on Reagan's life, that sentiment presents a greater challenge than ever for the men and women charged with protecting the president. CNN's James Polk contributed to this report. | Thirty years after Reagan's shooting, presidential protection is more comprehensive .
Powerful explosives are among growing threats to presidential security .
Agent who shadowed Reagan: Explosives now "can take a city block out."
Book author: "They don't want to risk agents thinking. They just have to act" |
fdb40158f215d3b66a59d584df2f9e805ec656bd | Hanoi, Vietnam (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed U.S. concerns about Myanmar's reported military ties to North Korea and its potential impact on the region during a visit to Vietnam Thursday. "We know that a ship from North Korea recently delivered military equipment to Burma and we continue to be concerned by the reports that Burma may be seeking assistance from North Korea with regard to a nuclear program," Clinton said. Myanmar was formerly known as Burma. Clinton's comments came after meetings with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem. In June, Sen. Jim Webb, D-Virginia, a key member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, postponed a trip to Myanmar out of concern that Myanmar's government was working with North Korea on the development of a nuclear program. At the time, Webb noted that "a defecting officer from [Myanmar's] military claims direct knowledge of such plans, and reportedly has furnished documents to corroborate his claims." Webb said it was unclear "whether these allegations have substantive merit." However, in light of the U.S. State Department's recent accusation that Myanmar has violated a U.N. Security Council resolution "with respect to a suspected shipment of arms from North Korea, there are now two unresolved matters related to activities of serious concern between these two countries." The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, Regional Forum begins in Friday in Hanoi. Developments in Myanmar are likely to be a popular topic of discussion at the summit. A military junta has ruled Myanmar since 1962 and preparing to hold its first elections in 20 years, but no date has been announced. | The United States has concerns about Myanmar-North Korea military ties .
North Korea may be helping Myanmar develop a nuclear program .
Myanmar may have received a shipment of arms from North Korea . |
fdb4303e252668ae1a1dccb9fa7c871ec50dad75 | (CNN Student News) -- May 27, 2010 . Download PDF maps related to today's show: . • Arizona • Seoul, South Korea • New York City . Transcript . THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Hi, there! My name is Carl Azuz. This is CNN Student News! This school year may be fleeting, but we've got 10 minutes to bring you today's commercial-free headlines. First Up: Border Security . AZUZ: First up, President Obama is sending troops and money to the border between the U.S. and Mexico. The announcement came out late Tuesday. 1,200 additional National Guard troops and $500 million more, all aimed at increasing border security and cutting down on illegal activities. The plan is for these troops to help out with drug enforcement and intelligence efforts until the Customs and Border Protection agency recruits and trains new agents to serve at the border. According to a new CNN poll, nearly nine out of every 10 Americans think more troops are needed along the border. Arizona's lawmakers agree. Their state is part of that border with Mexico, and some of them have been calling for more troops. One of those lawmakers, Senator John McCain, says the president's plan isn't enough though. He thinks it'll take 3,000 new troops, and that's just to cover the Arizona-Mexico border. As for Mexico, it says the additional forces will help out, but Mexican officials say they hope these troops will be fighting against crime and not getting involved in immigration laws. Gulf Coast Oil . AZUZ: Well tomorrow, President Obama is scheduled to visit the Gulf Coast to see how things are going in the fight against that giant oil spill we've been telling you about. Yesterday, the fight took a new turn. You've heard us talk about the so-called "top kill" procedure they're going to try. Around 2 p.m., BP started it. They started pumping 50,000 pounds of a special mud-like fluid that has about twice the density of water and they were pumping that into the leak. They hope -- we all hope -- it stops the oil. Then, the whole thing will be sealed off with cement. The head of BP said there was about a 60 to 70 percent chance of success. President Obama said if it works, it should seriously reduce or even stop the flow of oil. If it fails, the president says they'll move onto the next strategy. When we recorded this show yesterday, the process was still going on. We hope to have more details on it for you tomorrow. In the meantime, you can always get the latest details at CNN.com. Korean Tensions . AZUZ: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is back in the U.S. after spending a week in Asia. Her last stop on that trip was South Korea. And as you've heard, things have been tense between that country and North Korea. If you haven't heard, you can watch our archived shows from this week to find out why. You will find those show at CNNStudentNews.com. Getting back to Secretary Clinton, she says the North is provoking the South. She calls it unacceptable and she's urging North Korea to stop making threats. She says the international community has a responsibility to respond to the situation, and she made it clear that the U.S. is standing behind South Korea. HILLARY CLINTON, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Let me repeat publicly what I expressed privately to President Lee and Minister Yu. The United States offers our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the 46 sailors killed in the sinking of the Cheonan and to all the people of South Korea. We will stand with you in this difficult hour and we stand with you always. Shoutout . TOMEKA JONES, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Today's Shoutout goes out to Miss Poole's civics and economics class at Hobbton High School in Newton Grove, North Carolina! What is the term for a group of military ships? You know what to do! Is it: A) Battalion, B) Phalanx, C) Fleet or D) Conclave? You've got three seconds -- GO! A group of military ships is referred to as a fleet. That's your answer and that's your Shoutout! Fleet Week . AZUZ: And a celebration involving a group of military ships is called Fleet Week! It's taking place right now in New York City. Fleet Week is actually a celebration of all the military sea services: the Navy, the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard. They happen in different cities all over the country. New York has hosted a Fleet Week nearly every year since 1984. Thousands of sailors, Marine and Coast Guard members are in New York for the event. It kicks off with the Parade of Ships, which you see right here. Once they dock at the pier, people can go on board and take tours of the Navy vessels. Plus, there are dozens of military demonstrations throughout the week. Home and Away . AZUZ: Fleet Week runs through Memorial Day this weekend. Of course, Memorial Day, the holiday, pays tribute to all American troops who have lost their lives while serving the country in battle. CNN has a new website that does the same kind of thing. It's called "Home and Away." You see it on your screen right here. It's focused on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. More than 6,000 U.S. and coalition troops have been killed in these conflicts. The "Home and Away" site connects where these men and women died with where they lived, and it gives family members and friends an opportunity to share memories about their loved ones. You'll find a link to the site in the Spotlight section of our home page; that's CNNStudentNews.com. Is this Legit? STAN CASE, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Is this legit? The space shuttle Atlantis is named after the legendary lost city. Nope! The shuttle is named after a sailing ship that was run by an oceanographic institute. Last Landing for Atlantis? AZUZ: Atlantis came in for what could be its final landing yesterday. The space shuttle program is scheduled to end later on this year, and Atlantis is the first shuttle on the retirement list. It touched down at Kennedy Space Center after its 32nd mission. During that time, it helped with the international space station and launched spacecraft that explored Venus and Jupiter. Atlantis' service in space isn't necessarily over though. It's the back-up shuttle for a future mission if anything goes wrong, so NASA's getting the shuttle ready just in case. Once the shuttles do retire, they're not headed for the junk yard, and you can't really recycle them. John Zarrella thought looks at what could happen once the space shuttles are permanently grounded. (BEGIN VIDEO) JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: As they rocket to space, the astronauts watch the world fall away below them. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Getting RPM. Three, two, one, mark. ZARRELLA: Discovery does a somersault as it approaches the space station. Nearly 30 years of these "oh wow" moments almost over. The end of this year or sometime next, the last shuttle will fly. So, what do you do with three old orbiters? Heck, Atlantis has got 120 million miles on her. If you're NASA, you can't get all teary-eyed and nostalgic. You've got to unload those old clunkers and move on; put a for-sale sign on Atlantis and Discovery and Endeavour. So, you've got to build a building right here that would enclose the space shuttle for a bit. It's got to be a temperature-controlled building, right? BILL MOORE, KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, VISITOR COMPLEX: Has to be all up to artifact standards. But more than just the building for the shuttle, we have to tell the story. ZARRELLA: Bill Moore heads the privately-run Visitor Complex at the Kennedy Space Center. They are one of at least a dozen suitors ready, in fact eager, to fork over to NASA $28.8 million for an orbiter. ALLARD BEUTEL, NASA SPOKESMAN: We're not selling them, remember. This is what it's going to cost to get it cleaned up and make it safe to display and then to actually get it there. ZARRELLA: You've got almost $30 million ready to hand that check to NASA. MOORE: Between our cash and the loan arrangements, we could take the shuttle tomorrow and get ready to go. ZARRELLA: There is no real rush, space agency officials say, to announce who gets which one because the orbiters are still flying. NASA has offered Discovery, the oldest in the fleet, to the Smithsonian. Museum officials there told us questions about cost "have not been resolved, although the museum is exploring options." One orbiter option is the Big Apple. Folks at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum say more people would see it here than anywhere else. They estimate a 30 percent increase in attendance. SUSAN MARENOFF, INTREPID SEA, AIR & SPACE MUSEUM: We figure over 300,000 people additional to the Intrepid to New York City. Couple that with the $106 million in economic benefits, we think that's a pretty good deal. ZARRELLA: Landing one of history's first space planes would certainly qualify as a pretty good deal. John Zarrella, CNN, at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (END VIDEO) Before We Go . AZUZ: Before we go, why didn't the duck cross the road? 'Cause it was chicken! You would be too if you were trying to make it across rush hour traffic. Luckily -- don't be afraid -- someone spotted the junior jaywalkers and called the cops. The officers arrived, stopped traffic and escorted the fearful fowl across the highway. Youi see that taking place right here. It's cute. But it does raise a question though. When police officers are called in to help ducks... Goodbye . AZUZ: Who gets stuck with the bill? If that one didn't get you to quack up, we'll try again tomorrow. For CNN Student News, I'm Carl Azuz. | Examine plans to increase the number of troops at the U.S.-Mexico border .
Sail into New York City as Fleet Week honors U.S. military sea services .
Consider some of the retirement possibilities for NASA's space shuttles .
Use the Daily Discussion to help students understand today's featured news stories . |
fdb453a3ecd56ea2a3850eef5797899fd94feafc | By . Sally Lee . Lucan Battison was suspended from a New Zealand Catholic school after he refused to cut his long curly hair but he can keep his hairstyle after winning his fight in the high court today . A long-haired New Zealand teenager has landed himself in court after refusing to abide by his school's rules and cut his curly locks. St John's College student Lucan Battison was subsequently suspended by principal Paul Melloy last month. However the suspension was cleared on the basis that the 16-year-old returned with shorter hair. The matter has since been taken to the High Court at Wellington for a judicial review sought after by his father Troy Battison and Lucan has not returned to school. The teenager's lawyer Jol Bates said the year 12 student stood up for his rights and followed the example of humanitarian activist Martin Luther King Jr, the court heard on Monday. Mr Bates added that Lucan isn't comfortable with cutting his curly hair as it would become 'boofy and turned into an afro', reported the New Zealand Herald. Mr Bates said Lucan had been sporting the same hairstyle since he became a student at the Catholic college three years ago. The court was also told that his hair does not pose any health and safety concerns nor was it a distraction to other pupils. After St John's College student (right) was suspended by principal Paul Melloy the matter was taken to the High Court at Wellington for a judicial review. The teenager is pictured with his lawyer Jol Bates (left) on Monday . Lucan, who had his hair tied back at during the hearing, listened to the school's lawyer Richard Harrison as he said a teacher had sent the teenager to Mr Melloy's office as his hair had overgrown its acceptable length. When asked to cut his hair, Lucan refused and asked the principal to contact his father. Mr Harrison described this as 'continual disobedience' and further said this could be 'harmful and dangerous' as this may influence on other pupils who look up to Lucan. Justice David Collins asked Mr Melloy why had not considered other disciplinary action and Mr Harrison said the principal ruled out other measures when Lucan chose to go against the school's policy in the presence of his parents. The case continues. Mr Bates said his client was standing up for his basic human rights, challenging authority and following in the footsteps of Martin Luther King Jr . Mr Bates said Lucan had been sporting the same hairstyle since he became a student at the Catholic college three years ago . | New Zealand year 12 student Lucan Battison was suspended by St John's College's principal Paul Melloy last month .
The 16-year-old was allowed to come back to school if he had shorter hair .
But Lucan did not return to school and instead took the matter to the High Court at Wellington . |
fdb45b55621c4d1e813cce49e53f7e729bd4cf4e | (CNN) -- He has yet to compete at the Olympics, but the eyes of the world will be on Oscar Pistorius if he is selected for London 2012. Born with a congenital abnormality, he had both his legs amputated below the knee at 11 months of age, but that has not stopped him competing at the highest level. The South African runs on specially-adapted carbon-fiber artificial limbs, earning him the nickname "Blade Runner" and the tag of "fastest man with no legs." After winning a legal battle to let him race against able-bodied athletes, the 25-year-old has become one of the most recognizable and popular figures in the world of sport thanks to his inspiring performances on the track. Pistorius certainly is fast, holding the world records in his T44 disability category from 100 to 400 meters, and he has won four Paralympic gold medals. His times enable him to compete internationally against able-bodied runners, and he reached the 400m semifinals at the 2011 world championships in Daegu. He also helped South Africa to the final of the 4x400m relay but was controversially omitted for the medal race. His teammates took silver and -- because he ran in the earlier rounds -- Pistorius was awarded a medal, becoming the first disabled athlete to achieve that feat at a global championships. Early years . Pistorius came from what he describes as a "sports-crazy family, pretty much obsessed with sport" and did not allow his disability to restrict his activities. At school in Gauteng Province, he was a keen rugby player and also competed in a wide range of sports from water polo to tennis and even triathlons. A knee injury curtailed his rugby career and he turned to track and field in 2003, quickly discovering a real talent for sprinting. Just a year later and still only 17, Pistorius won gold over 200m at the 2004 Athens Paralympics in a world record and also took bronze in the 100m, beating athletes with lesser disabilities. Using the Cheetah Flex-Foot carbon-fiber limbs, specially adapted by Icelandic company Ossur, it was the start of his journey to global stardom. Legal affairs . Pistorius began to compete in able-bodied competitions, at first in South Africa, but then abroad. "I was starting to run times which allowed me to compete internationally on the able-bodied circuit," he said. But as he got quicker, it brought Pistorius into dispute with the IAAF, the world governing body of athletics, which ruled his artificial limbs gave him an unfair advantage and barred him from the circuit. Employing a top legal team, Pistorius took his case to the Court of Arbitration in Sport, which overturned the ban in 2008. However, he did not reach the Olympic qualifying standards for Beijing, where he took part in the Paralympics. "Since it was proved my prosthetic legs give me no advantage, I have developed a very good relationship with the IAAF," he said. Training regime . Pistorius' success is not only down to his talent, it owes much to a grueling training regime under coach Ampie Louw. Getting up at 5 a.m. at their base in Pretoria, Pistorius puts in up to three and a half hours each day, on occasion more, in preparation for a major championship. He also has a strictly-controlled diet with lots of fruit and vegetables, plus plenty of fish and protein to aid recovery. Pistorius reports "no injuries" coming into the all important year of 2012. Sporting heroes . Pistorius has been an inspirational figure around the world with his exploits, while his own sporting heroes both come from track and field: Britain's former 110m world record-holder Colin Jackson and Namibian sprinter Frankie Fredericks. Jackson has become a "great friend and mentor" for Pistorius, who has made many trips to the UK in recent years. "Frankie Fredericks has always been my icon, and someone who has achieved as much as he has is special," he said of the former world champion and four-time Olympic silver medalist. 2012 ambitions . Pistorius aims to run at both the 2012 London Olympics and the subsequent Paralympics in the British capital. He is targeting four gold medals in the Paralympics, repeating his Beijing triple in the 100, 200 and 400m, and hopefully earning success in the South African 4x100m relay team. And in the Olympic Games? "To try to repeat my achievement in Daegu to reach the semifinals of the individual 400m." Having already achieved the qualifying standard with a time of 45.20 seconds in Gauteng earlier this year, Pistorius is well on the way to achieving selection and will also be pressing for a place again in the South Africa's 4x400m relay squad. Sporting philosophy . Pistorius sets himself high standards, retaining values that were instilled in him from an early age: "My family always said if you start something, you finish it." With so much already achieved it is easy to forget he has many years of competition potentially ahead of him, but when Pistorius does eventually retire he wants to have left nothing on the track. "To look back and know every season I did my best. That I gave it my best with no regrets." | Oscar Pistorius is preparing for both London Olympics and Paralympics .
The "Blade Runner" competes at the top level against able-bodied athletes .
South African has four Paralympic golds and several world records .
The 25-year-old runs on specially-adapted carbon-fiber artificial limbs . |
fdb491fea5b18879e4222639578bd6c271b9a027 | By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 11:02 EST, 12 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 11:24 EST, 12 March 2014 . Journalist Nils Horner was shot dead while he was talking to a translator on a street in an affluent area of the Afghanistan capital . An extremist Taliban splinter group has claimed responsibility for killing a Swedish-British journalist in Kabul saying he was killed he was a spy for Britain's MI-6 agency. Nils Horner had worked for Swedish Radio SR since 2001 as a foreign correspondent mostly in Asia and the Middle East, including Afghanistan and Baghdad. The 51-year-old was killed by a shot in the head as he was reporting on Afghanistan's election on a street in Kabul on Tuesday. It was a rare assassination of a foreigner in the capital and raised fears of increased violence ahead of the April 5 presidential election. The Feday-e-Mahaz says in a statement posted Wednesday on its website that it targeted Horner because he was a spy and not a journalist. The group was created by loyalists of slain Taliban commander Mullah Dadullah. The group broke with the Taliban following the announcement of talks with the United States. A . guard at a restaurant across the street from where the attack happened . said two young men approached the journalist as he was talking to his . translator at about 11 a.m. on the side of the road . The . guard, Mohammad Zubair, said one of the men pulled out a pistol and . shot Horner in the head, causing him to collapse in a pool of blood. He . said there was a single shot and the bullet then hit a nearby car, which . was left with a bullet hole. The witness said he and other guards called to the police at a nearby checkpoint and they cordoned off the area. Scene: Mr Horner was shot in the affluent Wazir Akbar Khan district (pictured) of Kabul, which is home to several embassies and media organisations . The . attack came two months after the Islamic militant movement staged . a suicide bombing and shooting assault against a Lebanese restaurant . that killed 13 foreigners and eight Afghans in the same area. Suicide . bombings and other attacks are frequent in Kabul and elsewhere in . Afghanistan as insurgents fight to undermine confidence in the . Western-backed government. But assassinations of journalists and other foreigners in the capital are relatively rare. Mr Horner had worked for Swedish Radio SR since 2001 as a foreign correspondent mostly in Asia and the Middle East . Not . including Horner, at least 29 journalists have been killed in . Afghanistan since 1992, most of them after the 2001 U.S.-led ouster of . the Taliban, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect . Journalists. Sayed Gul . Agha Hashimi, the head of the Kabul Criminal Investigation Department, . said police were questioning the journalist's driver and translator as . part of the investigation. Hashimi said the journalist died while being treated at the hospital. Swedish Embassy counselor Christian Nilsson said the body had been transported to the morgue. Anne Lagercrantz, head of news at Swedish Radio, said the newsroom was in deep shock. She said Horner spoke to the desk in Stockholm early on Tuesday and they agreed that he would go out and do interviews ahead of the April 5 presidential election. When people in the newsroom saw reports that a foreign journalist had been shot in Kabul, they tried to contact Horner by email but got no response. They then called his mobile phone, and a doctor answered saying Horner had been shot and killed, Lagercrantz said. Swedish Radio chief executive Cilla Benko said two men approached Horner and shot him in the back of his head. Benko said Horner was very safety conscious but was prepared to take risks. 'This was his life,' Benko said. 'He didn't want to do anything else.' Swedish Radio officials said there were no known threats to Horner. The attack came as security in the capital was tight amid fears of violence in connection with the funeral of Afghanistan's powerful Vice President Mohammed Qasim Fahim. | Nils Horner, 51, was shot in the head at close range in Akbar Khan .
He had worked for Swedish Radio since 2001 as a foreign correspondent .
Witness said he was approached by two young men in the street .
The Feday-e-Mahaz says Horner was a spy and not a journalist . |
fdb4998e1a0335673bab7c9b26f694bf6708029a | By . Sarah Griffiths . PUBLISHED: . 04:55 EST, 26 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:25 EST, 27 June 2013 . South Korea's largest mobile operator is launching what it says is the world's fastest wireless network this week. The LTE-Advanced network can download data at speeds twice as fast as 4G networks and 10 times faster than 3G services, according to SK Telecom Co. With a transfer rate of 150 megabits per seconds, the network can download an 800 megabyte movie in just 43 seconds. This compares with around 80 seconds on the current LTE network. The service will be initially available in Seoul and its suburbs. Scroll down for video . A South Korean model shows off Samsung's smartphone displaying the wireless data speed of SK Telecom's LTE-Advanced network in Seoul today. SK Telecom's network offers speeds twice that of its existing long term evolution (LTE) network and 10 times faster than 3G services . South Korea has witnessed rapid growth of the fourth-generation LTE, or Long Term Evolution, service as the country's mobile phone users are quick to adopt faster wireless technologies . More than 60 per cent of South Korea's 33million smartphone users have subscribed to the LTE service. GSA, an association of network suppliers, projects that LTE networks will be available in 87 countries by the end of 2013. The LTE-Advanced technology, however, has room for improvement. While it boasts the fastest download speed, its upload speed is same as LTE networks at 37.5 mbps. Currently EE (formerly known as Everything Everywhere) offers an LTE or 4G network with top speeds of 80Mbps in some cities. The company has a next-generation CAT4 device that will deliver over 100Mbps on its double-speed network. It will also be running a commercial trial of a network that can offer maximum speeds of up to 300Mbps in London later this year. South Korean models show off the new Galaxy S4 LTE-A handset, which again displays the super fast network speed. A selection of smartphones designed for use with the LTE-Advanced network are expected to launch by 2014 . To accompany the launch of the world's first LTE-Advanced network, the world's largest smartphone manufacturer, Samsung Electronics, has released the Galaxy S4 LTE-A handset. The smartphone is the first model produced to run on the country's super fast LTE-A network. SK Telecom plans to roll out a total of 7 LTE-A compatible handsets in the second half of 2013, with LG Electronics also poised to launch similar smartphones for the network before 2014, according to South Korean news agency, Yonhap. | SK Telecom Co launches super fast network that is 10 times faster than 3G .
Samsung Galaxy S4 LTE-A is the first handset available for the LTE-Advanced network . |
fdb58372977c2bf48a3e75f9e348cdf43db52baf | Washington (CNN) -- Over the next few days, the drama of a potential government shutdown will collide with the promise of a new health insurance system known as Obamacare. Here are answers to eight of the most pressing questions about both: . 1. What happens on October 1 with Obamacare and the government shutdown? First, the health insurance exchanges established by the Affordable Care Act -- or Obamacare -- will be open for business. Millions of uninsured Americans will be able to enroll in health plans before the law kicks in on January 1, 2014. Second, the U.S. government might "shut down" if lawmakers can't agree to pass a funding bill that has attached to it a provision to defund Obamacare. These two events are linked. The reason both houses of Congress may not be able to agree on a funding bill -- also known as a continuing resolution -- is that some senators and representatives see this as their last chance to stop Obamacare. But that's really where the link ends. Shutdown showdown over Obamacare moves to Senate . 2. Does a government shutdown shut down Obamacare? Not really. Most of the funding for Obamacare comes from new taxes and fees, from cost cuts to other programs like Medicare and other types of funding that carry on even in the event of a government shutdown. Congress' research arm, the Congressional Research service, prepared a memo for Republican Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Oklahoma, that suggested an effort to use the government shutdown as leverage to force Democrats to delay implementing the law would not really work because the law will continue regardless of a shutdown. Plus, the law would still be in effect, so its many new requirements -- everything from forcing insurance companies to cover anyone who wants insurance to forcing everyday Americans to carry health insurance or pay a fine -- would still be in effect, too. Government shutdown: Again? Seriously? 3. Do I have to sign up for a new health insurance plan on October 1 when open enrollment for Obamacare begins? Maybe -- Take this quick survey and we'll find out: . A. Do you get health insurance from your employer? If the answer is yes -- and this is by far the No. 1 way Americans get health insurance -- go on about your business. Obamacare doesn't really affect you. At least not yet. A lot of people think that because of Obamacare, fewer companies will offer health insurance, particularly to low-paid workers and retirees. There is some evidence of this. These employers would have to pay a per-worker fine to the government, but it might be cheaper for them in the long run to pay this fine to the government rather than offer insurance. Other companies might cut hours for some workers, making them part-timers working fewer than 30 hours a week in order to avoid helping pay their health insurance. But it will take some years to see if it really comes to pass. However, if you get health insurance at work, you could probably drop that coverage and buy health insurance on the Obamacare exchanges. But you might not want to. You won't qualify for any government help to buy your insurance and your employer wouldn't be contributing any of the money it is now. B. Do you get health insurance from the government? If the answer is yes, go on about your business. Obamacare doesn't really affect you. At least not yet. While Obamacare relies on making Medicare more efficient as a way to pay for some new services for younger people, it is not supposed to change the services offered by Medicare. One big test of this promise is Medicare Advantage. These are privately administered insurance plans that provide Medicare services to seniors. They cost the government more per person to provide Medicare. So, Obamacare seeks to bring their spending back in line with the rest of Medicare. This could lead to changes in Medicare Advantage options, like gym memberships and other items that are offered as enticements. But the same core Medicare services are supposed to remain in effect. The same goes for Medicaid. If you get your insurance from one of the 50 state-run Medicaid programs, Obamacare should not affect you. But you'll have a lot more company in these programs, which will grow to insure a larger portion of Americans. Zelizer: GOP strategy on shutdown courts doom . 4. Do you have an individual health insurance plan? If yes, Obamacare is going to affect you. It is possible that your insurance plan won't change, but it's just as likely that your plan doesn't meet all the minimum requirements the law imposes. These include new rules for how much profit companies can take for plans, new rules for coverage of women's services, new rules for how much more insurance companies can charge for women than men, and a lot more. So, you might have to buy a more expensive plan. In this case, your insurance company has probably already let you know. It's also possible you might want a new plan. Check out your new state health insurance exchange or the one the federal government set up in your state if your state government refused to do so. People who like and dislike Obamacare have something to like about costs of individual plans. Prelminary estimates have come in lower than some government prognosticators expected. So it is fair to say Obamacare might be cheaper than expected for some individuals. But it is also accurate to say that premiums are likely to rise for healthy people on the individual market. Why? They're going to get more robust insurance plans that cover more things. At the same time, a lot of sick people who get private insurance now pay a ton for it; their costs could decrease. Congress: will it be a government shutdown or budget compromise? 5. Do you have no health insurance? If so, Obamacare is for you, like it or not. You're either going to have to enroll in Medicaid or buy health insurance from a private company on an "exchange" organized by either your state government or the federal government. If you're single and you make less than $15,281.70 ($31,321.50 for a family of four), you're likely to get Medicaid, although some states have refused to expand their programs. Those income levels for Medicaid -- 133% of the federal poverty level -- will increase from year to year. 10 ways a government shutdown would affect your daily life . 6. How much is Obamacare going to cost me? It depends. What if you make more than $15,281.70, but not that much more? You don't get Medcaid. You don't have employer-sponsored health insurance and you do want coverage. How are you supposed to afford a new health insurance plan? The government is going to help a lot of people pay for it. If you're single and you make less than $45,960 ($94,200 for a family of four), you'll qualify for a government-sponsored subsidy to help you buy insurance. The Kaiser Family Foundation has estimated the average government subsidy for a family will be about $2,700 and the average premium costs will be about $8,250. Those costs will vary depending on the age and number of family members and the level of plan they choose to buy. Try your own scenario here. Q&A: The lowdown on the shutdown, or why you should care about the CR . 7. Is Obamacare health insurance government insurance? No. Many state Medicaid programs will grow to insure much larger portions of their state populations. But the core of the law is the creation of new health insurance exchanges. These are places -- online, mostly -- where people who don't get insurance can buy it from a private company. On the one hand, the government is making people either carry insurance or pay a fine, on the other hand the government is making insurance companies provide insurance to anyone who wants it and they're controlling how much the insurance companies can charge. 8. What happens if I don't buy health insurance? You're young and healthy. You don't really want health insurance. No sweat. You don't have to buy it. You can "opt out." But then you'll have to pay a fine of between $95 for every adult in your house or 1% of your income after $10,000, whichever is larger. So if you're single and you make $50,000, you'd have to pay a $400 fine for not having health insurance. The Supreme Court called this fine a tax. You can look at it that way. Or you can view it as an upfront payment for having hospital and ambulance services able to come get you if you need them. Or you can look at it as horrible government overreach. Some people do. 5 strange things about debt ceilings . | The federal government is headed for a potential shutdown .
The fight to defund Obamacare is the sticking point .
Republicans have tied the key spending bill to stopping money for Obamacare .
Large part of Affordable Care Act is set to go into effect on October 1 . |
fdb588e9df81601639077b47659af71cbb7c9548 | By . Sara Nathan . and David Mccormack . and Eleanor Gower . Firefighters responding to the fiery crash that claimed Paul Walker's life stated he was 'dead on arrival', newly-released emergency dispatch tapes have revealed. The recordings emerged as his devastated mother, Cheryl, was pictured outside her Los Angeles home on Thursday - the first time she has been seen since her son and his friend died on Saturday. In the tapes, which first appeared on TMZ, a firefighter speaks with 911 dispatcher and declares the actor dead almost immediately after he and other emergency responders arrive on the scene . 'One vehicle fully involved,' says the firefighter, who arrived less than three minutes after the first 911 call about the crash. 'We have confirmed two DOA... again, confirmed two fatalities.' Sorrow: Paul Walker's mother Cheryl collects the mail outside her home in Los Angeles California on Thursday - a day before dispatch recordings emerged showing that firefighters declared her son 'DOA' The firefighter adds that it is a 'Code N' incident, which means an event is newsworthy and needs to be handled delicately. Walker's friends on the scene had most likely informed firefighters that he was inside, TMZ reported. According to an autopsy released on Wednesday, Walker was killed by injuries from both the impact and the subsequent fire. The . actor died from the ‘combined effects of traumatic and thermal . injuries,’ according to the autopsy released by the Los Angeles County . coroner's office. Tragedy: Paul Walker, pictured in May this year, was killed when the car exploded into flames Saturday . The 2005 Porsche Carrera GT was . driven by Rodas, who was dead from ‘multiple traumatic injuries’ before the car exploded in flames, the autopsy said. Results of toxicology testing will take another six to eight weeks. The details emerged as Walker's mother Cheryl, . a former fashion model, was spotted collecting mail and putting the . trash out in the front yard of her Los Angeles home on Thursday. Cheryl . was instrumental in developing Paul's acting career at a young age, . taking him to magazine and TV commercial auditions and hired as a child . model, which helped to financially support his large family. Her appearance came a day after the late actor's grieving sister Amie joined a female friend at Starbucks looking grim faced, while his younger brother Cody began the heart-breaking task of clearing up the late actor’s . personal belongings from his Santa Barbara home. Cody Walker, 25, visited his late brother's home in Santa . Barbara, California, on Wednesday afternoon and later could be seen . packing boxes of the Fast & Furious star’s possessions into the back of a car. As Cody packed the trunk with items including clothes, a surf board, a rifle and . several boxes, a concerned neighbour stopped to give him a hug and pass . on her condolences. The . gates to the actor's home has become something of a shrine in recent . days as fans wishing to pay their respects have left countless bouquets . of flowers and candles. Brave face: Cheryl musters a smile as she takes out the trash in her front yard in a blue sweater and jeans . Tragic loss: Cheryl, a former model, had been instrumental in her son's success in modeling and acting . Walker starred in all but one of the six Fast & Furious blockbuster films that glorified fast cars and dangerous driving. Sheriff's . investigators are still trying to determine what caused Rodas to career . out of control on Saturday. They have said speed was a factor in the crash . about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. The . limited-edition Porsche was previously owned by IndyCar driver Graham . Rahal, who has said it was difficult to drive. It is not just fast - it . can hit 100 mph in less than 7 seconds - but also unforgiving in its . handling. Little more than a month before the . actor's tragic death on Saturday, the Walker family had celebrated a family . wedding as another brother, Caleb, 36, had married his fiancée Stephanie . Branch. Supportive: Paul Walker's brother, Cody Walker, paid a visit to mother Cheryl on Thursday . Together: Cody, with a relative on Thursday, began clearing his brother's belongings this week . Upset: Cody was among a string of family and friends offering help to Cheryl throughout the day . Paul was best man on the big day and Cody a groomsman in the now poignant photos that show . the brothers laughing and smiling together for what would be one of the last ever times. The stunning album of pictures give a glimpse of the close-knit family who are now grieving following the actor's death. With a smile on his face and a cheeky . glint in his eye, the Fast & Furious star can be seen toasting his brother Caleb on his special day. Paul is also seen posing with his . fellow groomsmen at the wedding held on October 23 at Dove Canyon . Country Club in Orange County, California. Paying their respects: Friends and family arrive and leave from Paul Walker's mother's house Thursday . Flowers: Bouquets were sent to Cheryl's home. Cheryl supported Paul's acting career from an early age . A sister in grief: Paul's sister Amie Walker grabs a Starbucks coffee in Los Angeles on Wednesday as she tries to come to terms with the loss of her brother . Big family unit: Amie is one of four of The Fast & Furious actor's siblings . In another shot, he cracks up laughing . as Cody makes a joke while the brothers give a speech to the happy . couple. And he stands by a bridesmaid, in a pretty lilac dress, as he . joins the newlyweds alongside their wedding party. The Walker clan are said to be . extremely close and earlier this week, Paul's sister Ashlie Walker told . MailOnline the family are trying to cope by using their Mormon faith. Furious . Ashlie, 37, also hit out at reports her brother and his good friend . Roger Rodas - who was at the wheel of a Porsche when they crashed in . Los Angeles on Saturday - were drag racing at the time of their death. Breaking . her silence, Miss Walker said: 'They were absolutely not racing, that's . a complete lie. It hurts us when we hear these lies and it makes our . grief worse and more painful. Loss: Paul Walker's younger brother Cody takes a moment to contemplate as he spent several hours on Wednesday removing items from the Fast & Furious star's Santa Barbara home . 'These . are irresponsible allegations and people are trying to make out speed . and racing was the reason for his death when it was just a terrible . accident.' A close family member said Paul would . be the 'biggest angel in heaven', adding: ‘Paul was a wonderful man and . the best person you could ever meet. We are all totally distraught and . beside ourselves with grief. ‘We . can gain hope from this tragic accident through our strong Christian . background and faith. We are grateful to be surrounded by such loving . friends and family that have been praying for us and will be forever by . our sides. 'We seek comfort . in their love and our faith. We definitely believe that Paul has gone to . a better place and is now with our heavenly father. 'We have a strong Mormon faith and although Paul wasn’t practicing at the time, he always had a very strong Christian faith.' 'We welcome Paul's brothers into our FAST family': Cody (left) and Caleb (centre) - pictured here with their late brother at Caleb's October wedding - will 'help complete some remaining action and fill in small gaps left in production' Lookalike siblings: The similarity between Paul and his younger brother, Cody, makes him the perfect choice to step in for his brother, honouring his memory by helping complete the role he was so passionate about . Meanwhile, Universal Pictures announced . that it has shut down production for an unspecified time on the seventh . installment of the Fast & Furious franchise. The studio announced Wednesday that . the film will shut down 'for a period of time so we can assess all . options available to move forward with the franchise.' The seventh installment of the street . car racing series had begun shooting in September. While much of Fast . & Furious 7 has been filmed, it's far from complete. When Walker died in a fiery car crash Saturday north of Los Angeles, the film was on break for the Thanksgiving holiday. Shooting had been planned to resume Monday in Atlanta, but production was put on hold following Walker's death. Final picture: Paul Walker stands next to the Porsche Carrera GY that he was killed in when it crashed and burst into flames in LA on Saturday . Mangled: Firefighters stand by the wreckage of the crash in which Paul Walker and his friend Roger Rodas died in Valencia, California, on Saturday . Memorial: Fans stand by the scene of the crash in which Paul Walker lost his life. Police are still investigating the tragedy - but have ruled out a theory the star and his friend were drag racing . Universal had been trying to . fast-track Fast & Furious 7 for a July 11 release, a date that's . likely to be postponed. Universal hasn't yet announced any release date . change. 'Right now, all of us at Universal . are dedicated to providing support to Paul's immediate family and our . extended Fast & Furious family of cast, crew and filmmakers,' the . studio said in a statement. Walker starred in all but one . installment of the Fast & Furious franchise, which has been . particularly lucrative for Universal. Fast & Furious 6, released in . May, was the highest grossing film in the series, earning more than $788 . million worldwide. Universal announced on Tuesday that . it will donate a portion of the proceeds from the upcoming DVD, Blu-ray . and digital release of Fast & Furious 6 to Walker's charity Reach . Out Worldwide. Walker, 40, founded Reach Out . Worldwide in 2010 to give first-response aid to victims of natural . disasters. Walker was hosting a fundraiser for the nonprofit on Saturday . afternoon before the crash. | Recording reveals firefighter reported both the actor and his friend, Roger Rodas, were 'DOA' when emergency responders reached the scene .
Firefighters warned the dispatcher that it was a newsworthy incident and needed to be handled with care .
On Thursday, Walker's mother Cheryl was pictured for first time since the tragedy as she collected mail from outside her LA home .
It comes after his sister and brother were pictured looking heartbroken on Wednesday; his brother Cody was seen clearing Paul's belongings . |
fdb5c35f7131810add57a5febfed2c3d207e0f5b | By . Tracey Cox . There are certain qualities that make anyone appear attractive and all reduce to this simple equation: if you love sex and love people, you're probably sexy. All of us have a subconscious 'sexy' radar which automatically tunes in to people who've got 'it'. Our looks radar sets off first - instantly scanning for the best-looking person in the crowd - then the sexy radar clicks in, looking for more subtle (and surer) indicators that someone's worth talking to. Score all six of the following and it's guaranteed you're the girl getting the most attention - and guess what, it's really not about what you look like! Tracey says that showing enthusiasm is a great way to keep a guy's attention . YOU'RE ENTHUSIASTIC . Enthusiasm is infectious - you can't help but smile and respond to someone who's full of life. It doesn't really matter what it is you're passionate about, so long as you're throwing your arms around and getting excited about something. As one guy put it, 'The girl in the corner whose facial expression doesn't change and talks in a monotone isn't appealing, even if she's sprouting all her sexual secrets. It's the girl who's gesturing madly and talking a million miles an hour who you want. Even if she's discussing what colour to paint her bathroom.' YOU MAKE HIM FEEL LIKE HE'S THE ONLY PERSON IN THE ROOM . Orlando Bloom just walked in, Jon Hamm is at the next table shirtless and the waiter just dropped a £100 bill at your feet but your eyes haven't moved from his face. The person who looks you directly in the eye, really listens, calls you by name and focuses on what you're saying wins every time. Tracey suggests keeping his gaze to make him feel like the only man in the room . YOU'RE PROUD OF WHO YOU ARE . A person who isn't scared to express an opinion even if it's the opposite to everyone else's, might be called opinionated, stroppy or even rude, but there's one thing they'll never be branded - boring. Stick up for your beliefs and believe in yourself. We all respect and admire people who hold their head up and fight their own battles. YOU'RE NOT SCARED TO TOUCH . Never, ever underestimate the power of touch. The person who really hugs hello, who puts a concerned hand on your arm if you're upset, gives a firm handshake to say, 'Congratulations!' is making warm, sexy gestures that make them seem approachable. Tracey says a strong personality, even a moody or stroppy one, is far better than being boring . Don't forget to touch yourself too. Smoothing your stockings, pushing back your hair, hugging yourself if you're a bit cold - it's all very sensual and inviting and draws attention to whatever body part you're touching. If you're stingy with your affection, others assume you're cold, hard to get to know, uptight.None of which are adjectives you want applied to you, right? YOU'RE AWARE OF YOUR BODY - AND KNOW HOW TO SHOW IT OFF . The more you like your body, the better you'll present it to the world. Sit with your arms crossed, clutching a pillow across your stomach and the message is obvious: I feel fat and I'm trying to hide my stomach. A woman who does a big, lazy stretch, lifting her arms up, sends a very different message: I'm proud of my body. YOU'RE NOT LOOKS OBSESSED . It's hard to accept someone will find you sexy with a red wine stained mouth, mascara down your cheeks and hair askew but you'll still look a better than the girl who spends all night staring into her mirror. One reason why the just-got-out-of-bed tousled look never, ever goes out of fashion! Find out more of Tracey's views and check out her books and product ranges at traceycox.com . | Tracey says that there are six simple things we can do to hook a man .
She says these tips have absolutely nothing to do with how you look .
