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0986c543dc9ebcc8d1e89c4e4078952433a560c2 | By . Suzannah Hills . PUBLISHED: . 11:37 EST, 30 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:38 EST, 30 July 2013 . Tragic: Grandmother Joyce Moulson, 84, collapsed and died just a few minutes after vandals bombarded her house in Bradford with rocks . A grandmother died moments after youths pelted her house with stones, an inquest heard today. Joyce Moulson, 84, was at home making dinner for her grandson when a rock broke one of the windows in her front door. She was spotted in her back yard looking 'very annoyed' and searching for a dustpan and brush to clean up the broken glass. Ms Moulson told a neighbour 'some b***** just got my front door window' before collapsing moments later. She was rushed to hospital but died later that evening, an inquest at Bradford Coroner’s Court heard. Forensic pathologist Dr Matt Lyall said she had an underlying hypertensive heart disease which caused her death. But the doctor added that the stress of the vandalism may have lead to her dying. He said in a statement: 'It seems logical to consider the upset and anger caused by the incident was capable of placing increased physiological demands upon her heart. 'Whilst I cannot be certain it seems reasonable to conclude that the stress apparently caused by the incident has probably made some contribution to this woman's death by exacerbating her underlying heart disease, although she could have died suddenly from the heart disease.' Neighbour Philip Mudd said after the stone was thrown he helped her find a shovel to clean up the broken glass and they both went into her house. He said: 'I thought she tripped over the door frame. Then she just went down like a sack of potatoes.' Mr Mudd described her 'fighting', occasionally regaining consciousness, as he and her grandson tried to help until paramedics arrived. He described his neighbour as 'bubbly', adding: 'She would do anything for anyone, never complaining. She was a nice person.' Assistant Deputy Coroner Mary Burke . recorded a narrative verdict, saying: 'Joyce Moulson had developed . significant hypertensive heart disease. Memorial: Floral tributes left on the doorstep of Joyce Moulson's home in Bradford, West Yorkshire, shortly after her death in November last year . 'She collapsed very shortly after a pane of glass at her house had been smashed by youths. She was taken to Bradford Royal infirmary but sadly died there.' The coroner added: 'It cannot be clearly established that there is a definite link between Mrs Moulson's death being caused by what happened. 'The pathologist says it may have made some contribution, but he also says she could have collapsed at any time.' The court also heard from Detective Chief Inspector Simon Atkinson, the Chief Investigating Officer into Mrs Moulson's death. He told how the police had identified four youths who were in the vicinity in Wibsey, Bradford, West Yorkshire, at around 5.30pm on November 27 last year. They were arrested in connection with both the damage to the elderly lady's house and also her death. But they 'weren't able to establish beyond all reasonable doubt proof that would support criminal proceedings' in respect of Mrs Moulson. A 13-year-old youth, who cannot be named, was prosecuted for criminal damage and received a youth rehabilitation order earlier this year. | Joyce Moulson, 84, was making dinner when vandals attacked her home .
The youths threw stones - breaking one of the windows in her front door .
Neighbour described her as looking 'very annoyed' before she collapsed .
Ms Moulson had an underlying hypertensive heart disease which caused her death but the stress of the vandalism exacerbated her disease . |
098908177601f6b0483165b674c877406f9a469e | A puppy breeder arrested on suspicion of murdering a mother and daughter and executing four dogs had his shotguns seized last year only for them to be handed back by police, it was revealed today. Surrey Police has referred itself to the Independent Police Complaints Commission after it emerged they took John Lowe's weapons in May 2013 but returned them in July. On Sunday morning armed officers called to reports of gunfire were confronted by sickening scenes, with . the bodies of Christine Lee, 66, . her daughter Lucy, 40, and four animals strewn around his squalid six acre farm in Farnham, Surrey. Bereft Stacy Banner, 38, has said her whole . family has been 'wiped out' as detectives continued to question 82-year-old Lowe about the bloodshed. Her mother Christine was found dead inside the dilapidated farmhouse, while . her sister Lucy, 40, had been shot dead outside in a muddy yard as she . apparently tried to flee the gunman. Bereft: Stacy Banner, left, says her whole family has been wiped out after her mother and sister were shot dead on a puppy farm. Police are interviewing her step-father John Lowe, 82, right, on suspicion of murder . The women's bodies bodies were discovered by police responding to reports of gunfire at his isolated home . Detectives from Surrey Police are today investigating whether one of the guns recovered at the scene was one they returned to Mr Lowe last summer. Surrey Police had had previous contact with parties involved in this incident and has referred a past contact to the IPCC,' a spokesman said. 'In May 2013 a shotgun licence and a number of licensed shotguns were seized from the address however the licence and guns were returned in July 2013. 'We are in the process of establishing if one of these licensed guns was the firearm recovered on Sunday'. Under Home Office guidelines weapons can be seized for a nu,ber of reasons, including if the licence-holder has made a threat of violence. An IPCC spokesman told MailOnline: 'We have received a referral from Surrey Police and are considering what our involvement should be.' A source said that a dsecision on whether an investigation will be launched could happen by the end of today. Both the dead women had been shot with a long-barrelled shotgun and were pronounced dead at the scene. Surrey Police has confirmed the identities of Christine and Lucy Lee and said post-mortem examinations showed they died from gunshot wounds. 'I have lost everyone - . my mum, sister and dad. Now it seems he's wiped out my entire family. This is a nightmare,' Stacy Banner told The Sun. 'I just can't get my head around what's happened. My family's gone and I'm absolutely devastated. 'I'm utterly heartbroken - we've been left in pieces. 'I just want to wake up and be told it's a dream. My mum and sister must have been so scared.' Lowe's suspected breeding practices have been part of BBC Inside Out documentaries. The first was shot in 2004 . Scene: Police called to a house outside Farnham, Surrey, found the bodies of two women and four dogs . A marked police van guarded the gates at the end of the drive of the detached house when they were called . Animal welfare officers removed this dog from the isolated puppy farm this afternoon. Four were already dead . Police and animal welfare officers coaxed an Old English sheepdog still left at the property into a crate . Neighbours said puppy breeder John Lowe, 82, has lived at Keeper's Cottage for more than 30 years . Forensics experts were called to the house - yesterday neighbours raised the alarm after hearing gunshots . Aerial shot: Mr Lowe's brick and flint farmhouse is surrounded by ramshackle outbuildings and sheds . A . few yards away from the bodies, in a filthy kennel, police found a German shepherd that . had been shot dead, while two other German shepherds and a labrador were . also found dead nearby. Pensioner Mr Lowe was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder. Animal . welfare officers were called to rescue animals living in appalling . squalor at the property, Keeper’s Cottage Stud, after Sunday’s shooting. In . all, 14 dogs were taken away, including nine kept in filthy, crumbling, . outdoor pens. Six horses were also found at the property where Mr Lowe . lived alone following his partner’s death last year. Two in extremely poor condition were rescued from a yard covered in pools of liquid manure and strewn with rotting hay. The other four emaciated animals remained in a stable with its roof hanging off. They were caked in mud. Among scrap metal and tumble-down outbuildings, a dovecote could be seen where Mr Lowe is said to have kept birds. It emerged that officials had regularly visited Keeper’s Cottage Stud over concerns at the conditions in which animals lived. Surrey Police and the RSPCA were called in last July over concerns about breeding at the farm, when 50 dogs were found. RSPCA . Inspector Rob Jackson said last night: ‘I came to Mr Lowe’s property . about six months ago responding to a complaint about the welfare of dogs . at the farm. ‘I will not . discuss that visit but previously he has bred a number of different . breeds – beagles, labradoodles and German shepherds.’ An online petition set up last year calling on the RSPCA to close the puppy farm attracted 1,300 signatures. Police remove the body of a dog from the scene where two women and four dogs were shot dead yesterday . Police vans, RSPCA vans, and vehicles belonging to forensics teams were parked outside the farm this afternoon . A forensics officer works in one of several outbuildings at the property down a track outside Farnham, Surrey . Mr . Lowe denied wrongdoing at the time saying: ‘There are no puppies here. The only dogs here are my four guard dogs. I have never heard of this . petition and the things said on it are absolute rubbish.’ In . 2009 he had been convicted at Guildford Crown Court of illegal dog . breeding, when Recorder Joseph Boothby told him: ‘It is clear that you . are a stubborn old man and you refuse to give up your old ways.’ He was . fined £2,000 and banned from breeding dogs for five years. In . 2004, Mr Lowe was also the subject of an investigation by BBC’s Inside . Out programme, which claimed he was breeding and selling puppies in poor . condition. Some were said to have died soon after being bought. Mr . Lowe bought Keeper’s Cottage Stud in 1966. It has since fallen into a . state of disrepair, but the plot alone would be worth several million . pounds. A spokesman for the RSPCA said there were 'quite a large number' of dogs and horses still left at the property . The property is surrounded by fields and woodland, while what appears to be an outdoor kennel is near the house . Police were called to the house in a rural area outside Farnham, Surrey, shortly before 10am yesterday . Neighbours described . the suspect as a recluse. ‘The RSPCA was always up there and no sooner . had they shut him down than he would spring back into business. They . just couldn’t stop him,’ said one man, who declined to be named. Detective Chief Inspector Mark Preston said the suspect was uninjured and remained calm when officers attended the house. Last . night police had yet to formally identify the victims. ‘The parties . involved are all believed to be known to each other and police are not . looking for anyone else in connection with the incident,’ said a . spokesman. It was unclear . whether Mr Lowe had a licence for the firearm found at the property. As . the suspect was known to police the case has been referred to the . Independent Police Complaints Commission. An RSPCA spokesman said it was working with the police ‘as there are quite a large number of dogs and horses at the property’. Murder scene: Forensics officers remove bags of evidence from the scene this afternoon . A private ambulance removed one of the victim's bodies from the farm this afternoon . With its smart brick and flint gateposts and elegant slate sign, there is little to indicate the squalor of John Lowe's Keeper's Cottage Stud. But it has been the subject of repeated investigations by animal welfare agencies, and as recently as last summer, more than 1,300 angry people signed an online petition calling for the animal to be closed down. In 2008, journalists . working on a BBC investigation into conditions at his animal farm . interviewed customers who said they had bought dogs from Mr Lowe without knowing they were seriously ill. A smart slate sign with gold lettering is inlaid into the gates to the squalid animal farm where the women died . One customer who bought a beagle puppy from him said the dog fell ill within an hour of them getting home and died within days. She said: 'The farm was filthy but we were desperate to buy one. We were silly - we bought it on the spur of the moment. 'We thought we could take her away from there and give her a better life, but that didn't happen.' Another . customer had to have his beagle puppy put down after it, too, became . seriously ill soon after it was bought from Mr Lowe. In 2009 Mr Lowe was convicted of . illegal dog breeding and described by a judge as a 'stubborn old man' who 'refused to give up his old ways'. He . was fined £2,000 and banned from breeding dogs for five years by . magistrates and the sentence was upheld by a judge at Guildford Crown . Court when Mr Lowe appealed against the conviction. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Gunshots were heard at a house in Farnham, Surrey, on Sunday morning .
Police found the bodies of two women and corpses of four dogs .
Victims named as Christine Lee, 66, and daughter Lucy Lee, 40 .
Surrey Police are questioning an 82-year-old man on suspicion of murder .
He was named as convicted illegal puppy farmer, John Lowe, 82 .
Step-child Stacy Banner has spoken of her grief at the deaths of her family .
'I have lost everyone - .
my mum, sister and dad. Now it seems he's wiped out my entire family,' she said .
Surrey Police has referred itself to the IPCC over decision to seize then hand back guns to Mr Lowe . |
098ab67705ce38fbe887a2fbd86b1f60b82f0bcb | By . Simon Tomlinson . PUBLISHED: . 04:24 EST, 26 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:02 EST, 27 April 2013 . A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a headteacher was stabbed in the face and neck with a screwdriver. Gillian Kay, 39-year-old was attacked as she got out of her car outside her home in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, just after 5pm yesterday. Police were called to the scene in Shaw Road, Thornham, following reports that she had been stabbed three times. Attack: Mrs Gillian Kay was stabbed three times in the face and neck with a screwdriver . The assailant was reportedly wrestled to the ground by a passing motorist. Mrs Kay, head teacher at Propps Hall . Primary School in Failsworth, was airlifted to Wythenshawe Hospital and . is in a serious condition, although her injuries are not thought to be . life-threatening. A 47-year-old local man was arrested at the scene and is being questioned on suspicion of attempted murder. One neighbour said: 'She is a really nice lady and her family are good people. She had just got out of her car when it happened. 'A man was driving past in a van and he drove onto the verge and got this guy off. Scene: Forensic powder covers a car in the driveway of the home of headmistress Gillian Kay . Horrific: A man was arrested on suspicion of attempted after a headteacher was stabbed in the face and neck with a screwdriver as she got our of her car outside her home in Shaw Road (above) in Rochdale . 'The neighbour further up the road rushed out straight away to help her. I think there have been some flashpoints between her family and this guy in the past. But this is totally unexpected.' Another resident said: 'The ambulance . airmen had to cut through the gate so they could get the stretcher . through. 'They were in the field for about half an hour before they took . off again.' Carol . Leigh, who also lives on Shaw Road, said: 'I was stunned when I heard . the sound and realised a helicopter had landed. I really hope she is . okay.' In care: Mrs Gillian Kay, headteacher at Propps Hall Community Primary School was airlifted to hospital on Thursday. She has since been released following treatment to her wounds . Propps Hall Community Primary School will remain open as usual while Mrs Kay recovers in hospital . Detective Inspector Andy Aston, of Greater Manchester Police, said: 'This incident will understandably have caused a lot of concern and anxiety in the local area and I'm sure everyone in the community will be thinking of the woman and wishing her a full recovery after her ordeal. 'I also understand there may be lots of rumour and speculation about what has happened but I would stress that, as we are still at the outset of our investigation, it is important we establish all the facts first. 'However, what I can say is there is no threat to anyone else in the community and it is also important to stress that reports about this being a 'neighbour dispute' or 'neighbour feud' are wrong, so I would ask that people do not speculate. 'We will of course keep the community informed of any developments with this case.' Anyone with information should call police on 101 or the independent Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Man, 47, arrested at scene on suspicion of attempted murder .
Victim named as local head teacher Gillian Kay, 39 .
Assailant was 'wrestled to the ground by a passing motorist'
Police deny reports attack was sparked by 'neighbourly dispute' |
098acc30b0ac03cdd4504e604ff6038a7199df55 | By . Sanchez Manning for The Mail on Sunday . The parents who took their terminally ill boy from his hospital bed and fled Britain were last night found in Spain, along with their son. Police tracked down five-year-old Ashya King with his father Brett and mother Naghmeh to a hostel in southern Spain. The parents were arrested and were last night in police custody, while Ashya was rushed to a specialist hospital in Malaga with a police guard for urgent medical treatment. 'Leave us in peace: Brett King and his terminally ill son Ashya, who was removed by his parents from hospital on Thursday, are seen in the video posted on YouTube last night . His parents, who are Jehovah’s Witnesses, had taken Ashya from Southampton General Hospital on Thursday, after doctors told them he had only months to live. Ashya had a brain tumour the size of a tangerine removed last weekend – but the family had been told the cancer would return and would probably be inoperable. He was left with very limited movement, unable to speak and dependent on a machine for food. Hampshire Police broke the news of the parents’ arrest on Facebook, saying: ‘Ashya has been found. He is in Spain. 'Police are speaking to his mum and dad and we are waiting to hear on Ashya’s condition. This is all we know at this time, but he has been found. Thank you to everyone who has been incredible in helping us spread this appeal.’ International chase: Brett and Naghmeh King have been arrested after taking Ashya from Southampton General Hospital on Thursday, and transporting him to Spain via France . Hampshire officers will be travelling to Malaga today to aid the investigation. Within an hour of the arrest, Ashya’s oldest brother Naveed posted a video on YouTube showing his father explaining their actions. Holding his son’s hand tenderly and touching his fingers, Mr King, 51, insisted Ashya had been safe and well, saying: ‘We were most disturbed today to find that his face was all over the internet and newspapers, and we have been labelled as kidnappers and putting his life at risk.’ He added: ‘Call off this ridiculous chase. We are not neglecting our son. He’s in perfectly good health. ‘My son’s smiling, he’s happy. We’re doing things as a family. We just want to be left in peace.’ Mr King said that he wanted his son to have a special treatment called proton beam therapy, but had been told by doctors in Southampton that it was not available on the NHS. ‘He’s very sick. I just want to get on with his treatment. And I’m not coming back to England if I cannot give him the treatment I want.’ Earlier in the day, a European arrest warrant had been issued for Mr and Mrs King for neglecting Ashya’s medical needs. Armed Spanish police were waiting outside the couple’s Costa del Sol holiday home, but they were apprehended after checking into a hostel called Esperanza in Benajarafe, 14 miles east of Malaga. A police source said: ‘We were alerted after the couple checked into the hostel in Benajarafe. We arrested them in their bedroom.’ The couple are expected to be taken to Madrid today for an extradition hearing. The couple are expected to oppose extradition so they can argue at a new hearing they should be released on bail for humanitarian reasons. Ashya has been taken to the Hospital Materno-Infantil in Malaga which specialises in treating seriously ill children. Doctors there are liaising with the boy’s British medics, but Hampshire Police said it was too soon to say when he might come home. Hiding place: The King family were tracked down at Hostel Esperanza in Benajarafe, 14 miles east of Malaga . Naveed was last night sleeping with his five other siblings at one of the rooms at the hostel. A source close to the case said: ‘The oldest boy has been left in charge of the other children. He is due to check out on Sunday.’ Mr King said he found out about alternative treatments for his son after going online. He said on the YouTube video: ‘I’ve come to find out through the internet. The long-term side effects for my son are secondary malignant cancers, so the radiation will cause more cancers.’ Children who receive radiotherapy have a far greater risk of side effects including damaged DNA, reduced IQ, infertility and limited growth development. On the video Ashya is seen hooked up to a feeding machine. Mr King said: ‘There’s been a lot of talk about this machine – as you see it’s all plugged in, we have got loads of these feeds here, we have iron supplements and we have Calpol. ‘As you can see that there is nothing wrong with him. He is very happy actually since we took him out of hospital. He has been smiling a lot more.’ Explaining more about the proton beam treatment, he added: ‘We asked the NHS if we could please go to America, Switzerland or another country to get proton beam – but they said no.’ Mr King added he would sell his home to pay for the therapy, and had looked into getting treatment in Prague. Family friend Inma Martinez Macias described the Kings as a ‘very law-abiding, family’, adding: ‘They love their children and they take very good care of them. If they were bad parents they wouldn’t have allowed their son to have operations in the first place.’ Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Police tracked down five-year-old Ashya King and his parents in Spain .
Brett and Naghmeh King have been arrested and are in police custody .
The King family were found after checking in to a hostel near Malaga .
Parents took Ashya from Southampton General Hospital on Thursday . |
098ca9ea58eb5f6966c012df4a8738d8ed2bfb11 | Rene Enriquez (pictured) is currently serving two life sentences for murder.The black hand tattooed on his chest is the symbol of the Mexican Mafia . Los Angeles Police Department is under fire for giving an escort to a convicted Mexican Mafia hit man so he could speak to a business leaders' conference. Rene Enriquez, 52, known as 'The Boxer', was a leader in one of the US's most notorious and violent gangs, the Mexican Mafia, and is currently serving two life sentences for murder. But yesterday he was given a police escort from prison to downtown Los Angeles to address a group of local police chiefs and wealthy business leaders. Enriquez was speaking to around 125 people about the inner-workings of the criminal enterprise. Formed in the Californian prison system in the 1950s, the Mexican Mafia has a reputation for extreme violence. Enriquez worked his way up from enforcer to a leader in the organization - which is also known as La Eme - before his arrest and conviction. After two decades in the gang he defected in 2003 and began helping police by describing the hierarchy and methods used by the gang. Los Angeles Police Commission President Steve Soboroff has called for an investigation into the incident and called the episode 'embarrassing'. 'There were some decisions made that in retrospect were the wrong decisions,' Soboroff said. He called the LAPD's involvement in the event as 'very, very misconceived and surprising' and a 'giant waste of public resources.' NBC News reported that a source who attended the session said Enriquez had the air of a 'corporate leader' who provided 'a rare look into life of a criminal corporate executive.' The source said Enriquez discussed 'gang franchising, marketing, sales, merchandising and branding.' The LA Times reported that from around 12pm police secured a section near Spring and 6th streets, where the meeting took place, and unmarked sedans dropped off uniformed officers. A bomb squad vehicle was also spotted outside the building for a short period of time. The LAPD headquarters in Los Angeles (pictured). Los Angeles Police Commission President Steve Soboroff has called for an investigation into the police escort given to Enriquez and called the episode 'embarrassing' How much the operation cost is not yet known but the LAPD said the session served an educational purpose. In a statement to NBC News they said: 'The purpose was to learn how a transnational criminal enterprise was built, branded and marketed. 'It is the hope that we can learn and develop better strategies to counter these threats to our region.' The convicted killer is the subject of a book, 'The Black Hand: The Bloody Rise and Redemption of 'Boxer' Enriquez, a Mexican Mob Killer' - and people leaving the event were spotted carrying copies. Enriquez rose from low-level thug to a major player in the organization as his reputation for violence grew and he served time in prisons such as San Quentin and Folsom. Heavily tattooed, the black hand on his chest is the symbol of the Mexican Mafia. In 1993, Enriquez pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder and is serving life in prison. In a 2008 interview with the BBC he said: 'I believe I'm a cut above the rest.' 'As a Mafioso, you have an elitist, arrogant mentality. 'That's how you carry yourself in the Mexican Mafia - you walk into a room and everybody knows you're a leader.' | Rene Enriquez, 52, known as 'The Boxer' was a leader in the Mexican mafia .
The gang is one of the US's most notorious, organised and violent gangs .
He is currently serving two life sentences for murder in a Californian jail .
Yesterday he was given a police escort to an event where he gave a talk .
LA's Police Commission President has called for investigation into incident . |
098e9bbe239887d82880d2f7903123c62cf28240 | (EW.com) -- To play the bubbly, optimistic redhead at the center of "Annie," 11-year-old Lilla Crawford doesn't have to reach far. Fresh off the announcement today that Crawford will be headlining the Broadway revival of the classic musical (due in fall 2012), EW caught up with the bright, buoyant young star before she tackles the iconic role as Broadway's favorite orphan. Entertainment Weekly: Where were you when you found out you got the part? Lilla Crawford: Well, my manager called up and said that we had to be at the agent's office to do a video audition, and so we came over and he said it was going to be an interview [about] dogs. It was just going to be questions about dogs, so he started asking me a couple of questions about them, and then he finally said, "How does it feel to be 'Annie' on Broadway?" And I was like, "What? What the--?" And he said, "You're going to be 'Annie' on Broadway!" And I was like, "Really!?" That's what happened. When I found out, oh my gosh, my heart just stopped. I was so amazed and I was so excited to start. EW: Were your parents there with you? Crawford: My mom was there! So was my sister, and all of the agents. They were really excited as well. Everyone that I could tell was there. I was supposed to keep it a secret, so I didn't call up anyone, but I wished that I could! EW: What was the audition process like? Crawford: Well, when I found out that they were doing a revival of "Annie," I decided to audition just for fun and see how it turned out. So I auditioned and I got a callback, after callback, after callback. And I just wanted to be a part of the show; I didn't care what role. But I got about five or six callbacks until the last callback, then I got it. EW: Were you ever in a production of "Annie" growing up? Crawford: Yes, I was in another production of "Annie." It was an all-kids production and it was in a little community theater. I think I was about 8 or 9, and I actually played Bert Healy, so it's kind of funny. EW: Were you a big fan of the movie? Crawford: Yes. I've seen the movie before, and I've actually seen the show, so yeah, I really did like that show a lot before I became a part of it. EW: What part of being in the show are you most looking forward to? Crawford: Now that I get to be in it, I'm really looking forward to everything, but mostly I'm really looking forward to working with the dogs, and everyone else! I do like dogs a lot. EW: If you could meet any Broadway star, who would you pick? Crawford: To meet anyone on Broadway? I do like Sutton Foster and Kristin Chenoweth a lot, so it would be really fun to like, go to lunch with the two of them. It sounds crazy but... maybe it'll happen! I don't know! But I do also like Raul Esparza and Matthew Broderick. Those are really good ones, too. EW: How do you think the message of "Annie" will translate for other kids growing up today who might see the show? Crawford: In the Depression especially, I think you learn to face problems and not run away from them. [You have to] always have hope for tomorrow and the sun will come out tomorrow! And if you have a bad day, just always think that it'll be a new one and a good one the next day. See the full article at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved. | Lilla Crawford will star in "Annie" on Broadway in fall 2012 .
Crawford: "I got about five or six callbacks until the last callback, then I got it"
Crawford: "I'm really looking forward to working with the dogs" |
098ec6f259ada06eca3028d25f55ab11ca62391d | Have you ever watched The Jeremy Kyle Show, when some loser is exposed by a lie detector as a cheat. The details of how he slept with someone else behind his wife’s back are made public, and the audience boo him. And then they jeer and laugh as he declares he still loves his wife and never stopped loving her. Frank Lampard is due an appearance on Jezza’s show soon because of what happened at the Etihad at the weekend. 'I cheated on Chelsea – but I still love that club!' A Kyle audience would hound him off the stage: but football fans are so over-emotional they swallow this garbage. One of the great things about Lampard’s goal against Chelsea on Sunday is that this myth that a professional footballer can love a club has been exploded and hopefully no fan will ever be so naïve they embarrass themselves by spouting such nonsense ever again. Manchester City midfielder Frank Lampard applauds the Chelsea supporters at the Etihad on Sunday . Lampard scores the equaliser past Thibaut Courtois in Manchester City's 1-1 draw with Chelsea . Lampard is due an appearance on The Jeremy Kyle Show after scoring against Chelsea at the weekend . The general rule is that players play for whoever will pay them the most. 'I love this club, I never wanted to leave,' actually translates as: 'I was going to leave but they increased my money so I stayed.' It’s not a problem, unless a player tries to convince us they love a club. In Lampard’s case he didn’t want to leave Chelsea, but he had no choice – the club didn’t want to keep him. But that doesn’t mean he should agree to go to Manchester City on loan where he knows he is likely to play against Chelsea. Who knows how the season will pan out, but that goal Lampard scored at the Etihad might be crucial. If Manchester City pip Chelsea to the title by a point in May then it will be Lampard’s equaliser that will be remembered as a massive moment that helped deny Chelsea the title. So how can Lampard claim to love a club when that club is denied two points by a goal he has scored? That goal potentially, damages Chelsea’s chances of winning the title for the first time since 2010. Every fan of a football club knows exactly what I’m talking about. If you love a club, you don’t do anything to damage their chances of being successful. Lampard is a legend with the Chelsea fans after his 13-year spell at Stamford Bridge . Chelsea fans showed their appreciation with a banner honouring Lampard at the Etihad Stadium . Lampard said: 'I didn’t expect to come on and score.' Really? Chelsea’s all-time top scorer, a man who’s biggest strength throughout his career has been his ability to score goals, is brought on with Man City losing 1-0, and he didn’t expect to score? I appreciate it’s sometimes difficult after a game for a player to find the right thing to say. And ultimately I’m not criticising Lampard for playing the game and scoring a goal – it’s what he does best of course. But this should be a lesson to all professional footballers: only the most gullible fans will swallow your nonsense about your 'love' for their club. You can’t love a club and then score against them – no amount of applauding those fans afterwards will take that goal away. Lampard loved his time at Chelsea, he loved the support of the fans he had at Stamford Bridge. But he can’t love Chelsea and then score such a big goal against them. Lampard (right) scores the equaliser for Manchester City as Chelsea captain John Terry shows his dismay . Lampard acknowledges the crowd but tones down his celebration after scoring against his old club . VIDEO I told Lampard to score - Pellegrini . At the risk of returning to the Jeremy Kyle analogy again, it’s in Lampard’s DNA to score goals; as he said after the game: 'I’m just doing my job.' I respect Lampard for that. But people who love a football club give up work to show that love and watch them. They don’t 'just do their job', damage them, and then still profess love. Lampard can do what he wants – play for who he wants, and score for who he wants. But he’s mugged off Chelsea fans massively here. If it is true love he wouldn’t dream of playing against them, especially not a title rival. He didn’t have to join Man City but he did. And as soon as he did that, as Mourinho said, 'The love stories are over.' And the Chelsea fans with their Frank Lampard banners at the Etihad looked like the man on the Kyle show who walked in on his missus in bed with another bloke. 'I can forgive everything!' he desperately cries, as the rest of the world cringes for him. | Frank Lampard scored the equaliser in Manchester City's 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Sunday .
The myth that a professional footballer can love a club has been exploded .
Lampard left Chelsea in the summer because the Stamford Bridge club did not want to keep him .
The goal Lampard scored could prove crucial come the end of the Barclays Premier League season .
It potentially damages Chelsea's chances of winning the title for the first time since 2010 .
Only the most gullible fans will swallow the nonsense about a player loving a club . |
098f8e494e472104cced5a051b1e71fe42668d94 | (OPRAH.com) -- One of the original Kings of Comedy, Steve Harvey is the host of one of the most popular radio shows in the country, "The Steve Harvey Morning Show." His first book, "Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man," is shooting to the top of the best-seller lists, and Oprah Winfrey says she loves everything it has to say! Harvey says this book has a special meaning for him. "This is the first project that I didn't do for money," he says. "Other than my foundation -- mentoring programs -- everything I do is for money. I tell jokes for a check; I'm on TV for a check. ... But this [book] right here I did purely to empower women." In his book, Harvey says the way a man introduces you gives good insight into the status of your relationship. If a man introduces you as a friend or says your name with no title at all, Harvey says you have nothing. "We're very protective. We mark our territory. If a man loves you...he's willing to profess it. He'll give you a title after a while. You're going to be his lady, his woman, his fiancée, his wife, his baby's mama, something," he says. "If he's introducing you after six months, 'This is...Oprah,' you should be standing there going, 'This is going nowhere.'" Oprah.com: Read an excerpt from this best-selling book! Man with a plan . Another thing women need to understand, according to Harvey, is that every man has a plan. "Men don't come up to you to just talk. We come up to you with a plan," he says. "We're looking across the room at you, and we don't care about your hopes and dreams. We don't care about what your future holds. We saw something we wanted." When a man approaches a woman, Harvey says, he already knows what we wants from her, but he doesn't know what it will cost. "How much time do you want from me? What your standards? What are your requirements? Because we'll rise to the occasion no matter how high you set the bar if we want to," he says. "The problem is, women have stopped setting the bar high." Oprah.com: What's your love type? The cookie . Though a woman might want many things from a man, Harvey says men only need three things: support, loyalty and sex. Or as Harvey calls it, "the cookie." "We've got to have your support. Whatever adventure we're out on, whatever pursuit in life, we need your support. Then we need your loyalty. That's your love. We've got to know that you belong to us," he says. "And we've got to have a cookie. Everybody likes cookies. That's the thing about a cookie. I like oatmeal raisin...but if you've got vanilla cream, I'll eat that too." Kickin' it . In his book, Harvey tells the story of his father-in-law's first introduction to one of Harvey's daughter's boyfriends. "[My 26-year-old daughter] was dating this guy who was about 30. He had been over to the house about four, five times. And my father-in-law was visiting from Memphis," Harvey says. "He's in the kitchen and he's eating and [my daughter's] boyfriend is in there, and [my father-in-law] goes: 'So, son, sit down. Tell me, what's your plan for my granddaughter?'" After plenty of hemming and hawing, Harvey says the boyfriend finally said that the two were just "kickin' it." Harvey was pretty confident his daughter didn't have the same interpretation of the relationship, he says. "I said: 'Cool. Let's bring my daughter in there. Let's inform her that she's just being kicked...let's see if that's what she wants to do," he says. "They broke up the next day." Gone fishin' Harvey says men are like fishermen -- but women are actually the ones looking for a good catch. You won't be able to find one, though, until you up your standards. "You've got sports fishermen, and you've got guys out there fishing to eat. You've got guys that are fishing to keep the fish, and you've got guys that are fishing to catch them, unhook them and throw them back," Harvey says. "You've got to determine along the way which one of the fish you're going to be." Without ironclad standards, Harvey says you'll always end up back in the dating pool. "You've got to quit lowering your standards," he says. "Set your requirements up front so when a guy hooks you, he has to know this is business." And don't let the man set the pace of the relationship -- Harvey says it's always the woman who has total control. "With all that power, why do you suddenly relinquish this power just because you want a guy to accept you? That's stupid," he says. "Say: 'Look, if you want to be with me, this is what you got to do. This is what it takes to get to me.'" When should you sleep with your new boyfriend? As an auto plant worker, Harvey says he had to wait 90 days to receive benefits -- and says the same probation period should apply to dating. "In 90 days they checked me out. They determined if I was easy to work with, if I got along well with others, if I showed up when I said I was going to show up, if I was worthy." Women, Harvey says, hold the greatest benefit of all -- the cookie -- so there's no reason to give it away until you know your man deserves it. "Slow down, ladies," Harvey says. "Look, you cannot run us off." So what if you don't want to wait 90 days? Harvey says if you change the probation period, you do so at your own risk. "You all keep changing the rules. And men are aware of the fact that you are changing the rules. We're aware of the fact that you act desperate. We're aware of the fact that you think there's a good shortage of good men out there," he says. "We play on all of that. ... We created the term 'gold digger' so you won't ask us for nothing. We created the term 'nagging' so you can quit badgering us. These are terms that we created so you can require less of us." Mr. fix-it . Harvey says four little words can strike fear and dread into any man: We need to talk. "You just drove a nail in his forehead," Harvey says. Men are fixers, not talkers, Harvey says, so it's better to get to the point. "When you say, 'We need to talk,' we put up the barriers," he says. "I tell ladies, just sit down and strike up a conversation." Oprah.com: How to talk to a brick wall . Turn off the text . Social networking Web sites and text messages can be a great way to keep in touch with friends, but Harvey says it's not the best way to date. "You have nothing if you're texting a guy in a relationship," he says. "We can text six women a minute. We can text it and push 'reply all.' I mean, since we're lying, we might as well lie to everybody." If you want the relationship to be more, take it face-to-face. "Women talk about [how] chivalry's dead. Chivalry's not dead -- it's just not required anymore," he says. "You've got to get a guy in your face. Look in his eyes. ... God has given you all this incredible thing called intuition. You've got to use that." Safety first . You know you've got a keeper when your man wants to make sure you're always safe, Harvey says. Every man wants to protect his woman, and Harvey says this instinct kicks in when his wife, Marjorie, scuba dives. "I can't go home without her. We've got seven kids between us," Harvey says. "They need their mother. I'm not a good mother at all." Although Marjorie is a certified diver, Harvey isn't a swimmer. "I have a security guy who can swim," he says. "So [he puts] on the snorkeling gear and when she goes down, I tell him, 'You swim over and just keep an eye on my wife.'" Harvey also has instructions for everyone else on the boat. "I told all the dive masters on the boat: 'If she does not come out of that water in 30 minutes, everybody in the water. Everybody. We're doing a dive search right here,'" he says. "I don't care if nobody [else] on the boat goes home. She goes home." Oprah.com: How to read his body language . From The Oprah Winfrey Show . Subscribe to O, The Oprah Magazine for up to 75% off the newsstand price. That's like getting 18 issues FREE. Subscribe now! TM & © 2009 Harpo Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Comedian Steve Harvey says women set the bar too low when dating .
Harvey: Workers wait 90 days for benefits; women should date 90 days before sex .
Texting is not dating, says Harvey, just easier way for men to tell more lies .
Men use terms like "gold digger" and "nagging" as weapons against women . |
099162e37e5bc33ad039ee447e53de13146ea904 | Barclays has put aside £500million to pay fines for rigging the foreign currency market, it was announced yesterday. The high street bank has become the first UK bank to brace itself for a huge penalty over the latest financial scandal. Royal Bank of Scotland is expected to follow suit today when it announces its results and HSBC is also preparing to make a provision in its results on Monday. Barclays has put aside £500million to pay fines for rigging the foreign currency market it has been announced . The measures follow investigations launched last year by regulators in the United States, Asia and Europe. They were looking into whether traders conspired to fix the unregulated ‘FX’ foreign exchange market by rigging rates used when buying and selling currencies. The Serious Fraud Office has also launched a criminal investigation in Britain. Of the £500million provision, Barclays finance chief Tushar Morzaria said: ‘Based on our ongoing discussions with agencies, this is the best estimate of what we will need.’ The revelation came as the bank announced £3.7billion profits for the first nine months of the year. It is also setting aside another £170million to compensate customers mis-sold payment protection insurance, taking its total bill for the scandal so far to more than £5billion. The initial FX fine is expected to come from UK and US regulators and is likely to dwarf the £290million Barclays paid in 2012 for rigging inter-bank Libor interest rates. The Financial Conduct Authority could announce penalties for several banks simultaneously within weeks. Last night Labour’s Chris Leslie, Shadow Treasury minister, said: ‘When will this all end? The UK’s banks really are drinking at the last chance saloon if they want to win back the public’s trust as it is at rock bottom.’ The Bank of England has said that more could have been done to punish traders following 'an appalling cases of misconduct' over the years . It is thought City watchdog the Financial Conduct Authority could make an announcement within weeks, and is likely to announce penalties for several banks simultaneously. Banks buy and sell foreign currency on behalf of clients but traders can also bet on whether a currency will move up or down. The probe centres on claims that bank staff are making foreign currency trades before processing customers’ orders. Martin Wheatley, the FCA’s chief executive, has previously warned the foreign exchange allegations are ‘every bit as bad as they have been with Libor’. The foreign currency market is the biggest financial market in the world, with more than £3 trillion changing hands every day. But despite this it is not regulated, with whistleblowers who first exposed the scandal comparing the market to the ‘Wild West’. Banks including Barclays, RBS and Lloyds have already been fined for rigging the London Interbank Offered Rate - or Libor - a benchmark used to set trillions of pounds of financial contracts including the price of mortgages. Barclays has also been fined £26million for rigging gold prices and is fighting a £300million penalty in the US for manipulating energy markets. Banks including RBS and Lloyds, pictured, have been fined for rigging the London Interbank Offered Rate or Libor . The Government has made rigging Libor interest rates a criminal offence carrying a maximum jail sentence of seven years. It wants to extend these powers to cover other markets, including foreign exchange and commoditites such as oil and gold. US lender JPMorgan, Swiss giant UBS and Germany’s Deutsche Bank have each recently set aside more than $1 billion - £625million - in the third quarter for extra legal costs, which is thought to mainly cover potential fines relating to currency market investigations. Earlier this week the woman charged with cleaning up the City of London launched a stinging attack on ‘outrageous’ behaviour in the financial markets. Dr Nemat Shafik, one of four deputy governors at the Bank of England, said more could be done to punish traders following ‘a series of appalling cases of misconduct’ over recent years. | The high street bank is the UK's first to brace itself for a huge penalty .
Follows investigations last year by regulators in the US, Asia and Europe .
They looked into claims that traders tried to rig the foreign currency market .
The Serious Fraud Office in the UK has also launched a probe .
Barclays bank has now put aside £500million to pay fines . |
0991d1b1f8654f43d3b3aa277b53ff190268a8c1 | By . Steve Nolan . PUBLISHED: . 10:19 EST, 15 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:01 EST, 15 October 2013 . With its friendly face and welcoming greeting, a Japanese fridge manufacturer's new mascot was supposed to amuse visitors to the firm's website. But the egg-shaped character has caused an online outbreak of the sniggers for all the wrong reasons. Fukushima Industries says it is now considering rebranding its cute but somewhat awkwardly named mascot - 'Fukuppy'. Oops: Fukushima Industries is reconsidering the name of its mascot - Fukuppy . The bizarre character, which has wings and red shoes, has become the source of much ridicule on Japanese social media sites since he was unveiled in April. He greets visitors to the company's website with a friendly 'I'm Fukuppy. Nice to meet you.' But rather than intending to amuse or offend, the unusual moniker, which is unlikely to inspire confidence among consumers regarding the reliability of the firm's products, is meant to reflect the company's ethos. The name blends the first part of the company's name - Fuku - with the last part of the word 'happy' - reflecting Fukushima Industries' claims that it is a 'happiness creating company'. And while Fukuppy claims to be the 'scatterbrained' one, company bosses are probably regretting not putting more thought into his name. The company said in a statement that the name was mistaken for 'an inappropriate word among people in English-speaking places or its meaning was misunderstood on the Internet'. No link: The company's unfortunately named mascot bears no relation to the Fukushima nuclear plant which suffered a series of catastrophes . It added: 'We sincerely apologise for worrying many people and creating misunderstanding among them. 'We will look into the name, including a rethink of it.' The firm, which makes industrial cooling systems and has offices in China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Taiwan, said its name was nothing to do with the stricken Fukushima power station - though many people commenting on the mascot's unfortunate title said that such an association would be apt following the string of catastrophes suffered by the prefecture. Unusual custom: Asahikawa Prison, unveiled Katakkuri-chan as its mascot in a bid to soften the image of the jail . The clean-up at the site, where reactors flung radioactive substances into the air, soil and sea in the days and weeks after it was hit by the March 2011 tsunami, has been beset with problems, and continues to come under the spotlight. A series of leaks of radiation-contaminated water over recent months came on top of a power outage caused by a stray rat, adding to the widely held impression that the plant's operator is hapless. It is common for companies and organisations in Japan to have a cuddly mascot character that they use as part of branding. Many are brought to life by adults in full-size costumes who wander around sponsored events posing for photographs with children. In September, Asahikawa Prison in Japan's far north unveiled 'Katakkuri-chan', a 6ft 6ins humanoid with a huge square face and an enormous purple flower for hair, which bosses hoped would soften the image of the jail. Tokyo Metropolitan Police has had its own crime-fighting mascot since the 1980s who is now well-loved across the nation. The use of English, or English-derived words, is also very common in Japan, where despite many years of compulsory language schooling, standards remain relatively low. This leads to occasional hilarity among visitors to the country, who struggle to understand why someone would drink the unappetising-sounding Pocari Sweat or the off-putting Calpis. Bizarre phrases born of poorly understood English lessons frequently make their way onto t-shirts, stationery and into advertising copy. | Fukushima Industries apologised for 'worrying' customers with the name .
The bizarre egg-shaped character became an unlikely internet star . |
0992a7f9167458c0d9592015d557dd0e9934de40 | It's one of the best-known hits of his remarkable, 50-year career. And the words to Do Ya Think I’m Sexy may well have been running through Penny Lancaster’s head as she performed a raunchy, impromptu pole-dance for Rod Stewart on their holiday yacht. The 68-year-old rocker couldn’t take his eyes off his 42-year-old model wife as, in cropped pink top and black jeans and with blonde hair flying, she cavorted in front of him. Penny, the mother of two of Rod’s eight children, giggled as she gyrated round a deck post on the yacht during the Stewart family break in St Tropez in the South of France last week. Showtime: Penny Lancaster performed a raunchy pole dance for her rocker husband Rod Stewart as the pair holidayed on board a yacht in the south of France . Besotted: The 68-year-old rocker couldn't take his eyes off his 42-year-old model wife as, with blonde hair flying, she cavorted in front of him . All at sea: Penny limbers up as her besotted husband watches from the deck of their holiday yacht . Moments earlier, the pair looked more like honeymooners than a married couple when they embraced for a smoochy dance. Then Penny limbered up in front of Rod before discarding her pink sweater and throwing herself into action. It’s possible that Penny was secretly hoping Rod would remember a few of her professional-looking dance moves – after he was spotted earlier in the holiday performing a bizarre routine of his own. During a shore break with friends, Rod broke into a sequence of strange, robotic-type moves as he strolled along the quayside. Dressed in white shirt and trousers accompanied by a cricket-style cardigan, orange-and-white shoes and rock star shades, he had his companions in stitches as he walked along swinging his arms out to his sides and above his head. Rod and his clan were clearly in high spirits during their Mediterranean break – but then he has had plenty to celebrate. The Rod-bot: The star performs a strange robotic dance routine during a shore break with friends . Put your hands up: Rocker Rod performed his bizarre dance moves as he strolled along the Saint Tropez quayside . Man about town: Rod was dressed in a white shirt and trousers accompanied by a cricket-style cardigan and rock star shades . Rod’s new album Time, his first collection of self-penned songs for 20 years, hit the top of the charts last month. And he has revealed that one of the tracks on it was inspired by the pain of a two-week separation from Penny after she walked out on him. They enjoyed a subsequent reunion and are now clearly closer than ever. During their break the couple visited the beach with their two children, seven-year-old Alastair and Aiden, three. At the beach, Penny displayed her sun-tanned physique to perfection when she bounced enthusiastically on a trampoline in a sporty kit of white shirt and matching shorts. As the couple basked in the sunshine on the deck of their yacht, Rod, whose other hits include the worldwide No 1 Sailing, tweeted a picture of himself with his feet up, under the heading ‘Putting me sea legs to work’. Penny is Rod’s third wife. He was married to model Rachel Hunter for 16 years until 2006, and to actress Alana Hamilton for five years until 1984. | Rocker and wife Penny Lancaster holidaying in South of France .
