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08b3feac5825f766af065809e9759687273079e4 | LONDON, England (CNN) -- Poland will withdraw its troops from Iraq by the end of October, according to a spokesman for the Polish military Thursday. Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk, right, paid a surprise visit to Polish soldiers in Diwaniya in December. October 31 will be the last day of the Polish presence in Iraq, Major Dariusz Kacperczyk said, speaking from Warsaw. The precise date of withdrawal and when security would be handed over to local forces in Qadisiya, the southern Iraqi Shiite province where most Polish troops in Iraq are based, are still being determined, he said. "One thing we know for sure is that after the last day of October, there will be no more Polish soldiers in Iraq," Kacperczyk said. Poland's new prime minister, Donald Tusk, has promised to bring the troops home from Iraq, where Poland has one of the larger non-U.S. contingents. There are around 900 Polish troops in the war-torn country, with most in the Qadisiya capital of Diwaniya, some in Baghdad and others in the southern city of Kut. Twenty-two soldiers from Poland have lost their lives during the nearly five year war in Iraq. Meanwhile, in Baghdad, a parked car bomb detonated in a predominantly Shiite district on Thursday, killing five civilians and wounding eight other people, the Interior Ministry said. The attack followed a string of roadside bombings that wounded 21 people, according to the Interior Ministry. Those included a homemade bomb that exploded near a convoy of the deputy minister of electricity, wounding at least five people. The deputy minister in the convoy escaped injury, State TV reported. Three roadside bomb explosions in different parts of Baghdad wounded 16 people. Two of those attacks targeted police. In southern Iraq, one Iraqi was killed and five were wounded Thursday when British troops returned fire after an attack on their base in Basra, the British military said. The early morning rocket and mortar attack left three British soldiers with "very minor injuries." Troops fired back, killing an Iraqi and wounding five others. British authorities are investigating the incident. The British military handed over security control in Basra late last year to Iraqi security forces but maintains a presence in the region. Basra and other areas of southern Iraq have been rocked by fighting among rival Shiite militias. Also Thursday, Coalition troops detained 11 people in raids in the volatile northern Iraqi city of Mosul and in the Baghdad region, the U.S. military said. Troops in Mosul seized the alleged leader of an al Qaeda in Iraq suicide bombing network and two other people. They also captured two "suspected terrorists" in the city, which is soon to be the object of an Iraq-led offensive against militants. Six other people were arrested in operations near Abu Ghraib, in Baghdad province, and in Baghdad. E-mail to a friend . CNN's Melissa Gray, Jomana Karadsheh and Carol Jordan contributed to this report. | NEW: Parked car bomb in Baghdad kills 5, wounds 8 .
NEW: One Iraqi killed in Basra during clash with British troops .
Poland will withdraw its troops from Iraq by the end of October, military says .
There are around 900 Polish troops in the war-torn country, most in Diwaniya . |
08b46544bf8c6aebdccbfbb007393ed74e2d32af | By . Daniel Miller . PUBLISHED: . 06:42 EST, 19 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 06:43 EST, 19 November 2012 . A man, who was arrested after allegedly attempting to steal a woman's purse while dressed as Spiderman, told police his costume was part of a cunning 'disguise'. Daniel James Bradley, 22, was spotted in the red and blue superhero outfit on Saturday afternoon following a botched street robbery in Merced, California. According to police, the victim, a 24-year-old woman, said she had just parked her car when the suspect began staring at her and then walked towards her near the corner of V and 15th street. A grinning Daniel Bradley poses in the Spiderman 'disguise' following . his arrest for attempted Robbery on the streets of Merced, California . Bradely, who was wearing a brown and green jacket over his Spiderman suit, allegedly said: 'give me your purse'. The victim said she thought she saw him holding a gun underneath his sleeve and ran off, screaming for someone to call police. At this point Bradley is believed to have panicked and fled the scene. He dumped the jacket and metal bar he was carrying behind a bush, and was later spotted racing down the sidewalk in the Spiderman suit. Scene: Bradley was arrested after being spotted racing down the sidewalk in his eye-catching outfit near 15th and V streets in Merced . Police spokesman Lt. Bimley West said a witness saw the attempted robbery happen, and identified Bradley as the suspect. He was also identified by the victim. After posing for a mugshot, Bradley's bail was set at $65,000 and he was subsequently thrown into county jail. When police questioned Bradley about why he was wearing the Spiderman outfit, he replied it was part of his 'disguise'. | Daniel Bradley, 22, donned superhero outfit for botched street robbery in Merced, California .
After victim fled in terror he was spotted racing down the street in the red and blue costume . |
08b4b20373bee9de63ee1a322fffbae43c2dfbb3 | By . Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 01:57 EST, 31 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 06:33 EST, 31 December 2012 . An investigation has revealed that BBC staff are being given up to £90,000 to relocate to the broadcaster's new HQ in Salford. A Freedom of Information request found that 850 staff have been given a total of £11 million to cover the costs of moving, as well as one-off payouts worth 10 per cent of their salary, to encourage them to move north from London. Another 1,000 people will move to the £1billion HQ in the future, sending costs spiralling even further, according to the Daily Telegraph. Costly move: The BBC has spent roughly £11million on measures to encourage staff to move to its £1billion new HQ in Salford . BBC Breakfast presenters Susanna Reid and Bill Turnbull are among those taking the incentives. Angie Bray, a Conservative member of the Culture, Media and Sport select committee, said: 'I can’t help feeling that Salford is an expensive box- ticking exercise. 'I absolutely understand that the BBC feels the need to demonstrate that they are not entirely London-centric but the fact is the programming from Salford is not as good and it is costing an awful lot of money.' So far 170 staff have taken advantage . of the 'assisted relocation' package and a further 174 staff have taken . advantage of a 'remote location allowance', where they are allowed to keep their London home and are helped out with rent and travel expenses. Commute: Susanna Reid lives in London and travels to Salford with financial help from the BBC . The BBC is also offering to sell staff member's houses at a guaranteed price and licence fee payers then cover moving costs. Twenty-five members of staff have opted for the scheme, at a cost of £621,000. A further £1.1million has been spent on rent for 188 staff members. A BBC spokesman said: 'BBC North absolutely represents value for money for License Fee Payers, delivered on time and significantly under budget and being one of the BBC’s most efficient and cost effective centres. 'Since becoming operational in May 2011 BBC North has also begun to make a positive contribution to the regional economy - creating a world-class talent pool and strengthening and supporting the region’s creative industries resulting in programmes made across the North for national audiences.' | 850 staff have been given £11m of licence fee payers' money to move north .
Many allowed to keep London homes and given rent and travel allowances .
BBC insists move to Salford is cost-effective . |
08b673228f06adfe4a386a2390bd78731385a98d | New Delhi, India (CNN) -- India accorded a red-carpet welcome Tuesday to the top leader of Myanmar's military junta, currently on a five-day visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between the neighboring countries. Gen. Than Shwe received a ceremonial reception in the sandstone presidential palace in New Delhi before he drove to the shrine to India's independence leader Mahatma Gandhi to pay homage. Indian president Pratibha Devisingh Patil, prime minister Manmohan Singh, members of his cabinet and several top bureaucrats greeted the junta leader as a state guest. The military ruler's trip underscored the close relationship between the two nations -- one seen as one of the world's most vibrant democracies and another despised by the West as a repressive regime. In 1951, the two countries signed what they called a "treaty of friendship," and over the past few years, bilateral trade has soared to almost $1 billion, according to Indian officials. Several Indian companies have invested in Myanmar's energy sector. And India's main space agency has helped set up a data-processing center in Yangon for remote-sensing applications, authorities in New Delhi say. Than Shwe's visit began on Sunday with a tour of sacred Buddhist sites in eastern India. It came days after U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged India and other countries in the region to push Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, to comply with UN human rights resolutions and nuclear nonproliferation agreements. "It is critical that Burma hear from you, its neighbors," she said in a speech at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting. Clinton described life in Myanmar as "dangerous" for the country's inhabitants and called upon other nations to push for democratic reforms there. "We would encourage India and other countries to send a clear message to Burma that it needs to change its course," State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said last week. The Myanmar general's itinerary also includes tours of India's information-technology hub in Hyderabad and the industrial center of Jamshedpur. His visit is the second by a top junta administrator in a year. | Gen. Than Shwe is on a five-day trip to India .
The countries have strong diplomatic and economic ties .
Bilateral trade between India and Myanmar has soared to almost $1 billion .
The junta leader's visit comes after U.S. asks India and other neighbors to push for reform . |
08b735e01ed98942b4bdd4a3e0583722c39a50ee | By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 20:25 EST, 25 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 20:26 EST, 25 January 2014 . A spokeswoman for a Texas hospital says it won't say on Saturday whether it plans to appeal a judge's order to take a pregnant brain-dead woman off of life support. J.R. Labbe says John Peter Smith Hospital won't announce a decision Saturday but she didn't say when it might. A judge gave the Fort Worth hospital until Monday at 5 p.m. to comply with his ruling to remove Marlise Munoz from life support, which her husband Erick Munoz says she would have wanted. This is a photo of Munoz with her first baby. She was pregnant with her second when she collapsed . She was 14 weeks pregnant when her husband found her unconscious Nov. 26, possibly due to a blood clot. The hospital says it has a legal duty to protect the fetus and is considering an appeal. John Peter Smith Hospital spokeswoman J.R. Labbe said 'discussions are ongoing' as administrators weigh the order issued a day earlier by Judge R. H. Wallace Jr. The hospital is owned by Tarrant County and is being represented in the contentious case by the DA's office. The judge's ruling could give Erick Munoz a long-awaited chance to bury his wife and move forward to care for their son and his relatives. It would also mean the fetus would never be born. Both the hospital and the family agree that Marlise Munoz meets the criteria to be considered brain-dead - which means she is dead both medically and under Texas law - and that the fetus could not be born alive this early in pregnancy. But while the hospital says it's obligated to protect the fetus, Munoz contends his wife would not have wanted to be kept in this condition. And his attorneys have said medical records show the fetus is 'distinctly abnormal.' The case has raised questions about end-of-life care and whether a pregnant woman who is considered legally and medically dead should be kept on life support for the sake of a fetus. It also has gripped attention on both sides of the abortion debate, with anti-abortion groups arguing Munoz's fetus deserves a chance to be born. Several anti-abortion advocates attended Friday's hearing. Erik Munoz says his wife wouldn't have wanted to keep living in her condition . Hospital officials have said they were bound by the Texas Advance Directives Act, which prohibits withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment from a pregnant patient. But in his brief ruling, Wallace said that 'Mrs. Munoz is dead,' meaning that the hospital was misapplying the law. The ruling did not mention the fetus. The hospital has not pronounced her dead and has continued to treat her over the objections of both Erick Munoz and her parents, who sat together in court Friday. Larry Thompson, a state's attorney representing the public hospital, told the judge Friday that the hospital recognized the Munoz family's pain and rights, but said it had a greater legal responsibility to protect the fetus. 'There is a life involved, and the life is the unborn child,' Thompson said. As Wallace gave his ruling, Erick Munoz embraced his wife's parents and one of his attorneys. Munoz declined to comment as he left court Friday. But he told The Associated Press earlier this month, in a phone interview sitting in the hospital room, that he and his wife were both paramedics who knew they didn't want to stay on life support this way. The Couple is pictured here with their first son Matteo. The fetus Munoz is currently carrying has been deemed 'abnormal' Munoz described in a signed affidavit filed Thursday what it was like to see her now: her glassy, 'soulless' eyes; and the smell of her perfume replaced by what he knows to be the smell of death. He said he's tried to hold her hand but can't. 'Her limbs have become so stiff and rigid due to her deteriorating condition that now, when I move her hands, her bones crack, and her legs are nothing more than dead weight,' Munoz said. Jessica Hall Janicek and Heather King, Erick Munoz's attorneys, accused the hospital of conducting a 'science experiment' and warned of the dangerous precedent her case could set, raising the specter of special ICUs for brain-dead women carrying babies. 'There is an infant, and a dead person serving as a dysfunctional incubator,' King told the judge. King and Janicek did not say what they would do next, pending a potential appeal by the hospital, and they didn't respond to phone messages left for them Saturday. Erick Munoz filed suit against John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas to force the hospital to remove the life support keeping his pregnant brain dead wife alive . The hospital said in a statement that it 'appreciates the potential impact of the consequences of the order on all parties involved" and was deciding whether to appeal. The hospital argued in a court filing Thursday that there was little evidence of what state lawmakers and courts thought of this issue, but recent laws passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature to restrict abortion made it clear that they wanted to preserve a fetus' rights. The Advance Directives Act 'must convey legislative intent to protect the unborn child, 'the hospital said in its filing. 'Otherwise the Legislature would have simply allowed a pregnant patient to decide to let her life, and the life of her unborn child, end.' Not much is known about fetal survival when mothers suffer brain death during pregnancy. German doctors who searched for such cases found 30 of them in nearly 30 years, according to an article published in the journal BMC Medicine in 2010. Those mothers were further along in pregnancy - 22 weeks on average - when brain death occurred than in the Texas case. Birth results were available for 19 cases. In 12, a viable child was born. Follow-up results were available for six, all of whom developed normally. Afton Brown was among a few showing support for Erick Munoz and his family outside the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center in Fort Worth, Texas on Friday, Jan. 24, 2014 . | The hospital and the family agree .
that Marlise Munoz meets the criteria to be considered brain-dead - .
which means she is dead both medically and under Texas law - and that .
the fetus could not be born alive this early in pregnancy .
A judge gave the Fort Worth hospital .
until Monday at 5 p.m. to comply with his ruling to remove Marlise Munoz .
from life support, which her husband Erick Munoz says she would have .
wanted .
John Peter Smith Hospital hasn't announced whether or not it plans to appeal the judges ruling and didn't say when it might . |
08b81dc9872abb3ac866600928683c50f7b173ca | By . Martin Beckford . PUBLISHED: . 19:06 EST, 22 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 19:07 EST, 22 December 2012 . Changed: Ms Moran's appearance had changed dramatically since the 2010 election when she appeared at a court hearing in September 2011 . The MP who fiddled the largest sum on her expenses will keep more than £25,000 of a ‘golden handshake’ that other fraudsters were denied. Margaret Moran, 57, cheated taxpayers out of £53,000 by forging invoices and claiming for bogus repairs to her second homes. She was spared jail after a judge agreed she was mentally unfit to stand trial. Instead, Moran received a two-year supervision and treatment order. Now the Commons sleaze watchdog has closed the book on two investigations without taking disciplinary action. The . former Labour MP repaid £6,000 but the authorities will struggle to . claw back any money as she has not been found guilty of any crime. Now it can be revealed Moran was paid as much as £26,852 in a ‘resettlement grant’ given to MPs when they leave Parliament. It can also be disclosed she still has a property portfolio worth an estimated £1 million. A . note published by the Committee on Standards and Privileges said: ‘It . is not feasible to seek to take further disciplinary action against Ms . Margaret Moran.’ Moran claimed £60,000 expenses between 2004 and 2008 as she ‘flipped’ the location of her second home between Westminster, her Luton constituency and a third house in Southampton. | She was paid 'resettlement grant' given to MPs when they leave Parliament .
Still has property portfolio worth more than £1million . |
08b95726823aa3d2d75f427e419a7765b4b3cba3 | By . Sam Adams . PUBLISHED: . 07:45 EST, 11 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:30 EST, 11 April 2013 . Cyprus has been warned it must sell its excess gold reserves to raise 400million euros needed to help finance its EU bailout. The stark assessment by the European Commission will come as another huge blow for the tiny country as it battles to save its stricken economy. One of the euro zone's smallest economies, Cyprus has already been forced to wind down one of its largest banks and slapped losses on uninsured deposits in order to qualify for a 10billion euro lifeline from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. Protests: There have been protests held across the country as fears rise over the impact of the crisis. Here employees of Cyprus Airways (pictured) demonstrate against the company's restructuring plans . Desperate: Widespread protests have been held across Cyprus as fears rise over the impact of the crisis. The country has now been told it must sell its excess gold reserves to help fund its bailout . Worried: Cypriots have queued to withdraw money from the country's banks since the financial crisis hit - including at this Bank of Cyprus branch in Nicosia . The European Commission's draft assessment set . out plans for the sale of some 10 tonnes of gold, the biggest euro zone bullion . sale in four years. The assessment also said that Cyprus would raise 10.6 billion euros from the winding down of Laiki Bank and the losses imposed on junior bondholders and the deposit-for-equity swap for uninsured deposits in the Bank of Cyprus. Nicosia would get a further 600 million euros over three years from higher corporate income taxes and a rise in the capital gains tax rate. Fears: Depositors waiting to withdraw money from a branch of Laiki Bank in Nicosia, last month. Laiki, also known as Cyprus Popular Bank, was wound up as part of the bailout deal agreed with the EU . Of the total Cypriot financing needs of . 23 billion euros between the second quarter of 2013 and the first . quarter of 2016, the euro zone bailout fund will provide nine billion . euros, the International Monetary Fund one billion euros and Cyprus itself . will generate 13 billion euros, the assessment said. Cyprus's total bullion reserves stood at 13.9 tonnes at the end of February, according to data from the World Gold Council. The analysis from the EU and IMF predicts the Cypriot economy will contract by 8.7 percent this year, following the bailout designed to put Cyprus back on a stable financial footing. It also shows that the economy will go on contracting through 2014, returning to marginal growth of 1.1 per cent in 2015. At the same time, debt as a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP) will peak at 126 percent, before falling to 104 per cent in 2020, the debt sustainability report shows. The analysis forecasts the budget deficit to be six per cent of GDP this year, 7.9 per cent next year, 5.7 per cent in 2015 and 2.5 percent in 2016. The European Stability Mechanism (ESM), the euro zone bailout fund, also said in a proposal that the maximum average maturity of euro zone bailout loans to Cyprus will be 15 years and the longest maturity will be 20 years. Cyprus will be charged a 10-basis-point margin above financing costs for the loans, plus a 50 basis point up-front fee for every disbursement, said the proposal, which will be discussed on Friday by finance ministers of European Union countries at a meeting in Dublin. The ESM document bears the date of April 23, 2013, indicating that this will be the date when the euro zone is likely to formally sign the bailout agreement with Cyprus. | Stark assessment by European .
Commission is another blow for country .
Trying to qualify for vital 10billion euro bailout lifeline to save its economy .
Already wound down one bank and slapped losses on uninsured deposits . |
08ba55f11eccb1807dc74c60ef8b0c659c4f7e25 | From pelicans outside a seafood shop to a crocodile roaming through a school hall - these are the unique moments of life from across Australia. The spectacular photos were shared on Instagram as part of a joint Tourism Australia and Art & About Sydney competition calling on people to share their favourite moments using the hashtag #AustralianLife. One winner and five finalists have now been announced after the judging panel trawled through 30,000 Instagram entries. The finalists shared moments from all over Australia, including a riverside lunch on the Hastings River, an unexpected classroom visitor and a kangaroo filled foggy sunrise. The winning photograph captured the moment a group of pelicans gathered outside a seafood shop at Port Macquarie in northern NSW in the hope of getting a free feed. The winning photograph from a joint Tourism Australia and Art & About Sydney competition was a shot of pelicans (left) gathering outside a Port Macquarie fish shop in the NSW north coast. A photo of two Aboriginals fishing (right) in Broome, WA, was one of five runner ups. The competition called on people to share their favourite moments using the hashtag #AustralianLife and this shot of kangaroos gathering in the morning fog at Canberra and a crocodile in a Sydney school hall were top finalists . The spectacular photos - including a shot of three children (left) at Evans Head on the far North Coast of NSW - were shared on Instagram using #AustralianLife . Those who engaged shared shots from right across the country, inlcluding Millstream National Park in WA (left) and Kakadu National Park (right) in NT . Shots of Australia's red desert and a hot air balloon at sunrise were considered top contenders in the national competition . Road trips across Australia proved to be popular amongst the photographers, including this colourful shot of the lighthouse (right) at Wollongong, south of Sydney . The entries for #AustralianLife were widespread from the Simpson Desert (left) in Queensland to Tasmania's wintry wonderland (right) Animals also proved to be popular including this shot reminiscent of Snowy Mountains life with Australian horsemen (left) Camel racing in Uluru made the finalist cut alongside a photo of a highland cow in a Tasmanian paddock . These two shots show just how different a night under the stars can be from the outback to Sydney CBD (right) | Spectacular photos were shared as part of a joint Tourism Australia and Art & About Sydney competition .
People were encouraged to share their favourites moments using the hashtag #AustralianLife .
One winner and five finalists were announced after the judging panel trawled through 30,000 entries .
Winning photo captured the moment a group of pelicans gathered outside a seafood shop at Port Macquarie . |
08bbd8db6940f0d9947b9db87efaf70ffefc140b | By . Martha De Lacey . PUBLISHED: . 11:17 EST, 11 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:17 EST, 11 July 2012 . High-maintenance trophy wives, physical attractiveness and TOWIE-type party girls are these days being shunned by British men in favour of women personality, wit, brains and sophistication, according to new research. And it seems both the Duchess of Cambridge and the economic downturn are to thank for this shift. Funny girl: British men look for wit, thoughtfulness and brains in women these days, as opposed to more superficial and high-maintenance traits . Thanks . to the former Kate Middleton's elegance, classic style and intelligence, British men . have now decided they are most attracted to smart, dark-haired women . with sophisticated dress sense and a sense of humour. Psychologists also believe that poor economic conditions have led to people becoming less materialistic, seeking partners who can provide happiness and security rather than manicured nails and good cleavage. Nowadays men are least attracted to the . energetic, party-girl types seen on TV programmes such as The Only Way . Is Essex. In fact, 72 per cent of men say they look for a good personality rather than good looks in women, and rather than high-maintenance TOWIE types, most British men would prefer a Kate Middleton type: smart, five six with dark brown hair and just a touch of bronze to the skin. The research also found half of men say they are most attracted to brainy girls with a funny spark and a classic dress sense. Interestingly, the same held true for . the girls, with exactly 50 per cent saying a brainy chap was most . attractive. Eighty-two per cent of women rank a man's personality as more important than his . looks. Girl types: Most British men look for a type of woman like the Duchess of Cambridge, left, while only 20 per cent said they are attracted to party girls such as Chloe Simms from The Only Way Is Essex, right . Thirty-one per cent of men said the . ideal woman would be interested in music, 32 per cent would like a woman interested in travel, while 28 per cent are attracted to women . keen on movies. Only 14 per cent of men found sporty . girls most attractive - though London men are getting into the . Olympic spirit, with 18 per cent . preferring a sporty girl to any other type. Only one in 20 men said they are attracted to party animals with . energetic personalities, making it the least attractive ‘type’ of girl. In addition, the most popular . character traits in women are funny, sensitive, thoughtful and outgoing. 1. Funny . 2. Thoughtful . 3. Sociable . 4. Confident . 5. Romantic . 1. Brainy . 2. Flirtatious . 3. Sporty . 4. High-maintenance . 5. Party animal . Psychologist . Dr David Lewis said: 'The findings suggest that male and female roles . are evolving as what men look for in a woman are becoming more in line . with what women typically look for in a man. 'Although we are . initially attracted to someone through physical features, it’s now more . important to people that their partners are companions rather than . ‘trophies’. 'The recent economic downturn could also play a part . in this evolvement, as we’ve become less materialistic as a nation than . before the recession, and now seek partners who can provide us with . contentment and security' Kavi Tolani, . brand manager at Lynx, the company which conducted the research, said: 'We’ve always known guys have preferences for different . personality types and it’s great to see this in our results. 'It’s . clear that different cultures and upbringings across the UK can make . the mating game very competitive within regions, putting pressure on . guys to succeed when they meet girls exhibiting a desired personality . type.' | The Duchess of Cambridge is the British man's favourite 'type'
Men least attracted to TOWIE-type party girls, most attracted to brainy ones . |
08bc0b5471511bcdc0afe7a06cbc452d80180160 | Beyoncé's sister has spoken out for the first time since her famous elevator bust with her brother-in-law, Jay-Z . Solange Knowles described the shocking showdown as 'that thing' and insisted that any ill feeling she had to the rap star was forgotten. 'What's important is that my family and I are all good,' Solange said. 'What we had to say collectively was in the statement that we put out, and we all feel at peace with that.' Knowles, 28, who spoke to Lucky magazine about the bust up, was caught on a security camera in May as she lashed out at Jay-Z while her older sister stood by and said nothing. Scroll down for video . Speaking out: Solange Knowles has said there are no bad feelings between her and Jay-Z in her first interview about the spat. She will appear in the August issue of Lucky magazine . They were in an elevator at the Standard Hotel in New York after attending the Met Gala when Knowles kicked and attempted to slap Jay-Z. In the footage, a man who looks to be a bodyguard tries to hold Solange back but she manages to rain blows on the rapper several times, and even hits him with her purse. The incident was caught on the elevator's camera and leaked by a hotel worker before it spread across the internet. The employee was fired by the hotel following the furor. The following day, the two sisters and Jay Z addressed the video captured by cameras at The Standard Hotel in New York. Brawl: Solange, right, her sister Beyonce and a shocked Jay-Z are pictured emerging from an elevator at the Met Gala after-party following the argument that was caught on surveillance camera . 'As a result of the public release of the elevator security footage from Monday, May 5th, there has been a great deal of speculation about what triggered the unfortunate incident. But the most important thing is that our family has worked through it,' they said in a statement. 'Jay and Solange each assume their share of responsibility for what has occurred. They both acknowledge their role in this private matter that has played out in the public. They both have apologized to each other and we have moved forward as a united family.' 'The reports of Solange being intoxicated or displaying erratic behavior throughout that evening are simply false,' the statement continued. 'At the end of the day families have problems and we're no different. We love each other and above all we are family. We've put this behind us and hope everyone else will do the same.' Seething: An angry Solange is pictured in a car as she leaves the event at a New York hotel in May . Friends speculated that Knowles, whose singing career has failed to match those of her sister, was angry at Jay-Z for not supporting her. It was also suggested that Knowles was angry by the rap impresario getting 'too close' to his former business partner's ex-wife. Two days after the video leaked, Beyoncé showed her public support to her sister by taking to her Instagram account on Wednesday to post tender images of the two together. | Beyonce's sister called the showdown 'that thing' and insisted there were no ill feelings between her and her brother-in-law .
Surveillance footage emerged in May of Solange attacking Jay-Z in the elevator at the Met Gala - as Beyonce did nothing . |
08bd1bb762916e48f3de8cc4bb243b5ef6c0324a | By . Chris Kitching for MailOnline . Air India’s woes with rodent stowaways appear to be continuing after a rat was reportedly spotted on board a plane in the country’s capital. The plane was taken out of service and fumigated after it landed at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport from the city of Ranchi yesterday, the Times of India reported. It is at least the fourth reported sighting on an Air India aircraft this year. Scroll down for video . Rats on a plane: There have been at least four rodent sightings on Air India flights this year . Earlier this month, cabin crew spotted rats scurrying free in the rear half of a plane as it landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport from Calcutta. The Airbus A321 was carrying about 200 passengers and staff, and it was removed from service and taken to a remote airport bay to be fumigated. In May, the pilot on a flight from New Delhi to London reported a rat in the cockpit, the newspaper reported. But there are conflicting reports about whether a rat was actually on board. Rats were blamed after a domestic flight from Mumbai suffered a two-hour delay in February. Planes must be fumigated even when there is an unconfirmed sighting because the rodents pose a serious threat to the safety of passengers and crew. An Air India aircraft that flew from Ranchi to New Delhi had to be fumigated after a rat was reported on board . Rats can chew on electrical wires and disrupt computer systems aboard an aircraft. The rodents normally sneak onto aircraft via catering vehicles loaded with food. Last year, health inspectors in China found nearly a dozen rats underneath a business class seat after a commercial flight landed at Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport from Hong Kong. Inspectors wearing protective suits and masks boarded the plane and searched through overhead storage bins and behind seats. In 2009, an Air India flight from Amritsar to Toronto was delayed for nearly half a day as staff tried to catch a rat that was spotted on board. The flight was delayed while a replacement aircraft was flown in. | Rodent was reportedly spotted on a plane that flew in from Ranchi .
It is at least the fourth reported sighting on an Air India aircraft this year .
Rats pose a serious risk because they can chew through wires . |
08be98702e600702b7d73003a2843dd883d9d627 | Leisure time: Shaun Clemens-Cooney, who was behind a £300,000 cannabis factory in Blackburn . A builder converted a newly-built house into a £300,000 cannabis factory - after council planners told him he could only use it as a 'leisure facility.' Shaun Clemens-Cooney, 43, wanted to build the three-bedroomed detached home at the back of his own £200,000 semi-detached house in Blackburn - but had been refused planning permission three times. Finally, inspectors agreed he could build the property - but only after he promised he would only use the upper floors for 'leisure purposes', including a playroom for a billiard table and another for a model railway. Yet after construction boss Clemens-Cooney finished his project, police received a tip-off about the nature of the property's 'leisure facilities.' During a raid in May last year officers opened the roller shutters of the double garage - and were faced with a plaster board wall behind which they could hear fans whirring away. They then discovered 600 marijuana plant, being grown in 3,000 pots across all the three floors of the property. They also found a sophisticated hydroponic irrigation system complete with extraction ducts and discovered Clemens-Cooney had also rigged the electricity supply at his own home to steal £20,000 worth of power to supply light, water and air filtration. Today Clemens-Cooney, from Blackburn, Lancashire, is starting three years in jail after he was convicted of producing cannabis following a 12-day trial. Boarded up: Clemens-Cooney blacked out the windows and boarded up the doors to keep his facilities secret . One of his tenants Morgan Redmayne, 44, of Darwen was jailed for two and a half years for cannabis production. After the case a neighbour, who asked not be named, said: 'Council planners may have told Shaun he could only use the property for leisure purposes but obviously his idea of leisure purposes was far from their minds when they let him build it. Also jailed: Tenant Morgan Redmayne must serve two and a half years . 'The reality was Shaun was pretty cross with the council when it refused him permission and we wouldn't be surprised if he finished the building off with a view to using it as a custom-built cannabis farm. 'He had already started building the house when he was found out, and ordered to submit planning permission but the dispute went on for years and must have cost him a considerable a fortune. 'Maybe he thought growing cannabis was a way of getting back some of his money.' Clemens-Cooney who is company secretary of Millbrooke Construction in Darwen and owns up to seven properties hit trouble in February 2007, when he was caught trying to build an eighth house on half an acre of land behind his family home without the right permissions. Over a two year period officials at Blackburn with Darwen Council repeatedly refused planning permission for the property saying it would have a 'dominant, overbearing impact to neighbouring dwellings, to the detriment of residential amenity.' A report said the proposal would be 'out of character with adjacent properties and the surrounding area in general.' But in January 2010 Clemens-Cooney . applied again this time saying the detached property would now be a . double garage and games room and offered drawings showing a 'playroom' and 'model railway room' as well as office space and a utility room. The . following the March officials said they would only grant permission for . the property to be completed on condition it would not be used as . 'habitable accommodation.' He later completed the house and even showed . it off on his company website. Another neighbour said: 'The property was built about three years ago, and it is quite an eyesore and nobody likes it. 'But . we had no indication that it was a cannabis farm, we never smelt . anything and you couldn't tell it was lit up because the windows were . whitewashed.' Out of character: The 'cannabis house' was hidden behind Clemens-Cooney's own house . What officers might have expected to find: Clemens-Cooney told planning officers the upstairs would be used for projects such as a model railway . The neighbour added: 'There was nothing suspicious about it either, no suspicion coming and goings and I kept a pretty good eye on it. I wouldn't say I was shocked when I found out what was going on - more surprised I'd say - but not surprised when I found out it was him. 'There were two fake garage doors at the front and behind that was a breeze block. The windows on the front were all white washed so you could never see in. It took about two days for the police to bring out all the plants. 'We were told there were 600 cannabis plants but there must have been about 3,000 plant pots which in the end were given to the local garden centre. 'The plants were between 6ft and 9ft high and had been being cropped. He must have had a lot of heaters in there too. 'He must have put ducts in there that took out the smell so we could never smell anything because it went out the other way. Even when we were sat out in summer we couldn't smell anything. 'Mr Clemens-Cooney is a well known man around here because of his building background and he owns a lot of houses. 'I always saw him in his overalls and driving a van. He's a real Del Boy.' Clemens-Cooney's Millbrooke Construction company showcased the house as a residential new build . Last September Clemens-Cooney was caught in a row after claims electricity powering seven houses he built were illegally connected. He and Redmayne both denied drugs charges at Preston Crown Court. A spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service said: 'In his back garden, Clemens-Cooney had built a three-bedroom property, albeit the planning permission was limited to a storage structure. 'When the police conducted a raid at the property, they found that it was being used as a cannabis factory, with lights and fans and extraction ducting. 'The electricity for the property was being abstracted from Clemens-Cooney's own house, with a cable running from his house and underground to the property in the rear garden.' Det Insp Mark Winstanley from Lancashire Police said: 'This was a very large and significant cannabis set-up and I hope this result will reduce the supply of drugs in the local area. 'Cannabis brings upset and misery to our communities and we are determined to work with local residents to tackle the issue. I urge local residents to contact us with any information or concerns about cannabis in their community.' | Clemens-Cooney, 43, had been pressing council for planning permission 'for years'
Told planning officers that house would be used for model railway .
Jailed for three years after police received tip-off which led to raid . |
08bef36b723bb5dffb9c65090fd64db0afe639ad | Three Tottenham Hotspur players were dropped by Belgium manager Marc Wilmots as they beat Russia 1-0 at the World Cup to secure qualification for the last-16. Nacer Chadli, Jan Vertonghen and Mousa Dembele were all replaced in the starting line-up as Russia frustrated the Belgians. Chelsea's Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku failed to impose themselves on the match and will need to improve if Belgium do hold hopes of going far in this tournament. VIDEO Scroll down for Vincent Kompany: There's a lot of pressure on Lukaku . Crucial: Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard grabbed the assist for Belgium's winner against Russia . Goal: Divock Origi grabbed the winner for Belgium in their 1-0 victory over Russia with three minutes left . Ecstasy: Belgian players celebrates in front of their fans following Origi's winner against Russia . Happy: Belgium coach Marc Wilmots celebrates after Belgium beat Russia 1-0 to progress at the World Cup . Thibaut Courtois . Every time you see this keeper you cannot help but be impressed. Following a phenomenal season on loan at Atletico Madrid - which bagged him a La Liga title and a Champions League final - Courtois has taken his form into the World Cup in Brazil. This was his 100th career clean sheet and he is only 22. Jose Mourinho and Chelsea, take notice. Courtois commands his box so well and every single cross from the Russian side he was quick to catch and hold. A couple of decent saves from Alexander Kokorin in the first half and another from Maksim Kanunnikov were all he had to do really, but he did it was ease which was impressive. Impressive: Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois kept his 100th career clean sheet against Russia . Victory: Courtois claps the Belgium fans as he leaves the field following a composed display in goal . Vincent Kompany . Dominant display. Whenever the Manchester City centre back has the ball at his feet he looks so composed and rarely puts a foot wrong. Was caught out of position just before half-time as Kokorin ghosted in between the centre backs to nod a free header wide, but apart from that he looked extremely assured. If Belgium are to go far in this tournament then they will need him to stay fit and lead from the front. Dominant: Manchester City's Vincent Kompany (left) was composed and in control in defence for Belgium . Captain marvel: Kompany (second left) congratulates goal scorer Origi after he nets Belgium's winner . Jan Vertonghen . One of three Spurs players dropped before the match for Belgium, he soon was back on the pitch following Thomas Vermaelen's injury. He sometimes struggles for pace at full back and was caught out a few times, but overall he is a tidy footballer and is very solid. Comfortable afternoon for him in all honesty as Fabio Capello's Russia offered so little going forward. Substitute: Tottenham's Jan Vertonghen (left) was dropped but came on after 31 minutes . Solid: Vertonghen did his job well at left back once he replaced the injured Vermaelen for Belgium . Thomas Vermaelen . It just has not been his season. Dropped by Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, persistent injury problems curtailed him from being able to force his way back into his club side. He was given his chance here at left-back and had done relatively little wrong before he was forced down the tunnel with an injury after just 31 minutes. He suffered a knee injury during the warm-up and had to come off. Very disappointing for him. Frustrated: Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen looks disappointed as he leaves the field injured . Knock: Vermaelen suffered a knee injury in the warm-up and has been plagued by fitness problems . Eden Hazard . Again Hazard really struggled to leave up to the hype in this match - until the final three minutes. Two frustrating performances for the Chelsea man - Dries Mertens has been Belgium's shining light and Hazard has been merely an observer for large parts - but he has provided two assists in two games now. A few decent tricks and flicks but he kept giving the ball away and there was no end product until, with 87 minutes on the clock, he jinked inside two Russian players and laid the ball off for Divock Origi to bag the winner. If he can find form then Belgium could really be strong in the latter stages of this tournament, but Hazard doesn't look entirely comfortable with this formation. Nothing seems to be happening for the little magician at the moment. Tricky: Hazard was frustrated for large parts of the match but came up with an assist late-on . Control: Hqzard only showed glimpses of the quality that he possesses in the match against Russia . Improvement: If Belgium can get the best out of Hazard then they could go far in Brazil . Romelu Lukaku . It really has not been the Chelsea man's tournament has it. He was extremely poor again for Belgium following his anonymous display against Algeria. After failing to register a shot in his first match, or even making a touch in the opposition penalty area, he looked lethargic and did not work hard enough for Wilmots' men against Russia. The ball kept bouncing back from him towards Russian defenders and would not stick to hit feet. He was deservedly replaced for the second match in a row by Lille's 19-year-old forward Origi after 57 minutes, who has offered far more than Lukaku has and bagged Belgium's winner. Is Mourinho being proved right in refusing to give the big man a chance to lead the line at Chelsea? Poor: Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku (left) was again disappointing for Belgium and was replaced on 57 minutes . Off the pace: The ball kept bouncing off Lukaku and he was not able to get himself into the game . Option: Lukaku's replacement Origi (left) netted the winner with three minutes to go . Marouane Fellaini . The Manchester United midfielder was rewarded for his equaliser against Iran with a start against Russia but he did little right, or little wrong. A fairly non-descriptive performance from Fellaini who really did not dominate and use his huge physical presence as well as he should have done. There were a few aerial challenges won and a few neat interchanges with Mertens in the first half but, as Belgium were pushed deeper in the second half, Fellaini offered little threat. Needs to do more. Average: Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini (centre) did little right or wrong for Belgium . Committed: Fellaini competes for the ball with Russia's Dmitry Kombarov during Belgium's 1-0 win . Kevin Mirallas . Replaced Mertens after 75 minutes. Mertens had been Belgium's best player in the first half but faded in the second. Mirallas hit the post with a free-kick with seven minutes remaining, probably Belgium's best chance, and then should have scored in injury time when he was set one-on-one by Eden Hazard but shot straight at the goalkeeper. Had a fantastic season at Everton but struggling to get into this Belgian side at the moment but, given a start, he could prove the difference for them. Replacement: Everton's Kevin Mirallas (right) came on for Dries Mertens after 75 minutes . Joy: Mirallas (left) celebrates with forward Origi as Belgium record a 1-0 victory over Russia . | Belgium beat Russia 1-0 in their second World Cup match .
There were eight Premier League players on show for Belgium .
Three Tottenham players were dropped from the first match .
Nacer Chadli, Jan Vertonghen and Mousa Dembele did not start .
Arsenal's Thomas Vermaelen limped off, replaced by Vertonghen . |
08bfba8820baacfbab3ff83ea20bf0c23cbde42c | The UK economy is being given a much-needed boost - and it's thanks to Middle Eastern visitors who are splashing out on hotel rooms. Middle Eastern visitors are forking out an average 61 per cent more per night for hotel rooms in the UK than the average national rate of £105. Travellers from the region paid an average £169 per night on accommodation in the first half of 2014, making them the highest paying visitors to the UK, even though this rate reflected a six per cent fall from the £180 paid in the same period in 2013. London is given a boost as Middle Eastern tourists spend their cash in top hotels (file photo) Mexican tourists, some pictured with the Royal Navy, are the second most generous visitors to the UK . While Middle Eastern tourists were certainly well ahead of the pack, other nations also paid significantly more than the average national rate. Mexico came second in the list of top international spenders, shelling out an average £146 per night after a four per cent increase. Brazil was not far behind on £141, showing no change on the average price paid last year. The most generous Europeans were the Russians, who came in fourth place at £140 per night after a 13 per cent increase. The report from Hotels.com showed that hotel prices paid by international visitors were on the rise in 2014 compared with 2013, with 32 of the 36 nations analysed paying more in the first six months of the year than in the same time period the previous year. It may be out of a lot of people's price range, but The Savoy is a viable option to Middle Eastern tourists . The average spend of tourists from abroad and what their spend was in 2013 compared with this year . As well as Russia, Taiwan and Spain also experienced the highest percentage increase in the table with a 13 per cent price rise, taking their average price paid to £117 and £111 respectively. Along with the Middle East, the only others to fall were Australia, down two per cent to £115, while China and Hong Kong both dropped one per cent to £133 and £122, respectively. Lizann Peppard from Hotels.com said: 'The UK's internationally central location, rich heritage and beautiful landscapes seem to bring out the urge to splurge in international visitors. 'Middle Eastern visitors have the most expensive tastes when visiting the UK, ahead of Latin American, European and Asian visitors. The overall price rise and continued high spending from international visitors is good news for the UK hotel industry.' | Visitors from the Middle East spend 61% more than national average .