Tracey even says that concentrating on your looks can put men off . |
fdb5c8b63c5669d33e9c1783fda2636c00a54487 | (CNN) -- Jean Jennings Bartik, the last of six women programmers who debugged and operated the earliest general-purpose computer, has died. Bartik, 86, died Wednesday in New York, said Jon Rickman, vice president of information systems at Bartik's alma mater, Northwest Missouri State University, and director of the Jean Jennings Bartik Computer Museum. Bartik was profiled in a CNN.com story last month about women mathematicians who were recruited by the U.S. military to do ballistics research during World War II. Bartik and five of her fellow "computers" went on to program the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer, but they didn't receive recognition for their work until years later. "Jean is probably one of the most significant pioneers in computing," Rickman said. "Jean worked hard and, as a woman in a man's world at that time, especially in the business world, it's amazing what she was able to accomplish." Bartik graduated from Northwest Missouri State Teachers College in 1945 as the school's one math major. She recalled living on her parents' farm, refusing the teaching jobs her father suggested and avoiding all talk of marrying a farmer and having babies. Instead, she took a train to Philadelphia to work for the military. There, she learned ballistics calculations and was quickly hired to work on the ENIAC, created during the war by University of Pennsylvania scientists John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert Jr. Bartik and her colleagues debugged the computer, which weighed 30 tons, contained about 18,000 vacuum tubes and completed the same work the women "computers" did but in a fraction of the time. Bartik went on to work on the BINAC and UNIVAC computers and to work in the fledging high-tech publishing field. Her children and grandchildren all grew up to be good with numbers, she said in February. Bartik and the other ENIAC programmers didn't receive much attention for their work after WWII, but their story was recently featured in the documentary "Top Secret Rosies: The Female Computers of World War II." Bartik wrote an autobiography that is being edited; Rickman said he hopes it will be published this year. In 1997, Bartik was inducted into the Women in Technology Hall of Fame, along with her fellow ENIAC programmers, Kathleen McNulty Mauchly Antonelli, Frances Snyder Holberton, Marlyn Wescoff Meltzer, Frances Bilas Spence and Ruth Lichterman Teitelbaum. In 2008, Bartik was one of the Fellow Award honorees at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California, along with Robert Metcalfe, an inventor of Ethernet, and Linus Torvalds, who began the development of the Linux kernel, or operating system. Northwest Missouri State University opened the Jean Jennings Bartik Computing Museum in her honor. "I'm going to miss her terribly. It's such an end of an era," said Bill Mauchly, the son of ENIAC pioneers John and Kay Mauchly. After John Mauchly's death in 1980, Bartik and Kay Mauchly renewed their friendship and gave talks about their experience in the early days of computing. Both women wrote autobiographies, Bill Mauchly said, and remained close until Kay's death in 2006. "(Bartik) was such a ball of fire and so much fun," Bill Mauchly said. "They made a great team, because my mother was more demure. That's the part I remember, them traveling around like a traveling band, the Jean and Kay Show. They finally got to have their own little audience." "They're going to continue to be an example of women in technology from the very beginning. I think (Bartik) gave us what we needed to remember her by." In February, Bartik said women hadn't gotten far enough in technology, but she saw a promising future. "Women are busily working on it," she said. "I have high hopes for them." | Jean Bartik was among the women recruited to do ballistics calculations during WWII .
Bartik went on to work on the ENIAC, BINAC and UNIVAC machines .
Half a century later, their work is only beginning to get recognition .
Bartik wrote an autobiography, which editors hope will publish this year . |
fdb66a96d8ba3e65c2fba56accf56c302f3ab8ad | Whether you're buying your first home or purchasing an investment property, the real estate market can be a difficult place to navigate. Prices are constantly on the rise, especially near Australian capital cities. Even purchasing land on its own can be a costly move. Daily Mail Australia spoke to property and real estate experts across the nation and asked them to pinpoint where they would purchase property if they were looking for their first home. They were given a budget of $400,000 and asked to pick a property in any suburb they saw fit as long as it was suitable for someone to move into almost immediately. Looking to buy? Properties like this three-bedroom home between Brisbane and the Gold Coast offer first home buyer or investors fantastic value at around $400,000, real estate agents say . The experts also provided reasons they chose that particular home based on factors such as affordability, size, suburb, accessibility and of course location. The result is a list of properties in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and West Australia currently on the market that could be snapped up for no more than $400,000. NEW SOUTH WALES . Chris Gray, CEO of buyers agency Your Empire, chose a studio apartment just minutes from Sydney's bustling CBD as his pick for first home buyers in New South Wales. Located in Neutral Bay, just a 10 minute drive from the city centre, the property at 6/1 Spruson Street has spectacular harbour views but it also just a stone's throw from the action. 'This could be a great bachelor or bachelorette city pad for those that want amazing views as well as access to the heart of the action, whilst still being in a quiet location close to the city. It’s small but it’s a price almost everyone can afford,' Mr Gray told Daily Mail Australia. On the market for $320,000 and up, the open plan home came in well under the $400,000 budget. It also features a neat kitchen and bathroom. Chris Gray, CEO of Your Empire, picked this property in Neutral Bay for a first home buyer in Sydney . The studio apartment is on the market for $320,000 and is located just minutes from the CBD . The property has sweeping views of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and a small outdoor living area . Positives of the property outlined by Mr Gray were the sweeping views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the location being just 500 metres from a ferry and the 2-3 kilometre walk into the city. He also pointed out the outdoor living area in the form of a balcony and the potential for renovations as other strong points of the apartment. One downside Mr Gray noted was the high strata fees due to its location. 'But as an emotional first home purchase, you’ll have plenty of fun there,' he added. Managing Director at SQM Research Louis Christopher recommended a different part of the state for those looking to purchase a property . Mr Christopher suggested suburbs such as St Marys in Sydney's west were a great place to purchase . He said while the location may not be perfect, as a first home buyer you may need to make sacrifices . Managing Director at SQM Research Louis Christopher recommended a different part of the state for those looking to purchase a property. Mr Christopher said suburbs such as St Marys in Sydney's west are perfect for those with a slightly smaller budget but who are looking for something a little larger. He cited the growing population, prosperity and affordability of the area as very attractive factors when buying a home there. And he added that from most parts it was just a 40 minute ride into the city by train. 'I think people would be surprised that you can still find a property under $400,000 but you can', Mr Christopher told Daily Mail Australia. 'It may not be in your ideal location but as a first home buyer you have to make sacrifices,' he said. The nearby suburb of Willmot also had a number of houses on the market for less than $400,000 . Mr Christopher said a fibro home, such as this one on the market from $309,950, were a good pick . He said employment rates in NSW are on the rise and the suburb was a good investment . Mr Christopher added that for NSW as a whole unemployment rates are down and the standard of infrastructure is increasing. Daily Mail Australia chose two examples of properties like the ones Mr Christopher described above: one in St Marys and another in the nearby suburb of Willmot. The first is a three bedroom two bathroom freestanding townhouse on John Street, St Marys. On the market for $389,950 each bedroom in the house has its own built in wardrobe and the master has an en-suite. There's also a double garage and is within walking distance to schools and local shops. The second property is a fibro home with three bedrooms, one bathroom and a neat kitchen. It comes well under the budget at $309,950 - $339,950 and has a sizeable garden, which is nearby to shops and schools in the area. QUEENSLAND . In Queensland, the new suburb of Yarrabilba was nominated as having good value by industry consultant Ross Elliott . The community is located about an hour from both Brisbane and the Gold Coast . Industry Consultant Ross Elliott had a few tips for first home buyers such as saving money by buying land with old houses and renovating, but added picking the right location was all about convenience. 'It really depends on where you work to where you live', he told Daily Mail Australia. But when asked to choose one suburb, Mr Elliott pointed to the new development of Yarrabilba between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. 'You can get a really nice home, brand new three bedroom for under $400,000,' he said. On the market for $399,999 this place has a large open plan living area and four bedrooms . Some properties in the area have already been built, while others are still under construction along with parks, shops and other community facilities. And example of one of these homes is Lot 404 in Fulmer Street. Up for grabs for $399,999 the brand new property has four bedrooms, two bathrooms and two car spots. Located in the community of Yarrabilba this would be perfect for a young family, and is less than 50 kilometres from Brisbane and 60 kilometres from the Gold Coast. Within walking distance to shops, schools and parks, Mr Elliott said the location is central and it would be wise to buy in an up and coming suburb such as this. Daily Mail Australia has spoken to experts across the country to reveal some of the best property deals for first home buyers or investors at around $400,000 . VICTORIA . In Victoria David Easterbook, Property Advisor at Elite Property Advisory chose Carnigie as an ideal suburb for first home buyers to purchase a home in. Properties like this unit in Carnegie in Melbourne's inner east can be an idea first home purchase, agent David Easterbrook said . The area has plenty of parks, a good demographic and the city centre is only 15 kilometres away with lots of public transport options . Carnegie is close to amenities such as the Southland Shopping Centre and cafes and restaurants along Koornang Road . In particular he pointed to a two-bedroom unit on Koornang Road on the market for $350,000 - $380,000 which had been recently renovated internally. 'You're still able to secure a 2 bed for around $400k…or a good one bed with a court yard in a small development and close to the train station,' Mr Easterbrook told Daily Mail Australia. 'The property has plenty of amenities close by such as Southland Shopping Centre and the cafés, restaurants and shopping along Koornang Rd is fantastic with the strip alive almost every night of the week. There are plenty of parks, a good demographic and the CBD is only 15kms and accessed via multiple means of transport,' he said. WESTERN AUSTRALIA . The President of the Real Estate Institute of Australia David Airey said Morley - less than 10 kilometres from Perth - would be perfect for first homebuyers in the state. The two-bedroom one bathroom duplex is close to transport, shops and other amenities. It's on sale for $380,000-$400,000. This two-bedroom duplex in Morley, less than 10 kilometres from the city centre, could be ideal for first home buyers in Perth . The home's kitchen has been updated recently, and it features split-system air conditioning to cool the house in summer and heat it in winter . The house is a 20-minute drive to the Swan Valley wine region, with cafes and restaurants . Local agent David Airey said the big backyard was ideal for a family with young children or a dog . 'This property would be ideal for many first home buyers in Perth, because it’s more affordable, close to the city, has a big yard for a toddler or dog and great access to local shops and schools,' Mr Airey told Daily Mail Australia. 'Despite being an older style home, the paintwork, fittings, fixtures and flooring are all decent and no renovations are required. Even the kitchen has recently been updated. The front of the house has been rendered to make the home more appealing and there is a split system air-conditioning unit to beat the summer heat as well as a verandah to the backyard to relax under. 'This home is in good proximity to the city, Galleria Shopping complex and the airport. And it’s only a 20 minute drive to the Swan Valley for weekend recreation in Perth’s wine region and foothills cafes and restaurants,' he said. 'First home buyers pay no stamp duty in WA for homes under $430,000 and receive a $3,000 grant from the state government. ($10,000 if building a new home),' Mr Airey said. SOUTH AUSTRALIA . Croydon Park in South Australia was pinned as a diverse and growing suburb by Sales Partner at LJ Hooker West Lakes Rosemary Auricchio. This property in Minerva Crescent, Croydon Park, is on the highly sought after city fringe and close to a train line and shops . The three-bedroom property has a contemporary open plan interior and is on the market with a price guide of $319,000 - $339,000 . Croydon Park is a diverse, multicultural community and this property is very affordable for the area, agent Rosemary Auricchio said . 'It's a very central location close to the CBD and also North Adelaide,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'It's got great facilites in terms of train-lines, shops and shopping malls,' Ms Auricchio added. The property she picked out is in a in a highly sought after city fringe location is set on an easy to maintain allotment. The three-bedroom property is on the market for $319,000 - $339,000 with an open plan contemporary, lounge, dining and kitchen. Ms Auricchio said the house is located in a diverse multicultural community and the home she chose was very affordable for the area. | Daily Mail Australia spoke to real estate experts across the country .
They chose properties with the best value for under $400,000 .
From houses and apartments to studios and townhouses there are many properties on the market . |
fdb67b75396e24674da277bcfa3e2ddf60ca643d | Windhoek, Namibia (CNN) -- A Mozambique Airlines flight crashed in northeastern Namibia, killing all on board, a government official told CNN on Saturday. The accident occurred Friday in Bwabwata game park, said Tobias Günzel, acting director of Namibia's Civil Aviation Department. The location is a remote region near the Angolan border, . Günzel said the plane started losing altitude at 38,000 feet and went down swiftly. "We could see it on our radar, and we could see it was descending very quickly, at a rate of about 100 feet per second," Günzel said. "We lost it from our screens at 3,000 feet above sea level." The airline has not confirmed the crash, but the company released a statement earlier confirming 28 passengers and six crew members were on Flight TM 470 and that it was "missing." The flight was en route from Maputo, Mozambique, to Angola. Namibia's aviation authorities have dispatched a police helicopter to the area, Günzel said. "We now have to wait and see if the black box can be recovered," Günzel said. | The flight was en route to Angola from Mozambique .
The plane went down in a remote area .
The flight had been reported "missing" |
fdb7229d4a908287892169cffb6d93689087cd1b | By . Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 08:15 EST, 3 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:56 EST, 4 March 2013 . v . An heir to a sprawling country estate has spoken of the moment voices told him to quit his life as a wealthy landowner, shave his head and go to Australia on a spiritual odyssey. Napier Marten gave up the Crichel Estate in Dorset and the £115million family fortune because of a voice 'inside of me saying daily and sometimes many times daily to shave my head and go to Australia.' The 54-year-old spoke of how in 1996 he dropped his former life and travelled to Australia - stopping in Maui to shave his head - because his life of privilege had brought him to a point 'where everything in my life materially was a completely empty shell', reports The Sunday Times. Marten made the revelation in an interview that appeared on Youtube last month. He was talking to equine-assisted psychotherapist Josephine Sellers, a woman he believes he knew in a previous life 400 years ago when he was a priest tutoring her when she was the daughter of a noble Dorset house. He told her: 'Even with small children, I had to leave the house and go pretty much overnight. 'I do recall having a recognition of myself that I was exhibiting some sort of courage, but of course in many other people's minds I was exhibiting some sort of cowardice.' Beauty: The garden at Crichel House. The house itself was featured in the 1996 film Emma, starring Gwyneth Paltrow . Crichel House, part of the Crichel estate, which has been in the same family for 300 years and is worth £100million . While on the trip he shaved his head, a gesture intended as a 'two finger' renunciation of his previous life as a wealthy scion, and went whale watching, an event he found so emotional it left him crying 'almost non-stop' for a week. In Australia he joined a group of Aborigines on top of a cliff and claims to have had an out-of-body experience, where his consciousness was able to observe his own sleeping body. Heritage: Crichel House. The estate also includes four villages, a cricket ground and an ornamental lake . He said: 'I found myself looking down at my sleeping body... the next thing I know, I'm flying out into the ocean into the dark waters and swimming with the whales. It was a complete clearing out, a transmission of energy. 'These days of expansion unfortunately can't be repeated, but when one's in it, it is the most exciting part of your life.' At one point he lived in a lorry and supported himself by working as a chef and later trained in head massage. The 5,000 acre estate, which includes four villages, a cricket club and a lake, will now pass to his elder son Maximilian when he turns 25 in October. The picturesque 18th century manor house was featured in the 1996 film Emma, starring Gwyneth Paltrow. Mr Marten now lives a few miles from the estate and runs a tree surgery firm called Dryad, a name referencing tree spirits from Greek mythology, with his younger son Tobias. He told the paper he had the 'agreement of his family' for his life choices but did not comment further. The Crichel estate was put up for sale after the 2010 death of his mother Mary Marten OBE, goddaughter of the Queen Mother and child playmate of Princess Margaret. It is reportedly worth £100million and comes with 100 workers tied to it and more than 150 other properties. Actress Gwyneth Paltrow in the 1996 adaption of Jane Austen's Emma, which featured the estate . | Napier Marten fled 'materialistic' life in 1996 .
The heir shaved his head and had 'out-of-body' experience with Aborigines .
He has now left his fortune to eldest son . |
fdb79af26d08edde36bd192bb047b5752c1232da | The first bad Santa of 2014 has dropped in on an Australian Post Office - and filled his own sack with money. The red-suited thief walked into the Post Office in the Melbourne suburb of Oak Park greeting everyone with a cheery wave, but there were no 'Ho Ho Hos'. Instead the muffled words from under his false white beard were 'Fill up the sack' - which he then dumped on the counter. Scroll down for video . The first bad Santa of 2014 has dropped in on an Australian Post Office - and filled his own sack with money . Two female staff thought at first he was just a friendly old Santa passing on some early Christmas cheer. 'When they saw his red sack, they thought he was dropping by to hand out lollies to give to children who came in,' said Detective Senior Constable Bryan Strangman. 'But when they realised this was a robbery they became quite terrified.' CCTV footage shows the bad Santa thumping his sack down on the counter and demanding money to be handed over from the till. The muffled words from under his false white beard was 'Fill up the sack' which he then dumped on the counter . Two female staff thought at first he was just a friendly old Santa passing on some early Christmas cheer . He told the staff to open the safe, but when that did not produce a response the robber jumped onto the counter and pulled out all the cash from the small post office's register. Showing great agility, he then jumped onto another counter and demanded more money from a female employee. His sack bulging with his ill-gotten Christmas gifts to himself, he turned and fled from the post office. There were no reindeers outside waiting to help his getaway. He told the staff to open the safe, but when that did not produce a response the robber jumped onto the counter . Perhaps he decided a sleigh on a baking hot road would be too slow and instead sped off in a cream-coloured jeep, believed to have false number plates. 'Fortunately no-one was hurt as no weapons were used,' said Detective Strangman. Police said they were looking for a 6ft tall Caucasian man who might or might not be still in a Santa suit. Until he is caught, however, police will be giving other Santas more than a passing glance, just in case. | The first bad Santa of 2014 has dropped in on an Australian Post Office .
Staff thought he was a friendly old Santa passing on some Christmas cheer .
But under his false white beard, he mumbled 'fill up the sack'
CCTV footage shows the Santa demanding money .
But when staff did not respond, the robber jumped onto the counter . |
fdb8411d055bf4543916e6cf3d8e82133be23526 | (CNN) -- Interpol announced Monday it is issuing notices to help search for another 16 suspects believed linked to the January killing of a Hamas leader in Dubai. The organization will now help investigators in Dubai try to track down all 27 people suspected of links to the death of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in a Dubai hotel. Information gathered by investigators in Dubai "bore out the international links and broad scope of the number of people involved, as well as the role of two 'teams' of individuals identified by the Dubai police as being linked," Interpol said. The organization issued 16 additional "red notices," which are not international arrest warrants but are a way of alerting police forces around the world that the suspects are wanted by authorities in the United Arab Emirates. Interpol had previously issued 11 of the notices covering "a smaller core group alleged to have carried out the killing," the organization said in a news release. Interpol Secretary-General Ronald K. Noble said investigators have established "clear" links through passport records, video surveillance, DNA analysis, witness interviews and hotel, credit card, phone and transport records, according to the news release. Two sources told CNN a week ago that the number of identified suspects was up to 27. Of them, 26 were carrying European or Australian passports, authorities have said. The sources -- an official familiar with the investigation and a police source -- did not say which nation issued the passport used by the 27th suspect. Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, a founding member of Hamas' military wing, was found dead January 20 in his Dubai hotel room. Police believe he was slain the night before, allegedly by the secretive Israeli foreign intelligence unit Mossad. Dubai's police chief told CNN last month that he is "100 percent sure" Mossad was responsible. "The Mossad needs to be ashamed of its actions," said Lt. Gen. Dahi Khalfan Tamim. "They sent 26, 27 persons to assassinate one man who was involved in the capturing and killing of two Israeli soldiers." Hamas has said al-Mabhouh was behind the 1989 deaths of the Israeli soldiers. Israel has a stated policy on security matters of neither confirming nor denying involvement. Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, however, told Israel Army Radio earlier this month, "There is certainly no reason to think that the Mossad and not some other intelligence agency of another country operated there." The total of 27 suspects does not include two Palestinians arrested in Jordan and returned to Dubai. Tamim said one is not believed to be directly involved in al-Mabhouh's death, but "he is wanted by one of the Palestinian factions in the Palestinian territories and he is sentenced to death and that's why we will extradite him." He declined to discuss anything about the other Palestinian. | Interpol issues notices for 16 more suspects in killing of Hamas leader in Dubai hotel .
It will help investigators hunt all 27 suspects in death of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh .
Dubai police chief "100 percent" sure Israeli intel unit is behind Hamas slaying .
Israel says only media reports link it to killing and there's no reason to blame Mossad . |
fdb865758350cb05a89bf80bd7f73562bbcd80fb | (CNN) -- Juventus came from behind to defeat Bologna 4-1 on Saturday to put pressure on Inter Milan at the top of the Serie A table. Alessandro Del Piero celebrates the first of his two goals in Juventus' 4-1 victory over Bologna. Massimo Mutarelli put Bologna ahead in the 24th minute, but a dominant second half display from the Bianconeri gave them all three points. Hasan Salihimidzic equalised in the 49th minute before Sebastian Giovinco put the home side ahead in the 71st minute. A brace from Alessandro Del Piero in the 75th and 88th minutes sealed a win which takes Juve to within four points of leaders Inter, who face a tricky home match against Fiorentina on Sunday. In Saturday's other match, Genoa boosted their hopes of playing in the Champions League next season thanks to a 1-0 win at 10-man Cagliari to move above Fiorentina into fourth place. Cagliari lost Andrea Cossu to a red card in the 39th minute but held out until five minutes from the end when Ruben Olivera grabbed the decisive goal. Meanwhile, veteran striker Filippo Inzaghi scored his 300th career goal to help Milan crush Siena 5-1 on Sunday to consolidate third place in the table. The 35-year-old scored twice, while Alexander Pato also netted a brace and Andrea Pirlo scored the opener from the penalty spot, as Milan proved too strong for their opponents -- for whom Massimo Maccarone was on target. Roma lost further ground in the race for the fourth Champions League place as they were held to a 2-2 draw at Sampdoria. Julio Baptista gave the visitors a seventh-minute lead but Giampaolo Pazzini headed home an equalizer before the same player put the home side ahead after a mistake from goalkeeper Doni. But Baptista levelled from the spot after Marco Padalino was penalized for fouling Max Tonetto -- the player who missed the decisive spot-kick in the midweek Champions League defeat by Arsenal. | Juventus recover from going a goal behind to defeat Bologna 4-1 on Saturday .
The result lifts Juventus to within four points of Inter Milan at the top of Serie A .
Filippo Inzaghi reaches 300 career goals to help AC Milan hammer Siena 5-1 . |
fdb8661a5f8afdd749de187c54e5c910de4d3b1e | By . Anthony Bond . PUBLISHED: . 15:13 EST, 23 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:27 EST, 23 February 2013 . Convicted: Former school teacher Aaron Ledean, is facing imprisonment after being found guilty at Teesside Crown Court of repeated sexual assaults on an underage boy . A former school teacher is facing jail after carrying out repeated sexual assaults on an underage boy. A jury unanimously convicted Aaron Ledean of three indecent assaults on the teenage boy in the 1990s. The ex-science teacher already had convictions for downloading almost 4,000 child abuse images. Jurors heard how the victim of the . assaults - who cannot be named for legal reasons, now an adult - felt . 'euphoria' as he developed a strong crush on the affable, well-liked and . openly gay Ledean. He said it was a difficult time in his life as they flirted with one another. They . went to bars in their 'first date' in Middlesbrough and engaged in . sexual activity in a visit to the cinema and two pre-arranged visits to . Ledean’s home. The boy was 'devastated' when Ledean later broke things off. Years later, the boy confronted . Ledean and said it was inappropriate for him to be in a position of . responsibility towards children. Ledean . became a teacher at a Teesside school for several years. The . complainant said the events preyed on his mind over the years and he . grew to believe what had happened was wrong. He . underwent counselling and reported matters to police in 2010. Ledean . said none of the alleged sexual activity or flirtation took place. He said he felt affection but not sexual attraction for the boy and insisted they were just mates. He said he deeply regretted rejecting the boy, after the teenager unexpectedly turned up at his home with a bunch of roses. Ledean, 40, had denied the three charges of indecent assault in a trial at Teesside Crown Court. Facing jail: A jury unanimously convicted Aaron Ledean, pictured, of three indecent assaults on a teenage boy in the 1990s . But prosecutor Shaun Dodds alleged that Ledean showed he had a sexual interest in young boys. Judge . John Walford said the alleged sexual activity was consensual, but it . constituted indecent assault because of the boy’s age at the time. Jurors were told of Ledean’s previous convictions. He was given a suspended prison sentence after he admitted 16 charges of making and one of possessing indecent photographs of children in 2008. He had 3,925 images of children on a laptop and discs. Ledean said he was addicted to pornography at the time of downloading the pictures in 2005 to 2007, but there was 'a world of difference' between thinking and doing things. He told the court he’d been through therapy and counselling and was not attracted to children. Judge Walford told Ledean, of Crook, County Durham, that prison was inevitable, remanding him in custody until March 18. | Aaron Ledean engaged in .
sexual activity with boy in a visit to the cinema .
He was convicted of three indecent assaults on the teenager in the 1990s .
Ex-teacher had convictions for downloading child abuse images . |
fdb8d291be48fd3d748d8d7a05d4de167310130d | (CNN) -- Belgium set a date with the U.S. in the last 16 of the World Cup as the curtain fell on the gripping group stages in Brazil, while Algeria celebrated a historic first. Thursday's 1-0 victory over South Korea was more than enough for the unbeaten Belgians to advance from Group H as winners, despite having a man sent off. As their red and yellow clad fans celebrated in Sao Paulo, there were similar scenes of jubilation in Curitiba. Algeria made history in Brazil, reaching the knockout stages of the global tournament for the first time at the expense of Russia. "Les Fennecs" -- the Desert Foxes -- will need all their wiles as they face the might of Germany next. Germany had consigned the U.S. to a 1-0 defeat in Thursday's earlier matches but Team USA escaped from a grueling Group G -- which also featured Ghana and Portugal -- on goal difference. Belgium might think themselves lucky to march into the knockout stages with their unbeaten record intact after being forced to play more than half the match with 10 men. Steven Defour was sent off for a rash studs-up challenge on the cusp of halftime and South Korea sniffed blood, pressing forward after the break. But if the statistics tell us anything about Belgium, it is never count them out. Breaking upfield, defender Jan Vertonghen picked up the rebound of Divock Origi's fizzing effort to break the deadlock after 77 minutes. Belgium's last six World Cup goals have been scored in the last 20 minutes of the match. Team USA better be prepared for a lively finish when the two sides meet next Tuesday in Salvador. Algeria had arrived in Sao Paulo buoyant from a 4-2 victory over South Korea -- the North African country's first World Cup win in 32 years. When Russia took an early lead in the must-win showdown, a fairytale ending for Vahid Halilhodzic's side had seemed a remote possibility. Aleksandr Kokorin, who is nicknamed "Bieber" because of his youthful similarity to the Canadian pop star, was soon on song. He rose brilliantly to power home Dmitry Kombarov's cross after just six minutes and from there Russia looked intent on protecting the lead. But Algeria, cheered on by the undiminished enthusiasm of their fans, were not done yet. When a free-kick was swung into the box, the Russian defense rocked and Islam Slimani headed into an open goal with 60 minutes on the clock -- his second goal in as many games. The draw was enough for Algeria to join Nigeria as the second African side in the last 16. Meanwhile, Russia will be hoping to find answers before hosting the next World Cup in 2018. After failing to qualify for the 2006 and 2010 editions of the global football fiesta, the Russians have now fallen at the first hurdle in 1994, 2002 and 2014. The remaining 16 nations in the World Cup will enjoy a rest day Friday before the footballing fever gets even hotter on Saturday. Hosts Brazil face a tricky Chile side for a place in the quarterfinals while Colombia take on Uruguay, now rendered rather toothless by the ban for biting striker Luis Suarez. The controversial Liverpool player is not the only star name to take an early flight from Brazil. Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo, Spain's defending champions and 2006 winners Italy were among the big guns saying adeus from Brazil. | Belgium set up last 16 date with the U.S. at 2014 World Cup in Brazil .
A solitary goal by Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen seals 1-0 win over South Korea .
Algeria reach the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time in their history .
A late equalizer for Slimani sees Algeria advance as the expense of Russia . |
fdb94939a306bd1bbabf462ad98c7f9e9b741e64 | NBC News anchor Brian Williams' 2006 claim that he saw a dead body float past his hotel window during Hurricane Katrina is drawing fresh skepticism in the wake of his own admission on Wednesday that he lied about being aboard a helicopter that was hit by enemy fire during the Iraq war. Despite a swift apology on his Nightly News program, Williams is at the center of a media firestorm after it emerged that his old war story that he has retold numerous times over the past 12 years has become increasingly exaggerated. Williams was forced to apologize this week after claiming in a report on Friday that the chinook he was aboard in Iraq had been hit by enemy fire. Scroll down for video . NBC News anchor Brian Williams' 2006 claim that he saw a dead body float past his hotel window during Hurricane Katrina is drawing fresh skepticism after he admitted to lying over an old Iraq war story . New Orleans' famous French Quarter escaped flooding during Hurricane Katrina as it is located on the highest part of the city . On Wednesday Williams blamed his mistake on the 'fog of memory over 12 years', but evidence has emerged since that Williams has repeatedly mis-told the story including to late night host David Letterman in 2013. The anchor's previous credibility as a highly regarded journalist is based partly on his reporting from inside the New Orleans Superdome in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in September 2005. The major story broke just months after Williams replaced Tom Brokaw as NBC News' anchor and his reporting from the devastation of New Orleans received countless plaudits and helped earn NBC a Peabody Award. In the wake of the scandal over William's war story apology, attention is now turning to comments he made about what exactly he witnessed in New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina. 'When you look out of your hotel room window in the French Quarter and watch a man float by face down, when you see bodies that you last saw in Banda Aceh, Indonesia and swore to yourself that you would never see in your country...I beat that storm. I was there before it arrived. 'I rode it out with people who later died in the Superdome,' he said in an interview in 2006, just a year after the hurricane. The story was first broken by the GotNews.com news blog. Williams' reporting from New Orleans received countless plaudits and helped earn NBC a Peabody Award but is now being reevaluated with some skepticism following his Iraq war story climb down . According to the New Orleans Advocate, Williams claim isn't accurate as the French Quarter of the city – one of the highest parts of the city – was never flooded. The Advocate has also taken Williams to task over another Katrina-related claim that he made in an interview last year with her predecessor Brokaw. In the interview Williams claims that he had caught dysentery from drinking floodwaters during his stay in New Orleans. 'My week, two weeks there was not helped by the fact that I accidentally ingested some of the floodwater,' he said. 'I became very sick with dysentery, our hotel was overrun with gangs, I was rescued in the stairwell of a five-star hotel in New Orleans by a young police officer. We are friends to this day. And uh, it just was uh, I look back at total agony.' Those claims have also had cold water poured on them. The anchor is also in trouble over claims that he caught dysentery from drinking floodwaters while reporting on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005 . 'I saw a lot of people with cuts and bruises and such, but I don't recall a single, solitary case of gastroenteritis during Katrina or in the whole month afterward,' Dr. Brobson Lutz, a former city health director told the Advocate. A spokeswoman from the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals said contaminated water sources are a possible 'transmission points' for dysentery, but that the agency doesn't track it. Elsewhere, conservative blog, SooperMexican, posted video clips on Thursday that apparently showed Williams telling two completely different stories about a New Orleans man who committed suicide during the Katrina. One clip from the Brokaw interview has Williams claim that he personally witnessed the death, while in a second clip, Williams said he 'heard the story of a man killing himself falling from the upper deck' of the New Orleans Superdome. In the same interview with Brokaw, he praised Williams, saying that with his reporting during Katrina, Williams 'took ownership, if you will, of the anchor chair' following a longtime stint as Brokaw's understudy. In a 2014 interview with Tom Brokaw, right, Williams claimed that he caught dysentery from drinking floodwaters in New Orleans - a claim that experts have said is highly unlikely . | Williams' 2006 claim that he saw a dead body float past his hotel window during Hurricane Katrina is drawing fresh skepticism .
The NBC News anchor was forced to apologize on Wednesday after he lied about being on a helicopter in Iraq in 2003 that was hit by enemy fire .
He blamed that mistake on the 'fog of memory over 12 years'
William's Katrina claim is now being questioned and is also likely to be false as the French Quarter was never flooded following the hurricane .
The anchor is also in trouble over claims that he caught dysentery from drinking floodwaters .
His reporting from New Orleans received countless plaudits and helped earn NBC a Peabody Award . |
fdb9949d918ddb114172f612d9c456c3da28ca4e | In amongst chasing car theft syndicates and catching armed robbers, Queensland Police have dedicated their crime-fighting efforts to tracking down a distressed citizen who'd lost their camera. Taking a break from cracking cases on an obviously quiet weekend at Queensland's North Stradbroke Island, Dunwich police uploaded the happy snaps from the lost device onto their social media page. Cops even issued a press release on Saturday morning, launching a lost-and-found exercise at the popular but relatively quiet beach destination about half an hour off the coast of Brisbane. Incriminating evidence: Police released three photos from a lost camera on Saturday in an effort to find the items owner . The press release was issued inbetween two serious crimes including a 'organised theft of motor vehicle syndicate' and 'armed robbery' 'The search is on for a snapper who left their camera behind at North Stradbroke Island earlier this year,' the press release stated. 'The camera contains images from around Australia, including North Stradbroke Island and Brisbane, and police want to return it to its rightful owner.' One of the images, which shows a platter of sweets beside a couple of paper cups filled with chocolate, received a fair amount of attention from Facebook viewers, leading even police to express their cravings. One particular picture, depicting a table laden with deserts, proved ot be particularly popular on the Queensland Police's Facebook page . 'Did you take this photo before enjoying the deliciousness? If so, Dunwich police may have your camera,' the post by Queensland Police Service said. 'Can QPS please help unite me with that deliciousness?!' one person wrote in response to the post. 'That looks like a chocolate sampler from Montys Chocolate in Brisbane. So yummy! I hope you find the owners of the camera,' another person commented. Queensland police media was quick to respond to the posts, even tellling one woman who announced she was off to sample the photographic 'evidence', 'Enjoy the deliciousness, Anne!'. The press release issued by the police, urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers . The press release was issued by police in between two far more serious crime stories, including one about the 'organised theft of motor vehicle syndicate' being broken and an 'armed robbery' in Surfers Paradise. Nonetheless, the public service was sure to remind citizens of the serious nature of the matter at hand, imploring them to make contact with police. 'Anyone with information which could assist with this matter should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au 24hrs a day,' the media release said. | Queensland police took a break from hard-hitting crimes on Saturday to share some photos from a lost camera .
One of the photos received a fair amount of attention from both police and social media viewers, who were engrossed by the sweets depicted . |
fdba80f32ee641eaf20304fbe6949cfd0fb78307 | A vigilante motorist is facing a $48,000 fine for allegedly using an illegal cell phone signal jammer in his SUV to keep drivers around him off the phone. The Federal Communications Commission says that Jason R. Humphreys hid the jammer in his SUV and operated it every day on the Interstate 4 in Florida for about two years before he was caught. The 60-year-old driver allegedly admitted he deployed the jammer, which transmits radio signals that interfere with or block electronic communications, to stop motorists driving while using their cells. But the FCC claims the repercussions were far more serious - he was jamming cell phone towers and, potentially, the communications of emergency responders. 'The moral issue is that it's just very dangerous,' Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office spokesman Larry McKinnon told ABC Action News. Scroll down for video . Vehicle: Sherriff's deputies allegedly found the cell phone jammer hidden beneath a seat cover in the back seat of Jason Humprehys' blue Toyota Highlander (pictured) Scene: The FCC were alerted to the phone jamming in April 2013, when their enforcement bureau received a complaint from Metro PCS about interference to their cell phone towers on the I-4 between Seffern and Tampa (pictured) at the same two times every day . The FCC were alerted to the serious offense in April 2013, when their enforcement bureau received a complaint from Metro PCS about interference to their cell phone towers. The company noticed that their sites between Seffner and Tampa were getting scrambled during the morning and evening commute times every day. FCC agents used direction finding techniques to determine that strong wideband emissions were coming out of a blue Toyota Highlander SUV driven by Humphreys. With the help of the Sheriff's office, agents pulled the Seffner man over. The report states that as they got close to Humphreys' car, they experienced interruption to their two-way portable radios. According to officials, the driver admitted to using the jammer between 2011 and 2013 s and kept it underneath the seat cover on the passenger side. 'He indicated on the day that we stopped him that he was pretty much fed up with watching cell phone usage while people were driving,' police spokesman McKinnon said. In Florida, it's not illegal to make a phone call on your cell while driving, but you can only text when you're stationary. Jammer: Florida's Jason R. Humphreys is accused of hiding a cell phone jammer (like the one pictured) in his SUV and using it every day to stop other motorists from using their cell while driving . When officials seized the jammer, Metro PCS reported the interference at their towers stopped. Jamming devices are banned in the United States because they can compromise the calls of police and other emergency responders. Humphreys has 30 days to either pay the $48,000 fine or file a written response with the FCC. According to McKinnon, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office also filed charges against Humphreys directly with the State Attorney's Office. Humphreys has not commented publicly on the case. | Jason R. Humphreys facing a $48,000 fine .
He hid the illegal device in his SUV and used it while driving on the Interstate 4 for about two years .
The jammer made it impossible for anyone, including emergency responders, to use their cell .
Authorities tracked the Florida man down after Metro PCS reported interference to their Tampa towers .
Humphreys said he was sick of seeing people use their phones while driving . |
fdba8ae7d871429d64edd0c0a7524fa58cd3561c | (CNN) -- Rangers restored their four-point lead over Celtic despite conceding the fastest goal in Scottish Premier League history on Sunday. The Glasgow side went behind after only 12.4 seconds as Hibernian striker Anthony Stokes surpassed the previous mark set by Saulius Mikoliunas for Edinburgh rivals Hearts back in 2006, but bounced back to register a 4-1 away victory. Scotland striker Kenny Miller scored in each half, while goals from fellow frontmen Kris Boyd and Nacho Novo ensured that third-placed Hibs' unbeaten run of 13 league games came to an end. Celtic had closed the gap to one point after beating Hamilton Academicals 2-0 on Saturday. Rangers, meanwhile, expect to have Madjid Bougherra available for Wednesday's home clash with fourth-placed Dundee United, but the Algeria defender will leave for African Nations Cup duty in Angola before next Sunday's Old Firm derby showdown with Celtic. "That's the way it's looking at the present moment," manager Walter Smith said. Smith will also be without United States winger DaMarcus Beasley for the next few weeks after he suffered an injury in training before the Hibs game. "He has a tear in his thigh. I'm not sure how long that will keep him out -- two or three weeks maybe," Smith said. "It's disappointing in the sense that he is just back in the team and doing exceptionally well, so it was disappointing it happened." However, Beasley's international teammate Maurice Edu boosted his chances of playing at next year's World Cup finals in South Africa after making his first appearance this season. The midfielder, who suffered a serious knee injury in the final SPL game of last season, came off the substitutes' bench for the final 15 minutes at Easter Road. | Rangers four points clear despite conceding fastest goal in Scottish Premier League history .
Anthony Stokes puts Hibernian ahead after 12.4 seconds but Rangers still win 4-1 .
Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra will miss derby with Celtic due to African Nations Cup .
United States winger DaMarcus Beasley out with thigh injury but Maurice Edu makes comeback . |
fdbb01220ea40a6fc547287bf8ddc956154020f3 | A South Carolina man who was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the murder of his mother and stepfather — who were found wrapped in plastic in his basement — has been apprehended a day after he escaped from a mental hospital, officials said Friday. Jason Mark Carter, 39, was picked up at a hotel in Fairview, Tennessee, after police tracked his cell phone pings - the technology that marks the location of your last signal. His aunt, Karin Thorne, said she was relieved. 'If he's not on his meds, he could injure someone,' she told NBC. Jason Mark Carter, who was committed to a mental institution following the 2006 murder of his mother and stepfather, escaped from the Craft Farrow State Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina, on Thursday morning. He was tracked down by police on Friday evening at a hotel in Tennessee . It's unclear how he escaped from the Craft Farrow State Hospital in Columbia, S.C., on Thursday morning but police believe he stole a 1991 Chevy van and later somehow purchased a Chevy Lumina. Carter was charged with murdering his stepfather and mother in Seneca in March 2006. The decomposing bodies Kevin and Deborah Ann Perkins were found by police wrapped in plastic in the basement of the family's home. They had been shot in the head with a .22 caliber handgun. Officers at the time said Carter ate and slept with in the same room as the bodies for three days. However, due to mental health issues, he was deemed not fit to stand trial. Instead he was involuntarily committed to an institution rather than being convicted. On Thursday morning, police in Oconee . County confirmed Carter escaped from a mental health facility in . Northeast Richland County. The South Carolina Department of Mental Health also confirmed the disappearance. He was reported to have been working in a supply business in the hospital's grounds when he made the escape. Police said an investigation has been launched to determine how the man got away. The car Carter stole was a white Chevrolet van from 1991, which was reported missing from the facility not long after his disappearance. In court, Carter's lawyer said he had no recollection of the crimes, according to WISTV. During the trial, mental health experts said that, with the correct medication, Carter's mental health issues could be controlled. Carter's grandfather, B.S. Pope, tried to convince the court that Carter was crazy like a fox and should stand trial for murder. | Jason Mark Carter, 29, committed to facility in Northeast Richland County .
He was found in a house with bodies of mother and stepfather in 2006 .
In court said he had no recollection of the crimes and was committed to the institution rather than convicted .
Police in Oconee County confirmed he had stolen a car and disappeared on Thursday morning .