Penny, 42, wore pink crop top as she cavorted on yacht .
Rod also spotted performing bizarre dance routine in Saint Tropez . |
09930b3e95447fa3f0a4abf6f291ba9e61665d30 | By . Mark Duell . You might think you’re looking at an idyllic part of the Caribbean - but these photographs were actually taken off England’s south-west coast. Bathers were seen today enjoying outstanding tropical aqua seas off Porthcurno, Cornwall, as Britain basked in more glorious weather. With a high of 30C (86F) expected in the South and 28C (82F) in Scotland, Britons were experiencing warmer climes than parts of Portugal and Spain. Scroll down for video . Lovely spot: Porthcurno is located close to the southwesternmost part of England, around nine miles from the nearest major town of Penzance . Beautiful: Bathers were seen today enjoying outstanding tropical aqua seas off Porthcurno, Cornwall, as Britain basked in more glorious weather . Blue sky: You might think you're looking at an idyllic part of the Caribbean - but these photographs were actually taken off Porthcurno, Cornwall . Snorkelling in Porthcurno: With a high of 30C (86F) expected in the South of England, Britons were experiencing warmer climes than parts of Portugal and Spain . Up above: A spectacular overhead view of bathers enjoying the fine weather at Porthcurno, Cornwall, which had the look of the Caribbean today . Three-day forecast: Conditions are expected to remain warm but become more unsettled over the weekend, with the possibility of showers. Yesterday's high of 29.9C (85F) in . Solent, Hampshire could be beaten, according to the Met Office, which . predicted highs will continue until the weekend. And . the news was also good for the start of the Commonwealth Games, with a . sunny and warm day forecast in Glasgow tomorrow with 27C (81F) highs. There . is a 10 per cent chance of rain tomorrow, but this falls to just 2 per . cent on Friday, with temperatures again predicted to be in the mid-20s. Conditions are expected to remain warm but become more unsettled over the weekend, with the possibility of showers. In the water: Felicity Flood, 24, and Hannah Sullivan, 23, cool off in the sea on West Wittering beach in West Sussex . Summer holiday fun: A girl plays in a water fountain near Millennium Point in Birmingham . Soaking it up: Emma Bramley, 25, from Romford, enjoys the sun on Southend-on-Sea beach in Essex . Making a splash: Cooling off in Ullswater in the Lake District, father Alan Robinson is drenched by sons Joseph and William as they enjoy the summer weather . Spectacular: Customers enter The Churchill Arms pub in Kensington, west London. The 18th century public house has twice won the 'London in Bloom' competition . It's hot: A couple sunbathe in the warm weather on Brighton beach in East Sussex, as the conditions are forecast to continue for the remainder of this week . Going into the early part of next . week, the weather looks more mixed as the current easterly wind changes . to a westerly coming off the Atlantic. There . was a 2014 high in Scotland and Wales today, with 28.7C (84F) at . Porthmadog in Gwynedd, and 27.9C (82F) at Achnagart in Inverness-shire. However, . the Met Office has issued a yellow 'be aware' rain warning for tomorrow . afternoon and evening in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset. And . ultraviolet radiation levels were very high for the UK today and . tomorrow - with the worst areas being the South West today and South . East tomorrow. But . forecaster Emma Corrigan warned that the hot weather brings a risk of . heavy downpours, saying that rain could hit the South West this week. Wet wet wet: Chldren play in a water installation called Apperaring Rooms by artist Jeppe Hein as the warm weather continues on the South Bank in central London . In they go: Groups of teenagers on summer holiday find a way of cooling off in the hot weather by jumping into the sea at Aberystwyth in west Wales . Unusual scene in England: Water buffalo cool down in a pond at Chippenham Fen Nature Reserve, near Newmarket in Suffolk . Under her umbrella: Strawberry picking in the sun in Runcton, near Chichester in West Sussex . Out of office: Neuroscience student Matt Hunter works on the beach near Brighton pier during a hot day in East Sussex . Packed again: Brighton beach was full of people yet again as the warm weather is set to continue for the remainder of the week . Cool in the shade: A lady shelters under a parasol as she overlooks Brighton beach after another day of hot, dry weather . On the pebbles: Student Georgina Sapak sunbathes on the beach during a hot summer's day by Brighton pier in East Sussex . Alerts: Ultraviolet radiation levels are very . high for the UK today and tomorrow (left) and the Met Office has issued a . yellow 'be aware' rain warning for tomorrow . She added: ‘There is a risk of isolated heavy thunderstorms in the south west on Wednesday and Thursday and perhaps into Friday.’ August, while expected to begin with fine and dry weather, could see lower temperatures than July as a ‘frontal feature’ pushes in from the South East. Billy Payne, a forecaster with Meteogroup, said August ‘should get off to a fairly dry and settled start’ with a build-up of high pressure. He said next week will bring a slight drop in temperatures but still possible highs of 23C (73F) in the South of England on Monday. While temperatures are likely to remain high this week, they will probably not beat the 2014 UK record of 32.3C (90F) set last Friday in Gravesend, Kent. | Beautiful scenes in Porthcurno, Cornwall, as Britain basks in 30C weather hotter than parts of Portugal and Spain .
Sunny and warm day forecast for start of Commonwealth Games tomorrow with 27C highs and 10% rain chance .
Conditions expected to remain warm but become more unsettled over the weekend, with possibility of showers .
2014 highs in Scotland and Wales today, with 28.7C at Porthmadog and 27.9C at Achnagart in Inverness-shire . |
09930dcb64fbaadd78340a42f77ae6773e12333a | A Facebook page seeking to preserve the 'Black Pete' clowns in blackface who accompany St. Nicholas to the Netherlands during the holidays has become the fastest-growing Dutch-language page ever, receiving 1 million 'likes' in a single day. The popularity of the 'Pete-ition' page reflects the emotional attachment most Dutch have to a figure that helped launch the tradition of Santa Claus. It also reflects their anger at critics who call it racist. Those critics include foreigners who they feel don't understand the tradition. They also include many of the country's most prominent black people. Facebook page: The U.N. has condemned the Christmas tradition but a Facebook page set up in support of it has attracted huge attention . 'Don't let the Netherlands' most beautiful tradition disappear,' the page says. On Tuesday, the chairwoman of a U.N. Human Rights Commission panel condemned it. 'The working group does not understand why it is that people in the Netherlands cannot see that this is a throwback to slavery, and that in the 21st century this practice should stop,' Verene Shepherd told television program EenVandaag. In stories told to children, St. Nicholas - Sinterklaas in Dutch - arrives by steamboat from Spain in mid-November accompanied by a horde of helpers: 'Zwarte Pieten,' or 'Black Petes', who have black faces, red lips and curly hair. A public broadcaster produces a daily fictional news program about Sinterklaas and the Petes that is shown in schools for several weeks. On December 5, families read poems and exchange presents as part of the Dutch-Belgian festival that is one of the main sources of the Santa Claus traditions. Opponents say Pete is an offensive caricature of black people. Supporters say Pete is a positive figure whose appearance is harmless. Popular: A musician dressed up as 'Black Pete' during last year's Christmas celebrations . The traditional song refers to Pete as a 'servant' to the elderly saint, but in recent years those references have been replaced with the idea that he is black from chimney soot as he scrambles down to deliver toys and sweets for children who leave their shoes out overnight. Discussion about Zwarte Piet has escalated since 2011, when a prominent opponent was thrown to the ground, handcuffed by police and dragged away for wearing a T-shirt reading 'Black Pete is Racism'. Opposition has been centered in Amsterdam, home to the Netherlands' largest black community. Mayor Eberhard van der Laan this month said he would support changing Pete's appearance - but only gradually, as it has changed over time in the past. 'If it appears that Amsterdammers feel pain as a result of this tradition, that's a good reason for new development,' he said. Controversial: Many claim that the tradition is offensive towards black people . Organizers of the festival and the broadcaster also said they would be open to changes if people want them. The latest public figure to speak out against the tradition was the man who has played the part of 'Head Pete' on the Sinterklaas news program for more than a decade. His commentary appeared in a top Dutch newspaper on Tuesday, entitled 'Make me less black and less a servant.' Others to question the tradition include Victoria's Secret model Doutzen Kroes. But their campaign has failed to draw widespread support and the overwhelming majority of Dutch people don't want change. 'Message for the U.N.: Isn't there a war somewhere, starvation or genocide going on that you could better be concerned about?' Dutchman Peter Udo commented on the Facebook page. His comment attracted more than 2,000 likes. Prime Minister Mark Rutte said it isn't his place to intervene in a folk tradition. 'Black Pete: The name says it already. He's black,' he said. 'I can't change much about it.' | Facebook page supporting tradition gains one million 'likes' in a day .
'Don't let the Netherlands' most beautiful tradition disappear,' it says .
UN has condemned the tradition claiming it reflects racial prejudice . |
0993de9ff60a6bcafd878481b65547f098104390 | By . Ted Thornhill . PUBLISHED: . 03:45 EST, 24 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:43 EST, 24 December 2013 . Prosecutors said that they are dropping a domestic violence case against Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov because they have new information leading them to believe they couldn't win a conviction. Varlamov was arrested and charged with misdemeanor assault after his girlfriend told police he knocked her down with a kick, stomped on her chest and dragged her by her hair at their apartment on October 30. The girlfriend, Evgeniya Vavrinyukat, also accused him of telling her that he would have beaten her more if they had been in Russia, where he is from, authorities said. Evgeniya Vavrinyuk told investigators that Varlamov kicked her in the chest, knocking her down, and stomped on her chest as she lay on the ground in her apartment . Ms Vavrinyukat, however, is standing by her accusation. She said in a statement: 'I am saddened by the decision of the Office of the Denver District Attorney not to pursue the case. 'But I understand that it is difficult to have enough evidence to prove domestic violence cases. I maintain that all of my statements to the press and investigators have been truthful throughout the process.†. | Evgeniya Vavrinyukat accused Semyon Varlamov of attacking her in their Denver apartment .
He was charged with misdemeanor assault but prosecutors are dropping the case .
Vavrinyukat is standing by her accusation and is 'saddened' at the decision . |
0995cef24023add6f76cecf56ae49028d6c44a71 | By . Victoria Woollaston . PUBLISHED: . 09:35 EST, 29 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 10:37 EST, 29 January 2014 . You can pick up a tablet for less than £30 these days, but very little separates one model from another. In a bid to create 'something different', an Ohio-based inventor decided to build his own, complete with touchscreen, USB ports, and apps. Called the PiPad, the 10.75-inch tablet is powered by a Raspberry Pi computer and runs on the Linux-based Raspian Operating system. Ohio-based inventor Michael Castor spent two weeks building the PiPad device, pictured. The 10.75-inch tablet is powered by a Raspberry Pi computer and runs on the Linux-based Raspbian operating system . Price (for parts): $350 (£210) Screen size: 10-inch . Dimensions: 10.75" x 7.5" x 1" Operating system: Raspbian OS . Processor: Raspberry Pi B . Battery: 10,000mAh . This means it can run apps created for the Linux operating system. However, the DIY tablet doesn’t come cheap and all the individual parts will set you back around $350 (£210). 'It seems that every day a manufacturer comes out with a new tablet computer - thinner, lighter, faster, but it seems that they all look about the same and accomplish roughly the same things,’ sad ’ said designer Michael Castor. ‘When I set out to build my Raspberry Pi tablet I wanted something different. 'I wanted an all-in-one system that was usable, portable, and Linux based. Additionally, it had to look good.' The casing of the PiPad is made from Baltic birch plywood and carbon fibre. The casing of the PiPad is made from Baltic birch plywood, pictured, with a carbon fibre back. Castor used a CNC machine to shape the wood to the correct shape . The PiPad is fitted with a 10,000aMh battery, which Castor claims provides up to six hours run time. It also has USB and Ethernet ports, plus an audio jack, so Castor can watch videos and listen to music. A Bluetooth chip lets users connect a wireless mouse and keyboard . The processor is the Raspberry Pi B model, pictured, and because it runs on the existing Raspbian operating system, the PiPad features a web browser and apps . It is 10.75-inch long, 7.5-inch wide and an inch thick, and because it runs on the existing Raspbian operating system, it features a web browser and apps. The processor is the Raspberry Pi B model. The PiPad features a capacitive 10-inch touchscreen, USB and Ethernet ports and an audio jack, so Castor can watch videos and listen to music. By comparison the iPad Air has a 9.7-inch screen and is only 0.29-inch thick. Elsewhere, the tablet is fitted with a 10,000mAh battery which Castor claims offers around six hours of run time. The front and rear sections of the case, pictured top and bottom, clip together. In order to house the DIY parts, the PiPad is an inch thick. It is 10.75-inches long and 7.5-inches wider . The PiPad's 10-inch capacitive touchscreen, pictured, is just 0.3-inches bigger than the screen on the Apple iPad . Although Castor spent months designing the PiPad, and acquiring all the parts needed to build it, the construction only took two weeks. Castor recently took the device to a Maker Faire in New York, where he met Raspberry Pi founder Eben Upton, who praised the device and signed the rear casing. ‘Overall I’m very happy with my Raspberry Pi tablet,’ said Castor. ‘It does what I want it to do and has been a great way to demonstrate the capabilities of the Raspberry Pi at Maker Faires [where] the device gets constant compliments from makers.’ Future versions of the PiPad could additionally feature a camera and infra-red sensors. To prevent the padded Raspberry Pi and other components, pictured, from overheating, Castor bought Heatsinks from Amazon . Castor recently took the device to a Maker Faire in New York, where he met Raspberry Pi founder Eben Upton, who praised the device and signed the rear casing, pictured . | The 10.75-inch PiPad is made from birch plywood and carbon fibre .
Powered by a Raspberry Pi computer it runs on Linux-based Raspbian OS .
Maker Michael Castor spent two weeks, and $350 building the device .
PiPad is fitted with a touchscreen, USB and Ethernet ports and audio jack . |
09964ad22b1d7ca176edddef347d11628b4013e7 | ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Government airstrikes killed 20 Taliban militants in the past 24 hours in northwest Pakistan, a military source said Monday. Residents sift through the rubble of a bombed out school near Peshawar city. The airstrikes were launched in the village of Charmang, as part of an attempt to retake small pockets of Bajaur Agency, according to the source. CNN could not confirm the casualties because of access and safety reasons. The operation is going on in north and south Waziristan, the source added, particularly to clear supply routes and prepare for a major operation against Pakistan's Taliban chief, Baitullah Mehsud, who has ties to al Qaeda. The Pakistani military has been conducting an offensive against the Taliban, centered in the Swat region of North West Frontier Province. Also Monday, a police officer and two civilians were killed when a suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden vehicle into a police checkpoint near Peshawar. And on early Sunday morning, a bomb blast destroyed a girl's school east of Peshawar city, authorities said. No one was in the school building at the time, but two people who live in houses near the school suffered minor injuries. | Airstrikes launched in attempt to retake small pockets of Bajaur Agency .
Police officer, 2 civilians die in suicide attack on police checkpoint near Peshawar .
Sunday: Bomb blast destroys girl's school east of Peshawar city . |
0996fe7bf95f73600f2d119df6ad7e63e8b63c66 | From Devonian period, before species walked on land 370m years ago . By . Amanda Williams . PUBLISHED: . 09:12 EST, 28 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:36 EST, 29 March 2013 . Scientists have discovered a prehistoric species of armoured predatory fish with 'legs' in a 370million year old fossil. Archaeologists uncovered the ancient creature while studying sandstone deposits in a section of road in north central Pennsylvania. It is believed to be from the late Devonian period, at a time . long before dinosaurs walked the Earth – but, geologically speaking, not . long before the very first species began to walk on land. Scientists have discovered a prehistoric species of armoured predatory fish with 'legs' in a 370million year old fossil . The creature is believed to be from the late Devonian period, at a time long before dinosaurs walked the Earth . Fossils of armored fishes like this one, a phyllolepid placoderm, are known for the distinctive ornamentation of 'leg-like' ridges on their exterior plates. Using a method more familiar to crime scene investigators, Dr . Ted Daeschler, of Drexel University, managed to create a copy of the . fossil with a rubber cast made by pouring latex into its natural . impression in the rock. This is a dorsal view of the dermal armor of the newly identified fossil fish species, Phyllolepis thomsoni . Placodermi is an extinct class of armoured prehistoric fish, known from fossils, which lived from the late Silurian to the end of the Devonian Period. Their head and thorax were covered by articulated armoured plates and the rest of the body was scaled or naked, depending on the species. Placoderms were among the first jawed fish; their jaws likely evolved from the first of their gill arches. A 380-million-year-old fossil of one species represents the oldest known example of live birth . This placoderm, named . Phyllolepis thomsoni, is one of two new Devonian fish species presented by Daeschler in the Bicentennial issue of the Proceedings of the Academy . of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. The other new species is a lobe-finned fish discovered in northern Canada. Once the latex hardened, Dr Daeschler peeled it out and dusted its surface with a fine powder to better show the edges of the bony plates and the shapes of fine ridges on the fish's bony armor – a lot like dusting for fingerprints to show minute ridges left on a surface. Dr Daeschler and colleagues were then better able to prepare a detailed scientific description of the new species . Dr Daeschler has dug for Devonian species in Pennsylvania since 1993, and in northern Canada since 1999. His work helps to explain how the first vertebrate species with limbs evolved. The Phyllolepis thomsoni,species has been named in honor of Dr. Keith S. Thomson, a colleague of Dr Daeschler. | Ancient creature discovered while studying sandstone in a section of road .
From Devonian period, before species walked on land 370m years ago . |
09972d2ca298156a802ec72e267cd22b3fee6ef6 | U.S. military planners quietly have stepped up a review of alternatives in case the Turkish government restricts U.S. access to Turkish airspace or cuts off access to the air base at Incirlik, Turkey, CNN has learned. U.S. Air Force planes prepare to take off in November 2001 from the air base at Incirlik, Turkey. Turkey has threatened such action after congressional moves to declare that the killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in World War I was "genocide." Turkey -- now a NATO member and a key U.S. ally in the war on terror -- accepts Armenians were killed but calls it a massacre during a chaotic time, not an organized campaign of genocide. The recent rise in tensions between Turkey and the United States has led the military to increase its planning for alternatives, two military officials with direct knowledge of the ongoing assessment said. "Events have triggered more detailed planning for the curtailment or closure" of access to Turkey, one official said. The key issue is to find ways to ship supplies and other critical equipment into Iraq. The U.S. military already had been considering alternatives to Turkey because of the growing dependence on that country after the cutback of U.S. forces in central Asia in recent years. But now, with more "detailed planning" under way, the military is considering a variety of options in hopes of being ready for whatever, if anything, the Turks do. U.S. officials say Turkey's options range from a complete cutoff, including ending overland access routes from southern Turkey into Iraq, to less drastic options that simply restrict U.S. access. The initial assessment is that any cutoff from current access to Turkey would force the U.S. military into longer cargo flights, which would mean extra costs for fuel and for wear and tear on equipment. It may also look for other air hubs in Jordan or Kuwait, officials say. See Turkey's strategic position » . Defense Secretary Robert Gates earlier this week pointed out, "Seventy percent of the air cargo, American air cargo, going into Iraq goes through Turkey. Seventy percent of the fuel that goes in for our forces goes in ... through Turkey ... "For those who are concerned that we get as many of these mine-resistant ambush-protected heavy vehicles into Iraq as possible, 95 percent of those vehicles today are being flown into Iraq through Turkey." Turkey on Thursday recalled its ambassador to the United States and warned of repercussions in the growing dispute. On Wednesday, in a 27-21 vote, the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs passed the measure labeling the killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turkish forces "genocide." President Bush and key administration figures lobbied hard against the measure, saying it would create unnecessary headaches for U.S. relations with Turkey. The full House could soon vote on the genocide resolution. A top Turkish official warned Thursday that consequences "won't be pleasant" if it approves the measure. The resolution arrives at a particularly sensitive point in U.S.-Turkish relations. The United States has urged Turkey not to send its troops over the border into northern Iraq to fight Kurdish separatist rebels, who launched some cross-border attacks against Turkish targets. Watch a report on the gathering storm along the border » . The Turkish military is poised to strike across the border to fight the group -- the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK -- a move opposed by the Bush administration. The Turkish parliament could give approval for the incursion into Iraq as early as next week. E-mail to a friend . | Turkey has threatened restricting U.S. access to Turkish airspace .
Tensions come after vote calling the killing of Armenians genocide .
Key issue is to find ways to ship supplies and other critical equipment into Iraq .
Any cutoff would force the U.S. military into longer cargo flights . |
099773bcd36ff06c90283f5f36d60c36a5829bc4 | By . Mark Prigg . A new app claims to be able to change the way we read - and instantly turn anyone into a speed reader. It works by quickly flashing words onto the same part of a screen so the eyes do not need to refocus. Its Us inventors claim anyone can reach speeds of 1000 words per minute using the app, and hopes to bring it to websites, phones and even watches. Click below to see the app in action . Spritz's technology streams individual words inside of a special display called the "Redicle," which helps the eyes to position themselves precisely at the recognition point for each word. The most time-consuming part of reading is the eye movement from word to word, the firm says. By applying their new method of word alignment that's based on the science of how people traditionally recognize words while reading, Spritz takes eye movement out of the equation, allowing much more to be read in the same amount of time. Spritz has also developed proprietary algorithms to identify how long to display words and sentences. Spritz's technology enhances reading on mobile and wearable devices by streaming individual words using the 'Optimal Recognition Point' (ORP) in a special display called the 'Redicle.' This method makes communication faster, easier and more effective by removing the inefficient eye movements associated with traditional reading. Developed and tested for over three years it enables the brain to focus on each word, promoting faster reading speeds and higher information retention rates. Spritz is uniquely designed for small screens,' the firm says. 'The technology removes the inconvenience of scrolling, swiping, squinting and pinching to read on your devices by streaming individual words, one by one, at the user's desired speed.' The first use of Spritz will be implemented in an email application for the Samsung Gear 2 and Galaxy S5 smartphone. Spritz is working with Samsung to develop the system for the firm's Gear 2 smartwatch, shown here running the software. 'We're reinventing the way people read by eliminating the obstacles associated with traditional reading on mobile devices,' said Co-Founder and CEO Frank Waldman. 'As smart devices continue to change shape and become increasingly smaller, Spritz enables users to read comfortably and conveniently. 'Our technology can be used to read emails, text messages, social media streams, maps or web content and can be integrated onto any mobile device – the options are almost limitless. 'Reading has never been easier, more efficient or more effective.' For the past two years, Spritz has focused on development and testing of its technology for integration into mobile OS platforms, applications and webpages. When you read normally, your brain is not only busy processing the words inside of your main vision, but also scans ahead for an indication of what is coming up. Since your eyes do not need to move while spritzing, your brain quickly becomes comfortable with not needing the additional information. Through testing users, it was found that new users were able to both learn how to spritz and to double their traditional reading speed within just a few minutes of starting. In addition, it was determined that reading with Spritz also promotes increased comprehension of the material vs. traditional reading. 'When we started testing, we already knew that we were on to something but the comprehension tests surprised even us,' said Dr. Maik Maurer, Co-Founder and CTO of Spritz. 'Happily, our tests confirmed that spritzing increases comprehension. 'We're now starting to research whether time spent spritzing will also increase a user's traditional reading speed and comprehension, an effect reported to us by many of our testers.' | Hit app was downloaded over 1.6 million times on its first day .
Firm working with Samsung to bring it to phones and even watches .
Works by flashing up words in quick succession on screen so user never needs to move their eyes . |
0997d9459116d8d36fdb63a2fdf48ff830c55d81 | Washington (CNN) -- Army Secretary John McHugh ordered a new investigation into poor record keeping and other problems at Arlington National Cemetery even as a separate investigation ended without an absolute answer to who is buried in a grave marked "Unknown." "As the final resting place of our nation's heroes, any questions about the integrity or accountability of its operations should be examined in a manner befitting their service and sacrifice," McHugh said in a statement after signing the order directing the Army's Inspector General to begin an investigation into allegations regarding cemetery operations. The Army IG is already in the middle of an investigation ordered by the previous secretary of the Army to review management of the cemetery. In recent years, the cemetery -- where President Kennedy and thousands of fallen U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines are buried -- has had a number of embarrassing problems. In 2008, the cemetery discovered that workers inadvertently buried cremated remains at a grave site already in use. Those remains were moved to another grave site. In 2003, as workers were digging a grave for a new burial, they discovered a casket already buried there. There was no headstone or grave marker to indicate who. Only recently, after a report by a journalist at Salon.com, did the Army take action on the problem. Over the summer, the cemetery put up a headstone on the mystery grave that reads "Unknown." As McHugh ordered the new investigation, the Army released results of a separate investigation of problems at the cemetery. That investigation focused on the discovery of the "Unknown" grave. A spokesman for the Military District of Washington, which conducted the review, said "Cemetery records, the MDW investigation, and the non-invasive geophysical analysis of the grave sites strongly indicate that a husband and wife, who died years apart and should have been buried in the same grave site, were instead buried in adjacent graves." A DNA test of the remains in the two adjacent graves could prove conclusively that is what happened, but the family of the husband and wife did not wish for their remains to be disturbed. The MDW said the Army will abide by the family's wishes and has ordered a headstone to properly mark the wife's grave. One of the problems discovered by the MDW investigation was a possible lack of adequate staffing at the cemetery. Last year Arlington conducted 4,377 burials, up more than 21 percent over the past 10 years. During that same period the number of civilian staff members has dropped nearly 19 percent. Currently the cemetery has four employees to schedule 135 to 150 funerals a week as well as maintain all grave records. Arlington, which sits on a hill across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial, has been the final resting place for America's military heroes since the Civil War, when the Union seized the estate from the family of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. McHugh hopes this new investigation will "ensure America's confidence in the operation of its most hallowed ground." | Army Secretary John McHugh orders inquiry into poor record keeping .
Previous investigation sought to identify remains in grave marked "Unknown"
In recent years, the cemetery has had a number of embarrassing problems . |
09984dee4962bd6bbaa903ca62566be2a2d05bfe | By . Daily Mail Reporter . The family of the Boston bombing suspects has received more than $100,000 in welfare benefits over the last decade, according to the Boston Herald. Details of the benefits - which included cash, food stamps and housing assistance - are contained within more than 500 documents that were handed over from Massachusetts welfare officials to a committee of state lawmakers on Monday. The documents have not been released publicly, but a person who has reviewed them told the Herald that the 'breadth of the benefits the family was receiving was stunning.' In need: Katherine Russell Tsarnaev, left on April 20 in Cambridge, and her husband, right in 2009, began receiving welfare shortly after the birth of their daughter . Example: The suspects' parents Zubeidat, left, and Anzor, right both at a news conference on Thursday in Dagestan, Russia, also received federal and state welfare benefits when they lived in the U.S. The Herald also spoke to . Massachusetts Rep. David Linsky about the documents, who promised a . thorough review of the assistance that the family received. 'I can assure members of the public . that this committee will actively review every single piece of . information we can find because clearly the public has a substantial . right to know what benefits, if any, this family or individuals accused . of some horrific crimes were receiving,' said Linsky, the committee’s . chairman. It has been previously reported that deceased Boston bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev and his wife Katherine relied on food stamps and public assistance from 2011 to 2012, soon after they became parents. Last Friday, the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance detailed how the couple received food stamps from September 2011 to November 2012. The couple, who married in June 2010, are believed to have become parents to their daughter, Zahara, in 2011, in the months before they began receiving the aid. First born: Tamerlan and Katherine's daughter Zahara, pictured this week with her grandmother Judith Russell in Rhode Island, is believed to have been born in 2011 . In addition to food stamps, the young . family also benefited from TAFDC (Transitional Aid to Families with . Dependent Children), a program for low income parents with dependent . children. TAFDC is paid out twice a month and can be directly deposited into a recipient's bank account. The assistance was paid to Katherine, since a person must be a U.S. citizen, or eligible non-citizen, to receive the aid. Food Stamps: . Oct. 2002 to Nov. 2004: Tsarnaev parents (Anzor and Zubeidat) received food stamps . Aug. 2009 to Dec. 2011: Tsarnaev parents (Anzor and Zubeidat) received food stamps . Sep. 2011 to Nov. 2012: Katherine Russell Tsarnaev received food stamps . Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children program (TAFDC): . Jan. 2003 to March 2003: Tsarnaev parents (Anzor and Zubeidat) collected TAFDC money . Aug. 2009 to June 2010: Tsarnaev parents (Anzor and Zubeidat) collected TAFDC money . Sept. 2011 to Nov. 2012: Katherine Russell Tsarnaev collected TAFDC money . While . the couple took the government aid, the 24-year-old Rhode Island native . would sometimes clock as many as 80 hours a week while . her unemployed husband stayed at home. Ultimately his wife's income made the couple ineligible for welfare and they stopped receiving state money in November 2012. Welfare officials have been forced to . divulge details of the aid that was paid out to the family of the . bombing suspects. Mass. Gov. Patrick Deval told state agencies last week that they should not discuss the details of what . government assistance Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev had received, citing privacy concerns. Welfare information is not . available for public release unless the person in question provides their . consent, but it is available to lawmakers. Massachusetts State . Rep. David Linsky called on the state's Department of Transitional Assistance to provide him with the information. Linksy issued an ultimatum on Thursday to welfare officials, . giving them 24 hours to provide the information. The letter from Rep. Linsky was provided to the Boston Herald. 'My office is working to fully comply with your request,' DTA interim commissioner Stacey Monahan wrote in his report to Rep. Linsky, saying they were only providing a summary 'given the great interest in this matter.' In addition to the aid paid out to Tamerlan and his wife, both alleged bombers had benefited from welfare since their parents Anzor and Zubeidat Tsarnaev collected foodstamps and TAFDC - from 2002 to 2004 and again in 2009 to 2011. Breadwinner: Lawyers for Katherine Russell (pictured in high school yearbook photos) said the 24-year-old mother worked tirelessly as a home healthcare aid to support her young family. Her husband was unemployed . Since the . Tsarnaevs are Chechen immigrants, some wondered why they received aid. But the state agency explained that they were considered eligible for . the public assistance. 'The Tsarnaev parents were eligible to . receive benefits as legal, non-citizen residents who were granted asylum . status and met the basic eligibility criteria for DTA, including . household income levels, presence of dependent children and other . factors,' the DTA interim commissioner Stacey Monahan said in a letter . addressed to David Linsky, Chairman of the House Post Audit and . Oversight Committee. The Herald had reported that sources who knew Tamerlan said that though he sported a flashy appearance, he failed to earn very . much money for his family and was essentially a stay-at-home dad. His younger brother, on the other hand, has been described as more entrepreneurial. Family: Zubeidat Tsarnaev, center with Tamerlan, and the child's father, Anzor, left, received state aid multiple times from 2002 to 2011 (pictured with an uncle Muhamad Suleimanov (right) in an undated photo) Dzhokhar, who was a sophomore at . University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, attended the school on a . scholarship and earned petty cash selling marijuana, sources told the . Boston Globe. Investigators are scrutinizing the . brothers' source of income, as they probe whether the pair received . outside assistance for their attack, either from a radical group or . foreign government. Security experts have noted though . that the modus operandi was relatively cheap, estimating that the . materials for each of the pressure cooker bombs used at the Boston . Marathon attack could have cost a total of $100 each. Tamerlan, 26, . died early on . April 19 after a shoot-out with police in Watertown, Mass. His . 19-year-old brother was captured late on April 19 after an extensive . manhunt. | Bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, received welfare up until 2012 .
Benefits include cash, food stamps and housing assistance .
Details of the benefits are contained within more than 500 documents handed over to state officials on Monday . |
0999a1a0e4f82a0f096427c0edc114875c25b672 | In some ways, it's just a number, but it's a big number with enormous implications. For the first time, scientists measured an average concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide of 400 parts per million in Mauna Loa, Hawaii, where the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration observatory is located, on Thursday. "Most experts that really study CO2 amounts estimate that we haven't seen that amount of CO2 in our atmosphere in about 3 million years," said J. Marshall Shepherd, climate change expert and professor at the University of Georgia. In other words, modern humans have never seen carbon dioxide in these proportions before. Scientists say it's apparent that human activity -- namely burning coal, oil and natural gas -- has been driving a rapid rise of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide changes climate and drives acidification of the ocean. "Once emitted, it remains for the ocean atmosphere system for thousands of years, warming the planet. It changes climate and is driving ocean acidification all that time," said Jim Butler, a senior scientist at NOAA. Among the many risks of rising temperatures, agriculture, forestry, ecosystems and human health are all expected to suffer as a result of trends in climate change. Turbulence ahead as climate changes . The amount of carbon dioxide varies daily somewhat and has cycled historically in accordance with changes in the Earth's orbit, a phenomenon known as Milankovitch cycles. But the exponential rise in carbon dioxide levels since the Industrial Revolution is far out of the ordinary, experts say. The number 400 parts per million is symbolic of what many scientists believe to be the inevitable growth of this gas in our atmosphere, Shepherd said. Getting to this number was to be expected. "It also is kind of a warning sign or red flag that hey, we really need to tackle this problem," he said. "It's happening right before our eyes." In about eight to 10 years, levels will not go under 400 parts per million, Butler said. And in terms of reaching new carbon dioxide highs, 450 will come even faster than than the change from 350 to 400, given observed trends, Shepherd said. For comparison, the last time annual CO2 was 350 parts per million was in the 1980s. Butler likens the phenomenon to an electric blanket. When you turn the dial, it takes a little while to warm up. It's as if humans have turned the dial on Earth's blanket, and we'll feel the heat only in a matter of time. "Even if we stopped emitting CO2, temperatures would still rise for at least a decade or two because the system has to catch up with it," Butler said. Most carbon dioxide is in the Northern Hemisphere, because most people on the planet live in these parts, Butler said. In 2012, monitoring stations in the Arctic measured 400 parts per million, but this is a new high at Mauna Loa. The global average will catch up in a year or two, he said. Since scientists began measuring at Mauna Loa in 1958, the concentration of carbon dioxide has been increasing every year, NOAA said. The rate of this rise has been accelerating, from 0.7 ppm per year in the late 1950s to 2.1 ppm per year over the last decade. Before the 19th-century Industrial Revolution, the average carbon dioxide concentration worldwide was about 280 parts per million. Over the course of the past 800,000 years, says NOAA, these levels bounced between 180 and 280 parts per million. NOAA: Watch history of carbon dioxide levels . You might be wondering how the planet could be warming if this past winter has been relatively cool. Shepherd explains that weather is akin to mood, but climate is analogous to personality. Weather changes a lot, but climate is something more fundamental, causing overall patterns. Study: Climate change may contribute to civil wars . It may appear that, in the grand scheme of things, there's not a lot of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere to begin with. The most abundant gas is nitrogen, at 78%, followed by oxygen at 21%. Having a tiny amount of carbon dioxide is essential for our survival; without it, the planet would be too cold. Opinion: How to fight climate change . But too much carbon dioxide, which leads to too much overall warming, is bad. While it's impossible to say that any particular event was "caused by global warming," says Shepherd, climate change loads the deck, making extreme events such as last year's Superstorm Sandy more likely. These storms also become more disastrous with rising sea levels. The sea level near New York City was about 10 inches higher in 2012 than in 1900, Shepherd said. The Mauna Loa station is the oldest in the world to measure carbon dioxide. "It's an alarming marker that we've passed," Butler said. "Mauna Loa, the iconic site for CO2, has reached 400 for the first time over a day. That's big." More science and space news from CNN Light Years . | Carbon dioxide levels have reached historic high at Hawaii observatory .
Carbon dioxide changes climate and drives acidification of the ocean, experts say .
Scientists expected this carbon dioxide level but say it's a warning sign . |
099b5a82c1098abee40802481b1468e88a8d7397 | London, England (CNN) -- A long-awaited inquiry into Britain's role in the Iraq war got under way Tuesday -- a process that could determine whether former Prime Minister Tony Blair misled his country over the 2003 invasion. The inquiry is expected to be the most thorough investigation yet into the decisions that led up to the war and governed Britain's involvement, analysts said. It is not a court of law, so the inquiry cannot find anyone criminally responsible or even apportion blame. But inquiry members will be able to judge the legality of the conflict. "The Iraq Inquiry was set up to identify the lessons that should be learned from the UK's involvement in Iraq, to help future governments who may face similar situations," inquiry Chairman John Chilcot said at the opening of the hearings Tuesday. "To do this, we need to establish what happened." Chilcot, a senior civil servant, said on the eve of the hearings that the committee is "completely determined" to write the full story of Iraq war decision-making by the British government using all the evidence it can get. Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who announced the inquiry in June, has promised the committee will have access to the full range of information, including secret documents, in order to identify lessons that can be learned from the war. The inquiry officially began July 30, but Tuesday was the first day of hearings, which are expected to last into the new year. The hearings were initially going to be held behind closed doors, but after criticism the government decided to allow the hearings to be public and televised. The committee has said it will decide on a case-by-case basis whether to keep the hearings private when discussing sensitive or classified information. Blair will be called to testify, Chilcot said earlier this year, and the former prime minister has said he will appear. Other witnesses will be key decision-makers involved in Iraq, Chilcot has said. Chilcot has said the panel members plan to visit Iraq as part of their work, as well as hold discussions with Iraqis outside of the country. Top officials from the British and U.S. governments also might be called on for evidence, he said. Britain has already held four hearings about the Iraq war. But because all were held before the end of 2004 -- so close to the start of the war -- they were hampered by limited information, political analyst Glen Rangwala of Cambridge University told CNN. "They didn't manage to achieve anything like a comprehensive understanding of the paths that led the UK to support the United States in the invasion," he said. "This will be the first to look at political decision-making that led to the British invasion of 2003, with the potential to tell a full story." People involved in those decisions are more likely to testify now than they were a few years ago, Rangwala said. That partly because British troops are no longer involved in combat in Iraq, but also because the war there is no longer the politicized issue it was when Blair was in power, he said. "The sort of political sting has been taken out of it, and people who are presenting their evidence to the (inquiry) won't feel quite so constrained by the political line, or the party line, than they would have a few years ago," he said. Britain's first two inquiries were held by government committees in 2003. The House of Commons Select Committee on Foreign Affairs examined whether Britain's Foreign Office gave accurate and complete information to Parliament in the run-up to the war. It found the government exerted no improper influence on the drafting of the dossier given to Parliament on Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction. The Intelligence and Security Committee then examined whether intelligence about Iraq and its weapons was properly assessed and accurately reflected in government publications. Its findings were mixed. The next two inquiries had narrow mandates, looking at specific aspects of the war. The Hutton report from January 2004 investigated the death of David Kelly, a leading microbiologist and former U.N. weapons inspector who committed suicide months earlier. Kelly had worked for the British Ministry of Defence, advising it on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, but was later found to be the source of a BBC report that said the government had exaggerated evidence to justify war on Iraq. Following that came the Butler inquiry, which looked at the accuracy of intelligence on weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and elsewhere. It found some of the intelligence sources were "seriously flawed," but that there was no evidence of deliberate distortion or culpable negligence by spy agencies. | Hearings begin in UK Iraq Inquiry to determine legality of the Iraq War .
Promised to be the most thorough investigation into Britain's involvement in the war .
Hearings will be televised after initial plans for closed-door sessions were criticised .
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair will be called to testify . |
099c783d742b9fbdf444923c642d582c9d291c8c | By . Jemma Gillard for MailOnline . One man has taken his flexibility and strength to extremes by holding ten gymnastic poses on ten different vehicles in just ten hours. Superfit Aslan Steel - and yes, that is the name he was born with - from Lewes in East Sussex, spent three months planning and training for his impressive feat, which involved pulling off a handstand on top of a submarine and planking on a helicopter. The 29-year-old decided to take on the challenge to raise money for St Peter and St James hospice in memory of his mother, Keetje Steel, who passed away in May. Flying high: Aslan Steel, 29, is pictured performing the plank pose on a helicopter to raise money for hospice in memory of his mother . Head for heights: Aslan Steel is pictured performing a handstand on top of HMS Alliance, a Second World War submarine . The street gymnast began his challenge on Saturday in East Grinstead by pulling off a 'human flag' hold off the side of a massive Chevrolet Monster Truck. He then moved on to a 'V-sit' pose on the back of a classic Harley Davidson motorcycle, before holding an agonising 'side-sit' on the top of a Benetton B189 F1 car. Aslan says: 'I really wanted to push myself to the limit to raise money in memory of my mum. Hanging around: Aslan Steel performs a human flag hold off the side of a Chevrolet Monster Truck . 'St Peter and St James Hospice really cared for her, and I want to help them out as much as possible. 'The most difficult holds were on the back of the Harley or on the F1 car. 'They don't look too difficult, but they were agonising, especially as I'm currently a bit injured at the moment.' So far, Aslan has raised half of his £5,000 goal for the hospice in nearby North Chailey. Holding on tight: Aslan Steel takes on the tough 'V-sit' pose on the back of a classic Harley Davidson motorcycle . In the ten hours, he also managed to pose on a helicopter, a speedboat, a yacht and a McLaren Spider supercar. The biggest vehicle Aslan used in the stunt was HMS Alliance - a World War II submarine. He says: 'The handstand on the top of the submarine was probably the most dangerous. There was a 30ft drop either side onto concrete, and the platform I was on was only about 4ft wide. 'If I'd slipped, it probably would have been curtains.' Speeding around: Aslan Steel is pictured performing a'L-Sit' on a McLaren Spider supercar . On top of his game: Aslan Steel found it difficult holding an agonising 'side-sit' on the top of a Benetton B189 F1 car . His final challenge of the day was hanging off the front of a grille on a Big Rig truck at the Top Gear test track in Godalming, Surrey. As well as being a personal trainer, Aslan runs a street gymnastic team, which focuses on using gymnastic techniques and body holds in an urban environment. He says: 'I'm overwhelmed with the support I had. Tower of strength: Aslan Steel spent three months planning and training for his impressive feat, which involved pulling off a handstand on the top of a submarine . Guns of steel: Aslan Steel is pictured hanging off the front of a grille on a Big Rig truck at the Top Gear test track at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Godalming, Surrey . All aboard: Aslan Steel is pictured performing another gymnastic pose on a luxury yacht . 'It was truly amazing and went without a hitch, which is unbelievable considering the distance covered.I ached like mad after, but it was worth it. 'The medical and care professionals who looked after my mother are special people and need our support. 'I am hoping that the money I raise will enable other families to receive the same great care as my mother.' To donate, please visit www.justgiving.com/aslansteel . | Aslan Steel, 29, spent three months planning and training for charity .
The challenge involved pulling off a handstand on the top of a submarine .
The street gymnast is raising money in memory of his mum . |
099cab7ed49ab54d6b018eaa9e3befbc6dbee354 | WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A member of Congress Friday called on the State Department to stop doing business with Xe, the North Carolina-based security company formerly known as Blackwater Worldwide. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Illinois, on Friday urged the State Department "not to enter into further contracts" with Xe. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Illinois, asked Secretary of State Hillary Clinton whether the State Department had just signed a new $20 million dollar contract with Xe for Iraq, saying she is "very concerned" that the State Department may be signing new security contracts with Xe, both in Iraq and Afghanistan. "I urge you not to enter into further contracts with Xe and to immediately review any existing contracts," the letter said, according to a copy provided to CNN. "The behavior and actions of both the company's leadership and a number of individuals employed by the company have harmed our mission in Iraq and Afghanistan and endangered the lives and welfare of our troops and diplomatic personnel serving overseas." The State Department decided in January not to renew a personnel protection contract with Blackwater, as the company was then known, when it expired in May. That decision came amidst an investigation by both U.S. and Iraqi authorities of a 2007 shooting involving Blackwater guards in Baghdad in which 17 Iraqis were killed. The company has repeatedly denied any wrong-doing. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request Friday for reaction to Schakowsky's questions and criticism. The State Department had said that it would continue a Blackwater air-support contract after the much-larger personnel protection contract ended. Xe spokeswoman Stacy DeLuke told CNN that, "Right now we have no contracts with the State Department in Iraq." DeLuke said the company would review calls for bids to provide security for U.S. officials in Afghanistan. "The thing is we are totally open to bidding on some of the contracts that may come up in Afghanistan just like anyone else," DeLuke said in a telephone interview. The Nation magazine released an article Friday that said the State Department had signed a new contract for Iraq with Xe for $20 million to extend an earlier aviation contract. "The State Department contract is scheduled to run through September 3. In May, the State Department announced it was not renewing Blackwater's Iraq contract, and the Iraqi government has refused to issue the company an operating license," the article said. The controversy over the role of Blackwater in Iraq was revived earlier this week by a lawsuit filed in Virginia by two former employees accusing Blackwater guards of smuggling weapons and using excessive force in Iraq. And the lawsuit claims Blackwater founder Erik Prince "views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe." Xe said in a statement that it would respond "to the anonymous unsubstantiated and offensive assertions put forward by the plaintiffs," in a brief to be filed August 17. Blackwater changed its name to Xe in February. | State Department says it will continue Blackwater air-support contract .
"I urge you not to enter into further contracts with Xe," Congresswoman's letter says .