Mexico comes second in list of international spenders to the UK .
Russians are the most generous Europeans, says study . |
08bfc479193016c16b601ab1a7a6cfbc7e75e968 | This extraordinary looking skeleton looks more suited to a Ridley Scott movie than a Lancashire kitchen. The mysterious remains, which bear more than a passing resemblance to the terrifying creature in the Alien horror film, were discovered under a kitchen cabinet in the Rea family home in Altcar, Lancashire. Former record label boss Kevin Rea, 55, found it when he pulled out the footboards between the cupboard and the floor to dry the units out after a leak. Now he is trying to discover what on earth the skeleton may have been. Scroll down for video . What on earth is it? This mysterious skeleton was found under a kitchen cupboard in Altcar, Lancashire . Mr Rea, who has lived at the ancient stone cottage on the Leverhulme Estate with wife, George, 47, and son, Eden, 13, for five years, said he found it in a cocoon-like nest under the cupboard. He said: 'A plumber told me I had to dry out the footboards after a leak, and when I took one of them off, I found a collection of cleaning products but also this weird nest. 'And inside it was this thing. 'I have no idea what it is, but when I saw it I thought of the alien that bursts out of John Hurt's chest in the film.' Mr Rea, who revolutionised dance music with his hit, Technotronic's Pump Up The Jam, took some photographs of the skeleton, which he said was around six inches long, and then threw it away because it was 'disgusting'. In Ridley Scott's 1979 classic, the Alien stalked and killed the crew of Nostromo after being brought on board the craft using hapless Kane, played by John Hurt, as a host. The terrifying film, which starred Sigourney Weaver as heroine Ripley, became a cult classic and spawned a franchise with three sequels and an Alien Vs Predator spin-off. The creature was designed by Swiss surrealist painter and sculpter H.R. Giger, who won an Oscar for his design work on the film. Today experts were divided on what the remains might have been. Kevin Rea, 55, said the skeleton he discovered in his kitchen reminded him of Ridley Scott's horror film, Alien . Terrifying creature: In Ridley Scott's Alien films, the aliens are terrifying beasts that take over Nostromo . Stuart Hine, who runs the Natural History Museum's Identification and Advisory Service, said: 'Depending on size, it's either a rat or mouse, and the alien appearance is due to the skull being reversed and pointing backwards. 'The front legs and shoulder blades are also absent, which helps give it the alien appearance. The cocoon-like nest mentioned will have been the remaining skin, fur and webbing remaining from the feeding of moths.' He added: 'The tail still looks to be covered in skin so it is only likely to be a year or two old.' Amy Fensome, from the Biosciences College of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Exeter, told MailOnline: 'That looks very much like a very large rat, but the head has twisted around so that the skull is turned to look over the shoulder.' Readers were split over what the skeleton was, with squirrels and rats being the options suggested by most, and one suggesting a marmoset. | Former record label boss Kevin Rea had taken his kitchen cupboards apart .
Behind one footboard, he found a 'weird nest' with strange six-inch skeleton .
Mr Rea, of Altcar, Lancashire, said: 'I have no idea what it is - it's disgusting'
Said it reminded him of terrifying Alien from 1979 Ridley Scott horror classic .
In the cult film, the grotesque creature bursts out of John Hurt's stomach .
Meanwhile, experts can't agree on what the disturbing find might be . |
08c03684644c4fa989e4c42843d7d228a5ee2d7e | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 17:46 EST, 7 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 23:20 EST, 7 June 2013 . A 67-year-old woman in Clairemont, California, found herself going for an unexpected swim when she drove her SUV into a backyard pool. At around 2:40 p.m. Janet Walter drove her black 2010 Subaru sports utility vehicle through her garage and two fences, before driving the vehicle into her neighbor's pool. The driver was able to get herself out of the car without help, and only had minor injuries which were later treated on the scene. After the crash, Walter refused to talk to the media. Family members told ABC 10 News that the driver's only injury was a cut on her finger. Parking pool: A California woman crashed her SUV into a neighbor's backyard pool. Family members say her only injury was a cut on the finger . The driver's neighbor, Lynn Lynn, heard the crash and ran to the scene along with other neighbors. 'We all ran over there and got into the backyard behind and I kept yelling for her and I could hear her,' Lynn told Fox 5 San Diego. 'I didn't realize that she had kept going into the pool.' Lynn told reporters that the driver may have accidentally stepped on the gas pedal instead of the brake. 'I heard her tell the officer that she stepped on the brake, but it kept going,' Lynn told CBS 8. The driver's son-in-law says that it was the woman's recent knee replacement that affected her ability to control the vehicle. Trick knee: Walter's son-in-law said that her recent knee-surgery affected her ability to control the vehicle . Surprise swim: Responding fire-fighters were surprised by how together Walter was after the accident - only sustaining minor injuries . Responding fire fighters were surprised she wasn't hurt. 'She seemed, for the circumstances, she seemed pretty together,' San Diego Fire Department Captain Sean Murphy told 10 News. 'She just seemed understandably shook up.' About two hours later, a San Diego towing company was able to pull the vehicle out of the pool. Rafael Quezaea, who was tasked with towing the vehicle out, said it was a difficult task. 'We don't really see this type of work everyday, but we have to figure it out,' Quezaea told Fox 5. Quezaea said they did their best to minimize damage to the pool. 'You just have to play with the cables,' Quezaea said. 'Play with the cables and the cables are going to move the car around that's what it is. We just work as we go.' The pool did incur some damage, but is covered by insurance. The only victims of the crash seemed to be a submerged cellphone and a water-damaged Sudoku book. Waterlogged: The towing company had a difficult time extricating the car from the pool - a task they don't get very often . | Janet Walter drove her Subaru through the back of her garage and two fences before nose-diving the vehicle into her neighbor's pool .
Walter's only injury was a cut on her finger . |
08c0bd9039efa18c1d3c98ca92e2ae64214a916c | By . Claire Ellicott . PUBLISHED: . 20:05 EST, 9 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 05:29 EST, 10 January 2014 . Disfigured: Naomi Oni of Dagenham, East London, . was permanently scarred after she was attacked on her way home from work . at Victoria's Secret . A student who allegedly threw acid in her friend’s face said she wanted to have her raped, a court was told yesterday. Mary Konye, 21, is also said to have asked Muslim students about where to buy a niqab, or Islamic veil, telling them she had to go to a Muslim relative’s funeral. The court heard that Konye told a friend she planned to disfigure Naomi Oni, saying: ‘I’m going to mess up the one thing that girl has – her looks.’ Omolola Vincent, 20, told Snaresbrook Crown Court in North-East London: ‘She said she was going to throw acid on her. She told me she had acid. She bought it online.’ Miss Oni, 21, of Dagenham, East London, was attacked on December 30 on her way home from work. The Victoria’s Secret shop assistant suffered permanent scarring all over her body and her face. She also nearly lost the sight in both eyes. Konye is accused of following her home dressed in a niqab and throwing acid in her face as she got off at her bus stop. Konye’s college friend Miss Vincent also said that Konye posted a picture of Freddy Krueger, the disfigured character from the Nightmare on Elm Street horror film, online. She then changed her written status to: ‘That’s what you’re going to look like when I’m finished with you.’ Miss Vincent, a student, added: ‘As soon as I saw it I messaged her and I said "Oh my gosh, did you actually do it?" ‘She replied that even if she did do it she wouldn’t tell anybody.’ Miss Vincent, who had studied chemistry at college, told the court that Konye had quizzed her about the laboratory and had asked whether there was acid. She added: ‘She told me she had acid. She said she bought it online. She said the acid was in her house. ‘It was [from] one of those dodgy websites. It was dodgy countries like Chinese type of places. When she was saying it she was kind of laughing it off so it wasn’t really taken serious. ‘Even when she was saying she had acid, she was saying it in not a serious way so we didn’t take her seriously.’ 'Even if she did do it she wouldn’t tell anybody': CCTV Mary Konye wearing a niqab following Miss Oni as she walks through a tube station. Konye denies throwing acid in the face of her former friend . Konye, of Canning Town, East London, denies throwing or casting a corrosive fluid with intent to burn, maim, disfigure, disable or do grievous bodily harm. She admits following Miss Oni and to being the person wearing a niqab. The case continues. | Court hears that Mary Konye told friend she planned to disfigure Naomi Oni .
Omolola Vincent said: 'She told me she had acid. She bought it online'
Konye admits wearing a niqab to follow Miss Oni, but denies attacking her . |
08c3231c984bab8462364ac56a7f32b15c2ec51f | (CNN) -- "Liz and Dick" had nothing on this Lifetime movie. Like that previous Lifetime attempt, viewers on Twitter loved to hate "Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B." Fans of the late singer were none too pleased with it, and it's little wonder that her family reportedly provided no support to it (none of her original songs were in the film either). Original star Zendaya Coleman backed out of the movie earlier this year, saying it all seemed "a little rushed." One of her producers, Timbaland, made no bones about his dissatisfaction with the movie as well. Aaliyah had a very successful recording career, singing many hits before her tragic death at age 22 in a 2001 plane crash. The biopic -- especially some of the casting -- was seen as so bad that it spawned at least two hashtags, "#LifetimeBeLike" and "#LifetimeBiopic." Below, a few good examples of the many, many tweets on the topic. Before the biopic aired, producers defended it. The Washington Post reported that executive producers Howard Braunstein and Debra Martin Chase, as well as Christopher Farley, the author of "Aaliyah: More Than a Woman," on which the movie was based, said it was their goal to present a tasteful tribute to the late singer. "Biopics are hard," Chase said. "People have an opinion and social media allows them to voice that opinion. But at the end of the day, our goal was to make the best movie possible." Tell us what you thought about the movie in the comments. | NEW: Producers defended the film .
Lifetime's TV-movie about late singer Aaliyah received widespread disdain on Twitter .
Fans critiqued the casting, which they felt was all wrong .
Aaliyah's family gave no support to the movie . |
08c481188aee4b272fa4345ce9187d362c2aa00c | (CNN) -- Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes as scientists warn the towering Mayon volcano is about to explode in the Philippines, the country's national news agency reported Monday. More than 9,000 families -- a total of 44,394 people -- are being housed in evacuation camps after authorities Sunday raised the alert status of the country's most active volcano, Albay Province Gov. Joey Salceda said. But officials said not everyone is heeding their warnings -- some villagers were spotted within the danger zone checking on their homes and farms on the foothills of the volcano. The government is trying to enforce a "no man's land" rule in the designated danger zone, with military and police instructed to double the personnel manning the nine checkpoints and double their foot patrol operation inside the restricted area, PNA reported. Philippine authorities raised the alert status to Level 4 on Sunday which "means that a hazardous explosive eruption is possible within days," according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. "Audible booming and rumbling sounds were first reported in the eastern flank of the volcano" Sunday afternoon, and 1,942 volcanic earthquakes were detected by the institute's seismic network in the 24 hours to 7 a.m. local time on Monday (6 p.m. ET on Sunday), the institute said. One was "an explosion-type earthquake" that launched a cloud of ash about 500 meters (1,640 feet) into the air, according to the statement. Level 4 means an eruption is considered imminent and Level 5, the highest, means an eruption is taking place. The Institute recommended extending already-established danger zones of 8 km (4.9 miles) south of the summit and 7 km (4.3 miles) north of the summit of the the 8,077-foot volcano. People in surrounding Albay Province have flocked to town centers to catch a glimpse of glowing lava cascading down the slopes of Mayon since the mountain began oozing fiery lava and belching clouds of ash last week. The volcano, located about 500 km (310 miles) south of the Philippine capital of Manila, has erupted 49 times since its first documented eruption in 1616. The Philippines is situated in the so-called Ring of Fire, an arc of fault lines circling the Pacific Basin that is prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Mayon's most violent eruption, in 1814, killed more than 1,200 people and devastated several towns. Its last major eruption was in 1993. Since then, it has remained restless, emitting ash and spewing lava. | Thousands of people evacuated from base of Mayon volcano in Philippines .
Scientists warn that the volcano is about to explode .
The volcano has already erupted 49 times since 1616 .
Audible booming and rumbling sounds first heard Sunday . |
08c4dcd42f1d19306ef6ad857b88a406f89ce768 | By . Steve Nolan . PUBLISHED: . 13:35 EST, 5 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:34 EST, 5 November 2013 . A man has been found guilty of murdering his girlfriend's three-year daughter because he was jealous that she was getting more attention than him. Lylah Aaron suffered a fatal brain injury and three broken ribs after she was kicked, slapped, shaken and punched in the head by Delroy Catwell. Catwell had denied killing Lylah and blamed her injuries on the girl's mother Precious Chibanda. But a jury at Sheffield Crown Court found him guilty of murder today after a two week trial. He will be sentenced tomorrow. Facing jail: Delroy Catwell, left, has been found guilty of murdering his girlfriend's three-year-old daughter Lylah Aaron, right . Ms Chibanda, who found it too upsetting to attend much of the trial, broke down in tears as the verdict was read out. The court had heard from medical experts that the force used to break Lylah's ribs was similar to that seen in a car crash or a fall from a tall building. As well as a 'sustained and forceful attack' on Lylah hours before she died, the jury was told that Catwell also slammed the tot’s head . against a bedroom wall damaging the plaster three weeks previously - . claiming he hit the wall because he was trying to kill a spider. Seven months before she died, Lylah was found with a bruised neck which . Catwell said was caused when she banged her head on a sink. Paramedics were called on February 8 when Ms Chibanda found Lylah was not . breathing when she returned from work at Derby Royal Infirmary. She asked . Catwell to help but he did not respond. She said: 'He looked like he . was in shock. He was just frozen.' Paramedics . discovered Lylah’s body was rigid and attempted resuscitation. She was . rushed to Sheffield Children’s Hosptal but later died. Poignant: Tributes are left outside Lylah Aaron's family home after she died from head injuries earlier this year . Prosecutor Bryan Cox QC said: 'There . were numerous bruises over her body. 'There was . substantial bruising to her head and fractures to her ribs. 'The injuries . indicated she had been subject to a sustained and forceful assault that . had occurred within hours of her admission to hospital.' Mr Cox had told the court: 'The couple’s relationship was generally good but sometimes he would complain he felt sidelined and she gave too much to Lylah.' 'This murder was a forceful and . sustained attack on a defenceless three-year-old girl.' Det Supt David Barraclough . Catwell, an unemployed DJ, told police the girl was full of energy and he found it hard to deal with her demands while trainee nurse Miss Chibanda said 'he at times mentioned that I perhaps smothered her.' Lylah’s mother had gone to work on the day her daughter died but Catwell failed to take Lylah to nursery where staff described her as 'bright' and a 'confident, bubbly little girl'. He claimed the girl was tired and had been ill for a few days so after watching cartoons he put her to bed that afternoon. He told police: 'I have never hit Lylah. I didn’t cause any injuries whatsoever.' Experts said he must have inflicted the fatal injuries before Miss Chibanda returned from work at about 4.30pm. Hunt for clues: A forensics officer enters the Sheffield home of Lylah Aaron. Scientific evidence suggests that her head was banged off a wall in the main bedroom of the house . A pathologist reported that the bruises to Lylah’s head were 'typical of non-accidental injuries' and bruising in and behind the left ear 'suggested impact from a hard object with a straight linear surface.' He went on: 'Other bruises could have been caused by kicks, slaps or punches.' All the bruises had been caused within 24 hours of her death. Medical experts found scar tissue on the brain indicating a three-week-old injury and four rib fractures, one of which was about three weeks old. The other three fresh breaks had been caused by 'squeezing or compression'. The medics concluded Lylah died from repeated impacts causing fatal bleeding to the brain. The court was told that Catwell had a previous conviction for sexual assault against a 13-year-old girl in August, 2005 . Andrew Robertson QC, defending, said the attack on Lylah was not pre-meditated and although he admitted there were as number of impacts the court could 'never be sure in this case that there was an intention to kill.' Judge Justice Nicola Davies, heard pre-sentence submissions from both barristers who agreed that Catwell will receive a life sentence with a minimum term to be fixed by the judge. Both lawyers also agreed the judge's starting point for fixing the minimum term was 15 years but she could increase this by taking into account aggravating factors. Mr Cox said these factors should include the vulnerability of the victim, the abuse of a position of trust, the previous violence towards Lylah, the fact he tried to blame his partner for the murder and his previous conviction. Life sentence: Catwell will be sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court, pictured, tomorrow . After the verdict investigating officer . Det Supt David Barraclough said: 'This murder was a forceful and . sustained attack on a defenceless three-year-old girl. 'It was both . deliberate and violent and perpetrated by Catwell the man who should . have been caring for her. 'It is clear his vicious acts left Lylah with . injuries that later were to prove fatal.' | Lylah Aaron suffered brain injury in 'sustained attack' by Delroy Catwell .
Catwell, 31, had blamed injuries on child's mother Precious Chibanda .
But a jury at Sheffield Crown Court found him guilty of murder today .
He faces life sentence in jail with a minimum term to be decided tomorrow . |
08c4f22ac4da7e2a1369140c52e6f88a4a733977 | By . Ian Ladyman . Follow @@Ian_Ladyman_DM . Are Manchester United right to sack David Moyes . David Moyes will be sacked by Manchester United after the owners, the Glazer family, finally lost patience with the club’s dismal season. United are confident of landing Holland coach Louis van Gaal as his replacement once they have tied up details of their manager’s severance. The Barclays Premier League champions have already made contact with the Dutchman and he wants to join United after the World Cup. The Old Trafford board planned to sack . Moyes — just a year into a six-year contract — at the end of the season . but will now bring forward that announcement after news of their . intentions was reported by MailOnline on Monday afternoon. End of the line: David Moyes will be sacked by Manchester United and could leave before the end of the season . Under pressure: United crashed to a 2-0 defeat at Moyes's former club Everton on Sunday, their 11th defeat of the Premier League season . Searching for inspiration: Moyes has found it impossible to maintain the high standards set by predecessor Sir Alex Ferguson . Bright beginnings: Moyes started work at Old Trafford on July 1 last summer, having been announced as Ferguson's replacement in May . Played 51Won 27Drawn 9Lost 15Win percentage 52.94 . Moyes, on a day off on Monday, had still not been contacted by the club on Monday night and is understood to be hurt and angry after learning of his fate on newspaper websites. He will attend trainingat Carrington today but may well not survive the week. Player-coach Ryan Giggs is lined up to replace him until the end of the season, alongside fellow Treble winner Nicky Butt, as United try to salvage some pride by finishing in the Europa League places at least. Sir Alex Ferguson, who appointed Moyes, is expected to have little or no say in who the next manager will be. News of the 50-year-old’s imminent departure broke on Monday in the wake of Sunday’s defeat at his old club Everton. However, it is understood the club decided to look for alternatives after the 2-0 reverse in the Champions League at Olympiacos in February. Meet the new boss: Moyes gets to work on his first morning as United manager at the club's Carrington training complex . Backing: Supporters on the Stretford End commissioned a banner proclaiming Moyes as the 'Chosen One' Good start: Moyes lifts the Community Shield after United beat Wigan 2-0 at Wembley back in August. It will be his only piece of silverware with the club . Winning start: United won 4-1 at Swansea City on the opening day of the season, getting their title defence off to the perfect start . Warm reception: Moyes is introduced to the Old Trafford crowd prior to his first home game against Chelsea . April 26 Norwich City (H)May 3 Sunderland (H)May 6 Hull City (H)May 11 Southampton (A) The Glazers, who are due in Manchester next week, had been supportive of Moyes but have sensed since the turn of the year that results and performances were getting worse and that some of United’s senior stars had simply stopped playing for their manager. They want to appoint a new manager — preferably Van Gaal — as soon as possible so they can tie up deals for players including . Southampton’s Luke Shaw before the World Cup. United know that it will be hard enough to attract players this summer without Champions League football and didn’t want to continue the negotiating process with a manager who had become a lame duck. Certainly not many United players will be disappointed to hear the news. Even those who like Moyes realised that things were not working, an impression that hardened when the Scot walked into the dressing room at Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon and told his team they had played well. Taste of defeat: Moyes suffered his first league loss at Anfield as a Daniel Sturridge gave Liverpool a 1-0 win on September 1 . Down to work: Moyes leads a training session at Carrington ahead of his first Champions League match with United back in September . Euro stars: United beat Bayer Leverkusen 4-2 at Old Trafford in their opening Champions League fixture of the season . Nightmare: The scale of Moyes's task at Old Trafford became apparent in the 4-1 defeat at rivals Manchester City on September 24 . Bad to worse: Moyes can't believe his misfortune as United are beaten at home by West Bromwich on September 28 . If talks with Van Gaal don’t work out as expected, United will consider alternative targets such as Dortmund’s Jurgen Klopp and Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti. At 62, Van Gaal is a relatively old manager, but after the experiment with Moyes, United are aware they need a coach with the presence and the experience to cope with a club of their size and profile. United old boy Phil Neville may survive the backroom cull, as may goalkeeping coach Chris Woods after his exceptional work with David de Gea this season. Masterstroke: Moyes did persuade star striker Wayne Rooney to turn down the overtures of Chelsea and sign a new contract . Revenge: United knocked Liverpool out of the Capital One Cup at the third round stage, offering swift retribution for the Anfield loss . Passion play: Moyes celebrates Javier Hernandez's goal as United beat Stoke City 3-2 at Old Trafford . Low point: Moyes sits and considers his options as United lose 1-0 to his former club Everton on December 4 . Row: Moyes grabs the ball from Hatem Ben Arfa as Alan Pardew looks on during December's 1-0 home loss to Newcastle United . Race is on: Moyes runs along the touchline to retrieve the ball during United's New Year's Day loss to Tottenham . Protest: Moyes runs on to the pitch to appeal after a blatant handball is not given in the Tottenham match . No luck: Moyes rues a missed chance as United slipped to a 2-1 defeat to Sunderland in the first leg of their Capital One Cup semi-final . Out: With coach Phil Neville after United were knocked out of the Capital One Cup on penalties by Sunderland . January sales: Moyes bought Juan Mata from Chelsea for £37m in a bid to revive the flagging season . Nadir: United produced their most miserable performance of the season as they were beaten 2-0 by Olympiacos in the first leg of their last 16 Champions League tie . The great turnaround: But a Robin van Persie hat-trick gave United a 3-0 win at Old Trafford and took them through to a last eight encounter with Bayern Munich . Anger: A fan remonstrates with Moyes during the 3-0 home defeat by Manchester City . Guarded: Stewards protect the 'Chosen one' banner on the Stretford End at the end of the City defeat . Stunt: Disgruntled United fans paid for this plane to fly over the ground during a home match with Aston Villa. The plane's appearance was roundly booed by United fans in the ground . Good display: United produced their best performance of the season in the 1-1 home draw with Bayern Munich . Beyond them: But Bayern came from behind in the second leg in Munich to win 3-1 and knock United out of the Champions League . Waving goodbye: The final straw was United's 2-0 loss at Goodison Park on Sunday . | Moyes will be sacked and could even leave at the end of this week .
Glazer family lose patience after dismal season at home and abroad .
Final straw came in Sunday's miserable 2-0 defeat at old club Everton .
United are seventh in Premier League, 13 points off fourth place .
Giggs will be asked to take over if Moyes is sacked before season's end . |
08c510881aa5bf516e1b00f7f0c68163ed904fc4 | By . Stephen Wright . A 'lorry load' of evidence relating to an investigation into alleged police corruption over the Stephen Lawrence murder inquiry was systematically shredded over two days, it was reported today . THE mass shredding of files from a major Scotland Yard corruption inquiry was yesterday branded ‘an out and out disgrace’ by a murder victim’s brother. Alastair Morgan, whose private eye brother Daniel was killed by an axeman in a plot allegedly involving police officers, hit out following reports that a ‘lorry load’ of documents from a top-secret corruption probe had been destroyed over two days. The latest revelations deepened the Metropolitan Police ‘shredding scandal’ and prompted new claims of a cover-up at the force. The large-scale destruction of corruption files was a key finding of a review of the Stephen Lawrence case, published earlier this month, which suggested possible links between an allegedly corrupt officer involved in the Lawrence case – former Detective Sergeant John Davidson – and the investigation into the Morgan murder. Married father-of-two Daniel Morgan, 37, was found with an axe in his head in a south-east London pub car park in 1987. His murder remains unsolved, despite five investigations. An independent judge-led panel of experts is now reviewing the police handling of the murder, amid claims corrupt officers prevented convictions. Mr Morgan’s family say he was on the verge of exposing police corruption when he was killed. His brother Alastair added: ‘We need a supervised outside investigation into the shredding of the Met’s corruption files. 'This is not a mistake.’ Inquiry: The Bishop of Stepney, Sir William MacPherson, Tom Cook and Dr. Richard Stone - at the preliminary hearing of the Stephen Lawrence public inquiry in 1997 . Following publication earlier this . month of the review by Mark Ellison QC, it is now feared corrupt . officers who thwarted justice in the Morgan case could also have . shielded those who murdered Stephen in a racist attack in Eltham, . south-east London, in 1993. Buried . in the review is a reference to a police intelligence report, dated . April 28, 2004, concerning Operation Abelard, the investigation into . Daniel Morgan’s murder. The report had ‘specific emphasis’ on Davidson, and stated that he was attached to the initial Morgan investigation in 1987. It . said: ‘DS Davidson has been investigated by this command . (Anti-Corruption Command) in the past and is known to associate with . some of the subjects of not only Operation Abelard but also several . other Directorate of Professional Standards investigations.’ Mr . Ellison’s report found evidence to suspect that Davidson had acted . corruptly in the Lawrence case, and that material had been withheld from . the subsequent 1998 Macpherson Inquiry into the police’s handling of . the black teenager’s murder. The . material that was shredded in 2003 was from a wider, top-secret . investigation into possible police corruption that began in 1993 and . came to be known as Operation Othona. The . Ellison report said it needed to see the Othona files to investigate . possible links with the Lawrence case, and to establish what was known . about police corruption at the time of the Macpherson Inquiry. The latest revelations deepened the Scotland Yard's ¿shredding scandal¿ and prompted new claims of a cover-up at the force . It . is alleged that when Stephen was murdered, Davidson was having a . corrupt relationship with Clifford Norris, the gangster father of one of . his killers, David Norris. The ex-detective denies this. Some . computer files relating to the Othona operation were found on a hard . drive in a cardboard box in the Met Police’s professional standards . department in November 2013. But . paper copies of the intelligence were missing. The Ellison review was . told there had been a ‘mass shredding’ of them in 2003. One source told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme there had been a ‘lorry load’ of documents, photographs and videos. In . a message on Twitter yesterday, Alastair Morgan made clear he does not . accept an innocent explanation for the mass shredding. He . told senior officers: ‘Don’t take the public for fools gentlemen. The . shredding of the Othona files is an out and out disgrace.’ Yesterday . Davidson, 65, said: ‘I am not corrupt. I would like to speak but I . can’t basically. I am paying a lot of money to my solicitor and he’s . told me to talk to nobody. That includes the Press.’ Scotland . Yard said: ‘The Met was informed by a former employee on February 4, . 2014 that in 2003, two staff were tasked to shred a quantity of . documents that related to corruption inquiries. The information supplied by the witness was scant but the Met felt it necessary to pass it on to Mr Ellison’s review. ‘Met . officers now intend to meet the witness to clarify their account. At . this time the Met has little detail on the circumstances that led to the . shredding.’ | Large quantities of evidence relating to possible corruption in the Met Police were destroyed over 48 hour period in 2003, it emerged today .
Barrister Mark Ellison, who reviewed police investigation into murder of black teenager, said hard copies of documents were missing .
A source told the BBC that a 'lorry load' of files, videos and photographs had been systematically shredded .
Met Police said today 'a number of documents were shredded' in 2003, and that they were working to find out 'exactly what happened'
Stephen Lawrence, 18, was stabbed to death in south-east London in April 1993 by gang of white youths shouting racist abuse .
It was suggested that the handling of the case by the Met was tainted by 'institutional racism' |
08c5c18d2006f566ac8519842dbe2c2c5b31a208 | (CNN) -- Inter Milan are once again five points behind rivals AC Milan at the top of the Italian Serie A table after crushing Genoa 5-2 at the San Siro on Sunday. But the defending champions had to come from behind to claim the three points, Genoa leading 1-0 at the break after Rodrigo Palacio fired home following good work from Abdoulay Konko. However, Inter were a different side in the second-half and three goals in seven minutes completely turned the match around. The home side leveled in the 50th minute when Giampaolo Mazzini slotted home Maicon's cross and they took the lead a minute later when Samuel Eto'o converted a rebound after Goran Pandev's shot was fumbled by goalkeeper Eduardo. And Eto'o added his second goal just six minutes later with a superb individual effort, the Cameroon striker's 18th goal of the season. Goran Pandev made it 4-1 in the 68th minute, after being set-up by Eto'o and Wesley Sneijder, and Yuto Nagatomo netted his first goal for the club to complete the scoring. Mauro Boselli's late header proved little more than a consolation goal for the visitors. Meanwhile, third-placed Napoli lost more ground on the top two after being held to a goalless draw by lowly Brescia at the San Paolo, with coach Walter Mazzarri sent to the stands in the first half for arguing with the referee. The Naples side are now eight points off the top and just two points ahead of fourth placed Lazio, who saw off Palermo 2-0 thanks to an early double from Giuseppe Sculli. Ever-improving Udinese are just a point behind Lazio in fifth place after a 1-0 win over bottom side Bari courtesy of Antonio Di Natale's second-half penalty, his 22nd goal of the season. In other matches, Adrian Mutu scored twice to help Fiorentina to a comfortable 3-0 win over Catania, while an injury time goal from Gaston Ramirez helped Bologna to a 2-2 draw against Cagliari. On Saturday, Gennaro Gattuso scored the only goal as table-toppers Milan saw off struggling Juventus 1-0, the Rossoneri's seventh win of 2011. In Sunday's two German Bundesliga games, Mainz claimed a superb 4-2 victory at Hamburg to move above defending champions Bayern Munich into fourth place in the table. Meanwhile, struggling Werder Bremen moved out of the bottom three with a vital 3-1 win at Freiburg. | Inter Milan are once again five points behind AC Milan at the top of the Serie A table .
The defending champions come from behind to crush Genoa 5-2 at the San Siro .
Third-placed Napoli lose more ground on the top two after being held 0-0 by Brescia .
Mainz win 4-2 at Hamburg to move above Bayern Munich into fourth in the Bundesliga . |
08c64c3678ebc1874ab276da70e019039c27943e | Cincinnati, Ohio (CNN) -- The build-up has been years in the making. From the cartoons that many of us watched as children, we envisioned a world where machines and robots would penetrate every aspect of our lives, where each household would have a Rosie the Robot to cook, clean, and put the kids to bed. Well, for most of us that washed our own dishes last night, we know that we are not there yet. The questions are: why aren't we there yet and when will we get there? Well, the world of machines is real and it's coming. Many refer to it as Machine-to-Machine (M2M), the Internet of Things, or the Industrial Internet. All of these terms describe the same thing: automated technology that allows machines to exchange information with one another, resulting in a tangible benefit. This exchange of information is rapidly changing the way we work and live. You likely benefit from this technology every day without even knowing it. M2M applications are guiding you in your connected vehicles to the nearest Starbucks, or allowing you to remotely monitor your home from a smartphone. The applications bleed even more heavily into the enterprise space where companies are using M2M solutions to do everything from tracking the position of a high-value asset traveling through Europe to controlling the flow rate of an oil pipeline in North Dakota from an office in New York. Read related: 7 craziest things connected to the internet . So, with this technology available, why aren't we there yet? Why isn't M2M permeating every aspect of our business and personal lives yet? And, more importantly, why am I still doing my own dishes? Well, it is not due to lack of demand. Analysts and industry experts project that the Internet of Things will grow from connecting about 100 million devices today to more than two billion devices by 2021 -- representing a staggering 30% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). Do I think that this type of growth will become a reality? Yes, but there are a couple of complexities that will first need to be worked out. As a matter of fact, complexity is the first of two threats to M2M growth. Many enterprise M2M solutions require months, if not years, and a significant financial commitment to get to deployment. With those daunting hurdles facing many technology decision makers, and despite an average return on investment at around 40%, companies are deferring their M2M strategies. Obviously, this has to change in order for M2M to reach its immense promise. We need to get to a point where implementing an M2M strategy involves a matter of hours or days instead of months and years. When that is a reality, then we will start to see the realization of what M2M can be for both enterprise and consumer use. Read related: Cisco's new, smarter network for the Internet of things . The second threat to M2M growth has to do with the shift in the mobile industry towards 3G and 4G networks. At first glance, that seems a bit odd. How could enhancing the technology that M2M sits on pose a threat to its very future? As mobile carriers negotiate with limited spectrum to support 4G rollouts, 2G networks are often sacrificed. The problem created is that M2M applications not only lose support, but they face significant expenses to enter into a 3G or 4G system where their data usage does not come close to justifying the costs, not to mention the significant capital investment required for a pricey 3G or 4G compatible device. Although I believe that M2M applications will evolve to a point where a 4G network will make sense, I don't believe that we are there yet, nor will we be there for at least a couple more years. Thus, 2G will have to remain an integral part of the growth of the industry for the time being, and fortunately there are carriers that have pledged ongoing support for 2G. As momentum for the proliferation of the Internet of Things builds to forecasted levels and enterprises and individuals enter this brave new world, there will be some bumps along the road. However, it will be a much smoother and quicker ride into the future if application providers can find easy-to-implement solutions supported by networks that meet their tactical and financial objectives. When we get to that point, then you might just be able to kick back a little and let Rosie handle things. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of John Horn. | M2M technology allows machines to exchange information with one another .
100 million devices are already connected .
Industry analysts predict there will be two billion M2M-connected devices by 2021 .
Long development periods and adoption of 4G connectivity has held technology back, says John Horn . |
08c69c37faa355ed6266c5b00994728aad962123 | By . Ray Massey . PUBLISHED: . 12:44 EST, 19 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:00 EST, 20 February 2013 . The electric car industry was handed a £37million boost by the taxpayer yesterday – even though only 2,300 were sold last year. Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin announced a subsidy for homes and businesses which fit plug-in points for the cars. It will pay up to three-quarters of the installation costs, which range from £1,000 to £10,000.Hospitals, police and public bodies may have the full price paid. The government wants to encourage the ownership of electric cars, such as the Vauxhall Ampera (pictured) The news comes amid fears that battery-powered cars are losing their spark with drivers. Only 3,200 have sold in the last two . years – less than 1 per cent of the total market – despite green . discounts of £5,000 per car. In 2012 just 2,237 electric cars were sold and . registered for the ‘plug-in car grant’, though that is double the figure . of 1,052 in 2011 and a big increase on the 111 in 2010. Studies show the fear of losing power on the road is a top reason people do not use the vehicles. Mr McLoughlin announced the subsidy . on a visit to Sunderland, where Nissan produces its Leaf electric car. He said he wanted Britain to be a world leader in the electric car . industry. Patrick McLoughlin plans to give more incentive for installing an electric car charge point . But he rejected criticisms that . electric sales were poor because they were only of use in towns, and . insisted manufacturers would not be making them if there were not a . market for them: ‘They are fantastic cars.’ The new multi-million pound funding . package aims to kick-start home and on-street charging, as well as the . creation of new charge points for people parking plug-in vehicles at . railway stations, by offering subsidies covering up to 75 per cent of . the cost of installing the charging points. Hospitals, the police and other public bodies are set to have the full cost of the installation covered. The announcement was made at Gateshead . College’s Skills Academy for Sustainable Manufacturing and Innovation . next to Nissan’s site in Sunderland. The cash-boost follows a critical . report by MP watchdogs in September which said electric car sales are . stalling except as ‘subsidised second cars for the rich’ allowing the . affluent middle classes to run around town and appear . environmentally-friendly. The MP’s report said Government grants were . ‘subsidising second cars for affluent households’. It concluded that despite the £5,000 . per car ‘green’ subsidy, electric vehicles have lost their spark and . proved too expensive for most motorists. Past failure by ministers to . provide enough public plug-in power points also means electric car sales . had fallen flat threatening an end to the Government’s electric dreams, . said the report by the House of Commons transport Select Committee. The biggest barrier to owning an electric car is the worry that there aren't enough plug points to reach your destination . The Department for Transport said the . £37million funding for the package comes from the Government’s . £400million commitment to increase the uptake of ultra-low emission or . ‘green’ vehicles and is available until April 2015. Installing a charge-point in a home . costs about £1,000-£1,500, while rapid chargers can cost around £45,000. A charge-point capable of charging two vehicles at once in residential . streets or train stations costs around £10,000. The full package announced today . includes up to £13.5million for a 75per cent grant for homeowners who . want domestic charge-point installed at their. There is also an . £11million fund for councils in England to install on-street charging . for residents who have a plug in vehicle but do not have off-street . parking. Up to £9million is being made available to fund charge-points at railway stations. Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin . said: ‘This investment underlines the Government’s commitment to making . sure that the UK is a world leader in the electric car industry. ‘Plug in vehicles can help the . consumer by offering a good driving experience and low running costs. They can help the environment by cutting pollution. And most importantly . of all, they can help the British economy by creating skilled . manufacturing jobs in a market that is bound to get bigger.’ Business Minister Michael Fallon said: . ‘Today’s announcement will make the consumer environment for plug-in . vehicles more attractive and, in turn, makes the UK a more compelling . place to invest.’ John Martin, Nissan’s senior vice . president for manufacturing, said: ‘We are delighted that the UK . Government is showing it shares our commitment to the transport of the . future.’ The Society of Motor Manufacturers and . traders welcomed the move which it said would ‘boost confidence’ in the . electric car market. | The Transport Secretary is to provide subsidies encouraging people to install an electric car charge point .
Only 2,237 vehicles were registered for the plug-in car grant in 2012 .
The biggest barrier for potential owners is the lack of charge points . |
08c7750da73ca1b0b0a142fef969e96bc9cb6ea5 | (CNN) -- Two Florida school administrators were due to appear in federal court Thursday to face contempt charges for saying a prayer at a school luncheon. Rep. Mike McIntyre is one of three members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus backing the school officials. Frank Lay, principal of Pace High School in Pace, Florida, and school athletic director Robert Freeman are accused of violating a consent decree banning employees of Santa Rosa County schools from endorsing religion. They face a nonjury trial before U.S. District Judge M.C. Rodgers. If convicted, they could be sentenced to up to six months in prison and fined, subject to sentencing guidelines. Defense attorneys have said it is it outrageous Lay and Freeman are facing prosecution for "a simple prayer." But the American Civil Liberties Union, whose lawsuit led to the consent decree, maintains students have a right to be free from administrators who foist their personal religious beliefs on them. However, an ACLU representative said the organization "never suggested" people should go to jail for violating the decree, and the organization is not involved in the criminal proceedings. The ACLU filed suit last year against the school district in northwest Florida on behalf of two Pace students who alleged that "officials regularly promoted religion and led prayers at school events," according to an ACLU statement. Both parties approved the consent decree put in place January 9 under which district and school officials are "permanently prohibited from promoting, advancing, endorsing, participating in or causing prayers during or in conjunction with school events," the ACLU said. Lay was a party in the initial lawsuit, and his attorney was among those approving the consent decree, according to the organization. In addition, the court required that all district employees receive a copy. But on January 28, "Lay asked Freeman to offer a prayer of blessing during a school-day luncheon for the dedication of a new field house at Pace High School," according to court documents. "Freeman complied with the request and offered the prayer at the event. It appears this was a school-sponsored event attended by students, faculty and community members." Attorneys from Liberty Counsel, a conservative legal group helping defend Lay and Freeman, have said that attendees included booster club members and other adults who helped the field house project -- all "consenting adults." Three U.S. lawmakers who are members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus have written a letter in support of the two school administrators, saying that "many of America's Founding Fathers were resolute in their faiths, and the impact of such is evident in the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and many of their writings." The letter from Reps. J. Randy Forbes, R-Virginia; Mike McIntyre, D-North Carolina; and Jeff Miller, R-Florida, said the congressmen were writing as members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus. "The tradition of offering prayer in America has become so interwoven into our nation's spiritual heritage that to charge someone criminally for engaging in such a practice would astonish the men who founded this country on religious liberty," the lawmakers wrote. | Two Florida school administrators accused of violating consent order on prayer .
If convicted, two could be sentenced to up to six months in prison and fined .
ACLU sued district on behalf of students who alleged prayer held at school events .