His cell phone was tracked to a hotel in Tennessee on Friday, where he was captured . |
fdbb1fa32b9a08a1ab7d76b31141a20aabe776bc | One of Princess Diana's oldest friends has spoken of her joy at becoming Prince George's godmother. Julia Samuel told MailOnline that she was delighted at the honour and saw her role as an 'important responsibility'. The inclusion of Mrs Samuel, 54, in yesterday's list of seven godparents was a poignant acknowledgement of William’s late mother. She met and became friends with Diana in 1987 when the two were seated next to each other at a dinner and, according to Mrs Samuel, 'saw something in each other'. Scroll down for video . Honoured: Julia Samuel, pictured with her husband Michael, left, and fellow godparent Hugh Grosvenor, son of the Duke of Westminster, right, spoke of her pride today at being made godmother to Prince George . Smiling and happy: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge grinned at their family as they held their young prince at the big event yesterday . Nod to the past: Julia Samuel, left, one of Diana Princess of Wales' closest friends has been handed the honour by the Cambridges . Although the princess fell out with many of her friends, Mrs Samuel remained loyal. William is now royal patron of the charity Child Bereavement UK, of which she is founder patron and trustee. The charity does remarkable work in supporting families and professionals when a child dies or when a child suffers a bereavement themselves. In her statement The Hon Mrs Michael Samuel - as she was referred to by Kensington Palace yesterday - said: 'I am delighted to have been invited to become godmother to His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge. 'It is both a joyful and an important responsibility which I am incredibly proud to accept.' Happy occasion: The proud parents are walked from the chapel by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury who had just baptised George . Delight: The Duke of Cambridge holds his son . Prince George (left), while the baby is held by Kate (right) who stands . next to the Bishop of London, Richard Chartres . Quiet: Prince George appeared contented as he was held by his mother on only his second public appearance since he was carried from the Lindo Wing in July . Many will have been hoping for a recognition of Diana on such an historic day and Mrs Samuel's presence was just that. Diana was also very much present not just in the engagement band that glints on the Duchess’s finger but in the very choice of the Chapel Royal itself, where her body lay before the altar so her family and friends could pay their respects in private, before her formal funeral in Westminster Abbey in 1997. That link was also one of the reasons that Kate chose the chapel to be formally confirmed into the Church of England before her marriage to Prince William in April 2011. Mrs Samuel is herself a bereavement counsellor in the NHS paediatrics department of St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, where Prince George was born. Softly-spoken and a good listener, Julia, has her own private practice, and has 'been a source of strength for William'. Born Julia Guinness and part of the famous brewing dynasty, one of her sisters — Sabrina — went out with Prince Charles. She married the Hon Michael Samuel, of the Hill Samuel banking family, and had the first of her four children at just 21. After the excitement of yesterday's . family christening at the Chapel Royal in St James's Palace, the Duke . and Duchess of Cambridge were this morning sitting down with aides as . they poured over the formal family photographs taken after the ceremony . at neighbouring Clarence House by celebrity photographer Jason Bell. Three . will be released to the media later today including one historic shot . that will, for the first time in more than a century, feature a monarch . and three living heirs: the Queen, Prince Charles, 64, Prince William, . 31 and George. The last . occasion such picture was taken was in 1894 when Queen Victoria was . photographed with her son Edward VII, grandson George V and great . grandson Edward VIII. Brother: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge asked their siblings to do the readings during the 45-minute ceremony, with Harry reading John (15: 1-5), which begins 'I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener' LIZ JONES FASHION VERDICT: Perfection: the Queen wore a sky blue cashmere coat with mother of pearl buttons over a paisley dress by Scottish couturier Stewart Parvin, with a (warm!) cashmere hat made by her redoubtable dresser, Angela Kelly. The brooch is a ruby and diamond basket of flowers given to her by King George to mark the birth of Prince Charles in 1948 . Siblings: Pippa and James Middleton walk out of the chapel with the small congregation, including their smiling mother Carole yesterday afternoon . In an historic ceremony which brought . together four generations of the Royal Family, the three-month-old . future king was christened by the Archbishop of Canterbury in the Chapel . Royal at St James’s Palace yesterday. Dressed . in a handmade replica of Queen Victoria’s daughter’s christening robe, . George bore a striking resemblance to his father at a similar age. He was on his best behaviour. With the . eyes of the world on him, His Royal Highness Prince George Alexander . Louis of Cambridge put on a perfect display of royal etiquette. According to aides, there wasn’t ‘even . a peep’ out of the three-month-old future king as he was baptised by . the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, at the Chapel . Royal in St James’s Palace. ‘He went in smiling, came out smiling and, as far as we are aware, smiled throughout,’ said one. William, however, could not resist confiding: ‘It’s the first time he’s been quiet all day.’ The . Archbishop of Canterbury told the congregation in the Holbein-painted . chapel that George’s parents and godparents had a ‘simple task’ – to . ‘make sure he knows who this Jesus is’. Joyous: Queen Elizabeth II and the Duchess of Cornwall followed by the Prince of Wales (background) leave the Chapel Royal holding programmes from the event . Colourful: The St James's Palace detachment of The Queen's Guard turns out in Colour Court, St James Palace, for the arrival of Queen Elizabeth II, ahead of the christening . Still smiling: Kate's sister Pippa Middleton leaves Kensington Palace after the christening of Prince George at the Chapel Royal in St James' Palace . The simplicity of the half-hour ceremony contrasted with the historic grandeur of the surroundings. The . heart of Mary I is buried beneath the choir-stalls and Elizabeth I . prayed there for the defence of the realm against the Spanish armada in . 1588. George’s life too, is . already steeped in history. The Archbishop made the sign of the cross on . his head with water taken from the River Jordan, in a royal tradition . that dates back to the 12th century. The . water was poured into the silver Lily Baptismal Font which was . commissioned by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1840 and has been . used at every royal christening since. His . parents’ guest list for the christening – which left out senior members . of the family including Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Princess Anne – . was a surprise to some. It did, however, result in the ‘intimacy’ the . Duke and Duchess of Cambridge craved. Indeed, . there were just 23 guests present, giving the christening a feel of a . family gathering rather than the moment a future Supreme Governor was . presented to his Church. For . the Queen it was very much business as usual. She broke away from her . schedule for only an hour – and was last night busy hosting a charity . reception at the Palace. Happy day: Emilia Jardine-Paterson and husband David arrive at Chapel Royal in St James's Palace, central London for the christening of Prince George of Cambridge . Out and in: The Prince of Wales and Duchess of . Cornwall (right) leave the chapel. Zara Phillips, pregnant with her . first child with husband Mike Tindall (right) arrive . Guests: William van Cutsem with wife Rosie . leaving the Chapel Royal in St James's Palace (left). Jamie . Lowther-Pinkerton and his wife (right) are also seen departing . Invited: Oliver Baker (centre in left photo) with partner Mel and Michael Tindall (right in left) arrive at Chapel . Royal, where Prince Phillip was also seen (right) Enthusiasts: Royal Fans, many of whom have slept . outside overnight, have returned to London three months after Prince . George's birth so they can celebrate his christening . Waking up on the big day: Royal fan Terry Hut and friends waits outside St James's Palace hours before the is third in line to the throne will be christened . Earlier, . Kensington Palace unveiled the long awaited list of godparents. Among . the seven, there was no royalty, just a smattering of close friends, . relatives and advisers. They . are Oliver Baker, Kate and William’s flatmate at St Andrew’s, interior . decorator Emilia Jardine-Paterson, William’s cousin Zara Tindall and . his childhood friend William van Cutsem, one of William’s most trusted . confidantes. At just . 22, Hugh, Earl Grosvenor, was the youngest. He is the son of one of the . country’s richest men, the Duke of Westminster, whose wife, Natalia, is . one of William’s godmothers. Adding . some gravitas to the group is Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, one of . William’s longest serving, loyal and most trusted aides, who now works . for the royal household on a part-time basis. It . was in the Chapel Royal that Diana’s body lay before her funeral in . Westminster Abbey in 1997. Kate also chose the chapel to be confirmed . into the Church of England before her marriage to Prince William in . April 2011. | Julia Samuel being made one of seven god-parents was a poignant acknowledgement of William’s late mother .
54-year-old met Diana in .
1987 at dinner and says they became close because they 'saw something in each other'
'It is both a joyful and an important responsibility which I am incredibly proud to accept,' Mrs Samuel said .
George was baptised by the Archbishop of .
Canterbury in the historic Chapel Royal at St James's Palace yesterday . |
fdbb5d5e287417b3050e8f84d40f2ccef8b1a947 | (CNN) -- Scores of people died Thursday in and around the restive Syrian city of Hama, activists said, corroborating reports of widespread casualties a day after the start of a new military clampdown targeting protesters. At least 109 people died in and around Hama, said Avaaz, a global activist group, citing a medical source. The Local Coordination Committees of Syria said 30 people were killed Wednesday. "The brutality continues in Hama on the fourth day of Ramadan. Communication with the city and surrounding area is very difficult as the electricity supply has been cut off," Avaaz said. The activist group, citing the medical source, said scores more were wounded. "Bodies are lying in the streets as ambulances and private vehicles are unable to get through," the group said. The western Syrian city is the center of the country's anti-government movement, whose efforts have prompted a crackdown by security personnel on the huge demonstrations there in an effort to secure the city. Citing the medical source, Avaaz said bodies taken to al Hourani Hospital had been shot at close range, most of them in the head. The geographic breakdown was 48 dead in the town of Hai al Hadyr, 31 in the town of Janoub al Manaab, and 30 in the northern part of Hama and the Hamidia area, it said. One resident who spoke to CNN by satellite phone said some of the casualties who were taken to hospitals died there because the facilities were without electricity. There were reports of a breakdown and cutoff in communications and electricity accompanying the siege, and of the military bombing the city. The resident said entrances of the city were blocked, with no one getting in or out, and snipers were stationed across the city. People who tried to leave, he said, were being shot. The man said about 10 people had been killed and dozens more were wounded. Hama, which has seen massive demonstrations by anti-government protesters, was the site of the 1982 bloody crackdown by the Alawite-dominated government against a Muslim Brotherhood uprising. Memories of that siege, carried out by late President Hafez al-Assad, the father of President Bashar al-Assad, have reverberated during the nearly five-month uprising, and the ongoing violence in Hama has prompted international anger against the al-Assad regime. Reports of violence also emanated from the capital. Four people who were at al-Rifai Mosque in Kafr Sousa Square in the suburbs of Damascus offered separate but similar accounts. One of the sources is a representative of the Syrian Revolution Coordination Union, an opposition group. Two of the others were among the protesters. After prayers, worshipers exited the rear of the mosque to join an anti-government demonstration, but were met by about 24 thugs -- men in civilian clothes armed with guns and batons, the sources told CNN in telephone interviews. The men fired into the air and beat some of the worshipers as they left the buildings, the sources said. Upon reaching Kafr Sousa Square, where they chanted for freedom and the fall of the regime, they were set upon by gunmen and others who threw rocks at them. At that point, the demonstrators returned to the mosque and closed themselves inside, the sources said. A few militia members entered the front yard of the mosque carrying batons and stun guns and attacked the protesters who were there, the sources said. The protesters were allowed safe passage out of the mosque after they promised to end their protests, the sources said. But the protesters were expected to resume Friday, when rebels said the theme would be "God is With Us." CNN is unable to independently confirm death tolls or events in Syria, which has restricted access to the country by international journalists, including CNN's. The move came a day after the U.N. Security Council issued a presidential statement condemning the Syrian government's crackdown on protesters and calling for an immediate end to violence by all parties. But Amnesty International on Thursday slammed the council's response as "completely inadequate" and "limp" because it failed to take action. The council issued a presidential statement, which carries no enforcement weight. "It's crucial that a U.N. Human Rights Council fact-finding mission to Syria is able to investigate the situation as soon as possible," said Jose Luis Diaz, Amnesty International's representative to the United Nations. "Unfortunately, the Security Council has also failed to provide support for such a mission." He noted that Syrian authorities have not permitted a U.N. fact-finding delegation into the country to investigate the situation. "The U.N. must act now, with a firm and legally binding position. At the very least, its position must include imposing an arms embargo, freezing the assets of President al-Assad and other officials suspected of responsibility for crimes against humanity, and referring the situation to the ICC prosecutor," he said, in reference to the International Criminal Court. Two permanent members of the Security Council weighed in on how to proceed. The Russian Foreign Ministry said Syria's citizens should solve their problems themselves, state-run RIA Novosti said. "The settlement in this country should be carried out by the Syrians themselves without outside interference and should be based on an all-Syria dialogue, which is the only way to resolve the conflict," the ministry said in a statement. But later Thursday, RIA Novosti said that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told reporters that he had told al-Assad during meetings and in letters that "it is necessary to hold a referendum, put up with the opposition, restore peace and create a modern state." Medvedev added that if al-Assad were to fail, he would be destined to "a sad fate, and ultimately we will also have to make some kind of decisions." French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said Thursday that the Security Council may take a tougher stance on Syria "if nothing changes on the Syrian side." The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an activist group, issued on Thursday an update about Deir Ezzor, a city in the country's northeastern region. It said an opposition leader in the city reported that the government had launched a series of measures to punish residents. They include not paying government employees, halting wheat deliveries to bakeries, preventing hospitals from rescuing wounded protesters, and asking governmental medical staff to leave their posts. Some pharmacists have closed their shops over fears that they will be detained for giving medications to wounded protesters. Meanwhile, al-Assad has issued a decree authorizing a multiple-party political system, state media reported Thursday. Syrian lawmakers had already passed a law granting citizens the right to establish political parties with the aim of contributing to political life "through peaceful and democratic means," the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency reported. However, the Syrian opposition has argued the decrees are intended for show and will not effect real change. That's because it is questionable whether the move, absent constitutional reform, could end decades of single-party Baathist rule. One of the articles of the Syrian constitution guarantees supremacy for the ruling Baath party. CNN's Kamal Ghattas and Jack Maddox contributed to this story . | NEW: Friday's theme will be "God is With Us"
Medvedev calls for reform or "we also will have to make some kind of decisions"
An activist group reports more than 100 deaths in and around Hama .
Amnesty International slams the United Nations' statement . |
fdbb924cd068f7307826698d925e7ef5bafbf7c2 | Passengers traveling from Seattle to Houston were stranded for nine hours in Idaho waiting on replacement plane . By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 14:21 EST, 27 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:21 EST, 27 August 2013 . A United Airlines 737 plane traveling from Seattle to Houston was forced to make an emergency landing in Idaho after one of its two engines reportedly shut down. Some 116 passengers were stranded at Pocatello Regional Airport in Idaho for nine hours after it landed at 2.50am on Tuesday. Travelers were finally able to board a replacement plane shortly before 11am on Tuesday, a spokeswoman said. A United Airlines Boeing 737 airplane, like the one pictured here, made an emergency landing at Pocatello Regional Airport in Idaho . Kristy Heinz, who serves as the Secretary . and Assistant Security Coordinator at the Idaho airport, said there were no . injuries or accidents. The United flight was carrying 116 passengers and six crew members at the time of the emergency landing. Pocatello airport manager David Allen told KPVI-TV that an engine on the airplane shut down and it was the closest suitable airport to make an emergency landing. KPVI also reported that passengers were served food and refreshments while waiting at the terminal. United Airlines spokeswoman Jennifer Dohm said the plane was diverted to Pocatello due to 'an issue with an engine'. Maintenance workers are investigating the cause of the engine failure. A United Airlines Boeing 737 made an emergency landing at Pocatello Regional Airport in Idaho, pictured. The plane was flying between Seattle and Houston when an engine apparently failed . Other United Airlines planes have had technical problems this summer, according to reports. The Houston Chronicle reported that in July, a United Airlines 777 flying from Houston to Amsterdam turned around after it experienced engine problems. United did not offer a specific explanation of the problem. Also in July a United Airlines 757 heading from Newark to Frankfurt experienced engine failure. ABC said it had to land in Boston instead of Frankfurt. Earlier this month, a United Airlines 747 experienced engine failure on a flight from San Francisco to Sydney. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that one of four engines on the plane failed, causing it to turn around. | Passengers traveling from Seattle to Houston were stranded for nine hours in Idaho waiting on replacement plane . |
fdbbc7324537c6389cf1a219f05248efe3efe0f0 | By . Beth Stebner . PUBLISHED: . 11:16 EST, 12 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:18 EST, 12 July 2012 . Arrested: Beverly Greenagel, 64, was watching six more children than allowed the day that three-month-old Dane Ableidinger died in her care . A 64-year-old day-care provider was charged this week in the death of an infant boy who suffocated in his sleep last August. Police arrested Beverly Ann Greenagel yesterday, charging her with two counts of second-degree manslaughter, child neglect and endangerment, and interfering with a body after three-month-old Dane Abledinger was found lifeless after being put down for a nap. Greenagel, who at the time was watching six more children than legally allowed, allegedly did not check on the boy for an hour after putting him face-down for a nap. She was holding an annual water balloon fight with her older children and later told police she moved him downstairs so he wouldn't get trampled. Dane had apparently suffocated and was found where she left him on the flannel blanket. Each of the two counts of second-degree manslaughter come with a maximum sentence of 10 years each, as well as a $20,000 fine. According to the Minnesota Star-Tribune, Greenagel worked out of her home and ran Bev’s Day Care. She was licenced to look after a total of 12 children without a second caregiver. At the time of Dale’s death on August 18, 2011, police in Egan, Minnesota said there were 20 children at her facility, including two toddlers, three infants, and eight preschoolers. They further alleged that Greenagel violated several safe-sleep standards required by the state. The paper reported that Greenagel laid Dane down to sleep on his stomach in one of the bedrooms in her house, perhaps because a child who had just awoken from a nap had soiled its crib. Short life: Dane Ableidinge was only three-and-a-half months old when he died; his autopsy revealed that he suffocated to death . Work from home: Greenagel ran her service, Bev's Day Care, from her home in Eagan, Minnesota . Minnesota law states that a single caregiver can only have a maximum of three infants and toddlers, with a total of 12 children. A frantic 12-year-old girl who called 911 after Dane was discovered was recorded as saying: ‘Oh, um. There’s a baby dead.’ Records from the state show that Greenagel allegedly tried to cover her tracks by taking the blanket Dane had slept on and stacking it with other blankets. Dane had left blood spots on it. When police searched the house after obtaining a warrant, they found the blood stains and confirmed that they belonged to the infant. Dane’s cause of death was probable positional asphyxia, meaning that he most likely suffocated from the position in which he was placed. According to the Inver Grove Heights Patch, Greenagel gave several varying accounts of the story to authorities. Greenagel had cared for the girl and was enlisting her help to care for the child. The Star-Tribune notes that caretakers must be at least 13. Dakota County Attorney told the Star-Tribune: ‘It’s always disturbing to see children die under any circumstance, and it appears that proper monitoring and care could have avoided this tragedy.’ In Minnesota, 82 children have died in licenced day-care facilities in the past ten years. Loving parents: Mac and Stephanie Ableidinger asked for donations in lieu of flowers in memory of their young son . Court documents show the caretaker was cited once in 1984 and again in 1994 for violating the terms of her licence. On April 6, 1984, Greenagel was found to have too many infants and toddlers in her care. Three months later, a parent complained that the caregiver was often absent, and instead hired a 16-year-old girl to look after the children. The parent alleged that Greenagel would often leave to go shopping, play racquetball, and go shopping while the girl was left to care for the infants and toddlers. The parent added that ‘Bev’s’ home was a good place for their children, but they were upset she was not around. A decade later, an unannounced licensor visit proved that she still had more children in her care than her license allowed. Dane’s parents, Stephanie and Mac Abledinger, did not immediately respond to MailOnline’s request for comment on Greenagel’s charges. Mrs Abledinger works as a hairstylist, and her husband is a postal worker. Greenagel, meanwhile, remains in jail on a $75,000 bond and will have a hearing later this month. | Beverly Ann Greenagel arrested and charged with second-degree manslaughter for August 2011 death of infant Dane Abledinger .
Dane, who was three-and-a-half months, was allegedly put down for nap on blanket face-down .
Greenagel, meanwhile, had 20 children - six more than licensed allowed - at home when Dane died . |
fdbc2d44b000d05c767140ebb568f621957e076f | Its head-turning billboards sky-rocketed Wonderbra into the forefront of the women's lingerie market where it's remained for 20 years. And now the cleavage creator is celebrating two decades in affluent business with a birthday cake and catwalk show in Madrid. The presentation was held at Ramses Club in the Spanish city on Wednesday, and saw an array of models clad in various styles from its current collection celebrate in style as they blew out candles. Wonderbra celebrates 20 years with a cake and show at Ramses Club in Madrid with an array of stunning Spanish models . Topless models in suit pants show off a black and nude pining bra and a raspberry floral design one . Wonderbra's 'Hello Boys' advert was the 1994 billboard that - quite literally - stopped traffic . The Wonderbra name was first trademarked in the U.S. in 1955, and the brand was developed in Canada over the next 40 years. But it only really gained worldwide prominence in the 1990s. The bra's redesign and reintroduction in 1994 saw a £16m advertising campaign in the US and UK including billboards showing models wearing only the Wonderbra. Underneath read slogans such as 'who cares if it's a bad hair day?' and 'look me in the eyes and tell me that you love me'. Wonderbra's iconic Hello Boys advert was the 1994 billboard that - quite literally - stopped traffic. Makers of the ad were honoured in 2011, when the billboard was declared the most eye-catching ad of the previous 20 years. A model wears a modern graphic lace style push up Wonderbra in light blue and navy . A model in the variable cleavage style, huge in the early 2000s, and another in a simple T-shirt bra . A model gives the camera a cheeky wink as she wears a fish scale effect sparkly grey and silver bra . Appraisal from ad professionals aside, the Hello Boys poster aroused the ire of feminists, many of whom described it as degrading. But Eva Herzigova, the model who starred in the ad, opened up about the criticism she received at the time and said far from being degrading, it was actually empowering. 'My Wonderbra campaign empowered women,' said Czech-born Eva, 43. 'It didn’t degrade them like some said or say. The patterned strapless bra (l) and chick black look are part of Wonderbra's current collection . Each Mediterranean beauty wore a different colour and style of the world famous bra to celebrate 20 years since its relaunch . Wonderbra celebrates 20 years with a cake and show at Ramses Club in Madrid with a host of Spanish models . Speaking to the Evening Standard, she continued: 'It was controversial at the time, sure - but it made waves and you can see its influence still today. 'It was one of the most successful advertising campaigns in history and I am so proud to be a part of it.' The advert, which was shot by Ellen von Unwerth and saw Eva posing in a black Wonderbra and pants, certainly split opinion. Some claimed the racy ad was derogatory towards women, even as they flocked to buy the bra in their millions. Much of the controversy centred on traffic accidents, with some commuters blaming the huge roadside poster for their lack of concentration. Wonderbra remains a leading brand in the women's lingerie market. The bra's redesign in 1994 saw a £16million advertising campaign in the US and UK showing models wearing only the Wonderbra . Underneath read slogans such as 'who cares if it's a bad hair day' and 'look me in the eyes and tell me that you love me' The Variable Cleavage Wonderbra as advertised by Adriana Karembeu was another global revolution . Sarah O'Hare, 26, appears in a print advertisement for Wonderbra (l) and Adriana Sklenarikova, also 26, in another Wonderbra ad . Wonderbra model Adriana Sklenarikova a billboard advert around the year 2000 . | Presentation was held at Ramses Club in the Spanish city on Wednesday .
Saw models clad in styles from current collection celebrate as they blew out candles .
Wonderbra's reintroduction in 1994 saw the £16m Hello Boys ad campaign launch in the US and UK . |
fdbcc0cfe108df7d55806ac77e433f0fe5ee6d63 | Dame Maggie Smith has said portraying the withering Dowager Countess of Grantham on Downton Abbey has made her too famous to go out alone. On a recent visit to Paris, the 79-year-old actress said she was 'besieged' by American fans of the ITV drama. 'That's never happened to me before,' she said, according to the Telegraph. Scroll down for video . The actress said she was 'besieged' by American fans of Downton Abbey while in Paris for her latest project . 'It's very difficult when you're alone because you have no escape.' She added: 'It was awful. I love wandering round on my own and I just couldn't.' Dame Maggie was in the French city filming 'My Old Lady' which is set to be released this month. A full interview with the actress will appear in Saturday's Review magazine. Last month, the actress was honoured by the Queen at Windsor Castle and made a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour, joining an illustrious group of recipients - including Professor Stephen Hawking and painter David Hockney. Maggie Smith says her role in the ITV drama has made her so famous she can't go out without being mobbed . The withering put-downs she delivers portraying the Dowager Countess of Grantham have become the stuff of Downton Abbey legend . Younger audiences will recognise Dame Maggie for her role as sharp-tongued Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter movies . And while Dame Maggie might be famous for playing the Dowager Countess of Grantham, she's also well-known for portraying the equally sharp-tongued Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter movies . One of Britain's most popular actresses, Dame Maggie has enjoyed an extensive career that stretches back to the 1950s, which began professionally at the Oxford Playhouse in 1952 and includes stints on Broadway. Her stage performances have drawn critical acclaim and she has collected numerous awards for roles in plays such as Hedda Gabler, Three Sisters and Private Lives. Left, Maggie Smith in play Richard II and right, with actor Sir Peter Ustinov in film Hot Millions . Born in 1934 in Ilford, Essex, Dame Maggie Smith is now one of the most distinguished actresses in the world. But Dame Maggie Smith's illustrious career began in the Oxford Playhouse in the 1950s. She made her film debut as a mere party guest in 1956 movie Child in the House. Since then, she's starred in more than sixty films and television shows alongside other notable actors and actresses. These include: Othello (1956) with Laurence Olivier, Richard III (1995) with Sir Ian McKellen and Franco Zeffirelli's Tea with Mussolini (1999) with Dame Judi Dench. Before taking on the role of the Dowager Countess of Grantham on Downton Abbey, she appeared in all eight Harry Potter movies as Professor McGonagall. She's also been nominated for an Oscar six times, winning two for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie in 1969 and California Suite in 1978. The 79-year-old, who is a breast cancer survivor, was appointed a CBE for services to drama in 1970 and was made a Dame in 1990. Last month, she was honoured by the Queen and made a Companion of the Order of the Companions of Honour for services to drama. | Dame Maggie was 'besieged' by American fans while filming in Paris .
Actress said it's 'difficult when you're alone because you have no escape'
The 79-year-old, known for starring in Harry Potter movies, was honoured by the Queen last month . |
fdbd07bee39bf3d086ea36162b4bd882b8f08479 | The critical moment for Sen. Ted Cruz and his allies came around 7 p.m. on Tuesday night. The Texas Republican's suit was still crisp, despite more than four hours into what would become a rhetorical marathon of more than 21 hours on the Senate floor aimed at derailing Obamacare. But until that point, the brunt of the speaking had been done by Cruz and his ally, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah. Without more help, Lee's aides weren't sure how long the effort could continue. Then Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, arrived. It was a sign that they'd get the bodies they needed for the long haul. "When he showed up, we had a feeling that we could go until noon (the next day)," said Lee spokesman Brian Phillips. Lee was on or near the floor all night. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who held the floor for 12 hours in March, jumped in. Even ideological opponent Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, shouldered some speaking time while trying to refute Cruz' points. That gave Cruz some time for mental breaks even though he couldn't leave the floor to eat, use the restroom or do anything else. For material, staff pulled together binders of articles, talking points and documents that could be used to fill time. And as social networks heated up, aides ferried in a stream of tweets for Cruz to read. But to the big and less comfortable question: How did he manage physically? Good, pliable shoes, for a start. Cruz left his trademark Ostrich boots behind and told the chamber that he picked up some sneakers in preparation for the long hours of standing. No food. Senate rules ban anyone from eating on the chamber floor. So that is easy. Dehydration. CNN Senior Congressional Producer Ted Barrett asked Cruz how he stood for more than 21 hours without having to use the men's room. "Drinking very little water," he replied. That surely is part of it. But we do not know if anything else was involved, as has been the case in the past. The Senate's marathon speech record-holder, the late Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, reportedly set up a bucket in the Senate cloakroom next to the chamber and used it while keeping one foot on the Senate floor, so as to retain his speaking position. Former Sen. Estes Kefauver of Tennessee used some kind of bag during his portion of a filibuster, according to an oral history from former parliamentarian Floyd Riddick. It did not end well. "That's always a defining issue, how much stamina a person has," said Senate Historian Don Ritchie, who recorded the oral history with Riddick and says there is a tradition of senators using a contraption for bodily functions during speech-a-thons. Cruz was on the Senate floor just 1 hour and 41 minutes short of a day. "I don't know of any special thing he used," said Phillips. "And he didn't indicate there was anything." Then he paused. "That's one of those things that is so personal that there are only a couple of people who know. And they will probably take it to their graves." Cruz' office did not respond to CNN's request for more details. | Some tense moments not long into the 21-hour speaking marathon; then Rubio showed up .
Cruz had mental breaks, but couldn't leave the Senate floor to use the restroom or eat .
Texas Republican put aside his Ostrich boots and wore sneakers; staff supplied speaking material .
Cruz drank "very little water"; Other marathon Senate speeches featured colorful stories, too . |
fdbd13b307ce85ae84de90fead5af88efa75db3a | (CNN) -- No one teaches reporters how to cover a war, much less wars that include genocide. Most of us rely on the wisdom of experienced colleagues and a lot of on-the-job training. CNN's Christiane Amanpour in a Sarajevo cemetery; she returned to Bosnia for "Scream Bloody Murder." My first war assignment -- Bosnia, in the 1990s -- included visits to the Sarajevo morgue to see the bodies. How else would a journalist know exactly how many Muslim children were cut down by Bosnian Serb snipers? How else could we put names to civilians left faceless by mortar shells from the surrounding hills? I learned what it means to bear witness. I found my voice and my mission in Bosnia. I learned to seek the facts, to tell the truth no matter how difficult or unpopular. I learned that objectivity meant covering all sides and giving all sides their hearing, but never to draw a false moral equivalence when none exists. I learned never to equate victims with their aggressors. I learned that there are limits to the style of journalism that goes: "On the one hand, on the other hand." Most of all, I learned that as reporters our words and our actions have consequences and that we must use this powerful platform, television, responsibly. But how many times have people asked me, when I've come back from a place like Bosnia or Rwanda: Is it really that bad? I have found that many people want to believe that I am exaggerating. I guess they do not want to believe such evil can exist. Or perhaps they just do not want to be pushed into that moral space where they would have to take a stand and do something. Genocide is hard to imagine -- despite all we know about the Holocaust. Or perhaps, ironically, as a result of it being the most documented event in modern history. Many people now believe that if the extermination is not done on the Nazis' industrial scale or is less than complete, it is not genocide. They are wrong. Genocide is mass murder with the intent to wipe out a significant part of an ethnic, religious or national group. It means killing people not because of what they did, but because of who they are. It is the world's most heinous crime. And it continues, despite an international treaty written 60 years ago this month. With a unanimous vote on December 9, 1948, the fledgling United Nations adopted the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide. The signatories committed themselves to act, although the convention does not say what intervention is required. And sure enough, instead of using the convention as a springboard to action, political leaders in the ensuing years have invoked reason after reason not to stop the bloodshed. If there is any hopeful sign, it is in the voices of people with the emotional and intellectual courage to stand up and scream bloody murder -- often at personal or professional risk. Some are members of the political establishment who believe that doing the right thing is also the pragmatic thing to do. Others are ordinary people caught up in extraordinary circumstances. What makes them do it? Over the course of filming a two-hour documentary, I found a few common threads. Unlike politicians who make policy from the detachment of their national capitals, these men and women have been on the front lines. Like Father François Ponchaud, a French missionary in Cambodia when the Khmer Rouge seized power in 1975, they have seen the victims' suffering first hand. Like Peter Galbraith, an idealistic staff member on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee who wanted the U.S. to punish Saddam Hussein for using chemical weapons against the Kurds, they are convinced that the accounts of refugees are true. And like Richard Holbrooke, a U.S. diplomat whose Jewish grandfather fled Germany when Hitler came to power, they see where action -- sometimes military action -- can make a difference. None considered himself a hero. And some, like Canadian Lt. Gen. Romeo Dallaire, who led a U.N. peacekeeping force in Rwanda, believe they did not do enough. Dallaire was one of those good men who put on a uniform and felt that it meant something, that he was actually there to make a difference. Unfortunately, he was sent to Rwanda with an impossible mandate and without the backing of the international community. He was helpless to stop the slaughter of 800,000 to 1 million ethnic Tutsis at the hands of their Hutu countrymen. Imagine if that had happened to you or me? How would we be able to live with ourselves? iReport.com: Have a question for Amanpour? Send it in . In any single crisis, I can understand that political leaders are under pressure not to intervene. But stepping back to look at the consistent pattern, one must ask: Is it acceptable? In the 1970s, the Carter administration touted human rights as a core value in U.S. foreign policy, but knew that military intervention against the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia was politically inconceivable after the disastrous war in Vietnam. In the 1980s, the Reagan administration was courting Iraq as an ally against Iran and as a market for U.S. exports when Saddam Hussein was gassing the Kurds; a punishing trade embargo would have destroyed the budding relationship. In the 1990s, the Clinton administration would not take military action against the Bosnian Serbs without backing from the European allies. Watch Bosnia's president discuss the 1991 U.N. arms embargo on the former Yugoslavia » . And some U.S. officials even avoided characterizing the slaughter in Rwanda in 1994 as genocide lest it lead to a call for action under the U.N. Genocide Convention. Military force: The last resort? Or the first resort? » . But three years into the Bosnian war -- after the massacre at Srebrenica -- the U.S. finally forged a coalition of previously reluctant allies to bomb the Bosnian Serb military positions. They stopped the war, then led the peace process and the peace enforcement that has survived to this day. And because we the press, the storytellers, finally made it impossible for our Western democratic governments to tolerate mass murder of men, women and children in the age of 24/7 satellite TV, 3½ years later, the U.S. led its allies in a pre-emptive strike against genocide in Kosovo. NATO, established to protect the West during the Cold War, had launched its largest military strike -- for a purely humanitarian mission. And today, there is a grassroots American movement that has brought the genocide in Darfur to such prominence. We're always told that evil happens when good men do nothing. And the question -- my question as a reporter and as a witness to history is: Will we ever learn? Or will I or my children or my successors be reporting on this same kind of atrocity and inhumanity for years and years to come? This is what I don't understand about the human race. So thank goodness for the few good men and women who summon the courage to do something in the face of evil, to stand up and confront it. They give me hope. | CNN's Christiane Amanpour traveled the globe for documentary on genocide .
Amanpour: The few people who stand up and confront evil give me hope . |
fdbd19a0b20511d3d34eed80f5e1a424f3870467 | (CNN) -- The assault began at dawn, as bullets and rockets peppered the remote outpost in eastern Afghanistan. Lt. Cason Shrode said that in less than two minutes, his team's generator was hit and they were out of power. The insurgency was so fierce, according to one soldier, that the troops couldn't get to their mortars to fire back. "They were under heavy enemy contact," Sgt. Jayson Souter said, describing the October 3 attack that pinned his comrades at Combat Outpost Keating, a remote base in Nuristan province. Four servicemen -- Souter, a fellow soldier, an Apache helicopter pilot, and a gunner -- talked to a military reporter about their roles during the Keating attack in an interview posted by the Department of Defense on Facebook and NATO's International Security Assistance Force YouTube Channel. The United States says about 200 insurgents -- mostly local fighters, with some Taliban organizers and leaders -- had been planning the attack for days, hiding mortars, rockets and heavy machine guns in the mountains. Watch more about their story » . The battle started early on October 3 and lasted for 12 hours. At the end, eight American soldiers and more than 100 militants were killed and buildings at the outpost were destroyed. Fire support officer 1st Lt. Cason Shrode said the initial round "didn't seem like anything out of the ordinary." There was a lull and then there was a heavy attack. "We started receiving a heavy volley of fire. Probably 90 seconds into the fight they ended up hitting one of our generators so we lost all power," Shrode said in the interview posted online by the Defense Department. "At that point I knew that this was something bigger than normal." Troops called in air support. Helicopter gunner Chad Bardwell said he had to confirm the fighters he saw on ridgelines were the enemy because he had never seen such a large group of insurgents. "We tried to stop them as they were coming down the hill. ... We were taking fire pretty much the entire day," he said in the Defense Department interview. Chief Warrant Officer Ross Lewallen, the Apache pilot, said a few aircraft were damaged in what was a "time-consuming endeavor" governed by tough terrain. He said the morning battle was "significant," but later troops were able to identify targets and eliminate larger weapons. "One of the primary reasons for the fight taking so long is that it is an extreme terrain," he said in the same interview. Lewallen said the valley sits beneath mountains to the west and north. "There's a lot of cover so you really can't detect the enemy until they start moving again," he said, adding that it was tough for medical evacuation aircraft to land "because we were still trying to control" the outpost. The intense assault on Keating led to fires. There were five main buildings at the post and four of them burned. Soldiers eventually ended up going into one building. "The next morning it was pretty much ash besides that one building. I mean that's the way to describe it. Most of it had burned down. So we were pretty much at one building and the rest was just a shadow of what it used to be," Shrode said in the Defense Department interview. Lewallen said what came together was "air-ground integration." "All the training we've done before deploying here; it really clicked that day," he said in the interview. "We started realizing that the guys on the ground knew what they needed to tell us to get the job done. It made things that much easier." He disputed media reports suggesting that there weren't enough weapons and troops. He said 40 minutes into the fight, air power arrived. "We had everything we needed. It was just a big attack with a lot of people. Bad things happen -- but I think we did well, under the circumstances." Reflecting on the fight, Souter said, "Everybody basically came together and in the mix of it all, they were donating blood for the wounded that we had. They all pulled together to make sure that we can pull our boys out of this." | Soldiers describe October 3 attack at a remote base in Nuristan province .
Their account posted by the Department of Defense on Facebook and YouTube .
U.S.: Battle lasted 12 hours and eight American soldiers were killed . |
fdbd447c7b4eb57c1dc61a3164010c888f88cf0f | By . Louise Cheer For Daily Mail Australia . The story of Edward De Lacy Evans read like every other man's in the 19th century - he was a labourer, husband and father. But underneath the suit and tie was a body of a woman named Ellen Tremayne - also known as Ellen Tremaye - who could have been Australia's first transgender person. Mr De Lacy Evans arrived on Australian shores from Ireland in June 1856 as an assisted immigrant on-board the Ocean Monarch. It is speculated he was born between 1829 to 1841 due to a discrepancy in shipping lists, and birth, marriage and death certificates. Edward De Lacy Evans who could be Australia's first transgender person as a woman (left) and as a man (right) during his stint in Kew Asylum . A portrait of Edward De Lacy Evans in male and female attire. The image is probably a fake cut-and-paste produced by a photographer after it was discovered De Lacy Evans was a man . According to ship records, he was a 26-year-old Roman Catholic from Kilkenny who could read and write, and was listed as a housemaid. When she arrived in Victoria, Mr De Lacy Evans was still known as Ellen Tremayne and caused quite a stir on the trip over. According to the State Library of Victoria's The La Trobe Journal, he wore a man's shirt and trousers underneath his dress and had formed sexual attachments to some of the other female passengers on the Ocean Monarch, including his soon-to-be first wife, Mary Delahunty - a 34-year-old governess who was also from Ireland. He travelled with a trunk labelled with the name 'Edward De Lacy Evans' on it who, according to De Lacy Evans' third wife, was his uncle. There was also speculation her husband or lover was named 'Edward De Lacy Evans' and he had somehow tricked the transsexual by placing his trunk on the Ocean Monarch and deserted the 26-year-old. Mr De Lacy Evans', who was still identified as a woman, first job in Australia was as a maidservant at a Melton public house but some time after he left his position and started dressing like a man, and ditched the name of Ellen Tremayne. Mr De Lacy Evans continued living as a man for 25 years after he left Kew Asylum in 1879 (left) and the right picture is of him and his third wife, Julia Marquand . Now as Edmund De Lacy, he went and sought out Ms Delahunty, marrying her at St Francis' Roman Catholic Church in Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. But their marriage was not a happy one, with evidence suggesting they 'did not live comfortably together'. After Ms Delahunty opened a school in Blackwood, she left Mr De Lacy Evans and married an American mining surveyor Lyman Oatman Hart who lived in Daylesford - north-west of Melbourne. In the next 20 years, Mr De Lacy Evans married twice - his second wife was Sarah Moore who died of pulmonary tuberculosis in 1867 and a Julia Marquand of Bendigo - north of Melbourne. Mr De Lacy Evans worked as a carter, miner, blacksmith and ploughman in the areas of Blackwood, Bendigo and Stawell. The breakdown of his third marriage came after March 1878 when Ms Marquand gave birth to a child fathered by her brother-in-law, Jean Baptiste Loridan. Despite Mr De Lacy Evans knowing it was not his child, he registered himself as the child's father but his resentment over the pregnancy started taking its toll on the marriage. In July 1879, he started violently acting out against Ms Marquand and his 15-month-old daughter, fell into a deep depression and then was admitted to Bendigo Hospital's lunacy ward for amentia - a mental disability. Another portrait done of Mr De Lacy Evans done by Aaron Flegeltaub who was active between 1882-1891 . For the first six weeks of his stint in the hospital, Mr De Lacy Evans refused to bathe until he was transferred to the Kew Asylum and forcibly stripped that his secret was discovered. He was handed over to female nurses and forced to dress as a woman . In an interview, Mr De Lacy Evans' recalled the moment he was outed as a female at Kew Asylum. 'I was sittin’ the carriage at the railway station, an’ the wife was cryin’ and the kid was squealin’, an’ I was laughin’ at ‘em,' he said during an interview. 'Well, when we got to Kew, the fellers there took hold o’ me to give me a bath, an’ they stripped me to put me in the water, an’ then they saw the mistake. 'One feller ran off as if he was frightened; the others looked thunderstruck an’ couldn't speak. 'I was handed over to the women, and they dressed me up in frocks and petticoats.' Mr De Lacy Evans' outing as a female caused a worldwide stir, with one photographer named Nicholas White sneaking into the hospital and taking photos of the transsexual dressed as a man and a woman as well as possibly a straitjacket. As a transgender person, Mr De Lacy Evans' faced brutal treatment inside the asylum including a report done up by The Australian Medical Journal that said he cried and screamed as he was probed during a gynaecological examination - which verified he was a physiologically a woman. A drawing done of Mr De Lacy Evans entitled The Sandhurst impersonator working as a man at the Victorian goldfields . With the news in circulation, Mr De Lacy Evans received offers to be 'publicly exhibited' and after his release from Kew Asylum he took up the opportunities. He was once offered three to five pounds per week for a tour. He appeared as 'The Wonderful Male Impersonator' at St Georges Hall on Bourke Street in Melbourne in January 1880 and another time alongside a trapeze artist and 'The Electric Boy' at Sydney's Egyptian Hall on George Street in September 1880. When the truth came out his wife, Ms Marquand denied knowing her husband was in fact a woman and accounted for her daughter's existence by telling reporters: 'Some strange man entered the house one night about the time her husband should have returned home'. Ms Marquand also stated her husband would never let her see him stripped or washing himself. Additionally, Mr De Lacy Evans could have fooled his wife into thinking he was a man by fashioning a homemade strap-on dildo. There was also evidence Mr De Lacy Evans' second wife, Sarah Moore, found out about her husband's cross-dressing about a year into their marriage . A witness reported seeing Ms Moore punching Mr De Lacy Evans in the breast - her 'weak place'. Mr De Lacy Evans lived as a man for another 25 years and found no success in show business. In February 1881, he was applying for relief at the Melbourne Police Court and wanted to be admission to the Benevolent Asylum. Mr De Lacy Evans died in August 1901 in the Melbourne Immigrants’ Home at St Kilda Road, where he had been since February 1881. | For about 20 years of his life, Edward De Lacy Evans lived as a man .