Xe spokeswoman Stacy DeLuke says firm "totally open" to Afghanistan bidding . |
099d93a0308a6c4208fdf5d9a1a03bd7b8c7720d | Kiev, Ukraine (CNN) -- The mood around Independence Square in Ukraine's capital was very somber Sunday as thousands gathered, mourning the dozens of people killed in demonstrations during the past week and wondering who will take charge of the politically divided nation. They wondered where President Viktor Yanukovych, who reportedly tried to leave the country Saturday night, had gone. No one in the government appeared to know. There was a great uncertainty in the country after the rapidly moving events of the past 24 hours, which saw Parliament oust Yanukovych, free his political rival Yulia Tymoshenko from prison and schedule elections for May. It appeared that two political forces were trying to establish control of the country: the opposition and Yanukovych, who maintains that he is still President and still in control despite fleeing to the eastern part of the country. Clearly, though, his power has been greatly diminished . Oleksandr Yefremov, parliamentary leader of Yanukovych's Party of Regions, condemned the ousted President on Sunday in a video statement, blaming him for the "robbery and deception" of the nation. The former ruling party blamed Yanukovych for illegal orders that led to casualties, financial debt and shame in the eyes of the world, Yefremov said. It also remains to be seen how Russia -- Yanukovych's ally -- will respond with the Winter Olympics in Sochi closing on Sunday. Rapid changes to political scene . Tymoshenko, the former prime minister, was freed after 2½ years in prison Saturday and returned to the capital in a development many couldn't have imagined as dawn broke that day. She went to Independence Square and had strong words for Yanukovych. "Today, Ukraine has finished with this terrible dictator," Tymoshenko told the cheering crowd. She served as prime minister from 2007 until she was forced out of office in 2010 after losing the election to Yanukovych. A year later, she was sentenced to seven years in prison after being convicted of abuse of authority over a natural gas deal negotiated with Russia. The West considers her case politically motivated and has called her "a political prisoner." She is considered a hero of a 2004 revolution that forced the results of a presidential election won by Yanukovych to be thrown out. Where is the Presdent? Last we heard, Yanukovych was in Kharkiv, a pro-Russian stronghold near Ukraine's border with that nation. He tried to leave the country by plane but was turned away, authorities said. The country's acting interior minister said Sunday that government officials in Kiev don't know the whereabouts of Yanukovych and two of his top ministers. On Saturday, the President and his entourage attempted to board a charter flight without proper documentation in the eastern city of Donetsk, according to the head of Ukraine's Border Guard Service, Sergei Astakov. He was on the tarmac when he was turned back by security forces, Astakov said. But the President took to television airwaves, saying he's still the legitimate leader. He said he was forced to leave Kiev because of "vandalism, crime and a coup." "I don't plan to leave the country. I don't plan to resign. I am the legitimate President," he said from Kharkiv. May elections . Parliament voted to oust the President and hold new elections on May 25. It also appointed Oleksandr Turchinov, the speaker, to take on Yanukovych's duties until then. Lawmakers also fired several ministers, including the foreign and education chiefs. But who will lead the nation is still a big question. Tymoshenko announced Sunday that she doesn't want to be considered for the nomination for prime minister, according to a statement posted on the Batkivshchyna party website. The opposition coalition is a chaotic mix of voices, each working to assert dominance. Former world champion boxer Vitali Klitschko has been the most well-known opposition figure during the crisis. He heads the Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reforms party. But the opposition bloc goes well beyond Klitschko and his party. Then there's Arseniy Yatsenyuk, another opposition figure and former foreign minister. Last month, the President offered a package of concessions under which Yatsenyuk would have become the prime minister and Klitschko deputy prime minister on humanitarian issues. The opposition refused. Russia's influence . The series of concessions started Friday with Parliament overwhelmingly approving the return of the nation's 2004 constitution. Reinstating it gives the President less power -- a key demand of protesters who'd taken over Kiev City Hall for weeks -- and paves the way for lawmakers to appoint key ministers. Close ally Russia has been busy hosting the Winter Olympics, which end Sunday. But it's closely linked to the crisis, which started in November, when Yanukovych scrapped a European Union trade deal and turned toward Russia. Russia offered to lend money to Ukraine in a deal worth billions of dollars and lower its gas prices. The deal sent protesters to the streets as Russia pressured Yanukovych to crack down on demonstrators. On Saturday, Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, condemned what he called Western attempts to influence the outcome of the tumult in Ukraine. "Either they don't understand the consequences of what they're doing, or they're engaged in a very provocative game of destabilizing Ukraine and therefore Eastern Europe," Churkin said in a post on his official Twitter account. Churkin has accused the opposition of wanting to take power by force. "If those so-called democratic opposition leaders come to power on the shoulders of thugs, that will not produce democracy in Ukraine," he said. On Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke about the situation in Ukraine. According to written statement from a senior State Department official, Washington strongly prodded Moscow to accept the results of the Parliament's decisions. Kerry also asked Russia to work with the United States and the European Union on enabling "critically needed reforms" and to not use military force in the country, which shares a border with western Russia. Explainer: What and who are behind Ukraine's political crisis? iReport: Protester describes bloodied people being rushed to medics . U.S. talks tough, but options limited in Ukraine . CNN's Victoria Butenko, Phil Black and Ingrid Formanek reported from Kiev, and Steve Almasy, Faith Karimi and Chelsea J. Carter reported and wrote from Atlanta. | NEW: U.S. asks Russia to accept changes in Ukraine, work to move country forward .
Yulia Tymoshenko, freed from prison, says no to future prime minister slot .
Government say it doesn't know where ousted President Viktor Yanukovych is .
Official from Yanukovych's party blames him for "robbery and deception" |
099dd7237ce1e6261165755f32958c3d5a3627d1 | Understatement is not a concept that famed fashion designer Valentino Garavani is familiar with, which is what makes these newly released images inside the designer's private spaces such a fantastical feast for the eyes. Crystal chandeliers, lavish tableware, glitzy objets d'art and plenty of porcelain fuse together to create the most opulent of settings. The images form part of a new book, At the Emperor's Table, a stunning visual and written account of Valentino's world and entertaining style. The images give a glimpse inside the iconic designer's French chateau, Swiss ski chalet, luxury yacht as well as his London apartment. A table setting at the designer's Chateau de Wideville outside Paris: A painted tôle and porcelain eighteen-branch chandelier, by Meissen, hangs above the table. Each setting has its own silver-gilt salt throne . As fashion editor and former American Vogue editor-at-large André Leon Talley writes in the book's introduction, 'Valentino Garavani designs his luncheons and dinners, in all of his homes, the way he has created crescendos and allegros vivace throughout his forty-plus-year career as one of the greatest haute couture designers and high-fashion leaders in the world.' Beauty and entertaining have long been passions of Valentino. 'I am in love with beauty,' he admits in the book's opening. 'I have always loved beautiful objects.' Though Talley, previously fashion editor of US Vogue and now its editor-at-large, writes that despite the supremely sumptuous settings, Valentino's excellence as a host is defined by the warmth he creates for his guests. The crown jewel of Valentino's residential repertoire is the Chateau de Wideville, a historic chateau outside of Paris . Afternoon tea set in the garden in Chateau de Wideville, the designer's favourite residence . Porcelain dinner plates on a beautifully styled table (left) and up-close (right) 'When you enter his world, you enter the world of luxury; you enter a rare and opulent, yet warm space,' says Talley. Talking of his own experience as Valentino's guest he writes, that the atmosphere evokes 'the joy of sharing, and the joy of delivering a magnificent dining experience in a setting of wonder and originality; sharing with family, friends and guests; sharing good conversation that is quite often animated; and sharing beautiful flowers, especially from Valentino's own gardens.' Photographed by renowned Italian photographer Oberto Gili, the book, published by Assouline, is organized by residence, and invites the reader to enjoy various table settings and recipes specific to each home. The London look: A pair of figural silver saltcellar, indigo-dyed napkins, embroidered with VG monogram and Chinese plate from the Qianlong period adorn the table . Sea chic: Porcelain dinner service and Ralph Lauren crystal tumblers with vertical blue stripes on board the designer's yacht, T.M. Blue One . Valentino's yacht measures 152-foot and is named after his beloved parents, Teresa and Mauro . A flan au chevre may be served on Portuguese porcelain at his ski chalet in Gstaad, while a visit to his home in London reveals an orientalist dining room of blue and white china. The New York City pied-a-terre showcases Russian dinner-service sets and ruby red Irish glass plates. On the designers yacht, T.M. Blue One, guests are served Mediterranean-inspired cuisine atop custom, seafaring-themed dinner service sets. An alfresco lunch on the veranda in Gstaad . Valentino's Gstaad residence: A table set with a large tureen in the shape of lettuce, porcelain tureen in the shape of asparagus and fluted glass service with green rims. The painting of birds picking cherries from a Delft bowl is from 1800 . A 'casual' lunch set under the garden gazebo in Wideville. From left, brand ambassador Carlos Souza, socialite Charlene Shorto, Valentino himself and honorary president of the Valentino fashion house, Giancarlo Giammetti. 'I love sharing the things in my life with my friends,' Valentino says. Among all of these luxurious homes, the crown jewel of Valentino's residential repertoire is the Chateau de Wideville, a historic chateau outside of Paris that is admittedly Valentino's favorite. There, meals inspired by Italian home cooking, such as risotto Milanese, are presented amongst his collection of rare Meissen swans. The new book by that showcases Valentino's entertaining style . 'I love antique china sets, like Meissen, Russian, or from P.K. Selesia, a German company from the 1930s' he states. Though regardless of residence or number of guests, you won't catch Valentino using the cheap stuff. 'I am very often alone and enjoying my houses,' Valentino says. 'Entertaining thirty or one is the same; the food has to be on a beautiful plate.' Valentino founded his eponymous fashion house in Rome in the late 1950s and has since established an illustrious career designing for the world's most glamorous women, from royalty to Hollywood icons, including Jackie O, Elizabeth Taylor and modern-day muses like Gwyneth Paltrow and Anne Hathaway. From his start designing dresses, Valentino and long-time business partner Giancarlo Giammetti built the Valentino brand into an international empire, now one of the most iconic fashion brands in the world. Though Valentino retired from fashion in 2008, his influence on fashion is still very much present. Valentino: At the Emperor's Table (Assouline £95); assouline.com . | New book, At the Emperor's Table, enters the world of famed fashion designer Valentino Garavani .
Opulent images showcase Valentino's entertaining style and his priceless collection of crockery and objets d'art .
'Entertaining thirty or one is the same; the food has to be on a beautiful plate,' Valentino says in the book . |
099f1392707490abf4a70222199484ba13f37dd3 | London (CNN) -- The cleanup operation continued Tuesday, a day after a major Atlantic storm pummeled England, France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark, killing at least 13 people. Hurricane-force winds early Monday caused major disruption to travel and power supplies. In Britain, 61,000 homes remained without electricity Tuesday, after power was restored to 100,000 properties overnight, said Tim Field, a spokesman for the Energy Networks Association, which represents British and Irish power operators. Overall, 605,000 properties have been reconnected, he told CNN. Energy companies said they were working to restore power as quickly as possible. Rail services were largely running again across southern England on Tuesday, a day after fallen trees caused chaos as they blocked rail lines and roads. London's Heathrow Airport, where the number of flights was reduced Monday because of the severe weather, said operations were returning to normal Tuesday. At least two storm-related deaths were confirmed Monday in England, and a third person was missing after being swept out to sea. Police in Kent said a 17-year-old girl was killed when a tree fell on the home where she was sleeping in Hever, south of London. A man in his 50s was killed when a tree fell on a vehicle in Watford, northwest of London, according to Hertfordshire police. Authorities suspect two other UK deaths may be related to the storm. A man and a woman died -- and a third person was hospitalized -- as a result of a gas explosion in Hounslow in west London, London's Metropolitan Police said. Investigators were checking whether a fallen tree damaged gas pipes and caused the blast. Deaths were also reported elsewhere in Europe. Seven people were killed in Germany, German media reported, some by fallen trees. A woman in the city of Heiligenhafen was killed when a wall supporting a terrace fell on her. A tourist was killed by a falling tree in Amsterdam, police said. In France, the body of a woman was found on a beach near Belle-Ile. Witnesses said she was swept away by a wave. Officials said 42,000 homes in northern France were without electricity. Overnight, the number of homes in France without power peaked at 75,000. High winds also tore across Denmark, where at least two people were killed, according to the Copenhagen Post. Search suspended . As the storm approached, UK rescuers had to suspend their search for a missing teenager believed to have been swept out to sea. The unidentified teenager disappeared from Newhaven, East Sussex, on the southern coast, according to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. The strongest wind gusts in England -- 99 mph -- were recorded on the Isle of Wight, which is off the southern coast, the Met Office said. Network Rail, which manages Britain's rail infrastructure, said Monday that more than 100 trees were on rails in the network across the southeast. Weather forecasters had said before the storm arrived that it could be the region's worst in a decade. But conditions were not as severe as those during the Great Storm of 1987, which was responsible for the deaths of 18 people in Britain and four in France. In 1990, the Burns Day Storm left a trail of destruction from the Isles of Scilly to Denmark, killing 100 people, including 47 in the British Isles, according to the Met Office. CNN's Karen Smith contributed to this report. | Power is restored to many UK homes, but 61,000 remain without electricity .
At least 13 deaths are reported across Northern Europe .
Gusts close to 100 mph battered the southern coast of England .
The storm also rammed Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark . |
09a279230aae6a401d5a46f20cb96d18d7d8135f | When this cat found himself in a spot of bother, help was on hand from an unlikely source. As the cat frantically tried to pull a paper cup off its head by wheeling round in circles, a dog trotted on to the scene and came to the rescue. The dog approached the distressed cat and removed the cup with its jaw, setting it free. The cat is shown in the first clip staggering around backwards with the paper cup on its head . The confused cat tries to remove the cup from its head - but is unsuccessfully in its attempts . The dog then approaches the cat, who is still struggling with the paper cup on its head . The dog nears the distressed cat and removs the cup with its jaw, setting it free - before leaving it behind . The two animals then go their separate ways, with the clearly relieved cat the last shot in the clip. More than 100,000 have watched the video since it was uploaded to YouTube. The footage left viewers perplexed as the animals put aside their age-old hostilities. One commentator said: 'I love how the cat casually goes back to whatever it was doing like nothing had happened.' Others suggested the dog simply wanted the paper cup. | Video shows cat frantically trying to pull a paper cup off its head .
A dog approached and removed the cup from its head with its jaw .
More than 100,000 have watched video since it was uploaded to YouTube . |
09a2806b16a9121612794c37ce05d64684e5ba8e | A crisis-hit hospital has been cleared of deliberately manipulating cancer waiting times - with a review finding any failings were the result of managerial incompetence, not corruption. Colchester Hospital in Essex, which is in special measures and was forced to declare a major incident last month, had been subject to two separate but related inquiries after concerns were raised by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), who inspect hospitals, in November last year. The first looked into alleged manipulation of cancer waiting times while the second focused on claims staff were bullied into changing data so that the hospital appeared to be meeting targets. While the review published today found no evidence of systematic data manipulation, it did find evidence of poor documentation and record-keeping and identified a number of patients who had experienced sub-optimal care, diagnosis or treatment. Scandal hit Colchester General Hospital (pictured) has been cleared of deliberately manipulating cancer waiting times in a report published today . The report said that it was impossible to establish the extent to which patients suffered as a result but there was evidence of clear harm to at least one patient. Dr Lucy Moore, chief executive of Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, said she hoped the findings would allow staff to focus on improving services. She added: 'I welcome the publication of this report and I am very pleased there appears to be no evidence of systematic data manipulation at the trust. 'It is important that we now rebuild confidence in the cancer services provided here in Colchester. 'We apologise unreservedly to any of our patients who have suffered delays in treatment or diagnosis or who have received poor care. 'We have scrutinised the care of any patient where we think there might have been imperfect care and the trust is in contact with all of the patients who have suffered significant sub-optimal care. 'We are continuing to work with our health partners to improve the quality of our cancer services.' Allegations of bullying and waiting list manipulation at the Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust was passed to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in the summer of 2013. On investigation the CQC identified “serious concerns” and said staff reported to the CQC that they were “pressured to change data… to make it seem people were being treated in line with national guidelines”. The Trust commissioned two reviews of the experience of a number of patients treated between April 2010 and March 2014 who may have been affected by misreporting. It found 16 cases of possible deliberate and inappropriate data entry but in none of these cases could the reviewers establish intent to deliberately falsify the figures. The review found a number of small discrepancies between recorded and actual patient data and concluded that these were most likely to be the result of minor, but erroneous interpretations of the guidelines governing cancer waiting times. These discrepancies sometimes made waiting times appear longer than in reality and sometimes shorter. While the review found no evidence of systematic, deliberate data manipulation it did find evidence of poor documentation and record keeping with multiple causes including data entry errors, misinterpretation of national guidance, operating process issues, poor information sharing and poor record keeping. It also identified a number of patients who had experienced suboptimal care, diagnosis or treatment. The retrospective review, commissioned by the trust, look at 822 cancer patients treated at the hospital between 2010 and 2014. It was launched after the CQC raised 'serious concerns' about staff being pressured to change data to make it seem people were being treated in line with national guidelines. Under national targets, patients with suspected cancer must start their treatment within 62 days of a GP referral. Any patient found to have cancer should start treatment within 31 days, according to the NHS National Operating Framework. Various specialities at the hospital, particularly those dealing with urology and lower gastrointestinal cancer, were at risk of breaching the required standard and it was alleged that data had been altered to address these concerns. The report found 16 cases of possible deliberate and inappropriate data entry but the reviewers could not firmly establish intent to deliberately falsify figures. The East of England Strategic Clinical Network, which reviewed the report, said: 'The overarching impression was there was evidence of inaccuracies in the cancer waits data but this was as likely to negatively impact on the trust's performance statistics as enhance them. 'This suggested the issue was one of effectiveness and competence in the cancer management team rather than a deliberate manipulation.' The independent inquiry into bullying and intimidation was commissioned under the instruction of health regulator Monitor, which oversaw the process. While some staff members had said they felt 'pressured' to manipulate data, the report said there had been no systematic culture of bullying. Adam Cayley, regional director at Monitor, said the report should 'bring a very difficult chapter in the history of this trust to a close'. The review did identify a number of patients who had received sub optimal care, diagnosis or treatment (file photo) 'It is reassuring to find that there is no evidence of staff being bullied into changing cancer data, but it is even clearer that there were serious managerial failures at the trust,' he added. 'The new management team at the hospital is already delivering improvements for patients - a process we expect to see continue.' Peter Wilson, the trust's chairman, said: 'Although this report found no evidence of a systemic culture of bullying, this trust takes bullying very seriously and will take prompt action wherever and whenever bullying is identified.' The trust said it had made a number of improvements to its cancer services over the last year. A spokesman said it had also made 'significant strides' in improving data collection and handling for cancer patients. The trust's cancer mortality statistics are now within the normal national range for NHS trusts in England. Bosses declared a major incident last month - which included cancelling operations and telling patients to stay away from A&E - after CQC inspectors said staff were under strain and patient care was suffering as a result. The trust has since resumed normal service after reducing the number of beds in its under-pressure Emergency Assessment Unit to allow staff to focus on priority cases. | Colchester Hospital in Essex has been the subject of two inquiries .
First inquiry looked into manipulation of cancer waiting times .
Second assessed claims staff were bullied into manipulating data .
Today's review found no evidence of systematic data manipulation .
No systematic bullying was found, though some staff felt pressured .
Some patients did receive sub optimal diagnosis, treatment or care . |
09a32f9011cc1423425af007a2c46c59d9f39b1b | Stoke defender Phil Bardsley is a doubt for the Barclays Premier League clash against Burnley with a groin injury. The right back limped off during the early stages of the Potters' win over Tottenham on Sunday. And scans have identified a small tear in the former Manchester United man's groin. Stoke defender Phil Bardsley, pictured left with Peter Crouch, is a doubt for the Potters' clash with Burnley . Bardsley limps off with a groin injury during the Potters' win over Tottenham as boss Mark Hughes looks on . Bardsley will spend the international break recovering from the injury and is not ruling out a return against the Clarets on November 22. But if he does not prove his fitness by then, Bardsley should be fit for the visit to Liverpool seven days later. | Phil Bardsley limped off during Stoke's 2-1 win against Tottenham .
Scans have identified the right back has a small tear in his groin .
Defender is a doubt for the Potters' Premier League clash with Burnley . |
09a3c954b4cf9c04a506899bd583e8ae8b078f73 | Caterham have confirmed that Will Stevens will complete their driver line-up for this weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The 23-year-old Briton teams up with Kamui Kobayashi for the season-ending double pointer for which cash-strapped Caterham announced they would race a week ago after going into administration last month. Earlier this month, Caterham launched a crowd-funding project in a bid to raise the £2.35million needed to get the team on the grid for the final race of the season. Administrators Smith & Williamson announced last Friday that they were just under £500,000 short and that they would race at the Yas Marina. British racer Will Stevens will make his debut for Caterham at the season finale in Abu Dhabi this weekend . Stevens, 23, was part of the Caterham Academy and has tested for the F1 team, pictured here in 2013 . Stevens was part of the Caterham Racing Academy and has been involved in Formula One testing for the Leafield-based marque in 2013 and this year, clocking up 1,100kilometres in the process and gaining his FIA Super licence. He is delighted to be given the chance at Caterham for the final race on the 2014 calendar and said: 'I'm absolutely thrilled to be getting this opportunity and am very grateful to everyone involved at Caterham F1 Team for giving it to me. 'I feel ready for the challenge of my F1 debut and look forward to working as part of the Team in a race environment after all the work we've done together previously in the tests I've completed and back at Leafield in the sim (simulator). 'Hopefully this will be something we will be able to carry through to the 2015 season together.' Caterham head of engineering operations Gianluca Pisanello was pleased to have Stevens on board in Abu Dhabi as the team return to the track after missing out in the last two races in the United States and Brazil. He said: 'We know Will very well through his involvement in the Caterham Racing Academy. 'More importantly he has done a vast amount of time in our simulator, completing around 10,000km, which has built his experience both of this year's car and with the engineering team that are going to Abu Dhabi. 'In addition, his 2014 test at Silverstone in our current car, where he completed over 500km, was very successful and his race pace was very good. 'As a result, he was one of our best candidates for this race weekend and we are delighted to have secured his services for our return to the F1 grid.' VIDEO Hamilton previews F1 season finale . | Stevens will make his Formula One bow at the season finale this weekend .
Brit, 23, will team up with Kamui Kobayashi at cash-strapped Caterham .
Stevens was part of the Caterham Academy and has tested for the F1 team .
Caterham team launched crowd-funding project in bid to raise money . |
09a3d6cd414f3020f8656d7f6e0d6c7e46201b46 | Andrew Turner, who has been the MP for the Isle of Wight for more than a decade, is facing calls to resign over revelations regarding his love life . A veteran Tory MP is facing calls to resign over revelations regarding his love life, after it emerged that his partner of 17 years had begun living with one of his closest advisers. Andrew Turner, who has been the MP for the Isle of Wight for more than a decade, has had his election campaign thrown into disarray over the complicated love triangle. The furore began after it emerged that Mr Turner, who has been the island's MP for 13 years, had moved out of the house he shared with his fiancée Carole Dennett, who was also his parliamentary assistant. But it later emerged that Nicholas Finney, who advises the MP on transport and was in the process of divorcing his wife, had instead moved into the taxpayer-funded home that Mr Turner previously shared with Ms Dennett. A few days after Christmas, Mr Turner then moved back into the house. Days later, Ms Dennett moved out with her new partner. Local Tories now fear the traditionally safe seat could be lost amid allegations Mr Turner has become a 'laughing stock' on the island. They are now calling for the politician to stand down, fearing he will be defeated in May's General Election. But Mr Turner's allies insist he will not cave in. He will launch his campaign for re-election at a press conference on Monday. A Isle of Wight Conservative Association meeting scheduled for later this month is due to debate a motion calling for Mr Turner to stand down. Denise Grannum and Edward Giles, two former chairmen, are two of the association members who have urged Mr Turner to resign. In a letter sent this week, they wrote: 'The recent revelations about your separation, and the fact that you, as the seeming "innocent" party, moved out of the house to let her and her new lover be there only serves to emphasise to outsiders that you are in thrall to Carole and are totally dominated by her. 'We have noted that Mr Finney appears to have an ongoing role as your transport adviser and this gives rise to question about your judgement. It also causes ambiguity about the future role of these two individuals in your office. None of this gives either the party or the public the impression that you are genuinely in charge of your work.' The furore began after it emerged Mr Turner (right) had moved out of the house he shared with his fiancée Carole Dennett (left) - who was also his parliamentary assistant - to make way for his aide, Nicholas Finney . MailOnline has tried to contact Mr Turner, but he has not responded. Last week, Mr Turner's election agent also quit, just a week before the official launch of the campaign. Mike Rooke's resignation follows that of Mr Turner's campaign manager Keith Hook who quit after less than a month. Andrew Turner's transport advisor Nick Finney has started a relationship with the MP's ex fiancee Carole Dennett . Mr Rooke said he had stepped down to help his daughter launch a cycling business in France and denied it was connected to revelations about the MP's personal life. But Keith Hook said he had been unable to work with certain people in the campaign team, the County Press reported. Separately, Mr Finney spoke to local website On The Wight about his relationship with the MP. He reportedly told the website: 'Andrew Turner's opponents are trying every possible way to harm him. 'I am sorry that my relationship with Carole is being used to try to harm Andrew, not least because he is a thoroughly decent MP who serves the Island very well and is widely respected.' The saga is the latest in a string of controversies to surround the MP. In 2009, Mr Turner claimed more than £100,00 in expenses after designating the couple's house on the island as his 'second' home. Mr Turner always insisted the claims were in line with the rules. During the scandal, it was also revealed Miss Dennett told Commons officials that she looked forward to spending his office expenses on 'lots of booze so that the forthcoming elections goes in an alcoholic blur'. | Isle of Wight MP Andrew Turner split from long-term partner Carol Dennett .
Ms Dennett, also his secretary, remained in their taxpayer-funded home .
Nick Finney, who advises MP on transport, then moved in with Ms Dennett .
Tories now fear MP could lose 'safe seat' because of ridicule he has faced .
Island Tory association members mounting pressure on MP to stand down . |
09a461a3243f6e13af91c59b33836b4e675f1832 | By . Lizzie Edmonds . PUBLISHED: . 05:25 EST, 30 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:24 EST, 30 December 2013 . This is the terrifying moment a teen robber holds up a shop at gunpoint - all for 24 cans of beer. George Banister, 19, pulled the weapon on the horrified shop keeper in the West End of Newcastle. He then threatened to shoot shopkeeper Mohammed Rafiq, who bravely chased the teen out of his shop. Robbery: George Banister, 19, is caught on camera holding up a Newcastle shop for the sake of a few cans of beer . The thug later posted a picture of himself posing in a mask and holding the gun on Facebook. Banister was a known offender in the area and admitted robbery and a series of other assaults at Newcastle Crown Court. He was jailed for 6 years. Sending him to a young offender . institution, Judge Brian Forster QC told him: 'You pulled an imitation . weapon and threatened to shoot the shop owner and you later boasted . about it on Facebook. 'The courts have to protect local shopkeepers and deter people from behaving in the way you behaved. 'You answer for terrifying repeated acts of violence and you show no regard for other members of the community.' The court heard how Banister and another 17-year-old went into Fenham Discount Store about 5pm on August 9. The youth then stole a pack of 24 cans of lager and left the shop, moments before Banister came in pointing a gun at the shopkeeper. Despite chasing the raider out of his shop, he was unable to get the stolen beer back. Two . hours after the robbery Banister was bragging on Facebook about having . committed it, wearing a mask and posing with the BB gun he used in the . raid. Jailed: Career criminal Banister was jailed for six years after he admitted robbery and a series of other assaults . Caroline McGuirk, prosecuting, said: 'The defendant threatened to shoot the shop owner, who nevertheless pursued him. 'Mr . Rafiq said he was very scared when the weapon was pointed at him but he . felt he couldn’t let them get away with it so he chased them. 'He says the incident has caused him a lot of stress, harassment and fear.' This is not the only of Banister's shocking crimes. Last January Banister assaulted Abigail Pollard, who hours later tragically hanged herself. Abigail had been fighting with another woman outside Switch bar, in Newcastle, when Banister waded in, attacking both. He punched the other woman in the face twice then dragged Abigail across the road and kicked and stamped on her head. Miss . McGuirk said: 'Later that day she hanged herself. She visited a place . where a family member had committed suicide a year before and, using the . same tree, she hanged herself. 'There is no direct evidence to say this assault contributed but it can’t have helped her state of mind.' In July Banister got involved in another fight between two women on Adair Avenue, Benwell. He racially abused one of the women, spat at her and punched her in the head. When the other woman asked who he thought he was, Banister replied: 'I’m George Banister, you have some ammonia', and threw the burning substance in her face. Banister was involved in more city centre violence in December last year when he and another attacked several men in an unprovoked attack outside Sinner’s Bar. And while under arrest at North Tyneside police station, Banister bit a detention officer’s hand. Banister, of no fixed address, who already had 39 previous convictions, admitted robbery, possessing an imitation firearm, six assaults and racially aggravated assault. The youth who stole the beer got an absolute discharge at magistrates court for theft. | George Banister, 19, pulled imitation gun on a terrified shopkeeper .
Masked thug threatened to shoot man over 24 cans of lager in Newcastle .
Serial criminal Banister admitted robbery and series of other assaults .
Man, linked to two assaults on women in the city, jailed for six years . |
09a468fe2a75b20f8abe689ce96d05315be61177 | Hunter Biden, Vice President Joe Biden's son, was discharged from the Navy Reserve this year after failing a drug test, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday night. Biden, who got the boot after testing positive for cocaine, served part time in the reserves in Norfolk, Va. while also working as a partner at an investment firm. Who is Hunter Biden? Hunter graduated from Georgetown University and earned a law degree from Yale. After graduation he was a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest. He's lesser known than his older brother, Beau Biden, now the Delaware attorney general, who served a year-long deployment in Iraq and has announced plans for a 2016 gubernatorial run in the state. Biden's son discharged from Navy after testing positive for cocaine . What did he do in the military? Hunter's membership in the American armed forces was brief: He enlisted in the Navy Reserves less than two years ago. In January 2013, the Vice President joked about his son's decision to join the military later in life. "We have a lot of bad judgment in my family," Biden said. The Vice President's office has not yet released a comment about Hunter's discharge. But the announcement might not fare well for the Second Family, which touts their status as a military family in speeches and public appearances. Hunter Biden said in a statement that it was "the honor of my life to serve in the U.S. Navy, and I deeply regret and am embarrassed that my actions led to my administrative discharge. I respect the Navy's decision. With the love and support of my family, I'm moving forward." Does he have much experience in politics or Washington? Yes -- both in the public and private sectors. He was appointed by President Bill Clinton to serve as a director in the Department of Commerce handling ecommerce policy issues, a post he held from 1998 to 2001. From 2001 to 2008, he worked as a lawyer and federal lobbyist at a firm he co-founded. He resigned from this post when his father was asked by then-Senator Barack Obama, who at the time refused donations from lobbyists, to join his presidential ticket. Along the way, he's enjoyed stints as chairman of PARADIGM, a hedge fund agency. He also held a job as senior vice president at MBNA Corporation, the world's largest independent credit-card issuer at the time. In 2006, President George Bush nominated Hunter to serve on the Amtrak board of directors. He served a five-year term after a unanimous confirmation by the U.S. Senate. What has he been up to recently? In May 2014, Hunter signed on as a lawyer and board member of Burisma Holdings Ltd., a large Ukrainian gas production company. The appointment caused a stir, given that it occurred around the same time that his father and the White House were engaged in diplomatic missions in the region to wean Ukraine off Russian energy sources. Critics argued that Hunter's work for a country promoting Ukrainian energy independence was a blatant conflict of interest. But, the Vice President's office brushed off the controversy, insisting that Hunter is a private citizen whose actions don't represent the views of the government . That brings us to the present day. Hunter may no longer be in the Navy, but he still has his hands in public service. He's the board chairman at World Food Program USA, an organization fighting poverty and hunger, and he serves on the President's Advisory board of the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington . Hunter also has a job at his alma mater as an adjunct professor at Georgetown's School of Foreign Service. He is married and has three daughters. | Hunter Biden was discharged from the military this week after failing a drug test.
He is a graduate of Georgetown University and Yale Law School.
He's held jobs in many fields, including stints as a lawyer and a lobbyist. |
09a4a66282433d673165054e9c0ad3918939e1d2 | By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor and Jason Groves . PUBLISHED: . 06:39 EST, 24 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:33 EST, 24 June 2013 . Warning: Labour leader Ed Miliband last week raised doubts that safeguards could work to prevent arms falling into the hands of extremist groups . Ed Miliband has been invited to a secret security meeting today in an apparent attempt to persuade him to soften his opposition to arming Syrian rebels. The Labour leader will be briefed by spy chiefs and military top brass at the Government’s National Security Council (NSC), which is chaired by David Cameron. The pair have clashed over the idea of sending weapons to help end the civil war and Mr Miliband is expected to repeat concerns that arms could find their way to extremists, while backing moves for a peace conference. Labour sources denied his hands would be ‘dipped in blood’ by accepting the invitation and suggested the meeting was routine. Downing Street also played down his role, saying it ‘makes sense’ for opposition leaders to discuss foreign policy issues. Mr Miliband attended an NSC meeting just once before – during the Libyan crisis in 2011. It comes after Mr Miliband warned the Prime Minister he must ‘build the greatest possible consensus’ across political parties before intervening in Syria. The NSC is chaired by the Prime Minister to oversee all aspects of Britain’s security. The head of the armed forces and the intelligence agencies attend to brief ministers on the biggest threats at home and overseas. Permanent members include Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Chancellor George Osborne, Foreign Secretary William Hague and Home Secretary Theresa May. Defence Secretary Philip Hammond, International Development Secretary Justine Greening and security minister James Brokenshire are also expected to attend. Mr Cameron’s official spokesman said Mr Miliband would be expected to ‘contribute fully’ to the talks. Fire power: A Free Syrian Army fighter is seen carrying his weapon near the frontline in the Al-Sakhour neighborhood of Aleppo last week, as the row grows over the UK providing lethal support . ‘They will be talking about a number of issues including Afghanistan, Iran and Syria. ‘It makes sense to discuss major issues of foreign policy and that’s what is happening tomorrow.’ However, the policy differences are most stark over the issue of Syria. Mr Miliband has accused the Prime . Minister of spending too much ‘political capital and energy’ on lifting . the EU arms embargo to supply weapons to the rebels, without securing a . major breakthrough at last week’s G8 summit. There . are growing fears that any move by Britain to arm opposition forces . could see weapons falling into the hands of extremist groups with links . to Al Qaeda. The Labour leader has questioned what safeguards the government believes could work in practice to stop this happening. In the Commons last week Mr Miliband . urged Mr Cameron ‘to proceed with the greatest possible clarity on his . strategy and purpose and to seek to build the greatest possible . consensus across this House’. Talks: The G8 summit in Northern Ireland, hosted by David Cameron, was dominated last week by global divisions over how to end the bloody conflict . The Prime Minister appeared to signal a change in approach, and suggested he wanted to reach cross-party agreement. ‘I appreciate the fact that [Mr Miliband] has tried to provide consensus on issues of foreign policy - we should always try to do that, and I hope we can re-forge that consensus in the months ahead.’ But he defended the decision to push for the lifting of the EU arms embargo. ‘ It sent a powerful signal that there is not a moral equivalence between Assad on the one hand and the official opposition, who want a democratic Syria, on the other. ‘That has helped to add to the pressure. There is a huge danger that people will fall into the trap of believing Assad’s argument, which is that the only alternative to him is terrorism and extremism. ‘We should stand for something else in the House and in this country - we should stand up for people who want democracy, freedom and the sorts of things we take for granted right here.’ | Labour leader to attend Downing Street talks with senior ministers .
Has warned of dangers of arms falling into hands of extremists .
Downing Street insists no decision has been made to provide weapons . |
09a5c95d7557dbd71d2e970e57a0c689b69ca08a | London, England (CNN) -- Irish football officials have lodged an official complaint with world ruling body FIFA after Thierry Henry confessed that he handled the ball in the build-up to the goal which sent France to next summer's World Cup. Television cameras showed Henry guiding the ball with his hand twice, before William Gallas scored from his resulting cross to give "Les Bleus" a narrow win in the two-legged World Cup play-off against the Republic of Ireland. "I will be honest. It was a handball but I am not the referee," the Barcelona striker told reporters after the match in Paris. The Irish Justice Ministry confirmed to CNN that Dermot Ahern had asked the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) to demand a replay in the interests of fair play. "Thierry Henry has admitted handling the ball, claims he told the ref he handled it. Millions of people worldwide saw it was a blatant double handball -- not to mention a double offside -- and we should put the powers that be in the cozy world of FIFA on the spot and demand a replay," Ahern said in a statement sent to CNN. "They probably won't grant it as we are minnows in world football but let's put them on the spot. It's the least we owe the thousands of devastated young fans around the country. Otherwise if that result remains it reinforces the view that if you cheat you will win." The FAI later confirmed that it had taken the matter to FIFA. "I really believe the integrity of the game has been questioned last night," chief executive John Delaney told reporters. "The governing body of world football have to step up to the plate and accede to our call for a replay." Delaney said the FAI had also written to the French football federation. "They need to look at themselves in this situation. Henry is their captain and a wonderful footballer, but does he want to be like Diego Maradona and his legacy to be this handball, this goal that got them to the World Cup in an unjust manner? If we had qualified in this manner, I wouldn't be happy," he said. "It is up to the people who govern the game now. Every time I go to a FIFA congress I hear about fair play and integrity. This was a defining game with the whole world watching, and if FIFA believe in fair play and integrity, this is their opportunity to step forward." The FAI has argued that there is a precedent for the result to be struck out, following FIFA's ruling that Uzbekistan had to replay a play-off against Bahrain for the 2006 World Cup in Germany after the referee made a mistake in awarding a penalty. "The Football Association of Ireland is hoping that FIFA and its disciplinary committee will, on behalf of football fans worldwide, act in a similar fashion so that the standards of fair play and integrity can be protected," the FAI said. FIFA confirmed it had received the Irish request for a replay, but gave no timescale on a decision. However, it said that under its regulations the referee's decision cannot be changed. "Law 5 states that the decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final," it said. "The referee may only change a decision on realising that it is incorrect or, at his discretion, on the advice of an assistant referee or the fourth official, provided that he has not restarted play or terminated the match." Irish captain Richard Dunne, who spoke to Henry on the final whistle, said he felt cheated by the goal. "He admitted he handled it, but it doesn't make me feel any better because we are not going to the World Cup finals," the defender said. "FIFA will probably be happy. Yet again the big decisions have gone for the bigger team." Football's international governing body had faced criticism from several Irish players that the seeding system for the play-off draw favored more powerful nations such as France. Blog: When will FIFA see what's staring them in the face? Dunne's teammate Robbie Keane admitted it was "hard to speak," as he struggled to come to terms with the result. "With the way we played, we certainly deserved to win the game and it killed us near the end with that handball," he was quoted by the FAI Web site as saying. "I've seen the replay but we knew anyway (it was handball). You could see by the reaction of the players, especially Shay (Given) who was two yards away from it. You don't get a reaction like that. It was a clear handball. "He (Henry) almost caught the ball and actually ran into the net with it. We're devastated." Ireland team manager Giovanni Trapattoni told reporters that the referee had time to ask the linesman and then Henry. "It would not have been the first time a player would have asked and it would not have been out of turn. "We are angry," the Italian continued. "It is a bitter evening for me. I would prefer to have gone out on penalties." Fanzone: Five of football's most famous injustices . But former France international David Ginola was emphatic that Henry should not have "owned up." "You don't do that," he told CNN. "Henry was doing his job. You can't blame him for doing everything he could for his team and country to get them to South Africa. "But it was a shame to finish the game like that as Ireland had played very well. "Referees need more help on the pitch, so as not to allow things like that. Obviously the referee was not well-positioned and couldn't see." English Referees Union chief Alan Leighton told CNN that Swedish official Martin Hansson had clearly missed a huge decision. "I think the incident was more of instinct than deliberately attempting to cheat but it does seem that the ball hit his hand twice and therefore there is an issue." But on the wider issue of cheating, Leighton said: "It is all very well to blame the referees for not spotting it but fundamentally it starts with the players. "I think the players have to think about the game, think about the reputation of the game and their own reputations and say look actually there is a line that we will not cross." | NEW: Republic of Ireland officials lodge official complaint with world ruling body FIFA .
NEW: FAI also writes to French counterparts asking for World Cup play-off to be replayed .
Cameras showed France's Thierry Henry guiding ball with his hand twice, before William Gallas scored .
Ex-France player David Ginola said Henry was only doing his job for his country and should not be blamed . |
09a60c5636f0b937874f8374afc26ece09cb2d7c | By . Sarah Griffiths . PUBLISHED: . 13:01 EST, 2 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:23 EST, 2 September 2013 . Most children are told not to pick their noses in public, but a company in Japan has produced a rubber nose for people to use as a polite prop when they have the urge to pick. The $2 rubber noses are sold in vending machines in Japan and are made by Bandai. The hojirerun desu, which translates as 'pickable nose' comes in two colours and four shapes to suit customers' picking preferences and even makes a noise when the user removes their finger from the faux nostrils. The $2 hojirerun desu (pickable nose) is sold in vending machines in Japan and is made by Bandai . The noses come in a beige colour as well as clear for those who enjoy the voyeuristic experience of nose picking and make a 'suction-pop noise' at the end of a session, Medical Daily reported. The four shapes include 'regular', 'wild nose', 'beauty nose' and 'idols nose' with one model including a 'rare secret' of fake nasal mucus for users to extract. It is not known why the company has chosen to roll out the bizarre product, but a previous scientific study has reported that the act as rhinotillexis (or nose picking) is good for humans. It is not known why the company has chosen to roll out the bizarre product, but a previous scientific study has reported that the act as rhinotillexis (or nose picking) is good for humans. Here a woman is shown 'wearing' the nose keyring in front of her own . Some researchers believe humans pick their noses several times a day but that the ingestion of nasal mucus could actually boost the immune system, which means a fake nose cannot replace the benefits. In a bid to unpick the health benefits of rhinotillexis, Professor Scott Napper asked pupils to eat their mucus after picking in a bid to understand the immune system. The Canadian academic believes eating mucous in the nose - which contains a cocktail of antiseptic enzymes - may boost the immune system by introducing small and harmless amounts of germs back into the body. The noses come in a beige colour as well as clear for those who enjoy the voyeuristic experience of nose picking and makes a 'suction-pop noise' when at the end of a session . His theory follows others that suggest improved hygiene has led to an increase in allergies and auto-immune disorders. The associate professor of biochemistry at the University of Saskatchewan is a firm believer in the powers of picking your nose. He said: ‘Nature pushes us to do different things because it is to our advantage to have certain behaviours, to consume different types of foods. The rubber noses come in two colours and four shapes (pictured) to suit customers' picking preferences and make a noise when the user removes their finger from the faux nostrils. A 'rare secret' of fake nasal mucus for users to extract comes with one model . 'So maybe when you have an urge like this to pick your nose and eat it, you should just go with nature.’ Experts such as Dr Hilary Longhurst, consultant immunologist from the Bart’s NHS Trust, believe a similar thing occurs when we bite our nails. ‘Unless your hands are filthy, the bugs we encounter when biting our nails could boost our immune system,' she said. Some researchers believe humans pick their noses several times a day but that the ingestion of nasal mucus could actually boost the immune system, which means a fake nose cannot replace the benefits . The immune system works by developing a 'memory' and making a note of how to fight each bug it has ever encountered. When a bug is encountered a second time, the immune system reaches into its 'memory' and releases weapons — called memory lymphocytes — that know how to kill it. | The hojirerun desu is sold in Japanese vending machines by Bandai .
It comes in four styles and two colours and makes a 'suction-pop' noise once the user removes their finger from the rubber nostril .