Parties agreed to consent decree in January; ACLU not part of criminal proceedings . |
08c807c75768338ebb963adfe8689abea65135bf | By . Daily Mail Reporter . An inmate in a New York jail costs just as much as four years' tuition at an Ivy League college according to a new report. The city's annual cost per inmate was $167,731 last year or $460 per day. The Department of Corrections (DOC) blames much of the expense on the running costs of the city's most notorious lockup, Rikers Island which is literally an island unto itself. Expensive inmates: Inmates file out of the prison bakery at Rikers Island, the notorious jail blamed for New York City's high annual inmate costs. Last year they spent $167,731 ($460 per day) on each inmate . Martin Horn, who in 2009 resigned as the city's correction commissioner, noted that hundreds of millions of dollars are spent a year to run the 400-acre island in the East River next to the runways of LaGuardia Airport that has 10 jail facilities, thousands of staff and its own power plant and bakery. He said: 'Other cities don't have Rikers Island.' The city's Independent Budget Office annual figure of $167,731 - which equates to about $460 per day for the 12,287 average daily New York City inmates last year - was based on about $2 billion in total operating expenses for the DOC, which included salaries and benefits for staff, judgments and claims as well as debt service for jail construction and repairs. But there are particularly expensive costs associated with Rikers. Rikers Island: The 400-acre compound is in the East River next to the runways of LaGuardia Airport and has 10 jail facilities, thousands of staff and its own power plant and bakery . The . department says it spends $30.3 million annually alone on . transportation costs, running three bus services that usher inmates to . and from court throughout the five boroughs, staff from a central . parking lot to Rikers jails and visitors to and around the island. There were 261,158 inmates delivered to court last year. A . way to bring down the costs, Horn has long said, would be to replace . Rikers Island with more robust jails next door to courthouses. But his . attempts to do that failed in part because of political opposition from . residential areas near courthouses in Brooklyn, Manhattan and elsewhere. He said of the budget figure: ‘My . point is: Have you seen a whole lot of outcry on this? Why doesn't . anything happen? Because nobody cares.’ ‘That's the reason we have Rikers Island. We want these guys put away out of public view.’ New York's annual costs dwarf the . annual per-inmate costs in other big cities. Los Angeles spent $128.94 a . day, or $47,063 a year, for 17,400 inmates in fiscal year 2011-12, its . sheriff's office said. Doing time: The Department of Corrections says that the jail's transport alone costs $30.3 million annually . The cost of college: The city's cost per inmate at jails such as Rikers Island (left) cost nearly as much as four years tuition at an Ivy League university such as Harvard (right) Chicago . spent $145 a day, or $52,925 a year, for 13,200 inmates in 2010, the . most recent figures available from that county's sheriff's office. Those . costs included debt-service and fringe benefits.Experts . note that New York's high annual price tag is deceiving because it . reflects considerable pensions and salary responsibilities, debt service . and the expensive fixed costs. The DOC says 86 per cent of its operating costs go for staff wages. New . York's system differs from other cities in some other costly ways - it . employs 9,000 relatively well-paid, unionised correction officers, for . example, and is required by law to provide certain services to inmates, . including high quality medical care within 24 hours of incarceration. Nick . Freudenberg, a public health professor at Hunter College, said the . latest city figures show that declining incarceration rates have not . translated into cost savings. In . 2001, when the city had 14,490 inmates, the full cost of incarcerating . one inmate at Rikers Island for a year was $92,500, or about $122,155 . adjusted for today's dollars - that means the city spent $45,576 more in . 2012 than it did 11 years ago. No worries: Martin Horn, who in 2009 resigned as the city's correction commissioner, says that so much money is spent on the 400-acre jail because 'nobody cares' Prof Freudenberg said: ‘To my mind, the main policy question is: How could we be spending this money better? What would be a better return on that investment?’ Another contributing factor to the inmate price tag is the length of stay for prisoners in New York's criminal justice system. Some inmates have waited years in city jails to see trial. The DOC said in 2012 that the average length of stay for detainees was 53 days and 38.6 days for sentenced inmates. Michael Jacobson, a former commissioner of the city's Department of Correction and probation who serves as director of the CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance, said: ‘Not only is that a miscarriage of justice, it affects your operations. ‘You want to save big money? Take a quarter out just by improving the process they go through when they're in the system.’ | Inmates at New York City's jails cost $167,731 every year ($460 per day)
The Department of Corrections blame the high costs on the notorious Rikers Island, an expensive operation .
Some $30.3million is spent on transportation alone .
Per inmate Los Angeles spends $128.94 per day, Chicago $145 per day . |
08c8282cc03b92c8a3a80a18adaf0ccbf2bd5ffe | Camilla Kerslake says she and Chris Robshaw (pictured together) are on the 'same page' and plan to get married in the near future . As England's redoubtable rugby captain, it's likely Chris Robshaw will be feeling the pressure when he steps out for this afternoon's Six Nations match in Dublin. But even though the crucial game with Ireland looks set to be the championship decider, the rugged 28-year-old may well see it as blessed relief from the pressure he is under to make an honest woman of Camilla Kerslake, his opera-singing girlfriend of four years. He hasn't actually proposed. But as Camilla makes clear today, that's no obstacle at all. 'Chris and I are on the same page and we definitely plan to get married in the near future,' the 26-year-old tells The Mail on Sunday in her first interview about her famous boyfriend. 'Some people call it a pre-engagement. It's all about timing – at the moment we're both so busy with work. 'I even had to spend Valentine's Day outside in the cold sandwiched between hordes of angry men as I cheered Chris on during his game.' 'Pre-engagement' is a growing trend, with thousands of couples now choosing 'promise' rings ahead of a formal proposal. Camilla, though, has her eye on the real thing, and has been spotted scouting engagement rocks at Tiffany. So far, her hulking 6ft 2in boyfriend has been notably reticent when friends have quizzed him on the subject. But Camilla appears undeterred. 'It's tricky now as I'm currently locked away in the studio recording my third album and Chris is obviously incredibly busy and focused on his rugby and the Six Nations. But he gets back from England camp in April and the Six Nations boys have some time off in May and weekends off in June, so we'll have more time to ourselves then. As soon as things calm down for both of us work-wise, we'll start making plans.' But she's keen to point out there's no pressure. 'I am not pushing him,' she adds. 'Nor are our mums, but all his friends are teasing him all the time. We've been together for four years and are both each other's serious long-term relationship. I expect that is why everyone is asking, but our futures are definitely together. We both agree on that.' Four years ago British-born Camilla – who has a Welsh mother and Kiwi father and spent much of her childhood in New Zealand – was riding high with a successful operatic career. Chris asked for her number within two minutes of meeting her at a rugby event where she was singing. 'My manager who was with me said I shouldn't give it to him,' Camilla confesses. 'I said, 'Of course I will. Just look at him, he's gorgeous.' But it took a month before we met. 'At the time he was in England's second team, while I was working on my second album and my career was on a great trajectory. We decided to be monogamous when we started going out.' England captain Chris Robshaw in action for England during a Six Nations match against Wales . If the first test of their compatibility was tolerating the demands of each other's careers, the next was both more serious and challenging. 'My mother Deborah was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2011, just after my second record came out and I was about to tour the country,' Camilla says. 'It was followed by various complications so I cancelled the tour and all my singing engagements to look after her. I absolutely adore her. 'In 2012 Chris suggested I move in with him as he only lived a mile away from my parents' home in Kingston upon Thames. It meant I could go to look after her easily every day. 'We moved in together before we had been dating for a year, which would have strained lots of relationships but it didn't with us. He is easy to live with and there is no way I would have made it through without him. He was absolutely my rock.' He was equally supportive when the family finances were in a poor state and Camilla tried to get back to work. 'When my mother was ill my parents' income dropped by half,' she reveals. Here the couple are pictured at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards in December 2012 . 'I helped out but I wasn't earning either and in 2012 I was bankrupt in all but name. It wasn't easy. The music industry moves on very fast and agents and people in the business who had been desperately asking me to do various concerts suddenly wouldn't take my calls. It was awful and I also discovered that many of the friends I thought I had were just celebrity hangers-on and were no longer interested in me.' Despite the lack of a formal proposal, the couple have discussed in detail how they want to live their lives including, she says, the wedding. 'When we first got together Chris told me he wanted children before he was 30,' she recalls. 'He is 29 in June so that might have to change.' That is also the month her album is out, which should leave them free, she says, to think about wedding plans. 'I don't want a big wedding but Chris is quite keen,' she insists. 'So I think it will be low-key but pretty. I have my hair and make-up done every time I am on stage and wear ball gowns as a uniform, so it is not that important for me to dress up. For me, it is more about family and friends. 'It's every girl's dream to have the perfect white wedding, but I think on her wedding day the bride should wear whatever she wants to make her feel special.' Refreshingly confident about her own appearance, she continues: 'For some, if that means showing cleavage then so be it – especially if you've got something to show. 'If I do reveal any cleavage in my dress at least they'll be real, not fake like some people assume they are. Whenever I get my boobs out they always seem to spark raging debates about whether they're real or not. I can tell you, they are completely natural.' Is she worried about female fans trying to steal Chris away? Not at all, she says firmly. 'Obviously he is gorgeous, a complete catch and I am very lucky to have snatched him,' she says, smiling. 'Equally luckily, he is not that type of man. He is kind, generous, humble and believes in loyalty. 'Loyalty is particularly important when you play for England.' | Camilla Kerslake says she and Chris Robshaw are on the 'same page'
The couple are 'pre-engaged', meaning he hasn't yet popped the question .
But Kerslake said the couple are planning to marry in the near future .
Robshaw asked for the opera singer's number at a rugby event in 2011 . |
08c8d403ac9307e44f761ac9e4e161abbba1d4ff | A teenage girl who died after injecting herself with insulin may have taken it to try to lose weight. Charlie Dunne, 19, used an insulin pen belonging to her diabetic boyfriend while he was out at a hospital appointment. An inquest heard the trainee hairdresser may have taken the hormone previously after hearing that it could help slimmers. Miss Dunne with boyfriend Terence Rhoden. He found the teenager unconscious on the living room floor of their home after he returned from hospital and realised she had taken his insulin . But the teenager, who was fit and healthy, would have been unaware of the ‘catastrophic’ danger the drug posed to non-diabetics, a coroner said. Miss Dunne was discovered collapsed at the home in Atherton, Greater Manchester, she shared with boyfriend Terence Rhoden, 28, when he returned hours later. Loss: Charlie Dunne, 19, injected herself with an insulin pen belonging to diabetic boyfriend Terence Rhoden. She died in hospital a few days later . She suffered brain damage caused by a dramatic drop in blood sugar and died in hospital six days later. Police later investigated claims by Miss Dunne’s family that Mr Rhoden had confessed to injecting her with insulin in the past to help her lose weight. But he denied doing so and officers found no evidence that he was involved in his girlfriend’s death. Bolton Coroner’s Court was told that ‘bubbly’ Miss Dunne was a regular at her local Methodist church, where she was given the community title of ‘rose queen’ for her charity fundraising. However, the inquest was told she suffered mood swings and had tried to overdose on tablets during a previous relationship. She also claimed to have suffered a miscarriage and was worried she could not have children, despite a lack of medical evidence to support her fears. The court heard that Mr Rhoden was woken when Miss Dunne returned from her local pub in an ‘agitated’ state on December 17 last year and threatened to take painkillers. She told him to leave, saying he was ‘too good for her’. After talking, she calmed down and fell asleep on the sofa. Mr Rhoden left for his appointment at around 7am the next day, but arrived home to find his insulin pen on the couch ‘down the cushion, kind of sticking out’. ‘It was a brand new one,’ he said. ‘The box was in the bin. When I found the insulin pen it was empty.’ The court heard that the 100ml pens used by Mr Rhoden, who has suffered with diabetes for seven years and needs insulin injections four times a day, contain between 60 and 100 doses. Miss Dunne was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital, where doctors discovered her blood glucose levels had plummeted. She died on December 23. Her uncle, Andrew Dunne, claimed Mr Rhoden told him his niece had taken insulin before. The builder said the pair had ‘heard somewhere, like the pub, that insulin could help you lose a bit of weight’. The hearing was told Mr Rhoden (left) talked about insulin injections with Miss Dunne’s uncle Andrew Dunne (right) as she was being kept on a ventilator in hospital the day after her admission . Det Insp Paul Rollinson of Greater Manchester Police confirmed Mr Rhoden’s account was correct and an examination of Miss Dunne’s phones showed nothing to suggest the relationship was volatile . Philip Dunne (centre), the victim's father said: 'Charlie would never take her own life and would never take drugs as far as I’m aware and was very anti-drugs' He added: ‘He did say that two weeks prior he had given her an injection to see if it worked.’ Mr Rhoden said his girlfriend knew how to inject the drug, but denied helping her inject herself or seeing her take the hormone. Her parents, Michelle and Philip Dunne, told the hearing their daughter would not have committed suicide and was ‘anti-drugs’. ‘[She] would never do anything like suicide because it was selfish and all it does is upset the family left behind,’ said Mrs Dunne. Recording a verdict of misadventure, coroner Alan Walsh said: ‘It’s likely that this was a cry for attention that had the most dramatic and catastrophic consequence.’ | Charlie Dunne, 19, died after using Terence Rhoden's medication .
Coroner said teenager was prone to mood swings and 'crying for attention'
There were claims Mr Rhoden had previously injected Miss Dunne after hearing insulin could help with weight loss .
However, the coroner said there was no evidence he was involved in death . |
08ca27a53609720acf5e95c1327eb18d755c1279 | (CNN) -- Throughout high school, Tevante Clark felt ashamed about being overweight. It wasn't just his hefty size that depressed him, but the distance he felt growing between him and some of his closest friends. Over four years, he watched as his friends steadily left him out of conversations, gave him the cold shoulder at school, and then started excluding him altogether from their Friday night outings around Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He was crushed, spending many evenings alone, feeling rejected. Standing at 5 feet 7 inches, Clark hit his peak weight at 405 pounds when he was 19. "I would go home and ask my mom why this was happening to me, but I knew it was because of my weight," he said. "When I would go out with my mom to pick up groceries or shopping, I would wait in the car because I was so embarrassed." When he started Vance-Granville Community College, he continued to struggle with those feelings. "I was having suicidal thoughts because of my weight. I even wrote a letter about it that my mom found, and she broke down crying," he said. "I was tired of everything, tired of people laughing at me, tired of being overweight, tired of being treated differently," he said. "I thought about committing suicide, but I didn't want to leave my mother by herself." After discovering the letter in his bedroom, his mom said she knew something had to change. "I saw how depressed he was getting, and that's what hurt me the most," said his mother, Beverly Clark. But she was not going to let him struggle on his own. She had recently lost more than 100 pounds after a scare from her cardiologist who said she was on the verge of having a heart attack because of her weight. That experience made her believe her son could lose the weight, too. "He was a junk-aholic, as I was. He had a sweet tooth. He was a snacker -- cakes, cookies, soda, chips," she said. She was convinced that all her son needed was some guidance about moderation. But Tevante Clark just wanted the weight off. He came to her after many tearful nights and asked if he could get gastric bypass surgery. Clark was desperate. "I needed a change," he said. As an employee at Duke University's call center, his mother knew about the school's wellness program Live for Life, which offers a 12-month weight-loss program for employees and their family members. She wanted her son to lose weight, but she also wanted him to try natural methods before committing to surgery. So she made him a proposition: Enroll in the program and try to lose weight naturally for the first few months. If that method failed, they would consider surgery. When he started in the program in July 2011, his goal was to lose 40 pounds to qualify for gastric bypass surgery. At the start of the program, he was paired with a coach and a dietitian. Sally Neve, a registered nurse and dietitian, helped him devise a plan to meet his weight-loss goals, which included cutting back on sweetened beverages, eating more fruits and vegetables, and being mindful of portion sizes. He regimented his diet, eating three meals a day and two healthy snacks in between his meals. Neve also encouraged Clark to get a gym membership. Clark had never worked out. He had played a few pickup games of basketball in middle school, but it was never strenuous. He was nervous and excited for the new experience, but a part of him was sure it wasn't going to work. He held on to the hope that if he lost just a few pounds, it would be enough to convince his mom that he could do the gastric bypass surgery. As Clark started working out on the elliptical machine, walking on the treadmill and eating smaller portions, he saw big changes quickly. In the first week, he lost seven pounds. After a few weeks, he started walking 45 to 50 minutes every day on the treadmill with the incline set to high, at a speed that was almost a jog. After three months, he had dropped 40 pounds, and the urge to have surgery also dissipated. He was now spending two hours a day at the gym. "He became a changed person," Neve said. "He became confident. He was like, 'I can do this.' I think that is so important for people, to have that confidence that they can succeed." The salty and sweet snacks were traded in for healthy meals such as grilled chicken and brown rice for lunch and mostly grilled vegetables for dinner. Clark re-evaluated the way he approached food, choosing items such as whole grains and lean proteins to sustain his workouts, not high-calorie sweets to satisfy his cravings. "He just had to go to someone who could say, 'You can eat what you want, but in moderation,' " his mother said. After completing the program in December 2012, Clark was down to 280 pounds -- a loss of 125 pounds. But he wanted to be leaner. He started lifting weights on his own. Whenever he came across a piece of gym equipment he was unsure about, he asked a gym staff member to show him how to use it. He discovered he liked lifting weights. "I liked the leg press. I never tried it, and I learned it works out your hamstrings and quads. When I starting incorporating it into my workouts, I saw improvements in my thighs," he said. The added resistance helped him drop another 100 pounds within a year. In two years, he had managed to bring his weight down to 180 pounds, exceeding all his weight-loss expectations. Now, happy with his weight, he continues to work out every day. He focuses on building muscle, not losing weight. He does cardio for 15 to 20 minutes and then puts energy toward sculpting his muscles by lifting weights and changing his fitness routine. The 23-year-old even has a job that requires him to be fit. He works at a UPS warehouse and is on his feet lifting heavy boxes several hours a day. "If I didn't lose weight, I wouldn't be able to do this job," he said. "There are people who work with me who look like they are fit, but they can't lift like I can. It really makes me want to keep staying in shape." And his social life? It took a dramatic turn for the better. He has new friends, and a few old ones who stuck by him while he was struggling with his weight. They get together weekly as a group and hang out. Sometimes, he even runs into old classmates who shunned him when he was overweight. "Now they (say) they are proud of me for losing weight, and that I am an inspiration," he said. After losing 225 pounds, he said the biggest lesson he learned was not to lose sight of who he was under all that weight. "Your life will change, but you don't have to change," he said. "You can look at things differently, but don't change who you are just because you changed physically. ... Remember who was there for you and who stayed with you." | At 405 pounds, Tevante Clark says he was extremely lonely .
Tired of being overweight, he considered gastric bypass surgery .
He lost the weight naturally and says he's found happiness . |
08ca67133a0e14d675a7072d63f2883727c10091 | (CNN) -- Pope Francis announced Sunday his first trip as pontiff to the Holy Land in May. Speaking during his weekly Sunday blessing in Vatican City, he said he will visit Jerusalem, Bethlehem in the West Bank and the Jordanian capital, Amman. The visit will take place May 24-26. "In the climate of joy, typical of this Christmas season, I wish to announce that from 24 to 26 May next, God willing, I will make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land," the pope told crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square. "At the Holy Sepulchre we will celebrate an Ecumenical Meeting with all the representatives of the Christian Churches of Jerusalem, together with Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople." His announcement was posted on the Vatican Radio website. "As of now I ask you to pray for this pilgrimage," the Pope said. January 5 marks the 50th anniversary of a historic meeting in Jerusalem between Pope Paul VI and the then-spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians Patriarch Athenagoras. Sunday's announcement was made just as the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry wrapped talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders in a new bid for peace. Kerry said earlier he was making progress in Middle East peace talks, stressing the Obama administration "is committed to putting forward ideas that are fair, that are balanced, and that improve the security of all of the people of this region." Pope Francis leaves New Year's voice mail for nuns in Spain . | Pope Francis to travel to Middle East May 24-26 .
Pope to visit Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Amman .
Sunday's announcement marks 50 years since significant meeting in Jerusalem . |
08cbaae717965473f3433a5c180b9dc7b5f7895e | Monaco have unveiled their new coach - and Leonardo Jardim must be thrilled at the opportunity to work with Colombian sensation James Rodriguez. Jardim has signed a two-year deal at the principality club and takes over from Claudio Ranieri who was sacked at the end of last season, despite guiding Monaco to second in the table. Rodriguez was a £40million signing for Monaco from Porto in 2013 and has scored 12 goals in 38 games so far for the club. Boss: Monaco have unveiled Portuguese Leonardo Jardim (left) as their new manager . Unveiling: Jardim has signed a two-year deal with the principality club . Revelation: James Rodriguez has been brilliant at the World Cup and Sporting will want to keep hold of him . Picking a pass: Rodriguez has scored five goals at the World Cup to lead the race for the Golden Boot . Expectation: Jardim will be expected to compete with Paris Saint-Germain in the league this year . And he has lit up the World Cup in Brazil - scoring five goals to lead the race for the Golden Boot and impressing with his all-round play. It will be tough for Jardim to keep a hold of the 22-year-old striker but he will be keen to do so and he will get straight to work on that. Jardim guided Sporting Lisbon to second place in 2013-14 during his only season in charge of the club. The 39-year-old Portuguese has previously managed Olympiacos, Braga, Beria-Mar, Chaves and Camacha. Jardim will be expected to compete with Paris Saint-Germain, who won Ligue 1 for the second year in a row. Principality: Jardim (left) with Monaco vice president Vadim Vasilyev (right) at his unveiling . Success: Jardim managed Sporting Lisbon to second place in the Portuguese league last season . | Jardim has signed a two-year deal to take over from Claudio Ranieri .
He previously managed Sporting Lisbon, Olympiacos and Braga .
Rodriguez cost Monaco £40million in 2013 from Porto .
Colombian striker has scored five goals at the 2014 World Cup . |
08cbc32e5f2e9616a01ec643109407b00182f435 | (CNN Student News) -- October 10, 2013 . CNN Student News goes global to start Thursday's show, covering stories from Egypt, Syria and Brazil. Then, we discuss President Obama's Federal Reserve chair nominee, who would be the first woman to lead the country's central bank if she's confirmed. Plus, we examine the possible ripple effects of the U.S. government hitting its debt ceiling. On this page you will find today's show Transcript, the Daily Curriculum, Maps pertaining to today's show, and a place for you to leave feedback. TRANSCRIPT . Click here to access the transcript of today's CNN Student News program. Please note that there may be a delay between the time when the video is available and when the transcript is published. DAILY CURRICULUM . Click here for a printable version of the Daily Curriculum (PDF). Media Literacy Question of the Day: . Why might a reporter try to explain national economic concepts using household economics? What might be the benefits and drawbacks of making such a connection? Key Concepts: Identify or explain these subjects you heard about in today's show: . 1. unrest . 2. demonstration . 3. default . Fast Facts: How well were you listening to today's program? 1. The U.S. suspended some of the military aid it gives to what North African nation, due to unrest there? 2. Who is the current head of the Federal Reserve Bank? Who has been nominated to replace him? 3. According to the report, what might be some of the consequences if the debt ceiling isn't raised and the U.S. defaults on its debt? Discussion Questions: . 1. Why do you think that Syria has cooperated with U.N. inspectors regarding that country's chemical weapons? What might be some of the challenges of verifying that a country's chemical weapons are destroyed? 2. What factors might turn a peaceful demonstration into a violent protest? In your view, does the nature of a protest (i.e. violent or nonviolent) affect how the public views an issue? If so, how? If not, why not? 3. What do you think might be some of the challenges of understanding the role of the Federal Reserve? What questions might the U.S. Senate ask President Obama's nominee for Federal Reserve chair? On what criteria might senators base their decision on whether to confirm her? CNN Student News is created by a team of journalists and educators who consider the Common Core State Standards, national standards in different subject areas, and state standards when producing the show and curriculum. We hope you use our free daily materials along with the program, and we welcome your feedback on them. MAPS . Download PDF maps related to today's show: . Africa . Egypt . South America . Brazil . Asia . Syria . FEEDBACK . We're looking for your feedback about CNN Student News. Please use this page to leave us comments about today's program, including what you think about our stories and our resources. Also, feel free to tell us how you use them in your classroom. The educators on our staff will monitor this page and may respond to your comments as well. Thank you for using CNN Student News! Click here to submit your Roll Call request. | This page includes the show Transcript, the Daily Curriculum, and Maps .
Use the Transcript to help students with reading comprehension and vocabulary .
The Daily Curriculum offers the Media Literacy Question of the Day, Key Concepts, Fast Facts and Discussion Questions .
At the bottom of the page, please share your feedback about our show and curriculum . |
08cbf52683ea12738c2f138e4466f85a7066164f | By . Sara Malm . PUBLISHED: . 13:43 EST, 7 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 15:29 EST, 7 February 2014 . A Rwandan woman hacked her husband to death with a machete for fear that he would infect her with HIV, local media reports. Annonciata Kampororo, said to be middle aged, hatched a plot with her son and sister to kill her husband Anaclet Majyambere, 48, after he inherited his brother’s HIV-positive wife. It is a tradition in some rural communities in Rwanda for a man to ‘inherit’ the widow of a family member in order to provide for them. Murder: Annonciata Kampororo, said to be middle . aged, hatched a plot with her son and sister to hack to death her . husband Anaclet Majyambere, 48, with machetes after he inherited his . brother's HIV-positive wife . It is believed the brother of Mr Majyambere, a resident in Gisagara in southern Rwanda, died of AIDS. His wife, a local liquor seller, feared that the widow would also be infected and refused to sleep with Mr Majyambere until he took an HIV test. When he refused to do so, she ‘withheld his conjugal rights’ and began planning the murder, Sowetanlive reported. Downtown in the Rwandan capital, Kigali: Just . over 3 per cent of the Rwandan population - between 180,000 and 250,000 . people - live with HIV. More than half are women and children, according . to UNICEF statistics . One night, Kampororo, her son and her sister attacked Mr Majyambere with machetes and pestles and killed him. It is estimated that just over 3 per cent of the Rwandan population - between 180,000 and 250,000 people - live with HIV. More than half are women and children, according to UNICEF statistics, and in 2011 a reported 170,000 children were orphans as a result of AIDS. | Annonciata Kampororo hatched the murder plot with her son and her sister .
She feared her 48-year-old husband had caught HIV from late brother's wife .
It is a rural Rwandan tradition for men to 'inherit' widows of dead family .
Just over 3 per cent of the country's population live with HIV . |
08cc5ea7c2d5cb18d40dd5620bfde85c184eaaa3 | By . Daily Mail Reporter and Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 17:15 EST, 18 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:50 EST, 18 April 2013 . A Georgia police sergeant has been accused of pulling a gun on a teen customer ahead of him in a McDonald's drive-thru line after becoming enraged over the wait for food. Detective Sgt Scott Biumi, 48, of the DeKalb County Police Department, was arrested this week and charged with aggravated assault - a felony - after the incident at a McDonald's in Cummings. Forsyth County Sheriff's spokesman Courtney Spriggs said Biumi pointed a gun at 18-year-old Ryan Mash, who was in front of him on the drive-thru line waiting for his food at about 10:30pm on April 9. Scroll down for video . Threat: Police say that Detective Sgt Scott Biumi pulled a gun on a teen as he waited for his food at a McDonald's drive-thru . Suspect: Scott Biumi has been charged with aggravated assault in the incident . Surveillance footage from inside the . restaurant shows Biumi step between the man's car and the drive-thru . window and point a gun into the car as he leaned into the driver's . side window. Mr Mash told 11Alive: '[He] was yelling, "Stop holding up the drive thru line… You don’t know who you’re messing with and there’s some crazy people out there." 'And that’s when he pulled the gun on me and kept on yelling at me for about 30 more seconds. I was scared. I was very scared.' He added that he didn't know that his assailant was a police officer. Fright: Ryan Mash, 18, a high school senior, said he was 'scared, very scared,' by the incident . Mr Mash, who also works at the McDonald's, claimed he did not do or say anything to set off the irate man, who quickly drove off - without his food. But not before Mr Mash's friends in the car with him took down the license plate number. A police investigation led to Biumi - a 20-year-veteran of the DeKalb County Police Department. Spriggs says Biumi was booked into the Forsyth County jail on Wednesday, and released on $22,000 bond.. It is unclear if he has an attorney and Spriggs says a court date is scheduled for May 23. He has been suspended from the department with pay while the police department conducts an investigation, 11Alive reported. Scene of the crime: After allegedly pulling his gun on Mr Mash, Biumi sped off from the McDonald's without his food . | Detective Sgt Scott Biumi charged with aggravated assault .
Victim Ryan Mash said he had no idea that the man who pulled the gun on him was a police officer . |
08cc85a2057c4f725034d8010c0c83961e01e98f | Los Angeles (CNN) -- The pace of the 2012 race for the White House kicks into high gear Wednesday night, with the first of three Republican presidential debates scheduled over the next 15 days. And while it's the fourth GOP debate so far this cycle, it's the first to include Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who jumped into the race for the White House less than one month ago. Joining Perry on the stage at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, will be former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who's making his second bid for the GOP nomination, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, who's making third run for the White House, Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, businessman and former talk show host Herman Cain, former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, and former Utah Gov. and former U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman. Five of the candidates -- Romney, Paul, Gingrich, Bachmann and Cain -- met Monday at the Palmetto Freedom Forum in Columbia, South Carolina. Perry was scheduled to attend, but canceled to return home to deal with the wildfires burning across Texas. Perry's entry into the race last month has dramatically altered the landscape, with the Texas governor on the top of the pack according to six major national polls released in the last three weeks. Romney, the former front-runner in the polls, has now be relegated to second place in the surveys. The three debates this month and two more next month will be major tests for Perry, who doesn't have a lot of recent experience debating political rivals. While the spotlight will be on the Texas governor, it will also be shining on Romney. The question for the former Massachusetts governor: Does he attack Perry's record, or does he keep his line of fire directed at President Barack Obama? Bachmann's mission in the debates: Try to grab back the spotlight that Perry grabbed from her on the day of her biggest victory. The Texas governor announced his candidacy on August 13, just a few hours before Bachmann won a crucial GOP presidential straw poll in Ames, Iowa. For the rest of the candidates on the stage, the objective is to show relevancy. This week's debate is followed by a CNN/Tea Party Express GOP presidential debate Monday in Tampa, Florida, with another debate in Florida on September 22. A New Hampshire debate on October 11 is followed a week later by a CNN debate in Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 18. CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report . | Three GOP debates are slated for September .
Texas Gov. Perry is the front runner in several recent polls .
More debates are expected later in the year . |
08cd51d47d5d4a9db211089c4d1fd370e30d81bd | By . Craig Mackenzie . A man confessed to stabbing his girlfriend to death because she did not tell him she was HIV positive before they had sex. 'She killed me, so I killed her', Larry Dunn Jr, 36, told officers in Dallas, Texas, after the body of Cicely Bolden, 28, was found by her two young children returning home from school. The 28-year-old was lying naked from the waist down on her bedroom floor bleeding from two stab wounds in her neck. Scroll down for video . 'Something's wrong with mama': Cicely's two young children found her dead body in the bedroom of their home . Ms Bolden and 36-year-old Dunn had recently started dating. He later told police that when she confessed to having the virus she then told him it was 'not that bad'. He became upset and walked to the kitchen to get a knife which he used to kill her with, according to police. Neighbor Latoya Arnett, who called 911, told Kens5: 'All I know is, she didn't deserve it and her kids didn't deserve to see her like that. 'She was a good mom. Loved her kids to death. I can't imagine my kids seeing me like that. I know it hurt them.' Suspect: Larry Dunn told detectives he knifed Cicely Bolden after she told him she had the HIV virus . Police . say Dunn cooperated fully with their investigation. During a recorded . interview he admitted the crime and revealed he burned his clothes . afterwards and dumped the knife in the garbage at a waffle house. Police later recovered the weapon. The . father of Cicely's son, Jeff Busby, told Fox that Bolden had contracted . HIV within the last couple of years. He is currently looking after her . son and daughter. Speaking about Dunn, who is being held on $50,000 bond, he said: 'I hope he rots in prison. She did not deserve this.' Ms Arnett said she went inside the . apartment and found Cicely lying on the bedroom floor. Earlier that day, she claimed, she had . seen Dunn arriving at the apartment. Stuffed teddy bear toys have been . laid outside what's now a boarded-up apartment in Highland Village Drive . with candles lit in memory of Ms Bolden. | Her children find body as they return home from school .
Larry Dunn was 'upset' when his girlfriend told him about the disease . |
08cd7be1120bc8a3fa2725393e3da4e0869f3b08 | Terrified Christians claim Syrian rebels ordered them to convert to Islam on pain of death when they ‘liberated’ their ancient village. Opposition forces, including fighters linked to Al Qaeda, gained temporary control of the Christian village of Maaloula after fighting with regime forces. The reports have reignited fears about western support for the rebel groups, which are increasingly being infiltrated by Islamic extremists. A Syrian military solider fires a heavy machine gun during clashes with rebels in Maaloula . Government media has provided a different account of the battle suggesting regime forces are winning . A general view of Maaloula, northeast of the capital Damascus. Rebels including al-Qaida-linked fighters are believed to have gained control of the village . Syrian government forces stand guard in Maaloula village, a scenic mountain village where people still speak the ancient Middle Eastern language of Aramaic . One Maaloula resident said the rebels, many of whom had beards and shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ (God is great), attacked Christian homes and churches shortly after moving into the village. ‘They shot and killed people. I heard gunshots and then I saw three bodies lying in the middle of a street in the old quarters of the village. Where is President Obama to see what has befallen us?’ Another Christian resident said: ‘I saw the militants grabbing five villagers and threatening them and saying, “Either you convert to Islam, or you will be beheaded”.’ Another said one church had been torched, and gunmen stormed into two other churches and robbed them. The beautiful mountain village, 25 miles from Damascus, is one of the few places in the world where residents still use the ancient language of Aramaic, which was spoken by Jesus and his disciples. Historic: A church in Maaloula which is on a UNESCO list of tentative world heritage sites . State-run TV reported that all churches in Maaloula were now safe and the army was chasing gunmen in the western hills . It has become a key strategic . battleground in the Syrian civil war because of its proximity to the . capital. It was held by President Assad’s regime, but taken at the . weekend in a rebel advance spearheaded by the hardline Islamist al Nusra . Front. Villagers said they . heard several foreign accents among the rebels, with many feared to be . Al Qaeda fighters imported into the conflict. A villager said he heard . mainly Tunisian, Libyan, Moroccan and Chechen dialects. In . a video posted online, a rebel commander shouted at the camera: ‘We . cleansed Maaloula from all the Assad dogs and all his thugs.’ But . Syria’s state news agency claimed the rebels had withdrawn and the . regime had regained the village, saying: ‘The army inflicted heavy . losses in the ranks of the terrorists.’ A Christian woman who spoke to the Associated Press on Thursday also said there were reports that militants threatened villagers with death if they did not convert to Christianity . A church in Maaloula where fighting has been taking place overnight. A poster with the portrait of Syrian President Bashar Assad is seen bottom right . | Syrian rebels including al-Qaeda-linked fighters have gained control of a Christian village north-east of the capital Damascus .
Government media has provided a different account suggesting regime forces are winning .
The battle is taking place in Maaloula, a scenic mountain village where people still speak the ancient Middle Eastern language of Aramaic . |
08cd9c40b43a5f1ea531b90da08326bd546a79e7 | (CNN) -- The body of the managing director of one of the richest investment funds in the world was found Tuesday, four days after he disappeared after a plane crash in Morocco, the official Moroccan news agency reported. Sheikh Ahmed bin Zayed Al Nahyan had been missing since his glider plane crashed into a lake in the north African country on Friday. The late sheikh was a brother of the ruler of Abu Dhabi and president of the UAE, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Sheikh Ahmed, 41, was director of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. He was also chairman of the board of trustees of the Zayed Foundation for Charity and Humanitarian Works, according to WAM, the official news agency of the United Arab Emirates. The body was found by rescue teams at a dam in Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah lake, in Skhirat Temara, a suburb of the Moroccan capital Rabat. Some 225 people -- including over 100 divers from Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, France, Spain and the United States in addition to four emergency physicians -- were called in, the Moroccan Press Agency reported. The body was found by rescue teams in Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah lake, in Skhirat Temara, a suburb of the Moroccan capital Rabat. The remains are being transported back to the Emirates from Morocco and are expected to be buried Wednesday, Abu Dhabi TV reported. The ruling family will attend prayers in the Sheikh Zayed Mosque Wednesday afternoon as three days of state mourning begin, the station reported. Forbes' 2009 rankings of "The World's Most Powerful People" listed the late sheikh at No. 27. The pilot of the plane was rescued in good condition after the crash, WAM said. The sovereign-wealth fund, which was established in 1976, is owned by the government of Abu Dhabi. In an interview in January with Germany's business daily newspaper Handelsblatt, Sheikh Ahmed said he preferred not to use the sovereign-wealth fund label to describe the investment fund. "We prefer to be seen simply as a globally diversified investment institution, with the difference being that our owner is the government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi," he said. "ADIA's sole mission, which has not changed in over 30 years, is to secure and maintain the current and future welfare of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi." Asked about news reports that ADIA's global assets range between $300 billion and $800 billion, Sheikh Ahmed hewed to the secretive style that has marked the fund. "As a matter of policy ADIA does not disclose its assets under management," he said. But he noted that his brother, the president, who is also ADIA's chairman, "has stated publicly that some of the highest estimates seen in the media have been exaggerated." But the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute estimates that ADIA is among the richest investment vehicles of its kind in the world -- if not the richest. CNN's Saad Abedine and Caroline Faraj contributed to this report. | Sheikh Ahmed bin Zayed Al Nahyan missing since plane crashed into lake in Morocco .
Sheikh was managing director of the Dhabi Investment Authority .
He also was a brother of the ruler of Abu Dhabi and Forbes' 27th richest person in world . |
08d02b7351f19ec9606f9704c744d270d1666cc7 | (CNN) -- The family of deceased Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi will file a war crimes complaint against NATO with the International Criminal Court, a lawyer representing the family said Thursday. Members of the family believe NATO's actions led to Gadhafi's death last week, said Marcel Ceccaldi. "All of the events that have taken place since February 2011 and the murder of Gadhafi, all of this means we are totally in our right to call upon the International Criminal Court," Ceccaldi, a French attorney, said. NATO responded that it "conducts its operation in strict conformity with the relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions." In a statement Thursday, a NATO official said, "At no time during Operation Unified Protector has NATO targeted specific individuals." The ICC had previously issued a warrant for Gadhafi's arrest, accusing him of crimes against humanity. The ICC still has warrants for the arrest of Gadhafi's son, Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, and his brother-in-law Abdullah al-Sanussi. Questions surround the death of Moammar Gadhafi, who eluded forces loyal to the National Transitional Council for months. Video shows Gadhafi was alive when captured by the opposition. He died from a shot in the head, officials said, but the circumstances surrounding the shot remain unclear. The United States said it supports an independent investigation, as called for by the United Nations and by Libya's new leadership. Ceccaldi said the Gadhafi family's complaint will be filed in the coming days. "Now we will wait and see if the ICC is a judicial system which is independent and impartial," he added. Lt. Gen. Charles Bouchard, commander of the NATO military operation, said earlier this week that NATO "did not get involved in anything beyond what was our legal mandate and we remain well within the mandate assigned to us by the North Atlantic Council." While Gadhafi survived an airstrike in the Sirte area shortly before he died, Bouchard said NATO did not know the former Libyan leader was in the convoy. "We saw a convoy, and in fact we had no idea that Gadhafi was on board," Bouchard said. Some vehicles in the convoy were carrying weaponry, and seemed to present a potential threat to the population, he said. The news came as the U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Thursday to end NATO's military operations in Libya. | NEW: NATO responds that it never targeted specific individuals in the operation .
The Gadhafi family blames NATO for Gadhafi's death, the lawyer says .
The family will file the complaint with the ICC, the lawyer says .
The ICC had a warrant for Gadhafi's arrest . |
08d114133e5745ae844691156c2aee57c435c1ea | By . Ashley Collman . The New Jersey teen who sneaked past a sleeping security guard to reach the roof of the World Trade Center building made his first court appearance Wednesday. Justin Casquejo, 16, was initially charged with trespassing, but now faces actual jail time since the judge slapped him with another charge of BASE jumping - a class A misdemeanor. If convicted, the Weehawken, New Jersey native could end up behind bars for up to a year. Scroll down for video . Head down: 16-year-old Justin Casquejo made his first court appearance Wednesday as he faces trespassing charges for sneaking to the top of the World Trade Center last month . Serious crimes: Casquejo was hit with an additional charge of base jumping today, which could land him in jail for up to a year if convicted . Sly: Casquejo, of Weehawken, New Jersey, was . able to make it to the top of 1 WTC by slipping through a square-foot . hole in a fence surrounding the site . The judge also ordered Casquejo be assessed in a program for youth offenders. He is due back in court on April 20. Casquejo and his lawyer declined to comment outside the court house. The daredevil teen successfully made it to the top of 1 WTC on March 16, by slipping through a square-opening in the fence surrounding the site around 4am. Dressed as a construction worker, Casquejo eluded security and was able to take an elevator to the 88th floor. Daredevil: Casquejo sneaked into the WTC site and spent almost two hours on the roof of the nearly completed Freedom Tower before he was arrested by Port Authority police trying to leave. He is pictured at right on top of a construction crane in nearby Hoboken . From there he took the stairs all the way to the 104th floor and walked right past a sleeping security guard to access the roof. He spent about two hours on the roof before coming down and getting caught by Port Authority Police. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owns the site, is reevaluating their security measures. Since Casquejo's arrest last month, six others have also been arrested for sneaking in or attempting to sneak into the World Trade Center unauthorized. Thrillseeker: Casquejo, pictured on a construction crane in Hoboken, appears to love sneaking into tall buildings under construction . Two CNN journalists were arrested late last month trying three times to sneak past security and into the building in broad daylight. 'If a 16-year-old can get on the site, we should be able to get in as well,' one of them allegedly told the officer. Four other men were charged last month as well, for organizing a base jump off the building in September. 'We were a little bit shocked that they spent that much time and energy continuing to pursue something that they knew was not a terroristic act,' one of the jumpers, Andrew Rossing, told Good Morning America. 'Our intent was never for this to go public. We never posted the video footage. People didn’t know about it. We kept things quiet. As far as we were concerned, no one ever needed to know,' he added. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said that 'both City Hall and 1 Police Plaza are concerned about' the recent break-ins. | Justin Casquejo, 16, made his first court appearance Wednesday as he faces charges of trespassing .
