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08f7dad6c14ea0e0edb20840feeeecb5fb375e1c | By . Damien Gayle . Adopting a lifestyle of varied, regular exercise is generally understood as the only real route to an athletic physique. However there are those who cannot bear the thought of having to get all sweaty as they strive to carve their body into a facsimile of Greek statuary. If that sounds like you, then help is finally at hand. A Florida-based company is marketing a new contraption that will allow you ride an exercise bike while taking a bath at the same time. Biking in the bath: The FitWet incorporates an exercise with a jacuzzi-style tub for a novel new workout experience which, its makers claim, offers a range of unique benefits . The makers of the Fitwet claim it offers '12 times higher intensity' than regular, bog-standard standalone exercise bikes, while helping users avoid the fatigue associated with working out. Moreover, the company claims, their machine's 12 integral water jest 'exert a massaging action and especially a draining one which allows strong reduction of the cellulite'. Yes, it's an exercise bike - in a bathtub: But the FitWet's makers claim makers say it offers benefits that regular bike workouts cannot . Like any other exercise bike the FitWet targets the lower body, offering a workout to the quadriceps and buttocks, with general overall benefit to cardiovascular health. But its makers say it offers many benefits that regular bike workouts cannot. 'Sweating in the water enables to regulate the body temperature and to refresh it during the effort,' the company says. 'It also carries a part of its weight, and the ozone provides a sensation of relaxation and well being. 'On the other side, water resistance increases the intensity of the effort, and allows to improve the muscle balance and requests the participation of all the muscles of legs, torso, arms and back. 'While pedalling in the air burns a maximum of 400cal/hour for user in perfect physical condition, and generates sweating, pain, and articular issues, we observe that pedalling in water allows to avoid all those issues, and to bring a 800cal/hour result even for beginners.' 'Massaging and draining action': The FitWet's 12 integral water jets are purported to offer a novel, low-effort solution to the reduction of cellulite . Cellulite is a skin change that occurs in between 80-90 per cent of adult women. Visible as dimpling and nodularity of skin, it is caused by the herniation of subcutaneous fat within fibrous connective tissue. The term was first used in the Twenties, and began appearing in English language publications in the late Sixties, with the earliest reference in Vogue magazine. Its existence as a real disorder has been questioned, and the prevailing medical opinion is that it is merely the 'normal condition of many women', according to Wikipedia. Most enticingly for prospective . female customers, the FitWet claims to offer a solution to cellulite, a . skin change caused by the the herniation of subcutaneous fat which . occurs in 80-90 per cent of adult women. 'The jets exert a massaging action and especially a draining one: strong reduction of the cellulite, of the orange skin and of the retention of water,' the makers say. 'In the course of the Jet Bike sessions, the waist refines, the buttocks and legs are invigorated.' The U.S.-made FitWet has a range of features to entice potential customers. It has the obligatory high-tech LED touch screen, drinks holder, heart rate monitor and calorie counter, while the 'triple thick saddle' suggests a comfortable ride for flabby bums. According to the maker's website, it also inexplicably ships with a towel. Of course, you could always just go for a swim instead. | The FitWet offers '12 times higher intensity' than regular exercise bikes, its makers say .
However, they also claim that exercising in water reduces the fatigue associated with exercise . |
08f9e485197975daf87fb9537647d1aba0675fa1 | By . Suzannah Hills . PUBLISHED: . 08:34 EST, 15 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:49 EST, 15 February 2013 . A mother and her three-year-old son had a lucky escape after they narrowly avoided an 'ferocious' explosion which wrecked their home. Amy Rooke, 21, and her son Kayden Byrnes had popped across the road to her parents' house just minutes before a stove exploded in her lounge blowing the room to bits. The wood burning stove, which weighs 60 pounds, was propelled across the room in the blast bringing down half the chimney breast at the semi-detached house. Destruction: Amy Rooke's father Dave inspects lounge in his daughter's house after a wood burning stove exploded tearing the room to bits . Ms Rooke, from Halifax, West Yorkshire, said: 'We were just unbelievably lucky. It just so happened that my little boy wanted to go over the road because he wanted to show his grandad his Thomas the Tank Engine toy that wasn't working anymore. 'It probably saved our lives. I'm always having a whinge about how much the Thomas toys cost but I've got a lot to thank Kayden for now.' Lucky escape: Amy Rooke and her son Kayden had been sitting in the room minutes before the blast . Ms Rooke told of how she had been siting in the seat struck by the stove just 15 minutes earlier. She continued: 'Fifteen minutes earlier Kayden was playing in front of the fire and I was sitting on the sofa where the stove ended up. It all just happened so quickly. 'Kayden knows the house is broken up but thankfully he's oblivious to it all because we weren't there. 'My next door neighbour said the blast actually knocked her husband off the sofa.'Ms Rooke's father, Dave Rooke, said: 'It's just a complete mystery. 'She's lost a lot of material stuff and everything in the living room has been destroyed. 'But the main thing is that she and Kayden are both okay and that's the most important thing.' Watch Commander Mich Pollard, who was with the two fire crews who attended the incident, said: 'They were very lucky not to have been at risk of serious injury or death. It was a ferocious blast. 'The stove weighed about 60 pounds and has caused severe damage. 'A gas explosion has been discounted but we're still investigating what caused it.' Unexplained explosion: Firefighters have discounted a gas explosion and are still investigation what caused the blast at the house in Halifax . Semi-detached property: The wood burning stove brought the chimney breast in the living room down when it propelled across the room . | Amy Rooke and her son Kayden left their home just moments before blast .
A 60 pound wood burning stove exploded in their living room .
Sofa Ms Rooke had been sitting in 15 minutes earlier was destroyed . |
08fa5043a1707bdb247ca7eb72ec2cde32c46c5a | (CNN) -- Barack Obama came to Washington to end wars. Not to start them. That much was crystal clear only three months ago when Obama gave a keynote speech on May 23 at the National Defense University in Washington in which he called for an end to the "boundless war on terror" and "perpetual wartime footing" that has existed in the U.S. since 9/11. Obama focused part of this speech on the Authorization for the Use of Military Force that Congress passed days after 9/11 and that gave President George W. Bush the authority to go to war in Afghanistan. Obama looks to Congress to bolster legal case for Syria strike . No one in Congress who voted for this resolution at the time realized that he or she was in effect authorizing in Afghanistan what would become America's longest war. Nor did they realize that they were giving a virtual blank check to the president to wage covert U.S. wars in countries such as Pakistan and Yemen where, according to data compiled by the New America Foundation, thousands have been killed in CIA drone strikes with almost no input from Congress. During his defense speech, Obama vowed to help end the Authorization for the Use of Military Force that set in motion the seemingly endless war the U.S. has been fighting since 2001. This is some of the context of Obama's decision to go to Congress to seek authorization for a military strike on Syria. Obama has wanted to leave office in 2016 as the president who had made it harder, not easier, for future presidents to go to war unilaterally without the input of Congress. In going to Congress for authorization of any military operation in Syria, we see Obama the former constitutional law professor at work, but we also see Obama the pragmatist. Opinion: Obama's Syria dilemma . The Obama administration could have always made the argument in the past few days that it could justify attacking the regime of Bashar al-Assad on humanitarian grounds to prevent further massacres of the Syrian people with chemical weapons despite the fact that there was no international authorization for attacking Syria and no congressional resolution sanctioning such an attack. But that argument would be a novel one as a matter of international law, and it would not be particularly compelling as a matter of domestic politics when the American public seems, at best, split on whether the U.S. should deploy force in Syria. Unilateral U.S. military actions are, of course, generally uncontroversial after an attack on American targets by a foreign power or group. President Bill Clinton didn't seek congressional approval for the cruise missiles he launched at al Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan in 1998 after the terrorist group's attacks on two U.S. embassies in Africa. Nor did President George H.W. Bush go to Congress to sign off on his invasion of Panama in 1989, which he authorized because a U.S, Marine had recently been killed there and tens of thousands of other Americans living in the country were purportedly at risk. Opinion: U.S. needs U.N. approval on Syria . Syria hasn't attacked any U.S. targets or citizens, so the argument that an attack on the Assad regime is designed to protect American interests or lives is moot. That leaves the Obama administration with the option of extracting some kind of authorization for an attack from international bodies such as the United Nations, NATO or the Arab League. As is now well-known, there isn't a snowball's chance in hell of getting a U.N. authorization since Russia and China have continuously made clear they would veto such a resolution. There also seems little possibility, for the moment, that NATO will authorize a "humanitarian" mission as it did in Kosovo in 1999 to roll back Serbian aggression there. And even if there was such an authorization, right now a major NATO member, the United Kingdom, couldn't participate because the British Parliament voted against such a mission on Thursday. Indeed, NATO said Monday it wants a "firm international response" in response to the use of chemical weapons in Syria, but that it won't take any military action itself. The Arab League, which signed off on the operation to topple Moammar Gadhafi in 2011, has so far not signaled a readiness to authorize war against Syria. The League said the world community should take action against those responsible for the use of chemical weapons but did not specify if it would endorse military action by the U.S. or other parties. That said, the usually hypercautious Saudis publicly urged war on Sunday. In going to Congress for the Syria authorization, we see not only the former constitutional law professor and pragmatist in Obama, but also the calculated risk taker. On matters of considerable importance where the potential payoff is large, Obama has shown he is willing to take risks. Think no further than his decision two years ago to authorize a Navy SEAL raid to capture or kill Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, a raid he undertook against the advice of Vice President Joe Biden and then-Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. If that operation had gone poorly, as a number of Obama's top national security officials believed it could, Obama might now be splitting his time between Chicago and Hawaii. For Obama, a congressional authorization on the use of force in Syria would help him if he needs to authorize additional military actions down the road in Syria. It would also help him if he feels compelled to go to war with Iran. Of course, if he doesn't get such an authorization, he will endure the same kind of humiliation that British Prime Minster David Cameron has just gone through in Parliament. Is it 'High Noon' for Obama on Syria? Obama has, however, no doubt tried to game out how this vote might play out. He probably calculates that for Republican skeptics in Congress, they will have to explain to the American public why it is that they will not sanction military action on Syria after its large-scale use of chemical weapons while they continue to describe Syria's closest ally, Iran, and its nuclear weapons program -- which still has yet to produce any nuclear weapons-- as a grave threat to the world. We can be sure that in the next days, the administration will make the argument that if you let Syria take a pass on its large-scale and repeated use of chemical weapons, you can forget any chance of slowing or ending Iran's nuclear program, something that is a matter of great importance for much of the Republican Party. For those on the left of the Democratic Party in Congress who are generally skeptical of U.S. military actions, Obama can essentially ask, "If not now, when?" At what point will self-described liberals intervene to stop the use of weapons so vile that they have been banned by the civilized world for almost a century? | Peter Bergen: Obama's hope had been to end wars in Middle East .
By sending issue to Congress, Obama seeks to make war harder to launch, Bergen says .
Bergen: Obama lacked international support and legal standing to strike Syria .
Obama's move is a risk, as was decision to launch Osama bin Laden raid, Bergen says . |
08fade9a55c2af02fc3158b293403bdd90b39d54 | By . Graham Smith . PUBLISHED: . 05:10 EST, 29 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:33 EST, 29 October 2012 . Billboards claiming iconic civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr was a Republican last week appeared in the black neighbourhoods of three Texas cities, angering local residents. The advertising hoardings erected in Dallas, Houston and Austin by a conservative organisation to encourage African-Americans to 'Vote Republican!' have been branded 'disrespectful' by one Dallas resident. The Democrats traditionally attract a far higher proportion of black voters than the Republican party. 'Disrespectful': Billboards claiming civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr was a Republican have appeared in the black neighbourhoods of Dallas, Houston and Austin . But Claver Kamau-Imani, the founder . of RagingElephants.org, claims he has the documentation to prove Dr . King, who was assassinated in 1968, voted Republican. And he believes his billboards - . which proclaim 'Martin Luther King Jr was a Republican. Vote Republican! - will encourage other African-Americans to join the party. He told CBS Dallas: 'The use of Dr . King, because of him being an icon in the community, we feel would be . most effective. That’s why we used it. 'We have the documentation to back the claims we’re making on the billboard.' However, in 2008, Dr King’s son Martin Luther King III said: 'It is disingenuous to imply that my father was a Republican. He never endorsed any presidential candidate, and there is certainly no evidence that he ever even voted for a Republican. 'It is even more outrageous to suggest he would support the Republican Party of today, which has spent so much time and effort trying to suppress African-American votes in Florida and many other states.' One local resident in Dallas, . where the billboard has been put on Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, . criticised the move as 'disrespectful'. Aaron Carswell said: 'It’s a bit . disrespectful for what Martin Luther King stood for, and who he was. To . use his name in a political fashion, is a bit disrespectful.' Civil rights icon: Dr King addresses marchers during his I Have A Dream speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC in August 1963 . Campaign: Claver Kamau-Imani, the founder of RagingElephants.org, claims he has the documentation to prove Dr King, who was assassinated in 1968, voted Republican . Amid the country's shifting . demographics, Republicans have focused more on reaching out to Hispanics . than black voters, who have supported President Barack Obama in . overwhelming numbers. Black Republicans have long been . scarce in Congress. Of 26 black Republican House members since 1870, the . vast majority served during the post-Civil War Reconstruction days. In her bid to become the first black Republican woman elected to Congress, Mia Love is her party's face of diversity this campaign year . In her bid to become the first black . Republican woman elected to Congress, Mia Love is her party's face of . diversity this campaign year. She is reluctant to embrace the role, saying she doesn't let race or gender define her politics. 'I was elected mayor not because of . my race or gender, not because I wear high heels, but because of the . policies I put in place,' Ms Love, 36, said in a recent interview. Polling shows Ms Love with a slight lead over a six-term Democratic incumbent in Utah. In a party that has struggled for . decades to attract black voters, the daughter of Haitian immigrants . included subtle nods to civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr and . Rosa Parks in her speech to the Republican National Convention in . August. Ms Love's parents immigrated to the . U.S. in the early 1970s. She says her father - who has worked as a . painter, janitor and school bus driver - taught her never to ask for a . handout. Her parents became U.S. citizens in 1984. A married mother-of-three, a Mormon . and a favourite of the small-government tea party movement, Ms Love is . the only woman among 11 black Republican House candidates in the . November 6 election. Republicans have focused more on her conservative values and agenda than her race. 'We need a party that is diverse . based on our issues and not based on simply trying to find greater . variety in the complexion,' said Rep Tim Scott of South Carolina, one of . the two black Republicans now in the House. | Conservative group erects billboards to encourage African-Americans to 'Vote Republican!' in next month's Presidential election .
Claver Kamau-Imani, founder of RagingElephants.org, claims he has the documentation to prove iconic civil rights leader voted Republican .
Resident brands board placed on Martin Luther King Jr Blvd 'disrespectful'
Dr King's son Martin Luther King III denied GOP link in 2008 . |
08fae88b706267402a47c52305c65138b0112057 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 14:31 EST, 16 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 06:07 EST, 17 December 2012 . The actor who plays Osama bin Laden in a new thriller has spoken about the difficult task of playing the former al-Qaeda leader. Zero Dark Thirty has limited release on December 19 and the movie is hotly tipped to win several awards. British actor Ricky Sekhon, 29, who describes himself as 'the least dangerous person I know', plays Bin Laden in the film that tells the story of 'the greatest manhunt in history' following the September 11 attacks. Scroll down for video . 'Hearing news like that will really put the s**t into you.' British actor Ricky Sekhon (left) was nervous about playing hated former al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden (right) Sekhon told the New York Post he was nervous about preparing for the role: 'There were a few sleepless nights, to say the least,' he said. 'I don’t . care how much confidence you have, hearing news like that will really . put the s**t into you if you’re planning on taking it seriously, which I . was,' Sekhon added. The actor, who only has few minor credits to his name so far, was made to audition for the part without knowing what it involved. Sekhon only discovered he would be playing Bin Laden once he was successful. Sekhon is six feet four and of Indian descent: 'I think I was asked about my height a few times, and that made me think, "OK, I’ll be playing a tall man or woman,"' he said. 'The greatest manhunt in history.' Zero Dark Thirty tells the story of the search for Osama Bin Laden after 9/11 and his eventual death . But the actor wasn't under any illusions about the type of character he would be portraying. Sekhon went on: 'I wasn’t fooling myself. My span of film castings have consisted of . either terrorist, drug dealer, drug addict, heavy, henchman, large man, . very tall man. I think it’s something to do with how I look.' He told the Post he spent eight weeks preparing to portray the former al-Qaeda leader, reading books about terrorism, learning basic Arabic and slimming down. Sekhon was made to sign a non-disclosure agreement with the filmmakers. 'But I told my mum, dad and my girlfriend, because they would see me doing strange things during my preparation,' he admitted. Zero Dark Thirty comes out on limited release and full nationwide showings will begin on January 11. The film was nominated for four Golden Globe awards last week. | Actor Ricky Sekhon only discovered he was playing former al-Qaeda leader once he got the role .
New film Zero Dark Thirty has limited release on Wednesday and nominated for four Golden Globes already . |
08fb9036bc95c12cd6f364fee49f35e719e48034 | The grieving parents of the children who are still missing following a mansion fire identified them today in a public statement. The missing children's names were listed as Alexis (Lexi) Boone, eight; Kaitlyn (Katie) Boone, seven; Charlotte Boone, eight, and six-year-old Wesley Boone. Their grandparents, Don and Sandy Pyle, the home owners, were also in the property at the time and were unaccounted for. Scroll down for video . A firefighter uses red tape to mark out areas at the Annapolis home following a blaze which entirely destroyed the property. Two bodies were found on Wednesday but four people were still missing . Crews continued to search the Maryland mansion for bodies on Thursday, saying that they hoped to give the devastated families closure as soon as possible . Alexis Boone, eight, Kaitlyn Boone, seven, Charlotte Boone, eight, and six-year-old Wesley Boone were missing following the fire at their grandparents' Annapolis mansion, their family said today . Firefighters took about 10 hours to extinguish hot spots on Monday and one area flared up on Tuesday again. Two bodies have been found and four people were still unaccounted for on Thursday . The statement given to WUSA9 read: 'On behalf of the Boone and Pyle families, we wish to express our gratitude and appreciation for the love and support being shared with us during this tragic event. We are blessed that so many family, friends, and neighbors have come together for us in our time of need. 'We recognize the dedicated efforts from Anne Arundel County Fire and Police Departments, the Naval Academy, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and other first responders. We want our community to know how proud we are of all who have helped us. 'Our love for our family is boundless. Our loss demands time and quiet reflection to process these feelings. We ask that you respect our need for privacy. 'Life is fragile. Make time today to embrace your loved ones.' Investigators on Wednesday found two bodies in the charred remains of the home in Annapolis, Maryland after the property burned to the ground on Monday. The bodies were with the medical examiner and have not yet been identified. It is not known whether the bodies children of adults. Federal and local investigators returned to the site to continue the search on Thursday. Tech tycoon Don Pyle, 56, lived in the 16,000sq ft home with his wife Sandra. Three people embrace outside the gates of the home, where Investigators found the bodies of two unidentified people on Wednesday . Don and Sandra Pyle were home the night of the blaze along with their four grandchildren. They have not been accounted for . 'I never knew that I could hurt this badly,' Stacey Boone, mother to Lexi and Katie with Sandra Pyle's son Randy Boone, wrote on Facebook on Tuesday. 'It’s unreal. All one big nightmare that I can’t wake up from.' The Pyles and their four grandchildren have been missing since crews were called early on Monday. The blaze has reduced the 16,000-square-foot waterfront castle to ruins. The fire was reported about 3.30am on Monday by an alarm-monitoring company and a neighbor who spotted flames. Officials said it is unclear whether an alarm sounded inside the home, which might have alerted anyone inside. Some 85 firefighters from several jurisdictions fought the fire. Because there was no hydrant in the area, firefighters shuttled tankers to the site and stationed a fire boat at a pier nearby. Davies said hot spots took about 10 hours to extinguish on Monday. One area flared up on Tuesday, and Davies said crews were monitoring it and extinguishing it as needed. Special Agent David Cheplak, a spokesman for the ATF's Baltimore field office, said earlier this week there were no immediate signs of foul play. Mansion fire: The $9million home in Annapolis, Maryland, caught fire around 3:30am Monday, and was reduced to ruins . Picturesque: In 2008, Pyle revealed that the house had been built to be a combination of a castle and a beach house . Sources at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives told CNN that the fire engulfed the mansion so fast that they suspect that chemicals may have been used to accelerate the burning. The official in charge of the ATF's investigation would not confirm whether the blaze was suspicious to DailyMail.com. Special Agent William McMullan said that specialists from across the country were headed to Annapolis, and would send in trained dogs to sniff out any traces of accelerant chemicals, which would help determine whether the blaze could have been a deliberate attack. However, Capt. Robert Howarth, commander of the county fire department's fire and explosives investigation unit, said on Tuesday that investigators were treating the site as a crime scene. Howarth said that is a common practice when there are no eyewitnesses, and it means only that anything recovered in the investigation would be admissible in court. Neighbor Caroline Wugofski said the Pyles often held parties at their home. She described them as 'genuinely nice people'. Before: The 16,000sq ft property boasts two swimming pools and its own courtyard, as well as two outbuildings, one of which is connected to the main house by a covered portion. The image above was taken in 2012 . Inferno: The blaze, pictured from the air, tore through the home. Bottom right, firefighters can be seen standing near the pools as they spray water at the ruins . Don Pyle grew up in nearby Baltimore County and worked his way to the top table of several billion-dollar tech companies. In a recent interview with the Washington Post, he said he started off as a salesman, and moved to progressively more important roles before taking the reins at companies with links to Silicon Valley. His latest role was as the COO of ScienceLogic, an IT support company based in Reston, Virginia. He would hold fundraisers for worthy causes at his house. At one in 2008, he told the Baltimore Sun the house had been especially designed to be a combination of a castle, his preference and a beach house, which Sandra wanted. His luscious property stood facing Church Creek, a picturesque inlet not far from the Chesapeake Bay. It has an estimated $9million value. Situated on its own portion of exclusive Childs Point Road, the home boasted a courtyard, swimming pool and access to a speedboat jetty. Real estate listings for the home say it had seven bathrooms and was part of a 7.8-acre estate. The modern, two-storey home, which was built in 2005, also has attic space and a basement. Photographs of the mansion before it burned down show at least four cars parked outside the elegant stone construction, which has several turrets as part of its architecture. ScienceLogic would only confirm that Pyle works for them. A spokesman told DailyMail.com: 'Don Pyle is the Chief Operating Officer for ScienceLogic. 'There was a fire at his home last night and the case is under investigation. We have no further comment.' | Alexis (Lexi) Boone, eight; Kaitlyn (Katie) Boone, seven; Charlotte Boone, eight, and six-year-old Wesley Boone were all missing .
Grandparents, Don and Sandy Pyle, the home owners, were also in the Maryland property at the time and were unaccounted for .
A family statement read: 'Life is fragile. Make time today to embrace your loved ones'
Two unidentified bodies found among the charred remains of the home on Wednesday; medical examiner report is pending . |
08fd1c20e2a56f607cd4080af2d65b965b8117af | (CNN) -- This week, we hosted a renowned expert in HIV/AIDS care currently practicing at a hospital known for serving the poor and vulnerable in New York. It was her impression that there has been a dramatic decline in the number of hospitalized patients living with HIV. Presently, in fact, the hospital is considering closing the service that cares exclusively for these individuals because of the small number of admissions. Those of us involved in the care of individuals with HIV in Atlanta were amazed. At Grady Hospital and the Ponce de Leon Center, which is our outpatient HIV/AIDS clinic, we remain busy seeing newly diagnosed individuals with AIDS, particularly presenting with late-stage disease and afflicted by the classic infections and cancers so common 30 years ago, when HIV was first described. This month, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave a moving address at the National Institute of Health calling for an AIDS-free generation, and the theme of World AIDS Day on December 1 was "Getting to Zero." Recently released data have shown a dramatic 96% reduction in transmission of the HIV virus between individuals when the infected partner is on antiretroviral therapy, leading to the concept of "treatment as prevention." Treatment regimens are simpler: Active medication regimens once exceeded 20 pills daily, yet now a single pill once a day can control the virus. Nearly three dozen medications have been developed and are effective at decreasing mortality and improving quality of life. Mathematical estimates suggest that an individual diagnosed with HIV infection today, while still healthy, can live as long as an uninfected individual. However, the fight is far from over. Although enthusiasm remains high, an effective vaccine is still out of reach. In the absence of a cure, lifelong treatment is required. But perhaps an even more disturbing question remains: Why do our patients in Atlanta resemble those who we saw on the medical wards in the early 1990s or see now in resource-limited settings, moreso than outpatients treated in New York today? Despite tremendous progress, HIV/AIDS infections in the Southeast continue to rise. Nearly 50% of all AIDS cases annually are reported from Southern states. Among adults aged 20-24 (the fastest-growing age group to become infected), Georgia has 81.3 individuals with HIV infection per 100,000 population, compared with 58.6 per 100,000 in New York. Several important studies have documented the key risk factors associated with transmission of HIV, and all of them highlight social disparities. In the South, these disparities appear to be the most severe. According to the United Health Foundation's health rankings, the region ranks lowest in the nation in "overall health." Structural and socioeconomic factors play a significant role. Poverty, education and literacy, access to health care, unemployment, homelessness and food insecurity all contribute to poorer health outcomes. A recent study that examined outcomes in patients identified with early HIV infection found that a risk factor for development of AIDS was residence in the South. Furthermore, resources are scarcer for patients in the South. For example, federal support is based on the number of cumulative cases of patients with HIV or AIDS rather than the development of new cases, penalizing states with later epidemics (like the South) and those whose policies did not support early reporting of cases of HIV. Medicaid income eligibility is based on individual state policy. In the South, the income cutoff for eligibility is lower on average than elsewhere and is a fraction of the federal poverty level, leaving many without the ability to access this medical help. State health departments are often poorly funded or organized and do not have the same strong infrastructure and reporting capabilities that have been highly successful in Washington, New York and San Francisco. AIDS drug assistance programs in the South are underfunded, limiting access to life-saving medications for patients. In Georgia, which has the second-longest wait list in the country, patients may be less able to access medications for life-threatening AIDS complications than those in the developing world. Americans often turn a blind eye to the problem of AIDS in the United States. The message has been that the epidemic is nearly over. Even middle-class residents in Atlanta are unaware of the scope of the problem in their own city. There is denial that such striking health disparities can exist in one of the richest nations in the world. This disenfranchised population does not have the same political voice that the organized gay community had in the early days of the epidemic, when FDA drug approval policies were adjusted to help more patients get access to medications faster. Our patients feel stigmatized and are afraid to be seen entering the building where our clinic is located. Yet globally, the devastation from the disease receives attention not bestowed on the epidemic located a few blocks away. We are 30 years into this epidemic. How will we reflect upon the next 30 years? Will we say that we halted this disease from eliminating an entire generation in Africa? Will we remind ourselves of how the subcontinent of India was brought to the brink of disaster, only to be diverted by a worldwide effort to prevent and treat infections? Or will the already-devastated inner-city neighborhoods and poor rural communities across the United States sink into greater despair? Will we bear the guilt for so many lost lives that could have been saved? In our opinion, both missions must be addressed, not one at the expense of the other. If an AIDS-free generation is to be realized, then we must not forget the disease within our own borders. Can we watch our neighbors suffer when the medical knowledge exists to change their future? Facing this challenge is no small feat. There are signs of hope. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has initiated the Enhanced Comprehensive HIV Prevention Planning Project for 12 municipalities, including Atlanta and Miami, for efforts to reduce HIV infections, link patients to care and reduce disparities. Yet this is only a beginning. Basic issues such as poverty, education, housing and safety need to be addressed. State and federal lawmakers must understand that basic health care is a requirement and will require money. One of our patients is a 33-year-old mother infected with HIV. She has taken her medications faithfully since her diagnosis and has been back at work for several years. She wants to raise her children to be happy, healthy and productive members of society. Her work insurance policy recently changed. Now her insurance will cover only one prescription per month (maximum $200). Her regimen requires three medications, which exceed $1,500 a month. State support and prescription assistance programs are restricted to those without insurance. She makes $1,800 a month, which she must use to pay rent and utilities, and feed and clothe her children. She can no longer afford the medications that keep her alive and give her children a mother. This is a tragedy that we should not be willing to tolerate in a society that values social justice and human rights. Take action now by encouraging your congressional representatives and political leaders to keep their promise on AIDS, increasing awareness in your own community, volunteering and/or giving to charities that support such efforts and sharing words of solidarity and compassion with those people most affected by this disease. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Wendy Armstrong and Vincent Marconi. | Nearly 50% of all AIDS cases annually are reported from Southern states .
Right now, a single pill once a day can control the virus .
96% reduction in transmission when infected partner is on antiretroviral therapy . |
08fdb72a75b96d5f34e889cf29cdf2865f5af077 | By . Tim Shipman . PUBLISHED: . 20:34 EST, 10 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:50 EST, 11 December 2013 . Senior Tory MPs demanded that the government publish a damning report into the £50 billion High Speed Rail project yesterday after the Mail revealed ministers are trying to suppress it. Conservative Vice Chairman Michael Fabricant broke ranks and warned that failure to come clean about the project would fuel ‘growing mistrust about HS2’. He spoke out after it emerged that Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin and Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude have called on David Cameron to veto the release of the report, which found that HS2 was a ‘red/amber’ project in danger of failing, under Freedom of Information laws. Michael Fabricant (pictured centre) warned that failure to come clean about the project would fuel 'growing mistrust about HS2 among the public' (file photo) Documents leaked to the Mail show that they plan to take the extraordinary step of using a veto usually deployed in cases of national security - because they fear the ‘political and presentational difficulties at a crucial point in the HS2 project’s development’. Mr Maude and Mr McLoughlin told the Prime Minister: ‘We consider that the importance the Government attaches to the successful implementation of the HS2 project ... justifies the use of the veto in this case.’ Mr Fabricant, who left the Tory whips office at the last reshuffle so he could campaign against HS2, told the Mail the report, drawn up in November 2011, should be released in full. Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin (pictured) and Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude called on the Prime Minister to veto the release of the Project Assessment Review . ‘I understand that the study is a little out of date but in my view it is foolish to withhold it,’ he said. ‘It only fuels the growing mistrust of HS2 among the public. ‘I would strongly argue that the report should be released, with a health warning that it is not up to date. More recent reports should also be released whether they show a green, an amber or a red light. ‘HS2 legislation has got to the stage in the timetable where it is unstoppable. It is like the proverbial runaway train which, if it is not careful, will derail with everyone careering off the track with it.’ Steve Baker, the MP for Wycombe, said: ‘I’m very concerned about this. I’ve been opposed to HS2 since I came into Parliament. I’ve always thought the business case was weak and I certainly think the fullest possible information should be made public. ‘This project will change the landscape of our country, both the topographically and economically and socially. An decision should be made with the fullest possible information. ‘Ministers claim it will usher in a new great age of the railways but it bares no comparison with the Victorian era since that involved private investors risking their own money and this is the Government risking taxpayers’ money.’ UKIP . Deputy Leader Paul Nuttall described the episode as an example of ‘shoddy politics’. ‘The Project Assessment Review should be published, and it should be published now,’ he said. ‘The fact that we have Cabinet Ministers seeking to block this report on HS2 demonstrates the cloak and danger approach the government is taking to this whole project and transparency in general. ‘Rather than being open, frank and honest about the many potential difficulties that HS2 is going to face, the government are seeking to bury that bad news. It is shoddy politics.’ Senior government sources Cabinet Secretary Maurice Frankel of the Campaign for Freedom of Information pointed out that the veto has only previously been used to veto publication of Cabinet discussions on the Iraq War and other matters, to prevent disclosure of Prince Charles’s letters to ministers and a Department of Health risk register on NHS reforms. He said: ‘This case is interesting because the leaked letter talks not just about the principles of good government, it talks about the veto in terms of political presentation.’ He warned that excessive use of the veto would undermine the rule of law. ‘Vetoing means that ministers don’t have to argue their case at a tribunal or in court. It completely overturns the normal relationship between politicians and the law. I’m sure ministers would like to ignore the law and the courts in all sorts of cases but here they actually can.’ Sir Jeremy Heywood wants publication blocked because it would ‘create a precedent’ that would mean further Project Assessment Reviews would have to be released as well. HS2, whose £50 billion cost includes £7.5 billion for the high-speed trains, has a first phase which runs from London through Tory heartlands in the Chilterns to Birmingham which is due for completion in 2026. Richard Houghton, of the HS2 Action Alliance, said: If HS2 is going to deliver the vast economic benefits that are claimed for it, there would be no need for ministers to hide behind Parliamentary process, they would happily share documents like this.’ A Cabinet Office spokesman said: ‘We do not comment on leaked documents.’ | Michael Fabricant demanded that the government publish report on HS2 .
Warned that failure to do so would fuel 'mistrust' about rail project . |
08fddb9c8b171d78576b43c54628cded9b2c4384 | Los Angeles (CNN) -- AEG LIve's lawyer asked a jury to find Michael Jackson responsible for his death, not the concert promoter. Attorney Marvin Putnam spent four hours Wednesday deliver his closing arguments in the trial of the wrongful death lawsuit brought by Jackson's mother and three children. "Plaintiffs want you to hold a concert promoter liable for Michael Jackson's overdose in his bedroom at night, behind locked doors on June 25, 2009," Putnam told jurors. "An overdose of the drug administered to Mr. Jackson by his longtime doctor -- Dr. Murray -- who he'd been seeing for years, a doctor he brought to Los Angeles from Las Vegas." When the trial began five months ago, Putnam warned he would show "ugly stuff" and reveal Jackson's "deepest, darkest secret." The revelations that jurors heard from 58 witnesses over 83 days of testimony spanning 21 weeks included details of Jackson's drug use and his shopping for a doctor to give him the surgical anesthetic propofol that he thought would give him sleep. "He was nearly half a billion dollars in debt," Putnam argued Wednesday. "His mother's house was near foreclosure, we didn't know that then. What else do we know now? That Mr. Jackson spent decades shopping for doctors to give him the painkillers he wanted. Mr. Jackson made sure we didn't know that." Brian Panish, the lead lawyer for Jackson's mother and three children, conceded in his closing Tuesday that the singer may have some fault for his own death, but said "it's about shared responsibility." Jackson did use prescription painkillers and was warned that using propofol at home to sleep was risky, "but he never had a problem until Dr. Conrad Murray was working and until Conrad Murray negotiated with AEG Live," Panish argued. The AEG Live lawyer, Putnam, argued Wednesday that Jackson should take the full blame. "The sad truth is Mr. Jackson's death was caused by his choices and it would have happened no matter what -- with or without AEG Live." The Jackson family lawyer urged jurors to award the family between $1 billion and $2 billion in damages for its share of liability in Jackson's death -- to replace what he would have earned touring, had he lived, and for the personal suffering from the loss of a son and father. Putnam told jurors Wednesday that was "an absurd number." Katherine Jackson testified that she filed the wrongful death lawsuit three years ago against AEG Live "because I want to know what really happened to my son." Her lawyers argue that the company is liable in the death because it negligently hired, retained or supervised Murray, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's propofol overdose death. Jackson's lawyer will have another two hours Thursday morning to sum up his arguments in rebuttal. Twelve jurors, who have sat and listened in a Los Angeles courtroom for 21 weeks, will then begin deliberations. The judge is allowing a television camera in court for the closing arguments and verdict. Who's to blame for Michael Jackson's death? AEG Live's defense . Murray treated Michael Jackson and his children for minor illnesses while they lived in Las Vegas for three years, before the singer returned to Los Angeles to prepare for his "This Is It" comeback tour. It was Jackson -- not AEG Live executives -- who chose Murray to be his full-time doctor for his tour, the company's lawyers contend. AEG Live Co-CEO Paul Gongaware negotiated to pay Murray $150,000 a month only because of Jackson's request to have his doctor with him as he performed 50 shows at London's O2 Arena, they argue. "He told them 'We're bringing this doctor,' " Putnam said. "This was a choice Mr. Jackson made, he was a grown man." AEG Live executives tried to talk Jackson out of taking an American doctor with him on tour, suggesting he could save money by using a physician in London, Putnam said. "But Mr. Jackson was undeterred," he said. "Ultimately, it was his money, his doctor, his choice. He certainly wasn't going to take 'no' for an answer." There was no need to check Murray's background because he was a licensed, successful doctor who was known to Jackson, Putnam said. "All AEG Live knew was Dr. Murray was Mr. Jackson's longtime doctor." A key argument in the Jackson case is that AEG Live was negligent by not ordering a financial background check of Murray, which would have revealed he was in a dire financial situation and not successful. His desperation to keep his lucrative job led Murray to violate his Hippocratic Oath to do no harm by using the dangerous propofol infusions to put Jackson to sleep each night for two months, Jackson lawyers argue. AEG Live executives had no way of knowing Murray was treating Jackson's insomnia with propofol in the privacy of his bedroom, their lawyers contend. Jackson was a secretive addict, adept at keeping family, friends and other doctors in the dark about his medical treatments, they argue. But two doctors testified that they told Gongaware about Jackson's abuse of painkillers and his insomnia during tours in the 1990s, when the AEG Live executive served as tour manager. Jackson lawyers argue Gongaware, who was the top producer on the new tour, should have known that Jackson could suffer the same problems in 2009. The deterioration of Jackson's health over the two months he was being treated by Murray was a red flag that there was a problem, but AEG Live executives negligently ignored the warning, Jackson lawyers argue. By June 19, he was frail, suffering chills, unable to do his trademark dances and paranoid, according to testimony. "Everyone believed at the time that a 50-year-old man, who hadn't performed in a decade was tired, out of shape and very nervous," Putnam argued Wednesday. "That's what they believed at the time and it makes sense." AEG Live can avoid a negative verdict if is able able to convince at least 4 of 12 jurors that it did not hire Murray. It is the first of 16 questions on the jury verdict form. If jurors answer it with a "no" -- that AEG Live did not hire the doctor -- they would end their deliberations and the trial. An AEG Live lawyer e-mailed an employment contract to Murray on the morning of June 24, 2009. Murray signed it and faxed it back to the company that day. But the signature line for AEG Live's CEO and Michael Jackson were never signed since Jackson died the next day. Putnam will point to those blank signature lines as evidence that Murray was never hired by his client. There were negotiations with Murray, but he was never paid, the AEG Live lawyer argues. Panish, the lead Jackson lawyer, told jurors Tuesday that all the elements of an oral contract -- "just as valid as a written contract" -- were in place when Jackson died. Murray had been treating Jackson for two months and the written contract stated that his start day was May 1, 2009. A series of e-mail exchanges involving Murray and AEG Live executives and lawyers supported his argument, Panish said. A look at the life of Michael Jackson . Blame and damages . If the jury concludes AEG Live has liability, it would have to decide how much the company should pay in economic and personal damages to Jackson's mother and children. They can use estimates of Jackson's "lost earnings capacity" -- the amount of money he could reasonably be expected to have earned if he had lived -- to guide them. AEG Live expert Eric Briggs testified it was "speculative" that Jackson would have even completed another tour because of his drug use, damaged reputation and history of failed projects. He suggested the star may never have earned another dime. Putnam's closing argument about damages must overcome the impression left on jurors Tuesday when Panish played a video montage of Jackson performances. "That is, I think, the best evidence of if Michael Jackson could have sold tickets -- not what Mr. Briggs would tell you," Panish told jurors. Panish suggested jurors pick a number between $900 million and $1.6 billion for economic damages. They should add on another $290 million for non-economic damages -- or personal damages, he said. Putnam argued that the number, if the jury finds AEG Live liable, should be closer to $21 million, the amount of money AEG Live's expert calculated Jackson would have given his mother and three children over the next 16 years. He couldn't have given them more because he was had a $400 million debt that ws getting deeper, he said. "If Mr. Jackson had lived, it's hard to see how he would ever have dug himself out of that whole," Putnam said. The last question on the verdict form asks jurors to assign a percentage that they believe represents Michael Jackson's share of blame in his death. The total damages owed by AEG Live would be reduced by that percentage. Panish will have two hours to rebut Putnam's arguments before jury deliberations begin later Thursday. Michael Jackson's mom remembers her 'sweet little boy' | NEW: Producers just thought Jackson was tired, afraid and aging, AEG lawyer says .
NEW: Jackson lawyer set for rebuttal Thursday morning .
"The sad truth is Mr. Jackson's death was caused by his choices," says AEG lawyer .
A Jackson lawyer conceded Tuesday the singer may have some fault for his own death . |
08fe48fda647bdf00b934913ec5486c6ba4acc68 | The father of a 21-year-old woman who was allegedly stabbed to death this weekend by her girlfriend, 22, is shocked since he considered the suspect family. Casey Baird, father of stabbing-victim Tawnee Maria Baird, says he considered Victoria Mendoza to be like 'his other daughter' and was even helping her buy a uniform for her new job as a security guard. The couple of five years allegedly got into a 'violent' argument while driving home from a friend's house early Saturday, when the row escalated and Mendoza pulled into a parking lot and stabbed her girlfriend, police claim. She then called a mutual friend, who rushed to the scene and dialed 911, it is said. 'She's going to pay for this. It's ruined my life. I don't take death very well,' Mr Baird told the Desert News. 'To lose my one and only, it's unbelievable. I love you Tawnee. I just can't believe she's gone.' Scroll down for video . A father's loss: Casey Baird (right) pictured with his daughter Tawnee (left) who was allegedly stabbed to death by her girlfriend on Saturday in West Ogden, Utah . However, Mr Baird says in recent weeks, he had noticed signs of potential domestic violence in their relationship. About a month ago, Mr Baird noticed that his daughter's front tooth was missing and that Mendoza had scratches on her face and an injured hand. He says he 'bought' their story, which was that they had been attacked at a party. 'I feel a lot of guilt I didn't dig into that tooth deal,' he said. 'I'm hearing little bits and stories from friends of Tawnee that Tawnee was living in fear of Vickie.' The two met five years ago, while in a youth treatment center, Mr Baird said. He says his daughter was admitted to the behavioral health treatment facility, after she was issued a ticket for possession of drug paraphernalia. Tawnee and Mendoza were a case of 'opposites attract', with Mendoza being 'very jealous' and protective of his daughter who 'joked around and was flirty, not that that's grounds for this heinous crime.' Alleged murder: Tawnee (left), 21, allegedly got into a 'violent' fight with 22-year-old girlfriend Victoria Mendoza (right) while driving home from a friend's house early Saturday . Couple: Mendoza and Miss Baird, who lived together in Holladay, met five years ago in a youth treatment facility . Officers arrived at the parking lot at 2484 East Avenue in West Ogden at around 1am, where they found both Mendoza and the victim in the vehicle. Miss Baird was pronounced dead at the scene. 'We were actually responding on a call of a murder or someone wanting to turn themselves in for a murder,' Ogden Police Lieutenant, Tim Scott, said. 'I can tell you [Miss Baird] was stabbed to death, I can’t give you the number of stab marks or stab wounds, that will be determined by autopsy.' He added he could also not yet say what the fight was about, but that it was a 'violent, tumultuous encounter' that did 'culminate and lead to this incident where Ms Mendoza did stab her partner'. Parking lot: As the row escalated, Mendoza allegedly pulled into this parking lot (pictured) at 2484 East Avenue in Ogden, before fatally stabbing her partner of five years. Miss Baird died at the scene . Happier times: 'We were actually responding on a call of a murder or someone wanting to turn themselves in for a murder,' said Police Lieutenant Tim Scott. Above, Miss Baird with a cat (left) and Mendoza (right) Following the grim discovery on Saturday, police arrested Mendoza on suspicion of murder and booked her into Weber County Jail, where she is currently being held without bail. According to Fox 13, Mr Scott said Mendoza has been cooperative during the investigation. Investigators are now running background checks to see if Mendoza and Miss Baird had any history of domestic violence during the five years they were in a relationship. Yesterday, Mr Baird wrote on Facebook that he was flying back to Salt Lake City from Alabama after hearing that his daughter had been killed by a woman 'all of us tried to help'. 'I love my lady bug more than I love myself,' he wrote on Facebook, referring to his daughter - who was a student at Salt Lake Community College - as his 'best friend'. Speaking directly to Mendoza, he added angrily: 'Don't try insanity plea!!!! In fact I don't even want the death penalty!!!! I want you to sit in a prison cell and have plenty of time to rottttt!" Mendoza will shortly appear in court charged with first-degree felony murder. | Tawnee Maria Baird, 21, and Victoria Mendoza, 22, were in a five-year relationship .