However, scientists believe there are benefits to real nose picking and ingesting mucus boosts the immune system . |
09a633e0de67303d688c28c4fa99c7fdbffb73ee | The Spielberg classic Jaws has heavily influenced Western Australia's strategy on how to deal with sharks, according to latest research. It allowed politicians to promote the idea of killing sharks rather than developing strategies to make beaches safe for swimmers. According to researchers, the 'Jaws effect' has propelled the idea that killing 'the shark' is the only solution. The Spielberg classic Jaws has heavily influenced Western Australia's strategy on how to deal with sharks, according to latest research . Other factors influenced authorities, such as the intention of sharks and the perception that all human-shark interactions are fatal. In the 1975 classic a group of men set out to kill a great white after a young woman is killed by a shark. The men battle it out with the shark, in a of man vs nature scenario. This October, the West Australian government withdrew an application to the federal government to extend its policy of using aquatic traps although it did get permission to kill sharks deemed by the government to pose an 'imminent threat' to people on the beach. According to research, Jaws allowed politicians to promote the idea of killing sharks rather than developing strategies to make beaches safe for swimmers . According to researchers, the 'Jaws effect' has propelled the idea that killing 'the shark' is the only solution . In the 1975 classic a group of men set out to kill a great white after a young woman is killed by a shark. The men battle it out with the shark, in a of man vs nature scenario . A number of shark 'bites' will cause dramatic escalations of policy response, for example, the kill order instituted in 2011 after the idea that one 'rogue' shark may have been responsible for a number of attacks. November 29, 2014 - 13-year-old Cameron Pearman was bit in the leg at Pyramids Beach about 80 km south of Perth . October 2, 2014 - Bunbury man Sean Pollard, lost part of both of his arms after the attack at Wylie Bay. March 29, 2014 - The body of Michael McGregor was found near Mandurah with shark bites on it. November 23, 2013 - Surfer Chris Boyd was killed by a shark in the waters off Gracetown in WA's South West . July 14, 2012 - Ben Linden, 24, was killed while surfing near Wedge Island, Western Australia, 180km north of Perth. October 22, 2011 - American tourist George Thomas Wainwright, 32, sustained horrific injuries and died while scuba diving off Rottnest Island. A Department of Fisheries boat was dispatched to try to kill the shark, but it was not successful. Doctor Christopher Neff, of the University of Sydney, said: 'In particular, the Western Australian Government's current 'Imminent Threat' policy to catch and kill 'rogue' sharks is predicated on Hollywood fiction. 'This policy is using myths as the basis for killing sharks that are protected by law and which provides no real beach safety. 'This fiction serves an important political purpose because films allow politicians to rely on familiar narratives following shark bites to blame individual sharks in order to make the events governable and to trump evidence-based science. 'The message from this research is that politicians do not have a right to their own set of scientific facts about sharks, no matter how popular the movie. This October, the West Australian government withdrew an application to the federal government to extend its policy of using aquatic traps although it did get permission to kill sharks deemed by the government to pose an 'imminent threat' to people on the beach . Other factors influenced authorities, such as the intention of sharks and the perception that all human-shark interactions are fatal . 'Unpacking the politics of shark bites, or any public policy issue, involves addressing the way words and images are used to paint a picture for the public and inform policy choices. 'This research therefore offers broader implications for policy analysis. 'It identifies a worrying style of policy making where widely known fiction can be used to navigate the attribution of blame and to prescribe policy responses.' A number of shark 'bites' will cause dramatic escalations of policy response, for example, the kill order instituted in 2011 after the idea that one 'rogue' shark may have been responsible for a number of attacks . Doctor Christopher Neff, of the University of Sydney, said: 'In particular, the Western Australian Government's current 'Imminent Threat' policy to catch and kill 'rogue' sharks is predicated on Hollywood fiction . | Research has revealed that the film Jaws influenced authorities' policies .
It claims Jaws allowed politicians in WA to promote the killing of sharks .
Jaws instilled the idea that killing 'the shark' was the only solution . |
09a6a381e13dc739539e4671814ffb9092961be8 | JALOZAI REFUGEE CAMP, Pakistan (CNN) -- It's an exodus on an almost biblical scale. And it has produced a mosaic of plastic and canvas that is now home to more than 93,000 people -- with more arriving each day. These children are among the thousands of refugees this month at the Jalozai camp in western Pakistan. This is Jalozai refugee camp near Peshawar, suddenly almost a city in its own right as thousands flee the violence raging between the Pakistani army and Taliban fighters. The United Nations estimates that it's the biggest movement of people in Pakistan since the country was formed in 1947. Officials say up to 1.8 million people have been forced from their homes. Food is available at this camp -- fruit traders work their way through the avenues of tents. But people here can't afford to buy much. They make bread with flour handed out by the United Nations, but they say it's not enough. "It's very difficult, there's lots of jostling," says Mehboob Shah, a man at the camp. When there is food, he says, "it's very poor quality -- even the cows won't eat it." Sar Bari Khan arrived 15 days ago with his wife and three children. He says his family walked almost 62 miles to escape the fighting. They had to leave his father behind. Watch a report on the plight of refugees » . There are eight field hospitals in this camp. On a recent morning, 380 new patients registered for treatment -- most of them women and children, suffering from diarrhea and heat stroke. Some have signs of mental trauma. "They are complaining of fear, phobias, palpitations and all symptoms seem to have started since they arrive in this camp," said Abid Farooqi, with the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences. Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik underlined the seriousness of the situation. "I feel that this is even worse than the earthquake in Kashmir," he said, referring to the 2005 disaster. He noted that most of the people are from an area with relatively cold weather, and are unprepared for the heat here. Officials, he said, "are making all possible arrangements" to help. Water tankers provide a lifeline in the stifling heat. And on the edge of the camp, workers are clearing the ground for more tents. There is no sign of this influx ending any time soon. | Thousands flee south to escape conflict between military and Taliban .
Jalozai refugee camp near Peshawar suddenly almost a city in its own right .
The U.N. says it's the biggest movement of people since Pakistan formed in 1947 .
Food is "very poor quality -- even the cows won't eat it," says man at camp . |
09a6a6508215628e6aeb321c63477be719268f7e | It may sound like something from 2011 thriller Limitless, but researchers have discovered a pill that helps adults learn new skills as quickly as children. A professor at Harvard rewired the brain of a visually impaired women to process images by giving her Alzheimer’s drug donepezil. The pill boosts chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin and acetylcholine, which are both found in high concentrations in the brains of young children. In 2011 thriller Limitless, Bradley Cooper, pictured centre, takes a pill that opens up closed regions of his brain. This boost his intelligence, motor skills and ability to learn new languages . These chemicals naturally reduce with age. Children under seven develop new skills rapidly because their brains go through what’s called ‘critical periods’ of development. Due to high levels of certain chemicals and the fast growth of the brain, young children learn new languages, absorb information and pick up musical skills, for example, much faster than adults. In adults, these skills become harder as the brain reaches peak development and loses this ‘elasticity’. In Limitless, Bradley Cooper takes a pill that opens up closed regions of his brain to boost his intelligence, motor skills and more. The drug donepezil is a cholinesterase inhibitor. This means it increases the amount of acetylcholine around nerve endings and helps boost brain function. Professor Takao Hensch gave donepezil to a 14-year-old girl called Shannon, a patient at the Boston Children’s Hospital. Shannon has a condition called amblyopia that impairs her vision, also known as a ‘lazy eye.’ Children develop new skills rapidly as their brains go through 'critical periods' of development. This means they learn new languages, absorb information and pick up musical skills much faster than adults. In adults, these skills become harder as the brain reaches peak development and loses this 'elasticity' In December, Professor Hensch used an . epilepsy drug called valproate to teach tone-deaf adults how to pick out . different musical notes. The men who took part in the experiment had no musical training as children and were asked to perform online tasks to train their ears. After two weeks of the exercises, they were tested on their ability to differentiate tones to see if the training had more effect than it typically does for men of their age. Participants . who took valproate were able to correctly identify an average of . 5.09 notes, while people in a control group could only identify 3.5. Following tests with donepezil, Shannon was able to process images with her affected eye, in the same way a newborn would. In December, Professor Hensch similarly used an epilepsy drug called valproate to teach tone-deaf adults how to pick out different musical notes. Participants who took the valproate were able to correctly identify an average of 5.09 notes, while people in a control group could only identify 3.5. ‘The brain is not losing its plasticity forever as we grow older,’ Professor Hensch told The Atlantic. ‘Instead, it throws on the brakes at certain times. It’s the brain’s job to be elastic, and it wants to rewire. 'But through evolution, it’s created a lot of molecules to make sure it doesn’t rewire too much.’ He continued: ‘Much of our adult behaviour reflects the neural circuits sculpted by experience in infancy and early childhood. ‘At no other time in life does the surrounding environment so potently shape brain function - from basic motor skills, sensation or sleep to higher cognitive processes like language. ‘How this plasticity waxes and wanes with age carries an impact far beyond neuroscience, including education policy, therapeutic approaches to developmental disorders or strategies for recovery from brain injury in adulthood.’ | Donepezil is used to improve memory function in Alzheimer’s patients .
Children learn skills quickly as their brains go through 'critical periods’
Researchers found donepezil can revert adult brains to these periods .
It increases the 'elasticity' of the brain making it capable of learning rapidly .
Researchers rewired a visually impaired patient’s brain to process images .
The drug works by boosting chemicals in the brain that reduce with age . |
09a73dfcdb8b8d00304855dbbaf788e666110abf | By . Martin Robinson . Strife: Michael O'Leary's Ryanair has revealed its first drop in profits for five years but maintains their customer service is improving . Ryanair has suffered its first fall in annual profits for five years but maintains its much-maligned customer service is improving 'rapidly'. The budget airline has today revealed its post-tax profits were eight per cent lower at £426.5million (523million euros) to the end of March 2014 - down around £37million on a year earlier. The slide came despite boss Michael O'Leary's promise that the company would 'stop unnecessarily . p****** people off' and treating customers 'like the enemy'. Today the chief executive described the results as disappointing but said efforts . since September to reinvent Ryanair's image and reputation helped . passenger traffic rise four per cent in the second half of the year. After years of growth the budget airline was forced to issue an unprecedented two profits warnings in the past 12 months. O'Leary also decided to offer a more 'sophisticated' experience of passengers, including ending the scramble to get on his planes by offering allocated seating for almost £5. As part of ending the airline's 'over-abrupt', 'go to hell' culture, he also promised strict hand-luggage . restrictions would be relaxed. He also pledged not to overly penalise passengers who make a ‘genuine . mistake’ – such as forgetting to bring their boarding card, which often . results in a £70 charge to reprint them. Decline: The budget airline - which has been criticised for treating its passengers 'like the enemy' - was recently forced to issue its second profits warning in a year ahead of these disappointing results . Outspoken: Mr O'Leary, who has gained a . reputation as a corporate loudmouth, has been the face of Ryanair for . almost 20 years. He has seen it through two decades of extraordinary . growth . . The . airline, which operates more than 1,600 routes from 68 bases expects to fly 84.6 million passengers in the next year. Overall, . they are predicting a recovery in profits for the current year to . between £473 million and £505.6million. Over the next five years, the airline plans to grow to more . than 110 million customers a year, it said. Mr O'Leary, who has gained a reputation as a corporate loudmouth, has been the face of Ryanair for almost 20 years. But in the past 12 months, under pressure over customer service, he has said he wants to change his ways. Over the autumn a charm offensive backfired when the outspoken tycoon . was bombarded on Twitter after agreeing to host a question-and-answer . session from customers. He posted a picture of himself on the social networking site dressed as a leprechaun before fielding tweets. Many . customers told Mr O'Leary what an ‘a***hole’ they thought he was - with . user Andrew Riddell asking him: 'Have you by any chance just hired . British Gas's former head of publicity you Plum'. The . Ryanair boss replied: 'Hey, don't call me plum. Pudding would be more . accurate!', before later admitting: 'I'm an a***hole. But they still . love me.' | Budget airline's 2013/14 profits were £426.5m - down around £37m .
Michael O'Leary brought in measures to stop 'p****** off customers'
Offered allocated seats and relaxed hand luggage policy in softer approach .
Controversial airline boss says profits and passengers will rise this year . |
09a9493b664ff3fbd69c40cbcb23cbbca312e461 | By . Eddie Wrenn . da Vinci or not? The younger Mona Lisa is seen in a vault in Onex near Geneva . Experts appeared confident yesterday when they unveiled a younger version of the Mona Lisa, claiming they could prove the painting was an original da Vinci, portraying perhaps the most-famous smile in humanity in her younger years. The Zurich-based Mona Lisa Foundation unveiled what is known as the 'Isleworth Mona Lisa' to the public, and said mathematical analysis proved it was the hand of the Master at work here. But other experts remain unconvinced, with Oxford professor Martin Kemp telling the BBC there is 'no basis for thinking that there was an earlier portrait'. He said: 'The Isleworth Mona Lisa mistranslates subtle details of the original, . including the sitter’s veil, her hair, the translucent layer of her . dress, the structure of the hands. 'The landscape is devoid of atmospheric subtlety. The head, like all . other copies, does not capture the profound elusiveness of the . original. 'The scientific analysis can at most state that there is nothing to say . that this cannot be by Leonardo. The infrared reflectography and X-ray . points very strongly to its not being by Leonardo.' The Mona Lisa Foundation begs to differ. 'So far, not . one scientific test has been able to disprove that the painting is by . Leonardo,' said art historian Stanley Feldman. 'We have used methods that were not available to Leonardo 500 years ago. 'When we do a very elementary mathematical test, we have discovered that all of the elements of the two bodies - the two people, the two sitters - are in exactly the same place. It strikes us that in order for that to be so accurate, so meticulously exact, only the person who did one did the other ... It's an extraordinary revelation in itself, and we think it's valid.' Scroll down for video . Is it me you're looking for? The painting on the left is arguably the most recognisable in the world - but is the image on the right real or fake? Secret smile: The latest researchers suggest that da Vinci's handiwork is on display in both paintings . The Isleworth painting - likewise a portrait of a young woman with an enigmatic smile - is slightly larger, was painted on canvas and has brighter colors than the famed Louvre Museum masterpiece painted on wood. The posture, folded hand positions, faces, expressions and clothing are similar, while the landscape in the background is different. The foundation says the painting turned up in the home of an English nobleman in the late 1800s - thus the connection to Isleworth - and was shipped to the United States for safekeeping during World War I. After the war, it was analysed in Italy, and eventually taken to Switzerland where it remained in a bank vault for the last 40 years, the group said. The Isleworth Mona Lisa has been known publicly for generations - if forgotten by the broader public - and the book excerpts numerous news headlines about the painting and the possibility of its Da Vinci connection in the early 20th century. hat do you think? The Mona Lisa Foundation, a non-profit organisation based in Zurich, offer 'historical, comparative and scientific evidence' to back their claims . World famous: The painting by Leonardo da Vinci, pictured, has been imitated a thousand times, satirised, stolen and vandalised with acid, red paint, stones and even a teacup . Admiration: Art fans look at the Mona Lisa painting by Leonardo da Vinci, left, in the Louvre museum in Paris . The Gioconda is an alternative title . for the Mona Lisa; Mona is an abbreviation of ‘Ma donna’, or My Lady, . while Gioconda is Italian for the jocund, or happy, one. The sitter’s real name is in fact thought to be Lisa Gherardini, wife of a rich Florence silk merchant, Francesco del Giocondo. On . Leonardo’s death in 1519, the picture — the Louvre’s version, that is — . was left to his assistant, Salai, who in turn sold it to King Francis I . of France. The painting remained in the royal collection until the French Revolution in 1789, when it was moved to the Louvre. There it has remained ever since, with . a few notable absences. Napoleon kept it in his bedroom in the . Tuileries Palace and, during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1, it was . transferred for safekeeping to the Arsenal in Brest. During . World War II, it migrated all over France to avoid damage. It has also . been on tour to New York and Washington, Tokyo and Moscow. But . the picture’s biggest excursion was in 1911, when it was stolen by an . Italian Louvre worker, called Vincenzo Peruggia, who wanted it returned . to Italy. He pulled off . the biggest art theft in history in the simplest way: hiding in a broom . cupboard during the day, then slipping out after closing time, the Mona . Lisa stuffed under his coat. He . kept it in his flat for two years and was only discovered when he . brazenly tried to flog the picture to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. That wasn’t the end of Mona Lisa’s . troubles. In 1956, the poor old girl was first scarred with acid, and . then attacked with a rock. Bulletproof . glass protected it when, in 1974, a disabled woman, protesting against . the Louvre’s policy on handicapped visitors, threw red paint at the . picture. The glass again . saved the picture only three years ago, when an angry Russian woman, . denied French citizenship, threw a teacup at the painting. Meanwhile, . the other supposed Mona Lisa gathered dust in a Swiss bank vault, where . it has rested for 40 years. After Pulitzer’s death, he left the picture . to his girlfriend and, on her death, the Swiss consortium bought it. | Swiss consortium argue their version is his first stab at the painting .
But other experts believe it is a later copy . |
09a954eba200e804dbaa14a0a32a26d91aac729f | By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 17:26 EST, 28 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:08 EST, 28 January 2013 . Police in Istanbul have been scanning security camera footage today to try to trace a woman who went missing while vacationing alone in the city, an official said. Sarai Sierra, 33, from New York City, was last in touch with her family on January 21, the day she was supposed to fly home after two weeks in Turkey. A police official said authorities were reviewing footage from around Istanbul's Taksim neighborhood - the city's main hub where she was staying at a hostel. Scroll down for video . No trace: Sarai Sierra, a 33-year-old mother of two young sons, set off for Istanbul on January 7 and has since vanished. Her family last heard from her on January 21 . Eye for detail: Mrs Sierra, a freelance photographer, had gone on the trip to snap photos of the ancient country . Contact: The last time her family heard from her was on January 21 . Several police teams have also been . dispatched to surrounding neighborhoods to find possible clues and . witnesses, the official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity, . in line with government rules that bar civil servants from speaking to . reporters without prior authorization. Turkey's private Dogan news agency . meanwhile, reported that police had established that Sierra had traveled . to Amsterdam, Netherlands, from Istanbul on January 15 and then . journeyed on to Munich, Germany, on January 16, before returning to . Istanbul on January 19. Police were trying to determine the reason for her visit to the European cities, the report said. Police were also trying to find the identity of a person she had been chatting with on the Internet, Dogan reported. Before she went missing, the . mother-of-two told family members that she planned to take some . photographs at Galata Bridge, a well-known tourist destination about a . mile away from Taksim that spans the Golden Horn waterway. She was then supposed to begin traveling home and was scheduled to arrive in New York City on Tuesday afternoon. Her belongings, including her . passport and phone, were found in her room. The first police official . said authorities were therefore not able to track her by her cell phone. Sierra's husband and brother were . traveling to Istanbul to follow the search. Her two sons, aged 11 . and nine, do not know their mother is missing, her brother David Jimenez . said on Sunday. Mystery: A view of the street with the hostel, in yellow, where Sarai Sierra, a New York City woman, left all her possessions before she disappeared . Disappearance: Sarai Sierra had taken pictures in Taksim Square and posted them to her Instagram shortly before she vanished . Sierra had planned to go on the trip . with a friend but ended up going by herself when the friend couldn't . make it. She was looking forward to exploring her hobby of photography, . her family said. Her husband, Steven Sierra, waited for hours at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey on the 22nd to pick her up. Airline attendants in Turkey said that his wife did not show up for the flight. ‘We just want to find her and get her home safe,’ he told the Staten Island Advance from his home in the Silver Lake neighborhood of the borough yesterday. Happily married: Mrs Sierra pictured with her husband, Steven; the couple has been married for 14 years . Skyline: Mrs Sierra posted a series of pictures from Turkey on her Instagram account, including this one of Isanbul . The panicked husband also found out . that his wife’s passport, clothes, phone chargers, and medical cards . were found in her room at a hostel in Beyoglu, Turkey. The hostel’s . owner told Turkish authorities that he had last seen her last on Sunday . night. Mr Sierra told ABC News that . her behavior is highly unusual, and that the mother to two preteen boys . seemed perfectly content with her life, and going off the radar is . extremely out-of-character for her. He . and Mrs Sierra’s brother, David Jimenaz, are scheduled to arrive in . Turkey by Monday afternoon and will continue their search aided by local . officials. They said that they will also look in hospitals to see if . Mrs Sierra somehow sustained an injury and was unable to make contact . with them. The heartbroken . husband said that he’s been married to her for more than 14 years, . adding that his love for her is ‘deeper than it is for any individual'. He told WABC: ‘You . have so many thoughts going through your mind, you don’t know what to . think, you don’t know what to believe, you don’t know what to expect, . you don’t know what will come out of this.’ Sunset: Mrs Sierra wrote: 'Sunset, Istanbul style' on this picture; the last picture posted was from January 20 . During her last few days in the Eurasian country, Mrs Sierra planned to head to the Galata Bridge, a well-known tourist destination that spans the Golden Horn waterway, to take some photographs, her mother, Betzaida Jimenez, told the Associated Press. Crime in Turkey is generally low and Istanbul is a relatively safe city for travelers, though there are areas where women would be advised to avoid going alone at night. The Galata and the nearby Galata Bridge areas have been gentrified and are home to fish restaurants, cafes and boutiques. Mrs Sierra's friend, Magalena Rodriguez, told the . New York Daily News that the petite woman, who stands at 5ft2in and . weighs only 110 pounds, has fainted before without warning. Ms Rodriguez fears her friend has fainted and could be hurt somewhere in the unfamiliar country. Man on a mission: Mr Sierra is heading over to Turkey to help local authorities search for his wife . Last stop: Mrs Sierra told her mother on her last day in Istanbul she planned to visit the Galata Bridge but missed her flight back . | Sarai Sierra, 33, a mother-of-two from Staten Island, went on three-week trip to Turkey .
The freelance photographer was supposed to travel with a friend, who dropped out at the last-minute .
Failed to board flight from Istanbul to Newark Int'l; brother and husband fly to Europe to conduct search . |
09a9f201e0e8000f1bb1e0c65b59c1d4c19a76dd | There is nothing more disappointing than a soggy salad when it comes to summertime lunching. But such unsatisfactory snacks could become a thing of the past as scientists have found a way to genetically extending the life of lettuce so leaves will stay fresh for more than a week. By looking at the lettuce’s genetic make-up they are breeding selectively ‘tougher’ plants. No more soggy salad! Scientists have developed a way to genetically extend the life of lettuce so it stays crispy for up to eight days . Researchers from the University of Southampton found that smaller leaves with lots of cells packed closely together remain green, crisp and firm for longer. Having made the observation, Gail Taylor, a professor in plant biology at the university worked out which genes are responsible for these characteristics. She is now working with Vitacress - one of the biggest producers of packaged salads - to selectively breed lettuces with these qualities. It means the leaves, which often wilt and turn brown after just a few days, will last at home for up to eight days. ‘People will know how frustrating it is to buy a bag of prepared salad only for it to wilt and turn into a brown mush after a few days. If you don’t eat it quickly enough you end up being wasteful and throwing it away,’ Professor Taylor said. Small means fresh: Researchers from the University of Southampton found that smaller leaves with lots of cells packed closely together remain green, crisp and firm for longer . ‘Our research means growers will soon be supplying supermarkets with leaves that will last more than a week after you get them home. ‘That will allow families to do their weekly food shop and have a fresh salad on any day of the week. ‘Our findings are also applicable to spinach and rocket leaves, which often come in the mixed leaf bags. However, they already tend to be more hardy.’ Baby salad leaves, which are usually cos or lollo rossa, undergo rigorous processing – which includes harvesting, transportation, washing, sanitisation, removal of excess water, and packaging - before they reach supermarket shelves. Putting the spring back in greens: One professor in plant biology worked out which genes are responsible for these crispy lettuce leaves. Experimental specimens are pictured left and an experiment to test crispness is pictured right . Only the most robust leaves can survive this process without being bruised and damaged, which makes growing salad crops with ‘processable’ leaves extremely important for the packaged salad industry, as it reduces waste and increases shelf life. Professor Taylor found producers could also increase the shelf-life of salad by reducing the water used during growing by 20 per cent, which has the added benefit of being more environmentally friendly. ‘We were able to show if you reduce water use in intensive salad production by about 20 per cent, you actually develop smaller, tougher leaves with stiff cells walls, which is what we’re interested in,’ she said. Cream of the crop? Professor Taylor found producers could increase the shelf-life of salad by reducing the water used during growing by 20 per cent, which has the added benefit of being more environmentally friendly. A filed of selectively bred lettuces are pictured . She said that the researchers have used fundamental biological knowledge and applied it through genetics and crop production techniques to help Vitacress improve the quality of its products. Professor Taylor said there is a trade-off between taste, crispiness, and shelf-life ‘because you want the leaves to be firm but not too hard.’ Dr Steve Rothwell, from Vitacress, said: ‘The results open the door to exciting further studies across a wider range of crops and geographies to drive down the use of water while improving crop quality and shelf life.’ Salad redesigned: The researchers have used fundamental biological knowledge and applied it through genetics and crop production techniques to help Vitacress improve the quality of its product . | Researchers from the University of Southampton found that smaller leaves with lots of cells packed closely together remain green and firm for longer .
They identified the genes responsible and are breeding selectively ‘tougher’ plants that could stay crispy for up to eight days after purchase .
Scientists are working with Vitacress - one of the biggest producers of packaged salads - to selectively breed lettuces with these qualities .
They also found that producers could also increase the shelf-life of salad by reducing the water used during growing by 20 per cent . |
09aa4f0ce44545b8d61bf77913a3067f473af35a | Mario Balotelli has been hungry for goals at Liverpool since joining in a £16million deal from Milan in the summer but the Reds striker has portrayed his predatory instincts in an altogether different manner. The 24-year-old uploaded an Instagram picture of himself on Wednesday dressed in what appears to resemble a shark. Along with the caption, '@pumarunnining #puma we are forever faster and different??' the enigmatic forward has his face covered by a shark hoodie and with two hangers representing his hands. Mario Balotelli posted an Instagram picture of himself in a shark hoodie on Wednesday . While his style can be questioned, the Italy forward has already proven popular on Merseyside with Liverpool fans already singing a chant in his honour despite his lack of goals. Balotelli has only scored once in eight matches for the Reds this season - netting their opener in a 2-1 victory against Bulgarian side Ludogorets in the Champions League last month. This poor statistic is one Balotelli is all too aware of that needs improving - especially in the Premier League where he has failed to break his duck in five games for the club. Balotelli admits he needs to improve his goalscoring record of one goal in eight Liverpool appearances so far . Balotelli (second left) scored Liverpool's opener in their 2-1 Champions League win against Ludogorets . Mario Balotelli was speaking in an exclusive interview with Sport Magazine . 'I can see already that the Liverpool fans really like me, although I know that maybe they are a little upset because I don't score. I see they appreciate that I am working hard, though, which is nice for me,' he said in an exclusive interview with Sport magazine. 'I know I have one goal in the Champions League, but in the Premier League I have to start with one. After that, I might set myself a target, but I swear – right now my first league goal is my first and only objective. 'I need to get in the box more. I don't do it enough, but it is something I am working to try to do more. I have never been a real, out-and-out striker – I have always been someone who goes around the pitch, you know? The forward has been used largely as a lone striker by Reds boss Brendan Rodgers in the absence of Daniel Sturridge - who is expected to return from a thigh injury to face QPR on Sunday. Sturridge's inclusion in the Liverpool squad is a boost to Balotelli, who revealed his preference is to play alongside another striker in the first-team. 'If it was my choice, I would always go with two strikers,' he added. 'It's the way I like to play, but Brendan asked me to play as the first striker. I understand that when the ball comes from wide on the left or right, I need to be in the box otherwise there might be no-one there at all.' Daniel Sturridge (right) is expected to feature against QPR after returning from a thigh injury . Balotelli's stuttering start has matched that of his new club, who have won three of their first seven league games. However, the striker is confident things will improve and believes a strong English core can only help on the domestic front. 'I didn't really know much about the club before coming here, but I've been really surprised,' said the Italian, who spent two-and-a-half years at Manchester City before returning to his homeland. 'I knew they were a very good team but I didn't know they were as good as they are. Raheem Sterling (right) is one of many English talents to have impressed Balotelli at Liverpool . 'Of course we need to improve many things because we have started off not very good but I think the players here are amazing. 'It's good to see young English players here too: (Raheem) Sterling, (Jordan) Henderson, (Adam) Lallana. I think the more players you have like this, the better. 'Maybe over time you have got used to not seeing so many good, young English players like that but now we are seeing some - it's good that they are in my team.' Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard (left) has been compared to Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo by Balotelli . The best English player in the striker's eyes remains Steven Gerrard, whom he compared to his veteran Italy team-mate Andrea Pirlo. 'Gerrard is an amazing player. I had really not seen much of him before this season, apart from for England, but wow!' Balotelli said. 'I think of him as being at the same level as Pirlo. Vision, technique, but he is powerful as well. Stevie can do anything. 'It's going to be very difficult for the team to find another player like him in the future.' | Liverpool face QPR at Loftus Road on Sunday at 1.30pm .
Mario Balotelli has only scored once in eight Liverpool appearances .
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers says Balotelli needs to score more goals .
Balotelli says 'right now my first league goal is my first and only objective'
Daniel Sturridge is expected to return to the Liverpool squad this weekend . |
09aaa86e296174297b60401bc31a80ca919cb7f4 | Anxious mothers are more likely to have babies who cry for longer, according to latest research. Women who experience stress, worry or panic attacks before becoming pregnant are more than twice as likely to report that their child cried ‘excessively’. It is not known why this link exists, but researchers said mothers suffering from anxiety may have a more ‘intrusive’ parenting style that could cause babies to cry more. Stress: Mothers with a history of anxiety have babies who cry for longer, research showed (posed by model) Experts also suggest a baby’s excessive crying may be due to the mother’s production of stress hormones during pregnancy, which may cross the placenta and affect the development of a child’s brain. They are calling for women suffering from anxiety in pregnancy to be supported during early motherhood. GP Dr Clare Bailey, a parenting specialist, said: ‘Mothers can easily get into a traumatic negative cycle when worrying about a newborn child. The more they worry, the less they sleep and calm themselves down and the more they worry. ‘Anxiety can make them hypervigilant, distressed by crying and even rejected by their child. ‘It intuitively sounds likely that a calm mother feeling relaxed, comfortable and confident will be more likely to help a child regulate its crying, while an anxious mother may be less likely to help a baby to self-settle. Babies can pick up emotional cues very early on.’ Some 300 mothers were interviewed while pregnant and asked about their history of anxiety (posed by model) The study, published in the journal Archives Of Disease In Childhood, looked at nearly 300 women who were in the early stages of pregnancy. They were asked about their history of anxiety and depression, and were interviewed during their pregnancy and until their child was 16 months old. Ten per cent of the women reported excessive crying following the birth. Further analysis found that babies born to women with an anxiety disorder were significantly more likely to cry for longer periods. Child health specialist Dr Harriet Hiscock, from the University of Melbourne, warned that the role of the father also needed to be examined and cautioned against adding to ‘a mother’s day of worry by blaming her for her infant’s crying’. | Study in journal Archives of Disease in Childhood examined 300 women .
Those with history of anxiety disorder had babies who cried for longer .
GP Dr Clare Bailey: 'Mothers can easily get into a traumatic negative cycle' |
09ab8f4b9dbf3f73915f7e009eecd96bef82ae13 | A former gang member blew kisses to his friends and family members and declared 'I'm at peace' before he was put to death Tuesday evening for the fatal shootings of three rivals 14 years ago in San Antonio. Miguel Paredes, 32, was convicted along with two other men in the September 2000 slayings of three people with ties to the Mexican Mafia. The victims' bodies were rolled up in a carpet, driven about 50 miles southwest, dumped and set on fire. A farmer investigating a grass fire found the remains. Miguel Paredes, 32, is seen here in a jail house interview earlier this month. The former gang member was executed Wednesday night for the murder of three people . As Paredes entered the execution chamber, he blew kisses to his supporters. 'To the victim's family, I want you to know that I hope you let go of all the hate because of my actions,' he said. 'The lion came here as a lamb.' Paredes was pronounced dead at 6.54pm CDT, 22 minutes after being injected with a lethal dose of the sedative pentobarbital. The execution was delayed slightly to ensure the IV lines were functioning properly, said Department of Criminal Justice spokesman Jason Clark. The procedure calls for two working lines. Normally needles are placed in the crease of an inmate's arms near the elbows, but in Paredes' case, prison officials inserted IV lines into his hands. As the drugs began taking effect, he took several deep breaths while praying. He started to snore and eventually stopped. The execution was carried out after the US Supreme Court turned down a last-day appeal from attorneys who contended Paredes was mentally impaired and his previous lawyers were deficient for not investigating his mental history. His was the 10th lethal injection this year in Texas, the nation's most active death-penalty state (file photo) His was the 10th lethal injection this year in Texas, the nation's most active death-penalty state. One other Texas inmate is set to die in December and at least nine are scheduled for execution in early 2015, including four in January. Prosecutors said Paredes was the most aggressive shooter when Nelly Bravo and Shawn Michael Cain, both 23, and Adrian Torres, 27, showed up to collect drug money at the home of John Anthony Saenz, a leader in Paredes' gang. Defense attorneys argued that Paredes, who turned 18 six weeks before the slayings, grew up in a neighborhood where the only way to survive was to join a gang. No friends or relatives of the victims attended Paredes' execution. Cain's family said in a statement afterward that Cain was 'no longer with us for no other reason than being in the wrong place at the wrong time.' 'Our family has waited 14 years for justice to finally be served,' the statement said. Paperwork carrying Saenz's name was found in the debris with the victims' bodies and helped police solve the case. Saenz, 32, claimed self-defense and avoided the death penalty when jurors sentenced him to life. The third man convicted in the killings, Greg Alvarado, 35, pleaded guilty and also is serving life in prison. | Miguel Paredes, 32, was convicted along with two other men in the September 2000 slayings of three people with ties to the Mexican Mafia .
The victims' bodies were rolled up in a carpet, dumped and set on fire .
Paredes was pronounced dead at 6:54 p.m. CDT, 22 minutes after being injected with a lethal dose of the sedative pentobarbital .
His was the 10th lethal injection this year in Texas . |
09ab915592bb10e8c85787af30c7342afccb9662 | They came home from school to find their father missing. It had started off like any other day. As usual, Ronald Soza dropped off his kids Cesia, 17, and Ronald Jr., 14, at school in Pompano Beach, Florida. Ronald Soza returned home to find U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents waiting for him at his doorstep. Soza, an undocumented immigrant from Nicaragua, was taken to a detention center. When the teens -- both legal residents -- came home to an empty house at the end of the day, they realized something was very wrong. Then the phone rang. It was their father, trying to reassure them that everything would be OK. "Even though we knew my father might get deported, we never thought that it would actually happen, especially since ICE already took our mother away five years ago," Cesia told CNN. But it did happen. Ronald Soza was deported to Nicaragua, joining his wife, Marisela. Suddenly, the teens' parents were gone and the Soza children faced a frightening future with foster families and unfamiliar schools. It's been weeks since that terrible day last September, and they still haven't seen either of their parents. The Soza kids "were devastated after their mother was deported," said Nora Sandigo, a family friend and immigrant rights activist. Now, they're "living a tragedy ... they've lost everything, their parents, home... everything." Now they're living with Sandigo and her husband and two girls in Miami. How immigration reform would affect 3 families . ICE told CNN in a written statement that Soza was arrested last year and was allowed to return home under certain conditions, such as attending appointments with immigration authorities. But while under supervision, Soza committed 39 violations, including failure to attend appointments with immigration authorities, according to ICE. Cesia said her father was overwhelmed with his single-dad duties. He did attend his ICE appointments, she said, although "it's possible he arrived a few minutes late. But perhaps they counted that a no-show." The siblings represent America's young legal residents who are at risk for long-term emotional trauma because of a system that doesn't deal with the situation. About 5,100 U.S. children in 22 states have lost parents to deportation, according to the Applied Research Center -- a 30-year-old racial justice think tank. Some 15,000 more face similar threat in the next five years. These families live in constant fear of deportation as their kids attend school and pledge allegiance to the flag. Constantly worrying that their parents will be snatched away, children often feel angry, helpless and trapped. Families like the Sozas are referred to by the system as "mixed-status families." Ronald Jr. was born in the United States. Cesia -- who was born in Nicaragua -- lives in the U.S. legally under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. DACA grants two-year reprieves from deportation to undocumented youths who came to the U.S. as children. At their father's request, Sandigo has become the Sozas' legal guardian. She receives no government funds to offset the cost of raising them. Making ends meet isn't easy. The Soza teens rely on whatever their parents can send from Nicaragua. It's not much. Their father -- who works in construction -- says he has had a difficult time finding a job since moving there. "We've had to leave everyone we knew behind, switch schools, and we're constantly trying to catch up in our new school," said Cesia. In the middle of all the chaos, she's been juggling paperwork for her immigration status while filing applications to several universities. Another problem: being under Sandigo's guardianship may threaten Cesia's ability to qualify for college financial aid. "It's been really stressful doing all this without my parents," she said. "I miss them so much." But the siblings have managed to hold on to a few reminders of their former life: some family photos and their precious Chinese Shar-Pei, Snoopy. They talk to their parents on the phone every day. Cesia says it doesn't come close to having them by her side. Anguishing decision . Their behavior has changed since that day in September, Sandigo said. At school, the teens keep to themselves and don't talk much with other kids. Sandigo worries they may be depressed and are withdrawing from social interaction. Experts say repercussions of traumatic experiences like the Sozas' can take a serious toll. "The psychological effects on these children left behind include depression, possible conduct disorders, and having a constant sense of a diminishing and ambiguous future," said Dr. Luis H. Zayas, dean of the School of Social Work at the University of Texas. "No parent should be put through such an anguishing decision of whether or not to leave a child behind, but most importantly, how will these kids feel about their government when they grow up?" An estimated 340,000 babies born in the United States in 2008 were the children of unauthorized immigrants, according to the Pew Hispanic Center. That number is projected to grow. On average, 17 children are placed in state care each day as a result of the detention and removal of immigrant parents, according to ICE. Some kids are fortunate enough to have other family to stay with, said Zayas. Others get lost in the child welfare system. In some cases, younger children are transferred to state custody and put up for adoption, never to see their parents again. In the end, Zayas warns that the policy threatens to hurt the nation in the long run. "What other future does the U.S. have other than losing a whole generation of kids because of the way their parents were treated?" Torn between two nations . Desperate to reunite with their parents, Cesia and Robert Jr. have considered moving to Nicaragua -- an idea opposed by their father, who believes there's no future for them there. The parents left Nicaragua in the 1980s because the government, they said, was putting too much emphasis on political indoctrination and social control. But the teens' argument about why they should stay in the U.S. is this: They feel they are Americans. The United States is their home. "I came here when I was 18 months old and I don't know Nicaragua at all," Cesia said. Ronald Jr. admitted his Spanish is less than perfect. "I can contribute more here than in Nicaragua," he said. Sandigo wishes she could do more to help. "But I can't replace their parents," she said. She accuses the Obama administration of failing to honor its pledge to make parents like the Sozas less likely to be deported. The Obama administration stated in 2012 that undocumented immigrants without criminal records would be considered low-priority removals, including those parents of U.S.-born children with strong ties in the United States. Sandigo argues that if this were the case, Cesia and Ronald Jr. would be with their parents today. Overall, Sandigo questions whether federal officials are committed to making sure children whose parents are deported are properly taken care of. "I have yet to receive a call from ICE asking if these children are even alive -- yet with a legal guardian," she said. It's almost impossible to know the full scope of the problem. Child welfare departments and the federal government aren't required to track cases of families separated by deportation. During the past 25 years, Sandigo says she has found homes for about 800 children whose parents have been detained or deported. On Capitol Hill, lawmakers seem to give little attention to the situation. Some say a bipartisan immigration reform bill passed by Senate in 2012 might help. Supporters say it aims to provide a path to citizenship for the nation's estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants, strengthen border security and change the visa system. Opponents in the House, many of them Republicans, reject any reform that involves what they consider "amnesty" for undocumented immigrants. In Florida, the Soza children long to see their parents again. And they haven't given up. "Although we are separated, we are still united in a way," said Cesia. "I have to stay hopeful that this will all work out." Immigration reform would help GOP . | Teen siblings who are legal U.S. residents were left alone after feds deported immigrant parents .
U.S. children whose parents are deported often struggle with school, finances, friendships .
An estimated 5,100 U.S. kids in 22 states have had parents detained or deported, say experts . |
09ac728767e57b3e3a51108b6a35476990169c4c | By . Mia De Graaf . PUBLISHED: . 14:57 EST, 17 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 02:34 EST, 18 March 2014 . The crimes of North Korea’s regime are as chilling as those of the Nazis, claims the head of a UN inquiry. In a report based on testimony from hundreds of victims and defectors, investigators said North Korean security chiefs and even Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un should face international justice. The use of systematic torture, starvation, and killings is akin to punishments ordered under Adolf Hitler, the report stated. Scroll down for video . Condemnation: Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un should face international justice, the UN report's author said . However, China has rubbished the report, sparking fears that the nation's veto could derail attempts to tackle the crisis. Launching the scathing 400-page report in Geneva today, chief author and former judge Michael Kirby told a UN forum: 'Contending . with the scourges of Nazism, apartheid, the Khmer Rouge and other . affronts required courage by great nations and ordinary human beings . alike. 'It is now your solemn duty to address the scourge . of human rights violations and crimes against humanity in the Democratic . People's Republic of Korea.' He . demanded closure of political prison camps believed to hold up to . 120,000 people, and action by the International Criminal Court (ICC). But Chen Chuandong, a counsellor at China's mission in Geneva, told the U.N. Human Rights Council that the independent commission of inquiry had made unfounded accusations and recommendations that were 'divorced from reality'. 'The inability of the commission to get support and cooperation from the country concerned makes it impossible for the commission to carry out its mandate in an impartial, objective and effective manner,' Chen said. China, as a member of the U.N. Security Council, would have the power to veto any move to refer North Korea to the Hague-based ICC. The report blasts the nation's use of systematic torture as akin to Nazism, apartheid and the Khmer Rouge . Diplomats had already warned China was likely to object to the report, which also criticised Beijing for its treatment of North Korean defectors. Despite the setback, Mr Kirby said he was convinced North Korea's leadership would eventually face the ICC for crimes documented in the commission's archives, which hold the testimonies of hundreds of witnesses. 'I have lived long enough to see things that looked impossible come to full fruit,' Kirby told a news conference. 'The independence of East Timor, the independence of the Baltic states and other steps following the fall of the Berlin Wall are all indications that things can happen that don't look certain now. 'They won't meet media deadlines but they will occur.' The forum, which commissioned the unprecedented investigation a year ago, will decide on how to handle North Korea at a session lasting until March 28. Setback: China, which was also condemned in the report, rubbished the findings as 'divorced from reality' Campaigners have hailed the report, and urged international leaders to take action. 'The fact that these violations are now deemed to be crimes against humanity triggers the responsibility of the international community to respond,' said Julie de Rivero of Human Rights Watch. 'It might be a long route but steps need to be taken.' So far, the U.N. Security Council has focused only on North Korea's nuclear weapons and proliferation threat, she added. 'We are advocating that the Security Council needs to deal with crimes in North Korea.' Roseann Rife of Amnesty International said in a statement: 'This is the first real test of the international community to show it is serious about acting on the Commission of Inquiry's chilling findings. 'There needs to a concerted effort to ratchet up the pressure on the North Korean government to address these systematic, widespread and grave human rights violations.' | Chief author blasted nation's torture 'contending with scourges of Nazism'
Called for International Criminal Court action to close political prison camps .
Said North Korean security chiefs and Kim Jong Un should face justice .
China, also condemned in report, said findings are 'divorced from reality' |
09adf3756fb15d31422e18f09b9d25ca5ab03628 | WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was working from home Thursday after fracturing her right elbow during a fall the day before, State Department officials said. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was treated and released after fracturing her elbow. Clinton fell Wednesday afternoon at the State Department on her way to the White House and was taken to George Washington University Hospital. She was treated and released. She will have surgery to repair her elbow in coming weeks. Clinton was with Richard Holbrooke, President Obama's special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, when she fell. "Secretary Clinton appreciates the professionalism and kindness she received from the medical team who treated her this evening and looks forward to resuming her full schedule soon," said department spokeswoman Cheryl Mills. Philip Crowley, an assistant secretary of state, said Obama was one of the first people to call Clinton Wednesday night. Clinton was at home "resting comfortably, or uncomfortably. She is working from home. She is already taking some calls, and I'm sure starting to learn the limits of movement -- how well you can text with one arm in a sling," Crowley said. CNN's Paul Courson contributed to this report. | Secretary of State Hillary Clinton breaks elbow in fall .
Clinton was on her way to White House .
Clinton plans to have surgery to repair elbow . |
09ae2ad103960b8756b6cbc544d35073bb6e4791 | (CNN) -- At least 40 members of a religious minority in Myanmar were killed by security forces and Buddhists in the western village of Du Char Yar Tan last week, a human rights group said. Fortify Rights, a group based in Southeast Asia, claims the attacks against the Rohingya Muslims were carried out after the suspected killing of a police officer, who is still missing. Most of dead were women and children, the group said. But the government denies the killings, and Myanmar's deputy minister of information told reporters that the news outlets reporting them are "wholly and totally wrong." In a statement, the government outlined the details of an incident that led to the missing police officer at the center of the latest clashes. It apparently started January 13 when a police patrol led by the missing officer encountered a group of men described in the report as Bengalis "sitting around a fire in front of shops." The group apparently started throwing stones at the patrol and was joined shortly after by about 100 villagers with knives and sticks, according to the report. The officers fled, except for police Sgt. Aung Kyaw Thein, who has been missing since. Riot police have moved into the village, and journalists and human rights activists have been denied access, according to Fortify Rights. "When the police went into the village to find the missing police, almost all the men had fled, leaving women, children and old people," a police spokesman told CNN. He said there are so many security forces now looking for the missing police officer that violence between Muslims and Buddhists is no longer possible. Valerie Amos, United Nations under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, warned of "alarming levels of violence, including the killing of many civilians and a policeman." She called on Myanmar's government to launch an impartial investigation into the claims. The U.N. calls the Rohingya Muslims one of the most persecuted populations in the world, and 3,500 of them live in the village of Du Char Yar Tan. They've been the frequent targets of violence by Buddhists, who are the majority in Myanmar. U.S. President Barack Obama urged Myanmar's President Thein Sein during a visit to the White House last year to respect the rights of the Rohingya minority. | Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar were killed by security forces, Buddhists, rights group says .