The Weehawken, New Jersey high school student sneaked to the top of 1 WTC on March 16 .
A judge slapped him with an additional charge of base jumping, a class A misdemeanor which could land him in jail for up to a year .
Since he has been arrested, six others have also been charged for successfully sneaking in or attempting to sneak into the Freedom Tower . |
08d11a04a3c7217eac43716fa595d52a447f8b68 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 12:51 EST, 5 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:33 EST, 6 May 2013 . Travellers were left fearing for their lives after an airplane engine burst into flames thousands of feet above ground . Minutes after the flight took off from a Helsinki airport with 168 people on board, the engine exploded and caught fire. The German-bound Airbus suffered a number of technical problems before streaks of flames emitted from the left engine, 15 minutes after leaving ground. Terror: The plane's left engine exploded and burst into flames just 15 minutes after takeoff from Helsinki-Vantaa airport on Saturday . A blast rocked the Lufthansa Airbus A321-200 and eye witnesses reported hearing grinding noises before a number of bangs resonated through the fuselage. The plane’s engine stalled and cut out while the blaze ripped through the aircraft, leaving it flying with just one engine. Pilots battled to control the jet and immediately U-turned to Helsinki, making an emergency landing just 20 minutes after taking off at around 6pm on Saturday. A spokesman for Helsinki-Vantaa airport said: ‘A Lufthansa flight had to make an emergency landing at Helsinki airport on Saturday evening due to a glitch in the plane’s engine.' All clear: The Lufthansa Airbus was forced to make an emergency landing, but no passengers were harmed (file photo) ‘The Frankfurt-bound flight took off from Helsinki airport, but the pilot brought the aircraft back to Helsinki after about an hour later as a mechanical glitch was detected in its engine. ‘The pilot informed the airport control tower about the problems developed in the engine.’ The aircraft managed to land safely at Helsinki airport without suffering any injuries and the 162 passengers and six crew members were taken to a hotel. A full investigation has now been launched by the airliner and Airbus to determine the exact cause of the accident. The French-based firm, who produce the world’s largest plane the A380, are yet to confirm if they will be suspending further flights of the A321. | Lufthansa Airbus caught fire in mid-air shortly after takeoff .
Plane left Helsinki airport only to have its left engine explode minutes later . |
08d1680f9b8c1a5da71d7628c3ac1c1f0d52395c | By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 09:30 EST, 16 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 09:50 EST, 16 March 2014 . The Niagara River corridor from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario is renowned as a spectacular winter haven for hundreds of thousands of water birds. But this year's bitterly cold season has made it notable for something else: dead ducks.Biologists say carcasses began piling up by the hundreds in early January after the plunging temperatures started icing over nearly the entire Great Lakes, preventing the ducks from getting to the minnows that are their main source of food. Necropsies on dozens of birds have confirmed the cause: starvation.'All have empty stomachs. They're half the weight they should be,' said Connie Adams, a biologist in the state Department of Environmental Conservation's Buffalo office who has personally seen 950 dead birds. A dead red-breasted merganser duck sits on an examine table at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's wildlife health unit on Thursday . Biologist Joe Okoniewski examines a dead red-breasted merganser duck at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's wildlife health unit on Thursday . 'This is unprecedented. Biologists who've worked here for 35 years have never seen anything like this,' she said. 'We've seen a decline in tens of thousands in our weekly waterfowl counts.' It's a phenomenon that has been seen elsewhere along the Great Lakes, with news reports of diving ducks and other waterfowl turning up dead by the hundreds along the southern part of Lake Michigan. They've also been found in Lake St. Clair between Lakes Erie and Huron. 'It's a hard winter for ducks, like everything else,' said Russ Mason, wildlife director with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Necropsies and toxicity analyses showed many of the Michigan ducks were subsisting on invasive zebra mussels, which caused the birds to have potentially toxic levels of selenium in their bodies, Mason said. Zebra mussels filter toxins from the water and pass them up the food chain. Most of the dead ducks seen in the upstate New York are red-breasted mergansers, which breed in northern Canada and Alaska and come south for the winter to the Great Lakes region. In most years, there are periods of freezing and thawing, providing enough breaks in the ice for them to dive for minnows. But this winter, it's been so bitterly cold for so long that the ice had pushed across 92.2 percent of the Great Lakes' surface area earlier this month, according to federal monitors, just short of the record 94.7 percent set in 1979. Biologists say the Niagara River also . has ice extending up to 100 yards off shore, creating a shelf where . minnows and shiners can hide. The Niagara River corridor from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario is renowned as a winter haven for water birds . There is evidence some waterfowl gave up and tried to fly farther south but were too weak to do so. Dead birds have been seen along shorelines, on docks and on the ice, their carcasses feasted upon by gulls and bald eagles. Two weeks ago, Adams said, there were 240,000 water birds in her area's weekly count. Last week, there were 43,000. It's unknown how many birds - which also included such species as scaup, canvasbacks and grebes - migrated elsewhere and how many died.At the DEC's Wildlife Health Unit near Albany, biologist Joe Okoniewski has refrigerators stuffed with bags of red-breasted mergansers sent by wildlife biologists on Lakes Erie and Ontario. The diving ducks are black and white with a rusty speckled breast, orange bill and an iridescent green head with a shaggy crest on the back. 'The skin is stuck tight to the body wall because there's no layer of fat underneath,' Okoniewski said, running a scalpel along the breastbone of a dead merganser. The gizzard and intestine were empty, except for a few normal parasites.'I've seen a couple with stomachs full of feathers and feathers all the way down through their intestines,' Okoniewski said. 'They're desperate for anything to eat. It's really sad.' Biologist Joe Okoniewski examines the ducks who he says died of starvation . Unlike mallard or black ducks, mergansers won't eat bread or other food people may offer. They only eat live fish. While the bird deaths are a natural event that can be documented but not changed, wildlife rehabilitators are trying to save birds that people find near death in snowbanks and parking lots. 'We've had over 160 since the beginning of January,' said Dawn Mazierski, a wildlife technician at the Erie County SPCA in Tonawanda. 'We have to tube-feed them a liquid diet three to four times a day until they're strong enough to eat on their own.' The birds, which spend all their time on water, can hardly walk, and often their natural waterproofing is damaged by dirt or road salt so they can't swim either. 'They soak up water like a sponge and sink,' Mazierski said. So the birds rest in a quiet room on net hammocks called loon beds, preening their feathers back to condition. When they're ready, they go into tubs of water stocked with minnows donated by bait shops. 'A merganser can eat 200 to 250 fish per day,' Mazierski said. 'We go through thousands of fish a day.' After anywhere from three days to a couple of weeks, the birds are ready for release. 'Once their weight has increased and they're real spunky, and we have a decent weather day, we take them back out,' Mazierski said. 'And we hope they'll find enough food to bulk up for their flight north in spring.' | 'We've seen a decline in tens of thousands in our weekly waterfowl counts,' said Connie Adams, a biologist .
'It's a hard winter for ducks, like .
everything else,' said Russ Mason, wildlife director with the Michigan .
Department of Natural Resources .
The Great Lakes are usually considered a winter haven for waterfowl . |
08d20e5b4e244a2a17f6fabcdb006a2abab18f94 | Moscow, Russia (CNN) -- As Russia reels from the worst drought in nearly 40 years, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary ban on grain exports. "I think it is expedient to temporarily ban exports of grain and grain products from Russia," Putin said in a government meeting Thursday. Putin spokesman Dmitry Pskov confirmed to CNN that the ban would be from August 15 through December 1. Russia is the world's third largest wheat exporter, but is facing the possibility of wheat shortages. The drought has forced the country's Agriculture Ministry to slash its grain forecast from 90 million tons to between 70 and 75 million tons. Grain prices have been rising everywhere recently, according to the United States Department of Agriculture's Wheat Year in Review Report for 2008-2009, the most recent available. Because adverse weather lowered wheat production in 2007-2008, there was a global price spike that year, the report states. Many wheat-producing countries harvested large amounts of wheat in 2008, taking advantage of the record-high prices and good weather. After a sharp drop in monthly prices in October 2008, wheat prices continued rising. The all-wheat season average hit a record-high of $6.78 per bushel in the United States in 2009. The world set a record at 25.1 billion bushels of wheat produced that year. "U.S. and world wheat prices soared," the report states. Eventually, the demand for U.S. wheat began exceeding the supply, further contributing to high costs. CNN's Emily Evans contributed to this report. | The Russian government has banned grain exports until December 1 .
The drought is the country's worst in nearly 40 years .
Russia is the world's 3rd largest exporter of wheat . |
08d31fc0f2025e9cc80b58bf7722d86fdb76ebf0 | A teenage gymnast who suffered a career-ending spine injury at the age of ten has revealed how she managed to make an unlikely return as one of the sport's top-ranked athletes. Annie Hilton, 14, from Southern California, who is starring in Gatorade's new Win From Within campaign, was working towards earning a place on the US women's national gymnastics team when a simple mistake during a floor routine left her with a fractured neck. But while that injury alone should not have kept her from competing, the pre-teen suffered another devastating blow when doctors diagnosed her with dyslastic spondylolisthesis, a congenital spine disorder which prevented her vertebrae from fusing together. Scroll down for video . Top of her game: Annie Hilton, 14, made an astonishing return to gymnastics after undergoing spinal surgery . Star athlete: The gymnast was just ten when she was forced to take more than a year off in order to recover . Annie was forced to undergo painful surgery in order for doctors to put screws in her spine. The procedure left her bedridden for a number of months, with experts predicting that she would then have to spent another year in recovery. 'Annie had a mishap on floor one day, took off wrong and landed on top of her head,' Southern California Elite Gymnastics Academy coach Kathy Strate explains in the Gatorade video. 'It turned out to be an injury that just needed time to heal, it wasn't in any way a career-ending or serious injury. But as her neck was healing, she noticed that her back was hurting. 'Most kids who take a year or more off do not make a comeback in a sport like this. Gymnastics was over for her.' 'My dream was to compete at World's and to be on the national team for gymnastics,' Annie said. 'When they told me I would have to take a year off, I was devastated.' Down but not out: Annie initially thought that her injury would take just a matter of months to heal . 'Frustrated': Doctors later diagnosed Annie with a severe spinal disorder which required painful and complex surgery . During the first few months of her recovery, Annie was incredibly frustrated and angry at how helpless she felt. 'I like trying to feel like I'm independent, but people had to do everything for me; I couldn't even walk on my own,' she recalled. Her father Dan admits that watching his daughter struggle with just the simplest of tasks was heart-breaking for Annie's family - but to witness her passion slowly start to return as her recovery quickened gave them all the determination and motivation they needed to help her return to her beloved sport. 'I just remember when she was walking across the room three feet, she was so frustrated, she couldn't stand up,' he said. 'But by the time she was walking to the end of the hallway, that was almost when the light switch turned on and she could see she was making progress.' Determination: Annie has had to dedicate endless hours towards ensuring that she was able to regain her skills . Flying high: The teen defied doctors' expectations when she returned to the gym after just 13 months of recovery . After 13 months of recovery, Annie was finally given the all-clear by doctors and told that she could start to try other forms of physical activity, beyond walking. But while many believed that the hardest part of her recovery was over, Annie had to face yet another seemingly impossible battle - returning to gymnastics and attempting to regain all of the skills that she had lost during her time away from the sport. 'When I would reach down to touch my toes, I would get to about my knees,' Annie said. 'My arms especially - I lost all of my upper body strength. 'It was really hard. I felt so weak.' But her determination and unwavering self-belief paid off, and within a year, the teenager was competing - and winning - at national competitions once again. Comeback kid: Annie's goal is to get a full college scholarship so that she can continue competing at the highest level . 'I'm fearless': The young gymnast has managed to overcome every obstacle put in her way . '[Annie] doesn't get down, she just keeps working and working and working,' coach Kathy said. 'I thought that it was very possible that she could compete the next year. And she was ready to go by the first meet. And she competed not one event, but all four events. 'It's the best comeback story I've seen in 25 years. And the way she's going, she's going to reach her ultimate goal, which is to get a full ride scholarship.' 'These things just happen and when they do, you have to be ready, you have to put all of your effort into it,' Annie added. 'What makes me different is that, I'm fearless.' | Annie Hilton was competing as one of America's top young gymnasts when she broke her neck during a tricky routine at the age of ten .
While she was recovering from the injury, doctors discovered she was suffering from dyslastic spondylolisthesis a congenital spine disorder .
The 14-year-old was bedridden for months and was told by experts that her promising career was over . |
08d5c9477a0510abded9e0889772f7bceac4e7cb | By . Daily Mail Reporter . European and African vultures could become extinct within a generation without action to save them, conservationists have warned. The fears over the fate of vultures in Europe and Africa come after populations of the birds, which play an important role as scavengers cleaning up dead wildlife, plummeted by more than 99% in Asia. Asian populations were the victim of a veterinary drug, diclofenac, which is used to treat inflammation in livestock but which is lethally toxic to vultures when they ingest it from carcasses, with numbers plummeting faster than the Dodo before its extinction. At risk: Conservation group, Birdlife International, have warned that vulture populations are plummeting faster than the dodo did before it became extinct (above - griffon vulture in flight in Hoces del Duraton, Spain) Conservation group BirdLife International is warning that the drug is commercially available in at least two European countries - Spain and Italy - both of which are strongholds for vultures in Europe. And vultures in Africa are facing increasing threats, due to accidental and deliberate poisoning, persecution for body parts to be used in traditional medicine, habitat loss and collision with power lines, BirdLife said. Three-quarters of vultures found in the Old World - Europe, Africa and Asia - are threatened or near-threatened with extinction, BirdLife warned. Kariuki Ndanganga, BirdLife Africa’s species programme manager, said: “Unless threats are identified and tackled quickly and effectively, vultures in Africa and Europe could face extinction within our lifetime.” Three-quarters of vultures found in the Old World - Europe, Africa and Asia - are threatened or near-threatened with extinction, according to BirdLife (above - white-backed vultures eat a carcass in Athi Kapiti, Kenya) Jim Lawrence, BirdLife’s preventing extinctions programme manager, said: “We know what to do in Europe - ban veterinary diclofenac. “We also know what we need to do for Africa - urgently understand fully the threats and extinction risk so we can act quickly, with priority.” The conservation charity is calling for support for its campaign to stop vulture poisoning in a bid to tackle the threats the birds face. | Fears for European and African vulture after drug used to treat livestock devastates bird's Asian population .
Drug is available in Spain and Italy - two strongholds of vultures in Europe .
African vultures are also under threat as they are killed for medicine, poisoned, and are also losing their natural habitat .
Bird's population is declining faster than the dodo did before its extinction . |
08d62c20f70c57f35b95504d3687621d55084752 | Liverpool became only the third team to score more than 4,000 top flight goals at home on Tuesday night. Brendan Rodgers' side took an early lead against Tottenham in the Premier League clash at Anfield when Hugo Lloris failed to keep out Lazar Markovic's scuffed effort after 15 minutes. Liverpool's Merseyside rivals Everton have scored the most home goals in the top tier of English football with 4,208. Lazar Markovic gave Liverpool the lead against Tottenham at Anfield on Tuesday night . The midfielder's mishit shot squirmed past Hugo Lloris and was Liverpool's 4,000th top flight goal at home . Markovic celebrates with Philippe Coutinho after giving the home side the lead . Harry Kane celebrates after levelling for Tottenham 26 minutes into the first half . Aston Villa, who have notoriously struggled for goals in recent seasons, are the only other team to achieve the feat having bagged 4,025 home goals. Liverpool's lead against Spurs didn't last long as Harry Kane continued his rich vein of form when he drew the visitors level after 26 minutes. A victory Liverpool will see the club move to within just one point of top-four rivals Tottenham in the chase for Champions League football. | Lazar Markovic's goal against Tottenham was Liverpool's 4,000th top flight goal at home .
Everton and Aston Villa are the only other teams to achieve the feat .
Harry Kane equalised for the visitors as the first half ended level . |
08d77db645f02b96c2a1e063c54ee28b5903330a | By . Jenny Hope and Mark Howarth . PUBLISHED: . 18:50 EST, 26 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:07 EST, 27 August 2013 . Soap operas are to blame for encouraging teenagers to drink, warns a report. Some of the nation’s best-loved programmes including Coronation Street and EastEnders are littered with so many references to alcohol that they are a ‘major source of exposure’ for children and young people. The study found 92 per cent of episodes contain some form of alcohol imagery including drinking, bottle branding and scenes in the Rovers Return and Queen Vic. Bingeing: EastEnders' character Lauren Branning during a scene from the soap. The shows have been blamed for encouraging teenage drinking after a study found 92% of episodes contain alcohol imagery . Research also revealed drink was a recurring theme every nine minutes on terrestrial channels during the evening. Alcohol use was highest in soap operas, closely followed by feature films, says the report published in the Journal of Public Health. The greatest amount of alcohol content was in the hour immediately before the 9pm watershed. The study, by researchers at Nottingham University and King’s College London, is the first for nearly two decades to document alcohol content during prime time on the five most popular terrestrial TV channels. Cheers: Maria Connor and Marcus Dent pictured in a scene from Coronation Street . The researchers said: ‘Our findings demonstrate that prime-time television is a major source of exposure to alcohol imagery among children, and as such is likely to be contributing to uptake and consumption of alcohol among young people in the UK. ‘Tighter regulation of advertising and promotion of alcoholic drinks, including promotion through sporting events, has been proposed to reduce [such] consumption. ‘We suggest that such measures should include television programme content as well as advertising, particularly before the 9pm watershed.’ They added: ‘Episodes of alcohol branding comprised advertising, such as billboards, branded products such as bottles visible behind a bar or held or used in a scene and branded items such as umbrellas or clothing.’ The study examined more than 400 broadcasting hours between 6pm and 10pm, including adverts. The researchers said it was ‘surprising’ to see real brands of alcohol alongside fictitious branding in TV pubs. The study found that 92 per cent of soap episodes carried alcohol imagery compared to 86 per cent of feature films, and sport and comedy, both 63 per cent. The study led Alcohol Concern to call for the appointment of an alcohol advertising regulator. But ITV spokesman Alison Sinclair insisted alcohol imagery in programmes is taken seriously. Influence: The study suggested prime-time TV is a major source of exposure to alcohol imagery among teenagers and is likely to contribute to them consuming alcohol (picture posed by models) ‘Real advertising brand names never feature and the focus is on the drama in a small community and on the dialogue amongst the characters in the pub as opposed to alcohol intake,’ she said. BBC spokesman Joanna Allen added: ‘Any alcoholic drink bought or consumed by a character in EastEnders will always be a fictitious brand. Any use of branded alcohol is purely for background dressing.’ Last year, the World Health Organisation found that binge drinking among British teenage girls was the worst in Europe. More than half of all 15 and 16-year-olds admit to getting drunk at least once a month. | Research finds drink is a recurring theme every nine minutes on terrestrial channels during the evenings .
Greatest amount of alcohol imagery is between 8 and 9pm .
Alcohol Concern call for appointment of alcohol advertising regulator .
ITV and BBC both say they use fictitious brands in their shows . |
08d80d5ed4b9a271987774b0bc6862e67818712c | By . Amanda Williams . PUBLISHED: . 13:40 EST, 21 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:44 EST, 21 January 2013 . A former fashion model has become one of the country's first millionaire bailiffs. Julie Green-Jones has raked in £2.7million in the past three years as the head of one of Britain's largest bailiff companies - Rossendales. The 50-year -old, from Lancashire, began her career as a fashion model, touring the world as she was booked for various shoots. Julie Green-Jones has raked in £2.7million in the past three years as the head of one of Britain's largest baillif companies - Rossendales. Now she earns almost £1million a year, lives at a £2million country estate, and is in charge of 200 debt collectors at Rossendales - one of Britain's eight largest bailiff companies. The companies have seen their combined annual turnover rise to £106.7million, breaking the £100million barrier for the first time. Last year’s biggest earner was Marston Group, with a £25.8million turnover, followed by Equita, with £20.1million. Rossendales, raked in £16.2million — . an increase of almost ten per cent in two years — and JBW, which earned . £12.8million, was up 80 per cent. But the news comes as a recent report has launched heavy criticism at some parts of the industry for using 'unscrupulous' tactics such as inflating charges and inventing fees. A report by the Local Government Ombudsman, which looked at use of bailiffs by councils, found some were employing practices which could see families pushed deeper in debt. In one case, a £105 fee on a parking ticket was increased to £405, and in another a woman was charged a £250 so called van fee. It is supposed to cover the cost of bringing a vehicle to a property but the maximum charged should be £100. The eight top bailiff firms have not been implicated in any wrongdoing and the report does not name companies individually. Ms Green-Jones turned to the debt collecting business in 1989 after a marriage break-up left her as a single parent with no income. She bought the company in 2007 . Between April 2011 and March 2012, Citizens Advice received more than two million requests for help on matters relating to debt. Gillian Guy, chief executive, told the Sun: 'We are seeing more and more evidence that some bailiffs are intimidating people in their own homes.' She said the system was in urgent need of reform as many who sought the organisations advice were already struggling with poverty and did not know their rights or what do when a bailiff comes to the door. Bailiffs body the Civil Enforcement Association said it disputed the findings of the report. It said it had a robust complaints process and bailiffs accused of intimidating people or charging illegally high fees were 'investigated rigorously.' But a spokesman agreed that the system governing the industry needed reform — and said the Government was 'avoiding the issue'. Ms Green-Jones turned to the debt . collecting business in 1989 after a marriage break-up left her as a . single parent with no income. After climbing through the ranks she said she took a risk and bought out Rossendales in 2007. She defended the company's practices when an employee was filmed allegedly threatening debtors and breaking industry guidelines in a 2011 TV exposé. His contract was later terminated for his 'inexcusable behaviour. ' Later that year she said in an interview bailiffs collected money 'critical for front line services'. She said: 'That is all money for the public purse. It’s not only what we collect, we also serve as a deterrent.' Last year’s record earnings for . bailiffs come as experts predict a triple dip recession and as several . high street chains announce that thousands of workers could lose their . jobs. Official growth figures due on Friday are expected to show the British economy shrank in the final quarter of last year. Many experts predict there will be another fall in the three months from January to March, plunging the nation into its third recession in five years. Employees in the shadow of the axe include 800 staff at Honda’s Swindon plant, 1,300 at collapsed camera chain Jessops, 760 at movie rental business Blockbuster and more than 4,000 at HMV. It will mean more families face losing their main earner and could struggle to pay bills. How earnings rose at Britain's eight top bailiff companies . | Julie Green-Jones has raked in £2.7million in the past three years as the head of one of Britain's eight largest bailiff companies .
The companies have seen their combined annual turnover rise to .
£106.7million, breaking the £100million barrier for the first time . |
08d845c78055627eb898cb74bc38274794351b17 | Former England footballer Paul Gascoigne looked down in the dumps as he put his bins out in what is his first public appearance since he was sectioned following an alcohol meltdown. The 47-year-old looked downcast when he was spotted wearing a blue dressing gown, tartan pyjama bottoms and slip-on shoes outside his property in Poole, Dorset. The former midfielder, who was sectioned for his own safety last month, was also sporting scars to his face following a recent fall while he carried out the chore at 1pm on Thursday. Scroll down for video . Former England footballer Paul Gascoigne looked down in the dumps as he put his bins out in Poole, Dorset . The former midfielder looked downcast as he carried out the chore in his dressing gown and pyjama bottoms . It is the first time Gascoigne, who retired from football in 2004, has been pictured in public since being sectioned under the Mental Health Act on October 24. The star was placed on a three-day emergency detox after being rushed to hospital in the early hours following an apparent alcohol binge. He is now said to be recovering at home with his new 44-year-old girlfriend Mandy Thomas, who he only recently started seeing. She is said to have vowed to stand by him and is helping him with his recovery. Less than 48 hours prior to his hospitalisation last month, the pair were pictured out and about and onlookers said they had been discussing their plans for the future. They are said to have met after the former Newcastle, Tottenham and Rangers star visited the post office she runs in Bournemouth, Dorset. The star was placed on a three-day emergency detox last month after being rushed to hospital in the early hours following an apparent alcohol binge. He is now said to be recovering at home with his new girlfriend . It is the first time Gascoigne, who retired from football in 2004, has been pictured in public since being sectioned under the Mental Health Act on October 24. He has suffered a lengthy battle with alcoholism . Ms Thomas, who is separated from her husband and has two children, is said to be 'besotted' with the star with whom she has become 'inseparable'. She reportedly helped him move into his new apartment in the expensive area of Sandbanks in Poole in August. It was shortly after he was released from Poole Hospital after another alcoholic breakdown that he was found slumped outside his flat clutching a bottle of gin. Friends said the new couple viewed the move as a fresh start and said that Ms Thomas hopes to help him through the most recent 'setback'. Gascoigne and his new love Mandy Thomas appear to be the picture of domestic bliss as they pose together in the garden of his new home two days prior to his hospitalisation. Ms Thomas (right) is supporting him . The 47-year-old star was rushed to hospital at 3am on October 24 and sectioned under the Mental Health Act . The football ace has suffered a long battle with alcoholism and was previously sectioned six years ago. The star, who made 57 appearances for his country, has been in rehab seven times and was first sectioned under the Mental Health Act in 2008, following an incident at a Newcastle hotel. His seventh stint in rehab was in January this year when he checked into a £6,000-a-month treatment clinic in Southampton. Last month, the star was pictured cradling a chicken while enjoying a pint and speaking to locals in a pub beer garden. At the time of his hospitalisation, Gascoigne's agent Terry Baker told MailOnline that the star 'is not very well' but refused to comment on his condition any further. Paul Gascoigne leans in for a kiss with his girlfriend Mandy Thomas who was with him in hospital last month . Gascogine looking weak and frail in August (left) and in his footballing glory days playing for England (right) Former England star Gascoigne netted two huge fish during an outing with a friend in Hampshire last month . | Paul Gascoigne spotted for the first time since being sectioned last month .
47-year-old looked downcast as he put the bins out outside home in Poole .
Spotted in blue dressing gown and pyjama bottoms on Thursday afternoon .
Former footballer put on emergency three-day detox in October after binge .
New girlfriend Mandy Thomas has vowed to stand by him through ordeal .
Former England star has suffered a long battle with alcoholism and drugs . |
08d8fe080525b943a61ec4dc15f94be838975b9e | By . Lillian Radulova . A 17-year-old boy from the suburb of Beaumaris, Victoria, has died after leaning out of the back door of a moving train. The teenager was with two friends when he opened the door to lean out before striking a fixed object at about 9.20 pm on Friday. The incident occurred only 200 metres from Malvern train station in Melbourne's southeast. Scroll down for video . A 17-year-old teenager died near Malvern Railway Station in Victoria on Friday night after leaning out of the back door while the train was in motion, to strike a stationary object . Paramedics were unable to save the teen, who died shortly before 11pm. No one else was injured. Police are investigating the circumstances leading to the 17-year-old's death. Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. | The 17-year-old from Beaumaris in Victoria, died on Friday night .
The incident occurred after he opened the back door of the moving train .
He then struck a stationary object, 200 metres from Malvern train station .
Two friends who were with him at the time were uninjured . |
08da1b009b49da772dcf31d821af48ac92002fff | Michael Laudrup has emerged as favourite to replace Harry Redknapp as manager at QPR. Tim Sherwood had been considered the man to take over but those talks have stalled while QPR chairman Tony Fernandes tweeted on Tuesday to say he has found the 'dream' replacement for Redknapp, who resigned last week. 'Think I have got my dream manager. Not what anyone thinks. Take a while. Still a bit to go but I'm very happy. Press all wrong. Michael Laudrup is the favourite to succeed Harry Redknapp as QPR's manager this season . Former Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood was the early frontrunner for the vacant job at Loftus Road . 'Focus tonight is on the game. Support Chris and the boys. We are all in this together and want what's best for QPR. Come on you rssss.' Laudrup's odds have been slashed from 40/1 to 3/1 favourite by some bookmakers - with one major company suspending all betting on the potential outcome. The 50-year-old is currently coaching in Qatar after a two-year stint with Swansea City ended with his sacking a year ago. During his time in south Wales, Laudrup guided the Swans to their first major trophy in their history with the 2012/13 Capital One Cup trophy in his debut season at the club. Sherwood, who has been odds on since Redknapp stepped down, has drifted from 1/3 to 7/1 - the same price as the potentially outgoing Brentford manager, Mark Warburton. Laudrup has experience of managing in the Premier League following a two-year spell at Swansea City . Laudrup guided the Swans to their first major trophy in their history with the 2012/13 Capital One Cup trophy . Sherwood (right) was believed to have had talks to replace Harry Redknapp - who quit earlier this month . Redknapp will undergo double knee replacement surgery in coming weeks - and quit due to that resason . Sherwood, who worked under Redknapp during his time at Tottenham, was believed to have opened talks with QPR last week over becoming their next manager. Redknapp quit Loftus Road earlier this month, citing the fact he requires two knee operations as the reason behind his decision. Sherwood was understood to be the preferred choice of Les Ferdinand, who has been given a new role as director of football by chairman Fernandes, but it appears that the club have decided to go in a different direction with Laudrup. Ferdinand had been placed in temporary charge of the first-team along with coach Chris Ramsey but the latter oversaw their 1-0 Premier League defeat at home to Southampton on Saturday alongside Kevin Bond. The duo are also in charge of the club's midweek crunch clash away to Sunderland on Tuesday night. Ramsey took charge of QPR's 1-0 Premier League home defeat against Southampton on Saturday . Earlier on Tuesday, Japan's football chiefs refused to comment on reports linking Danish former Barcelona and Real Madrid star Laudrup to the national team's vacant coaching job. Laudrup, who won league titles as a player with some of Europe's biggest clubs, had emerged as a possible replacement for sacked Mexican Javier Aguirre. Former England coach Glenn Hoddle, who left his role as part of QPR's coaching staff following Redknapp's exit, is also believed to be in the running for the Japan job. QPR will be hoping to have a new manager in place by the time of their Premier League trip to Hull on February 21. The west London outfit currently sit 19th in the Premier League table with 19 points after 24 games, but are yet to pick up a single point away from home. QPR's Rio Ferdinand (centre) and team-mates warm-up ahead of Tuesday's match against Sunderland . | Harry Redknapp resigned as QPR manager earlier this month .
Tim Sherwood has been strongly linked with the club's vacant hotseat .
Chris Ramsey is currently the Loftus Road club's caretaker manager .
QPR lost 1-0 at home to Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday .
West London outfit travel to relegation rivals Sunderland on Tuesday . |
08db3435f0812a0d80bade6357f4b35cd7710325 | By . Chris Wheeler . Follow @@ChrisWheelerDM . Paul Scholes has claimed that former Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney may be past his best and says England must show the strength to drop him if he performs poorly at another World Cup. The Old Trafford legend believes that Rooney, 28, must live up to expectations in Brazil if he wants to be considered as one of the world’s top players after failing to score in the last two tournaments in Germany and South Africa. Scholes, who was on United’s coaching staff for the final four games of the season, also claimed that Rooney does not work as well in a strike partnership and that could mean Louis van Gaal has to choose between him and Robin van Persie next season. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Wayne Rooney in England training . Reached his peak? Paul Scholes (left) fears former United team-mate Wayne Rooney may be past his best . ‘After an . indifferent season, the England management team has to get the best from . Wayne Rooney for the World Cup,’ said Scholes. ‘He’s . got a brilliant scoring record for his country with 38 goals in 89 . internationals, but he’s played in eight World Cup games without a goal. You expect more of him. If Wayne is going to be one of the best . footballers in the world, this World Cup is where he has to produce. ‘Maybe . Wayne has felt the pressure of playing for England in the last two . World Cups when he’s not scored. I know how difficult it can be. Wayne’s . peak may have been a lot younger than we’d expect of footballers . traditionally. ‘Age . 28 or 29 has been the normal peak. With Wayne, it could have been when . he scored 27 league goals in 2011-2012 when he was 26. ‘Wayne . was in the Everton team at 16 years of age, in 2003. Since then he’s . played at Euro 2004, two World Cups, the Premier League, and Champions . League every year. There’s a chance he’s worn out. Remember the name: Rooney (left) made his debut for boyhood club Everton at the age of 16 in 2002 . ‘I’m . not saying Wayne needs to be dropped, but if his form doesn’t get up to . scratch in the warm-ups, or in the first game of the World Cup, it will . be interesting to see if the England management team has the balls to . make that decision. ‘We . have quality forwards in the squad this time. That should give Wayne . the competition he needs to spur him on a little more.’ Scholes believes Rooney needs to conserve his energy and focus on scoring goals if he is going to be most effective in Brazil. Coaches: Scholes was part of the United interim management team with Phil Neville and Nicky Butt . He . added: ‘To get the very best from Wayne, the manager needs to tell him, . “Don’t bother running back. Stay up top. Stay centre forward. Score . goals. That’s your job in my team”. ‘Wayne’s . almost like a schoolkid. He loves being a footballer. Wayne wants all . the responsibility to score. He’ll try to play left back, right back. Sometimes he does that too much instead of saving himself and his energy . for what his teams need — the ball in the net. He needs to use his . energy more effectively now as he’s a player who likes to be up front on . his own and I don’t think he’s great with partnerships. ‘It’ll . be interesting next season with Louis van Gaal and how he decides to . play Wayne. It looks like it might come to a straight choice between . Wayne and Van Persie.’ Tucked away: Rooney (left) scored 17 league goals this season for United as the club finished seventh . In . his blog for Paddy Power, Scholes also admitted he is unlikely to be . involved in Van Gaal’s backroom team, and warned United executive . vice-chairman Ed Woodward he still needs to convince people that he is . good enough for the job. He . added: ‘I’ve not spoken to Edward Woodward. I’m not waiting for a phone . call and don’t expect to be at Old Trafford next season. ‘Louis . van Gaal has the credentials but he has a major job on his hands. United need five or six players to get anywhere near the top of the . Premier League again. Straight to the point: Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal (left) speaks with Robin van Persie on Thursday . ‘The . players did not perform last season. It was a disaster. David Moyes was . a little negative with the teams he put out and he took a lot of stick, . but I believe he’s a top manager. I’d question if 10 months was enough . time. ‘Edward . Woodward has an awful lot to prove this time that he’s good enough at . his job. He has to bring the players in that the new manager wants. It’s . obvious that last year he didn’t manage to do that. ‘If he doesn’t, we are not going to get anywhere near the top.’ | Scholes believes Rooney must perform in Brazil if he wants to be considered as one of the world's top players .
The Old Trafford legend admits he is unlikely to be involved in Louis van Gaal's backroom team .
Scholes reckons United need five or six new players to get near the top of the Premier League again . |
08db568f53396a1b7888c1d8a0d1049c880257ab | By . Ian Garland and Suzannah Hills . PUBLISHED: . 14:30 EST, 2 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:03 EST, 3 July 2012 . A . used-car salesman has been jailed for life for murdering his estranged wife, . their young son and his father-in-law by setting fire to their family . home after his marriage collapsed. Danai . Muhammadi, 24, was fuelled by 'spite, anger and resentment' when he . killed Melissa Crook, 20, and their 15-month-old son Noah by torching . the house in Chatham Hill, Chatham, Kent. Melissa’s father Mark Crook, 49, was left critically ill with severe . burns in hospital following the fire just before 2.30am on September 10 . last year and he died six days later. Judge Mr Justice Sweeney, sentencing at Maidstone Crown Court, told Iraqi-born Muhammadi that he will spend at least 38 years behind bars before being eligible for parole. Happier times: Melissa Crook and her future killer Danai Muhammadi on their wedding day . The court heard how Muhammadi . and his friend, bouncer Farhad Mahmud, 35, squirted petrol through the . letter box using a garden spray container, leading to fire breaking out . at the base of the stairs. The location of the fire cut off any reasonable means of escape for the family who were asleep upstairs as the blaze took hold. As . smoke and flames filled the three-bedroom terraced house, Melissa . collapsed in an upstairs bedroom and was found dead by firefighters . lying by her son who was wrapped in a quilt. Amid . the chaos, her brother Bohdan jumped out of a front bedroom window, . causing fractures to his feet and hands. He then tried to get back . inside to reach his mother, Amanda, who eventually managed to escape. Her . husband, Mark Crook, meanwhile, tried to flee the building by following . his wife out of an upstairs window on to a flat roof outside. But . 26-stone Mr Crook got stuck in the window frame just as a fireball blew . the windows out. He . suffered 80 per cent burns and was taken to a specialist burns unit in . East Grinstead, West Sussex, where he never regained consciousness in . the intensive care unit. He died six days later. Mahmud was also found guilty of three counts . of murder. Muhammadi and Mahmud were both also found guilty of two counts of attempted murder. Muhammadi’s . new girlfriend, jobless Emma Smith, 21, was cleared of three counts of . murder and two counts of attempted murder but convicted of three counts . of manslaughter after a six-week trial at Maidstone Crown Court. The judge said that while she was not the principal figure, she was a 'joint perpetrator in the common venture to burn the house'. Scene of tragedy: The Crook family home in Chatham, Kent, was left gutted after the blaze . Escape: Melissa's brother Bohdan Crook (left) broke his feet and hands when he jumped from the burning house while her mother Amanda watched in horror as her husband burned after becoming stuck in the window . Judge Sweeney said the actions of Muhammadi 'can truly be described as pure, selfish wickedness' - adding that Melissa Crook and Noah 's last moments, trapped by the flames, must have been 'of abject terror. He said: 'No-one who heard the evidence in this case will ever forget Mrs Crook’s description of how, as he tried to escape, her husband became stuck in the bedroom window and how, unable to extricate himself, she had to stand and watch as his lower half was burned. 'It’s no thanks to you two that Amanda Crook and Bohdan Crook escaped the fate that you intended for them. 'Each suffered significant injuries, the effects - whether physical or mental - they are still clearly suffering from today.' Mr Justice Sweeney acknowledged that Muhammadi was the 'principal offender', adding: 'The enterprise was all your idea and you drove it forward to its conclusion.' He said that Mahmud’s actions were borne out of 'misguided friendship' with Muhammadi and his expectation of significant financial gain from him. Mahmud was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 34 years prison before being eligible for parole. Muhammadi's girlfriend Smith showed no emotion as she was jailed for 14 years. The couple's marriage collapsed after six months amid arguments and emotional conflict involving their son . The judge told her: 'You joined the enterprise because you were the girlfriend of Danai Muhammadi. 'It was an on-off relationship in which, as I have already said when passing his sentence, he used you to get Melissa back.' He added that like both Muhammadi and Mahmud, Smith had shown not 'a spark of genuine remorse' for her actions. In the weeks before the fire, the court heart how Melissa Crook's relationships with Muhammadi and Smith deteriorated. Smith . had started a relationship with Mrs Crook’s estranged husband, Danai . Muhammadi, and in four-letter text message exchanges she taunted Melissa . about their 'great life together'. Smith also mocked Mrs Crook . about her size, for being 'boring' in the bedroom and added: 'Enjoy your . life with no husband, no house... no money you gold-digger.' Amanda Crook, 50, said she felt 'sick' when she learned Danai Muhammadi was suspected of starting the . fire that killed three generations of her family. Mrs . Crook escaped the burning building in Chatham, Kent, along with her . 22-year-old son Bohdan - Melissa’s brother - but both said the end of . the court case would not bring them closure. She said: 'We weren’t . just anyone, we were family, and the fact he (Muhammadi) did it to his . wife and his own child and his father-in-law. 'He’s taken away our whole lives, just because of his greed, and that’s all it was. It was greed. There was no reason to do what he did.' | Danai Muhammadi and an accomplice used garden spray to start blaze that killed wife, 20, baby son and father-in-law .
Court heard how Iraqi-born killer was fuelled by 'spite, anger and resentment' |
08dc00a954527b08c26cf5faed981c575328b35f | By . Tara Brady . PUBLISHED: . 09:47 EST, 6 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:04 EST, 6 February 2013 . In court: Brian Copsey lived in one of London's most exclusive mansion flats and was finance chairman of its management board . A resident of one of London’s most exclusive mansion flats has appeared in court accused of stealing more than £1million from the building’s management company. Brian Copsey, 59, was finance chairman of Bryanston Court Management, a collective of residents who manage a luxury apartment block in Marble Arch, central London. Copsey is charged with plundering cash from the company and using it for his own purposes between March 2010 and October last year. Appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today, Copsey spoke only to confirm his name. Prosecutor Rajan Barot said: ‘The allegation in this case is that the defendant was acting in a fiduciary capacity as director of a management company. ‘In that role he was finance chairman. Over a period of two and a half years he has transferred more than £1m out of residents’ accounts for the company and used it for his own purposes.’ Bryanston Court Management is a registered company with the shareholders made up of residents. They filed accounts showing cash assets of £1,735,405 in 2011. An unfurnished two-bedroom flat in Bryanston Court, George Street, would cost nearly £1 million. Copsey, of Bryanston Court, George Street, Marble Arch, is charged with fraud by abuse of position, and attempting to launder the stolen cash between different accounts. He was bailed to return to court on April 3 for a committal hearing on condition he report twice weekly to Paddington Green Police Station, resides at his home address and does not apply for travel documents or leave the country. Luxury: An unfurnished two-bedroom flat in Bryanston Court, George Street, would cost nearly £1 million . Bailed: Brian Copsey has been bailed on condition he must report twice weekly to a police station in London . Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Brian Copsey is charged with plundering cash from a collective .
59-year-old is alleged to have transferred £1m from Marble Arch residents .