He was born in Ireland as Ellen Tremayne and died in 1901 in Melbourne .
Mr De Lacy Evans was married three times and was 'father' to one daughter .
He worked as a carter, miner, blacksmith and ploughman across Victoria . |
fdbd91da4a43a9575fed9bd7ad692b552c36e490 | By . Eddie Wrenn . PUBLISHED: . 06:39 EST, 15 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:18 EST, 15 October 2012 . A 65-year-old American woman who lost her home in the credit crunch is leading a class-action suit against 12 of the world's major banks for their part in the financial crisis. Annie Bell Adams claims banks including Barclays, RBS and Lloyds, manipulated the Libor rates to make mortgage repayments more expensive than they should have been. The suit alleges the Libor - the rate at which banks lend to each other - was artificially changed at times when it would have a big impact on adjustable mortgage rates, 'unjustly enriching' the bankers at the cost of mortgage-holders losing their homes. Wide-reaching: The class-action suit takes in 12 banks, including some of the biggest names in Wall Street, as well as banks based in Britain . London's financial district: Banks from across the world, including Barclays and HSBC, have been named in the suit, which was filed in New York . The class action lawsuit, originating in Alabama, alleges the rate-fixing meant homeowners paid thousands more than necessary between 2000 and 2009 - with the knock-on effect causing many families to lose their homes. The group of 12 banks also includes UBS, Citigroup, The Bank of America, . Rabobank International Holdings BV, Credit Suisse Group AG, HSBC . Holdings, Lloyds Banking Group, Deutsche Bank AG and the Royal Bank of . Canada. Libor, or the 'London interbank offered . rate', is seen as the benchmark for more than $300trillion of loans and securities, and is re-calculated on a daily basis, based on groups of lenders estimating their borrowing rates. But the suit alleges this rate was artificially changed at times when it would have a big impact on adjustable mortgage rates. This allowed them to increase the payments by homeowners on adjustable rate loans, boosting profit, according to the lawsuit. What is Libor? It is the London Inter-Bank Offered . Rate - the rate at which international banks lend to each other. It is . calculated every business day in 10 currencies and 15 timespans, ranging . from overnight to one year and is based on the level at which banks . have been lending to each other. When is it set? It is set and announced at around . 11am to midday for the UK rate, based on borrowing from the previous . day. Operating since the mid-1980s, in the years before the credit . crunch it sat marginally higher than the central bank rate. Why is it important? The sterling three-month LIBOR rate . influences the level at which lenders set some rates on loans, . especially mortgages, to consumers and to businesses. It also impacts on . the amount they will lend. It is the rate at which banks lend . to each other and is therefore a measure of how much they trust each . other and a measure of the credit crunch. There tends to be a lag from . when LIBOR changes to when bank lending rates are altered. Also, some new mortgage deals have . been linked to LIBOR rather than bank rate or a lender's SVR. That's . because it is more closely linked to a lenders' costs. What would LIBOR be in 'normal' conditions? The three-month LIBOR rate should be . just 10 or 20 basis points higher than the bank rate if conditions went . back to how they were in the first half of this decade. So under pre-credit crunch conditions, if the bank rate or base rate is 2%, LIBOR should be 2.1% or 2.2% . But it soared far higher in August . 2007, marking the start of the credit crunch. It recovered over the . summer of 2008 (see the figures above) as some trust returned but then . spiked on the collapse of Lehman Brothers (15/16 Sept 2008). Barclays Plc, Britain’s . second-biggest lender by assets, is the only bank to have settled with . regulators over the rigging of Libor. It . is the first class-action lawsuit filed by home owners, according to . the Financial Times, which said other class-action suits have been . brought by investors and municipalities. Annie Bell Adams's sub-prime mortgage was securitised into . Libor-based collateralised debt obligations and sold on by banks to . investors. The plaintiffs, . who have lost thousands of dollars each, could number 100,000, their . Alabama-based attorney John Sharbrough said. There . are at least 900,000 homes in the UK with loans linked to Libor, with . an unpaid principle balance of more than $275billion. Sharborough declined to give a figure on the total damages his clients are seeking. Under fire: Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays are both named in the suit . The lawsuit claims that increasing Libor allowed banks 'to raise the interest rates paid by the plaintiffs on their adjustable-rate notes' It says that many adjustable-rate mortgages had the first day of the month as a 'change date' on which new repayment rates would reset, it adds. The FT adds that the lawsuit claims, upon statistical analysis, that Libor rose consistently on the first day of each month between 2000 and 2009. It claims that, between 2007 and 2009, Libor moved as much as 7.5 basis points for certain certain reset days. Faith in the Libor interest rate system, which underpins more than $300 trillion of contracts and loans from US mortgages to Japanese interest-rate swaps, plummeted after Barclays was fined in June for rigging it. Other banks are under investigation. | 65-year-old pensioner who lost her home leads charge over 'unjust enrichment' between 2000 and 2009 .
Lawsuit claims the Libor rate rose 'artificially' on the first day of the month - the days when many mortgage rates are calculated .
Barclays, RBS, Lloyds and Bank of America all named in class-action lawsuit . |
fdbe3e5f422eba226fb56b38ebd3417016c272b8 | Angel di Maria has rubbished claims his move to Manchester United was money-orientated, revealing he is proud to play for Louis van Gaal's side. Di Maria made the £60 million move from Real Madrid to Manchester United in the summer, leaving Champions League football behind in the process, but revealed that he is relishing the chance to pull on the United number seven shirt. 'I have these amazing feelings about having moved to Man U,' Di Maria told the Sunday People. 'I'm so proud of myself, you know. It's hard to explain it and put it into words. Manchester United playmaker Angel di Maria has made an excellent start to life at Old Trafford . His move from Real Madrid took away his chance to play Champions League football this season . 'I truly wanted to move to United. I wanted to wear this shirt. (The number seven shirt) was worn by some of the greatest players in the club's history and I do know that it is a huge thing for all Man United fans.' The Argentinian has scored three times in his first seven appearances for the Red Devils, and team-mate Marcos Rojo went as far as touting him for the Ballon d'Or in a recent interview. 'I think people here are happy with me,' Di Maria continued. 'So I must honour this shirt. I must confess that I had all these expectations - but Man U have exceeded my expectations. It has all been perfect for me so far.' Like our Manchester United Facebook page. United are eighth in the Premier League, but Di Maria insists he is happy and proud to be at Old Trafford . Di Maria spoke of the 'amazing feelings' he has following his £60 million summer move . | Angel di Maria signed for Manchester United for £60 million in the summer .
There have been claims that the winger's move was money-orientated .
Di Maria has rubbished money talk, admitting he is proud to be at United .
The Argentinian said he has 'amazing feelings about having moved' |
fdbe9b4aa2d913ab315d57469b331bd121d307b3 | It's a dot in the sky. But not just any dot. For the Curiosity rover, it's home. NASA tweeted a photo Thursday taken by Curiosity from the Mars surface six days earlier. The image shows a speck above the horizon that a pointer identifies as Earth. "Look Back in Wonder," reads the accompanying text from the Curiosity Rover's official Twitter feed. "My 1st picture of Earth from the surface of Mars." If it's possible for a 1-ton, roughly SUV-size vehicle to get homesick, it's had plenty of reason to shed a tear. The last time Curiosity was on Earth was November 26, 2011, when it set off aboard a NASA spacecraft from Cape Canaveral, Florida. NASA launches Mars rover . Eight and a half months and some 352 million miles later, the rover landed safely on Mars with its 17 cameras and other assorted scientific instruments all intact. And almost as quickly, the Curiosity -- the centerpiece of a $2.6 billion project -- began transmitting images back to Earth. But until now, none of those pictures actually showed Earth itself. The one released by NASA, which was "processed to remove effects of cosmic rays," was taken about 80 minutes after Mars' sunset with what researchers call Curiosity's "left eye camera" on its "Mastcam." It shows not just Earth but another dot that NASA says is our moon. (Earth was about 99 million miles away at that point, according to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Curiosity traveled a much longer distance to get to Mars because both planets are constantly in motion.) Any Martian or Earthling who happened to be visiting wouldn't need such a special camera to see the same thing. According to NASA, "A human observer with normal vision, if standing on Mars, could easily see Earth and the moon as two distinct, bright 'evening stars.'" Of course, photographing its native planet isn't Curiosity's main mission, which is exploring Mars. Since landing in Gale Crater, Curiosity has helped scientists determine that an area called Yellowknife Bay was habitable in ancient times. Here, from the rim of the crater came stream waters that formed "a lake-stream-groundwater system that might have existed for millions of years," John Grotzinger, lead scientist on the Curiosity mission, wrote in last month's edition of the journal Science. NASA: 2 places on Mars could have been habitable . | NASA releases a photo taken last week from the Curiosity rover on Mars .
It shows a speck NASA says is the rover's first image of Earth from the red planet .
Earth, its moon would be "two distinct, bright 'evening stars'" to observers on Mars, NASA says .
Curiosity launched from Florida in fall 2011, landing on Mars the next August to study that planet . |
fdc015396ea9cdaf45f00bfc445ef26e580a8528 | Washington (CNN) -- As Congress leaves the Capitol for its five-week August recess, freshman Rep. Eric Swalwell is headed home a little frustrated. "The biggest problem for me is we're voting on extremes. You don't see compromise bills," he said Thursday evening on the east steps of the Capitol after a vote. "When they're voting to just repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), I want to mend it, not end it. The bills are 'repeal it,' with no other solution." As if to prove his point, in its last act before the recess, the Republican-controlled House on Friday passed a resolution to prevent the Internal Revenue Service from implementing Obamacare -- the 40th time it has voted to repeal, dismantle or defund the Affordable Care Act. With Democrats in control of the Senate, the measure has no chance of passing there. Obamacare battle heads to states . Swalwell, who represents California's 15th District, which encompasses part of Silicon Valley and is considered one of the country's wealthiest, defeated fellow Democrat Rep. Pete Stark last year. The 32-year-old wasn't yet born when Stark was first elected to Congress in 1973. "New energy, new ideas is what [my campaign] was about," he said. "Using social media to reach different people." But seven months in, he finds the pace a bit sluggish. "It's frustrating," he said. "I was a prosecutor before I came here, so I would get a case, I would review the evidence, put it in front of a jury, get a verdict. Move on. Here John Dingell put a health care bill in the hopper every year for 50 years before we got health care. The place just moves slower than I like." "Right now we're throwing one-yard passes and I want to throw a touchdown." How low can Congress go? Swalwell is also frustrated by some of the archaic practices of the institution and thinks it needs "a serious technological upgrade." "It's an institution that still operates under many 18th century rules," he said. "And I think we can honor the tradition of the institution and still upgrade the institution and use a lot of technologies that private industry uses." Swalwell is a big proponent of social media and is pushing for Congress to use it more, but his Vining his "no" vote on a House bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy broke a House rule on video recording in the chamber. Leaders issued a statement stressing the rule but Swalwell stood by his Vine. Swalwell has formed a bipartisan group of about 30 House freshmen called the United Solutions Caucus, which held a forum on Thursday in which both the liberal Center for American Progress and the conservative Heritage Foundation participated. Then his office threw a barbecue on the balcony. To try and get Congress to get more work done, Swalwell and and Republican Rep. Steve Pearce of New Mexico proposed electronic voting from districts on non-substantive bills, "So, when we're actually here, (we can) do real, substantive work rather than these suspension bills where we're just stating the sense of Congress or allowing the Boy Scouts to use the Capitol grounds for the Soap Box Derby." CNN analysis: Congress in D.C. far less than it used to be . On the eve of his last day in session until September, Swalwell prepared to explain to his constituents his frustrations over Obamacare, which both sides expect to be a contentious topic in town hall meetings across the country this year. "We've heard from groups on the left and the right, from business and labor about issues on the Affordable Care Act, but that's not what we're voting on. And so it's hard to go back home and say, 'All I've been able to vote on is something that wants to end it,'" he said. "That's frustrating. You get these false choices, and there's a lot more in the middle that I think we could work on." Immigration activists aren't taking a recess . "I don't think the American public realizes that. They think you vote on all this stuff, every bill introduced you get to vote on. But the truth is you're kind of set up with these false choices and that's frustrating." But he's also looking forward to his return and working with his freshmen classmates to find some middle ground. "You just keep trying," he said. "It takes a snowball to create an avalanche. We came here to be problem-solvers; we didn't come here to throw bombs and divide us further. So we just need to keep trying." "I'm not naïve," he continued. "It's not going to happen overnight, but I do think there is a spirit, especially among many in the freshman class, that we can get rid of these false choices, the extremes, and try and find real compromise. "I don't want to be a jaded sophomore." | Freshman Rep. Eric Swalwell unseated long-time congressman last year .
'Biggest problem is we're voting on extremes,' Swalwell said .
Swalwell says the institution could use 'a serious technological upgrade'
California congressman formed bipartisan group of about 30 fellow freshmen . |
fdc04eefc9ad580e8549978ae716c541f1f888e2 | Retreat: Chancellor George Osborne has backed down on two particularly unpopular parts of his March Budget but many may still pay more for their pasty if it is warmed after baking . Millions are celebrating today as the hated ‘pasty tax’ is to be reversed after a huge campaign across Britain caused a Government U-turn. But it appears many could still end up paying around 50p more if they want the delicious snack piping hot. George Osborne has decided that as long as hot takeaway food is cooling naturally, it will not be subject to 20 per cent VAT, as planned. Greggs, Britain's biggest high street baker, does not reheat food and is celebrating this morning as it will no longer be forced to put up its prices and potentially sack staff. Its shares, which plunged by 15% when the tax was announced in March, have jumped up 30p with today's news. But controversially, as many pasties are kept warm in smaller bakeries under lights or on hot plates, the tax will still apply to these purchases, raising its cost to an average of £3. The price increase, up from an average of £2.50, will also apply to ones kept in foil or packaging that keeps it hot, or reheated in a microwave. Only pasties, and other hot snacks like sausage rolls and pies that are served straight from the oven or are allowed to cool down in a glass cabinet, will continue to be tax-free. So unless pastry enthusiasts time their trip to the bakery just as they are just baked they will have to pay more for a warm one. In a letter to the Treasury select committee the Chancellor will also announce a retreat on another controversial measure in his badly received March Budget - a proposal to levy VAT at 20 per cent on static holiday caravans. Instead, they will be subject to just five per cent VAT. Both VAT rises prompted uproar among Tory MPs in the regions -- with particular anger in the South West at the pasty tax and in the North over the caravan levy. Mr Osborne has now had to stage three retreats over measures in his Budget, which is blamed by many MPs for starting a slump in the polls for the Conservatives. He has already had to announce a £30million compensation fund for churches that would have been hit by plans to start levying VAT on alterations and improvements to listed buildings. Exemption: The change means food that is allowed to cool in a glass cabinet, such as these pasties in a branch of Greggs, will still be VAT-free . But the rethink on the pasty tax, following a consultation period which has seen bakers march on Downing Street and Ed Miliband visit a branch of Greggs to protest, will be greeted with delight on the Tory backbenches. Tory MP for Camborne and Rerduth, George Eustice, who has led a campaign for a U-turn, said: ‘This is very good news. It is everything we and the industry have asked for. ‘The key principle is that provided no attempt is made to keep pasties hot, and they’re just cooling naturally, then they will be exempt from VAT. That’s pretty much the position now. ‘Everyone knows Cornish pasties are best eaten lukewarm. This shows we have got a Government that’s doing genuine consultations and listening to public concerns. Backlash: Hundreds of bakers protest outside Downing Street during a day of action over the controversial 'pasty tax' late last month . ‘This will catch what was always the stated target -- supermarkets selling hot rotisserie chickens which they keep hot for hours and sell in foil packaging, and then don’t pay VAT.’ Complex rules: Pasties left to cool naturally are to be exempt, but food in foil packaging is not . MPs from all three main parties had warned ministers the original proposal was unenforceable and would hit jobs and businesses. VAT is not charged on most food and drink or hot baked goods but is payable on takeaway food sold to be eaten hot. However, hot savouries including pasties and pies are currently exempt. Ministers originally suggested that all food sold ‘above ambient temperature’ should be subject to VAT to close the loophole. Now, Treasury sources said it would only be applied to food which is kept hot, or where the natural cooling process is delayed – for instance, where businesses keep food hot in heated cabinets, or under hot plates and heat lamps. It will also be levied where food provided in heat retaining packaging or other packaging specifically designed for hot food – for example foil-lined takeaway packaging for Indian and Chinese takeaways. However, it will not be applied to pasties or pies cooling in glass cabinets or displays. A Treasury spokesman said: ‘The Budget announced a consultation on a change to VAT on hot take-away food, designed to remove inconsistency and ambiguity in the system and level the playing field across the take-away food market. ‘After extensive engagement we have improved the policy, addressing practical concerns, ensuring that the new regime could be as simple as possible to apply. We have addressed these in a way that allows us to remove the inconsistent VAT treatment, while not imposing any additional requirement on businesses to test the temperature of their products.’ Tory MP Graham Stuart, who organised a mass petition of Parliament by more than 25 MPs, welcomed the move on the caravan tax. He said: 'We are delighted. It is a victory for the campaign to persuade the Government to think again. The Government’s U-turns on charging VAT on pasties and static caravans will add £110 million to the deficit, Labour has claimed. Shadow Treasury minister Lord Eatwell challenged ministers on why the change was not announced in Parliament. During questions in the House of Lords he asked what other uses for the £110 million had been considered by the Treasury. Lord Eatwell said: 'The Government’s announcement on VAT yesterday will add £110 million to the annual deficit and cumulatively to the public debt.' He asked Treasury Commercial Secretary Lord Sassoon to 'explain to the House why the announcement was not first made in Parliament, in contravention of the ministerial code.' He joked: “And does VAT now apply to humble pie?” Meanwhile Tory peers have defended the decision. Lord Sassoon said: 'On a number of issues, including the VAT changes, we said we would consult. 'We have consulted and come up with what we believe is a the right approach having talked to a range of interested parties.' 'Many backbenchers and, privately, ministers behind the scenes talked to the Government and we were successful in persuading them to review the original decision. 'It is great news for the manufacturing industry and also for the park and coastal communities all around the country.' Mr Stuart said he was happy with the compromise, acknowledging the state of the economy and the need to raise revenue. Liberal Democrat MP Stephen Gilbert welcomed the pasty tax move after tabling an early day motion and raising the issue at Prime Minister's Questions. He said: 'The Cornish people have won and there will be dancing in streets from Land's End to the Tamar as people hear that the Government has dropped their plans to clobber local people and local businesses with this tax. 'The strength of feeling from local people and the national baking industry has been clear since these proposals were announced. 'Plans to extend VAT to batch-baked goods would have been unfair, unenforceable and would have cost jobs and investment across the country. 'Since the Budget, I have worked with the industry to find an alternative and I'm delighted that the Government has listened and agreed. 'This alternative, that I proposed in meetings with the minister and through parliamentary debates, is a workable solution that creates a level playing field with other sorts of hot food and won't endanger jobs, investment or growth.' Chancellor George Osborne caved in on his plans to charge the 20% rate of VAT on hot baked snacks such as pasties and pies and this has helped Britain's biggest baker. The climbdown, which followed a campaign to scrap the tax that was supported by 300,000 signatures, saw Greggs shares rise 9% today. They are up 30p to nearly £5 this morning and rising further. Last month Greggs revealed a 1.8% drop in like-for-like sales in the 19 weeks to May 12 abnd warned it would be under sustained pressure because of the tax rise. Greggs chief executive Ken McMeikan said today: 'This is fantastic news for the customer more than anything. 'If we had to put up prices by 20% in the current marketplace when consumers are having a very difficult time we expected there would be an impact on sales but we don't know what it would have been. 'I think the Government deserves to be applauded.' | George Osborne says pasties straight from the oven or cooling naturally will now be exempt from VAT .
But most are kept warm for the day under lights or on hot plates the higher price will still apply .
The tax increase will also apply if you ask staff to reheat it in a microwave .
Greggs celebrating 9% share boost this morning on back of announcement .
Chancellor will also retreat on plan to levy 20 per cent VAT on static holiday caravans . |
fdc09952f4e354add73900e9cfc9568fc55c6f79 | By . Tim Shipman . PUBLISHED: . 20:23 EST, 21 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:23 EST, 21 November 2013 . Signalling his intetions: Nigel Farage has said it is an absolute outrage that no-one from Ukip has received a peerage . Nigel Farage has signalled that he wants a seat in the House of Lords, branding it ‘an absolute outrage’ that the UK Independence Party has not been handed any peerages. The Ukip leader attacked David Cameron for failing to recognise his party, despite promises to make the Lords more representative of how people vote. Mr Farage, who is currently an MEP, has said that he will run for Parliament at the general election in 2015. But sources in Ukip have privately revealed that he also covets a seat in the upper house. In an interview with Total Politics magazine, Mr Farage joked that that become a peer ‘sounds a bit respectable doesn’t it, very, very worrying’. But he added: ‘What I will say that it’s an absolute outrage that we haven’t been offered any peerages for the party already. Just an outrage. ‘Cameron blathers on about wanting a House of Lords that represents the way people in this country vote, well crikey O’Reilly, we’ve been offered nothing, it just goes to show, doesn’t it?’ In the wide-ranging interview Mr Farage admitted that his party has suffered in the past because it resembled a ‘rugby club’ and did not include enough women. He said: ‘I think at its worst UKIP has looked a bit like the rugby club on a day out’ where the priority was to ‘go off and have some fun -- we’ve been a bit guilty of that. ‘We also, in the early days, just didn’t have many able women in the party, or able women who had the time to give to politics. That’s changed completely and if you look at the European election list for next year, the women dominate it.’ Mr Farage attacked David Cameron over his desire to want a Lords that represents the way people vote without any Ukip members . Mr Farage said Ukip would run candidates at every seat in 2015 but also suggested Ukip would be prepared to endorse individual Conservative MPs who were prepared to call for an in-out referendum before the election. Never say never: The Ukip leader made clear he would not want to work with David Cameron if Ukip won seats in Westminster in 2015, but said he would not rule it out . David Cameron has pledged to hold a referendum in 2017 after re-negotiating Britain’s relationship with Brussels. But a handful of Tories are preparing to back a Commons motion tabled by backbencher Adam Afriyie calling for a vote next year. Mr Farage said: ‘I think there will be discussions at local level and let’s see what happens. I think there are some people in the parliament who are on the right lines. When we do finally get the vote on the Adam Afrieye amendment it will actually clarify things rather nicely.’ The Ukip leader made clear he would not want to work with David Cameron if Ukip won seats in Westminster in 2015, but said he would not rule it out. He said: ‘It’s pretty stupid in life to come up and say that you would never do something. I could say to you I’ll never, ever jump out of that window, but you know what, if that was on fire and the option was burning to death or jumping out of the window, I’d jump out of the window. ‘I’d have thought David Cameron would rather go to his political grave rather than ever contemplate doing a deal with the ghastly UKIP - that’s my judgment, I could be wrong.’ Mr Farage said he would rather work with London Mayor Boris Johnson or Education Secretary Michael Gove if they were Tory leader. ‘I’ve always said I think Michael . Gove’s an approachable, open-minded, interesting, intelligent politician . who understands that different people have different points of view and . that it can be actually quite acceptable to hold other points of view,’ he said. Working partnership: Mr Farage said he would be happy to work alongside Boris Johnson or Michael Gove if they were to become Conservative leader . ‘Boris is obviously a fascinating character. One thinks that his instincts are closer to ours than they are to Mr Cameron’s.’ Asked about Nick Clegg, Mr Farage said: ‘Cleggers! Well, he probably thinks that maybe Jose Manuel Barroso should become the next king of England.’ Mr Farage said he expects to be frozen out of TV leadership debates at the next election but plans to sabotage them by broadcasting his own response to the words of Mr Cameron, Mr Clegg and Ed Miliband. He said: ‘I think that if UKIP has good cause to think that it should be in the TV debates and it’s excluded we will . provide an alternative form of entertainment on the evening. You could live stream. ‘People would have their TVs and their laptops next to it. They might think they can exclude us but modern technology has such a power.’ | Ukip leader attacks Cameron for failing to recognise party .
Says party had suffered in the past because it resembled a 'rugby club'
Reveals party will run candidates in every seat at the 2015 election .
Says he would work with Boris Johnson or Michael Gove if they became Tory leader . |
fdc11895e806af835657c797a1fc8bedc868005b | A commuter train bound for Los Angeles derailed before dawn on Tuesday in a fiery collision with an abandoned commercial pickup after the truck's driver took a wrong turn and got stuck on the tracks. That driver, Jose Alejandro Sanchez-Ramirez, 54, of Yuma, Arizona, was briefly hospitalized then arrested Tuesday afternoon on suspicion of felony hit-and-run,said Jason Benites, an assistant chief of the Oxnard Police Department. There was a loud boom and the screech of brakes before three of the train's five cars toppled over, sending 30 people to hospitals. Four were in critical condition, including the engineer. 'It seemed like an eternity while we were flying around the train. Everything was flying,' said passenger Joel Bingham. Investigators are seen behind police tape as they walk past the mangled truck driven by Alejandro sanchez-Ramirez that was hit by a Los Angeles-bound Metrolink train in Oxnard, California on Tuesday . 'A brush of death definitely came over me.' Lives were likely saved by passenger cars designed to absorb a crash. They were purchased after a deadly collision a decade ago, Metrolink officials said. The four passenger cars remained largely intact, as did the locomotive. Police found the disoriented driver of the demolished Ford F-450 pickup 1.6 miles from the crossing 45 minutes after the crash, said Benites. Sanchez-Ramirez, who delivers produce, was driving a pickup with an empty bed pulling a trailer with some welding equipment in it. He told police he tried to turn right at an intersection but turned prematurely and his truck got stuck straddling the rails. Police said they tested Sanchez-Ramirez for drugs and alcohol but they would not discuss the results. There were no fatalities following the crash of a commuter train which was on its way to Los Angeles but 28 people were injured, four in a critical condition . The crossing where the crash happened has been the scene of many collisions over the years. The train, the first of the morning on the Ventura route, had just left its second stop of Oxnard on its way to downtown Los Angeles, about 65 miles away, when it struck the truck around 5:45 a.m. There were 48 passengers aboard and three crew members who were all injured. The engineer saw the abandoned vehicle and hit the brakes but there wasn't enough time to stop, Oxnard Fire Battalion Chief Sergio Martinez said. Bingham said the lights went out when the train fell over. He was banged up from head to toe but managed to find an escape for himself and others, many of whom had been asleep when the crash happened. 'I was just shaking,' he said. 'I opened the window and told everybody, `Come to my voice.' Firefighters set up red, yellow and green tarps to categorize people according to their injuries, taking 28 to hospitals by ambulance. Two of the 22 people treated at the scene later showed up at hospitals, but only eight people had been admitted by the end of the day. 'Patients have complained of dizziness, of headaches, of lower back pain, of pains related to being bumped, thrown, hit and so forth,' said Dr. Bryan Wong, chief medical officer at Ventura County Medical Center. One patient described how he had been working on his laptop and a moment later there was a sudden jerking motion that happened so quickly he wasn't able to grab hold of anything, Wong said. He was violently tossed against a wall of the train. A fiery collision engulfed a tractor-trailer which was hit by a Metrolink commuter train in the early hours of Tuesday in Ventura County, California . The train typically would be accelerating out of the Oxnard station past verdant farm fields at about 55 mph, Metrolink spokesman Scott Johnson said. With braking, he estimated it would have hit the truck at between 40 mph and 55 mph. The train was pushed by a locomotive in the rear, allowing trains to change direction after their run without having to turn around or swap engines. It's a configuration that has been criticized for putting passengers in a vulnerable position in a crash. After such a crash killed 11 people and injured 180 others in Glendale in 2005, Metrolink invested heavily to buy passenger cars with collapsible bumpers and other features to absorb impact. Metrolink spokesman Jeff Lustgarten said the Oxnard crash showed the technology worked. 'Safe to say it would have been much worse without it,' he said. A Metrolink train derailed Tuesday morning after it collided with a truck on the track in Ventura County . A Southern California Metrolink commuter train derailed early on Tuesday morning following a smash with a truck which then burst into flames . A firefighter crawls out of a derailed passenger train carriage at the scene of a Metrolink accident on Tuesday . The city of Oxnard has wanted to build a $30 million bridge over the crossing for 10 years, but is only at the environmental review stage, said Darren Kettle, executive director of the Ventura County Transportation Commission. There have been six accidents at the crossing in the past seven years, including one in which a driver accidently turned onto the tracks in 2010 and was struck by a Metrolink train and injured, according to federal railroad accident reports. Two people were killed at the crossing last year when a car struck an Amtrak train. Sanchez-Ramirez, the driver in Tuesday's crash, told police he turned onto the tracks before the crossing arm came down, which occurs 29 seconds before a train arrives. It wasn't clear how long his truck was stuck before the train hit it. The accident happened on the same line as Metrolink's worst disaster when 25 people were killed September 12, 2008. A firefighter climbs into the wreck of a Metrolink passenger train that derailed in agricultural country 65 miles northwest of Los Angeles . A commuter train engineer was texting and ran a red light, striking a Union Pacific freight train head-on in the San Fernando Valley community of Chatsworth. More than 100 people were hurt in what was one of the worst railroad accidents in U.S. history. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Railroad Administration were sending investigators to the Tuesday crash in Oxnard. Cranes moved the trains at the end of the day, but the tracks, which are also used by Amtrak and freight trains, remained shut down. Officials initially said that the driver had stopped his produce truck on the tracks and the accident was 'avoidable'. However at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Oxnard police Officer Miguel Lopez said the man may have accidentally turned on to the tracks and become stuck became he did not know the area. When police first responded to the scene they found the tractor-trailer 'engulfed in flames'. Once fire crews extinguished the blaze, police found the cabin of the truck empty. It was also not clear if the truck was carrying any produce at the time of the crash. A patrol cop later found a 'disorientated man' walking along the side of the road and who was confirmed to be the driver. Authorities described the driver as 'unsettled' but would not say if he was under the influence of alcohol or substances. It was also unclear if the driver was properly licensed. Video shot from a helicopter revealed train carriages overturned after the crash. Some 28 people were injured according to officials . The force of the collision had forced one of the carriages on to the highway in Southern California, just northwest of LA . The charred remains of a tractor-trailer which ended upon train tracks in Southern California on Tuesday . Some commuters from the derailed train were treated at the scene in California following the early hours collision with a tractor-trailer . Footage from a news helicopter showed firefighters treating numerous people at the scene in California . The collision happened around 65 miles northwest of Los Angeles, California in the city of Oxnard . The crash was reported at 5.44am on Tuesday, according to officials. Some 51 people were traveling on board the train to LA at the time. According to the LA Times, three of the four train carriages had a 'crash energy management'. Metrolink's website explains that since 2010, 117 new cars used by the rail company have had the latest safety technology which included redesigned seats, work tables and 'energy absorbing' zones at the ends of cars. One overturned train carriage was lying half on the tracks and half on the highway running parallel to the train line. Some passengers were treated in triage areas set up at the scene while others were taken by ambulance to local hospitals. Firefighters and emergency responders were seen treating numerous people at the scene, ABC7 reported. Metrolink's website says the train was on a run from Ventura County to Los Angeles. Metrolink tweeted: 'VC Line 102 to Los Angeles is stopped between Oxnard & Camarillo due to striking a vehicle on the tracks.' The company canceled trains on the line on Tuesday and encouraged commuters to seek alternative transport. The National Transportation Safety Board was sending a 'go-team' on Tuesday to the scene of the accident. The scene was in Oxnard, about 65 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Prior to Tuesday's collision of a Metrolink train with a tractor-trailer in Ventura County, the Southern California rail company has had several major accidents. Tuesday's accident left around 30 people injured but no fatalities, according to fire chiefs. In 2002, two people were killed and 22 other passengers seriously injured when a BNSF freight train hit a Metrolink train in Placentia, California, head-on. Three years later, a crash in Glendale, California (pictured right), killed 11 people and left more than 100 injured with 40 passengers left in a serious condition. A Metrolink passenger train hit a vehicle on the tracks, jackknifed and smashed into a freight locomotive and a Metrolink train traveling the opposite way. The driver of the vehicle left on the tracks in 2005 was charged with 11 counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole in June 2008. In 2008, 26 people were killed and 135 injured when a train collided with a Union Pacific freight train and toppled carriages in the Chatsworth neighborhood of LA. The driver of the tractor-trailer, Jose Alejandro Sanchez-Ramirez,which was on the tracks reportedly ran off but was caught, authorities said . Firefighters attend to injured passengers at the scene of a Metrolink accident on Tuesday morning . Firefighters raced to the scene shortly before 6am on Tuesday after a commuter train hit a tractor-trailer . Fire crews fought the blaze at the intersection of train tracks and a highway with water and foam . Fire trucks raced to the scene in what was being described by fire officials as a multi-casualty incident . | Truck Driver Jose Alejandro Sanchez-Ramirez, 54, of Yuma, Arizona, was briefly hospitalized then arrested Tuesday for a felony hit-and-run .
Four cars of a Metrolink commuter train overturned after slamming into a truck on tracks in Ventura County northwest of Los Angeles .
Truck driver, 54, from Yuma, Arizona, was not in cab of truck and later found wandering away from the scene .
The crash was reported at 5.44am on Tuesday and left 30 injured .
The National Transportation Safety Board was sending a 'go-team' to the site on Tuesday . |
fdc26b8eceb8932b9990ea2336433736891e6086 | By . Luke Salkeld . PUBLISHED: . 02:57 EST, 21 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 22:09 EST, 22 August 2012 . They were already rivals on the political battlefield. Yesterday, however, it emerged that there is more than just ideology standing between Liberal Democrat council leader Jeremy Hilton and Labour candidate Kevin Neal. Mr Hilton, 57, is believed to have left his wife to set up home with Mr Neal’s partner, who is 24 years his junior. The Lib Dem – who has twice failed to become an MP but is leader of both Gloucester city and Gloucestershire county councils – is understood to have moved out of the house he shared with his Chilean wife Polly, 53, after she found out about the affair. Left his wife: Liberal Democrat council leader Jeremy Hilton is reportedly left his wife Polly, left, after having an affair with a political rival Kevin Neal's wife . For his part, Mr Neal, who plans to stand as a Labour candidate in his local council elections, revealed that he discovered his wife Rebecca Trimnell’s infidelity after she started taking more care over her appearance. Miss Trimnell, who failed in her own bid to become a Lib Dem councillor last year, has been working for Mr Hilton for a year as a political researcher. Mr Neal, 48, said: ‘I started having suspicions about three months ago. She was buying new dresses, wearing make-up, worrying about her hair, things like that. She told me she started having feelings for him about nine months ago and it really started about three months ago.’ He and Miss Trimnell, 33, have been married for eight years and have a seven-year-old daughter. Upset: Mr Hilton has allegedly moved out of his family home to set up home with Rebecca Trimnell, left, the wife of Labour candidate Mr Neal, right . They moved from Plymouth to Gloucester last year so she could take up her job with Mr Hilton. The Hiltons have no children. Speaking last night, Mr Neal, a . horticulturalist, added: ‘I met Jeremy Hilton six or seven times and I . did not like him from the start. But it is a two-way street – my wife is . to blame too. She’s the one that cheated on me.’ Moved out: After Mr Hilton's Chilean wife Polly found out about the infidelity with Miss Trimnell, 24 years his junior, he moved out . On his website, Mr Hilton describes . his interests as ‘current affairs, swimming, travel, photography and . family’. In his council role, he once led calls to save the register . office where he married his wife, a homecare worker for the county . council, describing it as ‘a very pleasant place’ for a wedding. In his attempts to become an MP, Mr . Hilton came third in 2005 and again in 2010, when Conservative candidate . Richard Graham unseated the sitting Labour candidate. In an email address given on his . website, however, the optimistic politician still describes himself as . ‘nextmp4gloucester’, calling himself a ‘truly local candidate’ who was . born and educated in the city. When asked about his affair Mr Hilton . said: ‘I have always made a point of not commenting in public on other . people’s private matters. I don’t intend to comment on my own private . life and those involved.’ But Mr Neal said: ‘He’s in a public position and people in that position of responsibility should be able to act responsibly. ‘I do not believe politicians having . affairs is correct in this modern age. They are supposed to be setting . an example. They should lead a proper life and not destroy families.’ Mr Neal will stand as a Labour . candidate in Quedgeley, Gloucestershire, next year. Last night he said . he believed his estranged wife and Mr Hilton were staying together at a . house belonging to another Lib Dem member. Miss Trimnell said: ‘I cannot comment . as this is very much a personal and sensitive matter that needs to be . dealt with rationally, reasonably and amicably. I would hope that anyone . who has or is going through any such relationship upheaval understands . the need for privacy during this particular time.’ Mrs Hilton has not commented on her . husband’s affair. Her neighbours in Gloucester said they had not seen . her since details of the affair emerged. One said: ‘It knocked her for six. I think she’s gone away to get some peace. ‘She’s devastated, I should expect. Especially because I don’t think she kicked him out, I think he left on his own.’ Another neighbour said: ‘Polly is one of the nicest people you would like to meet.’ Face each other: Gloucestershire County Council could soon see the political rivals having to face each other after the allegations of the affair . | Leader of the Lib Dems for Gloucester County Council has allegedly left his wife for the wife of his political rival, 24 years his junior .
Jeremy Hilton has moved out after his wife Polly found out about the affair .