U.N. official warns of alarming level of violence and calls for an investigation .
Government says reports of killings are false but confirms clashes with police .
Rohingya Muslims are a minority in Myanmar and have been attacked before . |
09ae4bf08024e1f720d20ece1d5f1d8ac9fe8a10 | (CNN) -- Novak Djokovic retained his Miami Masters 1000 title with an emphatic 6-1 7-6 final victory over Britain's Andy Murray Sunday. The World No.1 was at his relentless best to avoid a repeat of his defeat to Murray in Dubai last month. The pair had also played an epic semifinal in the Australian Open at the start of the year, Djokovic going on to take the opening grand slam of the season. This was the Serbian's first title since his Melbourne heroics and his third on the hard courts of Crandon Park. World No.4 Murray was always on the back foot after losing the opening set, being broken twice and unable to make an impression on the rock solid Djokovic service. Murray fought hard in the second set, clinging on to his own service despite being taken to deuce four times. Djokovic gained the early mini-break in the tiebreak and always kept his nose in front. Murray closed to 3-2 after winning a 25-shot rally with a backhand sliced drop shot, but he double faulted on the next point and Djokovic took full advantage. He closed out the tiebreak and the match as Murray hit long, but admitted after his win that the latter stages of the second set were crucial. "Andy was very close to winning the second set. The match could have gone either way," he said in his post-match interview. "I had opportunities to break in the second set and close out the match quicker but then he might have won it later on. "I thought I played really well from beginning to end. There were a lot of long rallies and they were tough conditions." Both players will now return to Europe for the clay court season where Djokovic will be searching for his first French Open title, while Murray will continue his quest for a first grand slam title under new coach Ivan Lendl. | Novak Djokovic retains Miami Masters 1000 title .
Serb beats Britain's Andy Murray 6-1 7-6 (4) in the final .
Murray can only force a single break point in the final .
Djokovic winning for third time at Crandon Park . |
09af360a4cad5a8713e78fc328af63ac9e7d58e9 | Sam Allardyce has warned his West Ham side that their recent impressive form does not protect them from being dropped when key players return from injury. Mark Noble is set to be available for selection for the weekend trip to Burnley as the influential midfielder recovers from a calf problem. Skipper Kevin Nolan is still working his way back to full fitness following a dislocated shoulder and club-record signing Andy Carroll is closing in on a return after undergoing ankle surgery in pre-season. Sam Allardyce has fired out a warning to his in-form West Ham side that their places aren't guaranteed . Matt Jarvis and James Collins have also been sidelined with niggling problems but, even in the absence of such talent, the Hammers have impressed in the early stages of the season and sit seventh in the Barclays Premier League table. Allardyce is ready to welcome the selection headache he will be presented with when he is able to select from a fully-fit squad, as those who have thrived in previous weeks will have to maintain that level to stay in the side. 'I don't know whether it's a given or not,' Allardyce said, when asked if his injured players would come straight back in. Stiker Diafra Sakho rises to head home against QPR in West Ham's 2-0 victory earlier this month . 'The sooner you get all your players fit the bigger decisions you have to make as a manager. That puts you in a better position, even though those decisions are big ones, because you are going to start disappointing players on a more regular basis. 'The challenge for me is to make sure I pick the right team and formation in the game and how you are going to play against the opposition. 'When you have a full squad to choose from then you have to make big decisions and you have to disappoint people if they are all fit. That's what they have to accept. Experienced attacking midfielder Kevin Nolan is nearing a return to fitness . 'If we all want to do better - even though you are disappointed if you aren't selected - then you have to accept it and wait for your time to go in and make sure you play at your best so it's very difficult for me to leave you out.' Despite wins over QPR, Liverpool and Crystal Palace, West Ham are yet to record successive Premier League wins this season and it is consistency that Allardyce is hoping will come in time - starting at Turf Moor against newly-promoted Burnley. 'I just want to see on Saturday if the players have the mentality to show the same consistency as they have and whether they have got the right desire and determination to win back-to-back football matches for the first time this season,' he said. Playmaker Mark Noble (right) is available for the trip to Burnley this weekend . 'That is their first test against a Burnley side that are undoubtedly well-organised and make things very difficult, even if they have not won a game yet. 'Somewhere along the line they are going to win a game very shortly and we have got to make sure it is not against us.' | West Ham are seventh in Barclays Premier League table .
Sam Allardyce's side have picked up seven points from last four games .
Mark Noble, Kevin Nolan and Andy Carroll returning from injury .
Allardyce says West Ham's form doe not save players from being dropped . |
09b00e4285a092887bc8693d9226780caa7358c3 | By . Lizzie Edmonds . Glamour model turned bodybuilder Jodie Marsh who received up to five vile letters and pictures a week from her 'stalker' Joseph Mafwenke. Jodie Marsh was left fearing for her life after a deluded stalker bombarded her with bizarre letters and pictures of his penis, a court was told. Joseph Mafwenke, 38, allegedly sent up to five 'disgusting' letters a week to the glamour model turned bodybuilder's home address in Brentwood, Essex. Mafwenke’s bizarre campaign included sending Miss Marsh, 35, photoshopped pictures of the couple having intercourse and of them walking hand in hand. Miss Marsh told Basildon Crown Court the 'stalking' was so relentless, she feared she could have been kidnapped, raped or even murdered. Mafwenke would send up to five letters and pictures every week - some by recorded delivery - for almost a year, jurors were told. Miss Marsh eventually moved house to escape the man's relentless campaign. Mafwenke was arrested when the television personality saw him standing outside her old house when she returned to visit family. Miss Marsh told the court she recognised her alleged stalker - who also told Miss Marsh he wanted to have four children with her - from the photos he had sent. Mafwenke, of Crawley, West Sussex, has denied a single charge of stalking Miss Marsh. Mafwenke sat in the dock alongside his Swahili interpreter as the court was told a Zoo magazine article featuring Miss Marsh had inspired his actions. Miss Marsh took to the witness stand to give evidence from behind screens so she would not have to face the defendant. At one point she broke down in tears as she was confronted with the letters . She said: 'Straight away, I knew it was not normal fan mail, the letters would say things like "you will be my wife", "we will be together", "you will have four children", "we are meant to be together". 'The way it was said, it was like it was a given that it would happen.' Miss Marsh said the letters, which included pictures of a naked Mafwenke on top of her, left her 'really scared'. Miss Marsh said she 'feared for her life' when she received the letters - some of which had been photoshopped to show her having sex with Mafwenke. The man also sent her pictures of his penis, jurors heard . The former glamour model, who is now a bodybuilder, said she initially told police not to take any action in case it 'tipped Mafwenke over the edge.' He would send up to five letters a week to Miss Marsh the court heard . She had also been sent 'weird drawings' in which her name and that of the defendant had been intertwined. The court heard Mafwenke also made 'calculations' using his date of birth and Miss Marsh’s to work out whether they would be happy together. She added: 'He would send photos of himself, at first he was fully clothed then the photos turned explicit and he sent pictures of himself naked and photos of his penis and erect penis. 'That was really upsetting. It was really disgusting - not something that I would want to see. Miss Marsh in a 'no make-up selfie'. Mafwenke sent the bodybuilder letters saying he 'loved her' and 'wanted to have four children' with her . 'I was left nervous, thinking about what he might do in the future I was worried that he was mentally unstable' She told jurors she had initially asked police not to take any action in case it tipped Mafwenke over the edge. Asked by prosecutor Julia Faure Walker what she feared could happen, Miss Marsh said: 'I thought it might be rape, murder, kidnap. In my line of work, you don’t think anything is too far-fetched.' The court heard the frequency of letters increased to up to five per week with the mail being sent by recorded delivery. One letter said: 'I love you and the way you are alone..I plan to have four babies with you in married life. Thank you for I make it happen. [sic] . Another said: 'Our time is now to have our childrens'. [sic] . Talking about the letters, Miss Marsh said: 'I honestly thought he was deluded. I did not think he was mentally stable.' The glamour model turned bodybuilder said she felt obliged to go and collect missed letters from the sorting office in case they were work-related documents. Miss Faure Walker asked her: 'Did you ever respond in any way to these letters? Miss Marsh replied: 'No. I knew it was not right to respond.' Some of the letters were thrown away but many were kept as evidence and were seen by the jury. Miss Faure Walker told the jury that Mafwenke’s 'fascination' with Miss Marsh began after he saw an article in Zoo magazine. Miss Marsh during filming of 'Bullied: My Secret Past'. The court was told the man was inspired to send letters to the television personality after seeing her in a Zoo magazine article . She said: 'He was responding to an article in Zoo magazine. He interpreted it that Miss Marsh wanted a boyfriend and he would contact her to that end.' In August 2012 she started receiving the first of the letters and 'felt troubled' by their content. 'This . was not ordinary fan mail. There were photos of himself and sometimes . he superimposed pictures of himself next to Miss Marsh as well. He then started sending photos of his erect penis to her. 'Initially, the defendant would send normal letters by post but then he started sending them by recorded delivery.' Miss Faure Walker warned the jurors that they would be seeing sexually explicit images. She added: 'There are photos of the defendant’s penis which he took it upon himself to send to her. When questioned in court Miss Marsh, pictured in training, said she never responded to any of the messages . 'You may want to think what your reaction would have been if you had not been warned of the content. 'How would you feel if they had been sent to your home address?' She said the defendant should have known his course of conduct would cause harassment or distress. The trial heard that Miss Marsh did report the matters to police - but asked them just to place her concerns on record and not to approach Mafwenke, fearful of how he would react. Mafwenke, who appeared in the dock wearing a black and white striped shirt and grey trousers, pleaded not guilty at an earlier hearing to stalking Miss Marsh. The trial, expected to last two days, continues. Mafwenke, who was arrested outside Miss Marsh's Brentwood home, denies a single charge of stalking at Basildon Crown Court, pictured. The trial continues . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Joseph Mafwenke, 38, sent Jodie Marsh, 35, explicit letters, court told .
Sent pictures of his penis and photoshopped images of them having sex .
Sent up to five letters a week telling bodybuilder 'you will be my wife'
Miss Marsh told court she feared for her life during bizarre campaign .
Said she feared she may have been raped, kidnapped or murdered .
Mafwenke denies a single charge of stalking in two-day trial . |
09b0e0fa68cc7870ea4e7e4ec05e816f7842be74 | var twitterVia = 'MailOnline'; . DM.later('bundle', function(){ . DM.has('shareLinkTop', 'shareLinks', { . 'id': '2442201', . 'title': 'Concert promoter found NOT GUILTY of negligence by hiring Conrad Murra', . 'url': 'http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2442201/Michael-Jackson-concert-promoter-AEG-Live-NOT-guilty-negligence.html', . 'eTwitterStatus': ' http://dailym.ai/18Tik2A via @' + twitterVia, . 'articleChannelFollowButton': 'MailOnline', . 'isChannel': false, . 'hideEmail': true, . 'placement': 'top', . 'anchor': 'tl'}); . }); . 158 . View comments . DM.later('bundle', function(){ . DMS.Article.init('top'); . }); . Gone: Michael Jackson died from an overdose of propofol in 2009 . The jury in the Michael Jackson wrongful death trial has ruled that the concert promoter was not negligent in hiring the doctor who treated the singer. Jackson's mother sued concert promoter AEG Live LLC over the hiring of Dr. Conrad Murray, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for giving Jackson an overdose of the anesthetic propofol in 2009. Katherine Jackson claimed AEG Live should have done a thorough background check on Murray. The Jackson family matriarch was seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages for herself and her son's three children. The company denied hiring Murray and said he had been picked by the singer as the doctor for his upcoming shows. The panel of six men and six women began deliberating on September 26, more than five months after the start of the trial that offered an unprecedented look into the superstar's private life. The case provided the closest look yet at Jackson's drug use and his battles against chronic pain and insomnia. It also took jurors behind the scenes in the rough and tumble world of negotiations with one of the world's most famous entertainers looking to solidify his legendary status after scandal interrupted his career. 'We reached a verdict that we understand that not everybody is going to agree with,' jury foreman Gregg Barden said after the decision was reached. Scroll down for video . Trouble: Dr Conrad Murray, who was already convicted of involuntary manslaughter for giving Jackson an overdose of the anesthetic, was the basis for the latest trial which was a lawsuit against the concert promoter . 'But the decision was reached after very careful consideration of five months of testimony, thousands of documents and of course the guidance of the court.' Witnesses said he saw the 'This Is It' concerts as a chance for personal redemption after being acquitted of child molestation. But as the opening date of the shows approached, associates testified that he had bouts of insecurity and agonized over his inability to sleep. They said he turned to the drug propofol and found Murray, who was willing to buy it in bulk and administer it to him on a nightly basis even though it is not meant to be used outside operating rooms. Saying their peace: Juror Gregg Barden spoke to the awaiting media after arriving at the not guilty verdict against AEG . All eyes on them: The group issued a joint statement saying that they knew not everyone would agree with them . Testimony at the civil trial showed that only Jackson and Murray knew he was taking the drug. In his closing argument, AEG Live attorney Marvin Putnam told jurors that the company would have pulled the plug on the shows if they knew he was using the anesthetic. 'AEG would have never agreed to finance this tour if they knew Mr. Jackson was playing Russian roulette in his bedroom every night,' Brian Panish, a lawyer for the Jackson family, countered that AEG Live was negligent by not looking far enough to find out what it needed to know about Murray. Major pull: At the time of his death Jackson was prepping for the 10-night 'This Is It' concert in London which was run by concert promoter AEG Live LLC, who the jury ruled was not negligent in hiring Murray . Those who live on: Michael's mother Katherine is now the trustee of his estate and cares for his children, including daughter Paris (seen together in January 2012) He claimed in his closing argument that the lure of riches turned the company and Murray into mercenaries who sacrificed the pop star's life in a quest to boost their own fortunes. Panish asked jurors: 'Do people do things they shouldn't do for money? People do it every day.' He said a $150,000-a-month contract to care for Jackson was a lifeline to help Murray climb out of his financial troubles, which included $500,000 in debt. AEG Live, meanwhile, had only one interest — launching a world tour for the King of Pop that would yield untold millions in profits, the lawyer said. AEG Live's lawyers framed the case as being about personal choice, saying Jackson made bad choices about the drug that killed him and the doctor who provided it. They said he was the architect of his own demise and no one else can be blamed. Putnam said Jackson insisted on hiring the cardiologist, despite objections from AEG Live. 'It was his money and he certainly wasn't going to take no for an answer,' the lawyer said. Putnam portrayed AEG Live and its executives as victims of deception by Jackson and Murray. He showed brief excerpts from the 'This Is It' documentary to show that Jackson appeared in top form just 12 hours before he died. Making the case: Brian Panish was hired by Jackson's family to argue that AEG should have done a background check on the doctor and found him to be unsuitable to treat the 'King of Pop' Legal minds: Panish, seen here talking with AEG's attorneys Kathryn Cahan and Marvin Putnam, ultimately won the case . Closing argument: Putnam told jurors that the company would have pulled the plug on the shows if they knew he was using the anesthetic . 'AEG Live did not have a crystal ball,' he said. 'Dr. Murray and Mr. Jackson fooled everyone. They want to blame AEG for something no one saw.' Murray was convicted in 2011 of involuntary manslaughter for causing Jackson's death and is due to be released in October after serving a two year jail sentence. Jurors heard testimony from more than 50 witnesses, including Jackson's mother and his eldest son, Prince, as well as days of testimony from AEG executives who were repeatedly asked about emails in which they discussed Jackson's missed rehearsals and described Murray's pay as a done deal. They also heard about Jackson's close relationship to many of his doctors, including Murray, who he first met in Las Vegas in 2007. Katherine Jackson called the case a search for the truth about the death of her son and the trial featured potentially embarrassing revelations for both sides. AEG's executives had their emails picked apart, revealing concerns that Jackson wouldn't be able to perform the shows as planned, that a lawyer at their parent company referred to Michael Jackson as 'the freak,' and that Jackson was derided even though the company had invested more than $30million in his shows. AEG Live, meanwhile, laid out Jackson's medical history, presenting testimony about his use of drugs, including the powerful painkiller Demerol, for pain stemming from an accident that occurred decades ago while he was filming a Pepsi commercial. Jackson had no trace of that drug in his system when he died. Legend lives on: Fans pay tribute to Jackson by imitating his signature moves outside the Los Angeles court . The lawyers called witnesses who recounted Jackson's use of propofol dating back to the 1990s. In 1997, two German doctors administered the anesthetic to help the singer sleep between shows in Munich. A few years later, Jackson requested the anesthetic from a dental anesthesiologist who refused, as did another doctor who testified that Jackson kept a box of propofol in his bedroom at Neverland Ranch. On the issue of possible damages, expert witnesses for the company said any estimate of Jackson's future earnings were speculative, and they showed the panel that the singer was deeply in debt and consistently spent more than he earned. In the verdict form, jurors were first asked to decide the central question of the case — whether AEG Live hired Murray to treat Jackson. During the trial, they heard evidence that AEG had drafted a contract that was signed by Murray. But there were no indications that it was signed by AEG Live or Jackson. Attorneys for the singer's mother argued that Jackson's signature was not necessary, but the company's attorneys said the contract required his consent to be binding. Jackson's mother and his three children are supported by his estate, which provides a comfortable lifestyle for them and erased hundreds of millions of dollars in debts by debuting new projects and releasing new music featuring the King of Pop. | Katherine Jackson, the singer's mother, has lost her lawsuit against concert promoter AEG as she argued they were negligent .
Michael Jackson died from an overdose of the anesthetic propofol in 2009 .
Singer had insomnia and Dr Conrad Murray ruled it OK to use propofol on a nightly basis even though it is normally just used during surgery .
Murray has since been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter .
AEG attorneys said only Murray and Jackson knew he was on propofol . |
09b23fd0ab94efdb29e6e899a0efa1dfc6f6f0c9 | By . Reuters Reporter . A cyber attack at a firm that performs background checks for U.S. government employees compromised data of at least 25,000 workers, including some undercover investigators, and that number could rise, agency officials said on Friday. The breach at Falls Church, Virginia-based US Investigations Services (USIS) exposed highly personal information of workers at the Department of Homeland Security's headquarters as well as its U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection units, two officials familiar with the investigation into the breach told Reuters. Some employees have already received letters warning them about the breach that say compromised information includes Social Security numbers, education and criminal history, birth dates along with information about spouses, other relatives and friends including their names and addresses. Hacked: The website for United States Investigations Services (USIS) - a major contractor for the Department of Homeland Security - was hacked on Wednesday, compromising the personal information of U.S. government employees . 'Records including this data were exposed to unauthorized users during the cybersecurity intrusion,' according to a notification letter obtained by Reuters. 'We do not yet know whether the data was actually taken.' One DHS official told Reuters the agency has identified some 25,000 employees whose information it believes were exposed in the breach. 'More could be notified in coming weeks as we learn more about the breach,' said the official, who asked not to be identified by name. The company disclosed the attack earlier this month, but did not say how many records had been compromised or which agencies were affected. It did say the intrusion has 'all the markings of a state-sponsored attack'. Tech Times reported that an internal investigation suggested the attack came from a foreign government. While the number of employees affected is relatively small compared to breaches at retailers such as Target Corp, which have affected tens of millions of customers, security experts say the attack on USIS is nonetheless quite serious. Files on background checks contain highly sensitive data that foreign intelligence agencies could attempt to exploit to intimidate government workers with access to classified information. Compromised: U.S. Investigations Services LLC, based in Falls Church, Virginia (pictured), said in a statement posted Wednesday on its website that experts believe the breach 'has all the markings of a state-sponsored attack' 'They would be collecting this data to identify individuals who might be vulnerable to extortion and recruitment,' said Dmitri Alperovitch, chief technology officer with cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which sells intelligence on state-sponsored cyber attacks. The Department of Homeland Security has suspended all work with USIS since the breach was disclosed and the FBI launched an investigation. USIS says it is the biggest commercial provider of background investigations to the federal government, with over 5,700 employees, and provides services in all U.S. states and territories, as well as abroad. Officials with USIS, which is a division of Altegrity Inc, could not immediately be reached for comment. A spokeswoman for Altegrity, which is majority owned by Providence Equity Partners, declined to comment. | United States Investigations Services or USIS is a major contractor for the Department of Homeland Security based in Falls Church, Virginia .
Their network was hacked on Wednesday in what officials say 'has all the markings of a state-sponsored attack'
The private information of 25,000 government workers appears to have been compromised .
The information - such as sensitive background checks - could be used to exploit classified information out of the workers . |
09b34bac7425d1976d48ebc6c77ce079e6af3889 | (CNN) -- Five years ago Sunday, the water rushed in, the lights went out and for thousands of Gulf Coast residents nothing was ever the same. The milestone was marked by vigils, tears and reflection on what was, what came after, what still remains to be done and what, if anything, we have learned from Hurricane Katrina. A number of events were planned in New Orleans, Louisiana, and elsewhere to commemorate the anniversary of the landfall of Katrina, the costliest and one of the five deadliest storms ever to strike the United States. President Barack Obama visited New Orleans on Sunday and spoke at Xavier University of Louisiana, where he said that the construction of a fortified levee system to protect the city is under way. "We should not be playing Russian roulette every hurricane season," he said. Obama also vowed that reforms are being put into place "so that never again in America is somebody left behind in a disaster because they're living with a disability or because they're elderly or because they're infirm. That will not happen again." The hard-hit parishes of Plaquemines and St. Bernard were holding commemorative community events, and a third commemoration was planned in New Orleans' Jackson Square. Katrina left more than 1,800 dead in its wake. It slammed into the Gulf Coast near the Louisiana-Mississippi state line early on August 29, 2005. Most of the dead were in and around New Orleans, where more than three-quarters of the city flooded after its protective levees failed. Nearly 300,000 people were displaced. After the storm, "We were a city that had no people in it," Ray Nagin, who was mayor of New Orleans when Katrina struck. "Now, we're a city that has over 80 percent of its population back. Lowest unemployment in the country. Construction everywhere. I think we're on our way to success," Nagin told CNN's Don Lemon as the storm's anniversary approached. Still, it is widely agreed that more work remains to bring New Orleans and the Gulf Coast back from Katrina's devastating blow. Some say that little has improved, and entire neighborhoods in Louisiana and beyond have not rebounded. "Nothing's really changed," said Conrad Wyre III, 35, of New Orleans. Some regions are still "in shambles," he said, and some residents still feel helpless and without support, as if they are "floating in the wind." About 6,000 families own homes that cannot be rebuilt. One-third of New Orleanians say their lives are still disrupted by the storm, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation Poll. In New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward neighborhood -- seen as ground zero for Katrina's wrath -- only 4,000 of 18,000 residents have returned. "I don't have to tell you that there are still too many vacant and overgrown lots," Obama said Sunday. "There are still too many students attending classes in trailers. There are still too many people unable to find work. And there's still too many New Orleans folks who haven't been able to come home." "So while an incredible amount of progress has been made, on this fifth anniversary, I wanted to come here and tell the people of this city directly: My administration is going to stand with you -- and fight alongside you -- until the job is done, until New Orleans is all the way back." "This is the place ... where I think the American people witnessed a real loss of faith in their federal government," Housing Secretary Shaun Donovan told CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday. "I have really been moved by the spirit of the people in New Orleans in the Gulf, and their rebuilding, and the optimism in progress that I have seen. More than 90 percent of the population is back in the New Orleans area, and there is still much ahead of us." When Obama took office, 40,000 families remained in Federal Emergency Management Agency trailers or were using emergency housing vouchers, "and literally tens of thousands of them were at risk of losing their homes within weeks of us coming in," Donovan said. "Today, 98 percent of the families are in permanent housing." Katrina made its initial landfall in Florida, where 14 people were killed. But fueled by the warm waters of the Gulf, the storm had grown into a monster Category 5 hurricane, although experts later said its intensity had decreased and it was a strong Category 3 storm when it the coasts of Mississippi and Louisiana. The storm cut a wide swath of destruction, wiping out whole sections of Mississippi's Gulf Coast and swamping downtown Mobile, Alabama, with a 20-foot storm surge. Despite the attention focused on New Orleans, it was Waveland, Mississippi that was the hardest hit. Ninety-five percent of the town's homes were destroyed, along with 100 percent of its businesses. Nearly every road was broken up or left under piles of debris. Waveland began rebuilding almost immediately. Bolstered by $100 million in federal aid, it has repaired utilities, roads, schools, community centers and parks, and has recovered 65 percent of its businesses. About two-thirds of residents have returned. Ironically, the city of New Orleans initially breathed a sigh of relief in those early hours, as it was spared a direct hit from the hurricane and at first seemed to have weathered the wind and rain. But Katrina's worst havoc was yet to come, as reports of levee breaches began to surface and entire neighborhoods flooded. Katrina also dealt a black eye to the government, which scrambled to launch a delayed relief effort after the storm as New Orleans residents suffered and reports of crime and looting were widespread. Nagin in a famous expletive-laced interview lashed out, telling federal authorities to "get off your asses." Then-President George W. Bush traveled to New Orleans, delivering a speech from Jackson Square as he promised, "We will do what it takes. We will stay as long as it takes to help citizens rebuild their communities and their lives." But that "turned out to be a hollow promise," Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-Louisiana, told NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday. "... Because the federal government didn't stay and do everything it could. The federal government didn't make it easy. They made it very, very difficult." Mayors of New Orleans and other areas, when they requested money to rebuild, were offered loans of $5 million, she said. New Orleans' operating budget, she said, is $460 million, and $5 million "wouldn't buy them a loaf of bread for the week." Nagin told CNN recently that he has been reflecting on his own response as the storm approached. He acknowledged the mandatory evacuations could have been issued about eight hours sooner than they were. Asked how FEMA can combat its still-suffering reputation in the region, agency chief Craig Fugate told CNN Saturday he believes responding quickly is the key. "Speed is going to be critical," said Fugate, who distinguished himself as the head of the Florida Emergency Management Agency before being appointed to the federal post. "We cannot wait for a full assessment. We have to respond as if it's bad, bring the things together, and focus on the most immediate [goal] of keeping it safe, getting to the injured, trapped, and recovering the lost lives, getting supplies in here." "The big lesson from Katrina is, you can't wait to find out how bad it is," he said. "You've got to respond, as a team, as [if] it is bad." Obama said Sunday a group led by Housing Secretary Shaun Donovan and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is examining disaster recovery nationwide. "We're improving coordination on the ground, modernizing emergency communications and helping families plan for a crisis," Obama said. "...Together we are helping to make New Orleans a place that stands for what we can do in America -- not just for what we can't do," he said. "And ultimately, that must be the legacy of Katrina: not one of neglect, but of action; not one of indifference, but of empathy; not of abandonment, but of a community working together to meet shared challenges." The head of FEMA at the time, Michael Brown, resigned two weeks after Katrina made landfall amid criticism of the federal response -- and 10 days after Bush's famous compliment to him, "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job." Brown told CNN on Thursday the talking points he and other federal officials used at the time did not tell the whole story, calling it a "fatal mistake." "They were factually correct, but weren't in context," Brown said. "We're moving all of this stuff in. We have teams here. Rescue teams are doing this. But we never explained to the people that it's not coming as fast as we want it to, and it's not enough, because of the number of people that were left behind in the aftermath of the storm." "Had I said that at the time, I probably would have gotten the old hook and been pulled off the stage anyway, but the truth would have been out," he said. He criticized former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff's handling of the situation. Chertoff attended an avian flu convention in the midst of the disaster. "Here is why that's so important. In the middle of any crisis," Brown said, "whether it's a natural disaster or man-made disaster, you need to have one person in charge. And that person needs to be on the ground with the team, understanding what's going on." On Bush's infamous compliment, he said, "I knew the minute he said that, the media and everybody else would see a disconnect between what he was saying and what I was witnessing on the ground. That's the president's style. His attitude and demeanor is always one of being a cheerleader and trying to encourage people to keep moving. It was just the wrong time and the wrong place." | NEW: Obama speaks at Xavier University in New Orleans .
Commemorations are planned across the Gulf Coast to mark the Katrina anniversary .
Officials reflect on lessons learned from the storm . |
09b3966e450fdfe4af4a753b07738f6d3b8b9e1b | Peshawar, Pakistan (CNN)On the principal's desk at the Peshawar's Government High School for Boys sits a screen beaming surveillance video from around the campus. In one of the desk's drawers, within easy reach of Abdul Saeed's right hand, lies a fully loaded pistol. A teacher for 15 years, Saeed argues that bringing a gun to school reassures his students, who are still terrified after a brazen attack on the Army Public School and Degree College in December, when Taliban militants stormed the building and massacred dozens of students during a six-hour siege. "They would look to the door every time they heard a sound. Now when they see me wearing a gun, they need not worry and can focus on the task at hand, which is to educate themselves," Saeed says. Barbed wire, surveillance cameras and snipers have become a common sight in the schools of this Pakistani city. Private schools in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkua, which lies along Pakistan's northwest frontier, have been instructed by the government to arrange security guards and metal detectors. School officials remain tight-lipped about the threats they've received from militants, but stories have emerged of empty coffins being sent to principals as an ominous suggestion of the danger that could lie ahead. After the brutal attack, Pakistan Taliban spokesman Mohammed Khurrassani told CNN the bloodshed was revenge for the killing of hundreds of innocent tribesmen during repeated army operations in provinces including South Waziristan, North Waziristan and the Khyber Agency. Last month, the provincial government pledged to spend seven billion rupees ($69 million) on enhancing security at government run schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhua. However, KPK information minister Mushtaq Ghani says it is still not enough prevent in an attack on the 35,000 government-run schools in the province. So, in an extraordinary measure, the KPK government has allowed teachers with firearm licenses to keep guns at school. Umar Daraz, a mild mannered primary school teacher who has been a member of the Executive Council of Peshawar's Primary Teacher Association for more than 20 years, is shocked by the decision. "Why would you glorify guns?" he asks. "If teachers take guns into classroom it glorifies this deadly weapon in the eyes of children, and in the future it could inspire them to seek out guns, misuse them and cause more tragedies to take place." "Teachers are meant to teach," he adds. At a shooting range in Peshawar, the Khyber Pakhtunkua police force has started basic weapon training sessions for teachers interested in learning how to use firearms. Faisal Mukhtar, a police superintendent, says that one of the reasons given for arming teachers is so they can hold militants at bay during a potential attack until security forces arrive. Around 20 female teachers have already received training from Inspector Rozia Altaf. Most had never held a gun before. "The tragedy of December 16 has emboldened these women," Altaf tells CNN. "Most of them were mothers and they were helpless then -- they will be never helpless again." Regardless of the day's training, Mukhtar says none of the teachers involved have expressed interest in obtaining a gun license. Back at the principal's office, Saeed places the gun on his desk and shares his experience of volunteering at hospitals on the day of the attack. His eyes tear up as he recalls seeing schoolboys as young as 12 with bullet wounds that would not be uncommon on a battlefield. He brushes away those who criticize the decision to bring in guns to schools, saying "these are extraordinary times and we must deal with them in extraordinary ways. "After what I have seen I refuse to be helpless and unarmed if anyone comes in to attack my students the way [the militants] did in December. "We were once warriors of the chalk and the blackboard. Now we must be soldiers at war and fight for the cause of education and a brighter future for our children." | Teachers in Peshawar, Pakistan now allowed to carry guns to school .
Follows December school massacre which killed 145 people, including dozens of students .
Some teachers say it glorifies guns and that school is no place for firearms . |
09b397eb8511a7e7e375b3895a68b0567d2d721a | For decades, car makers have been searching for the perfect environmentally friendly fuel. Now, one firm seems to have found the answer – a car that can run on nothing more than air. The Peugeot 2008 Hybrid Air promises to be more ecologically sound than the current breed of ‘green’ vehicles that combine electric engines with traditional ones. Scroll down for video . Under the bonnet: This diagram shows how the new hybrid car works. While the it is moving, air is pumped into a cylinder using surplus energy from the petrol engine, plus energy from the wheels and heat from the brakes . Clean driving: The Peugeot 2008 Hybrid Air has a conventional petrol engine linked to a hydraulic air motor and pump, allowing it to run on air, petrol, or a combination of the two - depending on driving conditions . Behind the wheel: A stripped-back look at the new hybrid. Motorists will be able to use zero-emissions air power for lower-speed driving. The feature is activated automatically when the car is doing under 43mph . It has a conventional petrol engine linked to a hydraulic air motor and pump. While the car is moving, air is pumped into a cylinder – just like a balloon being inflated – using surplus energy from the petrol engine, plus energy from the wheels and heat from the brakes. The air is then released to drive the hydraulic motor – allowing the car to run on air, petrol, or a combination of the two. Motorists will be able to use zero-emissions air power for lower-speed driving in cities. The feature is activated automatically when the car is doing under 43mph. When accelerating or climbing hills, combined or ‘hybrid’ mode is preferable as the vehicle receives power from both engines. And for long-distance cruising, traditional petrol power is best. Current hybrids – such as the popular Toyota Prius – rely on heavy and expensive batteries that are difficult to dispose of, causing their own environmental problems. On pure electric cars, the batteries can also go flat and leave the driver stranded. In contrast, the new Peugeot will need no batteries. Instead, it will replenish itself automatically by re-using energy that is ‘lost’ when slowing down and braking. No battery required: This prototype shows motorists makes up the environmentally friendly car. Current hybrids rely on heavy and expensive batteries that are difficult to dispose of - but the Peugeot doesn't need one . A look inside: Ray Massey takes a spin in the new hybrid, revealing what the car's interior currently looks like. The sports utility vehicle will be available from 2016 for around £16,000 . The sports utility vehicle, available from 2016 for around £16,000, will be the first of a new generation of Peugeots and Citroens running – in part at least – on air. It currently manages around 94miles per gallon but engineers say that by 2020, future Peugeots and Citroens could average 117mpg. Around 100 elite scientists have spent the past three years working on the air-powered car in top-secret conditions at Peugeot’s research and development centre at Velizy, just south of Paris. A spokesman for manufacturer PSA Peugeot-Citroen said: ‘We are not talking about weird and wacky machines. These are going to be in everyday cars.’ | The Peugeot 2008 Hybrid Air runs on nothing more than air .
Current 'green' vehicles combine electric engines with traditional ones .
The car has a conventional engine linked to hydraulic air motor and pump .
It can provide zero-emissions air power for lower-speed driving in cities .
The sports utility vehicle will available from 2016 for around £16,000 . |
09b4e2b93310ee5e5ec394fd4b593fab955e8ca2 | (CareerBuilder.com) -- You have a job, and it's a good one at that. But something is missing. You aren't really challenged anymore. You've been doing the same thing too long. Your company isn't likely to be promoting anyone soon because it has just gone through a major downsizing, merger or takeover. You have two choices: Quit and start over somewhere else, assuming there is somewhere else to go; or look closer to home, right in your current company, to see what other ways your talents can be put to use. Getting out of your career rut requires a mental tow truck. Rev up your brain and consider these points: . 1. Adjust your pace. If you told a 500-meter sprinter who was 250 meters into the race that he was now going to be running a mile, what's the first thing he'd do? Of course, he would change his tempo. He'd stride differently, pace himself differently. The first thing any sensible employee does in a downsized company is to do the same. Realize the path between promotions may now be longer. The rules have changed in mid-race. Tear out your hair and curse the gods if you think it'll help, but the worst thing you can do is make believe it didn't happen. 2. Analyze your competition. More than ever, it's important to know whom you're up against for those few remaining slots. What are the other people doing? What are they overlooking? Is the next promotion slated to go to somebody outside the company to bring in "fresh blood" and "new perspectives"? Analyze yourself, too. How marketable are you in the outside world? Get to know your value and your options. 3. Look for sideways growth. If you can't grow going up, can you build your credentials and experience through lateral moves that would teach you new skills? If you're dead-ended in programming, explore the prospects in marketing. There's never been a company yet that didn't need more sales. Give yourself an alternative route. It's a great way to improve your promotion odds long term. 4. Study the corporate culture. Does the company favor a certain way of doing things? Is there a corporate style? When you study the way the winners do it and compare that to the way you do it, you may not like what you see, but you'd better see it. 5. Take a look at your personal risk factor. Sure, there are ways to move up faster, but before you leap, look at the risks involved. If your advancement opportunities are fewer, you may have to find ways to stand out from the rest of the pack. You may fall flat on your face trying, but are you willing to take the chance? Do you have any bold new ideas to propose? Will you take on projects that really stretch your abilities? You can get yourself noticed, and you may get ahead in the process, but your risk of failure increases, too. I'm for trying. Go the extra mile. It's never crowded. You'll fail some of the time. If you don't, you're not trying hard enough. If you want to be the leader of the pack, you have to be willing to stick your neck out in front of the others. Sometimes it's risky not to take risks. 6. Draw up your plan. Add up all the factors: pace, competition, long-term growth options, risk and the hard facts about advancement. Then put down your plan, in writing. 7. Measure your results. If you can, share your plan with your boss, and then measure your own progress on a fixed schedule. If you still don't seem to be going places, it's time to tune up the résumé and look around for a new track to run on. It's been said that the hardest part of climbing to the top of the ladder is getting through the crowd at the bottom. I would add that the first step is the hardest one to take. Mackay's Moral: Get off your butt if you want to get out of the rut. Harvey Mackay is the author of "Use Your Head to Get Your Foot in the Door: Job Search Secrets No One Else Will Tell You," as well as the New York Times No. 1 bestsellers "Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive" and "Beware the Naked Man Who Offers You His Shirt." © CareerBuilder.com 2011. All rights reserved. The information contained in this article may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority. | Best-selling author Harvey Mackay: Retrain your brain to get out of career rut .
Study your corporate culture and your competition .
Adjust your pace in changing times and consider going sideways for growth .
Draw up your plans for future and measure your growth . |
09b582acc63514f671628e1766ff7e99b258fe9a | Tougher restrictions on ammunition are needed to stop British-based jihadists carrying out Paris-style gun attacks, a former security minister has said. Lord West said the UK’s tough anti-gun laws were a crucial tool in the fight against terror - but demanded further action to tighten restrictions on ammunition. The Labour peer also hit out at the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg for blocking new powers for the security services and urged ministers to increase anti-terror funding. Scroll down for video . Former security minister Admiral Lord West said new powers were needed to tackle Islamist fanatics . Lord West's intervention comes amid warnings from security chiefs that up to 150 jihadists in the UK could carry out gun attacks similar to the Paris atrocities, the Sunday Times reported this morning. Appearing on the BBC's Andrew Marr show this morning Lord West said the government’s Communications Data Bill, dubbed a ‘snoopers’ charter’ by opponents, was needed to track terrorist suspects. The bill allows the security services to monitor who people are emailing and what they are looking at online. Lord West said: ‘I think that needs to go through, and I was very irked that it was removed, in fact it was removed by the Deputy Prime Minister, when it had all been agreed across all parties.’ He added that the security services ‘need more money’ to monitor suspected terrorists amid claims that up to 150 fanatics have returned from the war in Syria intent on carrying out attacks at home. The Labour peer’s warning comes after security chiefs warned last week that Britain was being targeted by al-Qaeda terrorists. MI5 chief Andrew Parker said the terror group was plotting spectacular 'mass casualty' attacks on the UK. Lord West (left) was interviewed by the BBC presenter Andrew Marr (centre) alongside the Labour leader Ed Miliband (right) Labour leader Ed Miliband said he was open minded about giving the security services more powers to monitor people's emails . Fanatics wish to emulate 'crude' attacks carried out overseas in recent months. Chillingly, tactics could include a 'hit-and-run' on a crowded public place using a lorry, van or car. Unlike gun or bomb plots, which involves buying weapons or equipment, such an attack would be hard for the security services to detect. At least three plots which would have involved 'certain deaths' in Britain have been foiled in recent months, Mr Parker said. Officials are also keeping tabs on up to 600 British extremists who have travelled to Syria – about 300 of who are now back home. Following the warning, the Chancellor George Osborne said he had handed the security services a new £100million anti-terror fund to track British lone-wolf extremists. Mr Osborne said the cash had been handed over 'in the last few weeks' amid growing fears over the number of radicals returning from Iraq and Syria to wreak terror in Britain. He said the Government would provide MI5 and MI6 with 'all the resources and all the legislation' they need to prevent a terrorist atrocity in Britain. But Mr Parker, the director-general of MI5, said it was almost inevitable that an attack in Britain would succeed sooner or later. He said al-Qaeda was directing British-based fanatics from overseas to carry out attacks on airlines or a Mumbai-style gun and bomb atrocities. In a rare public speech, Mr Parker warned: 'Although we and our partners try our utmost, we know that we cannot hope to stop everything.' Mr Parker's speech, only his second since taking charge in April 2013, warned that the UK was facing a string of 'complex and ambitious plots' against the likes of transport networks and major landmarks. In response to the attack on the Paris-based satirical magazine on Wednesday, Mr Osborne said the threat to the UK was 'severe' – but insisted security chiefs would get whatever they needed. He said: 'It's clearly a big challenge for all countries including Britain and we face a terrorist threat. We have a severe terrorist threat; that is our national state of readiness. 'We have put a huge amount of planning and effort, from the police, from the security services, from the Government into anticipating what might try and happen, stopping some of these attacks and of course we have been successfully doing that over the last year. 'In the last few weeks we have put extra money, over a hundred million pounds into specifically monitoring people who are going to conflicts in Syria and Iraq. 'These sort of self-starting terrorists who get their ideas off the internet and then go and want to perpetrate horrendous crimes, so we are putting a huge effort in. 'As the director general of MI5 said over the last 24 hours, that is the threat we face and we face a threat from more complex plots.' Warning: Andrew Parker (pictured), the director-general of MI5, said it was almost inevitable an attack in Britain would succeed sooner or later . The Chancellor pledged to provide MI5 and MI6 with 'all the resources and all the legislation' they need . Mr Osborne promised that the security services would get 'all the resources and all the legislation' necessary to prevent a terrorist attack in the UK. 'We have got to be vigilant, we have got to have the resources there and my commitment is very clear. This is the national priority. We will put the resources in, whatever the security services need they will get because they do a heroic job on our behalf. 'They often don't get praise, they don't often appear on sofas like this to talk about their work but they are absolutely in the front line with the police dealing with this threat and they will get the support they need and indeed in the last few weeks they have got that support.' 'Our national threat level is severe and that means we assess independently, it is not the politicians who make this assessment but the experts make this assessment, that an attack is highly likely. 'So, we have to be ready for that. We don't have specific intelligence that an attack is imminent or else we would increase the threat level, but we think it is highly likely and we have to be prepared. We have had terrible incidents on our streets.' Mr Osborne's remarks came amid warnings that amid warnings that the threat to Britain was now 'as serious as it has ever been' and the security services needed more powers to monitor fanatics. Former Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind, the chairman of the joint intelligence committee, said the security services must have the power to intercept communications between suspected terrorists in order to prevent future attacks. He said: 'What is emerging in Paris is that the two individuals responsible for the terrible massacre at Charlie Hebdo, may have been linked to Al Qaida in Yemen. 'Now they must have ben communicating with people in the Yemen over the last few days, over the last few weeks. 'The highly important objective is to enable the intelligence agencies in Britain, France and other democracies to be able to get hold of these communications to try and prevent incidents of this kind.' | Lord West said the government should tighten restrictions on ammunition .
He said the security services needed more powers to track terrorists online .
Ex security minister slammed Nick Clegg for blocking anti-terror powers .
Stark warning comes as security chiefs warn up to 150 jihadists are in UK .