He has been bailed to return to court until his next appearance on April 3 . |
08dc868ecb8a4fe1a5747dd85992b241a82fe035 | By . Sarah Griffiths . Stanford researchers have developed adapters (pictured) that enable a smartphone to capture images of the front and back of the eye . Plenty of people put off eye tests because of the expense or the time it takes to see a specialist. But these problems could become a thing of the past as researchers have developed cheap adapters that let a smartphone take high-quality pictures of the front and back of the eye. They claim to make it easy for anyone with basic training to take a picture of the eye and pass it to experts who can interpret it and then store it as part of a patient’s electronic records. ‘Think Instagram for the eye,’ said one of the developers, Robert Chang, who is assistant professor of ophthalmology of Stanford University School of Medicine. They believe their technology can increase access to eye-care services as well as to improve doctors’ ability to advise on patient care remotely. Current equipment used to photograph the eye costs tens of thousands of dollars and requires extensive training to use properly. Some rural areas of the world do not have access to it at all. Ophthalmology resident Dr David Myung, who is lead-author of the paper describing the technology, said: ‘Adapting smartphones for the eye has the potential to enhance the delivery of eye care - in particular, to provide it in places where it’s less accessible. ‘Whether it’s in the emergency department, where patients often have to wait a long time for a specialist, or during a primary-care physician visit, we hope that we can improve the quality of care for our patients, especially in the developing world where ophthalmologists are few and far between. ‘Imagine a car accident victim arriving in the emergency department with an eye injury resulting in a hyphema - blood inside the front of her eye. Normally the physician would have to describe this finding in her electronic record with words alone. The researchers believe the technology is a step towards remote diagnosis of conditions. While microscope adapters for smartphones that can take images of the front of the eye are available, they are time consuming. A view of the retina showing diabetic retinopathy associated with diabetes mellitus is pictured . It's a cheap adapter that lets a smartphone take high-quality pictures of the front and back of the eye. The gadget claims to make it easy for anyone with basic training to take a picture of the eye and pass it to experts who can interpret it. It could increase access to eye-care services as well as to improve doctors’ ability to advise on patient care remotely. The device offers point-and-shoot ability in seconds, not minutes, with instant upload to a secure server to store patient records. First prototypes were built using inexpensive parts including plastic caps and spacers, LEDs, switches, universal mounts, macro lenses and even a handful of Lego bricks. A computerised model of the prototypes was used to produce 3D-printed versions, now dubbed Eye-Go. A clinical study of the quality of the smartphone images will be conducted in the Stanford Emergency Department, while a second study will test the ability of images taken with the adapters to track eye disease in patients with diabetes. ‘Smartphones today not only have the camera resolution to supplement those words with a high-resolution photo, but also the data-transfer capability to upload that photo securely to the medical record in a matter of seconds,’ he explained. Dr Myung believes the technology is a step towards remote diagnosis of conditions. While microscope adapters for smartphones that can take images of the front of the eye are available, they are time consuming and inconvenient, he explained. ‘Given the fast pace of patient care, he wanted point-and-shoot ability in seconds, not minutes, with instant upload to a secure server,’ Dr Myung said. So they started designing a pocket-sized adapter that makes the phone do most of the ‘heavy lifting’ and after several prototypes, found a combination of magnification and lighting elements that worked. ‘It took some time to figure out how to mount the lens and lighting elements to the phone in an efficient yet effective way,’ said Dr Myung, who built the prototypes with inexpensive parts including plastic caps and spacers, LEDs, switches, universal mounts, macro lenses and even a handful of Lego bricks. The scientists believe their technology can increase access to eye-care (illustrated) services as well as to improve doctors' ability to advise on patient care remotely . After successfully imaging the front of the eye, he focused on visualising the inside lining of the back of the eye, called the retina. ‘Taking a photo of the retina is harder because you need to focus light through the pupil to reach inside the eye,’ Dr Myung said. He worked out the perfect distance and lighting conditions for a simple adapter that connects a conventional examination lens to a phone to do this. A computerised model of the prototypes was used to produce 3D-printed versions, according to the study, which was published in the Journal of Mobile Technology in Medicine. A clinical study of the quality of the smartphone images will be conducted in the Stanford Emergency Department, while a second study will test the ability of images taken with the adapters to track eye disease in patients with diabetes. A small batch of adapters, currently dubbed EyeGo will be produced for distribution and will be available for purchase for research purposes only. | Researchers from Stanford University, California, believe their adapters make it easy for anyone with basic training to take a picture of the eye .
They claim their technology can increase access to eye-care services as well as to improve doctors’ ability to advise on patient care remotely .
First prototypes were made using inexpensive parts .
including LEDs, .
macro lenses and Lego bricks, while the current EyeGo device is 3D-printed .
A clinical study of the quality of the images will be conducted and the gadget tested for its ability to track eye disease in patients with diabetes . |
08dc871f368108384d1d70f565ce83c04b98122b | Schalke 04 attacking midfielder Julian Draxler will be out for the rest of the year after picking up a thigh injury in their 1-0 win over Augsburg on Friday, the club said on Saturday. Germany's talented World Cup winner lasted only 11 seconds from the start of the Bundesliga game, pulling a thigh muscle, with sports director Horst Heldt saying it looked serious. 'He was again injured and it looks like a serious muscle injury,' Heldt said. 'I do not expect Julian to play any more in this first half of the season.' Julian draxler (centre) picked up the injury just 11 seconds into Schalke's 1-0 win over Augsburg . The 21-year-old (pictured) is likely to miss the rest of 2014 after picking up a thigh injury on Friday . The news will come as a massive blow to new manager Roberto Di Matteo as the young attacking midfielder is an influential member of the Schalke side. Draxler has been heavily linked with a move away from the Gelsenkirchen club in recent transfer windows with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger a keen admirer of the Germany international's talents. The 21-year-old is set to miss their remaining three Champions League group games plus Germany's Euro 2016 qualifier against Gibraltar and friendly against Spain next month. | Julian Draxler injured his thigh during Schalke's 1-0 win over Augsburg .
The World Cup winner is not expected to return before the new year .
The 21-year-old will miss the three remaining Champions League group games as well as Germany's Euro 2016 qualifier against Gibraltar . |
08dcb6d9b85093d1c54a9fe5437a5356d3981665 | By . Anna Hodgekiss . PUBLISHED: . 10:43 EST, 23 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:21 EST, 23 May 2013 . It is the holy grail that drug manufacturers have clamoured to reach: female Viagra - the cure for a woman's lack of sex drive. Now, experts say one version could be available as soon as 2016 - and it promises to stimulate both body and mind. Emotional Brain, a company based in the U.S. and The Netherlands, is currently developing two drugs for the treatment of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) - otherwise known as a low sex drive. The primary one, called Lybridos, has proved 'effective for women with low sex drive . and motivation as a result of insensitivity to sexual cues', according to the company's website. Around 30% of women suffer from a lack of sexual desire, but experts say a new 'female Viagra' could be on the market within three years . The drug is said to 'increase sexual . motivation and physiological sexual response, such as blood flow to the genitals and lubrication', but also affect the mind. Unlike male Viagra, which deals with the sole mechanics of achieving an erection, Lybridos also targets the areas of brain related to sexual desire. When taken, levels of the brain chemicals serotonin and dopamine are altered, giving dopamine - the area of the brain associated with pleasure and attraction - the advantage, the New York Times Magazine reported. The newspaper reports that both drugs have a mint-flavoured coating which contains the sex hormone testosterone to boost sexual desire. Once this has melted away, the woman swallows the tablet which has a delayed inner-release. But experts say libido is a complex issue and a 'mix of brain, heart and hormones' The pill is said to be a 'close cousin' of Viagra - and, as in men, this enhances blood flow to the genitals, . enhancing sensation. Instead of using the . same ingredients as Viagra, the Lybridos uses buspirone, which was . initially developed as an anti-anxiety medication and works by raising . levels of the hormone serotonin. Combined with testosterone to boost . libido, the researchers believe they have the winning combination of . mind and body stimulation. A lack of libido is a common problem, . with an astonishing 30 per cent of women claiming to have no sex drive . at all, according to the Sexual Advice Association. Lybrido is said to be a 'close cousin' of Viagra - and, as in men, this enhances blood flow to the genitals, enhancing sensation . The experts stress that lack of libido — . the desire for sex — can be caused by a variety of factors, including a . deteriorating relationship with your partner or as the result of a . medical condition or decline in hormones, such as with the menopause. ‘Libido is a complex issue — it’s a mix . of brain, heart and hormones,’ says John Studd, professor of gynaecology . and libido expert based in Wimpole Street, London. However, the ‘problem’ of low libido in women is controversial. Other experts are far from convinced it is a condition requiring medical treatment, arguing the concept has been created by drug companies in order to sell more of their products — and there is nothing intrinsically problematic about not having a high sex drive. Indeed, women interviewed by the New York Times were unable to say exactly why they had lost interest in sex. 'Sometimes I wonder whether it' - H.S.D.D. - isn't so much about libido as it is about boredom,' Lori Brotto, a psychologist at the . University of British Columbia who works with patients with clinically . low libidos, told the Times. 'The impact of relationship duration is something that comes up constantly.' However, the researchers on the Lybridos study have admitted that if the drug works too well, the FDA might not approve it or fear of creating 'female excesses, crazed binges of infidelity, [and] societal splintering.' There are fears, apparently, that the researchers are attempting to create 'nymphomania' in women. 'There’s a bias against — a fear of creating the sexually aggressive woman,' Andrew Goldstein, a Washington-based researcher told the paper. | Lybridos' manufacturer says the drug will help women with a low sex drive .
Contains testosterone to boost libido and also a 'close cousin' of Viagra medication to boost blood flow to the genitals, enhancing sensation .
30% of women report suffering from a lack of interest in sex but critics say it is often boredom, rather than a physical problem, causing disinterest .
And some experts fear than pill may create 'female excesses, crazed binges of infidelity and societal splintering' |
08de6f30e7c884d22384b7f00146f306cf619513 | How would you survive the apocalypse? Stick to conventional weapons? Conserve supplies? Or use light and noise to distract zombies so you can sneak by undetected? In Dead Rising 3, how you stay alive is entirely up to you. But this would not be a true Dead Rising game without the franchise’s delightful zeal for the absurd. Crash and burn: How you escape the city is left entirely up to you... and you can be as crazy as you want . You can don a full set of knight armor and build a laser sword, put on a luchador mask and pile drive zombies, or strip down to a banana hammock while wielding a fireman’s axe. Hours can be spent building insane weapons out of random parts, such as a teddy bear with machine guns strapped to its arms, or joy ride in race cars while plowing through crowds of zombies. Set ten years after the events of Fortune City in Dead Rising 2, you play a mechanic named Nick Ramos trying to escape the fictional city of Los Perdidos, California before a military strike reduces everything to dust. But what it lacks in an original plot, it makes up in other areas. Take the SmartGlass integration, that allows you to set navigation waypoints guiding you and your co-op partner around the city, locate weapon caches, and call in deadly military airstrikes. Or, when Nick discovers a transmitter, an in-game character will call and text your real-life mobile device with advice and hints. To complement the sandbox-style gameplay, there are a number of Combo Vehicles. These include the likes of devastating RollerHawg – a hybrid between a motorcycle and Steamroller with flamethrower attachments. Stunning: Dead Rising 3 looks much better than the last two games - making the most out of the hardware . On what we’ve seen far, Dead Rising 3 could be the Xbox One launch title of choice. Dead Rising 3 is an Xbox One exclusive released on November 22. Let us know what you think on Twitter: @DailyMailGames and on Facebook: Daily Mail Games. | Massive amount of customisable weapons and vehicles .
Stunning looks show off the Xbox One's power .
How you survive is left up to you .
SmartGlass and Kinect compatibility . |
08dfdca94a03babc8de15a9d4529cea575569336 | (CNN) -- Roger Federer crashed out of the U.S. Open after a surprise defeat at the hands of Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych, ending the world No. 1's hopes of winning a record sixth title in the professional era. Berdych won 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 3-6 6-3 in under three hours in Wednesday's evening session to reach the semifinals for the first time at Flushing Meadows. "I just didn't come up with the goods tonight," said Federer, in quotes carried on the official tournament website, after his first match in four days following a walkover against American Mardy Fish. "He probably created more than I did, and that's why he ended up winning." Sharapova to face No. 1 Azarenka in U.S. Open semis . Federer made his earliest exit in New York since 2003 and now has an 11-5 record against the 26-year-old -- who beat him at the 2004 Olympics and at Wimbledon in 2010, when he went on to lose in the final. Berdych will face Olympic champion Andy Murray in the last four, after the Scot came back from a set down to oust giant Croatian Marin Cilic, winning 3-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 6-0. Cilic, who will be left to rue a number of missed opportunities, surrendered a 5-1 lead in the second set. This proved to be a turning point for the resurgent Murray, who finally found his rhythm as his confidence grew. All of a sudden, he had answers to the 12th seed's massive serve and booming forehand as he breezed through the next two sets to earn a place in the semis. The match had been moved from the main Arthur Ashe Stadium to the Louis Armstrong court, and 2008 U.S. Open finalist Murray struggled in front of an initially small crowd against a player who beat him at the same tournament three years ago. "You have to be able to create your own atmosphere when you're on the court, but I did play better when the crowd filled up," said Murray, still seeking his first grand slam title after losing to Federer in July's Wimbledon final. "It's a quicker court. When you switch from one court to the other, it can take time to get into a rhythm. I have never played particularly well on that court." Earlier, 2009 U.S. Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro brought the curtain down on Andy Roddick's glittering career by beating the home favorite in four sets in their rain-delayed fourth-round match on Arthur Ashe. Roddick, the last U.S. male to win a grand slam when he triumphed in New York in 2003, announced last week that it would be his last tournament. The former world No. 1 met his match against the seventh-seeded Argentinian, who will play defending champion Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals. When play resumed after being tied at 6-6 in the first set from Tuesday, Roddick took the tiebreaker but he could make no further progress against the 23-year-old Olympic bronze medalist. There were no breaks of service in the second, but Del Potro took the tiebreaker and then proceeded to dominate, completing a 6-7 (1-7) 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 6-4 victory. Roddick was visibly emotional in the final game on the Arthur Ashe Stadium Court and received a huge ovation from the crowd as he bowed out. "Playing the last five games was pretty hard. Once I got down a break, I could barely look at my (players) box," Roddick said. "I don't know what the emotions are. I'm a little overwhelmed right now. I normally feel like I can grasp things pretty quickly and clearly. I certainly don't feel that way right now." World No. 2 Djokovic had easier progress, as his opponent Stanislas Wawrinka was forced to retire when trailing by two sets and 3-1 in the third. The Swiss 18th seed complained of feeling ill as the rain-delayed match came to a swift conclusion. "It's an unfortunate situation that happened with him, but I felt that I was hitting the ball well in the last two sets before that happened," said Djokovic, who reached his sixth successive U.S. Open quarterfinal, having dropped just 20 games in four matches. "Hopefully I can keep that going for the next match." His fellow Serbian, eighth seed Janko Tipsarevic, reached the last eight at Flushing Meadows for the second straight year as he eased past Germany's No. 19 Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 6-2. He will next play Spanish fourth seed David Ferrer, who has been in equally fine form in the final grand slam of the season. | Top seed Roger Federer loses against Tomas Berdych in U.S. Open quarterfinals .
Andy Murray comes from behind to beat Marin Cilic and reach semifinals .
Andy Roddick retires after losing in four sets to Juan Martin Del Potro in fourth round .
Defending champion Novak Djokovic will play Argentine star in quarterfinals . |
08dfe2a9d19b686254e56d1f315236e96693a55e | (CNN) -- Two stories of America -- one about its sometimes perverse capacity for reinvention, the other about the most tragic period in the country's history -- were among the leaders Thursday for the nominations for the 86th Academy Awards. "American Hustle," a story about con artists based loosely on the late 1970s Abscam scandal, tied for the lead with 10 nominations. The movie was nominated in several major categories, including picture, director (David O. Russell), actor (Christian Bale), actress (Amy Adams), supporting actor (Bradley Cooper), supporting actress (Jennifer Lawrence) and adapted screenplay. And "12 Years a Slave," based on Solomon Northup's 19th-century narrative about being taken from freedom into slavery, earned nine nods, including picks for best picture, best director (Steve McQueen), best actor (Chiwetel Ejiofor), best supporting actor (Michael Fassbender) and best supporting actress (Lupita Nyong'o). "This has been an amazing ride, and to receive nine nominations from the academy is testament to all of the hard work. And for that I am truly grateful," McQueen said. The complete list of nominees . "Gravity," about a space mission gone wrong, also received 10 nominations, including picks for best picture, best director (Alfonso Cuaron) and best actress (Sandra Bullock). "I am particularly moved by Sandy's nomination," said Cuaron in a statement. "She is the heartbeat of our film. I thank her for her grace, her trust and her dedication to finding the truth of this character." The academy nominated nine films for best picture overall. They are "American Hustle," "Captain Phillips," "Dallas Buyers Club," "Gravity," "Her," "Nebraska," "Philomena," "12 Years a Slave" and "The Wolf of Wall Street." CNN Oscar ballot: Make your choices, share your picks . "The Wolf of Wall Street" had divided critics -- and, more to the point, industry audiences -- with its relentless depiction of hedonism among financial traders in 1990s New York. In one instance, according to a story that quickly gained currency in Hollywood, an academy member heckled director Martin Scorsese after a screening. But Oscar sided with the film, giving it five nominations, all in big categories: best picture, best director, best actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), best supporting actor (Jonah Hill) and best adapted screenplay (Terence Winter). 5 things we learned from Oscar nominations . Love for 'Dallas Buyers Club' There was also good news for "Dallas Buyers Club," the story of an HIV-positive man in the 1980s who rallies others to battle the AIDS crisis. The low-budget film, which cost $5 million, received six nominations, tying it with "Nebraska" and "Captain Phillips." Matthew McConaughey, who won a Golden Globe for a performance that required him to lose 45 pounds, was among the best actor nominees. The film was also nominated for best supporting actor (Jared Leto, another Globe winner) and best original screenplay, along with best picture. The academy also smiled on director Alexander Payne, a two-time Oscar winner whose films include "Sideways," "The Descendants" and "About Schmidt." His "Nebraska," the story of a curmudgeon and his son who make a trip to the Cornhusker State in the possible vain pursuit of a sweepstakes prize, included nominations for picture, director, original screenplay, supporting actress (June Squibb) and best actor. The last went to 77-year-old film veteran Bruce Dern, whose only other nomination was for 1978's "Coming Home." Another sleeper, "Philomena," received nominations for picture, adapted screenplay and star Judi Dench as well as music (original score). As expected, Cate Blanchett also was nominated for best actress as a modern-day Blanche DuBois in "Blue Jasmine." She already has won the Golden Globe (drama), National Society of Film Critics Award and New York Film Critics Circle Award for her role in the Woody Allen film. The tireless Meryl Streep was recognized yet again by the academy, receiving a best actress nomination for "August: Osage County." It's Streep's 18th nomination. She has three wins, for "Kramer vs. Kramer," "Sophie's Choice" and "The Iron Lady." Hanks, Oprah missing . But not everyone ended up touched by Oscar's golden glow. Perhaps the biggest shocker was the lack of a nomination for Tom Hanks, who pretty much carries "Captain Phillips" as the titular seaman. The film did receive nominations for best picture, best adapted screenplay and best supporting actor (for former limo driver and Somalia native Barkhad Abdi), but neither Hanks nor director Paul Greengrass ended up with nods. (It also was nominated for film editing, sound editing and sound mixing.) Hanks' other major film, "Saving Mr. Banks," was almost entirely snubbed. Though Emma Thompson was nominated for a Golden Globe for her portrayal of "Mary Poppins" author P.L. Travers, the academy overlooked her in the best actress race, and the film failed to earn a best picture nomination. Oprah Winfrey and the film she starred in, "Lee Daniels' The Butler," also came up empty. And Robert Redford was expected to make a run at best actor for his almost wordless performance in "All Is Lost," about a lone sailor lost at sea when his boat is damaged. But the 77-year-old actor didn't get a nomination. Pixar, which once a sure thing in the animated feature category, was left off the nominations list again. The nominees for best animated feature are "The Croods," "Despicable Me 2," "Frozen," "The Wind Rises" and "Ernest & Celestine." DeGeneres promises fun again as Oscar host . The Oscar race now shapes up as a battle between "Hustle" and "12 Years." Both have their critics. For all the praise "Hustle" has received -- including a Golden Globe for best musical or comedy film -- it's been called slick and hammy. McQueen's "12 Years" (which received the Golden Globe for best drama) has fewer naysayers, but even those who liked the film noted it's difficult to watch. Slate's Dana Stevens described it as "overpowering," and admitted she was having a hard time finding critical distance from the film's portrayal of brutality. Awards season: Does diversity matter more than wins? "Buyers Club" could sneak in. Like "12 Years," it has a high-minded subject the Oscars tend to like, and McConaughey and Leto have been widely touted for their performances. "Gravity" may be a longer shot for best picture, but Cuaron's amazing direction -- juggling state-of-the-art, computer-generated imagery with moving performances by Bullock and George Clooney -- has been greatly admired. Of course, as much as the Oscar is about designating the best of Hollywood, it's also supposed to be an entertaining show. This year, Ellen DeGeneres returns as host, and given a short ad shown just before the nominations announcement -- which featured DeGeneres dancing through a back lot accompanied by a growing army of tuxedoed dancers -- it could be a lot of fun. The 86th Academy Awards will air March 2 from Hollywood's Dolby Theatre. The show will be on ABC. Awards tracker: Which movies are winning top honors? | "Gravity," "American Hustle" top all films with 10 Oscar nods .
Divisive "Wolf of Wall Street" has things go its way .
Oprah Winfrey, Robert Redford, Tom Hanks snubbed .
Oscars will take place March 2 . |
08e1341da39d01e740994666f253b423550b6f41 | There was a moment when David Beckham had just joined LA Galaxy that he decided to take a wander into town. An amble around your new surroundings, especially those as glitzy as Los Angeles, would be commonplace for most people. For Beckham, it can potentially cause hysteria. At LA Galaxy they were still unsure, at the time of his arrival, just how big Golden Balls would be in America. David Beckham's move to LA Galaxy in 2007 paved the way for Premier League stars crossing the Atlantic . The reaction was ginormous as hundreds of reporters and photographers turned up to LA for him . Beckham thought he would gauge the reaction and told a member of club staff he was popping out for a bit. ‘Don’t you think you should take that off?’ they asked, wide-eyed with surprise and pointing to his LA Galaxy training top. Beckham smiled. ‘Yes, this is what I’m going to get recognised for…’ the most famous face on the planet jokingly replied. For Major League Soccer, Beckham was just the start. Back when he signed, in July 2007, Beckham was surprised by the comparatively low-budget hotels and flights, when he had grown accustomed to exclusive accommodation and private jets. But his move paved the way for Thierry Henry, Robbie Keane and Tim Cahill, amongst many other global names, and change is in the air stateside. When Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard cross the Atlantic this summer, the league is a very different one to when Beckham blazed the trail eight years ago. MLS has a long way to go until it is as big as American Football in the US, but Lampard, set to join New York City, and Gerrard, on his way to LA Galaxy, will carry on Beckham’s crusade when they arrive. Beckham made 118 appearances for LA Galaxy in his five years at the club, scoring 20 goals . Beckham's (left) move lead Premier League stars like Robbie Keane (right) to move to the MLS . Chicago Fire manager Frank Yallop, who was in charge of LA Galaxy when Beckham brought the circus to town, explains: ’Everyone’s got a football team in England. Over in the US, everyone’s got an American Football team. It’s huge, the biggest sport. That’s like the Premier League in England. ‘Lampard and Gerrard coming over is massive. It will get people supporting clubs. They’re watching them in the Premier League on a Saturday morning on TV, now they can go watch them live. Then when they travel to another city the fans there can watch Lampard and Gerrard play live. It’s only going to help. ‘It’s part of the package they bring. These teams can really generate some interest with them. They’re great players, but they’ve got great names. It’s a big move. ‘We just need to get the American general public really interested, like they are in England. It’s coming. LA Galaxy captain Keane (second left) presents President Barack Obama with a Galaxy jersey . Another addition to the MLS after Beckham was Thierry Henry, arguably the Premier League's greatest player . ‘It’s getting to that point when it’s going to take off, like when Sky got involved with the Premier League in the 1990s.’ The MLS are seeking that big-money TV deal and there are rumours that Sky might be bidding to screen MLS games live to the UK. There is a long, long way to go to get anywhere near the £5.1billion deal recently reached over here, but names like Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard carry obvious allure for the English market. Even so, the pair may have to get used to slightly lower than the premium standards they have become accustomed to at their clubs since they were teenagers. ‘I think Beckham was surprised by the level of hotel, the level of travel,’ Yallop, who played more than 300 games for Ipswich Town and has won the MLS Cup and coach of the Year twice, says. Henry joined New York Red Bulls in 2010 and played his final game for the club in December 2014 . Frank Lampard followed suit by announcing he was joining New York City after being released by Chelsea . ‘It was what we were used to. When he came, it opened our eyes up, we realised if we want to move this up a level we needed to start getting serious. Now everything is top notch. ‘It’s not always first class, but it’s always good flights. Some teams charter once in a while. Hotels are excellent.’ Yallop was shocked just how big Beckham was when he signed. For a long time, they would have 300 television cameras, from all parts of the globe, at each press conference. During games, the usual few photographers dotted on the side of the pitch were swamped by 250. ‘The league wasn’t quite ready for what David brought,’ Yallop admits, ‘which was huge interest from outside of football, too. ‘It’s very good, but for our team it was crazy for a bit. David’s getting pulled all over for interviews and commercials. The team’s exposed to a bunch of stuff they’re not used to, Hollywood-type stuff. It was fun, but a real crazy, difficult to coach and manage time.’ Now, it is a different story. ‘They’re ready for Lampard and Gerrard,’ he adds. Lampard, currently on loan at Manchester City, will join up with his new teammates in the summer . Steven Gerrard announced he will exit Liverpool at the end of the season and will also join LA Galaxy . | Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard head to the MLS in the summer .
Lampard moves to New York City after his loan spell at Manchester City .
Gerrard announced he will join LA Galaxy at the end of the season .
David Beckam paved the way for the Premier League stars .
Beckham spent five seasons in the MLS with LA Galaxy .
Thierry Henry, Robbie Keane and Tim Cahill followed the former Manchester United star to the American league . |
08e1e07152fba05aa789a5f36664d6531ffb284b | NEW YORK (CNN) -- I like it when I'm right, especially about naked men. Especially about naked cowboys. A federal judge's opinion includes side-by-side photos of the key players in The Naked Cowboy case. When I wrote in April that the lawsuit filed by Robert Burck "may be the end of the era of the "naked" cowboy and predicted he would be able to afford some "very nice duds," my fellow lawyers laughed at me. One close friend -- let's call him Larry -- said as he snickered, "I read your article. You can't be serious. You really think that the Naked Cowboy is going to cash in? Well, I predict he is going to get thrown out of court. If he doesn't, maybe I will start walking around my office in my tighty whities." Last week, U.S. District Court Judge Denny Chin didn't throw the cowboy from his steed. In fact, in a lengthy decision, Judge Chin ruled against the makers of M&Ms, rejecting Mars, Inc.'s attempt to dismiss the Cowboy's lawsuit. And it seems that Judge Chin has a sense of humor. On the first page of his decision, the judge pasted photos of the litigating parties side by side and wrote, "This is the case of The Naked Cowboy versus The Blue M&M." And what a case it is. Burck sued Mars in April for $6 million in federal court in New York. The central allegation: trademark infringement under the Lanham Act, arising from a video billboard for M&Ms. Most people, and maybe Mars, thought the Cowboy was just a kooky street entertainer dressed in his underwear. However, I've spoken to Mr. Cowboy, I mean, Mr. Burke, and he didn't seem kooky to me at all. In fact, he seemed kinda smart. Even Judge Chin recognized that The Naked Cowboy is no ordinary street entertainer. Although he performs in New York City's Times Square in little more than underwear and a smile, he has registered trademarks to "The Naked Cowboy" name and likeness. And he doesn't just sing in Times Square. He has a Web site http://www.nakedcowboy.com/ with his modeling photos and has a link to nakedcowboy.tv. You can download his music on iTunes. You can buy his tighty whities from his online store for $15. He even has a podcast. Judge Chin observed that "Burck has appeared as The Naked Cowboy in various television shows, movies, and video games. He has also licensed his name and likeness to companies for endorsements and advertisements. He even appeared in a Chevrolet commercial that aired during Super Bowl XLI. Judge Chin then explained that "beginning in April 2007, Mars began running an animated cartoon advertisement on two oversized video billboards in Times Square, featuring a blue M&M dressed "exactly like The Naked Cowboy," wearing only a white cowboy hat, cowboy boots, and underpants, and carrying a guitar." And get this -- the video "played on a continuous loop every few minutes over a nine-month period." Mars tried to defend itself by arguing that the Blue M&M was just a parody of the Cowboy and was protected under the First Amendment. Although imitation is supposed to be the sincerest form of flattery, Judge Chin didn't agree with M&M's parody argument. Rather, Judge Chin thought it was a question for a jury to decide and wrote that the complaint "plausibly argues that consumers would believe that the M&M Cowboy characters were promoting a product rather than merely parodying The Naked Cowboy, and that viewers would believe that The Naked Cowboy had endorsed M&Ms." Then Judge Chin ordered the lawyers to appear in his courtroom for a pretrial conference on July 11 at noon. High Noon. That Judge Chin makes me laugh. Round One to the Cowboy. Larry, maybe you should start walking around the office in your tighty whities. | Federal judge rejects M&Ms maker's parody defense .
He notes that The Naked Cowboy, aka Robert Burck, registered his trademark .
Burck is suing Mars Inc., the maker of M&Ms, for copyright infringement .
Case involves guitar-slinging blue M&M in cowboy hat, white underpants . |
08e1ffa639075f4a21791a04dc0edbf680304376 | In the chaos of a burning building, a firefighter's senses are crucial. When smoke clouds the air, picking up on the roar of flames, the creak of collapsing floors, radio calls and cries for help can be the difference between life and death. But one young recruit must do without such signs of danger - as he is deaf and cannot speak. Joseph Ronan, 21, graduated from a first-stage firefighter training programme earlier this month and will soon begin volunteering at his local department in West Haven, Connecticut. Scroll down for video . Suiting up: Deaf firefighter Joseph Ronan gets ready for another day tackling blazes in West Haven, Connecticut . 'I like to help the community and prove the deaf community can do anything,' he told The New Haven Register, speaking in sign language as his mother Debra and friend Ashley Melendez interpreted. Mr Ronan was born deaf, but his condition was not picked up until he was eight months old, when his family noticed he was not responding to sounds around him. Doctors soon diagnosed him with a genetic disorder called Waardenburg syndrome. But even disability could not keep the young boy from harbouring ambitions of joining the fire service - a dream he is now days away from realising. His mother told reporters how he had idolised firefighters when he was as young as four, and how he used to spend his nights watching documentaries about his heroes. Challenge: Mr Ronan can communicate only through sign language and needed interpreters during his training . Mr Ronan spent much of his education in mainstream schools, though he later enrolled at the American School for the Deaf. After graduating at the age of 19 he spent a few months at a community college, but none of the courses offered there could compare to his true calling. Soon he began turning up to monthly meetings at the North End Hose Co. 3 fire station, where government interpreters from the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services helped him find out how he could be a part of the team. In January he began classes with the fire school, learning all about the tricks and tools of the trade, from ladders to hoses, hazmat suits to search and rescue operations. Before long he was out on training exercises, charging bravely into concrete buildings filled with blazing hay and helping to extinguish the flames. 'I went to watch him one day and I was like, "Oh Lord". I was thinking he’s crazy,' his mother, Debra, told the Register. 'I was very proud to watch him. He was really focused, and I was really happy to see how the class kind of all came around him to help him learn how to work inside of a fire. I was really proud to watch him doing such a, to me, scary thing.' Language barrier: The young rookie is teaching his fellow firefighters to sign so they can communicate more easily on callouts . Determined: Mr Ronan has dreamed of being a firefighter since the age of four . In training, Mr Ronan benefited from the support of his fellow students, who would tell him which way to turn by tapping his left or right leg, or tap the ladder to tell him to lift it. Now his colleagues at the station hope to take this team spirit to the next level by learning how to communicate with Mr Ronan through sign language. He will be working under district chief James O'Brien, who praised the rookie firefighter for his determination and independent spirit. Together they will figure out the limitations on Mr Ronan's duties, and exactly how he will be able to help on callouts. Though he now holds a certificate for the first stage of training, his disability means the state authorities refuse to let him work as a fully-fledged, paid crew member. Base: Mr Ronan will join as a volunteer at the North End Hose Co. 3 fire station, in West Haven, Connecticut . Mr Ronan expects he will be able to help out with car crashes, handling hazardous materials, giving first aid and putting out brush, tree and grass fires. Even though he will not be allowed to enter burning buildings, he will pitch in with vital support work from the outside, setting up safety equipment, hooking up fire hydrants and handling the crew's oxygen tanks. Surprisingly, he is not alone in facing this unusual challenge and said he knows of a few other deaf or hearing-impaired volunteer firefighters working in Connecticut. Mr Ronan wanted to thank the teachers and classmates who helped him towards qualification, while his proud father Sean pointed out what an achievement passing the training course had been - especially as only 21 of 30 students graduated. According to Jamie Vincent, director of the fire school, Mr Ronan's disability is not as much of an impediment as it may seem. He told the Register: 'The instructors and students alike all said it doesn’t make a difference if you’re deaf or blind: You can’t see or hear anything inside a burning building anyway, so it basically made everyone level.' | Rookie Joseph Ronan, 21, has been unable to hear or speak since birth .
Interpreters helped him through training - now he is teaching his colleagues sign language . |
08e26f10bc604e99bbfad02a56e87cfd1e0e921e | By . Sarah Griffiths . PUBLISHED: . 10:01 EST, 12 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 10:24 EST, 12 March 2014 . The smart cat-flap (pictured) keeps animals inside when it detects rain, but keeps them out at pre-programmed times . Cat-flaps can save owners from having to get up at the crack of dawn to let their cat or dog out. But they can be draughty and let animals stroll in and out while trampling mud as they go. Now there’s a smart cat-flap - and even a dog-flap - that can keep animals inside when it detects rain, but can keep them out a pre-programmed times. The PetWALK automatic cat door also claims to be windproof and thermally insulated to keep drafts out, as well as trapping noise and dust outside. The company says: ‘PetWALK keeps wind and weather outside and your home warm. It saves energy and is the perfect solution for low-energy house.’ However, all this comes at a price of £1,282.50 for a cat-flap and £1,417.50 for the larger version designed for dogs. The flap works by detecting an animal wearing a small microchip. It automatically locks and unlocks to seal the door when a pet wearing a matching chip approaches it. The cat-flap claims to offer one of the most powerful animal-chip reader systems on the market and supports implanted chips as well as chips worn on a pet's collar. It only allows a certain cat wearing the chip in or out, to keep other people’s pets out of the home. The system can be programmed to keep animals inside or outside at certain times, which could be used to force lazy pets to get some fresh air or to keep feisty cats inside at night. The device also works in collaboration with sensors that can be placed outside and can detect when it’s raining to stop pets getting out – or to let them in. The system (cat and dog versions pictured) can be programmed to keep pets inside or outside at certain times, which could be used to force lazy pets to get some fresh air or to keep feisty cats inside at night . The flap works by detecting an animal . wearing a small microchip. It automatically locks and unlocks to seal . the door when a pet wearing a matching chip approaches it (pictured left). The cat-flap (pictured right) also claims to keep drafts out because it is well insulated and keep dust outside too . The smart cat flap can be programmed to keep animals inside when it's raining, or outside at certain times of day. The cat-flap claims to be windproof and thermally insulated to keep drafts out. It works by detecting an animal wearing a small microchip. The flap automatically locks and unlocks to seal the door when a pet wearing a matching chip approaches it and has a powerful chip-reader so that pets do not have to wear collars if they have a chip implanted. The chip system means that other people's pets will not be able to gain entry t a home. An alarm system also keeps burglars out. It costs £1,282.50 for a cat-flap and £1,417.50 for the larger version designed for dogs. The smart cat-flap also comes with an alarm system that prevents burglars from gaining access to a home via the flap, which can be a particular problem for larger dog-flaps. The Austrian company claims cat-flaps should be like any other window or door in a home. ‘We humans don't squeeze ourselves through holes! Why need our pets to do so? PetWALK is the first real high quality entry door for pets,’ it says. The door is airtight and well insulated so that it meets criteria for low energy buildings and claims to save homeowners energy and money in the long-run. The flap has six centimetres of insulation and two silicon seals to keep the heat inside a house. It is also available in a number of changeable designs so that owners can choose to match their door with a certain colour or wood effect, or opt for a more opulent faux stained glass window. The smart cat and dog door can be programmed so keep pets inside or outside at certain times. This could be used to keep lazy pets outside in the fresh air, muddy dogs inside when it is raining to stop them getting muddy paws (pictured) or feisty cats inside at night . | The PetWALK automatic cat door also claims to be windproof and thermally insulated to keep drafts out .
It works by detecting an animal wearing a small microchip and unlocks when a pet approaches it .
The cat-flap costs £1,282.50 and a larger version for dogs costs £1,417.50 . |
08e2ed70f23937a678d3dcd1d13abc1c1c8b4a88 | (CNN) -- Oscar-winning actor Nicolas Cage went on a drunken tear in New Orleans' French Quarter Friday night that ended with his arrest on several charges, including domestic abuse battery, according to a police spokesman. It began at 11:30 p.m. when Cage, who is in the city to work on a movie, began arguing with his wife on the 600 block of Dumaine Street, New Orleans Police Officer Garry Flot said. "He and his wife were standing in front of a residence that he insisted was the property the couple was renting," Flot said. "She disagreed, and Cage grabbed her by the upper arm and pulled her to what he believed was the correct address." Cage then "began striking vehicles and later attempted to get into a taxi." Police, who had been called by on-lookers, arrived to find Cage heavily intoxicated," he said. They ordered the actor out of the cab, "which prompted Cage to start yelling," Flot said. "The officers subsequently took Cage to Central Lock-Up," the police spokesman said. In the mugshot released by the Orleans Parish Sheriff, an unshaven Cage stood with eyes closed. Cage was charged with domestic abuse battery, disturbing the peace and public drunkenness, Flot said. An Orleans Parish magistrate set his bond at $11,000 with a court date for May 31, according to the booking information online. It also said "stay away order waived," indicating Cage is not prohibited from being with his wife. "There were no visible signs of injury on his wife's arm," Flot said. Cage was released from jail Saturday afternoon, according to the jail's information line. Duane Chapman -- known as "Dog the Bounty Hunter" from the A&E reality show chronicling his life -- bailed Cage out of jail, he said in a statement. While he called himself "a truly dedicated fan of Mr. Cage," Chapman insisted he was simply doing his job "as a bail bondsman and not in connection with our show." "There are two sides of my job: I release my clients after they have been arrested, and pick them up if they don't show up in court," Chapman said. "I do not believe the latter will be the case for Mr. Cage." Calls and e-mails from CNN to the actor's lawyer and representative have not been returned. Cage, 47, and his third wife, Alice Kim, have a 5-year-old son. His previous two marriages, to Patricia Arquette and Lisa Marie Presley, ended in divorce. The Academy Award winner has acted in dozens of films, but is best known for his roles in "Raising Arizona" and "Leaving Las Vegas," for which he nabbed an Oscar. Although one of Hollywood's highest-paid movie stars, Cage's financial troubles, including tax liens and foreclosures on houses, have been highly publicized in the past two years. He sued his accountant in 2009, charging that he "lined his pockets with several million dollars in business management fees while sending Cage down a path toward financial ruin." The accountant, Samuel Levin, responding to the lawsuit by saying he warned Cage that he could face bankruptcy unless he scaled back his lavish lifestyle. CNN's KJ Matthews contributed to this report. | NEW: "Dog the Bounty Hunter" bails Cage out of a New Orleans jail .
The actor charged with domestic abuse, disturbing the peace .
Cage beat on cars after arguing with his wife, police say .