Couple were 'driving home in Utah when they got into a violent argument'
As row escalated, Mendoza pulled into a parking lot in West Ogden .
She then allegedly 'fatally stabbed Miss Baird, before calling relative who dialled 911'
Mendoza has been charged with first-degree felony murder and is being held without bail .
Tawnee's father Casey Baird noticed his daughter's front tooth was missing last month, and that her girlfriend had scratches on her face and an injured hand . |
08fea93fd1d61404631e0d1e158e733fe36a824a | By . John Drayton . An investigation into the decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, initially scheduled for completion this month, is only likely to be finished in September, FIFA said in a statement on Monday. 'We expect to deliver our report to the adjudicatory chamber by the first week of September 2014,' said a statement issued by FIFA on behalf of its ethics committee. Former United States attorney Michael Garcia has been leading an internal probe by FIFA's ethics committee into allegations of corruption in the run-up to the vote in December 2010, which awarded the tournament to the Gulf state. Under scrutiny: FIFA investigator Michael Garcia has delayed the announcing of his report until September . No association: The Qatar 2022 World Cup committee bid denies that Mohamed Bin Hamman was associated with the bid process for hosting the World Cup . Hosts: Qatar held off competition from Australia to win the rights to host the 2022 World Cup . Garcia, who began his investigation 18 months ago, had said in June that he expected to deliver his report by the end of this month. When complete, Garcia's report will be handed to German judge Hans-Joachim Eckert, head of the ethics committee's adjudicatory chamber, and if he finds corruption, Qatar could face a challenge to its position as host either through a re-vote or other processes. Shortly before the World Cup in Brazil, The Sunday Times reported that some of the 'millions of documents' it had seen linked payments by former FIFA executive committee member Mohamed Bin Hammam to officials to win backing for Qatar's World Cup bid. Qatar has denied all allegations of corruption. FIFA: Bin Hammam (left) and Blatter (right) at Doha airport in 2010 . Bribes: Former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner (left) and Bin Hammam (right) faced allegations of bribery surrounding the 2011 FIFA presidential elections . Sepp Blatter at the Messe Conference Centre in Zurich where he announced Qatar would host the World Cup . | FIFA's investigation was originally expected to be completed this month .
But FIFA have announced that it is unlikely to be concluded until September .
Former US attorney Michael Garcia has been leading the internal probe .
There have been allegations of corruption into the awarding of World Cup .
Former FIFA executive committee member Mohamed Bin Hammam was accused before the World Cup of making corrupt payments . |
08feebe76bbf4a97929f745feee8b71ab3c42761 | By . Joshua Gardner and Ap Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 10:13 EST, 9 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:13 EST, 9 December 2013 . The Washington Redskins helped round out a humiliating year with a stomping from the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday that left stands nearly empty by halftime. Blizzardy conditions drove fans away last night in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, but the faint dusting of snow at FedEx Field left the Skins with no excuse. And most all the footprints in what little snow did fall were on Robert Griffin III's side of the field, proving yet again the once-promising quarterback's team has lost its mojo. Barely snowed: Fans all but abandoned the Washington's FedEx Field on Sunday after the home team's brutal first half against the Kansas City Chiefs . It was the fifth straight loss for the Redskins, and it was enough to make even the toughest players lose faith. 'It's a terrible game to be a part of,' Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo said. Griffin, too, was forced to be honest with himself and whatever Redskins fans who remain after the devastating season. 'None of us played good today,' Griffin said. 'I didn't play well. We all have to play better. I have to play better.' Nothing to play for: Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III walks off the field after the humiliating game, which his team lost 45-10. Griffin, who was the 2011 Heisman winner and number 2 draft pick of 2012, was replaced by backup Kirk Cousins in what became the team's fifth straight loss . 'None of us played good today,' Griffin admitted. 'I didn't play well. We all have to play better. I have to play better.' The Chiefs were already trouncing the Redskins 38-10 at halftime, when the stands all but cleared out despite the weather being far better than it was in snowy Pittsburgh and Philadelphia on Sunday. In fact, fans deserted what was Washington's first snowy home game in decades, and those that stayed had plenty to boo. The Chiefs took the opening kickoff and gained 8, 9, 22 and 13 yards on their first four plays. The Redskins were a team with nothing to play for, and they looked like it. Shanahan eventually pulled the plug on Griffin, inserting Cousins for the final quarter. Meanwhile, everywhere else: Fans in Baltimore stuck to their seats despite far snowier conditions than in nearby Washington, DC during this game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday . Far snowier: Eagles fans in Philly seemed to stick around, too, as major snow crept up the East Coast on Sunday while they hosted the Detroit Lions . Pittsburgh: The Steelers game against the Miami Dolphins in Pittsburgh also got more snow, and stirred more excitement, than the Redskins trouncing . It was perhaps the least interesting among all the East Coast games affected as the powerful, wintry storm that chilled much of North America through the previous week. Griffin, the 2011 Heisman trophy winner, has had a terrible year following his horrifying fall during January's losing game to the Seattle Seahawks, which knocked the Redskins out fo playoff contention. Since the injury, the final among several that unltimately left RGIII with two torn knee ligaments, the number 2 draft pick of 2012 has only fallen further. Bad year: RGIII has seen nothing but drama since this cringe-inducing fall in January ended what could have been a triumphant 2012 season for Griffin . Marital woes? What could have been a good day, the day RGIII was married in July, ended up being terrible for the quarterback after a Hooters waitress exposes purported proof he sent her racy messages on his wedding day . Speculation swirled immediately following his cringe-inducing fall around Coach Mike Shanahan's decision to play the already visibly weakened RBIII him in the first place. Even the day of his nuptials to Rebecca Liddicoat in July only remained a happy one briefly. Rumors soon spread online, along with purported visual proof, that RGIII had been sending racy messages to a Virginia Hooters waitress on the very day of his wedding. Griffin has also enured weeks of . questions about his relationship with Shanahan, who is rumored to take . issue with Griffin's relationship with the team owner Dan Snyder. Shanahan appears the odd man out in the triangle of coach, owner and franchise player. While . Shanahan has failed to even deny rumors he planned to quit last season, . the Washington Post reports that Griffin was recently overcome with . emotion as he discussed the off-the-field speculation and chatter. 'I’m . getting frustrated now, and trying to hold everything back,' Griffin . said as his eyes watered. 'Some things are allowed to happen, and we can . cut a lot of this stuff out, and it is not being cut out. I don’t know . what else I can do about that.' Deepening rifts? Griffin (right) has also been forced to fend off continued rumors about his embattled relationship with head coach Mike Shanahan (left, leaving after Sunday's losing game) | Photos show a nearly abandoned FedEx Field in Washington, DC at halftime in Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs .
The Chiefs were winning 38-10 at halftime and ultimately stomped the Redskins 45 to 10 .
Embattled Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III was sacked a humiliating five times and finally replaced by backup Kirk Cousins .
Griffin suffered a devastating knee injury last year and has since been accused of cheating on his new wife and other off-the-field accuasations . |
09000c2c75b21039cb182ed9816de323ea2f90d0 | Sunderland have hit out at Jack Colback after the 24-year-old moved to rivals Newcastle United on a free transfer. The Wearside club are angered that a player they have trained since the age of eight has walked out of the club, and particularly upset that he has joined their neighbours. Colback chose to sign for his boyhood club Newcastle over Aston Villa and West Ham, who were also interested in his signature. Happy days: New signing Colback holds a Newcastle scarf and poses for photographs pitch side . Controversial: Colback crossed the North East to sign for his boyhood club Newcastle in June . Montage: Sunderland tweeted this picture of Colback scoring and celebrating against Newcastle . Bitter taste: Sunderland are angry at the departure of a player they have nurtured for 16 years . Pointing the way: Colback says he enjoyed his time at Sunderland but couldn't pass up the opportunity . In a statement the club claimed to have offered the midfielder everything he had asked for, and said that the transfer 'left a bitter taste'. ‘Jack is a player we have nurtured and developed through our academy system since he was eight years old,' the statement read. 'We gave him the opportunity to become a professional footballer and are therefore extremely disappointed in the events that have led to his departure from the club. ‘This wasn’t about money - the club agreed to all of the terms demanded of us during discussions and we were always led to believe that Jack wanted to stay with us. 'At his and his representatives’ request, . final talks were put on hold until the club secured its top flight . status. To our dismay however, we were subsequently never given the . chance to negotiate with him to stay. That will go down well: Colback celebrates Sunderland's victories over Newcastle . 2008-2014: SUNDERLAND: 115 apps / 4 goals . 2009-2010: IPSWICH (loan): 37 apps / 4 goals . 2010-2011: IPSWICH (loan): 13 apps / 0 goals . ‘For him to then leave the club that has supported him throughout his formative years in such a manner, with no chance for Sunderland to recover any of the significant investment that it has made in him as a player, has left a bitter taste.' The club also posted a picture of Colback celebrating against his new club on their Twitter page. Colback, however, appears to see the split differently, claiming he leaves Sunderland with positive emotions towards the club. He said: ‘I’m absolutely delighted. To come to the team I supported as a boy, my hometown team, will be really special for me. ‘It was an . opportunity I couldn’t let slip. If you asked fans around the world the . one thing they’d like to do before they die, it would be to play for the . team they support and I’ve got the chance to do that. ‘I’ve . only got good things to say about Sunderland, they gave me my chance . and I want to thank the fans and the club for all their support. I hope . they can understand the chance I’ve had here to move to my boyhood . club. 'Now I can’t wait to pull on the black and white shirt at St. James’ Park for the first time.’ Switching sides: Colback is sure to be booed when he faces Sunderland next season for Newcastle . Colback accepts that he will get stick from Sunderland fans, but says it is all part of being a professional. 'I'm sure I will be hated quite a lot there now and the derby at the Stadium of Light should be interesting,' he told The Sun. 'But it is not something I can dwell on and I am strong enough to deal with it. 'This is football and I couldn't allow myself to think about what fans were going to say and then miss this chance.' | Club statement attacks midfielder and his representatives .
Sunderland trained Colback from the age of eight and are 'extremely disappointed' that he left for free to join their biggest rivals .
Club posted pictures of Colback scoring against Newcastle on Twitter .
Colback refused new contract despite demands being met .
24-year-old has 'only got good things to say about Sunderland' but couldn't turn down opportunity to join boyhood club .
Midfielder acknowledges that Sunderland fans may now hate him but decided not to let that stand in his way . |
090127b3c254b352ffebcf4b2109f04482a2312b | A 100-year-old great-grandfather has been revealed as Britain's oldest 'office boy'. When most would be ready to put their feet up and enjoy retirement - former engineer Jim Clements was so bored at 66 he took a new job with a Harlow security firm and is still there 34 years later. And after entering his 86th year of employment in 2013, Mr Clements say he has no intention of giving up yet. Scroll down for video . Long-serving: 34-years after retirement, Jim Clements from Harlow in Essex, is still an office worker at 100 . Enthusiast: Jim was bored at home in 1978 and took the job at a Harlow security firm, where he has many duties including making the tea . Star: Jim is well-known for his strong work ethic, but is also a renowned flirt with the ladies in the office . The centenarian still works two days a week doing the filing, shredding documents, answering the phone and photocopying. Jim is also responsible for making the tea - and is renowned for being a flirt, his colleagues say. Father-of-two Jim, who celebrated his 100th birthday last week, said today he loves work and will not retire again. 'I do some filing, shredding documents, answering the phone, photocopying and making the tea for the girls,' he said. Long life: This picture from Jim with his son, Barry and wife, Gladys, who he married in 1944 . Happy couple: Jim with his wife, Gladys, who died 19 years ago after a long marriage with lots of children and grandchildren . Generations: The 100-year-old from Harlow in Essex with his daughter Susan . 'I like to keep myself busy and I have always enjoyed being at work. It's so good to still be active. It keeps the cogs moving and keeps me young. 'The girls in the office are lovely. They look after me and give me a lift home. 'I have never wanted to stop working. My favourite job ever was working for the MOD it was often top secret and was skilled work. 'But I have been in this job now 34 years and everyone here feels like my extended family. 'I have a laugh with the girls in the office, I pull their leg and they pull mine. My day to day tasks consist of making the tea and coffee, answering the phones, shredding all the old papers and filing. 'They really look after me here and make sure that I'm okay day to day. I'm very grateful that they have kept me on into old age and I certainly have no plans to retire yet.' Party boy: Jim is still working as an office assistant for Active Security Group, and is pictured here on his 100th birthday last week with his boss Tim Geddes . Jobs: Filing, sorting, shredding and various other responsibilities fall to Jim, and he still does them brilliantly . Dedicated: Mr Clements, one of eight children, says he could never give up work as it keeps him young . Jim, who was born as one of eight children, went to school in High Wych, Hertfordshire, before leaving aged 14 to begin an apprenticeship in engineering. During the war years Jim worked at the Ernest Lake Ltd factory in nearby Bishop's Stortford making torpedoes. It was there he met his wife Gladys, the couple married in 1944 and were together until she passed away 19 years ago. When he became bored with his retirement in 1980 Jim accepted a temporary position with Active Security, in Harlow, where he still works today. Popular: His female colleagues love Jim and even him take him to and from work in return for copious cups of tea . Varied: Mr Clements has worked for 84 years - and during the war years Jim worked at the Ernest Lake Ltd factory in Bishop's Stortford making torpedoes . Hobbies: Despite loving fishing and other activities retirement could not keep him away from work as he said he was bored at 66 . Office colleagues yesterday said everyone at the company is 'gobsmacked' he is still working at 100. Jacky Cowley said: 'Jim is amazing. He still works two days a week helping out in the office. 'Everyone who works with him is gobsmacked that he is 100 because he only looks in his 80s. 'He is a lovely man and a real character. He has a wicked sense of humour and is very highly thought of by everyone.' Jim has two children called Barry and Susan, four grandchildren, Ashley, Adam, Mark and Samantha and a great-granddaughter, Georgia. | Jim Clements quit work in 1978 but was so restless he joined a security firm .
'Work keeps the cogs moving and keeps me young,' the 100-year-old says .
He files, shreds and answers the phone, as well as make tea for the girls .
86 years of work including making torpedoes to sink U-boats in WW2 .
Jim has two children, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild . |
090186fad96048416d9ff3f3e647ffafb3cc727f | Arrested: Emery Jenkins, 38, told police that he dropped Joseph in the bath, knocking his head, a week earlier and that he had also fallen from a swing that same week . A father with a history of domestic abuse has been arrested on suspicion of killing his two-month-old son who was found beaten to death with bite marks covering his body. Emery Jenkins, who turns 38 today, was arrested after the lifeless body of his son, Joseph, was found at the family home in Deer River, Minnesota on October 16. Paramedics performed CPR on the child in a desperate bid to save his life but to no avail. He was taken to a Deer River hospital and then airlifted to St. Marys Hospital in Duluth where he died the following day. The doctor who treated him described his cause of death as a 'blunt force trauma', consistent with beating. He said the youngster suffered a skull fracture and broken ribs as well as what appeared to be bite marks on his chest, hands and feet. Jenkins told police that he dropped Joseph in the bath, knocking his head, a week earlier and that he had also fallen from a swing that same week. He explained the marks by saying a neighbour's dog had bitten him as an infant while strapped into a car seat. The child's mother, however, told authorities that Jenkins in fact bit the baby multiple times because he was crying. Jenkins wouldn’t allow the baby to go to a scheduled medical appointment because he did not want anyone to see the injuries, the complaint said. She also said they made up the story about the neighbor’s dog biting the baby. Court records showed that Jenkins has a history of domestic-related violence in Minnesota from 1995 to 2010. Small town: Jenkins was arrested after the lifeless body of his son, Joseph, was found at the family home in Deer River, Minnesota on October 16 . He has been convicted three times of domestic assault, once of violating a protection order, twice for other assaults, three times for disorderly conduct and once for drink driving. If convicted, Jenkins could spend forty years behind bars of convicted of murder. | Emery Jenkins arrested after body of son Joseph found in Deer River, Minn .
Boy was rushed to hospital but died a day later from 'blunt force trauma'
He had fractured skull, broken ribs and bite marks on chest, hands and feet .
Jenkins claimed he dropped him in shower and that neighbour's dog bit him .
He has long list of convictions, from domestic assault to drink driving . |
0902032e9393f46d1124ac08ef7e70ad3c31adf2 | Jerusalem (CNN) -- Israeli police arrested two suspects Saturday in connection to a deadly wildfire raging in the country's north, though a police spokesman said it appears the fires started out of negligence. The fires have killed 41 and injured 17 others. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the suspects are being questioned at a local police station but police now believe the fires were due to negligence rather than arson. As the police probe unfolded, firefighters continued to battle three major blazes fueled by shifting winds. The fire, the worst in Israel's history, is still not under control, Rosenfeld said. The flames spread over 10,000 acres around Haifa, Israel's third largest city, threatening businesses, tourism and one of Israel's greenest regions, Mount Carmel. "If you look over the hills at Haifa, you can see smoke billowing over the sea," said Rosenfeld, adding that the winds have forced authorities to close down roads to the coastal area. About 17,000 people have been evacuated, but residential areas are not under threat, he said. On Saturday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to the help Israel received from other nations, including Egypt, Turkey and Jordan, as "heartwarming," the Jerusalem Post reported. "One thing is clear, the Israeli people are standing together and many, many countries are together with Israel. This is no small thing," Netanyahu said during a press conference. "This is surely a point of light in this our festival of lights Hanukkah," he said. Israeli's military noted in a statement Saturday that firefighters from Bulgaria and Greece had joined Israeli personnel on the blaze's frontlines. Netanyahu's office said that so far, several nations have committed 10 airplanes and three helicopters to help Israel fight the raging fire, including four from Greece, one from Cyprus, two from Turkey, two from Russia and one from France. These are in addition to several Israel Defense Forces aircraft, including two to four charged with surveying the region from above. British Prime Minister David Cameron instructed the Royal Air Force to deploy two helicopters from Cyprus to help put out the fire, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Friday. Netanyahu spoke Saturday morning with the president of Switzerland to recruit additional air support, his office said. Five U.S. Defense Department aircraft will leave for Israel this weekend to help fight the fire. They include three C-130 firefighting aircraft from the U.S. Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard and two C-130s from the U.S. European Command, which will depart Ramstein Air Base in Germany carrying 20 tons of fire retardant, the U.S. Agency for International Development said. The agency said it has already chartered commercial aircraft to deliver 45 tons of fire retardant and 12,000 liters of foam to suppress the flames. A team of experts from the U.S. Forest Service's Disaster Assistance Support Program is also heading to Israel, the agency said. Hague expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and to the thousands who have had to be evacuated because of the blaze. "This tragedy is all the more sad as it comes as the Jewish community around the world celebrates Hanukkah, a time of hope and joy," Hague said. "The UK will continue to do whatever it can to help." Two funerals took place Saturday after another eight were held Friday for those killed, Rosenfeld said. Most of the 41 victims were cadets in Israel's prison service who arrived Thursday to help evacuate 500 inmates from the Damon prison near Haifa. Among the dead, 40 were apparently burned alive when their bus, traveling along a narrow mountain road, was engulfed by the fast-moving blaze, the Jerusalem Post reported. In an interview with the newspaper, a firefighter spokesman said the bus was gone in less than three minutes. "The bus had no chance. They tried to escape but were burned alive," the spokesman said. "It was a horrific scene." The IDF said the victims will be buried with full honors in military ceremonies. Israeli firefighter spokesman Yoram Levy said shifting 29 kph (18 mph) winds made the inferno harder to control as flames neared a neighborhood in Haifa, a major tourist destination on the northern coast. Built on the slopes of Mount Carmel about 50 miles north of Tel Aviv, Haifa's metropolitan area is also host to historical sites that date to Biblical times. The fire has also threatened a sensitive ecological area near the Hai Bar nature reserve. Known as Mount Carmel's "Little Switzerland," the reserve is home to a wildlife preservation project that seeks to bring back native species mentioned in the Old Testament. Though Israel is known for its military might, it has been criticized for failing to properly handle the blazes. CNN's Paul Colsey contributed to this report. | NEW: Firefighters from Bulgaria, Greece among international forces aiding fight .
Fires, fueled by shifting winds, are still not under control .
Two suspects have been arrested .
The fire has killed 41 people and injured 17 . |
09021f668bd30a632e1abf651fa8744b82f4e9f0 | The makers of a giant 17-storey water slide have released a terrifying promo video of their new ride. Thrill-seekers riding the Verruckt - German for Insane - will be sent down in four-person inflatable rafts at more than 65mph when it is completed later this year. Bosses at the Kansas City water park Schlitterbahn promise their ride will become the world's tallest, fastest and steepest. Scroll down for video . Vertigo inducing: The Verruckt - German for Insane - will become the . world's tallest, steepest and fastest water ride when it opens . 'Game changer': The 17-storey drop will beat the current record of 134.5ft held by a Brazilian slide . Huge: The enormous slide is being built at water park Schlitterbahn in Kansas City . The new video shows vertigo-inducing pictures of the giant slide being built on site. The slide's drop is so steep, it is almost at a right-angle to the ground. Thrill-seekers will need to climb 264 steps to reach the top where they will wait on a deck made from railroad tanker cars. They will then be sent hurtling down into the pool below. The exact height of the Verruckt has not being revealed but bosses say it will be taller than the current record holder, the 134.5ft Insano slide in Fortaleza, Brazil. Under construction: The slide is being built and is due to open in May when it will be officially measured . Thrilling: Once at the bottom of the huge drop, riders are then sent up a second five-storey hill . Verruckt's height will be officially measured its May opening date. Larry Pitcher, the park's director of marketing and sales, told The Kansas City Star: 'We have always been family friendly, but this will attract those adrenaline junkies who are always looking for that next biggest, coolest thrill.' The rafts will drop more than 130ft before being sent up another five-storey tall hump and then down again into the pool. Mr Picther said: 'At Schlitterbahn we . love rides that encourage people to share the experience. Besides it’s . more fun if someone is screaming in your ear.' Big climb: Riders will ascend more than 260 steps to reach the top deck made from railroad cars . Building momentum: The water park released a video of the first stages of the construction work . Current record holder: Schlitterbahn bosses promise their ride will be higher than the Guinness Book of Records official tallest water ride of Insano in Brazil . The ride was designed by Schlitterbahn co-owner Jeff Henry who said it will be a 'game changer' for the industry. He has also created pioneering rides including the uphill water slide. Last year, the Gunness Book of Records listed Brazil's Insano as the world's tallest. Equivalent in height to a 14-storey building, the ride plunges swimmers from sky to pool in just four or five seconds travelling at speeds of around 65 miles an hour. Constructed in 1989, the thrill ride attracts daredevils from all over the world. | Video shows vertigo-inducing pictures of the giant slide being built .
Verruckt - German for Insane - will be at Schlitterbahn in Kansas City .
It is expected to open for thrill-seekers at amusement park in May .
Riders will have to climb 264 steps to reach top deck made of railroad cars .
Will hurtle down 65mph before ascending another five-storey hill .
Bosses say ride will beat current record holder Insano in Brazil . |
09030bc248f3d457d906a0e29ba0276cce761e0d | If a dog becomes trapped in icy water, owners are always advised not to follow them in. And this video shows why it really is best to leave it to the experts. The footage, captured in Poland, shows a black dog clearly in distress as it clings onto a ice sheet, having fallen into the water. The fireman puts his own safety on the line for the desperate dog who was trapped in an icy river . After struggling to get its legs going on exit, the dog soon scampers off after being pulled free . The action is shot by a pedestrian on a bridge above the stranded pooch, who barks and whines, and is clearly in a perilous position. But a group of firemen come up with an ingenious way to help rescue the dog before it perishes due to the cold. One brave firefighter edges down the ladder, before extending a hooked stick forward towards the shivering canine to snare the collar. Soon the dog is pulled from the icy water - the lack of balance in it's legs on exiting demonstrating how the cold has affected its muscles. The watching audience break out into a round of applause for the successful rescue effort, and the dog scampers off. The hound was seen barking and wailing after being trapped in a freezing Polish river . The fireman uses a hooked pole to snare the dog's collar and eventually pull the pooch clear . | Action recorded on bridge over iced-over river in Poland .
Dog wails for help after becoming trapped in freezing waters .
Fireman clambers along ladder and eventually hooks the dog out .
Bystanders give rescue mission a round of applause on dog's exit . |
09049acbf0ccd7027253bcbc317db170eb4267d0 | By . Meghan Keneally and Lydia Warren . PUBLISHED: . 21:20 EST, 6 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:43 EST, 7 May 2013 . The mother of kidnapping victim Amanda Berry died of a broken heart before learning her daughter was alive, friends revealed today. Amanda, now 26, escaped from the basement of a Cleveland home on Monday night with Gina DeJesus, 23, and Michele Knight, 32, who all disappeared from the same block ten years ago. They were found with a six-year-old girl, who relatives confirmed Amanda gave birth to while held against her will at the home for a decade. Amanda went missing on April 21, 2003 on the day before her 17th birthday - but her mother, Louwana Miller, never gave up hope that she would see her again. Scroll down for videos . Missed: Louwana Miller is pictured with her daughter Amanda Berry before she vanished in 2003, aged 16 . But Miller, who had been hospitalized for months with pancreatitis and other ailments, died in March 2006 aged just 47, without ever learning that her daughter was alive. She had spent the previous three years . looking for Amanda, whose disappearance took a toll as her health . steadily deteriorated, family and friends said. In November 2004, she even turned to a psychic, Sylvia Browne, on Montel Williams' television show. 'She's not alive, honey,' Browne told her. 'Your daughter's not the kind who wouldn't call.' But Councilwoman Dona Brady said she had spent many hours with Miller, who never gave up hope that her daughter was alive. Before the kidnapping: Amanda Berry, pictured . before her disappearance, was last seen leaving her job at Burger King a day before her 17th birthday and told her sister that she was getting a ride home . Broken hearted: Louwana Miller passed away in 2006 after three years of searching for her daughter . 'She literally died of a broken heart,' Brady said. Amanda disappeared shortly after she called her sister to say that she was getting a ride home from her job at Burger King. On . Monday night, Amanda had a smile on her face as she hugged her weeping . sister Beth as the pair were reunited for the first time in a decade . following her decade in captivity. The kidnapping victim also introduced her sister to her daughter, who was born during the 10-year ordeal. When . she fled the house where she was a prisoner and ran across the street . to call police, she was holding the hand of a young girl, who she gave . birth to while being held by her captor. Reunited: Amanda Berry (centre) at the Cleveland Hospital alongside her emotional sister (left) and the daughter that she gave birth to during the 10 years she was held against her will . The girl is seen sitting next to her . in a hospital bed with a hospital bracelet around her wrist in the . photograph of the family reunion released by local station WOIO. Desperate to know what had happened to her daughter, Amanda Berry's mother Louwana Miller turned to a psychic on Montel Williams' television show in 2004. 'She's not alive, honey,' the psychic, Sylvia Browne, told her. 'Your daughter's not the kind who wouldn't call.' Browne said she could see Amanda's jacket in a dumpster with 'DNA on it'. Miller told The Plain Dealer that the blunt words forced her to consider her daughter might never return. She took down her pictures and gave away some of her belongings. She said she '98 per cent' believed the psychic and that she returned from their meeting extremely distressed. 'I still don’t want to believe it. I want to have hope but, after a year and a half, what else is there?' Miller said. 'It seems like the God-honest truth. My daughter would always call home.' Amanda . is flanked by her older sister Beth Serrano, who has maintained the . search for her sister since their mother died in 2006. Berry . was held in captivity at a house owned by Ariel Castro, who has now . been arrested along with his brothers on suspicion of kidnapping. Neighbors . reported hearing the sound of multiple children playing inside the . house, but the identity of the other children and their relation to each . other are not clear. Gina . DeJesus and Michelle Knight, both apparently abducted from the same . block as Berry, were also held hostage in the same house as her. Beth's husband Ted Serrano told WOIO that his wife was overjoyed about her sister's return. 'She said [Amanda]'s okay, she's got a daughter. She said she's okay, she looks good,' Mr Serrano told the station. Amanda's sister has continued to keep the case in the public eye since their mother died. Relatives were emotional throughout the night on Monday, with some unable to speak through their tears. 'I'm . going to hold her, and I'm going to squeeze her and I probably won't . let her go,' Amanda's cousin Tesheena Mitchell told The Cleveland Plain . Dealer. Emotional: Tasheena Mitchell, Amanda's cousin, said that she can't wait to hug her 'and never let her go' 'She's doing okay': Ted Serrano, Amanda's brother-in-law said that he spoke to his wife who was at the hospital with Amanda and she told him that Amanda had a daughter that she gave birth to during her abduction . Beth Serrano has worked closely with the DeJesus family, whose daughter Gina was found in the same home as Amanda. Last year, DeJesus' mother Nancy Ruiz suggested that her daughter might have been the victim of human trafficking. On Monday night, . Gina's cousin confirmed to CNN that Ms Ruiz had spoken with her . daughter at the hospital and confirmed to relatives that she is alright. Gina's aunt, Sandra Ruiz, said that Gina told them that she knew her family had never given up the search for her, even saying that she had posters they had made in the bedroom where she was staying during her capture. '[Gina] knew who we were, and she knew we were looking for her all this time,' Sandra Ruiz told WOIO. 'She had posters we had posted.' Other case: Gina DeJesus went missing in 2004 on . her way home from school and was held captive with Berry . The . Cleveland Police Department released a brief statement confirming that . the three young women were all safe and 'seem to be in good health.' 'Currently . they're safe, we're in the process of evaluating their medical ends. They appear to be in fair condition at the moment,' Cleveland . MetroHealth Emergency doctor Gerald Maloney told reporters at a press . conference Monday night. 'This is really good because this isn't the ending we usually hear to these stories so we're really happy for them,' he said. The dramatic rescue came when a neighbor heard Berry calling for help, kicked the door of the house in and gave her a telephone to call 911. Happy news: Dr Gerald Maloney said that the young women were all in 'fair condition' Held captive: A neighbor managed to kick down a door at the home, pictured, freeing the women . 'Help me, I'm Amanda Berry... I've . been kidnapped and I've been missing for ten years and I'm here. I'm . free now,' she is heard saying in the call to police. 'I . need them now before he gets back!' she said in the frantic phone call, . going on to identify her captor as Ariel Castro, a 52-year-old Hispanic . man. Castro has lived in the house since 1992 and he was arrested for domestic violence in 1993. Berry disappeared on April 21, 2003, a day before her 17th birthday, and a year later DeJesus went missing at the age of 14. Knight was abducted in 2002, but her case was much less famous than those of the other two girls because she was believed to have left home of her own accord. | Louwana Miller spent three years searching for her daughter before she succumbed to pancreatitis and other ailments in 2006 .
Amanda Berry was kidnapped aged 16 on her way home from work .
Found last night in Cleveland house with two other kidnapping victims .
Photo shows the first time Amanda saw her sister in 10 years . |
0904abc83358ec51ff04a92910e58a98f1f127c9 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 18:27 EST, 4 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:12 EST, 4 October 2013 . A Detroit driver allegedly shot and killed a man who told him to slow down because there were children playing in the area. Thyrone Evans, 32, was arrested and has been charged with first-degree premeditated murder and felony firearm charges. Evans is accused of shooting Cleveland Dunklin, 23, on September 30 in front of his home in west Detroit. Victim: Cleveland Dunklin, 23, was shot and killed on September 30 in front of his home in west Detroit . Shooter: Thyrone Evans, 32, is charged with first-degree murder for shooting Dunklin . 'Slow down': The area in west Detroit where Dunklin told Evans to stop speeding because children were playing . Dunklin had seen Evans driving an SUV . at a high rate of speed in the 13900 block of Braile Street about 7pm . and shouted at him to slow down because children were playing nearby, . according to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. The prosecutor’s office said Evans returned to the same block about 50 minutes later and allegedly shot Dunklin. Dunklin's devastated father, Cleveland Dunklin III, said the killing was 'senseless'. 'My boy didn't bother nobody,’ he said. ‘They had words and he went and changed cars and came back and killed my boy.’ Devastated: The victim's father, Cleveland Dunklin III, said the crime was 'senseless' With love: A makeshift memorial has been set up in front of Dunklin's home in the 13900 block of Braile Street . Memorial: Balloons and a cross mark the spot where Dunklin was shot dead on September 30 . A makeshift memorial of a wooden cross, balloons and candles sit outside the Braile Street home, marking the spot where he died. The family says Dunklin IV had a job working in demolition. He was a happy homebody who looked out for his friends and family, according to Local 4 Defenders. His sister, Shahara Horton, says her family is still trying to grasp the cruelty. ‘My two kids, all they talk about is my uncle D-house. My uncle D. That's the killer part,’ she said. Heart-broken: His sister, Shahara Horton, right, says her family is still trying to grasp with the fact that Dunklin, left, is gone . 'Where's Uncle D'?: Dunklin's sister cries as she tells how her children miss her dead brother . 'Good person': The victim's sister, Horton, right, said he was a 'happy homebody' who always looked out for friends and family . Dunklin III said: ‘All I know is I don't have a son no more. All I can do now is make arrangements to bury him properly because he is another victim that got killed for a senseless crime,’ he said. The victim was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead, according to the Detroit Free Press. Evans is scheduled for a preliminary examination on Tuesday. | Thyrone Evans, 32, has been charged with first-degree premeditated murder and felony firearm charges .
The victim, Cleveland Dunklin, 23, yelled at him to slow down .
Evans allegedly returned almost an hour later in a different car and shot Dunklin on the street in front of his home .
He was pronounced dead at a local hospital soon after . |
0905430b69915f61100e3219bbf9b76e4e5379aa | (CNN) -- The U.S. Supreme Court for now has blocked Wisconsin from implementing its voter identification law. After a federal appeals court upheld the law earlier this week, a coalition of private groups had asked the high court to intervene on an emergency basis, complaining the newly-implemented procedures could cause confusion, causing many voters to either not bother to cast a ballot or be mistakenly turned away at the polls. The order issued Thursday evening was opposed by Justices Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas. "It is particularly troubling that absentee ballots have been sent out without any notation that proof of photo identification must be submitted," said Alito. The state had argued the law reduces voter fraud and promotes accurate record-keeping, saying that producing a government-issued photo identification, such as a driver's license, would not unduly inconvenience most citizens. Wisconsin officials have not announced their next steps to comply with the high court's one-page order. The issue could affect the gubernatorial race between incumbent Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who backs voter ID, and his Democratic challenger Mary Burke. The Wisconsin cases are Frank v. Walker (14A376) and (14A352). Meantime in Texas, a judge struck down that state's voter ID law, saying it would disenfranchise minority voters and therefore could not be implemented. "We are extremely pleased with today's ruling, a ruling that was compelled by the facts of this case. Following a two-week trial that included testimony from nearly 40 witnesses, Texas failed to identify a single instance of in-person voter fraud -- the purported justification for Texas's photo ID law," said Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the nation's leading civil rights law firm and a separate entity from the NAACP. "The Court today effectively ruled that racial discrimination simply cannot spread to the ballot box." The office of state Attorney General Greg Abbott said in a statement it would appeal "and urge the Fifth Circuit (federal court) to resolve this matter quickly to avoid voter confusion in the upcoming election. The U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that voter ID laws are constitutional so we are confident the Texas law will be upheld on appeal." U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder lauded both the Wisconsin and Texas decisions. "This Department will never yield in its commitment to protecting that most sacred of Americans' rights -- the right to vote," he said in a statement. | Coalition of private groups had asked high court to intervene .
Justices Alito, Scalia and Thomas opposed the order .
The issue could affect Wisconsin's race for governor .
Judge in Texas also strikes down state's voter ID law . |
09056172e8fa5d9ff37148caeaec326ed963d188 | By . Associated Press . Last updated at 3:34 PM on 26th November 2011 . Pope Benedict XVI insisted today sexual abuse was not just confined to within the church, but affected every institution in society. His remarks to U.S. bishops during an audience at the Vatican hinted at recent high-profile American sex abuse cases which do not involve the clergy. The pope added that he felt paedophilia was a 'scourge' for all society, and that he understood decades of scandals over clergy abusing children had left Catholics in the United States bewildered. Speaking out: Pope Benedict, pictured earlier this week, said today all of society's institutions should be held to 'exacting' standards in their response to the sex abuse of children, not just the church . 'It is my hope that the Church's . conscientious efforts to confront this reality will help the broader . community to recognize the causes, true extent and devastating . consequences of sexual abuse, and to respond effectively to this scourge . which affects every level of society,' he said. 'By the same token, just as the church is rightly held to exacting standards in this regard, all other institutions, without exception, should be held to the same standards,' the pope said. The pedophile scandal has exploded in recent decades in the United States, but similar clergy sex abuse revelations have tainted the church in many other countries, including Mexico, Ireland, and several other European nations, including Italy. But the most high-profile sex abuse case in the United States at the moment doesn't involve the church. Accused: Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky allegedly took high school pupils out of class in order to abuse them outside school grounds . Penn State university's former defensive football coordinator Jerry Sandusky has been charged with sexually abusing eight boys, and the fallout has led to the firing of longtime coach Joe Paterno and the departure of university president Graham Spanier. College football in the U.S. is highly popular. The scandal has shaken the reputation of a college program that long had prided itself on integrity. Benedict didn't address accusations by many victims and their advocates that church leaders, including at the office in the Vatican that Benedict headed before becoming pontiff, systematically tried to cover up the scandals, and that they have rarely been held accountable for that. Taken away: Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, centre, is led away by police after being arrested in Harrisburg earlier this month . Investigations, often by civil authorities, revealed that church hierarchy frequently transferred pedophile priests from one parish to another. Benedict told the bishops that his papal pilgrimage to the United States in 2008 'was intended to encourage the Catholics of America in the wake of the scandal and disorientation caused by the sexual abuse crisis of recent decades.' Echoing sentiment he has expressed in occasional meetings with victims of the abuse on trips abroad, Benedict added: 'I wish to acknowledge personally the suffering inflicted on the victims and the honest efforts made to ensure both the safety of our children and to deal appropriately and transparently with allegations as they arise.' Benedict seemed to be reflecting some churchmen's contentions that the church has wrongly been singled out as villains for the abuse. The bishops were making periodic consultations with the Vatican, scheduled for every five years. | Pope tells U.S. bishops he understands decades of scandals has left American Catholics 'bewildered'
Speech hints at other high profile sex scandals in the U.S. not involving the clergy . |
0906d1be19572b845155a43d0788a9d5a88b332c | Will Mauricio Pochettino lead Spurs into the Champions League next season? Will Mauricio Pochettino lead Spurs into the Champions League next season? Now share your opinion . The hard work starts here for Mauricio Pochettino. Firing Tottenham into the Champions League positions next season will be no mean feat. But truth be told, the Argentine has already overcome a sizeable task in becoming Daniel Levy's latest managerial acquisition. The potential appointment of Ajax manager Frank de Boer was the prospect that really got Tottenham supporters' mouths watering. When the Dutchman publicly revealed . Tottenham's interest in him last month, it seemed the start of the road . towards De Boer's appointment. In fact, it was the beginning of the end of his chances of replacing Tim Sherwood at White Hart Lane. Dawn of a new era? Mauricio Pochettino has signed a five-year-deal to become Tottenham manager . In the dugout: Pochettino resigned from Southampton on Tuesday to join the White Hart Lane outfit . Second best: Ajax manager Frank de Boer was also in the running for the Tottenham job . Levy insists on private club business staying private, particularly when it concerns something as delicate as a managerial appointment. De Boer's decision to go public with Spurs' interest riled certain figures at White Hart Lane, and, ironically, worked in Pochettino's favour. As Sportsmail revealed, Carlo Ancelotti was always Levy's dream managerial choice. But the chances of luring the Italian away from Real Madrid looked remote at best. Overlooked: De Boer's public talk of the Spurs job, irked the board who wanted it to remain confidential . Decision maker: Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has appointed three Tottenham managers since December . With that in mind, Levy made his move for Pochettino. Work towards the South American's appointment has been ongoing behind the scenes for over a fortnight. Fears over Pochettino's grasp of English were soon allayed as Spurs chiefs discovered, despite his decision to use an interpreter for his press duties, that he communicates freely and confidently in English. As a result, he will be expected to conduct his public speaking in English, without the use of an interpreter. But just as Tottenham were laying the groundwork for the arrival of Pochettino, Southampton were just as busy; attempting to keep their highly-rated boss at St Mary's. The offer of a new three-year contract and the promise of a healthy transfer kitty were made, providing Pochettino with somewhat of a dilemma. But in his heart-of-hearts Pochettino's mind was made up; a chance of moving to a club the size of Tottenham does not come around often. Even last week, however, when Pochettino looked nailed on to replace Sherwood, things could easily have turned out differently. It is understood further contact between Tottenham and De Boer took place at the start of last week as decision time loomed for Levy and Co. Deposed: Tim Sherwood was sacked as Spurs boss in May despite signing an 18-month contract in December . Winning smile: Real Madrid's Carlo Ancelotti was Levy's dream candidate for the Tottenham hotseat . Going into the weekend it was virtually neck-and-neck between Pochettino and De Boer. 'Pochettino has a 51 percent chance, De Boer 49,' said one source. And when Real Madrid lifted their 10th European crown in Lisbon on Saturday night, thus ending any hope of luring Ancelotti back to the capital, Levy knew it was time. Pochettino or De Boer? The former Espanyol manager's five-year deal at White Hart Lane seems a strong commitment given Levy's penchant for hiring and firing. Familiar face: Pochettino could raid former club Southampton for striker Jay Rodriguez . And it's hiring and firing that will take up much of Pochettino's time between now and the start of the season. He will be given a healthy transfer budget to strengthen the Spurs squad, with Adam Lallana and Jay Rodriguez among the early contenders to follow him from St Mary's. But last summer's splurge on over £100million worth of talent will mean there is not another blow out. Pochettino will be expected to coax the best out of his star-studded squad; in particular £30million misfit Erik Lamela. Last hurrah? Emmanuel Adebayor (right) could be leaving Tottenham following Pochettino's appointment . The Argentine will look to supplement his transfer budget by offloading a clutch of players: Emmanuel Adebayor, who is a target for Monaco, Roberto Soldado and Michael Dawson are among those who could go. Similarly, Pochettino will seek talks with unsettled duo Jan Vertonghen and Hugo Lloris, who are both keen on moves to Champions League club's this summer. It's already been a busy summer for Pochettino; and it's about to get busier. | Mauricio Pochettino signed a five-year deal as Tottenham boss on Tuesday .