MI5 boss Andrew Parker last week warned a massacre was inevitable . |
09b58e832f1e7ac866a632c53a55ae3ca950f1b3 | By . John Hall . PUBLISHED: . 12:50 EST, 17 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 13:27 EST, 17 March 2014 . A clocktower which has chimed every 15 minutes since 1872 could be silenced after a single noise complaint from a woman who has recently moved to the town. The historic market town of Knighton in central Wales has heard every quarter of an hour rung out day and night since the clocktower was built 142 years ago. But it may now be silenced after . Irish author Lane Ashfeldt lodged a formal 'noise nuisance' complaint saying the sound was disturbing guests at the bed and breakfast she has . just taken over. Local mood: Knighton's mayor Roger Bright (left) wants to keep the clocktower (right) tolling. The noise complaint was made by Lane Ashfeldt - who runs a B&B from the building with the gold window frames (far left) Dublin-born Miss Ashfeldt runs a 'writer's retreat' at the three-bedroom Offa Dyke House guest house, which overlooks he clocktower in a small square in the centre of the Welsh town. The . five-night, £235 retreats do not follow a strict itinerary, but are advertised . as a chance for authors to find 'quiet time' in which they can write. Knighton's . mayor Roger Bright is leading a campaign to keep the bells tolling, . saying: 'The whole town is up in arms about this.' 'If a person lived near Big Ben in . London and complained about it chiming would the authorities stop it . overnight? No, they wouldn’t,' he added. 'This clock has been there for over 140 . years and it’s been striking every 15 minutes for all that time - it’s . part of our heritage. I once lived near the clock for 10 years and it . never bothered me,' Mr Bright added. Unhappy: Irish author Lane Ashfeldt (right) has lodged a formal 'noise nuisance' complaint - saying the sound of the clocktower (left) was disturbing guests at the bed and breakfast she has just taken over . The clock chimes one bell at 15 minutes past the hour, twice at half-past, three times at quarter to the hour and four times on the hour, while second bell also marks each hour that passes. Since 1873 the tower bell has clocked . up more than 13,586,760 chimes - but there are fears the chime may soon . be silenced at night following Miss Ashfeldt's complaint. Mr Bright said Knighton's town council is 'very strongly opposed' to the chime being silenced at night. However, council officials say they have a duty to properly investigate any complaint - even if it has only been made by one person. Mr . Bright said: 'The complaint has come from someone who has bought a . B&B close to the clock tower and she is complaining about the noise . for the guests as much as anything.' Historic: Knighton's clocktower as it looked shortly after being built in the late 19th Century . 'But there was a hotel for many years even closer to the clock tower and no one complained about it then,' he added. 'It’s a normal chime of a clock which people get used to and we would miss it terribly at night if it was silenced,' he went on. 'The woman doesn’t realise the feeling of the town I don’t think. The genuine opinion of the town is if they don’t like it they shouldn’t be there,' Mr Bright said. One local resident who did not want to be named said Miss Ashfeldt should have realised when viewing . the house that the clock would chime. He said: 'The whole town is up in arms - she is a newcomer and has only been her for a year. 'When . you come and look at a property you must hear the clock striking . because it happens every 15 minutes... If you don’t like it then you . don’t move into the house,' the resident added. Noise: Since 1873 the tower (left) has clocked up more than 13,586,760 chimes - but there are fears the chime may soon be silenced at night following the noise complaint by Miss Ashfeldt (right) Anger: One local resident who did not want to be named said Miss Ashfeldt should have realised when viewing the house that the clock would chime . 'This . has upset a great many people in the town and I hope she now realises . it is part of the history and fabric of the community,' he went on. Powys Council confirmed it was investigating the issue and was also in contact with the Welsh government’s heritage body Cadw - the equivalent of English Heritage. A Powys council spokesperson said: 'Our environmental health team received a noise nuisance complaint regarding Knighton’s town clock.' 'Environmental health officers begun an investigation and found that the council was responsible for the town clock.' 'The environmental health team has referred the matter to the department responsible for the town clock and have suggested possible solutions to minimise the noise. 'These solutions are being considered currently in consultation with Cadw, the local member and the town council.' Miss Ashfeldt declined to comment when contacted about the complaint. | Clocktower in the market town of Knighton in central Wales was built in 1872 .
The historic tower has chimed every quarter of an hour for the last 140 years .
Now an Irish author has lodged a formal noise complaint about the tower .
Lane Ashfeldt recently took over the running of a guesthouse in the town .
Local mayor says Miss Ashfeldt has misjudged town's 'feeling' about tower . |
09b5ea20e45042a74bab0b7290122b43eae32937 | A California man has spoken of his shock after driving home from a car wash - only to find a stranger hidden in the trunk of his vehicle. Sal Landeros had just pulled up to his house in Montclair, San Bernardino County, with his son, Chris, and brother, Eddie, when he heard a knocking from the rear of his car. The trio approached the vehicle's trunk and slowly opened it, unsure of what they would find. But when they spotted a pair of eyes looking out at them, they immediately slammed it shut. Scroll down for video . Unwelcome passenger: Sal Landeros, from Montclair, California, has spoken of his shock after driving home from a car wash - only to find a stranger hidden in the trunk of his vehicle. Above, officers surround the car with their tasers and guns drawn (left), before finally lifting up the trunk to reveal a man inside it (right) Bizarre discovery: Video footage, captured by Mr Landeros's brother, Eddie, outside his home, shows the unidentified man staring at the cops for several seconds, before climbing out of the vehicle's trunk (pictured) Instead, they called 911 and police arrived at the scene. Officers surrounded the car with their tasers and guns drawn, before finally lifting up the trunk, according to ABC 7. Video footage, captured by Eddie, shows the trunk opening to reveal a man lying down inside it. The stranger stares at the cops for several seconds, before climbing out of the trunk. He is then handcuffed and taken into custody. It remains unknown why the unidentified man was in the car. He is believed to have entered the vehicle at Tuzos car wash in nearby Pomona. Speaking to the news station, Mr Landeros, a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball fan, said he was 'scared' when he realized an unwelcome passenger had been in his car for around 10 minutes. Detained: The stranger is pictured being handcuffed by police (left) and sitting on the ground (right). He was later taken into custody on unknown charges. It is not yet known why the man entered the car's trunk . Concern: Mr Landeros (above) said he was 'scared' when he realized there was another passenger in his car . He said he made sure he, Eddie and Chris opened the trunk 'slowly', saying: '[Chris] saw the eyes and slammed it back again. I said, "Forget it. Just call the cops". [It was ] real scary.' In reference to the stranger, he added: 'He was saying sorry a lot and he was running away from someone that needed his money, because he didn't pay up or something. 'He must have got in [the car] while they were washing it. He just closed the trunk on himself.' It is unknown what charges the stranger is facing. Site of entry? The man is believed to have entered the vehicle at Tuzos car wash (above) in Pomona, California . Relatives: The driver (left), who is a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball fan, was accompanied in the car by his brother Eddie (right, in a Facebook photo) and son, Chris. The family are now able to laugh about the incident . | Sal Landeros had just arrived home when he heard noise in his car trunk .
He, brother Eddie and son Chris slowly approached trunk and opened it .
But when they spotted pair of eyes looking at them, they slammed it shut .
Instead they called 911 and police carrying guns and tasers investigated .
They discovered unidentified man in trunk; he has since been arrested .
Stranger is believed to have entered car at Tuzos car wash in Pomona . |
09b6d63ca946562c8af89d9dc2fd4346aa924fbc | By . Becky Barrow . Last updated at 9:55 AM on 4th November 2011 . Britain's beleaguered Post Offices came under attack yesterday in a move which will leave millions of savers stranded. In a shock announcement, National Savings & Investments revealed plans to end its 150-year relationship with the network. It marks a watershed moment for the two organisations, which used to be one company called the Post Office Savings Bank, founded in 1861. They were separated in 1969. Goodbye letter: National Savings & Investments are to end their 150-year relationship with the Post Office . The country’s 11,800 Post Offices . are a vital lifeline for savers, particularly the elderly, who go into . their local branch to withdraw money from their NS&I savings. NS&I . products, such as its Investment Account which has 2.4million users, . are hugely popular because it is the only savings giant which offers a . 100 per cent guarantee on all money. But . yesterday NS&I said it has decided to gradually cut its ties with . the Post Office, in a move described by postal experts as ‘bitterly . disappointing’. They fear it is another nail in the coffin for the Post Offices which, in many villages, represent the only remaining shop. Over . the next two years, NS&I will force all its customers to start . using the internet, the telephone or the post to contact them. They will . not be able to use the Post Office for common transactions such as . depositing or withdrawing money. There . is only one exception. Premium Bonds will still be bought and sold at . Post Office counters for at least the next four years. The . contract will be reviewed in 2015, although an NS&I spokesman said . yesterday that a review is ‘perfectly normal’ and should not raise . alarm. She added: ‘We intend for Premium Bonds to remain on sale over the Post Office counter.’ The Post Office has been . haemorrhaging lucrative Government contracts, such as renewing the BBC . TV licence. Most recently, it emerged it will lose the £20million a year . so-called ‘Green Giros’ contract – the payment of benefit cheques to . vulnerable people with no bank account. George Thomson, general secretary of the . National Federation of Sub-Postmasters, said: ‘We are surprised and . bitterly disappointed by NS&I’s decision. This news reinforces the . urgent need for ministers to deliver on their pledge to make the Post . Office the “front office” for government.’ Ministers have repeatedly pledged that . there will be ‘no programme of closures’ like under the previous . Government. When Labour came to power in 1997, there were just over . 19,000 outlets in the UK. As a result of Labour’s closure programme, . there are now 11,800. The first two NS&I accounts to be . hit – the Investment Account and the Easy Access Savings Account – have . a total of more than 2.5million customers who have a total of . £6.2billion with NS&I. But . last night it said the Children’s Bonus Bonds, which has 1.2million . customers, will also disappear from Post Offices at some point. An . NS&I spokesman said: ‘We have not finalised our plans but we expect . them to be only available from NS&I.’ The . decision was fuelled by the Post Office’s decision to set up its own . savings arm, in a joint venture with the Bank of Ireland in 2004. It has . around £13billion of savers’ money. A . Department for Business spokesman said: ‘This Government is committed . to the Post Office network, which is why we have set aside £1.34billion . of funding over the next four years to help secure its future.’ Ian Tonks, national officer at Unite, . said: ‘This will only serve to increase financial exclusion, preventing . citizens without access to the internet from accessing NS&I . products.’ | Federation of Sub-Postmasters: 'We are surprised and .
bitterly disappointed by NS&I’s decision' |
09b86c66134e3090cf79993cec64c1b1d90c73b4 | By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 11:10 EST, 5 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:51 EST, 5 May 2012 . A widower fulfilled his wife’s dying wish of having a traditional viking funeral - by burning and sinking her ashes on a replica warship. Devoted Francis Mulcahy, 50, took his wife Karine’s ashes two miles out to sea on a replica Viking longship which he built himself. He then set fire to the 3ft-long vessel and watched it sink - just like the traditional funeral services conducted by the Vikings hundreds of years ago. Mark of respect: The replica Viking ship containing the ashes of Karine Mulcahy burns two miles out to sea, off the coast of Plymouth . Devoted husband: Francis Mulcahy, left, makes the final adjustments to the replica viking ship which will carry the ashes of his wife. Karine's grandparents were Scandinavian and she always celebrated her Nordic roots . Bookkeeper Karine insisted on the unusual send-off because her grandparents were Scandinavian and she always celebrated her Nordic roots. Proud Mr Mulcahy, 50, said: 'She would have loved the way we did the funeral for her. We always spoke about what each other would want to do if one of us died. Tragic: Karine Mulcahy, of Tavistock, Devon, died from a blood clot which spread to her lungs on September 15 last year and her funeral and cremation took place on September 23 . 'I loved her very much, she wished for that sort of funeral, so that’s what she got. I wanted to give her everything I possibly could in my power.' Karine, of Tavistock, Devon, died . from a blood clot which spread to her lungs on September 15 last year . and her funeral and cremation took place on September 23. Mr Mulcahy then . set about fulfilling her dying wish and bought a £120 flatpack replica . Viking longboat - intended as a collector’s model - which was made of . timber. He then spent five days building the boat and added a Scottish Saltire flag to reflect Karine’s birthplace. Her ashes were carefully placed into two small cabins on the boat’s deck. On April 28 Francis was joined by around 70 mourners who packed onto a friend’s fishing boat and sailed out from Plymouth Sound. When they were two miles out to sea he used a blowtorch to ignite a number of firelighters on the deck. He said: 'We put it into the water after sailing out on a friend’s boat and we put fire-lighters on the top of the boat. 'We used a blow torch to set it alight and just watched it as it burnt. 'After . that we turned the boat around and went to a pub where we had a good . eat and a good drink together and just simply celebrated her life. We . had a great send off for her.' Getting ready so sail: On April 28 Mr Mulcahy was joined by around 70 mourners who packed onto a friend¿s fishing boat and sailed out from Plymouth Sound . Mr Mulcahy chose the specific date to burn the boat as he wanted to do it as close to Karine’s 60th birthday, on May 2, as possible. Paying tribute to his late wife, he said: 'She was the most beautiful, sweetest person that I have ever met. 'She . was kind, she always thought about others before herself, she was . absolutely beautiful and will be greatly missed by her family and . friends.' Labour of love: Mr Mulcahy bought a £120 flatpack replica Viking longboat - intended as a collector's model - which was made of timber. He then spent five days building the boat and added a Scottish Saltire flag to reflect his wife's birthplace . Skilled build: Mr Mulcahy spent five days building the boat and added a Scottish Saltire flag to reflect Karine's birthplace . | Francis Mulcahy bought the flatpack replica Viking longboat for £120 and spent five days building the boat before setting sail from Plymouth . |
09b96ebc952c4292884aa43a32d628ea482f28fe | (CNN) -- McLaren's Jenson Button has been hit with a five-place grid penalty ahead of this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix after a new gearbox was fitted to his car. Post-race checks on the 2009 world champion's MP4-27 car revealed a transmission issue which could not be repaired. Button's teammate and fellow Briton Lewis Hamilton was forced to retire from the Singapore Grand Prix earlier this month with an identical problem. Formula One rules state a driver must use the same gearbox for five races in a row or face a grid penalty. Hamilton has avoided any punishment as he did not finish the grand prix. Schumacher coy on Sauber switch . The 32-year-old Button has won two races this year, in Australia and Belgium, and sits sixth in the drivers' standings with 119 points. The Briton will be paired with a new driver next season, with Mexico's Sergio Perez drafted in from Sauber as a replacement for the departing Hamilton. It was announced last week Hamilton would be joining German manufacturer Mercedes on a three-year deal, ending his career-long association with McLaren. Ferrari's Fernando Alonso is the current championship leader, 29 points clear of two-time title winner Sebastian Vettel with just six races remaining. Button will be hoping for a repeat of last year's victory at the Suzuka circuit when racing gets underway on Sunday. | Jenson Button to serve five-place grid penalty at the Japanese Grand Prix .
The McLaren driver punished after a new gearbox had to be fitted to his car .
F1 rules dictate a driver must use the same gearbox for five races in a row .
The Japanese Grand Prix takes place at Suzuka on Sunday . |
09b9ad25a760f807228db47db25a208afd6ac2bc | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 09:42 EST, 21 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:42 EST, 21 June 2012 . Louie Jenkins is very happy with his first birthday present - a pair of new legs. The youngster lost his own when he was four months old after he became critically ill with meningitis. Surgeons were forced to amputate them below the knee in order to save his life. Now Louie has received his first prosthetic pair in time for his first birthday. Louie Jenkins wears his new legs. Doctors have told his parents to let him guide them with how long he wants to wear them . His parents, Julie, 29, and Warren, 31, from Colne, Lancashire, hope he will soon learn to walk and take his first steps. Mrs Jenkins said: 'It was so weird looking at the legs and thinking that Louie will learn to walk with them on. 'We were so nervous before he got them. We were worried that he may not like them or feel uncomfortable. We didn’t want to have to encourage him to wear them if he didn’t want them on. 'We put his trousers on the legs and we were told to buy shoes to be placed on the feet.' Louie was given the legs yesterday at a specialist prosthetics unit at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds. He also lost all of the fingers on his left hand and the tips of his fingers on his right hand. Louie was too young to be walking when he lost his legs . Mrs Jenkins said: 'When he first had them put on, he grabbed the shoes and smiled. We were so pleased. He was so comfortable in them that he fell asleep wearing them in the car on the way home. 'He looks much older now he has the legs because he is taller. He always seemed much younger than his sister Francesca was at this age but now he seems more like a toddler than a baby. 'We have been told to let him lead us with how much time he wants to spend wearing the legs. If he wants to wear them for a little as half an hour a day we will let him. 'We are hoping that, if he wants to, he may be able to crawl with them. We have been told that we need to encourage him to walk wearing them in just the same way that we would any other child.' As he gets older the money raised will also be used to buy state-of-the-art prosthetic legs at a cost of around £7,000 per leg. Julie added: 'As Louie is growing it . doesn’t really make sense to be spending that amount of money on legs . that he will keep growing out of so he will just have the NHS ones for . now. 'As he gets older . he may want to take part in sport and we want to be able to say that we . have the money to be able to buy him the legs that he wants.' Louie back in March: He lost his legs from below the knee to meningitis . Julie said that doctors praised her quick reaction spotting the first warning signs and that if she had left it any longer he may have died. 'I had bathed Louie with his sister Francesca as normal but throughout the night he kept waking up crying and was sick, I noticed he had a temperature so stripped him down and gave him some Calpol. 'It was when I stripped him down that I noticed two small red pin prick marks. I pressed on them and they didn’t go away so thought something was wrong. 'Within a matter of minutes he had gone grey and floppy so I rung for an ambulance. 'As I was watching he went from having a few marks to all his legs and arms turning purple. 'They took him to Airedale and treated him for meningitis, it was all a bit of a shock and it didn’t really hit home until we had the results of the blood test which confirmed that he had meningococcal septicaemia.' Louis was transferred to Leeds General Infirmary where he was kept in intensive care for two weeks then put onto the children’s surgical ward. She added: 'The doctors said that if I hadn’t checked on him and spotted the rash when I did that Louis probably would have died. 'The first 48 hours were touch and go and after that they gave him a 50 per cent chance of survival which gradually increased as the days went on.' Louie’s family have set up the Little LAMB (Louie’s Amazing Meningitis Battle) Appeal to help buy equipment needed to support him as he grows. They aim to be able to have enough money to buy specialist prosthetic legs at the cost of £7,000 per leg by the time he wants to take part in sports. | Louie's legs were amputated below the knee when he was four months old .
His parents have already started fundraising for state-of-the-art legs Louie may want when he is older . |
09ba9a07ba5aa59103fd9856799d5894ad381bd8 | A major hunt is underway to find Britain's most prolific petrol thief who has been driving off without paying for fuel for two years after escaping detectives by donning fake number plates and wigs. Officers have linked the thief to 29 separate incidents in Devon and Cornwall and said the con-artist has made off with thousands of pounds worth of fuel during the spree. However, thanks to an array of disguises including woolly hats, hoodies and wigs, officers have been unable to identify the offender and aren't even certain if they are a man, a woman or a transvestite. Officers have linked the thief to 29 separate incidents in Devon and Cornwall and said the con artist has made off with thousands of pounds worth of fuel during her spree. The thief is pictured here wearing a blonde wig . Police have so far been unable to identify the suspect due to the varying disguises used in each offence. Officers said the offender has regularly used fake number plates and swaps them before and after the crime . Devon and Cornwall Police said witnesses have described the suspect as female in 19 offences, male in seven cases, and 'indistinguishable' in the remaining three. The only firm lead the force has is the silver Vauxhall Zafira that has been picked up repeatedly on CCTV despite the fraudster using a variety of cloned plates. The scammer's spree began in September 2012 when the mystery suspect refuelled at an Esso garage in Plymouth, Devon. Over the following two years, the same offender targeted petrol stations across the South West including at Texaco, Esso and Morrisons and each time made off with between £55 and £85 of free fuel. Police said the suspect is most likely a woman, but said they can't rule out a male transvestite either. Detective Constable Zara Payne, who is leading the investigation, said: 'The most frequent report is of a woman, sometimes in long blonde wig, or a short bob-cut wig, or wearing a beanie hat or hoody. In some cases the suspect dons a wig, while in others they put on a beanie hat or shield their face with a hoody . Police have released CCTV of the offender in the hope of identifying the thief who started the spree in 2012 . 'But while the same car has been reported at each of the 29 incidents on a few occasions the victim says they think the driver was a man. 'We're keeping an open mind and seeing as this woman appears to go to great lengths to disguise herself, it may well be her impersonating a man. 'What is very clear is over the past two or more years, this woman has stolen thousands of pounds worth of fuel. 'It's quite possible she hasn't paid a penny for her fuel in the last couple of years. 'She's very brazen about it, sometimes returning to the same location two or three times within a few months. Police said 29 incidents have been reported, with 19 witnesses describing the thief as a woman, seven describing them as a man and three suggesting the sex is 'indistinguishable' In each theft, police said the thief takes between £55 and £85 worth of fuel before driving off without paying . 'These thefts are not spur of the moment. We know she is going prepared, with a set of disguises which she carries with her in the car. 'We also know she is using cloned number plates, which we believe she is changing shortly before and after each of these thefts. Police have now released these CCTV images of the suspect in the hope someone will be able to help police in identifying them. Det. Con Payne added: 'Someone out there knows this woman. She may be boasting about her actions, or they have seen her disguises in a car matching the silver Vauxhall Zafira. 'She clearly has no intention of paying for her fuel, seeing it as something only other people have to do.' Police have managed to link each of the 29 offences due to the car - a Vauxhall Zafira - being used by the thief . The thief started the spree in Plymouth, Devon, and has since targeted petrol stations across the South West . | Nationwide hunt underway for thief linked to 29 separate fuel theft offences .
Thief began spree in 2012 and has stolen thousands of pounds worth of fuel .
Devon and Cornwall Police unsure if the thief is male, female or transvestite .
Confusion over sex due to the disguises used including wigs and fake plates .
Witnesses reported suspect as female 19 times and as male in seven cases .
In three offences, witnesses were unable to distinguish the offender's sex . |
09bb0c8be9787afb5d262a2180f8963fd0eaaa1e | A publicity stunt that involved releasing thousands of butterflies at a Chinese science exhibition to raise awareness of conservation backfired badly - after thousands of the insects were killed. The incident took place in Xingxiang in central China's Henan Province during the Butterfly Popular Science Exhibition, organised by a museum in the city. During the event more than 10,000 rare butterfly specimens of various species from around the world were on display. Poorly thought-out: Thousands of butterflies were killed during a conservation event in Xinxiang, China. The insects were released but many injured by crowds eager to hold them . Ironic: The aim of the butterfly release was to highlight conservation efforts . Shredded: This picture shows the badly-damaged remains of the butterflies . The organisers also released thousands of butterflies to promote the idea of environmental awareness. But, instead of protecting them, visitors started to fight to capture the flying butterflies, causing many of the creatures to be crushed or injured. Amazingly, something similar happened during an event to showcase the natural beauty of land earmarked for a new property development earlier this month. A company bought land on the outskirts of the city of Wuhan in China's Hubei Province and hoped to attract potential buyers by highlighting the area's natural environment, far away from the smog of the city. The region of rolling hills and woodland is named Butterfly Valley, and so the developers decided that a Butterfly Festival would be the perfect way to showcase the region. Visitors started to fight to capture the flying butterflies, causing many of the creatures to be crushed or injured . The incident took place in Xingxiang in central China's Henan Province during the Butterfly Popular Science Exhibition, organised by a museum in the city . Beauty expired: A woman holds a pair of the fragile insects up to the camera . Children grabbed the brightly-coloured butterflies. They event featured a vast array of different species . A butterfly lands on the arm of a toddler attending the science exhibition . The only problem was most butterflies hatched in the area in early spring and the last ones had already died around June. So instead they contacted specialist breeders and arranged for thousands of butterflies from more than 800 different species to be shipped in. Some were released by members of the public, while others were kept in special netted tents for the amusement of visitors. However, not only did many of the butterflies get injured in transit and die shortly after they were released, but others succumbed to the unseasonal weather and expired after a few days. So instead of the sight of butterflies fluttering over the valley or being snapped by happy visitors, Chinese social media was flooded with images of dead and dying exotic butterflies falling from the sky or being trampled underfoot. It sparked a wave of protest from China's small but increasingly vocal animal rights activists who said the whole idea was 'cruel and pointless'. The PR agency that organised the stunt said they had asked visitors not to touch or play with the butterflies, and that the only reason they were dying was because they had a short lifespan. | The insects were released at a science show in the city of Xingxiang .
Aim was to increase awareness of conservation efforts to protect butterflies .
But the crowd tried to grab them as they flew away, killing thousands . |
09bbb5cc198ea9c826beb5e18102ca195a2af09f | (CNN)A plane passenger who had recently traveled to an "Ebola-affected country" does not have the virus and was released from the hospital, according to a statement from the New Jersey Department of Health. The health care worker was hospitalized after a flight landed at Newark Liberty International Airport on Monday, a hospital spokeswoman said. The passenger was kept overnight at Hackensack University Medical Center for further evaluation "in an abundance of caution," spokeswoman Nancy Radwin said. Luke Punzenberger, a spokesman for United, said an ill passenger was on a flight that arrived in Newark from Brussels Monday afternoon. "After arriving at Newark airport from Brussels, medical personnel met a United flight to assist an ill passenger on board," he said. "Passengers and crew stayed on the plane until the medical personnel cleared the aircraft." While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledges it's possible a person infected with Ebola in West Africa could get on a plane and arrive in another country, the chances of the virus spreading during the journey are low. "It's very unlikely that they would be able to spread the disease to fellow passengers," Stephen Monroe, deputy director of the CDC's National Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Infectious Diseases, told CNN last year. "The Ebola virus spreads through direct contact with the blood, secretions or other body fluids of ill people, and indirect contact -- for example with needles and other things that may be contaminated with these fluids." CNN's Catherine E. Shoichet, Susannah Cullinane and Madison Park contributed to this report. | A state official says patient was released and did not have Ebola .
The passenger arrived in Newark Monday after recent travel to an "Ebola-affected country"
The patient was at Hackensack University Medical Center . |
09bd187f2de20e9c8faea1731ba7cfed5910e33f | By . Claire Bates . PUBLISHED: . 06:19 EST, 23 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:56 EST, 23 January 2013 . When Chris Taylor lost his hand in a jet-ski accident four years ago, he thought his career as a self-employed engineer was over. But he can now climb ladders, grip a length of rope and even do complex wiring, after he was fitted with a new generation of bionic hand. He is the first person in the UK to have a 'Michaelangelo Hand' - a unique prosthetic that has electronic fingers and thumb. Scroll down for video . Life changing: Mr Taylor shows off his £47,000 limb by specialists Dorset Orthopaedic . This means Mr Taylor he is able to move the five digits using the muscles in his right arm. The £47,000 device has electrodes which sense movement in the muscles and, in turn, triggers signals that are sent to the hand. It is turned on and off by pressing a button on the upper part of the hand. Mr Taylor can now hold and grip different-sized objects and perform simple domestic tasks most people take for granted, such as doing up a button or picking up a set of keys. The service engineer lost his right hand when he fell off a jet-ski in a horrific accident in the sea off Torquay, Devon, in 2009. He had been gripping a length of rope that was pulling his son on a rubber ring when a large wave struck the craft. As Chris was thrown into the water, the rope tightened and ripped his hand clean off. Since then he has experimented with a rudimentary NHS prosthetic hand but then found out about the revolutionary 'Michaelangelo Hand' that had been developed in the U.S and Germany. Mr Taylor was referred to the renowned private clinic Dorset Orthopaedic which is trialling the new device and has become the first to be fitted with it. Scroll down for the video... Chris puts on the bionic hand: The prosthetic comes in two parts that are clipped together . Chris can now enjoy everyday chores, like ironing after mastering how to use his bionic hand. He can now grip a number of different sized objects . Mr Taylor can use the bionic hand for precise . tasks allowing him to carry out complex wiring work for his job as a . service engineer . The limb gets its name from the Italian artist's famous painting of the hands of God and Adam touching. The . married father-of-three from Ivybridge, Devon, said after his accident . he had been fitted with an NHS hand, but it had limited functionality. He searched online for an alternative and came across the Michaelangelo . Hand, which he was able to afford thanks to an insurance payout. He said: 'I was attracted to the new technology in it, the fact it had a silicone socket that would fit my arm better, the overall look of it and that the thumb could be controlled electronically. 'I am really pleased that I have now been fitted with it. It is going to be a learning curve because I have been used to not having a hand for some time now. 'It will make a huge difference to my life. Now I have got something on the end of my arm that actually works. 'It obviously isn't quite as good as a normal hand but it is much better than what I had. I can pick things up and do things that everybody takes for granted. 'It is quite a weird feeling moving it and being able to do something I couldn't for quite a long time.' The Michelangelo Hand is attached to a socket embedded with the electrodes, that detect muscle movement. The electronic signals are then read by a piece of software which controls the hand and make it open, close, or grip. The . limb is made from a variety of metal, alloys and plastic, and wearers . will require sessions with an occupational therapist to refine the . movements. The hand, developed by Otto Bock, moves its fingers and thumb when it detect muscle movement in the wearer's arm stump . The hand can make seven different hand positions thanks to four movable fingers and a thumb that can be separately positioned using muscle . signals . Users are recommended to charge the hand every evening for approximately four hours, and can use it for 20 hours at a time. It costs £47,125 which includes the silicone socket, a five year warranty, and therapist sessions. Bob Watts, the managing director of . Dorset Orthopaedic, said: 'What sets this apart from any other . prosthetic hand is it is far more intelligent and it has a motorised . thumb. 'With an able-bodied person, if the brain says 'close your hand' it sends a message to the hand without thinking. 'This hand has a built-in software . programme that does the same thing, it's just that there is no human . hand there. But it has sensors that send the message from the muscles in . the forearm to the hand. 'As a result the wrist, fingers and thumb can respond in a much more accurate and faster way than any other hand. 'Prosthetic hands have been around . for 30 years but this is the only one that has a motorised thumb which . can move and grip by itself. 'You have to move the thumb into position with your working hand with the other limbs.' Mr Taylor's hand has a five-year warranty . Life changing: Mr Taylor shows off his replacement £47,000 limb by specialists Dorset Orthopaedic . It was developed by Otto Bock, a German company that manufactures prosthetic limbs. Geoff Harding, business manager at . Otto Bock, said: 'This is a myoelectric hand which is operated by . electronic impulses given out from the muscles in the residual limb. 'As the muscles contract, there are electrodes on the skin that put out a signal and in turn, operate the hand. 'It . is made out of metals, alloys, and plastics, and what is different . about this hand is it mimics human movement more so than any other . electronic hand. 'It is the first hand with a thumb that can be moved electronically like this, and it is very quick and natural. 'This . is good for Chris because a lot of his work is up on ladders and it . will respond as he needs to use it, he will find it comfortable and . tasks will be a lot easier.' Chris Taylor lost his right hand when he fell off a jet-ski in 2009 . | Chris, 58, lost his right hand three years ago in a jet-ski accident .
First person in UK fitted with bionic limb with electronic fingers and thumb .
Engineer can climb ladders and do complex wiring with his new limb . |
09bd4859dbd0a28b29a63ad5e74b678c1774fdba | By . Helen Collis . PUBLISHED: . 03:36 EST, 14 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:16 EST, 14 October 2013 . A reporter who had a bucket of sports drink thrown in her face by a Boston Red Sox player calmly continued her interview as if nothing happened. Erin Andrews was speaking to Red Sox player Jarrod Saltalamacchia live on TV after the team beat the Detroit Tigers on Sunday. Mr Saltalamacchia had scored his first walk-off hit of the post season. Scroll down for video . Line of fire: Fox sports reporter Erin Andrews took the brunt of a joke aimed at the Red Sox player, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, she was interviewing . Catcher Saltalamacchia got off quite lightly after his team mate threw Gatorade over them, Ms Andrews however, got soaked . As he was explaining how he managed to pull off the big hit, his team mate, Number 18, sneaked up behind them and threw a large bucket of orange sports drink over the pair. Sadly for Ms Andrews, however, she caught the brunt of the sticky joke, soaking her hair and jacket. Acting like a pro, however, the reporter continued her interview, unphased. After the prank, the blonde reporter who had travelled from Los Angeles to cover the match, posted a photo of herself on Twitter. With soaked hair and sticking her tongue out, she Tweeted: 'Gotta love postseason baseball #Gatorade' The Boston Red Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 6-5 at Fenway Park, Boston, in Sunday night's Game 2 of the American League baseball championship series. Good humour: The Fox News reporter saw the funny side of the joke and tweeted this picture of herself after the prank . Ms Andrews had been asking the Red Sox catcher about his first walk-off hit in postseason. 'You mentioned being resilient - what took so long to finally get some hits?' she asked. 'At the moment, as long as it takes to get the win,' he replied. 'This city has been so resilient all year long and that's how we play the game.' His Red Sox team mate is then seen running up behind the film crew carrying a large container. Then the two get soaked, live on TV. 'Hey,' shouts Ms Andrews, but she keeps her cool and continues the interview. 'And this is the first time since Carlton Fisk the catcher has had a walk-off,' she continues, before adding: 'How are you feeling?' I'm drenched.' 'Yeah, feels great,' he says. | Erin Andrews was interviewing Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia .
His team mate sneaked up and threw a bucket of sports drink on them .
But Ms Andrews appeared to catch the worst of it soaking her hair .
Acting like a pro she picked up with the interview where she left off . |
09be547af26be619f8721039696a4577b255cac3 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 08:32 EST, 25 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:20 EST, 25 October 2013 . The wife of an ex-Lehman Brothers hotshot who is accused of biting, kicking and pulling the hair of his estranged wife inside their lavish Manhattan co-op, has testified against her husband in his assault trial. David Milberg, 50, who was vice president at the failed bank and now runs a private investment firm, is on trial for attempted assault after the alleged incident in April of this year. The violent fight between finance exec David Milberg, 50, . and his wife of 16 years, Melinda, occurred while their 14-year-old . daughter was home, Melinda said. ‘He let out an almost animalistic . grunt and sunk his teeth into my flesh,’ Melinda Milberg testified at Manhattan Supreme Court. ‘He started to grind his teeth into my flesh and then he released his . bite.’ Set for trial: Ex-Lehman Brothers vice president, David Milberg, left, is accused of biting, kicking and pulling the hair of his estranged wife, Melinda Milberg, right, inside their lavish Manhattan co-op in April . Armed: Melinda Milberg, 50, said when cops arrived she told them her husband David had bruised her arm and forehead, tore a nail and bit her arm. David confessed to cops. 'I fell into a trap, this is what she wanted' During testimony in Manhattan Supreme Court, Mrs Milberg said the confrontation . continued in their spacious apartment on West End Avenue on Manhattan’s . Upper West Side as she desperately tried to escape her enraged husband’s . grasp. Their teenage daughter Beverly then came into the room and yelled at her father to stop. ‘She . was screaming at him. She was yelling, ‘Dad, stop it! Dad, what the . hell are you doing? Dad, what’s wrong with you? Dad, are you crazy?’’ Melinda testified. Melinda then ‘ran into the master bedroom’ where . David pursued her and grabbed hold of her again, yanked her hair and . threatened her, she testified. She said, 'he used both of his hands to forcefully push . me onto a chair... causing bruising and substantial pain.' Melinda . Milberg, 50, told authorities she 'then observed (my husband) grab me . by the hair and strike my head against the chair multiple times... causing my hair to come out of my head.' Alleged abuse: Melinda Milberg, 50, pictured, told authorities she 'then observed (my husband) grab me by the hair and strike my head against the chair multiple times... causing my hair to come out of my head' ‘He gritted his teeth and uttered: ‘I . am going to kill you! I am going to kill you!' And gestured at me with . his hands and got right in my face,’ Milberg said . The court was then played the 911 call of Mrs Milberg calling the police . ‘Get away! Get away! Get away!’ she shrieked. ‘Are the police on their way? My husband’s killing me! Prosecutors then replayed the scene to the courtroom. ‘She . sat pinned in the chair as the defendant grabbed her arm and sunk his . teeth into her arm,’ Assistant District Attorney Timothy Duda said in . opening arguments on Thursday morning. In his defense, David . Milberg’s lawyers say she provoked him and that his biting on her arm . was simply an instant reaction after she lunged at him. His lawyer, Celia Gordon, made it clear where Mr Milberg's position lay. Bitter battle: Melinda Milberg, 50, said on the witness stand Thursday at Manhattan Supreme Court that her estranged husband, finance exec David Milberg, bit her in a violent confrontation at their upper West Side home in April . ‘She is a vindictive liar, and it is our great pleasure to see to it that she is finally exposed,’ The banker . allegedly admitted to police as he was arrested that he 'bit her arm' but insisted 'I fell into a trap. This is what she wanted. The . couple had split in January and Mrs Milberg officially filed for . divorce in March but were taking turns living in the Upper West Side pad . with the children until April. When not with the kids, the other spouse . would live in a hotel, Mr Gottlieb told MailOnline. He said that on April 1, Mr Milberg had returned to his home and told his wife he was fed up with the housing arrangement. Vindictive liar? IN this video that was shown to the court, Mrs Milberg (in green) is seen in the same gym as her husband. She told prosecutors that they were 'face-to-face' but it appears that the couple barely noticed one another . Overreaction? Soon after her husband walked by, Mrs Milberg called the cops and alerted JCC gym security. They determined that her husband was fine to be there also . During . cross-examination, Melinda Milberg was questioned the couple’s divorce . and her rejection of a settlement that would have given her full . ownership of their high-priced pad, a new Mercedes, $5 million in cash, . private school and camp tuitions for their three kids through college, . over $100,000 in child support annually. The court was also shown a . video during which David Milberg walks by his wife Melinda outside the . gym as she sorts things out on a bench. Mrs Milberg told authorities . that her husband was ‘face-to-face’ with her at the the Jewish . Community Center gym, but the video shows that he doesn't appear to look . in her direction. He had been ordered by a court to stay away. She called the police and and alerted JCC staff but her estranged husband was not arrested and was allowed to be there. Scene: The husband allegedly roughed up his wife at their posh Upper West Side co-op, pictured . But Mr Milberg's lawyer insists his wife trumped up the accusations to win leverage in the couple's nasty, multimillion divorce case. Mr Gottlieb told MailOnline: 'David is absolutely innocent of those absurd charges. This case is simply about a woman who has manipulated the police the District Attorney and is now trying to manipulate the courts for the sole purpose of getting money in the matrimonial case.' He said the divorce proceedings started before Mr Milberg's arrest. 'These charges were just part of her strategy to gain leverage in her quest for money,' Mr Gottlieb said earlier this week. Fight: In the split, the couple are fighting over custody as well as access to a 400-acre country club - Sunningdale in Westchester, New York, pictured, of which they are members . Mr Gottlieb would not say exactly how much Mrs Milberg was going for in the divorce but said it was a 'significant' sum, adding 'she has refused to settle it while the criminal case was pending.' In the split, the couple are fighting over custody as well as access to a 400-acre country club - Sunningdale in Westchester, New York, of which they are members. 'Mrs Milberg's shenanigans and her abuse of the system has resulted in David having very little contact with the children,' Mr Gottlieb said. The kids are aged 14, 10 and eight. David Aronson, Mr Milberg's divorce lawyer, told the New York Daily News the estranged couple could both be 'at the country club at the same time as long as Mr Milberg understands he has to stay away from his wife and not approach her and not speak to her.' But Mrs Milberg's attorney told the newspaper that was inconceivable as the possibility of seeing their father at the posh club was 'really a frightening thought' to the couple's children. | David Milberg, 50, was vice president at the failed bank and is on trial for attempted assault .
Melinda Milberg, 50, told police that on April 1 he used 'both of his hands to forcefully push me onto a chair... causing bruising and substantial pain'
Mr Milberg allegedly admitted to biting her arm .
But his lawyers insists Mrs Milberg has trumped-up the allegations to gain leverage in the couple's divorce battle . |
09bf17361b45397963cae2b3f47e6d4403c9e17f | Unemployed benefit claimants will be forced to carry out unpaid work if they refuse to turn up for two interviews or drop out of work programmes. Under the ‘two strikes and you are out’ policy, the jobless will be told to work unpaid for up to 30 hours a week or they will be stripped of their benefits. Sources say the results of a trial scheme are so striking that ministers are rolling it out nationwide this month in a programme hitting up to 50,000 unemployed. People queue outside a Job Centre in Bristol. If a benefit claimant fail to turn up to two interviews they will be forced to take part in the programme to get them used to working nine to five . Job Centre staff have been given the power to force anyone claiming out-of-work benefits to take part in ‘mandatory work activity’ - unpaid posts designed to get them used to working from nine to five. Those who appear unwilling to look for work can be referred to the scheme at any stage, even on the first day of their claim. The placements are typically with charities or involve some kind of community service, such as helping to maintain parks, working in a local sports club or doing maintenance work for housing residents. Those who refuse to take part, or agree but then fail to turn up, have their £67.50-a-week unemployment benefit stopped for a minimum of three months. Pilots have found that half of those claiming unemployment benefits would prefer to lose their handouts than do a stint of unpaid work. Figures show that 20 per cent of those ordered to take part in four-week community projects stop claiming immediately and another 30 per cent are stripped of their benefits when they fail to turn up. Officials suspect many of those who stop claiming benefits are working in the black economy and would rather lose their welfare than give up their undeclared earnings. Chris Grayling, Minister for Employment, will be taking the policy nationwide later this month . The scheme, which is delivered by a range of organisations from the private, voluntary and third sector, is already underway in London, the East and Yorkshire & the Humber. In a major expansion of the scheme, it will now be rolled out throughout the country. It will cost around £5million because officials have to arrange work placements and monitor claimants’ attendance. However, ministers believe it will produce big savings to Britain’s £100billion benefits bill in the long term. The mandatory work activity scheme is separate to the unpaid work experience for private firms, which critics have attacked as ‘slave labour’. About 18,000 people a year are believed to be part-taking in the 'mandatory work activity'-scheme. Employment minister Chris Grayling, who will be unveiling the policy later this week, wants to double this figure. Grayling said: ‘If Jobcentre Plus advisers believe a jobseeker would benefit from getting some experience of the work environment they can now refer them onto a work activity placement. 'These placements are all about getting people into a working routine if they need an additional push to get into employment. ‘This is beneficial to some jobseekers as it will allow them to develop more of a "work orientated mindset" but it also makes them a much more appealing prospect for an employer looking to fill a vacancy, and more confident when they enter the workplace. 'We are determined to break the habit of worklessness and get those who can work into jobs.’ | Unpaid posts have been designed to get unemployed used to nine-to-five work .
Job Centre staff have been given power to force benefit claimants to do 'mandatory work activities'
Policy to be unveiled by employment minister Chris Grayling this week . |
09c02b818548b8c4b50ad75aa39699d48c536eec | By . Kerry Mcqueeney . UPDATED: . 05:39 EST, 25 January 2012 . Baby ban: The 2012 organisers have said every child, including babes-in-arms, must have their own ticket . Babies who do not have tickets for the Olympics will be excluded from the Games - even if they had not been conceived when their parents bought seats. Parents who bring their infants to the Games without a valid tickets for them will be refused entry, in a move which has sparked anger among new and expectant parents. The 2012 organisers have said every child, including small babies carried in their parents’ arms, must have their own ticket or they will not be allowed in. A press spokesman admitted the Olympics helpline had received calls from pregnant women and expectant fathers whose babies will just be a few weeks old when the Games commence. They have been told they can try and buy an extra ticket for their chosen event, otherwise the infant will be prevented from entering the venue. The issue has attracted fury on the Mumsnet website in the last few weeks, with parents saying they are being forced to pay full price for babies not yet born. Some are doubting whether extra tickets will be available for the popular events they are attending. One woman described it as the 'biggest rip-off in the history of London' while others wondered what to do with babies they will be breastfeeding. Another said: 'The whole thing is ridiculous, there are people who bought tickets before their babies were even conceived - how are they supposed to know to buy a ticket for a child that doesn’t exist yet? 'There should be more complaining about this policy. It’s nuts.' Another woman described the policy as 'bloody stupid'. The Olympic stadium in east London. A spokesman admitted the Olympics helpline had received calls from pregnant women and expectant fathers whose babies will just be a few weeks old when the Games commence . She added: 'The baby isn’t taking up a seat, and if they’re worried about fire regulations or whatever then it’s not as if the baby isn’t going to be with you at all times - essentially you should be counted as one person. 'The baby’s not using the facilities on its own.' One 'fuming' pregnant woman wrote: 'I’m shocked by the conversation I just had with the London 2012 ticketing people. 'My husband and I were lucky enough to get tickets to the horse jumping in August. Our baby is due 2 June, so was inquiring about what I need to do about tickets for the new baby. 'They said everyone needs a ticket - fine. Children’s tickets are £1 - fine. 'I have to pay £95 to have a three-month-old in a sling' 'But there are no children’s tickets for the horse jumping so I have to pay £95 to have a three-month-old in a sling! 'They said the only alternative was to re-sell my ticket or give it to someone else.' Another accused the organisers of discrimination, saying women could not have been expected to bid on extra tickets in case they got pregnant. 'It is generally accepted that a new baby is an adjunct of its mother, especially if breastfeeding.' Another described the 'anti-baby policy' as 'completely unreasonable', adding it 'clearly shows that mums were not involved in devising this policy. 'I attended several hockey games and opening ceremonies at the Vancouver games with a three-month-old (their policy was you could bring a 0-2-year-old, no problem). 'It was NOT a problem. As a rule, there were diaper changing facilities in all restrooms. And I had bought the tickets before the baby was even a sparkle in his mum’s eyes.' One woman on Mumsnet said she is likely to miss out on the Olympics as a result of the policy. She said 'it does feel like discrimination', adding she has four tickets for sailing. 'We will apparently need another ticket for a baby not even born yet and certainly not conceived when we bid for tickets.' She said she would bid for another ticket but did not hold out much hope. 'If I cannot get another ticket, then it looks as though the baby won't be able to go and so neither will I. Outrage on Mumsnet: 'If I cannot get another ticket, then it looks as though the baby won't be able to go and so neither will I' 'I normally keep well clear from the . breast v bottle discussions, but this does feel like discrimination . against those people who are breastfeeding. 'And those unable/unwilling to leave a very small baby in the care of someone else.' Another woman said she objected to the . fact that she needed 'to get another ticket that in all probability . won't exist... Stopping me and potentially my family from going. 'It . will be a while until I know if I can even get another ticket (April, . provided the website is working by then), regardless of the cost, and . probably too late by then to be able to re-sell any tickets we are . subsequently unable to use.' Anyone wishing to re-sell their tickets must submit their request to Olympic organisers by a February 3 deadline. A second wave of ticket re-sales will occur in April. According . to 2012 organisers, it possible for people to give tickets away to . friends and family as long as they are not sold on the open market. | Olympics helpline receives calls from pregnant women and expectant fathers .