Cage is in New Orleans filming a movie . |
08e34c89a6816e9eaa823081341197b870db4c62 | QPR midfielder Joey Barton believes this current Rangers side is 'poles apart' from the one that finished bottom of the Barclays Premier League two years ago. Barton spent the campaign on loan at Marseille as Rangers finished 15 points adrift of safety in 2013 and paid the price for a lack of cohesion on and off the field. Harry Redknapp was unable to rescue the west Londoners after taking over in November that season but his side have made a positive start to their return to the top flight. Joey Barton (centre) celebrates with Charlie Austin after the QPR striker's goal against Burnley . A 2-0 victory over Burnley on Saturday - their third win in four games at home - saw Rangers climb out of the bottom three for the first time since September. 'The performances we have put in at Loftus Road have been exceptional, even in defeat sometimes,' Barton said. 'The team spirit and togetherness of the football club is poles apart from that side which went out of the league with a whimper. 'We came up and we want to give a good account of ourselves. Slowly but surely we are doing that." Barton continued: 'To look at the table and see yourselves not in the bottom three is always heart-warming. Barton (centre) gets physical with PSG's David Beckham (right) during his loan spell at Marseille in 2013 . 'Hopefully at the end of May that's the case because that will be job done and goal achieved. There's a long way to go. This is the 15th game. 'After the defeat at Swansea the other day I asked our analyst to pull the table up from the year that QPR went down, the year I was in France. 'After 14 games we only had five points and I think it took them 16 games to win a game. So comparatively we're light years ahead.' Rangers' impressive form at home is in stark contrast to their results on the road where they have lost to Tottenham, Manchester United, Southampton, West Ham, Chelsea, Newcastle and Swansea this season. Redknapp's side are the only team in England's top four divisions yet to register a single point away from home and Barton admits it's a problem that needs addressing. Harry Redknapp (left) took up the to job at QPR in 2013, but he could not save the club from relegation . 'We have lost seven out of seven on the road but without making excuses, we haven't been to the easiest places,' Barton said. 'We haven't played teams in and around us. That will be the test for us. We've been to some of the tougher places in the league. 'I think everyone we've played away has been in the top 10 at the time we've played them. 'We're very mindful that we've got to improve our away form." Rangers' awaydays do not get any easier as they travel to Everton and Arsenal before the end of the year either side of home games against West Brom and Crystal Palace. The bottom half of the table remains congested ahead of the busy Christmas calendar with only five points separating QPR in 17th and Aston Villa in 11th. 'If you string back-to-back wins together in this league you can propel yourself up the table,' Barton said. 'That's how tight it is. That's why people tune in. The Premier League is so competitive. Redknapp, however, managed to guide Barton (above) and his QPR side back to the Premier League last term . 'Chelsea's "Invincibles" all of a sudden go to Newcastle, Newcastle with their eighth-choice goalkeeper or whatever - and all of a sudden he comes on and they go on and beat Chelsea. 'There's not many other leagues where that happens. I've just seen on the TV, Real Madrid (have recorded an) 18th straight win. 'Arsenal went unbeaten for a year but I can't see anyone banging 18 wins out on the spin, not in this league, not with how competitive it is. 'There's a different element here, which is why people tune in from all over the globe.' Second-half goals from Leroy Fer and Charlie Austin ensured Rangers took maximum points against Burnley but there was disappointment too as Austin was sent off and will subsequently miss next Monday's match at Everton. 'He's our top scorer, he's been the difference for us at various times this season,' Barton added. 'To be without him is going to be a massive loss.' | Joey Barton spent QPR's 2013 campaign on loan at Marseille .
QPR were relegated that season after finishing 15 points adrift of safety .
Harry Redknapp's side defeated Burnley 2-0 on Saturday .
It was QPR's third win in four game at home .
QPR are out of the bottom three for the first time since September . |
08e388e7af0c88d8b1eced94f2600f309918ca00 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 09:55 EST, 1 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:07 EST, 1 November 2013 . A sportscaster for an Idaho television station went all out on Halloween and appeared on camera dressed as the main character from the movie, Anchorman: The Legend of Rob Burgundy. Sports director Paul Gerke, of KIVI in . Boise, delivered his full sports segment as . Ron Burgundy, quotes and all. He stayed in character for the entire four-minute sportscast in which he delivers funny quotes and innuendos from the 2004 cult movie, starring Will Ferrell. Scroll down for video . Anchorman: Sports director Paul Gerke of KIVI in Boise went all out for Halloween, delivering his full sports segment as Ron Burgundy . Funny: Gerke, left, stayed in character for the entire four-minute sportscast making his co-anchors laugh . The movie: Gerke was impersonating Will Ferrell's character in the film, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy . Gerke starts his segment pretending to have food stuck in his teeth and subsequently tries to pick it out. 'I had ribs for lunch, that’s why I’m doing this,' he tells his co-anchors. Later, while he's reading the sports news, he says, 'please tell me this is some kind of sick and tasteless joke.' Another comment goes: 'Ladies and gentlemen, can I please have your attention, I have just been handed an urgent and horrifying news story, I need all of you to stop what you’re doing and listen.' He also starts talking about the new Dodge Durango, highlighting all the car's features,and then suddenly exclaims: 'I’m in a glass case of emotion'. Man behind the mask: Paul Gerke of KIVI in Boise on a normal day . Gerke and a co-anchor during a regular newscast on the channel. But that all changed when he dressed up as Ron Burgundy . 'Who wrote this?' he asks later in his newscast and then ends it saying, 'I still got ribs in my teeth', while his co-anchors laugh at his antics. The performance has had mixed reviews from viewers. One comment on Deadspin.com says: 'That movie was interminable. You were funny.' Another says 'Bet Boise Burgandy is going to get a little lecture about mentioning Dodge when the weather forecast is clearly sponsored by Ford.' Will Ferrell and Christina Applegate in the hilarious comedy, Anchorman, which inspired Gerke for his Halloween performance . The 2004 film, starring Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, David Koechner and Steve Carell, has become a cult classic . The sequel, Anchorman: The Legend Continues, is coming out next month starring actors Dylan Baker, David Koechner, Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd, here seen filming on location in New York . One comment says: 'Better than the sequel looks.' While another declares: 'This is why you are in Boise.' The sequel, Anchorman: The Legend Continues, directed by Adam McKay, was filmed in New York, starring the original cast of characters, including the likes of Steve Carrell, Christina Applegate and Paul Rudd. It is being released December 20. | Sports director Paul Gerke of KIVI in Boise, Idaho, went on air in the character of Ron Burgundy from the movie, Anchorman .
His four-minute performance was an attempt to copy actor Will Ferrell who plays a newscaster in the movie .
The 2004 comedy, directed by Judd Apatow, has a cult following .
A sequel, Anchorman: The Legend Continues, was filmed in New York City and is being released December 20 .
Gerke's impersonation has received mixed reviews . |
08e60026e61bdf90cda62a00639e2c7486707c38 | England manager Roy Hodgson named his squad for the start of the Euro 2016 qualifiers but has yet to explain to his employers why the World Cup campaign went so horribly wrong. But pressure from members of the FA board -concerned that such a dire performance would not receive the forensic post mortem it merited -has at least led to Hodgson meeting the FA directors to discuss France 2016 over two-and-a-half months on. Looking forward: Roy Hodgson has named his squad for the Euro 2016 qualifier with Switzerland . Summer of disappointment: England crashed out of the World Cup at the group stages . Hodgson is scheduled to talk to the board ahead of their September meeting when they will expect a full breakdown as to what can be put right ahead of Euro 2016. Subjects will include whether the 88-strong FA party was too big in Brazil and whether preparation was correct. Surprisingly -especially following a World Cup exit after just two games -there will be no official report but instead continuous assessment throughout the FA on what to put right. England will have either home or away fixtures against four European giants - Germany, Spain, France and Italy - over the next two years to help drum up backing for a national team to be watched by its lowest crowd at the new Wembley against Norway next Wednesday. FA general secretary Alex Horne called the expected crowd of between 35,000 and 40,000 ‘disappointing’ and added ‘there is some work to do’ re-engaging with disillusioned regulars. Spanish test: England will play Spain in a friendly - as well as Germany, France and Italy . One ambitious plan is to build a new fanbase by enrolling 500,000 football fans in the revamped England Supporters Club, despite current members being upset at the way they’re taken for granted. Not many sporting bodies have the resources to invite representatives from 54 territories to Europe’s most expensive playground Monaco for basically a vanity project announcement. But UEFA president Michel Platini put up all of Europe’s football powerbrokers in the Meridien Beach Plaza Hotel just to tell them during a brief 55-minute summit that he wouldn’t be standing against Sepp Blatter in the FIFA elections next May as widely predicted. Host: Michel Platini put up all of Europe’s football powerbrokers in the Meridien Beach Plaza Hotel . UEFA didn’t even put forward another candidate in the knowledge that Blatter, who has the support of the five other confederations, is certain to win a ludicrous fifth term. An expected attack on Blatter didn’t materialise, either, although Platini did tell his UEFA representatives on the FIFA ExCo not to be ‘sheep and say yes to the omnipresent Blatter all the time.’ The FA board have effectively acknowledged that referee grandee David Elleray receiving only a slap on the wrist for his ghastly racist comment — ‘You look rather tanned, have you been down a coal mine?’ — to an FA colleague sent out all the wrong signals for an organisation supposedly cracking down on all forms of discrimination. Wrong signals: The FA have effectively acknowledged their lenient treatment of David Elleray sent the wrong message . The protests -led by Sports Agenda -over Elleray’s ultra-lenient treatment have led to FA directors agreeing there should be an independent element to future investigations over code of conduct breaches, rather than the inquiry being conducted entirely in-house. Wembley Euro banker . The FA must believe UEFA awarding Wembley the final and semi-finals of Euro 2020 in Geneva on September 19 is a formality. The official FA party includes ineffective Minister for Sport Helen Grant and only a representative for London Mayor Boris Johnson. Grant wouldn’t even comment on England’s World Cup debacle, despite travelling on official business to Brazil. Meanwhile, the deep scars from the 2018 World Cup election fiasco — when the FA had PM David Cameron, David Beckham and Prince William in Zurich to secure just one vote from outside the UK — look to have healed. England are considering bidding for Euro 28 and believe hosting the Euro 2020 climax will not impact on that ambition. The Scottish FA are also hopeful the feelgood factor from Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games will help Hampden Park’s Euro 2020 cause, with Wales and Ireland expectant for the group stages as well. VIDEO Wayne Rooney named England's captain . | England set to play glamour friendlies with Germany, Italy, France and Spain .
Michel Platini hosts Europe's powerbrokers in Monaco .
The FA are confident of Euro 2020 semi-final and final will be awarded to Wembley . |
08e69bba4044cceed0fd9c33acb9a722f469e868 | Acting is in the blood: Georgina Baillie, above, as she is today . When Georgina Baillie makes her debut in Harold Pinter's The Homecoming this month, it will be the final chapter in the dramatic transformation from the debauched public image she presented when she embroiled her family in the 'Sachsgate' scandal. It should be a moment of happiness and joy for Georgina, as she follows in the acting footsteps of her 84-year-old grandfather Andrew Sachs, who played hapless Spanish waiter Manuel in classic 1970s sitcom Fawlty Towers. But when she takes to the stage, Georgina, who has spent the past 14 months at drama school, will look out on a heartbreaking sight: the two seats that she has reserved for her grandparents will instead remain empty for the entire evening. For even now, six years after The Mail on Sunday highlighted how Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross taunted Sachs on a BBC Radio 2 show with an account of Baillie's sexual antics, Sachs and his wife Melody still cannot bring themselves to forgive her. Despite a brief reconciliation in 2013, the relationship between the two parties has once again broken down – even though Georgina, 29, insists that she has buried her wild past and wants to become a serious actress. 'I want to make things right between me and my grandparents,' Georgina says. 'I love and miss them so much. I know how I behaved back then was wrong, but I'm not that person any more. 'If only they would see me perform… then they could see for themselves. Grandad always said I needed to grow up and change. 'Well, I've more than done that. I'm just so sad that he's not here now to give me advice while I'm trying to launch my acting career.' When the Sachsgate affair ignited in 2008, Miss Baillie, then aged 23, was part of a burlesque dance group called Satanic Sluts whose performances featured 'sexy striptease and slutty activity'. And it was Brand's obscene phone call to her grandfather during his radio show, in which he boasted of sleeping with Miss Baillie, that forced her sleazy past into the public spotlight. The distress and humiliation it caused Sachs was then sharpened by his granddaughter's decision to furnish the tabloids with details of her sex life with Brand. Scroll down for video . The Sachs family with their grandchildren in the 1990s. Georgina Baillie is circled . 'I admit I was a nightmare in my early 20s,' she says. 'I mixed with the wrong people. 'I experimented with sexuality, with drugs, with everything. I made mistakes, and unfortunately some of them were on film. 'If I could go back and have a word with my 20-year-old self and tell her, 'Don't you dare', then I would. 'I've tried so hard over the years to repair my relationship with my grandparents. I've sent letters, flowers, emails – but I never heard anything back for years. 'They were understandably angry at me for talking to the press and for how I behaved with Russell. 'They are not getting any younger and I'm so frightened that I might never see either of them again. 'Drama school is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. It's been harder than being at the centre of a press scandal, harder than touring with a rock band. I've never worked so hard in my life.' In truth, Georgina's relationship with her grandparents first soured before Sachsgate. When she was 20 she lost the deposit they generously put down on a rental flat for her. The old me: Georgina wants to put her outrageous past behind her . She says: 'The flat turned into a party house. I basically trashed it and lost my grandparents' deposit. They quite rightly weren't happy with me about that and I fully admit I behaved terribly. But I apologised and things had got better between us by the time everything kicked off in 2008. 'I actually used the money I earned out of speaking to the press to pay back their deposit. I sent them a cheque, but I never heard anything from them.' When the row over Sachsgate finally subsided, Georgina decided to focus on her singing and was taken under the wing of 1980s pop star Adam Ant. She spent three years touring the world with his support act, a girl band called Poussez Posse. 'My grandparents heard about me touring with Adam and were really impressed with how hard I was working. In January 2013, for the first time since 2008, they wanted to see me. I was so happy. 'We sat down and had a chat about everything and I thought we'd put everything that had happened in the past behind us. 'It was so lovely to see them, but at the same time I was really sad to see how my grandad had got a lot older and I'd missed all that precious time with him.' Georgina also received an invitation to her grandmother's 80th birthday celebrations at The Ivy in London, but says it was withdrawn at the last minute. 'A few days before the party, Grandma saw Adam on Jonathan Ross's chat show and, for some reason, it upset her so much she uninvited me,' she reveals. 'I was completely devastated and I phoned Grandma to tell her how hurt I was to suddenly be dismissed again. I told her how I thought it was really unfair, but she didn't like me telling her that, and I got cut out of their lives again.' She adds: 'I just want a fresh start. I'm going to turn 30 this year, my acting career is about to begin and I want a clean slate. 'I just want to make up with them and put everything that happened with Russell Brand behind me.' Having always wanted to 'follow in my grandad's footsteps' as a youngster, Georgina has only recently begun to consider acting seriously. During a break from touring with Adam Ant, she decided to do a four-day acting course at The Poor School, a drama school in King's Cross, London. Six years ago Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand taunted Andrew Sachs about his granddaughter's sexual antics . 'To my surprise the director offered me a place on the two-year training course there and then,' she says. 'I was really shocked. I hadn't really thought about going to drama school – I did the four-day course just to see if I was any good at acting. I spoke to Adam about it and he was really supportive and told me it was absolutely the right thing to do. 'Adam and I are like brother and sister – there's nothing sexual about our relationship. 'We see each other all the time. When we meet up he helps me to rehearse. He reads the other part and helps me learn my lines. He loves doing different voices and is actually quite good.' After a gruelling 14 months training she is now preparing for the school's public season. Later this month she will play the pivotal role of Ruth in The Homecoming in front of an audience of agents and casting directors. And she has also been cast in the school's musical theatre showcase, which will be performed to a public audience, opening on February 19. 'Above all, I just want my grandad to come and watch me. I want him to be proud of how hard I've worked. Six years on Andrew Sachs and his wife Melody cannot bring themselves to forgive Georgina . 'Ever since I was tiny he's always supported my ambition to be an actress and I'd love to be able to go to him for advice now, but I can't. At secondary school I played Audrey in As You Like It and Grandad was there in the audience, just like he was for all my school plays. 'He used to give me very honest feedback. He was always very proud of me, but he would give me constructive criticism too, as well as gross flattery.' Georgina's father Charles Baillie is also an actor, previously touring with the National Theatre, while her mother, Kate Sachs, is a voiceover artist. Georgina says: 'With both my grandad and my dad being actors, growing up I was always backstage at a theatre somewhere. I've been around actors my whole life. 'Acting is in my blood and I've wanted to be an actor since I was a little girl. I just got a bit waylaid. I remember one Christmas, Grandad was performing as Manuel in a cabaret act at the Bath Spa Hotel and we all went to watch him. 'I looked at him and thought, 'Wow, this isn't my grandad any more. All of a sudden he's somebody else. How cool is that?!' 'That really inspired me. They say that at drama school they break you down and build you back up again. Well, the teachers have worked extremely hard at breaking me down. But I'm grateful for it. There have been times when I've wanted to quit, but I've stuck with it and I'm coming out the other end. I just wish Grandad could see that too.' Despite Georgina's plea it seems unlikely that her grandparents will witness her new incarnation. Speaking to The Mail on Sunday last night, Melody Sachs, 82, said: 'We have loved that girl, funded her and looked after her and everything. But after what Georgie has done, I'm sorry we can never see her again. 'If she hadn't told him [Brand] who her grandfather was, this would never have happened. 'But they were sitting on the sofa together watching TV, I think they had actually just had sex, and when my husband came on screen she said, 'That's my grandfather.' 'The next day he made the call. It's been terrible we have been pursued ever since and never left alone. 'Russell Brand wrote us a letter apologising and has rung us several times. But the whole incident has destroyed our family.' | Georgina Baillie is the granddaughter of 84-year-old actor Andrew Sachs .
Six years ago she embroiled her family in the 'Sachsgate' scandal .
The 29-year-old has now curbed her wild ways and transformed her image .
Next month she will follow her grandfather's footsteps into acting .
But her grandparents still cannot bring themselves to forgive Baillie . |
08e726b3de7ac0bc3ee04dd8501d696de0d0045e | By . Charles Sale . Follow @@charliesale . The appointment of crisis management agency Milltown Partners to help keep Richard Scudamore in a job demonstrates how seriously the Premier League are taking the chief executive’s sexist emails scandal. Milltown Partners, who specialise in discreet reputational work for high-end clients, was founded by Paddy Harverson, former Royal spin doctor, and ex-Google executive DJ Collins. And BBC sports editor David Bond is set to join. The choice of Milltown also highlights the cosy governance set-up at the Premier League, which has to be reformed even if Scudamore stays in office. All-powerful Scudamore’s effective line managers are the PL’s audit and remuneration committee, who decide his bonus and salary. Serious: The Premier League have hired a crisis management agency to try and help Richard Scuadamore . Doubt: There are growing concerns whether Scuadamore's friend Bruce Buck should be A and R chairman . And that group is chaired by Scudamore’s close friend and shooting partner Bruce Buck, chairman of Chelsea. And Chelsea happen to be another client of Milltown. As a result, there are growing concerns as to whether Buck should remain chairman of the A and R group. The PL strongly defend their ridiculous two-strong board of Scudamore and interim chairman Peter McCormick, whose Harrogate firm receive a considerable proportion of their business from the PL. The PL claim the 20 clubs, who meet at least six times a year, are the directors of the company. But their one-eyed focus is purely on their own fortunes. Sofa time: Steven Gerrard will pause his World Cup preparations to work with ITV for the Champions League final . England captain Steven Gerrard will be a guest pundit with ITV for the Champions League final. Gerrard will now be spending a fortnight in Portugal. He is on holiday this week, followed by training with England at Vale do Lobo before the final in Lisbon. PREMIER LEAGUE sponsors Barclays, who have reportedly voiced upset over Scudamore’s sexist emails, are to change PR agencies. It is widely expected that Barclays will not renew their current three-year deal with the top flight, but they will hire Havas and instruct them to do a root-and-branch look into how much value the £40m-a-year PL backing brings to a bank involved in a major cost-cutting exercise. THE highly prestigious Footballer of the Year function was relegated to a cramped basement room at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel because of a switch of dates. The main reception suite, instead of being adorned with evocative pictures of every winner of the Football Writers Association award, was booked by the British Sandwich Industry. And rather than Luis Suarez being honoured in the big room, it was a BBQ chicken and bacon slaw wrap and a prosciutto and asparagus melt. Ian’s priorities wrong . It will not please followers of rugby league giants Wigan Warriors that their chairman Ian Lenagan has chosen to go to the FA Cup final rather than his club’s Super League Magic Weekend clash with Leeds at the Etihad Stadium. Lenagan is also chairman of League Two football team Oxford United and an FA councillor. He was one of four councillors who spoke out in favour of Hull City owner Assem Allam being allowed to change the name of the club to Hull Tigers which the FA voted to reject. Meanwhile, it’s understood the astonishing decision for the Hull KR v Hull Super League fixture to be staged in Manchester at the same time as Hull City take on Arsenal in the FA Cup final at Wembley wasn’t opposed by Hull rugby league club owner Adam Pearson. He used to be head of operations at the football club, but had an acrimonious exit following Allam’s takeover. Shock: Rugby League owner Adam Pearson didn't oppose the Hull sports clashes this Saturday . Matthew Syed might have been discarded by Joey Barton as ghost writer for his upcoming autobiography but the Times sports columnist has emerged as front runner to be the next BBC Sports Editor. However, there appears to be a split of opinion on the selection panel as to whether the Beeb want a talking head like Syed or a big story getter to replace the departing David Bond. The England Cricket Board are to lose their highly successful commercial chief John Perera, who has remarkably brought in more than £750m worth of sponsorship and TV rights during nearly a decade dominated by a financial recession. Perera will be leaving in 2016, giving the ECB two years notice to find a successor. | Premier League hire Millitown Partners to help Richard Scuadmore through sexism scandal .
Steven Gerrard will be an ITV pundit for Champions League final .
Wigan Warriors chairman will go to FA Cup final, not Super League game .
Matthew Syed a frontrunner for BBC sports editor role . |
08e793d8cb6242392d310adac625d54672e5eff2 | (CNN) -- What was supposed to be a straightforward cash deal to carry a child for desperate parents has turned into an international spat over who said what, and exposed the darker side of a business credited with creating happiness for many couples. At the center of the debate is Gammy, a seven-month-old Down Syndrome baby with a congenital heart condition who is currently receiving treatment for a lung infection at a private hospital in Thailand. For days, Gammy's surrogate mother, 21-year-old Thai food stall worker Pattharamon Chanbua, has been telling local and foreign press that the couple abandoned their son, taking home his healthy sister. After initially denying they knew about baby Gammy, a friend of the couple issued a statement to a local Australian newspaper saying the pair only left Gammy because they were told he was likely to die. "Gammy was very sick when he was born and the biological parents were told he would not survive and he had a day, at best, to live and to say goodbye," the unnamed friend told the Bunbury Mail, in Western Australia, where the couple live. Fear and lies . The friend said the surrogate mother gave birth at a different hospital to the one agreed upon, which made the surrogacy agreement void. The couple was scared, she said, that Pattharamon would change her mind about the second child, and they'd have to leave Thailand with no children at all. According to the report, the friend noted that the backdrop to the surrogacy row was a military coup in the country and "it was very difficult to get around." The takeover took place in the early hours of May 22, 2014 when Commander of the Royal Thai Army General Prayuth Chan-chua announced in a national broadcast he was now in charge. "This has been absolutely devastating for them, they are on the edge," the friend added, referring to the days of media scrutiny and debate over their decision, months after they returned home. Pattharamon claimed the couple asked her to terminate the Down Syndrome child when she was seven months pregnant. Not true, the couple's friend said. After the babies' birth, Pattharamon claimed they bought nappies and milk for the baby girl, but "didn't even look at the boy." Also a lie, the friend added. Whatever the details of who said what, the case has attracted attention to a largely unregulated industry subject to a confusing tangle of laws and loopholes. Surrogate 'is legal parent' In the state of Western Australia, where the couple is from, it's legal to seek surrogacy abroad. There are no checks for criminal history, and no counseling is required for couples seeking offshore surrogacy, said Jenni Millbank, an expert in Australian surrogacy law from the University of Technology in Sydney. "If surrogacy were taken onshore there would be counseling protocols prior to conception, as well as a welfare report after birth required before legal parentage is transferred; but these are not steps that occur with offshore surrogacy," said Millbank. She said the surrogate mother is the legal parent regardless of whose egg was used. The rights of the genetic father are also "uncertain" as "different judges have taken varied approaches," she said. Australian authorities are looking into the case, as are Thai authorities, who had already announced a crackdown on the industry amid claims rules were being flouted. Pattharamon said she agreed to be paid 300,000 baht ($9,300) for carrying the couple's babies, money she needed to help care for her own two children, aged six and three. After she voiced concerns about how she was going to pay for Gammy's care, funds started flowing to an online campaign, which to date has raised more than $237,000 (US$220,000). Could baby girl be returned? Pattharamon said she's prepared to take the baby girl back if the Australian couple is are "not ready" to take care of her. She said she doesn't intend to pursue legal action against the parents, though Millbank says she could apply to the Family Court of Australia to have the child returned. "The Family Court of Australia has jurisdiction over anyone who has an interest in the care, welfare and a development of a child so (the intending parents) could still make their case and argue for the baby to live with them," Millbank said. "The court would examine the competitive proposals of the parties, probably appoint an independent children's lawyer and do a welfare assessment of the child's needs and then make a decision." The Australian courts have only ever heard one case involving a child born via surrogacy, Millbank said. It involved a child called "Evelyn" whose birth was the result of an agreement between friends that went wrong. "That was in the 1980s and they ended up removing the child from the family that had been raising her and taking her to the other family," Millbank said. "It was an altruistic arrangement where the birth mother changed her mind about seven months later. And she ultimately won. She got the child back." | Australian couple say they were told male twin, Gammy, would die .
Boy is now seven months old and in the care of his Thai surrogate mother .
Couple said they were scared the surrogate would change her mind about the girl .
Surrogate accused couple of abandoning Down Syndrome boy in favor of healthy sister . |
08e7c9f3616a492555ea409e419d98467c6a0ab2 | Rio Ferdinand admits he was ready to turn to a television career and retire from football before Harry Redknapp offered to bring him to QPR this summer. Ferdinand, who turns 36 in November, was allowed to leave Manchester United at the end of last season after 12 successful years at Old Trafford. The defender was a free agent while he worked as a television pundit at the World Cup in Brazil and although several offers came from England and abroad, he was preparing to hang up his boots before Rangers came in. VIDEO Scroll down for Rio Ferdinand: Finishing career with Harry Redknapp is a fairytale . Intense: Rio Ferdinand is ready to start the season away from Old Trafford after a long spell in Manchester . New signing: Ferdinand poses with Harry Redknapp and his new No 5 shirt at QPR on Monday . Leading the way: Ferdinand spoke to the press about the coming season with his new club in London . Eager to get started: The former Manchester United man and his new boss listen in to the questions . 'If I had not come back to a team in London, I probably would have retired,' Ferdinand said. 'I would have done TV, maybe coaching. I enjoyed the TV work in the summer so I would have done more of that.' He . continued: 'My representatives spoke to a few teams out in America, the . Middle East and Europe as well but the main thing was getting back to . London and when Harry gave me the call, all bets were off.' Ferdinand . is reported to have taken a significant wage cut to join Redknapp's . side and the 35-year-old insists he has a special affection for QPR, . having played at the club as a boy. 'I could have earned a lot more money elsewhere but the money has never been an issue for me,' Ferdinand said. 'People sometimes forget that when you are a kid, you play football because you love playing football. 'This . was not about money, it was about playing in a competitive league, in . London, for a team I have an affinity with from years ago. 'This was the first club I ever went to as a kid.' Considered answers: Ferdinand addressed some issues about his time at United during the conference . Ferdinand . left Rangers as a teenager for West Ham after being spotted playing for . the district team by Frank Lampard senior, who was on the Hammers' coaching staff at the time. Redknapp . took over as manager at Upton Park not long after and he handed . Ferdinand his first-team debut in May 1996, bringing the centre half on . as a substitute in a 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday on the final day . of the season. 'Any player . will tell you, if a manager gives you your first chance in football, . they will always hold a place in your heart,' Ferdinand said. 'Harry was always supporting me, singing my praises, telling me off when I needed to be told off.' Ferdinand . continued: 'We've stayed in contact ever since. We would sometimes go . six months without speaking but when I've seen him it's like it was back . in the day. 'There has always been a connection. He has not changed much, he has not even got any grey hairs.' The . former United man is likely to be paired in central defence alongside . Steven Caulker, who has been brought in from Cardiff and is 13 years . Ferdinand's junior. Despite . being let go by United, records showed Ferdinand was the fourth highest . in the Red Devils squad last season when it came to being fit and . available for match selection. 'Some . people question my fitness but over the last two years I have been one . of the most ever-present in terms of training and games,' Ferdinand . said. 'I thought I could play every Premier League game last season when I was at Manchester United but it was not to be. 'I am here now and hopefully the manager will call on me every week and I can produce.' Back in action: Ferdinand made his debut against RasenBallsport Leipzig in a friendly at the weekend . Familiar look: Ferdinand in the red of United . New in blue: Ferdinand poses at Loftus Road . Serial winner: Ferdinand celebrates what will likely be his last Premier League title with Michael Carrick in 2013 . He continued: 'Harry told me to play as many games as I can. 'The . amount of experience I have got, if I can be of help to the young . player here by the way I train, the way I conduct myself, then that is . great.' Ferdinand won six . Premier League titles, an FA Cup and a Champions League trophy during . his stay at Old Trafford and has been capped 81 times for England. A . potential relegation battle at Loftus Road will pose a different . challenge to what he has been used to previously but Ferdinand insists . survival with QPR would be another achievement to add to his list. 'All . I play for is winning trophies - I am not silly enough to think we are . going to win the title but hopefully we can have a good cup run,' Ferdinand said. 'I will not be feeling that buzz here but staying up will be an unbelievable achievement. 'If I had gone to some of the clubs who were interested in me, there would not have been anything to play for. 'Staying in the Premier League would be an amazing achievement.' Ferdinand remains open to the possibility of a coaching career after he retires. He is currently completing his qualification badges but will focus entirely on playing while at QPR this season. 'He brings a bit of class to the place,' Redknapp said. 'He's a class act on and off the field. 'On . the training ground he'll be a great role model - the way he conducts . himself, the way he trains, the way he looks after himself. 'He'll be great for me and he'll be great for the club.' | Ferdinand admits he was read to retire and turn to a television career .
But Harry Redknapp's offer from QPR made him change his mind .
Defender had several different offers before signing for the London club .
35-year-old is excited to work under Harry Redknapp's tutelage again . |
08e826af517e47ff0f304554b2a98492a0b458aa | Former Germany goalkeeper Tim Wiese is on the verge of a sensational career change, after being offered the chance to become a professional WWE wrestler. Wiese retired from football after being released by Hoffenheim in January, and has since focused on bodybuilding, leading to his extraordinary new physique. The German, who now weighs 115kg (18st 1lb), told Bild: ‘I got an official request from the WWE. Tim Wiese posted this picture of himself earlier in the year, showing off his 115kg (18st 1lb) body . The goalkeeper looks a lot slimmer pictured here in 2012 playing for Hoffenheim . Weise keeps his rippling muscles covered up as he watches the Hoffenheim v Borussia Monchengladbach clash earlier this month . Wiese, on his Germany debut in 2008, looks on as John Terry contests a header for England . ‘It’s for a commitment from me to become a pro wrestler. I’ll listen to everything on it’s own merits. ‘Why should I say no? Wrestling is very popular especially in the United States. I will discuss the offer in the next few weeks with my agent. ‘I am not scared.’ Wiese, 32, earned eight caps for Germany between 2008 and 2012 and was part of their 2010 World Cup squad . The goalkeeper made his Germany debut against England in November 2008, and played in the Champions League for Werder Bremen. It has been suggested that Wiese would spend roughly a year training in Florida and could then become a lead WWE wrestler. The ex-Hoffenheim stopper follows in the footsteps of former Port Vale goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson, who retired from football in 2013 to try and become a professional wrestler. Wiese could link up with wrestling legends like Dwayne Johnson, known in the WWE as 'The Rock' A much more slimline Wiese in his former career, as a top-level goalkeeper, pictured here for Werder Bremen . | Tim Wiese says the WWE has approached him about becoming a professional wrestler .
The former German goalkeeper has taken up bodybuilding and now weighs 115kg (18st 1lb)
He says he is considering the offer and 'is not scared'
Wiese played for the likes of Werder Breme and Hoffenheim before retiring in January .
Ex-Port Vale goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson is also trying to join the WWE . |
08e904d027e299e32141237e561d01a81845020c | (CNN) -- My favorite part of academic debate has always been the cross-examination period. We got a little piece of that (but not enough) in the Republican presidential debate Tuesday hosted by Bloomberg and the Washington Post. The presidential hopefuls were allowed to ask an opponent one question. Mitt Romney faced seven opponents, and four of them directed their questions at him because he is seen as the frontrunner. While this can be a good idea in theory to try and trip up the frontrunner, it actually helped Romney. The only two people to get significant air time in the first hour were Romney and Herman Cain. So by asking Romney more questions, the other candidates gave him even more time to present his case to the public. The strategy of the other candidates might have worked if he was on the ropes or was stumbling in the debate, but Romney had not given his opponents any obvious openings. In his answers to the four questions from his opponents, Romney did well. His answer to Newt Gingrich's question was one of Romney's strongest moments of the debate when he highlighted how his economic plan would help the middle class. He underscored that the middle class has been hit the hardest by the economic downturn, so any presidential candidate should begin by focusing on helping them. Herman Cain is pretty clever in these exchanges. You can tell he has a few lines that are well rehearsed. In fact, when it was his turn to ask a question, I actually thought he might try to ask himself the question. That way he could insert 9-9-9 into both a question and an answer (which would be a feat even for him). Instead he asked Romney if he could list off all 59 points of his plan. This question was designed to showcase the simplicity of Cain's plan in comparison. The question was effective enough, but might have backfired when Romney used it to his advantage to say that simple answers are oftentimes inadequate. Romney took a unique approach. His question was directed at Michele Bachmann. On its face, it seems like a puzzling approach, but I actually like the strategy. It gave air time to someone Romney does not think will be a factor, thereby taking time away from his main rivals. Plus, he simply asked Bachmann how she could help the economy by putting people to work, which guided her answer away from attacking Romney in her free time. It was a smart choice. Three of the candidates used their questions to also make solid points. Ron Paul asked Cain about his time spent chairing a Federal Reserve Bank, which is a negative with Paul. Paul's question made the argument that he was correct all along about not trusting the Federal Reserve. Michele Bachmann used her question to attack Rick Perry and remind everyone that she has always been a conservative while Perry used to be a Democrat working for Al Gore. Rick Santorum also asked Cain a question that made an argument. As part of his question, he attacked the 9-9-9 plan by asking the audience who wanted to pay a 9% sales tax. Santorum then asked the audience if they believed the federal government would stick to a 9% income tax. He used their silence to question and attack Cain. Share your view on the debate . Rick Perry doesn't seem to get any part of these debates right, and that included the section where he was allowed to ask any other candidate a question. Perry asked Romney a question about health care, but he failed to have depth in his question or attack. Perry failed to make a positive point about his own health care policy and forgot that in answering the question, Romney would get to freely blast away at the lack of health care for children in Perry's home state of Texas. This was a perfect example of the person answering the questions turning it against the questioner. As is becoming a trend in these debates, Perry came out on the wrong end of that exchange. Presidential candidates should get to ask each other more questions in the future. Such an approach would add substance, and allowing follow-up questions by the candidates would be even better, since we could more easily judge the depth and knowledge of each candidate. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Todd Graham. | Todd Graham: Candidates directed their questions at front-runner Romney .
He says Romney handled the questions deftly .
Graham says Cain seems well prepared while Perry fares poorly .
He says candidates should get to ask each other more questions in the future . |
08e93e00aa8549d64d4ab726a6e8958405ff7a82 | (CNN) -- A couple of hours before President Obama's prime-time speech on ISIS, Republicans Mitt Romney and Chris Christie took the opportunity of the New Jersey governor's birthday party to blast the President on his foreign policy. "The foreign policy he's had has not been good for America, has not been good for our safety, has not been good for our friends around the world," Romney said. Obama outlines strategy to fight ISIS: Airstrikes in Syria, more U.S. troops . The 2012 GOP presidential nominee argued Obama should have intervened earlier in Syria and aided moderate rebels. He also painted the President as being weak in his handling of Russia's intervention in Ukraine. "It's extraordinary that we don't have a President that knows what to do," Romney said. Along with foreign policy, he outlined major problems he sees with Obama's policies on the economy and education. Still, Romney encouraged the audience to "support" the President as he takes his next steps in fighting the militant group in Iraq and Syria. For his part, Christie went off on Obama for dismissing Romney's 2012 argument that Russia was the United States' No. 1 geopolitical foe -- an assessment that Republicans have lorded over Obama ever since the unrest began between Russia and Ukraine. "Let me tell you something, Mr. President," Christie said. "You were wrong, Mitt Romney is right, and the world is suffering because of it." A preview of what's to come? Christie's birthday bash with Romney had all the appearances of a potential campaign rally in 2016, that is if Christie runs for President: . -- A highly complimentary introduction of Christie by the most recent GOP nominee. -- An excited audience with phones jutted in the air, taking photos. -- A giant American flag as the backdrop. -- Both wives on stage. -- And of course, blistering critiques of Obama. The New Jersey Republican Party hosted the fundraiser that was billed as an event to celebrate Christie's 52nd birthday, which was on Saturday. While they sang each others' praises Wednesday night, it was less than two years ago when many of Romney's supporters were saying that Christie cost Romney the election. They were were furious with Christie after he embraced Obama when the President came to survey Superstorm Sandy damage in New Jersey -- just a few days before Election Day. Critics argued that Christie's warm reception of Obama gave the President some bipartisan sway. In interviews after the election, however, Romney never blamed Christie, nor did he say there was bad blood between the two. And he has frequently mentioned Christie on his list of potential 2016 Republican candidates. "This is a guy who cares about the people in this great state, he cares about the poor, he cares about the middle class. He cares about getting good jobs," Romney said Wednesday, introducing Christie. "This is a guy who fights for the things he believes in." The love fest continued when Christie was at the podium. "Wouldn't our country be a hell of a better place if this man were the President of the United States?" Christie roared. Christie: I won't state position on immigration unless I run for president . Would Hillary Clinton top Chris Christie in New Jersey? | Mitt Romney and Chris Christie blasted President Obama .
Their criticism came just hours before Obama's speech on ISIS .
The two Republicans were speaking at a birthday event for Christie . |
08e95cdf4da5bc1ff42a0888932b78ea2923685e | By . Katy Winter and Nick Mcdermott . PUBLISHED: . 07:31 EST, 22 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:15 EST, 22 April 2013 . With a slender waist and curves in all the right places, Marilyn Monroe’s physique has long been coveted by women – and admired by men. But it seems the classic hourglass figure that the star epitomised could be on borrowed time. The waist size of the average British woman has increased by more than seven inches since the 1950s, research has found, giving her more in common with a rectangle than an hourglass. Marilyn Monroe's physique has long been coveted by women - and admired by men. But it seems the classic hourglass figure that the star epitomised could be on borrowed time . Christina Hendricks is famed for her curvy hourglass physique, but British women are getting further and further away from this ideal, with waist sizes increasing by 7in since the 1950s . The hourglass figures of Man Men characters January Jones, left, Elisabeth Moss, centre, and Christina Hendricks, right, are now largely a thing of the past in the UK, with waist sizes ever increasing . For a perfect hourglass figure, a . woman’s hip and bust must be of equal size, with a narrow tapered waist. But a study has found that this shape is becoming increasingly rare. In 1951, the average woman’s waist was 27 inches, with her bust and hips around ten inches larger. But researchers who surveyed 5,500 . women found the average waist now measures 34 inches. Hip and bust . dimensions, meanwhile, have grown by only an inch, leaving them just . four inches larger than the waist. As a result, almost half of British . women are now classed as a ‘rectangle’ – with little difference between . bust, waist and hip measurements. The data compiled for women's sizes . showed that while the average waist size has increased by more than 25 . percent, women's hips and busts haven't seen increases on the same scale. This . has led to a change in women's figures from svelte hourglass to a . more rotund, stout shape. - and 38 per cent of women in Britain being classed as overweight. Women . in the UK now weigh 7.5 lbs more than they did in 1951 - and even though . they are 1.5in taller this still shows a general trend to higher . BMI and greater levels of obesity nowadays. Audrey Hepburn had a figure typical of the 1950s, while Kelly Brook has a body typical of 2013 . The changing shape of British women: As well as larger wasitlines they have grown by 1.5in and are an average of 7.5lb heavier than women in 1951 . Since Mad Men season six - a series . based on the 1960s world of advertising - premiered on 7 April, one . Harley Street clinic has reported a 40 per cent increased interest in . body-sculpting waistline-reduction treatments from women wishing to . emulate Hendricks' shape. Donnamarie McBride, beauty director at LoveLite, said: . 'Our most popular treatment with our Lipoglaze system is the "Mad Men . waistline" and since the show came back on to TV we've been inundated . with bookings. 'The reason why it's in such demand is because the waistline is one of the hardest areas to shift weight. 'Even with regular work-outs and a good diet this is often the last area that a women will lose fatty tissue.' | Waist size grown from 27 inches 60 years ago to 34 inches now .
38 per cent of women now classed as overweight .
Difference between the bust and hips to the waistline was 10in in 1950s .
In 2013 figures are much flatter at only 4in difference from bust to waistline .
British women weigh 7.5lbs more than in 1951 and are 1.5in taller .