Pochettino resigned from Southampton to move to White Hart Lane .
Pochettino replaces Tim Sherwood who was sacked earlier in May .
Ajax manager Frank de Boer was the fans' favourite for the role .
De Boer's public revealing of Spurs' interest, irked the Tottenham board .
Daniel Levy's dream choice was Real Madrid's Carlo Ancelotti .
Adam Lallana and Jay Rodriguez are two possible targets for Pochettino .
Emmanuel Adebayor, Roberto Soldado and Michael Dawson could leave . |
0907d10cef4924fe3d04f53fae60631a0b0d3e5d | By . Sam Greenhill and Rebecca English . Last updated at 1:49 AM on 26th October 2011 . Fawning letters from Prince Charles and Tony Blair to Colonel Gaddafi have been discovered at one of the despot’s palaces. Addressing the dictator as ‘Your Excellency’, the heir to the throne called for greater ties between Libya and the UK. It is the latest embarrassing link to emerge between the British Establishment and Gaddafi’s regime, following revelations that Prince Andrew was also used as a go-between. In his letter to toe late Libyan leader, Prince Charles called for greater ties between Libya and the UK . Penned a letter: Prince Charles's 2007 letter to Colonel Gaddafi called for greater ties between the two nations . Prince Charles’s letter is dated June 7, 2007, and was discovered in a palace used by Saif al-Islam, Gaddafi’s London-educated playboy son. The prince praised the dictator for his work with Christians, Aids victims and the British Council, writing: ‘I just wanted to write to Your Excellency to say how heartened I am by the breadth of these developments.’ Charles’s letter was sent days after Tony Blair had visited Libya in his final weeks as Prime Minister to seek oil and defence deals for British companies. The prince went on to say he had been briefed on Mr Blair’s trip and ‘the positive way in which relations between Libya and the United Kingdom are developing’. Another letter to Gaddafi was sent by Mr Blair a month later, stressing the determination of his government to pursue deals with his regime. Former prime minister Tony Blair meets Colonel Gaddafi at his desert base outside Sirte south of Tripoli in 2004 . Both letters preceded an agreement to provide an air defence system which would have been designed to thwart the type of attacks with which Nato helped to unseat Gaddafi. Last month, Prince Andrew’s role was revealed in papers discovered at the British ambassador’s residence in Tripoli. Prince Andrew's role was revealed in papers discovered at the British ambassador's residence in Tripoli . The Duke of York was offered up to meet Gaddafi as the Labour government desperately tried to appease the unpredictable dictator. Royal sources insisted that Charles’s letter was nothing to do with defence contracts, and was part of an international campaign to free six Bulgarian nurses imprisoned in 1998 after being falsely accused of infecting Libyan children with HIV. ‘The charges were clearly trumped up and governments across the EU were involved in the campaign for their release,’ a royal source told the Daily Mail. ‘This was not something that the prince chose to do off his own back. It was a piece of international diplomacy at the request of the Government.’ A spokesman for Mr Blair said: ‘Gaddafi was received in several European capitals, including Brussels, Rome and Paris. ‘There was, therefore, at that time no reason whatsoever for not continuing to engage with him, especially since Mr Blair in office had been responsible for getting Gaddafi to give up his chemical and nuclear weapons programme and renounce terrorism.’ | The heir to the throne called for greater ties between Britain and Libya in his letter .
Prince praised dictator for his work with Christians, Aids victims and the British Council . |
0908c1356ed16aee4d108c90d10891859065bf7b | (CNN) -- Israel has halted a plan that would have displaced tens of thousands of Bedouins in the southern part of the country. The controversial plan would have involved destroying "unrecognized" villages in the Negev, and resettling the displaced Bedouin citizens into "recognized" villages. Benny Begin, a former lawmaker who helped construct the plan, said Thursday it does not have enough votes in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, to move forward. The Prawer Plan was based on an effort to better integrate Israel's Bedouin population into Israeli society. Following recommendations of a committee chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice Eliezer Goldberg, the Israeli Cabinet approved a plan in 2011. The Cabinet also approved more economic development in the Bedouin sector of the Negev, the government said at the time. But the plan to displace Bedouins sparked anger. Last month, Israeli riot police broke up a demonstration comprising more than 1,000 people who were protesting. According to Israeli sources, more than 40,000 Bedouins would have been affected by the plan; Bedouin elders estimate the total at more than 70,000. In a statement Thursday, Begin said he has suggested that the law be halted, but efforts to develop the Bedouin communities in the Negev continue. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "accepted my suggestion," he said. | Israel halted a controversial plan that would have displaced tens of thousands of Bedouins .
The plan, which angered the Bedouins, did not get enough votes in parliament .
The aim was to integrate the historic farming community more into Israeli society . |
090d05c80da8dc901387c82681f0217d6fc65abd | By . Jennifer Newton . A rescue cat looks set to be crowned the world's oldest feline after her owners found proof she is a staggering 28-years-old. Pinky who was born in July 1986, which makes her 129 in human years, was taken in by her owners Ann and Bob Higginbottom as a four-month-old kitten and she has lived with the couple ever since in Dunston, Lincolnshire. The pair have documentation of early visits to vets, which prove that at 28-years-old Pinky could be officially the world's oldest cat. Pinky, who is celebrating her 28th birthday, which could make her the world's oldest cat poses next to her birthday cake . The Guinness Book of Records has a cat from Bournemouth called Poppy, listed as the world's oldest, but she died earlier this month aged 24 meaning Pinky could take the crown. Pinky and her brother Perky, who died 10 years ago, were rescued by Bob and Ann after being born on a farm and taken to an RSPCA rehoming centre. This was at a time when Top Gun was wowing cinema audiences, Margaret Thatcher was prime minister and Madonna was top of the charts. But these days Pinky now spends her time in the warmth of the couple's greenhouse at their new bungalow or sunning herself as she watches their ornamental Koi. Today retired caterer Mrs Higginbottom said that Pinky was now completely deaf and 'turning into an old lady'. Her owner, Ann Higginbottom of Dunston in Lincolnshire took in Pinky and her brother Perky, when they were just four-month-old kittens . The 73-year-old explained: 'We got her and Perky when they were just four months old. 'She is amazing really, completely deaf now as is to be expected, but her eyesight is still as sharp as ever. 'She is turning into an old lady now, she likes to sit by our Koi pond and just watch them as they swim about. 'She isn't interested in catching them any more, just likes to watch them. 'When we first got them they chose to live in the barn when we lived at the manor house. Mrs Higginbottom says she has proof of Pinky's age as she kept certificates from vets, showing when the cat had vaccinations . 'It was up to them, I imagine it was because they came from a farm and where used to living out there. 'Now she spends her time out in the greenhouse. 'She comes in and likes to be petted but that's just where she likes to be. She does not like being picked up, but nor do many cats.' The oldest cat ever, according to Guinness World Records, died in Texas, USA, in August 2005 at the age of 38 years. Mrs Higginbottom said that she and her husband were now looking to approach Guinness World Records with Pinky's certificates . Other cats have laid claim to the title, but their owners don't have any documentation to prove their pet is the oldest feline. Mrs Higginbottom said that she and retired quantity surveyor Mr Higginbottom, 87, were now looking to approach Guinness World Records with Pinky's certificates. She added: 'It would be incredible for Pinky to be recognised as the world's oldest cat and as far as we can see there is nothing stopping her being crowned that.' | Pinky was born in July 1986 and at 28 could officially be world's oldest cat .
Has lived with owners Ann and Bob Higginbottom since being a kitten .
Couple from Lincolnshire have proof Pinky could be the world's oldest .
Are looking to approach Guinness World Records with Pinky's certificates . |
090d322e93af624203dbd5dc83403170071c9e6a | Last week, singer Susan Boyle, 52, revealed she was diagnosed with Asperger's a year ago . When . Annette Lewn's children were young, she longed to join in the chats . with other mothers at toddler group coffee mornings, but always felt . like an outsider. 'I desperately wanted to be part of the group, but I . never seemed to say the right thing and I'd get funny looks from . people,' says Annette, 42, a school cleaner who lives in Chippenham, . Wiltshire, with her son Ryan, 15, and daughter Rachel, 14. 'I just don't . pick up on social niceties at all,' she adds. Annette has often . been criticised for being rude or blunt, although she never intends to . be, and the criticism upsets her greatly. 'When I was a teenager I . remember a friend asking me what I thought of her new make-up. She . obviously thought she looked great, but I said she looked like she'd . upset a paint box all over her face. Everyone else just stared at me in . disbelief.' Annette had friends 'but found the reality of having to make conversation stressful, and I'd long to go home and be alone'. Meanwhile, teachers would scold her for not making eye contact. 'I . could mask my personality traits by copying the behaviour of others, . but I just didn't pick up the cues for what was appropriate; it required . huge effort,' recalls Annette. As well as her lack of social skills, Annette's hobbies set her apart. While most of her . friends plastered their walls with pop star posters, she was obsessed . with maps, and stuck her collection of 30 or so all around her bed. Then, . five years ago in her late 30s, Annette discovered the cause of her . quirky behaviour traits. She has Asperger's syndrome, sometimes referred . to as a 'mild' form of autism. Autism is a spectrum disorder . affecting how a person makes sense of the world, processes information . and relates to other people. At one end of the spectrum, some with . Asperger's can often hold down jobs, marry and - on the surface, at . least - live a normal life. But their symptoms can still cause a lot of . distress, with problems in relationships and at school and work. There . are around 700,000 people on the autism spectrum in Britain, according . to The National Autistic Society, with more being diagnosed. Asperger's . is much more common in men, although experts are beginning to wonder if . this is simply because the symptoms are harder to recognise in women. Annette Lewns, from Chippenham, Wiltshire, has also been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome . Last week, singer Susan Boyle, 52, revealed she was diagnosed with Asperger's a year ago. For . years she'd thought her difficulties - she was nicknamed 'Susie Simple' at school - had been caused by complications at birth. She'd also . suffered from anxiety around strangers and struggled with eye contact, . making her feel 'different' and 'an outsider' throughout her childhood. In fact, these were signs of Asperger's. 'Many people with . Asperger's want to be sociable, but have difficulties making friends and . struggle to maintain them,' explains Dr Judith Gould, of the National . Autistic Society. 'They don't understand the unwritten social rules . and can appear aloof or behave inappropriately. This can make them . depressed and cause them to withdraw.' The condition is 'particularly . difficult' to diagnose in females because they are much better at . masking their symptoms than males, says Dr Gould. 'They know they are . different, but still want to fit in and make friends, and so will learn . how to "act" in social situations. Men can do this, too, but they don't . care as much about fitting in and don't tend to need to be as sociable . as women. 'Girls also tend to be more passive than boys with . Asperger's, who are usually more aggressive. Consequently, it's easier . to detect it in boys. 'The strain of trying to work out how to behave . and interact can make women anxious, and this can often be misdiagnosed . as depression or they will develop an eating disorder. They may obsess . about counting every calorie, for example, or how much exercise they can . do.' Developing obsessional interests is another common Asperger's trait. 'Girls . might, for instance, develop an obsession with a celebrity, a soap . opera, horses or Barbie dolls,' says Dr Gould. 'What will stand out, . though, is the intensity of that interest or the rituals of how their . collections will be displayed. Perfectionism is another common trait. And a love of strict routines.'What causes it is not clear, though . research using MRI brain scans has shown differences in specific areas . of the brains of children who have Asperger's, including the frontal . lobe which controls our ability to control and moderate our behaviour. The condition is 'more difficult' to diagnose in females because they are much better at masking symptoms . Asperger's . was formally recognised by the World Health Organisation as a distinct . condition only in 1994. Therefore, many adults, such as Susan Boyle and . Annette, are only just now getting a diagnosis. 'There are various . red flags that an experienced clinician will pick up on, such as a lack . of interest in people in childhood,' says Dr Gould. Most of those . with Asperger's have average or above-average intelligence. But . typically, girls with Asperger's will underachieve at school unless a . teacher nurtures them, says Dr Gould. 'They have intelligence, but not . social intelligence: they don't pick up on the whole picture. 'Many . will go on to struggle in a work situation because, although they can . focus on the job, they can't do the social chit-chat which can help them . fit in and get on.' After leaving school Annette worked at a care . home, and although she loved the routine, she found getting on with her . colleagues difficult. 'It baffled me - I just didn't know what I was . doing wrong,' she says. 'I knew I was different, but I just thought it . was my fault and that I wasn't the popular type.' In her 20s Annette met her husband Russell, a firefighter, now 44 (the couple have since separated). 'He carried me in social situations. I felt safe with him,' says Annette. 'I still struggled with female friendships, though.' Then, when their son Ryan was three-and-a-half years old, he was diagnosed with Asperger's.'Luckily, . I never had a problem bonding with the children,' says Annette. 'But . before Ryan's diagnosis, I had wondered if his behaviour was my fault. I . even went to parenting classes.' After their daughter Rachel's . diagnosis at the age of nine, Annette wondered if she herself had it, . too, as Rachel's behaviour was so similar to her own. 'I started . doing more research and took an online diagnosis test for Asperger's and . scored quite high,' says Annette. 'It was a wake-up call. 'My GP . said there was no point getting a diagnosis, but I knew through my . experience with my children that the right support can make a . difference. I was eventually diagnosed in 2011, but only after being . referred to a psychiatrist for depression by my GP. 'It was a great relief to finally find out why I'd always felt like an outsider.' Tom . Madders, head of campaigns at the National Autistic Society, says the . problem is that the condition is often not spotted. He adds: 'Only 63 of . 152 local authorities have a diagnostic pathway in place - a set route . for GPs to refer on to a specialist so people with suspected Asperger's . can be assessed.' Once the condition is diagnosed, the charity runs . courses on social skills, a befriending scheme as well as providing . information on employment and other training. Since Annette's . diagnosis, she has completed a maths qualification, taken a cognitive . behavioural therapy course to help with her anxiety and now works as a . volunteer mentor in a school. 'My confidence has improved and I can . finally explain to people why I might come across the way I do,' explains Annette. 'I'd love to work in education - and I think with . support I could study for qualifications. 'All we "Aspies" need is some extra help with our social skills.' For more information, visit autism.org.uk. | Singer Susan Boyle revealed she was diagnosed with Asperger's a year ago .
Annette Lewn, 42, from Wiltshire was five years ago, in her late 30s .
Many 'want to be sociable but have difficulties maintaining friendships' |
090db57729f6933852c165d101fee609d78ddfc8 | By . Anthony Bond . PUBLISHED: . 11:40 EST, 9 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:43 EST, 9 May 2013 . A gang of fraudsters who fleeced a woman out of her £1million life savings and blew the cash on cheeseburgers, gold and computers are facing jail. The victim fell prey to a 'phishing' scam in which she unwittingly revealed her personal details after receiving a bogus bank email from Egyptian national, Tamer Abdelhamid. Most of the money was spent during a lavish three-day shopping extravaganza in the New Year sales in January 2012. According to detectives gang members blew their cash on items 'ranging from cheeseburgers to high-end computers and gold'. Prosecuted: A gang of fraudsters who fleeced a woman out of her £1million life savings and blew the cash are facing jail. Gang member Rilwan Adesegun Oshodi, is pictured left, and Annette Jabeth, right . Using the online moniker 'Aimless88', Abdelhamid, 24, sold on the information for £3,200 to Nigerian national, Rilwan Oshodi, 29, before Annette Jabeth, 26, originally from Sierra Leone, pretended to be the victim and arranged for her bank details to be changed. The British victim was living in South Africa at the time of the fraud in December 2011, oblivious to the fact the cash was being siphoned out of her account. During a raid of Oshodi's home last year, detectives discovered computers with details of more than 11,000 credit cards, including those of almost 8,500 UK customers - worth an estimated £2.5million loss to the banking industry. Police worked closely with the banking industry to identify many of those involved and subsequently arrested them in March, April and September 2012, following a series of co-ordinated raids across London and the West Midlands. Fraud: The victim fell prey to a 'phishing' scam in which she unwittingly revealed her personal details. This picture shows Rilwan Adesegun Oshodi with what appear to be bottles of champagne . Oshodi poses with bottles of champagne. He denied two counts of conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to launder the proceeds of crime . Cash sandwich: According to detectives gang members blew their cash on items 'ranging from cheeseburgers to high-end computers and gold' Abdelhamid and Jabeth admitted their part in the scam but Oshodi denied two counts of conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to launder the proceeds of crime. He was convicted by a jury following a trial. Brothers Shumail Butt, 21, and Shaharyar, 25, both formerly of Hounslow, Middlesex, were both jailed for 12 months in August last year for their part as 'mules' in the con. They have both since been deported to Pakistan after admitting to being concerned in the acquisition of criminal property. Fellow mules included Chika Okala, 28, who admitted conspiracy to defraud, while Sharna Eve, 20, and a youth who cannot be named, admitted being concerned in the acquisition of criminal property. Convictions: Members of the gang are now facing sentence at Southwark Crown Court, pictured . Jabeth, of Thamesmead, southeast London; Oshodi, of Thamesmead, Okala, of Hackney, east London; Eve, of Tilbury, Essex, together with the youth and Abdelhamid, are all facing sentence at Southwark Crown Court. Detective Superintendent Charlie McMurdie said: 'This is an excellent example of what can be achieved when police work together with industry to tackle the top tier of cyber crime. 'In this case the internet was used to allow disparate criminals to collude regardless of global location, time zone or legal framework. The victim of the crime was in South Africa while the suspects were in Egypt and the UK. 'While the internet can be a fantastic resource, it can also be used to commit old crimes in new ways. It is important that internet users are alert to the risks posed by the ingenuity of online criminals who seek to steal our money.' | Victim fell prey to 'phishing' scam and revealed her personal details .
She receiving .
bogus bank email from Egyptian national Tamer Abdelhamid .
Money was spent during three-day shopping trip in New Year sales . |
090e1a2464ab17d7cd380052323004dcef546251 | By . Louise Boyle . A former Miss Delaware, who was stripped of her crown for being too old, revealed today that she is not giving up the fight to compete in the national Miss America contest. Amanda Longacre, 24, told Today on Monday that she has been nothing but honest with the pageant organizers and that she was willing to sue over the decision to pass her crown to runner-up Brittany Lewis. She said: 'I won the title of Miss Delaware, I am . Miss Delaware. I have been nothing but honest from the beginning. I did . not know that rule. I asked from the beginning if I was eligible and . they said yes, they signed off on my contract, they had my birth . certificate, I gave them everything.' Scroll down for video . Miss Congeniality: Amanda Longacre, 24, (pictured today) who was stripped of her Miss Delaware crown for being too old, is not giving up the fight to compete in the national Miss America contest . Miss Longacre turns 25 in October and the rules state that beauty queens must be between 17 and 24 throughout 2014 to compete in the September Miss America pageant. After less than two weeks as Miss Delaware, the beauty queen was forced to hand back her crown when the age discrepancy was discovered by the national competition. The 24-year-old wept on camera last week as she described the heartache of losing her coveted title. However she is allowed to keep a $9,000 scholarship award which was part of her winnings. Runner-up Miss Lewis will also receive the $9,000 scholarship. For Miss Longacre, however, the fight is all about a title which she believes is rightfully hers. She appeared on the Today show with her attorney who said they were willing to sue the competition organizers over the matter. The Penn State graduate said on Monday: 'I've gotten a lot of support and I'm so appreciative of it. I feel so much love from my state, and even from outside of my state people have been supporting me. 'I've been nothing but honest since the beginning and they don't think it's right either.' She added: 'This is about the title of Miss Delaware that I rightfully won. I want to represent the people of Delaware. I want to be a social worker. This was a great start to a fabulous career for me and it's still going to be a fabulous career for me.' The 24-year-old Penn State graduate wept when she was crowned Miss Delaware earlier this month. The title has now been handed to someone else . She said that although the age rule is in her contract, she assumed she was eligible because the Miss Delaware organization signed off. 'I didn't know the rule, I also competed at the local level and it's been several months. You put your trust in an organization to know their own rules. So when you come forward and you're honest and you put the time and money in, this is not fair.' Miss Longacre said that she planned to fight all the way to compete in Miss America. Miss Longacre, from Bear, Delaware, last week told Today: 'I lost everything and they want to erase me forever.' She added: 'It really hurts because when your peers vote you for Miss Congeniality, you work so hard to get to this position. I haven't been doing pageants for very long, this is all brand new to me.' Miss Longacre sobbed on camera on Friday saying she was devastated at losing the chance to represent the people of Delaware . The 24-year-old, who wants to be a social worker, said that the Miss Delaware Scholarship Organization signed a contract saying that she could compete after she provided her birth certificate and driving license. Miss Longacre said that the Miss American pageant has ignored her attempts to contact them. First runner-up Brittany Lewis of . Wilmington was crowned last Thursday and will go on to represent . Delaware in the national competition. In . a statement to MailOnline on Friday, the Miss Delaware Scholarship . Organization said: 'Following the Miss Delaware Pageant, it was . determined that Amanda Longacre exceeded the age requirement in order to . be eligible to compete therefore, the Miss Delaware 2014 title is . awarded to Brittany Lewis. 'The Miss Delaware Pageant is proud to congratulate Brittany and wishes Amanda the very best on her future endeavors.' Brittany Lewis was crowned Miss Delaware 2014 by Miss Delaware 2012 Alyssa Murray of Selbyville in a short ceremony on Thursday evening inside Dover Downs Hotel and Casino. Amanda Longacre was dethroned last Wednesday for being too old . | Amanda Longacre, 24, said today: 'I won the title of Miss Delaware, I am .
Miss Delaware'
She was forced to give up the title and her chance of being Miss America to runner-up Brittany Lewis .
Miss American pageant rules state that contestants must be aged 17-24 for all of 2014 - Miss Longacre turns 25 a month after September event .
She broke down on Today last week: 'I lost everything and they want to erase me forever' |
090ec6099b7b1c5be399e89d325bbd39183a3c38 | By . Simon Tomlinson for MailOnline . Princess Diana's death was caused in part because she had an inadequate security team on the night she died, a former police officer has claimed. Daniel Bourdon, who guarded Diana's body in the morgue, claims her 'DIY' protection detail allowed a chain of events to occur that led to the fatal crash. His claims are made in his new book called Diana: That Night in which he reveals his shock at the standard of the security operation around her and boyfriend Dodi Fayed. An inquest in 2008 heard how an ill-fated plan was devised for off-duty security manager Henri Paul, who had been drinking, to drive the pair away from their hotel in a bid to avoid the paparazzi. Scroll down for video . 'DIY': A picture taken moments before the crash that killed Diana shows the driver Henri Paul (right), bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones (left) with the Princess and her boyfriend Dodi Fayed in the back seat. A former French police officer claims the tragedy happened in part because she had an inadequate security detail that night . CCTV footage shows off-duty security manager Henri Paul arriving at the Ritz hotel in Paris on the night she died. An inquest heard an ill-fated plan was devised to evade paparazzi that night by getting Mr Paul to drive the couple from the back of the hotel while Dodi's usual driver, Philippe Dorneau, remained at the front as a decoy . The hearing ruled they were unlawfully killed due to Mr Paul's 'gross negligence' after the car crashed in a Paris tunnel while being pursued by photographers. In an interview with French newspaper Le Parisien, which has been translated by The Local, Mr Bourdon said: 'My book is not a counter-investigation. 'It reproduces things as they were. Only, according to me, the princess did not have a level of security and protection that an icon like her deserved. 'It was DIY and that allowed a chain of circumstances that had a tragic outcome.' Diana, 36, Fayed, 42, and Mr Paul, 41, were killed in the crash on August 31, 1997, while the Princess's bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones was seriously injured. 'Icon': Former French police officer Daniel Bourdon says he was shocked at the security operation around Diana and Dodi. His new book claims it was a factor in the chain of events that led up to the Princess's death . The inquest heard how a plan was hatched for Mr Paul to drive the couple from the back of the hotel while Dodi's usual driver, Philippe Dorneau, remained at the front as a decoy. Mr Paul decided to drive the car to Dodi's father Mohamed Al-Fayed's apartment in Rue Arsène Houssaye in the early hours of the morning. Mr Paul was reminded moments before setting off that it was not his job to drive the couple but said nothing, the hearing was told. Ritz night security manager Francois Tendil said he had seen no sign that his boss Mr Paul had been drinking that night, although blood tests after the crash showed he was over the drink-drive limit. Mr Bourdon said he was given the task of guarding Diana's body in the morgue at the Salpetriere hospital and spoke to her as he stood there for 15 minutes. 'It was a poignant moment. Her face was magnificent,' he said. | Daniel Bourdon reveals shock at security operation for Diana in new book .
He said: 'She did not have a level of protection an icon like her deserved'
Hotel staff devised plan for off-duty security boss Henri Paul to drive her .
Crash caused by the 'gross negligence' of Mr Paul, who had been drinking . |
090eef340727a5b451c522a3cf7741d4715b9891 | New statistics reveal that an astonishing number of individuals in the United States are infected with sexually transmitted diseases. According to the Center for Disease Control, there are a total of 110 million STDs among the men and women of America, with 20 million new cases being reported every year. The direct medical cost of these infections is said to be $16 billion. Scroll down for video . Scary stats: 110 million cases of sexually transmitted diseases have been reported in the United States, with chlamydia, as seen in the chart above, being one of the most common . Growing numbers: Each year, 20 million news cases of STDs, including syphilis (above), are reported . Perhaps most frightening however is the fact that 50% of new infections occur in individuals between the ages of 15 and 24. This all comes at a time when many in the country are terrified of the threat of Ebola, an infectious disease that has so far been found in just one individual currently in the United States. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common, accounting for almost 80 million existing infections and just over 14 million new ones each year. The four other most common existing infections are, in order, genital herpes, trichomoniasis, chlamydia and HIV according to numbers being reported on Live Science. Chlamydia is the second highest in terms of new infections ever year, and also one of the hardest to measure as many who are infected are unaware as they don't show any symptoms. HIV meanwhile seems to be slowly decreasing when compared to other STDs, with only 40,000 new cases being reported every year. About 50.5 million current infections are in men while 59.5 million are in women. | There are 110 million cases of sexually transmitted diseases in the United States alone, with HPV being the most common .
50% of all new cases occur in individuals between the ages of 15 and 24 .
This comes at a time when most Americans are terrififed of another infectious disease, Ebola . |
090f11597fbe78571fd0d048dbc7784f7032bd16 | By . Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 09:21 EST, 18 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:56 EST, 18 June 2013 . A company director and 'wild swimming' enthusiast drowned after getting into trouble in the English Channel. Jonathan Joyce, 41, co-founder and director of web company Storm ID died after being airlifted to hospital on Saturday. A canoeist had spotted the Edinburgh resident unconscious in the water at Beesands beach near Salcombe, Devon, and took him ashore. Scroll down for video . 'A wonderful and passionate colleague': Jonathan Joyce was found unconscious in the English Channel and later died in hospital. He was a keen promoter of 'wild swimming' Mr Joyce, a co-founder of digital agency Storm ID, enjoyed swimming in lakes, rivers and seas . Mr Joyce was a member of the Outdoor Swimming Society, which promotes swimming in lakes, seas and rivers. The Edinburgh University graduate had previously worked in the city before setting up Storm ID in 2001. His parents Pete, 66 and Denise, 65, paid tribute to him , saying he had 'many reasons to be proud'. They said: 'Storm ID had been established for a few years and they hosted a party on the beach. Missed: Family and work colleagues have spoken of their shock at the super-fit 41-year-old's death and paid tribute to an 'extremely gifted and remarkable individual' 'Jonathan had looked out and seen about 100 people - mothers, fathers, children, young people and their partners - all having fun together in the knowledge that they had a secure future. 'He was proud he had been able to help create that. 'Jonathan lived for 41 years and died knowing that he was loved and admired for every single moment by his parents.' Simon Wall, Paul McGinness and Craig Turpie at Storm ID paid tribute to their colleague on the company website. They said: 'His passing has come as a huge shock to all of us at Storm ID and he will be sorely missed. 'We have lost not only a wonderful and passionate colleague but a dear friend. 'The only comfort we can take is that our lives have been greatly enriched by the privilege of knowing him and for having done some incredible work with an extremely gifted and remarkable individual.' Dave Malins added on the site: 'I really can't believe this. Very sad news indeed. 'JJ was an inspiration, a great friend and colleague, and will be sorely missed.' Mr Joyce was a prominent member of the Outdoor Swimming Society and created a 'wild swim map' for other enthusiasts. The society's website said: 'Jonathan is the missing link with our aquatic ape ancestors. Throwing himself into any water deeper than a puddle he spends all his free time looking for new places to swim, in and around Devon.' Mr Joyce loved 'wild swimming' so much he produced a map of locations to help others to enjoy it . His parents said: 'Jonathan lived for 41 years and died knowing that he was loved and admired for every single moment' | Jonathan Joyce, 41, was found by a canoeist near Salcombe in Devon .
The web company director was a keen promoter of 'wild swimming'
Colleagues said: 'Our lives have been greatly enriched by knowing him' |
09105614309a21154d942f10af6a56ce213e4aa4 | One of New York City's most exclusive restaurants is in a real pickle after being served a "C" grade by the New York City Department of Health. The restaurant, Per Se, was slammed by health inspectors after racking up 42 violation points during its inspection on February 19, city health department records showed. Per Se, one of only seven in New York City to earn three Michelin stars, previously had an "A" rating before the inspection. Violations listed in the latest health inspection included no hand-washing facility or soap in the food-prep area, hot and cold items held in improper temperatures, and eating or drinking in the food-prep area and tobacco use, all of which qualify as "critical" violations, according to the records. In its last inspection in June 2013, Per Se had only one violation worth 7 points, but previous inspections in 2013 and 2011 also fell into the 40-point range. Inspectors give an "A" for 0 to 13 points, "B" for 14 to 27 points and "C" for 28 or more, according to the health department's website. In a statement, Per Se's chef, Thomas Keller, said: "We look forward to the opportunity to address the allegations with the Department of Health in the upcoming Oath Tribunal. At that time our final grade will be determined. As with all of our restaurants, we continue to maintain the highest standards at Per Se." The restaurant will have a chance to argue the inspection at a hearing but must post a sign that reads "Grade Pending" until then. Keller oversaw the cuisine Sunday night at the Vanity Fair Oscar party, where guests enjoyed chicken pot pie and truffle lasagna, according to a menu that Keller tweeted. Per Se is considered the East Coast interpretation of Keller's French Laundry restaurant in Northern California. For those interested in putting their money where their mouth is, the eatery offers a nine-course tasting menu for $310 per person. Opinion: The dirty truth behind New York's restaurant grading system . | Per Se, one of New York's most exclusive restaurants, gets a "C" grade .
Violations included no hand-washing facility or soap in food prep area .
Per Se will have a chance to argue the inspection at a hearing . |
091079e80a2bd159858e4604c7d73b082834e9a3 | (CNN) -- Let's give praise where praise is due. Invisible Children's Kony 2012 viral video campaign has done what no other advocacy organization has been able to do until now: capture 29 minutes worth of attention from over 50 million people worldwide. No amount of advertising genius from "Mad Men" could create that kind of buzz in a few days. In less than a week, Invisible Children (IC) has cemented the legitimacy of social media for global engagement if the Arab Spring hadn't already. But the problem is, as many have pointed out, it is the wrong conversation and wrong buzz. Which is just too bad because this campaign has the makings of what could have been a truly transformational development communication experiment. In two weeks, IC will have millions of dollars; you will have a t-shirt and bracelet; and Uganda and Central Africa will be left wondering what just happened. As we saw in the case of the Arab Spring social media-accelerated uprising, the agents of the conversation were those directly affected by the cause du jour - which at the time was to oust decades-long dictatorial rule. Instead, what we have here is a narrowly-focused fund-raising campaign where one organization inserts itself as the agent of change to a foreign travesty against humanity. Once again, let me be clear, there's nothing wrong with bringing attention to the issue. It's how it was done that I lament. In a few weeks, this breathless enthusiasm will be for naught. Read also: 'Kony 2012' viral video raises questions about filmmakers . Had we all more compassion, more empathy for global atrocities, the daily videos of sniper fire and innocents being killed from Syria would have moved us by now to say "do something." But they haven't. Why? Because no one has invaded our Facebook time line demanding we watch a 30-minute Hollywood production simplifying the issue for us. It is an indictment on what moves us to act. What does it say about our capacity to care when we are barely moved by video shot on shaky cellphone cameras of innocent people being slaughtered, but we suddenly get a collective conscious because of a slick Hollywood production documenting a 25-year-old issue on the decline. More children die of malaria, diarrhea, and nodding disease in northern Uganda on a daily basis than the monthly average of Kony's 25 years of killing. Where's the slick viral video for those children? The advent of social media brought so many unheard voices to the fore, and with that voice came self-actualization. Many communities realized that they have inherent agency to be their own saviors. Kony 2012 missed a grand opportunity to empower these voices to realize the power within themselves to change their situation and surroundings. Instead, it trotted out the same tired line about Africa. Torture, rape, conscription; tent poles for the single, sad story on Africa that Western society has come to accept. But by God we are so much more than the sum of our failures. Profile: Joseph Kony: Brutal warlord who shocked world . The charity missed an opportunity to empower the many Ugandan and Central African voices newly visible with the advent of mobile technology and social media tools on the continent. Instead of enjoining us to work together to amplify pressure on our governing bodies to address security and development holes, IC has taken the initiative to proposition an outside agency to do it for us. How are we ever going to awaken to our civil responsibility to demand more from our sitting governments if we are lulled into a dependency state for every civil service we should rightly expect from our governments? The attention is on the wrong audience, for the wrong message, using the wrong messenger. I would have welcomed an opportunity for IC to partner with those of us visible and empowered to drive the conversation to its rightful audience, therein instilling a permanent sense of strong civic responsibility that is the basis of all modern societies. If I can take anything good from this, it is that I hope this visibility provided by IC will usher those of us Ugandans engaged in this conversation to realize we have a right to exercise our agency when we are called to do so. And when we do galvanize around an agenda that we set, that we are wise enough to partner with individuals that can accelerate that message. The opinions expressed are solely those of TMS Ruge. | Invisible Children's "Kony 2012" cemented the legitimacy of social media for global engagement, says TMS Ruge .
But the World Bank social media strategist says the film created "wrong conversation and wrong buzz".
Film told same story about Africa and failed to empower locals to change the situation, argues TMS Ruge.
Ruge expects the Ugandans engaged in this conversation to realize that they have a right to exercise their agency. |
09108cf4933e2ab084f92cb2ed425ba448d03957 | By . Shari Miller . PUBLISHED: . 03:26 EST, 19 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:39 EST, 19 May 2013 . The perfect woman: A poll of 2,000 women revealed many would love the eyes of Nicole Scherzinger, the nose of Samantha Cameron and the hair of Katherine Jenkins. They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder - or in the toned abs of Jessica Ennis, Beyonce's legs and Samantha Cameron's nose, according to a poll on the perfect celebrity body. Researchers also found the average British woman would love to have wavy hair like Katherine Jenkins, Kelly Brook's waistline and eyes like Nicole Scherzinger. The answers given by 2,000 women on their changing attitudes to body image also revealed one in five have 'given up' trying to improve their body shape. Commissioned by Morrisons to launch its NuMe range of healthier food, the survey also found people are working harder on their own bodies, with 46 per cent stating they would always strive to keep improving their health and fitness. Meanwhile, 61 per cent said starting a healthy eating regime would give an instant boost to their confidence and a quarter said avoiding chocolate would help them feel better about their figures. One in three go to the gym as their quick fix to feeling healthier, while 13 per cent said a shopping trip would have the same effect. When asked if diets worked in the long run, 48 per cent felt they didn't. Bryonie Holleart, nutritionist for Morrirons NuMe, said the findings revealed a window into the 'quick-fix' nature of people's eating habits. She said: 'While we all want to look like a celebrity, we know getting that perfect body requires hard work - both in the gym and in the kitchen. 'It's clear too that many people will give up their best intentions, often because it's hard to keep cooking healthy meals, maintain an expensive diet plan, all while putting in hours in on the treadmill. 'Often though, just making a few, small, simple changes to your lifestyle can have a big effect.' The eyes have it: A poll on the perfect celebrity body revealed many find the features of American singer Nicole Scherzinger attractive . On the nose: Prime Minister's wife Samantha Cameron has the perfect nose, according to the survey . Blonde beauty: The wavy hair of singer Katherine Jenkins was admired by the majority of 2,000 women answering the poll . Perfection: Women voted for the abs of Olympic medalist Jessica Ennis and legs of singer Beyonce Knowles . Slender: The poll revealed many admire Kelly Brook's waist . | The average British woman would also love the toned abs of Jessica Ennis, eyes like Nicole Scherzinger and Kelly Brook's waistline .
One in five women have 'given up' trying to improve their body shape .
But 61 percent said eating more healthily would boost their confidence . |
091097a575537792f98e18be526dfa2f2c996cb6 | A family recently moved out of a Utah home where a woman mysteriously disappeared six years ago, claiming the house is haunted. The home in West Valley City has been the backdrop of one of Utah's most notorious missing persons cases. Susan Powell lived in the home with her husband Josh and their two young sons when she disappeared without a trace in December 2009. Her husband Josh later moved out of the home, and committed suicide in February 2012, killing their two young sons as well in a house fire. A family that briefly stayed in this Utah home claims it is haunted. This is the same home where Susan Powell went missing in 2009, in a high-profile case . Powell is pictured above with her two young sons. The boys were later killed by their father in a tragic murder-suicide three years after their mother's disappearance . Joanna Aeosana moved into the house a few months ago with her family, and says she was not informed about the home's history. She has since moved out . But mother Joanna Aeosana wasn't familiar with the story when she agreed to lease the home from American Homes 4 Rent two months ago. It was only when a neighbor informed her about the home's eerie history that she couldn't stand to stay there anymore. Aeosana and her family experienced several surreal situations while they were in the house, including the garage opening and closing on its own. 'I hear people crying when I'm showering,' she told 2News. Susan Powell's husband Josh Powell (pictured) was the only person of interest in his wife's appearance. he later committed suicide by starting a house fire in Washington State . Above, the remnants of the home where Powell committed murder-suicide, trapping his two young sons in the blaze . She says she also saw her 1-year-old son talking to an empty swing in the front yard, saying: 'Go away, leave me alone'. Aeosana and her family recently moved out and now they are fighting with the rental company to let them off their lease, and help them find a new place to live. Real estate companies aren't required to disclose details like these to potential renters, but Aeosana believes she should have been informed. 'I believe they should of, they should have told me,' she said. 'I just don't want to be in there.' | Joanna Aeosana and her family moved into a seemingly perfect home in West Valley City, Utah a few months ago .
She later learned that the house used to be occupied by the Powell family, the subject of a high-profile missing persons case .
Susan Powell disappeared in December 2009 and was never found; her husband later killed himself and their two young sons in a house fire .
Aeosana claims she heard crying while showering and that the garage door opens and closes on its own .
She has since moved out of the house and is now fighting with the rental company to release her from the lease . |
0910f3e9ebebdab602cc218f61ec61a885e61266 | A 21-year-old woman who was seven months pregnant was killed on Sunday in a drive-by shooting in Miami, but doctors still managed to deliver her baby before she passed away. The child, a little boy, remains in a critical condition. Police have identified the victim as Quelecia James, of Miami Gardens, who was a passenger in a car that was travelling northbound on Northwest 32nd Avenue about 2pm. A second car drove up alongside the vehicle that was carrying James - who has a four-year-old daughter - and its passenger began shooting, according to CBS Miami. The driver, who was not injured and whose name has not been released, quickly pulled into the driveway of a nearby home at 18131 NW 32nd Ave. Scroll down for video . Killed: Qualecia James, 21, a mother with a four-year-old daughter who was seven months pregnant, died following a drive-by shooting in Miami on Sunday. Her baby, a son, has survived . Riddled: The car the young mother was traveling was shot several times, police said. She was a passenger and died in hospital . Scene: The daylight drive-by occured on Sunday afternoon around 2pm on Northwest 32nd Avenue in Miami Gardens . He called police and James was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital in an extremely critical condition. As doctors worked on saving her, they managed to deliver her child, who was born two months early. James did not survive. 'It hurts me so bad my daughter gone, she gone,' her father, Leroy James, told CBS. 'I know everybody got to go one day, but why today? I will never figure out that answer.' 'The last thing we always tell each other ‘I love you’ and that’s the last thing she said to me and the last thing I said to her ‘I love you’.' Qualecia James' son was delivered two months early and has survived, but is critical. She died from gunshot wounds . Grief-stricken: The victim's father, Leroy James, said the last things he said to his daughter was 'I love you' Police say they are actively interviewing people in the area to try and identify the shooter and the car they were in . No arrests had been made, but officials maintain they are investigating. 'We are actively searching for any witnesses who will be able to help us out in this horrific incident,' said Mike Wright, spokesman for the Miami Gardens Police Department. 'We need our neighbors to come together and start actually piecing the puzzle together. It’s a very sad situation.' Mr James said he feels confident the person responsible will be caught. 'All I got to say to the people who done this: Run forever and a day, you will get caught,' he said. 'My advice for [the shooter’s] family is to turn them in. Somebody got to pay for this. She didn’t ask for this.' Qualeica James seen in a Facebook photo here with her four-year-old daughter . | Qualecia James, 21, was seven months pregnant and had a four-year-old daughter .