Parents vent their fury about the issue on Mumsnet . |
09c298a5047c39575cb724b35d0ccb54fbad0afc | By . Sam Greenhill . Accuser: Jance Hancock, pictured in the 1970s, alleged that Travis had indecently assaulted her . The woman whose indecent assault claims dating back to the 1970s triggered the prosecution of Dave Lee Travis said last night she was ‘not bitter’ about the verdict, but hoped it would not ‘wreck’ Operation Yewtree. Jane Hancock, 54, said she was in ‘shock’ at the trial’s outcome – but said she was thankful it had given a ‘voice’ to her and the other women who accused the DJ of molesting them. Even though the jury rejected her account and found Travis not guilty, she told the Daily Mail: ‘I am disappointed and I am shocked, but I don’t feel hard done by or sour grapes. I’m not bitter. ‘I’m glad I did what I did and I respect the jury’s decision. I just hope the police continue to take women’s claims seriously and I hope other people aren’t put off coming forward. ‘I feel, please God, let Yewtree continue with the same vigour. They must not think that they have failed.’ Last night she said giving evidence had been tough but that she would go through it again, even though Travis had been cleared. ‘It was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but if I had to go through all of this again, I would. I really would,’ she said. ‘Historical cases are always difficult for jurors. We knew that. They have a difficult job. The verdicts are a shock. ‘I’m just blown away really. It must have been well nigh impossible for the jury. The fact they couldn’t decide on two counts shows how hard it was.’ Cleared: Dave Lee Travis appears outside of Southwark Crown Court yesterday after being found not guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault . Miss Hancock also expressed her sympathy for Travis’s other accusers, saying: ‘I’m gutted for all of the girls. They must all be feeling terrible. But they should all know that what we did was very brave. ‘The original fear, at the start of all this, was simply that I wouldn’t be believed. I totally respect the jury’s decision and it clearly wasn’t an easy one for them. ‘Nothing changes the way I feel about what happened all those years ago.’ She added: ‘I don’t feel let down by the police, not at all. They have worked very hard and they have given us a voice. I think that’s the most important thing of all, even if the verdict is disappointing. ‘It is just nice to know that we are being listened to, even if in court it is impossible to prove so that the jury can totally believe. But, no, I praise Operation Yewtree.’ It was Miss Hancock’s claims that triggered the police investigation into Travis. She was a 17-year-old archivist working at BBC Broadcasting House in London when she met the DJ in the 1970s. She told the jury he had given her lifts in his famous ‘big yellow banana’, a Pontiac Firebird Trans car, but had assaulted her in a BBC studio in 1977 while he was live on Radio 1. Claims: The accusations had related mainly to Travis's time as a BBC DJ in the 1970s and 1980s . Historic cases: Travis was prosecuted as a result of Operation Yewtree, launched in 2012 after Jimmy Savile was exposed as a predatory peadophile. Travis is pictured here on Top of the Pops with Savile . She accused him of switching off the studio light and putting on a ‘smoochy’ song, before grabbing her tightly to dance. Claiming he was aroused, Miss Hancock said: ‘I was horrified. I didn’t know what it was. It sounds stupid but I was still a virgin.’ He pinned her against the wall and thrust his fingers into her underwear, she alleged. But the jury rejected her claims and cleared Travis of indecently assaulting her. In a separate interview she told ITV News that there should not be a ‘sell-by date’ on complaints, adding: ‘I worry that the verdict will prevent other people from coming forward. ‘It’s tough enough anyway and the precedent is still to be made, in so much that it will put people off in coming forward with complaints about abuse that they’ve received – whether it be last week or 30 years ago. But my message to anybody who is listening is please don’t be put off. ‘Although it’s tough to go through the trial, and to be in court and to be cross-examined, you’ve done something valuable. ‘It’s quite scary what they will drag up from your own past in order to cast doubt in the jury’s minds. But having said that, I would still happily do it again. ‘I think that there has to be some kind of understanding that in an historical abuse claim, some of the witnesses will have forgotten, some of them will be dead. 'The fact that you didn’t complain at the time implies that there is a sell-by date, if you like, on a complaint.’ Miss Hancock, of Surrey, decided to waive her legal right to anonymity in return for a donation to the charity Victim Support. She has never asked for any payment for herself. Relief: Travis, shown in a court sketch expressing his relief at the not guilty verdicts, told the jury: 'It's their word against mine' She added that she saw no reason to ‘hide’ and that she wanted to give encouragement to women in other cases. In October 2012, at the height of the revelations about Jimmy Savile, Miss Hancock phoned the then BBC director-general George Entwistle to report her accusations about Travis, but said his office dismissively told her: ‘We are not taking calls of this nature.’ She told the jury at Travis’s trial: ‘I felt like the BBC had slammed the door in my face.’ Miss Hancock added: ‘The BBC did not want to know when I complained in 2012, whereas the police took my complaint seriously from the start.’ Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Jance Hancock, 54, said that Dave Lee Travis assaulted her in 1970s .
Her complaint led to one of charges against former DJ - who was cleared .
Miss Hancock said she was in 'shock' at the trial's outcome .
But she said she was thankful she and other accusers were given a voice . |
09c31fa2daf43fa23612400b9e63628e5a450e07 | Britain awoke to frosty and clear conditions this morning after a downpour which saw a week's worth of rain fall in the South. But the country has been warned of further floods and travel disruption as a 'conveyor belt' of Atlantic storm fronts soak the country for the next week. The Met Office has forecast a 'succession' of fronts with heavy rain sweeping across the country from Monday up until the weekend. Strong winds and 60mph gales are expected to hit the West and accompany the heavy rain. Britain awoke to clear conditions this morning and cows were seen munched on frosty grass on farmland in Malmesbury, Wiltshire . Fog rolls along the Severn Valley at sunrise this morning after a downpour which saw a week's worth of rain fall in the South . Met Office forecaster Calum MacColl said: 'A succession of fronts will come in due to an Atlantic-dominated westerly flow. 'Conditions can be bad with these heavy rain events and there may well be local impacts to travel. 'There could be localised flooding and high rivers in areas with ground saturated from heavy rain, such as south Wales and south-west Scotland. 'We're keeping an eye on rain and wind and reviewing the situation based on our warning thresholds. But the country has been warned of further floods and travel disruption as a 'conveyor belt' of Atlantic storms is expected to hit . A blanket of mist covered the rolling hills in Bruton, Somerset, early this morning with temperatures around 2C . Met Office forecaster Calum MacColl said: 'A succession of fronts will come in due to an Atlantic-dominated westerly flow' 'Rain with heavy bursts will push north-east through Monday, slow to clear the east on Tuesday with 40-50mph winds in the West, with 60mph possible on Scotland's Western Isles, and strong winds in the East. Thunder is also predicted to hit on several days next week and longer spells of rain will continue into the weekend. The Environment Agency, which raised the flood risk for the South-East today after Saturday's downpours, said it would monitor forecasts and issue alerts as appropriate. On Monday fog patches will start slowly clearing and a band of rain and stronger winds will start moving into Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. Forecaster Brian Gaze of The Weather Outlook said: 'A conveyor belt of Atlantic fronts will sweep east across the UK through the week, with flood-prone areas at risk.' Unsettled and often windy weather with showers or longer spells of rain are expected for Tuesday and Wednesday. On Monday fog patches will start clearing and a band of rain and stronger winds moving into Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK . The Environment Agency, which raised the flood risk for the South-East today after Saturday's downpours, said it would monitor forecasts and issue alerts as appropriate . Unsettled and often windy weather with showers or longer spells of rain are expected for Tuesday and Wednesday . | Britain awoke to frosty and clear conditions this morning with temperatures dipping below zero in some areas .
Country has been warned of floods and travel disruption as a 'conveyor belt' of Atlantic storms is expected to hit .
Thunder is also predicted to hit on several days next week and longer spells of rain will continue into the weekend .
Environment Agency raised the flood risk for the South-East last night and said it will issue alerts if needed . |
09c5e291b8a2a8d004b88662a65b0afb2b3f6ff3 | By . Matt Blake . PUBLISHED: . 07:27 EST, 15 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:22 EST, 15 January 2013 . Accused: Raja Pervaiz Ashraf is accused of receiving kickbacks in the rental power projects as well as of buying property in London with money earned through corruption in various scams . Pakistan was plunged deeper into political turmoil today as the country's Supreme Court ordered the arrest of its Prime Minister on charges of corruption involving private power stations. Raja Pervaiz Ashraf is accused of receiving kickbacks in the rental power projects and of buying property in London with money earned through various shady deals. He is alleged to have committed the crimes during his reign as minister for water and power before he became the country's premier. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. The prime minister's adviser, Fawad Chaudhry, condemned the court's order, calling it unconstitutional. The announcement comes as thousands of supporters of a fiery Pakistani cleric who has been calling for election reforms descended onto capital Islamabad, as security officials girded for mass rallies by a movement that has virtually overnight become a powerful but still mysterious force on the political scene. The dramatic entry into Pakistani politics of Tahir-ul-Qadri, a preacher who until recently lived abroad in Canada and had only a modest local following, has galvanized supporters looking for reforms but worried detractors who fear he'll derail upcoming elections. Also on Monday, thousands of Shiites finally ended a three-day long protest in the southwestern city of Quetta in which they demanded better security following an attack that killed 86 people. They had blocked a main road with dozens of the victims' coffins, and finally agreed to bury their relatives after Pakistan's leaders dismissed the government of surrounding Baluchistan province. Groundswell: The announcement comes as thousands of supporters of fiery Pakistani cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri who has been calling for election reforms descended onto capital Islamabad . Supporters: Qadri has galvanised Pakistani supporters who believe the current government has succeeded in bringing little but electricity blackouts, unemployment, terror attacks and corruption to the country . The protest was launched in the wake . of a twin bombing at a billiards hall Thursday that targeted members of . the minority Shiite sect. The demonstrators demanded the provincial . government be dismissed and the army take over responsibility for the . city. Prime Minister Ashraf said in a . televised address shortly after midnight on Sunday that the governor, . who is appointed by the central government, would take over in . Baluchistan, replacing the chief minister elected by the provincial . assembly. Also, paramilitary forces will . receive police powers and launch an operation against militants behind . the billiards hall attack. The national government is also worried about security in Islamabad in advance of Qadri's protest. Thousands of police have been deployed in the city, and officers in riot gear are manning the main roads and streets. Authorities used shipping containers to block off the part of Islamabad where most government offices and embassies are located. Protests: Also on Monday, thousands of Shiites finally ended a three-day long protest in the southwestern city of Quetta in which they demanded better security following an attack that killed 86 people . Sacked: The protesters had blocked a main road with dozens of the victims' coffins, and finally agreed to bury their relatives after Pakistan's leaders dismissed the government of surrounding Baluchistan province . About 15,000 of Qadri's supporters . left Sunday in hundreds of vehicles from the eastern city of Lahore, . where the headquarters of his Minhaj-ul-Quran organization are located. They are expected to arrive in Islamabad later Monday, as more . supporters join the rally along the way. Television . footage showed the marchers crowded into buses and vehicles with . Pakistani flags flying as they made their way toward the capital. Even before Qadri arrived in the . capital, thousands rallied on the main avenue running through Islamabad . that leads to the government headquarters. Members of the march set up a . make-shift stage on top of one of the shipping containers that were . supposed to block their way. Male protesters gathered on one side of the avenue while women and children were on the other, divided by a grass median. Devastation: The double suicide blast tore through a crowded market place on January 10 . Carnage: A bomb disposal squad member checks the site of the blast in Quetta . Many of the protesters waved Pakistani flags or photos of Qadri, while songs on religious themes or in praise of Qadri blared through a loudspeaker. The crowd appeared to be a mix of longtime Qadri followers and new supporters who had been inspired by his anti-government message. 'He feels pain for the people while the government feels no pain for the people,' said Faizan Baig from the northern city of Abbottabad. The 23-year-old said he had come to Islamabad the night before and slept in a shrine on the outskirts of the city. Qadri's rhetoric has invigorated many Pakistanis like Baig who are angry at the current administration whose five years in office ends this spring. They say the current government has succeeded in bringing little but electricity blackouts, unemployment, terror attacks and corruption. Qadri returned to Pakistan in December after living for years in Canada, where he's also a citizen. He heads a religious network in Lahore and gained some international prominence by writing a 2010 fatwa, or religious opinion, condemning terrorism. | Raja Pervaiz Ashraf is accused of receiving kickbacks to secure projects .
Also accused of buying property in London with corruption money .
Comes as 1,000s of protesters hit Islamabad demanding election reforms .
In Quetta thousands of Shiites end 3-day rally after suicide blast kills 86 .
Government agrees to dismiss Quetta regional government after attack . |
09c5ec0d546146425388c1456962f4ad0ef34045 | By . Margot Peppers for MailOnline . Cashmere not only expensive but also notoriously difficult to clean, but a new invention may well change that. A team of scientists from City University of Hong Kong's School of Energy and Environment have developed an invisible coating that triggers a chemical reaction when exposed to light. When the mineral, which is made from anatase titanium dioxide, coats the fabric, any stain - from dirt to coffee and even red wine - on its surface will be eliminated after being placed in light for 24 hours. Scroll down for video . No need for dry cleaning: A team of scientists from City University of Hong Kong have developed an invisible coating that can make cashmere wool clean itself when exposed to light . Like magic: When the anatase titanium dioxide coats the fabric, any stain - from dirt to coffee and even red wine - on its surface will be eliminated after being placed in light for 24 hours . What's more, lead scientist Walid Daoud says that the finished fabric will only bump up the price of cashmere by one to 1.5per cent. Not only is the invention the ultimate in smart technology, but it's also beneficial to the environment. 'On the one hand, clothes that can clean themselves are regarded as smart material,' said Mr Daoud. 'And on the other hand ... we also have less consumption of energy, of water, of chemicals.' The coating was actually first developed in 2002, but applying it to cashmere has proved difficult since the delicate fabric is especially prone to damage. Two-fold: 'Clothes that can clean themselves are regarded as smart material,' explained lead scientist Walid Daoud. 'And on the other hand... we also have less consumption of energy, of water, of chemicals' Special: The notoriously expensive cashmere wool is produced from the undercoat of Cashmere goats that only live in mountainous regions of Mongolia, Tibet and China . The notoriously expensive cashmere wool . is produced from the undercoat of Cashmere goats that only live in . mountainous regions of Mongolia, Tibet and China. 'It is a delicate operation because of the risk of spoiling the cashmere in the process,' Mr Daoud told FastCoExist. 'How to apply nano-sized photocatalysts to cashmere and retain its delicate characteristics was a huge challenge.' But now that the technology has been perfected, he expects it to be a big hit in the fashion industry. | A team of scientists from City University of Hong Kong have developed an invisible coating made from the mineral anatase titanium dioxide, which triggers a chemical reaction when exposed to light for 24 hours .
They predict it will soon hit the mainstream market, especially since it only raises the overall price of cashmere by about one per cent . |
09c7e418c84ab2847e8cb63a9171a17e11d942b8 | A swarm of bees caused a Brazilian football match to be delayed after settling on a goal crossbar. The match, between Ponte Preta and Atletico Sorocaba, was cast into doubt after the bees gathered together at the Moisés Lucarelli stadium in Sao Paulo. Firemen were called in to kill the bees, delaying the league game by 15 minutes. Scroll down for video . Novelty: A swarm of bees settled on the crossbar during a Brazilian league match . Ablaze: Men torched the bees to remove them from the frame of the goal . Ablaze: Men torched the bees to remove them from the frame of the goal . The amusing footage shows two men in white coats using a ladder to climb up before blasting the bees . with the fire extinguishers. Petrol was then applied to cleanse the area before the game kicked off. It was worth the wait for Ponte Preta, however, as they recorded a 2-1 victory with goals from Cleber and Willian. Last May a Ryman Isthmian Football League Division One South match between Whyteleafe and Hythe Town had to be called off after the referee was stung by a bee in the 31st minute and collapsed. Picking up the pieces: Men in white suites clear the way so the match can go ahead . VIDEO: Watch as the bees settle on the crossbar . | Bees gathered together .
at the Moisés Lucarelli stadium .
The match was between Ponte Preta and .
Atletico Sorocaba . |
09c8329cd1b793b9373d87140ca1fd9f2a762f8d | Former pupils of a paeodphile teacher who allegedly abused up to 60 boys at a leading private school spoke last night of their shock at learning of his depraved lifestyle. William Vahey, 64, is said to have held a . ‘cookie race’ at bedtime in which children as young as ten were . encouraged to eat as many as they could, unaware they had been drugged. Once the pupils passed out, some were assaulted. Details of the calculating schemes of the predator emerged as the extent of his offending became clear yesterday. Vahey, pictured with his wife Jean, killed himself at a US motel last month as FBI agents were poised to investigate a USB memory stick containing dozens of graphic images of naked children dating back to 2008 . The revelations prompted 'complete shock' in Natalie Salmon, 23, who was at a school where the paedophile teacher worked in Venezuela. She said: 'It’s so sad, and it’s the first time where I’ve thought to myself as a girl I am safer than being a boy.’ She said she remembered Vahey as being a 'nice, shy sort of guy', but that her male friends from school now refuse to even speak about the possibility they were his victims. Document: An FBI affidavit revealed the extent of Vahey's crimes around the world . FBI investigators said more than 100 potential victims had come forward since news broke yesterday that the married American had taken pictures of himself attacking up to 60 sleeping students from the elite Southbank International School in Westminster during class trips abroad between 2009 and 2013. The sickening images depicted children aged ten to 14 at the international school, where he taught history and geography and led trips to Jordan, Nepal and Venezuela. Another 30 children, who also appeared to be unconscious or asleep when the assaults took place, were pictured from other schools he worked in during a 40-year career spent teaching at ten American international schools in nine countries. Southbank International School, which is favoured by diplomats and foreign executives, has 758 pupils and charges fees of £25,000 a year. Vahey committed suicide at a motel in the US last month as the FBI were poised to investigate a USB memory stick containing the graphic images of naked children dating back to 2008. The father of two plunged a knife into his chest two days after confessing that he had abused boys throughout his life using sleeping pills. Police later removed items from his £1.8million apartment in Maida Vale, west London, where he is alleged to have kept large amounts of sleeping pills. Miss Salmon, now a broadcast journalism student in London, was 11 when she enrolled at the elite English-language international school Escuela Campo Alegre in Caracas where her father was working for oil giant Halliburton. She told Sky News the revelations about the popular American history and geography teacher had come as a ‘complete shock’. It has been claimed Vahey would sprinkle crushed sedatives into Oreo cookies and feed them to his pupils . A former student taught by Vahey at the Jakarta International School in Indonesia in the 1990s, who did not want to be named, told the Mail she could not reconcile the ‘great teacher’ with the predatory monster now revealed. Yesterday a British mother of two, whose teenage sons went on several school trips with Vahey, said he used to hand out Oreo cookies and tell pupils that they could be the lead character in his bedtime story if they won the cookie race. The mother, who did not wish to be identified, said he ‘groomed’ pupils and parents: ‘The boys would sit around and were handed Oreos. He would tell them to go and he would drop his hand to start the race. Spanning the years, and the globe: William Vahey, pictured, committed suicide after allegedly confessing to molesting young boys 'my whole life' ‘Then the first one who had the Oreo, the higher up they would be in the story and so on. He would have been able to split the Oreos apart, ground up the stuff and sprinkle it in the middle.’ The mother was once a friend of Vahey and his wife Jean, 66, who is the executive director of the European Council of International Schools. An FBI affidavit obtained by the Daily Mail showed how he catalogued the abuse by time and location in folders on a USB memory stick entitled ‘Panama trip’, ‘Costa Rica trip’ and ‘Basketball trip’ and ‘Spring 2013’. The document says: ‘These images depict minor males in various states of undress... The minor males appear to be asleep, unconscious or possibly drugged.’ Vahey, who left Southbank International last year, was only caught after a housekeeper at a school he moved to in Nicaragua stole a memory stick containing the vile images. She was sacked but later passed the USB stick to administrators at the American School in Managua, who dismissed Vahey after recognising his hand in the images. Vahey taught at the elite £25,000-a-year Southbank International School in Westminster, London, pictured, right up until last year . In 1970, while studying for a teaching degree, Vahey was jailed for 90 days after pleading guilty to molesting boys at a swimming pool where he was working as an instructor in California. He was required to register as a sex offender for life, but after graduating from college in 1972 failed to sign the register. In 2010 an inspection report had warned of a weakness in staff vetting measures at Southbank International, but Sir Chris Woodhead, chairman of the governors said yesterday that it was ‘irrelevant’ in Vahey’s case as he was not on the sex offender’s register. Sir Chris said there had never been a complaint against Vahey, although there was one incident where a boy was ill on a trip and Vahey took the boy into his room to look after him. A school investigation subsequently found ‘nothing untoward’. | William Vahey, 64, allegedly abused up to 60 boys at leading private school .
Pictures emerged showing him abusing pupils on trips from 2009-2013 .
At the time he was a teacher at Southbank International School in London .
Last night former pupils spoke of their shock at the revelations . |
09c9a3f543421e0df927cdeb97f85df1d32410d3 | During the Leveson Inquiry, a stream of celebrities poured into the Royal Courts of Justice to talk about the iniquities of the Press. Star after star called for tighter regulation on newspapers, telling Lord Justice Leveson how the tabloids had hounded them, made their lives miserable and used every ‘dark art’ imaginable. But the phone hacking trial has lifted the veil on the other side of the relationship between celebrities and the tabloid Press – and it’s a side Lord Justice Leveson’s cast of famous faces was less eager to discuss. Scroll down for video . Close friends: Jude Law, far left, with Sienna Miller and Daniel Craig. The jury heard evidence about the alleged affair between Miller and Craig . Self-confessed phone hacker Dan Evans claimed he had uncovered the relationship when he hacked the 007 actor's voicemails . With combative lawyers prepared to scrutinise the evidence of witnesses, the trial revealed the underbelly of celebrity: how friends, family and even the famous themselves willingly sold stories to the News of the World for money, influence or to extend their own time in the spotlight. There were revelations about George Best’s son Calum, socialite Tara Palmer-Tomkinson and Eimear Cook, ex-wife of golfer Colin Montgomerie. It emerged that former Home Secretary David Blunkett complained to a friend that ‘hyenas’ had betrayed him – little suspecting his friend was the one who had tipped off newspapers and would ultimately sell his voicemails to the highest bidder. And perhaps most dramatically of all, Hollywood star Jude Law was confronted in court with information that a close member of his own family had sold secrets about him. Visibly shaken, the actor said the unnamed male relative had admitted giving information to the newspaper but said he had not known the man had taken the tabloid’s money. The jury heard claims the actor had effectively approved a front page story revealing his former fiancée Sienna Miller’s affair with James Bond star Daniel Craig. Law denied he had sanctioned the 2005 article, but the court heard his publicist had asked the tabloid to ‘back-date’ Miss Miller’s affair with Craig so it would appear she cheated on Law before he was caught out in a fling with his children’s nanny. In a taped conversation with a journalist, Law’s publicist appeared to be speaking on his behalf when she said: ‘If you could definitely pre-date it so that she cheated first, that’s the thing he wants the most.’ Coulson, then editor of the News of . the World, was so confident the article had been signed off by Law that . he told sub-editors to avoid calling him a ‘love rat’ and emailed a . colleague saying: ‘This story is effectively from Jude.’ The affair between Miss Miller and . Craig was a key part of the prosecution case. Self-confessed phone . hacker Dan Evans claimed he had uncovered the relationship when he . hacked the 007 actor’s voicemails. But . Miss Miller’s own driver had apparently sold the story to the tabloid . for £6,000 after catching the actress at a secret rendezvous with Craig. There . is no dispute that phone hacking happened at the tabloid. Miss Miller, . for example, received £100,000 damages from Rupert Murdoch’s News Group . Newspapers. But lawyers at the trial set out to . show that journalists and newspapers relied on countless legitimate . sources to gather information. The judge told lawyers he was anxious the trial should not unravel into a ‘celebrity chat show’ dominated by star witnesses. Unlike the Leveson Inquiry – which faced . criticism that it gave celebrities a platform to make any complaint . about the Press they chose, seemingly without challenge – trial . witnesses had their evidence scrutinised to the standards of a criminal . trial. Former Head of News International Rebekah Brooks and her husband Charlie Brooks sit in a taxi as they leave the Old Bailey after being cleared yesterday . Brooks' deputy and later editor of the News of the World Andy Coulson was swept from court after being found guilty of conspiracy to hack phones . Among the startling revelations: . CALUM BEST . The son of footballer George Best admitted he had ‘actively encouraged’ some media intrusion into his personal life. The 33-year-old pocketed £2,000 from the News of the World for the story of his own sordid nightclub tryst with Mick Jagger’s daughter Elizabeth. Calum Best pocketed £2,000 from the . News of the World for the story of his own nightclub tryst with . Mick Jagger’s daughter Elizabeth . He also passed on stories about his friends. Mr Justice Saunders said: ‘Calum Best is a full-time “celebrity”. He needs publicity in order to remain a full-time “celebrity”. He sometimes supplies information to the Press himself.’ TARA PALMER-TOMKINSON . Prince Charles’ goddaughter was revealed as one of the News of the World’s sources for information about the Royal Family. Tara-Palmer Tomkinson was revealed as one of the News of the World's sources for information about the Royal Family . Former royal editor Clive Goodman ‘outed’ her as the source for its story about Prince William’s 21st birthday party at Windsor Castle being gatecrashed by ‘comedy terrorist’ Aaron Barschak in 2003. Then Andy Coulson confirmed the newspaper had paid a ‘female’ source for this story – and other royal scoops – although he did not name Miss Palmer-Tomkinson. SIENNA MILLER . Miss Miller - hailed as a 'hacking heroine' when she took civil action against the News of the World and gave evidence to Leveson - used her time as a witness to complain once again about media coverage . Miss Miller – hailed as a ‘hacking heroine’ when she took civil action against the News of the World and gave evidence to Leveson – used her time as a witness to complain once again about media coverage of the evidence surrounding her ‘very brief encounter’ with Daniel Craig. ‘This is a really difficult and uncomfortable part of my life to discuss, seeing as it’s been allowed out of the courtroom and into the hands of the world’s media to be gossiped [over] and analysed, and me vilified for it,’ she said. It’s been turned into this titillating piece of information. I really regret that it has been allowed to be analysed in the way that it has.’ Trial judge Mr Justice Saunders said he was sorry if coverage had upset Miss Miller but assured her the evidence had been necessary. He did not say – but some in the courtroom could be forgiven for thinking – that the actress’ hurt feelings were not his priority in a complex trial in which seven people’s reputations and liberty hung in the balance. EIMEAR COOK . Eimear Cook, ex wife of golfer Colin Montgomerie, also gave evidence to the court . The ex-wife of golfer Colin Montgomerie denied claims she had told Brooks about a ‘violent event’ during her 14-year marriage in the hope Brooks would expose her ex-husband in the Sun. Mrs Cook, who accepted a payout from the News of the World for phone hacking, denied she had invented her evidence to boost her civil claim for aggravated damages. She was accused of telling a ‘bare-face lie’ in her evidence, when she claimed Brooks had told her it was ‘easy’ to hack phones. Mrs Cook, 43, said Brooks told her about phone hacking at a meeting in 2005 in which the then Sun editor had also laughed about her own arrest for an alleged assault on her then husband, EastEnders actor Ross Kemp. Mrs Cook was accused of lying when it emerged that Brooks’ arrest did not take place until several weeks after the meeting. | After Leveson the phone hacking trial has lifted the veil on the 'other side' of the relationship between celebrities and the tabloid Press .
The trial revealed the underbelly of celebrity: how friends, family and even the famous themselves willingly sold stories . |
09c9e252ff192324d17c31be795a7d4cdb21787c | By . Olivia Williams . PUBLISHED: . 15:17 EST, 24 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:19 EST, 24 March 2013 . A pair of First World War field guns have been dug up after being abandoned 60 years ago in the middle of the 300 square mile army training ground. The 15 pound guns, which are over a hundred years old, were discovered by a group of amateur historians on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire. It is thought they were used for target practice by Spitfires in the Second World War after they fell into disuse, and then abandoned. Remarkable discovery: Two First World War field guns were found on Salisbury Plain in the middle of a military training ground . The historians stumbled . upon the two partially buried guns while they were looking for the . wreckage of a Second World War German bomber. After reporting their findings to the Ministry of Defence, the history enthusiasts were given the go-ahead to dig up the guns. One of the guns was recovered and will be restored. The second was deemed unsafe to handle as there was an unexploded artillery shell nearby. The part of the gun which was recovered was the carriage, on which the barrel would have rested. When it was used during the First World War the gun would have been attached to two large wooden wheels so it could be pulled into position before being fired at the enemy. The guns needed crews of up to 12 men to work them and the shells weighed up to 900lb, making firing the field guns a laborious process. Partially buried: A group of amateur historians found the First World War guns while they were looking for the wreckage of a Second World War German bomber . Rare: As the two field guns would have looked in the First World War, resting on two large wooden wheels to manoeuvre them about . A metal maker's plate on one of the guns identified it as being produced in Woolwich in 1910. The recovered gun is now likely to go to a military museum for restoration. Mark Khan, one of the military historians leading the project, said: 'We were hoping to do a crashed aircraft recovery and found out about a possible Ju-188 German plane shot down by a night fighter group in the Second World War.' Piece of history: The field gun will be restored at the Museum of the Royal Artillery in Woolwich, or at the Honourable Artillery Company in London . 'We got a grid reference for the plane on Salisbury Plain but could only find what we think was the impact crater. 'We were a bit dejected and were heading back to our vehicles when we spotted one of the two guns. The second gun was located about 30 feet away, also partially buried. Mr Khan said: 'The second was less intact and more buried than the first one but it also had the maker's plate on, which is very rare.' Identity mark: This metal plate shows that one of the guns was made in Woolich, London over a hundred years ago . 'These guns were the critical link between single cannons and the modern artillery of today.' 'A lot of redundant military equipment was put out on military ranges so they were probably put out there to be used as targets.' The gun will now either go to Firepower, the Museum of the Royal Artillery in Woolwich, or to the Honourable Artillery Company in the City of London. | The 15 pound guns were uncovered in an army training ground in Wiltshire .
Historians found the pair while looking for wreckage of a German bomber .
One of the two was unsafe to handle as it was near an unexploded shell .
Rare metal maker's mark shows they were made in 1910 . |
09c9ef8e250df7bc986eef18e6834f509628edf3 | By . Sophie Jane Evans . PUBLISHED: . 12:02 EST, 27 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 12:03 EST, 27 January 2014 . This is the shocking moment an explorer narrowly escaped death as he tumbled down a mountain with a snowmobile hurtling behind him. Kris Kenni Stxvlbfx was attempting to become the first person to ride up a steep incline near Simimut in Greenland. But just yards away from the summit, he crashed into a rock and flew off his snowmobile - sending him plummeting down the mountain on his back. Scroll down for video . Shocking: This is the moment Kris Kenni Stxvlbfx narrowly escaped death as he tumbled down a mountain with a snowmobile hurtling behind him. The dramatic incident was captured on a Go Pro camera fixed to his head . Setting off: Mr Stxvlbfx was trying to become the first person to ride up a steep incline near Simimut, Greenland . Attempt: He can be seen attempting to ride the vehicle up the challenging slope while several bystanders watch . Crash: But just yards away from the summit, he crashes into a rock and loses control of the snowmobile . Alarmingly, his out-of-control vehicle also started to hurtle down the slope behind him. The dramatic incident was captured on a Go Pro camera fixed to Mr Stxvlbfx's head. Footage shows the explorer steering the snowmobile down the mountain while negotiating his way through surrounding rock formations. He then attempts to ride the vehicle up an uneven incline to the left of the slope, while several bystanders watch in anticipation. No grip: Mr Stxvlbfx can be seen flying off his snowmobile, before plummeting onto the snow-covered ground . Out-of-control: The explorer then tumbles down the mountain for a full minute, before finally coming to a stop . Horrific: Footage shows him glancing back to find, to his horror, that his snowmobile is also hurtling behind him . However, as Mr Stxvlbfx reaches the summit, he loses his grip on the vehicle - causing him to plummet to the ground. He can then be seen tumbling down the slope, before glancing back to find, to his horror, that the snowmobile is also hurtling behind him. Mr Stxvlbfx appears to fly uncontrollably down the steep . mountain for a full minute, before finally coming to a stop. Safe again: The out-of-control snowmobile was eventually brought to a halt by one of Mr Stxvlbfx's friends . However, as his snowmobile hurtles toward him, it manages to evade his grip and continues to flip through the snow. The large vehicle was eventually brought under control by a bystander who came to Mr Stxvlbfx's aid. Remarkably, the explorer came away from the incident unharmed. | Kris Kenni Stxvlbfx was attempting to ride up steep incline in Greenland .
Crashed into rock and flew off snowmobile, before hurtling down mountain .
Glanced back to see out-of-control vehicle flying down slope behind him .
Shocking incident was captured on camera fixed to Mr Stxvlbfx's head . |
09c9fb79eec050ecffeedee87eae710e54a69060 | It reads like a shopping list of a super-rich international playboy, from yachts, classic cars and jewellery to luxury homes in Knightsbridge, Dubai and Spain. But the £22million catalogue of riches have been seized by prosecutors this year from some of Britain’s biggest drug dealers, fraudsters and tax cheats. Investigators working around the globe have vowed to pursue criminals even after they have been caught and convicted, insisting they will ensure ‘crime does not pay’. Details of assets seized from criminals include a property in Knightsbridge (right) in which tax fraudster Sandeep Singh-Dosanjh (left) had a £1million stake . Dosanjh also handed over a Rolls Royce Phantom, like the one pictured, as part of £11.4million recovered to date . Martin Evans was ordered to repay £4.8million for several offences including theft, deception and running a firm while bankrupt. Prosecutors sold his V50 yacht, similar to the one pictured, for £330,000 to raise £1.8million to date . The Crown Prosecution Service has released details of the vehicles, houses and property taken from just seven criminals which it is claimed could be used to fuel more crime. They include high-end properties worth millions of pounds in Knightsbridge and Chelsea, two of London’s most expensive districts, as well as Kent, Marbella in Spain and a flat on the 49th floor of Dubai’s landmark Torch building. The rogue’s gallery of criminals have also lost a Rolls Royce Phantom, a V50 yacht and £2,500 Tiffany necklace. Alison Saunders, the Director of Public Prosecutions, told MailOnline: ‘It’s simply not right that criminals should be allowed to benefit from their illegal lifestyles so CPS prosecutors up and down the country in our new Proceeds of Crime Service are working flat out, with police colleagues, to deprive them of their ill-gotten gains.’ The largest amount seized on the list was from tax fraudster Sandeep Singh Dosanjh, who was convicted in June 2012 of using carbon credit VAT rules to con HMRC out of £39million. Millions were transferred out of the UK to accounts in Switzerland and then around the world to Singapore, Cyprus and UAE. Sentenced to 13 years in prison on appeal, an order was made last year to seize £2.9million plus another £10million in hidden assets. London drug baron Redwan El Ghaidouni was ordered to hand over more than £400,000 in 2012 after being convicted of trying to smuggle drugs into the UK. The CPS seized and sold his flat on the 49th floor of the Torch building in Dubai’s Marina to raise the money . The total recovered to date is now £11,414,440, including a Rolls Royce Phantom and a property in Knightsbridge in which Dosanjh had more than £1million in equity. British national David John Downes, who lived mainly in Spain, was jailed for 4 years and 7 months last year for his role in a major ‘boiler room fraud’ in which worthless shares were sold to unwitting investors using high pressure sales techniques. The shares were sold over the telephone to the UK based investors by ‘cold calling’ by plausible sounding salesmen who were based abroad, with the money placed in bank accounts in the US, Canada, Dubai, Singapore and Switzerland. To date he has had more than £4million seized including land in Spain and properties in Marbella. Money launderer Tarek Meghrabi was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison in 2012 for crimes worth more than £8million. Ordered to pay £2.3million, prosecutors took ‘robust action’ and seized and sold a property in Chelsea worth £2.2million and a Tiffany necklace which sold at auction this year for £2,500. With additional payments of £30,114 in May this year, the total reclaimed to date is £2.2million. Martin Evans was jailed for four years in prison in 2006 for offences including being a bankrupt in charge of a company, trading with intent to defraud a creditor and five counts of theft. Ordered to pay back £4.8million, so fare £1.8million has been confiscated so fare. It includes £948,998 that was located and seized in Switzerland in September this year and just over £330,000 raised from the proceeds of selling a luxury V50 yacht. Melvin Jestin was ordered to pay £627,500 after his 2011 conviction for conspiracy to supply cannabis. After years of Jestin trying to delay making the payments, he eventually sold his Tudor-style six-bedroom house in two acres of land in a village in Kent in March this year and has now paid £759,033, including interest. Fraudster David John Downes, jailed for 4 years and 7 months last year for his role in a major ‘boiler room fraud’, had properties in Marbella seized as part of £4million taken by the CPS . Money launderer Tarek Meghrabi was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison in 2012 for crimes worth more than £8million. Ordered to pay £2.3million, prosecutors took ‘robust action’ and seized and sold a property in Chelsea worth £2.2million (left) and a Tiffany necklace for £2,500 . Assets seized by the Crown Prosecution Service includes: . Drug gang leader Daniel Redmond was sentenced to 9 and a half years for a plot to import cannabis resin into the country. Ordered to hand over £3million by Snaresbrook Crown Court, to date prosecutors have seized £1.5million including cash seized in Spain and enforced against the order in May this year. London drug baron Redwan El Ghaidouni was ordered to hand over more than £400,000 in 2012 after being convicted of trying to smuggle drugs into the UK. The CPS seized and sold his flat on the 49th floor of the Torch building in Dubai’s Marina, raising the £money he was required to pay in the first successful British confiscation order in the United Arab Emirates. Ms Saunders added: “The examples highlighted today by MailOnline are a very powerful demonstration of the message that crime does not pay. ‘It’s particularly unpalatable at this time of year, when many law abiding people are feeling the pinch, to think of organised criminals capitalising on the misery of drugs and fraud and revelling in extravagant UK properties and overseas holiday homes. ‘So I’m delighted that we’ve taken these assets back, often to the benefit of British tax payers.’ Prosecutors can now take tougher action in more countries than ever before, she added. ‘The proceeds of crime - the cars, the cash, the houses - are often laundered and used to fuel more crime. They are the lifeblood of organised criminals but we are the means of constricting that blood flow. ‘Organised crime works across borders and so must we. That’s why we’ve sent CPS prosecutors to Spain and Dubai, and have plans to send others to the Caribbean and South Africa, to work with international partners to thwart the attempts of criminals to hide their assets.’ | Assets seized by Crown Prosecution Service from wealthy criminals .
£22million catalogue taken from drug dealers, fraudsters and tax cheats .
Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders says crime does not pay .
Warns criminals must not be allowed to benefit from their illegal lifestyles . |
09ca33226804adbcda7b17ecdb92cc345a94e2de | By . Rob Cooper . PUBLISHED: . 11:10 EST, 17 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:45 EST, 17 October 2013 . A council told a homeowner to sell them half his garden so they can build a bypass as it will improve his employment prospects - even though he has had the same job for 30 years. Glen Morrison, 49, is resisting the local authority's bid to buy his land in Aberdeen, Scotland, and instead wants them to purchase his £140,000 property so he can move elsewhere. The technician said he doesn't want to live next to a busy road when the new Third Don river crossing is completed. Anger: Glen Morrison, 49, wants to sell the council his home in Aberdeen - but they only want to buy his garden . Development: The new bridge crossing will be built over this section of Mr Morrison's garden if it goes ahead . Aberdeen City Council are taking the case to a land tribunal - but in an attempt to get Mr Morrison to back down they wrote to him explaining the new road will improve his job opportunities. Mr Morrison has worked as a facilities technician at Scottish Water for 30 years and . his wife Susan already works for the council. He said: 'This letter appeared which said what this road will do for us if it went ahead and the advantages it would give people. 'It said it would create employment opportunities for us, but I’ve been with Scottish Water for 30 years and I’m more than happy there. 'I would like to know what employment it’ll give me and my family. The only job I can think of is a lollipop man. That’s what will come out of that. 'Susan works for the council with children who have learning disabilities. She’s been with the local authority for 12 years.' Bridge row: Workers measure up which section of Mr Morrison's garden the new road will cover. Aberdeen City Council are building a new bridge over the river . The garden is subject to a compulsory . purchase order, but when the council refused to buy the house as . well, at the Morrison’s request, the case was sent to a land tribunal, . due to be heard in December. The letter Glen and Susan received, read: 'On the positive side, it is submitted that the new road and bridge will provide increased transportation links to the north, enabling employment opportunities for the owners and occupiers of the road and, because of that increased access, it is anticipated the local bus companies will increase the frequency of services to and from the city centre and to and from the north.' Glen said the whole development is 'upsetting' and has caused him health problems. Fury: Mr Morrison received a letter from the council which said his job prospects will be improved by the new road. However, he has held down the same role for the last 30 years . Bizarre: The council letter said the new road and bridge will offer new 'employment opportunities' He said: 'I didn’t want the road to be built and I didn’t want to move, but unfortunately it’s going ahead. 'They’ve offered to buy a slice of my garden, but I just want to leave now. 'I don’t want the money for my garden, I want them to buy the house as well so I can afford to move elsewhere. 'The whole thing has just been really upsetting and the stress has really affected my health.' A spokesman for Aberdeen City Council said: 'This is part of a tribunal process so it would inappropriate to comment.' Bridge row: Mr Morrison with a worker as they measure up for the new river crossing. Part of the road will go through his garden . | Council want to buy Glen Morrison's front garden to build a new bridge .
But he wants them to buy his whole property so he is not near the new road .
Mr Morrison, 49, has worked as a Scottish Water technician for 30 years .
Aberdeen City Council say new bridge 'will improve his job opportunities' |
09cb5ecfbd7c4eb6baf74f8d8c6bff95800aaac3 | It is all about the wait. Not for Hull City with no major prizes to show for 110 years of trying but for Arsenal or, more specifically according to Arsene Wenger, for their supporters. ‘Trophies matter for your fans,’ said Wenger. ‘It is a concrete sign that you win and that’s what we want to do. I love to win. Fans love to win. Your fans will be happy when you win trophies.’ The Arsenal manager gives the impression he has become weary of the wait. He is not impatient, but he finds the simplification tedious and gets annoyed that it can detract from his overall work in modernising a north London institution. Losing the wait: Wenger is ready to end Arsenal's nine-year trophy drought against Hull on Saturday . Times gone by: Arsenal haven't had this sort of celebration for almost a decade . The last time: Patrick Vieira lifts the FA Cup in 2005, the last trophy the Gunners won . It also, of course, provides a convenient stick to beat him with; a stick Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho finds hard to let go. ‘You win the next game or you lose it,’ said Wenger. ‘If you win it, what do you think? You think you dance for one week? You think about preparing well for the next season and to win the first game of next season. That’s what it is to be. ‘I will not be dancing on the beach in Rio, believe me. ‘It is the next game. I want to win the next game. It is an FA Cup final. I want to win the FA Cup final.’ He is tired of questions about the wait. ‘It has become a way to think for everybody,’ said Wenger. ‘If you look at the overall consistency, nobody has finished in the Champions League in England for 18 years. Nobody. 'It is true we are used to winning every year, basically. And, suddenly you don’t win and it becomes a way of thinking. ‘You could go to some other clubs and . ask: “Why did you not win the championship for 20 years?” Nobody asks . them the question. It’s a non-creative way for everybody to organise . press conferences. Flat track bully? Mesut Ozil needs to show his quality on the big stage for Arsenal fans to end the season happy . A new hope: Aaron Ramsey has been brilliant when fit this season, and can help lead Arsenal to glory . ‘Three weeks ago, you asked me: “What would you like? To be in the Champions League or win the FA Cup?” I told you both. We have done the first and now we can do the second one.’ Wenger is still portrayed as a footballing romantic, committed to flair and crusading against the unfairness of ‘financial doping’. He also has a cold economic mind and a strategic definition of success. If it actually were a straight choice there is no way he, or owner Stan Kroenke for that matter, would trade the £30million annual windfall of the Champions League for the cheap hit of an FA Cup win. Yet the shiny new trophy which will be awarded to the triumphant captain at Wembley today has come to represent more than another FA Cup win (It would be Arsenal’s 11th and Wenger’s fifth). It can also end the club’s longest wait for a trophy since the 18-year drought which preceded the 1971 Double. It can offer a tangible sign of progress. It can buy Wenger time, restore support and lift the mood as he signs the new contract. The contract: a wait within a wait. The manager insists the delay is nothing to do with ending the wait, but still keeps the club waiting. If Hull win the FA Cup on Saturday — the club’s first trophy of note since the Division Three title in 1966 — there is likely to be at best a mixed reaction at the Emirates to the prospect of another two years of Wenger. Patience is thin. Arsenal have lost a Champions League final, a Carling Cup final in calamitous fashion, and title challenges have flickered with promise and faded during the last nine years. An image has been formed, often encouraged by Wenger, of an immature team lacking the courage and confidence to convert their talent into something more ‘concrete’. The Arsenal boss bristles at talk of a mental block; especially on the eve of another showpiece they are expected to win. Wenger’s team have been brutally effective against most mid-and-lower table Premier League teams this season. The extra quality of Mesut Ozil, the development of Aaron Ramsey and a more solid defence, have certainly taken the team on from last season. They still have to prove they have what it takes to win something. In the FA Cup semi-final against Wigan Arsenal were eight minutes from another Wembley embarrassment before Per Mertesacker saved the tie, took the game into extra-time and they won on penalties. ‘We were on a low point,’ said Wenger. ‘There was more at stake than just going to the final. We were under threat in the Premier League, as well. To have lost against Wigan would have had consequences on our chances to finish in the top four. It would have created a huge disappointment. But we made it through. Tough: When Arsenal fell behind to Wigan it looked like their season was falling apart. Survival: Lukas Fabianski's saves in the FA Cup semi-final were enough to see the Gunners return to Wembley . 'We are favourites. Unfortunately that doesn’t guarantee you anything.’ Mertesacker promised Arsenal will not ‘collapse’ and that the team were ready to take this step; to end the wait and release the pressure which has built up over time and go on to greater things. Wenger’s FA Cup win in 2005 was not easy on the eye. It was win-at-all-costs against a rampant Manchester United. The same could be said about today’s game. Can he end the wait? | Arsenal manager Wenger dislikes the simple nature of his trophy critics, but he too has grown weary of the wait .