Labour rival Kevin Neal says he 'started having suspicions' when his wife started buying new dresses and wearing make-up . |
fdc2b8733549d7f453059a509722bd85626d8dac | Authorities are investigating whether Jesse Matthew was involved in up to 10 crimes against women in Virginia, after the 31-year-old was arrested under suspicion of kidnapping still-missing college student Hannah Graham. Matthew was arrested in Texas last week after fleeing Virginia when police tried to question him in the disappearance of the 19-year-old University of Virginia student. The UVA nurses's assistant was the last person seen with Graham the night she went missing from downtown Charlottesville. Now investigators are looking into Matthew's movements over the last 12 years, focusing in on the more than six months he attended Christopher Newport University when two other young women disappeared without a trace. Scroll down for video . Serial offender? Jesse Matthew has been charged in the disappearance of University of Virginia college student Hannah Graham (right). Authorities are tracing his whereabouts for the last 12 years, believing he may have been involved in more crimes against women in the state . Arrested: Jesse Matthew was arrested in Texas last week after fleeing Virginia when police asked to question him about Graham. Seen exiting a private plane under federal guard . Matthew transferred to the Newport News school after being kicked out of Liberty University in Lynchburg in 2002 following allegations of rape. He attended CNU from January 2003 before dropping out the following October. During that time, two local women went missing and were never found again. Autumn Wind Day, 24, was last seen shopping at the Food Lion grocery store two miles from campus when she disappeared on July 24, 2003. Less than two months later, 31-year-old Sophie May Rivera went missing after leaving her home located seven miles from CNU. Matthew left the CNU football team five days after Rivera vanished, and dropped out of school a month later. Two more victims? Sophie May Rivera (left) and Autumn Wind Day (right) both went missing from Newport News, Virginia when Matthew was attending local college Christopher Newport University in 2003. Authorities there say they are reopening both cold cases. Neither woman was ever found . Local police are now reopening the two cold cases to see if Matthew may have been involved. 'While there are no indications that Jesse Matthew is connected to these two cases, both will be reviewed,' Newport News police spokesman Lou Thurston told WAVY. It's uncertain what Matthew did for the next several years. However, new forensic evidence connects him to the high-profile abduction, rape and murder of 20-year-old Morgan Harrington. Filling in the blanks: Matthew used to work as a taxi driver and a source told MailOnline that he used to give girls free rides. It's uncertain what he did between dropping out of CNU in 2003, and picking up his career as a cabbie in 2010 . Big break: Police said on Monday that there is a forensic link between the rape and murder of Morgan Harrington, 20 (left), in 2009 and the disappearance of Hannah Graham, 18 on September 13. Police are also looking into whether Matthew may have played a role in the murder of 23-year-old Cassandra Morton (right), who went missing around the same time as Morgan Harrington . Morgan disappeared in 2009 and her body was found three months later, hidden at a remote farm. DNA evidence of her killer, found on her remains, has since been linked to a 2005 rape case of a Fairfax woman who survived the attack. Eight years after dropping out of CNU, Matthew reappears in 2010 working as a taxi driver in Charlottesville. Two years later he got a position as a nurse's assistant at UVA Medical Cenewhere he was just recently fired following Graham's disappearance. In that time, he may have played a role in the death of Morgan, and also another local woman who went missing around the same time - 23-year-old Lynchburg resident Cassandra Morton. Morton's decomposing body was found in November 2009 and the homicide remains unsolved. Missing on Route 29: Five women have gone missing in and around Charlottesville, Virginia, just a few minutes' drive from the same highway in the last five years. Morgan Harrington's body was the only one every found . Authorities in Montgomery County Virginia are also reopening the double homicide of couple Heidi Childs and David Metzler, who were found shot dead in a campground near the Virginia Tech campus in August 2009. 'Our investigators will certainly follow up and look at the facts surrounding the Hannah Graham case to see if there is a connection. However, at this time we have nothing to lead us to believe that there is a connection,' Capt. Brian Wright told ABC News. Double murder: Police in Montgomery County, Virginia are looking into whether Matthew could have played a role in the murders of couple Heidi Childs and David Metzler, who were found shot dead in a campground near Virginia Tech in August 2009 . And three additional women went missing from Charlottesville around the same time Matthew moved there. Samantha Ann Clarke, 19, disappeared from Orange county in September 2010 and 19-year-old DaShad Laquinn Smith disappeared near there in November 2012, WUSA-TV reported. Alexis Murphy, 17, disappeared after leaving her home in Shipman, Virginia, in August 2013. This May, Randolph Taylor, 48, was convicted of her abduction and murder in January although her body has never been found. Another two young women, Alicia Showalter Reynolds, 25, and Anne Carolyn McDaniel, 20, were abducted and murdered in 1996 along the same Virginia corridor. Gone: Alexis Murphy, 17, is one of three women who went missing around the time Matthew returned to Charlottesville. She disappeared after leaving her home in Shipman, Virginia, in August 2013 . Mystery: DaShad Laquinn Smith, 19 (left), has not been seen since November 2012. Samantha Ann Clarke, 19 (right) vanished after leaving her home in Orange in September 2010 . | Jesse Matthew has been charged with abducting still-missing University of Virginia student Hannah Graham .
Authorities across Virginia are now investigating him in up to 10 unsolved crimes against women in the state .
Two of those cases involve young women who went missing from Newport News when Matthew was attending a local college there .
Forensic evidence has connected Matthew to the 2009 kidnapping, rape and murder of 20-year-old Morgan Harrington .
Police are also looking into whether Matthew was responsible for the murder of 23-year-old Cassandra Morton, who went missing at the same time as Harrington . |
fdc2cda2da2ac95cde1f11cbfe24b652ec82706b | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 10:27 EST, 12 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:28 EST, 12 June 2013 . These statues may look human but look more closely and you might find a dramatic difference. The heads of the unnerving figures, dressed in hooded tops and trousers, were created out of stuffed animals. Instead of a face on each model there is a bundle of taxidermic ducklings, raccoons, skunks and squirrels. The heads of the unnerving figures, dressed in hooded tops and trousers, were created out of stuffed animals . The statues are works of art by the sculptor Brandon Vickerd, a Professor of Visual Arts at York University, in Toronto. Most of the stuffed animals were bought from a taxidermist in Toronto but the ducklings had to be imported from China. He placed the two sculptures - called . Passenger and Passenger II - in busy areas in Montreal, Quebec, and . Hamilton, Ontario to observe the reactions of the public . The idea was that passers-by might not notice the difference between the sculptures and real people. The statues are by the sculptor Brandon Vickerd, a Professor of Visual Arts at York University, in Toronto . Instead of a face on each model there is a bundle of taxidermied ducklings, raccons, skunks and squirrels . The two sculptures were placed in busy areas in Montreal, Quebec, and Hamilton, Ontario . Mr Vickerd said he liked to leave the sculptures in public places without revealing them as pieces of art immediately. He said: 'People responded with surprise, then laughter or anger, or where generally creeped out - but at least half took a picture of the sculpture, or of themselves standing beside it. 'Oddly enough children often noticed the sculptures before adults and would get really excited - laughing and hugging them.' Instead, he added that he aims ‘to insert an anomaly into the viewer’s experience of the everyday’. He said: ‘These works make reference to comical cartoon clichés, and contrasts our conceptual understanding of nature with the reality of animals inhabiting our proximity.' A spokesman for the artist added: '[The sculptures are] playful reflections on the relationship between humans and animals in the urban environment. 'The sculptures will appear to be just another commuter in transit. However, once the viewer gets close enough to glance into the hooded parka they will discover that it is not a person but a series of animals standing on each others’ backs, bundled up in clothing and working together to mimic a human.' | Heads of unusual sculptures made out of stuffed animals .
Ducklings, racoons, skunks, squirrels and sparrows used for the models .
Statues made by Brandon Vickerd, a Toronto based sculptor . |
fdc3ae0efa8eaf161e4c6ca98e95e89e3dc7be5e | (CNN) -- Oprah Winfrey opened her talk show's 25th and final season Monday with the surprise of a lifetime for her audience, a favorite tactic for the media maven. The 300 audience members will travel to Australia in December -- courtesy of Winfrey -- on an eight-day, seven-night trip that has been in the making for nearly a year, according to her production company, Harpo Productions. While there, the Sydney Opera House will be the site of a special "Oprah Winfrey Show" taping before thousands of Australian fans. Monday's surprise trip rivals one of Winfrey's most famous episodes, when she gave away cars to each of her audience members to open her 19th season in 2004. She's also known for giving away thousands of dollars in gifts to the lucky audience members who attend her annual "Favorite Things" show. Winfrey announced last year that she would be taking her longtime talk show off the air. "Twenty-five years feels right in my bones and it feels right in my spirit. It's the perfect number -- the exact right time," Winfrey said in a statement at the time. Since then, the television mogul has said her show will go out with a bang. As of January 1, Winfrey will move on to her new OWN network, and as a result, she told TV Guide that she has different standards for her guests for the upcoming season. "This year will be about creating moments," she said. The premiere week of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" will feature an appearance by country stars Naomi and Wynonna . Judd; a return visit to Williamson, West Virginia, where Winfrey did an episode on HIV/AIDS in 1987, to talk with the guests of that show; a one-on-one with Bethany Storro, a victim of an acid attack caused by a stranger; and the announcement of Winfrey's latest book club selection, according to a press release. The premiere episode is supposed to be filled with celebrity guests and a surprise musical performance. "The Oprah Winfrey Show" first hit national airwaves on September 8, 1986. "I was beyond excited ... and as you all might expect, a little nervous," Winfrey said in her statement announcing the show's last season. "I knew then what a miraculous opportunity I had been given, but I certainly never could have imagined the 'yellow brick road' of blessings that have led me to this moment with you." Winfrey told TV Guide, "the show hasn't been a big part of my life. It's been my life. I didn't have children. I had the show. "I don't intend to be crying the whole season," she told TV Guide. "The only time I get really emotional and nostalgic about the show is when I think about the viewers. Hopefully some of them will follow me to OWN, but I know not everybody will." But leaving behind "The Oprah Winfrey Show" won't be the end of her entertainment career. OWN, short for the Oprah Winfrey Network, is touted as "a multi-platform media company designed to entertain, inform and inspire people to live their best lives." It launches on what is currently the Discovery Health Channel. CNN's Breeanna Hare contributed to this report. | NEW: 300 audience members will travel to Australia in December .
Winfrey is preparing for the final season of her longtime talk show .
The show's first episode aired on September 8, 1986 .
Her new network, OWN, launches on January 1 . |
fdc3bfc11e5cea494d105937a363b4b745fa379a | By . Ben Spencer . and Zoe Szathmary . People decide how trustworthy strangers are within the blink of an eye, psychologists have found, and it is all down to their facial features. We tend to judge someone with high eyebrows and prominent cheekbones to be more honest, while we are less likely to trust someone with a furrowed brow and sunken cheeks, researchers at New York University suggest. The findings give new weight to the principle that first impressions count - even if all it's down to genetics. Scroll down for video . Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon (left) has high eyebrows and cheekbones, while news anchor Brian Williams (right) has high cheekbones . Psychologists at the university found that a section of the brain decides a person’s trustworthiness even before we have consciously perceived who they are. There is no evidence, however, that facial features demonstrate how honest someone really is – simply that they may be perceived to be trustworthy or untrustworthy depending on their looks. The brain takes just 33 milliseconds - three hundredths of a second, or a tenth of a time it takes to blink - to decide whether someone is to be trusted. The study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, suggests that our brains are set up to be instantly wary of people we decided we should not trust. Jonathan Freeman, assistant professor at New York University’s Department of Psychology, said in a release: ‘Our findings suggest that the brain automatically responds to a face’s trustworthiness before it is even consciously perceived. ‘The results are consistent with an extensive body of research suggesting that we form spontaneous judgments of other people that can be largely outside awareness.’ Applying the findings to public figures, comedian and talk show host Jimmy Fallon and entertainment news journalist Maria Menounos indeed have high cheekbones and eyebrows. Former US president Richard Nixon (left) and Russian president Vladimir Putin (right) have sunken cheeks . Study: Researchers presented these real and computer-generated faces so subjects could evaluate their 'trustworthiness.' Conversely, public figures who have been roundly condemned for their dishonesty or behavior – including convicted killer Scott Peterson and former LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling – have sunken cheeks and furrowed brows. The New York research team presented a panel of ten volunteers with 300 computer generated faces, and asked them how trustworthy each was. Those faces with high cheekbones, high eyebrows and a smile were perceived to be the most honest. The scientists also presented the panel with real pictures of strangers, and the same facial attributes were found to be deemed as trustworthy. In a second set of experiments, a new set of 37 volunteers were presented with the ‘trustworthy’ and ‘untrustworthy’ images for a split second, while their brain activity was monitored. The images were then immediately replaced with a neutral picture so the brain could no longer process the previous image. The scientists found that a region of the brain called the amygdala, which is vital in social and emotional behavior, activated within 33 milliseconds even when the images were flashed up just momentarily. Former LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling has a furrowed brow and sunken cheeks, making him seem untrustworthy. Entertainment journalist Maria Menounos, however, has high eye brows and prominent cheek bones, making her seem trustworthy . Actress and human rights activist Angelina Jolie (left) has high cheekbones, while convicted killer Scott Peterson (right) has sunken cheeks . Faces with the high eyebrows and prominent cheekbones prompted activity in a different part of the amygdala than faces with furrowed brows and sunken cheeks. Dr Freeman said: ‘The findings suggest that we can assess another person’s trustworthiness from their face extremely rapidly and without conscious awareness, and that the amygdala plays an important role in this process. ‘One possibility is that faces that appear more untrustworthy and likely to inflict harm, or faces with stronger trustworthiness cues in general, are spontaneously tracked by the amygdala, so the amygdala could then quickly alter other brain processes and coordinate fast, appropriate responses to people --- approach or avoid. ‘This tracking would be especially pronounced for untrustworthy faces, who might inflict harm, which is consistent with what we found.’ Dr Bessam Farjo, a British cosmetic surgeon who specializes in hair transplants, including eyebrows, said: ‘The study’s findings are fascinating and further emphasizes that we do make first assumptions which are not necessarily based on our experiences or what information we have been exposed to.' | New York University psychologists found people judge trustworthiness on features .
We tend to judge someone with high .
eyebrows and prominent cheekbones to be more honest, while we are less .
likely to trust someone with a furrowed brow and sunken cheeks .
Brain takes just 33 milliseconds to decide whether someone is to be trusted . |
fdc4505470ca0b7909bc2e96d6b17257552c9d67 | (CNN)India made the perfect start to its defense of cricket's World Cup with an emphatic 76-run victory over arch-rival Pakistan in a Pool B opener in Adelaide Sunday. Inspired by a century from man-of-the-match Virat Kohli, India piled up 300 for seven wickets in its 50 overs, with Pakistan dismissed for 224 in 47 overs. The match was played before a sell-out crowd of over 40,000 at the Adelaide Oval, the vast majority supporters of the two powerhouses of Asian cricket. Pakistan's pursuit of a formidable total on a slow wicket was hampered by indifferent batting against a persistent Indian bowling attack, led by paceman Mohammed Shami, who took four wickets for 35 runs. Misbah-ul-Haq top-scored for Pakistan with 76 before giving Shami his fourth wicket, but he could find little support from its middle and lower order batsman and the result had an air of inevitably about it as wickets tumbled. Earlier, Kohli, given two chances when dropped on three and 76, became the first Indian player to score a century against Pakistan in a World Cup match. He shared century stands with opener Shikhar Dhawan (73) and Suresh Raina, who smashed 74 off 56 balls against a wilting Pakistan bowling attack, with 83 runs coming off the final 10 overs. Sohail Khan led the Pakistan attack with five wickets for 55 runs, but was expensive in his closing overs. "It's one of the biggest wins of my career. It's amazing to start like this," said Kohli, who was scoring his 22nd one-day international century. "Expectations of me will rise but I just look to stand up to it. "I hate losing. I love to win and play for my country. My role is to play a long innings so that the power hitters can play with freedom," he added. Watch: Can India win back-to-back World Cups? Pakistan captain Misbah acknowledged his team had lost to the better side on the day. "They played well, posted a good total and bowled well. When we lost wickets in the middle it made it hard," he said. The opening weekend of the six-week long tournament has seen victories for joint hosts Australia and New Zealand against England and Sri Lanka respectively, while earlier Sunday South Africa beat Zimbabwe by 62 runs. The 14 teams in the World Cup, which is held over four years, are divided into two pools of seven teams each with the top four from each group qualifying for the quarterfinal knockout stage. | India beats Pakistan in World Cup cricket opener for both sides .
India is the reigning champion after 2011 triumph on home soil .
Virat Kohli century inspires 76-run victory in Adelaide .
Early victories for hosts Australia and New Zealand on opening weekend of tournament . |
fdc4f3c1f8805aa9e33141bfe760c7705c03c51f | A missing New Jersey teenager who falsely tweeted that someone was in her house was found unharmed and has been reunited with her family. Clark Police Chief Alan Scherb said state troopers spotted 16-year-old Kara Alongi walking along the New Jersey Turnpike near Interchange 1 in Carneys Point around 4.30pm Tuesday. She was taken to a hospital for evaluation and returned home early Wednesday. Found: Kara Alongi, 16, was picked up by officials on a highway after being caught on CCTV at the NJ Transit Station in Rahway . Suspicious claim: Kara Alongi, 16, posted this message to Twitter around 6.20om on Sunday night while her family was out watching her younger brother's sporting game . Alongi gained hundreds of followers . after asking people on Twitter to call 911 Sunday. However, the evidence . has pointed toward the teen being an apparent runaway. Surveillance video showed her at the . Rahway train station purchasing a ticket to New York City on Sunday . after the tweet was sent. The police chief says detectives are trying to determine the girl's whereabouts over the past two days. The high school student posted . a misspelled message to her Twitter page around 6.20pm Sunday night . that gave the impression that she was in a panic, stating: 'There is . someone in my hour ecall 911'. Her Twitter followers did not call the . authorities, but her parents did once they returned to the family home . in Clark, New Jersey, and realized that the girl was missing. But . the teenager has now been spotted on CCTV holding a backpack and a . large purse while waiting for a train at the NJ Transit station in . Rahway. Disappeared: Police traced a phone call placed from her house to a local cab company around the same time as the Tweet, and the cab driver identified her as the girl he picked up . The 16-year-old's lone tweet that . appeared to be a desperate plea for help went viral with hundreds of . Twitter messages posted hoping for a her safe return. Clark police confirmed Sunday night . that the girl's initial tweet was a hoax and there were no signs of foul . play in Alongi's home. At the time of her disappearance, her family were watching her younger brother's sporting event. Police . brought a canine unit to the home and, according to their press . release, the dogs 'tracked Kara's scent from the back door of the house, . through a neighbor's yard and then to the sidewalk and around the . corner back onto her block where the scent goes cold.' After initially believing the Tweet, police became suspicious because there were no signs of foul play or abduction. The biggest sign, however, that something was amiss came from phone records that showed someone in the Alongi's home called a local taxi company and ordered a pick up at their address right around the time that Kara posted the intruder claim to Twitter. Gone: The taxi driver took her to the nearby Rahway train station which has regular services to Manhattan . 'The investigation quickly revealed a number of inconsistencies in the teen's statement,' the police statement reveals. The local Patch site . reports that police got in touch with the taxi driver who picked up the . request, and the man identified Kara as the girl he drove to the nearby . Rahway train station. The train station serves the Northeast Corridor line and the North Jersey Coast line, both of which have their northern-most stop in Manhattan. 'Kara might feel that she will be in trouble if she comes home after this scare and causing a panic. At this point all everyone cares about is seeing her safe and at her house where she belongs,' the police statement concluded. | Kara Alongi, 16, was found walking along New Jersey Turnpike in Carneys Point .
Girl urged Twitter followers to call police because of alleged intruder .
Police trace phone call to her house around same time calling a cab .
Taxi driver took her to local train station Sunday night .
CCTV image shows teenager alone holding backpack waiting for a train . |
fdc57b1e1152ab1895767c1d9c2fd247f2744b1f | By . Tom Gardner . PUBLISHED: . 08:37 EST, 9 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:31 EST, 9 August 2013 . Sting and Sir Richard Branson have been accused of using Uruguay as a 'laboratory' for the drug reform after backing a campaign to legalise cannabis in the country. Uruguay is set to become the first nation in the world to allow anyone to grow, sell and consume cannabis freely. The legal changes were brought about after a high-profile lobbying and TV campaign by pressure group the Drug Policy Alliance, on which both Sting and Sir Richard Branson are honorary international board members. Meddling: Pop star Sting, left, and Sir Richard Branson, right, are honorary members of the international board of pro-reform pressure group Drug Policy Alliance which has been accused of meddling in Uruaguay's politics . But the involvement of this influential American drug law reform organisation has been branded as 'meddling' and prompted a fierce backlash from critics of the legal changes. Gerardo Amarilla, of the opposition National Party, launched a blistering attack on the two celebrities, accusing them of risking the health of a generation with their 'meddling' and turning the country into a 'laboratory' for reform. He said: 'They shouldn't be meddling in Uruguay. 'They should be lobbying in their own country because they're not going to suffer the consequences here, the security and health problems. Controversy: President Jose Mujica has seen his efforts to explore alternatives to the global war on drugs succeed in the face of opposition . 'They're out of context here. This is a test that could go wrong and harm a generation.' Speaking shortly after legislation was passed though congress, last week, Mr Amarilla, said the Uruaguan government was ‘playing with . fire’ given the health risks he said were linked to marijuana use and . the majority of Uruguayans are said to be against the decriminalisation . move' You must be toking: Uruguay's unprecedented plan to put the government at the center of a legal marijuana industry has made it halfway through congress . He said the government was underestimating the risk of marijuana, which he . called a 'gateway drug' for other chemical addictions that foster . violent crimes. 'Ninety-eight percent of those who are today destroying themselves with base cocaine began with marijuana,' Responding to the controversy, Sir . Richard Branson said: 'While I am a member of the Drug Policy Alliance . International Honorary Board (In Formation), I am an active member of . the Global Commission on Drug Policy. 'For the past few years we have . examined the war on drugs using a science-based approach. 'We feel . strongly that it has failed and that there needs to be a different . approach. 'We believe drugs should be treated as . a health problem not a criminal problem. 'This is a global problem, not a . national issue, and everyone who can should speak out to help change . the failed war on drugs.' Under a new bill passed by Uruguayan lawmakers, only the government would be allowed to sell the drug. The controversial measure has the backing of President Jose Mujica, who says it will remove the profits from drug peddlers and divert users from harder drugs. Uruguay’s House of Representatives passed the bill by 50 to 46 votes following a fierce debate earlier this month and it is expected to get an easier passage through the Senate to become law in the next few weeks. Buyers would have to be over 18 and would be able to grow six plants at home or buy up to 40g (1.4 oz)a month in specially licenced government pharmacies. The authorities would take control of every aspect of the marijuana business, from harvesting the plant right through to distribution and sale. Ganja-rous game: Marijuana legalization efforts have gained momentum across the Americas in recent years as leaders watch the death toll rise from military responses to unabated drug trafficking in Mexico and Central America . And in an effort to prevent foreign tourists from flocking to Uruguay to smoke marijuana, the legislation would restrict legal purchases to Uruguayans. The vote also came days after Pope Francis criticised drug legalisation plans during a visit to neighbouring Brazil. He said it was ‘necessary to tackle the problems which are at the root of drug abuse, promoting more justice, educating the youth with the values that live in society, standing by those who face hardship and giving them hope for the future.’ Sting was unavailable for comment. | Uruguay is set to become first country in the world to legalise marijuana .
Pop star Sting is on board of pro-reform organisation Drug Policy Alliance .
Liberalisation came after lobbying from the pressure group .
Opponent of reform blasts Sting and Branson for 'meddling'
Branson said: 'This is a global problem, not a national issue' |
fdc5dc8e37ba7dd66214a2e351c5fbc66e5a9f9f | Apps4Africa has just announced the three winners of its 2012 competition, showcasing the best in African innovation. The winners, chosen from nearly 300 submissions, were Ffene, from Uganda, an app that helps small and medium businesses reduce administrative costs; SliceBiz, from Ghana, a crowdsourcing platform to encourage middle class Africans to invest small amounts in high-growth startups; and Prowork, from Nigeria, which is a project management and real-time collaboration tool for businesses. The Apps4Africa competition began in late 2009 as an annual program that aimed to support African social entrepreneurs using technology to solve societal problems. This year's competition demonstrated again that Africa has innovation and a growing number of innovators. But now the challenge for technology entrepreneurs is not merely to innovate and create apps, but to turn them into lucrative business ideas. Read this: 10 African tech voices to follow on Twitter . During my trips to Africa while coordinating the Apps4Africa competition, I witnessed from the innovators a real desire to innovate and have their voices heard. But whilst a technology revolution is taking place in Africa, with so many of these young men and women building and creating apps, they still face huge challenges in understanding how to start businesses around their innovations. Most of the innovators are following trends and their dreams, inspired mostly by the stories of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs making it without a clear business plan or any structured road map when they started their businesses many years ago. The reality check has not yet taken place in the minds of Africa's innovators and lots of time is being wasted on unrealistic desires. Young entrepreneurs in Africa have a mosaic of demands that need urgent attention. Policy makers need to start taking the young entrepreneurs seriously, as they are the future of Africa. Read this: Web savvy Africans fuel growth in online shopping . The growing number of competitions and gatherings -- like Apps4Africa, Startup Weekend, Africa Gathering, Maker Faire, Pivot East and BarCamps -- help to give visibility and credibility to these innovators, but this is not enough. The young African innovator needs business skills and funding. However, preparatory brainstorming gatherings, where people meet to share ideas, cement relationships and learn, could form the missing link that helps to create a culture of entrepreneurship and trust, that challenges and empowers the technology entrepreneurs to do more for Africa, and encourages the funders to support them. Now the competition is over, with the prize money coming soon into the winners' bank accounts, what is next for them? Many people are asking this legitimate question. One thing is sure, the entrepreneurs have ideas; the proof is that we have banks of apps being developed from the continent. But 90% of the people who attended the Apps4Africa sessions, with their business ideas in hand, need mentoring. Read this: Shaping Africa's tech revolution . The ecosystem in their countries to facilitate the creation of companies and a culture of entrepreneurship and risk taking is currently in its infancy or non-existent. Funding is currently a big issue. Investors don't take the technologists seriously, say the entrepreneurs. Whilst their intentions and ideas are good, many of the entrepreneurs that I meet need to be mentored intensively. Investors don't have time for this. African policy makers need to seriously invest in creating more business schools and put the right infrastructures into place to save the private sector industry of Africa and youth of Africa. Technology hubs and innovative spaces are addressing these current needs. The Apps4Africa winners now need to scale up their business models; this means they will need more funding, mentoring and manpower. To respond to this growing need, I have launched Spotone Mentoring @spot1mentoring, a new social enterprise initiative committed to supporting, guiding, unlocking the potential of the growing numbers of bedroom entrepreneurs in Africa. With its official launch in the summer, it's an initiative I hope can help Africa's innovators to scale up and become profitable. | Ffene, SliceBiz and Prowork are the three winners of the Apps4Africa 2012 competition .
The competition has shown that Africa has a growing number of innovators .
But the challenge is to turn the apps into lucrative business ideas, says Mariéme Jamme .
She says Africa's tech entrepreneurs need mentoring and funding . |
fdc6556437c676630076c30d4bf200bff27faa94 | By . Ryan Gorman . PUBLISHED: . 19:48 EST, 27 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:05 EST, 28 September 2013 . A woman scorned: LaShonda Matlock wrote an angry open letter to her father, preacher Bill Adkins, telling him to 'go to hell' The ignored daughter of a well-known Memphis preacher has written a scathing open letter to her estranged father detailing his abandonment and telling him to 'Go to hell'. Titled ‘Letter to My Father Bill Adkins: Go to Hell,’ La Shonda Matlock’s open letter Wednesday called her estranged father’s faith, manhood and moral character into question while detailing his cruel ignorance of her existence for decades. Mr Adkins is the founder and pastor of Greater Imani Church. ‘There are times in life when you need to speak up, voice an opinion or just let it all out,’ Ms Matlock, 33, wrote to begin the letter. ‘This is one of those moments.’ The self-proclaimed ‘illegitimate daughter of married pastor Bill Adkins’ claims that despite growing up only five blocks from his church, he never visited her and even sent a cease and desist order demanding she stop trying to contact him - when she was only six-years-old. Mr Adkins even visited her elementary school when she was eight-years-old, only to ignore her, she claims. By age 10, Ms Matlock felt lost. ‘I was a figment of my own imagination. I didn't exist, my last name was a lie and all records of me were buried in a black hole,’ she wrote. Crediting her ‘wonderful mother and extended family’ for helping her deal with growing up without a father, Ms Matlock said she ‘never wanted of went without anything,’ even designer heels – but still she felt empty. ‘I had a good childhood, but the lies kept piling upon one after another,’ Ms Matlock wrote. ‘As I grew older into my teens my face became the exact image of a man I never knew.’ ‘Rumors spread and I became a topic at dinner parties and for bored housewives,’ Ms Matlock continued. ‘I never wanted the attention, only to… have a dad like everyone else and like any child to have a father's love.’ Explaining that she ran into the preacher only four years ago, Ms Matlock made an attempt to talk to him, only to be derailed by a gun-toting security guard – who reached for his gun as she approached him. Go to hell: Mr Adkins illegitimate daughter asked he lives with himself and told him to go to hell . ‘I forgive you,’ I shouted. He nodded. That was my only acknowledgement I have ever received,’ Ms matlock writes of how the encounter ended. Mr Adkins continued denial of Ms Matlock’s existence caused her to disavow tenets of the Christian faith calling for forgiveness. ‘Am I bitter, yes. A man of the cloth preaching to his flock how to live and walk the path of God yet having several children outside of marriage and never righting his wrongs is despicable to me,’ Ms Matlock continued, asking how Mr Adkins lives with himself. Explaining that she’s given up trying to connect with Mr Adkins, Ms Matlock finished the letter with a final parting shot. ‘So to a man, who is a stranger and yet my father, I say "Go to hell." But, you're already there, aren't you?’ Just blocks away: Mr Adkins' Greater Imani Church was only five blocks from the house his estranged daughter grew up in . The letter clearly got through to Mr Adkins, as he addressed it publicly and claims he sent his daughter an email. Denying Ms Matlock was conceived in an affair, Mr Adkins told WATN he’s ‘sad to have seen the letter. I'm sorry she is enduring such hurt, suffering, and pain.’ Further trying to explain himself, the preacher said he was neither a man of god, nor married, when Ms Matlock was conceived. First of all, I was not married. She’s 33 years old and that was 1979. I was not married. I was not a pastor of a church. I was a Radio Announcer at WLOK Radio,’ he told the station. He offered to introduce his daughter to his family and the rest of the congregation at Sunday, but, in a reply to the station, she suggested family counseling first. | LaShonda Matlock claims preacher father Bill Adkins ignored her for the first 33 years of her life .
His church was only FIVE blocks from her childhood home .
The preacher sent her a cease and desist order to leave him alone - when she was only six-years-old .
He responded to the letter by asking her to appear in front of his congregation, she declined, saying therapy would be more appropriate . |
fdc68162472062401f549ed94419ebd06c33b475 | A blanket of early-morning fog and mist cleared to make way for beautiful scenes across the UK today, as a giant weather front which is stretching across the entire Atlantic was poised to bring more heavy showers and gusty winds over the weekend. The effects of the low pressure system, which is currently sitting to the west of Britain in the middle of the Atlantic, will load the UK with unsettled weather for the next five days, including thundery showers, strong winds - and unseasonably warm temperatures. Forecasters have also warned that Hurricane Gonzalo - the strongest Atlantic storm in three years which is due to hit Bermuda on Friday - could potentially pummel across to the UK on Monday night, bringing 50mph gales and heavy downpours. Tranquil: Swans posed beside a calm-looking lake as the sun set at the Oake Manor Golf Club in Somerset last night, amid warnings that two weather fronts from the Atlantic are due to bring unsettled weather to the UK . Wispy strands of pink and purple cloud braided together across the sky in stunning autumnal scenes. The lake is nestled between the Quantock, Brendon and Blackdown hills . The stirring picture of the lavender and fuchsia-coloured clouds was reflected onto the perfectly still lake, as the two birds watched on . Birds were seen moving across the sky as the sun set down for the day on a calm and beautiful evening . Despite calm scenes at sunset, forecasters warn the effects of a low pressure system, currently sitting to the west of Britain in the middle of the Atlantic, will load the UK with thundery showers and strong winds . But there will be unseasonably warm temperatures, some six degrees above average for this time of year. This morning, these dog walkers made the most of the balmy weather as they strolled through Greenwich Park, London . A blanket of early-morning fog and mist cleared in Ditcheat, Somerset, this morning to make way for sunshine across the UK . The beautiful scenes were a far cry from some of the most severe weather which has been battering Britain over the past few days . These horse riders in Somerset made the most of the calm weather, before Hurricane Gonzalo - the strongest Atlantic storm in three years which is due to hit Bermuda on Friday - could potentially move across to the UK . A bird perched itself on ruins in Somerset, as it watched over the low mist clouds moving across the countryside . But temperatures will still continue to soar, with the mercury expected to reach 21C in parts of the UK on Saturday and Sunday - some six degrees above average for this time of year. Gonzalo has already battered islands across the West Indies, with images revealing destroyed boats, down trees and debris strewn across beaches in Guadeloupe, Saint Barthelemy and Saint-Martin on Tuesday. The storm, which was yesterday upgraded to a category four hurricane as its winds reached 125mph, is poised to hit Bermuda on Friday and then move onto Canada on Sunday. A spokesman for the Met Office said Gonzalo could hit the UK by early next week, bringing 50mph winds and heavy rain - but she said Britain should be braced for those conditions anyway, regardless of Gonzalo's movement. She said: 'Gonzalo could hit us by Monday - but it could not. It could swoop northwards and miss us completely - the path is still largely unknown. If it does hit us, it won't be a hurricane by the time it does and the effects of it will be no different to the usual autumnal weather we have seen lately. 'But, if it does arrive, there could be winds of 50mph and heavy rain.' Until then, the existing low pressure system sweeping across the Atlantic - separate to Gonzalo - will leave Britain at its mercy. Despite stunning scenes showing mist and cloud calmly clearing at sunrise this morning, a band of rain caused by the system will move across the UK this afternoon, bringing thundery showers to Wales, the south west and north west England. The early-morning mist was also seen gliding over London this morning, making way for a day of sunshine and warm temperatures . Recent wet and warm conditions have allowed areas such as Greenwich Park, pictured, to shine in its autumnal glory . Keswick, in the Lake District, looked stunning in the early-morning sunshine today. But an existing low pressure system sweeping across the Atlantic - separate to Gonzalo - is expected to leave Britain at its mercy . Two paddleboarders made their way across Derwent Water near Keswick, Cumbria, as they made the most of the dry weather . A canoe was also spotted out on the water this morning, as fog and mist cleared to make way for beautiful sunshine . But that stormy weather should fade by this evening, making way for calmer scenes tomorrow, as sunshine spreads across many parts of the country. By Saturday, temperatures could reach 21C in parts of the south east, while central and eastern parts will also bask in glorious sunshine. But this will be interrupted with periods of heavy rain in western areas, Wales, the north west and Scotland. A band of rain will also linger over parts of Kent and the far south east coast. Forecasters say the warm weather will continue through Sunday, although the blustery and breezy winds caused by the Atlantic front means it will not feel particularly warm. Bouts of rain will also continue to hang around the south east, while showers will be seen across western parts and the Midlands. But storm clouds were also seen gathering across the City of London later on, as Britain prepares itself for days of unsettled weather . Ferocious waves crashed into the Torry Battery lighthouse in Aberdeen this morning, as wintry, wet conditions hit Scotland . Fierce gusts whipped up the water up into a frenzy. Parts of Scotland will be drenched in heavy showers over the weekend . Grey clouds moved overhead as the lighthouse took a battering - a sign of the unpredictable weather to come over the next few days . Commuters heading into Leeds battled through the fog and mist on the M621 this morning . A Meteogroup spokesman said: 'Tomorrow, a band of cloud and increasingly light and patchy rain in northern Scotland will become confined to the Northern Isles. 'Many other parts of the UK will have a dry morning with sunny spells, although isolated showers may affect southern and western areas. Through the afternoon, winds will freshen as an area of rain edges in from the south-west, reaching all areas during the evening. 'On Saturday, rain may persist for a time across some southern counties of England while the rest of the UK will have variable cloud and blustery showers, these potentially heavy and thundery. 'On Sunday, it looks set to remain fairly windy and unsettled with sunny spells and heavy showers, these most frequent in the north and west.' The huge pressure system is just one of three huge depressions filing the Atlantic Ocean at the moment, with Hurricane Fay also barrelling towards Bermuda, along with Hurricane Gonzalo. This graphic shows the predicted path of Hurricane Gonzalo, which forecasters say could hit Britian on Monday . This satellite image of the latest hurricanes shows Gonzalo - the strongest Atlantic storm in three years - headed towards Bermuda . This image, from the Met Office, show the movement of weather fronts caused by the low pressure system, which is affecting the UK . The three-day forecast shows unsettled weather across most of the British isles over the weekend, with sunshine and heavy rain . They are the latest weather systems to move in from the US and play havoc with Britain's climate. In August this year, five flood warnings and 33 flood alerts were brought in when the remnants of Hurricane Bertha moved up from the Caribbean and swept across Britain. That hurricane formed in the warm waters of the Caribbean first lashed the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands with winds of up to 90mph. Bertha then travelled north, veering away from the US and Canadian coast before heading across the Atlantic and being downgraded to an 'Atlantic storm', which dropped 20mm of rain an hour on some parts of the UK. But hurricanes emanating from the region are not always bad news for Britain. Hurricane Cristobal, which ravaged parts of the Caribbean, brought warm weather to the UK later in August this year by dragging an area of high pressure up from Europe. | A blanket of early-morning fog and mist cleared to make way for sunshine across most parts of the UK today .
But a giant weather front which is stretching across the Atlantic will bring unsettled weather over the weekend .
The UK will be hit with thundery showers and gusty winds, particularly in the north west, south west and Wales .
But temperatures will continue to soar, with the mercury reaching 21C - six degrees above average for time of year .
Forecasters also warn Hurricane Gonzalo - the strongest Atlantic storm in three years - could hit the UK on Monday .
They say the swirling storm - the path of which is still uncertain - could bring heavy rain and 50mph gusts . |
fdc6f6c1ed36cd434ddbfac3e8135dad693ce87a | By . Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 19:00 EST, 18 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 03:04 EST, 19 February 2014 . Officers were called to reports of a man attacking the woman at a shop in the centre of Gloucester, at about 5.50pm, a police spokesman said. The ambulance service attended the incident and took the 20-year-old victim to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. However, efforts to save her were not successful. Forensic police outside Fringe Benefits hair salon in Gloucester, where it is believed a 20-year-old woman was stabbed to death . Officers were last night hunting for the attacker, who fled the scene . The spokesman said next of kin and the coroner had been informed. A murder investigation is now under way. Police activity in the street is focused on the Fringe Benefits & La Bella Beauty salon, reports the Gloucester Citizen. Craig Bell, 24, who lives in the city centre, told the paper: 'I'm shocked it's happened, especially at a time when there would have been loads of people around. I just feel for the poor girl and her family.' Anyone who witnessed the incident or had any information was asked to call police on 101, quoting incident 340 of February 18. The ambulance service attended the incident and took the 20-year-old victim to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital . The spokesman said the woman's next of kin and the coroner had been informed . | Officers called after a man attacked the woman in the centre of Gloucester .
She died at hospital and a murder investigation is underway .
Police activity seen at beauty salon on busy town centre street . |
fdc712862f226262f3ef582d1236ad30f99b8564 | 'Erratic': Steven Brooks is set to become the first Nevada Assemblyman to be expelled in 150 years . A Nevada politician is set to become the first assemblyman to be expelled from the state's legislature in 150 years after being arrested for violent disturbances twice in two months. Steven Brooks's 'increasingly erratic' behaviour began in January when he was arrested after allegedly making threats toward colleagues. According to police he had a gun in his car and dozens of rounds of ammunition. He was arrested a second time in February after a domestic disturbance at his estranged wife's home in which police say he threw punches and tried to grab a officer's gun. Now a bipartisan Nevada legislative panel has recommended his expulsion after voting 6-1 in favour. The expulsion requires a two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly, though Assembly Majority Leader William Horne gave no indication when the full chamber might take up the matter. The seven-member panel was tasked with recommending what action should be taken against Brooks. Since January, the 41-year-old Democrat from North Las Vegas has been arrested twice, hospitalized for a mental evaluation and placed on leave from the Legislature. The last time the Assembly considered kicking out a sitting member was in 1867, but it never came to a final floor vote. Brooks' attorney, Mitchell Posin, said the vote was 'disappointing, of course. I hope when the Assembly meets to consider this, they see another side of this as Ms. Neal did.' He was referring to Assemblywoman Dina Neal, the North Las Vegas Democrat who cast the lone dissenting vote. She said she preferred suspending Brooks. 'I was at a crossroads and I know Steven Brooks needs help,' she said. Horne reiterated the difficulty of the panel's job and said it had been 'difficult watching these events the last few months.' 'I believe, as others, that Steven - Mr. Brooks - is not ready, not capable of serving in this body,' Horne said. 'I haven't seen and I was hoping to see something that would lead me to see something to think he may be able to. I really hope he does seek that help.' Leave: Nevada Assemblyman Steven Brooks, D-North Las Vegas during the opening day of the 77th Legislative Session in Carson City last Monday. Embattled: Nevada Assemblyman Steven Brooks, D-North Las Vegas, gets his shoes shined at Comma Coffee, across the street from the Legislative Building in Carson City last week . The committee met for three hours . behind closed doors to consider Brooks' behavior and medical issues. Horne said that while he preferred open meetings, 'there is a point at . which we must protect privacy.' He added that Brooks already has been . the subject of intense media attention and that it was not the panel's . intention to 'harm or further embarrass Mr. Brooks.' Mark Ferrario, the panel's independent . counsel, said the private documents include health records and other . information obtained from state agencies under the condition of . confidentiality. Posin sat alone in the courtroom that . was set up for the hearing. He did not explain why Brooks was not . present, but agreed with the decision to close the meeting to the . public. 'It is appropriate to have some . matters in public but there are also some very private documents here . that do not belong in the public eye,' Posin said. Brooks, a two-term Democrat from North Las Vegas, won re-election by a 2-to-1 margin in November over an unknown challenger. Since January, his behavior became . increasingly erratic and spiraled downward. In addition to the two arrests he was hospitalized after police were . called to his grandmother's home for a domestic disturbance, posed . shirtless for a newspaper photograph, was sworn in to the Legislature . but then banished from the Legislature building as a possible security . risk. Bizzare: The arrest came only days after the North Las Vegas Democrat embarked on a three-week leave following his January 19 arrest for allegedly threatening Assembly Speaker Marilyn Kirkpatrick, pictured . Concerning: The arrest came only days after the Assembly announced the unprecedented creation of a seven-member committee to investigate Brooks' behavior (file photo) Brooks hasn't been charged with a . crime in the threat case, but faces one felony and three lesser charges . in the case involving the police officer. He also was denied the purchase of a gun last month at a Sparks sporting goods store. Posin said before the hearing that Brooks poses no real threat to anyone. The Assembly last initiated the . expulsion of a member accused of libeling other lawmakers in 1867 but . never took a formal vote. Back then, Assemblyman A.H. Lissak, of Storey . County, had published a letter referring to the Assembly speaker's . 'sore-eyed, red-haired, baboon-looking face' in a political feud that . prompted a ban on Territorial Enterprise reporters from the chambers. An ouster requires a two-thirds majority, or 28 votes in the 42-member Assembly. Brooks' lawyer has already filed . papers with the Nevada Supreme Court to challenge legislative action to . prevent Brooks from serving voters who elected him. Posin argues the Legislature is taking unconstitutional steps to block Brooks' right and duty to serve his constituents. | First arrest for allegedly threatening Assembly Speaker Marilyn Kirkpatrick .