Growing numbers opting for clinical procedures to achieve shapely figures . |
08e9a56420abee2d952b6d89a030f33d45341a3b | By . Rob Cooper . PUBLISHED: . 11:06 EST, 23 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:39 EST, 23 August 2013 . A cage fighter beat his wife so badly after she sent him a text message saying their relationship was over that police thought they had been called to a murder scene. Mother-of-two Charlotte Small, 33, was so scared that Gary Marcel, 46, would attack her that she had already entered 999 into her phone - but he immediately snatched it off her. The thug forced his way into Miss Small's home and repeatedly kicked and punched her in the face - shouting 'no one will want you now'. Horror attack: Mother-of-two Charlotte Small, 33, (left) after she had been repeatedly beaten by thug Gary Marcel, 46, (right) who has been jailed for 11 years . Marcel stamped on her breasts, pulled out clumps of her hair, fractured her eye socket and almost ripped off her ear during the attack in Maidstone, Kent. Miss Small, who still suffers from memory loss, said today that her husband, who she has since divorced, took breaks during the attack before continuing to beat her. She was finally rescued after her neighbour Martin Nolan, 75, heard her piercing screams and called Kent Police. Marcel, who was found standing over the apparently lifeless, half-naked body of his wife with his hands drenched in blood, told officers 'it was me'. One officer who was called to the scene three days before Christmas last year described Miss Small’s facial injuries as 'the most disturbing I have seen in my 10 years service'. Miss Small, who is mother to Finn, six, and Molly, eight, said: 'He said he’d come to kill me. Recovery: Charlotte Small who was left with injuries so severe after the attack that police thought they had been called to a murder scene . 'He was kicking me in the face and said "no one will want to be with you now". I ran around the house, desperately looking for corners to hide in. 'At times he stopped hitting me and stroked my hair saying he needed a rest.' Recounting previous episodes of violence, Miss Small said: 'He pulled radiators off the wall, punched holes in every door and one night he ripped kitchen units out.' In the summer of 2012 Marcel attacked the mother in front of her children for the first time. She said: 'It was terrible, Finn hid under a bed and Molly was trying to pull Gary off me.' Marcel, of Snodland, Kent, denied attempted murder and his guilty plea to causing grievous bodily harm with intent was accepted by the prosecution. Judge Michael Carroll sentenced Marcel to 11 years behind bars at Maidstone Crown Court. Sentencing Marcel, Judge Carroll told him: 'You caused horrific and life-changing injuries to this young woman.' The court also heard how the former soldier had been cautioned in February 2012 for assaulting her. After another savage beating in August last year, Marcel was given a suspended prison sentence for assault and harassment. He was slapped with a restraining order until 2017, but that didn’t stop the monster from tracking Miss Small down. Marcel breached the order in the attack on December 22. | Gary Marcel shouted 'no one will want you now' as he attacked his partner .
He launched the savage attack on Charlotte Small after she text him to say their relationship was over .
Thug, 46, was jailed for 11 years at Maidstone Crown Court .
Police officer said injuries are the 'most disturbing I have seen in my 10 years of service' |
08ea69bc34f98d0bb8362752cfdde6a0ccba02a3 | By . Derek Lawrenson . Click here for the latest Augusta leaderboard . Masters champion Adam Scott opened his defence here at Augusta National on Thursday like a man with no intention of letting anyone rip the jacket off his back. All year the pride he felt in becoming the first Australian to win here was obvious, as he took the green coat — to use the American vernacular — on a world tour that culminated in a glorious homecoming Down Under last November. Scott has inspired his Australian peers to such an extent that they have won four of the last seven . Job well done: Adam Scott looks happy after completing round one, finishing just one shot back . Great start: But American Bill Haas leads the way, with a round of 68 at Augusta . Respect: Haas was playing with Miguel Angel Jimenez at the Masters, and both played well . Now . the main man is back, as he posted an impressive three-under-par 69 . that left him just a stroke off the lead held by American Bill Haas. ‘I . don’t know how it felt to him but to me it looked like he had the ball . on a string,’ said Scott’s playing partner, England’s US Amateur . champion Matt Fitzpatrick. ‘He’s got such a fantastic swing, it was a . pleasure watching him.’ The . only other player who draws compliments like this from fellow . competitors is Rory McIlroy. All those hoping for the pair to be locked . together come the final nine holes on Sunday will have been encouraged . by the sight of the Northern Irishman also taking his place on the . leaderboard. The 24-year-old finished with a 71, which represented a good start on a devilishly difficult opening day. As . so often this season, his driving was a thing of beauty but 34 putts . told its own story of a round that was stunted by his work on the . greens. Still, the daunting . nature of the set-up was illustrated by the fact only four players broke . 70, with Bubba Watson and Louis Oosthuizen, the two men who contested . the play-off in 2012, finishing alongside Scott. Watson, the winner on that occasion two years ago, was the only player in the 97-man field to keep a bogey off his card. McIlroy . began by booming drives on the opening three holes that all came to . rest 320 yards from the tee on their respective fairways. Hanging in there: Rory McIlroy is well in contention on one under par . GARY PLAYER (@garyplayer): ‘An honour to kick off @The_Masters with Jack & Arnie. Only 1 shot. Counting on blasting it long & straight.’ The South African veteran joined Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer to hit the honorary tee shot. TIGER WOODS (@TigerWoods): 'It never gets old watching the honorary starters tee off. One of the oldest and best traditions in the game.' The injured world No 1 had to watch from the sidelines as this year's tournament got under way. GRAEME McDOWELL (Graeme_McDowell): 'Not breaking us in gently with Day One pin positions here @The_Masters. Some tough ones especially 5/10/16.' The Northern Irishman was spot on with his predictions and faced a struggle before finishing level par for the day. SHANE WARNE (@warne888): . The Masters starts today! Good luck to all the players, especially the . Aussies, maybe back to back Scotty? My tip is @JDayGolf!' Former Australian spinner Warne was backing his fellow countryman Jason Day to follow up Adam Scott's win last year. EOIN MORGAN (@Eoin16): Made all my bets for live Masters. I've spread the love this year backing Rory, Bubba and Keegan Bradley. The England batsman will be hoping his tips perform better than his cricket team have done recently. GARETH BALE (@GarethBale11): ‘It’s Masters time! One of my favourite sporting events. Backing @DJohnsonPGA to win it this year’ The Real Madrid star backed American Dustin Johnson, but fellow Welshman Ian Woosnam finished on five over. Decent support: Girlfriend and tennis star Caroline Wozniacki was following the Northern Irishman . Could have been better: It was still a mixed day for McIllroy . At the . par-four third, that left him just a pitch on to the green and he duly . knocked it close to set up his first birdie. Another followed at the . fifth but then came bogeys at the eighth and 12th. He . found the green in two on both the par fives on the back nine to set up . birdies but a three-putt at the 18th stung. Still, as he reflected: . ‘This was a day when the course was set up so hard any score under par . represented a good start.’ McIlroy . thought the test a little different from the past, but the familiarity . of the names at the top of the leaderboard suggested otherwise. After . the monsoon on Monday and unseasonably chilly weather to follow, dawn . broke on Masters Thursday to a Georgia peach of a day. The opportunity . was clearly there to post a score and make a statement but the pin . positions on the first day are usually brutal and here was no exception. Much of the interest surrounded McIlroy and Scott, of course, who were out in successive groups. Scott . made a spectacular start. A pushed drive at the first left him with . only a narrow opening to squeeze his approach through if he was to find . the green. Fearless: Scott was showing no signs of nerves as he looked to defend his Masters jacket . Uh-oh: The Australian had to take a drop at the Par 5 15th . What a lesson: Amateur playing partner Matt Fitzpatrick said it was a pleasure to watch Scott's swing . He did that all . right, provoking one of the loudest cheers of the early play when the . ball pitched six feet from the hole and pulled up half that distance . away. Having achieved one . unlikely birdie, Scott managed another at the short sixth, where the . hole was positioned on a treacherous ledge. A more customary birdie for a . man with his prodigious gifts off the tee followed at the long eighth . to take him out in a tidy 33 strokes. A . birdie at the 10th — the hole he also birdied last year to break the . Aussie curse in the play-off against Angel Cabrera — took him to four . under. The 12th hole at . Augusta is the shortest on the course, known as Golden Bell, and how . often it has tolled for players who appear to be moving through the . gears. On this day the flag . was located on the right, always the most dangerous spot. Never go for . this flag, advises Jack Nicklaus, but Scott gambled — and lost. His . ball finished in the water and he failed to hole from six feet for a . bogey. Mixed emotions: Brandt Snedeker lead at one stage before finishing on two under, just like Jimmy Walker . Mixed emotions: Brandt Snedeker lead at one stage before finishing on two under, just like Jimmy Walker . Still going strong: Fred Couples impressed beyond his years . Scott also . three-putted the long 13th for a disappointing par, before birdieing the . 14th to continue his curious round where he birdied the holes you’re . supposed to par and parred the holes that offer obvious opportunities. ‘It showed how well I was playing that I only birdied one of the par . fives and yet still shot 69,’ he said. Seven . players shot 70, including Americans Brandt Snedeker and Jimmy Walker, . while alongside McIlroy on 71 was 54-year-old Fred Couples. Evergreen is . exactly the right word to describe him given that every time he puts on . that green jacket and walks through the gates of Magnolia Lane, he . turns into a golfing Peter Pan. Couples hasn’t finished outside the top . 15 since turning 50, a truly remarkable statistic. Scotland’s . Stephen Gallacher finished on the same mark while Graeme McDowell shot . a respectable 72 — a score matched by the indefatigable Bernhard . Langer, now 56 — but for England’s finest it was another frustrating . day. Shining light: The Englishman struggled on day one, only Westwood really impressing . Struggled: Luke Donald (left) and Justin Rose had a horrific day with the tricky tee positions . Luke Donald found . insult added to injury when he was assessed a two-shot penalty at the . ninth for touching the sand with his club in a bunker before he hit the . ball to turn a poor 77 into a desperate 79, while Justin Rose and Ian . Poulter shot 76s. It was a . popular score among the English contingent with the two amateurs . competing, Fitzpatrick and Garrick Porteous, on the same mark. In this . company, last man out Lee Westwood’s 73 was a positive beacon. Course specialist Phil Mickelson needs a low one as well on Friday after also shooting 76. Got a chance: Augusta regulars Louis Oosthuizen (above) and Bubba Watson are right in the mix . What . of the two Stadlers, Kevin and Craig, the first father and son to play . in the same Masters? Kevin, on his debut, shot a fine 70. His dad was . surely delighted with that? If he was, he kept it well hidden. Did you watch Kevin tee off, he was asked. ‘No,’ came the reply. He did pretty well today? ‘I’ve no idea what he shot.’ Two under. ‘Did he? Good.’ Craig Stadler, it hardly needs saying, went round in 82. Wouldn’t you think he’d have swallowed his own disappointment? | Bill Haas leads the Masters after a round of 67 .
Adam Scott, Bubba Watson and Louis Oosthuizen a shot back .
Rory McIlroy on one under par, along with Lee Westwood .
Phil Mickelson, Luke Donald and Justin Rose suffer . |
08eab1fbde26da3bf4cc9345052beff4c647da5d | By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 10:47 EST, 11 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:31 EST, 11 October 2012 . Susan Wurtzel owns a Today show . T-shirt and a mug. When the stay-at-home mom and her family visited New . York from their home in Germantown, Maryland, they joined the crowd of fans . outside the NBC morning show's Rockefeller Center studio. Now, after more than 20 years as a regular Today viewer, Wurtzel tunes to CBS most mornings. Multiply such defections and you have . the chief reason for television's changing fortunes in morning news, . where ABC's Good Morning America has ended NBC's epic 17-year winning . streak on Today. ABC is growing — GMA has 110,000 more viewers each . day this year than last — but not as much as NBC is slipping, 437,000 . viewers a day since last year. Used to winning: The Today Show had been the morning show with the most viewers for the past 17 years before April of this year when GMA ruined their winning streak . The new dream team: ABC's Good Morning America are getting thousands more viewers than Today since Ann Curry was sacked . Wurtzel, 57, left last spring because of Today co-host Ann Curry. 'Ann's interview style was like chalk on . a board to me,' she said. 'She leaned toward her interviewee and . whispered her questions like someone had died. 'The more serious the . interview, the quieter she got. When she replaced Meredith Vieira, I . tried to adjust and accept, but she just didn't work for me. Katie Couric and Meredith were relatable, empathetic and funny. Ann just . seemed out of place.' Executives at NBC were quietly reaching the same conclusion and moved to replace Curry with Savannah Guthrie. Then came June 28, 2012, Curry's last . day as co-host. She cried in bewilderment at her perceived failure at . losing the job she had sought for years, as her uncomfortable co-workers . and a nation looked on. Suddenly, a problem for NBC became a BIG . problem. Even people who didn't particularly like Curry loathed the way . she was dispatched. Except for two weeks during the Olympics, Today . hasn't sniffed first place in the ratings since. Struggling: Curry cried in bewilderment at her perceived failure at losing the job she had sought for years, as her uncomfortable co-workers and a nation looked on . During the first six . months of 2012, Today averaged just under 5.2 million viewers each . weekday. Since July 2, the audience has dropped to 4.59 million, . according to Nielsen, the company that measures TV audiences. Without . the two weeks of the London Olympics, the average is 4.3 million. That's . a stunning drop, even accounting for typical lower viewership in the . summer. An informal survey of three dozen . viewers who have left or are considering leaving Today turned up . various explanations, including a feeling that the show had leaned too . far in the direction of lighter, pop culture fare. The Curry dismissal . was clearly a tipping point, however. William Runge, a manager at an . educational cable network who lives in suburban Winston-Salem, North Carolina, . likened the treatment of Curry to 'a public flogging'. 'The PR machine at NBC spent an enormous . amount of time and effort convincing me that the Today show team was . actually part of my family, "America's First Family", said Runge, 46, . citing the show's advertising slogan. In charge: Today executive producer Jim Bell, . center, is pictured with Meredith Vieira, Ann Curry, Matt Lauer, and . Bryant Gumbel earlier this year . Admitting fault: Matt Lauer spoke on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight saying that he didn't want to leave because he believes there is still work to be done to make the show stronger . 'Guess what? They were right. These did feel like family members. So this is how you are going to . treat a member of your family? 'You can debate for hours whether Ms . Curry was right for the role,' he said. 'That's not the point. She was . doing her job and was barely 11 months into it when they canned her in . the most humiliating way possible.' The move was 'heart-wrenching', said . Isabelle Langelier, a 40-year-old manager at a drug company from . Montreal. 'It made me feel sick for her. And it made me turn the . channel, probably permanently.' 'While I thought Ann Curry's interviews . were a little hokey at times, she is clearly the most genuine person in . TV news,' said Sarah Rosenthal, 53, a graduate student and mother of . three from West Chester, Pennsylvania. 'After her unceremonious dumping, I turned . it off. I have nothing against Savannah, and adore Natalie Morales, but . there is just a different tone to the show.' Even worse for NBC, a significant number . of viewers appear to blame co-host Matt Lauer for the move. The network . has consistently denied tabloid reports that Lauer was unhappy with . Curry. Today Executive Producer Jim Bell said late last month that . Lauer was being treated unfairly. Firing Curry was Bell's decision, he . said. Some awkward public moments haven't . helped. Worrying: ABC is growing — GMA has 110,000 more viewers each . day this year than last — but not as much as NBC is slipping, 437,000 . viewers a day since last year . The moment Lauer lost his likability? Curry's . unceremonious booting off the show has long been a thorn in Lauer's . side, after it was claimed he was responsible for getting her axed . When Curry reappeared on Today during the London Olympics to . introduce a story she had done, Lauer twice remarked that it was good to . see her again. Curry didn't return the sentiment to the man she worked . with for 15 years. Two years ago, Lauer's positive 'Q' score was 23 — meaning 23 per cent of people who knew him considered . Lauer one of their favorite broadcasters, according to Marketing . Evaluations Inc, a company that measures public sentiment toward . well-known personalities. Meet the new host: It has been reported that Willie Geist will join the Today show to to serve as co-host during the 9am hour . Now his positive score is 14. At the same . time, Good Morning America co-host Robin Roberts' positive 'Q' score . jumped from 20 to 27. Langelier felt there was a perception . that Lauer was 'king' and others on the show aren't equal to him. Lyle . Nelson, 40, a salesman from Avondale, Arizona, said Lauer was 'not someone . I'd like to have a beer with'. 'There is something about Matt Lauer, . whether or not he was the reason for Curry's firing, that has changed . and I do not like watching the show anymore,' said John Friia, a . 20-year-old aspiring journalist from Malverne, New York. Fortunately for NBC, viewers don't seem to be taking out their unhappiness on Guthrie. Producers often say that viewing . decisions for morning television can be intensely personal, since people . are essentially inviting these personalities into their homes at an . intimate time of day when they were getting ready for work. Feeling a . part of the TV 'family' they see on air is part of it, and sometimes the . reasoning seems strange. Nelson said, for example, that he didn't like . the couch on Today because it looked uncomfortable. 'In today's doom and gloom news . programs, the Today show gave me a lift to get my day started,' said . Taren Robin, 48, from Paris, Kentucky. 'I don't get that lift anymore, and I . am in mourning over the fact. I haven't found anything I like better to . take its place.' At least one-third of people who responded to a Twitter request to discuss the show cited its content for their discontent. 'I used to be a regular Today show . viewer but got tired of their formula,' said Dan Laufer, 35, a sports . marketer from Washington, D.C. 'Five minutes of hard news followed by an . animal rescue story, the Kardashians and then pop culture or fashion. It's OK with me — in moderation.' Joan Pierce is a 64-year-old retired . nurse from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, who watched Today for 40 years. Now . she says: 'I don't care what Lindsay Lohan does.' 'I was fed up with the lack of actual . news reporting, and more intense focus on silly, irrelevant things like . women's fashion or the newest celebrity's recipe for a dinner I could . never find the time or money to cook,' said Zach Beale, a 23-year-old . college student in Savannah, Georgia. Biting as they may be, at least those . complaints offer Today the seeds of potential recovery. Leading ladies: Katie Couric (left) and Meredith Viera (right) were Matt's female foils for many seasons and are said to be deeply missed by viewers . Good Morning . America, particularly in its second hour, has an even greater pop . culture emphasis. Bell said his show will try to draw a greater contrast . with its ABC rival in coming months. A recent ad with Lauer touts the . 'informative' nature of the show. Curry, who has kept her job with NBC . as a hard news reporter, appeared on Today during the past month . interviewing Libyan President Mohammed Magarief and reporting from . Syria. CBS has already tried to position itself . as a newsier alternative in the morning. Because Today has a richer . history and often twice as many viewers, it would be in better position . to reach people who want this. NBC announced this week that Willie . Geist, an engaging and popular member of MSNBC's Morning Joe team, . will join Today as a co-host of the 9am hour and occasionally . appear earlier. 'What I loved about the show were the . hosts, reporters and the stories,' said Miriam Sajecki, a marketer from . Staten Island, New York, who has watched Today for more than 20 years. 'It . was always delivered in a friendly, engaging and informative manner. Some of that has changed in that I miss the chemistry that was displayed . with the prior hosts ... and some of the stories Today was known for. 'It has evolved into forgettable reports without giving me the important . news and educational stories.' Still, Sajecki is a loyalist. 'I will continue to watch the Today show and wake up to it every weekday,' she said. NBC needs devoted fans like Sajecki to turn things around. It will take some time. | GMA has 110,000 more viewers each .
day this year than last .
NBC have 437,000 viewers less than last year .
Public ousting of Ann Curry, too much popular culture and Matt Lauer all reasons given by fans for turning over . |
08eb20be0f8af096fe7e99e3c25740fd7b7be2af | (CNN) -- More than 14 months after they fled fighting between rebel and government forces, park rangers who monitor mountain gorillas in war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo have returned to the reserve. Young gorillas play in Congo's Virunga National Park in an undated photograph. It is a welcome sight at Virunga National Park, where around 200 of the world's 700 mountain gorillas live. Samantha Newport, communications director for the refuge, told CNN on Friday that 70 rangers have returned to the gorilla refuge. They left when the sector was taken over by Laurent Nkunda's Tutsi armed force, which is fighting Congolese soldiers and their militia allies. About 50 other rangers who fled after rebels seized the park headquarters last month also have come back, Newport said, and about 150 other rangers will be returning after being away for a month or two. Around 400 other rangers never left the nearly 8,000-square kilometer park, in which the gorilla reserve encompasses 250 square kilometers, Newport said. The gorilla section of the park lies in a strategically important area near the borders of Rwanda and Uganda. Newport said Nkunda's rebels still control much of the park and the preserve, but efforts have been made by combatants to protect the gorilla refuge and not interfere with the park rangers' duties. In a news release, Virunga Park Director Emmanuel de Merode said, "It is a huge step that all sides have agreed that the protection of Virunga as a World Heritage Site and its mountain gorillas is of sufficient priority to transcend political differences." He added, "Rangers are neutral in this conflict, and it is right that they should be allowed to do their job." The rangers will be conducting a census of the gorillas. There were 72 habituated and around 120 non-habituated gorillas in the reserve in August 2007, when the last census was conducted. That number is expected to change because of births and deaths. Habituated describes those gorillas who are accustomed to contact with humans, and non-habituated refers to those who are not used to human presence, Newport explained. Virunga National Park is a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Site and Africa's oldest national park. It was formerly known as Albert National Park. | Fighting forced rangers to flee gorilla reserve in Democratic Republic of Congo .
Some of the rangers fled some 14 months ago .
"Rangers are neutral in this conflict," park official says . |
08eb90e49e0f665fcdad9db2531252887e39832c | By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 03:23 EST, 29 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:16 EST, 29 May 2013 . An avenue of oak trees planted at the start of the millennium in the hope they will last 1000 years face being axed after just 13 years due to a new development plans. Members of the Launceston in Bloom Association planted 100 English oak trees and 120,000 daffodils in 2000 to enhance the gateway into the ancient Cornish market . town. But now the trees which line Millennium Avenue could be ripped out to make way for a supermarket and hotel development. Future: An avenue of oak tress planted at the start of the millennium in the hope they will last 1000 years face being axed after just 13 years due to a new development plans . Campaign: Launceston Save Our Trees campaign march along the avenue which is lined with 100 English oak trees . The plans which have riled many locals, are currently under examination by Cornwall council. Developer Wessex Investors, which intends to build a Morrisons supermarket, a Premier Inn hotel and up to 275 homes in the Pennygillam area of Launceston later this year, insists there is no other option and their plan would provide 400 new jobs to local people. 'This has been on the drawing board for . nearly two years and we are trying to accommodate everyone the best we . can,' managing director Andrew Pegg told The Independent. Dispute: Margaret Wills, chairman of Launceston in Bloom Association says that even just one away would spoil an beautiful creation designed for generations to come . 'While five will be removed . under current plans, we intend to plant 93 trees in the new . development.' But Margaret Wills, chairman of . Launceston in Bloom Association told This Is Cornwall that even just one . away would spoil an beautiful monument designed for generations to . come. "The removal of any of the 100 Oak trees would totally ruin the wonderful avenue, providing a visual amenity of high class screening and landscaping, environmental enhancement and an essential green space for Launceston." Mrs Wills added: "The Millennium Avenue must be totally protected in their entirety for the whole community and to enable countless generations to fully appreciate their magnificence and beauty." Mrs Wills told the Cornish Guardian earlier this month that she had delivered 1,740 letters of objection to the planning office. A report was commissioned by the group to assess the level of damage. Nigel Powell, of Glendale Countryside, said in the report: 'Any development close to these trees is likely to have some impact on them and ideally would be avoided. They must be allowed to grow freely, away from development that might restrict their routes or require their developing crowns to be pruned. 'It is important that the 100 trees planted remain as such, 100 trees, the number as discussed corresponding with 1,000 years.' | Members of Launceston in Bloom Association planted 100 English oak trees .
Designed to enhance the gateway into the ancient Cornish market .
town .
Plans to build a new supermarket, pub, hotel and scores of homes . |
08ebe6ede64e4364b68b9801c351bcfe2eb821b1 | A megachurch is closing several of its branches after its founder said women were created to give men homes for their penises. The online comments made by Pastor Mark Driscoll are just the latest scandal for the beleaguered Mars Hill, a collection of 15 evangelical churches now facing financial strains and severe staff cuts. Driscoll, 43, has also stepped down while multiple accusations about his conduct are investigated. Most recently, a feminist blogger, Libby Anne, uncovered messages that he wrote on an internet message board under a pseudonym in 2001 and shared them on her blog on Patheos. Beleaguered: Pastor Mark Driscoll, the founder of Mars Hill megachurch, wrote online that women were created to give homes to men's penises. He has stepped down pending an investigation into his conduct . 'The first thing to know about your penis is, that despite the way it may see, it is not your penis,' he wrote. 'Ultimately, God created you and it is his penis. You are simply borrowing it for a while. 'While His penis is on loan you must admit that it is sort of just hanging out there very lonely as if it needed a home, sort of like a man wondering the streets looking for a house to live in. 'Knowing that His penis would need a home, God created a woman to be your wife and when you marry her and look down you will notice that your wife is shaped differently than you and makes a very nice home.' He then continued with his analogy to say men must not cheat or masturbate. 'Though you may believe your hand is shaped like a home, it is not,' he wrote. 'And, though women other than your wife may look like a home, to rest there would be breaking into another man’s home.' As she shared a screenshot of the messages on her blog, Libby Anne added: 'I have rarely seen an evangelical man assert male superiority and prominence this directly.' She added: 'In Driscoll's treatment, women are no more than penis homes. Women were created to satisfy men. There is nothing uplifting or honored in that.' Scandal: His church has also been accused of mishandling funds and paying to boost sales of his book . In 2001, under a pseudonym, William Wallace II, Mark Driscoll wrote: . 'The first thing to know about your penis is, that despite the way it may see, it is not your penis. Ultimately, God created you and it is his penis. You are simply borrowing it for a while. 'While His penis is on loan you must admit that it is sort of just hanging out there very lonely as if it needed a home, sort of like a man wondering the streets looking for a house to live in. 'Knowing that His penis would need a home, God created a woman to be your wife and when you marry her and look down you will notice that your wife is shaped differently than you and makes a very nice home. 'Therefore, if you are single you must remember that your penis is homeless and needs a home. Though you may believe your hand is shaped like a home, it is not,' he wrote. 'And, though women other than your wife may look like a home, to rest there would be breaking into another man’s home.' The comments were found after Driscoll admitted in his 2006 book 'Confessions of a Reformission Rev' that he had attacked feminists and liberals in online posts under the name William Wallace II. Subsequent internet searches revealed his crude rants against women, feminists and homosexuals under the topic 'Pussified Nation'. After these messages emerged, as well as other accusations concerning misspent funds and plagiarism, Driscoll announced that he was taking a sabbatical for six weeks to allow for investigations. And on Sunday, Mars Hill announced that financial pressures following negative news reports are forcing them to close or consolidate some branches across five states, the Seattle Times reported. The church, which has 15 branches in total, also plans to cut 30 to 40 per cent of its 100 paid staff - in addition to pastors who have recently left after being angry about the church's direction. Among the branches affected by closures or consolidations are those in Phoenix, downtown Seattle and Huntington Beach, California. At the beginning of the year, Mars Hill welcomed up to 13,000 people through their doors, but now attendance is down to as low as 8,000 a week, a church spokesperson told the Times. Popular: His megachurch has 15 branches across five states - but some have now been forced to close . Driscoll has long been a controversial figure, particularly because of his view of women and homosexuality, but other accusations have also damaged his reputation. Last year, an evangelical radio host accused Driscoll of plagiarizing some passages in one of his books, A Call to Resurgence, claiming they were largely stolen from another text. The church was then accused of getting a company to buy up one of his books, manipulating sales figures and boosting the book so that it appeared on the New York Times Bestseller list. In another scandal, the church also admitted that money they said was being used to start church overseas were actually being used for expenses at U.S. churches. Driscoll issued an apology online, saying: 'I will seek to resolve unresolved issues with others, and will seek to avoid such conflict in the future; at least to the extent I have any control over it.' But some members of the congregation protested that he had fallen short of a good apology, while others said that church leaders had failed to investigate the original complaints fully. | Pastor Mark Driscoll, 43, is the founder of Mars Hill, an evangelical megachurch with branches across five states .
But the pastor has been accused of mishandling church funds, plagiarizing work for a book and paying to get book sales boosted, among other claims .
He also posted anti-feminist and anti-gay remarks online under a pseudonym, and said women were made to give a home to men's penises .
Last month, he said he was taking a sabbatical and the church has revealed it is cutting staff and closing branches due to financial issues . |
08ee67a21c0fff832a920740d79dd44b07987f1c | By . Sam Webb . Fraud: Nicola Daly, 39, has to pay back a nine-year, £100k fraud with £50 a week - which will take her 178 years . A benefits cheat has been given 178 years to pay back the money she swindled from taxpayers. Nicola Daly claimed £100,000 in council tax, housing benefit and income support payments for almost nine years. Today Daly, of Tilehurst, Berkshire, was starting a 16-month jail sentence for the fraud which was only discovered after her elderly mother-in-law inadvertently revealed the deception it with a residential care application. A judge heard that Daly claimed the cash after lying to her local council that she was raising her two children alone. In fact the cheat had lived with her partner, who worked for John Lewis, for several years and continued to do so despite repeatedly claiming she had been estranged from him for 15 years. The trickster was finally caught after her elderly mother-in-law applied for residential care and declared that she owned a house where her son Steven Randall and Daly both lived. The 39-year-old was sentenced to 16 months in prison at Reading Crown Court after admitting five charges of fraud and making false statements. The court heard she is repaying the amount at a rate of £50 a month, which will take a staggering 178 years for the total to be recovered. Alison Ginn prosecuting, said: 'Between June 2004 and March 2013, very nearly nine years, Daly claimed and received benefits in the form of income support, housing support and council tax benefits to which she was not entitled. 'The total amount she received was £107,154 and 50p,' she said. 'She was representing that she was a single parent living with her children when in fact she lived with their father, Steven Randall, who was employed from June 2004 at John Lewis in Bracknell, Berkshire.' Reading Crown Court, where Daly was given a 16-month jail sentence for the fraud . The court heard that Daly had clearly stated on benefit claim forms to Reading Borough Council that she only lived with her two children, now aged five and 11 years. Mrs Ginn said: 'Reading Borough Council requested more information and she said that she was not in contact with Steven Randall and he had not paid any maintenance for his children.' She added in subsequent claims that she had not spoken the man she lived with for 15 years. 'It all came to light when Mr Randall's mother, Ivy, completed an application for people seeking residential care, on which she said she jointly owned a premises with her son, who lived there with his partner and children,' said Mrs Ginn. 'Mr Randall's wages were being paid into this defendant's bank account, the same one into which her benefits were paid.' The trickster was finally caught after her elderly mother-in-law applied for residential care and declared that she owned a house where her son Steven Randall and Daly both lived . When Daly was questioned by police in March 2013, she lied and said the father of her children was Mr Randall's brother Darren. She claimed to have never been in a relationship with Mr Randall and said his wages were only paid into her account as he had debt problems. However, she requested a second interview a month later and admitted her web of lies, telling police she lied as she 'thought she could get away with it'. Graham Bennett, mitigating, said Daly had some previous convictions but none for over a decade. He said that at the time of the initial false claim, she and her partner had struggled with drug addictions and she had just given birth to their first child. 'She was in significant financial difficulties,' said Mr Bennett. 'The income support gave rise to council tax and housing benefit and the same false declarations were made. Regrettably she did not correct matters and this continued throughout the years.' He said the couple had married in April this year and Daly was working part-time to repay her debt at £50 per month. 'It is not a repayment that is going to be dealt with swiftly but her intent is to repay as much as possible,' said Mr Bennett. He asked Judge Johannah Cutts to consider a suspended prison sentence due to the difficulty a custodial term would present to her young family. Judge Cutts said she recognised that 'life had been difficult' for Daly in 2004 and commended her for beating her drug addiction, but condemned her lies. 'Social securities support is not to pay people who feel hard up, it doesn't come from a limitless supply of cash,' she said. 'Taxpayers money is used in a benevolent society to help those truly in need and you did not fall into that category.' Sentencing Daly to 16 months in prIson, she added: 'It is often the families of those who commit crimes who suffer the most.' Three related charges, which Daly denied, were left to lay on file by the Crown Prosecution Service. | Nicola Daly claimed to be a single mother, but actually lived with partner .
Daly, 39, claimed six-figure sum fraudulently over nine years .
She has now been jailed for 16 months at Reading Crown Court . |
08eeddf1f177f87fb0d3fafbf11a1421516ebff4 | A car fanatic was reduced to tears when his beloved Mercedes supercar was 'totally wrecked' after technicians fixing a minor fault crashed during a test drive. John Guest left his unique Mercedes Benz SL65 AMG - which costs £170,000 to buy new - with technicians at a Mercedes dealer near his home in Poole, Dorset, to fix problems with its onboard computer. Just hours after he had dropped his pride and joy off at Sandown Mercedes he received a call to say the flash motor had crashed on a nearby dual carriageway. John Guest was shocked to recieve a call from the garage hours later to say his Mercedes Benz SL65 AMG had been involved in a smash on a nearby dual carriageway . The dealership claims the car, which . boasts a six-litre engine and a top speed of 180mph, was being driven . 'legally and sensibly' when it spun off the road in bad weather. Mr Guest, 56, bought the car in 2010 and has since spent £30,000 on maintaining it. He said he is now considering legal action against the dealership. The semi-retired IT consultant, said: 'When I took the car in I . told them there was also a problem with the traction control system but I . was assured nothing was wrong. 'Later that day I got the phone call from the garage to say my car had been involved in a crash. 'My first concern was for the safety of the driver who thankfully wasn't hurt. The Mercedes crashed on a dual carriageway just six miles from the Mercedes dealership . Mr Guest, 56, from Poole, Dorset, bought the car for £40,000 in 2010 and has since spent £30,000 on maintaining it . 'The dealership tried to take it directly to a bodyshop but I demanded to see it. 'I . thought the car might have been involved in a minor crash but I . couldn't believe it when I saw it - it was totally written off and will . have to be scrapped. 'There was a tear in my eye because I have so many fond memories of the car. It was a car for life and it's irreplaceable. 'The thing that angers me most is the suggestion the car was being sensibly driven. 'Thousands of cars drove down that road that day, only three crashed and mine was the only one to be totally wrecked. Mr Guest's Mercedes was the sought after SL65 AMG. Price: £170,000 new . Pearlescent paint job: £25,000 - this is the only one of 90 cars in Britain to have this option . Engine: V12 twin-turbo . Power: 630bhp . Gearbox: seven-speed automatic . Acceleration: goes from 0-62mph in four seconds . Top speed: 180mph . Economy: 24.4miles per gallon . Weight: 1950kg . 'It's negligence on the dealership's part. 'It . is very galling given that I haven't done anything wrong. My only . mistake was leaving my car with the dealership in the first place.' The flash motor was one of only 90 in the country and is the only one with a £25,000 pearlescent paint job. Mr Guest was given a courtesy car, a . Mercedes Benz E350, by the garage and is now pursuing a settlement . through his insurance company. He added: 'The bottom line is that I have lost something that is irreplaceable. My car was unique and I don't think I am being unreasonable to ask for a replacement.' Gavin . McAllister, managing director of the Sandown Group of Mercedes . dealerships, said: 'I was distressed to learn of the incident with Mr . Guest's car, and I'm relieved that no one else was involved in this . unfortunate accident. 'As . soon as it happened, we co-operated fully with the authorities, and the . police have confirmed that the car was being driven legally and . sensibly in the road conditions. 'This . is cold comfort for Mr Guest of course, who is a loyal and valued . customer, and I along with everyone in my team at Sandown are committed . to doing the right thing by him. 'We're working closely with the insurance team and are keeping Mr Guest fully informed throughout. 'Of course, we've provided a new courtesy car to keep him mobile in the meantime. 'Thankfully, incidents like this are very rare, and our technician is making a good recovery.' The flash motor was one of only 90 in the country and is the only one with a £25,000 pearlescent paint job . | John Guest from Poole, Dorset, sent his unique Mercedes SL65 AMG to technicians to fix a minor minor computer fault .
The garage called him later that day to say his beloved motor had crashed .
Bought new, the SL65 AMG would cost £170,000 - Mr Guest bought his car in 2010 for £40,000 and has spent £30,000 on maintaining it .
He had 'a tear in his eye' and accused the Mercedes dealer of negligence .
Sandown Mercedes said the car was being driven 'sensibly and legally' |
08ef6a127e070707f753ac16b5eb7181a5231626 | By . Louise Boyle . A Good Samaritan was stabbed to after he tried to prevent a gang of men from harassing a homeless man. Married father-of-three Donnie Reed, 40, was killed in the early hours of Sunday outside of a pool hall in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Mr Reed saw a group of men hassling a homeless man and stepped into help, according to police. Scroll down for video . Married father-of-three Donnie Reed, 40, was stabbed to death outside a pool hall in California on Sunday as he tried to intervene when a group of men attacked a homeless man . Mr Reed with his wife Jenny and three children. The couple had been high school sweethearts and were married for 19 years . One of the perpetrators then pulled out a knife and stabbed Mr Reed in the chest. A friend of Mr Reed was stabbed in the neck before the suspects fled. Mr Reed was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. His friend is expected to survive the attack. Mr Reed's wife Jenny Reed said that her husband was not a fighter but would always go to the rescue of someone in need. She told KABC-TV: 'It was just Donnie being Donnie, and trying to help somebody who needed help.' The couple had been high school sweethearts and were married for 19 years. Mrs Reed told the station that she not only wanted her husband's killer put behind bars but to stand in front of her three children and explain why he took their father's life. Mr Reed leaves three children - two boys and a girl. His youngest son is just five years old. The Reed family has set up website to help pay for funeral expenses. San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said that due to an ongoing investigation, details surrounding the incident are not being released at this time. The sheriff's officeis asking anyone with information to call (909) 387-3589. Family and friends of Mr Reed gathered outside the pool hall where he was stabbed in California for a memorial . Donnie Reed (pictured third left) and his wife Jenny (second right) with their daughter and friends. Mr Reed died on Sunday while saving a homeless man from being attacked . The 40-year-old father-of-three was stabbed to death outside this pool hall in Rancho Cucamonga in California . | Married father-of-three Donnie Reed, 40, .
was killed in the early hours of Sunday outside of a pool hall in Rancho .
Cucamonga, California .
Mr Reed's wife Jenny said: 'It was just Donnie being Donnie, and trying to help somebody who needed help' |
08efd9d2c745064b9addd0c497cc18eb30b3c96d | (CNN) -- In a cold, wet field two hours' drive west of London, there's no mistaking the huddle of ancient shapes that emerge suddenly on the horizon, back-dropped by a distant cluster of leafless trees. Until recently, any first encounter with Stonehenge, that legendary keeper of Neolithic secrets, could prove deeply underwhelming. Two traffic-snarled highways have encroached on the brooding rocks, robbing them of their scale. Now that's changing. The site's custodians have unveiled a $44 million visitor center and a radical remodeling of the landscape that will reconnect the circle with the atmospheric terrain it has occupied for more than 4,000 years. CNN was among the first visitors through its doors -- and to experience a redesigned approach to the UNESCO World Heritage Site that its guardians hope will restore some of its once-formidable presence. Visitors are no longer directed to a cramped parking lot slapped hastily on top of historically significant earthworks. The parking lot and a roadway, which for decades has severed the stone circle from an ancient avenue, are being torn up and grassed over. Instead they arrive at the new center, an elegant modern pavilion of glass and weathered sweet chestnut wood that now forms the gateway to the enigmatic millennium-old monument -- helping to create a sense of anticipation and drama. Contrast vital . "One key thing has been to make it as different from the stones as possible," Stephen Quinlan, one of the center's architects, told CNN. The building's undulating roof and matchstick steel pillars blend in with the area's rolling hills and sparse woodland, he said. The center officially opens on December 18, three days before the winter solstice, when druids, pagans and revelers gather to watch the sun rise in perfect alignment with the stones -- a celestial event that both explains their purpose and deepens their mystery. These time-honored traditions show how cherished Stonehenge is, not only to the people who assign it spiritual importance, but also to the archaeologists who study its origins. Not to mention the 1 million tourists who traipse here each year. It's no wonder the government bodies guarding the site have been cautious about remodeling -- enduring 30 years of wrangling over budgets, designs and locations before creating the new center. Worthwhile wait . For some, however, the wait has been worth it. "I think it's fabulous," Mark Horton, a professor of history at Bristol University, told CNN at the center's opening. "It's one of the most important archaeological monuments in western Europe and has been for so long woefully neglected." In one way the delays had been an advantage, he said. "If it was here 10 years ago, it would look out of date because we now have completely new interpretations of how and why and when Stonehenge was built." Stonehenge isn't visible from the center, lying over the crest of a hill -- so visitors spend time exploring its new exhibition space before walking or catching a road train to cover the mile and a half to the stone circle. The exhibition's centerpiece is a 360-degree virtual display that tries to simulate the experience of standing within the stone circle -- something most visitors have been banned from doing since the late 1970s in order to protect the rocks. It uses laser-scanned images to zap the viewer back through history amid dramatic solstice sunrises and sunsets. For anyone who has waited in vain for a dawn obscured by the miserable British weather, this could actually be an improvement. Neolithic head reconstructed . Among 250 other antiquities, the exhibition also includes the reconstructed head of a 5,500-year-old Neolithic man found nearby. Archaeologists have used advanced 3D scanning technology on his skull to reveal his face. While this undoubtedly offers a valuable glimpse into the human story behind Stonehenge, there's no escaping the fact that the result of all that hi-tech labor bears an uncanny resemblance to Jeff Bridges in "The Big Lebowski." The Neolithic man's skeleton is also on display, a fact that has stirred some controversy. The leader of Britain's self-proclaimed largest order of druids says the use of the bones is disrespectful to their long-dead owner. "Those who've been laid to rest should stay at rest -- it's not a pagan issue, it's one of common decency," King Arthur Pendragon, who describes himself as the Battle Chieftain of the Council of British Druid Orders, told CNN. While it brings visitors face to face with the monument's history, what the new center cannot do is shed definitive light on how and why Stonehenge was constructed using stones quarried 150 miles away in the Preseli mountains of Wales. There have been numerous theories about their construction and purpose, ranging from outlandish claims about UFOs or mythical stories of giants and wizards to explanations concerning druidic rituals or astronomical observatories. Solstice ceremonies . The 2009 announcement that another stone circle -- Bluestonehenge -- had been discovered adjacent by the nearby River Avon has lent support to another theory: that Stonehenge was a temple forming part of a larger funeral and burial complex that only later became a place for solstice ceremonies. Back in the 21st century, with much of the remodeling yet to be completed, it's still a work in progress. Although the road train's slower approach to the stones does help build the atmosphere, the old parking lot and the remaining busy highway still blot the landscape. There are times, however, walking the circuit around Stonehenge, when the traffic, the noise and the fellow visitors taking iPhone selfies suddenly melt away. In these fleeting moments there's a sense of the power these simple rocks have conveyed to so many. But while the site's guardians hope their innovations will help visitors to connect better to the surrounding ancient landscape, for some there will always be one crucial element missing. "The only thing that struck me is you can't go up and touch it," said fourth-time visitor Keith Foskett, of West Sussex, England. "I think that's a real shame. English Heritage might own it, but it really belongs to the people. You should be allowed to go up and hug the stones." Stonehenge, near Salisbury, England. +44 87 0333 1181. Visits over the festive period won't require booking but must be reserved from February 1, 2014, when entrance will be managed through timed tickets; adults $24, child $14.50, family $65. | Overhaul of 4,000-year-old monument cost $44 million and was delayed for decades .