She was the passenger of a car driving in Miami Gardens on Sunday about 2pm .
The car came under fire from a second vehicle and was riddled with bullets .
The driver was not injured but James died in hospital .
Doctors managed to deliver her baby, a boy, two months early, but he remains critical . |
09110ebd3d4d58be994faa606c624601aba6540b | The North Korean government may deny their existence, but photos taken from space have revealed in unprecedented detail the concentration camps that are used imprison more than 200,000 citizens. Men, women and children are forced to work seven days a week as slaves and eat 'rats, frogs, snakes, insects' and even faeces to battle starvation in the camps. Previously there have been blurred images taken by satellite but new detailed pictures from South Korea's Unification Ministry allow a closer look at the sites - and also prove they have grown. Experts say the tens of thousands of prisoners at the camps are often taken from their homes or in the street for supposed 'political crimes' rather than actual misdemeanours. Closed off: Close to its border with China, the camp in Hwasong in North Hamkyong Province, has never been seen in so much detail . Secluded: Surrounded by snow this camp in Bukchang, South Pyongan Province, is where many prisoners will die in complete squalor after working as slaves . Half of all the inmates will . die of starvation or malnutrition with others dying because of fatal . diseases that thrive in the squalid conditions. This . is if they are not killed by torture, firing squad, or a public stoning . by Kim Jong-Il's violent guards, former prisoners say. One of the photos shows the Yodok camp, which holds an estimated 50,000 North Korean prisoners and is hidden in the mountains around 70 miles from the capital Pyongyang. Kang was only nine years old when he and his family were sent there for political crimes. 'We had no food. We eat anything we could get our hands on -- rats, snakes, frogs, insects,' he told CBN news. 'We just had to find a way to survive.' 'Even though it happened a long time ago when I look at the satellite pictures I can still remember everything I saw and endured,' he said. 'The camp definitely looks bigger. For example, new buildings for prison guards weren't there before. I can only assume that means there are more prisoners being held and therefore more security is needed.' Kang spent 10 years in Yodok before escaping to China in 1992 and wrote about his experiences in the book The Aquariums of Pyongyang. Secret: Photos of the camp, only know as 22, were taken after finding their locations on Google . Undeniable proof of existence: These satellite photos are of the North Korean prison camp Yoduk. The images show the camp in detail (top left) and then slowly zoom away to show its location in the country (bottom right) It is believed he is the first prisoner to reveal to the world the existence of Yodok. 'The thing I remember the most about in the camp is how the prison guards would kill people for no reason. I witnessed many people being executed,' he said. Amnesty International has compared the satellite images to those taken 10 years ago and confirms they are growing in size and branded them 'hellish'. 'The outside world certainly doesn't know what's going on and very little from the inside comes out,' Sam Zarifi, from Amnesty International said last month. Deadly: Kim Jong Il's North Korea deny the existence of any camps, but this image of camp No. 14 in Kaechon, South Pyongan Province, shows clearly buildings and a large open yard . 'The very little that has come out paints a very disturbing picture.' Scott Edwards, director of the science and human rights program at Amnesty International added: 'The fact that we would have to rely on satellite imagery just to dispel the government's assertion that these camps don't exist is testament really to the scale of the human travesty that might be going on inside.' The news came as it was revealed the South Korean government will send a group of religious leaders and representatives to visit North Korea tomorrow on a peace mission. The Unification Ministry says delegates from the Korean Conference on Religion and Peace will leave for Pyongyang on Wednesday, where they will discuss peace and human rights issues. It is also understood they could meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. | More than 200,000 men, women and children are held in the camps .
Many are hidden in mountains and valleys .
South Korean government sending religious leaders on sortie to North Korea tomorrow and could meet Kim Jong-Il .
People are taken from the streets or their homes and imprisoned for general 'political crimes' as well as involvement in the arts . |
0912a2756909a6c2ebfe33a24ad38f9f98beb707 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . A woman has given birth to a boy weighing an astonishing 13.8lbs in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province. According to the hospital, the baby was delivered ten days before his mother was due to give birth to him. He is potentially the heaviest premature baby in China, however he is not the heaviest newborn overall, and does not even hold the record for 2014. Last month one woman gave birth to a 16lbs boy in Shanwei, southeast China, and the national record holder before that weighed ‘only’ 15.5lbs. An estimated 6.9 per cent of babies in China are born 'oversized', thought to be a result of rising obesity rates and poor diets in mothers. Big boy: This newborn baby weighed a whopping 13.8lbs - 5.9kg - when he entered the world . Making it big: According to the hospital in Changchun, Jilin Province, China, the baby was delivered ten days before the mother's due date . Go big or go home: This baby is nearly twice the size of a normal child at the time of birth, despite being more than a week premature . Almost there: Although the boy may be the biggest premature baby born in China, a 16lbs boy was born earlier this year, still holding on to the record . | Newborn weighs in at 13,8lbs despite being ten days premature .
However, the little boy is not the heaviest baby to be born in China this year .
Last month one woman gave birth to a 16lbs boy in southeast China . |
0912aa177e8fc26f06330e94f3fcb77a3f95d8f0 | A morbidly obese cat named Little Dude has passed away before he could be put up for adoption. The 10-year-old feline, who weighed three times a normal cat, had moved to a foster home in Costa Mesa, California last week as veterinarians tried to get his weight down. But on Saturday, he passed away in an animal hospital in Orange County after he 'succumbed to his sheer size' and the stresses of his life changes, shelter staff said. 'My heart is absolutely broken right now,' his foster mother, Angela Jackson-Brunning wrote on Saturday night on a Facebook page set up to chart his progress. Scroll down for video . Loss: Angela Jackson-Brunning had fostered Little Dude (pictured together) last week after he was brought into a California shelter when his owners could not longer afford him. He passed away on Saturday . Loved: Vets hoped to get the 10-year-old cat's weight down from 36 pounds so he could be adopted . Obese: When he was taken to the shelter last month, he was so large that he could barely walk, staff said . 'It is with tremendous sadness I must tell you all that our precious Little Dude has peacefully slipped away while in the arms of love... Please know we did everything humanly possible to help him.' Little Dude weighed 36 pounds when he was taken to WAGS Pet Adoption, a no-kill shelter in Westminster, in August after his owners could no longer afford him, NBC reported. When he arrived, he was barely unable to walk and handlers put him on a strict diet. But Little Dude did not enjoy the diet food and stopped eating altogether, WAGS reported on its website. It meant that he needed a feeding tube to make sure he got enough nutrients. He is believed to have got down to about 31 pounds, the LA Times reported. But despite his progress, staff said he was stressed by the changes in his life. Care: He was put on a strict diet but then refused to eat - requiring him to be fitted with feeding tubes . Struggles: Shelter staff believe changes in his lifestyle put stress on his already weak and aging body . Huge: Little Dude, pictured with Jackson-Brunning's dog, weighed three times of a normal cat . 'Our doctors feel that he succumbed to the sheer size of him,' Cortney Dorney, the shelter manager at WAGS told NBC. 'It was really difficult for him to breathe and the stress of being displaced from his home is pretty common for adult cats - and he was a senior cat.' Thousands of people had 'liked' Little Dude's Facebook page after his story made headlines, and fans flocked to the site to express their condolences. Posts on Facebook and Reddit had sparked donations from as far as way as Germany. 'I have no regrets and I'm certain LD would say he was pleased to be genuinely loved and adored by so many worldwide,' Jackson-Brunning wrote. 'Little Dude was a treasure. A beautiful, precious, invaluable gem. I have never known a soul like him and I doubt I ever will. I am so blessed to have been his foster mom.' | Little Dude was taken to an animal shelter in California last month after his owners could no longer afford to keep him .
He weighed a staggering 36 pounds - three times the weight of a normal cat .
He moved into a foster home and staff managed to get his weight down a few pounds - but on Saturday, he passed away .
Staff attributed his death to his size and to the stresses of his life changes . |
0913ce02863fda50f62d18a17f5e9237374db8e1 | PUBLISHED: . 07:32 EST, 10 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:53 EST, 10 October 2012 . A singer whose moving performance left mourners in tears at the funeral of police officer Fiona Bone hopes to record the song to raise money for the families of fallen officers. Iona Fisher went from busking to singing Ave Maria for hundreds at Manchester Cathedral after being spotted singing in Ashton town centre. She performed Beyonce's version of the song at the request of Fiona’s fiancee, Clare Curran, who had hoped to play it at their upcoming wedding. Moving: Iona Fisher's performance of Beyonce's version of Ave Marie at the funeral of Fiona Bone left mourners in tears and wants to release it as a charity single . Now Iona, 21, wants to record the track as a permanent tribute and to raise funds for the charity COPS (Care of Police Survivors). Fiona,32, who lived in Sale, died in a gun and grenade attack in Mottram alongside 23-year-old colleague Nicola Hughes. Iona, who lives in Ashton and went to St Damian’s High School, was classically trained at the Royal Northern College of Music. She works part-time in a shop in between busking and gigs and sang at a community vigil for Fiona and Nicola, but said nothing could compare to Thursday’s performance. Tragic: PC Fiona Bone (left) died in a gun and grenade attack alongside PC Nicola Hughes (right) when they were called out to a location in Mottram . Emotional: Thousands lined the streets of Manchester for the funeral of PC Bone at Manchester Cathedral . Hopeful: Ms Fisher wants the single to raise money to support the families of fallen police officers . Charged: Dale Cregan has been charged with the murder of both officers, who died in a gun and grenade attack . She said: 'I had met Fiona’s family . and they had asked me to sing Ave Maria for Fiona and her fiancee Clare. It was going to be the song they walked down the aisle to when they got . married. 'It was quite daunting but I did put quite a bit of pressure on myself. I just wanted to do my best and make it special for them. 'I have been bombarded with really lovely messages since, especially from police officers. 'They . came up with the idea of releasing Ave Maria as a charity single and I . really hope it will come off because I think it could raise a lot of . money. 'It was really . emotional and the whole experience, performing for Fiona and her family . and all the police force is something I will never forget. I was really . honoured to be asked to take part.' Iona, who was accompanied on piano by her brother Lee, 23, says she is now in talks with various people about recording the song. Tameside’s Chief Supt Nick Adderley even tweeted a link to music mogul Simon Cowell. Dale Cregan has been charged with the murder of both officers. | Iona Fisher performed Beyonce's version of Ave Marie at Pc Fiona Bone's funeral .
21-year-old wants to record a version to raise money for charity COPS (Care of Police Survivors) |
091403c852c0a5069ef56e59580af7ee96f7b7f9 | A former bouncer has lost more than 20st in weight - but gained rolls of sagging flesh which now cascade down his body. Marius Stoicas, from Bucharest, still tips the scales at over 15st - but says that is a 'dream weight' compared to his previous size. He was so large that it cost him his job as a bodyguard. Aged 34, when he was at his heaviest - an astonishing 35st 7lb - he could not dress himself . or tie his own shoe laces. Marius Stoicas weighed an astonishing 35st before he lost weight and was unable to even tie his own shoes . Marius's 21st stone weight loss has left him with massive folds of excess skin, gaining him the nick name of 'Shar Pei man' in his hometown . He said: ‘Sometimes I'd get work as a bouncer, and all I needed to do was stand in the doorway to keep people out, they couldn't budge me.’ But the former bouncer said that in the end he knew it was diet or die. However, since losing weight, Marius, from the Romanian capital Bucharest, now feels ‘a different man’. Although it is hard for him to look in the mirror because of his skin hanging loose, he said he still owes 'everything' to the doctor who helped to get him on the diet. Now he will need a further operation to remove the masses of hanging skin which so torment him. Plastic surgeon Cristian Radu Jecan (L) says he is already planning the skin operation, but Marius is still trying to raise the £4,000 needed for the operation . ‘I was reborn. From 500lbs to 190lbs (35st 7lb to 13st 7lb). I could not run, I needed help to put my shoes on’, Marius said. ‘But I will have to scrape together 5,000 Euro (£4,000) before I can have the skin removed.’ Plastic surgeon Cristian Radu Jecan says he is already planning the skin operation. ‘At a rough estimate, we will remove 8-10lbs of tissue and a skin surface of three square feet, given that the entire surface of the body is 20-25 square feet for an adult of average weight and height. That is 10-20 per cent of the total area,’ the doctor said. ‘Because it is a very delicate surgery, there are risks,’ he added, saying it needed to be done carefully. | Marius weighed an astonishing 35st before he lost weight .
He was unable to even tie his own shoes and his size cost him his job .
Lost an incredible 21st 4lb through diet .
Weight loss left him with huge rolls of excess skin .
Says it is hard to look in the mirror and is desperate for surgery .
Is trying to raise the £4,000 needed for the life-changing operation . |
0914ab1ef6ad50b204f9742a33a04771052d43ad | By . Alasdair Glennie for the Daily Mail . and Miles Goslett . The wife of actor Andrew Sachs condemned the BBC last night for bringing Jonathan Ross back to Radio 2 for the first time since he left the BBC following Sachsgate scandal. Melody Sachs said it was a ‘slap in the face’ to give the disgraced presenter a job on the same station on which he insulted her husband six years ago. Ross has been hired to provide holiday cover for Steve Wright’s afternoon music and chat show at the end of the month. 'It's highly inappropriate and disgusting': Melody Sachs, pictured with her husband Andrew Sachs, condemned the BBC last night for bringing Jonathan Ross back to Radio 2 . He will be paid an estimated £4,000 to host four three-hour programmes between August 26 and 29. Last night Mrs Sachs, 79, said: ‘It’s highly inappropriate and I think it’s disgusting.’ In 2008, Ross used an appearance on comedian Russell Brand’s Radio 2 show to leave a series of obscene messages on Mr Sachs’s answerphone. The incident provoked 42,000 complaints after Brand boasted of sleeping with the 84-year-old actor’s granddaughter and joked that the Fawlty Towers star might hang himself as a result of the calls. Brand later resigned and Ross was suspended for 12 weeks, later moving to ITV. The BBC was fined £150,000 by Ofcom. Incident: Jonathan Ross (right) and Russell Brand are pictured insulting Mr Sachs on the BBC's Radio 2 show . Although Ross, 53, has said he feels ‘immense regret’, the Sachs family have refused to forgive him and claimed he used the publicity to advance his career. Mrs Sachs added: ‘I’m so surprised that the BBC has welcomed him back. I’m amazed that they could do such a thing. It’s like a slap in the face for us, especially after Andrew spent so much of his working life with the BBC writing, acting and directing. It’s very sad and thoughtless and disrespectful.’ It is the first time since he left the BBC that Ross has been allowed back on Radio 2, although he has appeared on one-off TV. On Monday he appeared as a guest on Radio 4 panel show Just A Minute. Criticism: Tory MP Philip Davies (left) has also criticised the decision to allow Ross (right) back on the airwaves . Last night Tory MP Philip Davies also criticised the decision to allow Ross back on the airwaves. He said: ‘My view is that what he did was completely and utterly unacceptable. He doesn’t appear to have accepted that, and until he does I don’t think the BBC should employ him.’ Ross was never fired from the BBC. Instead he chose to leave in 2010 after the corporation decided not to renew his £18million contract. He later claimed the scandal had made him a ‘better person’. A BBC spokesman said: ‘Jonathan is an experienced and talented broadcaster … [who] is returning for this one-off stint of holiday cover for Steve Wright. There are no plans to bring him back permanently.’ | Jonathan Ross left obscene messages on Andrew Sachs's answerphone .
The incident on Russell Brand's Radio 2 show sparked 42,000 complaints .
Now, Ross has been hired by BBC to cover Steve Wright's afternoon show .
Disgraced presenter will be paid £4,000 for four three-hour programmes .
Melody Sachs described the broadcaster's decision as a 'slap in the face' |
0914e3c80a676e14e225504cb759103503f3f1e0 | For sale: Crumbling castle with commanding views of Lake Winnipesaukee and the threat of a wrecking ball in its near future. Kimball Castle in Gilford, New Hampshire, U.S. - built by a wealthy railroad baron - is a shell of its former self and now up for sale for $799,000. Once stunning in its grandeur and featured on postcards, the castle has long been neglected and is deemed by town officials to be 'an unattractive nuisance' and an 'extreme hazard'. Scroll down for video . Under threat: Kimball Castle, built in the late 1890s for Benjamin Ames Kimball, who was president of the Boston-Montreal Railroad, is under the threat of a wrecking ball in its near future . The dilapidated manor has fallen into such a state that it even featured on an episode of U.S. 'Ghost Hunters' a few years ago. The Gilford Board of Selectmen earlier this year approved demolition by its owner - Kimball Castle Properties LLC. The property is bound by a number of restrictive covenants that make prospects of finding a buyer bleak. Town Administrator Scott Dunn said the only thing a buyer could do with it is construct a 40-room inn and 75-seat restaurant - based on conditions attached to another prospective development plan from 1996. That plan failed to attract enough financial backing to go forward. 'Anything else would take agreement by the Attorney General, the selectmen and the court,' Dunn said. Backdrop: Commanding stunning views of Lake Winnipesaukee, the 19th century castle has been left to rot and ruin and has lost most of its windows and frames . The medieval-styled castle was built . in the late 1890s by Benjamin Ames Kimball, who was president of the . Boston, Montreal and Concord railways and had also served as president . of several Concord banks. He designed the two-story granite edifice . after castles he'd seen on Germany's Rhine River. Much . of the stone was quarried from Locke's Hill, atop which the castle sits . on 20 acres. Until his death in 1920 at age 86, Kimball liked to sit on . his stone deck gazing down upon the wide section of Lake Winnipesaukee . known as 'the broads'. No . Kimball has lived in the castle since Benjamin Kimball's daughter-in-law . died in 1960. She left the estate and about $400,000 to a charitable . foundation, with the stipulation it create a nature preserve on the site . and that the property not be used for commercial development. Halcyon days: Until his death in 1920 at age 86, Kimball liked to sit on his stone deck gazing down upon the wide section of Lake Winnipesaukee known as 'the broads' The preserve was never created, the money vanished and, in 1981, New Hampshire's Attorney General took control of the land and offered it to the town of Gilford to create the preserve and save the castle. By then, scarred and stripped of much . of its woodwork by vandals, the castle was already badly deteriorated. Trespassers had left doors and windows open. The atrium skylight was . destroyed and water had been pouring into the structure for years. In . 1980, then-town administrator Steve McCabe predicted, "It's going to be . the wrecking ball for the castle" unless someone steps in to save it. No one did. Gilford . residents did not want to spend the money to reverse the castle's . decay. Town administrators convinced the Attorney General's office that . the only way to save the castle was to permit commercial development. The principle investors in the 1996 project — David and Mary Jodoin — . are the sole partners in the Kimball Castle Properties LLC. The property was listed for sale in 2010 for the dearer price of $995,000 but it seems the owners will now accept a lower offer since it is scheduled to be demolished . They not only received approval to raze the castle, but were ordered to by the town's building inspector, David Andrade. The deadline was May 15, but the Jodoins have been granted two extensions — and now have until Oct. 15 — to demolish the castle and several buildings. 'Although it is very painful for me to impose this order on you as the castle holds historic and sentimental value to the community,' Andrade wrote, 'due to the extreme hazards it presents, I find it necessary to protect the safety of all.' The Board of Selectmen is holding a public hearing Wednesday on changes in the deed proposed by the owners, including ending the public's right to access the property. | Kimball Castle, overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire, has been derelict for decades .
It was built by a wealthy railroads businessman in the late 19th century .
Castle was left to hands of a trust but building was left to rot and ruin .
Now conditions upon its use mean it can only be saved if it's transformed into a large hotel and restaurant . |
0914fa256ce9c8c7e083174c70ae87fa2003e913 | A man's body has been found in his home after it lay undiscovered there for four years following his suicide. David Carter, who neighbours said was well-liked, told friends he was moving from his home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to New Mexico in 2007. A real estate worker who went into his suburban home to repossess it last week - after bank officials finally realised he hadn't paid the bill for four years - and found his remains. He is believed to have shot himself with a handgun. The body of David Carter was found in his house and is thought to have killed himself in 2007 . The employee of the Milwaukee County treasury office- who entered his home in the West Allis neighborhood in order to start the repossession process- found Mr Carter's 'nearly skeletonized' remains on his stairway, a gunshot in his head, and a handgun on his chest. No bill or income tax has been paid by Mr Carter since late 2007, so that is the approximate date-of-death that officials have given him, but there is no way to be exact. 'We're trying to figure it out, too. How could it go this far?' said local government worker Michael Czaplewski. 'It's one of those things where it falls between the cracks, I guess,’ he told the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel. Unexpected: The city of Milwaukee mowed his lawn and shovelled his snow since he went missing, and sent bills totalling $37,000 for the services that went unpaid . Though Mr Carter clearly did not maintain the house, the city took it upon themselves to shovel and mow his lawn through the years and then charged him for those services; his bill is now $37,000 for the years of maintenance. Mr Carter, whose 45th birthday would have been January 23 of this year, lived and studied in Milwaukee, and school records show him attending the local high school and earning a college degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. As an only child raised by a single mother, Mr Carter had few close relatives after his mother died following a battle with cancer in 1997. Mr Carter's cousin, Kevin O'Neill, said that he became emotionally withdrawn and began drinking heavily after his mother's death. His remains were found last week when a city employee came to the house to start the foreclosure process . In spite of his grief, he moved on to work as a nuisance control officer for the city of Milwaukee from 1999 to 2007. He resigned from that job in September 2007 and said he was planning to move to Albequerque, and then he disappeared. 'The people closest to him knew he moved so nobody ever did bother to think that anything was wrong with him,' said his high school friend Teresa Bornheimer. Since his body was found, more details are being discovered as people try to understand how he could have been dead in his own house for four years without anyone noticing. Medical records show that he was listed as the father of a girl who is now 14 years old. He and the mother never married and the mother, whose name has not been released, said that the last time she saw him was in 2006. Certain: His 'nearly skeletonized' body was identified using dental records . Though he clearly was not a constant part of the girl's life, he did keep her in his thoughts as investigators found a note which had a list of his possessions that he bequeathed to her. 'My jaw just dropped when I found out. I told myself maybe it's a bum living at the house,' said Ms Bornheimer. The decomposed body was identified as Mr Carter using dental records. The profits from the sale of his house, which originally belonged to his mother, will go to the county but because of the discovery that he had a daughter, she could likely challenge the county for the profits. | David Carter, who would have been 45 this January, quit his job and told friends he was moving to New Mexico in late 2007 .
His bills and taxes went unpaid for four years before anyone went in the house to start the foreclosure process .
Found Carter's 'nearly skeletonized' body on the stairs . |
091595cb5cc022a8ded83537c0a9bb25a45a6b10 | By . Luke Garratt . PUBLISHED: . 10:10 EST, 14 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 14:44 EST, 14 March 2014 . A brewery in a castle is offering punters the chance to bathe in warm beer in their underground vaults. At Schloss Starkenberger in Austria, seven 13-foot long pools are open for visitors to immerse themselves in warm beer. Deep in the 700-year-old castle's cellar, artist Wernfried Poschusta modified the old fermentation rooms to hold 84,000 litres in the spa-like baths. These Austrian beer bath allows visitors the chance to bathe in the underground vaults near where an old brewery used to exist . The bathing area also features a few loungers to dry on after your soak in the warm beer . The brewery has made it clear that while you can order one of the brewery's ten specialty beers from the bar to enjoy while you relax, you cant drink from the pools. One of the baths contains around 42,000 pints where visitors can sit and bathe and relax fully immersed in beer. The beer is rich in vitamins and . calcium, and the brewery says that sitting in it is good for the skin . and helps cure open wounds and psoriasis. The giant metal baths are actually old fermenting tanks, re purposed to be safe to bathe in for big beer fans . The brewery is based in a castle in the Austrian country side, amid acres of forest - the perfect place for a serene dip . The old castle brewery combines the brewery portion of the building with some the more historic parts, such as the murals and old oak beams . The pools are big enough for many . people to sit and bathe in, or more of a massive bath for one person, . and the beer is brewed on site, at the Schloss Starkenberger brewery, . with the baths are located in the vaults . The pools started back in 2005 when the old fermentation cellar of the 700-year-old castle became obsolete, so they turned the area into a beer spa. The beer is kept quite hot, although you can order a cold beer from the pool. The castle brewery is based on Stark mountain, where there is also a whiskey distillery. The surroundings around the mountain also feature a lake, which is popular with tourists and locals for its swimming and ice skating. Not just for bathing: The brewery also sells its product across the country, and produces ten specialty beers for sale in the bar above the baths . One of the workers in the Schloss Starkenberger brewery, stirring around the beer in the modern fermenting tanks - the ones that don't have people bathing in them . While the beer in the baths is warm, to allow for a more comforting bathing experience, the beer is traditionally served cold . The castle was modified by an artist to make the old fermenting tanks into baths, which are located in the old vaults (pictured) Upstairs above the brewery baths there is a bar where beer from the actual brewery is served to patrons . | Beer is brewed on site by an Austrian beer company based in the castle .
The old fermenting tanks were repurposed into pools by an Austrian artist .
The punters can bathe in a pool which holds around 42,000 warm pints . |
0915d359249eea3e60515ee22ffd1342d5e373cd | By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 04:09 EST, 4 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:04 EST, 4 June 2013 . Royal Bank of Scotland would be broken up into a good bank and a bad bank under radical plans to be considered by George Osborne. Toxic loans which might never be repaid would be placed in the ‘bad’ arm while the profitable business could be sold off under proposals expected to be set out by a powerful commission of MPs and peers. However, the Chancellor is understood to be ready to resist the idea, preferring to sell off the taxpayer-backed bank even if it means making a loss. Split: A powerful commission of MPs and peers is reportedly planning to call for Royal Bank of Scotland to broken up into a good and bad bank . The Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards is set to back the idea of splitting RBS, according to the BBC. The UK government owns 82 per cent of RBS, after the £66billion bailout in 2008 which also took a 39 per cent stake in Lloyds. Mr Osborne is prepared to sell the Government’s at a loss in order to bring about the biggest privatisation in British history. Allies hope the sell-off could come before the 2015 general election to give the public a chance to take a stake in the lenders. A long-awaited report from the Commission was sent to its members in the last week and they have until Monday to read it through, with a final report due by the end of the month. George Osborne has warned of 'very considerable obstacles' to the idea of splitting RBS . However, Mr Osborne has warned of ‘very considerable obstacles’ to the idea, which would involve spending up to £9billion in taxpayers’ money to buy up shares the government does not yet own. However outgoing Bank of England governor Sir Mervyn King has supported the idea of a break-up. Former Tory chancellor Lord Lawson, who sits on the Commission, argued that nationalisation followed by a split would enable the Government to boost lending and re-privatise the ‘good’ bank more quickly. And Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has asked whether the Government’s ‘lack of will to break up the banks’ was a ‘recipe for a repetition of the disasters of the last few years’. RBS itself has claimed it is well on the road to recovery, despite reporting losses of £5.2 billion for 2012, driven by a £390 million settlement for rate-fixing, £1.1 billion provision for mis-selling and IT glitches. Yesterday it emerged RBS shrunk its net lending by £1.6 billion from January to March this year, but has borrowed £750 million from the Funding for Lending scheme designed to boost loans to businesses. RBS chairman Sir Philip Hampton said on presenting full-year results that the institution’s recovery would be ‘substantially complete’ by the middle of 2014, paving the way for its return to the private sector. Supporters of a break-up see it as a way of freeing the bank from long-standing bad debts, which could help it to lend more to businesses and boost the economy. The move is also said to be favoured by the commission as a way of increasing potential investor confidence in the ‘good’ part of the bank and increasing the chance of a successful reprivatisation. Backers: The idea of breaking up RBS is backed by former Tory chancellor Lord Lawson (left) and outgoing Bank of England governor Sir Mervyn King . The so-called ‘bad’ bank would be held on to by the Government, avoiding the need for a fire sale of the more toxic assets and allowing them to recover in value. But the Treasury is reportedly considering the alternative of transferring the group’s troubled Ulster Bank operations to the Irish government in an effort to shore up RBS’s balance sheet. The commission’s recommendation could potentially be watered down by the time of its final report, but if not, the Chancellor would face a difficult dilemma. There has also been mounting speculation over the Government’s plans for Lloyds Banking Group after shares have recently risen above the 61.2p level at which the Government said it would break even on its 2008 bailout. A Treasury spokesman said: 'The Government’s policy remains that RBS continues to become a stronger and safer bank that supports the British economy, which in time can be returned to full private ownership when it’s in the interests of the taxpayer to do so. 'As the Chancellor has said, we need functioning banks supporting the real economy instead of nursing their wounds, and we will set out the way ahead once the Parliamentary Banking Commission has completed its work.' | Taxpayer owns 81% of troubled bank after 2008 bailout .
Chancellor wants to privatise it ahead of 2015 election - even if it means making a loss .
Parliamentary Commission expected to recommend break up . |
0916899e0474191f952c21822d5cb8cf2af62811 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 16:14 EST, 3 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 17:50 EST, 3 February 2014 . The Oregon teen convicted of felony hit-and-run for mowing down and killing 6- and 11-year-old stepsisters in October was sentenced Friday to three years probation in an incredibly emotional court hearing. A tormented Cinthya Garcia-Cisneros addressed the parents of Anna Dieter-Eckerdt and Abigail Robinson in a Washington County courtroom last week and was no doubt deeply relieved when Anna's mother tearfully offered her forgiveness. 'I should have gone back. I should have thought about you guys,' the weeping teen confessed to Susan Dieter-Robinson and her husband, Abigail's father Tom Robinson. 'I should have gone back': At her sentencing on Friday, Cinthya Garcia-Cisneros (left) tearfully apologized to Susan Dieter-Robinson (right at center) for mowing over her daughter Anna (right at left) and stepdaughter Abigail (right at right) in October as they hid beneath a pile of leaves . Even the judge noted Garcia-Cisneros will likely be haunted by what she's done for life, but today she faces more pressing issues since her undocumented immigrant status could mean she'll be deported in light of her crimes despite being a beneficiary of the DREAM Act. According to the Oregonian, Judge Rick Knapp's decision to spare Garcia-Cisneros jail time was based on the words of Anna and Abigail's parents. 'I remembering thinking how horrible you would feel when you realized you hit two young girls,' said Susan Dieter-Robinson, mother to Anna and stepmother to Abigail. 'You were one block away, I’m sure, scared.' Unthinkable: Anna (right) died at the scene. Abigail (left) died later at a Portland hospital after Garcia-Cisneros accidentally ran them over in her boyfriend's SUV in October. She chose not to turn herself in or aid the investigation after she learned she may have killed the girls . Investigators picked up Garcia-Cisneros the day after the girls were killed. Here, an officer marks off the crime scene . Minutes after Garcia-Cisneros hit the leaves on her way home from getting fast food, her brother returned to the scene and saw a man standing over the pile, screaming. The man spoke to him briefly. The boy went home and told his sister she may have hit two children. Defense attorney Ethan Levi said Garcia-Cisneros was in a state of shock and denial after learning of the children and fixated on the possibility she wasn't the driver who struck them. Prosecutor Bracken McKey told jurors that Garcia-Cisneros' choice not to come forward was morally and legally wrong. 'I’m going to choose forgiveness,' said a weeping Dieter-Robinson. 'Cinthya, I forgive you, I do.' Nobody wins: Garcia-Cisneros (at right in her mug shot) was sentenced to 3-years probation for two counts of felony hit-and-run. she begged Dieter-Robinson and her husband and the rest of the girls' family for forgiveness and received it. However, she is an undocumented immigrant in the U.S. under the DREAM Act and could now face deportation at age 19 . 'The grief in this courtroom is palpable,' Judge Rick Knapp said at Friday's sentencing. 'I don't want to add to it' 'I don’t want you to spend any more time in jail,' Deiter-Robinson continued. 'Live a life of honoring my girls.' The . prosecution said the crash itself was an accident, but the woman was . required to return to the accident scene as soon as she learned of it. Her defense lawyer said the law doesn't say anything about the . requirements when a driver learns later about an accident. Authorities said the two girls were likely concealed by the leaves and not visible to Garcia-Cisneros. Anna died at the scene. Abigail died later at a Portland hospital. Before the sentence was read, Garcia-Cisneros--wearing shackles and orange prison garb--spoke once more. Authorities said the two girls ¿ later identified as stepsisters, 6-year-old Anna Dieter-Eckerdt and 11-year-old Abigail Robinson ¿ were likely concealed by the leaves and not visible to Garcia-Cisneros. But prosecutors successfully argued that the her crime began as she learned she may have hit the girls and still did nothing . Outgoing: Anna Dieter-Eckert was a first-grader at Dilley Elementary, where in the past few months she had made several close friends . 'You say you forgive me, and I hope that you do,' she said after offering ever more tearful condolences and apologies. 'I do,' replied Dieter-Robinson. The judge called the grief in the room 'palpable.' 'I don't want to add to it,' he said before handing down the relatively light sentence. The . judge had the option of imposing only probation or a maximum of three . years in prison. In addition to probation, the judge also ordered . Garcia-Cisneros to serve 250 hours of community service. An Immigration attorney said the woman will next be taken into federal custody on an immigration hold and she may be deported. Though . she has temporary permission to be in the country legally under the . federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, applicants in . that program cannot have certain criminal convictions. Aspiring actress: Abigail Robinson, pictured with her theater friend Natasha Kujawa, loved singing and dancing, and had just landed a role in a local production of the musical Annie . Community in shock: A makeshift memorial appeared outside the grieving family's home in Forest Grove, with people leaving flowers, balloons, stuffed animals and handwritten condolence notes . | Cinthya Garcia-Cisneros was sentenced Friday to 3 years probation in the killing of Anna Dieter-Eckerdt, 6, and her step-sister Abigail Robinson, 11 .
Garcia-Cisneros was told she'd hit the two girls shortly after the October 20 but failed to turn herself in. Authorities found her the next day .
Garcia-Cisneros is in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and her immigration status will now be re-evaluated .
'Cinthya, I forgive you,' said the victims' weeping mother Susan Dieter-Robinson . |
0918008f689aebca11d9f19cf112c857cd1d423b | By . Martin Robinson . PUBLISHED: . 09:32 EST, 12 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:52 EST, 12 September 2013 . A Premier League star involved in an roadside altercation with a cyclist is being hunted by police today after Sir Chris Hoy backed a campaign to find him. Rob Lockhart claims the footballer's matt-black Audi Q7 braked suddenly in Hale, near Manchester, and he bruised his face and damaged his bike after smashing into the back. The player then allegedly laughed in his face and told him 'good luck finding me on foreign plates', before driving off from the accident last week. After hearing of the incident, Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy retweeted this picture of the luxury car and urged the public to help detectives catch him. Rob Lockhart claims a Premier League footballer's Audi braked suddenly in Hale, near Manchester, and that he bruised his face and damaged his bike after smashing into the back. The player then allegedly laughed in his face and told him 'good luck finding me on foreign plates'. Above, Mr Lockhart (right) just after the incident . Olympic gold medal cyclist Sir Chris Hoy retweeted the image of the car driving off, and the above altercation between the motorist and Mr Lockhart, and urged the public to help detectives catch him . Greater Manchester Police told MailOnline they are still trying to track the international midfielder down, but would not confirm the identity of the player, who has been named online. Rob Lockhart said the driver refused to swap insurance details after the incident last week because 'it didn't apply' when an accident involves a bike and a car . ‘He pulled away and then pulled over sharply to park on double yellow lines outside a cash point. I think it was dangerous,' Mr Lockhart told MailOnline. ‘I think I hit the back window with my head, helmet and face. I had mild concussion for two to three days afterwards. ‘He got out of his car and said sorry I didn't see you. Then he just walked to the cashpoint. I didn’t feel he had any regard for me and what had just happened. He didn’t seem to care. ‘I was in shock, checking myself, the bike, and the car to see what was damaged. ‘When he walked back to his car I said we need to exchange details and he just said no. He said you’re on a bike and I’m in a car, it doesn’t matter. ‘He was really laid back, not angry. He didn’t even check if his car was damaged. ‘I tried to get my phone out to take a picture and He laughed and said you won’t trace me because my plates are foreign. He then left the scene. ‘I called the police when I got home once it sank in. ‘I don’t know who he was, he had a foreign accent. I don’t follow football. I just want all this sorted out’. Two witnesses took photos of the car and driver which Lockhart shared on Twitter. But it has since gone viral. Sir Chris Hoy was among the thousands to retweet and users soon responded by linking a local player. Olympic cycling legend Hoy retweeted the . message: 'This chap said "good luck finding me on foreign plates" after . knocking a cyclist over in Hale. Please help find him.' The picture . above was attached to the message. Superstar: Sir Chris Hoy, after winning one of his six Olympic golds, urged people to help find the footballer . Message: Sir Chris Hoy retweeted the message and the attached pictures to his 529,000 followers . Mystery man: The Premier League player has been named online but police would not confirm his identity . A spokesman for the player’s club refused to confirm or deny his involvement in the alleged incident. MailOnline has also tried to contact his representatives. 'The driver failed to stop at the scene and we are making efforts to identify, trace and speak to him,' a spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said. 'Members of the public who witnessed what happened have also helped us and we are pursuing these leads. Any information we receive that may help will be acted upon.' Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 0161 856 7530 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. | Mystery player involved in incident in Hale, near Manchester, last week .
Cyclist involved has accused him of refusing to share insurance details .
‘I hit the back window with my head, helmet and face,' Rob Lockhart said .
Sir Chris Hoy has retweeted picture of car to his 500,000 followers .
The millionaire footballer's club and representatives have not commented . |
0919dcecc1eda104465431f1c2ad6cf0e0e654f0 | PUBLISHED: . 08:06 EST, 19 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 11:05 EST, 19 March 2014 . After a four-year investigation into Toyota's disclosure of safety problems, the U.S. reached a $1.2 billion settlement with the Japanese automaker, according to a person close to the investigation. According to the source, Attorney General Eric Holder, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara, were announcing the settlement Wednesday morning. The investigation focused on whether Toyota Motor Corp. was forthright in reporting problems related to unintended acceleration issues. In this November 2010, a Toyota Camry is shown after it crashed on Utah highway. Police suspect problems with the Camry's accelerator or floor mat caused the crash that left two people dead and two others injured . In a statement early on Wednesday, Toyota . said it has 'cooperated with the U.S. Attorney's office in this matter . for more than four years' and had 'made fundamental changes to become a . more responsive and customer-focused organization, and we are committed . to continued improvements.' From 2010 to 2012, Toyota Motor Corp. paid fines of more than $66 million for delays in reporting unintended acceleration issues. In 2009, Toyota issued massive recalls in . the U.S. totaling more than 10 million vehicles for various issues . including faulty brakes, gas pedal and floor mats. Last . year, Toyota agreed to pay more than $1 billion to resolve hundreds of . lawsuits claiming owners suffered economic losses due to the recalls. But the settlement did not include wrongful death and injury lawsuits. Attorney General Eric Holder, left, accompanied by Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, announces a $1.2 billion settlement with Toyota over its disclosure of safety problems Wednesday during a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington . Attorney General Eric Holder, left, accompanied by Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, announces a $1.2 billion settlement with Toyota over its disclosure of safety problems Wednesday during a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington . The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration never found defects in electronics or software in Toyota cars, which had been targeted as a possible cause. The settlement continues a string of bad publicity for Toyota, which before the unintended acceleration cases had a bulletproof image of reliability. Since the cases surfaced, the company's brand image has been damaged and it has lost U.S. market share as competition has intensified. | Settlement reached after a four-year investigation of Toyota's disclosure of safety problems .
Toyota said in a statement that it has made 'fundamental changes to become a more customer-focused organization'
Toyota paid fines of more than $66 million for delays in reporting deceleration issues from 2010-2012 . |
091be4cb81a9963009f087c7d9545ac6d03190c7 | (CNN) -- The FBI announced Wednesday that it is working with Illinois state and local police to review evidence related to the 1982 Tylenol murders. James W. Lewis served time for sending a $1 million extortion note to Johnson & Johnson. "This review was prompted, in part, by the recent 25th anniversary of this crime and the resulting publicity," the FBI said in a written statement. "Further, given the many recent advances in forensic technology, it was only natural that a second look be taken at the case and recovered evidence." The anniversary coincided with a number of tips to law enforcement agencies related to the crimes, the FBI said. Agents on Wednesday searched the Cambridge, Massachusetts, house of James W. Lewis, who was convicted of sending an extortion note to Johnson & Johnson but denied having anything to do with the poisonings. Lewis's wife LeAnn is listed as administrator of a Web design company called Cyberlewis.com. Its Web site lists the company's address as the same address that authorities searched Wednesday. On its Web site is posted a note that says, in part, " ... I was villified (sic) globally as the Tylenol Man, accused of being the mass murderer who spiked Tylenol with cyanide in Chicago back in 1982, killing seven. Those grotesque accusations obviously were false, otherwise I could not be writing these words. After 25 years, the Tylenol murders remain unsolved. I have lived a long, bizarre life and I have seen a lot, yet I am literate and lucid enough to view and describe, compare and contrast hugely diverse worlds, cultures and topics, without a moment of boredom, all with an eye to professionalism, demographics and marketability plus ears and heart sensitive to good taste and victims' feelings." A call to LeAnne Lewis' telephone number was not immediately returned. FBI spokeswoman Gail Marcinkiewicz said two searches in Cambridge were under way "related to an ongoing investigation." She would not say whether they were related to the Tylenol case. Criminal charges have not been filed in the seven Chicago-area killings, which occurred after Extra-Strength Tylenol capsules were laced with potassium cyanide. The killings led to changes in packaging of over-the-counter drugs. Johnson & Johnson, parent of the drug maker, McNeil, was widely credited for its aggressiveness in recalling the product and its openness in dealing with the killings, and the product quickly bounced back in sales. It remains a popular analgesic. "Johnson & Johnson cannot comment on the status of any ongoing investigation into the murders of 1982," said company spokesman Jeff Leebaw. CNN's Fran Fifis contributed to this story from Boston. | NEW: Agents search home of James Lewis, who sent extortion note to company .
NEW: Lewis denies on Web site he was involved in deaths .
Seven people died in Chicago area in 1982 after pills were laced .