Then for 'grabbing police officer's gun' during dispute with estranged wife .
Detained for mental evaluation after sword incident at grandmother’s house . |
fdc89854f6b0defc44b3d7dcda7454223a2f333a | Even a short term diet of junk food can have a detrimental effect on the brain's cognitive ability, scientists said . Everyone knows that junk food is bad for the waistline, but new research suggests it can damage memory, too. Australian researchers found that even a short term diet of junk food can have a detrimental effect on the brain’s cognitive ability. The study suggests that obesity can trigger rapid changes in the brain. Scientists from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) showed for the first time that rats fed a diet high in fat and sugar had impaired memory after just a week. Interestingly, the results were similarly poor for the rats fed a healthy diet that had been given sugar water to drink, according to the study, which was published in the journal Brain, Behaviour and Immunity. The animals found it more difficult to recognise specific places after their junk food diet and showed a lesser ability to notice when an object shifted to a new location. The mice also had inflammation of the hippocampal region of the brain, which is associated with spatial memory. ‘We know that obesity causes inflammation in the body, but we didn't realise until recently that it also causes changes in the brain,’ said Professor Margaret Morris from UNSW Medicine, who co-authored the study. ‘What is so surprising about this research is the speed with which the deterioration of the cognition occurred,’ she said. ‘Our preliminary data also suggests that the damage is not reversed when the rats are switched back to a healthy diet, which is very concerning.’ Some aspects of the animals' memories were spared, regardless of their diets. All the animals were equally able to . recognise objects after eating either the healthy, healthy with . sugar or ‘cafeteria’ diets, the latter of which was high in fat and . sugar, including cake, chips and biscuits. The change in the animals' memory appeared even before the mice eating junk food gained any weight. The research builds on previous work that has implications for obesity. 'Given that high energy foods can impair the function of the hippocampus, if you eat a lot of them it may contribute to weight gain, by interfering with your episodic memory,¿ Professor Morris said . Ongoing work will attempt to establish how to stop the inflammation in the brain of animals with the unhealthy diets, which could unlock secrets relating to humans who eat unhealthily. ‘We suspect that these findings may be relevant to people,’ said Professor Morris. ‘While nutrition affects the brain at every age, it is critical as we get older and may be important in preventing cognitive decline. An elderly person with poor diet may be more likely to have problems.’ The research builds on previous work that has implications for obesity. ‘Given that high energy foods can impair the function of the hippocampus, if you eat a lot of them it may contribute to weight gain, by interfering with your episodic memory,’ Professor Morris said. ‘People might be less aware of their internal cues like hunger pangs and knowing when they have had enough,’ she said. | Australian researchers found that even a .
short term diet of junk food can have a detrimental effect on the .
brain’s cognitive ability .
Scientists from the University of New .
South Wales showed for the first time that rats fed a diet high in fat .
and sugar had impaired memory after a week .
The study suggests obesity causes rapid changes in the brain and the damage of an unhealthy diet is not reversed . |
fdc89f19e11f108699b8636b8e9b6b497683426a | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 15:18 EST, 17 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:19 EST, 17 October 2013 . A Palm Beach County, Florida driver of a bus for the disabled has been fired after video emerged of him tying up an autistic man with a seat belt on Monday. Ilem Mintor says the unidentified 20-year-old just wouldn't stop opening the door of the vehicle, so he decided to act. While what he did has now cost him his job and there's video proof of him tying up and cursing at the man, Mintor maintains he did nothing wrong. Scroll down for video... Evidence: Video shows driver of a Florida handicap bus Ilem Mintor yelling at a 20-year-old autistic man, then pointing and cussing at him, before reaching for the vehicle's seatbelt . Cruel? Mintor clearly then ties up the unidentified man, while continuing to yell. Since the footage has emerged, Mintor has been fired from Palm Beach County's Metro Mobile . Mintor told WPBF news that the man repeatedly tried opening the door of the bus and passersby even yelled for him to call police. That's when Mintor pulled over and 18-year-old Amanda Tourino pulled out her cell phone and began recording the incident. Footage clearly shows Mintor pointing and cursing at the boy. He then can clearly be seen wrapping a seat belt around the boy's wrists, binding them together. Mintor defended himself in an interview with WPBF. 'I say, "Don't do that, man,"' Mintor . recalled to WPBF. 'And I grabbed a seat belt. I say, "If you keep doing . that, I'm gonna wrap your hand and take you back home like this." I'm . just giving him the pressure now.' Defense: Mintor maintains that he did nothing wrong and says even passersby were yelling for him to call police as the man tried to open the vehicle door . But the video proves it was more than pressure and after Mintor bosses at Palm Tran and Metro Mobility saw the footage, he was fired. 'Metro Mobility is shocked by the actions that this driver took,' said attorney Neil Schiller said. 'In no way, shape or form does Metro Mobility endorse what the driver did. It's actually the opposite.' 'If I drive down the road and he fell out and another car hit him, what you gonna say,' asked Mintor in his own defense. Meanwhile, Tourino's mother said the only reason Amanda recorded the footage is because she told her to. According to Leigh Tourino, her daughter had complained about Mintor before. Tourino told her daughter to take out her phone and hit record if anything suspicious happened again. 'She did a good job,' Tourino told WPTV. 'She did a good job': Leigh Tourino, mother of the 18-year-old autistic girl who captured the footage that got Mintor fired, says her she'd heard about problems with the driver before . | The unidentified 20-year-old autistic man was aboard a Palm Beach County, Florida handicap mobility bus .
Driver Ilem Mintor says the man kept dangerously opening the door and he didn't know what else to do .
An 18-year-old fellow autistic passenger took the footage that got Mintor fired . |
fdc8c56891ed4e2f06ab4d8196c64e219de1df1e | By . Rebecca Camber . PUBLISHED: . 10:58 EST, 27 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:23 EST, 28 September 2013 . He says he is often absent-minded, will forget why he walked into a room and struggles to remember what is on his shopping list. But Paul Hyland never forgets a face, and his unusual talent has seen him recruited as one of a new breed of crimefighters – a Scotland Yard ‘super-recogniser’. Several years ago, police in London were on the lookout for a man wanted for nine burglaries. About a month after seeing the suspect’s picture, PC Hyland was stuck in traffic with two of his colleagues. Never forgets a face: When police are trying to identify suspects from a crime Paul Hyland scans the surveillance footage before heading out on his normal police officer duties. The Met Police knows if he sees someone once, he never forgets a face . ‘I looked up and noticed this guy coming out of a university and knew it was him,’ he said. He quickly arrested the suspect, who went on to confess to the burglaries. He added: ‘If I’ve met someone before and see them again, I’ll usually know where I know them from, even if I can’t remember their name.’ But the 30-year-old officer said his incredible capacity to remember faces tends not to help him in his everyday life. ‘I’m quite forgetful with basic things,’ he said. ‘I’ll walk into a room and forget what I was coming in for, or I’ll drive to the shops and get a load of stuff except for what I was supposed to get. I’m not good with a shopping list.’ Met Police officers designated as Super . Recognisers examine surveillance footage such as this still of Danielle . Corns, pictured left smiling on CCTV during the riots in Wolverhampton . city centre, and right, outside court. She was found guilty of stealing . two left-footed trainers. So far the 'super recognisers' are only . operating in London . Scotland Yard has now transferred Mr Hyland to their super-recogniser team, an elite squad of around 200 London officers trained to identify criminal suspects. Psychologists are still baffled by their abilities, but officials say they have tripled the number of successful identifications they make every week and even helped prevent muggings, drug deals and assaults. Police officers with unusually sensitive facial recognition skills have been identified within the London Met Police. They . all hold front line positions, in units such as the Safer Neighbourhood . Teams, Robbery Squads, Intelligence Units, or in custody suites, where . they keep up a good knowledge of local trouble makers. When . necessary they will be required to view stills and videos from footage . of crime scenes so they can become familiar with suspects they are . looking for. They . are then on the lookout for these people as they go about their usual . front line duties, be it as part of the Neighbourhood Crime Teams or . others. Mick . Neville, Det Ch Insp at the Met Police's Central Forensic Image Team, . said in an email that the 'super recognisers' identify on average about . 100 suspects a week in London. He . said: 'They have had a very good "hit rate". For example PC Gary . Collins from Hackney produced 180 idents from riot footage. The current . conviction rate (in general) for riot matters is 87 per cent.' Every . person identified by an officer as being a potential suspect is . followed up, 'in the same manner as fingerprint and DNA evidence,' he . said. 'In the case of . images, a Sgt reviews the identification and research is done on the . named person to establish if their location/offending pattern matches . the crime in question. 'Very . few people are charged on ident evidence alone - a detective would . arrest the subject and question him... and search for the clothing in . the image or the stolen property etc,' he said in email. 'In . the case of a very serious crime e.g. murder, by knowing the Super . Recognisers we can ensure that these officers see any images FIRST - . ensuring that we limit the possibility of false identifications/wrong . leads.' He added: 'It is another tactic to make London safer AND make best use of our resources.' Detective Chief Inspector Mick Neville said: ‘When we have an image of an unidentified criminal, I know exactly who to ask instead of sending it out to everyone and getting a bunch of false leads.’ He decided to set up the unit in 2011 after realising that the police could identify criminals based on their DNA and fingerprints, but had nothing to help them find suspects solely by using their images. The team has so far been remarkably successful – even outperforming facial recognition computer programs. They proved especially valuable during the London riots in summer 2011. After the violence subsided, Scotland Yard combed through hundreds of hours of surveillance video. So far there have been nearly 5,000 arrests – and around 4,000 of those were based on police identifications of suspects from video images. The super-recognisers were responsible for nearly 30 per cent of the identifications, including one officer who found around 300 people. However a facial recognition program made only one successful identification. Scotland Yard says the team also prevented thefts and assaults at last month’s Notting Hill Carnival – and even helped catch a drug dealer. Mr Neville admitted that the officers, like the Yard’s specially trained sniffer dogs, are not infallible. He explained that their identification is often only the start of a case which prompts police to start looking for other evidence. But legal experts warned that it could be problematic to use super-recognisers as expert witnesses in court if they have identified criminals based on an imperfect image. Mike Redmayne, a law professor at the London School of Economics, said: ‘Unless we subject them to rigorous testing, then we are just taking their word on trust. ‘Perhaps they can do what they say, but we don’t have the evidence yet. If it was up to me, I would not allow it in court.’ And Charles Farrier, from UK privacy group No CCTV, claimed the unit was just ‘the latest gimmick’ to promote the widespread use of surveillance cameras. He said: ‘It is a slippery slope when we want to start to justify the widespread use of blanket surveillance just in case a policeman spots someone. The use of super-recognisers will lead to cases of mistaken identity and forms part of a surveillance culture that spreads fear and distrust.’ Clarice Ali was caught on CCTV making an obscene gesture to the camera while her . daughter stands beside her, a blue scarf wrapped around her head. Ali and her daughter were arrested and given custodial sentences for their looting. It is not known if Ali, right, was found by a 'super recogniser' Shereka Leigh (centre) was filmed trying on trainers from a looted JD Sports store at the Tottenham Hale Retail Park in north London. In this case police were tipped off and found stolen goods in Leigh's home . | They identified around 1,300 suspects arrested in relation to the 2011 riots .
Computer recognition systems identified just three people from the riots .
Every week the 'super recognisers' identify around 100 suspects in London . |
fdc8d4d120a35047a65e78776671c4aa80000e26 | It was once used to screen plays and films for children - but it's looking more like something from a horror movie now. This massive hall was built in the Slovak town of Cierna nad Tisou during the post-war Communist era but has since fallen into disrepair, having been disused for years. Hundreds of children used to fill the hall and watch left-wing propaganda on a big screen or as part of a play. Disrepair: The building was used as a theatre and cinema during the Communist era after the Second World War- but it's seen better days . All that remains: The stage that was once home to performances that promoted the Communist message . After . the communist regime failed and fell in the area, the building was never . used again . Shocking state: The hall probably needs more than a lick of paint . Meeting point: The hall once hosted talks between leaders from Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union . Dusty and smashed up seats . It was also used for social meetings - and even for talks between the leaders of Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union. Dusty, smashed-up seats now fill the spooky auditorium and the roof and walls are peeling and discoloured. Not really the sort of place you'd want to break out the pop corn in. A man takes photograph of an old, historical 3D carved stone above the screen inside the ruined vintage cinema . A dust and litter-strewn floor and broken seats are all that remain . Rear we go: The backside of of the ruined vintage theatre, which had its communist heyday in the 1940s . Black-and-white situation: A file photograph of the entry of ruined vintage cinema and theatre, taken in the 1970s . Slovakia . became part of Czechoslovakia in 1945, which came under the control of . the Communist Warsaw Pact and the Soviet Union in 1948. It . remained locked into this geo-political arrangement until the Warsaw . Pact was disbanded in 1991. Slovakia became a sovereign state the . following year. Communist . films that might conceivably have been shown at the hall in Cierna nad . Tisou include 1946's The Stone Flower, Ballad of Siberia (1947) and . Cossacks of the Kuban (1949). The audience might also have been treated to Sergei Eisenstein's Ivan The Terrible. Those . wanting a feel for what it was like living in a communist regime might . like to see 2006's The Lives Of Others. The plot revolves around two . East Berlin secret police officers monitoring the city in the 1980s and . offers brilliant insight into the paranoia that seeped through society. | The hall was built in the Slovak town of Cierna nad Tisou in the 1940s, when the nation was part of the Warsaw Pact .
It was also used for social meetings - and even for talks between the leaders of Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union . |
fdc98fe71a1bcca061eb5c01997e1280b5adef2e | By . Kirsty Walker and Phoebe Greenwood . UPDATED: . 19:42 EST, 29 September 2011 . Clash: Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas rejected Blair's draft proposals to end the peace process stalemate . Tony Blair’s job as a Middle East peace envoy is in jeopardy after officials in the Palestinian Authority accused him of acting like an ‘extreme’ Israeli diplomat. Senior figures in the Palestine Liberation Organisation are reported to be planning to sever all contact with the former prime minister. They described Mr Blair as ‘persona non grata’ and said they were looking to isolate the former PM so his position became untenable on the international stage. Mr Blair has been viewed with an element of distrust by some Palestinians ever since his appointment as the envoy of the Quartet on the Middle East – the mediating body comprising the United States, the EU, the UN and Russia. He was handed the job the day he left Downing Street in June 2007. But antagonism has mounted over allegations that he lobbied European powers to vote against a Palestinian bid for statehood which was submitted to the UN last week. One senior Palestinian official told the Daily Mail yesterday: ‘He does not represent the international community but works according to his own opinion, which he shares with the more extreme Israelis. We see him as an Israeli diplomat. A . man apart: Tony Blair with fellow members of the Quartet of the Middle . East and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon (centre) this week. From left, . Hillary Clinton, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and EU . commissioner Catherine Ashton . ‘We will not be unhappy to see his back but when he leaves is something for the Quartet to decide.’ Another added: ‘There is no one within the Palestinian leadership that supports or likes or trusts Tony Blair, particularly because of the very damaging role he played during our UN bid. ‘He is considered persona non grata in Palestine. Although we can’t prevent him from coming here, we can hopefully minimise the role he can play because he is not a mediator, he is totally biased on one side.’ Mr Blair has been based between London and the luxurious American Colony Hotel in Jerusalem since leaving 10 Downing Street in 2007. A storm of suspicion and disapproval has been building among Palestinians since his first days in the region. Many were surprised and disappointed when he failed to speak out against Israel’s invasion of Gaza in January 2009, which left as many as 1,417 Palestinians dead. Anger: Blair's failure to address Israel's continuing building of settlements in the West Bank was key to his draft proposal being rejected . Many also accuse Mr Blair of placing his business interests above his diplomatic responsibilities. A conflict of interest was posed by his £2million-a-year job as consultant for investment bank JP Morgan and his executive role at Tony Blair Associates. Labour MP Paul Flynn said: ‘There is no question in my mind that Tony Blair is incredibly sympathetic to the Israeli cause and throughout his time as an envoy there has been a question mark about whether he fully understands the position of the Arab countries. ‘He is not the honest broker that he pretends to be.’ A spokesman for the Palestinian Authority said its negotiators often talked to people they did not like. A spokesman for Mr Blair insisted he had no plans to leave the Middle East, adding: ‘He is there for the long term, as he has been from day one.’ | PLO motion to declare former PM persona non grata to be held later this week . |
fdc9a5f6fcafdd1e48a2ff8da3aabc60c22d9eaa | By . Sally Lee . Being a foreign minister certainly has its perks. But while Julie Bishop currently holds one of the top Australian ministerial jobs - quite possibly one of the most enviable - she's also had her fair share of black lash over the last few months. She's also revealed in an interview published on Saturday that the job certainly isn't as glamorous as it seems, albeit the jet-setter lifestyle. And counting the calories is the least of her concerns. Scroll down for video . Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop reveals that she simply 'keeps fit' to help balance her jet-setter lifestyle . The 57-year-old has been receiving backlash from angry protestors over the last few months . Bishop (left) shaking hands with the United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki Moon in New York last year . 'I keep fit,' she told The Age when asked how she maintains a balance. 'And no, I'm not keeping a diary. No, I'm not obsessed about my body, my weight, my face, my abs.' It's clear that Bishop has better things to do with her time. Adorning her desk is her treasured happy snaps with US president Barack Obama and United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki Moon. But the 57-year-old, who's also the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party of Australia, is no stranger to confrontation having been targeted by protestors over the last few months. An anti-government protester lunged at the foreign minister's car as she left a C20 summit in Melbourne on June 20, after giving a keynote speech about concerns regarding job losses and university fees. Bishop was also targeted by protesters at Sydney University in May. More recently, about 200 students angered by the federal government's cuts to education also protested at Bishop's Perth, Western Australia, office and had to be told to move on by police on Thursday. Bishop (right), the then deputy opposition leader, meets with US President Barack Obama during his 2-day visit in Australia in 2011 . Bishop meets with Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker Shwe Mann (right) in Naypyidaw on July 3, 2014 during her first official visit to Myanmar . | Australia's Foreign Minister reveals that she simply 'keeps fit' to help balance her jet-setter lifestyle .
Bishop, 57, has been receiving backlash from angry protestors over the last few months . |
fdca15bef0ed601f7e3cc7f628cc4fe8772f486f | California police are investigating a violent assault at a skate park after a video surfaced on Facebook showing a teenage boy knocking out a homeless man, who can be seen lying on the concrete ground unconscious for several minutes. The incident recently occurred at Hunt Park in Riverside. The cellphone footage shows the transient, identified by KTLA as 'Shane', in an argument with a 16-year-old on a BMX bike. Words exchanged by the pair allude to drugs, with one of the teens heard saying: 'You better walk away before you get hit.' Scroll down for video . Assault: This homeless man, known only as Shane, was captured in a cellphone footage being punched in the head by a teen in Hunt Park, Riverside . Smack: This is the moment the transient is hit, sending him pummeling to the ground . Brutal: Police are now looking for the 16-year-old attacker and the victim . Nasty: Blood can be seen on the concrete of the skate park in Riverside following the assault . Seconds later Shane is hit in the face by a brutal punch. He falls straight to the floor, where he lies motionless. Blood that can be seen coming from a head wound has been edited out of the video being circulated online. In an interview with KTLA, Shane said the punch came from a 'misunderstanding'. 'That's all I want to say right now,' he told the station. Witnesses say Shane was allegedly trying to sell the group drugs. Police are now searching for the victim and the attacker. 'Misunderstanding': Shane, as the victim is known, told KTLA that the exchange was a misunderstanding. Witnesses claim he was trying to sell drugs . Shane said he would not press charges. 'I don't want no harm to come to him,' he said. 'I don't want him to be penalized for it, you know?' No charges have yet been filed. | Incident occurred at Hunt Park in Riverside, California .
Homeless man identified only as 'Shane' knocked unconscious for several minutes .
Witnesses claim he was trying to sell drugs to a group of teams .
He said the exchange was 'a misunderstanding'
Police now searching for the victim and attacker . |
fdcaeb80acb7e64a6744283349b2b5d2d08966eb | A man was found hidden away Friday inside a washing machine after he illegally crossed the Mexican border into the U.S. Along with four others, who were stowed inside a cardboard box, the man was detained by U.S. border patrol in Falfurrias, Texas. The group was traveling in the back of a U-Haul. Also detained were the man behind the wheel and his female passenger. Scroll down for video . Creative: A man was found hidden away Friday inside a washing machine after he illegally crossed the Mexican border into the U.S. According to KGBT, the immigrants were offered medical attention, which they declined. Homeland security is investigating. Meanwhile, high-ranking U.S. Senate Democrats last week called on the Obama administration to reverse its new policy of detaining Central American immigrant families, warning it could be damaging to the young children being housed in the facilities. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy of Vermont and eight other Democrats wrote Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson on Thursday to complain about the detentions. 'Mothers and their children who have fled violence in their home countries should not be treated like criminals,' wrote the senators, who also included Democratic leadership members Dick Durbin of Illinois, Charles Schumer of New York and Patty Murray of Washington state. The detention policy, which was initiated this past summer as tens of thousands of families and unaccompanied children rushed to the U.S. border, is part of a broader White House strategy of deterring another influx next year. Fellow travelers: The man was in the back of a U-Haul truck traveling north alongside four other immigrants who were inside a cardboard box . Many of the migrants are fleeing El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, where gang violence, drugs and human trafficking are rampant. In 2009, the United States stopped housing newly arrived immigrant families in a troubled Texas detention facility. Instead, the Obama administration made less restrictive measures, such as ankle bracelets, telephone interviews and other monitoring programs the centerpiece of its policy for keeping tabs on migrants awaiting court determinations on their status. But that changed a few months ago, as President Barack Obama was under intense pressure from Republicans in Congress to stop the record numbers of children and families seeking refuge in the United States and arriving without visas. He responded by directing the opening of family detention centers, expediting immigration court cases, refusing bond for many of the migrants and working with Mexico to secure borders. By year's end, the federal government will have the capacity to detain about 4,000 mothers and children at any one time in centers located in New Mexico, Texas and Pennsylvania. Heading north: The U-Haul was stopped by border patrol agents in the south Texas town of Falfurrias . | A man was discovered in the large appliance inside a U-Haul in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas on Friday .
Along with the washing machine, a cardboard box held four other undocumented immigrants .
The U-Haul was heading north when U.S. border patrols uncovered the ruse . |
fdcaf72c85e2c6310d2de95897de20e39abc9072 | At least 876 American children aged 10-19 took their own lives in 2013 with a gun, marking a 12-year peak in firearm suicides according to a new report from the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. The study, released on Monday and based on data from the CDC, found that the majority of the deaths - 82 percent - involved a weapon that belonged to a family member, in most cases a parent. The increase in gun suicides by young people reflected a growing rise in the number of suicides generally among that age group. Suicides have grown for the past three years after dipping after 2001 and now it is the second leading cause of death among children and teenagers after car deaths. It replaced homicide as the number two cause. Twelve year peak: Using data from the CDC the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence study reveals suicides by guns are at a level not seen in more than a decade . The data on the number of young gun suicides was taken from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and according to the Brady Center is proof many of the death's are preventable. 'Millions of Americans have a gun in their homes thinking that it makes their family safer, but every day in our nation, dozens of these families learn just how dangerous and tragic that miscalculation can be. 'The bottom line is: having a gun in the home dramatically increases the danger that a child will be shot and killed.' Indeed, with more than 80 percent of the deaths caused by a gun owned by a family member, the center said that removing weapons from the home or better gun education is key to reducing this figure. On the rise: The study also showed that suicides by firearms are on the rise and have been on the increase for three years . Correlations: In states where there are least weapons the suicide by gun rate is lowest. In states where there are more guns, it is highest . 'One of the most significant ways we can address this serious public health and safety issue is to educate parents about the risks of unsafe access to guns in the home,' said Gross. 'Parents are the first line of defense against gun violence, so we all need to realize the risks and take the appropriate steps to make sure our kids do not have unsafe access to guns.' 'Every day, 48 children are wounded or killed by gunfire.' said Dan Gross. The report also revealed that most annual total gun deaths occurred in states with the highest rates of gun ownership such as Louisiana and Wyoming. Conversely it showed that the states with the fewest number of annual firearm deaths such as Hawaii and New York had the lowest gun ownership rates. 'One of the most significant ways we can address this serious public health and safety issue is to educate parents about the risks of unsafe access to guns in the home. 'Parents are the first line of defense against gun violence, so we all need to realize the risks and take the appropriate steps to make sure our kids do not have unsafe access to guns.' | Study from Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence released on Monday .
Used data from the CDC and showed a 12-year peak in firearm suicides in 2013 .
Suicides have now replaced homicide as the second most common cause of death among children and teenagers . |
fdcb74469b208c6b03e64dc91af471b76c034820 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . and Ap Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 17:51 EST, 20 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:43 EST, 20 June 2013 . The White House has announced that President Obama plans to nominate a Bush-era Justice Department deputy as the next head of the FBI. If confirmed by the Senate, James Comey, a Republican, will replace Robert Mueller, who has served as FBI chief since 2001 and plans to resign this September. Comey will inherit an agency grappling with privacy debates over a host of recently exposed investigative tactics. The White House said in a statement that Obama would announce his choice of Comey on Friday afternoon. New blood? President Obama plans to nominate Bush-era Justice Department deputy James Comey, a Republican, as the next FBI director on Friday, the White House said Wednesday . Comey was a federal prosecutor who served for several years as the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York before coming to Washington after the Sept. 11 attacks as deputy attorney general. During that time, Comey gained a high profile as the prosecutor who put away such notable criminals as mob boss John Gambino and the queen of all homemakers Martha Stewart. In recent years he's been an executive at defense company Lockheed Martin, general counsel to a hedge fund, board member at HSBC Holdings and lecturer on national security law at Columbia Law School. The White House may hope that Comey's Republican background and strong credentials will help him through Senate confirmation at a time when some of Obama's nominees have been facing tough battles. Republicans have said they see no major obstacles to his confirmation, although he is certain to face tough questions about his hedge fund work, his ties to Wall Street as well as how he would handle current, high-profile FBI investigations. Conservative choice? Comey, seen here at a swearing in for House Judiciary Committee hearing concerning reauthorization of the PATRIOT Act in 2005, opposed warrantless wiretapping and advanced interrogation techinques . Read Comey's unsent resignation letter to George W. Bush... The FBI is responsible for both intelligence and law enforcement with more than 36,000 employees. It has faced questions in recent weeks over media leak probes involving The Associated Press and Fox News; the Boston Marathon bombings; the attack at Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans; and two vast government surveillance programs into phone records and online communications. The White House has announced that James Comey, the former Bush Administration deputy attorney general from 2003 to 2005 will be nominated as the next FBI director. Though he is a Republican, Comey is a comely candidate to the Obama administration for several reasons. He opposed advanced interrogation techniques. Though Comer ultimately agreed that advanced interrogation techniques like waterboarding were legal, he opposed their use by the Bush administration and said as much. He opposed wiretapping. As the Bush administration sought to reauthorize warrantless wiretapping as part of the war on terror, Comey forcefully opposed it and even threatened to quit. He's tough on gun crime. As a child, Comey and his family were held hostage by an intruder at gunpoint. As a Virginia prosecutor, he successfully beefed up sentencing in cases involving weapons charges. He's a Republican and will likely face a less hostile Senate confirmation. The leaker of those National Security Agency programs, former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, also is the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation. And just this week Mueller revealed the FBI uses drones for surveillance of stationary subjects and said the privacy implications of such operations are worthy of debate. Comey played a central role in holding up Bush's warrantless wiretapping program, one of the administration's great controversies and an episode that focused attention on the administration's controversial tactics in the war on terror. In dramatic testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2007, Comey said he thought the no-warrant wiretapping program was so questionable that he refused for a time to reauthorize it, leading to a standoff with White House officials at the hospital bedside of an ailing Attorney General John Ashcroft. Comey said he refused to recertify the program because Ashcroft had reservations about its legality. Senior government officials had expressed concerns about whether the NSA, which administered the warrantless eavesdropping program, had the proper oversight in place. Other concerns included whether any president possessed the legal and constitutional authority to authorize the program as it was carried out at the time. Though he refuses to answer questions on the topic, Comey and other top Justice Department brass planned to resign over the issue in 2004. Comey even wrote a resignation letter to Bush, but it was never sent. Comey was deputy attorney general in 2005 when he unsuccessfully tried to limit tough interrogation tactics against suspected terrorists. He told then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales that some of the practices were wrong and would damage the department's reputation. Some Democrats denounced those methods as torture, particularly the use of waterboarding, which produces the sensation of drowning. High-profile: Prior to his time with the Bush Administration, Comer was U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and successfully prosecuted big name criminals like Martha Stewart and mob boss John Gambino . Perfect fit? Comer is an attractive candidate for the currently embattled FBI, with his history of opposing warrantless wiretapping and waterboarding. His nomination is expected to be announced by President Obama on Friday . As U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, Comey headed one of the nation's most prominent prosecutorial offices and one at the front lines in the fight against terrorism, corporate malfeasance, organized crime and the war on drugs. As an assistant U.S. attorney in Virginia, Comey handled the investigation of the 1996 bombing of the Khobar Towers housing complex near Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, which killed 19 U.S. military personnel. He led the Justice Department's corporate fraud task force and spurred the creation of violent crime impact teams in 20 cities, focusing on crimes committed with guns. After leaving government in 2005, Comey was senior vice president and general counsel at Lockheed Martin. In 2010, he went to the Westport, Conn.-based hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, before leaving in February. The White House also said Comey has developed improvements in the military justice system's performance regarding crimes committed in Iraq and Afghanistan as a member of the Defense Legal Policy Board, which provides independent advice to the defense secretary. Comey also has taught at the University of Richmond Law School and worked for law firm McGuireWoods LLP, also in Richmond. He has a bachelor's degree from the College of William & Mary, a law degree from the University of Chicago Law School and clerked for former District Court Judge John M. Walker, Jr. in the Southern District of New York. | James Comey, a Republican, served as Deputy Attorney General under George W. Bush from 2003 to 2005 .
Comey had high profile run-ins with the Bush White House when he spoke out publicly against warrentless wiretapping and advanced interrogation of terror suspects .
While with the U.S. Attorney's Office, Comey successfully prosecuted notable criminals like mafioso John Gambino and Martha Stewart .
He signed a Supreme Court amicus brief in favor of same-sex marriage . |
fdcb7d4dfef73c6fb6dcf6667af77926522f0c2d | DINGLE, Ireland (CNN) -- Fewer tourists and relatively warm temperatures may be reason enough to put Ireland on your list of winter travel destinations, especially Dingle Peninsula, once ranked by National Geographic Traveler as "the most beautiful place on Earth." Winter offers tourists a chance to explore Ireland's west coast unhindered by bothersome crowds. The peninsula, on Ireland's west coast, includes the oceanside town of Dingle, which boasts more than 1,000 full-time residents. Winter visitors will avoid the area's hundreds of thousands of summertime tourists. Boats crowd Dingle's popular marina, bringing fresh seafood catches of the day. Some of the marina vessels also will ferry visitors to see Fungie, a locally famous dolphin who has lived in the waters outside town since 1984. See breathtaking photos of Dingle » . Outside Dingle, numerous vacation cottages are available to rent, including homes in the village of Dunquin. In winter, rates are drastically cut, and rental period dates may be more flexible. Most shops and restaurants have shorter hours during winter, and traditional music is found in some of the pubs on the weekends. As with most of Ireland, pubs abound, even in the smallest villages. A beer (preferably Guinness) and some hearty pub grub are a perfect way to cap a day of exploring the wintry sights of the peninsula. Because Ireland sits near the warm waters of the Atlantic Gulf Stream, the Emerald Isle has an average temperature of 46 degrees Fahrenheit (7 Celsius) during December, January and February. But pack smart and bring layers of clothing, including warm sweaters and jackets, because winter weather often means rain on Ireland's western shore. | Dingle, Ireland, called "most beautiful place on Earth" by National Geographic .
Escape summer crowds by traveling to Dingle Peninsula during winter months .
Cottage rentals are cheaper in winter, and periods are more flexible .
Winter temperatures in western Ireland average 46 degrees F (7 Celsius) |
fdcb984ae889d9716e7a7e5e69749d1a3c2013a3 | By . Anna Edwards . PUBLISHED: . 07:25 EST, 31 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:44 EST, 31 January 2013 . It's an achievement only the most talented musicians can hope to gain - the highest guitar grade. But for Ayla Gezmis it was a piece of cake - the 10-year-old is one of the youngest people in Britain to achieve a grade eight in the electric guitar. Talented Ayla, who is nicknamed 'Mini Hendrix' by her music teachers, only took up the instrument when she started strumming her dad's guitar because she was bored at home two years ago. Scroll down for video . Rocking out: Ayla Gemis concentrates as she plays the kind of rock music most can only dream of - at the age of just 10 . 'Mini Hendrix': The 10-year-old's ability has been compared with that of Jimi Hendrix by her tutor after completing grade eight in electric guitar . Ayla Gezmis is set for a rock and roll future after becoming one of the youngest people in Britain to achieve a grade eight in the electric guitar . And the youngster is already becoming a household name after posting videos of herself performing in her bedroom on YouTube which have attracted hundreds of hits. Ayla, from Skellingthorpe, Lincolnshire, says her ambition is to become a lead guitarist and follow in the footsteps of her idols ACDC. She said: 'Not that many girls play the guitar, it's kind of a boy instrument so I hope I can join a band and show that girls can play too. 'I want to start a band and one day be as big as ACDC.' Ayla perfected her strumming skills after attending weekly lessons with Rockschool, which aims to help the nation's future musicians. Mini Hendrix Ayla rocks out . Ayla only took up the instrument when she started strumming her dad's guitar because she was bored at home two years ago . The youngster has been nicknamed Mini Hendrix and hopes to be as big as her favourite band, ACDC . The syllabus is designed for pupils to sit a grade examination annually, but Ayla has already reached the highest level of graded music exams for the guitar after just two years. Guitar tutor, Dan Clark said: 'When I first met Ayla she was a complete beginner, just about to turn eight-years-old but very quickly she was playing the tunes spot-on, straight away. A grade eight examination is a demanding test that requires musicians to perform a variety of tasks. These include showing their ability to complete scales, modes, arpeggios, chords and complete a stylistic study. They also have to perform a piece lasting three minutes 45 seconds, which has advanced stylistic techniques and use of stylistic sounds, with increasingly complex solo and improvisation opportunities included in it. A musician has to complete two listening tests where the student has to listen by ear for melodys and rhythms and then play it back. Finally, they are quizzed on their general knowledge of music and their instrument. 'That year she passed her Grade One with distinction which was pretty good progress already. 'I was thinking she's going to hit a brick wall trying to get the chords right, people are 18-years-old when they get to Grade eight but there was no stopping her. 'She's very talented, we call her Mini Hendrix.' Proud father Met Gezmis, 46, said: 'I love the sound of the guitar so suggested it as a good hobby for Ayla to do when she was bored at home one day. 'We started slow with short lessons and she picked it up very fast, practicing every day. 'I am very proud, I say if you start something you keep it up and she has worked very hard. 'We were all surprised she has progressed so fast, I'm pleased as it has cost me less, I should have been paying for lessons for eight years.' As a reward for her incredible achievement, Ayla's dad has bought her a brand new Gibson guitar and she hopes to start her new band later this year. | Ayla Gezmis' ambition is to become a lead guitarist and follow in the footsteps of her idols ACDC .
Schoolgirl has already reach the highest level of graded music exams . |
fdcb9a47cd67e5192b0a8a3b9d0ff3f82b5066c9 | Police are searching for a 25-year-old diabetic mother who went missing on Thursday after calling friends to tell them she was with a 'known sex offender' who was 'acting weird' and making her nervous. Jaimee Mendez vanished from Swampscott, Massachusetts, after making phone calls saying she wanted to leave as the unknown male was making her feel uncomfortable. One agreed to help and drove to pick her up, but when he arrived she wasn't there. Her family have said she was in the company of a convicted sex offender when she was last heard from, but he has not been named. Missing: Jaimee Mendez from Swampscott, Massachusetts, vanished on Thursday after calling friends to say she was with a man who was 'acting weird'. She has a severely autistic five-year-old son . Plea: The 25-year-old mother asked those who she called to come and pick her up. One agreed to help but when he arrived Jaimee was nowhere to be seen . Investigators found her phone, jacket and ID dumped in a parking lot five miles away in Salem on Sunday and confirmed she did not have her vital medicines, including insulin, with her. A short time later, they then discovered her sneakers, a rug and men's clothing in a dumpster outside a CVS in nearby Lynn. Her father Stephen told NBC she cannot go for more than four days without her insulin and said she has never spent a day away from her five-year-old son, who is severely autistic. 'She still can't go four days without her insulin. Her son is severely autistic. She would be home to see him every single day. She would never - I don't think she's ever spent a day away from her son . Jaimee's teary sister Alyssa added: 'She was worried, she was freaked out, she was with this guy, he was acting weird, she wanted to get out of there. 'The guy that she called went to pick her up and she never showed. And that's it. That's the last time anyone heard from her. Her phone's been off, until they found her phone - they found her phone and her jacket, and her ID in Salem.' Officers from several neighboring communities have joined the search in a wooded area in Lynn. No arrests have been made and the authorities insist it is an open investigation. The Essex County District Attorney's office told Mail Online that they could not comment. Concerned: Jaimee's father Stephen (pictured with her sister Alyssa) has said she cannot go without her insulin for five days and has never spent time away from her son before . Investigation: Police discovered her sneakers, men's clothing and a rug in this dumpster behind a CVS in Lynn . | Jaimee Mendez went missing in woods in Swampscott, Massachusetts .
Was last heard from on Thursday after she called friends to ask for help .
One agreed to pick her up but when he arrived, she wasn't there .
Told them she 'wanted to leave' because he made her feel uncomfortable .
Police have found her phone, jacket and ID in a parking lot five miles away .
They then discovered her sneakers in a dumpster outside a nearby CVS .
She also has a five-year-old son who is severely autistic .
The known sex offender revealed by the family is not being named . |
fdcbda4f1a5687ba8a4959347021947d2e8cd588 | By . Graeme Yorke . Goalkeeper Brad Friedel has signed a new one-year deal with Tottenham, the Barclays Premier League club have announced. The veteran United States international, 43, moved to White Hart Lane from Aston Villa on a free transfer in July 2011, but has often been used as back-up for France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, making just one Barclays Premier League appearance last season. Spurs are also keen for Friedel to help promote the club in America in an ambassadorial role. Old timer: Brad Friedel has signed a new contract at Tottenham which will take him beyond his 44th birthday . Mover and shaker: Friedel has also played for Liverpool, Blackburn and Aston Villa in the Premier League . The club confirmed on their official website: 'Brad Friedel has put pen to paper on a new one-year contract with the club, which will also see him become a club ambassador with a particular focus on our work in his native United States. 'Our goalkeeper's ambassadorial role will have a wide-ranging remit that will include greater involvement in our global coaching programme and engaging with our 30 supporters clubs from across North America as we continue to increase our global presence and bring our international fanbase closer to the club. 'Brad has enjoyed an impressive 17-year career in the Premier League to date, representing Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers and Aston Villa before joining us in the summer of 2011. 'Capped 82 times by his country, including appearing in two World Cup finals, he has currently made a total of 67 appearances in goal for us.' Former Manchester City goalkeeper John Burridge currently holds the record for being the oldest Premier League player, having appeared aged 43 years, 4 months and 26 days. If Friedel appears for Tottenham on or after October 15, 2014 then he will break the record which Burridge set in the 1994-95 season in a 3-2 defeat against Queens Park Rangers. Winner: During his time at Blackburn he won the League Cup, his only silverware in England . Big business: Friedel won 82 caps for the USA and Tottenham want him to help their brand stateside . | Tottenham goalkeeper signs new contract to take him beyond 44th birthday .