Qualifying for the Champions League was more important than FA Cup .
But Wenger understands fans are desperate for silverware . |
09cbcc38f482a88f9f31398ce1648c21b45a233b | By . Chris Greenwood . and Nick Fagge . Facing question: Sir Hugh Orde, president of the . Association of Chief Police Officers, which allegedly hushed up the . arrest of its own chief executive . Britain's most powerful policing organisation was accused last night of hushing up the arrest of its chief executive. Tom Flaherty, 54, was detained by Scotland Yard detectives after an extraordinary row at the Association of Chief Police Officers. The civilian employee was accused of stealing the desk diary of association president Sir Hugh Orde from his Whitehall office. Even though the matter was dropped Flaherty remains suspended on full pay and could still be sacked for misconduct. Last night the secretive police body faced questions as to why it did not come clean over the allegations. ‘It is absolutely extraordinary that some of the most senior police officers in the land can possibly think it is appropriate to suppress this information,’ said Mark Reckless, a Conservative MP. ‘If working relations at the highest level of Acpo have broken down to this extent I cannot see why the taxpayer should be spending large sums keeping them employed. ‘If they are going to be involved in operational policing, both locally and nationally, they should be subject to appropriate democratic controls.’ The row could not come at a worse time for senior Acpo members, who are fighting for the existence of an organisation that has pushed for more secrecy around police activities and advised forces against naming people it arrests. Its Home Office funding ended last December and many police authorities refused to pay their final fees, leaving it £250,000 out of pocket. Earlier this week police and crime commissioners announced retired military chief Sir Nick Parker will examine whether it is ‘fit for purpose’. Mr Flaherty, a Metropolitan Police Service employee, was seconded to Acpo in 2006 where he was made chief executive and company secretary on up to £112,604 a year. He came from a role in specialist operations, which is responsible for counter terrorism and VIP protection. It is understood he was accused of stealing Sir Hugh’s desk diary, which contained appointments and contacts, in a deliberate act of sabotage. Mr Flaherty was questioned by detectives but the case was dropped without prosecutors being consulted. It is not known whether the diary was recovered. Mr Flaherty has been replaced by Ian Readhead from the Hampshire force. An Acpo spokesman said: ‘Tom Flaherty’s secondment to Acpo from the Metropolitan Police has ended and he has returned to his force following an allegation of misconduct. ‘This is a normal procedure to allow a disciplinary process to take place.’ The case shines a rare light on the . divisions and infighting within Acpo against the background of its . opaque structure, lucrative commercial interests and status as a private . firm. It co-ordinates the . sale of information from the police national computer at vast profit and . markets ‘police approval logos’ for sale on anti-theft devices. But its . central role in the police structure also enables it to write the rules . on how operations are carried out as well as campaigning on key issues. Led . by retired Police Service of Northern Ireland chief Sir Hugh, who earns . £188,736, it has employed many retired chief officers, often on . short-term contracts. One of . its leading members, British Transport Police chief Andy Trotter, led . campaigning for more secrecy around police activities. Secretive: Acpo's central role in the police structure enables it to write the rules on how operations are carried out, as well as selling data from the police national computer. It has employed many retired chief officers . The most recent documents available at Companies House show Acpo employs 22 staff and has a wage bill of £1.7million. It registered assets worth £5million, including £3.5million in cash, and received a total income of £5.8million, including a £1million Home Office grant. In an unusual move, staff applied for a special exemption to remove the designation ‘Ltd’ from Acpo’s title earlier this year. Sir Hugh has pledged to reform the organisation, admitting its status as a private firm is awkward. His critics say little progress has been made. | Tom Flaherty accused of stealing diary of Acpo president Sir Hugh Orde .
54-year-old civilian employee remains suspended on 112,000-a-year pay .
Case shines a rare light on the .
divisions and infighting within Acpo . |
09cde546de8eef6c89101d4525e06d5ecc8ded72 | (CNN) -- Over 28,000 Liverpool fans marked the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster in a special memorial service at Anfield on Wednesday. Liverpool supporters at the Kop end paid their respects in an emotional afternoon at Anfield. A total of 96 supporters died on April 15, 1989 before the FA Cup semifinal between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium, the worst-ever tragedy in English sporting history. To commemorate the anniversary, the city of Liverpool came to a standstill at 3.06 pm (1406 GMT) with the bells of the two cathedrals and its civic buildings ringing out in memory of those fans who lost their lives. On Anfield's famous Kop, 96 candles were lit while commemorations took place at Hillsborough and also in Nottingham. Watch fans mark Hillsborough » . Members of the current Liverpool team stood somberly as hymns were played before a roll call of the dead was read out. Club legend Kenny Dalglish, who was Liverpool manager at the time of the disaster, then read a short prayer. The mayor of Liverpool, Steve Rotherham, who was at the game 20 years ago, helped organize the emotional memorial. "Hillsborough affected so many lives, not just on Merseyside but across the whole of the UK," he said. "I attended the match 20 years ago and the passing years do not diminish the importance and the poignancy of this occasion." Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, whose 10-year-old cousin Jon-Paul Gilhooley was the youngest victim of the tragedy, spoke of his feelings this week. "Time has gone by, but the scars will never ever be healed and the fans will never ever forget. So you can always rely on our supporters to be there for you when you need them." The Liverpool fans died in a crush which started just before the kick-off as the gate at the Leppings Lane End was opened with terrible consequences. The match started but when the scale of the tragedy became clear, it was swiftly abandoned at 3.06 pm. In the immediate aftermath, the British government commissioned Lord Justice Taylor to conduct an inquiry which would have a far-reaching impact on football. Taylor was deeply critical of the police operation at Hillsborough, but his most significant recommendations were the removal of perimeter fencing and the creation of all-seater stadia. His report also cleared Liverpool fans of blame for the tragedy after lurid tabloid headlines provoked revulsion on Merseyside. Prime minister Gordon Brown paid reference to the controversy in an interview released on Liverpool's official television channel. "It was wrong for people to blame, as some did, Liverpool fans on that day," he said. "That's probably what matters most -- that people understood that the behavior of Liverpool fans in helping each other was magnificent. "Let's never forget the fans who cruelly lost their lives on a day when we know the people of Liverpool were trying to help each other," he added. However, the people of Liverpool are still angry and bitter at the lack of justice for those who died -- and that frustration surfaced when Andy Burnham, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport took to the stand to address the crowd. As Burnham spoke, the crowd rose as one to sing "Justice for the 96". The Kop chant boomed around the stadium and Burnham, an Everton fan, was left in no doubt about the strength of feeling over the lack of accountability from officialdom over the tragedy. Fittingly, the ceremony was concluded with Gerry Marsden leading the fans in singing Liverpool anthem 'You'll Never Walk Alone'. | A special memorial has marked the 20th anniversary of Hillsborough tragedy .
96 Liverpool supporters died in crush at the Leppings Lane End of the stadium .
The Taylor Report into the deaths led to all-seater grounds in English football . |
09cfd59c4627d8b5fa6fb6ef54a98948ed70d8bc | By . Lucy Crossley . PUBLISHED: . 15:24 EST, 3 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:24 EST, 3 November 2013 . An abandoned dog dubbed ET because of his hairless and wrinkled body has, like the loveable alien, finally found a home. The terrier cross, who had been dumped in a park in Leeds, West Yorkshire., was completely bald with a severe skin infection when dog wardens brought him to the Dogs Trust. It is thought ET had been surviving on his own for at least one month when he was discovered by a member of the public. Home: The abandoned dog dubbed ET because of his hairless and wrinkled body, has like his film namesake found a home after he was dumped in a park in Leeds, West Yorkshire . Home sweet home: New owner Mary Gledhill fell in love with the dog, who she has renamed Bobby, when she and husband Gerry visited Leeds Dogs Trust . Shaggy dog story: ET suffers from a case of inactive hair follicles, due to a skin irritation, which has caused much of his hair to fall out . ET suffers from a case of inactive hair follicles, due to a skin irritation, which has caused much of his hair to fall out. Amanda Sands, Manager at Dogs Trust Leeds, said: "When he came to us he was very downbeat. 'Because he had little tufts of hair over his body and this really wrinkled skin he did look most peculiar and a bit like a cute little alien - hence the name.' However, after a course of antibiotics, a few washes with medicated shampoo and some decent meals - ET started looking like his usual self. Ms Sands added: 'After about two weeks he started getting better. It's amazing how quickly he responded to treatment. What's in a name: Workers at Dogs Trust named the dog ET because of his tufts of hair and wrinkled skin . On the mend: After a course of antibiotics, a few washes with medicated shampoo and some decent meals - ET started looking like his usual self . 'He is a completely different dog now. He's very handsome, so cheeky and so full of life - I'm so pleased he's in good health again.' The loveable pooch was quickly spotted by retired couple Gerry and Mary Gledhill, who visited Leeds Dog Trust with their granddaughters Vicky, 28, and Gemma, 26. Mr Gledhill said: 'We were all in the same room, but were looking at the dogs individually. 'When I came to where ET was, he was sat in his bed with only his head popping out. 'My first thought, even though I could only see his head, was that he was very handsome. 'At that particular time the staff were opening the kennel doors to give the dogs food. New life: Mr and Mrs Gledhill said they would treat their new dog 'like a prince' 'ET obviously wanted something to eat because he was straight up to get some food. 'We saw his full body then and were immediately taken by him. It is hard to explain, but it was an instinctive feeling we both just had. 'We weren't bothered that he had problems, we just fell in love with him there and then.' The couple then asked if they could take ET for a walk with their granddaughters. Mr Gledhill, 76, who used to work in the power industry, said: 'We knew that any dog we got would be spending a lot of time with Gemma's German Shepherd, called Darcy, so it was important that they got on together. Doppelganger: Staff at Dogs Trust thought the little terrier resembled alien ET from the Stephen Spielberg film . 'Luckily they both hit it off and we all thought that ET was a fantastic dog on the walk. After that it was decided - ET was definitely the dog for us.' Mr and Mrs Gledhill, 75, a retired care worker, picked up their new family member last Tuesday to take him to his new home, and gave him the new name 'Bobby'. 'We have had dogs all our lives,' Mr Gledhill added. 'We absolutely love them and we always treat our dog is well. He will be spoiled no doubt - like a little prince.' | Terrier cross dubbed ET because of his hairless and wrinkled body .
Dog had been surviving on his own for at least a month .
Now ET has found a new home with retired couple Gerry and Mary Gledhill . |
09d002ee890feb55a5ec44a60c59feb451cbc887 | By . Peter Allen . PUBLISHED: . 07:42 EST, 28 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 13:58 EST, 28 January 2014 . Former French first lady Valerie Trierweiler faced further humiliation today after being referred to as ‘Rottweiler’ on a live news broadcast. The hugely embarrassing blunder took place during a flagship current affairs programme in Gabon, a former French colony on the west coast of Africa. A clip of the show is now spreading online in France, showing a female journalist announcing ‘more sad news’ towards the ends of a news show. Scroll down for video . In the doghouse: The female newsreader announced the 'sad news' that President Francois Hollande had broken up with 'the journalist Valerie Rottweiler' on Gabonese television . Un-muzzed: Valerie Trierweiler, pictured during her charity trip to India yesterday, earned the nickname 'Rottweiler' when she started dating Hollande . She then describes how President Francois Hollande has ended his ‘shared life’ with ‘the journalist Valerie Rottweiler’. Ms Trierweiler was first nicknamed ‘The Rottweiler’, after the potentially hugely aggressive dog, in April 2012. This was the month before Ms Trierweiler’s then boyfriend was elected, when she said: ‘I have character, they can’t muzzle me’. Ms Trierweiler has displayed her own fiery temper on numerous occasions, not least of all when she learned of Mr Hollande’s affair with the actress Julie Gayet almost three weeks ago. All over: President Hollande and Ms Trierweiler officially ended things over the weekend after his affair with a French actress . She is said to have gone on the rampage, smashing up antique furniture before checking herself into a hospital for eight days, suffering from stress. The relationship officially ended last Sunday, but Ms Trierweiler has been allowed to complete one last charity trip to India with presidential staff including a bodyguard. She is now expected to stay away from the Elysee Palace, and will be living alone in the flat she once shared with Mr Hollande in Paris’s 15th arrondissement. Gabon gained independence from France in 1960, but retains extremely close ties with its former coloniser. | Gabonese news anchor referred to Trierweiler as a dog live on air .
Hollande's ex-partner has been nicknamed 'Rottweiler' since his election .
Valerie Trierweiler and President Hollande officially broke up this weekend . |
09d0c2561fa100193fc5ed047ae2335ca5c5eee1 | By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . Birmingham City Council has questions to answer about claims it ignored warnings about a Trojan Horse takeover of schools by Islamic extremists, Michael Gove said today. The Education Secretary said that it was essential that extremists were denied a platform in schools and other public institutions to push their agenda. A major report by former top counter-terror police officer Peter Clarke is expected to criticise officials in Birmingham and Whitehall for failing to act on concerns about teaching in some schools. Education Secretary Michael Gove said the council in Birmingham and his own department in Whitehall had questions to answer over the way they responded to concerns about schools in the city . The investigation came after allegations of a takeover plot in Birmingham schools by hardline Muslims. Head teachers told Ofsted there was an organised campaign to impose a ‘narrow, faith-based ideology’ at some schools in the city. It placed five of the city’s schools in special measures after ‘deeply worrying’ findings. Mr Clarke was brought in to carry out a review of the way complaints were handled an acted upon during more than a decade. The inquiry has identified up to 25 state schools, some directly run by the council, according to the Sunday Telegraph. Former top counter-terror police officer Peter Clarke was asked to review the handling of extremism in schools over more than a decade . Mr Gove told BBC One’s Andrew Marr programme: ‘There are broader questions about the extent to which these activities were coordinated and the extent to which those responsible for these activities may have had a broader agenda. ‘Peter is looking into that and we have to wait to see what he concludes... ‘There are questions for the local authority and of course for my department, the Department for Education about what was known and what was done.’ He defended his decision to appoint Mr Clarke, the former Scotland Yard head of counter-terrorism, to lead the investigation. ‘There was some criticism, right at the beginning of this process, when I appointed Peter. People felt that it was in some respects, too dramatic and authoritarian a step. 'But the view that I took was if you have a police officer of unimpeachable integrity to conduct these investigations, if people are at the end of this process cleared, given a clean bill of health, then that is the most effective way of ensuring that public confidence can be restored.’ Mr Clarke’s report is expected to be published later this summer. The government has announced that schools will be shut down if they fail to promote British values. Mr Gove called for a 'robust' defence of liberal values in the face of the challenge from Islamist extremists. 'Islamism is a perversion of Islam in the same way that communism was a perversion of socialism and fascism is a perversion of nationalism,' he said. The inquiry is said to have identified up to 25 state schools in Birmingham, some directly run by the council, where concerns ere raised about the influence of extremists . 'If liberalism is to survive - and I believe liberalism is the way in which we approach these issues, liberal values are our best protector - we need to be robust. 'We need to challenge those views and we need to make sure that people who have views that are inimical to liberal values and wish to use institutions to push an agenda which is inimical to liberal values are not in a position where they can use public money or the public square in order to push their views.' Mr Gove - who has previously clashed publicly with Home Secretary Theresa May over the Government's handling of the issue - went out of his way to praise her. 'No Home Secretary has been as vigilant in dealing with the terror threat as Theresa May,' he said. 'I think she has done a very good job in this area.' | Education Secretary defends inquiry into Islamic extremism in the classroom .
Former counter-terror police chief Peter Clarke is leading the review .
Reports he has found up to 25 schools where concerns have been raised .
Gove calls for a 'robust' defence of liberal values in schools . |
09d15d29ff736f00a72492fe5dd8a6787d429856 | For some, the idea of cutting Britain's ties with Europe is a way of returning the country to a simpler and more independent time. However, according new research, the British relationship with Europe dates back far further than was previously thought. Scientists have discovered that stone-age hunter gatherers in England were trading with continental wheat farmers 8,000 years ago - long before agriculture came to Britain. Researchers from the University of Warwick were able to isolate DNA from sediment core samples taken by divers from the sea floor below the cliffs on the north coast of the Isle of Wight, as shown in the picture above . They have found DNA for einkorn wheat buried within coastal sediments around the Isle of Wight off the south coast of England. A study of ancient human bones has revealed how Early Europeans had difficulties digesting milk around 5,000 years after the introduction of farming. It took at least that long for their genes to evolve until they were no longer intolerant to lactose, the natural sugar in mammalian milk, scientists suggests. Researchers looked at ancient DNA extracted from 13 individuals buried at archaeological sites in the Great Hungarian Plain - a region known to have been at the crossroads of cultural change in European prehistory. The scientists also found changes in prehistoric technology, such as the adoption of farming, were linked with a significant influx of new people. For instance, in the Neolithic or New Stone Age, ancient central Europeans had an appearance closer to Sardinians. In the Iron Age, there is another shift, with people coming into Central Europe from the East, such as the Caucasus or Asia. Researchers claim that tolerance to lactose only appeared in the Bronze Age, around 4,000 years after these people began dairying. Before then, most humans were lactose intolerant, and only later evolved the ability to break down this sugar in animal milk. However agriculture is not known to haarrived in Britain until around 6,000 years ago and scientists have found no evidence of wheat cultivation or pollen in the sediments. Instead they believe local hunter-gatherers bought the wheat by trading with European farmers from as far away as the south of France or the Balkans. This means that even 8,000 years ago there must have been trade routes winding their way across the European continent to Britain across an ancient land bridge. The scientists say that the discovery shows that Britain was no-where near as isolated or insular as had been originally thought. They say the findings may also force a complete rethink about how agriculture first arrived in Britain. Dr Robin Allaby, a plant geneticist at the University of Warwick who led the research, said: 'Eight thousand years ago the people of mainland Britain were leading a hunter-gatherer existence, whilst at the same time in southern Europeans farming was gradually spreading across Europe. 'Common throughout Neolithic Southern Europe, einkorn is not found elsewhere in Britain until 2,000 years after the samples found at Bouldnor Cliff. 'For the einkorn to have reached this site there needs to have been contact between Mesolithic Britons and Neolithic farmers far across Europe. 'The land bridges provide a plausible facilitation of this contact. 'As such, far from being insular, Mesolithic Britain was culturally and possibly physically connected to Europe.' The researchers suggest the wheat was brought to Britain by neolithic traders from southern Europe . Einkorn wheat, like that pictured above, is thought to be one of the first plants to have been domesticated . The researchers, whose findings are published in the journal Science, used new DNA extraction and analysis techniques to extract DNA from underwater sediments. They obtained sediment cores from Bouldnor Cliff on the north coast of the Isle of Wight, an area that had once been dry land before the end of the last ice age. Using the ancient sedimentary DNA, or sedaDNA, the scientists were able to reconstruct a picture of the plants and animals left behind there by the mesolithic people who inhabited the area. Among the native plants they found DNA sequences that matched those of near eastern strains of wheat. Professor Vince Gaffney, chair of landscape archaeology at the University of Bradford who was also involved in the study, said: 'We don't think it was grown here. We think it was traded across Europe. 'What that tells us is that these societies weren't isolated and they weren't simple. The scientists developed a new technique to extract DNA preserved in underwater sediments like above . 'Wheat, of course, is a signature for farming but this is 2,000 years before the onset of framing in Britain, and at this time the nearest farmers were either in the south of France or possibly as far away as the Balkans, thousands of miles across continental Europe. 'This tells us rather than the traditional model of farming arriving with colonists or some sort of invasion, the ideas and concepts of farming must have arrived several thousand years earlier.' Dr Greger Larson, a palaeogeneticist at the University of Oxford who was not involved in the study, said the technology used to extract DNA in the study could revolutionise our understanding of history. He said: 'The ability to sequence DNA no longer associated with the macroscopic remains from which it originated presents a range of possibilities that begins with a refinement of accepted chronologies. 'The unexpectedly early appearance of wheat in Britain should force a rethinking of both the strength of the relationships between early farmers and hunter-gatherers, and the origins of settled agricultural communities in Europe.' | Archaeologists found wheat DNA in sediment off coast of the Isle of Wight .
The wheat dates from a time 2,000 years before farming started in the UK .
Scientists say the nearest farmers were in the south of France and Balkans .
The discovery suggests the wheat grains were brought to Britain by traders .
Stone-age hunter-gatherers in Britain may learned about farming from them .
Historians say it could transform our understanding of stone-age culture .
They say it shows Mesolithic Britain was not as isolated as once believed . |
09d2426f77f8d071cff6bcd337566f2c0081c87a | By . John Stevens . The richest must pay more tax, Nick Clegg said yesterday as he set out plans to raise money after the general election next year. The Liberal Democrat leader revealed his party’s manifesto would target the wealthy with measures including a reformed ‘mansion tax’. In a speech seen as the start of a fight back after the Lib Dems’ disastrous European and local election results, Mr Clegg also indicated he is prepared to borrow to build homes and boost the economy through infrastructure projects. Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg speaks at Bloomberg, central London where he announced the revival of his party's 'mansion tax' as a means to get more money out of the wealthy . Mr Clegg said the party was committed to reducing the deficit, but said he believed it should be done ‘in a fundamentally different way to the Conservatives’. He said: ‘The Tories have now ruled out asking the very wealthy to pay even just a bit more in tax to help the ongoing fiscal effort. Instead, they’ve said they’ll take billions more from the welfare budget.’ He added: ‘We’ll finish the job (of eliminating the deficit), of course we will – but we’ll finish it in a way that is fair. ‘So not just through further spending cuts, but also by asking those with the broadest shoulders to make some additional contributions too, including for instance through our banded Mansion Tax - extending new tax bands to higher value properties.’ The Lib Dems want the levy, which would be paid in addition to council tax, to be introduced for properties worth more than £2million. Nick Clegg said he was committed to ‘significantly’ reducing the national debt as a percentage of GDP every year from 2018/19 but said he would borrow to invest in projects to boost growth. He said: ‘We are prepared to put our shoulders to the wheel and use the muscle of the state - if necessary through borrowing - to rewire and revamp our infrastructure.’ Mr Clegg's wife Miriam Gonzalez, Danny Alexander, chief secretary to the Treasury, and British Business Secretary Vince Cable listen as the Lib Dem leader speaks at Bloomberg's central London headquarters yesterday . Up to 300,000 new homes a year are needed to meet demand, he said, adding: ‘It’s time to put our money where our mouth is. 'We have to give people the homes they need and protect the country from another crisis - and if that means borrowing a bit when times are good and debt is falling, so be it.’ He added: ‘We are not the Tories. We don’t believe in an ever-shrinking state. We are not so ideological about making cuts that we’ll deny people the things they need. ‘We’re not so dogmatic about borrowing that we’ll jeopardise Britain’s economic health. Responsibility, yes, austerity forever, no.’ Mr Clegg admitted that a series of ‘gory’ spending decisions have left young voters who ‘dream of a better future’ questioning whether the Liberal Democrats are there for them. The ‘notorious’ decision to ditch their pledge on tuition fees and the ‘pretty gritty’ and ‘downright unappealing decisions’ the party has taken in government means they have a lot of work to do to win back younger voters, he conceded. He shrugged off questions over the future of his position as party leader insisting it would not be ‘sensible’ to put someone new at the helm. He said: ‘If I thought a year before the general election all the issues that face us could be solved magically and could float off like the morning mist by just changing personnel at the top and spending several months talking to ourselves of course I’d think. But I just think - obviously I don’t think - that is sensible for the party.’ | Speech seen as fightback after Lib Dems' disastrous election results .
Mr Clegg says he's prepared to borrow to build homes and infrastructure .
'We don't believe in ever-shrinking state,' he tells the party faithful . |
09d2a6543e8a586c2d5dcae49ac585712a0f529c | (CNN) -- If you've read Suzanne Collins' "Hunger Games" trilogy, then the odds are ever in your favor when it comes to cocktail party conversations about Katniss, the Mockingjay and the Quarter Quell. If you haven't, then that was all gibberish ... but it doesn't have to be. As "Catching Fire," the second movie in the series, comes to theaters November 22 we've got all the information you need to dazzle friends with your talk of Effie Trinket and Caesar Flickerman in our "HG 101" -- as well as some insider facts about the movie that'll make even the most hardcore fans feel a little more informed before heading into the arena. Happy "Hunger Games"! The games . HG 101: Every year in post-apocalyptic Panem, two tributes, aka children, from each district are selected in a public reaping to compete in the win-or-die Hunger Games. But every 25 years, there's a Quarter Quell, where a dark twist makes the games even more treacherous. As punishment to heroine Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) -- who not only outwitted the Hunger Games, but also ensured her partner Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) survived too (unprecedented!) -- the Quarter Quell finds them back in the arena, competing against other past winners. As if that weren't enough, there's also a love triangle, family drama, a score to settle, several districts to save and an uprising that can't be quieted. With evil monkeys and even more evil victors from previous games to battle, it's a lot for one movie to tackle, but the tributes in "Catching Fire" are more fully-formed characters, and they help set the story apart and keep the conflict interesting. Expert tip: These games are getting darker and sexier. Yes, the very premise of kids fighting to the death for the public's amusement ensures that there's a dark thread throughout the entire story, but the look and feel of "Fire" is darker as well, with new director Francis Lawrence amping up the action and suspense. And while costume designer Trish Summerville didn't allow tributes to be nearly nude as in the books, she did pull some form-fitting designer duds for them to wear. The fandom is growing up, and the movies are following suit. The big question: With several big names joining the cast, are there any new standouts? Sam Claflin shines as cocky tribute Finnick Odair, and Jenna Malone makes an equally splashy (and equally clothing-free) entrance as Johanna, who's good with an axe, but takes a bit to warm up to. Both have great moments with Katniss. 'Hunger Games' theme park? We have some ideas . The love triangle . HG 101: So there's this girl Katniss and she's a total badass, and she's basically best buds with the male version of her, Gale (Liam Hemsworth), but she gets sent off to the Hunger Games with Peeta, saves his life a million times and now all the viewers want them to be an item. So they sort of are. Besides fighting for basic survival, the Quarter Quell gives them more time together to explore their relationship, for real and for the cameras. The love triangle is what grounds the entire series in reality, and it ain't over until it's over, so don't expect anything to be decided halfway through the series' four-movie run. Expert take: Peeta might not be such a bad option for Katniss after all! Fans of the books were outraged that -- spoiler alert! -- Katniss ended up with Peeta after so clearly having a stronger connection with Gale. Peeta always seemed like too much of a damsel in distress for our Katniss, but in "Catching Fire," Peeta is stronger and more independent -- and he can swim, so thankfully you won't have to see a near-drowning when they enter the water-filled arena. We wish he'd get a skill a little more exciting than painting his body with mud to be camouflaged, but we'll take any improvement on the character we can get. The big question: What about Gale? While Gale is once again on the sidelines for most of the movie, he does have a particularly haunting scene in "Catching Fire" that stays somewhat true to the book. The big difference? This time the changes leave the door open for Gale to really make his presence (and his intentions with Katniss) known in the two-part "Mockingjay" final installments. They've got Hemsworth -- they're going to use him! A brief history of young adult literature . The Capitol . HG 101: While the tributes from the districts must compete to take their next breath, residents of the Capitol are the 1%. Their excess knows no bounds, but they're still human. While they felt like caricatures in the first movie, "Catching Fire" reveals some chinks in the otherwise bedazzled armor, all thanks to Katniss and her act of rebellion that's now sparked a revolution. Expert tip: Yes, Cinna (Lenny Kravitz) is still the most stylish tribute sympathizer, but Effie Trinket is more lovable than ever. In "The Hunger Games," Effie (Elizabeth Banks) epitomized everything the Capitol stood for: fashion, material things, excess and an obliviousness to the real issues in the districts around them. But as the stakes of the games are raised, so are Effie's concerns, and seeing cracks in her very colorful façade helps make her more than a one-note character. We saw glimpses of her conscience in the books but, onscreen, Banks takes her from unemotional escort to compassionate cog in the wheel. The big question: Who's the new big bad? After the execution of "Hunger Games" gamemaker Seneca Crane (Wes Bentley), who ignored orders and let both Katniss and Peeta win, Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman) steps in -- and he's not going to make the same weak mistakes as his predecessor. With direct orders from President Snow (Donald Sutherland) to make sure Katniss doesn't survive the 75th Games, he becomes the scariest new villain in the Capitol and the biggest potential threat. The role feels tailor-made for Hoffman. With the Panem rebellion in full swing, and Katniss as their poster child, there's more to prove in this 75th Hunger Games than ever before. Alliances will be tested and monkey mutts and Jabberjays will terrorize the returning victors, all while the clock is ticking to save their families, their districts and themselves. Jennifer Lawrence was Josh Hutcherson's first . | "Catching Fire" finds heroine Katniss back in the Hunger Games arena .
The movie further explores the love triangle between Katniss, Peeta and Gale .
The film is darker and sexier than the first . |
09d2e30ae596ee3706e140f0970c03d5cfa7b0b9 | Santa Ana, California -- Federal authorities arrested 26 members or associates of the Mexican Mafia gang in southern California Wednesday on charges involving drug trafficking, racketeering and murder, officials said. A total of 57 defendants were charged, including 25 already incarcerated on unrelated offenses, authorities said. The remaining six are fugitives, authorities said. The 57 are charged in five indictments accusing them of being members or associates of the Mexican Mafia and the affiliated Forming Kaos street gang, both of which operate in Orange County, California, officials said. Two of the five indictments allege racketeering. One names 28 alleged members of the Mexican Mafia, including its Orange County leader Peter Ojeda, who is currently serving a federal prison sentence for an unrelated 2006 conviction, authorities said. The other racketeering indictment identifies 17 alleged members of the Forming Kaos street gang in Costa Mesa, California, which has ties to the Mexican Mafia, officials said. The remaining three indictments charge 13 of the defendants with trafficking of heroine, methamphetamine and cocaine and with firearms offenses, authorities said. The Orange County District Attorney's Office also filed various charges in connection with the alleged murder and assault conspiracies, authorities said. More than 500 federal and local law enforcement officers carried out Wednesday's arrest and search warrants, culminating an investigation that lasted years, authorities said. The Mexican Mafia is a powerful and violent prison gang that controls drug distribution and other illegal activities within the California penal system and on the streets of southern California by organizing Hispanic street gang members to establish a larger network for the Mexican Mafia's illegal activities, authorities claimed in a statement . "If a gang does not accede to the Mexican Mafia, the Mexican Mafia will assault or kill the gang's members who are not in custody, as well as those members who are incarcerated within the California penal system," authorities said in a statement. Ojeda, who served as the Orange County leader of the Mexican Mafia for decades, is accused of ordering Hispanic gangs to pay a "tax" or "tribute," and in exchange, they were permitted to exert influence over their neighborhoods and seek Mexican Mafia protection, authorities said. For those gangs not paying the tax, Ojeda allegedly ordered them to be physically disciplined under "green lights" or targeted them for death by putting them on a "Hard Candy" list, authorities said. "No member of the Mexican Mafia, and no gang member affiliated with the Mexican Mafia, is beyond the reach of the law," U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte Jr., said in a statement. CNN's Gabe Ramirez contributed from Santa Ana, California. | Federal authorities accuse Mexican Mafia and an affiliate gang with racketeering .
Charges include drug trafficking, assaults and murder .
26 of 57 defendants were arrested; 25 others were already in prison .
The remaining six are fugitives . |
09d34fcb5434371173123e294d735c8dced33916 | By . Graham Smith . PUBLISHED: . 07:49 EST, 6 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:16 EST, 14 April 2013 . A mother who is pregnant with her twelfth baby just months after giving birth to twins is still refusing to collect benefits to support her ever-growing brood. Tania Sullivan, 37, who is four months pregnant, never hires a babysitter or takes a night off and home schools all her children. Amazingly, she only gave up work as a recruitment consultant after the birth of her sixth child. Hard work: Tania and Michael Sullivan pose with their 11 children, including newborn twins, in January. Mrs Sullivan is now expecting her twelfth child . Matriarch: Mrs Sullivan holds her twins Anna (left) and Libby, then 12 weeks old, in January . Ben, aged 19 . Stephanie, aged 18 . Caitlin, aged12 . Harry, aged nine . Eddie, aged seven . Sid, aged six . Patrick, aged five . Oliver, aged three . Joseph, aged one . Anne and Libby, aged eight months . New baby, expected December . Mrs Sullivan and her husband Mike, . 39, have had to buy a 17-seater minibus to cope with the demands of their horde of . children - an expensive transport option considering such vehicles average at 20-25 miles per gallon compared to between 50 and 60 miles per gallon for a family hatchback. The family also regularly get through 20 loaves and 50 pints of milk a . week. But the couple, from Hoo, Kent, live off Mr Sullivan’s salary from his own . business - Sullivan Joinery and Crafts - and do not claim state handouts apart from tax credits and child benefit. But as well as the joys of parenting, Mrs Sullivan has experienced huge heartache after suffering eight miscarriages. In . total, she has conceived an incredible 20 times over 19 years and has . had to endure the pain of losing a child, as well as the joy of a new . baby, more than most. The . dedicated mother has nine children with her husband - Caitlin, 12; . Harry, nine; Eddie, seven; Sid, six; Patrick, five; Oliver, three; . Joseph, one; and twins Anne and Libby, who are eight months old. She also has two from a previous relationship - Ben, 19 and Stephanie, 18 - who have since left home. From top to bottom: Brothers Eddie (seven), Sid (six) and Paddy (four) share a triple bunk bed . Military operation: Mr and Mrs Sullivan refuse to live off state handouts and even own a minibus so that their family can travel together . Mrs Sullivan insists on home educating her youngsters in their five-bedroom house in Kent. She even drives a 17-seater minibus and has eight children under the age of ten, including the teething twins. She today revealed how she kept her latest pregnancy secret from her children for the first trimester for fear of having another miscarriage. She said: 'We obviously wanted to make sure the pregnancy was OK so waited until the first scan confirmed all was well and also how many babies were there. 'Everybody was thrilled to find out another baby was on the way and they immediately began to discuss whether they wanted a boy or girl and what the baby would be named. 'I’m still feeling well - albeit tired - but tiredness is part and parcel of being pregnant especially when you have twins to take care of at the same time. 'We have been very busy though, so time has been passing very quickly and we haven’t really been able to sit and meditate on the new baby’s arrival really.' Mrs Sullivan is showing no sings of slowing down with her third book about her extended family in the pipeline. She also runs a successful website on her family. | Tania Sullivan, 37, is four months pregnant, seven months after having twins .
She never hires a babysitter and schools all her children at home in Kent . |
09d355b25e9230d758f6f3b82dd79baec88e86f8 | By . Associated Press Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 02:59 EST, 7 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:16 EST, 7 June 2013 . A man who staged the kidnapping and rescue of a 15-year-old girl so he could look like a hero . but ended up killing her . tried to kiss and grope her the night before she disappeared, according to court documents. Police say 20-year-old Kyle Dube, of . Orono, used a fake Facebook account to lure Nichole Cable out of her home with the . promise of marijuana and ended up killing her in May. The affidavit includes text messages . in which Cable tells her boyfriend that she tried pushing Dube off her, . but he wouldn't stop and ended up leaving a bite mark on her. Kyle Dube, 20, of Orono, Maine, seen here in June last year, was charged last month with murdering . Nichole Cable, right, who was last seen on May 12, 2013 . Disastrous plot: Kyle Dube, pictured in court this week, used a Facebook account to lure Nichole Cable from her home and kidnap her. He planned to stage a rescue so he could look like a hero . Kyle Dube was indicted last week on . charges of murder and kidnapping in the death of 15-year-old Nichole . Cable, whose body was found in a wooded area of Old Town this month a . week after she went missing. In . an affidavit released after Dube was indicted, Detective Thomas . Pickering outlined the scenario leading to the high school sophomore's . death. He wrote that . Dube told his brother that he used Facebook to trick her into going out . of her house in Glenburn, not far from Old Town, while he waited in the . woods wearing a ski mask. When Nichole came along, the . 20-year-old Dube jumped out and snatched her, duct-taped her and put her . in the back of his father's pickup truck, the affidavit said. Dube . later discovered that she was dead, so he dumped her body and covered it . with branches, it said. The affidavit doesn't go into details . about how Nichole was duct-taped, and the cause of her death is still . being determined by the medical examiner's office. Dube told his brother that he . "intended to kidnap Nichole and hide her; that he would later find her . and be the hero," Pickering wrote. The 'Missing' poster circulated by the authorities prior to finding Nichole's body on May 20th . Dube's attorney, Stephen Smith, did . not immediately return a phone call left at his office Wednesday . evening. He had argued for the affidavit to be withheld, citing threats . against Dube in jail, concerns about whether he could get a fair trial . and fears for the privacy of his relatives. Earlier Wednesday, Justice William . Anderson had denied a motion by The Associated Press and the Portland . Press Herald to unseal the affidavit on First Amendment grounds. The judge's original order had sealed . the affidavit only until Dube was indicted. When the indictment was . handed down, the affidavit was made public. Nichole was reported missing on May 13 . by her mother, who said she had left the night before to meet a friend . at the end of the driveway but hadn't returned. Police interviewed a friend of . Nichole's named Bryan Butterfield, who said somebody had set up a fake . Facebook account in his name and he suspected Dube. Butterfield told . detectives that Dube wanted to have sex with Nichole but that she had . rejected his advances, the affidavit said. Investigators determined that Nichole . had frequent contact with the fake Butterfield on Facebook and that the . person posing as Butterfield repeatedly requested to meet with her . before she agreed to meet with him at the end of her road to get some . marijuana the night she went missing, the affidavit said. Police asked Facebook officials to . produce records to identify the owner of the fake Butterfield account, . which was traced to Dube and his parents' home in Orono. When a detective interviewed Dube's . girlfriend, Sarah Mersinger, she reported that Dube told her where he . left Nichole's body. Dube's brother, Dustin Dube, then told police what . he knew. Dozens of law enforcement officers, . using aircraft and dogs, and hundreds of civilian volunteers had spent . days searching for Nichole, whose body was found on the night of May 20. About 300 people turned out for her funeral. Heartbroken: Nichole's mother released a heart-breaking plea to her captor for her safe return . | Kyle Dube, 20, of .
Orono, lured Nichole Cable with the .
promise of marijuana .
He had created a fake Facebook account to gain her trust, prosecutors say .
He wanted to 'stage kidnapping and rescue so he could look like a hero' |
09d36c7f82b7b310c5b261eb339d01c5a5715fcb | A pensioner has spent £40,000 on cosmetic surgery in order to hang onto her looks. Katy Bedford, 75, who has been under the knife 18 times to keep her face wrinkle free, claims the only downside of her cosmetic addiction is that people won't stand up for her on the bus - because she doesn't look old enough. The pensioner, from Salisbury, Wilts, has never hidden her love of surgery and books herself in at the clinic at the first sign of getting 'turkey neck'. Scroll down for video . Katy Bedford, 75, has spent £40k on 18 cosmetic procedures to stay looking young and wrinkle-free . Katy first had surgery - a lower facelift with a Harley Street surgeon (left) - aged 47 in 1986 . Katy, a retired actress, said: 'As soon as I don't like what I see I say: "Oh well, I'll have something else done". 'It has been worth every penny. 'I wanted to look in the mirror and like what I saw smiling back at me - the effects of ageing aren't attractive at all' Katy first had surgery - a lower facelift with a Harley Street surgeon - aged 47 in 1986. Since then she has been perfecting her face and body with an average of one trip to the surgeon every 18 months. No step is too far for the obsessed OAP, who followed the masses of Brits that head abroad every year to go under the knife by having a lower facelift in Zagreb, Croatia. She returned in 2007 for liposuction on her legs, and again in 2008 to have a bump taken out of her nose. Katy, 75, used to work as an actress but retired several years ago . Her most recent round of plastic surgery involved another facelift, a neck lift in April 2012, a brow and cheek uplift and liposuction on her stomach just seven months later, and liposuction on her and right leg three months after that. Just last October, she had another series of liposuction to her right leg, hips, stomach, and her chest. Katy said: 'I just love it when the surgery is over and there's a three pounds of Katy left on the table.' And the mum-of-one hasn't said no to going back under the knife if she feels like she needs another nip or a tuck. She said: 'I'd never say never. My worst nightmare would be getting 'turkey neck', (even) if I was 100 I would have that done, I think it's hideous.' Katy, 75, claims people are often shocked to discover her age . So far, Katy has no regrets and she couldn't be happier with her results, and is full of praise for the skills of her most recent surgeon, Mohammad Azhar Aslam of Linia Cosmetic Surgery. She added: 'He is absolutely marvellous - really I couldn't have asked for better treatment. 'He's even managed to do some of my procedures under local anesthetic so that I can smile for him during the surgery and he can get my face absolutely right.' Although her daughter Sara-Madge Wynne, 34, a physicist working in Edinburgh, was at first hesitant about her mother's many cosmetic procedures, Katy says she soon came round to the idea. Katy said: 'My daughter raises her eyebrows and says "Oh mum, you're not going to get another disgusting thing done to your face are you?" Katy has undergone 18 different cosmetic surgeries since 1986 . 'But we were on holiday once and we saw a coach load of old dears trundling off their coach and I looked at them and I said:"'Would you rather that I looked like them?" 'And she of course said "no, you just carry on as you are." 'I did promise her that I'd never look younger than her though. 'I always said that I wanted to do my improvements gently and little by little - it's awful when you suddenly see someone whose whole face has changed dramatically. 'If hadn't been so open about it I think even some of my closest friends and family wouldn't have noticed. 1986 - Lower face lift . 1995 - Eye Lift . 1996 - Face lift . 1997 - Corrective surgery to remove mark from previous cosmetic procedure . 2006 - Lower Face lift . 2007 - Liposuction on legs . 2008 - Nose job . 2012 - Lower Face Lift . 2012 - Neck lift . 2012 - Brow Lift . 2012 - Cheek Uplift . 2012 - Liposuction on abdomen . 2013 - Liposuction on back . 2013 - Liposuction on right leg . 2013 - Liposuction revision on right leg . 2013 - Liposuction revision on left hip . 2013 - Liposuction revision on abdomen . 2013 - Liposuction revision on Chest Wall . 'I am able to feel exactly as I want and as soon as I don't, I head back to the surgeon. 'When it comes to luggage at a train stations I'm happy to point out to people that just because I don't look my age, I still need help with my suitcase. 'I'm the first person to say "I'm nearly 76 you know," to people who might be able to help me down the stairs. 'Most people are very surprised when I tell them, they normally just say - you look good for your age. 'But I think it's obvious that I must have had work done - nobody looks like this naturally. 'But people always think that people who have been under the knife look plastic and stretched - I think I'm quite the opposite.' Katy's surgeon at Linia Cosmetic Surgery, Azhar Aslamsaid: 'In my practice I've always had much older people - my oldest facelift was 89 but she was very active and just wanted to look better for the rest of their lives. 'Age itself is not a restriction but health is of course a crucial factor. We need to be sure that surgery can be done in a safe manner. 'People have surgery for all sorts of reasons, I had one lady who was moving to Spain in her 70s and wanted her breasts and arms to look good in a bikini. 'Just because you're older, your desire to look better to look better hasn't gone.' | Katy Bedford books herself in at the clinic at the first sign of 'turkey neck'
The retired actress promises to stop if she looks younger than her daughter . |
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