FBI, Illinois, local police working to solve case on 25th anniversary . |
091d8d6bc5a4484cd297dedb2a3f37647226c26b | By . Deborah Arthurs . PUBLISHED: . 06:59 EST, 22 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 01:53 EST, 23 August 2012 . Fifty Ways To Play: BDSM For Nice People is the surprise new release from HarperCollins . Just one year ago we would never have imagined that a mainstream publishing company like HarperCollins would dream of releasing a guide to bondage bedroom play - or BDSM, as it is known to the initiated. BDSM is a catch-all abbreviation that brings together the predilections for bondage and discipline (B/D), dominance and submission (D/s), and sadomasochism or sadism and masochism. While it is a lifestyle choice enjoyed, sometimes to extremes, by people across the globe, it is fair to say that the current popularity of BDSM refers to a sort of 'BDSM lite' - a tamer, more approachable version of the sexual proclivity. And that is just what is portrayed in HarperCollins' new guide. The book, Fifty Ways To Play - which carries the subtitle BDSM for nice people. The publisher bills the book, by husband and wife duo Debra and Don Macleod as A Beginner's Guide To Unleashing Your Erotic Desires - and it is enough to have the more buttoned-up readers blushing into their blindfolds. Fifty Ways To Play claims to offer 50 'edgy and erotic' adventures which the publisher says are 'perfect for the millions of readers who have been inspired by the phenomenal Fifty Shades trilogy.' 'Fifty Shades has broken down the taboos about BDSM and more women than ever are wanting to spice up their sex lives,' HarperCollins said. 'But there is very little out there that shows you how to turn every night into an erotic fantasy. 'From turning your bedroom into a 'Red Room Of Desire [in the book it is known as the Red Room Of Pain] to exploring the fine art of Japanese rope bondage, these 50 edgy and erotic adventures make incredible sex incredibly easy,' they say. Conveniently for the budding BDSM-er, the book is being packaged up and sold as part of erotic gift sets by boxofgrey.com, a website set up for newcomers to the BDSM world. Fifty Ways To Play is being sold as part of luxury BDSM packages on website boxofgrey.com . They have created gift boxes with a selection of props to complement the book, with two different sets on offer to assist the BDSM virgins: the Play Box, which includes a blindfold, paddle, kegel balls and a rope kit, and the Summer Holiday box, which contains a holiday-friendly selection of products that the site says are discreet enough that they can be packed in hand luggage without arousing suspicions during security checks. | HarperCollins capitalising on current zeitgeist for sexual experimentation sparked by Fifty Shades phenomenon .
Fifty Ways To Play offers sex and bondage tips .
Packaged in erotic 'summer holiday' gift box of 'discreet' sex toys and restraints . |
091f4dda52806c3955a4c109aa646a389cdb698d | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 14:31 EST, 10 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 17:23 EST, 10 January 2014 . The son of disgraced former television chef Paula Deen has spoken out about the racism scandal that caused the Southern matriarch's empire to spiral out of control last year. 'It was a tough summer, but it’s made us stronger as a family ... We are good members of the community and our attitude is to learn from our mistakes and go forward,' Jamie Deen told Closer magazine. Deen, 66, had her show cancelled and many of her paid endorsement deals dropped last year as it was revealed that she used racial slurs in discussing black employees. Standing by their mom: Jamie Deen (seen left with his mom Paula and brother Bobby in 2012) has spoken out about the effect that the racism scandal had on their close-knit family . She retreated from public life for months and spent time with her family, including sons Jamie and Bobby who are also chefs and have been closely involved in her ventures. Breakdown: Deen, 66, gave a tear-filled apology on The Today Show and largely retreated from public life following the scandal . 'She’s always been true to herself and she can really brighten up someone’s week just by spending time with them,' Jamie said. 'She’s authentic. 'We look forward to getting back to work and persevering...We are going to have a big year in 2014!' Her official website suggests that the comeback is going to start very soon, as she is scheduled as headlining her own cruise trip starting on the 18th and heading to San Juan, St Thomas and St Maarten. She will then be returning to the U.S. a week later and has her next publicly advertised event in February as she will be signing cookbooks in Buffalo, New York on February 8. The former Food Network star has made only a handful of appearances since she broke down in tears on The Today Show while giving a public apology for the racism scandal. In September, she signed copies of her cookbook at her Savannah restaurant, The Lady & Sons. 'Yes I'm back,' she told a local television station at the time. 'Well actually, I never went anywhere. I just took a little breather.' Showing her face: Deen made her first public appearance following the scandal at the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show in Houston, Texas in September but there are many more events planned this year . Bawling: Jamie Deen, left, hugged his mum as she cried on stage in front of 1,500 supporters at the Houston show where she said that she was crying 'tears of joy' At the event, Deen put a positive spin on her time off. 'I’ve been on the road for so long. So it has been wonderful to reconnect with my team and everything that is going on with my business,' she said. Her first official appearance came the weekend before that, where she couldn't help but cry on stage at a cooking show in Houston, but she said that they were happy tears. 'These are tears of joy, y'all,' 66-year-old Deen told the audience of 1,500 supporters at the Reliant Center. 'I've said all along that the one place I'd want to make my first step back out is Texas. Y'all's hearts are as big as your state.' Deen admitted in her deposition for the lawsuit that she had used the N-word on a number of occasions, and even wanted black employees to play the part of slaves in a wedding party she was planning, according to a National Enquirer report. | The Former Food Network star's son Jamie said that his mother's racism scandal was a 'tough' time .
'She's always been true to herself... she's authentic'
Deen, 66, has her eponymous cruise line planned for January 18 and has a book signing scheduled in February . |
091ff13132700afeafe6fc5aed67ed101492d695 | Illinois Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth, who won a second term in the U.S. House two weeks ago, has given birth to a daughter. Duckworth gave birth to Abigail O'kalani Bowlsbey on Tuesday and the lawmaker's office made the announcement yesterday. Abigail is Duckworth's first child. The birth came a few weeks before her due date of December 5. Good news: Iraq veteran and Illinois Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth, pictured left, and right with her husband Bryan Bowlsbey, has given birth to her first child, a girl she has named Abigail O'kalani Bowlsbey . In a statement reported by the Chicago-Tribune Duckworth said: 'My husband Bryan and I are thrilled to announce that we are the proud parents of a baby girl. 'Abigail O'kalani Bowlsbey was born on Nov. 18. Bryan and I were deeply honored that Senator Akaka acted as Hawaiian elder and selected her middle name.' Daniel Akaka, a Democrat, served as a senator from Hawaii until 2013. Duckworth met her husband Bryan Bowlsbey at George Washington University and married him in 1993. He is a Major in the National Guard. The 46-year-old Iraq veteran, who lost both of her legs and suffered serious injuries to her right arm while serving in 2004, was born in Thailand and spent part of her youth in Hawaii where she graduated from McKinley High School. Service: Duckworth is pictured serving with the Illinois Army National Guard during her tour of duty in Iraq. In 2004, she lost both legs when the helicopter she was in was shot down on a mission near Baghdad . Fighter: She is pictured wearing her Purple Heart medal at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 2004 . Her mother is Thai and her late father was American. Duckworth announced her pregnancy on NBC's 'Today' show in September saying she and her husband, a major with the National Guard Bureau, had used assisted reproductive technology in order for her to conceive. The newborn's earlier-than-expected arrival caps off a successful month. She was a second term in congress on November 12. In October it was announced that Duckworth, a lieutenant colonel in the Illinois Army National Guard, was retiring from the military. Duckworth was flying a Black Hawk helicopter over Iraq on November 12, 2004 when she was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade, losing both of her legs and shattering her right arm. After returning to the U.S. and learning how to walk with the help of prosthetics, she worked for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and as the Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs between 2006 and 2009. She was elected to Congress in 2012. Band of mothers: Duckworth, middle, on the Today show with fellow veteran amputees, Melissa Stockwell, left, who is also expecting a baby, and Dawn Halfaker, right, who gave birth four months ago . Duckworth is the first disabled female veteran and the first female Asian American from Illinois to serve in the House. She is also one of five female veterans who lost limbs in Iraq and, coincidentally, four of them are pregnant or recently gave birth. Melissa Stockwell, who lost most of her left leg from a roadside bomb in 2004 before going on to compete in the 2008 Paralympics, also appeared on the show. Her son is due in November. 'Tammy and I as being lower limb amputees I think very initially wondered if it would be possible to have children and learned pretty quickly you can still have children and provide, but I think you have to find yourself first,' Stockwell said. They appeared on the show beside Dawn Halfaker, who lost an arm in Iraq, and who is now mother to a four-month-old boy. Then finally, Danielle Green-Byrd, who lost an arm during combat in 2004 before helping vets with PTSD, gave birth to a son 10 days ago. 'These women were there for me as the band of sisters when I went through the greatest pain, the greatest trauma in my life,' Duckworth said. 'And now we get to be together for the time of greatest joy.' | Tammy Duckworth gave birth to Abigail O'kalani Bowlsbey .
She and her husband Bryan were 'trilled' to make the announcement .
Duckworth lost both of her legs after her helicopter was shot down in Iraq . |
0920bdae5bdf6c7937237296ef0a3e95fb3ec40d | By . Ian Ladyman . Follow @@Ian_Ladyman_DM . Arjen Robben believes his attempt to con the referee early in Sunday’s dramatic last-16 win over Mexico did not influence the result or the penalty decision that came after he again fell theatrically under a challenge. The Dutch FA reacted aggressively on Monday when they realised just how much profile had been given to Robben’s post-match admission that he had tried to illegally win a free-kick during the 2-1 win in Fortaleza. However, after learning that FIFA would not take any retrospective action following his admission of gamesmanship, Robben attended a specially arranged press conference on Monday and reiterated his confession of the night before. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Robben say it was a clear penalty and see some of his dives . Admission: Arjen Robben has confessed to diving during the first half of Holland's victory over Mexico . Turning point: Arjen Robben's left foot is clipped by the boot of Mexico defender Rafael Marquez . Theatrics: Robben fell under the challenge but his reaction was what convinced the referee . ‘I was not afraid of FIFA action, no,’ said Robben. ‘I . am an honest guy but it had no influence on the game. It’s a shame . because yesterday in an interview after the game I was very honest. ‘Maybe sometimes you are punished for honesty, but I always prefer to be honest.‘I . said there was one foul in the first half where I went to the ground . because I thought he would tackle me, but he took his leg away at the . last moment and I went to the ground without a touch. ‘It was a stupid action from me, but it had no influence on the game, had nothing to do with the penalty kick. ‘In the first half we should have had a penalty kick, in the second half the penalty at the end was a clear foul. ‘It . is a shame there is so much discussion because we put on a great . performance as a team. That should be the main thing. Sometimes, you . know, I like to be honest and I apologise for this action in the first . half, but that is football. It had nothing to do with the result of the . game.’ Outraged: Mexico coach Miguel Herrera remonstrates with officials and Dutch players at the full time whistle . Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, scorer of Holland’s injury-time winner against Mexico on Sunday, has more goals (35) than starts (34) for the national team. Robben . was accused of diving three times by Mexico coach Miguel Herrera after . his team’s defeat and it is clear the Bayern Munich winger will come . under scrutiny when Holland face Costa Rica here on Saturday. Herrera believes that Robben dived to win the decisive penalty at the death. ‘I don’t change myself,’ said Robben. ‘That’s my personality. ‘I think it’s good. I apologised for one stupid action, but it didn’t have an influence in the game. ‘We had two clear penalties, one was given. That is it. I don’t think we should talk about it any more.’ Decider: Marquez appeals after Robben goes down for the late penalty that won Holland the game . Holland will remain at the training base in Rio until Thursday before heading north to Salvador ahead of Saturday’s game. And . coach Louis van Gaal has told his star striker Robin van Persie that he . will be sacrificed if he isn’t fit enough or playing well enough. Van . Gaal and his captain Van Persie are thought to have a unique bond that . Manchester United fans will hope can continue when the veteran coach . starts life at Old Trafford after the World Cup. But . Van Gaal hauled Van Persie off 15 minutes from the end of Sunday . night’s dramatic win and watched as his replacement Klaas-Jan Huntelaar . set up one goal and scored the winner from the penalty spot. Not going to plan: Robin van Persie did not have a great game against Mexico and was taken off . Super sub: Klass-Jan Huntelaar celebrates scoring the dramatic and controversial late goal for the Dutch . Afterwards, Van Gaal was asked if Van Persie was injured and said: ‘No. The substitution of Van Persie was tactical. ‘Let’s not forget before he joined team he was recovering from an injury. ‘It’s . difficult for him to keep up 90 minutes especially in these conditions. Anyway, this trainer wants to win. So he makes the changes and the . substitutions he needs. ‘It’s simple. Nothing else matters.’ Van . Persie is still expected to start in Saturday’s quarter-final but . holding midfielder Nigel de Jong is unlikely to recover from the groin . injury that forced him off the field early on in the Mexico game. ‘I don’t know but I think it might be difficult,’ added Van Gaal. ‘It is a muscle injury.’ Decisive: Louis van Gaal substituted a subdued Van Persie against Mexico and Holland went on to win . Van . Gaal has denied that his team have a straight forward route to the last . four, even though quarter-final opponents Costa Rica are ranked 28th in . the world and had to play extra-time against Greece on Sunday. ‘Let . me tell you the Dutch media thought we would never survive the first . round, so how we ended up becoming up favourites, I’ll never know,’ he . said. ‘This group of players is very modest. ‘We have outstanding spirit, outstanding atmosphere, and that led to victory. ‘Costa Rica very difficult opponents, otherwise they wouldn’t have ended up in a quarter-final.’ | Arjen Robben believes attempt to con referee in first half of Holland victory against Mexico did not influence result of penalty decision .
Dutch FA reacted angrily following coverage of Robben's admission .
Mexico coach Miguel Herrera accused Bayern Munich wideman of diving on three occasions .
Holland went on to win the last 16 clash 2-1 courtesy of Klass-Jan Huntelaar's spot-kick . |
0920d336c81e30b7345edf89e70fb3780b1dd779 | 19 Kids and Counting star Anna Duggar, who is expecting her fourth child with her husband Josh Duggar, has been showing off her growing baby bump. The 26-year-old mom flaunted her expanding stomach in a red empire waist dress on Friday at an event attended by her husband's parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, as well as Janet Huckabee, wife of Republican former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. Josh, 26, who is the eldest of Jim Bob and Michelle's 19 children, shared photos of his wife and family on Instagram the following day, captioning one picture: 'Great to be with friends & family this weekend.' Baby on board: Josh (right) and Anna (center) Duggar posed for a photo with Mike Huckabee's wife Janet (left) on Friday night. Anna, who is expecting her fourth child, showed off her baby bump in a red empire waist dress . Growing family: Josh, who is the eldest child of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar (left), shared photos of his wife and family on Instagram the following day . Another snapshot shows Josh and Anna posing with Mrs Huckabee. 'Always great to see our friend #JanetHuckabee,' he wrote. Last month, Mrs Huckabee's husband expressed his support for the Duggars during an interview with People, in which he described the family as 'wholesome and wonderful'. Josh and Anna, who married in September 2008, announced that they are expecting on her Twitter page last December. Best kept secret: Josh and Anna shared their happy news in a video released by TLC. They admitted that they had waited until after Josh's sister Jessa's wedding to Ben Seewald to tell their family . Proud parents: The couple are parents to a five-year-old daughter Mackynzie and sons Michael , 3, and Marcus, 1 . 'We are so excited to announce...we're pregnant! #4andCounting #BlessingfromTheLord @joshduggar #19Kids,' Anna wrote. The couple already have three young children, a daughter, Mackynzie Renée, 5, and two sons, Michael James, 3, and Marcus Anthony, 1. In a video released by TLC, the couple revealed that they had waited until after Josh's sister Jessa's November wedding to Ben Seewald to share the news with their family. Anna, who is due early June, will welcome her fourth child just a few months after Josh's sister Jill is expecting her first baby with husband Derick Dillard. 'This time of the year, there's so many things we're thankful for,' Josh said in the video. 'From my sisters getting proposed to and married, to all the fans who are watching at home.' Future cousins: Jill Duggar and her sister-in-law Anna compare their expanding stomachs. Jill's first child with husband Derick Dillard is due in March . Anna soon announced that she was expecting, and despite her bout with morning sickness, she couldn't be happier. 'After Ben and Jessa's wedding, we were still visiting with the family in Arkansas,' she said, 'and that was really exciting to get to share with the family the exciting news.' Josh moved his family from Arkansas to Washington D.C. in 2013 after he accepted the position of executive director of FRC Action, a legislative arm of the Family Research Council, which aims to educate the public about 'traditional American values'. The ninth season of 19 Kids and Counting premieres February 17. In the first episode, Jill and Derick find out that they are expecting their first child after only 30 days of marriage and happily announce the news to their ever-growing family. | Anna and Josh Duggar are expecting their fourth child in early June .
The 26-year-old showcased her expanding stomach in a red empire waist dress at an event on Friday night .
The couple announced Anna's pregnancy last December on Twitter .
Josh and Anna already have three young children, a daughter, Mackynzie Renée, 5, and two sons, Michael James, 3, and Marcus Anthony, 1 . |
09210d002688730b3af7ef262b1c1f74ca6c9fed | By . Tara Brady . PUBLISHED: . 10:32 EST, 16 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:19 EST, 16 October 2013 . Leaping from a 4,500ft high cliff and plummeting through the air at 120mph wouldn't be everyone's idea of fun, but for these thrillseekers it was an experience of a lifetime. The daredevils took part in the jump from Mushroom Cliff on the north face of the Eiger in Switzerland as part of a base jumping class. The stomach-churning sport saw the enthusiasts trek 45 minutes through the Swiss Alps before throwing themselves off the edge. Got guts: A man prepares to leap off Mushroom Mountain in Switzerland and fall 4,500ft reaching a speed of 120mph . As these amazing images show the base jumpers 'fly' through the air as they freefall 2,000ft before releasing their parachutes and landing safely some 4,500ft below. Skydiving instructor and base jumper, Oliver Furrer, 41 led the class in Switzerland. The former Swiss Air Force Paratrooper said: 'I run base jumping courses during the spring and autumn, these pictures show some of my students leaping from the Eiger North Face. 'I take my students under my wing, I am their mentor and my job is to show them tricks to enjoy the sport safely and get them out of it alive. Courageous: Oliver Furrer takes a photograph of himself before he takes a leap of faith and throws himself off the cliff . Daredevil: A man hurtles thought the air at 120mph after jumping off Mushroom Cliff (right) and his friends cheering (left) after he has made the leap . The stomach-churning sport saw the extreme sport enthusiasts trek 45 minutes through the Swiss Alps, before throwing themselves off the edge . 'This was a single canopy jump meaning we jump without a second parachute so you only have one chance for it to go right. 'The location is called Mushroom Cliff is a famous spot for base jumping because of its platform which stands out from the cliff, making it safer as you have less chance of hitting the side of the mountain on the way down. 'The cliff is 4500ft high, you freefall around 2,000ft before releasing your parachute. No fear: Oliver Furrer takes a snap of himself mid-air. The daredevil freefalled around 2,000ft before releasing the parachute . The stomach-churning sport saw the extreme sport enthusiasts trek 45 minutes through the Swiss Alps, before throwing themselves off the edge . A base jumper flies through the air as he freefalls 2,000ft before releasing his parachute and landing safely some 4,500ft below . 'It takes around 40-45 seconds to climb up and then you have 12-13 seconds 'flying' as you freefall before its time to release the parachute. 'The sport is dangerous and there have been fatalities but if you know your limits and are sensible it can be a safe sport. 'It can be dangerous in winter time because of its freezing which has a more physical impact on your body. 'Some people push themselves over the limit and that's when accidents and fatalities happen. Daredevils getting ready to base jump off Mushroom cliff (right) and a man hurtling though the air dropping 4,500ft (left) Leaping from a 4,500ft high cliff and plummeting through the air at 120mph wouldn't be everyone's idea of fun . Brave: A man stands on the edge of Mushroom Cliff ready to leap from a height of 4,500ft in Switzerland . 'Some people wait until the last second to release their parachute because they're addicted to the ground rush. But if you open it too late you risk catching the parachute on a tree. 'So the level of danger involved is very much controlled by the person and how they approach the jump. 'The fantastic part of base jumping is the freedom, you can position your body to fly left, right forward. It's amazing when you see the view and then jump into nothing. 'It's an impressive feeling to free fall through the air at 100mph. 'I started base jumping in 1999, I travelled to Florida for a 10 day course. I then learnt how to jump cliffs in Europe. 'This was in the very early days of the sport when it was relatively unheard of but now there are many thousands of people who are addicted to the thrill of this sport.' | Daredevils took part in the jump from Mushroom Cliff in Switzerland as part of a base jump class .
The base jumpers 'fly' through the air as they freefall 2,000ft before releasing their parachutes and landing safely some 4,500ft below .
Enthusiasts trekked 45 minutes through the Swiss Alps before throwing themselves off the edge . |
09214d06f5671046f1079961d2c1568f8f2b25c7 | He was the first man in Britain to be signed off work with morning sickness but that hasn't stopped security guard Harry Ashby, 29, from Birmingham, from reaching the finals of the Britain’s Most Manliest Man competition. Mr Ashby made headlines last month after it was revealed that he had been given a doctor's note after falling prey to the same nausea and back pain suffered by his pregnant fiancée Charlotte Allsopp, 29. But despite the unusually feminine complaint, Mr Ashby says he is as manly as anyone else and added that being a real man means supporting your family and being honest about how you feel. Morning sickness: Mr Ashby became the first man in Britain to be signed off work with morning sickness . Feeling better: Mr Ashby developed similar symptoms to his fiancee but is now feeling considerably better . Manly: Mr Ashby, 29, has now made the finals of the Britain's Most Manliest Man competition . 'A real man for me is someone who can provide for his family and friends and be honest about what he wants to say,' explained the part-time model who claims to have made more than £20,000 to date from his good looks. 'For most men everything’s got to be positive and macho. I don’t mind coming out and talking about what I did. 'I still get the sickness and I haven’t shifted the weight I put on yet but once the baby’s born I’m going to get back down the gym.' Mr Ashby, who says he hopes to make it onto Big Brother next, beat more than 1,000 hopefuls to make it into the final of the competition, along with 49 others. In his entry Mr Ashby described his most manliest achievement as 'I once helped an old lady who had fallen down on the street.' His hobbies were listed as singing, modelling and science fiction. An online poll will now decide who brings home the title from the tournament held by grooming brand, The Bluebeards Revenge, men’s cancer charity Orchid and Men’s Fitness magazine. Last month, Mr Ashby made headlines when it was revealed that he was suffering from Couvade Syndrome, in which men develop symptoms similar to those of morning sickness. The name Couvade syndrome (also known as male sympathetic pregnancy) comes from the French 'couver', which means 'to hatch'. It is not a medically recognised condition, although a 2007 study showed that 11 out of 282 expectant fathers surveyed had gone to their GP with symptoms similar to those of their pregnant partners. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, weight gain, food cravings, tiredness, depression, fainting and toothache. In more extreme cases, men may develop breasts and a pregnant-looking stomach. Some sufferers said their symptoms subsided as the pregnancy went on, while others said lasted up to and during the labour. Now back at work, Mr Ashby added: 'I think people should back me because I’ve been working hard for 10 years and it would be great to win the title. Finding fame: Mr Ashby and his fiancee Charlotte also appeared on This Morning to tell their story . Uncomfortable: Mr Ashby's 'morning sickness' has seen him pile on the pounds and suffer from nausea . 'I want to branch out and get on Big Brother - that’s one of my main aims to make some money and a name for myself. I’ve put so much work into this. 'Life’s hard and I don’t mind working but at the same time I’m a big dreamer.” Jacob Anthony Lott, aged 21 and also from Birmingham, and Solihull businessman RS, aged 24, also appear in the shortlist. Describing the title as 'life changing' organiser Nick Gibbens said: 'We don’t define what’s manly - we’ll let you decide on that one. 'But we do know that these guys look the part, with their chiselled jawlines, rugged good looks and masculine physiques. 'Of course, there’s more to it than looks alone, and this is something that we feel should be given careful consideration.' The winner will bag a one year modelling contract and work to encourage other men to check themselves for testicular, penile and prostate cancer. | Harry Ashby, 29, was signed off work with morning sickness last month .
Claimed to suffer from the same weight gain and sickness as his fiancée .
Has now made it to the finals of the Britain's Most Manliest Man competition .
Says he is a real man because he provides for his family and is honest .
To vote visit bluebeards-revenge.co.uk before Sunday, November 23. |
0921693ea2a6a55e3fa8ab66467d3ac934673609 | (CNN) -- Christine O'Donnell's upset win over Rep. Mike Castle in the Delaware Republican Senate primary is also another major victory for the Tea Party Express and for Sarah Palin. "I also want to thank the Tea Party Express," said O'Donnell in her victory speech Tuesday night. The Tea Party Express, a leading Tea Party organization, endorsed O'Donnell on July 21 and spent more than $250,000 to help the once long shot candidate defeat Castle, a brand name in Delaware thanks to two terms as governor and the past 18 years as the statewide congressman. O'Donnell's victory comes two weeks after Sen. Lisa Murkowski conceded to Joe Miller in Alaska's GOP Senate primary. The Tea Party Express pumped in about $600,000 to help the once unknown Miller edge out Murkowski, part of a political dynasty in Alaska. Tea Party Express is one of the most recognized national Tea Party organizations, thanks to its three high-profile bus caravans and rallies. The group, based in Sacramento, California, has also become a major player in Republican Party politics, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on ads for Republican Senate candidate Scott Brown in Massachusetts, who in January upset Democrat Martha Coakley in a special election to fill the late Sen. Ted Kennedy's seat. More recently, the organization helped the little-known Sharron Angle win the Republican primary in Nevada, endorsing her and spending about a half-million dollars on ads. Angle now faces off in the general election against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, the top Democrat in the chamber. Tea Party Express, along with other Tea Party groups and other conservative organizations, also targeted incumbent Republican Sen. Bob Bennett in Utah for his vote on the Troubled Assets Relief Program and helped defeat his bid for a fourth term. Tea Party Express then backed underdog Mike Lee's successful primary campaign in Utah and Lee now is heavily favored to win the general election in November and join the Senate next year. The group also endorsed Rand Paul in Kentucky. The son of former GOP presidential hopeful and Texas Rep. Ron Paul topped Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson, the establishment Republican candidate, in the state's Senate primary. They also endorsed Marco Rubio in Florida. The former Florida House speaker, once a long shot to win the Republican Senate nomination, is now the party's nominee. The onetime front-runner, Gov. Charlie Crist, dropped his bid for the GOP nomination and is running for the Senate as an independent candidate. Among its rare statewide defeats: The Tea Party Express backed state lawmaker Chuck DeVore in California's Senate primary. He lost to Carly Fiorina. It also supported Rep. Todd Tiahrt in Kansas. Fellow Republican Rep. Jerry Moran beat Tiahrt in the primary. So what's the secret to the Tea Party Express' success? "They have cut right to the chase. They have a very uncomplicated message that resonates with voters who think Washington's problems are quite simple and quite obvious: We're spending too much money, government is too big and we can't trust career politicians to fix these problems. And voters are indicating they would much rather try something or someone new instead of sticking with the status quo or the safe pick," said Republican strategist Kevin Madden. But not all the news for the Tea Party Express has been positive. Earlier this summer, the National Tea Party Federation, which seeks to represent the Tea Party political movement around the country, expelled the Tea Party Express because of an inflammatory blog post that one of its leaders, Mark Williams, wrote responding to criticism of the Tea Party movement from the NAACP. The story made national headlines and Williams later stepped down as spokesman for Tea Party Express. O'Donnell's victory is also a big win for Palin. "Thank you Gov. Palin for your endorsement," said O'Donnell. "She got behind us war-weary folks and gave us a boost of encouragement when we needed it." On September 9, the former Alaska governor and the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee endorsed O'Donnell. One day before the primary, a recording of Palin urging Delaware Republicans to vote for O'Donnell was blasted to voters by robo-calls across the state. Many statewide candidates that Palin has endorsed have done well in this year's Republican primaries. Alaska's Miller was one of three Palin-backed statewide candidates running in the August 24 primaries who went on to victory. She also endorsed Arizona Sen. John McCain, the former presidential candidate who rocketed Palin to stardom in 2008 when he selected her as his running mate. Though members of the Tea Party movement lined up against the longtime Arizona senator, Palin stayed loyal to McCain and appeared at a campaign event with him in March. Addressing long-standing concern among conservatives McCain is too centrist, Palin said the Arizona senator is driven by "common-sense conservative principles" and touted his steadfast opposition to the Obama administration. McCain beat former Rep. J.D. Hayworth by more than 30 points. In the race for Florida attorney general, Palin backed Pam Bondi, a Tampa prosecutor who faced the better-known Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp for the job. Palin's endorsement of Bondi came about a week before the vote and even surprised Bondi, who had no notice Palin would take to her Facebook page to back the campaign. Bondi came out on top in a three-candidate field. In August, several Palin-endorsed candidates suffered losses in statewide Republican primaries. She backed Tea Party activist and former NFL player Clint Didier, who was easily defeated by Dino Rossi for the Senate nomination in Washington. Wyoming State Auditor Rita Meyer, who had Palin's backing, narrowly lost her bid for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. Palin campaigned in person with former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel, who lost a runoff to former Rep. Nathan Deal for the state's Republican nomination for governor. Palin also endorsed Tea Party Express-backed Tiahrt, who was defeated in the battle for the Senate nomination in Kansas. Earlier in the primary season, Palin successfully backed statewide candidates such as Nikki Haley in South Carolina, Terry Branstad in Iowa and Susana Martinez in New Mexico, who all won gubernatorial nominations, and Fiorina in California and Paul in Kentucky, who captured Senate nominations. CNN's Alex Mooney, Peter Hamby and Allison Harding contributed to this report. | GOP Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell gives Palin, Tea Party Express a win .
Tea Party Express pours cash into campaigns of its favored candidates .
Palin surprises some of her favorites with Facebook endorsements . |
092188ac6029978de4e35fc5ac30d6821689dda7 | A good Samaritan did a good deed for a homeless man by giving him a Kindle to pursue his love of reading. The San Diego man, who wishes to remain anonymous, would take frequent business trips to Las Vegas when he'd often see a homeless man reading one book repeatedly. During his last visit, he decided to strike up a conversation with the man, called Paul, about his book and soon found out that he loved to read, but only had one book. Reading: Paul told the man that he loved to read books, but unfortunately he only had one book to read . The man told The Huffington Post: 'I just asked him if he liked to read. He said he loved to but that he had been reading that one book over and over for a while now.' In a kind gesture, the man remembered that he was carrying his Kindle in his bag, and decided to give it to Paul and teach him how to use it. It was soon clear how much Paul enjoyed using the device - which is an e-reader by Amazon. He decided to take a picture of Paul and his new Kindle, and shared it on Reddit on Thursday under the username, mjuad. The photograph quickly went viral, receiving nearly two million views on Imgur - which describes itself as the Internet's visual storytelling community where people post pictures. He said: 'It brought me a lot of joy to see someone getting so much from something that I gave them. It feels so good to see someone get so much for something I took for granted.' Luckily, Paul does not need to download books. The Kindle is already stocked with around 300 books. In another grand gesture, the man gave Paul an address where he could send the device, cash on delivery, should he need more reading material. He told the website: 'If I can keep someone from going hungry for a day or brighten their day/life up in any way, I always try to do my best. 'I'm also hoping that by sharing this, I will encourage others to do something kind as well.' | The San Diego man was on a business trip in Las Vegas when he saw Paul .
He struck up a conversation about books and found he only had one .
He reached into his bag and gave him his Kindle with over 300 books on it . |
09219dd44d20f76a3d09330ee3a38d8566a32b64 | (CNN) -- China's ruling Communist party unleashed a blistering attack Wednesday on dissident artist Ai Weiwei -- and on the West for criticizing his apparent arrest. Ai has not been seen since Sunday, when he and an assistant said on Twitter that they had been taken into custody en route to Hong Kong. China broke its silence Wednesday with a pair of articles in a Communist party newspaper. One Global Times piece said he had been "detained by police, according to overseas media reports." The other article, an editorial, said Ai "has been close to the red line of Chinese law... as long as Ai Weiwei continuously marches forward, he will inevitably touch the red line one day." "He will pay a price for his special choice, which is the same in any society," said the editorial, which called him "an activist," and "a maverick." Ai, one of the country's best-known artists, helped design the iconic Bird's Nest stadium for the Beijing Olympics, but later called for a boycott of the 2008 games because he said China was using them as propaganda. The artist has also accused the Chinese government of trying to silence dissidents. The Global Times editorial Wednesday blasted "Western governments and human rights institutions" for calling for his release. It accused them of "reckless collision against China's basic political framework and ignorance of China's judicial sovereignty to exaggerate a specific case," and failing to find out "the truth." "The West's behavior aims at disrupting the attention of Chinese society and attempts to modify the value system of the Chinese people," the Global Times said. The Chinese-language version of the article is harsher, saying criticism from the West is the reason Chinese people "loathe" it. Ai Weiwei's name has apparently been censored on Chinese online forums, but people are getting around the ban by using nicknames and puns, or by using his father's and wife's names in posts. Some also refer to him as a baker of sunflower seeds, a reference to his installation at London's Tate Modern art museum of 100 million painted pottery sunflower seeds. Police surrounded his studio Sunday after authorities reportedly detained him at a Beijing airport. "They crack down on everybody who has different opinions -- not even different opinions, just different attitudes," he told CNN last year. "Simply to have different opinions can cost (dissidents) their life; they can be put in jail, can be silenced and can disappear." In the past, Ai has noted that he has paid a price for his own dissent. In January, the artist said authorities placed him under house arrest to stop him from attending an event he planned after officials announced that his new studio would be demolished. "Just recently I heard the new studio I built in Shanghai will be demolished, all because of my activities," Ai said at the time. "So what is my activity? My activity is very simple, asking basic rights for people to freely express themselves and also to find a new structure, a new way of communicating. Because I'm an artist and this is what I do and I believe in that." In the past several weeks, Chinese authorities have detained and arrested a number of lawyers and human rights activists amid calls for anti-government protests similar to those that have swept the Middle East. CNN's Eve Bower, Eileen Hsieh and Kristie Lu Stout contributed to this report. | Articles in the Communist party newspaper seem to confirm his arrest .
They warn that he will "pay a price for his special choice"
The Global Times also condemns the West for interfering, saying Chinese people loathe it .
Ai Weiwei helped design the 2008 Olympics Bird's Nest stadium . |
09220176e3bd1ab1e8dbce02bcc030d432110f1f | By . Robert Verkaik . PUBLISHED: . 16:47 EST, 20 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:54 EST, 20 April 2013 . Favourite: Rolf Harris with his portrait of the Queen . Lawyers for Rolf Harris have used intimidating and potentially misleading tactics to stop The Mail on Sunday from naming the Australian entertainer in the investigation in the wake of the Jimmy Savile abuse claims. In a series of threatening emails sent to this paper, London law firm Harbottle & Lewis warned of the ‘highly damaging personal consequences’ in identifying their client. They also brandished Lord Justice Leveson’s name to declare there was no public interest in reporting the arrest. It meant that for more than four months The Mail on Sunday decided not to publish Mr Harris’s name in connection with the Savile investigation. As recently as March 30, Har¬bottle’s senior media lawyer, . Gerrard Tyrrell, who has acted for Prince William, Prince Harry and the Middletons, warned: ‘If you proceed then both you and the Editor of your newspaper are on notice of the consequences.’ In January, Harbottle’s was asked to confirm if Mr Harris had been interviewed by police. The firm responded by citing cases of Tory peer Lord McAlpine and X Factor judge Louis Walsh, who had been falsely linked to sex offences. In fact, these cases were crucially different from Mr Harris’s because it was true that Mr Harris had been interviewed by the police. And unlike Mr Harris, neither man had been interviewed or arrested. Last night Mr Walsh’s lawyer Paul Tweed said it was wrong to compare his client’s case to that of Mr Harris. He said: ‘The Louis Walsh case I would distinguish because by the time the Sun published the story my client had not been contacted by the police . . . But in Rolf Harris’s case, as I understand it, he has been interviewed by the police. In my view there is a very important distinction there. Once you reach the point of interview and arrest there has to be a strong public interest argument in publication. The fact that The Mail on Sunday held back for four months is a credit to you.’ Mr Tyrrell also tried to keep the case secret by warning us that it would be wrong to publish any of his threatening letters which he said were ‘strictly private and confidential’. On Friday, despite the desperate efforts by Mr Harris’s lawyers to suppress news of his arrest, . Mr Harris was finally revealed in newspapers as the ‘mystery’ celebrity detained by detectives investigating the Jimmy Savile sex scandal. Without official and cast-iron confirmation from Mr Harris or the police this newspaper decided not to reveal his name. The paper was also influenced by reports that Mr Harris had been admitted to The Priory clinic and that publication could endanger his health. Last night senior lawyers said that media reports were being suppressed in the wake of Lord Justice Leveson’s report into media ethics. Lawyers cited the cases of Louis Walsh (left) and Lord MacAlpine (right) as reason for us not to name Mr Harris . Threat: The emails from Harbottle and Lewis threatening the Mail on Sunday with action if we named Harris . In the email comparing Mr Harris’s situation to Lord McAlpine, Mr Tyrrell said: ‘Given recent events and by this we refer specifically to the unfounded allegations that were published against Lord McAlpine and the reporting on 29 November 2012 of the settlement of legal proceedings brought by Louis Walsh... arising from circumstances where he was falsely accused of criminal behaviour we are very surprised and indeed highly concerned to note the claims to which you refer.’ The ‘claims’, in fact, were only that Mr Harris had been questioned and his house searched. The aggressive denials by Mr Harris’s lawyers . of their client’s link to the police investigation played an enormous part in preventing the media from naming him. It is now known that on November 24 last year police searched his home in Bray, Berkshire, and took away computer equipment and other items. Harris, who has denied any wrongdoing, was first interviewed under caution – but not arrested – over alleged sex offences on November 29. On March 28 police formally arrested him. Two days later Mr Tyrrell wrote to the managing editor of The Mail on Sunday after police had appeared to confirm the arrest to one of our reporters. He said: ‘We note that you state . . .you are intending to do what no other organisation in this country has done and publish that our client has been arrested on very serious charges. The highly damaging personal and legal consequences of doing so will not be lost on you.’ Mr Tyrrell dismissed our source, saying that our ‘actual knowledge is non-existent’ and that publication was without any public interest which he said was ‘self-evident’ from Leveson’s report into media ethics. Mr Harris – a favourite of the Queen – had been the only high-profile suspect not to have been identified.His detention follows the arrests of Gary Glitter, Freddie Starr, Dave Lee Travis, Max Clifford and Jim Davidson. Starr, Travis, Clifford and Davidson have all publicly denied any wrong-doing and gave statements after their arrests. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Lawyers use furore over innocent peer to to try and gag us .
Emails to us from lawyers warned of consequences if we published .
Mr Harris, 83, was arrested last month as part of Operation Yewtree . |
09222f652764b9a534edefe44bb3eb762d348999 | FOUNTAIN HILLS, Arizona (CNN) -- A team of doctors from the Mayo Clinic declared Friday that there appears to be no physical reason why Sen. John McCain, the 71-year-old presumed Republican presidential candidate, could not carry out the duties of the office. "Sen. McCain enjoys excellent health and displays extraordinary energy, and, while it is impossible to predict any person's future health, I and my colleagues can find no medical reason or problem that would preclude Sen. McCain from fulfilling all of the duties or obligations of the president of the United States," said Dr. John D. Eckstein, an internist who has been overseeing McCain's treatment for 16 years at the famed research center's campus in Scottsdale, Arizona. McCain has been undergoing periodic examinations there since the 1990s and annual examinations since 2000, Eckstein said. His most recent comprehensive examination took place in March, with follow-up tests this month. The doctors described a number of health issues faced by McCain, many of them typical for a man of his age but at least one of them potentially serious. McCain has had four malignant melanomas removed. Three of them -- on his left shoulder, left arm and left nasal wall -- were limited to the top skin layer and were not invasive. They were removed in 1993, 2000 and 2002, and all were declared Stage 0, of little long-term concern. But a fourth melanoma proved to be invasive and was removed from his left lower temple in 2000, Eckstein said. The surgery on McCain's temple was carried out in August 2000 by Dr. Michael Hinni, who described the melanoma as 2.2 mm thick at the thickest point and 2 cm across. Hinni said that, in order to leave a 2 cm margin that would minimize the risk of leaving some of the cancer intact, he had to remove a patch of skin roughly 6 cm in diameter, as well as an underlying carotid salivary gland from McCain's face. Dissection of dozens of lymph nodes showed no evidence that the cancer had spread, he said. According to the American Cancer Society, such a melanoma would be classified as Stage IIA, which is associated with a five-year survival rate of about 78 percent and a 10-year survival rate of about 66 percent. The wound required major reconstruction and has left the senator with a mass of scar tissue on his face. His left jaw appears prominent because because there was an absence of soft tissue on the face in front of his ear, Hinni said. CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who reviewed McCain's medical records, found previously unreported details about the operation. Watch Dr. Sanjay Gupta on McCain's health records » . McCain developed swelling beneath the skin and had to be taken back for a second operation. One in 58 Americans will develop malignant melanoma in their lifetime, said Dr. Suzanne Connolly, McCain's dermatologist. This year, an estimated 116,500 cases will be diagnosed in the United States, with more than 62,000 of them invasive, she said. McCain has many of the risk factors associated with the cancer: light skin, light-colored eyes and a history of excessive sun exposure, she said. Though there is no sign of recurrence, McCain monitors his skin carefully, is examined by his dermatologist every three to four months and "practices good habits of sun safety," she said. Connolly described the candidate's prognosis as good. "There is no way to predict with certainty the percentage, but the percentage would be thought to be in the single-digit area," she said. McCain has also been treated for other less serious skin cancers, but Eckstein did not specify how many. McCain has had a number of more routine interactions with his doctors, not unusual for a man of his age. He has had four small kidney stones in his right kidney and a number of small benign cysts in both kidneys, but his kidney function is normal, Eckstein said. In August 2001, McCain noticed blood in his urine, and doctors found stones in his bladder that they used lasers to break apart. At the same time, they surgically removed enlarged prostate tissue, which was the cause of the bleeding, Eckstein said. Since then, McCain's urination has been normal, Eckstein said. McCain's prostate has showed no signs of cancer, and his prostate-specific antigen test -- which can indicate prostate cancer risk -- was also normal, Eckstein said. He said McCain takes the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide to prevent the formation of kidney stones. He takes the diuretic in a 25 mg dose, which is also the standard for treating high blood pressure. Eckstein said that, though McCain's systolic rate -- the top number in a blood pressure reading -- had sometimes been slightly high, the drug was being prescribed solely for kidney stone prevention. He added that he has encouraged McCain to reduce his salt intake, another method of lowering blood pressure. McCain first had an adenomatous colon polyp removed in the 1990s. Though the next two tests -- performed years apart -- proved negative, the most recent test carried out last month revealed six of the polyps, all of which were removed, Eckstein said. Though the polyps were all of the type that are potentially precancerous, they were found so early that they pose little threat, he said. McCain will continue to have periodic colonoscopies, the doctor said. McCain has displayed no evidence of heart disease or other cardiovascular disease, Eckstein said. "Indeed, he walked the Grand Canyon rim to rim in August 2006" and hikes whenever his schedule permits, he said. A stress echocardiogram carried out in March was "entirely normal," he said. McCain has also been treated for high lipid levels. Eckstein said he originally prescribed Vytorin, but a recent study raised questions about its efficacy, and he recently switched the Republican candidate to simvastatin. McCain has had orthopedic problems in the past, many of them traced to October 1967, when the Navy flier's plane was shot down over Vietnam. He broke both arms and a leg when he ejected and spent the next 5½ years as a prisoner of war in Hanoi. During that time, he was beaten and tortured repeatedly, suffering fractures of both shoulders. Because he received no treatment for his fractures, they healed improperly, leaving him with reduced range of motion for his shoulders, arms and right knee, Eckstein said. McCain takes a daily aspirin to prevent formation of blood clots; an occasional Zyrtec, an antihistamine used for nasal allergies; and the sleep agent Ambien CR for treatment of insomnia when he travels. He also takes a multi-vitamin tablet. Some reporters, including CNN's, were allowed to examine McCain's medical records. In one, McCain's fasting blood sugar value was described as "impaired." Asked to elaborate, Eckstein said he thought that the note referred to a 111 mg/dl blood sugar, with normals "in most labs" being between 70 mg/dl and 100 mg/dl. Eckstein said he followed that test result with another that he did not identify, "which was completely normal." McCain, a two-pack-a-day smoker for 25 years, quit in 1980. He recently had a CT scan of his chest performed, and it proved normal, Eckstein said. The former pilot also sometimes experiences occasional dizziness when he stands, a benign condition called positional vertigo, Eckstein said. "When he and many other people arise from sitting or lying down, they get a sudden whirling sensation which may last two to five seconds and then disappears," he said. "It does not indicate any vascular problem to the brain, and it is not a precursor to stroke." McCain's father died of a stroke at age 70, but his 96-year-old mother is in good health and has appeared on the campaign trail with him. McCain released his medical records voluntarily. He did the same when he ran for president in 2000. The two Democrats competing for their party's nomination, Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton, have not released their doctors' files. Obama's campaign said it will release a summary of his medical condition next week, composed by his primary care physician. The campaign said it will show that he is in good health. | Sen. John McCain has had no recurrence of skin cancer since 2000 surgery .