Can become the Premier League's oldest ever player next season .
Brad Friedel also becomes an ambassador for Spurs in United States .
Premier League side want him to build their global presence . |
fdcd007b47595cdf07ecfd3c31fcb1ffd33e6b63 | The BBC’s coverage of the bombing of Dresden in which Britain was described as ‘worse than the Third Reich’ was condemned as disgraceful by RAF veterans and MPs last night. Despite dedicating more than 32 minutes of airtime to the 70th anniversary of the fire-bombing that killed tens of thousands at the end of the Second World War, there was barely a mention of British airmen who lost their lives. The BBC’s four major news shows and Radio 4 interviewed multiple German survivors of the bombings. They showed Victor Gregg a British prisoner of war who berated those who ordered the raids, adding it was ‘demonic’ and ‘evil’. The BBC’s coverage of the bombing of Dresden (aftermath pictured) in which Britain was described as ‘worse than the Third Reich’ was condemned as disgraceful by RAF veterans and MPs last night . But the coverage failed to mention the 55,000 airmen who died for Britain during the war. Nor did it mention the devastating Nazi bombing raids on London and Coventry. One presenter even referred to Dresden as a ‘war crime’ and another spoke of how Britain ‘deliberately unleashed devastation on civilians’, while failing to refer to Auschwitz or Hitler. During the only interview – which lasted just 23 seconds – with an RAF crewman who flew on the raid, the 91-year-old was asked: ‘Did you ever feel guilty about what happened at Dresden?’ Former Lancaster bomber rear gunner Harry Irons DFC simply replied: ‘No, not really.’ Last night politicians, historians and military figures said the coverage was a ‘disgrace’ and disrespectful to the airmen who served and died in Bomber Command. Sir Gerald Howarth, a former defence minister, told the Daily Mail: ‘It is very unfortunate that the BBC chose on all days to produce such a one-sided account. ‘It was just as one might expect from the BBC, concentrating on the negatives. ‘What about the civilians in London who were bombed out of their homes? What about the bombing in the Blitz? To suggest that those responsible for the bombing of Dresden were on a par with Hitler or guilty of war crimes is an absolute disgrace.’ Despite dedicating more than 32 minutes of airtime to the 70th anniversary of the fire-bombing (aftermanth pictured) that killed tens of thousands, the BBC barely mentioned British airmen killed . The BBC coverage of the Dresden bombings (aftermath pictured) failed to mention the 55,000 airmen who died for Britain during the war . Most of the BBC coverage focused on an interview with Victor Gregg, 95, who was a British prisoner of war in Dresden during the bombing. He said: ‘I saw people killed every day... but what I saw in Dresden – I’ve never seen women and children involved before.’ Asked by the presenter if he thought it was a war crime, he said: ‘Definitely.’ Mike Brundle, who served in the RAF for over 25 years, said: ‘The BBC should have had someone who was a member of Bomber Command on that operation – those are the ones who risked their lives. A total of 125,000 men served as Bomber Command aircrew during the Second World War. Their chance of surviving the war was lower than that of infantry officers in First World War trenches. Bomber Command had a 44 per cent death rate – 55,573 died in action. The average age of crewmen was 22 but the youngest were only 18. A total of 9,838 members of Bomber Command became prisoners of war. Of the 365,514 sorties flown by bomber crews, 297,663 were at night. Some 3,249 Lancasters were lost in action – nine during the bombing of Dresden. Almost three quarters of Bomber Command dead were British – the rest were from Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Victoria Crosses were awarded to 19 members of Bomber Command. ‘If the war had gone on for another year, how many millions more would have been killed at Auschwitz? ‘By all means cover it but the one-sided BBC coverage has incensed me. He (Victor Gregg) said we were worse than the Nazis.' A woman who wrote a letter to the Daily Mail added: ‘The BBC is beyond belief. Do we hear you “celebrating” the “hell” that was Swansea burning, or Coventry, or Plymouth, or Portsmouth – with the same unctuous sympathy as you are showing for Dresden? We have nothing to be guilty about.’ Military historians and former military top brass defended the bombing of Dresden. Historian Frederick Taylor told the Mail: ‘Thousands of innocent civilians as well as soldiers were dying every day as battles raged in east and west – not forgetting the concentration camp inmates who were still being murdered by starvation, violence, disease, and forced marches. ‘How could any resource – including the massive Allied air forces – be left unused in trying to shorten the war and save many, many thousands more innocent lives? There should have been more room for another view.’ Sir Michael Graydon, former head of the RAF, added: ‘It was an entirely understandable target. The bomber crews carried out the duty they were equipped to do with bravery and efficiency. I would have liked to see (the BBC) talking about the lessons of the war and a mention of Bomber Command.’ A BBC spokesman said: ‘The bombing of Dresden has always been a controversial episode. On Thursday evening the main BBC News bulletins reflected this and featured interviews with British veterans in coverage of preparations for the commemoration. On Friday we covered the commemoration ceremony in Dresden, which understandably reflected on the German experience.’ A BBC spokesperson added: 'BBC News has covered in greater depth than any other broadcaster many aspects of the commemoration of World War II - both the human cost on all sides and the military action - and will continue to do so.' The BBC’s coverage of Dresden began on Thursday night: . BBC News at Ten, 10.24-10.28pm . Report dominated by disturbing images of German casualties and a graphic interview with prisoner of war Victor Gregg, 96, who talks of bodies ‘exploding’. A whole minute is devoted to survivors Anita John and Nora Lang, who describe seeing ‘the dead everywhere’ and thinking it was ‘the end of the world’. Only 23 seconds are given to RAF veteran Harry Irons, 91, who is asked: ‘Did you ever feel guilty after the war about what had happened at Dresden?’ He replies: ‘No, not really. I think because we were very young and we lost so many boys ourselves.’ The reporter says the campaign showed how the allies ‘deliberately unleashed devastation on civilians’. BBC Breakfast, 6.07-6.10am yesterday . Focuses on German survivor Ursula Elsner, who says: ‘We clung to a lamppost but one woman didn’t make it … she was sucked into the burning ruins.’ No one from Bomber Command or UK military is featured. The only alternative view is from Dresden Military Museum’s Gorch Pieken, saying: ‘It is just an example of warfare and of course it makes sense … Dresden was part of the enemy and you have to hit the enemy to end the Second World War.’ The BBC dedicated 32 minutes of coverage to the Dresden bombings (aftermath pictured) - of which just 23 seconds was spent on an interview with an RAF veteran . BBC Breakfast, 7.40-7.48am . Focuses on German victims, with no mention of Britons who died. Another interview with Victor Gregg, who says: ‘We were supposed to be the good guys … to rescue the EU from the evil of the Third Reich and we finished up worse than they were.’ Interviews with Nora Lang and Anita John, who says her parents suffocated in a cellar in Dresden. BBC Breakfast, 8.42-8.45am . Repeated Victor Gregg interview. No mention of Britons who died. World at One, 7 minutes . Another interview with Victor Gregg, who says the campaign was ‘definitely’ a war crime, calls British forces’ actions ‘demonic’ and ‘evil’ and accuses them of roasting children alive. He adds: ‘I’ve never seen people who didn’t have any weapons being attacked before.’ BBC News at One, 1.16pm–1.20pm . Interview with Ursula Elsner. No mention of British loss of life. BBC News at Six, 6.16-6.19pm . Report features interview with a former Hitler Youth member, aged 12 during the bombings, who recalls the ‘whole city burning’. Comments from Justin Welby, and footage of demonstrators in Dresden. No mention of British sacrifice. | BBC coverage of Dresden bombings say Britain was 'worse than the Third Reich'
Corporation barely mentioned British airmen who lost lives in World War II .
One presenter even referred to the Dresden bombings as a ‘war crime’
Former defence minister Sir Gerald Howarth blasts 'one-sided account'
RAF veterans say the BBC's coverage has left them feeling 'incensed' |
fdcd14dbc54379185ad57504c125d7641bba7349 | The Pope is so popular these days that now he even has his own magazine. Called Il Mio Papa - or My Pope - the glossy magazine will each Wednesday include a free pull-out poster with one of Francis' more memorable quotes from the previous seven days. It is not the first time that the Pope has donned the front cover of a magazine, having recently featured in Rolling Stone and Time magazine. Man of the moment: So popular is the new Pope that a new weekly magazine devoted to him has been launched costing 41 pence an issue . The Mondadori publishing house, which lists the popular celebrity gossip rag Chi among its titles, is the publisher behind the new launch entirely devoted to the weekly doings, sayings, gestures and activities of the 265th Successor of Peter. Mondadori is part of ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi's media empire and is headed by his daughter, Marina Berlusconi. It is being priced at 41 pence and confirms just how popular the new Pope has become. Editor Aldo Vitali said Pope Francis' election a year ago has generated new interest in the papacy, and moral and ethical themes that will be highlighted in the publication. Iconic: Pope Francis graced the cover of Rolling Stone in February showing just how famous throughout the world he has become . And as part of the Pope's new campaign to make the Catholic church more accessible officials have also announced that the lavish gardens of Castel Gandolfo, the refuge of popes since the 16th century, will from next week to be open to all. Vatican museum director Antonio Paolucci said: 'It took a man like Francis to open the grounds to all.' The gardens are a place ‘where the splendour of art and the glory of nature combine in an admirable balance,’ he added. The sumptuous property covers 55 hectares (135 acres), a greater area that the Vatican City itself, and another world from the humble priests’ guestroom occupied by Francis in the Holy See. The Pope never moved into the grand papal apartments claiming they were too large for him. The castle boasts breathtaking views over Lake Gandolfo, real name Lago Albano, as well as ornamental gardens, its own vegetable garden and a flock of chickens. The villa and gardens have been owned by the Holy See since 1596, and are traditionally the refuge of the popes from the summer heat in the city. During his reign, Pope John Paul II ordered that a spectacular pool be put in. Last summer the gardens stood empty as Francis refused to take holiday. After a trip to Brazil for World Youth Day the Pope had remained largely in Rome to the disappointment of villagers looking forward to welcoming him. The visit may be out of reach for many pilgrims, however, with guided tours costing €26. Divine: The gardens at Castel Gandolfo will be opened to the general public next week . Luxury: The gardens have been a refuge of popes since the 16th century . Pope . Francis has quickly become one of the most admired Catholic church . leaders in both religious and secular communities. Last week after preaching peace, acceptance and . inclusion of all faiths and sexual preferences, it is no surprise that . Pope Francis found himself a mini-me. The pontiff kissed the child, dressed up as a little pope, as he drove through the crowd at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. Unfortunately, 19-month-old Daniele De Sanctis was less pleased to see the pope, and begun to cry in the strange man’s arms. Common touch: Pope holds a screaming baby boy in Saint Peter's Square . | Pope Francis is the focus of new weekly magazine published by the Berlusconi family .
He has fronted both Time and Rolling Stone magazine in the past few months .
Vatican also opens up lavish gardens of Castel Gandolfo in yet another break with tradition . |
fdcd2fb612e1c303cc11a3d84cda3a8ae6bc1d80 | (CNN) -- Jose Angel Baez, the workhorse lawyer who won acquittals for Casey Anthony at the most-watched murder trial in years, may be either the best criminal defense attorney in America -- or the luckiest. It took him eight years to convince the Florida Supreme Court to let him practice law, and he'd been trying cases for just three years when the Anthony case came along. Many observers of the seven-week murder trial said he was in over his head and predicted doom. The judge scolded him so often he became the bad boy of Courtroom 23. Bloggers and trial watchers took to calling him "Bozo." In the end, none of the digs mattered because Baez got results. Convicted and pilloried in the court of public opinion, Anthony was cleared of all murder-related charges in a court of law. Whether by luck or by skill, Baez suddenly is looking less like a clown and more like the Hispanic version of late legal legend Johnnie Cochran. They're calling him "Juani Cochran." In a lengthy interview with "In Session" in April, the 42-year-old Baez recalled being in law school and ducking out of class to watch O.J. Simpson's televised murder trial. Cochran became one of his heroes. "I could win this case and I could win several more, and I still couldn't accomplish what Johnnie did in his time practicing law," Baez said. "I don't like the comparison, because I don't deserve it." Baez entered the Anthony case as an unknown, but his status skyrocketed overnight after her acquittal. Now, he has an agent to field calls from Barbara Walters and invitations to sail on Geraldo Rivera's yacht. The new darling of the cable chat circuit is remarkably ordinary, the type of low-budget, constantly hustling defense attorney found in courthouses everywhere -- working the calendar calls, the jails, the bail bondsmen in a constant search for clients. That's how he came to meet Casey Anthony. "Apparently there were a couple of people in the jail that gave her my name, referred me to her," he said. "I've built up a hard reputation of fighting for my clients. 100% of my business comes from referrals. I don't advertise, I don't have television ads or billboards or anything like that and I never have." Anthony recalled her decision during a recorded jailhouse visit with her parents. The recording was played at the trial: . "It kind of happened at random in booking," she said. "I heard a couple of people talking about attorneys. His name came up and I said, 'If he's good, can you do me a favor and pass my name along?'" Baez had to listen in court as the parents expressed their doubts about him in another recorded visit. "I just hope that the compassion that he says he has is genuine," said George Anthony, an ex-cop. "I hope he's not building a reputation for himself." Here's how Baez bills himself on his law firm's web site: . "Aggressive, Experienced, Trusted Criminal Defense." But the site doesn't let visitors read his biography or the cases it highlights: "High profile murder trial;" "Taking on the mayor;" "Mother accused of kidnapping;" and "State trooper cleared." Click on any of them, and you are returned to the top of the home page. "I relate to people," he said in the "In Session" interview, conducted before the trial began. "People make mistakes. We all have erasers on our pencils. We've all done some stupid things in life that should not define us." Like his clients, Baez has acquired a few scuffs and dings. He was born in Puerto Rico in 1969 and raised by a single mother in Miami and the Bronx. He dropped out of Miami's Homestead High School his freshman year and married at 17 when he learned he would be a father. "When I found out I was going to be a father, I decided I had to man up and accept responsibility and take care of my child. So at 17, I joined the Navy," he said. "It's amazing what a child does to you." He earned his GED and later attended Miami-Dade Community College and Florida State University. Law school was almost an afterthought. Asked why he decided to go law school at St. Thomas University, he responded, "a girl." He had to wait eight years for admission to The Florida Bar, according to public records. A Florida Supreme Court ruling in 2000 highlights the Bar's concerns about "JAB's" character and finances, citing his failure to pay child support and other debts and expenditures such as signing up for a gym membership he couldn't afford. (All Bar matters refer to the candidates by their initials, and Baez's struggle with The Florida Bar has been widely reported. He declined to discuss the incident in detail with "In Session.") While he waited for admission to the bar, he worked as an intern for the Miami-Dade Public Defender's Office, taught lawyers to conduct research and launched four companies, including two that sold bathing suits; Brazilian Bikinis and Bon Bon Bikinis. "There's no better place for a young lawyer to learn how to be a lawyer than the Miami-Dade Public Defender's Office," he said. "I was surrounded by great lawyers ... There is a culture there of really learning how to fight for your client and if you're not a fighter, then you don't belong there." He finally was admitted to the bar in 2005, and began to practice in Orlando and nearby Kissimmee, where he lives in a gated community overlooking a golf course and a lake. Before the Anthony case, Baez said, he tried more than 45 cases, including four alleging murder. None of his clients had been convicted of first-degree murder, he boasted. He is most confident about his ability to outwork the opposition. "If I can do that, then I stand a chance and that is my goal," he said during the "In Session" interview. Though he has been criticized for the celebratory nature of the defense team's gathering after the verdict -- cameras caught members dancing and drinking champagne -- Baez has mostly avoided the white light of fame. When he first took on the Anthony case and camera crews began staking out his office, he made them park across the street. He said he doesn't watch news reports about his cases anymore. "You're one day practicing law and you're occasionally on the 11 o'clock news. The next day you're in the middle of this blood sport," he said . "And you become a story." A lot of times, he added, that story is exaggerated or simply not true. "I had a stomachache once," he recalled. "I went to the hospital, and it was on the national news the next day that I was freaking out or something along those lines. I think (the reports said) I was caving under pressure and I might be quitting and things like that, and it really was just bad Mexican food." It is not clear how much he has been paid to represent Anthony, although he could be in line for a percentage of any book or movie deals stemming from the case. Suffice it to say that given the time he has put into the case, his hourly rate dips well below the minimum wage. But he can't put a price on the satisfaction he felt after Casey Anthony was acquitted of murdering her daughter. "When I get home tonight and my daughter asked what I did today, I can say I saved a life," Baez told reporters after the verdict. "My driving force the last three years has been to make sure there has been justice for Caylee and Casey, because Casey did not murder Caylee. It's that simple." | Jose Baez wasn't taken seriously until he won acquittals at Casey Anthony's murder trial .
It took Baez eight years to gain admission into The Florida Bar because of debts .
He had been trying cases for just three years when he took the Anthony case .
The late Johnnie Cochran, who won the O.J. Simpson murder trial, is one of his heroes . |
fdcd54c2b8751a3967ceff0bcad8867ee3d06510 | Seoul, South Korea (CNN) -- Four Chinese fishermen died and 12 were missing in stormy waters off South Korea's Jeju Island on Tuesday as Typhoon Bolaven brought howling winds and torrential rain to the Korean Peninsula. Maritime police on Jeju Island, situated off the southern tip of the South Korean mainland, said that 17 people had been rescued but that searches were on for those still unaccounted for after two boats capsized early Tuesday as Bolaven raged. The powerful storm was moving north alongside the west coast of South Korea by Tuesday afternoon, disrupting transport, cutting off power and damaging property. The South Korean Central Disaster Relief Headquarters said one person had died after being crushed by a container and that another had been injured after being hit by an object blown by the wind. Nearly 200,000 households were without power, the disaster agency said, most of them in the south of the country. About 1,000 people in coastal areas had been advised to relocate to safe areas, it said. The storm prompted the cancellation of 119 flights, the suspension of 96 ferry routes and the temporary closure of 21 roads, according to the agency. President Lee Myung-bak of South Korea had called Monday on government agencies to take measures to minimize damage from the approaching storm, the national news agency Yonhap reported, citing Park Jeong-ha, a spokesman for Lee. Okinawa, meanwhile, emerged relatively unscathed Monday after the typhoon buffeted it with maximum sustained winds near its center of 185 kilometers per hour (115 mph), according to the Hong Kong Observatory, which monitors storms in the region. That wind strength put Bolaven in the "super typhoon" category at the time. And with a cloud field of 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles), it was 20 times larger than Okinawa's length. The storm weakened somewhat Tuesday to become a regular typhoon, with maximum sustained winds of around 130 kilometers per hour (86 miles per hour). Okinawa, which is situated in an area of the western Pacific Ocean where typhoons are frequent, avoided the kind of destruction that some other storms have caused in East Asia this summer. Five people were injured on the island, the local authorities said, and 549 residents took shelter in public buildings to avoid potential damage to their homes. About 17,500 households lost electricity as the storm damaged power lines. Storm chaser James Reynolds was on the northwestern coast of the island during the worst of the typhoon. "Like the rest of the population we all just kind of holed up in the strong and sturdy buildings which make up Okinawa," he said Monday. The infrastructure on Okinawa is designed to withstand violent storms. "Everything's made of solid concrete," Reynolds said. The damage was also limited because Bolaven didn't bring winds as powerful as initially feared, said Morichiyo Ohshiro, an official from the Okinawa Prefecture Disaster Prevention and Crisis Management Division. Isaac near hurricane strength; watch extends to Louisiana . The power of Bolaven was also having an effect on another storm further south. Typhoon Tembin made landfall in southern Taiwan a few days ago, and was expected to work its way toward Hong Kong. But Bolaven, which is much stronger, has stopped Tembin's movement toward Hong Kong and has been spinning it around. Time: Most destructive U.S. hurricanes . "As Typhoon Bolaven moves northward towards the Yellow Sea, it will drag Tembin toward the China coast very near Shanghai," said CNN International meteorologist Tom Sater. "That's an amazing change in direction." Are you there? Share your stories, images and videos. Photos: Finding beauty in violent storms . CNN's Paula Hancocks, Yoko Wakatsuki and Ralitsa Vassileva; CNN meteorologist Pedram Javaheri; and journalist Yoonjung Seo contributed to this report. | NEW: The storm knocks out power in almost 200,000 households in South Korea .
NEW: More than 100 flights are canceled and about 20 roads are closed .
Four Chinese fisherman are found dead and 17 have been rescued .
The search is on for another 12 fishermen still missing . |
fdcd6d0a5321bc7e3950e9997e33fe36a564de1b | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 18:32 EST, 12 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:35 EST, 12 December 2013 . A Massachusetts woman is in trouble after she allegedly tried to stop hunting near her house with an air horn. Julie Carreiro lives near a pond where she says hunters have been trying to shoot local water fowl at early hours in the morning. Her family were aggravated about being woken up by the sound of gunshot blasts from duck hunters at a nearby pond. Hunted: Julie Carreiro is in trouble after she allegedly tried to stop hunting with an air horn. The gunshots were so loud they scared so used an air horn to scare the ducks away . She said the gunshots were so loud they scared her, that’s when hunters say she got the air horn to try and scare off the birds so there would be nothing to shoot. Ms. Carreiro, who has lived in a house in Marshfield, since 1964, told The Boston Globe that hunting had never been a problem at the Hoyt Hall Preserve until a year ago. Hunting is not permitted on the area's pond and marshland, but there were never any tree postings warning hunters about the rule. 'The noise just wouldn't end,' Carreiro told The Globe. 'At one point, they weren't hunting, they were just shooting for no reason except to make noise and make it clear they weren’t leaving.' Clearly signed: Julie Carreiro lives near a pond where she says hunters have been trying to shoot local water fowl at early hours in the morning . Last year, Carreiro said her family was woken up by the sound of gun blasts and yelled to the hunters to find a new pond. 'There were some threats that were made and it’s alleged that the family had used an air horn potentially to scare off some of the water fowl that were in the area,' Marshfield Police Chief Phil Tavares said. Carreiro said she didn’t use the air horn, but that she didn’t want the hunters in the area. She said her family is not opposed to hunting, but they are opposed to 'being woken up with gunfire raining down on us.' Bang bang! The Carreiro family were aggravated about being woken up by the sound of gunshot blasts from duck hunters at a nearby pond . A state official said an individual could be charged with hunter harassment if they interfere with someone’s legal right to hunt and police are now investigating whether there is probable cause to charge her. The hunters are also being looked at. They could be charged with disturbing the peace for hunting too early and in an area where they technically weren’t allowed to hunt. 'There’s a little bit of a loophole with the law that it’s not posted no hunting. So if it’s not posted no hunting it’s not enforceable,' Tavares said. Police are also considering charges against the hunters for disturbing the peace. Signs have since been posted around the pond and the hunter said he will not be returning there to hunt. Duck hunt: The ducks are welcome now that there's no hunting in Mrs Carreiro's neighborhood, at least they'll be safe . | Carreiro family were woken up by the sound of gun shots from duck hunters .
Julie Carreiro decided to tackle the problem herself by allegedly using an air horn to scare the ducks away .
Her thinking: No ducks to hunt, no guns to shoot .
Possibly facing charges of 'hunter interference' |
fdcd83c728f7ce597ed768b6bd257b1f18341479 | By . Rob Cooper . PUBLISHED: . 06:47 EST, 10 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:47 EST, 10 April 2013 . British families throw away a third of a ton of leftover food every year, a study revealed today. Leftover roast dinners and the unwanted remains of Chinese takeaways are the items most commonly scraped into the bin. Parents who over-estimate family meal . quantities and fussy children who turn their nose up at dinner time also . contribute to the high figure. Food waste: The typical family throws out 6.5kg of food waste each week - or a third of a ton a year, a new survey has found . The average home throws out 745lbs or 338kgs of leftover meals each year - or 6.5kg each week. Six in ten families regularly fail to finish everything on their plates, so end up scraping the left-overs into the food bin, the survey of 2,000 households found. Pasta bake, curry and rice, fish and chips and spaghetti bolognaise were among the most thrown out meals. A spokesman for food waste disposal firm InSinkErator, which commissioned the research, said: 'Throwing away the odd bit of food from each meal might not seem like a lot, but when you add that up over a week or year, it's a staggering amount. 'Not only is it horrible to see how . much food gets wasted, but if you think of how much you spend buying . that food in the first place, it can be quite unsettling. 'But . it's interesting to see that Chinese takeaway is one of the main meals . we throw away. Many people order too much and end up struggling to eat . it all. 'If you or members of your family find it difficult to clear their plate and your food waste bin is bulging, cooking less will not only mean you end up saving yourself money but you won't have to deal with messy job of throwing the food waste away.' Out of all the food we throw away, almost one fifth is made up of leftovers and cooked meals that have gone uneaten - the equivalent of around three full plates each week. Sixty per cent of Brits admitted they do not always eat everything that is put in front of them. Separately, 70 per cent said they usually have to scrape uneaten food off their children's plates as well. Discarded: Roast dinners and Chinese takeaways are the most frequently thrown out meals . Almost one in three said they leave food because they have simply put too much on their plate while another 19 per cent don't like the taste of what is put in front of them. And when it comes to children, 41 per cent leave something because they are too fussy to eat it. The study also found that 46 per cent of Brits admitted they worry about the amount of food they throw away with another 56 per cent concerned about the cost. It also emerged 62 per cent of Brits think dealing with food waste is one of the most unhygienic and disliked jobs in the kitchen. A spokesman for InSinkErator added: 'It is incredible how much we leave on our plates, and how it all adds up. 'As they say as soon as you start to measure it, then you can start to do something about it; so many of us have no idea of the amount of left over food we throw away. 'Unsurprisingly, most of hate the messy business of binning left overs. It is disgusting, dirty, an inconvenience and very unhygienic.' | Average home throws out 6.5kg of unwanted food each week - or 338kg per year .
Roast dinners and leftover Chinese takeaways most frequently thrown out .
Six in ten families fail to finish all the food on their plates so scrape leftovers into the bin . |
fdcdb376fcb0fe518ad9671ea96b7ed24f59fa4b | By . Kerry Mcdermott . One of the biggest Mayan pyramids in Belize has been all but destroyed by 'ignorant' builders who ravaged the ancient structure for crushed rock to fill in a new road. The construction workers used bulldozers and diggers to claw at the sloping sides of the 100ft tall pyramid, which is part of the Nohmul complex - the most important Mayan site in northern Belize and one which dates back at least 2,300 years. Horrified archaeologists claim there is no way the builders could have mistaken the Mayan ruins for a hill, as the landscape is naturally flat and the Nohmul complex is well known. 'Obscene': A construction company used bulldozers and diggers to claw into an ancient Mayan pyramid in Belize and extract crushed rock to use as roadfill . 'Disbelief': Archaeologists in Belize said learning of the destruction of the ruin was 'like being punched in the stomach' Jaime Awe, head of the Belize Institute of Archaeology, said the . destruction at the Nohmul complex in northern Belize was detected late . last week. 'It's a feeling of Incredible disbelief because of the ignorance and the insensitivity ... they were using this for road fill,' Mr Awe said. 'It's like being punched in the stomach, it's just so horrendous.' Nohmul sat in the middle of a privately owned sugar cane field, and lacked the even stone sides frequently seen in reconstructed or better-preserved pyramids. Nonetheless Mr Awe is certain the builders could not have mistaken the pyramid mound for anything other than Mayan ruins. 'Ignorance and insensitivity': Horrified archaelogists say there is no way the construction workers could have mistaken the 100ft tall ruins for a natural hill . Historic: The ancient structure was part of the Nohmul complex in northern Belize . 'These guys knew that this was an ancient structure. It's just bloody laziness,' he said. The builders used backhoes to claw at the sides of the pyramid, leaving an isolated core of limestone cobbles at the centre, with what appears to be a narrow Mayan chamber dangling above one hollowed-out section. Fragments: Police in Belize are investigating and criminal charges may be brought against the construction firm . 'Just to realize that the ancient Maya acquired all this building material to erect these buildings, using nothing more than stone tools and quarried the stone, and carried this material on their heads, using tump lines,' said the archaeologist. 'To think that today we have modern equipment, that you can go and excavate in a quarry anywhere, but that this company would completely disregard that and completely destroyed this building. Why can't these people just go and quarry somewhere that has no cultural significance? It's mind-boggling.' Belizean police said they are . conducting an investigation and that criminal charges may be brought . against the construction company. The Nohmul complex sits on private land, but Belizean law says that any pre-Hispanic ruins are under government protection. The . Belize community-action group Citizens Organized for Liberty Through . Action called the destruction of the archaeological site 'an obscene . example of disrespect for the environment and history'. It . is not the first time it's happened in Belize, a country of about . 350,000 people that is largely covered in jungle and dotted with . hundreds of Mayan ruin sites - though few as large as Nohmul. Norman Hammond, an emeritus . professor of . archaeology at Boston University who worked in Belizean research . projects in the 1980s, said it was far from the first time Mayan mounds . had been targeted by construction workers seeking materials. He wrote in an email that 'bulldozing Maya mounds . for road fill is an endemic problem in Belize (the whole of the San . Estevan center has gone, both of the major pyramids at Louisville, other . structures at Nohmul, many smaller sites), but this sounds like the . biggest yet'. Heritage: Belize is dotted with hundreds of ruin sites dating back to the time of the ancient Mayas . Arlen Chase, chairman of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Central Florida, said: 'Archaeologists are disturbed when such things occur, but there is only a very limited infrastructure in Belize that can be applied to cultural heritage management. 'Unfortunately, they (destruction of sites) are all too common, but not usually in the center of a large Maya site,' he said. He said there had probably still been much to learn from the site. 'A great deal of archaeology was undertaken at Nohmul in the `70s and `80s, but this only sampled a small part of this large center.' Belize isn't the only place where the handiwork of the far-flung and enormously prolific Maya builders is being destroyed. Dominance: The Mayan Empire covered all of the Yucatan Peninsula and modern day Guatemala and Belize, along with parts of Mexico (pictured), Honduras and El Salvador . The ancient Mayas spread across southeastern Mexico and through Guatemala, Honduras and Belize. 'I . don't think I am exaggerating if I say that every day a Maya mound is . being destroyed for construction in one of the countries where the Maya . lived,' wrote Francisco Estrada-Belli, a professor at Tulane . University's Anthropology Department. 'Unfortunately, this destruction of our heritage is irreversible but many don't take it seriously,' he added. 'The only way to stop it is by showing that it is a major crime and people can and will go to jail for it.' Robert Rosenswig, an archaeologist at the State University of New York at Albany, described the difficult and heartbreaking work of trying to salvage information at the nearby site of San Estevan following similar destruction around 2005. 'Bulldozing damage at San Estevan is extensive and the site is littered with Classic period potsherds,' he wrote in an academic paper describing the scene. 'We spent a number of days at the beginning of the 2005 season trying to figure out the extent of the damage .... after scratching our heads for many days, a bulldozer showed up and we realized that what appear to be mounds, when overgrown with chest-high vegetation, are actually recently bulldozed garbage piles.' However small the compensation, bulldozing pyramids is one very brutal way of revealing the inner cores of the structures, which were often built up in periodic stages of construction. "The one advantage of this massive destruction, to the core site, is that the remains of early domestic activity are now visible on the surface,' Mr Rosenswig wrote. Belize, which shares its rich Mayan heritage with neighbouring Guatemala, Mexico and Honduras, is regarded as the heart of the civilisation during the Classic period of 250AD to 900AD. It was during this period - the golden age of the empire - that the Maya built the great stone cities and monuments that have captured the imagination of explorers and scholars for centuries. Classic Maya civilisation grew to some 40 cities, and it is thought that the population may have grown to reach two million people at its peak. Archaeologists excavating Maya sites have uncovered plazas and temples, palaces and pyramids. The heart of Classic Maya: A Mayan temple in Xunantunich, in the Cayo district of western Belize . Many Classic Maya temples and palaces were constructed in a stepped pyramid shape, and engraved with elaborate artworks and inscriptions. The Maya placed temple-pyramids at the heart of their great stone cities. One of the best known - the Temple of the Inscriptions at Palenque in Mexico - was a monument to the 7th Century king Hanab Pakal. Another famous Maya structure is the Pyramid of the Magician at Uxmal, Mexico. According to Maya legend, the pyramid was built by Itzamna, god of magic, as a training centre for shamans and healers. Maya structures give clues to the importance the civilisation placed on its complex astronomical and cosmological system, with many pyramids deliberately angled to face sunrise or sunset at particular times of the year. | Construction workers ravaged 100ft pyramid for rock to use as road fill .
Learning of damage like being 'punched in the stomach' archaeologist said .
Ancient structure was part of the Nohmul complex in northern Belize .
Police are investigating and say criminal charges could be brought .
Experts say bulldozing Mayan mounds for road fill is endemic problem . |
fdce9c51fb8f549d6b513f0f8129ca56f48748f3 | By . Martin Robinson . PUBLISHED: . 06:00 EST, 5 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 03:10 EST, 21 February 2013 . As hungry Mark Hunter prepared to take his second spoonful of cereal he simply could not believe his eyes. Because suddenly a dark shape bobbed to the surface of his milk-filled bowl of Rice Krispies and in a nightmare scenario for anyone, it turned out to be a dead mouse. The calm father of two, 42, from Maida Vale, London, fished it out, dried it off and got straight on the phone to maker Kellogg's. Nasty taste: Mark Hunter was about to take a second mouthful of rice krispies when this dead mouse bobbed to the surface . 'I was horrified because I’d already had one mouthful and was about to have a second,' he told the Mirror. 'I saw this dark shape appear in the milk, but I didn’t realise what it was until I fished it out with my spoon.' Kellogg's have admitted they are horrified by what has happened and will be heading to Mr Hunter's home to pick up the mouse and find out where it came from. Experts from the University of Liverpool believe they can work out its origin. Calm: Mr Hunter took the mouse out, dried it off and called Kellogg's - who are coming to collect it and work out where it came from . Spokesman Paul Wheeler said it was an 'extremely rare' case, adding: 'We are devastated and will be investigating fully.' It is not the first time a mouse, or other disgusting finds, have appeared in food. Three years ago a woman in Devon found a dead mouse in a jar of Asda’s Extra Special curry sauce, while in 2010 Hovis was fined £750 after a customer was sold a loaf with part of an oven glove baked into it. Across the Atlantic a Florida couple found a frog in a can of Diet Pepsi and a North Carolina man discovered a severed finger in a carton of frozen custard. | Mark Hunter, 42, was about to have his second spoonful of cereal when the rodent bobbed to the surface .
Kellogg's are coming round to pick up the mouse and send it to academics who can identify where it came from .
'I saw this dark shape appear in the milk, but I didn’t realise what it was until I fished it out with my spoon,' he said . |
fdcf2979204fffa3a0f5683688ffaa922418d32b | (CNN) -- Police arrested a man Friday on suspicion of murder in the case of April Jones, a 5-year-old girl abducted in Wales four days ago. Suspect Mark Bridger, 46, had previously been arrested on suspicion of her abduction. Police continue to search for April, who has been missing since Monday evening, when she was snatched from a street near her home in Machynlleth, in a remote corner of mid-Wales. However, the hunt is now presumed to be for a body rather than in the hope of finding April alive. The case, which Prime Minister David Cameron described as "every parent's nightmare," has gripped the British media. Bridger remains in custody and continues to be questioned, said Detective Superintendent Reg Bevan, of Dyfed-Powys Police. Bevan appealed again for the public to come forward with any information on the movements of Bridger or his vehicle between Monday evening and Tuesday afternoon, when he was first arrested on suspicion of abduction. Hundreds join desperate search . April's family has been told about Bridger's arrest on suspicion of murder, he said. Superintendent Ian John told reporters that the "dynamics of the search have changed" and that only specialist teams would now be involved. Scores of local volunteers from the small, close-knit community had been helping police and mountain rescue teams hunt for the girl in the town and surrounding hilly and wooded countryside. April's parents spoke Tuesday of how the abduction of "our beautiful little girl April" had "shattered" the family. Cameron added his voice to the appeals of April's family and police Thursday, when he urged anyone with information that might help find her to come forward. There has been no trace of the pretty brown-haired child since she was last seen Monday evening, climbing into a vehicle that then drove off. She had been playing on her bicycle with a friend. Mother begs for help . CNN's Laura Perez-Maestro contributed to this report. | NEW: Police appeal again for information on the suspect's movements .
Mark Bridger remains in police custody and continues to be questioned .
April Jones was abducted Monday in the small town of Machynlleth . |
fdcf333d280dcc3ab5e019d6299d11233cf44d88 | By . Carl Markham . World Cup organisers insist an incomplete roof at Sao Paulo's Itaquerao Stadium will not affect it hosting matches when the tournament begins in June. Constructors completing the project have admitted they will not finish the intended design until after the tournament but the event's local organising committee have stressed this will not be a problem. The Itaquerao Stadium will host the opening match between Brazil and Croatia on June 12 before England face Uruguay there a week later. Unfinished busniness: The roof at the San Paulo's Itaquero Stadium will not be completed before the World Cup . On Sunday it underwent its final test by staging a Brazilian league match between Corinthians and Figueirense, which was affected by rain and hail storms forcing those among the restricted crowd of 40,000 not under cover of the roof to seek shelter elsewhere. 'The only aspect of the roof which will be unfinished is the inner liner, not impacting the effective protection of the stands,' said the local organising committee in a statement to Press Association Sport. 'A glass finishing will also not be concluded, which similarly does not jeopardise the effectiveness of the roof. It's a riot! Protests near the stadium continue after spiralling costs saw the budget grow from £35m to £320m . 'It is important to highlight that there is no obligation, neither from FIFA nor from the local organising committee, that FIFA World Cup stadia offer roofs protecting 100 per cent of the stands. 'Therefore, the architectural design of Arena de Sao Paulo, as well as of all other 11 stadia, does not guarantee that all the public will be immune to rain, which would be possible only in indoor arenas. 'Likewise, it was never foreseen in the project that the complementary stands had roofs."' A league match was also held at Arena Pantanal in the western city of Cuiaba on Sunday, meaning all venues have now undergone pre-tournament tests. Couldbe a Suar point: Roy Hodgson's England play Luis Suarez's Uruguay at the Itaquerao Stadium on June 12 . The Itaquerao Stadium, which will have a capacity of nearly 70,000 when it holds the tournament opener, has been dogged by problems since construction, the cost of which has rocketed from £95million to an estimated £320million, began in 2011. Earlier this year a worker died while installing some of the 20,000 temporary seats required for the opening game, prompting officials to briefly halt construction after two previous fatalities at the venue late last year when a crane collapsed. While the stadium itself is now operational, reports suggest there is a lot of work still do to outside the venue in relation to infrastructure. | The roof at Sao Paulo's Itaquerao Stadium will not be completed before the World Cup starts .
Organisers claim that it will not affect games including the opener .
Brazil play Croatia there - while England meet Uruguay on June 21 .
The cost of the stadium has rocketed from £35m to £325m . |
fdcf49f732fc4b028e9a6a7b7c4a9ae472fb2019 | By . David Mccormack . A Good Samaritan who followed a drunk man out of a Chicago bar and attempted to reason with him not to drive was tragically killed as a result of attempted good dead. Shane Stokowski, 33, was enjoying drinks with friends at the Aberdeen Tap on Saturday at 5pm when he noticed another man – clearly inebriated – start to leave after being refused further drinks. Stokowski followed Timothy McShane, who had a suspended driver’s license and previous DUI arrests, into the bar’s parking lot. Shane Stokowski, 33, was tragically killed after he tried to prevent a drunk driver from leaving the car park of a Chicago bar in his vehicle . He watched as McShane, 42, got into his girlfriend's black SUV and hit several parked cars trying to leave, according to court documents. Stokowski approached the SUV and leaned into the driver's side window to stop McShane but he kept driving, carrying Stokowski along for nearly a block before he fell and struck his head on the pavement, prosecutors say. He was rushed to hospital, but died less than an hour later of blunt trauma to the head and abrasions from the pavement, reports the Chicago Sun Times. Instead of stopping or contacting police, McShane, a construction worker, drove to his girlfriend’s house, parked her Nissan Murano and fell asleep for three hours. Timothy McShane, 42, had a suspended driver¿s license and previous DUI arrests. He told police that Stokowski had tried to attack him and that he fled in fear . When police found him at 10pm, McShane told them that Stokowski had tried to attack him and that he fled in fear, according to a police report. McShane, a father of one, also told officers that Stokowski tried to rob and beat him and made a mark on his neck, the report said. The man was taken to a local police station and even at 1:06 am on Sunday McShane’s blood-alcohol level was still .225, more than twice the state’s legal .08 limit. McShane is being held in lieu of $350,000 bail for reckless homicide, aggravated DUI and leaving the scene of an accident. He has a list of prior DUI offenses dating back to 1993. Stokowski, who was engaged to be married, worked as an animator and illustrator for a health care company. His funeral will take place on Friday. The incident started in the car park of the Aberdeen Tap in Chicago's West Town neighborhood . | Shane Stokowski, 33, tried to stop a drunk man from leaving the Aberdeen Tap in Chicago on Saturday afternoon .
Timothy McShane, 42, drove off with Stokowski leaning in his passenger window .
After a block Stokowski fell and hit his head - he died an hour later .
McShane drove off without contacting police and when they found him he was still more than twice the state's legal drinking limit .