Visitor center opens days before druids and pagans descend for winter solstice .
Reconstructed Neolithic head looks, to at least one observer, weirdly like "Big Lebowski" film star .
Was it UFOs? Origins of Stonehenge remain a mystery . |
08f08f4af54b8ac32f695a2861b92181db23ef01 | By . David Kent . Supermodel Gisele Bundchen will present the World Cup to the winners in Brazil, according to reports. The Boston Globe claim the 33-year-old will replace Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff, who has been criticised for spending public money on hosting the tournament. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Supermodel Gisele sizzles in in swimwear as sings Heart of Glass . Key role: Supermodel Gisele Bundchen will present the World Cup trophy, according to reports . Star quality: Bundchen is married to NFL star Tom Brady . FIFA president Sepp Blatter handed the trophy to Spain captain Iker Casillas in South Africa in 2010. But with his popularity also low amid allegations of corruption inside football’s governing body, Bundchen will reportedly step in when the competition closes at the Maracana Stadium in Rio on January 13. The Brazilian beauty is married to NFL star Tom Brady and has recently been named as the new face of Chanel No.5. VIDEO Top 10 Goals - Qualifying . | Supermodel will replace Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff, says the Boston Globe .
FIFA president Sepp Blatter presented trophy to Spain in 2010 . |
08f2b45157d8b0bb84d57f1fe4d21dd81f2a5398 | Pope Francis has once again broken with papal protocol by inviting an old friend for a spin on his famous 'Popemobile' during his weekly audience in St Peter's Square. The Reverend Fabian Baez, a parish priest . in Francis' hometown of Buenos Aires, didn't have a VIP ticket granting . him a seat close to the altar or a spot where the pope would chat with . well-wishers. But as soon as Francis saw Baez in the crowd of several thousand people as the priest called out 'Santo Padre', the pope signaled for Vatican gendarmes to help Baez jump the barricade. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Holy hitchhiker: Pope Francis invited his old friend Reverend Fabien Baez (pictured behind Francis) for a ride in his famous white car during his weekly audience in St Peter's Square . Hugging him warmly, Francis then invited Baez to hop aboard his panoramic car. Sat . alongside the papal assistant, the priest, from Our Lady of the Pillar . church, accompanied the pope through the square as the head of the . Catholic church waved to well-wishers and kissed babies. Baez . said he was shocked by Francis' invitation, telling reporters . afterward: 'I said to myself "What am I doing here? Mamma mia!" 'The pope laughed and said "Come, sit down, sit down!" And he continued to greet the people and kiss babies. I was very moved' Baez . said the two had known each other since the 1990s; the former Jorge . Mario Bergoglio was archbishop of the Argentine capital before being . named pope. Friendly: When Francis saw Baez in the crowd he signaled for Vatican gendarmes to help Baez jump the barricade and hugging him, invited him aboard . The priest later summed up the day on his Twitter account, writing: 'I’m going to change my biography. "The poor priest who got on the popemobile today with #PopeFrancis"' Francis was in particularly good . spirits at Wednesday's audience, entertained by a circus troupe and . greeted by Italy's Sampdoria football team, who presented the soccer-mad . pope with yet another shirt. Francis has added a bit of spontaneity to the Vatican's staid ways. He . lives in the Vatican hotel rather than the Apostolic Palace and . eschewed the armored Popemobile for a simple Fiat during his trip to . Brazil. When he has left the Vatican, he has done so with a minimal security detail and no fancy motorcade. All smiles:Sat alongside the papal assistant, the priest, from Our Lady of the Pillar church, accompanied the pope through the square as he waved to well-wishers . Surprise: Baez said he was shocked by Francis' invitation, telling reporters afterward: 'I said to myself "What am I doing here? Mamma mia!"' History: Baez said the two had known each other since the 1990s; the former Jorge Mario Bergoglio was archbishop of the Argentine capital before being named pope . | Pope spotted Reverend Fabien Baez in the crowd at St Peter's Square .
Francis hugged his old friend and invited him to board his famous white car .
Parish priest Baez accompanied Pope during his weekly audience .
Pair met in the 1990s as Baez works in Pope's former Buenos Aires diocese . |
08f2ed64e5bc918e7c8656e5c3db15324083c42e | (EW.com ) -- It's an old accusation, but one that shows no signs of disappearing anytime soon: the Motion Picture Association of America is disproportionately stricter about profanity and sex than it is about violence. Relatively gruesome studio films like The Hunger Games or The Dark Knight Rises frequently win PG-13 ratings; relatively gentle films like Philomena, by contrast, are slammed with a much more restrictive R rating — initially, at least — simply for dropping one too many F-bombs. And then there's the MPAA's historically fraught relationship with gay and lesbian content, which often seems to be treated more harshly than heterosexual relations. The latest apparent victim of this unspoken rule: G.B.F., a new teen comedy about the hottest girl in school (Sasha Pieterse) and her gay best friend (Michael J. Willett). EW: Will the MPAA ever get the ratings right? "I always thought of G.B.F. as a PG-13 movie," the film's director, Darren Stein, wrote in a Facebook post Tuesday. Unfortunately, he continued, "we were given an R 'For Sexual References' while not having a single F-bomb, hint of nudity or violence in the film. Perhaps the ratings box should more accurately read 'For Homosexual References' or 'Too Many Scenes of Gay Teens Kissing.' "I look forward to a world where queer teens can express their humor and desire in a sweet, fun teen film that doesn't get tagged with a cautionary R," Stein concluded. EW: 'Philomena' vs. the MPAA: Adam Sandler could be collateral damage . Clearly, G.B.F.'s team is very disappointed with the MPAA's decision. "I watch the shows Awkward and Glee and you can find pretty much around the same level of references, and those are TV-14," screenwriter George Northy told Gawker Wednesday. "It's so silly when you really think about the MPAA in terms of how every 13-year-old in the country has seen hardcore pornography in this age of the Internet, and yet they can't go to a movie theater and see a movie like G.B.F. It would be funny if it weren't so sad." G.B.F. premiered in April at the Tribeca Film Festival. It hits theaters nationwide Jan. 17. See the original story at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved. | Motion Picture Association of America gave film an R rating .
Director says he thinks of movie as PG-13 .
"G.B.F." hits theaters on January 17 . |
08f350ba60a7454bd9a572ce49839359eebe6b41 | The history of television is a history of insults. The idiot box, it's been called. The boob tube. "57 Channels (and Nothin' On)." "Kill your television" says the bumper sticker. In 1961, it was famously deemed a "vast wasteland." After all, there were just three TV networks at the time. Most major cities didn't have public television stations (PBS was still years away). And the UHF band, where independent stations would later flourish, was barely used. The first communications satellite didn't go up until 1962. And the content? With few exceptions, the networks carried mostly dumbed-down, formulaic cop shows, Westerns, situation comedies and musical-variety programs. News was something people got from newspapers. "It was a very limited choice," says Newton Minow, the former Federal Communications Commission chairman who coined the "vast wasteland" phrase in his 1961 speech to the National Association of Broadcasters and has heard it repeated regularly over the last five decades. Times have changed, right? Actually, yes, says TV critic Eric Deggans. Of the many flaws of '60s entertainment TV, he says, a major one was that it didn't reflect what was going on in America, whether it was the civil rights movement or the escalation of the Vietnam War. "Back then, there was a lot of TV that was created by producers who really underestimated the audience," Deggans says. New Day: 5 things Dick Cavett misses about '60s TV (including: No Kardashians) As the decade continued, television gingerly addressed some social change but certainly nothing like what was to come -- first in the 1970s with such Norman Lear sitcoms as "All in the Family" and "Sanford and Son" and in more recent years, novelistic shows such as "Breaking Bad." TV: The new, new golden age . In fact, Deggans says even today's widely popular sitcoms and dramas, such as "Parenthood," engage with real life in ways that were forbidden 50 years ago. That's true even with "The Walking Dead," an end-of-the-world horror show about zombies. "What it's really about is man's inhumanity to man, and when something happens and all the chips are down, how do you respond as a human being?" he says, referring to "The Walking Dead." "When you think about what's going on in Nigeria or the Arab Spring or Syria, that's real life." Moreover, even the more formulaic shows don't take their viewers for granted. "I don't think any of those shows pander to their audience in the way that a show like 'Petticoat Junction' or 'Gilligan's Island' did," he says. "Those were classic comedies, but they were really, really simple. A show like 'NCIS' is absolutely about all these issues we're struggling with as a society." Ironically, Minow's 1961 speech was somewhat taken out of context. He actually praised the medium before lowering the boom: "When television is good, nothing -- not the theater, not the magazines or newspapers -- nothing is better," he said. His concern that TV wasn't properly serving the public is what prompted his criticism. Indeed, the speech was titled "Television in the Public Interest." The last half-century has been mostly positive, says Minow today -- and he observes that the federal government played a positive role in that growth. Minow, now 88 and an attorney in Chicago, was instrumental in requiring television sets to include a UHF dial and promoting the use of communications satellites. "I felt that the basic role of the government was to expand choice, because the government should not be in the business of deciding what's on the air," he says. "I think the expansion of choice was the government's main contribution." He does have some concerns, however, about the increasing consolidation of the communications industry over the last 50 years. "I think the idea of having local ownership has pretty much disappeared," he says. But he shrugs, "The horse is out of the barn." Massive mergers planned for TV providers . Deggans notes, however, that despite the corporatization of media, there's still a much broader range than in the '60s -- or even in the '90s. After all, 50 years ago we had three networks. Now there's cable, the Internet is a major player allowing for video streaming, and technology lets anybody "broadcast themselves," to borrow YouTube's old slogan. They can choose when to watch, too. Yes, TV is still belittled. But the argument flows both ways. After his speech, Minow was tweaked by "Gilligan's Island" producer Sherwood Schwartz, who made the FCC chairman the namesake of a certain shipwrecked boat. Minow appreciated the gesture. "I told him I considered it a great compliment," he says. "It exposed my name to two generations of television viewers." | In 1961, FCC Chairman Newton Minow deemed TV a "vast wasteland"
Back then, there were three networks and a lot of dumbed-down content .
Today, TV critic Eric Deggans says things have changed for the better .
Even today's formulaic shows don't pander to audience the way '60s shows did, he says . |
08f38abc52b9acb6bda138473a76c278d5c857ff | By . Tara Brady . PUBLISHED: . 06:44 EST, 21 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:07 EST, 21 October 2013 . A school has shamed a parent by publishing a photograph in its newsletter of her car parked on double-yellow lines outside the gates. Fed-up teachers at Cottesmore St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, in Hove, East Sussex, say the driver of the Honda CRV constantly parks on zigzags and double yellows. When challenged about her behaviour, the woman driver was allegedly 'unforthcoming and apparently somewhat rude', the newsletter says. Caught: Cottesmore St Mary¿s Catholic Primary School published this photograph of the car in its newsletter . The school decided to publish an image of the vehicle illegally parked alongside a polite request for drivers to be more considerate. The letter reads: 'It was reported, by a parent, that this car parks on the zigzags or the double yellow lines every day. 'Apparently, on Wednesday the lady car owner was asked to move off the zigzags pre-end of day pick up. 'She then apparently had moved onto the double yellow lines, making it difficult to turn the corner and thus making it dangerous for the children to cross the road. 'Apparently the lady driver was asked to move again by a parent but was unforthcoming and apparently somewhat rude. 'If this car belongs to you or someone you know, please do pass on our concerns about illegal parking and the impact it can have on the safety of our children.' A Brighton and Hove City Council spokesman said he could not comment specifically on the incident at the school. But he added: 'Zigzags are usually in place where it is dangerous for people to park, for example outside a school entrance or on the lead up to a crossing. 'Zigzags are enforceable 24 hours a day seven days a week unless there is a sign that states otherwise. 'We are now issuing tickets by post for these offences. 'This means that if you are seen, by a CCTV operator or a Civil Enforcement Officer, to be parked on a zigzag a penalty charge notice will be sent to the registered keeper of the vehicle.' Cottesmore St Mary's Catholic Primary School has begun shaming parents who park on double yellow lines outside the school in its newsletter . A Sussex Police spokesman added: 'Parking in restricted areas for the sake of a few minutes’ walk is just laziness and is plainly hazardous to children arriving at or leaving school. 'Officers from the neighbourhood policing teams and road policing regularly check schools around starting and finishing times and vehicles parked illegally will be ticketed. 'Any schools experiencing parking problems should speak to their school liaison officer or local neighbourhood team.' | Cottesmore St Mary's Catholic School published photograph of parent's car .
Teachers say the driver constantly parks on zigzags and double yellow lines .
Rachel Holland is headteacher of the school in East Sussex .
Parking on a zigzag line can result in three points on driving licence . |
08f3f01966014b1e168543ddf3eca91e27c1c2dc | Madame Rosa rose to fame as the matriarch of Paris' Winter Circus by marrying businessman Joseph Bouglione - in a lion's cage - in 1928. Today, at 103, she has outlived her late husband by decades but still has a smile on her face as she reminisces over her extraordinary life. Rosa appears at the circus apartment doorway in Paris in sparkling diamonds, red lipstick and a walking frame and sits down beside her leopard skin rug. Rosa Bouglione, 103, (pictured last month) shows an art piece depicting her and her husband during their circus days as she sits in her Paris apartment . Art piece depicts Rosa Bouglione's wedding day in a lion cage in 1928, on display in her Paris apartment . 'That's Mickey,' exclaims the doyenne of Europe's most famous circus, pointing to all that remains of her former pet. 'He died of old age. We had him a long time,' she says nostalgically, while offering a visitor one of her luxury Swiss chocolates. Soon, anecdotes from the legend come pouring out: how she got married in a lion's den, once entered a posh hotel carrying a baby primate in a hat box, and helped raise a parrot known for its foul use of the French language. The great Madame Rosa is now considered the big top's most eccentric, and oldest, character. Born Rosa Van Been to a performing family in Belgium just in time for Christmas in 1910, two years before the Titanic sank, she went on to find fame and success in Paris by marrying Bouglione, whose claim to fame was buying the Winter Circus in 1934. She's now a French celebrity in her own right. Photographs and paintings seen displayed in Rosa Bouglione's apartment in Paris. Madame Rosa was born in Belgium to a performing family in time for Christmas in 1910 . She was close friends with Josephine Baker, the American-born French dancer, singer and actress. Madame Rosa also rubbed shoulders with opera diva Maria Callas and actresses Ingrid Bergman and Rita Hayworth — and outlived them all. Madame Rosa, who now has 54 grandchildren and great grandchildren, survived two world wars and the Nazi occupation. But the matriarch of the Winter Circus never let the petty trials of the 20th century spoil her zest for life. She married her husband in a lions' cage instead of a church. She remembers advising the pastor against entering the den for fear he'd get eaten by the big cats and not finish the service. Her protective elephant respected the sanctity of this marriage so much that he once squashed Callas in retribution for getting too close to her husband after one show. Rosa Bouglione points to photographs around her Paris apartment as she talks about her life . 'The elephant practically knocked her over. ... He was jealous,' said Rosa, with a laugh that makes her look decades younger. Laughter, it becomes apparent, is this incredible woman's life-line: the memories and anecdotes she's told a thousand times still make her wrinkled face light up with a touching naivety when she remembers a punchline or conjures up an image that had been sitting for years undusted in her memory archive. Nevertheless, she feels the need to bring along to the interview her 80-year-old son Emilien as her 'memory aid' to help her fill in the gaps. Once she gets started, the stories pour out. There was her other 'child' — a male gorilla she somehow named Jackie. She and her husband once turned up at a top hotel with the baby primate placed in the hat box. The footman said, 'Gosh. Madame's hats are pretty heavy,' said Rosa, chuckling and saying that for the month they were at the hotel no one noticed the gorilla in the room. Jackie also had a taste for wine. The couple's foul-mouthed parrot, Coco, was equally loved, but less jovial. He lived to 45 and would squawk profanities at Rosa, if he was ever ignored. 'I cannot tell you what he would call me... (Parrots) are very, very intelligent. He could speak very fluently,' she said. Her stories are fantastical, but photos, pictures and her son bear witness. Take for instance her sea voyage to Latin America with her circus in the 50's. In scenes reminiscent of 'The Life of Pi,' she says there was a freak storm, which caused the captain to order that the 12 elephants be thrown overboard to save the ship from sinking. An art piece depicts Madame Rosa and her husband during their circus days . Rosa Bouglione, 103, sits with her son Emilien in her apartment in Paris . Her son, who was aboard, calls it a 'miracle' when suddenly the storm subsided and the boat remained afloat with the animals safe. 'That was an adventure,' says Madame Rosa. Then there were the celebrities. 'So many, so many,' says her son, who remembers sitting with stars Bergman and Hayworth who had flown in from Hollywood to attend the circus perform beneath the Eiffel Tower. Madame Rosa met Callas, who loved the circus, many times, and had a close relationship with Baker, who died in 1975. 'She was a friend. Amazing,' Rosa says, adding that she used to share costume ideas with the black icon that went on to become a global star for her ground-breaking banana dance. There's a slight sadness when she reminisces over characters in her old stories. 'They're all dead. ... They're all dead,' Rosa repeats several times, sighing in front of the portrait of her husband, who died decades ago. But now that her huge family includes contortionists, acrobats, jugglers, and lion tamers in the popular annual Winter Circus spectacle, their many theatrical get-togethers stop her dwelling on the past. She says the secrets of her eternal youth include hard work, sleeping very little and deadly animals. 'I've always, always been with lions, with panthers, with wolves, with hyenas,' she says. 'I was never scared.' As the interview concludes, Madame Rosa can't resist revealing one more secret of her longevity. 'Fries,' she said, and paused. 'I'm Belgian.' | Madame Rosa has 54 grandchildren and great grandchildren .
She has survived two world wars and the Nazi occupation .
The secrets of her eternal youth include hard work, sleeping very little and deadly animals . |
08f4d1b7d31a0dedbe106943c31166004ba31203 | The original Catwoman has officially been outed as bisexual - ending years of speculation by fans. Selina Kyle, Batman's stealthy enemy and love interest, officially came out as bisexual in the latest issue of DC Comics' Catwoman. The leather-clad cat burglar kissed another woman, confirming what many fans had long suspected about the flirtatious feline. Out: Catwoman, played here by Michelle Pfeiffe in Batman Returns, has been revealed as bisexual . Writer Genevieve Valentine, who took over the series in October, wrote on her blog that establishing Selina Kyle as 'canon bisexual' was something she had always intended. 'She's flirted around it — often quite literally — for years now,' wrote Valentine. 'For me, this wasn't a revelation so much as a confirmation.' Kyle, who has retired as Catwoman to become the head of a crime family in Gotham City, comes out the closet in a scene where she confronts a new character. Flirty feline: The leather-clad cat burglar kissed another woman, confirming what many fans had long suspected about the flirtatious feline, played here by Halle Berry in 2004 . Wild: Julie Newmar in the tv role of Catwoman is one of Gotham City's most prominent villains. She shares a kiss with another woman in the latest edition of the DC comic . 'Eiko' has taken over the Catwoman identity without Kyle's consent and the charged sequence ends with a kiss. Valentine wrote: 'Was it a surprise for them? In terms of their sexualities, not particularly; certainly it's no surprise to Selina that she has an attraction to a woman. 'Will they dramatically implode? I mean, it's comics, it could happen. But it will be a relationship. I'm excited to be here for it.' Catwoman's coming out is the latest of many efforts by comic book companies to diversify their characters. DC's Batwoman has identified as a lesbian since 2006, and Green Lantern, Alan Scott, was reintroduced as gay while X-Man's Northstar married his boyfriend in 2012. | Revelation ends years of speculation over Batman's love interest .
Sexuality confirmed in kissing scene with new female character .
Selina Kyle as 'canon bisexual' was something always intended - writer . |
08f4e3e11529b8339848de6db6fea4e02341feea | Like countless Americans, I recently watched the entire second season of hit political drama "House of Cards" in one weekend after U.S. video streaming site Netflix released all 13 nearly hour-long episodes. But the website I logged on was Sohu -- one of the China's biggest online video services -- that purchased exclusive rights to the series for mainland China, and posted the latest season at the same time as Netflix. Glued to my laptop, I couldn't help but notice the major role China plays this season as one riveting plot unfolds after another. If you have been reading news headlines out of China, you would find any of the China angles familiar and believable: suspected cyber espionage, a trade war with Washington, a territorial dispute with Japan -- complete with an utterly corrupt Communist Party insider who boasts direct access to the decision-making Standing Committee. Censors . All this "realness" makes it a little surreal that my binge-viewing of the U.S. TV series happened in China. This, after all, is a country where the government allows only 34 foreign films to be screened in cinemas every year, and propaganda authorities routinely censor China-related material from foreign sources that they deem politically sensitive or merely unflattering. Case in point: "The Blacklist," a new American crime drama, is widely available on Chinese video sites -- except Episode 3. That episode has been removed by all streaming services -- including Sohu -- because it features a Chinese spy who kills CIA operatives as its main villain, and critiques China's controversial one-child family planning policy. The China subplots in "House of Cards," Season 2 don't exactly portray the country all that positively, but the government appears to be leaving Sohu alone. "We didn't know the second season would have so much to do with China -- probably because of the increasing importance of China in global affairs," Charles Zhang, Sohu's chief executive, told me at a press conference Tuesday. "Many Chinese people -- including officials -- are watching it now and we have had no problem." "So (the American shows on your site) are not subject to censorship?" I asked. "So far, no," he replied. Hands off . Some analysts are surprised by the government's largely hands-off approach to video streaming sites, but caution that it may not last. "New media is allowed to develop with less interference than older forms where there is already a structure in place," said Jeremy Goldkorn, a long-time Beijing-based observer and commentator on Chinese media. "It's going to be regulated just like any other media, especially if it becomes big enough, powerful enough and popular enough." For now, Sohu is focusing on broadening the appeal of "House of Cards," scrambling to add Chinese subtitles and bombarding visitors to its website with banner ads. Sohu users have clearly noticed. The series' latest and original seasons now occupy the top two spots in Sohu's chart of most-watched American TV shows. Season 2 has been clocking almost three million views a day -- impressive for a complex story that requires a deep understanding of U.S. politics. Gripping plots . In comments left online, many Chinese viewers indicated they are drawn to the show for the same reasons as fans elsewhere: gripping plot twists, superb acting and stark parallel to reality. "If you have to see the show as social commentary, I think it's a strong diatribe against the political system in the U.S. rather than against China," said Raymond Zhou, a well-known columnist for China Daily, the country's official English-language newspaper. "The narrative doesn't fault China but rather just one individual from China." A widely circulated Internet post claims that China's anti-corruption tsar -- one of the seven Politburo Standing Committee members who effectively rule the country -- is a loyal fan of "House of Cards" and has recommended it to other officials. The anecdote may not be as far-fetched as one might think, considering what the show's Machiavellian protagonist Frank Underwood tells viewers while being sworn in as the U.S. vice president: "One heartbeat away from the presidency and not a single vote cast in my name -- democracy is so overrated." With messages like that, "House of Cards" seems to be a show China's Communist leaders don't mind their citizens watching at all. | Chinese online video service Sohu purchased exclusive rights to hit U.S. series .
Second series of political drama features a number of storylines involving China .
China restricts number of foreign movies, authorities censor material from foreign sources .
China columnist: Strong diatribe against political system in the U.S. rather than against China . |
08f5d0e9d3d5c34698a34cf7ca1c91dc65ab6c18 | (CNN) -- A Pennsylvania teen has been charged as an adult for allegedly planning to kill classmates he did not like before turning the gun on himself in a high school shooting spree, a Pennsylvania prosecutor said Tuesday. Richard Yanis allegedly stole three handguns from his father and told police he planned to "shoot students in the school and then himself" at Pottstown High School, Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said in a press release. Yanis, 15, was charged with attempted murder in adult court because juvenile law in Montgomery County excludes crimes committed with a deadly weapon, Ferman said. The investigation began when the teen's father reported that three handguns were stolen from a secured gun locker in his basement, Ferman said. His son allegedly took a Smith & Wesson .357 caliber revolver, a Smith & Wesson .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol and a Colt .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, Ferman said. Richard Yanis gave the guns and ammunition to an unnamed friend from school and asked him to "hold onto it," the statement said. The friend allegedly showed his stepmother the guns, and the two drove to a nearby creek where they tossed in the weapons. The friend told a teacher at Pottstown High School what happened, and police were called. Yanis told police he planned to attack the school after the New Year, officials said. "He was going to go into the school shooting, shoot everyone he did not like, and then himself," Ferman said. "He was to have the guns loaded and have the additional ammunition inside his backpack," she said. "On the day of the planned shooting, Yanis said he was going to tell his friends to go home from school." John Armato, director of community relations at Pottstown Senior High School, described Yanis "as quiet, relatively introverted." "He did not have a great number of friends or a history of discipline problems," Armato said. "He had no history of aggressive behaviors in school." Yanis' parents had no comment, but family friend Brian Hanlon spoke on their behalf. "I can say that it was definitely out of character, but that his parents are dealing with it as best as possible," Hanlon said. "They want everyone to respect their privacy at this time while dealing with these events." CNN's Chloe Melas contributed to this report. | Richard Yanis charged with attempted murder for alleged high school shooting plot .
Yanis, 15, planned to kill people he didn't like and then himself, prosecutor says .
Teen is charged as adult because of use of gun in alleged plot, prosecutor says .
Teen described as introverted, no history of aggressive behavior . |
08f631fcbdd1434717e6acd8e00836c699ff7230 | By . Amanda Williams . PUBLISHED: . 12:39 EST, 3 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 14:02 EST, 3 March 2014 . A three-year-old heart patient died following a major delay in getting a key hospital appointment because of a glitch with a new NHS computer booking system, an inquest has heard. Samuel Starr was born with a congenital cardiac defect, but underwent surgery not long after his birth and made a good recovery. Medics treating the little boy said he would still need regular tests to check on his progress but Flax Bourton Coroner’s Court heard that Samuel did not have a crucial scan for 20 months after his first major operation. Samuel Starr, three, died after a computer glitch meant he did not have a check-up for 20 months. He was born with a heart condition and underwent surgery when he was nine months old . It also heard that the delay came after a new computer booking system called Cerner Millennium was rolled out. Once . an appointment had been made and a detailed check-up was carried out, . doctors found Samuel needed open heart surgery. During that procedure he . suffered a stroke. Further . complications then followed and and he died in the arms of his parents . Catherine Holley and Paul Starr at Bristol’s Children’s Hospital a few . weeks later. A tearful Ms . Holley told the inquest she expected her son to get a check-up in early . 2011 - but said she was left feeling 'dejected' and 'alarmed' when the . appointment did not go ahead until the summer of 2012. She told the inquest of the moment she kissed her son goodbye. She said: 'He was a kind and gentle boy with a great understanding of the world. 'As we read Samuel his favourite stories, he died in our arms.' Samuel was born with a restricted pulmonary artery - causing blood to easily flow away from his heart to his lungs. Samuel had an operation at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and he was recovering well initially. However, his heart then began to struggle but this was not picked up because he went for so long without a check-up . Ms . Holley said the condition was picked up during her 20 week scan. He was . born 39 weeks into her pregnancy, on June 15, 2009 weighing 8Ibs. But despite his heart problem Ms Holley said her child continued to flourish, and had required little medical intervention. His parents were also told to expect for their son to undergo around three operations by the time he was aged five. On March 3, 2010, Samuel had his first surgical procedure - open heart surgery at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. He . was discharged six days later, and referred to the Paediatric Cardiac . Clinic at the Royal United Hospital (RUH) in Bath for check-ups. The . inquest heard the first of these took place in Bristol in October 2010, . and an echocardiogram, also known as an 'echo', was carried out. Ms Holley said she was told the procedure would next be carried out early into the new year. She added: 'We left the hospital comfortable knowing this information.' However, . at the next appointment, which took place in Bath the following April, . Ms Holley said she was 'surprised that no echo' was undertaken. The . doctor told Samuel’s parents he hadn’t expected to see the youngster . and swiftly moved them on without performing an echo scan. But despite expecting to return six months later as instructed, they were not given an appointment until 14 months later. He underwent surgery at Bristol Children’s Hospital on August 7, 2012. Distraught . Ms Holley said she begged a district nurse to help but she still . struggled to get vital appointments at the Royal United Hospital in . Bath. Reading . a statement, she said: 'We were expecting an appointment in the New . Year (2011) - something we took to mean January - but we still hadn’t . received one by March. 'We . got Claire, our community nurse, to call the hospital. She called them . on the 12th March, 20th March, 8th May, 28th May and the 29th May. 'We were then given an appointment for 14th June but we already had commitments then so it was rescheduled for 21st June. Samuel was due to have his check ups at Royal United Hospital, Bath, but they became sporadic. A report has suggested a new computer-based patient booking system introduced at the RUH in 2011 was to blame . By the time Samuel's failing health was diagnosed he was very weak and he had to have more heart surgery. He died a month later following complications. An inquest into his death is due to open at Flax Burton Coroner's Court (pictured) on Monday . 'When we got there Dr Tometzki said that he had expected to see us a lot earlier than this. 'After doing an echo scan he told us he didn’t want to shock us but he wanted Samuel to have heart surgery that spring. 'We were shocked, we hadn’t been expecting this. It wasn’t meant to happen.' Samuel had a cardiac catheter inserted in July, before undergoing surgery in August. 'Just . hours before his operation Samuel was dancing around the ward and . telling the nurses all about Spiderman - we had to remind him to quieten . down,' Ms Holley said. 'Many . of the nurses on the ward could not believe how energetic he was . considering the surgery he was about to have - he was a happy and . healthy boy. 'After the operation, on August 9, as they began bringing Samuel out of sedation his left arm started flailing. 'We were (later) told Samuel had had a stroke and several cardiac arrests.' His . condition continued to deteriorate and on September 6, his parents were . recommended for treatment to be withdrawn following the onset of a . second cardiac arrest. Experienced medic Dr Tometzki broke down in tears as he recalled that moment during his evidence.'It is not ideal to take a child off (life support).....but it was the right decision'. Dr . Tometzki said the decision to operate had been prompted after the . discovery that Samuel's heart valves had thickened and become blocked. 'Had I seen this in January I would have gone ahead with the same treatment. 'Would it have made a difference? Logically the earlier you catch something then the result might be better. 'But I have no evidence in this case when you are looking at a patient with this condition. 'Yes I would have seen the obstruction (earlier), but I can't say whether that would have changed the outcome entirely.' Samuel's cause of death was given as complex congenital heart disease and said to be 'multifactorial'. Among the four main findings in his post mortem included sepsis (infection) and clotting abnormalities. The inquest continues. | Samuel Starr was born with a heart condition - had surgery at nine months .
He was recovering well and was meant to have regular check-ups .
A computer glitch meant he did not have an appointment for 20 months .
By the time he finally had a scan his condition had deteriorated a lot .
Had more surgery but died a month later after complications, inquest hears . |
08f6aa39c715d599bc296b1840613ad27e4256d5 | (Rolling Stone) -- Nicki Minaj is a purist's nightmare. She doesn't just straddle pop categories, she dumps them in a Cuisinart, whips them to a frothy purée, then trains a guided missile at the whole mess. She is a rapper's rapper, a master of flow and punch lines, with skills to please the most exacting gatekeepers of hip-hop street cred. But she's a bubblegum starlet as well, delivering confections to the nation's mall rats. "I'm in the HOV lane," Minaj boasts on her second LP. It's true: She's one of the few performers who can rival Jay-Z's blend of artistic bona fides and sheer star power. But Minaj is also in the Gaga lane, the Bowie lane, the Missy Elliott and Gary Glitter and Katy Perry and Betty Boop lanes. (By the sound of "Right by My Side" -- a blustery duet with Chris Brown -- she can cruise in the Jordin Sparks lane, too.) Then there's the Roman Zolanski lane. "Roman Reloaded" opens with Minaj -- a biracial woman from Queens via Trinidad -- ranting in the voice of her (Polish?) homosexual "twin brother" alter ego. In the same song, she takes on the voice of Martha Zolanski, Roman's mother, singing in a cartoon Cockney accent. "Take your medication, Roman," counsels Minaj/Martha. "Quack, quack to a duck and a chicken, too/Put the hyena in a freakin' zoo," answers Minaj/ Roman. Later, she bursts into "O Come, All Ye Faithful." She's just limbering up. On "Roman Reloaded," the energy never flags -- it's the rare filler-free mega-pop album, an achievement for a record that stretches to 19 songs and 69 minutes. Minaj fans dismayed by her post-"Super Bass" turn toward pop will be cheered up by the red-meat hip-hop here. There's booming triumphalism ("Champion"), electro-rap boastfests ("Beez in the Trap") and a couple of collaborations with her mentor Lil Wayne, in which she more than justifies the claim that ends the album: "I am the female Weezy." The beats, by young comers like Hit-Boy and Kenoe, are taut and lively, a good match for Minaj's manic spirit and comic zingers -- and comic anti- zingers. Here's Minaj on taking in fashion shows with "Vogue" editor-in-chief Anna Wintour: "When I'm sittin' with Anna/ I'm really sittin' with Anna/ Ain't no metaphor punch line -- I'm really sittin' with Anna." Beginning with Track 10, the thumping "Starships," "Roman Reloaded" veers into radio pop, serving up club anthems, clobbering ballads and, on the Dr. Luke-produced "Young Forever," the most shameless Rihanna-wanna-be song ever recorded, a tune worthy of the ambition. The album is neatly utilitarian and bifurcated -- "Side One" for the hip-hop headz, "Side Two" for teenyboppers. But why would you choose just one Nicki Minaj? With her, the point is plenitude: more boasts, more hooks, more craziness, more shape-shifting, more cognitive dissonance, more pleasure. If you believe that art and commerce and provocation and fun -- and hip- hop and disco and teen pop -- can all be one and the same, here's a record for you. Come, all ye faithful. See the full article at RollingStone.com. Copyright © 2011 Rolling Stone. | On Nicki Minaj's "Roman Reloaded," the energy never flags .
The beats, by young comers like Hit-Boy and Kenoe, are taut and lively .
The thumping "Starships," "Roman Reloaded" veers into radio pop . |
08f6b48b5cdbc658ba12898206ac89bc1004934e | By . Nick Enoch . Last updated at 3:02 PM on 31st January 2012 . Nathan Kennedy, 35, plundered jewels, computers and a credit card after squeezing through the small hole he made by removing bricks in the wall . A thief burgled his next-door neighbour by knocking a hole . in the attic wall before he crawled through the gap in the loft space and . dropped down into the house. Nathan Kennedy, 35, plundered jewels, computers and a credit card after . squeezing through the small hole he made by removing bricks in the shared wall. Baffled . Neil Barton, 29, and girlfriend Abi Dunn, 28, discovered goods missing from his . home in Barton Hill, Bristol, twice in a week - but found no sign of forced entry. He finally . foiled the dastardly plan after a friend suggested he check his attic - where . he discovered the hole and spotted his stolen items in Kennedy's loft . space. Kennedy . was jailed for three-and-a-half years after he admitted the brazen burglary. Mr Barton, an insurance broker, said: 'It was crazy - your home really does not . feel like your castle after something like this. 'It . was so brazen, it was almost laughable. I'd heard banging and drilling coming . from next door and thought he was doing some DIY. 'It . turns out he was - but only so he could get through the loft into my house. I'd . never had anything to do with him so didn't know anything about him. Kennedy was jailed for 42 months by Bristol Crown Court after he admitted burglary. He also caused around £1,500 damage to the attic and roof . Kennedy used chisels and a drill to bore a hole - now bricked up - in the attic wall separating the terraced houses in Tenby Street in Barton Hill, Bristol, last summer . Baffled Neil Barton (above), 29, and girlfriend Abi Dunn, 28, discovered goods missing from his home twice in a week - but found no sign of forced entry . 'At . first, we couldn't understand how someone had been getting in as each time we . came home and found we'd been burgled, all the locks on the doors were in place. 'We . even had a bit of a job convincing the police and insurance companies at first . that it wasn't some kind of scam on our part. 'Although . I suppose you could say it was an inside job.' Kennedy used chisels and a . drill to bore a hole in the attic wall separating the terraced houses, in Tenby Street, in Barton Hill, Bristol, last summer. He then . clambered through the 3ft space and into Mr Barton's house when he . and Miss Dunn, a teacher, were at work during the day. In the . first raid, on July 7 last year, he helped himself to two laptops - before he . returned seven days later to take other items worth £3,500. He then . attempted to put the loose bricks back in the wall - covering the hole on his . neighbour's side with cardboard to cover his tracks. But Mr Barton- . alarmed by the second burglary in a week - went up and checked his loft after a friend suggested the criminal could be creeping in unnoticed. When he . climbed into the attic, he realised he could see into Kennedy's loft space - and . spotted some of his stolen items. Mr Barton said: 'I could not believe it. We called the police straight away and they . knocked his door down and arrested him. 'We . had never spoken to him before - we did not even know what he looked like. 'I . got my stolen stuff back, but it was just insane. 'He must have crept around the . house while we were at work.' Kennedy was jailed for 42 months by Bristol . Crown Court after he admitted burglary. He also caused around £1,500 damage to . the attic and roof. | 'I'd heard banging and drilling and thought he was doing some DIY', said burgled neighbour Neil Barton .
Nathan Kennedy jailed for three-and-a-half years . |
08f7522d0f65ce57d089f217d005086404228b31 | (CNN) -- In the marshland just south of the seaside-resort of Anaklia in Western Georgia, the air is often filled with birdsong and the croak of tiny frogs. But added to nature's chorus is the sound of construction, something difficult to escape along Georgia's Black Sea Coast. Anaklia is still being built and the marshlands are being drained to make way for new five-star hotels. A new railway and airport are planned as the government aims to bring back the tourists who used to come to Anaklia during Soviet times. But there are bigger plans than that. Georgia's president Mikheil Saakashvili wants to build a whole new city called Lazika. The promotional video for it presents an impression of futuristic skyscrapers, golf courses and high-end luxury for the entrepreneurs who will make this city their home. Lazika will be a new port on Georgia's Black Sea coast and a special economic zone where businesses can operate under UK law. Rather than attract businesses to established cities the government feels it's easier to start from scratch. "If we want to be exceptional and if we want to create this hub economy, a place for the rest of the world to come and invest in Georgia, then we have to be creative," says Vera Kobalia, Georgia's 28-year-old economy minister. "And Lazika is being very creative." And all this in five years, according to Iva Davitaia who admits that there are currently no international investors in the project "but we do have international interest." Many local residents are enthusiastic as Lazika would mean jobs for a community that struggles to make a living through agriculture. But just 20 kilometers (12 miles) south is Poti, Georgia's main port that others believe should be revived before a new city is built. Currently the area is sparsely populated and Georgia has a population of around 4.5 million, begging the question 'Where will the 500,000 future Lazika residents come from?' President Saakashvili is a man who operates at breakneck speed and is quick to defend Lazika. "We are looking for a new destination not for the sake of spending lots of money like some other governments have done just to show off," he says. "We only look at it as a way to generate more income, more goods, more services." Saakashvili it seems is a man who thrives on projects and it's easy to imagine some falling by the wayside, although the country has been transformed since he came to power in 2003. The Black Sea resort of Batumi has turned from a warlord's paradise into a bustling tourist town where Donald Trump is the latest to invest and the country's parliament building has been moved from its traditional home in the capital Tbilisi to a futuristic new government building in Kutaisi . Yet behind the construction boom Georgia's economic fundamentals remain difficult. Unemployment hovers at 16% and poverty is still widespread. Projects like Lazika sound wonderful but it may have to be seen to be believed. CNN's Eye On series often carries sponsorship originating from the countries we profile. However CNN retains full editorial control over all of its reports . | Plans to build city for 500,000 on marshland in Georgia .
Called Lazika, government wants it to be economic hub for the region .
Country's economic climate remains difficult with 16% unemployment .
City proposed to be special economic zone and operate under UK law . |
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