Doctor says McCain is in "excellent health" with "extraordinary energy"
Melanoma surgery was aggressive, removing lymph nodes as well as a tumor .
McCain, a two-pack-a-day smoker for 25 years, quit in 1980 . |
0922357b2d0439cf4ba6ec9dc143e11a38b49d8a | (CNN) -- What green gadgets are worth splashing out for? Lucy Siegle, a British journalist specializing in ecological issues and trends, told CNN which eco gizmos get her seal of approval. Solar powered tents . Solar tent: A great green gadget for occasionaly campers. Siegle: I'm not big into camping but it's a massive thing here in the UK. During the summer barely a weekend goes by without a festival of some sort. The only thing however that gets me through the frequently rain-sodden experience is the ingenuity of a solar powered tent (I love them). Fit-PC2: Small is beautiful . Siegle: I'm acutely aware of the specter of e-waste because I make films about fly tipping in beautiful parts of Wales and come face to face with mounds of dumped monitors and keyboards. We have an issue in the UK with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive as there's a lot of crime -- see as evidence how a consignment of e-waste was found in Brazil recently. It's horrible. Anyway all this makes me technologically monogamous -- I keep my machine until the bitter end. However the bitter end is approaching for my Mac Book as half the keys have sprung off so I came across this. The Fit-PC 2.0 claiming to the world's smallest fully functioning PC and also the greenest. 115mm x 101mm x 27 mm. That's tiny! I love dematerialization of these objects. It should be sustainable design realized. If the makers are to be trusted, it uses 90 per cent less energy than a standard desktop PC. It uses less energy than a low energy light bulb. The main board is lead free. View a gallery of the gadgets » . Dyson Animal hand-held vacuum cleaner . Siegle: I just got one of these, and have become quite the Stepford wife. Well, as far as crumbs are concerned - my house is a zero tolerance zone. Dyson is the most celebrated UK inventor, famous for the bagless vacuum cleaner. This offspring, the handheld, chargeable vac does some spectacular stuff. It 'spins dust and dirt out of the air' using a motor that spins ten times faster than the engine of a Boeing 747 courtesy of digital switching (subject to 15 patents). Another key factor is that this alternative motor does not cause those polluting carbon particles. All of this may sound rather energy hungry, but the new digital motor is 84 percent energy efficient. The reason I've listed it here is because it has huge potential in all sorts of applications and is a physical embodiment of Dyson's insistence that 'bigger motors don't always equal better performance'. Savaplug . Siegle: This is a retro inclusion (odd for a gadget list I know). I'm into the idea of Dynamic Demand -- regulating flow of power to our homes to even out and to make the grid more efficient (in the UK two thirds of power, mostly produced by coal fired power stations is lost before it gets to our homes). The Savaplug regulates flow on a microscale when you plug in an old style fridge. I don't need mine any more -- I have a new style, energy efficient fridge these days but keep it just in case I find someone who doesn't. Ikea Sunnan solar powered desk lamp . Lucy Siegle: Very simple, but actually very effective. I was sent this as a promotion. When you buy one, another is given free to kids in the developing world who have to study at night. A slightly mawkish, marketing stunt, but one that still appeals. I was amazed how it charged up in my kitchen, without me having to do anything. It was ready when my two year old nephew came to stay, fell out of his bed (I've subsequently got a bed guard for him) and needed the light on. The Sunnan has a warm, comforting glow. Riversimple hydrogen powered car . Lucy Siegle: I recently made a film about hydrogen fuel cells and how a British scientist, Dr Tom Bacon developed fuel cells for the Apollo 11 command center. Nixon (okay, not a president known for his probity) told Bacon that there would have been no mission without Bacon and his fuel cells. Anyway, it made me consider this technology more seriously. At Cranfield University (there are other partners too) they are perfecting a hydrogen fuel cell car. If it was funded like electric -- an easier option for the automotive industry -- it would have taken off by now (to pun from the Apollo connection). Hugo Spowers who is masterminding the project is an ethical visionary. He used to work in Formula One racing -- hardly known for its ethical outlook -- then did a Schumacher course at Dartington, famed for its deep green economics. He also has an MBA from Cranfield and is running this project as a shared commons program. Extraordinarily enlightened. The batteries are being recharged in China currently having been tested into submission, but when they come back I'm hoping for a test drive. | Eco journalist Lucy Siegle gives CNN her top practical green gadgets .
Solar tent, world's smallest and greenest PC included in the list .
Simple gadgets also on the list including energy efficient plug and solar lamp . |
09226482ff5dbfc37e5453ec4eef7d1d24849231 | Workers form a picket line outside the Lyondell-Basell oil refinery in Houston, Texas earlier this month . Motorists have been warned to expect a hike in gas prices as the first nationwide refinery strike in 35 years has reduced American oil production by a fifth. The United Steelworkers union have said that workers at the largest refinery in the country, Motiva Enterprises refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, started their strike at midnight on Friday. Employees at two other refineries and a chemical plant in Louisiana also planned to strike. The union said in a statement that it expanded a strike that started February 1 at refineries largely in Texas and California because the industry has refused to 'meaningfully address' safety issues through good-faith bargaining. The union also wants to discuss staffing levels and seeks limits on the use of contractors to replace union members in doing daily maintenance work. Negotiations for a new contract began on January 21 with Shell Oil Company, which is serving as the lead company in bargaining talks. Shell spokesman Ray Fisher said in an email that the company was 'extremely disappointed' with the latest development. Mr Fisher said: 'We believe this move sets the wrong tone for both parties to move forward and reach an agreement . 'We remain committed to continued safe operations and productive negotiations.' United Steelworkers represents about 30,000 workers at refineries, terminals, petrochemical plants and pipelines across the country. The walk out started with about 3,800 workers at nine refineries and then grew to include locations in Indiana and Ohio. This latest expansion adds another 1,350 employees to the strike. The workers who were to begin striking on Saturday at midnight work at Motiva refineries in Convent and Norco, Louisiana, and a Shell Chemical plant in Norco. The Port Arthur site is a joint venture between Shell and Saudi Refining Inc. It produces more than 600,000 barrels per day. Oil companies and energy experts have said that improved plant technology and strike-contingency plans should ease the blow to production from these strikes. The United Steelworkers Union said in a statement that it expanded a strike that started February 1 at refineries largely in Texas and California because the industry has refused to 'meaningfully address' safety issues through good-faith bargaining . But economists say pockets of the country served by refineries targeted in these strikes have likely already seen some impact to gas prices. That includes California, which depends more on in-state refineries for its fuel, said Amy Myers Jaffe, an energy economist at the University of California, Davis. 'The price of gasoline didn't soar in California, but it went up a little bit after the strike,' she said. She added that the labor dispute's influence on price may grow as refineries finish the maintenance work they typically do at this time of year and start preparing to increase gasoline production. She added: 'The longer it goes on, then the more likely it is going to influence gas prices.' | United Steelworkers union have expanded a strike across U.S. oil refineries .
Strike is the first nationwide refinery walkout in America for over 30 years .
It has already reduced oil production within the United States by a fifth .
Experts now warning motorists the strike could mean a hike in gas prices . |
09226a2515be73c945cef78f30946bbf99b6dd93 | Defiant: Shaun Wright, pictured with Ed Miliband in 2012, was working 'as normal' on Thursday despite increasing public pressure to resign . David Cameron added his weight to the growing demands for Rotherham’s crime tsar to quit his £85,000-a-year role in the wake of the child exploitation scandal. In an unequivocal statement, the Prime Minister said that Shaun Wright should ‘resign and take full responsibility for what happened’. But Mr Wright, the police and crime commissioner for South Yorkshire, was still clinging to his job last night. He continued to work ‘as normal’ even while protesters gathered outside his office and his deputy quit, calling for him to do the same. Tracey Cheetham had been under little public pressure to go. However, the mother-of-three decided she could no longer carry on amid the outrage over Mr Wright’s defiant stand. She said: ‘It is vital for people to have confidence in the office of police and crime commissioner and, with this in mind, I believe it would have been the right thing for Shaun Wright to resign. 'This has become even more apparent given the overwhelming opinion of the public – as they are the people to whom the commissioner is ultimately accountable. ‘I am incredibly sad that this issue has become centred on one person and we seem to have lost focus on the most important factor in all this – the 1,400 victims who were failed.’ Mrs Cheetham, who earned £45,000 as Mr Wright’s number two, criticised the ‘political point-scoring’ and instead called for more to be done to bring the criminals to justice. One Rotherham victim, who was abused at 14 by an older man, told the Mail that Mr Wright ‘should be ashamed of himself’. Jessica, now 29, said: ‘The more he holds on to his job, the harder it will be for victims to move forward. ‘He needs to accept his part in it and quit.’ Mr Wright, who was a member of the Labour party until he quit on Wednesday and has met Ed Miliband, cannot be sacked by the police or by politicians because he was elected by the public in 2012. Police commissioners can only be removed from office at the polling booths or if they have committed a serious crime. Local crime boards are able to suspend PCCs if they are charged with an offence that carries a maximum sentence of more than two years. They can then be sacked if they are convicted. Labour backbencher John Mann, who has called for an outside police force to investigate the Rotherham scandal, said such arrangements were ‘absurd’.‘The police commissioner roles are ridiculous,’ he said. ‘They should be scrapped.’ Resignation: Tracey Cheetham, deputy police and crime commissioner for South Yorkshire (right), resigned from her post on Thursday. Mr Cameron said that Mr Wright should 'resign and take full responsibility' Mr Mann wrote a letter to Home Secretary Theresa May calling for Mr Wright to be investigated for ‘wilful neglect of duty’. In his letter, he wrote: ‘The report by Alexis Jay OBE states in great detail that during his time as the portfolio holder responsible for children’s services Shaun Wright received three separate reports concerning child abuse and failed to act on them. It is clear that as a democratically elected councillor with the specific responsibility for children’s services Shaun Wright failed to act despite three separate warnings. ‘Not only did Shaun Wright fail to act, he failed to inform other members of his own party of the serious problems of young girls being abused, raped and beaten on a systematic basis.’ Mr Mann’s letter added: ‘It is my view that the facts provided in the Alexis Jay report provide evidence of the potential for wilful neglect of duty by public officials, including the current South Yorkshire police and crime commissioner Shaun Wright. ‘I look forward to an appropriate police investigation to determine whether such an offence has been committed and if so by whom.’ There was no sign of Mr Wright either at his home or at his office in Barnsley yesterday. His spokesman said he was working. | Prime Minister said Shaun Wright should 'resign and take full responsibility'
But the police and crime commissioner continued to work 'as normal'
Protesters gathered outside of his office calling for him to quit .
His deputy Tracey Cheetham resigned but criticised 'political point scoring'
Mr Wright, elected by the public, cannot be sacked by police or politicians . |
09227b7e003de800972514d61f68081eeeef7e23 | By . Peter Allen . PUBLISHED: . 10:00 EST, 3 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 01:58 EST, 4 October 2012 . Second public life: The former head of state was said to claim 'moral' reasons for a return to high office . Nicolas Sarkozy will make an audacious bid to become President of France for the second time in 2017, it was claimed today. Bruno Le Maire, his former agriculture minister, is said to have heard the former head of state claim 'moral' reasons for a return to high office. This is despite the fact that the 57-year-old conservative, who lost the presidential election in May after five years in power, is facing corruption enquiries in France. Le Canard Enchaine, the Paris investigative weekly, quotes Mr Sarkozy as saying: 'Given the disastrous state in which France risks finding itself in five years' time, I will have no choice in 2017. 'The question is not whether I return, but whether I have a choice morally in regards to France not to return. Morally I can not discard the French.' Such confidence will raise eyebrows among those who believe that Sarkozy's electoral defeat to the Socialist Francois Hollande was indicative of how little he achieved. After originally styling himself a French Margaret Thatcher who would reform his country, he presided over a period of economic decline. There were frequent corruption allegations, with official enquiries into alleged wrong-doings still active. Judge Jean-Michel Gentil believes that . Liliane Bettencourt, the L'Oreal cosmetics heiress and France's richest . woman, may have illegally contributed two payments of 400,000 euros . (335,000 pounds) each to Mr Sarkozy's 2007 election campaign. Big talk: Such confidence will raise eyebrows among those who believe that Sarkozy's electoral defeat to the Socialist Francois Hollande (pictured) was indicative of how little he achieved . Judge Renaud Van Ruymbeke is also set to question Mr Sarkozy about his part in the so-called 'Karachi Affair', which involves illegal arms sales to Pakistan and the murders of 11 French workers in a bomb attack. There are also compelling claims that Mr Sarkozy received millions of pounds in illegal funding from Colonel Gaddafi. Mr Sarkozy has regularly denied any . wrong-doing, but has so far made no effort to prove his innocence over . any of the allegations. Friends? There are also compelling claims that Mr Sarkozy received millions of pounds in illegal funding from Colonel Gaddafi (pictured together in 2007) The Paris home he shares with his third wife Carla Bruni, the former supermodel, was raided by police earlier this year, along with offices linked to the former president. Mr Sarkozy has not taken up a new job since losing the election four months ago, but is believed to want to break into the lucrative public speaking circuit. Mr Sarkozy has at least three classes a week in English, as he prepares for his first money-spinning conference in New York in September, where he has been invited by a 'large bank'. | Mr Sarkozy is quoted as saying: 'Given the state of France, I will have no choice in 2017'
He also allegedly said: 'Morally I can not discard the French'
This is despite fact he is still facing a corruption probe . |
0922acfcb0daf5bdf637b580f00bfdd76a9d1912 | London (CNN) -- Building a home with a floor beneath ground on a plot next to a flood-prone river might seem like a recipe for disaster. But not when it's designed to float. The "amphibious house" was recently granted planning permission for construction on a island on the River Thames in Marlow -- a small town 35 miles west of London. The upper part of the house is constructed from lightweight timber, according to its creators Baca Architects, while a concrete basement level sits inside a "wet dock" consisting of a base slab and four retaining walls. Should the worst happen the house turns into a "free-floating pontoon" with vertical guideposts running up the building's exterior preventing it from drifting off downstream. Sea level rise: Impacts and mitigation measures . A terraced garden will also surround the property encouraging incremental flooding while also helping manage run-off when water levels start to subside. Richard Coutts, director of Baca Architects said in a statement: "From the outset, we sought the expert advice of the (UK) Environment Agency to determine the most appropriate construction model to mitigate flood risk on the site and provide a safe dwelling, sympathetic to its setting and fit for the challenges of the 21st century. "Amphibious design is one of a host of solutions that can enable residents to live safely and to adapt to the challenges of climate change," he added. | Plans for amphibious home on banks of UK's River Thames gets planning consent .
Private dwelling will rise if surrounding area floods creating a "free floating pontoon" |
092325a15ddd4c6c2722ec1f622a011528178f67 | (CNN)The Pentagon's recent statement that Iran may have conducted air strikes against ISIS targets in Iraq's Diyala Province is tantamount to a U.S. tacit approval of Iran's growing military footprint in Iraq. No military operation of such scale evades detection from U.S. radars. Even if not pre-approved or coordinated, Iran's air and ground operations against the murderous thugs of self-proclaimed caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi make the Islamic Republic effectively a U.S. partner in the fight against America's greatest enemy: Islamist fundamentalism. The U.S. strategy towards the Middle East since the Arab Spring has been defined by proactive disengagement and hesitance. Haunted by the legacy of Iraq and Afghanistan, the American public has no stomach to get bogged down in lengthy ground-intense military operations -- particularly not to fight a fight that at least in Washington is perceived to be primarily a matter of regional concern. And it seems as if apart from a general war fatigue and casualty aversion back home, U.S. President Barack Obama does not want to be remembered as the President who embarked on a third Middle East adventure. As a hostage of public opinion, Obama in his second term increasingly appears to be the lame-duck choosing a path of minimal resistance overseas, making decisions not based on long-term strategic considerations but based on a short-term approach of damage control. In Libya, Syria and Iraq the U.S. has taken a backseat calling on local partners and proxies to take over. Any ex-ante foreclosure of boots on the ground means that the U.S. will not bring its military might to bear to deal with those threatening to tear the Middle East apart. In Syria the U.S. ignored the problem of Bashar al-Assad, in Iraq it turned a blind eye to Nouri al-Maliki's policies of exclusion while allowing Libya to degenerate into a state of anarchy. Without a sustainable proactive strategy towards the Middle East, the U.S. policy towards the region was more often than not shaped in reaction to quickly escalating events on the ground. As a result, the U.S. today looks at a region where the states of Libya, Syria and Iraq have effectively ceased to exist. The socio-political vacuum has been filled by transnational non-state actors of whom many subscribe to the black banners of jihadism -- something that leaves the American public deeply unsettled. The broadcasted images of U.S. citizens being brutally beheaded in front of a global audience shook America to its core. After years of relative disengagement and idleness, Obama is now forced to do something in Syria and Iraq at last. Thereby, the overriding principle seems to be to keep the military footprint as small as possible. The major burden of intervention has to be borne by force multipliers who operationally as well as strategically substitute U.S. willingness and capability -- all this in a war that is no longer about protecting the revolutionary achievements of the Arab Spring but about primarily containing the threat of Islamist fundamentalism. In this war, Libyan renegade general General Khalifa Haftar, al-Assad and Iran are the lesser of two evils. The unlikely coalition formed the multilateral response of the U.S. administration to the dilemma of reconciling public security concerns with public war fatigue. Everyone seems welcome. Yet, Iran appears the more reliable partner: a regional superpower with the necessary capability, strategic will and input on the ground. Good cooperation with Tehran, even if indirect, allows the U.S. to put pressure on its Arab partners in the Gulf to step up their game against Islamist fundamentalism in the region. At the same time the U.S. wants the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf to constructively commit to providing the options on the ground, the U.S. is no longer able or willing to provide. Not to forget, the rapprochement with Iran also allows Obama to put a final end to Netanyahu's saber rattling vis-à-vis Tehran. The U.S., although committed to Israel's security, will not be available for a military solution to the Iranian nuclear question. The American-Iranian rapprochement on the region's most sensitive battlefield of all things, further undermines America's position in the Middle East. Apart from losing the hearts and minds of the region, America's credibility as a superpower is in doubt as long as capability is constrained by the political unwillingness to use it. Without the American willpower to take a more long-term strategic approach to tackling the socio-political root causes of regional upheaval, regional players, including al-Assad, will step in to develop their own strategy independently. The result will be a gradual intensification of regional confrontation along sectarian and ideological fault lines -- a confrontation to which the U.S. will be a mere onlooker. | The U.S. strategy towards the Mideast has been disengaging, writes Andreas Krieg .
President Barack Obama increasingly appears to be the lame-duck, he writes .
Krieg: Good cooperation with Tehran allows the U.S. to put pressure on its Arab partners .
America's credibility as a superpower is in doubt, he says . |
092459a6e369963423dd1c4ca2ee4fc8f15b6206 | By . Ryan Gorman . PUBLISHED: . 02:11 EST, 1 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 04:26 EST, 1 January 2014 . A New York father is celebrating New Year’s for a different reason than anyone else – his son kidnapped for 18 months to France has been returned. Larry Hummel’s four-year-old son has finally been returned after his mother kidnapped him to France for 18 months, and he couldn’t be happier. He told the New York Daily News that having young Sasha back in his life is ‘magical.’ Happy father: Larry Hummel finally has son Sasha back in the US . ‘It's beyond great. I was worried because we hadn't seen each other for so long, but all my fears about him not recognizing me are over. It's the best, like he never left,’ the overjoyed father told the paper. The father’s wishes finally came true last week after the FBI told him they had found Sasha and his older brother living in France under false names, he told the paper. Mother Maria Pfeifer had taken them from Los Angeles to a court-approved vacation in eastern Europe but never returned, he further explained. back home: Mr Hummel is pictured taking the child Saturday through Los Angeles International Airport . Happy child: Sasha pictured back in the US . ‘She was basically on the run, paying for everything in wads of cash and forcing the boys to live like refugees in Slovakia, Germany, Switzerland and France,’ said Mr Hummel. The feds tracked her down after an anonymous tip shifted their focus to France, and then to a town on the border with Switzerland. The boys’ fugitive mother had grown out their hair and changed their names. Mr Hummel believed she was also turning tricks as a prostitute to make ends meet, something she had a history of in the past, he said. Court records cited by the Daily News revealed Ms Pfeiefer was acquitted in 2010 of escorting without a license and a second count of prostitution was dropped. Wanted: Authorities released this wanted poster asking for help locating the children and their fugitive mother . Together again: Mr Hummel and his son look as happy as ever . Both Mr Hummel and Robert Pfeifer, the father of the older boy, worked to bring the children home – and last week they finally had success. Both father arrived Saturday back in Los Angeles with their children. ‘I was really nervous about how much Sasha would remember because he was only three when he was taken, and I knew he'd be seeing me for the first time totally out of context in France,’ Mr Hummel recalled to the paper. ‘Within 10 minutes, we were playing together like old chums,’ he added. Both men were married to the supposed prostitute for less than year, he explained. The two fathers plan to keep the children close and allow them to see each other often. Their mother is out on bail in France and faces extradition to the US to face charges of abduction. Despite her facing jail time, Mr Hummel expressed hopes to the paper that she would ‘face the music’ so she could eventually ‘get back in Sasha's life.’ | Larry Hummel's four-year-old son was taken to eastern Europe last summer by his mother .
The European trip was court-approved, but she never returned and hid them in France .
Mr Hummel flew to France to retrieve his son and finally returned him Saturday to Los Angeles . |
09269beacc7358c6e4a4eb0a8ccb2546d727196f | (CNN) -- When Amazon released its Fire TV system this month, it propelled the company into the increasingly competitive marketplace of devices that stream Web content into the living room. The set-top box now competes with Apple, Google and Samsung, as well as early innovator Roku and even the gaming world's top consoles for the eyeballs of people who stream services like Netflix, Hulu and YouTube onto their televisions. These devices are relatively new innovations: Roku first announced a simple Netflix-streaming box in 2008. But in recent years, more and more people have begun using devices that harness the Internet's bountiful offerings and send them, usually via Wi-Fi, to a TV set. According to Experian, almost half of all U.S. adults and 67% of young adults now watch streamed or downloaded video at least once a week. And 7.6 million households in the United States have "cut the cord," using Web streaming and downloading exclusively instead of cable, satellite or broadcast, for their television viewing, the company said in a report this week. But it's still a new concept for a lot of folks. And with so many players in the game, not to mention a new wave of "smart TVs" that hook up to the Web on their own, it can be hard to pick a favorite. If you own a smart TV, you may not need a separate device for streaming. But the software on many smart TVs is still clunky, and most Web-streaming gadgets offer a larger menu of apps and channels. Here, we break down the top players in the Web television market and compare details about their products. Amazon Fire TV . Price: $100 . Resolution: 1080p . Key apps: Amazon (obviously), Spotify, YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, Watch ESPN, Showtime . Works with: Android or iOS devices . Storage: 8 GB . Notes: No HBO Go, but a new deal offers limited HBO programming (Sorry, no "Game of Thrones"). Features voice search for shows, movies, actors or genres. Doubles as a casual gaming device with titles like "Minecraft." Apple TV . Price: $100 . Resolution: 1080p . Key apps: Hulu, YouTube, Netflix, HBO Go . Works with: Apple mobile devices . Storage: None on device . Notes: No Amazon. Streams music and video from iTunes, as well as content from iPhones and iPads. Ideal for someone who owns several Apple devices. Google Chromecast . Price: $35 . Resolution: 1080p . Key apps: YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, HBO Go, Pandora, MLB.tv . Works with: Android, iOS . Storage: None on device . Notes: No Amazon. Easy setup; this little dongle basically works like a thumb drive. PlayStation 4 . Price: $400 . Resolution: 1080p . Key apps: Hulu, Netflix, Amazon . Works with: Android, iOS, PlayStation Vita . Storage: 500 GB . Notes: Also features a Blu-Ray player. More expensive but obviously a more diverse device. Roku 3 . Price: $100 . Resolution: 1080p . Key apps: Spotify, Hulu, YouTube, Netflix, HBO Go, Amazon, Showtime . Works with: Android, iOS . Storage: None on device, but you can expand it with a memory card . Notes: Wide app selection. With more than 1,000 channels, offers perhaps the widest variety of content. Not compatible with 4K televisions. Roku Streaming Stick . Price: $50 . Resolution: 1080p . Key apps: Same as Roku 3 . Works with: Android, iOS . Storage: None on device . Notes: An answer to Chromecast, this little stick offers more content than the Google product. Some reviewers have said it's slow loading some popular apps (but they work fine once loaded). Samsung Smart Media Player . Price: $150 . Resolution: 1080p . Key apps: Netflix, YouTube, Amazon . Works with: Android, iOS . Storage: None on device, but you can expand it with a memory card . Notes: Replaces the user's cable box. Includes browser for Web surfing. Pricier than other dedicated media players. Xbox One . Price: $500 . Resolution: 1080p . Key Apps: YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, Skype, ESPN, NFL . Works with: Android, iOS, Xbox Smartglass . Storage: 500 GB . Notes: Includes Blu-ray player. Allows users to watch live television. Also more expensive but more diverse. | Amazon's Fire TV further crowds the market for streaming devices .
Apple, Google, Roku and Samsung are also key players .
Report: 7.6 million U.S. households exclusively use Web streaming and downloads .
We compare details on some of the field's top devices . |
09270af4dad8165f8a6da1b1b0dca5b67014a75a | (CNN) -- Making it to the top in one of the toughest and most fickle industries in the world, that of fashion design, requires a careful balance of knowing your own essence and giving the public what they expect. That's according to Paco Rabanne's Artistic Director Lydia Maurer, who claims one of the greatest challenges of being a designer is staying true to oneself while at the same time listening to comments from critics, journalists and clients, without getting pulled off course by them. "It's important to listen to it, but it's important to still stay yourself," she says. "Because as soon as you start losing your essence, you start becoming uninteresting. And I think that's what's the biggest challenge." Read more: Bolshoi Prima ballerina's grace under pressure . The 29-year-old replaced Indian designer Manish Arora as Women's Ready-to-Wear Artistic Director at the French fashion house in June. She began her career at Studio Berçot in Paris, then took up an internship at Yves Saint Laurent, before joining Martine Sitbon, helping her establish her private line Rue de Mail, followed by a few seasons at Givenchy. Maurer, who has just shown her debut spring/summer 2013 collection for Paco Rabanne at Paris Fashion Week, was born in Germany to a German father and a Colombian mother and at the age of three moved to Mexico. She spent her childhood traveling widely across South America before settling in Paris. She sees herself as a mix of her German side, the designer who thinks about utility and shape and her South American side, which is more instinctive and into meshing together textures and colors. The biggest reward, she says, is creating a collection that persists after the fashion show and seeing that people really want to wear the clothes and the garments do not live on the rack. Read more: Boxing's first female Olympic gold medalist: 'I thought I couldn't continue' Here she talks to CNN's Human to Hero about her childhood interest in fashion, her career to date and the challenges that she faces in her new job. On her childhood interest in fashion ... When I was a child I was always very interested in images, in materials and textures. I just tended to put them in a bag that I would always carry with me, and I would stitch them together or, like, staple them together and make sort of fabrics out of them. I felt that since my childhood I've always loved doing this, and it's what I do naturally -- I mean, I don't need to make an effort to do it. On the influence of living in South America .... I traveled a lot so I would just soak in a lot of feelings, a lot of colors ... and I've always been somebody who likes to record things, so I would ... start taking pictures and making drawings, or taking leaflets and pamphlets and postcards, fabrics, things everywhere and just collect them. It was also I guess my cultural background which is quite rich. I think that it's that sensibility to color also, to materials mostly that people always saw in me. On studying at Studio Berçot ... You have to know where you're going and what it is that attracts you to be there, to survive in a school like that. They expect collections from you, but no one tells you what to be inspired by ... It forces you to follow your own path, which I feel is the only key to being a good fashion designer. On being appointed Artistic Director of Women's Ready-to-Wear at Pace Rabanne ... I have to represent a company, a fashion house that is historic ... that's always attached to the '60s, and now the biggest challenge is to bring it forward to our times. This is not a fashion house that's purely about style, but mostly about handwork and craftsmanship, and texture and material. On her debut collection for Paco Rabanne ... Nowadays women want things that are ... more functional but at the same time we've such an affluence of clothes and brands that are very wearable, that we also are looking for things that are very precise and very special, like sort of extraordinary pieces. It's also important to balance for me in this collection, the wearable side with the extraordinary piece side. So I, I basically wanted to do something a little bit psychedelic, something that is a little bit '60s but in a ... magic way. Something mysterious. On where she gets inspiration ... We can have our phone and take photos with our iPhone anytime, any place. I travel and I love to bring things back ... even just books or even a shell. Anything can be interesting. On the real purpose of a fashion designer ... In the end, what you're doing is not just supposed to be living for one fashion show, and then you pack it and put it in the archives. It's about giving your creations an afterlife. Giving them the possibility to go out on the street, or to be worn by a celebrity for a show, for a premiere or for any kind of event. | Lydia Maurer is Artistic Director of Paris label Paco Rabanne Women's Ready-to-Wear .
The 29-year-old replaced Indian fashion designer Manish Arora in June .
Prior to that she worked for Givenchy and on Martine Sitbon's Rue de Mail label .
The German designer has just shown her first collection at Paris Fashion Week . |
092761af99fc395c9d9d040826ff7a354dda9c52 | By . Simon Tomlinson . PUBLISHED: . 06:30 EST, 3 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:17 EST, 3 January 2013 . Petrified: Hayley Willetts was robbed at knifepoint in her flat, but later discovered it had been a cruel scam engineered by her own boyfriend . A young woman was subjected to an 'elaborate, frightening and cruel' hoax by her own partner who sent a friend to rob her at knifepoint because he wanted her cash. Petrified Hayley Willetts, 21, handed over her savings after an armed robber burst into her flat demanding money. The attacker even appeared to try to stab her boyfriend Gavin Fowler in the head to make the scam look as genuine as possible. He then took Fowler, 34, as a fake hostage before fleeing. When police arrested the suspect, Miss Willetts was devastated to discover that Fowler had staged the whole thing, a court heard. Prosecutor Tony Trigg said: 'He was in on it from the start and it was a cruel deception. 'What was taken might not have worth an awful lot of money but it was everything of value she owned.' The court was told how the thief pretended to kidnap Fowler leading him from the flat at knifepoint. Miss Willetts phoned the police reporting the hold-up at her flat in Ystrad Mynach, near Caerphilly, South Wales. But she was shocked when they told her they had caught the thief near her home and that it was her boyfriend. And Cardiff Crown Court heard he'd set up the bogus raid - and the the knifeman was his friend Anthony Darker. Mr . Trigg said: 'Fowler told his frightened girlfriend to calm down and do . everything Darker asked as he demanded her phone, money and jewellery. 'Keeping up the pretence, he said: "If you don't listen, he will stab me". She got her purse and handed over £5, but Darker told her it wasn't enough. 'He pushed Fowler, lunging at him with the knife and sticking it in the door, inches from his head.' 'Wicked men': Miss Willetts's boyfriend Gavin Fowler (left) arranged for his friend Anthony Darker (right) to raid his partner's flat in a scam to extract money from her . But Cardiff Crown Court heard how Fowler was never in any danger because he'd engineered the whole thing. Fowler and his accomplice left the scene with Hayley's mobile phone, television, DVD player, and a gold bracelet. And the scammer thought he'd got away with his ruse until he was arrested near the scene and officers found some of the stolen goods on him. Judge Stephen Hopkins QC said: 'This was an elaborate, frightening and cruel hoax. She was petrified and you are wicked men.' 'Scary memories': The flat in Ystrad Mynach, where the robbery took place. Miss Willetts says she has now left the home because of what happened there . Both Darker, of Cardiff, and Fowler, of Ystrad Mynach, were jailed for four years after they admitted robbery. After the case, Miss Willets said she since had to leave the flat. She said: 'I have since to leave the flat because it held too many scary memories. 'I can't believe they could be so cruel. I loved Gavin and I would have given him money if he had asked for it.' | Hayley Willetts, 21, handed over her savings to robber sent by her boyfriend .
Attacker even appeared to try to stab her lover to make scam seem genuine .
She was shocked to discover that arrested man was her partner's friend .
Boyfriend Gavin Fowler and attacker Anthony Darker jailed for four years . |
09278be69aff44027c1c3d11578524de4b95ec43 | By . Jill Reilly . UPDATED: . 02:46 EST, 3 February 2012 . The U.S. is looking to release several prisoners from Guantaamo Bay as it seeks to build a relationship with the Taliban on the back of last night's announcement on withdrawing troops from Afghanistan. 'Operational steps' have been put in motion by the Obama administration to move up to five prisoners in the hope it will further peace talks with the Afghan Taliban, according to a senior congressional official. The revelations follows U.S. Defence Secretary, Leon Panetta's announcement that he wants troops in Afghanistan to end their combat . role by as early as the middle of 2013. Controversial release: The Obama administration have acknowledged that to build trust with the Taliban, the United States may release several Afghan Taliban prisoners from Guantanamo Bay, according to a senior congressional official . The five prisoners are said to be 'hand-picked' by the Taliban preparing for the talks, claimed Fox News today. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said that the administration’s efforts to talk with the Afghan Taliban smack of 'desperation.' Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said ahead of the hearing that the administration's efforts to talk with the Afghan Taliban smack of 'desperation' 'Candidly, I don’t like the direction they are going in (with) reconciliation,' Rogers said to Fox News. He said after six years on the Committee looking at the issue, he felt it was an attempt to catch our on 'their policy of we're getting out.' The senior congressional official who . spoke to Fox News anonymously said money had been . spent to send the men to a third . country. The official added that the administration tried to abate concern by insisting they would not release all five Taliban leaders at once and said three would be swapped now and the others at a later date. But as part of Tuesday's Senate . intelligence hearing the head of the national counter-terrorism . center, Matt Olsen, confirmed that 48 detainees were deemed too . dangerous to release during the administration's 2009 review of the . Guantanamo Detention camps and the five Taliban detainees are among them. 'The Taliban asked for them specifically,' the senior congressional official said. He went on to say they detainees who could be released had 'U.S. blood on their hands.' Defence chief Leon Panetta arrives in Brussels yesterday for a defense ministers meeting which will discuss the future of Afghanistan . Prisoner swaps are usually dealt with after the peace terms are settled. Yesterday, . Defence Secretary Leon Panetta laid out the administration's most . explicit portrayal of the U.S. drawdown in Afghanistan, saying that U.S. and other international forces in Afghanistan expect to end their . combat role in 2013 and continue a training and advisory role with . Afghan forces through 2014. Panetta's . remarks to reporters traveling with him to a NATO defense ministers . meeting in Brussels showed how the foreign military role in Afghanistan . is expected to evolve from the current high-intensity fight against the . Taliban to a support role with Afghans fully in the lead. Defence Secretary Panetta recently announced said the U.S. could end its formal combat role in Afghanistan 18 months from now . Taliban militants hand over their weapons after joining the Afghan government's reconciliation and reintegration program . Meanwhile the Taliban have dismissed reports they are preparing to talk peace with the Afghan government, and a leaked NATO report has shown captured insurgents full of confidence they will seize power after international troops leave. While both developments yesterday were setbacks to President Hamid Karzai's quest to broker peace with the Taliban, his government got a big boost from Pakistan's top diplomat who declared her nation's support for an Afghan-led reconciliation process. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said she was visiting Kabul to deliver the strong message that Pakistan would stand behind any peace initiative that was widely supported by all ethnic groups in Afghanistan. 'Our only prerequisite to be supportive of an initiative is that it should be Afghan-led,' she said. 'It should be Afghan-owned. It should be Afghan-driven and Afghan-backed.' Trip to Kabul: Pakistan's Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said she was visiting Kabul to deliver the strong message that Pakistan would stand behind any peace initiative that was widely supported by all ethnic groups in Afghanistan . Rumours have swirled for days that Karzai's government was seeking direct talks with the Taliban in Saudi Arabia - a move seen as Karzai's attempt to take charge of the peace effort. A statement Wednesday from Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid rejected those reports as 'baseless. Khar's visit to Kabul came on the same day a classified NATO . report was leaked, claiming that the Taliban believe they will return to power . after the U.S.-led coalition ends its combat role in Afghanistan in 2014. The . report, which was based on the interrogation of more than 4,000 captured . Taliban, al-Qaida and foreign fighters, was obtained by the BBC and other news . organizations. According to excerpts of the report obtained by the BBC, the . Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence is "thoroughly aware of Taliban . activities and the whereabouts of all senior Taliban personnel. The Haqqani . family, for example, resides immediately west of the ISI office at the airfield . in Miram Shah, Pakistan," the report said. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen makes opening remarks during a meeting of NATO defense ministers at NATO headquarters today . Khar dismissed the allegations in the report as 'old wine . in an even older bottle. I don't think these claims are new.' Nick Witney, a former head of the European Defense Agency, . said the report indicated the morale of Taliban fighters remained extremely . high after 10 years of war - and in spite of a massive military effort mounted . by the U.S. and its NATO allies in the past two years. 'The report does confirm what has been increasingly . obvious for a number of years - that this Afghan operation has turned into a . great misadventure for the West,' said Witney, a senior policy fellow at . the Paris-based European Council on Foreign Relations. Pentagon spokesman Capt. John Kirby told reporters that the . U.S. would like to see ties severed between some elements of Pakistani . intelligence and militant groups. 'That's not a strategic decision that we get to make - . that's a strategic decision that folks in the ISI need to make.' NATO officials cautioned that the report was a summary of . interrogations and was not based on an intelligence analysis. | Taliban 'handpicked' the five prisoners for release .
Source said is it believed the prisoners had 'U.S blood on their hands'
US Defense Secretary said he hopes American troops in Afghanistan can end their .
combat role by 2013 . |
09279b75a00c3e3619915beef9d3ee6ce6592e46 | PUBLISHED: . 11:19 EST, 29 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:27 EST, 29 November 2012 . A quick-thinking teacher saved her sister from bleeding to death by using a passing pedestrian’s belt as a tourniquet after the pair were hit by an out-of-control car. Teaching assistant Laura Reddy, 23, suffered a shattered right leg when she was hit by a car while walking home from work in South Molton, Devon, with her sister Nadine Marchant. Ms Reddy was left bleeding heavily on the pavement after the incident - but Ms Marchant, 36, . grabbed a passer-by’s belt and wrapped it tightly around her sister's upper . leg to the stem the flow. Quick thinking: Nadia Marchant (left) used a passer by's belt as a tourniquet to strap up the leg of her sister Laura Reddy (right) after she was hit by a car . Doctors later told the pair that Ms Reddy would have bled to death if Ms Marchant had not acted so swiftly. Ms Reddy said: 'Thank God Nadine did what she did, I’m so grateful to her. She literally saved my life. 'This crash has turned my whole life upside down but it has definitely brought Nadine and I closer. 'The doctors said if she hadn’t done what she did I would have bled out and died before the ambulance arrived.' Injury: Ms Reddy nearly lost her leg after a car driven by a 90-year-old driver crashed into her in South Molton, Devon, last November . Ms Reddy said she could feel herself 'fading' following the accident and told Nadine she did not think I was going to make it. 'But Nadine kept telling me off and told me not to speak like that,' she said. The sisters both work at South Molton Community College in Devon and were walking home to Ms Marchant's house to prepare for a charity party when the crash happened. Motorist William Peto, 90, got his shoe jammed onto the accelerator pedal while attempting a three-point turn in his Smart car and careered into them at 20-25mph. Recovery: Ms Reddy, from Bishops Nympton, Devon, suffered extensive blood loss following the crash and spent five months recovering from her injuries . Ms Reddy, who has just graduated with a degree in Human Psychology from Aston University, Birmingham, said: 'We were chatting away when we heard a car’s engine revving heavily. 'At first we thought it was a boy racer. The sound was loud enough to make us both look up. As we did, right in front of us a car mounted the pavement, it all happened so quickly.' Ms Marchant was thrown onto the road by the car and was left with a chipped kneecap and badly bruised hands. But Ms Reddy took the full force of the impact and was hurled several . metres along the pavement - leaving bone protruding from her right leg. 'The car only stopped when it hit a telegraph pole and it was still accelerating when it came to a halt,' said Ms Reddy. 'My first reaction was to try and stand up due to the adrenaline and shock, but I soon realised the bone was sticking out of my leg and I couldn’t lift it at all. I don’t think anything can get close to the pain I felt, it was absolute agony.' Ms Reddy said she was screaming loudly and was convinced her leg had gone and there was nothing that could be done to save it. Despite . her own injuries, Ms Marchant went to her sister’s aid and asked a man who . was walking past the scene if she could use his belt. Paramedics then rushed her to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, . Somerset, for emergency vascular surgery before being transferred to . Frenchay Hospital, Bristol. Ms Reddy, of Bishops Nympton, Devon, was facing the prospect of amputation but doctors re-built her leg with skin from her back and left leg. She said: 'The possibility of losing my whole leg hung over me for several weeks. 'One of the Mobile International Surgical Team (MIST) doctors said it was one of the worst lower limb injuries they’d ever seen. It was touch and go for a while but they managed to save my leg.' Close: Ms Reddy (right) has praised Ms Marchant (left) for her actions. She said the incident has brought the pair closer together . She spent about three weeks in hospital before coming home where she was bed bound for about five months. 'My right leg is now slightly shorter due to bone loss and I have had to learn to walk again,' she said. Before the accident I only ever wore skirts and leggings but now I have to wear trousers all the time.' Nadine, who still works at South Molton Community College, said she often replayed the moment in her head. She said: 'Every day I walk past the scene and try to make sense of what happened. 'I wish I could have responded by pushing her out of the way but everything happened so quickly.I just did the only thing I could think of to help her.' Pensioner William Peto, 90, of Lapford, Devon, was banned from driving indefinitely on November 23 after pleading guilty to careless driving at Exeter Crown Court. He was also fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £100 costs following the crash in November 11 last year. | Laura Reddy, 23, suffered extensive blood loss after being hit by a car while walking home from work in Devon .