He tried to claim that Stokowski attacked him, but has been charged with reckless homicide, aggravated DUI and leaving the scene of an accident .
Stokowski, who was engaged to be married, will be buried on Friday . |
fdcf4ed5d6b1eb7f70c40bc9904f9eaa12b0a98f | A Florida man was arrested Tuesday after authorities say he fatally shot a man , as well as shooting a 7-year-old boy - thankfully, the boy lived. Brandon Hawkins has a long history of problems with his girlfriend's family, but according to investigators, what finally pushed him over the edge was a sandwich from a Port St. Lucie Burger King. 'The wrong sandwich was just another stressor in an already tense situation,' Port St. Lucie Police Chief John Bolduc told reporters on Wednesday. Earlier this week Florida man Brandon Hawkins was arrested for allegedly shooting a man because he got the wrong order at Burger King . Authorities say Hawkins' relationship with Jamie Young has been strained recently, and the issues he's had with her family has been equally problematic. About a year ago, Young's brother fired a gun at Hawkins, police say, and on Tuesday Hawkins had gone to Young's home looking for her brother. 'There's a long history in the family of gunplay,' Port St. Lucie Police Lt. Scott Beck told WPBF. About 7 p.m. on Tuesday evening, police say Hawkins went to Young's home with a plan to kill her brother and than take his own life. Things didn't go according to plan. Rather than shooting Young's brother, Hawkins ended up shooting her mother's boyfriend, 69-year-old Levy Williams, and Young's 7-year-old son, Emmanuel Morgan Jr. as he and his mother tried to run to a neighbor's house to avoid the gunfire. A disgruntled customer threatened to 'shoot everyone' in a Burger King because it sold her a stale pasty . Williams died at a local hospital, and Morgan currently is in stable condition. Young was not injured in the attack. According to detectives, Hawkins showed no remorse when he was told Williams was dead. Neighbors and other witnesses described a chaotic scene at the home. 'The first couple (of shots) sounded more like fireworks, then all of a . sudden a few minutes later, I could hear, "Pow, pow, pow, pow,'" said a . neighbor who preferred to remain anonymous. Hawkins remained on the loose for several hours after the shooting, causing residents in the neighborhood to fear that he could attack them next. 'When they said he was still on the loose, I said we better lock all our . doors and windows because we don't know where he's hiding,' neighbor Samori Williams told the local news station. 'He could be in anybody's backyard. It's no joke; anybody can hide.' Crime scene: Hawkins went to the home of his girlfriend (pictured) with the intention of killing her brother and then himself . Detectives tracked Hawkins down at another girlfriend's house a few miles away from the crime scene at about 1 a.m. Hawkins was booked into the St. Lucie County Jail about 5:30 a.m. on several felony charges, including first-degree murder. He's been ordered held without bail. | Brandon Hawkins killed his girlfriend's mother's boyfriend and shot her 7-year-old son .
Hawkins has a history of problems with his girlfriend's family .
A year ago, Hawkins' girlfriend's brother fired a gun at him .
Hawkins plan was to kill his girlfriend's brother and turn the gun on himself .
He told police he came up with the plan after he was pushed over the edge when someone . |
fdcf9798c41fc8c151bfa16428d1b3716172fc86 | By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 21:45 EST, 30 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:28 EST, 31 August 2013 . Darren Manzella, a gay combat medic discharged from the Army after criticizing the military's `don't ask, don't tell' policy in a 2007 television interview, has died in a traffic accident in western New York. He was 36. His aunt, Robin Mahoney, on Friday confirmed his death. Manzella lived in the Chautauqua County town of Portland; he and his partner were married in July. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office said Manzella was driving on Interstate 490 in suburban Rochester about 8:30 p.m. on Thursday when his vehicle sideswiped a car. Killed: Sergeant Darren Manzella, an openly gay active duty soldier back from Iraq, has died in a traffic accident in western New York. He was 36 . Newlyweds: Darren Manzella and Javier Lapeira together on their wedding day last month . Married: Darren Manzella (right) and his husband Javier Lapeira (left) would have celebrated their two-month wedding anniversary next week . Tragic accident: Deputies said he stopped his vehicle, got out and began pushing the car from behind. He was then hit by an SUV, pinning him between the two vehicles . Deputies said he stopped his vehicle, got out and began pushing the car from behind. He was then hit by an SUV, pinning him between the two vehicles. He died at the scene. Manzella's December 2007 appearance . on '60 Minutes' from the combat zone in Iraq was followed by his . discharge in June 2008 for 'homosexual admission,' a violation of the . since-rescinded policy prohibiting service members from openly . acknowledging they are gay. After . the television appearance and his return from Iraq, Manzella did media . interviews, each a potential violation of the policy. 'This . is who I am. This is my life,' Manzella said at a Washington news . conference before his discharge. 'It has never affected my job . performance before. I don't think it will make a difference now. And to . be honest since then, I don't see a difference because of my . homosexuality.' Outspoken: In December 2007, Manzella told a 60 Minutes interviewer that he was gay, and had violated the 1993 policy that barred gay servicemen and women from disclosing their sexual orientation . Partner: Darren Manzella his husband Javiier Lapeira - when the army sergeant attempted to show officials he had violated policy he showed them pictures of a trip he and his boyfriend had taken . In love: Darren Manzella (right) and Javier Lapeira (left) - Manzella was working at the Canandaigua V.A.¿s crisis call center, and married Javier Lapeira-Soto at a ceremony in Rochester on July 5 . Friend Anne Colwell Colangelo of Rome said she learned from relatives last night that the man she’d known since fourth grade had died. Manzella moved to Rochester a few years ago after several years away, Ms. Colangelo said, 'which was awesome.' Manzella was working at the Canandaigua V.A.’s crisis call center, and married Javier Lapeira-Soto at a ceremony in Rochester on July 5th. He and his husband Javier Lapeira would have celebrated their two-month wedding anniversary next week. 'Last night, after finding out the news, his mother and father went right to Rochester to pick up his husband,' she said. 'Javier became their son the day they married.' Common knowledge: Even when 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' was in effect, Darren Manzella was 'out' to his fellow soldiers, yet his superiors turned a blind eye to his sexual orientation . She said Manzella had recently joined the Army Reserves. 'Being in the military and serving was a very important part of his life,' she said. 'He was very proud to be a soldier.' She and Manzella grew up side-by-side in tiny Brocton, Chautauqua County. 'He has lived so much life. He’s been around the world — so much experience he put into such a short time here. He really was a hero in so many ways.' Manzella served in Iraq and Kuwait as an Army medic, earning a Combat Medical Badge for treating fellow soldiers while under fire in Baghdad. He was out to his Army buddies, but went to his commander after he began receiving anonymous emails warning him to 'turn the flame down.' The officer reported Manzella in accordance with the military's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy. Man on a mission: Just weeks after coming 'out' to his fellow officers and superiors, Darren was send to Iraq . Manzella cooperated fully with the investigation that followed, Manzella, submitting photos of him and his boyfriend and video of a road trip they had taken together. But curiously, at the conclusion of their investigation, the Army told Manzella to return to work because 'proof of homosexuality' had not been found. A month later, he was sent to Iraq. His supporters said the overseas assignment demonstrated how the military was arbitrarily enforcing the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy during the war. Manzella enlisted in the Army in 2002. He was awarded the Combat Medical Badge for service in Iraq. When he was discharged, he was a sergeant serving at Fort Hood with the 1st Cavalry Division. | Darren Manzella was a combat medic and a counselor .
On national television, Manzella challenged the military’s 'don’t ask, don’t tell' policy .
The crash that killed him began as a two-car collision .
After stopping in the middle lane to push his car, an SUV careered into him .
He has just got married to his long-time boyfriend last month . |
fdcfd4a0adc4ec6abe071832d39e190f9f7cdc53 | Mahdi Hassan, 19, may be the youngest person to join the group of British jihadists after travelling to the Middle East . A British teenager is thought to be the newest member of an al-Qaeda linked group of Islamist opposition fighters in Syria. Police believe Mahdi Hassan, 19, may be the youngest person to join the group of British jihadists after travelling to the Middle East in October. The former private school pupil from Portsmouth could be one of many UK graduates being encouraged to 'pack their bags' and travel to the war-torn country to avoid repaying student loans. The 19-year-old who is using the alias Abu Dujana is thought to have been recruited to the Islamic State in Iraq and Sham (Isis), an organisation accused of torturing children and exploiting boy soldiers as young as 10. The cousin of Ifthekar Jaman, a British man who was killed in Syria last week, has also joined the fight and spoken of his willingness to be 'martyred', the Sunday Times reports. A third man thought to be working within the organisation has been urging university graduates to abandon outstanding student loans and travel to Syria instead, using the disguise of aid workers to get in to the country. At least six British people are thought to be operating from the northern city of Ar-Raqqah which was seized by Islamist rebels earlier this year. According to the teenager's Facebook profile he has also travelled to Chechnya and Yemen, with his last online post simply stating in Arabic: 'Thanks be to Allah'. The 19-year-old is a former pupil of St John's College, a Catholic school in Portsmouth which charges £10,000 a year for day pupils and more than double for boarders. Hassan has been linked to Ifthekar Jaman (left) who was reportedly killed in Syria last week . Hassan has been linked to Jaman, 23, who was reportedly killed by a tanker last week after going to Syria in May. A second British man using the pseudonym Abu Qa'qaa is thought to have been shot in the foot in the same crossfire. Following the incident, Qa'qaa wrote on Twitter: 'He was a lion in battle and is now with his Lord,' while Jaman's younger brother last week tweeted: 'I know this is what you wanted; that's why I'm 100 per cent happy for you.' Another of the deceased's family members has been in Syria for several months under the alias of Abu Abdullah. In one online post the man said he was looking forward to being 'under the throne of Allah' and meeting his cousin again. According to the teenager's Facebook profile he was once a pupil at St John's College in Portsmouth . Abu Layth, a British man who claims to . be of Afghan origin, is another member and an avid follower of Anwar . al-Awlaki, the late al-Qaeda preacher who is credited with recruiting a . generation of terrorists online. The man, whose real identity is not known, has instructed people to join Isis by advising them to travel to refugee camps on the border with Turkey before entering Syria. Isis, which has strong links to al-Qaeda, has become increasingly formidable in recent years with members claiming responsibility for a string of suicide bombings throughout Iraq. The organisation has been accused of torturing and recruiting vulnerable children in Syria, with videos posted on YouTube seemingly showcasing boys as young as 10 being indoctrinated at its camps. | Mahdi Hassan is believed to have joined group of jihadists in Syria .
The 19-year-old travelled to the Middle East in October .
Hassan is thought to have been recruited to Islamic organisation Isis .
Teen could be one of many encouraged to 'pack their bags' to join fight .
Hassan linked to Ifthekar Jaman who was killed in combat last week . |
fdd0e15c258dc56c36c1195c1efb0b87c117d55f | It was a time when John McEnroe vied each year for the Wimbledon title – but his activities away from the championships would have shocked his fans. The former tennis world No 1 would relax between matches by smoking marijuana with his pop-star friend Chrissie Hynde, she has claimed. Pretenders singer Hynde said: ‘Way back in the days when he was doing Wimbledon, he would always call me because he knew I had pot. He used to come around and hang out.’ Pop star Chrissie Hynde (left) has claimed that she used to smoke cannabis with tennis player John McEnroe while he was competing in Wimbledon (right, McEnroe wins in 1981) McEnroe first competed at Wimbledon in 1977 aged 18, when he got to the semi-final, and won the tournament in 1981, 1983 and 1984. Miss Hyde’s band found success in the same period, topping the charts with their single Brass In Pocket in 1979. While Miss Hynde’s memories will surprise fans of McEnroe, who know him only from his more sober image nowadays as a BBC commentator, he was once the ‘bad boy’ of tennis, notorious for his on-court confrontations with umpires. He is an able guitarist and he and Miss Hynde remain good friends. McEnroe has appeared on stage with The Pretenders numerous times and he plays on her recent solo album, Stockholm. In an interview with NPR, a US radio station, Miss Hynde, 62, said she tried to encourage McEnroe to quit tennis because he has ‘such personality’ when he plays the guitar. McEnroe has admitted to using drugs before during his marriage to actress Tatum O'Neal. She says he kept them around for social occasions, 'like a wine cellar' She said: ‘That’s what it’s all about with rock ‘n’ roll, individual personalities, not if it’s good or bad.’ McEnroe has admitted using drugs during his marriage to former actress Tatum O’Neal, with whom he had three children before divorcing in 1994. In her memoirs, Miss O’Neal said McEnroe ‘kept drugs around for hospitality. . . like having a wine cellar’. Last month their son Kevin, 27, was charged after police saw him allegedly buying cocaine and prescription pills in New York. | Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde says McEnroe used to call her for drugs .
Claims she smoked marijuana with him while he was playing Wimbledon .
McEnroe admitted to using drugs before during marriage to Tatum O’Neal . |
fdd140a81965543a77d57654cf5bb549ace04492 | The U.S have opted for a 'lily pad' strategy which allows them to have troops just over the boarder from Iraq . Developments have injected uncertainty in the Middle East as the region deals with the Arab Spring and fears of Iran's nuclear programme . By . Tammy Hughes . PUBLISHED: . 07:04 EST, 20 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:34 EST, 20 June 2012 . The United States is planning a significant military presence of 13,500 troops in Kuwait to give it the flexibility to respond to sudden conflicts in the region. The study by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee examined the U.S. relationship with the six nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman - against a fast-moving backdrop. In just the last two days, Saudi . Arabia's ruler named Defense Minister Prince Salman bin Abdul-Aziz as . the country's new crown prince after last week's death of Prince Nayef, . and Kuwait's government suspended parliament for a month over an . internal political feud. U.S. Army soldiers from 1-12, 1st Cavalry Division exiting from Iraq on December 13, 2011. Troops could now return to Kuwait as part of a new strategy . The latest developments inject even more uncertainty as the Middle East deals with the demands of the Arab Spring, the end to U.S. combat operations in Iraq at the end of 2011 and fears of Iran's nuclear programme. 'Home to more than half of the world's oil reserves and over a third of its natural gas, the stability of the Persian Gulf is critical to the global economy,' the report said. 'However, the region faces a myriad of political and security challenges, from the Iranian nuclear program to the threat of terrorism to the political crisis in Bahrain.' The report obtained by The Associated Press in advance of Tuesday's release provided precise numbers on U.S. forces in Kuwait, a presence that Pentagon officials have only acknowledged on condition of anonymity. Currently, there are about 15,000 U.S. forces in Kuwait at Camp Arifjan, Ali Al Salem Air Base and Camp Buehring, giving the United States staging hubs, training ranges and locations to provide logistical support. The report said the number of troops is likely to drop to 13,500. Several members of Congress, most notably Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., had pressed for a residual U.S. force to remain in Iraq, but the failure of the two countries to agree on whether American troops should be granted legal immunity scuttled that idea. Instead, officials talked of positioning a strong U.S. force just across the border in Kuwait. The strategy preserves 'lily pad' basing that allows the military to move quickly from one location to the next. As it recalibrates its national security strategy, the United States is drawing down forces in Europe while focusing on other regions, such as the Middle East and Asia. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has said he envisions about 40,000 troops stationed in the Middle East region after the withdrawal from Iraq. Syria: This picture taken in Homs yesterday shows how the region is still struggling with the demands of the Arab Spring . By comparison, a cut of two Army combat brigades and the withdrawal of two other smaller units will leave about 68,000 troops in Europe. During the 1991 Persian Gulf War, some half a million U.S. forces were in the Middle East region. The United States maintained about 5,000 troops in Kuwait from the end of the Gulf War to March 2003, when U.S. and coalition forces invaded Iraq to topple the regime of Saddam Hussein. The U.S.-led invasion was in response to reports, later discredited, that Iraq was developing weapons of mass destruction. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry, D-Mass., who asked his staff to conduct the study, said in a statement: 'This is a period of historic, but turbulent change in the Middle East. We need to be clear-eyed about what these interests are and how best to promote them. 'This report provides a thoughtful set of recommendations designed to do exactly that.' The 37-page report raises questions about how the United States can leverage its financial aid to force change in the Middle East. Late last year, two Democrats - Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts - opposed the U.S. sale of spare parts and equipment to Bahrain, arguing that the ruling Sunni monarchy was violating human rights and using excessive force to crack down on protests. The State Department went ahead earlier this year with the sale of some military equipment, saying it was for Bahrain's external defence and support for the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, which is based in the country. Bahrain stands as a strategic ally to counter Iran. U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has said he envisions about 40,000 troops stationed in the Middle East region after the withdrawal from Iraq . The report said the Unites States: 'Should not be quick to rescind security assurances or assistance in response to human rights abuses but should evaluate each case on its own merits. 'U.S. government officials should use these tools to advance human rights through careful diplomacy. 'The United States should make clear that states must not use arms procured from the United States against their own people engaged in peaceful assembly or exploit the U.S. security umbrella as protection for belligerent action against their neighbors.' The report also recommended that the United States promote the development of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League while strengthening bilateral links to the six countries; seek opportunities for burden-sharing on operations such as missile defense, combat air patrol and maritime security; and push for the integration of Iraq into the Arab fold. The report emphasised that the region is critical as a counterbalance to Iran, whose conventional military includes 350,000 ground forces, 1,800 tanks and more than 300 fighter aircraft. It also has ballistic missiles with the range to target regional allies, including Israel. | The U.S have opted for a 'lily pad' strategy which allows them to have troops just over the boarder from Iraq .
Developments have injected uncertainty in the Middle East as the region deals with the Arab Spring and fears of Iran's nuclear programme . |
fdd14b1a584862a46aa3add62e6c8d3e22351297 | More than 120 years after Vincent van Gogh's death, a new painting by the Dutch master has come to light. The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, which holds the largest collection of the artist's work, announced Monday the discovery of the newly identified painting, a landscape titled "Sunset at Montmajour." "A discovery of this magnitude has never before occurred in the history of the Van Gogh Museum," the museum's director, Axel Ruger, said in a statement. Van Gogh is believed to have completed the relatively large painting in 1888, two years before his death and during "a period that is considered by many to be the culmination of his artistic achievement," Ruger said. The picture depicts a landscape in the vicinity of Arles in the south of France, where van Gogh was working at that time, the museum said. Museum discovers 'new' van Gogh painting . Ruger said the museum attributed the painting to van Gogh after "extensive research into style, technique, paint, canvas, the depiction, van Gogh's letters and the provenance." Starting September 24, it will appear in "Van Gogh At Work," an exhibition currently on show at the museum in Amsterdam. From the 'Sunflowers' period . Van Gogh (1853-1890) crafted some of the world's best known and most loved paintings, including "Sunflowers," "Irises" and "Starry Night," and a number of self-portraits. He painted "Sunset at Montmajour" during the same period in which he produced "Sunflowers," Ruger said. Van Gogh achieved little recognition as an artist during his lifetime, but his reputation blossomed in the years after his suicide at the age of 37, following years of mental illness. His works now hang in leading museums and galleries around the world. During the art market boom of the late 1980s and early 1990s, three of van Gogh's works succeeded each other as the most expensive paintings ever sold: "Sunflowers" for $39.9 million, "Irises" for $53.9 million and "Portrait of Dr. Gachet" for $82.5 million. In its statement, the Van Gogh Museum didn't divulge the full story behind the discovery of "Sunset at Montmajour," saying it would be published in the October edition of The Burlington Magazine, a fine art publication, and at the museum. Louis van Tilborgh and Teio Meedendorp, two senior researchers at the museum, said the painting had belonged to the collection of van Gogh's younger brother, Theo, in 1890 and was sold in 1901. Saving van Gogh's home from dereliction . | The painting has been identified as a van Gogh after "extensive research," a museum says .
"A discovery of this magnitude has never before occurred," the Van Gogh Museum says .
The picture is from 1888, during a period considered by many to be the high point of his career .
It depicts a landscape in the south of France, where van Gogh was working at the time . |
fdd14fc7020c42d30a5b1a310b83312ea850c57d | Islamabad (CNN) -- "Terrorism and violence cannot be permissible in Islam," Tahir ul Qadri told CNN's Christiane Amanpour in 2010 after declaring a Fatwa on terrorism. The bold pronouncement thrust Qadri into headlines worldwide and led to an invitation to speak at the prestigious World Economic Forum and United States Institute for Peace. Two years on, the religious cleric has resurfaced in Pakistan, demanding free and fair elections, after spending the last six years living in Canada. Qadri has come a long way since his time as a parliamentarian during General Pervez Musharraf's regime in the early 2000s. After promoting his agenda from abroad -- speaking out in videos and books -- he is now back in the political spotlight in his home country, calling for a caretaker administration to take the government's place and carry out election reforms ahead of an upcoming vote. According to Qadri, the composition of the caretaker government should be decided with the input of the judiciary and the military. But in a country with a history of military coups, Qadri's mention of the army in the electoral process set off alarm bells with the current government and opposition who quickly reassured the Pakistani people that nothing would stand in the way of timely elections and the democratic process. Some Pakistanis have suggested Qadri is working on behalf of the military -- an allegation he denies. He maintains that he is working only to ensure a corruption-free electoral process. Qadri threatened that unless his election reform demands were met by Thursday, he would stage a "Million Man March" to the capital, paralyzing the city with thousands of supporters. "We will not succumb to these illegal demands," Senator Rehman Malik, Pakistan's Interior Minister told media Thursday, in anticipation of the protest, which is expected to arrive in Islamabad on Monday. Malik said he would not allow the rally to enter downtown Islamabad as it posed a security risk and would disrupt business operations in the city; he said the Pakistani government had cordoned off sensitive areas of Islamabad. "The residents of Islamabad are scared that mobs will raid their houses and there will be violence and murder," Malik said. "I will hold Qadri personally responsible if there is any violence or murders during this rally." Malik announced last week that he had intercepted intelligence that the Pakistan Taliban was planning to attack the gathering on Monday. Despite criticism from the government, Qadri seems intent on marching to the capital, spending millions on prime time television advertising to urge others to join him. "We are expecting one to two million people who will join the march", Shahid Mursaleen, spokesman for Tahir ul Qadri, told CNN. "We plan on removing the barricades put up by the government and we will remain in the city whether it is [for] two days or 30 days, until our demands are met," Mursaleen said. However, just two days before the planned march on Islamabad, the only political party supporting Qadri's march, the Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), a coalition partner in the current government, pulled its support. Supporters maintain that Qadri is only trying to make a positive change in a country that is in need of help. They point to his welfare organization, called Minhaj ul Quran, which promotes "true Islamic teachings." According to its website, it has up to 280,000 members worldwide and works to build madrassahs around the country to teach young children the Quran. The "Million Man March," which is expected to reach Islamabad on Monday, could be a game changer, analysts say, because it could have a major impact on the democratic process -- but whether the outcome of that would be positive or negative at this crucial time for Pakistani politics is still unclear. | Religious cleric Tahir ul Qadri to lead mass march to Islamabad .
He returned to Pakistan from self-imposed exile in Canada .
Critics are skeptical as to Qadri's intentions; he says he wants change .
He's spent millions on prime time advertising calling on support for the march . |
fdd1785266ec541d93d90982a80232b1ca688483 | By . Associated Press . Navy football player Will McKamey, who had been hospitalized since collapsing at practice three days ago, has died while in a coma. He was 19. The academy says the freshman running back from Knoxville, Tenn., died at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore on Tuesday with his family by his side. 'We are all so very heartbroken by the death of Midshipman Will McKamey,' Naval Academy Superintendent VADM Mike Miller said in a statement. Died: Navy football player Will McKamey, who has been hospitalized since collapsing at practice three days ago, died on Tuesday while in a coma. He was 19 . He collapsed during spring practice Saturday and was airlifted to the Shock Trauma Center. 'This is devastating news for his family, . his classmates, his teammates and the entire Naval Academy family. We . offer our deepest condolences to Will's family, friends and shipmates in . the wake of this tragedy.' Earlier this week, McKamey's family said in a statement released through the school that their son did not sustain 'a bad hit or unusual or extreme contact' in that practice. 'The Navy coaches have poured through the films of practice and seen nothing more than Will carrying the football normally, doing what he truly loves,' the family said. The second time: McKamey, pictured with girlfriend Elizabeth Seal while attending Grace Christian Academy, also collapsed during a 2012 high school game . Shining star: Will Mckamey with girlfriend Elizabeth Seal. He was named Mr Football after gaining more than 2,000 yards combined on the ground and through the air, as well as scoring 28 total touchdowns ¿ in only 10 games . Tribute: Will's girlfriend Elizabeth Seal paid tribute to her boyfriend through a photo-montage on Instagram . McKamey's father, Randy, a high school football coach at Grace Christian Academy in Knoxville, posted on Twitter that his son underwent surgery Saturday to relieve pressure on the brain. Will McKamey played for his father and ran for more than 2,000 yards as a senior at Grace Christian in 2012. He suffered a head injury during a game late in the season that caused him to be hospitalized. His family said he had been cleared to resume playing football after seeing four neurosurgeons and undergoing several CAT scans and MRI exams. Football player: Mckamey (right), with friends Jack Brodowicz (left) and Cadesman Pope (center), attending a game last season versus Notre Dame, in South Bend, Indiana . The 5-foot-9, 170-pound McKamey did not play in a game last season. He was an oceanography major in 3rd Company at the Naval Academy. 'During this most difficult of times, first and foremost, our prayers and thoughts turn to Randy, Kara and their beautiful family,' Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo said. 'Our deepest and most sincere condolences go out to their entire family and friends. As our Navy football family mourns the loss of one of our brothers, we also celebrate and honor his life. He loved his family, his friends and his teammates. The Brotherhood loves you! Keep the ball 'high and tight' in Heaven.' Navy said funeral arrangements are pending. | Freshman running back Will McKamey, 19, collapsed Saturday on the field during spring practice .
He underwent surgery in Baltimore but died on Tuesday .
McKamey also collapsed during a 2012 game while high school, but returned to action one week later . |
fdd1aae7265f1c6de5973c01a24959aeb6d2e9d7 | By . M L Nestel . PUBLISHED: . 09:26 EST, 4 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:25 EST, 4 October 2013 . It’s a slice of fantasyland for the four-legged set and it’s been paid for by cash-strapped Uncle Sam. TriBeCa, one of Manhattan’s most affluent neighborhoods put a federal windfall worth millions into play this past summer. Local brass decided to spend the $5million earmarked in 2005 not on subways or bridges but to bankroll a dog run and install an immaculate landscaping along a waterfront park, MailOnline has learned. Scroll down for video . Decadent Dog: These paw-activated sprinklers set taxpayers back hundreds of thousands of dollars; at the TrBeCa Dog Run in the $5million renovated Hudson River Park . And last night the same group who plunked down the millions of dollars worth of sod and cement feted a star-studded gala to raise $2million in hopes to fund the Hudson River Park because they claim it ‘does not have a continuous allocation of city, state or federal funds.’ The entire pricey project cost $4.8million to groom the grounds in between Piers 25 and 26. The swath of park snakes for five miles along the Hudson River’s edge and includes manicured lawns, dotted with planters and meticulous landscaping befitting its boldface natives including: Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Connelly and husband Paul Bettany who are dog owners, as well as Gwyneth Paltrow, Robert DeNiro, Jay Z and Beyonce, Russell Simmons, Jenna Bush, Amanda Peet and husband David Benioff, and Leonardo DiCaprio amongst others. Luminaries like Mayor Mike Bloomberg and Brooke Shields lent their support to help raise funds for the Hudson River Park trust Thursday night. Of the millions that were spent to spruce-up the Hudson River Park, $642,000 was dumped on the yin-yang shaped Tribeca Dog Run. The decadent dog oasis allows puppies (K-9s that are 23 pounds or less) to frolic free from bigger dogs who have their own set of bricks to do their business. Demand has risen for dog roaming space because of the neighborhood's dog boom, says one longtime local. ‘There’s over 400 dogs in just one building—they’re dog crazy around here,’ a source told MailOnline. Stewards from the Hudson River Park Trust (HRPT), the state and city partnership chaired by third-term Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s girlfriend Diana L. Taylor, unveiled the dog run to the public this summer after successfully winning over New York Congressman Jerrold Nadler to shake D.C.’s moribund money trees. Hudson River Park Trust Chair and Mayor Bloomberg's girlfriend Diana L. Taylor delivers speech with their labradors Bonnie and Clyde . Congressman Nadler managed to procure the millions in federal funds to bankroll the spanking 5,000 square-foot stretch of grey-blue esplanade; taking pride in the amenities including: scaled down cabana umbrellas and even paw-activated fresh water fountains. Asked about the multi-million dollar dog park’s price tag paid for by the nation’s taxpayers Congressman Nadler’s office reverted back to a statement from August 5 when wagging tails (dogs and pols alike) triumphed during a ribbon cutting ceremony before mugs and snouts were photographed. ‘I am proud to have been able to bring over $4 million dollars in federal funds to the continued expansion of this park, which has become an invaluable resource to New Yorkers and visitors alike," said Congressman Jerry Nadler in a statement. 'The addition of the new dog run and recreational space on Pier 25 adds another layer to the many amenities Hudson River Park provides to the surrounding neighbourhoods. I am thrilled to join HRPT and the community in celebrating this new section of the park.' A day later, in a surprising about-face congressman’s camp told MailOnline that the monies for the park’s revamp were actually not federal. ‘No federal funds were used to construct the dog run.’ The congressman’s aide pointed to the 2005 bill where $5.6million dollars appropriated for ‘a pedestrian walkway along Route 9A in Hudson River Park, NY.’ Nadler's office offered no specifics on how those millions were spent. Federal money is often line-itemed to maintain beautification standards along the country’s scenic highways. Aerial view of the 5,000 sq ft plot of waterfront land before dog run was built . Still, at a September 26 meeting Madelyn Wils, the Trust’s president and CEO stood at a lectern before her peers and thanked Congressman Nadler for the federal cash and rejoiced in the dog run’s birth; the fourth dog run in the area. Wils lauded the landscaping of the 30,000 square feet of urban utopia and doted on the pristine grounds first ‘christened’ by none other than the Mayor Bloomberg’s yellow labradors Bonnie and Clyde. The schematics for the dog park used by some of Manhattan's elite dog owners . ‘Congressman Nadler appropriation of $4.8 million transportation funding made this opening possible.’ But Wils also couldn’t explain how federal transportation funds were allocated to construct the sultan dog digs and passed the buck to Congressman Nadler. ‘One might wonder why federal transportation dollars were being used to open a dog run,’ she said to an orchestra of laughs. ‘But maybe [Nadler] can explain it.’ More canned laughs filled the New York City’s Planning Commission hearing room. In lieu of this week’s federal government shutdown, few would feign to laugh now. Last night’s gala, co-chaired by Juliane Moore was hosted by actor Hugh Jackman (his wife's on the Gala Committee) and featured comedian Denis Leary. The list of notables also welcomed Hollywood staples such as Gala Committee members Brooke Shields, Martha Stewart, Edie Falco and Goldman Sachs partner Paula Madoff. Kerri Lyon, of The Hudson River Park Trust called the outdoor addition ‘an amazing gem along the Hudson River’ and stressed that the pricey dog run and landscaping were only part of a much larger project that also includes a restaurant. She defended Thursday's glitzy gala to raise funds for the trust that honored none other than Goldman Sachs. She said cash is in short supply to keep the park self-sustaining. Martha Stewart pledged her support of the Hudson River Park Trust at Thursday night's gala . ‘Hudson River Park does not have a continuous allocation of city, state or federal funds,’ she said. ‘It was designed to be self-sustaining so that the park is responsible for raising the funds (from a variety of public and private sources) required to operate and maintain itself.’ According to the Parks Department there are approximately 60 dog runs throughout the five boroughs and their price tags and upkeep vary. An average New York City dog run goes for around $375,000-while some navigating around waterlines can surge to $600,000. Like Tribeca’s K-9 kingdom, a dog run in Juniper Valley Park in Queens was built for $600,000. Steven E. Greer, the founder of BatteryPark.TV and 13 year resident of the area isn’t laughing and called the dog run and its surrounding upgraded parkland a disaster. ‘Give me a backhoe, concrete, and $20,000, and I can make a dog run. For $50,000, professional contractors can make one for a private company.’ While Greer acknowledged that government contracts often are ‘inflated many-fold’ this particular park expansion and pampering for well-to-do pooches is beyond redemption. ‘Five million dollars is astronomical, egregious, even by government standards.’ Vincent D’Accolti, 25, who runs WeBuildLI.com and has begun installing dog runs on Long Island in addition to his home improvement offerings. He said the cost of a six-figure dog park was hard to imagine. ‘I thought a $15,000 dog run was elaborate.' Ultimately, D’Accolti says the rich or run-of-the-mill dog run need only accomplish the same call of duty. ‘When I think of a dog run it’s a place where a dog can piss and s---.’ | Millions of federal tax dollars earmarked and spent on $642,000 dog park along Manhattan’s waterfront .
Despite tax riches, Hudson River Park Trust has hand out collected millions from its A-list donors at gala on Thursday .
U.S. Congressman defended the dog park to MailOnline, then denied federal money was used after MailOnline asked questions .
Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s girlfriend Diana L. Taylor chairs the trust .
Their Labradors Bonnie and Clyde were first to ‘christen’ the dog run . |
fdd1da22abde1c2593c13c8a038fc556d673e649 | By . Adam Shergold . PUBLISHED: . 04:11 EST, 19 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:05 EST, 19 November 2012 . New York's emergency services have been heavily criticised for their lack of preparation during Superstorm Sandy as it emerged some of the city's most vulnerable residents could not get through to 911 operators. Emergency lines rang and rang without an answer and those lucky enough to get through were greeted by woefully unprepared operators, the New York Post said today. Others needing urgent help during and after the devastating storm were passed on to the city's 311 non-emergency line, while dispatchers from the police, fire and ambulance services squabbled over which calls were more urgent. Overwhelmed: Devastation in the Rockaway Beach area of New York in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. Emergency services were woefully unprepared for the storm, it has been alleged . Diane Hudson, 45, said an elderly neighbour with cerebral palsy drowned when his Rockaway Park home filled up with flood water because it took hours to get through to emergency services. She said 72-year-old David Gotthelf, who was a wheelchair user, had called Hudson for help when he couldn't get through to 911 himself. 'The first hour or so, I got a busy signal. When [I was] finally able to get through to 911, it would ring for three or four minutes,' Hudson told the paper. 'One time, they sent [me] to a dispatcher who called me back and ended up being in the Bronx [at least a 40 minute drive away].' On another occasion, she was transferred to Emergency Medical Services, which coordinates ambulances, only to be told they don't do rescues. Little left: A pile of debris from damaged homes in Rockaway Park, where disabled David Gotthelf, 72, drowned in his own home after emergency services failed to respond . 'I told them my friend who's disabled was stuck in his apartment, and I hadn't spoken to him in hours. They said, 'We can't really help you because it's not a medical emergency.' 'They obviously weren't trained for this kind of situation. They're kind of reading from a script.' Gotthelf had been logged in their system but his best hope of rescue was by calling 311. Despite Hudson trying both emergency lines until her phone battery died, responders were never dispatched and she found her friend dead the following morning. Other people spoke of being criticised by overwhelmed emergency operators for not evacuating. New York's 911 system typically handles 30,000 calls a day but during the storm on October 29 it received 20,000 calls an hour. The city's 1,400 dispatchers were overwhelmed despite claims the 911 system could handle 50,000 calls an hour. Under the Boardwalk: The remains of the Rockaway Beach boardwalk, which was destroyed by Sandy. Emergency numbers received 20,000 calls and hour during the storm . In 2009, the city spent $2bn on upgrading the system, including a $680m call centre. Earlier this year, a consultant found the city's fire and police department's reliance on having their own dispatchers created a situation where operators often 'wasted time asking duplicative questions and taking identical actions for the same 911 caller' However, New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne defended the set=up. 'Instead of holding on as instructed by a recording during these peaks, callers hung up and redialled even though the recording cautioned against doing so because it put repeat callers back at the bottom of the queue and furthered overall delays,' he said. 'Despite repeated requests to the public to use 311 for non-emergencies, many still used 911 for non-life-threatening situations.' Superstorm Sandy made landfall on America's east coast at around 6.30pm on October 29, causing 131 fatalities and an estimated $50bn of damage. | Some of the city's most vulnerable residents were unable to get through to overwhelmed 911 operators, while others were referred to non-emergency numbers, the NY Post reported .
Disabled David Gotthelf, 72, drowned in his Rockaways home after emergency services failed to reach him despite a friend calling for hours and hours . |
fdd1dccafc64c7fd531e85a54df342ec6d75434e | By . Lucy Laing . Last updated at 8:45 AM on 13th February 2012 . When medical treatment fails, a mother’s love and devotion can be just as powerful. When Sandra and Rob Margetts were told by doctors in the UK that they couldn’t save their daughter Laura Wright from a brain tumour they refused to give up hope. Laura, 34, had been struck down by the rare tumour and the operation to try and reduce it caused her to have a massive stroke, and doctors said there was nothing more they could do. Happy family: Laura, centre with her mother Sanda Margetts, right, and her husband Rob with their sons Felix and Ben. Her parents paid £150,000 for pioneering treatment in the USA to save their daughter's life . So the couple paid £150,000 for pioneering treatment in the USA - as a last chance of hope to save their daughter’s life. The treatment was successful, but it left Laura unable to have the family she desperately wanted. So the loving family stepped in once again - and funded the £25,000 cost of seven cycles of IVF treatment to give their daughter the two sons she had dreamed of. Mrs Wright, who lives with her husband Rob, 38, in Liphook, Hampshire, said: ‘I just can’t find the words to thank my mum and dad for what they have done for me. ‘They have never given up on me, and because of them I can have the life I’ve always dreamed of. ‘I’m still alive and I have the two most gorgeous sons. And its all thanks to mum and dad who have made it all happen for me.’ Mrs Wright first started suffering from headaches in the summer of 2001 when she was working as a school PE teacher. She went to see her GP who referred her to the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford who said there was nothing wrong. But she still kept suffering from blurred vision and headaches, so she went for a private MRI scan, which revealed that she had a brain tumour. Mrs Wright said: ‘I was so shocked when I was diagnosed. All I could think of was it shouldn’t be happening, I was only 26. I had my whole life ahead of me. I was so frightened, I thought I was going to die.’ Laura having treatment for her tumour in Boston, USA. Mrs Wright first started suffering from headaches in the summer of 2001 when she was working as a school PE teacher . She underwent an operation at the Atkinson Morley Hospital in London to remove part of the tumour, and then doctors decided to remove the rest of the tumour in a second operation in April 2004. But during the second operation, Mrs Wright suffered a stroke that was so severe that she couldn’t talk and was paralysed down her right side. Because she had suffered the stroke during the operation, the surgeons had been unable to remove the rest of the tumour. It took Mrs Wright five months before she could even get out of her wheelchair and take her first steps being helped by physiotherapists. Doctors told her there was nothing more they could do for her, as they couldn’t risk operating on her again. But her parents refused to give up. They spent hours on the internet and eventually found Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, USA, where doctors had found a way of shrinking tumours by bombarding them with radioactive proton particles. The pioneering treatment would cost £150,000, but it could have left Mrs Wright infertile. Her parents sent her brain scans off to the clinic and they agreed to help. She said: ‘I had always wanted a family so I didn’t want to be left infertile, but I knew this was the only chance to save me, and mum and dad never hesitated to step in and help.’ She went to the USA in January 2005 and underwent the treatment which took eight weeks. It finished in March that year, and the treatment had managed to successfully halt the growth of the tumour. Mrs Wright said: ‘I was just so relieved when the treatment was a success. It had given me my life back. It was my only chance of survival, and now I could look forward to living my life again.’ The treatment had left Mrs Wright infertile, but again her family refused to give up hope as they knew how desperately their daughter wanted to be a mother. Mrs Wright said: ‘I had always desperately wanted to have a family. I was so thrilled that I was still alive after the brain tumour and I was so grateful for that. But every time I saw a pregnant woman I just felt a huge longing to be a mum myself.’ The family funded the first IVF treatment for their daughter, and the first cycle was a success. She fell pregnant with their son Felix, now four. Mrs Wright said: ‘When I gave birth to him I stared at him for hours because I couldn’t believe that he was actually mine. After everything that had happened I was finally a mum.’ The couple decided to try for another baby, but this time it took six attempts at fertility treatment before Mrs Wright finally fell pregnant again. She gave birth to her second son Ben in August 2010. She said: ‘We didn’t give up hope, and my family were behind us, supporting us all the way. When I fell pregnant again, we were all so thrilled. When Ben was born, it was as though my life was complete. ‘The doctors may have given up on me but my family never did, and its thanks to them that I’m still alive. It has been a lot of money to save me and to pay for the IVF treatment, but my parents wanted to help me more than anything.’ Mrs Wright is now concentrating on being a mum. She has to wear a special support called a SAFO, from Dorset Orthopaedic, on her right leg, but she can walk and even drive using a specially adapted car. Mrs Margetts added: ‘Her brain tumour would have grown without treatment and nothing could have been done to save her. ‘We luckily had savings to make this possible for Laura, and it was worth every penny to save her and to see her be a mother.’ There is hope that proton therapy may become available in the next few years funded by the NHS. | Treatment left Laura Wright infertile and she needed 7 cycles of IVF . |
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