Her sister Nadine Marchant, 36 - who was with her at the time- used a passing pedestrian's belt to stem the bleeding until help arrived .
Doctors said Ms Reddy would have bled to death without her sister's intervention . |
0928c6cd044ffae257e8ee54b391f9a9f06de471 | (Travel + Leisure) -- From an ancient stone villa in Piedmont to an atelier in Florence, we reveal Italy's best affordable country inns. Novecamere Resort, Le Marche . An unassuming cream-stone house with blue shutters in Le Marche's Conero Park, Novecamere Resort is not for those seeking high-tech amenities. Eco-conscious and organic are the aesthetic here. Travel + Leisure: See more photos of the inns . The nine guest rooms are stylishly spare with natural oak floors, white Conero-stone walls, and handmade linens. For breakfast, owner Isabella Fabiani serves salumi, cherries, plums, peaches, and grapes straight from her farm, and she'll whip up fluffy goat-cheese omelettes on demand. There's not much to do at Novecamere except relax, which is precisely the point. 5 Via Cave, Sirolo; 39-071/933-2127; doubles from $259, including breakfast. Relais Cattedrale, Piedmont . Globe-trotting owner Laura Elsa Valente has transformed her family's 18th-century palazzo in the medieval town of Asti into a fashionable country retreat. The seven rooms -- four of which have restored ceiling frescoes, discovered during the renovation -- are appointed with Turkish silk floral carpets and Moroccan wrought-iron lamps sourced from Valente's travels. In summer, locals join guests in the Renaissance-style garden to drink Asti Spumante, the region's sparkling white wine, and hear live acoustic music. 7 Via Cattedrale, Asti; 39-0141/092-099; doubles from $168, including breakfast. Travel + Leisure: World's best hotels 2011 . Town House Street, Milan . Milan has long had the reputation of being a staid and business-minded city, but a design renaissance is helping to transform its image. Take Town House Street, an innovative B&B in the Citta Studi district, just a 10-minute walk from downtown. Created by local architect Simone Michele, the four ground-floor suites are housed in converted shops, each with its own entrance that opens up onto café-filled Via Goldoni. Eye-popping colors (red, orange, yellow, green) and giant black-and-white paintings of Milanese street scenes punctuate the modern interiors. One caveat: You'll have to head next door to Town House 33 for breakfast. 33 Via Goldoni; 39-02/70156; doubles from $360. Travel + Leisure: Best travel websites and apps . Villa Lina, Venice . Hidden behind the Nason & Moretti glass factory on the island of Murano is this secluded pink-washed manse. Surrounded by oleander and lemon trees, the contemporary inn was decorated by owner Evi Nason, wife of local glassware designer Carlo Nason. Vintage Murano lamps and vases can be found in all the suites, along with four-poster beds and orange leather couches perfect for perusing the hotel's expansive art-book collection. What we love most? The view from the veranda across the lagoon to central Venice, just a short vaporetto ride away. 12 Calle dietro gli Orti, Murano; 39-041/527-5358; doubles from $216, including breakfast. Casa Schlatter, Florence . Once the atelier of 19th-century Swiss painter Adolfo Schlatter, this three-suite retreat is like an antiques-filled museum dedicated to the artist. It's no wonder, given that the owner, Alessandra, is Schlatter's great-grandaughter. She'll greet you at the door and take you on a tour of his masterpieces, including some dramatic oil paintings of Florence. The inn's greatest asset is the location -- within walking distance of downtown Florence but far enough out to have space for a private garden. 14 Viale dei Mille; 39-347/118-0215; doubles from $122. Travel + Leisure: Outrageous hotel perks for pets . Al Cardinal Mazzarino, Piedmont . The Portofino of Piedmont -- that's what Italians call the hilltop village of Cherasco, where well-heeled families including those linked to the Agnellis, of Fiat fame, spend their holidays. Guests may not live like the Italian aristocracy at Al Cardinal Mazzarino, but they'll find calm in abundance: the 19th-century former convent has only three modest but elegant suites with botanical prints on the walls and striped silk Bellora bedspreads. Linger over a breakfast of house-made almond cake and croissants in the rose-filled courtyard. 48 Via San Pietro, Cherasco; 39-0172/488-364; doubles from $230, including breakfast. Casa San Ruffino, Le Marche . When British transplants Ray and Claire Gorman got fed up working in banking, they moved to Le Marche and opened the honey-hued Casa San Ruffino. With the views of lush farmland and the blue-tinted Sibillini Mountains from each of the four airy suites, it's easy to understand why. A few highlights: vintage terra-cotta floors, exposed wooden beams, and (unusual for an Italian B&B) a fully stocked and fairly priced mini-bar. 13 Contrada Montese, Montegiorgio; 39-0734/962-753; doubles from $187, including breakfast. Villa Urbani, Rome . Music is the raison d'être at this early 1900's mansion on the avenue that leads from the hip Trastevere neighborhood to Gianicolo Hill. Two Italian set designers are the brains behind the contemporary interiors, which are filled with Art Deco furnishings and black-and-white photographs of international musicians. In the high-ceilinged dining room, classical and jazz melodies can be heard around the clock, and, if you're lucky, owner Laura Urbani will invite you to a private concert in the villa's patio garden. 2 Via Trenta Aprile; 39-333/481-7313; doubles from $146, including breakfast. Casa Baladin, Piedmont . If you're a beer aficionado, you may have heard of Teo Musso, the maverick behind the Italian craft-beer movement, whose Casa Baladin is across the road from Le Baladin pub, in the village of Piozzo. The five rooms have themes related to travel destinations, from China, with an antique, black-and-red-lacquer bed and vintage floral fabrics, to Africa, with walls covered in traditional tribal paintings. Book a tasting at Musso's pub to sample his artisan-made ales, including our favorite, the Isaac, flavored with coriander and orange peel. 34 Piazza 5 Luglio, Piozzo; 39-0173/795-239; doubles from $175, including breakfast. Le Tre Stanze, Florence . Just steps from the Duomo, the bohemian-chic Le Tre Stanze is a favorite haunt of artists, writers, and musicians. Decadent glamour is the theme here, from the worn tile floors and handmade wooden beds to the objéts d'art (antique porcelain bowls; terra-cotta sculptures). Book the Mansarda Room with its own terrace overlooking the city's centuries-old palazzi. 43 Via dell'Oriuolo; 39-329/212-8756; doubles from $173. Relais Villa Antea, Florence . A friendly dog named Marta welcomes you to Relais Villa Antea, an ocher-colored villa owned by sisters Diletta and Serena Lenzi. Inside, a Renaissance-style staircase framed by three archways gives way to six well-appointed suites with pastel-colored curtains, Empire-style armoires, and plush armchairs covered in vintage fabrics. The Lenzis treat guests like family and are more than happy to offer the inside scoop on the city's best restaurants and boutiques. 46 Via Puccinotti; 39-055/484-106; doubles from $157, including breakfast. Masseria Cimino, Puglia . If you're searching for a romantic getaway in the Pugliese countryside, look no further than Masseria Cimino, an 18th-century farmhouse surrounded by centuries-old olive groves. White-stone sconces illuminate the 15 whitewashed rooms, some with stone fireplaces and private balconies that look out onto the crystal-blue Adriatic. Bring an appetite: the hotel's stylish restaurant will have you feasting on authentic Puglian specialties and the region's renowned Primitivo wines. Contrada Masciola, Brindisi; 39-080/482-7886; doubles from $497, including breakfast and dinner. Le Case Della Saracca, Piedmont . One of the four ancient houses that make up Le Case della Saracca was previously home to a quirky farmer named Camiot who kept a donkey on his third-floor balcony. Today, his former residence has been turned into an edgy B&B and osteria. A stone candlelit passageway leads to a mazelike interior, where glass walkways connect six rustic-chic rooms (washbasins carved from tree trunks; exposed wood-beamed ceilings; flagstone floors). After a day of exploring the nearby vineyards and truffle farms, head to the inn's restaurant for such regional specialties as risotto with artichokes and bacon, and local goat cheese au gratin. 3-5 Via Cavour, Monteforte d'Alba; 39-0173/789-222; doubles from $190. Il Resentin, Milan . Italian pop star Eros Ramazzotti is trying his hand at the hospitality business. In the artsy Brera zone, his Il Resentin draws a sophisticated crowd looking for an intimate alternative to the city's top hotels. The four understated rooms are set above a bustling restaurant and bar (also owned by Ramazzotti) with plush white bedding and gray-and-taupe-striped walls. But it's the small details that make this place stand out: fresh flower arrangements everywhere, Linea Comfort Zone bath products, and free bicycles for exploring the city. 24 Via Mercato; 39-02/875-923; doubles from $418, including breakfast. Planning a getaway? Don't miss Travel + Leisure's guide to the World's Best Hotels . Copyright 2012 American Express Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved. | The list includes everything from an ancient stone villa in Piedmont to an atelier in Florence .
One inn invites guests to drink Asti Spumante in its Renaissance-style garden .
Another offers a breakfast of house-made almond cake and croissants . |
0928e74a602f2a72b0eff1efbed30249e5cbe655 | Former Home Secretary Leon Brittan was only questioned over allegations he raped a student in 1967 following demands by the Director of Public Prosecutions, it has been claimed. Alison Saunders is understood to have insisted the Metropolitan Police re-investigate claims Lord Brittan raped a 19-year-old woman at his London flat in 1967 because no questions were asked at the time. Lord Brittan was in his late 20s and not yet an MP at the time of the alleged incident, with police saying the woman originally made a complaint in late 2012. Today Lord Brittan released a statement confirming he was interviewed by police in relation to a 'serious allegation', but insisted that the allegation was 'wholly without foundation'. Scroll down for video . Allegations: The Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders (right) is understood to have insisted the Metropolitan Police re-investigate claims Lord Brittan (left) raped a woman at his London flat in 1967 . Denial: Lord Brittan (pictured leaving his North Yorkshire home this morning) has released a statement confirming he was interviewed by police, but insisted that the allegation was 'wholly without foundation' The Metropolitan Police only investigated claims Lord Brittan raped the student after the Director of Public Prosecutions demanded to know why he wasn't questioned when the alleged victim came forward, investigative news website Exaro claimed. As a result of Saunders' intervention, officers questioned Lord Brittan under caution in June at his solicitor's office and the allegations are now being investigated by officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command. Saunders is believed to have looked into the case herself after the campaigning Labour MP Tom Watson wrote to her asking that she examine the way the police handled the case. The Metropolitan Police has now replaced the officer in charge of the investigation, Exaro claims. This morning Lord Brittan released a statement confirming he had been questioned by police in June, but denying the allegations. 'It is true that I have been questioned by the police about a serious allegation made against me. This allegation is wholly without foundation,' he said. Investigation: Lord Brittan was in his late 20s and not yet an MP at the time of the alleged rape, with police saying the woman originally first made a complaint against him in late 2012 . In his statement Lord Brittan also referred to an 'explosive' dossier containing historic child abuse allegations against at least eight public figures was compiled by ex-Conservative MP Geoffrey Dickens, who died in 1995. The 114 files now known to have been . either lost or destroyed, fueling fears of a cover-up at the heart of . the establishment. 'I would like to put on record that I welcome the fact that there is now to be an independent review to look at the missing files belonging to the Home Office,' he said. 'It has been alleged that when I was Home Secretary I failed to deal adequately with the bundle of papers containing allegations of serious sexual impropriety that I received from the late Geoff Dickens MP,' he added. This too is completely without foundation... I passed this bundle of papers to the relevant Home Office officials for examination, as was the normal and correct practice,' Lord Brittan went on to say. This morning Prime Minister David Cameron said there would be 'no stone unturned' by an independent inquiry into how institutions handled allegations of child abuse, adding that it was 'vital' to find out the truth of what happened and to learn lessons. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Alison Saunders understood to have told Met Police to re-investigate claims .
Was reportedly unhappy that officers closed case without asking questions .
Lord Brittan accused of raping 19-year-old student in 1967 at London flat .
Alleged victim made complaint to police in 2012 but he was not questioned .
Today Lord Brittan released statement confirming questioning by police .
But he denied rape claims, insisting they are 'wholly without foundation' |
09297a880ca598eb792620a41046020a7fbe1396 | By . Mark Prigg . PUBLISHED: . 14:17 EST, 31 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 14:18 EST, 31 January 2014 . Microsoft is considering abandoning its controversial 'tile' start screen and reverting to the classic windows desktop every time a user switches on their PC, it has been claimed. The latest test versions of Windows 8.1 released to developers have this option on by default. Microsoft was also last year forced to reinstate the start button to Windows 8 following customer complaints. The controversial 'Metro' interface for Windows, which confused many users. Microsoft is now considering going back to the normal desktop when users first switch on their machine. The firm hoped the Metro system, which uses tiles, would make it easier for touchscreen users. It is the same across Microsoft's phones, tablets and PCs. However, many users were confused, and Microsoft recently reinstated the classic start menu on its desktop. According to Russian developer known only as Wzor , the latest version now starts in the desktop rather than Microsoft's tile system, called Metro. The Verge claims sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans have revealed to that the upcoming update for Windows 8.1 will enable this by default. 'Like many other changes in Update 1, we’re told the reason for the reversal is to improve the OS for keyboard and mouse users,' the site says. The firm hoped the system would make it easier for touchscreen users, and is the same across Microsoft's phones, tablets and PCs. However, many users were confused, and Microsoft recently reinstated the classic start menu on its desktop. ‘Let’s make it easier to start applications in the way we are used to,’ boss Steve Ballmer told its annual Build developer conference, to cheers from the audience. Microsoft was last year forced to reinstate the start button to Windows 8 following customer complaints. ‘We will bring back the start button, and you can boot straight to the desktop if you want to.’ ‘We have refined the blend of our desktop experience and our modern app experience.’ Ballmer also said the firm was not abandoning its start menu and said it was slowly beginning to attract app developers to Windows 8. ‘Within this month we’ll pass the 100,000 app mark in the Windows store,’ said Ballmer. Flipboard, Facebook and the NFL all revealed new apps. However, the latest rumours suggest Microsoft will allow these apps to run on the desktop. | Latest test builds of Windows 8.1 take users straight to Windows desktop .
Microsoft recently forced to reinstall start button after customer complaints .
Update expected to be made available within months . |
0929995260ce68ee8fb3517b0b0a98158ed50d62 | Nigeria are implicated in another match-fixing scandal after an agent was filmed claiming he could rig matches in Brazil. Football . agent Henry Chukwuma Okoroji was caught on camera insisting he could . organise games and certain outcomes during the World Cup. The allegations, which emerged in a national newspaper on Sunday, saw Okoroji suggest he could arrange a yellow card for 250,000 (£40,660) and a penalty for 2100,000 (£81,370). Plot: A Nigerian football agent has claimed that he could arrange a yellow card for £40,000 and a red card for £80,000 during this summer's World Cup . This comes just days after the . National Crime Agency (NCA) investigated allegations that last week’s . friendly between Nigeria and Scotland had been targeted. Speaking to a . reporter from a hotel room in Milan, Okoroji and an associate — referred . to as Joe — outlined their prices. To . enhance their credibility, the pair also invited Lazio and Nigeria . footballer Ogenyi Onazi to the meeting, however, there is no suggestion . he was involved in the match-fixing plot. Okoroji . said he had already recruited two Nigerian players for this summer and . was planning to fly to Brazil to oversee his scams. The . agent said: ‘Hundred per cent, two players. It’s left up to you people . what you want to do. You will pay for a yellow or a red card or a . penalty.’ After making the offer, Okoroji rang a top Nigerian player and claimed he had agreed to take part in the fix. But Okoroji added: ‘The player cannot come because of his career. ‘These things you cannot speak on the phone because the agents are monitoring his calls.’ Duped: Lazio player Ogenyi Onazi was prompted into coming to the meeting in a bid to enhance the agent's credibility. He is not thought to be involved in the plot . A spokesman for the NCA, who are now said to be investigating the claims, said: 'The . NCA will from time to time provide operational detail necessary for . public reassurance purposes. 'It . does not routinely confirm or deny the existence of specific operations . or provide ongoing commentary on operational activity.' Last week an investigation was launched over claims of attempted match-fixing in a friendly between Scotland and Nigeria. Thirteen footballers were arrested in April in connection with alleged spot-fixing and another six . rearrested over the claims. Despite the allegations, England are confident . the game at its highest levels is clean of the scourge of match-fixing, a . survey conducted by international players' union FIFPro has revealed. Over . 1,500 players from eight countries - England, Scotland, Finland, . Greece, Hungary, Italy, Romania and Slovenia - submitted responses to a . questionnaire that tested their knowledge about the extent of fixing, . approaches to fix matches, sharing inside information and betting rules. There have been a series of arrests . following suspected attempts to fix matches in the lower English . football leagues in recent months. There have also been allegations of . illicit activity in cricket. Allegations: Two football fans protest outside the gates of Craven Cottage after it emerged that criminal syndicates had targeted a game between Nigeria and Scotland . | Henry Chukwuma Okoroji was secretly filmed saying he could fix games .
The agent gave a price list for different outcomes .
Claimed he has already recruited two Nigerian players as part of the plot .
World Cup friendly between Scotland and Nigeria was 'targeted' this week . |
0929c47d2ac6ec9ee80067c881fc594d0ab74e40 | (CNN) -- The multi-state Powerball jackpot has risen to $600 million, with a cash value of $376.9 million, according to the Multi-State Lottery Association. The jackpot marks the second-largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history, after no one matched the winning numbers in Wednesday night's draw. Wednesday's jackpot in the multistate lottery was $360 million. The numbers were 2, 11, 26, 34 and 41 with a Powerball of 32. Saturday's jackpot will be the largest in the history of the Powerball game, surpassing a $587.6 million jackpot that was split by winners in Arizona and Missouri in November. The largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history was $656 million in the Mega Millions game in March 2012. That was split by three tickets sold in Illinois, Kansas and Maryland. That mark will be dwarfed if no one wins the Powerball jackpot Saturday. If that happens, the jackpot will be about $925 million for Wednesday's drawing, according to Kelly Cripe, spokeswoman for the Texas Lottery, which is part of the multi-state lotteries. The Powerball game is played in 43 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. A single ticket costs $2, and the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 175,223,510. And if that's a little too pricey for you, a Mega Millions ticket will cost you only $1. The jackpot for Friday's Mega Millions drawing will be at least $190 million, and the odds are almost the same, 1 in 175,711,536. Mega Millions is played in 42 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Jackpots in both games are based on payouts as annuities over 30 years. Players can choose a cash payout that will be less. Why you keep playing the lottery . But before you start dreaming of that mansion in Barbados, allow us to pour an icy bucket of mathematical reality over your head: You almost certainly aren't going to win. You stand a better chance of walking onto the golf course and hitting two consecutive holes in one than winning that jackpot. Here are a few unlikely scenarios that, we're sorry to say, are much more likely than you taking home this jackpot. From the Harvard School of Public Health: . -- Dying from a bee sting: 1 in 6.1 million. -- Dying from a lightning strike: 1 in 3 million. From U.S. Hole in One, which insures golf prizes for holes in one: . -- A golfer hitting a hole in one on consecutive par-3 holes: 1 in about 156 million. From a 2011 State Farm study on collisions between vehicles and deer: . -- Hitting a deer with a vehicle in Hawaii, the state where State Farm says deer-vehicle collisions are least likely: 1 in 6,267. From the National Weather Service: . -- Being struck by lightning over an 80-year lifetime: 1 in 10,000. From the Florida Museum of Natural History, based on U.S. beach injury statistics: . -- Drowning and other beach-related fatalities: 1 in 2 million. -- Being attacked by a shark: 1 in 11.5 million. That being said, some folks do snatch a jackpot from the jaws of improbability, one of them being Geneva, Illinois, resident Ricardo Cereza. Cereza recently yanked some old lottery tickets out of a cookie jar at his house. One of them turned out to be an Illinois Lottery ticket worth $4.8 million, CNN affiliate WGN reported. "When I realized we had all six numbers, it was that shocking moment of, 'whoa, can this really be?'" Cereza told the station. "So I called my son over and asked him to double-check this, and he looks it through and goes, 'Yep, looks like a winner,'" Cereza said. The family will use the winnings to pay off the mortgage on their home, which was facing foreclosure, according to WGN. CNN's Scott Thompson contributed to this report. | Powerball jackpot rises to $600 million, with cash value of $377 million .
No one matched winning numbers in Wednesday night's Powerball drawing .
Largest jackpot in U.S. history was $656 million in Mega Millions game in 2012 . |
092b1785f7cbefbf8e5601ba3b44ff3240847a39 | Rent in London is so high that one young professional has worked out it would be cheaper live in Barcelona and fly to work. Social Media manager Sam Cookney, 30, wanted a less expensive way of travelling to his office near Liverpool Street station. What he found was an unlikely solution: it would be more cost effective to relocate to the sun-kissed coast of north east Spain, more than 700 miles away. Cheap alternative: Mr Cookney found the lack of council tax charges and low rent in Barcelona, above, meant it is cheaper to live there and fly to London . Expensive: London's council tax charges make the city more expensive than alternatives in Europe, Mr Cookney found . Mr Cookney said that a combination of cheap rent, travel and the lack of council tax charges in the Spanish city would more than undercut the high prices of travel cards living costs in the English capital. He arrived at the extraordinary solution by doing sums based on property and travel websites. LONDON: . One bed flat, West Hampstead - £1,505 . Council tax - £75 . Zone 1-2 travel card - £116.60 . TOTAL: £1,697 per month. BARCELONA: . Three bed flat, Les Corts, £580 . Council tax - £0 . Ryanair flight, metro - £778 . TOTAL: £1,358 per month . A one-bedroom flat in West Hampstead would cost around £1,505, according to Zoopla. He then added in . council tax at approximately £75 and a zone 1-2 travelcard to get to his . job in the City, which costs £116.80, making a total of £1,697. Mr Cookney said: 'I chose West Hampstead because I know . and like the area, and it doesn’t seem a stretch to suggest that a young . professional may afford to live there' He then compared the prices to Barcelona where a three-bedroom flat, with three balconies, a stone’s throw away . from the metro, in the 'nice and safe' area of Les Corts which costs £580 per month. Mr Cookney added, 'I used to live there, and being a fairly upmarket residential district, it’s a very decent and fair comparison to West Hampstead. 'There are, of course, cheaper flats, but I was trying to compare apples with apples – even in spite of the three bedrooms.' With rent obviously cheaper, Mr Cookney then considered travel. He found that he could fly back and forth from Barcelona to Stansted via Ryanair nearly every day in November for £29 a trip. Jet set: He discovered that a four day commute using Ryanair flights to get into London from Spain would work cut the cost of living by £339 per-month . He added £5 to get to from Barcelona’s el Prat airport and a £14 . return to Liverpool Street, making £19 in total on land travel each day. That’s . fixed commuting costs of £48 a day, 4 days a week, for 4 weeks a month, . which worked out at £778 . Add on rent of £580 a month and the cost of living . in Barcelona and commuting to London comes to £1,358 a month. That’s £339 less than the cost of living in London and commuting from Zone 2. Add that to the fact that he could live in a sunny city by the sea, and Mr Cookney said his findings were 'beyond crazy'. He said: 'I could walk to my desk by 9:30am, with time for a Pret coffee and bacon and cheese croissant en route' 'It's just beyond crazy, and completely unsustainable'. Too much: Mr Cookney was forced into looking for alternatives after he became sick of the sky high rent prices for relatively small accommodation in north and west London . Pricey journey: He based his sums around a commute from West Hampstead to Liverpool Street station, above, and a similar trip from Barcelona . 'I . feel like it's reaching a tipping point. I've been discussing with . friends this week, and several of us have said that we're going to have . to consider leaving London. The sums just don't add up' The only concession he had to make was that he could work from home for one day a week with flights of a weekend being far more pricey. He said: 'I thought at least it would require some poetic licence or dodgy sums . 'But the only assumption I’m making is that I work a four-day week in London, with a day at home (i.e. Barcelona).' | Sam Cookney did the sums after becoming sick of rent prices in London .
He found it would be cheaper live in Spain and fly to his job in the City .
A four day commute from Europe worked out at £339 per-month cheaper . |
092ba6b6f529f751f3068281fa4e3693da8554c2 | An Alabama woman has been sentenced to 219 years in prison for her role in an incestuous sex ring accused of molesting children for years. Wendy Holland, 35, showed no emotion as the judge condemned her on Thursday to what amounts to a life sentence. She must serve at least 50 years in prison before parole consideration, a prosecutor said. Jurors convicted the woman of sodomy, sexual abuse and other charges last month. Scroll down for video . Wendy Holland, 35, showed no emotion as the judge sentenced her to 219 years in prison on Thursday for her role in an incestuous sex ring accused of molesting children for years (file photo from court date last month) Another defendant, William Brownlee, got a 20-year prison sentence. Brownlee, 50, was convicted of sodomy and sexual abuse in the fall. The two were among 11 people charged with sex crimes following the disappearance in 2012 of a suspected victim of the ring, 19-year-old Brittney Wood. She remains missing and is presumed dead. Baldwin Council Circuit Judge Jody Bishop gave both Holland and Brownlee the maximum sentence and said each deserved more time. Each still faces additional charges involving other alleged victims. In a letter read in court, the underage female victim in both cases said years of abuse left her traumatized. She has a hard time trusting anyone, gets angry easily and rarely feels safe. 'I was a little girl being held down and raped,' wrote the victim, who was in court. Authorities said the two were part of a group of relatives and friends who sexually abused children and swapped their own kids for sex for years. Evil couple: Wendy's husband Donnie Holland was at the center of the child abuse ring. He is now dead and his wife, according to prosecutors, was also a key player in dozens of cases of child abuse. His wife Wendy . Father and son 'abusers': Donnie Holland Sr. (right) is at the center of the pedophile ring in Alabama described by police and prosectors as the worst they have ever seen, while his son Donnie Jr . Holland is the widow of the alleged leader of the group, Donnie Holland, who was Brittney Wood's uncle. The teen went missing around the time Holland was found with a gunshot to the head; his death was later ruled a suicide. Wendy and Donnie Holland's 22-year-old son Donald Paul Holland Jr. — charged with incest, rape and sexual abuse as another alleged participant in the ring — appeared before the judge in a closed hearing after his mother's sentencing. He was seen being arrested and led away in handcuffs afterward, but the outcome of his case wasn't made public because he was handled as a youthful offender following a request by the defense. Even without Brittney Wood to testify, two of her uncles and an older brother already pleaded guilty to sex charges before juries convicted Wendy Holland and Brownlee. In the letter read in court, the underage teen abused by both Holland, a relative, and Brownlee, a family friend, compared her youth to being lost in a maze. The teen said she felt like she was constantly looking into shadows around corners in fear of more sexual torture. 'The people who were supposed to protect me were the ones hurting me,' she wrote in the letter. Last month a jury took just two hours to find Wendy Holland guilty of sodomy, sexual abuse, sexual torture and child endangerment. William Brownlee, right, received a 20-year prison sentence on Thursday for his role in the three-generation Alabama family sex ring. Details about the group emerged following the disappearance in 2012 of a suspected victim of the ring, 19-year-old Brittney Wood, left. She remains missing and is presumed dead . Brittney Wood's uncle Donnie Holland, left, killed himself not long after her disappearance. Wendy and Donnie Holland's 22-year-old son Donald Paul Holland Jr., right, has been charged with incest, rape and sexual abuse as another alleged participant in the ring . The trial gave no clue as to the whereabouts of the presumed dead family member Brittney Wood, but it did give voice to abuse victims who claimed the sexual torture started when kids were still in diapers and involved family six-ways. A teenager testifying to being part of a family sex ring told jurors Tuesday that she was first molested while still in diapers. The young woman, who is still a minor, said her earliest memories include having sex with adult relatives — one of whom was Holland. Despite that, the teen tearfully said she still loves Holland 'with all my heart.' The state rested its case following a session during which the teen testified that her relatives often had group sex. She said it sometimes including Holland's missing 19-year-old niece Brittney Wood. 'We would be in a circle and we'd all switch up,' the girl testified. Prosecutor Teresa Heinz asked how often such things occurred. 'It happened a bunch,' she said. A male relative who pleaded guilty later testified he once had six-way sex with a group of relatives that included the girl and Holland. Crying, the teen had to stand up to see over the judge's desk to identify Holland as one of the people who abused her. Holland dabbed at her eyes and looked at the girl only briefly. Brittney Wood was last seen at Tillman's Corner, Alabama, in May 2012. She is presumed dead . Nephew Andrew Aikin, 23, who escaped the abuse, told MailOnline: 'Donnie was the cool uncle. 'We used to have huge barbecues. Donnie would invite us all out there. 'Us kids would to swimming and tubing and there were jet-skis. We had a lot of fun.' But in February 2012, at aged 50, the facade began to fell apart - and within months Donnie was dead and a horrific trail of abuse beginning to unravel. The first chink in the wall of silence came in March 2012 when Randall Scott Wood, then 42, alerted the authorities that a 13-year-old family member, with whom he admitted he was having a sexual relationship, was being abused by others. Wood, a former member of the National Guard, had moved to Mobile to take up a well-paid job at the city's steel mill. His sister - Wendy - was Holland's wife. What he told police was deeply unsettling - but as they began to investigate a far clearer picture of depravity emerged. In fact, his testimony against a relative lifted the lid on an horrific lifestyle going on at Donnie Holland's home. The innocent barbecues were only part of the truth - there were barbecues, but what happened later was not innocent. Fathers and mothers, uncles and aunts, brothers and sisters would end the evening revelling in group sex with children as young as four. Groomed almost from birth the young victims would be told to watch the scenes of depravity from the end of the bed until they were deemed old enough to take part. Mobile Assistant District Attorney Nicki Patterson told MailOnline: 'What is so disturbing with this case is that we have so many people involved. Chessie Wood, Brittney's mother: Two counts of sodomy and sex abuse of a child less than 12. Derek Wood, Brittney's brother: Second degree rape and second degree sodomy. Nelton ‘Butch’ Morgan: Rape and sex abuse of a child under 12. Dustin Kent: Two counts of rape, sex abuse, sodomy and production of obscene material of a person under 17. He allegedly raped a 13-year-old while her father looked on . William 'Billy' Brownlee: Two counts of rape, sodomy and sex abuse. Mendy Kent: Sodomy and sex abuse. Wendy Holland: Sodomy, sex abuse and child torture. James Cumbaa: Rape, sodomy, and sex abuse. Randall Scott Wood: Second degree sodomy, enticing a child to enter and second degree rape. Jennifer Moore: Production of pornography involving minors and second-degree child abuse. Donald Holland Jr: Incest and second degree rape . 'They led a swinger's lifestyle. They would engage in adult group sex but Donnie Holland would involve the children frequently. 'There were children who were 14 or 15 years old which may have appeared to be young adults but there also there were children who were clearly prepubescent – as young as nine years old.' She added: 'They barbecued a lot. They would have parties and then they would end up in bed together. 'Some of the kids' earliest memories at three or four years old are of abuse. 'Some of the women used sex toys on the kids to get them ready for sex. It was a very important thing within the family. They put an enormous effort in to get the children ready. It was very thought out. 'The mom, the aunt and children would get into bed and Donnie would tell them what to do.' Donnie would often film the sex scenes to create pornographic movies. One of the victims, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was abused so regularly it became her normal life. Baldwin District Attorney Teresa Heinz told MailOnline: 'For these children this is what happened at the weekend. They did not know that other kids did not do this. 'The kids would be offered trinkets – more TV time, credit for their cell phone, presents – if they took part and punished if they did not. 'Brittney Wood was a victim as early as four, or five years old. 'Another girl was French kissed for the first time at the age of four. The sexual abuse started soon after. 'One girl told her mom, but there was such a colony of abusers there was no one to turn to. 'They were not held down and forcibly raped but coerced and indoctrinated.' | Wendy Holland must serve at least 50 years in prison before parole consideration, a court heard on Thursday .
She and 10 other family members and family friends are charged as part of an incestuous sex ring accused of molesting children over years .
Details about the group emerged after the disappearance in 2012 of 19-year-old Brittney Wood .
At the same time as Brittney disappeared, Wendy's husband Donnie - believed to be the head of the sex ring - killed himself .
In a letter read in court, one of the group's underage female victims said years of abuse had left her traumatized .
'I was a little girl being held down and raped,' wrote the victim, who was in court .
Another member of the three-generation Alabama family sex ring, William Brownlee, received a 20-year prison sentence . |
092e97adbce1d023f3c22d73b146cf0ac889526d | By . Fiona Macrae . PUBLISHED: . 19:49 EST, 6 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:53 EST, 7 February 2013 . Couples who want a happy marriage should do their homework. A study found that those who wrote about their rows now and again were more satisfied with married life. Just three seven-minute essays a year, written from someone else’s perspective, made a difference. Writing just three seven-minute essays a year from someone else¿s perspective can make a difference to married life, according to Professor Eli Finkel of Northwestern University, Illinois . A little homework also boosted feelings of love, passion, intimacy, trust and commitment, the journal Psychological Science reports. It is thought writing from an outsider’s viewpoint helped people see conflict through fresh eyes. Researcher Eli Finkel said: ‘I don’t want it to sound like magic but you can get pretty impressive results with a minimal intervention.’ British experts said the exercise could help a lot of people – as long as they don’t bear grudges and are able to distance themselves from the situation. Professor Finkel, of Northwestern University, Illinois, tracked the marriages of 120 couples for two years. Some had been married for just a few weeks when the study began, others for more than 50 years. Professor Finkel tracked the marriages of 120 couples for two years, some of whom had been married for just a few weeks when the study began, others for more than 50 years . In the second year of the study, half . were asked to think about a recent row and write about it from the . perspective of a neutral party. They were encouraged to write about how . they could distance themselves in future. Professor Finkel estimated each essay took seven minutes – adding up to 21 minutes over the year. As previous studies have shown, marital satisfaction fell over the course of the first year. In those who didn’t do the writing task, it continued to drop during the second year. But in those who did their homework, satisfaction stabilised. While they didn’t argue any less, their rows caused them less upset. And there were other benefits. The professor said: ‘Not only did the effect emerge for marital satisfaction, it also emerged for other relationship processes – like passion and sexual desire. ‘These effects emerged whether people were married for one month, 50 years, or anywhere in between.’ He added: ‘A high-quality marriage is one of the strongest predictors of happiness and health. ‘From that perspective, participating in a seven-minute writing exercise three times a year has to be one of the best investments married people can make.’ Relate counsellor Paula Hall said: ‘If you can step away from the emotion of an argument after some time has elapsed and maintain a sense of perspective, hopefully you can move on to see what you can do differently. Effectively, that’s what counselling does.’ A third of us have fallen in love at first sight, according to a study which suggests we’re still a nation of romantics. Not only do 31 per cent say they’ve been struck by Cupid’s arrow, but this rises to 37 per cent among those aged over 55. More than a third of us – 38 per cent – have fallen in love at work, but 16 per cent felt unable to tell the object of their affection. And the best way to share how you feel? According to the research by florist Interflora, 41 per cent of women say a handwritten card or letter is the way to their heart. | Researchers found writing three seven-minute essays every year can help married life .
Letters should be written from somebody else's perspective .
Researchers at Northwestern University tracked 120 married couples over two years . |
0930ff3c5f779edaa00aa91de3fcbb6f0a04e29a | A Saudi woman who worked on a liberal blog with jailed activist Raif Badawi has been freed after almost three months in prison, her daughter has said. Suad al-Shammari was jailed for insulting Islam after co-founding online discussion group the Saudi Liberal Network with Badawi, who was sentenced to ten years jail and 1,000 lashes for his blogging. As outrage mounts on the kingdom over Badawi's sentence, al-Shammari has been released after 90 days at a women's prison in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, her daughter Sarah al-Rimaly said. Scroll down for videos . A female activist who worked with Raif Badawi, pictured, on a liberal blog in Saudi Arabia has been free after spending 90 days in prison for insulting Islam after commenting on Twitter about Islamic religious leaders . Protesters enact a flogging in front of the Saudi embassy in Washington on January 15, 2015 in a protest against Badawi's sentence of 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes . 'She's released now, thanks be to God,' Ms Rimaly told AFP, adding that her mother left jail three days ago after signing a pledge 'to reduce her activities'. Saudi Arabia's new King Salman late on Thursday issued an amnesty for some prisoners, but Miss Rimaly said her mother's release was unconnected to this. She added that she does not think the amnesty will cover Badawi, whose flogging was on Friday postponed for the third week in a row. Badawi's corporal punishment had been set to be dealt out piecemeal each Friday but he has so far endured only one set of 50 lashes. The 31-year-old won support from governments and human rights groups around the world after he was sentenced to the hefty jail time, the lashes and a £177,000 fine. Ensaf Haidar, wife of Saudia Arabian blogger Raif Badawi, pauses while speaking at a news conference in Ottawa, Canada, where she has fled with their three children after her husband's conviction . Al-Shammari, who helped Badawi set up the Saudi Liberal Network, was arrested in late October for insulting Islam after posting comments on Twitter about Islamic religious leaders, Saudi activists said at the time. The charges against Badawi were also brought over criticism of clerics and the Saudi Arabia's notorious religious police, who have been accused of a heavy-handed enforcement of sharia Islamic law. Paris-based watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) described the SLN Internet site as 'an online discussion network whose aim is to encourage political, religious and social debates in Saudi Arabia'. Badawi endured the first 50 lashes of his sentence outside a mosque in Jeddah on January 9, but two subsequent rounds of punishment were posted on medical grounds. It is not clear why the latest round of flogging was postponed, according to Badawi's wife, Ensaf Haidar, who has since fled to Canada with their three children. Speaking to reporters and lawmakers in Canada, where she has sought asylum with their three children, she said on Thursday that Badawi's health is 'bad and it's getting worse'. Last week, Badawi's spokesman said there was a chance he could have his jail sentence reduced. Dr Elham Manea, who is a professor at the University of Zurich, said the Saudi ambassador in Germany had told a broadcaster of the development. In a posting on her Facebook page, she wrote: 'Saudi ambassador in Germany informed NDR-TV that flogging will not continue and #RaifBadawi maybe not (sic) have to serve the whole time in prison.' Badawi is among more than a dozen 'prisoners of conscience' behind bars for their peaceful activism in Saudi Arabia, according to rights group Amnesty International. | Suad al-Shammari spent 90 days in a women's prison for 'insulting Islam'
She arrested in October after posting Tweets about religious leaders .
Release comes after Raif Badawi's flogging postponed for third week . |
09348b1884d2602cb5db9f288803c2b91c69835a | (CNN) -- "They must know what they're doing, right?" It's a common enough phrase, often muttered by nervous people who are thinking the exact opposite -- who are expressing doubts about those who seem to be in charge, the ones who are supposed to have all the answers. The bus to work is making a strange, loud, thumping sound, but the driver keeps motoring along. There's an unmistakable smell of smoke coming from the restaurant kitchen, but the waiters and waitresses continue taking orders as if nothing is amiss. There is lightning in the sky above the outdoor field of a sporting event and warning sirens can be heard from somewhere in town, but the officials allow the contest to play on. The packaged meat looks a little funny, but the sell-by date is current, and the supermarket has it out on prominent display. "They must know what they're doing, right?" We tend to take it on faith that they -- whoever the amorphous "they" may be -- are on the case and full of expertise and wisdom, ever on the lookout for any threats to the well-being of those who are counting on them. So when there are signs that mistakes have slipped past inspectors, past engineers, past control towers -- signs that, for all the double-checking, perhaps a little triple- or quadruple-checking may have been called for -- people pause to consider if the safeguards assumed to be constantly in place are really so fail-safe. This Memorial Day weekend, Americans are pondering a series of recent events that have called into question the airtightness of the business world's layers of quality assurance, and the effectiveness of the in-house inspection processes that are supposed to monitor and affirm that assurance before customers can be adversely affected. Food-product recalls around the nation have brought worries to consumers used to taking home products assuming they are safe. In Idaho and Washington, state health departments directed people not to eat raw clover sprouts produced by Evergreen Fresh Sprouts after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cited seven confirmed and three likely cases of E. coli infection. Nearly 15,000 pounds of hummus and dip products were voluntarily recalled by Lansal Inc. because of possible bacterial contamination flagged by the Texas Department of Health. Merchants in Missouri and Illinois were returning bulk and packaged walnuts to Sherman Produce, which issued a recall as a precautionary measure against possible listeria. And the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced that 1.8 million pounds of ground beef products were being recalled because of possible E. coli contamination. In the world of automobiles, General Motors signaled to Barclays Capital analysts that it may continue with recalls into the middle of the summer. GM, so far this year, has called in almost 14 million vehicles in the U.S., in 29 separate recalls -- which constitutes more vehicles recalled than the total of what GM has sold domestically in the last five years. The Federal Aviation Administration was looking into a near miss between two passenger jets in the skies near George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston earlier this month. This follows the FAA's investigation of two other recent near-miss incidents, one at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey and the other at Tallahassee Regional Airport in Florida, where a passenger jet reportedly almost collided with a drone. Most of the time, things go just fine. But when stories like these appear in the news in a single week, there is the impulse to wonder just what else is perhaps being missed. And to reflect upon just how many times each day we depend on precision and diligence that, without knowing exactly who is responsible for it, we presume is there. In truth, people reluctantly understand that the idea of endless layers of perfectionist platoons of unblinking and errorless industrial inspectors, while something to be aimed for, is probably a pipe dream. Consumers know that their own common sense, and personal scrutiny of what they buy, is their best protection. Yet there are many areas in which the customer cannot be expected to be an expert, which is why the relentlessness and rigor of professional inspectors and regulators is so essential. The old joke is that the ultimate act of faith in one's fellow man is opening the door to take a box of pizza from the delivery guy, and then eating it. But each time you step into a high-rise elevator and count on all the mechanisms that hold it in the air being up to standards; each time you get a prescription filled and count on the pharmacist dispensing the correct medication into the bottle; each time you watch your child climb onto a purposely scary amusement park ride and count on someone having made certain every rail at every turn is intact and tight and correctly angled; each time you blithely drive through a green-light signal at a busy intersection and count on the light for the perpendicular street being red just like it's supposed to be; each time you start to count backward from 100 as the anesthesiologist begins to administer the first drops of the dose before you drift off. ... each time, you are, of necessity, relying on the conscientiousness, thoroughness, and devotion to detail of strangers. There's a whole lot that, without stopping too often to ruminate over it, we assure ourselves is being done correctly by people we will never meet. Thinking too much about that, especially after a week like the one just past, could drive us nuts. And after all, they must know that they're doing. Right? | Bob Greene: We count on notion that some vague official authority is protecting our safety .
He says recent food recalls, GM recalls and planes' near misses remind us this isn't always so .
He says giving others sway over our safety carries risk. Use common sense where possible . |
0935d4c32f1a476a90ad3d99036391784735af27 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 10:45 EST, 2 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:21 EST, 2 April 2013 . The search for a 21-year-old Colorado woman who went missing in January while on a Grand Canyon rafting trip came to a tragic conclusion this week. According to a National Park Service press release, the body of a woman that was spotted in the Colorado River March 21 has been identified as Kaitlin Anne Kenney. The 21-year-old Englewood resident was last seen on the night of January 11 at a rafting camp. It was Kenney's first and last trip to the Grand Canyon. Worst fear confirmed: Officials have announced that the body found in the Colorado River in late March is that of Kaitlin Anne Kenney, 21, who went missing in January . Gone: Kenny was rafting through the Grand Canyon's waterways when she vanished without a trace . At the time of her disappearance, . Kenney's mother said she feared that her daughter had accidentally . fallen into the frigid water while going to the bathroom in the dark. It . was below zero the night Kenney disappeared, and the 21-year-old woman . did not have her coat on at the time, according to her family, The Denver Channel reported. Helicopter . and ground search parties scoured the Tapeats and Deer Creek drainages, . Surprise Valley and along the Colorado River for two days after Kenney . was reported missing, but to no avail. The . body spotted by rafters at about river mile 165 near Tuckup Canyon was . taken by helicopter to a medical examiner, who confirmed that it was . Kenney. Last week, Kenney's mother, Linnea, wrote on Facebook about getting the news that her daughter's remains have been recovered. 'She . was a source of love, joy and friendship to so many,' Linnea Kenney . wrote. 'We are very grateful to the many professionals from the Grand . Canyon National Park and the river rafting community for everything they . did to find Kaitlin. Thanks to them for bringing her home to us.' Mourning: Though no body has been recovered mother Linnea believes her daugher fell into a river and drowned while on a rafting trip . Searching: Kenney was last seen wearing a tan coat and tan pants, a grey shirt, multi-colored scarf, black knit cap and hiking boots . Kenney, an anthropology major at University of Montana, was a talented musician who won first place in the young adult category at the 2011 Colorado Fiddle Championships. Her mother wrote on Facebook after her disappearance: 'She was our balloon let loose in a room and lived life to it's . fullest, always with a smile. We were blessed to have her in our lives.' 'She shared her spark of life and her . beauty and her kindness and free spirit with everybody,' she told . reporters. 'She never did anything that was ordinary and she was always . out there and willing to explore.' Kenney was on a month-long rafting trip with a dozen friends through the Grand Canyon during winter break. The plan was for the campers to float 280 miles from Lee’s Ferry to Pearce Ferry. The young woman decided to go on the fateful trip after completing a summer semester with the Wild Rockies Filed Institute, which had sparked her interest to further explore the great outdoors, according to The Montana Kaimin. Free spirit: Kenney was an anthropology major at University of Montana and an accomplished musician who played the fiddle and the mandolin . Life cut short: Kenney was passionate about the great outdoors and was excited to go on the 280-mile rafting trip, her first ever, which coincided with her 21st birthday . in anticipation of her great adventure, the college student spoke with exuberance to her friends about leading the life of a 'river rat' and surviving in the wilderness. An accomplished musician, Kenney would talk about how she needed to bring her mandolin along on the rating trip, which coincided with her 21st birthday. 'She was never one to shy away from challenges and the outdoors,' Linnea Kenney told the paper of her daughter. 'The Grand Canyon trip was an adventure she wanted to experience.' | Kaitlin Anne Kenney was found 30 miles from the spot where she was last seen January 11 .
Her mother suspects the 21-year-old fell into the icy water river during the night . |
09364fc52a7e6c668280d8aae38612058c7544af | By . Emily Crane . Scientists have discovered a number of fish-eating spiders that can consume prey twice their size and weight. A study by zoologists in Australia and Switzerland has found that while spiders typically prey on insects, some species will supplement their diet by catching small fish. The spiders, some of which are capable of swimming, diving and walking on the water surface, have powerful neurotoxins and enzymes that enable them to kill and digest fish that often exceed them in size. A study by zoologists in Australia and Switzerland has found that while spiders typically prey on insects, some species will supplement their diet by catching small fish . Martin Nyffeler from the University of Basel in Switzerland and Bradley Pusey from the University of Western Australia observed spiders from as many as five families predating on small fish in the wild across the world. They also examined three more spider species catching fish under laboratory conditions. These so called semi-aquatic spiders typically dwell at the fringes of shallow freshwater streams, ponds or swamps. 'The finding of such a large diversity of spiders engaging in fish predation is novel,' Mr Nyffeler said. 'Our evidence suggests that fish might be an occasional prey item of substantial nutritional importance.' The spiders, some of which are capable of swimming, diving and walking on the water surface, have powerful neurotoxins and enzymes that enable them to kill and digest fish that often exceed them in size . These so called semi-aquatic spiders typically dwell at the fringes of shallow freshwater streams, ponds or swamps . Based on the results of the study, published by the academic journal Plos One, naturally occurring fish predation by spiders occurs right across the world expect for Antarctica. Most incidents have been documented in North America, especially in the wetlands of Florida, where semi-aquatic spiders have often been witnessed catching and eating small freshwater fish such as mosquitofish. In order to catch its prey, the spider will typically anchor its hind legs to a stone or a plant, with its front legs resting on the surface of the water, ready to ambush. The fish will then be dragged to a dry place before the feeding process can begin which usually lasts several hours. Martin Nyffeler from the University of Basel in Switzerland and Bradley Pusey from the University of Western Australia observed spiders from as many as five families predating on small fish in the wild across the world . | Zoologists from Switzerland and Australia observed five different species of fish-eating spiders across the world .
Spiders have powerful neurotoxins and enzymes that enable them to kill and digest fish .
Semi-aquatic spiders dwell in freshwater streams, ponds or swamps .
Evidence suggests fish may be of 'substantial nutritional importance' |
0937ff7289eb0f380adcb7a1dd81a65eb60c7495 | By . Paul Milligan . PUBLISHED: . 12:05 EST, 8 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:06 EST, 8 December 2012 . Ready for another crazy online trend? Students from Durham University have filmed themselves pouring bottles of Port over their heads, in a video called Porting. Porting is an answer to the Milking video from students from rival Newcastle University which has seen more than 500,000 people watch the video in the last two weeks. A spokesperson for Porting Durham said: 'It’s all about oneupmanship. We started out trying to get one better than our student cousins at Newcastle but, due to our lactose intolerance we were unable to do it with milk. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Students at Durham University has created their own version of Milking, called Porting, which involves pouring a bottle of the Port over your head . The students wear smart white dress shirts whilst endulging in the bizarre trend . We commend Newcastle in their valiant effort and inspiring us to go one further,' the spokesperson told The Tab, the student newspaper for Durham University. Porting sees the Durham students don white dress shirts and smart trousers, and then pour bottle after bottle of the fortified wine over their heads. 'We were approached by a high street washing powder brand, and it all fell into place. What better thing to do than pour fortified wine over crisp white shirts?' added the Porting spokesperson. According to the video’s creator, the video carries a strong message to the government: 'This is a protest against the hike of alcohol prices to a minimum of 45 pence per unit.' 19 bottles of the expensive fortified wine are poured away in the video. Even the famous cathedral isn't safe from the Porting trend . One imaginative (and brave) student even takes part whilst on the move in the city . Students at rival Newcastle University started the bizarre trend, with the Milking video. Where student after student filmed themselves pouring pints of milk over their heads . | The video was created by students at Durham University .
It is in answer to Newcastle University's Milking video, which has now been viewed by more than 500,000 people . |
09380bdf1ea872fb0c325ce626874c6450d2ab0a | Michael Carrick admitted that Manchester United were simply not good enough in the wake of their goalless draw against Cambridge United in the FA Cup fourth round. The midfielder was left frustrated after his side were held by an impressive performance from their League Two opposition on Friday night. 'We came here to win and get in the next round,' said Carrick. 'The first-half was very scrappy, but fair play to Cambridge for defending the box well and making it difficult for us. We weren't at our best. Michael Carrick walks off the pitch dejected as Cambridge players celebrate behind him . Carrick was frustrated after Manchester United's goalless draw against Cambridge United . Cameron McGeehan of Cambridge United (left) tackles Carrick of Manchester United . 'It's frustrating because we want to be through (to the fifth round) but at the same time we're still in and we've got the replay now. 'It's the FA Cup isn't it. We've seen strange things happen in this competition before.' Speaking after the match, Carrick also challenged his attacking team-mates to take their opportunities when presented with them. Youngster James Wilson (right) had a frustrating night before being replaced by Robin van Persie . Striker Radamel Falcao had another frustrating night in a Manchester United shirt at Cambridge . He added: 'We came here hoping to win the game, we knew it wasn't going to be easy. 'You can take the difference between the two clubs in the league pyramid but that goes out the window. We've had the better chances, and credit to them for the way we defended. 'People will ask questions of us not scoring, but we'll accept the replay and move on. We are on a decent run but we want to be winning matches. We have the firepower, we're creating chances, but we just didn't take them.' | Michael Carrick admits Manchester United weren't good enough in FA Cup .
Red Devils held to goalless draw away at Cambridge United on Friday .
Midfielder frustrated after insisting they 'came here to win' |
093ace7e1186c288174ea830f6a6836b4cec59fd | Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that both Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale will play in the Champions League final on Saturday. Neither player trained with the first team today, with French striker Karim Benzema also missing, but there was no cause for concern as the Italian said in a press conference that they will be ready for Lisbon. 'Gareth and Cristiano will play and that's the most important thing,' he said. Full strength: Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti yesterday confirmed both Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale will play in the Champions League final against cross-town rivals Atletico Madrid . Loner: Ronaldo trained alone and said he hopes to be ready for the game on Saturday . Resting: Bale did not train so he could get an extra day rest having made his first appearance in two weeks . Preparation: The rest of the players go through their paces without the two stars . Ronaldo . trained by himself, going through light jogging, while Benzema and Bale . were completely absent. However, it is understood the Welshman was . having another day's rest after playing for the first time in two weeks . on Saturday. The . winger has scored 21 goals and added 16 assists in his first season in . Spain after a world record transfer, and Ancelotti has been impressed . with his performances. 'He has had a good season despite the problems he had in the beginning. He has had a big impact. 'Bale has helped us a lot this season. He is in an excellent physical shape.' Duo: Bale and Ronaldo have combined to excellent effect together this season . Lethal: Ronaldo has 47 goals for Real Madrid this season . Missing: Ronaldo has not played in white since the game against Vallodolid on May 7 . Ronaldo, who lasted played against Vallodolid on May 7 said he hopes to be ready for the game. 'I feel good but still not 100 percent. I hope to be ready for Saturday,' the Portuguese told Real Madrid TV. 'It is my first day out on the pitch and I feel ok and happy,' he added. 'Playing during the week and weekends means it is normal that the body has a negative response. Unfortunately I have had a few problems but if you look around Europe the same thing is happening and players are getting injured. 'Nobody wants to miss a final, a final we have been aiming for and it is obviously important. If the body can't do it then it is not the end of the world but I will be there, I am confident." Good start: Bale has scored 21 goals and added 16 assists in a good first season at Real . Doubt: Diego Costa is likely to miss the final after tearing his hamstring in the title decider against Barcelona . The former . Chelsea manager also said that Benzema and Pepe are the 'only two . players still doubtful' in his squad, while admitting that La Liga . winners Atletico will still be a threat even if Diego Costa misses out. 'I . congratulate (Diego) Simeone and his players for winning La Liga. Diego . Costa and Arda Turan are two very important players but Atleti have . played well without them.' Chelsea . target Costa, who has 35 goals this season, limped out of Sunday's . title decider with Barcelona after tearing his hamstring. | Real Madrid boss says both Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale will play in the Champions League final despite recent absence .
Neither trained with the first team today - Ronaldo trained alone while the Welsh winger was allowed an extra day of rest .
Ronaldo admits he is not '100 per cent' but hopes to be ready to face neighbours Atletico Madrid .
Karim Benzema and Pepe are the only doubts for Ancelotti . |
093b9626b31c782ca1c1b0bfdc47eeb9421afd22 | The Indiana grandmother who took Instagram by storm with upbeat images of the last days of her life has died at 80 of cancer. Grandma Betty's pictures and videos - including her dancing to Pharrell's hit 'Happy,' inspired thousands, and now her fans are in mourning. Betty Jo Simpson died Saturday, grandson Zach Belden, from Louisville, Kentucky, wrote on her page, eight months after she was diagnosed with lung cancer. #BeHappy: Grandma Betty's Instagram inspired thousands as she battled lung cancer, all those fans are now in mourning after she passed away Saturday . 'After a much needed night of rest, Grandma has come to peace with her battle of lung cancer,' he wrote. 'Although Grandma Betty is no longer physically with us, she will forever be in the hearts of the millions of people she touches every single day.' 'Grandma Betty did not lose her battle to cancer, because her legacy she has left behind will inspire millions of people to #Smile, #BeHappy, and #StayHappy no matter what. 'The fight has ended. The battle is won.' The final post to Betty's Instagram had nearly 60,000 likes and comments only nine hours after her death. Belden originally created the social media page as a tribute to the octogenarian as she battled lung cancer. It quickly gained hundreds of thousands of followers from around the world. Scroll down for video . Tribute: Zach Beldon (right) has set up the account to try and help his Grandma Betty (left) after she was diagnosed with cancer . Peace and love: The account, set up in Louisville, Kentucky, has attracted thousands of supporters worldwide . 'The idea was to start an account for my friends who know Grandma Betty,' the schoolboy told WDRB Kentucky, 'And it turned out to be something everybody started to enjoy.' He began by posting pictures of Betty and her late husband shortly after being told she had lung cancer. After the account went viral, Betty says she began feeling like a celebrity every time she gets a new follower. 'We get joy out of listening to her say everyday, "How many more friends do I have today,' granddaughter Hope Belden added. Even though they have received thousands of messages of support, and a handful of gifts, Grandma Betty said she hopes the page will give followers some wisdom. 'Maybe they'll learn something from me. I've been here 80 years, maybe they'll learn something good from me,' she said. Fashionable: The photos are taken in a number of poses, including one with Grandma Betty getting a perm . Nostalgia: A 'Throwback Thursday' image showed a picture of Betty with her late husband . Followers: Supporters have sent her letters and have also knitted her scarves . Keep smiling: The photo caption on this image says: 'Even after being diagnosed with lung cancer, she still smokes. I want her to die happy' Falling asleep: Grandma Betty takes a break from the social media limelight for a nap on the sofa with her dog . Betty's Instagram was not just limited to photos, it also included videos. One of the most popular videos showed her dancing to the hit Pharrell Williams song, 'Happy.' 'I thought that was cute,' she said. 'I can no longer think of that song without thinking of her,' Hope added. 'This is going to be something we're always going to have and something we're always going to remember and definitely cherish forever. 'I'll always have that. And we'll always have the Instagram, no matter what.' Zach said: 'I'm glad I get to share her story because I want to remember her forever.' Awake: The cancer sufferer enjoys spending her days on the sofa with her favorite pet . Bad days: Sometimes Zach refrains from posting because his grandmother is not feeling well . | 'Grandma Betty' died Saturday of lung cancer - she was 80-years-old .
She amassed more than 683,000 followers since December .
Grandson Zach Beldenset up the page to honor his dying grandmother .
He posted upbeat pictures and videos of the ailing grandmother .
One video showed the 80-year-old dancing to Pharrell Williams' hit 'Happy'
Her death was announced on Instagram . |
093b9bd71c9e10d46e7af53f1658409047f572a9 | (CNN) -- Martin Luther King Jr. used his American Express card instead of a passport to get past the Berlin Wall. Now, 25 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, this little known fact and thousands of previously classified documents have been released. After an executive order issued by President Barack Obama called for the processing of classified records that are 25 years old or more, the CIA, in conjunction with the National Archives' National Declassification Center, announced it had made public more than 11,000 pages of documents detailing life and death in the shadow of the wall between 1962 and 1986. To prevent East Germans from getting into West Berlin, the border between West and East Berlin was closed by the Soviets on August 12, 1961. Called the "Anti-Fascist Protective Rampart" by East Germans, 155 kilometers, or 96 miles, of wall encircled West Berlin, itself a West German island in the heart of East Germany. The central part of the wall that divided West Berlin and East Berlin was 43 km, or 27 miles long. Intelligence reports and maps included in the document release details on the construction of the wall. What began as guarded barbed wire strung along the border quickly became barbed wire with guard towers and two high concrete walls, one on the inside, one on the outside of a no man's land. This "death strip" was littered with anti-tank barriers, signal wires, beds of spikes, sand --to see footprints, and guard dogs, all under the constant surveillance of armed guards with orders to shoot on sight anyone trying to cross. "Ich bin ein Berliner," said President John F. Kennedy when he visited the city on June 26, 1963. Many of the US government memos outline the technical aspects of a presidential trip to the city only 22 months after the Berlin Wall was erected. Dr. Hope Harrison, who helped with the project and spoke at a symposium at the National Archives on Tuesday highlighting the document release, said massive media coverage in the West highlighted every killing. "Cross and flowers" marked death sites. She compared that to the East German approach. Coverage of the killings of people trying to escape East Berlin was "taboo," she said. But a border guard killed at the wall was "turned into a hero of socialism defending the border, streets and schools were named after them." Hundreds of West Berliners standing on the Western banks of a narrow canal witnessed 24-year-old Gunter Litfin's death when on August 24, 1961 he become the first person killed at the Wall by guards with machine guns who shot him as he swam in the water. The killing of Peter Fechter, 18, was filmed by Western media and broadcast live as he bled to death after being shot trying to cross the border zone near Checkpoint Charlie. That infamous checkpoint, also known as Checkpoint C, was the one Martin Luther King, Jr. managed to cross without a passport. Diplomatic cables reveal how on September 13, 1964, after speaking to large crowds in West Berlin, he used his American Express card to get past guards in order to enter East Berlin. He conducted a church service there honoring President John F. Kennedy, who had visited Berlin two years earlier. Two thousand people overflowed St. Mary's Church, where he said "There is no East, no West, no North, no South, but one great fellowship of love throughout the whole, wide world." The diplomatic cables also highlight President Ronald Reagan's trip to Berlin, when he implored Mikhail Gorbachev, the head of the Soviet Union to "tear down this wall." It fell two years later on November 9, 1989. The CIA hasn't released classified Berlin Wall material from that year. | Thousands of previously classified documents about the wall are released .
Martin Luther King Jr. went to East Berlin without a passport .
Intelligence reports detail wall's construction, protection . |
093c04d2f8b9c00d65ce5832bbd780398d8884f4 | By . Hugo Gye . Grieving relatives worried that their loved ones will not attract enough mourners at their funeral can now bump up the numbers by hiring 'professional sobbers'. A growing number of people are hiring out their services at £45 for a two-hour ceremony - and as well as attending the funeral they will weep and talk to friends of the deceased. The trend started in areas such as the Middle East and China, but the rise of multiculturalism has made it increasingly popular in the UK. Enterprising: A company based in Essex is hiring out professional mourners for £45 a go . Fake mourners, known as moirologists, are trained actors who specialise in the skill of appearing grief-stricken at public events. Before the funeral services, they are briefed about the life of the deceased so they can talk to other mourners as if they had genuinely known him or her. The unusual industry has become so popular that one Essex firm now has 20 staff on its books available for hire. Ian Robertson, the founder of Rent a Mourner in Braintree, admits the idea may be unfamiliar to the British, but predicts it will soon catch on. Trend: More and more British funerals are now involving professional mourners (file photo) 'We were actually inspired by the market growth in China,' he said. 'The Middle Eastern way is to provide wailers - crying women - as opposed to the quiet, dignified methods we use. 'It is growing in the UK - our bookings are up 50 per cent year on year.' 'Our staff will meet with the client beforehand and agree "the story", so our staff will either have known the deceased professionally or socially. They will be informed of the deceased's background, achievements, failures etc., so they can converse with other mourners with confidence.' The company says on its website: 'We are typically invited to help increase visitors to funerals where there may be a low turnout expected. This can usually be a popularity issue or being new to an area, or indeed, the country.' Origins: 'Professional sobbers' are currently more popular in the Middle East and China (file photo) Consumer expert Jasmine Birtles believes multi-cultural Britain is experiencing a 'cultural shift' in the way its mourners say their final farewell. Ms Birtles, the founder of personal finance site MoneyMagpie.com, said: 'Hiring a stranger to weep at a funeral may seem strange, but it's a deep-seated tradition in the East. 'It's still a niche market at the moment but demand for professional mourners is increasing year on year as more people from East Asian and Middle Eastern countries move to the UK, bringing their customs with them. 'The rise in popularity shows a cultural shift taking place in how we choose to pay our last respects and like with many other cultural imports, it's only a matter of time before it crosses over into mainstream culture.' 'At the moment it's not the sort of thing most people can treat as a career, but if it continues to increase in popularity then crying on demand could soon become a highly-prized skill.' | Trend originated in China and Middle East but has now spread to UK too .
Essex firm has 20 professionals on its books . |
093c8570aec63896366a13de64e0bcc5d2a83c59 | Whether you're using a state-of-the-art SLR camera or toting along your trusty smartphone, a holiday simply isn't a holiday if you're not snapping loads of photos along the way. However, each tool requires different techniques to truly get the most out of your photographs - especially if you're looking to rack up those Instagram likes online. Experts recommend incorporating a human element into landscapes - such as a person or their property - in order to truly illustrate the grandeur of the landmark or wilderness around you. When shooting portraits, keep your subjects at eye level, or elevate them, to ensure the most flattering angle. Time of day will also impact the quality of your snap. Dave Bouskill, founder and photographer of adventure travel blog, The Planet D, recommends shooting early in the morning or late at night. When the sun is setting, there will be softer light and longer shadows. Plus, if you're shooting at less desirable visiting times, you'll likely be the only one there. And while taking photographs on the beach can often pose problems when it comes to harsh bright light, using the flash is actually recommended - it will help to eliminate any dark shadows cast by hats or sunglasses. For more surprising, and inspiring, holiday photography facts, Fairmont Hotels has compiled little-known tricks for nearly every vacation scenario, as well as a list of the most-photographed landmarks around the world. | Fairmont Hotels has created infographic of top travel photography tricks .
Tips are broken down into camera-based and smartphone-based tactics .
Polled experts who also revealed their best advice for share-worthy images . |
093dff368347473640cb829a0f24ad68b68353d3 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 20:01 EST, 17 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:21 EST, 18 May 2013 . Amanda Knox has spoken out against the 'bad vibes' the notorious photo of her kissing former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito created in the days following the death of her housemate Mereditch Kercher. The image was taken as police searched the flat that she had shared with the British university student, who was found with 47 wounds, including a fatal slash across her throat, at their Perugia home in November 2007. Sollecito had been dating Knox in Italy for just one week when the couple came under investigation for her murder. Scroll down for video . The moment that Miss Knox said created 'bad vibes' for her and her boyfriend, whose sex life and drug habits made headlines throughout their trial . She went on to serve four years for . her murder before being acquitted in an appeals court in . 2011 due to insufficient evidence. Then two months ago, Italy’s highest court overturned that decision and ordered a new trial to begin within the next year - raising the prospect that she could be jailed once more. Rudy Guede, whose DNA and bloody footprints were found . all over the crime scene, is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence for the murder. Knox, 25, said told The Times that the infamous kiss - caught on camera by the press - created 'bad vibes' for her. She said: 'That video [outside the house] was cut . and repeated so that all you see is a loop of me and Raffaele kissing . over and over again.' The photograph was held up as proof of her alleged sinister sexual nature. In . fact, Knox has revealed that the kiss . was an act of comfort in the face of fear and uncertainty. She said: 'I just felt incredibly lost and I was . sad and I was trying to understand, and Raffaele kissed me to console me . because our language barrier prevented us from really being able to . console each other with words.' Amanda Knox and her then-boyfirend Raffaele Sollecito were pictured kissing outside the rented house where 21-year-old British student Meredith Kercher was found dead in Perugia, Italy . Miss Knox is on a media tour to promote her memoir Waiting to be Heard. She spoke to the Times about the public perception of her as a sinister woman . Amanda Knox's former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito has released his own memoir of his experience in jail. Italian prosecutors accused Sollecito and Knox of killing Kercher in a sexual escapade that went awry . Knox's behaviour during the police search, in which she didn't cry and was said to hug and kiss her boyfriend, was pursued by the media as a reason to suspect the 20-year-old of murder. Knox's memoir, Waiting to be Heard, has not been published in the UK but has reignited a media storm around the Kercher case. Knox received a grilling from various U.S. media outlets following the release of the book on April 30. Earlier this month she told CNN's Chris Cuomo that despite her characterization in the Italian media as a sexual deviant, she has not experimented with any sort of sex games. Knox was adamant as she told Cuomo: 'I've never taken part in an orgy - ever.' She said she was shocked during the trial, when lawyers for the prosecution were calling her a 'whore' and a 'deviant.' She says that Italian prosecutors made up allegations that she was a sex and drug-crazed party girl to bolster their case. Knox said that her book is aimed at debunking those criticisms. She said: 'In the book I talk about all my sexual experiences... I was not strapping on leather and bearing a whip.' Knox added: 'No one has ever claimed that I was ever taking part in deviant sexual activity. None of my roommates, none of my friends, no witnesses have ever come out saying things like that.' She also told Cuomo that now that she's home in Washington, she doesn't go to parties - and no longer smokes cannabis. | Amanda Knox slams portrayal of her and boyfriend from photo of them kissing at murder scene .
Said they were consoling each other physically because didn't speak the same language .
Told the Times the picture created 'bad vibes' for them both . |
093ede2593ccef2df7b9dc4915692a30ecc998fb | By . Damien Gayle . PUBLISHED: . 04:28 EST, 22 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:44 EST, 22 March 2013 . An extremely rare fossil of footprints made more than 300million years ago has been discovered by a 10-year-old schoolboy. Bruno Debattista, a pupil at Windmill Primary School in Oxford, brought a piece of shale with what he thought might be a fossilised imprint to the after-school club at Oxford University's Museum of Natural History. Astonished museum experts found it appeared to contain trackways left by a horseshoe crab crawling up the muddy slopes of an ancient shore around 320million years ago. Amazing find: Oxford schoolboy Bruno Debattista . holds up the piece of shale he found which experts say contains the . fossilised footprints made by a pair of mating horseshoe crabs . 300million years ago . Well spotted: A close-up view shows the faint tracks on the piece of slate . Chris Jarvis, education officer at the Museum, said: ‘Footprints of this age are incredibly rare and extremely hard to spot, so we were amazed when Bruno produced them at our After-School Club. Bruno poses with a preserved horseshoe crab: The 10-year-old collected the fossil while on holiday in Cornwall last summer . 'Still more impressive is the fact that . Bruno had a hunch they might be some kind of footprints, even though the . specimen had some of our world expert geologists arguing about it over . their microscopes!' Bruno’s fossil has been confirmed by the Museum as likely showing footprints of a pair of mating horseshoe crabs laid down during the Carboniferous period, some 308-327million years ago. At this time, the sea was slowly being sealed off as the Earth’s landmasses crunched together to form Pangaea. The museum's Natural History After-School Club encourages Year 6 children to develop their interest in the natural world. It is hopes that some might become the next generation of geologists and zoologists. The club’s weekly sessions look at rocks, fossils, insects and other animal life. Members are encouraged to make observations and collect specimens to be shared each week. Horseshoe crabs resemble crustaceans, but are more closely related to spiders and scorpions than lobsters and shrimp. They are one of the world's oldest species, with the earliest fossils found in strata from the late Ordovician period, roughly 450 million years ago. They live primarily in and around shallow ocean waters on soft sandy or muddy bottoms, but will occasionally come on shore for mating. They are commonly used as bait and in fertilizer, and in recent years, habitat destruction and over-harvesting has led to a decline in numbers. Bruno was specially selected for the club by his teachers, after showing a particular interest in nature. He collected the fossil while on holiday in Cornwall last summer. ‘Unfortunately, the excitement and motivation that many children instinctively feel for studying nature is often lost during their teenage years as it is seen as 'uncool' or a bit 'weird', and science can become text-book oriented and exam-driven during secondary school,’ Mr Jarvis said. ‘The club is our attempt to encourage children to value and extend their skills and knowledge and to follow their interests. 'I hope it is helping to create a group of kids that will continue to share their interests into their teenage years and beyond.’ Bruno and his family have decided to donate the fossil specimen to the Museum’s collection. | Youngster brought shale containing prints to museum after-school club .
Experts say crab footprints were laid down in the Carboniferous period .
He found the fossil while on holiday in Cornwall with his family . |
093f00189fbaae7bb3483b02228732d4b0f51982 | A man has been charged with not reporting the death of a base jumper whose parachute failed while jumping from the tallest structure in Australia. The 33-year-old Queensland man was charged with failing to report the death as well as intruding on Department of Defence property. The body of Ash Cosgriff, 23, was found near Omega Tower, a 432 metre tall navigation antenna found 200 kilometres east of Melbourne, on January 25. Scroll down for video . Ash Cosgriff, 23, was found near Omega Tower, a navigation antenna found 200 kilometres east of Melbourne . Cosgriff was an experienced BASE jumper, with hundreds of jumps under his belt. He was also a member of a Hunter Valley sky diving club . The Omega tower: at 432 tall, it's the highest structure in Australia, as well a being a popular location within the BASE jumping community, where some travel from overseas to take the dangerous leap . Police formerly said his death resulted from a parachute malfunction. At the time of his death, Cosgriff was believed to be working in local mines in Muswellbrook, New South Wales. At the time of his death, Cosgriff was believed to be working in local mines in Muswellbrook, New South Wales . He also worked as a scaffolder, and was a member of a Hunter Valley sky diving club. Cosgriff was an experienced BASE jumper, with hundreds of jumps under his belt. BASE jumping is an extreme sport where participants parachute from fixed structures or cliffs. The word BASE is an acronym for: building, antenna, span, and earth-the four surfaces that are used for jumps in the sport. The online BASE Fatality List states there have been 242 deaths in the sport, dating from April 1981 to September 2014. Omega Tower is a popular location within the BASE jumping community, with some travelling from overseas to take the dangerous leap. Police had formerly alleged that a GO-PRO camera Cosgriff had attached to his helmet was swiped from the scene of his death. Police later recovered the footage when questioning the Queensland man, who has now been charged. The 33-year-old will appear at the Sale Magistrates Court on December 1. A33-year-old Queensland man was charged with failing to report Cosgriff's death, as well as intruding on Department of Defence property . BASE jumping is an extreme sport where participants parachute from fixed structures or cliffs. The online BASE Fatality List states there have been 242 deaths in the sport to date . The word BASE is an acronym for: building, antenna, span, and earth-the four surfaces that are used for jumps in the sport . | A 33-year-old Queensland man was charged with failing to report Ash Cosgriff's death .
In January, Cosgriff plunged to his death from the highest tower in Australia .
He was an experienced BASE jumper, having pulled off hundreds of jumps .
Police formerly alleged the 33 year-old-man had swiped a camera Cosgriff had used during the jump .
He will appear at the Sale Magistrates Court on December 1 . |
093f596514c157adba7825aed563409963e4a71a | By . Daniel Martin and Rebecca English . PUBLISHED: . 18:20 EST, 14 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:44 EST, 14 October 2013 . The Queen is living in ‘crumbling surroundings’ and faces a £50million repair bill to bring her palaces up to scratch, it emerged yesterday. More than a third of the royal estate has been designated as below ‘target condition’. National treasures such as Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle have walls riddled with asbestos, badly need rewiring and have leaking roofs. The Queen pictured in Buckingham Palace with French President Francois Hollande . Staff have to catch the rain in buckets to protect priceless works of art and antiques, particularly in the Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace. Keeper of the Privy Purse Sir Alan Reid revealed that it will cost tens of millions to return royal residences to their former splendour. Details of the Queen’s ‘penury’ emerged as her courtiers were accused by MPs of dragging their feet over a huge backlog of repairs. Sir Alan, the Royal Family’s senior treasurer, was questioned by members of the Commons Public Accounts Committee after a National Audit Office report revealed the Queen will enjoy a 22 per cent increase in income over two years. She is expected to be given £37.9million in 2014/15 to run her Household and conduct official engagements, up from £31million in 2012/13. But most of the state rooms used for . entertaining foreign heads of state have not been decorated since the . Queen came to the throne 60 years ago, while Princess Anne was almost . hit by falling masonry as she got out of her car at Buckingham Palace . just a few years ago. It was claimed staff in Buckingham Palace have resorted to using rain buckets to protect the priceless art hung in the Queen's Gallery from the leaking roof . Keeper of the Privy Purse Sir Alan Reid revealed that it will cost tens of millions to return royal residences,like Buckingham Palace, to their former splendour . Palace . officials blame the backlog on a ‘real terms’ squeeze of up to 60 per . cent in funding by government over the past 20 years, forcing them to . ‘make do and mend’. Windsor . Castle has had its lead roofs ‘patched up’ so many times that an area . the size of both Centre and No1 courts at Wimbledon needs replacing. MPs were ‘shocked at the complacency’ of the backlog, which means some buildings such as Victoria and Albert’s mausoleum at Windsor could be lost to the nation. The ageing Royal Train is likely to be scrapped in the next five to ten years as the cost of replacing it would be ‘staggering’, aides admitted yesterday. Despite now being used by the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Charles barely a dozen times a year – at a cost of more than £25,000 per journey – palace officials have always insisted it was a necessary mode of travel. Asked whether it was a ‘sensible’ option in the future or offered ‘effective value for money’, Sir Alan Reid admitted the train, built in the 1970s, ‘doesn’t have much life left in it’. He even confessed it was ‘noisy, slow and uncomfortable’. They also questioned why the Queen’s energy bills have soared by 50 per cent in a year to £3.1million, when money could have been saved if courtiers had had the ‘wit’ to fix their bills as millions of her subjects do. Sir Alan yesterday blamed the high energy costs in part on ‘antiquated’ boilers which have not been replaced for 60 years. Labour’s Austin Mitchell said: ‘I gather from the report that you’ve managed the finances by letting the buildings deteriorate, and freezing staff costs and by digging into the reserves. Work is being carried on while they are living in crumbling surroundings.’ Tory Richard Bacon said he had been told the Buckingham Palace wiring had not been done since 1949. ‘Everyone knows that the longer you leave something, the worse it gets and the greater the overall cost of maintenance and restoration in the longer term,’ he said. Labour’s Fiona Mactaggart said: ‘I have to say I am rather shocked at the complacency, and what I want to know is what you have done to ensure that these buildings are secure for the nation.’ Sir Alan replied: ‘I would love to do the whole of the property backlog right away, but we have limited funds, there’s a head of state to support as well as buildings to maintain. We have to make priorities.’ Some of the rooms in Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle (pictured) haven't been decorated for 60 years . Windsor Castle have walls riddled with asbestos, badly need rewiring and have leaking roofs, it was revealed . He admitted that some 39 per cent of the royal estate was below ‘target condition’. The committee chairman, Labour’s Margaret Hodge, was dismayed when Sir Alan initially said he could not give the precise cost of repairs, a figure he later estimated to be around £50million. After the hearing, Mrs Hodge said: ‘They’ve got to get a bit real. The rest of the world is coping, why can’t they? I was pretty shocked that they hadn’t got a clear view of what work needed to be done, what was the cost and where the priorities lay. ‘You don’t run national heritage assets that way, from hand to mouth. They can serve Her Majesty better.’ Sir . Alan told the committee they were hoping to make ‘major inroads’ over . the next decade. As well as questioning the big increase in energy . bills, MPs asked why the Royal Family’s gas use had soared by 14 per . cent. Sir Alan said that while the . Household did not ‘fix’ its bill, it set up multi-year deals to obtain . power from the wholesale markets. Last . week’s NAO report highlighted previous ‘significant reductions’ in the . monarchy’s funding. In order to cope the Queen’s money men have reduced . net expenditure by 55 per cent in real terms. The . Queen has repeatedly eaten into her savings – known as ‘drawing down on . reserves’ – over the years and is, apparently, down to her last . £1million in the bank. Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire wasn't mentioned in by Sir Alan who was questioned by members of the Commons Public Accounts Committee . | Senior Royal treasurer revealed Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle are riddled with asbestos and need rewiring .
Sir Alan Reid faced questions of the Commons Public Accounts Committee .
Rain buckets used by staff to protect priceless art work in the Queen's Gallery from leaking roof .
Most rooms at Buckingham Palace haven't been decorated for 60 years .
The Queen will also enjoy 22 per cent rise in income over next two years . |
0942d24019db1611551b707012114940a28a7df3 | Didier Drogba has now scored in 12 successive Champions League campaigns. However, he is not the record holder for scoring in consecutive seasons of the competition. Real Madrid legend Raul holds that accolade, after netting in 14 straight campaigns. A special mention must go to Ryan Giggs, who scored in 11 straight seasons of Europe’s elite club competition. VIDEO Scroll down to watch We are playing with confidence - Mourinho . Didier Drogba has now scored in 12 successive Champions League campaigns after netting against Maribor . Raul holds the record on 14 campaigns whilst Drogba leapfrogged Ryan Giggs who managed 11 seasons . England boss Roy Hodgson was at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night, and while only one Englishman, John Terry, started the match, three of Maribor’s starting XI were included in the Slovenia squad for qualification matches against Switzerland and Lithuania earlier this month. The players under the spotlight were left back Mitja Viler (who scored his side’s own goal) and central midfielders Ales Mertelj and Zeljko Filipovic. England manager Roy Hodgson (left) and assistant Ray Lewington were at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night . The last time Terry and Drogba scored in the same match for Chelsea was back in March 14 2012, during the 4-1 Champions League win over Napoli. Chelsea went on to win the competition that year, so Blues fans might consider that a good omen. What are the chances of Terry and Drogba replicating the feat this season? Skipper John Terry slides in to score Chelsea third goal during the 6-0 home victory against Maribor . Skipper John Terry ran the length of the field to score for Chelsea but appeared to be in an offside position . He may be only 31, but Tuesday night’s referee had no problem in controlling his first-ever Champions League clash. Danny Makkelie is a Rotterdam police officer by day and was younger than some of the players on the Stamford Bridge pitch, not least Terry and Drogba. Referee Danny Makkelie is a Rotterdam police officer by day and is younger than both Terry and Drogba . VIDEO We are playing with confidence - Mourinho . | Didier Drogba scored first goal since returning to Chelsea .
Blues striker netted penalty during 6-0 victory against Maribor .
Ivory Coast star has now scored in 12 successive campaigns .
Raul holds the record on 14 whilst Ryan Giggs managed 11 . |
094594f42aa1828294be55f844bda7cc3d52e037 | Oh, Oprah. The media mogul and former talk-shown queen has been gushing for weeks about Microsoft's new Surface tablet, which she compared to a Mercedes and named one of her "Favorite Things" of 2012. On Sunday, she went a step further, sending a Twitter message to her 14.8 million followers saying "love that SURFACE!" and adding that she'd already bought 12 of the devices for Christmas gifts. There's only one problem. Winfrey -- or whoever manages her Twitter account -- sent the tweet from an iPad. The people of the Internet, who never miss the opportunity to poke fun at an online gaffe, took notice. "She does have legions of fans, making her an effective marketing channel for Microsoft. Except for when the narrative around her promotion is tossed on its head by a foolish, and utterly avoidable mistake," wrote Alex Wilhelm on tech-news site The Next Web. "Surface ads, now brought to you by iPad." Tweeted All Things D's Kara Swisher: "Ok, this made me laugh out loud." Microsoft Surface tablet goes on sale for $499 . But other observers said people shouldn't read too much into Winfrey's tweet. "The tweet being sent from an iPad doesn't necessarily mean Oprah prefers the iPad over the Surface RT; just because you bought a Wii U doesn't mean you'll never use a Sony or Microsoft console ever again," wrote James Plafke at Geek.com. Besides, some bloggers have noted that no official Twitter app exists yet for Windows 8, the new operating system on the Surface, although Twitter says it's building one. So maybe there's room in Oprah's heart for two tablets? Apple fans may remember the original iPad made Oprah's "Ultimate Favorite Things" list back in 2010. "Words cannot describe what I feel for this magnificent device," she said at the time. "I really think it's the best invention of the century so far." At least, until the Surface came along. | Oprah Winfrey endorses the new Surface tablet in a gushy tweet -- sent from an iPad .
Amused tech bloggers call the Twitter message a marketing gaffe .
Others say it doesn't necessarily mean she doesn't use both tablets . |
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